Let's get political, political

So, the UK Government has succeeded in its plans to raise the price of University education from £3300 to £6000-£9000, depending on what the University plans to charge. This is a tragedy for social equality in the UK and is being passed off as a necessity in these straitened economic times, despite this being clearly an ideological attack on the idea of universal free education.

Firstly, the raising of tuition fees is, of course, a way for the Government to raise funds to pay (one hopes) for educating the future workforce of our economy. In itself, the raising of tuition fees is not strictly an horrific idea, given the fact that all departments of the UK government are making large cuts with the exception of the Sacred Cow, the NHS.  However, a rise of 200%, coupled with a cut in the Universities teaching budget of 80% is not comparable with any cut being made elsewhere in British society. Thus, one can only deduce that the Government has pursued this change for ideological reasons. The shift from the burden being on the taxpayer to being on the individual involved is a clear conservative (small 'c') belief translated into law: the "Why should the taxpayer pay for a student to go to university when the student gets all the benefit" argument. This argument is often spouted by the right-wing media (of which there is a depressing amount in the UK, thanks Murdoch!) and seen in the comments posts of online articles. However, we do not question our universal healthcare system, so much so that it has become a sacred object, a no go area even for the Conservative party, despite many of their members no doubt wishing to abolish it; we do not question paying for other people's children to go to school; we do not question paying for aircraft carriers or tanks; nor do we question paying pensioners to heat their homes.

Now the UK has a very well developed welfare state, one which I am proud of. I firmly believe that it is the roll of the state to provide for its citizens from "cradle to grave" (thank you Sir William Beveridge), as it is the most efficient and fairest way to ensure social equality and progress; however, we can no longer include tertiary education in our Welfare State. The 80% teaching budget cut has virtually wiped out funding for teaching in the Arts and Humanities, in fact the only area that has been ring-fenced is Science funding, seen as an "economically-crucial subject". If we take a look at the areas of the British economy pouring money into HM Treasury, we do not just find science, we find a broad range of fields, not least Arts and Humanities, yet these are deemed economically-worthless. Universities are not merely training grounds for the next batch of employees for the private sector, every graduate enriches societies in ways unknown to previous generations. There are those who question the value of a "History of Art" degree, or of a philosophy degree, yet the Art graduate and the Philosophy graduate is able to think in ways the finger-pointer cannot even comprehend. The fabric of our society is not shaped merely by mathematics, or by science, or by engineering, we are the children of our history, our our politics, our culture, our music. Who dares say what is valid in a modern society and what is not? If something is valid to but one person then it is valid.

We now have the highest public university fees in the developed world (Harvard etc. are private), coupled with minimal Government funding: so the Government still runs the universities, it just refuses to pay for them. This marketisation (sometimes called the Americanisation) of our education is something that must be resisted. Why should every part of our lives be driven by the desire to make a profit? Are there not some things that deserve to be showered with money, to get the result we really need and most importantly that our country deserves? I believe education is one of these areas, it is the future of our nation at stake and whilst every other EU country (bar Romania) is increasing funding for education, the UK government is cutting it. We cannot get out of this recession without the skills and intelligence that comes from a well-educated workforce. Sheer manpower is no longer enough, faced with the economic might of India and China, we need to be smarter. So, to look at it from a purely economic view, the Government's policy makes no sense.

But we must not just consider the economic repercussions of the Government's actions, we most also consider the societal. Currently, a degree at a UK university will set you back £9 900 for tuition plus whatever you spend on rent and living costs. This money is loaned to you by the government and then paid back with a small amount of interest. Whilst there are good points in the Government's plans, such as raising the pay-back line to £21 000 and, what they fail to realise is that a debt of £27 000 plus rent and living costs is a huge burden on a young person fresh out of university. What is even more troubling is the effect this burden could have on people's aspirations to go to university. The prospect of £45 000 debt when you leave university will put off people from poorer backgrounds and the argument that it is not a 'real' debt may be economically-sound, but it is totally naïve to think that this argument holds sway amongst young and especially less well-educated people. Social equality is a noble cause, supposedly fought for by all UK parties; however, how can the Government claim to be doing all it can for social equality whilst creating a divisive and unequal system? It's simple look at the rest of Europe where tuition fees are either incredibly low or do not exist and compare the social equality there with that of the UK. Now let's look at America, where tuition fees are astronomical and let's look at the social equality of US society. See a pattern?

I did not want to touch on the involvement of the Liberal Democrats as I really do consider them to be beneath anything. They have betrayed not only the electorate but also their principles. Their presence on the UK political landscape is all but finished. Goodbye Nick and no, I don't agree with you.

Episode 21: In which winter hits

So, we may not have the snow the UK has, looking pretty impressive in Yorkshire and Sheffield particularly (shut up London with your few cms), but we are much colder. My thermometer is currently reading -10°. I don't think I've ever experienced a temperature that cold and yet I need to leave the house. I am thus wearing:

2 pairs of thick socks
2 pairs of long johns (plus trousers on top, of course)
A vest
A t-shirt
A hoody
A ski jacket
A scarf
A hat
3 pairs of gloves (well, 2 pairs of gloves and a pair of mittens)

What's the betting I'm still freezing...

Episode 20: In which Andy falls in love...

...with a song. Whilst YouTube link following I came across this song, which I felt I had to share with all three (nay, there are now FOUR) loyal readers of my blog.

Þú gafst mér skýin og fjöllin og guð til að styrkja mig. Eg fann ei, hvað lífið var fagurt, fyrr en eg elskaði þig...

I have been listening to it on repeat for about half an hour now and it's rekindling the desire to learn Icelandic. I have the books, it's just taking the (rather substantial) time it will take to be able to speak anything in this language.

Episode 19: In which Andy becomes a wordsmith in foreign...

Hij komt, hij komt, 
de lieve goede Sint...

Sinterklaas is here in the Netherlands, after having arrived in Harderwijk on his steam boat from Spain, with his blacked-up 'Peters'. A thoroughly modern festival. To celebrate, the teachers hold a very special borrel* where everyone has to bring in a present and a poem. This has resulted in me spending time which should quite probably have been spent planning lessons to prepare my poem. This is what I have so far:

Nieuw op de Nassau, maar ook in deze natie,
Ik wou Andy tonen deze Hollandse celebratie
Zijn inburgeringscursus gaat door met behulp van mijn Pieten,
Als je je geen zorgen maakt over vetten, dan haal je wat frieten,
En erop moet je zetten de helft van dit pakje,
de andere deeltje is een echt engels drankje


I still need to round it off with two lines, so if any NL-sprekers out there wish to contribute then be my guest! I intend to buy a box of Yorkshire Tea and a jar of vinegar on my trip to London on Saturday.



*(TGIF drinks)

Episode 18: In which Andy bakes a cake

Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la and all that jazz. 

So, for the first time (and pretty much forced into it by my housemate) I have started to make a christmas cake. I have never attempted this before, but thanks to a young man who shall remain nameless, I have a recipe which is destined for success. 

 the goods

Turns out you need to feed it with alcohol weekly whilst it matures. Is it possible that I've found a cake not dissimilar from me?!

over 1kg of fruit

In other news, I spent thursday evening eating and drinking large quantities of Heineken and generic shots with the twintigers (those teachers under 30), literal dancing to lady gaga and marching around a bar to this. The dutchification process is well and truly underway AND I managed not to fall off my bike on the way home...almost. At least this time, it was more a slight overbalance and resulted in no injuries. 

Episode 17: In which Andy spends saturday night listening to melodramatic music and feeling sorry for himself

Spotify, quite possibly one of the world's greatest inventions (take that sliced bread/electricity/the bicycle), works here in the Netherlands - a fact which pleases me greatly. Tonight, being Saturday, I am of course out with all my friends having a good time. Oh wait...

In reality, I am sitting at home scanning through what passes for television in the Netherlands and listening to melodramatic music by the likes of Sigur Rós and Radiohead - generally not conducive to a good mood. The never ending rain generally limits what you can do, especially if you don't fancy spending your hard earnt euros on sitting in a café. I seem to only leave the house these days to go to work, go the gym and on a friday to go to the TGIF drinks at school. On every single one of those occasions I end up soaked right through, which is a real dampener on your mood, believe me!

I am really craving a bit of Sheffield at the moment. Granted I'm looking at all the photos of final year on alpine:penguin's facebook through rose-tinted glasses, but I really miss that place and its people. Still, fingers crossed and thumbs pressed for me getting accepted onto my MA for next year. The application has been submitted, now I just have to wait 4 weeks to find out...

Episode 16: In which Andy becomes a fully-fledged European

There are many things about being European of which we should be proud. White men's trousers do not belong in this group. These trousers, whilst seemingly worn by every second woman in the UK during the summer months, are also sported quite willingly by men on the continent. 

An example of the monstrosities

However, the longer I spend here, the more and more I am beginning to think that this is an acceptable fashion item. Just like I have been informed by an American that it's acceptable for me, as a European, to wear cut-off jeans, white jeans are moving into my "I'd wear that" zone. That and stonewash denim jackets. 

Imagine those trousers topped off with a denim jacket. That's what the Daily Mail should be worrying about, not the bends in bananas!

For an audio-visual example of what I shall have become come July...

Episode 15: In which Andy remembers he owns a blog

Sorry for the lack of updates, hoor! I must confess that I didn't exactly forget that I owned a blog, per se, I just never got round to writing more than a few sentences of an update before losing interest and going off to work on my dutch knowledge/inventing a cure for the common cold/facebook. But worry not, loyal blog-reading fans, for here is what you've probably (not) been hankering after since Episode 14 way back in October: Episode 15.

So, we've entered November now and autumn has well and truly hit. It's still unseasonably warm, but all the leaves are nearly off the trees now. It's around 14° or so, which is really pretty good for this time of year. There are, of course, exceptions: monday morning, for instance. In the 15 minute cycle to work I managed to get soaked right through, to the point that I dripped when I got off my bike. "Was it raining?" I hear all of my 3 blog readers ask! No, it was fog. Freezing fog. Freezing fog that was so dense even my oh-so-pathetic generator light was bouncing back off it. I looked goooood at school that day! Still, it was nice to be there - surprisingly so after a 10 day break which went far too quickly. Week 1/7 until Christmas is almost over and I'm actually looking forwards to visiting the UK, if only briefly. If you weren't yet up to speed with the fact that I miss the UK this time around, please see other whiny posts (Episodes 1 - 14).

Over the Herfstvakantie (that's autumn holiday for you non-Nederlands sprekers out there) I wisited Tschermany where I am staying in a house of a friend. It was nice to speak German again, many were impressed by my german (especially my housemate as we never really speak in Tcherman to each other), but I must say I wasn't a fan of the accent. It wasn't hard to understand; no, after having lived in Austria I could probably take on any accent the german language has to throw at me (*runs away from schwiizer düütsch*), it was more unpleasant with all it's 'shhhhh'ings. I'm an 'ich' not an 'isch' man and so this displeased me. Though, (and this is aimed at you dear Parents, should you be reading this) I actually managed to bring my Luxemburgish knowledge into play as some of their dialect is similar to L. as are some of their words. We went on a tour of the vinyards surrounding housemate's village, for her father's birthday. It all started off so civilised, with standard tscherman restraint but then come wine bottle 42 they were all trying to teach me ever ruder drinking songs. I learnt a few, but felt a bit wrong singing them in front of the elderly germans assembled. They were singing the loudest mind...

Great-Aunt who was ecstatic when she realised I spoke German

After a few days spent there, I headed south to Heidelberg to visit 50% of the Dream Team, Bella and Cyd. Sadly the other 25% was in Basel and was coming up the following weekend: so close and yet so far. Heidelberg is far too pretty for its own good: hills, how I've missed thee! I wandered around a bit on my own as Cyd had uni and Bella had work, so I got to find my own way round the city which I always like. 

View from the castle onto the Neckar river and the Old Bridge

We spent most of the time either drinking coffee in cafés, mocking german fashion sense or expressing our disgust at german banana-flavoured Weissbier, before ordering more. It was great to see them, a nice break from the Netherlands and great to see some friends. The journey home was uneventful, long and boring. I was hungover, hungry and tired. All in all, NOT the best travel companion. Schade, eigentlich.

Episode 14: In which I get into the swing of things

So I've been here a month-and-a-half and I've been at work for four weeks now and I think I'm finally into the swing of things. My days are slowly developing a routine: work, gym (some days), food, sleep, work. This is how non-students live and it's surprising how quickly the days go before it's the weekend all over again. Sadly, the past two weekends I've had the plans have fallen through last minute which has meant I didn't really have anything to do, but last week a BBQ popped up to keep me entertained and tonight a student houseparty has been muted, which is always something! I'd envisaged doing a lot more travelling, but what with not really having anyone with whom to just go somewhere for the day (like back in Austria, where I was surrounded by fellow TAs) and being rather skint, I've not really been anywhere apart from Antwerp. Still, once I start getting paid regularly come december I should be able to start daytripping around Holland. Speaking of other TAs, I was rather under the impression that the only others here in NL amounted to one person, whom I knew from Uni. But, I received a letter from the Department for Internationalisation of Education or something like that and it turns out there is an introduction day, with a guided tour of Haaaaaarlem and high tea! I am envisaging it actually being just a meeting for me and Nic, the other TA, still it's a chance to venture out of Breda! Seems a bit silly having an 'Introductory' meeting 3 months after starting work, mind...

This week, I got invited out for a drink with a few people from work. A drink turned into many drinks, pizza and then more drinks and I really enjoyed it. It was nice to see people from work outside of the work environment and it was also a good way to find out where was good to go bar-wise. I also am apparently eligible for membership of an exclusive club at school called the 'Twintigers' (the Twentyers), all the teachers under 20 go out for a meal and then head out into town together. The guy who started it up turned 30 this year so has been expelled from his own organisation! Nice

Tonight, there are some Belgians coming to stay so I am cooking up a curry of epic proportions, I should really go stir it...

Episode 13: In which ze Germans came and ate all my scones...

So, I taught German. I actually taught German. It was fine, I was surprised by how quickly I got back into it seeing as how I haven't spoken any german (bar the odd word) since my finals. I also got told how natural I sounded, which was nice, even if I don't believe it. I had my first english tutee as well, for which I had to use quite a lot of dutch as he's only young, bless. But it went fine, and I used my tutoring money to buy a duvet (pronounce, jewvet), so I am no longer huddling under blankets like some throwback to the war. Sadly, the only duvet covers that were in my price range were hideous and garish, so I am currently averting my gaze from the blindingly-patterned monstrosity on the other side of my room.

Yesterday, I went to an international dinner party so made some scones. Well, I tried to make some scones. I carefully metricified my grandma's scone recipe and headed off to the supermarket where fail was heaped upon fail as not only did they not sell caster sugar, but I got caught singing along to Gareth Gates by a suitably-amused shop assistant. I don't know what's worse, the fact that I got caught, or the fact that I knew all the lyrics to "Anyone of us". Appropriately red-faced, I headed home and successfully concocted a gloopy mass of dough resembling nothing like what scone dough should but I whacked it in the oven and hoped for the best, all the while receiving helpful messages from my mum such as "Eek", "Why are you making something you don't know how to make?" and finally, when the results turned out better than expected "Huzzah!". The scones (with jam and freshly whipped cream) were by far the most popular thing at the party, being wolfed down in a matter of minutes. All in all, tres successful.

Episode 12: In which ze germans are coming

So tomorrow is my first day of tutoring, I have three tutees. 2 whom I are tutoring in English (see, I'm such a good teacher I can use 'whom') and the other auf Deutsch. This is rather nerve-racking for me as I haven't spoken any german since the Oral exam and even then it was entirely about television in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and I'm not sure that's the angle my pupil is wanting to go down. Even worse, is the fact that this pupil is my teacher! This could go very badly, or ok. Seeing as I've had 9 years of german at school and university (granted I learnt next to nowt at school) I should be able to impart some wisdom, right?

Episode 11: In which I venture across the border

There's a photo exhibition going on in Breda right now all to do with perspectives. I had an appointment to go to at lunchtime on Friday and, after waking up to a gorgeous sky, I decided to head into town early to have a gander at the exhibition and post a few letters to friends back in the UK. En route, I started to notice my front light was wobbling quite severely and the cobbled roads weren't exactly making it better, so I stopped off at my favourite bike shop to get it fixed. It's all free if you've bought your bike there, the staff are really friendly and the best thing?

It's one of the owner's and everyday it gets carried to work in the owner's basket!

Light fixed, I took a stroll through town getting a few obligatory tourist shots and visiting the Breda shop to buy a Breda-themed present for Cooper, whose house I spent the weekend at in Antwerp. The photo exhibition is partly outdoors and I the weather was perfect for it, sadly I didn't have enough time to see all of it, but I'm hoping to go again next weekend when Cooper comes to visit Breda.

I arrived in Antwerp and Cooper and I grabbed a bite to eat before heading out to a bar, where we met one of his colleagues and his boyfriend. The bar laid on quite possibly THE best free barbecue ever. This was no students' union free burger, this was the whole shebang: salads, pasta, kebabs, breads. It was lekker and really filled a hole, which we'd been planning to fill with frieten so this worked out better for us! The next day we went and did a bit of shopping in Antwerp and generally just chilled out. I bought a new scarf, as the weather's most definitely drawing in (ignores fact that today was the hottest day in weeks) and a new wallet. We were feeling quite tired from the night before so stopped off for a healthy smoothie before heading home for a disco nap and some food to prepare us for the night ahead. 

We woke up to another beautiful day, and the view from Cooper's window is quite lovely. However, after having rather over-indulged on the vodka the night before, Sunday mornings in a catholic country aren't exactly peaceful.

Episode 10: In which I experience woe, woe, right-wing woe

Well, the 2010 UK general election produced an interesting result in that in produced the first coalition to govern in Britain since the second world war, however the 2010 general election here in the Netherlands was always going to give that result. Thanks to its proportional representation system, coalitions here are pretty much a given, with none of the 'Oh my god, our entire country's going to collapse if we haven't got a government for 5 days' mentality that was around in the UK back in May. I mean look at Belgium, they still haven't got a government and their election was way back in 855BC and they're doing fine. Oh wait...

Now, the election here produced a similar-ish result to the UK election, in that the single largest party was the centre-right party (the UK conservatives and the Dutch CDA). However, due to the much more splintered vote here even with the backing of another right-wing party (the VVD) they haven't got a majority. So, "to whom have they turned?" I hear no-one ask. Well, it's none other than that delightful fellow who goes by the name of Geert Wilders (think a more aryan Nick Griffin). Marvellous idea, chaps. Rather than reach out to say, the Greens or the PvdA (Labour) and risk having to compromise on some issues, they decided to go with his Freedom Party and its somewhat extremist views. Ahh, from one nasty coalition to another, dare I say it, nastier one.

Britain, take me back!

Episode 9: In which I have my first (of many) fiets fails

Well, it's finally happened. After 25 days of being in the Netherlands, I've had my first cycling 'incident'. This minor mishap of getting my pedal caught on our gatepost has resulted in four massive cuts around my left eye, making me look somewhat battle-hardened. Still, my bike was ok, as were my hands (instinct says they should have shot out to protect me, but no they stayed put and let my face take all the face-ground pain).

Episode 8: In which week 2 is over

Yes, that's right. Week 2 is over is actual Dutch, I'll leave you to figure out the meaning...

So I've been at school for 2 weeks now and I have to say I'm rather enjoying it. There was a lot of timetable confusion this week as timetables have changed for most people so that meant for a few lessons I didn't have anything to do, but it meant I could head to the computer room and get some planning done at least.

I'm still waiting to be paid which means no trips as yet, though we are having a house-warming this weekend so at least there's something to look forwards to other than getting up and going to the gym. Unfortunately, I shall be doing all this with the worst hair known to man as I braved it and went to a dutch hairdress. The words "epic fail" don't even begin to describe what happened. I spoke all in dutch, so it wasn't a case of misunderstanding. Well, I say that but it quite clearly was, as when does 'shorter on the sides and a lot longer on top, with the fringe left as it is' actually mean 'please lop off my fringe and shave my head'? Seriously, I look appalling; though as my housemate pointed out, it's very dutch. This is an approximation of what I looked like in the chair

Still, it will all grow back...

Episode 7: In which fietsen is belangrijk!

Here he is, in all his glory. My new bike:

His name? Munro

Episode 6: In which I have my first day

I had a meeting today in the school where I'll be working with my mentor teacher. After turning up at the wrong building, I still managed to make it bang on time (remembering the lesson we'd had about how it was standard for the dutch to turn up early going on in the back of my mind!). My mentor teacher took me to the staffroom where he introduced me to literally everyone, then proceeded to take me round school and show me where everything is, including teachers in their rooms (he just shouted at them to come say hello). Everyone seems ridiculously friendly, far more so than in Austria. They actually seem to want to spend time with you here and they're enthusiastic! A refreshing change from the Össis! They made a list of furniture I'm lacking and posted it on the noticeboard (along with a big note saying HIJ HEEFT OOK EEN FIETS NODIG! He needs a bike too!). It seems every friday they have TGIFriday drinks, from 14.30 onwards...bear in mind the school day doesn't finish until 4 and I think you'll agree it doesn't seem like much gets done around here on a friday.

All in all in seems like a really nice school, friendly pupils and friendly teachers, people whom I can actually see myself wanting to spend time with, which will be a refreshing change!

Episode 5: In which I waffle about bikes, take 1

Still no bike, sadly I am going to have to wait till I get paid to get a bike, or find a very cheap one to last me until I can afford a real beaut.

I'm in bike heaven here though, so many real bikes! When you look at the prices of them compared to what they sell for in Britain, you start to come up with a business idea...

Episode 4: In which alles läuft nach Plan!

So, things seem to have fallen into place, after much stressing out about a lack of place to live and a seemingly endless stay in the hostel ahead of me, I've found a house. It's a 3-bedroomed house about 10mins cycle from the city-centre (what other way is there of measuring distance here in the Netherlands?!)  I shall be living with two people whom I met in the hostel, an Italian and a German. We will hopefully be moving in tomorrow, should everything go to plan. Today, we went to ikea to pick up a few essentials, and then stopped off an excellent second-hand shop, where we're going to pick up a couch etc. My room is quite large, I'd guess at maybe 30m2 or so, so there's plenty of scope for making it my own little place for the year.

Finding a house has definitely made me feel much more positive about this year, as I was having some doubts especially after what seemed like an eternity spent living in the hostel with no end in sight. Plus, the fact I've made some friends means the lack of contact with people my age has been avoided! Good times!

Episode 3: In which I touchdown in B-Town

So I'm here. I caught the Eurostar yesterday to Brussels, then hopped on a typically shoddy SNCB train to Antwerp to crash chez David before heading on to Breda this morning. The hostel I'm staying in for a few days whilst I try and find somewhere to live is pretty standard (I managed to guess the password for the hostel internet, no paying for me!), roommates are nice and are all in the same situation as me regarding finding somewhere to live. Though they're students so they have it easier! I have two housing appointments tomorrow, so hopefully something will come of them, we shall see.

In other news, I have the flu. It is well rubbish. I've gone through a 64-pack of tissues in my 2 days of travelling.

Episode 2: In which I go on "The Reccy"

So last week, I went to Breda for a few days for an accommodation reccy. Well, I actually went to Antwerp and visited Breda twice. Breda seems a really nice place, they call it 'The Hague of the South', ie grand and stately. 

And it is: 

Sadly the reccy proved fruitless and I am heading out on the 1st to live in a hostel to hopefully find somewhere!

Episode 1: In which Holland comes a-calling!

So I finally made contact with the school. Yesterday, Peter (my liaison teacher) had tried to ring me as I had told him I would be available, but lo! and behold I was in the garden at that precise moment so missed the call. He rang back today and I managed to grab it before my super-keen house phone went to answerphone (it barely gives a chance for one ring before doing so!). He seems really friendly and they're really falling over themselves to help me find accommodation: he's sending seemingly the entire staff (and student) population out into Breda to check out places to stay and has asked me to send him the details of any flats I find so he can go check them out and the surrounding neighbourhoods etc. What a nice guy! The school doesn't start until the 6th of September, but I don't start until the 13th so I have exactly two months here with very little to do and even less money to do it with. I had sort of been relying on the British Council having paid us, which they said would happen at the end of June. Mid-July and there is no sign of the necessary forms; damn you, bureaucracy! Peter also asked whether I'd be willing to help teach German, should I have spare time. I was a bit taken aback as I hadn't expected this at all but, in the words of Josh nil points Dubovie, that sounds good to me.

Here's a snapshot of how Breda looks, so google informs me:

In the beginning was the word...

...and the bird was the word.

Enough of that silliness, welcome to my blog which I intend to use to keep friends and family up-to-date with the haps during my time in Breda. So, I got more info from my school the other day, turns out I don't start till early september which threw me slightly. All the information I'd got before this had hinted at a start a few weeks before, but that means I have more time for getting sorted out I guess. The school have said they will help with my hunt for accommodation, which is good of them seeing as it's just hassle for them and they're not obligated to. Still, having been in this situation before, I know how hard it is to find somewhere to live where you don't know the city and are 700km away (as the crow flies).

I've done a bit of research on Breda and discovered these two facts: it's the home of Oranjeboom beer (my brand of choice in Netto) and the home of DJ Tiesto. Other than that, Wiki (god bless her) was rather devoid of information so I had to go to actual real-life dutchies who had nothing but praise for the city, so it bodes well.

I shall bid thee farewell for now, but shall keep you posted on the doings.