Counting down

I've wanted to write several times, but unfortunately my laptop crashed because of a virus, overheating, ants and old age. This oldie is now super slow. I cannot open or edit any documents anymore, but I did figure out I can write a new update directly onto my blog page, because I can go online if I have a lot of patience. I wanted to do that several times, but work happened. And I went on a weekend trip. And when I came back it was as if I never left, because there was so much work again. Now, 1.5 week before my departure, I have a little time to give you guys an update.

Work, history and traditional dancing

I would say the last two weeks were both the worst and the best. Thankfully in that order too. Now that the follow-up visits are getting started for my project, that’s a good thing. I also realised I’m now halfway; it has been 41/90 days. My personal deadline to figure things out is the 20^th of this month. So yea..

One month down, two to go

Wow, it has already been a month. Time flies! Two months left to find out if I want and can stay here for a PhD. Actually one month; I’ve set a deadline for myself. Because IF I am going to do a PhD here I need to prepare for that. Actually I already am. I already know what prices to expect for housing and monthly costs for shopping/food. Housing is much cheaper than the Netherlands, but usually without gas (cause you have to buy a big flask yourself), and without warm water. There are frequent power cuts. Going out for food is also cheaper, but buying food at supermarkets is about the same price as the Netherlands I think. You need a taxi to go anywhere. Or buy a car, which is actually not a bad idea at all if you stay here for a longer time.

New house, crazy kids and a beach party

This week went by sooo fast! And it feels like I’ve been here for much longer already. Maybe that’s because I’m not the only newbie anymore. Last week two Austrian students arrived, Luzia and Anthony, and a few days ago another German girl, Magdalena. I have also moved to one of the Cermel houses right next to the lab. I found out that is used to be called ‘the rat house’ because there were so many rats, but after the holes in the house were stuffed there were no rats anymore, until a few days ago. Hopefully that was just one. The house has 4 rooms, a dining place, kitchen and bathroom with warm water. Sadly that changed this morning, when one of the hot water pipes burst. I hope it gets fixed soon, because I really appreciated the warm showers. The room is not very big; I think about 8 m². The mattress is already super old and thin in the middle, so I try to sleep on the sides. I share the house with Andreas, Mirjam and Wiebke, but the other also regularly visit our house. One of my housemates got really creative; he built a real pizza oven. We tested it last weekend, and it worked! The pizzas were great.

My first week in Gabon

Hi everyone! Yes, I am writing a blog again. In English this time, because too many of you don’t know Dutch. 

This adventure started about 2 months ago, when I was told I could go to Gabon for 3 months and assist with clinical trials. As I already expected, the visa application didn’t go smoothly. It was denied, delayed and finally accepted the week before I was going to leave. I had to pick it up from the airport a day before my flight, and that day happened to be a stormy day: flights were cancelled and trains were delayed by more than 60 minutes. That meant I would never reach the airport in time to collect my passport.. BUT thankfully I was saved by Rosanne and Laurens, who were brave enough to drive me to the airport. Dad, Rinske and Marjo were on their way in the train, but had to return home, and mom finally arrived at the the airport 3 hours after she planned. Anyhow, I got my passport, which was the most important thing. The next day I met Ulysse, my supervisor, at the airport, where we spent a little too much time sorting things out with the weight of the suitcases. After checking in it was already time for boarding. Actually I had to run for it; I only had 10 minutes left.