Submerged!

Dear One and All,

In brief:

30 August: Two jet-setting small cats arrived within 30 minutes of my container (why should months of planning ensure anything different?). Container truck guys were Belgian, from Brussels, so preferred to speak French. Container entered Europe via Antwerp, so I'd assumed I'd get Flemish speakers. We fumble along. They look normal, but are strong as Supermen. Next three weeks are spent unpacking in a frenzy (not that it's done, you understand). I'm down to four boxes and lots of books in piles. *Nothing* is broken or missing, except for a mashed lamp shade. My kitchen is a third the size of my former one.

4-8 September: University orientation. Actually, this consisted of one morning's orientation to my new department (Dutch Studies) and lunch on the roof of the departmental building. There were about 40 of us. This evaporated over two weeks to now about 11 in my "B'' group (those who have some Dutch ability), some more in the beginners group, and a few second-year people. The buildings look like modern, red-brick miniature castles, complete with elevated walk-ways and turrets, but lacking moats (unless we count the large canal, across the street, "my'' canal), and supported by nuclear reactor parts (upward-facing cones). I can't say that I find the buildings attractive, but they're very functional. Each castle has four quadrants, with three levels. Four of my six classes are held in these buildings. The two lectures (Dutch Art History and Intro to Dutch Studies (weekly lectures on various aspects of life here; very interesting; first one was on living below sea level) are held in the main classroom building (the "Lipsius''), across the canal, where are also the excellent cafeteria and cafe, language labs, some study books (printed by the U) and miscellaneous other.

11 September until next June: Lots of work. When I do *all* of the homework, I am thrilled to be in class. We have about 120 words to learn each week, with a quiz on them each Tuesday morning. This makes for very sober weekends and late nights. We were told to expect to work 40 hours a week, but I see it more as at least 70 hours a week.

My fellow students in ''B'' Group are from Russia, Estonia, Iran, Poland, China (4), Czech Republic, and me (I'm missing two people). The Russian is very talented and usually leads the classes. The Iranian (usually), one Chinese and I are second, and the rest trail. There's no feeling of competition, which is lovely. We are in the work as a sort of team and help each other. I'm the only one who comes to Dutch directly from English, as only a second language! The Chinese have the hardest time, with the exception of the one young lady.

At the moment, my favorite class is the Friday ''Speaking and Listening'', and I'm not sure why, other than it's fun to just chat about various things, and have our accents and syntax corrected.

Until things boil down some, I can't consider any singing groups that have regular rehearsals. I haven't even had the time to look for groups. It has been a great relief to compare notes with the ''kids'' and find that they also are struggling. I can only imagine that the second- and third-year classes are tiny! This all said, what I'm enjoying is a very high-calibre education for a pittance. Tuition is just over 2,000 Euros, and that's because I'm a foreigner and over 30. Otherwise, it would be about 1,500 Euros, plus book costs.

It's late, so good-night to you all. This is a wonderful place to be!

Pamela