A new reality

Why did you go in Gent?

I came to Gent in order to do my Master Thesis. So I am on the Campus Schoonmeersen working in the Plant Physiology Laboratory.

How are the prices?

In general the prices are higher than in Portugal. Eat in a restaurant and accommodation are the main things than you should really pay attention to. If you are able to cook at home it is a really more economical alternative, even to the university restaurants.

Is it easy to find accommodation?

If you stay for a long time (more than three months) it is easier to find a place to stay, although you should start looking really soon since there are not a lot of apartments. Another option are the students residences, they have nice conditions but you can find apartments for better prices. The students residences are 400€ per month all included and you can find nice houses from 250€/300€. However, the ambient in the student's residences is really unique. You always find Erasmus students which whom you can share your experience and talk a bit about your country. As there are specific residences only for the Erasmus students everyone is in the same position so the familiarity is high.

How is the weather?

Maybe this is the only negative point of the history. In autumn and in winter the rain and dark days are really common. Besides that there is the cold, which you only feel outside because of the good isolation of the buildings. Although that disadvantages you have the opportunity to see snow in the winter, what is not so common in other countries.

Where to eat and drink?

There are lots of places with traditional things from Belgium like Waffles or French fries at really good prices. In the center you have the BeerHouse, where you can try several beers. In my opinion the best beers are: Duvel (hard), Rodenbach (medium), Kriek (fruity and soft). Before that bar there is another where you can try lots of different traditional liquor.

What to visit?

You really should go to the historic center, where there are lots of monuments and the cars are not allowed. There are a lot of shops with traditional products like bread with different seeds, egg liquor and chocolate. Go inside the castle where you can see some torture equipment that the king used, visit the churches and visit the Market. There are several markets where you can see some handicraft. You really should also go on a boat trip through the river to know some curiosities and history about every monument.

Travel

The public transports are not so expensive but the best and cheapest way to travel inside the city is with a bike. Inside of the city there is the tram which is 2€ per trip but if you buy a card with 10 trips is 1€ each trip. To visit other cities inside Belgium if you are under 26 years you should buy a GoPass. It is 50€ but it is available for 10 trips, in this way you always pay 5€, even for trips that cost 20€.

People

People are not so friendly like in my country (Portugal) but they are really nice. They always help you if you are lost or if you need something. The thing is that the culture is different so even if they like you they will never hug or kiss you like people use to do in my country. They also never scold you, they just say that it is not properly done but with a normal face, not angry. You can find people from several countries so take the opportunity to hear some things about other places and life experiences.

Work

The work conditions are really good. You have a nice schedule if you like to wake up early. Usually a work day starts between 8 and 8h30 and finishes between 16h and 16h30. But they really work... They do a break for a coffee (Oh! Do not expect an Italian coffee... they call coffee brown water... ) in the middle of the morning and another at lunch but between that they really work, they do not distract with Facebook, a coffee or talking. When they are at work they work, then when they leave the work they have time enough for those things. To that I call "Quality of work" and I am really trying to do the same.

Tips

Get a bike, is the easiest and fastest way to go from one place to the other.

If you are a student, do not forget: register at the university, join to the ESN (Erasmus Student Network) community, register in the city (simpler procedure if you are staying for less than 4, 5 months and the long if you are staying longer). Make friends and take the opportunity to meet new people.