Let's go on Erasmus

Full Name: Raffaella Quaranta

Age: 26 years

Nationality: Italian

Studies: Photography in Brussels

What was your first impression of Belgium?
Raffaella Quaranta: "What impressed me the most was the mix of cultures that come together in Brussels. Everywhere you look, you see the differences between people, buildings and cultures. And I love it!"

What was your best cultural discovery in Belgium?
Raffaella: "I’m an artist and so are most of my friends. Young artists get so many opportunities to express themselves and show their work. In Milan connections are the most important to get exhibition opportunities, here in Brussels it’s all about your art work."

What is the funniest Dutch word?
Raffaella: “Waarom zijn bananen krom?”, is probably the funniest thing I ever heard. My friends in school thought it to me when we were trying to talk some dutch."

What is the funniest Belgian habit?
Raffaella: "Belgians always seem to see things more chaotic. For example, they talk about Brussels as if it is a very chaotic city, but compared with Milan, it’s really nothing."

What is your favorite Belgian dish?
Raffaella: "Frietjes and kaaskroketten! (starts laughing)"

Where did you spend your wildest night?
Raffaella: "That would probably be at Café Bonnefooi, because it is my favorite bar. Talking about going out: you Belgians have a different drinking culture. In Milaan students never go to bars, because of the high beer prices. In Italy you can drink two beers for 10 euros, where in Brussels you can get drunk for just the same price."

Full Name: Ione Ardaiz Osacar

Age: 23 years

Nationality: Spanish - Basque

Studies: Product design in Antwerp

What was your first impression of Belgium?
Ione Ardaiz Osacar: "Belgium is one of those countries you never learn about in school, which makes every day a pleasant discovery. There are so many interesting things here, like the Belgian chocolates, the architecture, the beers etc. Although it is a northern country, Belgian people are very welcome and warm."

What was your best cultural discovery in Belgium?

Ione: "I love the 1 € museums. In most big cities, the entrance fee to museums is so high that a lot of people never visit them. Belgians seem to understand the importance of cultural initiatives and youth."

What is the funniest Dutch word?
Ione: "Dutch is a very hard language to learn and to understand. The funniest and hardest word I know is “smakelijk”. I can’t pronounce it right.  Every time I try it comes out all wrong."

What is the funniest Belgian habit?

Ione: "That would definitly be the way you order beer. Raise your pinkie and you get a normal pint. Raise your pink and your pointing finger and you are ordering a Duvel, a stronger beer. Point at your hand palm is you’d like to drink a beer called Palm. It’s really funny to learn and handy to order drinks in a crowded or noisy bar."

What is your favorite Belgian dish?
Ione: "Aardappeltaart. This is made out of patatoes and cheese, layered on top of each other. I like those two ingredients a lot and they are very popular in Belgium."

Where did you spend your wildest night?
Ione: "I’ve spent so many wild nights in Belgium that I can’t decide. My top three would probably be the Jazz Festival in Brussels, a Goodbye Party of a friend in Ghent and the Erasmusparty in Antwerp."

Full  name: Gunta Klimane

Age: 21

Nationality: Latvian

Study: Eastern languages and cultures, speciality Arabic in Ghent

What was your first impression of Belgium?

Gunta Klimane: "Well, the first thing I did in Belgium was crying. It was all so beautiful; romantic houses, great churches, castles… We don’t have that back in Latvia. Latvia are blocks of cities, totally different houses. Of course, we still have our beautiful nature. The first time I had to go to the Faculty of Politics for an Erasmus meeting, I made ‘the’ classic mistake: I went out of the tram at the wrong stop. There was a great castle, and I wondered what that was. I had a plan in my hands, and of course I didn’t know where I was - it was my first tram ride in Ghent. (laughs) It turned out to be the Gravensteen. Since I was too late for that meeting anyway, I just visited it from the first time."

What was your best cultural discovery in Flanders/Brussels?

Gunta Klimane: "That is a difficult question. (thinks) The architecture, the castles, both the inside and outside. Also the churches and all of the beautiful paintings and frameworks in the churches and houses. I did not visit a lot of cultural events: I studied a lot, certainly during the first semester. But if I had to pick one thing according to culture, then it will be the dance ensembles you have. I really want to be a choreographer, that’s why I’m so interested in that."

What is the funniest Dutch word?

Gunta: "Iets. (laughs) Just because of its funny pronunciation."

What’s the funniest Belgian habit?

Gunta: "Well, you Belgians seem to have a lot of interesting habits. There’s the specific Belgian humor. There are the sweets and chocolates at breakfast. And! (laughs) You say that Russians drink a lot of vodka, but Belgians drink more beer than Russians can ever drink vodka! I remember, at the very beginning of the academic year, that a car arrived at our Faculty. There were some professors in it, and except for the lecturers, the car was full of beer. There really was beer everywhere."

What is your favorite Belgian dish?

Gunta: "That is an easy one, and you are probably going to shoot me down, because I actually don’t like your food. However, I am converting my roommates and friends to my food, by the way successfully. There’s for example ‘borsch’, Ukrainian soup. I also like to make Russian pancakes or Latvian pancakes with potatoes. Plus there is so much bakery in Belgium! I’m feeling like a hamster here: how many sorts of baked goods do you actually have here?!"

Where did you spend your wildest night?

Gunta: "I don’t remember the wildest night. I’ve had so much fun here."

Full name: Yulia Chepurnova

Age: 19

Nationality: Russian

Study: English linguistics in Leuven

What was your first impression of Belgium?

Yulia Chepurnova: "Very cold and rainy, intelligent people, best chocolate in the world and delicious waffles."

What was your best cultural discovery in Flanders/Brussels?

Yulia: "I love that everybody in Flanders speaks English. But the most amazing thing was to take the train from Leuven to Brussels and the ride took only 20 minutes. Hey, you live so close, in one country, but speak totally different languages! How is that possible?"

What is the funniest Dutch word?

Yulia: "The town Huy which in Russian means "penis". Actually Dutch is full of weird words, which are obscene in my language."

What's the funniest Belgian habit?

Yulia: "Loudly blowing your nose in public places."

What is your favourite Belgian dish?

Yulia: "French fries of course and chocolate if that can be considered a dish"

Where did you spend your wildest night?

Yulia: "De Rector, Oude Markt."