To Study in Belgium: A Dream in Formation

Universiteit Gent, UGent, public university, 33,000 students, out of which 2,600 are international students. I like the name. I also like what I've seen of the city so far. 250,000 habitants, not too big, not too small. And, hey, it has water canals, the Venezia style!

So, I would get into the 9-month 'Preparatory Year of Dutch' course, get the C1 certificate, and then enroll into the university.

Now, the amazing thing is I find the programs of their Faculty of Arts and Philosophy really, really interesting!

First, there is the BA in Linguistics and Literature, which is a dream program for me. I would decide upon it immediately if it weren't for the other two options.

Second, the BA in Applied Linguistics, which I haven't researched about therefore have no idea of, but it's linguistics, so I must consider it.

Oh, but it really is the third option that has captivated me: the BA in African Languages and Cultures. I've checked out the pensum and it was like falling in love at first sight. I will forever be interested in Africa, and I can see myself taking this path.

Double major, then? Haha, well, I don't even know if they offer it, but it sounds like a good idea. No hurry for now to figure out the major, though. Unfortunately, everything will remain dreams and thoughts until I can figure out something else.

It's time to talk about that which I'll forever despise: money. I mean, it's basically the reason why Bittersweet Symphony is one of my life anthems: "Trying to make ends meet, you're a slave to the money, then you die."

Money to pay for the visa process (which you can't even assure will be successful).

Money to pay for the plane ride to Belgium.

Money to pay for somewhere to live, something to eat, and all that basic needs stuff.

Money to pay for the dutch course: 2250 Euros, around 7.6 million pesos.

Money to pay for the tuition fee: 890 Euros, around 3 million pesos.

Money to pay for study materials.

Money, money, money.

And I've never been good with money. I don't have a business & profitting mentality. I treat money like the joke it is. Yesterday I spent 15,000 pesos in two clay ocarinas, just for the fact that I'm passionate about music. Actually, now I remember having said to the artist and seller: "If I was rich, I would buy all this", signaling to his table of instruments. He did have a very nice looking artesanal saxophone, and if I'd had 160,000 pesos to spare, I would have bought it. To conclude, I am basically incapable of becoming rich, because even if I had lots of incoming money, I would be spending it all just as greatly (I would be financing so many people).

To actually conclude, I want to dedicate Money (or capitalism, for that instance) a song. It's called Death on Two Legs. My Queen peeps are responsible for such masterpiece. The first line says "You suck my blood like a leech", which is so fitting. Money, "...you can kiss my ass goodbye."

I get so easily thrilled with projects, and by now I know they more often than not don't come into reality. They mostly stay living inside my head, pulling me a bit farther away from reality. I really hope this one can become real.