As of september 2010, Higher education in Ireland will no longer be free. The government blames the economic crisis. There are not many countries left with free education, the countries that I know are:

• Sweden
• Germany (well, not free, but cheap)
• Norway
• Finland
• Danmark

 Trough Wikipedia I found some more;

• Cuba
• Argentinia
• Libya
• Brasil

 In Sweden and Finland you also do not need to pay if you are a foreign or exchange student.

Report by University World News.

 

Image by jp1958 via Flickr

I think by now I have some general tips for students staying almost everywhere. So, I decided to post it!

1. Buy your groceries at an outdoor market
Mostly cheaper then the supermarket, more fresh vegetables and fruits and a nice way of mixing with the locals.

2. Read local magazines
Though you might not understand a word, you will be able to find out free/gratis/gratuit and the time and place. Go, and see if it's worth going again.

3. Get out!
Staying in is the fastest way of becoming homesick. Join an organisation (like ESN), become a volunteer, join a dancing class, all will do.

4. Cook local food
That's mostly available cheaper and a nice way of intergration.

5. Do not miss first class
From the first class you can judge how urgent it is to attend the next classes.

Without thinking I joined a competition for blogwriters. And I won! I got a ticket to the Lowlands festival! I also wrote a blog about Lowlands in Dutch (anna-log-lowlands.blogspot.com), but they gave me the prize for 2 blogs, this one included.

And what's more, I get to be on stage at the Lowlands festival. I am exited. But maybe a bit too exited. What to say once on stage? Well... I can say I just started my blog and already won a prize :D.

I am going to be a star. Yies yies.

Remember Fez from 'That 70's Show? It was just suggested that Fez stands for Foreign Exchange Student! One of the coolest Exchange Students around, I say. And, you wouldn't believe it, but he, the actor, Wilmer Valderrama, looks so cute now!

Thanks to Flygurl191 who's just posted this on Twitter!

Picture Fez trough abcfamily

Picture Wilmer trough laprensatoledo

The Chicago Tribune reports that host families are less open to bringing exchange students in their household because of the crisis. According to the article, in Michigan the STS Foundation had to refuse 8 students because they did not find housing for them.

Sad news, exchangies only need food and a bed and they might be inspirational. An exchange student could also provide free French courses for example.

Lonely Planet just tweeted about this article: World’s Biggest Cave Discovered in Vietnam. It looks absolutely amazing. I apologize for using these standard words but I don't know any better English words to describe it.
There's also a more extended article availabe on National Geographic. It reports that the Son Doong cave is 80 by 80 meters high and wide, and it's at leat 4,5 km long. The researchers haven't been able to discover the real length of the cave because it's somewhere in a forest and floods prevented them from discovering more.


It just reminds me of how much there is still to see in the world...

picture trough WierdAsiaNews.

A Naples man, who was the sponsor of a foreign exchange student from Ukrania, has been charged with molesting the 15-year-old during a visit to Osceola County.

Shernon James, 27, was arrested late Monday after the student complained his host had been fondling him while he slept in a room at the Omni Hotel on Masters Boulevard, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

The teen, who had intended to live with James' family this school year, told investigators that James took nude pictures of himself with a cell phone and showed the teen the pictures, the agency wrote.

Directly quoted from naplesnews.

Just noticed the funny way host families talk about exchange students.

'Our exchange student is coming today'
'Do you want to have coffee with me and my exchange student?'

I can imagine that exchange students make great pets and sometimes even good looking accesorries. Like the exchange student that plays guitar or the one that knows karate.

Luckily in reality exchange students are more like brothers and sisters who will be missed once they go back home. Probably this just happens to be the time the exchangies leave and arrive. And like unborn babies, they are not yet cool boys and girls, but the 'it' that we are still waiting for.

Amnesty International reports that leaders of the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union (ZINASU) were addressing students outside the main library of the University of Zimbabwe when they and ten other students were rounded up and detained by police.

Though the ten were later released, the others spent the night in custody. Nobody knowes what the charges are. The student leaders had spoken out against the way in which the university authorities have been preventing students who have not paid their fees from attending lectures and accessing the libraries.

Reports indicate that as many as three-quarters of all the students have not been able to pay their fees this semester, which range between USD 400 and USD 600 per semester. Lectures were due to start on 4 August.

View the complete article here.

Another European Photo Competition. The EU must need pictures badly, 'cause the prize is 3000 Euros. This is a competition on safe and healthy working environments, so think smiling people. Deadline is soon! August 15th your pics have to be in. Next to the main prize of 3000€, there are also prizes of 2000€ and 1000€ Euro's.

Cool eh? Good luck!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

You probably recognise the feeling. Boris Becker wins Wimbeldon at the age of 17! You, being anywhere older then 17, feel like you must have failed to take a chance at something you’re good at. Next example, Ben Woldring, a Dutch entrepreneur who started his first website at 13, is now, at the same age as me a millionaire! What did I do when I was 13? I think I knew how to play ‘Prince of Persia..’Or a world-famous example, Mozart, who wrote his first symphonies at the stunning age of 7. Inspiring? Or just plainly depressing?

Of course there is another category of these stories. Like Peter Oakley, who became famous for his YouTube video’s at the age of 80, or Susan Boyle from Britain’s got talent, she is 48. And ok, that is not old, but still middle-aged. And what about Min Bahadur Sherchan, who was 76 when he climbed the Mount Everest. Now that is inspiring!

There is one thing that you can do whatever your age is. And that’s going abroad. There are exchange programs for students, teachers, workers and entrepreneurs. Just a simple search query away. The best thing is, if you go abroad, you will gain so much experience and inspiration, that you yourself still get a chance to let your talent shine. Because maybe you are a natural born climber, traditional dancer or mudfighter.

Listen, who knows! By sitting here, reading stories about good looking 17-year olds winning Tennis Tournaments, you won’t find it. Go!