Tina, I'm Juan from Argentina. My situation is similar to yours: after confirming, I had not received any other news from the ALS. I'm a little bit worried about housing, since I sent the form (through ALS) but no replies yet, I also sent an e-mail to Oosterom but she happens to be on holidays returning the 15th of august.
So let just wait!
Cheers, Juan.

Hi Juan!
I think that August is a month for holidays to Netherlands too :-)
I am sure that we are going to arrange everything soon.
Hope you receive your accomodation offer from Dekey the next days.
I have received mine about 2 weeks ago and my room is located at Stavangerweg 334.
Did you apply for Dutch lessons? I am interested in taking some lessons but I think that I am late for registration.
Let's think positive!
Cheers,
Tina ( tinak3@hotmail.com)

Hello again,

It seems more of us are located in Goudriaanstraat: I am staying at no.17.
To Andreeas and Blossom,

We are going to be neighbors so please let me know where are you arriving so we can agree on some gathering maybe to go shopping together

Tanya,

Your offer seems to be the best as refers to living conditions and it is a generous idea to switch it but I do not know if it is possible as the rooms in Goudriaanstraat are rented by another company, named DUWO, and not by De Key.

Tina,

I am also interested in the Dutch language classes but I am not sure if the schedule is OK. Do you have more information about this?

Regards,

Ioana

Ioana (and everyone else)
Yeah, we are going to be neighbours! Cool! I am at no. 13, practically next door as it seems. My friend from Amsterdam said this is a good neigbourhood. I don't have my plane ticket confirmed yet, but unofficially it is 29.8.
Meeting there seems like an excellent idea!
Keep smiling,
Beti

Yes, Dutch courses seem really interesting, the thing is that we need to enroll through our contact in ALS (according to the enrollment form), and as they are on holidays I'll have to wait. My plane is via Stgo de Chile, Madrid and Amsterdam (Iberia) arriving the 29th, and as I have not yet heard any confirmation from the De Key I'll have to go to a hotel. It sound nice to meet before the start of the course, by the way does anybody know what is that introductory day (September 1st)??
Cheers, Juan.

indeed, about dutch courses we have to apply though our co-ordinator at the ALS. I sent an e-mail to Ms Piloo 2 weeks ago but no reply. And as far as I read at the web-page a timely registration is required (at least two months before the start of a course). Hope that we are able to participate still. I am interested for the absolute beginners group-three hours per week.
Meeting is a very good idea, Juan!
I don't know something more about the introductory day but I have register myself for the introduction programme of the ISN taking place from 30-2. I have also applied for a mentor and they put me in a mentor group.
See you soon!
Tina

Hi, everybody
As I can see all of us are worried about the same things. We all arrive in Amsterdam on 29th of August and this is because the introduction programme starts on August 30th. The classes start on 5th of September and I dont think there is a schedule yet. I want to take Dutch classes also and I have contacted somebody at the Languages Faculty to ask for an application form because there was no link online and they asked me for my mail address and sent the application by mail. Yes, we have to apply through our programme coordinator. We will see, as it seems nobody enrolled for these classes yet, so hopefully there will be more available positions.

To Tina24: we are neighbors in Stavangerweg. That made my day  I was little worried about the housing.

To Ioana, Yep, you are definitely right, I just think that it could happen this way. If I go and pick up the keys for the room and sign the lease agreement and the inventory list and everything and than somebody else lives in this room and nobody ever calls the police because of him/her ..  it should not be a problem. I mean we can not change officially, we can just move..  Sounds fine to me  But, as I see there is more people coming to Stavangerweg which is very very cool.

To everybody, I have got this advice from somebody who lived in Ams for 3 years: he said get your bike from here and do not forget to buy the most secure and expensive chain. He said they are expensive there and if I have one here I better just take it with me. What do you guys think? Anybody else thinking on doing the same?

No visas and plain thickets yet. I hope there will no be problem with that.

Greetings,
Tanya from Bulgaria

Yeah, usually the locks cost more than the bike. And you MUST ALWAYS chain it to something solid, otherwise they just pick up your bike and run!
Good idea bringing the locks if you have very good ones. A usual lock in our country is nothing near the massive steel locks in NL (and our bikes DON'T get stolen)!

Hello to everyone!!!
I'm Gulnaz from Scotland and I am also coming to UvA to study this year. I have seen all your discussions and thought its about time i joined you's all. Im quite nervous but excited about coming, as I dont know anyone in Amsterdam. I have had friends who have previously stayed here and said it should be great.

My accommodation is also in Stavangerweg 313, so its good to know some of you will be near by. Im coming to Amsterdam a bit earlier, 17th August next thursday so sort myself out and figure out where the shopping centre and food places are, so if you's dont mind could I come shopping with you girls?

As for registration, i just got documents on 5th August - all were in dutch -so i cant even complete the forms. If you go to the UvA student registration bit - you can download all the registration info and fees info - in english from that. Although it says we should register by 1st Aug, that is already way past, i assume many of you dont even have the documentation that I have. I was emailed by someone on behalf of J.Vogel, that the registration docs can be completed there in Amsterdam, but its moreimportant that the tuition fees are sorted. If your going to pay in instalments, you can only do that once you've opened a dutch bank account, or you can pay the full amount by a bank transfer from back home - you can do this online (this is the address):
http://www.student.uva.nl/studentadministration/

I look forward meeting you all!!

Welcome Gulnaz:)

When you are talking about registration, what does that mean? Registration for courses, for student ID?

Did anyone get confirmed course selection placement?

Have a good trip to Amsterdam and be sure to report back (since you'll be there one week ahead). And for the shopping bit - of course..(I've already located the nearest IKEA!)

Hi everyone again!
It seems that as the time for arrival approaches we are getting closer to useful information.
I received also today an envelope which these documents, the registration form ( not the ID card- I think that we get the ID card there) and the form of payment. Of course all in Dutch but I found the registration manuel on the web-site. For the courses registration I have no news.

Gulnaz,
suppose we are all in the same condition as you- both nervous and excited and without knowing anyone. I am also arriving earlier than the others- at 22. We are gonig to be neighbours so let us meet for shopping or for IKEA if Beti tells us the address and how we get there :-).
See all soon.
Tina

Good for you!

Once youve shopped and registered please dont forget to write back to let us know. I believe the faculty office will be quite crowded on August 29 and 30 so its good to have some tips!

About Internet: I understand we have it in the rooms but does anyone know if we have free Internet access at the faculty buildings?

Ioana

Is anyone has not yet received any offer from De Key ?? Just want to know if I'm the only one or are there someonelse in the same situation---just a bit worried since 3 weeks to fly and no offers yet!!

Cheers !! Juan.

Dont worry Juan,

I was in the same situation on Monday but I have asked Ms. Piloo to ask the housing company what is going on. They resent me the e-mail with the housing offer the following day and everything is now in order. Apparently there was a problem with the e-mails because I had not received their initial offer.

Write to the ALS and ask about it!
Good luck!

Ioana

Hi everyone!

i got an email from Annemarie - she said not to worry about filling in the registration form as we can do that once we all there with help at the Service and Information centre. As for the fees they can be paid up at the latest 1st october, that may differ for those who have scholarships and thus have their fees paid for, so neednt worry too much!!

Blossom - I got an email confirming the classes i had selected for semester one.

Im going to be doing the European Union law stream - has anyone else selected to do this?

looking forward to meeting you all!!

Gulnaz

Hi, Gulnaz

I have an offer for Stavangerweg too. My apt. Num. is 351 and same us you I have choose the European Union law stream. See you soon :)

Regards,
Tanya

Hi again,

Ive chosen the European Union Law also, like most of you it seems!

The registration at the Faculty is scheduled for September 1 so we have enough time to get acquainted with the surroundings. By the way, we are all going to meet on September 1, right? It will certainly be a challenge to find each other in the crowd but it will be fun to put a face next to a nickname!!

Have you register for the introductory programme organized by the ISN? I am not sure if there is a huge difference between this programme and the one at the Faculty, except that through ISN we will meet people from other faculties. Do you think its worth the money and time?


Has anyone got any info on the Internet at the Faculty and in the rooms?

All the best,

Ioana

Hi to all of you!My name is Petar and I am from Bulgaria.I am also coming to ALS.I\'ve chosen the European Union Law stream.Yesterday I received an e-mail that my MVV is ok and I can go to the embassy and pick it up.I have not received any documents by regular mail.Can you please explain what you have received?
To Tanya:
Zdravei!ot koi grad si?kade v balgaria si u4ila?

Hi, Peter :) very nice to hear from you. As long as I know now we are 6 Bulgarians coming to the Netherlands. You can contact me on: tanya_yaneva@yahoo.com

regards,
Tanya