The end of the "399 experience"

8 months.

8 months ago, the last 9th of September, I took the plane, with a little hangover from my goodbye party in Spain (prelude of my life here...confirmation of what an Erasmus is) and landed in the country where the windmiles, magic mushrooms and coffeshops are the most typical stuff. A country that I had always desired to visit...and, at the end, I can tell I don´t have good feelings at all about it...because when I went there I hoped a lot about Holland and the dutch people. I have met different kinds, of course, nice and friendly dutchs but also strict and square-minds...like everywhere, I guess.

However, I can not say the same about the international people I have met here...in fact, I don't have words to describe what the "399 experience" means...what is "399 experience"??? ...I think an image is better than thousand words, so, click here.

"399 experience" is just the Erasmus experience, that a lot of people enjoy it all around Europe. But, just to make it more special for us, one day someone noticed that our Erasmus experience took part mainly in our residence, the incredible, the huge, the noisy 399. Never mind where did you live, did not care about the time you stayed there... "399 experience" is for all the people that spent (or maybe wasted) their time enjoying at 399.

I do not have words to describe what it was, all the things I have lived here, with an amazing group of friends, some of them closer than others, but I have learnt something from each. Thanks a lot Romain, Marco Pash, Clare, Monica, Merytxell, Adria, Chiara, Moira, Johannes, Reduan, Jesus, Akis, Marco, Nadine, Sabine, Antti, Laia, Emilia, Wolf, Chema, Joanna, Joana, Bartek, Cezary, Otta, Gregory, Clare, Uli, Sarah, Hugo, Jose, David, Jennifer, Gaya, Olivier, Benoit, Ania, Ana, Abraham, Jorge, Jola, Emily, Matteo, Zivanna, Sofia, Judith, Maria, James, Otta, Liza, William, Yunei, Judith, Alba, Fremsoi, Dorian, Noelia, Dorleta and, specially, thanks to my Drinking Team mates, Xavi and Alberto.

And also thanks to Carlos, Angela, Ana, Helena, Julian, Nacho, Pek, Pablo, Jako, Tomas, Ruben, Pablo, Rober, Edu, Jorge, Maite, Ici, Javi, Marina, Jona, Leti, Alba, Ruth because you were part of this also. And also Thomas, the best dutch!!!!

One day one friend told me: "when you are an erasmus you feel amazed at the people you meet"...thank you for make me feel astonished.

"399 experience" was, for me, time to meet new people, totally different at the begining...completely the same at the end. Time to enjoy a lot, with too many parties, a lot of fun dancing, many trips and a lot of fun basketball games and pool contests. Time to learn, not only in my lab, with my fucking master thesis (thank you very much Leimeng for your help), but also learn from the people, grown up as a person, open a bit more my mind.

It was also time to laugh at any stupid thing, time to try dozens of beers and hate some (specially the amazing Groslch), time to meet my Spanish friends abroad, and also have fun with them, and travel, and get drunk. Time to miss my home, to call mum and dad and talk about what I was eating. Time to make plans about future, about jobs, about places, about parties when we all meet again. Time to love, time to think, time to make mistakes.

I do not want to say goodbye to "399 experience". I just want to say "See you tomorrow".