In the good ol' days, there used to be an MTV reality show called "The Real World." The concept was simple: "This is the true story... of seven strangers... picked to live in a house... (work together) and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real... The Real World" (from the TV channel's website). Sounds kind of interesting... right?
Right after I left the crappy hotel where I spent my first night in Gent, I knew that the only place where I could go and get some help (as for where to stay) was the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School, a.k.a. the place where I was going to spend one year of my life studying. Besides my admission letter and some help from their side to get my VISA at the Belgian embassy in Peru, there was no further communication from the school's staff (other than an email with the starting dates, and the admissions' bill...what a surprise). I thought, "Heck, maybe they have some information on student rooms or something like that."
So, right after I left the hotel in the red light district, I headed towards the school (using my map). It took me about 15 minutes to reach a huge building with the word UCO in front. The business school was located on the first 4 floors of the building. Initially, the place looked nice and modern, but after a while, I realized the door was closed. Not only that, but there was NO ONE to be seen around... not even cars in the parking lot! And when I thought about it more, I realized I hadn't seen many people on the streets either (i found out later it was a national holiday or some shit like that)
Luck was definitely on my side that day because, after lurking around the building for 5 minutes, I stumbled upon a cleaning lady doing her thing. I went up to her and asked for some info, but it turned out she couldn't speak English. Nevertheless, she motioned for me to hold on and disappeared back into the building. After a bit, she signaled for me to come in and follow her, which I did, no questions asked. She led me to an office where another lady, sporting a military-style buzz cut, was busy at her computer.
"Hi, how can I help you?" - asked Ivana Drago
"Yeah... I just arrived yesterday to study for one year at the school. I was wondering if you have some information on student housing or other accommodations."
She looked at me surprised and asked, "Didn't anyone from the school come to pick you up at the airport?"
"Nope... I had to find my own way and sleep in the hookers' street."
"Oh my goodness" (shame on her face), "the staff didn't tell you about the international student house?"
"Nope (again)... just sleeping in the hookers' street."
"Oh..."
At that moment, old Roxette began making some phone calls and speaking in what sounded like a mix of Elvish and Klingon (according to linguistic research, it seemed that people in that country actually communicated in that strange mix of sounds, which apparently had a name: Flemish).So, after speaking for 5 minutes or so she opened a drawer and got some keys and asked me to follow her to her car. Apparently, the bastards had a house for international students which I wasn't aware about (or nobody had cared enough to let me know about that small detail, even though there weren't THAT many foreign students enrolled at the school), which could be used for a month until each student could find his own private dorm. And apparently they also picked you up from the airport....too late for that one!
Anyways, we arrived to an old house in a part of the city called Ledeberg. I can still recall the address quite well of that first house that hosted this humble server: Langenstraat 88.
But Luis, you handsome future savior of humanity, Earth, and the galaxy, how did you manage to remember the address so well you might ask yourself?
Because, it was the first time I had to share the house with a bunch of strangers, from different countries, with different customs, and it was definitely so hilarious and memorable that after so many years, I still remember every detail from those first days at the kame-house!
To begin with, I was the first international student to arrive. That meant that i had the house for my self for some days.
First thing i did after getting the house keys from commando lady was going back to the youth hotel to pick up my jumbo trunk, and repeat the walk of shame till reaching the tram station. Then, I had to bowl again some tram passengers to make space for the colossal carry-on till i reached the tram stop at my destination. Last, I had to walk at least another 15 minutes with the monstrosity till I arrived at the house, and could finally install myself in that very first place, or what would become my home for my first weeks.
