FSE Day

When I read about the IMFSE Fire Safety Engineering Day in previous blogs, of course it became one of my “eagerly looking forward to” moments. The opportunity came early this year, when the 6^th FSE Day was organized in Lund University. It was a unique moment when the students, the academics from the program universities and the representatives from the companies in the sponsorship consortium all came together to attend the event. It provided us, the ‘then’ first year students, a chance to meet the amazing people who are already in this field. The theme of day was Fires in Urban Settlements. There were several informative and interesting presentations on the topic, which we were able to attend in-person. We also took a group photo in the end with all the participants, which I think will be a cherished one for the years to come.

6th FSE Day (February 4, 2020)

And now for this academic year, it became impossible to organize such an event! So, the online alternative had to be planned, with a technical seminar series in six sessions on the topic: Modelling as a fire safety design tool – challenges and benefits. Three such sessions have already been successfully carried out, with five interesting presentations. The next three sessions will be scheduled in early 2021.

Hard to say when will be the next time we will be able to organize an event in-person again! But until then, most importantly, stay safe, and stay connected, online!

Practical Tips for Erasmus Student

Erasmus programs are really unique in terms of giving opportunity to live in different countries and study in different universities. However, other side of mobility program is that for each semester you need a new visa, a new accommodation, a new bike, etc. To make your life a bit easier, below you can find some practical tips:

1. Make sure you have all copies of your essential documents with you, as well as electronic version. It is also helpful to have several passport photos. If your documents are not in English, make a translation.
2. If it is applicable to your home country, have an electronic signature to be able to request needed documents online or make a power of attorney for your relatives.
3. Start thinking about visa couple of months in advance and always look for the latest information.
4. Keep your luggage light! I know it is easy to say, and I also have carried some things, that I never used.
5. If it was not possible to keep with #4, there are several services that can send your luggage within the Europe for a good price (for example: sendmybag). However, read carefully company terms and conditions, as well as instructions on the website.
6. In Lund and Ghent student accommodation is provided, but in Edinburgh it is not. Therefore, start searching for a place in advance and also ask seniors, since they might have contacts of proven landlords.
7. Once in a new place, do not run straight to IKEA to buy kitchenware, bedding, etc. Some student unions (in Edinburgh and Ghent) arrange “Freshers’ Freeshop” or “Swapshop”. There you can find different things (pans, plates, stationery, etc.), that were left from previous students. This saves you from buying new and stop good things going to waste.
8. Last but not least – enjoy the moment! Try to experience some of the local features and learn something new (below you can see us exploring local brewery). Time flies, and you will suddenly realize that semester is done, and you already need to move to another place.

Trip to Bruges!!!

Bruges is located In West Flanders, unlike Ghent which is in East Flanders. It is Belgium’s most perfectly preserved medieval town and its jaw-dropping; beautiful architecture attracts more than two million visitors every year.

8 of us went on this trip on a Sunday morning. We boarded the 09:38 am train from Gent and the ticket priced 7.8 euros (weekend ticket). The train journey lasted for approximately 25 minutes.

We walked from Bruges station to the city center. It took almost 25 minutes but we didn’t know the passage of time as we were busy gazing at the ancient dazzling architectural works!!

Mauricio, Momoi, Lea, Susana, Gurpreet, Ajay, Shaunak, Devmini (left to right)

Places that we visited:

1. Frietmuseum (Fries Museum): The Frietmuseum is located in the Gothic Saaihalle (former wool hall) at Vlamingstraat 33. This is one of the oldest buildings in the World Heritage-listed historic center of Bruges and dates back to 1399. The ticket price for students was 6 euros (do not forget your student card). The museum is spread across three floors. Exhibits on the ground floor trace the history of potatoes, beginning in Peru 8000 BC. The first floor details the history of fries, and their origins in Belgium. The second floor has a small gaming zone and the third floor has all the different tool that were used for peeling/cutting potatoes.

You can check the below link for the details like location, opening hours & ticket prices

http://www.frietmuseum.be/en/museum.htm

2. Boat ride: The boat ride was the best part of this trip. The boat journey prolonged for 30-40 minutes. The boat driver was our guide throughout the journey. He explained the different architectural buildings; their significance, and the year of construction. Fleeting through the canals alongside ducks and swans was indeed a delightful experience.

3. Church of Our Lady- The 112-meter-high spire of the Church of Our Lady (Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk) is the tallest in Belgium. Work began on the nave and aisles around 1230, the outermost aisles and chapels being added in the 14th and 15th centuries.

The church holds a wealth of art treasures, among which is a sublime sculpture by Michelangelo.

You can check the link given below to know about the attractions in Bruges.

https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/bruges-brugge-b-wv-bruges.htm

References:

http://www.frietmuseum.be/en/museum.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frietmuseum

https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/bruges-brugge-b-wv-bruges.htm