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Reagan J Payne, Author at The Art of Adventure - Page 5 of 6

Stukafest Maastricht 2013

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Where anything is allowed besides stinky socks. Stukafest takes place across the Netherlands and hit Maastricht on Feb. 28. The festival is run by students for students, and provides an affordable way for us ramen-noodle-eating, penny pinching students to experience some incredible music. Instead of attending concerts in normal venues, students around Maastricht opened up their living rooms for artists to perform. Tickets had to be purchased in advance since show sizes were limited to about 20 people. I opted … →

On the Road: Rotterdam, Delft and Den Haag

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Albums, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Eight girls, three cities, and one crazy adventure. After carnival, my new friends and I set out on a very affordable tour of the Netherlands. Originally, we had planned to travel to Paris to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The only thing more depressing than celebrating Valentine’s Day without a Valentine was how much money the Paris trip added up to be, so we opted to stay within the Netherlands and see what our host country has to offer. In retrospect, exploring … →

Happy President’s Day from a Proud American Abroad

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Part I, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Since boyhood, Ronald Reagan answered to the nickname “Dutch.” Legend has it that as a newborn child, Reagan’s father took a look at him and said, “He looks like a fat little Dutchman. But who knows, he might grow up to be president some day.” Happy President’s Day, Dutch! So here I am in the Netherlands, named Reagan and living among the Dutch. These uncanny parallels make me feel close to home, and proud of my country. Since arriving in … →

iTravel better without my iPhone

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Part I, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Wallet, check! Room key, check! Burt’s Bees Chapstick (obsessed), check! iPhone…iPhone…iPHONE?!? Last week, my iPhone was stolen at The Alla. For those not familiar with Maastricht, The Alla is the club that opens after all the bars close for the night. It is always packed crowded, and plays hysterically outdated American pop music. I’ve heard of many stolen iPhone episodes at The Alla, but still stupidly kept my phone in my back pocket – it was really too easy a … →

Faces of Maastricht Carnival

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Albums, Part I, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

These are the faces of the Maastricht Carnival. The faces of hearty street dancers, of shameless drunk singers, of new friends and fellow celebrators. Together, these faces create the perfect madness that is Vasteloavend in Mestreech.             …..  SEE THE FULL ALBUM    The history of carnival in Maastricht February 10, 2007 by Hennie Reuvers  During my childhood years in the late 1950’s, carnival didn’t start earlier than one week before Ash Wednesday. Our schoolmaster at the … →

Introduction Week – Academic

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Part I | 1 Comment

Introduction week was a blast with all the parties sponsored by the Erasmus Student Network…but I am here to learn. RIGHT, MOM AND DAD?! Maastricht uses an innovative education model called Problem Based Learning. Here is what the university website has to say about PBL:   This system was one of the main reasons I was drawn to study here in Maastricht. The university consists of 42% international students, and I think this diversity paired with a discussion based learning environment … →

Introduction Week – Social

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Part I | 1 Comment

Since my arrival at Maastricht University the word “Erasmus” has been floating around during daily life. Curious, I asked a friend what it meant, and learned yet another reason why I think many European countries are doing education right. The Erasmus Programme stands for EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students and also holds the namesake of Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus. In 1495 Erasmus was granted a stipend to study at the University of Paris. He later attended Universities in Leuven, England, Basel, Venice … →

Cooking with Italians

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

In The Godfather Clemenza delivers my favorite line after his driver was murdered: “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” Since that scene, the quote has evolved into something of a mantra that basically means ‘don’t sweat it, move on. Take the cannoli and go.’ Yeah, that’s a cool mantra! Ok! But what I really love about this scene is that Clemenza took a second from his routine chaos to remember he promised his family that he would bring home dessert. Clemenza’s … →

Eating Cheap as an Exchange Student

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Recommendations | 3 Comments

Dining out is eating away at my wallet. Existing in a foreign country as an exchange student is a strange limbo between native and visitor. Everything feels foreign, yet everything around us is home for the next five months. So far I’ve been buying food with the mentality of a visitor – try it all! Now, after a horrified look into an empty wallet, I’m switching to treating food and drink spending as a native – and will hopefully start saving … →

A Lecture on Dutch Politics

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Reagan J Payne in Part I, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Few things catch my attention like the word “FREE!” On a walk down an avenue near the University I spotted a poster advertising a free lecture on Dutch politics. The lecture was to be held at 6:30 in the Law Facility, and I had every intention of being there. With a few hours to kill before the lecture, I walked around and discovered back neighborhoods, boutiques, hidden windmills, a petting zoo and other “personality” places that together, form the perfectly … →