Pangaea
“I feel completely at home at Pangaea, the meeting centre for international students,” Ugandan student Dianah Namubiru tells us.
“I decided to apply to K.U.Leuven because the university was highly recommended to me by friends back home who had studied here. I was looking for a programme that combined culture and development studies, so the CADES programme was perfect for me. Although I only arrived in Leuven in August, I had known about Pangaea for much longer.”
“I had been told that if I came to K.U.Leuven, I should certainly visit Pangaea, the meeting centre for international students. I had already visited the website and been in contact with Caroline and Sabine who work in the office before I arrived, but nothing could have prepared me for the fantastic place I discovered when I got here.”
“The atmosphere is wonderful and as a new student who doesn’t know anybody in town, it is a great place to make friends. Everyone here is very welcoming and helpful. The door is always open. Maybe it’s because of the atmosphere but the students you meet here are different from the ones you meet elsewhere on campus. The people here are really genuine and open. It is a very relaxing place and there is no nicer feeling than making new friends over a free cup of coffee in the lounge.”
“Pangaea is definitely my favourite place in Leuven, but it is also the gateway to other places in Leuven and Belgium. If you can’t think of something to do or you just want a break from studying, you can always find ideas here. Not only does Pangaea organise a range of activities and trips, there is also a wealth of information about things to visit and discover across the country. It really is a socio-cultural hub for the international community in Leuven.”
“If you miss a class, all you have to do is send a one-word text message to fellow students and they know what to do: meet at Pangaea. People meet here just to hang out, but also to read, study, exchange notes and discuss classes. And because of the enormous group of friends you make here, you are never alone in Leuven. Wherever you go, you’re sure to meet someone you’ve seen before at Pangaea. It might sound cheesy or clichéd, but Pangaea really is my home away from home.”
Tell us about your favourite aspect of Leuven. The best entry will be published in the next issue and its author will win a beautiful etching of a university location. E-mail your ‘favourite’ to campusinsight@kuleuven.be
