Trying to Sample All the Right Food Groups

My friend Mer introduced me to some of his colleagues from Erasmus University today. Over lunches and coffees we discussed my area of research and I was provided with wise advice, new intriguing ideas, and came away feeling that there was a general interest in the outcome of my project. Needless to say, if enthusiam by academics were the method to which my thesis would eventually be judged, then I think things in the field would be going quite well so far! Finding one's niche in the academic world or the need for one's project in society is unquestionably a necessary step when focussing a PhD topic. I am however, starting to feel as though I'm living on a restricted diet. So as not to misinterpret what I'm trying to say here, I'm proud to say that I've made a few fantastic connections in the academic community here and that each and every one of these connections are very important to the outcome of my research. In short, I could not do it without them. Yet, I'm beginning to hanker for a vegetarian as oppose to meat dish, a fish delicacy instead of a salad, mash potatoes instead of fries (hold the Mayo, alstublieft). I'm hungry for sustinance of a different food group, as in, I would like to hold an interview with a real, live participant! Of course when this comes up in conversations, as it almost inevitably always does, I'm told the major hold-up in securing my first interviews is my inability to speak more than a simple conversation in Dutch. I have to say that I absolutely agree, the Dutch language is key. So for now, I will study hard everyday and wait to sink my teeth into something a little more tantilising in the future; these alternative dishes have become more tantalising not only because variety is the spice of life but most probably at the count of 18 days and running, I'm already getting restless!