STIs, hangovers and rejection: how to survive the Eurekaweek

Your group, guides, organisers, random drunk fellow students at a party… you meet lots of new people during Eurekaweek. And so many names in a short time can sometimes be tricky. Nothing is more uncomfortable than exploring the city or singing karaoke songs after hours together, and not remembering someone’s name.

It’s best to rip the band-aid off as soon as possible. Better to ask someone’s name again after 15 minutes than after a few days. Should you still find that uncomfortable, you can also go for the old ‘what’s your name again?’. And when the answer comes, you just say: ‘No, I mean your surname’.

During the day, you’ll get to know the city, each other and university life. In the evening, you’ll get to know Rotterdam’s nightlife. Despite plenty of partying this week, introduction week has recently become less and less about drinking. Liquor policy has also changed in recent years. For instance, the tap only opens from 14:00, there are fewer bars at party venues and beer with a lower alcohol content is served.

After all, the fact remains that alcohol is not good for you, especially if you drink when your brain is still developing. Fortunately, Eurekaweek is fun enough to have a good time even without a beer in hand.

There are also many students who prefer to skip the big and loud parties, preferring quieter options. That is why there are alternative events where things don’t revolve around alcohol for once. On Monday, for example, you can opt for a candlelit violin concert instead of a big party, and on Tuesday you can skip the beer cantus in Ahoy for a comedy night at Comedyclub Haug.

Still want to power through all four days non-stop? Then be sure to do it as responsibly as possible. Preparation is key, so eat a hearty carbohydrate-rich meal before you go partying. After all, the more food in your stomach, the slower alcohol is absorbed into your blood. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means you notice the effects much faster, so all the more reason to have a pre-party at the snack bar. Also be sure to drink enough water or soda to limit the damage the next day. Or put a big bottle of water next to your bed before you head out. Even a preventive paracetamol can make the morning programme more bearable.

Getting rejected: it’s always painful. Nobody likes rejection, but that too is part of the game of seduction. Unfortunately, you can’t prevent getting rejected, but you can enhance your chances by always paying close attention to someone’s body language and other signals. Is someone close to you, or not? And does that one fun student act so friendly to everyone, or only to you? And what does all that eye contact mean? Recognising flirting can sometimes be tricky, but practice makes perfect. Luckily, there are plenty of days in Eurekaweek to try out different tactics and brush up on your flirting (recognition) skills.

In case you do get a signal wrong, don’t panic! Accept the rejection confidently, thank the other person for their honesty, and move on. There are plenty of fish in the sea and no is no. One rejection isn’t the end of the world.

Should you do manage a successful attempt at flirting, the next step includes some unwritten rules of conduct to keep things as pleasant as possible for both parties.

Fresh breath is very important, so make sure you have some mints or chewing gum with you. Forgot those? No problem: go outside together for a smoke first. The pungent cigarette smell will leave both of you smelling nothing else – so no iffy odours either. And as an added bonus: you also have the opportunity to have an actual conversation with the person with whom you are about to exchange some 80 million bacteria.

Then there’s the golden rule: no tongue sucking after upchucking. In other words, don’t French kiss if you’ve just vomited. It’s the considerate thing to do vis-à-vis your potential partner.

Besides all this, body language and other communication are again key, because French kissing is only fun if you both like it. When someone doesn’t respond to your advances, you see them turn away their head when you get close or you see someone frantically looking around for their friends, you know one thing for certain: abort mission.

The intoxication of alcohol, partying, lots of new people, a new city and perhaps a new country: your ability to recognise boundaries might become blurred. That, however, doesn’t mean that those boundaries aren’t there. Respect personal space, listen to each other, be aware of non-verbal signals and pay attention to body language. Do not touch anyone inappropriately or put pressure on others.

Should you nevertheless find yourself in a situation where you do not feel comfortable or safe, you can contact the EUR confidential counsellors.

Something else you’d rather not have to deal with this week are STIs. In recent years, the number of STIs has been rising and condom use among young people under 25 has been declining, including in Rotterdam.
The most common STI among young people here is chlamydia. The Municipal Health Service (GGD) is also warning of the rise in gonorrhoea: since 2022, the city has seen a 130 per cent increase. And the increase is particularly striking among heterosexual men and women.

While STIs may be treatable, they are certainly no fun. Chlamydia, for example, also means you have to forego sex for almost a month: the bacteria only become visible in your blood starting from two weeks after sex, and if you are then found to be infected, you have to undergo a week-long course of antibiotics during which you cannot have sex either. Putting on that condom can thus prevent a lot of unnecessary suffering.

Exactly how much risk of an STI you face depends on what your sex life looks like. Nonetheless: be sure to put a few condoms in your handbag or back pocket before you head out anyway just to be on the safe side. You never know which bed you’ll end up in that night.

Another condition common among students in Rotterdam is scabies. It’s a skin condition caused by itch mites, very small bugs that dig little tunnels under your skin, where they lay their eggs. The result is a lot of itching and a new housemate that is very difficult to get rid of.

Scabies is prevalent in several student houses in the city, with the critters commonly found in bedding and clothing. So be warned if you stay overnight at an association house this Eurekaweek. In addition to getting scabies, you can also pass it on through sex, as well as through cuddling or sitting against each other on the sofa. As students often have multiple sex partners and are much more likely to live with roommates, they are therefore more likely to contract scabies.