The first time

The Eurekaweek and the start of your studies are a time full of firsts. You will rarely experience so many things in life for the first time. Although the firsts are different for everyone, these novelties are the strength of the weeks, months and years that now lie ahead.

First beer, first time away from home, first time in a new city or country, first time riding your bike on the tram tracks, the first time doing your own shopping and laundry, the first time going to a party without anyone you know and the first time meeting so many new people and making friends.

Without underwear

I have a rather poor memory myself, but I still remember a lot from my introduction week. Mentor Cees (with a c), an econometrics student, with whom we stayed and who was used to sleeping without underwear and kept this up in his student room full of first-year female students. Not scary — we mostly had to scream and laugh about it.

Singing along loudly to what we simply called the beer cantus, we didn’t drink that much lemonade. Afterwards we stayed with the daughter of a mayor in a picturesque village near my university town, once we had had enough of the underpants-free host.

Last time

But also the loneliness in a crowded hall of a student society because it simply turned out not to be my scene. Some firsts are just easier than others. And a first time can also be a last time straight away. So don’t be discouraged but move on to the next first that does suit you.

That’s why I enjoy working at Erasmus Magazine so much. We celebrate firsts. Every year we get to celebrate the Eurekaweek again, meet new people and tell you for the first time who we are: the journalistically independent news medium of Erasmus University – or EM for short. Read EM, follow EM and you’ll hear everything that’s happening at the university and in Rotterdam student life here for the first time!