Jamal looking for students from far away: ‘In New Zealand the buses are terrible’

During Eurekaweek, Jamal looks for students with a surprising story. Who has travelled the farthest, who is the most hungover during Sports & Play and who are best friends already? On the opening day Jamal found a student from the other side of the world.

The newcomers meet each other during Campus Day. The hunt for the first-year who has travelled the most kilometres to get to Erasmus University starts at the Erasmus Magazine stand. Close by, a group of camera-shy teenagers forms a long queue at a stall where students spin a fortune wheel. Prizes range from bottles of dishwashing soap and law textbooks to tickets for the STAR pub quiz. The lucky winner of a bottle of soap says she’s from Turkey, but under pressure from her friends she leaves immediately.

Excellent public transport

Elise Nierop, a Psychology student, turns 21 this Tuesday and spins the colourful wheel at the Domino’s stall, all for a good cause: the Sophia Children’s Hospital. Does Elise come from far away? “I was born and raised in Rotterdam”, she laughs.

In front of the packed food court, a group of international students hangs around. The 23-year-old master’s student Una Margrét Lungdal comes from Iceland, a lot further than her fellow students from Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Last Saturday she moved from the cold island to a student complex in Kralingen.

“I have been to Rotterdam twice before and public transport is very good here. In Reykjavík everyone has a car, because the buses have very few stops.” Una says Iceland is very hilly, which makes cycling difficult. That is why she is looking forward to using Rotterdam’s flat cycle paths.

With two planes and a train

During the lunch break the phone rings. At the EM stand, they found a student from New Zealand by chance. Loane Chauvineau (19) is on exchange and is taking several courses at the ESHCC this year. “I had the choice between the Netherlands and Sweden, but I’m afraid of cold weather, so I chose Erasmus University.” She says it never freezes in New Zealand and winter temperatures never drop below seven degrees. “Also, I don’t like overthinking, so I chose the first Dutch university I came across.”

For Loane, the long journey with two planes and a train was certainly worth it. “Public transport is really awful in New Zealand, the buses are hopeless and very expensive, so everyone goes by car or on foot.” To get to campus Loane likes to cycle, because there are few hills to overcome here.

'Loser'

She also noticed that students at her previous university gossiped about each other more often than here. She remembers that students were called ‘nerd’ or ‘loser’ when they asked a question in class “Where I come from people are more introverted. In Rotterdam I feel I can talk to strangers much more easily and they judge you less.” According to Loane this fear of being judged does not exist at Erasmus University. “The Rotterdam students I have met are super friendly and welcoming.”