Jamal in search of the most hungover student: ‘I’ll rest later’

During the Eurekaweek Jamal looks for students with surprising stories. Who has come from far away, who is the most hungover while playing sport and who has already made friends? On sports day Jamal found a student who, despite his night in Amsterdam, joined a volleyball match.

Tuesday of the Eurekaweek is dedicated to Sports & Play. The hunt for the first-year student with the biggest hangover starts at the stall of the Law Faculty Association (JFR). Here a group of students are playing a game of bubble football. The football kits have been replaced by plastic inflatable balls, which, according to a JFR member, you must ‘put on like a backpack’. After the first whistle the first student quickly ends up on his back like a turtle, after which bystanders help him to his feet.

Arsenal against Manchester United

Between the bouncy castles and food trucks two somewhat sleepy-looking students walk over. The two turn out to be football fans of the rival clubs Arsenal and Manchester United. Etienne Hilton (20), an Economics student, takes the field for his club from Manchester to take on his friend Viggo Wolff (20), a Psychology student, who supports the opposing side. Even though it got rather late yesterday, they sprint across the pitch energetically.

“I met someone from Dublin who is doing the same course. I introduced my friends and he introduced his. That way we went out with a large group”, Etienne says. After the Smitse the next stop was music venue Annabel. They were really getting into it and ended the evening at 2.00 in a bar on Witte de Withstraat. “It wasn’t that late”, Etienne feels.

Bohemian Rhapsody

After a pizza dinner in a park, his housemate Viggo headed off with another group. “From an ESSB afterparty we spontaneously went with everyone to karaoke bar Uniek, until 2.30. The whole bar sang along to songs like Bohemian Rhapsody and it was amazing to meet new people there”, he says.

Etienne’s morning did not run as smoothly as the night before. “I had to collect my bike that I left on campus yesterday. Then I missed the bus and had no choice but to run to campus. Annoying, but this morning exercise did ease the hangover”, he says. Viggo also moved to get through the groggy morning: he played rounds of table tennis and basketball.

Amsterdam

Bernardo Rainha (18), a communication and media student, had a chaotic night, but that does not stop him from a game of volleyball in the blazing sun. He started his night yesterday at a friend’s in Amsterdam and, after a necessary stop at the off-licence, ended the evening in the same place. “We had a farewell party for a good friend who will study in Paris next year. I thought we didn’t drink that much, but when we got up I certainly felt it”, he says.

They didn’t go into the city in Amsterdam, yet the night almost ran into the morning. “I stayed overnight in Amsterdam and returned to Rotterdam early this morning. That’s probably why I’m so tired”, he adds. Bernardo’s love of sport persuaded him to play volleyball on this groggy Tuesday. “Besides, I want to make new friends and meet people. Of course I’ll go to the cantus, I’ll rest later”, he says.