{"id":100979,"date":"2019-07-18T15:39:40","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T13:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=100979"},"modified":"2026-01-20T10:29:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T09:29:44","slug":"its-bizarre-how-fleeting-eureka-week-is-compared-to-the-time-it-takes-to-prepare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/07\/18\/its-bizarre-how-fleeting-eureka-week-is-compared-to-the-time-it-takes-to-prepare\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It\u2019s actually quite bizarre how fleeting Eurekaweek is compared to the amount of time it takes to prepare the whole thing\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

For 99 per cent of the tens of thousands of people who can be found on EUR every day, the summer months are when they enjoy some peace and quiet and their holidays. It\u2019s when they take a brief break from all the exams, re-sits, deadlines and meetings.<\/p>\n

However, there are people on campus who are working very hard indeed at the moment. So who are these people, and what are they doing now that many other people are enjoying lazing about on a hot summer\u2019s day? Today we are talking to Jasper De Fluiter Balledux and Mariska Dommanschet, both aged 22, who are on the Eurekaweek board.<\/p>\n

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Jasper De Fluiter Balledux (22) and Mariska Dommanschet (22)<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarko de Haan<\/a>, \t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJasper Monster<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

What on earth are you doing on campus this time of year?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jasper: \u201cI\u2019m the President of the Eurekaweek board, while Mariska is responsible for the marketing of the event. Over the next few weeks we\u2019ll be very busy finalising the last few things that need arranging. The programme was finalised quite a while ago, so that\u2019s good \u2013 we won\u2019t have to worry about that any more. But there are still quite a few contractual matters that need to be finalised now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why will this year\u2019s event be special?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jasper: \u201cIn addition to recurring features such as the opening ceremony, the sports day, the cantus [a beer-drinking and singing event \u2013 ed.] and the Night of the Songs, we have added a few new locations this year. We will head to Rotterdam-West for the first time, but we will also be able to be found in front of the Market Hall.\u201d<\/p>\n

Has your stress level increased over the course of the summer?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mariska: \u201cYes, because many business-related things must be finalised. They can\u2019t be put off any longer because otherwise things will be too late. Permits, printed matter, marketing, things like that. You\u2019ll be stressed out over it, but you know in advance that will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasper: \u201cAt the beginning of the year, we often found ourselves thinking as soon as the clock struck five: that\u2019ll do, let\u2019s go to De Smitse now. But now we\u2019ll stick around to get things over and done with. Our meetings are getting longer, too. Although we did try to make things a little easier on ourselves \u2013 for instance, by applying for permits early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mariska: \u201cWe are now receiving all those permits, so that\u2019s going well. Which has relieved some pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is it like, organising a week like this? Is it harder than you thought it would be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mariska: \u201cI think we both had a pretty good idea of what we were getting into, since we were both part of the support crew last year. But it\u2019s still a lot of work, and a huge responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasper: \u201cA lot of people are involved in the event. As an outsider, you only get to see those four days, but there\u2019s so much more to it than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mariska: \u201cWe started last December. It\u2019s actually quite bizarre how fleeting Eurekaweek is compared to the amount of time you spend preparing for those four days. And all you can do is hope the weather will be nice, which is not something you can control.\u201d<\/p>\n

Looking back on the last eight months, how do you feel about them?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jasper: \u201cI have a very good feeling about them. Basically, eight random students are thrown together to form the organising committee, and all you can do is hope for the best. But things went very smoothly right from the start.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mariska: \u201cWe do a lot of fun stuff together, as well. In late June we all went to Mallorca together, and we had a great time. But in the next few weeks we\u2019ll mostly be working on a lot of serious stuff that needs doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

When do you expect to be able to take it easy again?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mariska: \u201cIn September we\u2019re all embarking on our Master\u2019s degrees. We\u2019ll have a week off in between, but we\u2019ll also have to finish a lot of things off during that time. So we won\u2019t be able to take it easy any time soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasper: \u201cCome September, I\u2019ll still be finishing off Eurekaweek, as I\u2019ll be recruiting a new organising committee and writing the handover report. So I\u2019m not sure yet which subjects I will and won\u2019t be able to take.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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