{"id":116047,"date":"2020-08-13T11:05:37","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T09:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=116047"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:00","slug":"a-corona-summer-bianca-jadoenath-iss-relaxes-at-clingendael","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/08\/13\/a-corona-summer-bianca-jadoenath-iss-relaxes-at-clingendael\/","title":{"rendered":"A corona summer: Bianca Jadoenath (ISS) relaxes at Clingendael"},"content":{"rendered":"

How are Erasmus University employees getting through this year\u2019s summer? Are they taking up new hobbies? Are they having staycations on their own balconies? This week we will hear from Bianca Jadoenath, 37, a policy adviser at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague and a member of the University Council, who has been making weekly visits to a green and quiet place just a short bus ride away from The Hague Central Station ever since the coronavirus pandemic began.<\/p>\n

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Bianca Jadoenath in her favourite relaxing spot.<\/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\tRonald van den Heerik<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

So what kind of bird is crossing the pond over there, and to which family does the duck waddling in the distance belong? And how old is the estate, who used to live there, and how did it come into being? Bianca Jadoenath laughs and admits that she doesn\u2019t have the foggiest. You see, Bianca does not come to the Clingendael estate to spot birds, learn more about the history of the place or study trees. \u201cBut obviously I do come here exactly because there are so many birds and such wonderful scenery.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stilte<\/h2>

The estate is full of mature trees and has a Japanese garden, which is only open to the public a few weeks a year. And the main thing: it\u2019s quieter here than at other green spots. Bianca takes a step, raises her index finger into the air and listens. Even though the park is situated at a mere three bus stops from The Hague Central Station, it\u2019s silent. \u201cThis is what I mean.\u201d She has lived near Hollands Spoor railway station in The Hague for quite some time now, and is used to the sounds of trams, cars and people going about their lives. She no longer hears the sounds they produce. It\u2019s the other way around now: she hears the silence and feels the quiet.<\/p>\n

And let\u2019s face it, she could do with a little peace and quiet after everything that has happened in the last few hectic months. \u201cI\u2019ve worked non stop since 13 March. Yes, I remember the exact date.\u201d As a policy adviser tasked with education reform and the person in charge of ISS students\u2019 \u2018student journey\u2019, she had her work cut out for her. Moreover, all the changes had to be implemented quickly. \u201cWe were suddenly forced to do everything online. We didn\u2019t have time to properly test anything, but in the end, we did a pretty decent job of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

'Too much information' <\/h2>

She has been so busy she hasn\u2019t been able to go on holiday this year. \u201cThis summer we had to arrange things for the upcoming year.\u201d She had to solve a complicated puzzle and develop new processes allowing new students, most of whom are still at home, to take their courses, which is proving quite the challenge. \u201cISS\u2019s students hail from fifty countries, including countries in Asia, Africa and South America. It\u2019s not easy to find solutions that will suit all of them.\u201d And on top of that, the University Council will start convening again in two weeks. Bianca is a member of the Council, too.<\/p>\n

So to make sure she got some rest and relaxation, she scheduled some park time at least once a week. She will bring a blanket, hammock, speaker and book, and that\u2019s her sorted. On days on which she has video meetings scheduled, she will settle for a shorter walk through the forests or gardens. And on those days on which she has enough time to sit down in the park, she will make sure to stay within a 500-metre radius of the pavilion. \u201cThis may be a little too much information, but the pavilion has the only toilet in the entire park!\u201d She may be in need of some R&R, but she has no intention of going without a lavatory.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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