{"id":1191,"date":"2016-12-24T19:20:15","date_gmt":"2016-12-24T18:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/?p=64003\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:06","slug":"ik-heb-door-dit-diner-niet-meer-het-gevoel-dat-ik-alleen-ben-met-kerst","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2016\/12\/24\/ik-heb-door-dit-diner-niet-meer-het-gevoel-dat-ik-alleen-ben-met-kerst\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This dinner makes me feel like I\u2019m no longer alone at Christmas\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/figure>

No one should be alone during the Christmas season. The International Office therefore organised the sixth EURly Christmas Eve event, which took place on Wednesday. Over 80 students, who together represented 32 nationalities, enjoyed a three course dinner in Grand Caf\u00e9 De Dijk. An EM correspondent who attended the event asked four students about their experience of the evening.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

Xiao Su (24), China, Master in Management<\/h2>

\u201cI won\u2019t be seeing my family during this year\u2019s holiday period. I\u2019ll probably only see them again next summer or even next December. I miss them quite a lot and that\u2019s why it\u2019s nice that I can end the year in the company of friends and other students. It\u2019s good that such an evening is organised, because it gives you a sense of togetherness. I\u2019ve also just finished my exams, so I don\u2019t have to worry about anything for now. The way people celebrate Christmas in the Netherlands is very similar to the way we celebrate Chinese New Year. Being with family and having a good time. I like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

Silvia Naumova (21), Bulgaria, law minor<\/h2>

\u201cThis evening is the closing of both the year and my time in Rotterdam. I spent four months studying here and will soon be returning to Bulgaria. Whether I\u2019ll like seeing my family again at Christmas? I won\u2019t actually. I do not want to go back. My father called earlier this week and got very angry when I told him that I\u2019d rather stay in Rotterdam. The people here are far more friendly and tolerant than they are at home. I\u2019m spending the evening with people from all over the world. That would never happen in Bulgaria. It\u2019s disappointing to be leaving, but it\u2019s nice to be spending the last evening in this special way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>

Jekaterina Kuznecova (22), Latvia, third-year IBA BSc student<\/h2>

\u201cThis dinner is a great way to end the year. Nice people, good food \u2013 couldn\u2019t have been better. 2016 was a bit of a roller-coaster ride for me, so I\u2019m glad that things worked out well in the end. After celebrating Christmas with my family in Latvia, I\u2019ll have a short holiday in Finland before returning to Rotterdam. To me, this city is like drinking beer: terrible at first, but the taste becomes increasingly pleasant. Rotterdam really feels like my city now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Klara (l) en Sara<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

Sara Hannani (25), Iran, bachelor psychology<\/h2>

\u201cI attended last year\u2019s event and had such a good time that I persuaded my friend Klara to come this year. I do not see my family during the Christmas season because home is too far away. Although we don\u2019t celebrate Christmas, it\u2019s nice to be with others at this time of year. I\u2019m very happy about this dinner because I no longer feel like I\u2019m alone at Christmas. Being here with other international students gives me a feeling of being with family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t

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