{"id":121118,"date":"2020-12-17T07:29:54","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T06:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=121118"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:25:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:25:18","slug":"ph-d-candidate-shirley-nieuwland-offers-her-christmas-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2020\/12\/17\/ph-d-candidate-shirley-nieuwland-offers-her-christmas-message\/","title":{"rendered":"PhD candidate Shirley Nieuwland reads a Christmas message"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas is drawing near and that means a time of traditions for PhD candidate Shirley Nieuwland: a Christmas tree at home, family around the table and A Christmas Carol<\/em> <\/a>on the bedside table. She bought Charles Dickens’ book about fifteen years ago. Ever since then, Nieuwland has reread the novella (almost) every year around Christmas.<\/p>\n

\"\"

\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<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Shirley Nieuwland (29) has compiled a list of books that she has read in the Goodreads<\/em> app. \u201cI don\u2019t read as much as I used to. As a girl, I read so much that my mother asked the library if I could borrow more books than I was allowed to on my membership. Without any luck, the Spijkenisse Library didn\u2019t want to make an exception.\u201d One book from her list that really made an impression on her was A Christmas Carol<\/em> by Charles Dickens. \u201cI bought the book fifteen years ago, and have reread it every year at Christmas, especially in the early years. The message it conveys concerns the idea of Christmas: \u2018Life is not all about money, it is about caring about others.’\u201d<\/p>\n

A Christmas Carol <\/em>tells the story of the bitter, miserly Scrooge. In his life, he is busy making money and apart from that, he despises anything and everything that is not money. The night before Christmas, Scrooge is paid a visit by three ghosts who confront him with his life, a terrifying revelation. Feelings of regret and compassion turn him into a generous, caring man after that night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever I reread the story, I become aware that I myself might also be too busy pursuing a career or making money. The story reminds me that it\u2019s really nice to make someone happy with a handwritten card or a slice of home-baked cake.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book falls under Nieuwland\u2019s favourite genre: Magic realism. \u201cBecause of that magical element \u2013 the three ghosts \u2013 I can transport myself to a different setting than this one,\u201d Nieuwland briefly glances around her living room. \u201cWhile the realism in it allows me to relate to the main character.\u201d The combination of magic and reality is really tangible. Whereas with the Lord of the Rings<\/em> I don\u2019t recognise anything of myself in it at all; that\u2019s too much of a fantasy. But with Harry Potter<\/em>, I can relate to the characters, even though the story takes place in a completely different world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mass tourism<\/h2>

As a PhD candidate, Nieuwland is focusing on sustainable tourism. She is researching potential opportunities for balancing the quality of life and tourism in cities. \u201d I mainly read papers for my research, and every now and then a non-fiction book. Donut Economics<\/em><\/a> by Kate Raworth, for example. \u00a0I read books like these during my work hours. In my spare time, I don\u2019t really enjoy books that teach me facts and knowledge,\u201d Nieuwland says laughing.<\/p>\n

Perched on the top bookshelf in her living room is a novel about the shadowy sides of mass tourism: Grand Hotel Europa<\/em><\/a>, by the Dutch author Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer. The book describes how Europe becomes overrun by tourists looking for authentic experiences. \u201cIt\u2019s fiction, so I felt that I couldn\u2019t read it during my work hours, but the whole time, I kept on thinking about my research. The book opened my eyes once again to the repercussions of tourism, but I cannot just repeat what the author wrote. I\u2019m doing my own research, with my own message.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that message has once again to do with money. \u201cSustainable choices often cost more money. I often hear people \u2013 people who have money \u2013 say: \u2018I don\u2019t take the train to go on holiday, because that costs 50 euros more than the plane.\u2019 I used to think the same way, but when you buy a vacuum cleaner for your home, you don\u2019t choose the cheapest one either. You want one that works well. It\u2019s a pity that money is the most important motivation for a lot of people when they decide to go on holiday.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m highly motivated myself where sustainability is concerned, but I do have to consider others as well.\u201d She looks at the door behind which her boyfriend Daniel is working. \u201cWe went to Valencia for three months for my research. We travelled by train and had some bad luck. The station at Disneyland Paris had to be evacuated because of a bomb scare, so we missed our transfer to Spain. Instead of 16 hours, we ended up travelling for a whole day and 16 hours. I considered it part of the adventure, but Daniel was a bit less enthusiastic.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

\n\t\t

Number of books per year: “I’m happy if I get to read ten books per year!\u201d<\/p>\n

Last book read: The Shadow of the Wind<\/a> by Carlos Ruiz Zaf\u00f3n<\/p>\n

Favourite genre: fiction, magic realism<\/p>\n

Main motivation: relaxation<\/p>\n

Shirley Nieuwland is a PhD candidate under the Erasmus Vital Cities and Citizens initiative<\/em><\/a>. She is currently researching sustainable tourism in cities such as Rotterdam and Valencia. She blogs about her findings and experiences on her own website ParadiseFound<\/em> <\/a>. Nieuwland completed her bachelor\u2019s degree in General Cultural Sciences at the EUR and followed a master’s degree in Urban Geography at the Radboud University Nijmegen.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\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