{"id":165416,"date":"2024-03-20T10:59:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-20T09:59:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=165416"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:14","slug":"blade-runner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2024\/03\/20\/blade-runner\/","title":{"rendered":"Blade Runner"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is my first roommate interview. In the elevator I try to convince myself I’m very confident and fun to be around. Next to me stands a girl about my age. She tries to take a picture of herself in the mirror without me ending up in it.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPauline Wiersema<\/a>, \t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

On the way to the apartment, she walks closely behind me. Once there I ask:<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you also here for the roommate interview?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly\u201d, she responds distantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNervous?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not really.\u201d<\/p>\n

A blonde girl in dungarees opens the door. She jumps into the air out of excitement. The two girls fly into each other\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so wonderful you\u2019re here!\u201d<\/p>\n

I receive a handshake.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, you\u2019re from Facebook, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m Onno.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a tour of the apartment, we are handed Desperado\u2019s. The two girls drop down on a couch in the communal room and start to extensively exchange information on how work is going and whether that one old classmate is still in a relationship or not. There is a Blade Runner<\/em>-poster hanging on the wall. I wait for an opening to mention this. When the girls simultaneously take a sip of Desperado, I take my chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, a Blade Runner<\/em>-poster, that movie is pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hostess responds: \u201cOh yeah? Never heard of that, must be from one of the previous residents.\u201d<\/p>\n

The apartment other resident arrives. He apologizes that he\u2019s late, he still wanted to \u2018hit the gym\u2019. His roommate introduces her friend whom she met in high school. She says they have experienced some insane evenings in Waddinxveen together. The host proposes to all tell a wild story about times we went out. He starts:<\/p>\n

\u201cOne night, I took this chick home with me, but I was so fucking high on ketamine that I didn\u2019t feel a thing when I was fucking her!\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone bursts out laughing. I try to think of something funny for when it\u2019s my turn. But when the laughter dies down, the host starts talking about how many kilos he benched today. The girls are impressed. \u201cWow\u201d, they both exclaim. He then talks about the many long queues at the Basic Fit<\/em>. Complaining about having to wait in line is something I can partake in.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, one time I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, exactly, I agree\u201d, says the host, interrupting me. He takes a sip from his beer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you agree with?\u201d I ask.<\/p>\n

He is visibly confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n

I say that I\u2019m going home. While I make my way across the sticky floor towards the front door, I hear the hostess enthusiastically sharing words of wisdom:<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, if you don\u2019t love yourself, you can\u2019t love someone else, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n

The next morning, I receive a text: Hey Joerie, thanks for stopping by! Unfortunately, you didn\u2019t get the room. Best of luck with your search!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\t

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Also read about Giselle's date<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t