{"id":89070,"date":"2018-08-23T10:48:43","date_gmt":"2018-08-23T08:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=89070"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:04","slug":"i-have-had-cheese-sandwiches-five-times-already-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/08\/23\/i-have-had-cheese-sandwiches-five-times-already-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I have had cheese sandwiches five times already this week!\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Take a stroll on the campus and you will notice it at once: Erasmus University is a motley crew of international students. You will definitely notice it during the Eurekaweek, which will be attended by about one thousand (a quarter of the overall number) first-year students from all over the world. The Eurekaweek Organising Committee feels the induction week \u2013 and the university itself \u2013 must constitute a level playing field, revolving around diversity rather than differences.<\/p>\n

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Chiara Hoijer, Cura\u00e7ao (20, Business Administration)<\/h2>
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Chiara Hoijer from Cura\u00e7ao <\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

\u201cNo university degree in Business Administration is offered in Cura\u00e7ao, which is why I\u2019m getting my degree in the Netherlands. The Eurekaweek opening ceremony at Ahoy was very impressive, and the rector seemed an\u00a0open-minded\u00a0guy: all new students are welcome, regardless of their ethnicity and background. The fact that the Mayor, Ahmed Aboutaleb \u2013 who gave a speech \u2013 is of foreign extraction also made me feel like this city and university will accept and respect me.<\/p>\n

The campus is a multi-cultural place, like Cura\u00e7ao, but the main difference is the atmosphere, which is very easy-going in Cura\u00e7ao. People on campus seem to focus more on themselves. Parties at student societies are completely different from what I\u2019m used to, as well. Parties are less exuberant here, and people only drink beer! In Cura\u00e7ao we prefer sweet mixed drinks and we mainly dance to\u00a0urban\u00a0and\u00a0Latin\u00a0songs and local music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kevin Narang, Thailand (19, IBEB)<\/h2>
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Kevin Narang from Thailand <\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

\u201cI have attended international boarding schools for years, all over the world \u2013 Thailand, India, the United States \u2013 but I had never been to Europe before. A friend of mine was already doing a degree at Erasmus University, and he told me there were many students with many different nationalities here. That kind of environment suits me.<\/p>\n

I did not arrive in the Netherlands until last Sunday. I mainly think it\u2019s very cold here. I\u2019m obviously used to Thai temperatures. Rotterdam is completely different from what I\u2019m used to, and the buildings are incomparable. Just like the people, who are much more outgoing here. For example, at the information market I chatted to quite a few people, and strangers are actually asking me whether I\u2019ve had a nice day! I\u2019ve also noticed that people eat a lot of cheese here. I\u2019ve had cheese sandwiches five times already during the Eurekaweek! I want to join Antibarbari, and I hope to get more exposure to the Dutch way of life there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marie, Norway (20, Arts & Culture Studies)<\/h2>
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Marie from Norway <\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

\u201cI didn\u2019t arrive in the Netherlands until last week. It\u2019s my first time here, and I\u2019m overwhelmed by all my experiences here: the architecture, the people, the campus\u2026 Compared with Rotterdam, the town in Norway I\u2019m from is very dull. There are far, far fewer people there than there are here.<\/p>\n

Nearly my entire group consists of international students. It would be nice to have more Dutch people on the group, for a change. I don\u2019t feel close to Dutch students yet. I don\u2019t know anything about Rotterdam student life, so I hope to get to know some people who have been attending uni here for a while and know the best parts of town, because I only saw a few during the tour of the city. I\u2019ll be a student here for at least three years, so I\u2019ll have plenty of time to make many new friends, both international students and<\/em> locals. And to eat cheese \u2013 like a true Dutch person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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