Dear Erasmus

Dear Netherlands,


studying in your lovely city of Nijmegen is indeed a rollercoaster, shaped by ups and down likewise.
Erasmus is fantastic! And yet I also developed some homesickness. When I left for the Netherlands, I had a wonderful life with my friends at university, living with my family and enough jobs to keep me busy and earn me money. Nonetheless I took this courageous step and left my nest - out of curiosity and wonder and because I wanted to challenge myself - and threw myself again into cold water. It was cold at first. Then it became warmer, the more time I spent here, the more friends I made, the more I got acquainted with the university and the country. The last few weeks were nonetheless shaped by homesickness, as I realized how lucky I was to live in Germany and to have such a supportive environment. And also university with all its deadlines and requirements stressed me out. Sometimes, I do not feel genuinely productive when I work for university, because it is often difficult to see the results and feel that my work is useful.
I am a bit inactive on this blog, but I am actively writing my biweekly column for the University Magazine, so feel free to have a look: https://www.voxweb.nl/blog/more-homes-than-one
https://www.voxweb.nl/blog/72527
And this column is especially about Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, about whom I also wrote a term paper for my Dutch history, politics and culture class: https://www.voxweb.nl/blog/dear-desiderius


Yesterday my friends and me participated in the 'fietsparade', a cycle tour with hundreds (or even thousands) of cyclicsts from all over the world, who celebrated the region Nijmegen-Arnhem as the 'VeloCity 2017' and it was so much fun to cycle approximately 17 kilometres in the sunshine on the wonderful fast cycle paths of Nijmegen, all citizens were out on the streets, cheering us cyclists, and music bands on every corner. By far one of the best experiences of my Dutch Erasmus! :D


And now I will return to my books to study for the next exam...


Doei!


Jane

Travelling solo

Dear Netherlands,

As I have done a bit of solo travelling in the last week, I wrote a speech for my Public Speaking Programme about it and also took it as a template for this week's column on "Vox" ( http://voxweb.nl/blog/travelling-solo ).

I realized it when I was on holiday in England with a friend. He wanted to lie on the beach while I wanted to visit an old castle. After our argument he went to the beach but for me it was too late to visit the castle that day what I later regretted.
So in order to not regret missed chances anymore, I discovered travelling solo. There are three steps to the process.

Firstly, it’s the loneliness people are afraid of. You will most definitely feel lonely some time. You will see things that will remind you of a person or you would like to show to him or her. Yet, having fascination for a place only for yourself will make you delve deeper, slow down, look around, notice different things. It’s easier to get absorbed in an unfamiliar landscape when solo, reliant on no one and vice versa.
And when a pang of loneliness hits you, be reminded you have someone to engage with: yourself.
Furthermore, on your own you are more likely to have chance encounters with strangers.

Secondly, after loneliness comes lightness: Freedom. The place is there, ready for you to discover. Your choices count because they are yours and you decide what to get from the day. You can’t blame anyone – but the weather. This will make you stop complaining and accept situations as they are. You are free, to contemplate than converse. Free, to only to meet your own expectations and no one elses.

The third step is discovery by and of yourself. On your own, you can go and explore at your own pace. You have more time and can tailor your trip to your desires. There will be no hour long searches for the right place to dine, you simply pick the one you like without arguing. You can take detours. You can just sit down for a while and take in your surroundings.  
By engaging with the surroundings instead of a travel partner, you get to know yourself better, what you like, what you are capable of.

So: Get lost and share these trips only with yourself.  

I realized that I could and should have gone to that castle on my own back then. Even if we were on the trip together, I was still responsible for myself.

Yet, I have to admit that after some time it can get really lonely. Of course it depends on the type of person you are. I would recommend travelling solo to everyone, just for the experience, at least once. Furthermore, how you experience a place or a city also depends on the mood your are in and - not to neglect - the weather.

Love,

Jane

Oh, the places you'll go!

Dear Netherlands,


the next days I will be on the road (well, rather on the tracks) to explore the West of you, such as Den Haag (so much looking forward to be back there), Leiden, Haarlem, Delft, Keukenhof. I will spend King's Day in Amsterdam with friends.


Because I travelled a lot by train in the last weeks already, I wrote a column for the uni magazine about the beauty of a train ride: http://voxweb.nl/blog/oh-the-places-youll-go


I will report about my adventures afterwards!


Love,
Jane


P.S. Would you please be so kind ass to bless me with some sunshine in the next days?

Sun

Dear Netherlands,


I plead guilty. I am sorry for having abandoned you for more than a month. Life has been busy. Even if that sounds like a lame excuse, it has indeed been busy. Have a look yourself:
Firstly, I drowned in deadlines for both my universities but luckily I managed to meet them - though I am still waiting for the results.
Secondly, I betrayed you by going abroad to Switzerland. The purpose was a long planned study trip and a Model United Nations conference in Geneva (GIMUN). Five lovely ladies from Hannover University and me visited international organisations such as the World Economic Forum, World Trade Organization, CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), World Health Organization and OHCHR. Every single institution filled us with inspiration and knowledge and made the world just that little bit bigger. Geneva itself is an interesting business city, beautifully framed by the Alps and Jura mountains and boasting the grande Lac Léman/Lake Geneva and a lovely Old Town.
The MUN conference was extraordinarily special in the regard that it took place in the European Headquarters of the United Nations. Equipped with badges which allowed us entry to almost anywhere on the premises we could enjoy our lunch breaks in the beautiful park, admiring the monuments (gifts from states) and the free-roaming peacocks. Inside the buildings we marvelled at the fascinating ceiling of the Assembly Hall of the Human Rights Council (which was in session at the time we were there) and the Assembly Hall which served the Meetings of the fromer League of Nations. It gave an overall special atmosphere to the conference, being in the same buildings and sharing the same lunch cafeteria with real diplomats and quickly jumping to the side because the Syrian government was about to leave a meeting room or crossing our way.
MUN conferences are interesting and inspiring a) diplomacy-wise. Stepping into the shoes of diplomats you have to convince your fellow delegates from your contry's position, even if it does not match your own view on this topic. It hones your debating and rhetoric skills and requires you to develop a negotiation strategy. MUN conferences are interesting and inspiring b) content-wise. Preparation for a conference requires deep research beforehand and throughout the conference. Additionally, the debates and guest speakers teach you a lot about the debated subjects. MUN conferences are interesting and inspiring c) people-wise. Yes, MUN is definitely about the young, ambitious, motivated, smart students from all over the world, willing to engage with each other and have fun. MUN conferences are interesting and inspiring d) MUN-Spirit-wise. There is indeed a term for the feeling delegates experience after an intense conference (lasting only a few days, hence its intensity): post-MUN-depression. 'We're all in this together' is probably the overarching MUN conference feeling, enabling you to actively engage in debates with like-minded people with the same goals, to make new friends and enjoy your priviledged position.

After my return from Geneva to Nijmegen I had to do a take-home exam and recover from a cold. I was not granted much time for that as a friend from Hannover (whom I had only recently seen in Geneva) had announced his visit. We enjoyed the (finally!) nice weather in Nijmegen, exploring its Roman history in the museum and even dared to cross the bridges over the Waal river, cycling for hours 'on the other side of Nijmegen where no one ever goes'. On Sunday summer came to Nijmegen for one day, leaving me with a heavy sunburn.
University classes started again on Monday and I am lucky with only two classes this period ('Theories of International Relations' and 'Dutch History and Culture') as I also have to prepare for a Sociology exam in Hannover in July.

 Sint Stevenskerk Nijmegen

 Do as the Romans do

Fietsen op de dijk

 Waal - Nijmegen

How wonderfully wide a fietspad is! Such a privilege!

This small chapel means 'home', because directly behind it is the student dorm

I can't stop MUNing or doing MUN related things. Yesterday (Tuesday) evening I had the first session of the United Netherlands Public Speaking Programme and it was great fun! This session we focussed on body language and everyone had to do an impromptu speech. Afterwards we went to have a drink and socialise. Not only the trainers made the session informative and fun, also the other participants seem to be cool and interesting people. I am very much looking forward to the next session! But before I have to prepare another speech and videotape it.....

Tomorrow there is a 'Spring Ball' for the international students and I hope to do some serious Standard dancing. I will spend the Easter days with my family in Hannover and the following weekend I will spend in my favourite city The Hague.

So much for the catch up!

Love,

Jane

Rain

Dear Netherlands,


I want to apologise that I have not written much lately. It is because your uni is so demanding! :D And it will be more quiet in the next weeks as well because I am going to Geneva in two weeks and have exams in Nijmegen at the beginning of April. Once they are done, my Erasmus life shall start properly! ;) 

So today I want to - again - tell you about how I and other international students experience life in the Netherlands in general and in Nijmegen in particular.
I am excited to tell you that I have started a biweekly column for the international section of our uni magazine "Vox" and my first column is online: http://voxweb.nl/blog/welcome-to-nijmegen


I also talked to a student from Korea and one from China. As I could not include their observations in the article, I wanted to share them with you.
Firstly, they are both very excited to live in Europe now but have to get used to the culture.
The Chinese student was surprised by the bike culture, as she was not used to riding the bike to university or just more generally around the city.
The Korean student was surprised to see that whatever the weather, the Dutch go by bike and hardly anyone uses an umbrella while cycling (and also walking) in the rain.
We have been here für six weeks now. The first three weeks were characterised by cold and snow, the last three weeks by cold, rain and wind. And with that observation I might have found the answer for why the Dutch brave any weather without much ado: the wind would blow your umbrella away. I tried cycling with an umbrella this morning but had to learn that this is not the best idea. I would have been an obstacle for the traffic, all the time struggling with my umbrella and not giving the impression that I am master of the situation. So I arrived at my lecture soaking wet. Luckily, everyone else did as well. ;)


Additionally, my Korean friend was amazed by what he called the "hug culture" in Europe: when people meet their friends on the street, they usually hug or kiss the cheeks as a greeting. For him, it looks lovely and warm and makes him feel loved. He concluded that Koreans (who just bow or shake hands) had to hug more to make this world a warmer place!
Yes, please! People, go out and give free hugs! Let's make this world a kinder, friendlier and warmer place.

Both the Korean and Chinese student still struggle with the language. They are aware that they have to get used to the signs (even important ones) being in Dutch (and not in English as they expected). A Russian friend of mine had to wait for a couple of minutes in front of the bathrooms at uni for someone to come out as she did not know what 'H' and 'D' stood for. :D

The Chinese student and I share the impression that the semester schedule is much tighter than in our home countries where we have two semesters lasting four months each with a long break in between. In the Netherlands the university year is divided up into quarters with an exam period at the end of each quarter. We concluded that this system can push the students to learn faster and more effective.

That's all for now!
I just wish this endless rain will stop eventually and we will have a nice spring here in Nijmegen. The locals keep promising me that Nijmegen is even nicer in the warm weather, so I am looking forward to enjoying some leisure time near the river.

Tot ziens!


Jane

Resonance

Dear Netherlands,


this week's post is all about resonance as the title gives away.
On Wednesday I attended an evening lecture by the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BwKasee9Qc ) called 'Living in times of acceleration'.
He said that modernization sets the world in motion. A society can be called modern when it systematically requires (material) growth, acceleration, increase in production. The economy , science, art/literature and politics run on the promise of increase.
Humans strive for increasing their horizon, making the world 'available, accessible and attainable' on the promise of making 'more' of the world at an incredible speed. According to Rosa, we run on the promise that eventually there willl come a time where life slows down. E.g. "I only have to do this one job and then everything will be fine and I'll be happy!. Yet, says Rosa, it won't get better. It will be even worse next year.
In our constant process of making the world more 'available, accessible and attainable' (Triple A), the world eventually becomes more arid, quiet, numb, because not all sub-systems in the system can keep up. Rosa asks: Why do people listen to music? To feel alive, to feel connected to the world, it is an access to resonance. We answer to it.
While writing this blog entry I (ironically!) listen to a playlist on Spotify. Rosa asks: Through Spotify 9 million titles are available. But does this enhance our music experience? No. We still only listen to what we know, what we like. Same with streaming: in effect, fewer films are watched, people turn to the blockbusters.
We feel overwhelmed. So the world becomes silent. Eventually, with some people this leads to burnout because nothing touches anymore, the world becomes empty, dead, grey. The access to resonance is dead and we feel that we lose the world. Because we are overwhelmed by the speed, complexity and options.
Structurally, we experience a desynchronization, and culturally, the dream of Triple A leads to a loss of the world.
What are we going to do about it?, Rosa asks. He does not wish for a static society, but a new institutionalisation. He says that humanity needs a society which does not need to grow, speed-up and innovate just to keep up the status, a so-called 'mode of adaptive stabilization'. Society should grow if change is needed and desired. It should be modern in a liberal, pluralistic and democratic sense.
He calls for a Responsive World. For resonance as a way of relating to the world, where the subject and the world appear to touch and transform each other. People ought to reconnect with things and be transformed by their interactions. Resonanace requires that 'both sides speak their own voices, which includes contradiction and dissonance and leads to non-predictable transformation'. People ought to be willing to be transformed and to respond. Resonance is listening to voices different from yours and to get in touch with the difference.
Contradictory to the Triple A theory, resonance necessarily entails non-availabilty and elusiveness. It cannot be accumulated or increased or stored or controlled since we do not know the result of resonance. Resonance is not a set of mind, but a relationship.
In a competitive system as we live in at the moment, there is no resonance. Therefore, according to Rosa, the system and its institutions must enable resonance. Rosa calls for a revolution. Since we know that it is possible to live differently we should structure the world differently from the system of capitalism which consists of explotation, inequality and alienation.


Get out there and get in touch with the world. With yourself. With other people. With objects. With nature. With the system.
Make life worth living. Give it a meaning. Break out of 'more'.
Do not live in a dead and silent world. Get in touch. Be and feel alive.
This might sound naive to some people, but I, personally, genuinely believe that the key to a happy life lies in there. In being in love and being inspired by work.
What leads to a good life? That's what I am here for to figure out. It's easy for us to see what is wrong. But it is hard to see what is good for us.


Inspired by the lecture I made a small bike tour on Thursday afternoon alongside the Waal-Maas-Kanaal which I have a beautiful view of from my window. It had been a lovely day and in the late afternoon the warm sunlight and the soft breeze made me hop on my bike and discover a new part of Nijmegen. Riding my bicycle was inspiring, liberating and refreshing. I love going new places with my bike. It gives me such freedom, such joy!

Today, I talked to my dear friend who is on her Erasmus in Glasgow on Skype. Our conversation was also inspired by Rosa's lecture. We talked about how we do not want to be controlled or lead by companies, the system or society but by our ideas and visions. Is it not sufficient in life to be a good, honest, friendly, kind, polite and pleasant person? To do random acts of kindness and live in an exemplary manner. This certainly makes a good life in our opinion. People should focus on making life and the system we live in ethically better.
What sense is there in increased consumption and focus on profit while neglecting 'humanity' in the sense what makes humans human? To care about each other.


Love,


Jane

Look up, look down, look around

Dear Netherlands,


I already mentioned it before but they say that Erasmus is like a rollercoaster. I could not agree more.
On Erasmus, you meet highly intersting people. They surprise you - in good or not so good ways. Nonetheless, they teach you a lot.
I intend to 'find myself' here - as cliché as that may sound. And yes, through the experiences here, uni or private life, I learn what I wish to learn. Slowly, but steadily.


Dear Netherlands, you know, in life, it's about the little things. Random acts of kindness.
Today, I was on my way home from my excursion to the city centre after uni (I just HAD to see the Grote Markt in proper sunshine for the first time), when I and the other cyclists stopped at a traffic light. A young woman and a young man behind me had a conversation in English. Usually it's me and my Italian friend who entertain the other cyclists at traffic lights or annoy them by cycling next to each other on the fietspad. This time it was, as I guessed, two other Erasmus students. Funnily enough, they talked about the fact that they always presuppose the Dutch speaking English. That they do not even try to approach the Dutch in Dutch, but readily start talking to them in English.
I do the same, yet, I always apologise for only speaking English and make integration efforts, for example trying to pronounce the name of the bread in the bakkerij. The verkoopster then happily corrects me and teaches me one or two words in their language. I then praise their heerlijk carrot cake and we part as happy people.
I arrived at my student dorm and 20 seconds later the Erasmus students from the traffic lights arrived at the bike sheds. Since it is a bit tricky to hold the door of the shed open while pushing your bike inside, I saw the girl struggling with it and held the door open for her. She was thankful and we started a chat about the bike parking spaces. We then both realized that we 'met' at the traffic light and she said she just cycled relaxed behind me because I had such a convenient pace. Oh we then had a lovely little chat about our studies. If I had not held open that door, we would not have got to known each other.
Everybody I met today was in such a good mood thanks to the beautiful weather. It is still a bit chilly but the clear blue sky and bright sunshine make up for it. Spring is definitely on it's way. I, for sure, had a spring in my step! The last three weeks here were characterised by snow, rain and cold. And this one sunny day makes me incredibly happy.

Sunlit 'Grote Markt'



Typical Dutch snack: my beloved carrot cake and a variety of 'kaas': jong belegen, verse geitenkaas met honing and roombrie.

I cannot emphasize enough how lucky I am to study at this university for my Erasmus. On Monday I attended an evening lecture by a p rofessor from the London School of Economics about 'Europe's Promise. Kant's Point of View', he talked about euro-scepticism, euro-federalism and Kant's third way. Kant anticipated a United Europe of States, instead of the United States of Europe, so that states could maintain peace without giving up their sovereignity. It was a highly interesting talk.
How lucky we are to live in the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain...!


I also genuinely enjoy my Political Communication lecture every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I soak up everything like a sponge and let myself be inspired.

"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift." - Albert Einstein

It is true. Oh, so true. Look around. In nature. In your surroundings. Engage with your environment. Be present. And learn.

A little goes a long way: a welcome card from the city of Nijmegen. I genuinely feel welcomed here.

Even on days when the sun blinds you while riding your bike: Keep your eyes open.


Love,


Jane

Random Thoughts

Dear Netherlands,


On Tuesday we had a flatmate dinner. For me it was like a 'National Geography Study' (like my Czech flatmate called it) to observe students in their 'natural environment (=student dorm), though it is debatable how natural and 'national' the setting is for international students. Nonetheless I gained many insights from listening to my flatmates, what they talk about, how they talk. What is important for them. If they are happy. What makes them happy. For example: not to regret decisions. Carpe diem - to enjoy everyday and make the best out of it. We talked about different lifestyles and different attitudes towards life. If we value morality highly or not.
Personally, I feel like I am in a constant struggle between morality and 'letting go'. Trying something new or not trying it. Perhaps I would like it if I tried something new. Perhaps I won't. My moral principles sometimes keep me from trying something new. Is it bad that they restrict me? Or is morality - generally - going down the drain and I should hold on to my principles?


Socialising with Dutch people is not easy when you do not speak the language. I know a few (or more) Dutch words and quite often understand what the Dutch say to me, but when answering I switch to English. I experience it as tricky to get to know people here apart from the international students. I asked another German guy (who has been living here for 3 years now) if he also had troubles getting to know the Dutch. He said: "Haha, no, my girlfriend is Dutch! But of course it is hard for you if you do not speak the language. This is indeed a barrier which is not overcome easily when you are only here for a few months." ... I had the feeling that he implied that I should not have come here if I could not speak the language...
They offer you a proper brain training here: constantly switching between English, German and Dutch.


I have the impression I am a different person when I speak English instead of German. Any other language but my native one.
It is interesting to think about the fact that people judge and advise you on the basis of what they know about you. It can be difficult to convey the genuine meaning and your genuine personality when you cannot use your native language to explain it, even if you have a decent command of the other language. Other people will never get a holistic picture or view of your personality/character. How can they advise you properly if they cannot know you wholly? Is another person able to tell you what is right or wrong for you? Friends can reflect, mirror, tell you how you 'usually' do things. But is it true?


I feel a bit like Descartes, who said that the answers to all our questions can be found within ourselves. We just needed a quiet room and a rational mind. He travelled, met a lot of people of different tempers, gathered various experiences, tested himself in different situations and at all times reflected personally upon whatever came his way so as to derive some profit from it.
After each enounter I myself always try to reflect upon how it could benefit me personally. 'Cogito ergo sum. This sentence signals a commitment to working through emotional confusion, prejudice and unhelpful tradition in order to arrive at an independent, rationally founded vision of existence.'
Merci beaucoup. Gotta work on that.


Tot ziens!
Jane

Dealing with the Dutch

Dear Netherlands,


before I came here I did not worry about finding Dutch friends since I consider myself a rather open, friendly and approachable person. I had heard, though, that it might be difficult to become friends with Dutch people since they tend to stay within their established group of people.
When forming work groups in my classes the international students usually end up forming groups of themselves because the Dutch are already in groups consisting of their friends of peers.
Today during my Political Communication class the lecturer asked us to think about his question for two minutes ourselves and then turn to our partner to discuss our ideas. After I had come up with a few ideas I turned to the Dutch girl sitting next to me, looked at her and smiled, ready to start a conversation. But she did not look at me, even shielded her notes from me with her hands.
This might be a strong example, but my international friends confirm my impression that the Dutch prefer to stay for themselves. I hope this changes in the near future... Previous encounters with Dutch (e.g. at MUN conferences) stayed positively in my mind.

Building bridges

'Think differently' - appropriate motto for this month

Most Dutch reference point to find the way home

I had a lovely weekend with my international friends. On Saturday a German friend and I cycled across the border to Germany to do some shopping (everything is so much more expensive in NL!) - especially to buy some proper German bread. We took the scenic route, yet, on the way back we had to hurry up a little to be home before the rain started.

Whenever a pedestrian crossed our way near the border - on the German or the Dutch side - we greeted them or waited for them to greet us to find out if they were Dutch or German.
Since the Dutch car drivers are very considerate towards cyclists and their positive behaviour was a striking difference to what we are used to in Germany, we paid special attention to how 'fietsers' were treated once we had crossed the border.
We noticed what power a border still has! Once back on good German roads we experienced 'Fahrvergnügen' which only lasted for so long until the next German (!) car crossed our way and nearly pushed us off our bikes. Quickly we zijn gefietst back to the 'safe' side of the border...
In the shopping centre it seemed as if the cashiers were glad to have some Germans in front of them for a change - inside the shop we barely heard a German word but only Nederlands!

Welkom in Nederland

Let op, fietser!

Willkommen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

On Sunday my Russian friend and I checked out one of the many beautiful cafés in Nijmegen before exploring 'Honigcomplex' - a fancy place near the Waal river with cool shops, cafés, galleries, a skate park, music and event venues... We curiously entered one hall and found a vintage flea market inside we did not know about! We share a preference for vintage clothing so this discovery made our day. Our Italian friend met us there and we explored the interesting site of 'Honigcomplex' in the sunshine. Afterwards we went back to another cute café in the city centre (don't judge us, we just try to assimilate and be 'gezellig' - I reckon we are quite good at it ;) ) where the waiter thought we were British - because our accents were rather good, apparently, hihi. On the vintage market I also already had to explain to a woman that we were actually Russian, Italian and German, after she had let loose a flood of words in Dutch and we were staring at her doubtfully. Due to the linguistic proximity of Dutch and German I am usually the first of us three to understand the Dutch person and explain the situation, now and then seasoned with a few Dutch words. "Jullie zijn Engels?", asked the verkoopster. "Nee, wij zijn Russian, Italian and German", I answered. Much appreciated, though. Dank je wel!

Bridge over the Waal river

Fiets perspectief

Kopje koffie, anyone?

Kaas paradijs

"Thijs studeert economie in Nijmegen."

Jane studeert politocologie in Nijmegen. En zij leert Nederlands!

Books for uni...

How can I possibly study with this view from my room?

I am so lucky to live near the water.

Cheers!

Jane

P.S. from Tuesday morning: I cycled on the 'fietspad' in the right direction, sharing it with other cyclists. Nothing worse than cycling on the wrong side (always stick to the right side of the road!) so I was happy to follow other 'fietsers'.

Suddenly children appeared on the scene, cycling in the wrong direction! Usually I am not afraid to tell people that they are wrong - in English, when I get answers like "I don't speak English!" and I reply "Yes, you do!!" - since it can get dangerous on narrow bike lanes. This morning I was too tired to shout so I just gave the children an angry look. They were performing tricks with their bikes and when I passed them, one of them spat at me and hit my shoulder. Spit on my jacket and scarf! I was furious and yelled at the boy in German: "Du Vollidioit!!" (you utter idiot). Yeah, the native language usually comes through with strong emotions. They just laughed and cycled away. I then realised that they probably did not understand my utterance but hoped that they could tell from my face.
Disgusting and disrespectful.

Sober again

Dear Netherlands,


The title might be misleading but instead of going to a party tonight I am staying at home, writing this blog entry and reading countless texts for uni. Uni has me in its claws again.
Bye, careless Erasmus life full of friends and fun! No, seriously, that's why I chose this title: Last week seemed like a dream. Yesterday was the day that brought me down from my high cloud.


During the introduction lecture last week they said that being an international student is like riding on a rollercoaster: you experience ups and downs. When you're feeling high, it gets downhill too soon again, and when you're feeling low, it gets uphill soon enough.
This is perfectly accurate.

The teaching here is quite different from what I am used to in Germany. The lecturers demand a great deal from their students - they demand a lot, but they also give a lot. Yesterday I had a great lecture on Political Communication. The lecturer was energetic, dynamic. Apart from randomly picking students to answer his questions to iniate our thinking and actively following his thoughts, he also did a quiz were the students could participate directly. Last week in the intro lecture they also already did a quiz where the students were asked to participate with their electronic devices.
I enjoyed the Political Communication lecture very much. I loved how the students were asked to think actively while following the class, express criticism, state counter-arguments, develop own ideas. I experienced the lecture as invigorating, as interactive and much more 'practical'.
The lecturer stated repeatedly that we were third year students and therefore encouraged to apply our knowledge.
Not only in this one but also in my other two classes I was stunned by the amount of reading we have to do for each lecture (lectures several times a week, not only once a week like in Germany) and even more reading for the tutorials. And then again I learned that they value interaction highly here: in the Political Communication class we will have to write a strategy paper as a group and fight our own electoral campaign in class. In the Democratisation lecture we will have a 'Democracy-table'. In the Theories of International Relations lecture we will do a mini-Model United Nations Session. Applied knowledge. The lecture style in the Netherlands seems more active, compared to Germany where I experience it as much more passive and where the students seem to have less opportunities to apply their knowledge.
Also in Germany, students seem to stick to pen and paper more, whereas in the Netherlands the rows in the lecture halls are sometimes even equipped with sockets and the Dutch students use their laptops or notebooks instead of paper sheets.
I talked to my International Relations lecturer today who used to teach in Hannover for a long time and was called to Nijmegen last October. She also stated the same differences like I did between the two systems and said that she preferred the Dutch way more which resembles the way they do it in America.


The motto of the Radboud Uni is 'change perspective.' And after only two days of classes I can feel that my thinking is about to change and will be changed tremendously in the course of the next five months.
Our Political Communication lecturer promised us that after his course we will never look at media ever again the same way. I am certain we won't do that.
Since I am here my thinking has been inspired and altered every day. My perspective is constantly being challenged and changed due to the many insights I get from talking to peers, exchanging thoughts with new friends, reading, listening to the lecturers.

For my stay here I wished to raise my awareness. I reckon it has already started.


I am sober again since I have arrived on the ground again - on uni grounds. And this is exactly what I asked for.



Since today I am officially a citizen of Nijmegen. My Italian friend and I registered at the 'Stadswinkel' this morning but we did not have time to feel accomplished afterwards since we had to rush to uni to be on time for the first class.
We were not on time. From the city centre it's ususally only ten minutes to uni. But since I followed the Italian we were half an hour late for our classes... In the meantime we discovered new pretty areas of Nijmegen... I would not say we got lost completely, we just took the wrong turn at one of the many roundabouts in Nijmegen and well, took the scenic route...
I guess I'll do that more often: take the scenic route.


I'm off to my uni texts and a good cup of tea.


Love,


Jane

Sunny Saturday

Dear Netherlands,


In my last post I praised the Dutch car drivers being so considerate towards cyclicsts. That still holds true, yet local Dutch cyclists are not considerate towards foreign cyclists who are trying to find their way with Google Maps, being distracted by pretty shop windows, lovely sights or buildings, or struggling with getting their bike started at traffic lights. All this describes: Me.
They yell at these foreigners, shake their heads and overtake with an intimidatingly high speed. Equally impolite are 'bromfiets' which are allowed to ride on the 'fietspad' as well - unfortunately.


Today I had a lovely Saturday - a proper, much needed  Saturday. I went to the market with an Italian and a Dutch friend and was amazed by the freshness, variety and quality of the products. It was wonderful to touch the vegetables and smell the food. The Dutch Girl and I left the Italian guy at the fish stall and dived into the fruit and vegetable tent. After a while the Dutch 'verkoopster' aproached me and let lose a flood of words. I am constantly trying to tune my ear and am progressing in understanding the Dutch and answer with a few easy words. But this time I was not able not understand a single word - probably because of the verkoopster's thick accent. I said 'sorry, I do not understand, I am not from here, unfortunately' and tried to sneak away. A second later I heard him yell 'Niet weglopen!'. I understood this and turned on my heel. He kept on talking and waved tangerines in front of my eyes. I looked at my Dutch friend and saw her smirking.
We finally got away and I asked her what the verkoopster tried to tell me. She said that he said that if I also run away from boys I will never find a boyfriend. I was gobsmacked. He knew nothing at all about my private life and it was none of his business!
Besides, I always presuppose that the Dutch speak English. Yes, it is true, most of them do. But I somehow find it rude to approach someone in a language which is not the language of the country. In English-speaking countries it would obviously be perfectly alright to address the locals in English. Here I always feel sorry when I cause confused looks on faces who try to switch languages quickly.
On Wednesday we had a rally in the city centre to ask locals to translate Nijmeegse slang words. My group voted for me to be the speaker so I adressed passersby by saying 'Excuse me, do you speak English? ('Yes') Are you a local? ('Yes') We are international students and we...". So I always tried to make sure not to be rude by simply letting lose a flood of words in English.




After the interesting incident on the market the Italian friend and I went on exploring the beautiful town of Nijmegen. I was so excited when I found the tea shop I fell in love with in The Hague four years ago on Lange Hezelstraat in Nijmegen. I immediately stopped my bike in front of it and dragged my friend inside to buy a very special tea. There are so many interesting and beautiful shops in Nijmegen - luckily I have a rather limited budget! :'D
In the afternoon I met up with German friends who study in Groningen. It was a coincidence that they were in Nijmegen this weekend, they had planned their trip unaware of the fact that I moved here on Monday. We ate delicious 'pannenkoeken' at a pannenkoeken huis and afterwards walked along the Waal river shore. It reminded us of Hamburg and we enjoyed the sunshine, the water, the boats and the 'wobbly bridge'.

 It really is wobbly!

 Waal

 Boats

 Waal bridge

My beautiful Dutch bike in front of a beautiful shop in beautiful Nijmegen

Thank you for today, Nijmegen!

Yesterday I saw a sticker in one of the university buildings saying 'Don't hurry, be happy'. That sums my motto up. I have to admit that I have become a lot calmer over the last days. I do not panic easily anymore. I am the one who knows her way around and shows the others. I am the one who says 'Everything will be alright' and always stays optimistic. Of course I used to say this before my time here as well, but now I say it with certainty. Maybe just because I am lucky and everything has turned out so well for me in the past days. Perhaps my attitude will change but for the moment I am really happy here. I might say this with the initial enthusiasm, but why not.

I have always been of the opinion that I can only be truly happy at the 'right place' for me. Even if I had never been aware of this 'right, perfect place' and if it exists at all. Like I said in one of my last posts: somwehere it might always be better, we might miss something. I thought I could only be truly happy somewhere in Great Britain (since in my opinion it is such a perfectly beautiful country).

I have to say, I have been welcomed in Nijmegen with open arms and with people who only want the best for other people. People who are present in the place where they are and who focus on the people they are there with.

"Wherever you go - there you are." Ö.T.

I genuinely practice mindfulness here. 

Love, Jane

Welkom in Nijmegen

Dear Netherlands,


I am here, finally. I feel a little Dutch already when cruising through the city on my bike! ;)
My first impression is great: warm, welcoming people, a cute little town, highly modern university, comfortable student dorm and a beautiful Dutch bike which is much needed here.
The first day I had to rely on the bus which was rather inconvenient but on the second day I already had the chance to buy a bike - and now I don't like arriving at destinations anymore because arriving means getting off my 'fiets'! I also appreciate how the Dutch car drivers treat 'fietsers': with respect and care. Not like in Germany where the cyclists are always inferior to any other traffic participant.



I am spending the first days with a group of international students and our awesome mentors.
It is great getting to know so many people with different backgrounds all having one aim - attending the university of life here in the Netherlands.


Our Dutch instructor told us today that grumpiness makes the Dutch happy - in the Nijmeegse slang they also have a special word for it: nuilen. 'Nuilen' means complaining, whining.
To be honest, I do not have the time or the nerve to 'nuilen' - I am solely responsible for every action I do here and this is a wonderful feeling.
Our instructor of the Nijmegen School of Management also told us that the university has a special programme where the staff can exchange holidays for a bike to ride to work  - can it get even more Dutch??


The last few days have already been an enriching experience and I am looking forward to what you have in store for me, Netherlands.


Ja, ik vind het leuk hier!


Love,


Jane

Late Night Talks in Hannover

Dear Netherlands (pronounced with a schwa in '-lands' - thanks, Darren!),

A few days ago I had a wonderful late night talk with a very dear friend who is currently spending her Erasmus semester in Glasgow.
She told me about the people she had already met during the two weeks she has spent in Scotland so far - the positive and negative encounters likewise. She shared her insight with me that people change when they surround themselves with other people they adapt to their new 'friends'. And that people from different cultures within their own culture share similar character traits.
During a semester abroad we meet so many new people who give us countless opportunities to build new friendships - or decide against doing so.
There will always be new people in our lives. And when things get difficult in a friendship, it is easy to walk away.
But would it not be more beautiful if people would really make the effort to relate to each other? To give people chances. And not to judge – not their behavior, attitudes, looks, but let them be and come to terms with it. We cannot and we should never try to change other people, we can only change our personal attitudes. Of course we should walk away when we notice that people are not good for us.
It is human to care about each other. Is it not touching when people decide to open up to each other and not to keep it at distance? Is this not what defines friendships and relationships? When people appreciate each other – for the simplest of things. When people interact.
Regarding personal encounters, it is wonderful when we leave kindness. When we end conversations on a kind note because we never know when we will see the people again.
Personally, I compare myself with other people too often. I want to stop that because it does not feel healthy. I feel like I have lost myself a bit.


Open up to people. Enjoy faces, words, Encounters, stories. Capture them in your mind.
Enjoy nature. Listen. Watch. Look up.
Be kind. Be aware.


The endless possibilities of old friends being replaced by new friends tend to fall short of something: humanity. Genuine humanity in its deepest sense. 
When we open up to people we will discover new facets, even in our long-term friends. When we exchange moral and value concepts. we will learn.

My friend sad that we actually have too many choices. Every day we stand in front of a giant buffet of friendships, relationships, opportunities in jobs and in our leisure time. Yet, nothing feels ever perfect. Nothing seems enough. We do not focus on one meal and digest it properly. We do not let our senses participate since we are always distracted. Somewhere else it might be better. What does ‘better’ mean, though? The consequence is that we feel overwhelmed. Is that not a signal from our bodies that we (or better: our mind) are not able to keep up with the speed? Or perhaps our bodies simply have to learn to adjust? How do we know?

My friend and I expressed our wishes and goals.
Our wishes are to practice awareness and conscience – of what surrounds us, what happens to us, how we feel about it and how we deal with it. I am aware that I am currently writing a blog, but we should nonetheless shift our focus away from social media back to real life. It is practical to use social media to stay in contact with our friends and family while we are away. And yet we can still control our use of it and the time we spend on social media. On Instagram we can decide which picture we find worthy enough to share – to share a moment that means something to us instead of the next selfie. We want to try to be more ‘analogue’. More in the now.

My personal goals for my time in your country, Netherlands, are to learn resilience, to slow down, to listen to my body, develop more inner strength, to always be grateful, to gain more self-confidence. To watch others and learn from them. Not to judge people (easily). To let moments happen - positive and negative ones. To give more. To need less. To share more humanity.
All written down in my 'Little Book for Big Ideas' my friend gave me.

Yet, ‘goals’ sounds so economic. Does an Erasmsus semester have to have a purpose? A benefit? Does it have to be useful? It most certainly is. But does it have to be 'economised'? Do I have to have goals and reach them? Otherwise I will have failed?
Later, in my CV, will it show that I have applied my knowledge? I hope my Erasmus semester makes sense. To be honest, I have no doubt about that it won’t.
At this time of life, we are in the process of self-discovery. As Albert Camus put it: “Travel brings us back to ourselves.”


Does every action have to have a purpose? A purpose that hones our CV? I would be glad about a personal purpose, to learn. And I do not want to force it but let it happen.
We plan our lives, we plan our actions on the fact that they might look good on our CV and we even plan our well-being. When and how did that happen?

My friend and I expressed the wish to slow down. The question arises: why do we regret being so erratic and inconsistent? Something makes us regrets this behavior and inspires our re-thinking.
Is it social expectations – where do they come from anyway? Who defines them? Individuals as a collective. Where do these individuals gain their expectations from?

And how do we escape the dilemma? Slow down ourselves? Will we be thrown back? Or shall we dare to make the start?
Why do we feel the need to focus back on humanity, slowness and genuine perception? Because we do not feel satisfied, fulfilled? Not ‘full’?

At the moment I am convinced that anything is possible in a society – especially with regard to the current political events.

Life feels to have become ‘random’. I turn 22 today. And when I think about the time between having finished school and now, I notice that I do not really know what has happened. I have to think about it for a while because it is just so much that happened in a comparatively short time span. I notice that I have no real feeling for time. It feels fluid and not tangible.

My friend asked: when did we stop dreaming and living and to let live?
This is a good note to finish this post on.

As a life advice: indulge. With all your senses. Get out of your comfort zone. Get out there!

Goodbye, Hannover! Thank you.
See you tomorrow, Netherlands!

Love,

Jane

“What gives value to travel is fear. It is the fact that, at a certain moment, when we are so far from our own country…we are seized by a vague fear, and an instinctive desire to go back to the protection of old habits. This is the most obvious benefit of travel. At that moment we are feverish but also porous, so that the slightest touch makes us quiver to the depths of our being. We come across a cascade of light, and there is eternity. This is why we should not say that we travel for pleasure. There is no pleasure in traveling, and I look upon it more as an occasion for spiritual testing. If we understand by culture the exercise of our most intimate sense — that of eternity — then we travel for culture. Pleasure takes us away from ourselves in the same way as distraction, in Pascal’s use of the word, takes us away from God. Travel, which is like a greater and graver science, brings us back to ourselves.
–Albert Camus, Notebooks 1935-1942 (1991)

                                                                                                  Motivation

                                                        Linden, Hannover sunset

Before

Dear Netherlands,


just one week to go before I start my Erasmus semester in Nijmegen.
Whenever I tell people that I (as a German in close proximity to your country) am going to study in your country for half a year, I receive mixed reactions. Some people say "Oh, that's fantastic! I love the Netherlands! I want to study there myself", some people say "The Netherlands?? That's almost Germany! But I assume it is also nice". Yes, also nice.
I try not to have too high expectations since that proved me wrong in the past.
Before my stay in England in 2013 (www.german-by-birth-british-in-the-heart.blogspot.com) I had very high expectations, since I was so in love with this country - and still am. Even if my experiences there did not quite meet my expectations and sent me back to Germany a tad disillusioned. I had a lovely time there, especially at the beginning, but I was not as happy as I imagined I would be. Yet, my time there helped me grow and shape my personality immensely. I am very grateful for that and will always return to the small coastal town particularly and the beautiful country generally.

When the opportunity arose at my university to apply for an Erasmus semester, my first preference was Glasgow, UK, and to be honest, only my second was you, Netherlands - to be precise: Nijmegen, NL. In the application process it was already clear that they preferred to send me to you, since there were so many applicants for Scotland.
Since my visits in beautiful The Hague in 2013 I seriously considered studying in your country since everything appealed to me so much.
And then again, I had always dreamed of studying at a traditional British University, too. I didn't start with either, but decided to study in my German hometown first.
Now I try to see it as my 'destiny' that I am sent to Nijmegen for my Erasmus and am determined to make the best out of it. After all, I do love you, Netherlands, as well!


I am very much looking forward to my time and want to be open-minded, non-judgemental and want to be surprised. I strongly intend to savour my life in your country - and soak everything up like a sponge.


Whenever people answer to my statement about spending my Erasmus semster in your country slightly negatively or disbelieving, rest assured that I still know why I want to study in your country: because of your beautiful countryside, your open-minded, progressive, innovative and kind people, your good university reputations, the splendid architecture of your cities, your lifestyle, your relationship with nature and the sea and your fantastic music.




See you soon!



Yours,


Jane