IBCoMagazine Issue 1 | 2018 - 2019 |

I B C o M a g a z i n e.

Issue 01 2018/2019

CONTENTS

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Rotterdam: Make Art Happen

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Stepping Up Your Instagram Game

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Hot (spots) Off the Press

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Fresh for the Freshers

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Design

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Ho Ho Ho(w) Many Things to Do in Rotterdam

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Poem by Cecilia

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How to Kick IBCoM Term 1's Ass

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Finding Home in Homesickness

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How a Simple Thank You Can Change Your Life

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Make it Happen!

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The Beginning of Many Beginnings

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Fashion Editorial

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Fool-Proof Ways to Make Resolutions

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The Guide to a Life Full of Motivation

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The First IBCoM Generation

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Fear of not making it

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Poem by Crystal

‘Mak(e)ing it happen’ Through its motto, the bustling city of Rotterdam has reminded us to strive for the best against all odds. The IBCoMagazine team strived to fulfill the idea of this motto, to our own criteria.

The editorial team of 2018 aimed to establish a new vision for IBCoMagazine; to give it a fresh start. Our vision was fulfilled with an incredible writing team, talented designers, remarkable photographers, and for the first time ever, hardworking illustrators.

With that motto in mind, IBCoMagazine brings you a collection of works to assist you, through anecdotes, entertainment, and tips, in making things happen. We connected our overall goal to recreate this magazine with the trials and tribulations us, university students, go through to make our dreams become ingrained in reality. When it seems impossible to have good grades, a social life, and 8 hours of sleep simultaneously, this issue is here to remind you that all hope is not lost. People have done it before, people are dealing with it now, and with the new year on its way, people will try to do it once more.

The editorial team of 2018-2019 is proud to present their first issue of IBCoMagazine, a collection of ways for you, our readers, to make it happen.

Ayesha Aziz (Ashe), Temi de Groen, Angel Esajas Editorial Team IBCoMagazine

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CREDITS EDITORIAL TEAM

WRITERS

Editor-in-Chief Temi de Groen

Salem Asghdom Ana Mishkovska Cecilia Arroyo Effie Korpershoek Fe van Ham Karim Oteify Diana Zavyalova Crystal Goh Rawding Tessa Peterse Kat Nivera Renee Motter Donya Kaersenhout Antonia Radmacher

Copy Editor Ayesha Ashe Managing Editor Angel Esajas

DESIGNERS Alejandra Murcia Myley van Prehn Femke van Bruggen

BLOGGERS Nicky Papilaja Nicoleta Ciobanu Floortje Passchier Tasha Mhishi Zeynep Kunduracilar Varvara Porenchenkova Giani Kasanmonadi

ILLUSTRATORS Roos de Waard Zofia Jalowiecka Louise Lu

Photographers Anano Shalamberidze Max Peeters

Special fashion editorial Joline d'Arnaud van Boeckholtz Djoeke Tuinte Shweta Balkaran Gigi Vissers Kayleigh Tanner Marijne Mangindaan Brianne Wind Fay oberdorf Fleur Bongertman Loes Julicher

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An incomplete team photo with only a small part of our lovely team

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Rotterdam: Make Art Happen

R

otterdam. The name of the city we study in brings images of tall skyscrapers, iconic bridges, and busy people. This ‘Make It Happen’ city has the ability to inspire creative minds and provide the perfect background to fuel your own imagination. Sometimes, we need to look at our surroundings and see how we can translate other people’s art into our own. Here’s a guide to getting inspired and inspiring others in Rotterdam!

What better way to provoke your inner artist than to explore actual art? Rotterdam has various museums, but one in particular is definitely worth a visit.

The Boijmans van Beuningen Museum, located in the Museumpark, has several pieces and collections that are displayed year-round. Throughout the year the museum also organizes different themed exhibitions. The focus is primarily on Dutch art with pieces from Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and De Kooning.

If you are not a fan of the traditional museum, consider visiting one of Rotterdam’s smaller art galleries. Located in the vibrant Witte de Withstraat is Gallery Ecce, an eccentric design gallery that showcases paintings, photographs, and furniture you won’t find in Ikea. Furniture is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of art, but Ecce is a breath of fresh air and worth a visit if you are looking for some decorating inspiration.

Written by Donya 8

As students on a budget, we are often hesitant to spend money on cultural activities.

Luckily, the Witte de Withstraat is the most accessible and (almost) completely free art gallery of Rotterdam. Take a walk on the liveliest street of the city center to get your creativity flowing. There are numerous quirky and inspiring cafes and stores to visit, street art to see, and people to meet. If the sightseeing has left you looking for a place to eat, stop

by Bazar, one of Rotterdam’s most colorful restaurants. After a taste of the Middle East, no doubt that your mood will have been uplifted. For after drinks, visit De Witte Aap. This bar has been named as one of the world’s best and is a must visit if you live in Rotterdam.

Once you feel completely inspired and full of brilliant ideas, it’s time to get involved yourself and inspire others. As media and communication students, we know all about how social media is an important part of branding. Instagram in particular has increasingly become a form of self-expression; your ‘feed’ is your personal business card. While exploring Rotterdam, get creative and take some insta-worthy photos.

Here are three hotspots to get you started!

This tiny park is a true sanctuary in the middle of the city. If you ever feel like you need a space to retreat to without letting go of the city, this is the place to be. Not to mention you get one of the best close up views of the Erasmus Bridge. Capture a photo in front of the bridge to remind yourself of the metropolitan city you study in, or just post it to Instagram for your friends and family around the world. While you’re here, don’t forget to check out the Second

World War monument to educate yourself on part of Rotterdam’s history.

Close to the Witte de Withstraat, this Latin-American restaurant has all the positive vibes. Besides serving delicious taco’s and cocktails, they’ve got a super bright interior with lots of colorful writing on the wall and cozy leather chairs. If you’re not into posing for photos and would rather let the food do the talking, this hotspot knows how to decorate their plates and glasses just right.

Your inner ‘foodie’ will thank you for the Insta-worthy shots you take at Supermercado.

While you’re visiting the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum, make sure to check out the Infinity Mirror Room by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, which is on permanent display in the museum. The mirrors create the illusion that you are surrounded by millions of white and red polka dot plush toys. Get creative and take

It’s easy to feel like living in an artistic city like Rotterdam makes it hard to become part of the creative buzz yourself. Yet, rather than letting the metropolitan scare you away, let the city inspire you to inspire others.

Make it happen, one Instagram post at a time.

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Stepping up your Instagram game A manual to photography

S

ometimes you come across Instagram feeds that are just too perfect to be real. The pictures look flawless, the light

is just right, it basically makes you think the person has a professional photographer walking around with them every moment of the day. Luckily, I am here to tell you that anyone can develop a ‘good eye’ for photography.

This article is going to help you take that next step and finally get into photography. Whether it is just because you want to step up your Instagram game or if you want to get into SLR photography, this article will be a good handrail along the process.

SLR for Dummies: a camera other than your

Written by: Effie

Composition The composition of a photo is one of the most important things in photography, since this is often the first thing to catch your viewers eye. A well-composed picture can make a lot of difference. In the example on the next page, I only made some minor changes in the cropping of the picture. This is where the ‘raster’ option on your iPhone camera comes in handy. Using these lines as a guideline, you can create a perfect composition with a straight horizon and your subject in the center.

Lighting, contrast and saturation

phone, and how to use it Most professional photographers nowadays use either SLR or DSLR cameras. These cameras are simply tools for creating images in which you can influence every aspect into great detail. The two most important features on these cameras are aperture and shutter speed. Simply defined, aperture determines the amount of light that reaches the cameras lens and at what angle it enters the lens. The shutter speed is the part of the camera with which you can determine the amount of time you want your lens to be exposed to the light, which you have adjusted using aperture. Creating a feeling for adjusting these options can be a long process. However, most of these cameras have an ‘automatic’ option. Every time you capture a picture when your camera is set to that setting, try looking at the shutter speed and aperture the camera has decided upon. In this way, you create an understanding of when to use which numbers.

On every regular iPhone, there is a table of advanced settings for adjusting the lighting, contrast and saturation of your photos to great detail. With this, few rules apply.

For example: if you want to create a good picture, don’t overdo it: don’t boost up the ambiance nor the saturation, you are not ten years old anymore. Oftentimes, just adjusting the light slightly can make major differences, since your iPhone camera often takes your pictures a little darker. Then, you can play around with the saturation and contrast. Pro-tip: sometimes putting the saturation down just a little bit makes huge differences. Some programs and applications allow you to adjust your photos even more specific. For example, adjusting the light or saturation only in certain, specific areas of the photo. I like to advise you to try out the following applications. They are free, so just give them a go! Just like everything else, 10

Free apps y

ou should g

1. Snapseed:

ive a try:

my favorite fo r

editing detail

s 2. VSCO cam : very good fo r the final tou serves as a sh ches. Also aring platform !

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Sweet without sugar: SUE Sweet and healthy don’t go hand in hand, do they? SUE proves otherwise.

The bakery offers cookies, granola, banana bread and whatnot. All without sugar! Drop down either inside in the cafe or outside on the terrace, and enjoy sugar free with a cup of coffee. In a hurry? You can also get something to-go. SUE recently opened a second location in Rotterdam, yet there are many more selling points throughout the Netherlands as well. We’re a fan!

Location(s): Goudsesingel 330A & Karel Doormanstraat 372 Good & green: SLA Meantime starting to enjoy the happy and healthy trend? We’ve got you covered with some more. SLA was already a thing in Amsterdam, The Hague, Haarlem and Utrecht, so Rotterdam could not be left behind. The new location offers all day salads, soups and smoothies. 100% organic and green.

About 10 euros or less. That makes us students happy, doesn’t it?

Location(s): Oude Binnenweg 150A

Hot, hot, hot: Bulls and Dogs Another restaurant that recently spread from Amsterdam to Rotterdam? Bulls and Dogs! Not sugar free, not green per se, but no less tasty. Bulls and Dogs is initially a hotdog bar, but also provides you with homemade beers, burgers and many more. Oh, by the way, we’ve heard that they are also looking for new staff. Did you just start living in Rotterdam, and are you looking for a job? Give it a try!

Location(s): Oostzeedijk 344-346 All colors of the rainbow: Flower Burger Whether you’re a fan of burgers or not, you have to visit Flower Burger. It’s an Italian concept that has lately blown over to Rotterdam, sì! Flower Burger provides you with vegan burgers in every color of the rainbow. Your Instagram feed will love it too. Do we need to say more?

Location(s): Hoogstraat 107a

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Hot (spots) off the press your Rotterdam city guide

B

u sin ess: st arti ng i s one t hi ng, ma kin g i t happen another.

T h e owners of t hese hot spots su r ely di d both.

Here are 4 n ew restaurant s recent l y opened in Rotterdam, rigorously tested b y I BCoM ag a z ine. Al l l ocat ed i n ei ther Kr alin g en or th e centre of t he ci t y. For th ose da y s wh en you’re i n the mood f or someth in g else than your ow n hom em ad e stu den t sp ecialti es. W ho’s j oi ni ng us f or b r ea kfast /l unch/d i nner?

Written by: FĂŠ

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Fresh for the Freshers Written by Antonia Radmacher

A

s a university student it isn’t always easy to cook something that takes forever. I get that. No really, I do. I myself do not want to give up valuable time I could be using for going out with friends, watching my favorite tv show, or studying. On the other hand, I am someone who does not want to eat food that only needs to be heated in the microwave; I want to have a proper meal that tastes good, is fresh, and of course is homemade! I would like to share some of my favorite recipes that I always do when I do not know what to

Interestingly, it seems that it is common knowledge for university students that “pasta” is the go-to food. And trust me, for my roommate and it is the same, literally any pasta saves the day. However, what I like to do is get creative with the sauce and just try something new. Some inspirations for you to try are: • • •

• • For everyone who enjoys a savory, yet filling breakfast, try the basic omelet. All you need for this are three eggs, some milk and salt and pepper to get the flavors going. For everyone who is feeling creative and wants some of that extra tasty experience, mix it up and add a variety of: • • • • • •

Grated cheese Ham Fresh herbs Mushrooms Smoked salmon Tomatoes

Of course, these ingredients are only ideas, you can always add anything you want to create that special, tasty experience you specifically want!

Tuna sauce Tomato sauce with vegetables (and shrimps) Or keep it very basic and just add some olive oil, basil pesto and grate some parmesan cheese!

Creamy ham sauce Salmon cream sauce

On a quick side note: Make it happen and make your own pesto! This recipe tastes very good, and you can make a big jar so that it will last for several meals. All you need for the homemade basil pesto is: • • • • • •

3 table spoons of pine nuts 50 g of basil leaves ½ tables spoon of salt 2 garlic gloves (or less if you want) 150ml olive oil And last but not least 50-80g of parme san (depending on how cheesy you

For the preparation you just need to fry the pine nuts in a pan, blend the basil leaves and salt and add the cloves of garlic. Make sure the basil leaves are small enough and are nicely blended with the garlic. Mix the olive oil well into the basil leaves with salt and garlic, to get a rather creamy pesto. Lastly add the cut pine nuts and the grated parmesan. Et voilà, you have made your homemade pesto!

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On a finishing note, I want to give you some advice on how to make some delicious Christmas cookies. It is November right now and before we know it, it is December and Christmas is right around the corner. In my eyes, it’s the most beautiful time of the year. Even if the weather might sometimes be cold, windy or even snowy, the feeling that you get to that time of the year can only perceived then. Everyone is in a cheery mood because they are looking forward to the festivities of Christmas. Even though we are students and our schedules are very busy, I believe we do have some time left to bake some enjoyable cookies to bring the Christmas vibes into our homes. Since all of you probably know the typical, sugar cookies that are coated in icing, or the gingerbread cookies I will not bore you with these. Because IBCoM is such an international program, I want to present you my personal favorite traditional German Christmas cookie recipe.

Vanillekipferl Quick disclaimer: the preparation for the dough takes about 30-40 minutes and they need to bake for about 20 minutes. Trust me though, they are worth their time!

Recipe: • 250 g flour • 210 g butter • 100 g ground almonds • 80 of sugar • 4 packs of vanilla sugar • 1 pack of powdered sugar

Preparation Add all the ingredients to make the batter. Use everything except for the pack of powdered sugar and two of the four packs of vanilla sugar. After you have made the dough, wrap it in saran wrap and place it into the fridge for about 30 minutes. In the meantime, you can mix the powdered sugar and the vanilla sugar together. Just make sure that you don’t go overboard with the powdered sugar, but that you balance it with the vanilla sugar. After you have taken the dough back out of the fridge you can roll into “tubes” that are 4cm thick and cut them into parts that are about 2cm thick. Form these round parts into the “Kipferl” like shown on the picture. Of course, they do not have to look perfect, they are allowed to look a little bit crooked and, well, “homemade”. Place your cookies onto a metal sheet and let them bake in the oven at about 175°C for 20 minutes. When they start to look a bit brown at the top they are perfect! Let them cool and then you can sprinkle the powdered and vanilla sugar on top…and you are done!!

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I

t’s Christmas! Well, not for another couple of days (60! but

easily one of the most packed ones I have ever visited. The store

who’s counting?) but it definitely already feels Christmas Cold

is full of racks with all kinds of different and very interesting items.

in the Netherlands. Dutchies are used to the cold breezes,

Besides clothes, they also sell very cute and unique accessories.

long rainy days and the snotty noses that fill up every room

The prices are not very high but might be a bit pricier than some

you find yourself in. But internationals, that come from all over the

of your general thrift stores.

world, might be used to different December Days, with no rain (lucky), cold winds (luckier) and slippery bike lanes (luckiest). In

Snow many things to do!

order for them to integrate properly and not escape this country

Dutch winter days don’t have to resort to chilling on your bed

as soon as Christmas Break starts, I present to you: Ho ho how

watching Netflix with hot chocolate and a bunch of snacks. It is

many things to do in Rotterdam?

completely fine, and I consider myself guilty of staying inside and avoiding the cold. But that does lead to missing out on a bunch

Merry Thriftmas!

of fun (and slightly freezing) activities. So here is a list of activities

The Netherlands has a sea climate, which makes our summers

that I call: Elf- tivities (am I taking these wordplays too far?)

very humid and our winters extremely rainy and pretty cold! Our flat country with no hills makes it easy for the wind to hit us and penetrate our poor little throats and ears- unless you stack up on warm winter clothing! But no worries, as a student I understand the pricey value of thick winter clothing and therefore recommend going to…thrift stores! In the Netherlands, and especially Rotterdam, there are multiple, small and big, thrift stores selling the most comfy, warmest, and cheapest winter coats, mittens, scarves and earmuffs!

Ho ho ho(w) many things in Ro

1. CheapFashion – Meent.

1.Rotterdam Christmas Circus

My personal favorite! This thrift store is in the city Centre and easily

What? A spectacular Christmas show in Ahoy with different

accessible with transportation and bike. It is sometimes a search

creative acts (acrobats, comedy, arts) and artists.

hunt to find the item you’re looking for, but when you find it you

Where? Ahoy Rotterdam

will be overwhelmed with all the other options they provide. Think

Price? 27,95 – 77,95 euro.

of a thick coat for 12.50 and Converse shoes for no more than 20!

They also stock up with new items every single week so there is no

2. Christmas Markets

harm in making a trip to the store a weekly activity ☺

What? Authentic Christmas Market with over 200 stalls, beautiful Christmas lights and warm cups of Glühwein! There is a magnificent

2. Nieuwe Hoop – Oudedijk

Ice skating ring and bright lights with music all over the city.

Nieuwe Hoop is not your typical modern thrift store with items that

Where? Dordrecht, a city close to Rotterdam.

are sometimes over- priced. This is a recycle store meaning that

Price? You’ll have to visit and see.

everything is sold at an extremely low price. Their products vary from clothing, vinyls to furniture and books. If you find yourself

3.Schaatsbaan Rotterdam

overfilling your closet with your weekly new wardrobe from

What? Big and beautiful ice-skating ring that opens on the 1st of

Nieuwe Hoop, then it’s important to know that they also accept

December. Go to either learn or to become an expert!

personal donations from costumers in the form of clothing. Time to

Where? Sportpark

de- clutter your closet maybe?

Price? Daily entrance is 5.50 & FREE with an Erasmus Sportpas!

3. Lucky Vintage – Witte de With Lucky Vintage is a relatively new thrift store in Witte de With and is

18

) to do tterdam?

Written by: Salem

Christmas feasting.

with dishes from Morocco, Iran and Tunisia. The restaurant

Put the smoothies and acai bowls away: it is winter! Dutch winter is the

is beautiful and is inspired by the Middle- Eastern style of

perfect season to indulge in yummy, warm, hearty food. The diverse

interior.

city of Rotterdam provides you with all kinds of different cuisine from

Where? Witte de With

all around the world so every international has a piece of home here

Price? 3.25- 15.90

where they can indulge. Here are some cute and cheap (as the rest of your money is spent on gifts.) food places to go and enjoy a warm

3.Nhow Bar

meal or treat

What? Hotel bar serving delicious colorful cocktails and a large range of snacks and dinner options. At night, you can

1.Little V

sit either inside or on the terrace and enjoy the amazing

What? Vietnamese food. Visit Little V to discover the unique culture of

view of the Erasmus Bridge.

Vietnam and their amazing cultural food. Snack on Goi Cuon, slurp on

Where?

some Pho or DIY your own menu if you’re slightly picky. PHOliz Navidad

Price? Cocktails/ drinks: 2.50 – 13.50 euro.

☺

Food: 15 euro.

Where? Grotekerkplein Price? 3.50 – 30.50

December is upon us, so I hope that this starters/ guide kit to Dutch Winters will help you experience it protected from the

2.Bazar

cold, with a full satisfied tummy, whilst vibing to some of the

What? Different foods originating from the Middle- East, makes Bazar

songs above.

one of the most cultural restaurants in Rotterdam. Their kitchen is de-

IBCoMagazine wishes all of you a very happy and healthy

scribed as ‘worldly food place’,

Erasmus Eve ☺

POEM Written by Cecilia Arroya

Once upon a time there was me.

And I sit on my own, feeling like a neon sign, where everyone can see my flaws.

Flaws I try so hard to hide, but the ink is wet and it smudges when i erase them.

They are printed in my skin.

I am tired of all the “once upon a time” of all the could’ve been of my days.

I won’t be able to write my story, if I never find the words to write.

I don't want to waste the only thing I have I only have myself and time, and time is a careless lover, laughing seconds away and drowning in crying hours.

She gives more of what I dislike.

But dubious, distant and confused, I still look up marvelled at the night May i never lose the wonder that makes all that i am.

Someday it will lead me, in the same way i’ve been walking, to encounter with myself.

And that day i will say i made it, and write two sweet words to the fairytale i knitted the end.

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How to kick IBCOM Term Hi, You’re probably wondering why the hell am I reading this? Did this guy really crack the secret to kicking ass on your first term in college? I guess we’ll find out, but before I get into that, let me introduce myself. My name is Karim El Oteify. I’m an IBCOM BA-1 student and just like the rest of you or really anyone who’s ever started something new, I was really lost when I first got here. So, believe me, I’ve been there which is exactly why I’m writing this for the poor souls out there who still don’t know that there’s a cafeteria in almost every building or where Polak is. The following is a simple, unhinged or relatively straightforward guide on how to kick IBCOM term 1’s ass.

Step 1: Read The Bible(s) If you’re like me, you’ve heard the term “The Bible” thrown around a lot. What is the bible? Quite simply, it is every course’s course guide. Believe it or not, everything you need to know is in those little booklets from hell. In a time of distress, they are your lord and savior. From course outlines to grading rubrics to that last minute textbook citation you need for those IHC assignments, it’s all in there. A quick read will save you from becoming that asshole that didn’t bother to check the course guide before asking the question.

Step 3: Expand Step 2: Utilize your resources Ok, so the course guide didn’t help but never fear for resources are here and they take the form of an angel sent down from heaven also known as your IBCoMpanion. They’ve been where you are and know exactly what you’re going through. I bet you they can help with whatever you need and if they can’t, I’m sure they know someone who can.

All settled in, now it’s time ty easy just go up to som just go get a meal toget you’ve got a new friend everybody is particularly something you should ke ing a team or a clique. Y support system with un contribute to your wellb find your vibe and then

Written by Karim El Oteify

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m 1's Ass

Step 4: Get Involved Now you may be wondering how the hell do I find that “vibe” you’re talking about? It’s actually pretty easy.

Figure out what you like and turn that into a meaningful activity. Like writing? Join IBCoMagazine. Like defending the public? Join the program committee. I guarantee you’ll make friends in no time plus you’ve also got a shiny new activity to put on your C.V. Two birds, one stone.

your circle

e to make some friends. It’s pretmeone you like and say hi. Then, ther or just hang out and presto d. Now here’s my cheat cheat, y good at something and that’s eep in mind. Think of it like buildYou’re aiming to build a diverse nique individuals that can all being in a meaningful way. Just find others with the same vibe.

Step 5: Celebrate Got stuff all figured out? Now, get out there with those new friends of yours and have some fun. Go to a party, or a movie or whatever it is you want to do to celebrate getting through this stressful time. Just don’t forget to do your assignments and study so your academics don’t go to shit.

At the end of this, I just want to say that this guide is just my way of dealing with things and everybody is different

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Finding Home in Homesickness Written by Cecilia Arroya

University can be a time of freedom and liberation, a period to express yourself and learn more than just from books, but it can also be a season of uncertainty and loneliness. What can you do to make sure you're taking full advantage of this moment in your life? Here, I have some tips that may help.

When is your first year alone and away from your country, family and friends, is normal to experience some unexpected crying, loneliness and missing things that you might not have thought you would miss. Like that pillow on the couch or a specific flavour of candy. Even tough is nice to appreciate everything you had in your childhood home, it can make the new place feel overwhelming.

The good news is: you're not the only one. many of us feel homesick, overwhelmed or lonely. This is still an adapting period and there are many ways to help you get used to your new place in this gloomy weather. The key is trying. there many ways to distract yourself, but you need to put some effort. Sometimes it can be not staying in, even though you feel a bit blue. But going to the events of study associations of IBCoM, going out with your classmates, staying after lectures to hang out, all those things can make a really big difference on how you feel about your new home.

Winter is difficult for so many people, seasonal depression is a real thing and it has to do with how days are shorter and darker. One trick is to try to take advantage of whatever sunshine there is and try to be outdoors during light hours so your body doesn't turn on you. During this time of the year there are less tourists, so visiting normally crowded places is better, and also there are christmas and seasonal markets starting to appear everywhere.

Planning trips to smaller cities with nice markets (mainly in the south of NL, such as Maastricht and Valkenburg) with people from IBCoM would be a nice way to bond and exploit all that this country has to offer.

Missing home can also happen even when you have a nice social life and enjoy winter, with Christmas around the corner sometimes it can be hard not being back home, but this can also mean the birth of new traditions. for example, making plans with other people not going back home for the holidays and treating yourself with a better present because you deserve it. Another thing that you can do, is try to make your room as homey and cosy as possible, get candles in IKEA, a soft throw blanket at Primark, comfy slippers and a nice mug to have tea or chocolate to always have something nice to come back after a long day.

One recurring thought that we have when we are feeling conflicted with our emotions is “am I doing things right?” and my response to that is yes. You are allowing yourself to grow in many ways, you’re deciding on your own path and you are being brave.

You left the comfort of your home, the security of your mother language, your food, traditions and family, to explore, and grow as human being.

Always keep in mind that all this effort will give you incredible experiences and that you will meet amazing people who will make this journey even more colorful. Homesickness is part of every international student life, but that doesn’t have to limit you. Enjoy this new life of yours as much as you can and take everything that Rotterdam has to offer, which is a lot!

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home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home.

"Enjoy this new life of yours home.home. home.home. home.home. home. as much as you can andhome.home. take everything thathome.home.

Rotterdam home. home.home. home.home. home.home. has to offer, which is a lot!" home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home. home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.home. home.

Rights reserved to Laura Filas

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How a simp can change Saying ‘thank you’ – it is one of the first things we all learn to say as toddlers. But the older we get, the more often we tend to forget it. Although this might seem an innocent aspect of ageing, showing a little more gratitude can have some serious life-improving consequences.

“If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there’d be peace”, goes the famous saying by singer and professional hippy, John Lennon. It was one of the first times materialism was given attention to in the public, to cause a stir that would last up to this very day: ‘Our’ millennial generation is claimed to be the most materialistic one that ever set foot on this planet.

That may actually sound not too far-fetched, looking at the incredibly long lines of people in front of Apple Stores around the globe last September, willing to pay over a thousand euros for the latest iPhone XS. Even Steve Jobs would turn in his grave.

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ple thank you e your life Written by Tessa

S

o how come materialism has taken over our lives? Recent investigations by several research facilities revealed that the time an average adolescent spends online is nine hours a day, coming across 130 advertisements per 45 minutes.

Quick calculation: That equals 1,560 ads per day! And those are just the online ones, not taking into consideration the many commercials that we are faced with in the offline world. It seems inevitable that ads cause an increase in our sense of materialism, especially since - with the rise of social media and online content - we are the generation that is more confronted with these ads than any other age groups in history.

calculation: That equals 1,560 ads per day! And those are just the online ones, not taking into consideration the many commercials that we are faced with in the offline world. It seems inevitable that ads cause an increase in our sense of materialism, especially since - with the rise of social media and online content - we are the generation that is more confronted with these ads than any other age groups in history.

Luckily, this does not have to mean that we are inescapably stuck in this world with an ever-lasting desire for stuff that we simply cannot all afford to have‌ there is a solution, and it is called gratitude. Study shows that people who are more grateful in life are often less materialistic, and the other way around. This combination of high appreciation and the thereby caused low materialism has severe benefits.

A better (mental) health and overall well-being, less anxiety, lower chances for depression and even lower drug- and alcohol use was noticed amongst the folks with great appreciation. Seem like reasons enough to step up this gratefulness game However, gratitude is often taken for granted, and being thankful can actually be quite harder than it initially sounds. So to help you out, there are several techniques for practicing it. First, is to write down at least three things a day that you are thankful for.

Rather than keeping a journal, it is best to oblige yourself to come up with a minimal number of events a day. Like this you make sure that you give it a thorough thought, instead of writing down only the first thing that comes to mind. Second, try to make a round of appreciation a ritual in your family/group of friends. For instance, each time while having dinner with your roommates all name something you liked about that day.

It might feel good to share nice experiences with others, and this will give you all some topics for conversation. Finally, perhaps the most practical tip, do not be tricked by advertisements. When imagining what you want for the future think about what you would like to accomplish rather than what you would like to have. Keep these resolutions up for the next couple of weeks and you might feel happier than ever before.

Thus, from now on when we hit town we will give unexpected presents to others instead of buying the latest iPhone for ourselves, we spend more time with friends and family instead of endlessly gazing at Instagram and most importantly, we say thank you for whatever life throws at us. Good luck with saying goodbye to the old habits, and enjoy embracing your new happier and hippier you – make John Lennon proud!

semadvertising? The BA2/3 IBCoM Interested in other effects of Meand Consumer Culture, and inars Global Advertising, Media society. role of advertising in today’s dia Campaigns focus on the 27

Make it happen!

A Detailed Guide to Look 100% class on 0% motivation Written by Diana Zavyalova

Isolating silence. Pleasant white noise in your head. Overheated limbs and colder cheeks. Soft rustle of bed sheets against skin. The bedroom – so dark, you might as well keep your eyes closed. Onedigit temperature outside your window and absolutely no will to look alive, let alone presentable.

Blaming societal norms for not allowing you to show up at this early-morning lecture wrapped in a blanket, you drag yourself to your wardrobe, yet again willing it into magically creating perfectly tailored oversized everything, because your body and mind can only focus on one thing at this early hour: must find warmth. Rings a bell? Definitely not because it incites in you an irresistible urge to dress up, but what if I told you that it doesn’t have to be so troublesome, and that even the most shapeless sweater can be turned into a fashion statement? Take note of all basic clothing items that together make up a fashion-week fairytale, and become its main character!

“La vie en monochrome”

“Patterns, patterns, patterns…”

“Accessories” and “shoes” are the two words you must remember if you want to transform casual outfits into your own version of “Devil wears Prada”. This totally Paris [it’s pah-ree, by the way] - inspired look would not be so Paris at all without the iconic felt beret. The long, quirky earrings au pair with the round glasses add just enough of the needed sophistication, while the bulky sneakers (that have been refusing to bid us farewell for over a year now – thanks, Balenciaga) add the casual spice to outfit. Oh, and don’t forget an XL-sized fleece scarf to wrap around yourself! We’re trying to stay warm, after all.

… wrote William Shakespeare once in the sixteenth century. Or maybe he didn’t – that doesn’t matter so long as you remember these tree words next. We’re living in the great times of idiosyncrasy, expression and eccentricity, and your own mix of patterns and fabrics is absolutely unique. Just like this example below: black jeans with round metal elements contrast really well with a “nappy” (and warm!) t-shirt. Adding the star of today’s fashion outfits – a bag with an animal print – sets you right amidst the runway-look-craving crowd at Zara… What?

You can’t always be idiosyncratic now, can you? (Tip: for extra warmth, add a homely item to the outfit, like this scarf my mom made. Hi mom )

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"Greyed out" Cozy! …Did everyone hear that? Let me try again: COZY! Personally, I find grey the coziest color. Maybe it’s my metropolitan soul speaking, stained with the colors of pavements, glass doors and metallic buildings, or maybe it really is the most relaxed color – your own taste will know for sure. But shades of grey and oversized everything? Can’t miss out on that. Aside from the sweetly comfortable and warm long-sleeve and patterned pants, what really makes this outfit are the first two words you learned in this article… Which are… Shoes and accessories, ya got it!

Pretentiously speaking, nothing screams “I was raised by the streets” (in a cool way, of course) louder than a beanie and a pair of rare Nikes. The beanie – to contrast the overall color scheme of the look, and the sneakers for the fresh contrast between dark grey and crystal white. You might have never spent more than a couple hours on “the streets” but who cares when you’re looking so effortlessly stylish?

“Extra is my middle name” Alright, ladies and gents, time to bring the game to a new level. More precisely, creating a fancy, stately look with as little effort as possible. Rule of thumb for such an achievement: get a coat. Double-breasted, single-breasted, wrapped – whatever model it is, it is guaranteed to make you feel like you’re on top of the world even with the plainest clothes under it. This fall (and, most likely, many more to come) all shades of honey yellow, sand and beige are in – setting your soul at peace and blending pleasantly with the fallen leaves. But have I already mentioned accessories and shoes? Hehe.

The scene stealer here is the bag: wearing it over the coat is no less a trend as animal prints, but somehow it has gone unnoticed by many. Half-belts, half-bags are going to be IT items in SS2019 (or so Fendi foreshadows…), so grab yours when you see one before they start selling at every corner. Don’t forget about flashy but oh so comfortable boots and statement earrings! Make you stand out real quick. Hopefully, you’ll be into that by the end of this article.

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“Scream it out” You don’t need me to tell you that graphic tees do the job of looking effortlessly stylish, but I’m still gonna. Graphic tees with a hint of color are all that – at least because few people have the nerve to wear loud shades of red at eight AM. Do not conform to the generally accepted fashion nihilism! Stand out! A patterned piece of clothing, like this warm checkered short will help you do that in style. Oh, and what about a basic but incredibly airy and functional maxi skirt? It’s a “hell yes” from me and Oscar de la Renta

“Roar in a concrete jungle” Recap! Have you been paying attention to Lazy Fashion 101? If yes, you’ll notice that aside from the gorgeous fluffy denim jacket and purse, you’ve already seen the other items! Which means, you do not need many resources to look fly – it all depends on how you piece them all together. The moral of this outfit is: do not be afraid of playing with volume. Oversized sweater and jacket might sound a little extra, but in practice compliment each other nicely and provide the needed warmth! Make it all urban colors and you’ve got yourself the dreamy outfit to wake and shake you right up.

There are lots of things to consider while exposing your visual eye to fashion trends, but for now learn the PAS(s) of today’s chic world: Patterns, Accessories, and Shoes. Don’t ever be afraid to experiment and play around with volume and your own taste, and don’t forget: “You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it”.

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THE

O G N I N N I BEG NEW

Written by Ana Mishkovska Welcome to uni! Don’t be nervous, you are still in your first months. Yes, I am talking to you, you smart and amazing individual who got accepted to one of the world’s top universities, Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Be proud and congratulate yourself!

I know your mood is somewhere between utter excitement and uneasiness. I know that because I was feeling the same and I bet that 80% of the freshmen were too. To be honest, I felt like Alice in Wonderland.

I perceived the lecturers as the Red Queen and the neaw people I met as the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Tweedledum and Tweedledee. But, even though everybody was introducing themselves, and the atmosphere was sociable, I was still doubting myself whether I will make actual friends, like the ones I had back home. I wasn’t sure whether I would fit into the whole international vibe. It was really different than home. Different in terms of partying, the mentality of people and the routine the Dutchies are having in their everyday life. However, I said to myself that I must open up to new experiences and live the new life I had with full breath. And that is when the fun started!

I was really happy that I had an amazing roommate who later became one of my closest and true friends here. With her, I expanded my circle of friends outside my major and I felt really happy that she truly put an effort into our friendship. I also met some amazing individuals from IBCoM which brought a new dimension to my thoughts. It was really good to exchange opinions on different topics with people coming from different nationalities. Who knew that Russian music is amazing?

Aside from friends, I also experienced cultural shocks.

Riding a bike? When it rains? No no no, that is impossible!

Well, welcome to the Netherlands and it’s good that you got introduced to the main transportation way here, the bike. Back in Macedonia, I was riding a bike only when I wanted to exercise on sunny days outside,

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OF MANY

W BEGINNINGS

so imagine the shock when I realised that I am supposed to “exercise” every day. However, people living abroad must know how to adapt to the lifestyle the country they are living in is having, so I truly resisted complaining when I was coming back from the club at 4 am on my bike while wearing a skirt and the rain pouring in my face and easing the process of taking my makeup off.

However, not everything will be perfect and just as you imagined before coming here, and that is totally okay!

They don’t call university years the best years for nothing and even if you are not sure about this, you will see at the end. But, in order to have the best experience possible, you still need to put some effort into it. Put an effort to socialize. Even though that girl from your tutorial might seem totally different from you, in the end, she might be your best friend! Don’t be fake. Even though it is such a cliche thing to say, stay true to yourself and embrace your uniqueness. Don’t mold by the standards.

And lastly, take it easy. Eventually, everyone finds their place. Whether you are a hard-core party animal or an introverted lover of books, there is always a place for you.

I wish you all to enjoy your uni and explore Rotterdam, the new concrete jungle!

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o t s y a W f o Fool-Pro s n o i t u l o s e Make R Written by Kat Nivera We are now nearing the end of 2018 and coming close to finish the first half of the academic year, which means it’s time for the age-old phrase to pop up all over social media: “new year, new me”. Yes, the time for writing resolutions (and then forgetting them after 3 weeks) is upon us.

How successful were you in keeping the resolutions you wrote? Did you manage any, do you even remember what your resolutions were? Most of us forget them but here are some of my tips to make sure you achieve your goals in 2019.

Tip 1: Make sure your resolutions focus on the positive rather than the negative

Creating constructive goals is a more productive and fun way to stay focused for the year. You’re more likely to be excited to try out new things and feel like you’ve accomplished something instead of feeling overwhelmed by all the things you “aren’t” achieving on time. Positive resolutions help keep a positive mindset.

Tip 2: Set doable goals; Resolutions can always be rewritten

Resolutions set to change your lifestyle are done most easily when they can be incorporated into your daily routine without feeling like your whole world is changing around you. If you set goals that are too challenging, you might find yourself disappointed. If your circumstances change, you can always look back and rewrite them to fit your situation.

Tip 3: Treat yourself to a reward

This is a classic tip to sticking to goals and productivity in general but it requires a little bit of self-control. Over-rewarding yourself for every small thing you do takes away the significance of the reward and might prevent you from actually fulfilling the resolutions you set out to do.

Tip 4: Think of weekly, monthly, and yearly goals

Think of your resolutions in terms of whether you want to incorporate it into your weekly or monthly habits, versus something you want to achieve over the long term; do you want to start going running every week, maybe cut down how much red meat you eat every month, or save up a certain sum of money to go on a vacation? Thinking about your resolutions like that will help you not feel discouraged about achieving different things at the right time frame.

Tip 5: Don’t be afraid to ask for help

It’s one of the more underrated tips, and sometimes one of the more challenging things to do. Some people don’t like admitting they can’t do things by themselves, but it can be one of the most motivating and encouraging things you can do it you’re stuck with something. It creates a good support system and reminds you of the people who are willing to help you through the ups and downs.

Tip 6: Consider splurging a little on nice things that you think could help you achieve your resolutions Do you want to drink more water everyday?

Invest in a water bottle with time marking and a nice filter for fruits. If you want to be more organized and generally improve your time management, buy a nice agenda or some home organizing things. This could be a little push in the right direction to keeping resolutions!

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Ultimately, setting New Year’s resolutions is up to how you want to create the best version of yourself. Find ways to motivate yourself through friend, family and your own personal fulfillment, but don’t be discouraged or disappointed if things don’t go your way or if you don’t see results immediately; changing habits and achieving dreams takes time and hopefully, these tips can help you get on the right track to make things happen.

Rights reserved to Barbara Dziadosz 45

The Guide to a Life Full of Motivation Written by Renée Mötter We all experience periods where our motivation just seems to have disappeared into nothingness. You don’t feel like being stressed about work or school. You just want to take it easy, have some fun and go out with some friends. It is probably when deadlines are coming closer or when your supposed exam preparations pile up, that you start to feel a little panicked about your not-so-motived attitude the last few weeks.

NO STRESS! Here are some guidelines to help you stay motivated during your study.

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DO's.

DONT's.

Make a plan – and stick to it This does not mean an hour-to-hour schedule, but more of an outline of what you are supposed to do before certain dates. This may help you keeping the overview and staying in control.

Just divide the amount of work over a longer period of time so that you still can take some days off to have fun and get away from your usual worrying.

Don’t procrastinate If you feel like doing something more enjoyable than work you are actually supposed to do (we all understand…), the work will still be waiting for you when you return. The motivation you once had, is now just at its minimum. How did you let it come to this point? Why didn’t you just do the work you set in your planning? It is only you who can answer that question... quite confronting, huh?

Keep track of your progress When you work following your plan, it is nice to keep track of what you did so far and what needs some more attention. It is satisfying to see how far you have already gone! The more things you can strike off your list, the more productive you feel!

Don’t forget the reasons why you’re doing what your doing What was your personal motivation or reason to start this study or job?

Remind yourself of these goals frequently to make sure you’re not losing sight!

Treat yourself It may be pleasing when you go out, have a candy bar or a nice long bath after you achieved one of your self-set aims or when you worked hard on an assignment; met a particular deadline; got a good grade; etc. You will stay motivated because you know that when you finally finish, something nice is awaiting you!

Don’t let any misfortunes or setback demotivate you!

If you have worked according to plan and you were proud of your effort, don’t be too disappointed in yourself if you have not received the results you were hoping for. Just look at the feedback, make some notes for yourself and try again next time. (Also, don’t have unrealistic expectations of yourself; only you can be the best version of yourself, so if you know you did your best, accept that.)

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The first IBCoM generation: Where are they now?

Writen by Tessa Peterse The very first to head off to bootcamp, the very first to go on exchange, the very first IBCoMpanions ever – it is safe to say that IBCoM’s Class of 2009 are true pioneers.

It is almost 10 years already after they started their studies and the programme has slightly changed since then, so now it is time to draw up the balance sheet and see how the class 0f 2009 is doing as of today, and how IBCoM has evolved over the years.

The year of 2009 was the first time the programme was introduced. Therefore, it was perhaps not the most international year IBCoM had ever welcomed: only 38 internationals accompanied the other 58 Dutchies. As we all know this ratio -and thus the sense of international community- has improved by now, and that is not the only thing that we current students can take away from the first cohort’s experiences. From internships through masters and the labour market, there are all kinds of lessons that IBCoM’s first provided us with.

Internship Comparing the current IBCoM programme to that of 2009, the curriculum is actually pretty similar. The biggest change that has happened since is the shift of the internship. In 2009 the internship was scheduled right after exchange in year 3. This resulted in some problems.

Students didn’t see each other or their teachers for almost a year, which is of course not very favourable for the sense of the IBCoMmunity. Besides, leaving the country for several months in some cases lead to legal issues. Reason enough to shove the internship to year 2, where more time and possibilities are now available for current students. Still, many of today’s students are concerned about their internship: ‘Isn’t it the most important part of my studies that will determine the rest of my career?’. Of course the internship is a great way to gain some practical experience, but as the class of 2009 would agree, it especially useful to explore which fields you or interested in, or which not. So no panic yet if you didn’t get that dream internship you wanted, or if you don’t like your internship as much as you thought you would. As you will see soon there are more than enough possibilities to develop practical skills after the internship.

Masters After finishing their bachelor’s degree the huge amount of 82 out of 96 students continued doing a masters.

As the pie chart below shows most students decided to stay at Erasmus University, where the most popular master was ESHCC’s Business & Media, by 17 students.

Coming in second place, Corporate Communication and Persuasive Communication from the University of Amsterdam were also favourite.

As these numbers show work does not start immediately after IBCoM. On the contrary, many students choose further studies over career. Fun fact, actually three students of the 2009-class are still doing a masters now, after working for a while. Thus there are still opportunities to keep developing after your bachelor’s programme.

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Working Fields In 2012, the first 96 IBCoM students graduated and were released on to the labour market. However, as we’ve seen in the masters section this does not mean that the majority decided to start working right away.

Actually only 9 students started off their career right after IBCoM. Others chose to pursue a masters, and some enjoyed their freedom one last time by taking a gap year. As a result IBCoM alumni are quite fresh in the labour market, but yet ended up in some cool branches that most IBCoM students dream about.

Overall amongst IBCoM alumni the field of Marketing, Advertisement & Sales is most popular. The class of 2009 is no exception, with no less than 29 alumni presently working in the area. Management, Consultancy & Policy Advice comes in second place, with a respective number of 23 active former IBCoM students.

Other fields are a little less popular, with only a few ex-students working in them. Examples of other lesscommon sectors are Communication & PR (8 alumni), Education (2 alumni), Information Technologies & Services (5 alumni), and Writing, Editing & Media Production (3 alumni). Only three graduates are currently looking for a job, which is a good sign of course, although this number might not be completely accurate, since there is still information missing from 12 alumni.

Current place of residence IBCoM is a very internationally oriented programme, so is it true then that the first class spread all over the world? The answer is not really. Fact is that the vast majority of 59 stayed in the Netherlands, which is a rough 61% of the alumni. The other 40% mostly ended up in other Western nations, such as Germany, United Kingdom, United States and one person even flew all the way to the other end of the world to New Zealand.

The only non-western country that has welcomed an IBCoM graduate from 2009 is Ethiopia.

Hopefully after hearing the first IBCoM success stories you will have some motivation for the rest of the year, and inspiration on what to do after your bachelor’s degree. Need some more practical IBCoM- and career advice from alumni? Visit https://www.eur.nl/en/eshcc/education/ibcomalumni

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Fear of not making it Written by: Crystal

A

nxieties surrounding new experiences can create a great toll on your overall well-being.

Although having new experiences has a more positive connotation, sometimes people are hesitant to express the negative aspects of our own emotions. And i’m here to tell you: to hell with that. Feel every emotion you’re feeling right now.

It’s the first step to actually feeling like you’ve overcome something difficult in your life and an inevitable feeling is fear—fear of not making it.

It’s no secret that entering a new city, a new setting, a new group of friends, and a new home is overwhelming but it’s important to understand that feeling alone isn’t uncommon. I guarantee you, everyone is going through it. The first year of university can be difficult— especially as an international student. So stay compassionate and empatheticto everyone around you because you have no idea what anyone else is going through.

So, I’m sure you’ve heard of symbol of Yin and Yang. It’s a Chinese symbol that emphasizes that contrary feelings can actually compliment each other to create

harmony. It’s the same thing with all the emotions you may be feeling.

You can’t understand what you have if you don’t lose it. You can’t understand happiness without sadness. You can’t grow without conquering some sort of fear. It may be hard to feel out of control but here are some ways to cope with that.

How to cope?

1) Have little goals. Sometimes, we get caught up in the idea that our lives are insignificant if we don’t accomplish something grand but life isn’t aboutconquering large things all at once but actually the opposite: accomplishing little goals that will eventually allow you to achieve bigger things. So, make your bed in the morning, make sure you eat breakfast and do your laundry.

2) If you’re a really social person and you can’t function without people, try to take time to be by yourself and self reflect.

3) However, if you’re more of an

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introvert, push yourself to face your fears, be around people at least once a week.

5) Try new things everyday to conquer fear. Itcan even be the smallest things like trying new foods, exploring new places in the city or even talking to a stranger and hopefully you’ll have something in common.

6) Reach out! Talk to someone about it. You don’t have to have a very intense conversation but just acknowledging your strugglescan really allow you to feel less alone.

“ Fear

is a intense emotion and can cause you to feel powerless but at the end of the day, you always have control of your own life

“.

To be honest, I would be lying if I told you there’s one solidified way to completely rid yourself from everyday anxieties. There isn’t. But again, fear is a intense emotion and can cause you to feel powerless but at the end of the day, you always have control of your own life. Fear can actually push you out of your comfort zone instead of scaring you away from different opportunities. Use it and let it drive you. Whether there may be a fear of not making friends, fitting into your new home, living in a completely new country, it’s understandable that you may feel like you might not ‘make it’. But you can. It’s about the little things thatcan help you conquer it. Feel whatever emotion your feeling and look at it right in the face and tell it that you are the driving force in your life. Most importantly: be kind and the universe will find it’s ways to balance it out. Don’t forget: you’re going to make it.

Anxiety

4) If you find that work is really overwhelming, make sure you have time for yourself. So, do maybe only one to two chapters a day and never forget to have an hour or even a couple to do things that you love. After all, it’s all about creating balance.

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POEM Petrichor (the smell after the rain) Written by: Crystal

The drums have begun every splatter pitter patter tapping my window, they scatter. this floor - made for laying, as gravity is heavy, this ceiling - made for staring, a masterpiece-to-be the sweetness of speakers’ acoustics, singing softness into my chest, music played from these heart strings, an anthem for all romantics, sounds to be undressed. every raindrop reflecting crackled voices in my head; boundless and there’s too much of nothing to do, this world is my canvas, so tomorrow is anew. maybe i’ll stay for the petrichor today the bittersweet aftertaste of the sky’s tears, an oddly pleasant sensation that won’t go away, and right now it is grey yet after all the thunder, comes a bright array.

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