Link 34

august 2013

34 magazine of the hague university of applied sciences

English edition

HU T e t a m i } t l e u d i u The g l a

v i v {Sur

Find your way within campus

How to deal with a culture shock

Spotlight

Ready, steady…

This summer, thousands of students gathered on the fields of the Sports Department (HALO) on Laan van Poot.

The eighth graders were participating in the Hague School Sports Olympiad, organised annually by sports students. text Martine Seijffert • image Mieke Barendse ‘The goal of the event is to get students in The Hague to play more sports,’ explains HALO student Ingeborg Dröge. Together with five other students, she made preparations for the event over the course of an entire year. During the event itself, all first-year HALO students were on hand to supervise the games – from football to tug-of-war. Ingeborg is enthusiastic about how the day went: ‘The students were very motivated.’ She has not an ounce of regret about deciding to take part in this project. ‘I’ve learned to take charge and assume a great deal of responsibility.’

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Editorial

Content 6 Find your way around the THU maze The building looks amazing.

But where is my classroom?

Find your way!

10 How to survive your first year Second year students share their experiences from their first year and they give practical tips for a good start.

17 Culture shock Studying abroad is not only new and exciting, but can be challenging as well.

14 Cooking for students: helpful tips when there are no parents around.

20 Which student association suits you best?

Columns 2 Spotlight: The Hague School Sports Olympiad 4 The introduction weeks in pictures 5 Jos: columnist Jos Walenkamp 16 Legal briefs: fraud?

19 Melting pot: a dish from Sierra Leone 22 Gems: Win an HHs goodie bag

About link

Link is published and produced by the Communication & Marketing department at The Hague University.

Editors room Poseidon 6 • Address Postbus 13336, 2501 EH Den Haag e: link@hhs.nl f: 070 445 7554 i: http://link-en.hhs.nl • Editors Dieuwke de Boer (070 445 8851), René Rector (070 445 8813, editor-in-chief), Martine Seijffert (070 445 8814), Youri van Vliet (070 445 8796) Student Editors Yvonne Bal, Anjani Bhairosingh, Ilse van Beest, Esther Bliek, Martin Cok, Patty Elbersen, Can Güneyli, Kerttu Henriksson, Tim de Jong, Stefan van Klink, Martina Koleva, Laura van Langen, Paul van Leeuwen, Danielle Peterson, Darren Power, Yvonne Rijff, Éloïse Ruby Staff Dave van Ginhoven, Maarten Vromans, Christin Zitter • Comic Margreet de Heer Images Mieke Barendse, Quintin van der Blonk, Thirjeet Gurwara, Bas Kijzers, Barbara Mulderink, Mireille Schaap Design Mustafa Özbek, Josean de Pie • Print OBT bv, Den Haag Advertisement Bureau Nassau, Achterom 100c, Hoorn Postbus 4130, 1620 HC Hoorn e: info@bureaunassau.nl t: 020 – 623 0905 f: 020 – 639 0846 i: www.bureaunassau.nl ISSN 2210-7983 Copyright It is not allowed to copy articles or images without permission of the editors. Link is published monthly in Dutch and three times a year in English. The next issue in English will be released on November 14. The first Dutch issue on September 5.

The Penis Plant

For journalists, summer is the silly season, often called ‘Cucumber time’ in Dutch because there’s no news to report except maybe the cucumber harvest. If you walk through the THU building, it seems like the all the restaurants are either closing down or not yet ready to open up whenever you pass by. An exodus of teachers has taken place, resulting in mass migration to France and places like it and the students: gone without a trace. The place is just dead. The only thing going on at school this summer is a few departments moving their offices.

Cucumber time is when journalists start grasping the craziest events to fill their newspapers. A cat caught in a tree could be world news and it’s almost a relief when an airplane falls out of the sky. Thirty miners trapped in Chile: hooray! It’s tough for journalists, because while there is certainly a maximum amount of news you can publish in a day – at a certain point, it’s too much for people to read – there is also a minimum: no one buys a four-page newspaper and if you only post new stories on your website once a month you can forget about attracting an audience.

But that’s the problem with summer: nothing happens.

Everyone is on the beach. Even the top politicians are on holiday. Nothing is going on and it’s frustrating, because that minimum quota has to be reached. So you start going through old press releases and, you might find something usefull.

Last month a football referee was beheaded in Brazil, after he stabbed a player to death. There’s bound to be at least one ‘cat caught in washing machine’ or a naked person trapped outside their house somewhere each summer.

You can tell it’s cucumber time for real when the penis plant starts blooming. The Amorphophallus titanium (literally meaning shapeless, gigantic penis) is rare, but a blooming plant is still a complete waste of editorial pages. However, because it blooms in high summer, everyone still covers this ‘earth stood still’ news.

Heck, the last time the penis plant bloomed in Leiden, 5,000 people went to check it out after being inundated with media coverage about this biological miracle. After that, I learned that it’s cucumber fever when the phallic blooming starts. Journalisticaly spoken its quiet a relief to see 2 September on the calender: cucumber time is over for sure when the intro week begins.

René Rector Editor-in-chief of Link r.rector@hhs.nl

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In pictures Introduction Still worried about what to do during your introduction period? We asked a number of students who have gone before you to share their experiences. The results are shown on the right.

Hopefully, this will give you the boost of inspiration you need for an unforgettable introduction period!

Ramon van Grieken, holding a cigarette, (Business Administration) [1] playing tug-of-war with a good friend during the 2012 introduction camp in order to encourage teamwork within the new class. International Public Management student Luis Hurtault [2] having his picture taken by the Link photographer during orientation.

Together with her girlfriends, Romy Basart (Nutrition and Dietetics) [3] succeeds in winning the ‘Worst Dressed’ award during the entertainment evening: ‘Our prize: a fabulous deluxe breakfast while our fellow students were chewing on dry sandwiches!’ Marco Sebastian Cegarra (Facility Management) [4] was also immortalised in a ‘questionable’ outfit during his intro camp: ‘It’s not surprising they took a picture of me; just look at that outfit! A brightly coloured Ed Hardy cardigan matched with obnoxious Thai boxing trousers was definitely worth photographing!’ Bart Kremer (also a Facility Management student) [5] enjoying one of the day activities: belly sliding. ‘I was completely drenched, but it didn’t matter.

After all, the sun was shining!’ Jeroen de Koning (Social Work) [6] getting his picture taken during the ‘Proud to be Wrong’ party. Tomas Meijer (Built Environment, wearing an orange cardigan) [7] had already completed a week as a coach when this picture was taken. He is pictured here at the final party of the Oh Oh Intro 2012 event. Ilse van Schaik (Nutrition and Dietetics) [8] getting ready for her ‘wrong party’ and enjoying a ‘Facebook moment’.

Maria Passias (Human Resource Management) [9] showing her class, with whom she ultimately had an ‘absolutely fantastic’ year. Marrit Buteijn (Nutrition and Dietetics) [10] had an even bigger class and took on the job of student coach during orientation. But the winner of this edition of ‘In Edition’ is Lola Dessauvagie (Social Work) [11]. ‘This picture was taken at camp in August 2012. Our class is putting on a play about derailed pregnant teen moms taking a prenatal course. We laughed our heads off!’

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[1] [4]

[7]

[11]

[2] [5]

[8]

Jos Battle for brains

[3]

Toms is an international student from Latvia with a shock of dark hair, a frank and open face and a peculiar voice when he speaks English. He graduated from The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THU) in July with good grades. I know him because he took part in our minor Development Cooperation and wrote a paper on Chinese development assistance in Africa, using 79 references. He is someone we would like to keep here.

[6]

Another foreign student, Andreas (Germany) and I recently studied the factors that would bind international students to the Netherlands. Just as THU values international students for the quality of its education, the Minister for Education, Culture and Science has come to realize the economic value of foreign knowledge workers.

[9]

What would make bright young people like Toms and Andreas want to stay and work here? Although the Netherlands, The Hague and THU are generally well liked – foreigners appreciate our standard of living, socio-political environment and the ‘welcoming Dutch culture’ – there are areas in which we can do better.

The Hague is appealing for its clean and safe environment and attractive cultural agenda. And THU is well liked for its international study environment as well as the level and focus of its education. It could, however, do better in career counselling and offering (free) Dutch language courses, which would allow international students to interact more intensely with their Dutch fellow students.

[10]

Win 50 euros Every issue, Link organizes a photography contest.

The assignment for the next issue will be to take a picture of an odd notification.

You might know them: post-its on advertisement boards in the hallway, strange signs beside the road. Like the post-it on the bathroom door: ‘Everybody: please remove your own hair from the drain.’

Send your odd notification picture before September 23 to link@hhs.nl. Please tell us who’s on the picture, what can be seen and who you are. The best picture will win 50 euros.

The most important factors for knowledge workers to stay here are career perspectives, finding a suitable job, personal relations, and finding a suitable spouse. Andreas and Toms have neither a spouse nor a job but want to continue studying here. Andreas did continue to study in Leiden and recently obtained his Masters there within a year with honours. He now has a job offer at our Hogeschool and an invitation to do a PhD at Leiden University. Toms, however, could not start his Masters without a transition year and now goes to the London School of Economics.

Within four or five years, you could be Andreas or Toms. You too will be faced with the choice of going home, going to yet another country or staying here.

Hopefully by then your decision will be made because of your personal preferences and your appreciation of the possibilities here in Holland.

Jos Walenkamp Lector International Cooperation

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Locations

Find your way through The first impression people have of The Hague University of Applied Sciences main campus is usually something like: ‘Wow, this place is big.’ But with this map, you and your classmates will be able to find important and interesting spots all over the Strip, Slinger (Serpentine), Rugzak (Backpack) or Ovaal (Oval), some of which serve official purposes and some of which are just nice to know. story Joost Kroon/Martine Seijffert • images Mieke Barendse Food Court Dok 75 What: A café and restaurant that is run by Facility Management students. For a good price you can have something to eat or drink. Open every weekday from 9:30 until 20:00.

Where: Strip, ground floor, to the left from the main entrance

What: You can’t miss this spot, where you can get something to eat, from soft ice cream to halal cuisine. For a reasonable price you can get food all day long. One tip: it’s busiest between 12:00 and 13:00.

Where: Ovaal, ground floor

Career Centre (Loopbaancentrum) What: The place to go if you have questions about your career, for the long-term or for right now. You can take a few tests to see what study programmes suits you best or schedule an orientation meeting with the staff.

Where: Ovaal 1.68

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The Legal Aid Desk (Loket Rechtsbescherming) What: The place to go if you have a complaint, an objection or an appeal regarding a decision or policy made by the university. The staff there will make sure that your complaint gets to the right people. Open everyday from 09:30 tot 12:30.

Where: Ovaal 1.33

Central Registration Office What: The place to take care of any and all matters related to your registration at The Hague University.

Where: Ovaal 0.05

the maze

Need to know

Copyshop What: The place to go if you need a folder for your assignment, or to get a binding on your booklet, or – of course – to get copies made.

Where: Strip 0.76

Student Affairs Bureau (Bureau Studentenzaken) What: This is where you can go with questions about matters pertaining to your dayto-day life as a student, such as questions about financial aid or what to do if you want to become leader of a student organisation. This should also be your destination if you have a student-driven initiative you’d like to pursue.

Where: Ovaal 4.03

Library What: Here you’ll find books, computers and workstations.

If you need some quiet to do your work, there’s a quiet section in the back. The library’s catalogue is also online at the following address: catalogus. hhs.nl and the Library website offers a wide range of services.

Where: Ovaal, first floor

The ‘Winkelstrip’ What: This part of the Atrium is much more than a series of shops. Here, you’ll find the Acku culture bureau (for cool events and courses), the International Office (for info on exchanges or work placements abroad) and the ‘Haagse Winkel’ where you can buy some cool stuff.

Where: Ovaal, ground floor

The Bridge Beans What: The school’s coffee shop is ready to welcome you as soon as you get sick of the stuff that comes out of the coffee machines and decide to grab a cup of coffee somewhere with atmosphere.

A cup will cost you €1.10 and up. You might catch teachers and older students resistant to change calling it the Mockamore, after the place that moved out.

Where: Ground floor, on your right when you enter the building

What: A canteen in the Slinger that also sells Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Open every weekday until 15:00.

Where: Slinger, third floor, between the bridges that connect to the Ovaal

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Locations

Nice to know Now that you’re able to find all the official spots, you can focus on all the hidden gems.

Not necessarily places that you need to know, but they are fun and nice to know for sure.

Pianos What: There is a piano in the foyer (under the Aula) that can be opened upon request by the service centre, but it is not in the best condition. The other piano, in the Dok 75, sounds much nicer and, if you sit down to play, you might enrich the atmosphere for the customers.

Where: Foyer, Dok 75

Work zone with magazines and balcony What: Another location with a lot of possibilities.

There are computers for work and study, couches for relaxation, tables and a (no smoking) balcony for fresh air.

Where: On the first floor between the Ovaal and Strip

Ovaal obstacle What: You can walk all the way around the Ovaal on every floor except the first. That’s where the Board of Directors are located. Keep this is mind if you’re in a hurry to get somewhere nearby.

Where: Ovaal, first floor, near the Aula

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Dance and Music Room What: There is a room in the basement there’s enough space to make music or dance. It can be reserved but you have to ask your own Academy nicely.

Where: In the basement, room K.10

Smoker’s Balcony What: A spot for smokers who don’t want to walk all the way back to the main entrance, where you can pop outside to light up, or just to enjoy the view.

Where: At the end of the Slinger on several floors. Go left from the bridges

Siezo What: A grand café that’s under the Slinger. A nice place for lunch or to get drinks after exams, or to spend an evening with friends.

Where: Johanna Westerdijkplein 70

The lounge platform What: A great spot to relax if you have a few minutes to kill, complete with comfortable chairs and couches.

Where: Between the Slinger and the Rugzak, on the second floor

Poetry Walls What: These walls have been covered with poems and other inspiring texts. It’s a nice spot if you need a pep talk or just want to read some nice poetry. Students from CMV, a Social Professions programme, like to think of it as their own social corner.

Where: Ovaal, third floor, near the bridge to the Slinger

Unofficial prayer room What: This is a spot selected by students who need a place to pray, because the university doesn’t have any areas where silence is guaranteed.

Where: Go through the door to the left of Slinger 1.53 and down the stairs

The All-in-One work zone What: a quiet spot (officially a break room) with a printer and a coffee machine. It’s got everything you need (except a power outlet) to keep concentrated.

Where: On the 5th floor of the Slinger (around 5.75-5.85), but if you look around on other floors in, there are other quiet spots

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Survival Guide

HU T e t a m i t l u e Th

} e d i u g l a v i v r u {s The time has come. Your studies are starting. To help you get into the swing of things, your predecessors – now starting their second year, took some time to look back on their experiences last year and to give you some tips that will help you get off to a good start. Combine this with the advice offered by your teachers and your Educational Career Supervisor and you will have your own survival guide. story Dieuwke de Boer / Kerttu Henriksson • images Bas Kijzers

‘My programme is new, so we were the guinea pigs’ I got the idea to study abroad about four years ago and after looking into different options, I chose to come to The Hague. The beginning of the year was very challenging for me. I was working 30 to 40 hours a week on top of school and this affected my studying performance. I sometimes attended classes halfasleep and I failed some exams in the beginning. I feel sad that I missed out on student life, such as partying, in a new country because I was so busy. Luckily the school made up for this, such as during business game week, when we had to work with people from different programmes. This was a great experience! The IFMC programme is new and we were the guinea pigs. On the other hand, it was a privilege since the programme was flexible, but also challenging because we didn’t have the usual guidance that students get from previous years. The year was rough, but I’m happy to be here, and I can say that the people who survived this first year are true survivors.

Katrina Brige (20) from Latvia Second-year student of International Finance Management and Control (IFMC) Earned 50 credits last year

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From day one Everything is new. It’s tempting to take your time to make the adjustment slowly, but you cannot afford to fall behind, because it can be difficult to catch up. If you don’t want to be part of the 5% of students who drop out in December, make sure that, from day one, you attend your classes, even if attendance is not mandatory. Be prepared to work hard.

scheduling things backwards: identify deadlines and exam dates and work backwards to find a good starting point for preparations. Be sure to include any jobs, sports, social activities, and, if necessary, time for sleeping in your agenda. Then you can easily identify the bottlenecks, as well as the quiet periods. Keep in mind that working in project groups tends to gobble up a lot of time.

Get to know each other

Know what is expected

Naturally, you will have time in the introduction period to get to know your classmates, but it can be very useful and fun to continue participating in activities where you can meet more of your fellow students. If you are ‘socially integrated’, you will feel more comfortable, and that, in turn, is good for your academic performance. Find out if your study programme has a club or a student association, for example.

When you start studying, there is often a gap between what you were used to at your old school and what will be expected of you in Higher Professional Education (HBO). That’s why it is essential that you read your course descriptions and instructions carefully. Ask your teachers what you will have to know and what you will have to be able to do to succeed in a course. And, if there are practice tests, do them: they help you get a sense of the level.

Time management Careful planning can help you avoid procrastination, if you are able to make a plan and stick to it. Try

‘The cultural diversity is enriching, but also challenging’ I transferred to The Hague University from my national law school in France because I found international law to be a new, exciting field of law to study. The Hague’s international environment attracted me: this is a great city for networking. The cultural diversity is very enriching, but I also noticed that it can be a challenge. In our programme in particular, the subjects are very sensitive, making it important to be careful when communicating with people with totally different backgrounds to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts. My greatest challenges at school were the multiple choice questions because we don’t have this concept in French law schools. What I developed most were my oral skills: giving speeches and having debates, thanks to the practical part of the programme. I now feel like I belong here, as I am surrounded by people with the same goals in life and the same goal to create an international community.

Cécile Fournis (22) from France Second-year student of International and European Law (IEL) Earned 60 credits last year

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Talk out your doubts A lot of first-year students feel insecure. Can I handle this? Am I in the right place? You might not think it’s tough or cool, but it is certainly smart to talk about your doubts. Visit your Educational Career Supervisor (ECS), mentor or tutor. Together, you can find out if your expectations for your study programme are correct and, if necessary, you can get help in switching to another study. Your ECS can help you, even if your insecurities are about your own capabilities or about a personal situation.

They can give you advice and, if needed, refer you to support courses, the career centre, or the Student Counsellor (Decaan).

Seek out study buddies Not everyone is cut out for sitting at home, alone, and studying in a disciplined and concentrated manner. Studying together can help. You can go through assignments, help one

another when you don’t understand something, and brainstorm. As an added benefit, it provides incentive to study and social checks and balances (you’ll have someone demanding to know, ‘where were you?’ if you don’t show up to study).

Discover your learning style Do you like working with diagrams and summaries, or is one read-through enough for you to understand the material? Do you want a teacher to tell you exactly what you need to know, or do you seek out your own information and apply it? It is useful to know your learning style. You can find out by doing an online learning style test (ask your ECS for help). Then you’ll know your strengths and weaknesses and it will help you in your development. Experiment and find the working style that suits you best.

Know the rules Don’t get caught off guard by the rules of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Read the Student’s

‘It is important to find people you work well with’ I have lived in the Netherlands for six years now and when I decided to go back to school, IPM was the only English programme that really interested me. I travel three hours every day between school and home, but I find it essentially important to attend classes. My advice for other students is to treat the classes as if they were mandatory. This will really help you pass your exams.

What came to me as a surprise was the amount of teamwork we have in the programme. This was challenging in the beginning, since not everyone is motivated, which makes it important to find people you work well with.

I, for instance, set up a study group together with my friends. Although in the Netherlands I will always be ‘the foreigner’, I feel at home here and I plan to stay.

Danielle Peterson (28) from the United States Second-year student of International Public Management (IPM) Earned 60 credits last year

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Charter for your study programme, so you can learn that you need to earn at least 50 credits, the subjects for which you are required to receive a passing mark during the first year, and whether you can make up for low scores within a subject area. You will also find practical answers to such questions as “How do I call in sick?” and “How do I sign up for exams?”.

Ask questions You can expect professionalism and knowledge from your teachers, but don’t think that they are just going to tell you everything. Forget that passive approach.

Get curious and critical. Dare to ask questions and tell your teachers what you really want to know. And, if you don’t understand something, point it out.

Buy those books They’re expensive, and you don’t know yet what they’re worth to you, but it is still smart to buy your schoolbooks right away, at least for the first period.

After that, you can always check around to see if you

can borrow or copy other books. Make sure you have everything you need at the start of term so you can get right to work and get the most out of the material. Don’t wait until the last minute and remember: everyone will need their own copy during exams and are not likely to lend it out. If you don’t have your own books, you have to depend on other students, and not everyone appreciates that.

Language and Math English and mathematics can be an issue. The level at many high schools does not quite match the level at HBO. If you know that language is your weak point, or that you have a tough time with math, get on top of it and ask for support, because help is available and can save you from stress and study delays. You can request additional lessons or arrange a tutor. Keep in mind that reading, especially (quality) newspapers alongside your schoolbooks will help with your language development.

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‘I learned to respect other cultures’ The IBMS programme was very different from hospitality management, which I studied previously. It requires dedication: about sixty percent of the workload is preparation for classes.

You need to remember to click the answers of online homework before you go partying and miss the deadline, which is during the weekend! Reading the slides and books is essential for the exam. Also, the mock exams give you a good idea of what the actual exam will be like, so I found them very helpful. Due to a lack of motivation, I did not earn the fifty credits needed to continue to the second year. I am now going to transfer my credits to the Rotterdam Business School and continue IBMS there or will choose another study programme. But I don’t feel like I wasted my time, as I had an amazing year. One of the most important things I learned from the IBMS multicultural programme is to respect other cultures. For example, we had an intercultural week during which we learned a lot about all the different countries represented in the school programmes.

Will Yue (24) from China and Aruba No longer a student of International Business and Management Studies (IBMS) Earned 45 credits last year

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Cooking

Kitchen competencies

Now that you moved out of your parents’ house, you have to start cooking for yourself.

Here are some tips and a recipe from The Hague’s own TV chef Pierre Wind, a student’s perspective on cooking and an overview of the most important kitchen supplies to show you that it doesn’t have to be too difficult. story Joost Kroon • image Willem Sluyterman van Loo

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G

ood gastronomy starts with good groceries. You can find a lot at the cheaper supermarkets, but don’t be afraid to try a proper greengrocer for your fruits and vegetables. You have more choices and it’s usually cheaper. The same goes for the butcher, but no matter where you go, the better meats are going to be pricier.

Pierre Wind has a good trick. ‘I decide in advance how much I’m willing to spend,’ he says, ‘and I leave it up to the greengrocer or the market vendor to tell me what they have to offer for that price. Depending on the groceries I end up with, I figure out how to prepare my meal. Maybe I put my peppers in a soup and maybe I fill them with meat and put them in the oven instead.’ Communications student Nicole Nedermeijer has another tip for saving a few cents: ‘Generic brands like Euroshopper are your best friend,’ she says.

‘They don’t look great, but they’re cheap.’

If you’re going to cook, it’s important to have the right equipment. Beyond the standard pans and spatulas there are a lot of useful tools that can make your life a lot easier [see sidebar]. But, tools aren’t everything. You learn a lot from experience.

Nicole started cooking for herself while still living with her parents. ‘I started out making chicken with soy sauce and these days, I’ve cooked it so often I hardly have to look at the recipe,’ she says.

Keep in mind that even if you’re well prepared, you’re still going to make some mistakes. Nicole, for example, had to learn the hard way that aluminium foil is not a good substitute for baking paper when you’re making pizza. ‘At first, we thought the pizza had a copper taste,’ she says, ‘then we realised we were eating the aluminium foil.’ But, even if you come to the conclusion that cooking isn’t your thing, Nicole says it’s not the end of the world. ‘After all, anybody can heat up a chicken tandoori if they need to.’

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Couscous with eggplant and tomato Chop up the (pealed) garlic cloves and the red pepper – without the seeds or the white part that holds them. Mix the garlic and pepper with at least hundred millilitres of oil. Cut four slices from the eggplant, lengthwise, without the stem or ‘tail’. Put these slices into the oil mixture until it’s time to bake. Beat two eggs together in a bowl. You’ll need this later.

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2 eggs (beaten) 1 eggplant (aubergine) 2 cloves of garlic 1 (Spanish) chilli pepper 1 packet of couscous 3 tomatoes 1 onion Salt, Vinegar and oil from your kitchen cupboard

At the same time, prepare the couscous by following the instructions on the box. Slice up the (washed) tomatoes and cut your (pealed) onion into rings. Mix the tomato and onion and add flavour by making a dressing with one part vinegar and two parts oil. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could use a peeler to get a long piece of tomato peel and roll it into a tomato

Essential extras in your kitchen • A sharp knife (from Ikea, for example) • An assortment of bowls • A grater • A blender • A mixer • A can opener • A garlic press • A peeler TIP Visit the Haagse Markt on the Herman Costerstraat. It’s open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00.

TIP If you’re by yourself, it’s best to cook a lot at one time and put several meals in the freezer. It’s cheaper than making a meal for one everyday.

A recipe from Pierre Wind rose. It’s a nice garnish, but it’s not absolutely necessary.

Heat up a non-stick pan and put some of the oil mixture in it. Then, take the eggplant slices dip them in your egg batter and fry until golden brown. Add salt as needed.

For each person at the table, take a cup and cover the inside of it with plastic foil. Then fill the cup with cooked couscous. Pack it in tight and then flip the cup over onto a plate and, voila: you have a nice mound of couscous.

Put the tomato slices and onion rings next to the couscous and lay the eggplant slices across them. Put the tomato rose (if you made one) in the middle. This is an ideal meal for your vegetarian friends.

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Legal briefs Not even registered, but still cheating

Exam week got off to a rocky start for Student S. from the law programme (HBO-Rechten). When he arrived for an exam he was told that something went wrong with his registration. Even though he was asked to leave, S. sat down and started the exam, and when he was caught cheating, things really went sideways. Or did they? story Anjani Bhairosingh

The facts S. showed up for his Labour Law exam. When it appeared that he had not properly registered for the exam, he was asked to go, but he did not agree and refused to leave his seat. The invigilator claims that S. had no identification and used inappropriate language. Then, S. was caught cheating and, as a result, the Exam Board banned him from the next opportunity to re-sit the exam.

S. appealed the decision.

The arguments Student S. claims that he did have identification. He says he produced a driving license and contests the accusation of inappropriate language. He claims that registration problems with exams are supposed to be dealt with after the exam, so he had every reason to stay. He does, however, admit to the cheating, but he feels that the punishment he received is excessive and filed an objection.

The counterarguments The exam was voided because of the registration problem and the Exam Board for the Academy of Public Administration, Law and Safety decided to ban S. from the next Labour Law exam because of the fraud.

The verdict The Appeals Board says that Exam Board’s decision was overturned because the student’s registration for the exam was invalid. Which means, that, in a way, he never actually took it. As a result, he cannot be punished for cheating.

The academy director can, however, take disciplinary measures against the student if there is proof of inappropriate behaviour towards the invigilator.

The Appeals Board verdicts in favour of the student.

Do you have a bone to pick with the Exam Board? You don’t have to take it lying down. For the rules and procedures, visit the legal aid desk (loket rechtsbescherming) or check out this page on the student portal: studentennet.hhs.nl/loketrechtsbescherming (in Dutch).

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Meet the Dutchies

Culture Shock

The challenge of moving abroad

You’ve heard it mentioned as you packed your bags and prepared to move abroad: culture shock. THU students who are already used to the weird Dutch customs will tell you all about the four phases of your international experience in Holland. story Éloïse Ruby / Martine Seijffert • image Barbara Mulderink

The honeymoon phase When you’ve just got off the plane every aspect of the country seems new and exciting. ‘The very first thing that I noticed when I arrived in the Netherlands were the people,’ says Radoslav Tsvetkov, a 21-year-old ICM student from Bulgaria. ‘I’ve never seen such tall people. I was walking through my neighborhood and I had to look up to almost every person I met.’ You might know it from being on holiday… on the first day everything seems a real Walhalla. This phase of discovery is rich in surprises and it’s very energizing. You feel on top of the world: there you are, living in a completely foreign country! Everything is fresh and unexpected.

You notice some details immediately, like culinary peculiarities, or the way people greet you; and the excitement of decoding their meaning and novelty is great. For Zheng Zhou (20), a European Studies student from China, it wasn’t hard to get used to the Dutch food. ‘My friends get tired of the fact that I want to eat stamppot (mashed potatoes with onion and vegeta-

bles) all the time. I am just a big fan! I like Dutch food so much that I have put on weight since I have been here.’

Some things you’ll discover after weeks or months. It’s a continuing process and it’s quite enjoyable.

The honeymoon is over But then the scope and consequences of these contrasts kick in and the fun starts to wear off. You start noticing differences, but in an unpleasant way.

Things become frustrating and irritating. Everything seems to happen in order to grate on your temper—it rains too much, it’s too cold, or the food is bland.

You start to feel different or misunderstood. This happens because you’ve lost the rose-tinted glasses you were wearing, and you realize just how different your host country is from your own. ‘I remember as if it was yesterday,’ recalls Catalin Guguiu (22), an International Law student. ‘I got off the plane and I felt a cold wind on my skin. It was 20 August and I thought “Well, maybe it’s just bad weather today,”

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but the wind and rain went on for days, even weeks.’

Adelia Hahyrettin (20), a European Studies student, noticed something different about the hospitality of the Dutch: ‘In Russia or in Turkey you don’t need to make any appointments to meet your friends, you can just appear out of the blue and the door will always be open. When I visit my Dutch friends, they don’t have things to offer me - only tea or coffee, and maybe a biscuit or two. When friends of mine come to my place, I even cook for them.’

Feeling stuck: that moment you hit rock bottom For some people, the next phase on the agenda is a period of minor depression. You’ll reject the country you are living in and its culture entirely.

The language barrier can become a real weight and cause you to withdraw as much as possible from all contact with the host culture.

Disillusionment and frustration settle on you and the only thing you want to do is go home. You know you are expe-

What you should know about the Dutchies: Bicycles are everywhere. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or if the centre of a town is crowded with pedestrians. As long as they are allowed, cyclists own the streets. Best thing to do is to get one yourself and join in (see page 21). hen waiting for the train to arrive, it can be convenient to W choose your position wisely, especially during rush hours.

As soon as the train stops, everyone is trying to jump in first, sometimes without even waiting for the arriving passengers to get off the train.

Don’t expect to walk on escalators. Dutchies turn into a gnashing inert blob once they reach these moving staircases.

When meeting someone you know from your social network, kissing three times on alternate cheeks is appropriate. utchies aren’t overly proud nationalists, generally. But be D beware: although they don’t show their pride, be prudent in criticizing their cultural heritage. Wait for a European or world championship in soccer or skating and see the true nature of the Dutch lion.

If a Dutchie says ‘no’, he/she usually means ‘no’. If it comes across as blunt or rude, try to imagine that the Dutch person thinks he/she is just being honest.

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he Dutchies are very proud of the emancipation of women T in the past decades. This development has its peculiarities though, especially when a woman goes out for a drink or dinner with a man she has just met. He might suggest to split the bill, hence the modern phrase ‘going Dutch’. The older generation would call this a ‘Dutch treat’. alfway through November, the preparations for an H ‘inappropriate’ but traditional children’s festivity begin.

The festivity is Sinterklaas (after which Santa Claus was named originally). The inappropriate part is that Sinterklaas (a benefactor saint who brings presents to put into the children’s shoes) is accompanied by black, clumsy assistants (Zwarte Piet – Black Peter). Watch with fascination how in the third week of November the annual discussion about banning Black Peter starts. It stops with relief and hypocrisy on the day of the festivity: 5 December. hen answering the phone to an unknown number or W when calling someone you don’t know very well, you start with saying your full name. Don’t start the conversation without introducing yourself.

S ince you’re now a student, you might want to be familiar with the Dutch term ‘borrel’. This means having social drinks starting at around 5pm, but can start even earlier. It usually involves beer and ‘bitterballen’ (Dutch fried ragout with some traces of meat in it) and it ends when everyone is starving for dinner.

Melting pot Garri from Sierra Leone riencing culture shock when any of these symptoms occur: loneliness, homesickness, social withdrawal, use of stereotypes to judge others, inability to accept any aspects of host culture, discomfort, irritability, impatience, insecurity, mood swings, insomnia… For Gabriela Slavova (22), who moved to Japan for two years because of her mother’s professional situation when she was 12, the toughest time happened several months after she moved and settled in to school.

‘It hit me around Christmas time,’ she remembers, ‘when I started really missing my friends and my family. I felt some feelings of depression, I wanted to go back to Bulgaria for the holidays.’

Learning to accept your new home During the struggle that takes place in these few months of culture shock, you might still manage to find some positives and create some form of routine.

By doing this bit by bit, settling into the host country then becomes easier. Even if you do not understand all aspects of the culture, you can learn to accept them. In this adjustment phase, you learn to tolerate some aspects of the host culture; you compromise and solve the problems you had during the ‘disintegration’ phase. Making friends and talking about one’s experience is also an important way of adjusting. ‘I did get very homesick for about a week,’ says Zheng Zhou. ‘It is inevitable when getting used to the new environment because everything is new. I just let it be and time cured everything. I tried my best to adapt to the brand new lifestyle and after I made new friends, I did not feel isolated anymore!’

If you are dealing with culture shock, it’s important to talk about your difficulties with family and friends.

There is a balance to be found between complaining and glossing over difficulties. Being overly positive and repressing the painful or uncomfortable reality of culture shock means that the difficulties will only pile up in the long run. Asking for help is perfectly acceptable, as is relying on friends’ support (for professional help at THU see the story ‘The Ultimate THU survival guide’ on page 10). Asking for help will also give you the energy to face the reality of your experience and to actively start looking for solutions to your culture shock problem. Remind yourself that when you’re feeling down and out of place, it will not last forever.

You are building an unforgettable experience that will make you stronger in the long run.

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This article was written with the help of students who followed the minor Journalism & Media.

First-year International Public Management student Myra Asamani offers a hearty dish from her homeland of Sierra Leone. She also introduces us to ‘the feather in Sierra Leone’s cap’, a staple African ingredient called Garri. story Darren Power • image Quintin van der Blonk What is the dish?

What I’m making today is a bean-based sauce and deep-fried plantain slices, served with garri, a dry breadcrumb-like powder, on the side. It’s a well-known WestAfrican dish and eaten by many people in Sierra Leone, usually for lunch or dinner. It’s so popular there, you could say it’s the fried potatos of Sierra Leone. It’s not just a snack, though; it’s more of a complete meal, providing protein, iron, vitamins, and carbohydrates.

Does this dish have any higher cultural meaning?

Well, aside from being typical of West-African culture, the dish has some Biblical significance. Jesus was said to have fed many people with simple ingredients, like bread and fish, and the beans and garri reflect that idea of simplicity. It’s like our version of it. We would also usually eat this with our hands, scooping the beans up with a piece of plantain. I know people that say eating with cutlery changes the taste – they have to touch the food.

Can you tell me more about Garri?

Sure! Garri is a West-African staple – it’s really the feather to Sierra Leone’s cap. Some know it as the tapioca plant.

It’s cassava root that’s been peeled, fermented, dried and then ground up. It’s Recipe on Link Online used to make everything from porridge to For the recipe and a short video on bread, and has also been used as a remhow to make the dish from Sierra edy for a sore stomach. You can find it at Leone, go to link-en.hhs.nl the Haagse Markt in The Hague. It’s not the star of this dish, though. We’re just going to sprinkle it over everything to soak up the sauce.

Would you like to invite Link into your kitchen and tell us about your roots?

Send an email to link@hhs.nl

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Student associations

Plunge into

The Hague student life by joining an association Are you thinking of joining a student association but have no idea what’s out there? This overview will help you choose the association that suits you best. story Patty Elbersen • image Mireille Schaap

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I

n addition to the various student associations that focus on a specific study programme, The Hague and Delft boast at least 20 other student associations you can join. All of these associations hold an ‘open month’ for new students in The Hague. Numerous parties and events are organized in September and October.

The following associations offer information in English and/or are of special interest to international students.

InterAccess Founded by and for the international students of The Hague, InterAccess organizes activities such as lectures with prominent guest speakers, discussion seminars, presentations, festivals and trips.

Various excursions, bicycle tours and other outings, poker tournaments and parties are organized at weekends. The association’s mixers are often held at THU’s sports canteen: inter-access.nl

Bring your own… or buy it Studying for a degree without a computer is unimaginable today. And an old computer with Windows 95 software is simply not going to cut it. The Hague University of Applied Sciences has quite a large number of computer workstations, but clever students bring their own computers. Having your own computer does not necessarily have to cost an arm and a leg, especially where software is concerned.

Papillon Events Ever since Papillon Events came onto the scene, Tuesdays have become the night to go out for The Hague’s international student population. What started as an initiative for a party organized by two students at The Hague University of Applied Sciences has now become a weekly event at Club 7, known as ‘We love Tuesdays’.

Papillon Events also organizes an international night in Millers, held every first Thursday of the month: papillonevents.org or check the Papillon Events NL Facebook page.

Red Cross Student Desk The Hague The Red Cross offers students opportunities to organize and coordinate its projects as a way to build their enthusiasm for volunteer work. Visit the Red Cross Student Desk The Hague Facebook page for more information.

B-Cycle-It B-Cycle-It is not really a student association but a non-profit organisation that specializes in renting bikes to exchange students.

B-Cycle-It was founded in 2009 by a group of friends in order to help their fellow student be more mobile and independent through cycling. The bikes had to be cheaper than the bus and more reliable than the street bikes. Hence B-Cycle-It rents out bikes for 10-30 euros per month (the price depends on how many months you are renting the bike): b-cycle-it.nl

Pelargos Have you always wanted to row? The Pelargos student association has its own boat shed on the Cruquiuskade, which is the quay right behind the main building. Weather permitting, the teams row on the canals or in poor weather they train indoors. Training sessions are always followed by drinks at the association’s favourite Pub, De Momfer. Information in English can be found under the ‘International’ tab on their website: intro.pelargos.nl

The HSSO Valerius Orchestra The Hague’s newest chorus and orchestra welcomes all student musicians and singers in the city. For information (Dutch and English) about the association and rehearsal times, visit their website.

There’s a small button ‘for English, press here’ at their homepage: studentenorkest.nl

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The university has been working together with Surfspot for many years. Once you are registered as a student with the university, you can log on to the website (surfspot.nl) and buy useful and legal software for next to nothing. Microsoft Office, the Creative Suite from Adobe, static processing programs – all of the most common programs are available via the website. As icing on the cake, you can also take various computer classes via Surfspot. The classes themselves are free; you only pay a fee to take the exam.

Is buying software still out of the affordable range? If you can access the Internet, you can also use the most common software (including Word, PowerPoint and Excel) via your the Hague University of Applied Sciences student account. It’s easy: simply go to the application portal (apps.hhs.nl), click on the program you want to use and set to work. This also lets you work on your home computer, your laptop or tablet or even on the train.

The most commonly used software is installed on the computers in the computer rooms, but these rooms are often packed, no matter how many extra computers are installed. So the university encourages students to buy their own computer. The Wi-Fi network was improved last year, which means that within the university buildings you can go online with a laptop as much as you like.

Those with Apple products are encouraged to take a look at this fruitful brand’s website, where students receive a ten percent discount.

Windows enthusiasts can benefit from the university’s collaboration with CampusShop, which offers a range of laptops that meet almost all users’ requirements. CampusShop offers excellent service also. If, for example, your laptop starts acting up, you can get a loaner laptop while yours is being repaired. Tip: if your computer needs replacing or you’re thinking about buying a computer for the first time, have a look at CampusShop.nl

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Gems Magical yet credible ‘Wanted: someone to travel back in time with me. This is not a joke.’ The film Safety Not Guaranteed shows how a small ad in the paper can become an entire story. Unique personalities meet and, although the plot is rather predictable, the magic continues until the very end.

The time travel ad in the paper is noticed by a journalist from Seattle Magazine. Together with two interns, he sets out to a coastal town in America to find the mysterious man (Kenneth) who claims he can

travel back in time and only needs a partner to make it happen. One of the interns, Darius (played by Aubrey Plaza), turns out to be just the person

Welcome to O’Casey’s Irish Pub

O’Casey’s is the biggest international bar of tm The Hague Come in and enjoy a pint of and some of our traditional Irish food. We offer daily entertainment on 2 floors and in Sarah’s Garden wich used to be part of our Queen’s Royal Gardens

Noordeinde 140 The Haque Holland • www.ocaseys.nl

Kenneth is looking for. Both are outsiders and feel out of place in a world that often brings them more pain than pleasure.

All the same, their backgrounds do not weigh down the film. The cheerful piano pieces, little jokes and odd conversations make the story humorous and light-hearted.

It is not surprising that the film was made by the same producer who did Little Miss Sunshine, in which a journey in a Volkswagen Transporter and combination of crazy characters keep you smiling from scene to scene.

In Safety Not Guaranteed, Kenneth (Mark Duplass) steals the show, with his black ninja scarf in his hair, army pants and denim jacket, old yellow Ford Mustang

and spastic movements because he always thinks he’s being followed.

The bond he develops with Darius is not surprising, but the tension build-up is wonderfully peppered with small, unexpected turns. Two FBI agents, for instance, suddenly turn up wearing long coats and, until the very end, viewers wonder whether or not Kenneth really has built a time machine. The ending is magical, as are the eighty minutes leading up to it. • MS

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Safety Not Guaranteed Genre: Comedy/Drama In cinemas from 8 August.

Readers campaign This month, Link is raffling off seven goodie bags with surprises from De Haagse Winkel (Ovaal 0.79), sports office Bureau Hogeschoolsport (Ovaal 0.72) and a voucher for a free lunch for two at café Dok75 (Strip 0.02).

De Haagse Winkel is filling some of the goodie bags with the one and only The Hague University of Applied Sciences hoody, a vintage T-shirt, THUAS pen, compass, stress ball, THUAS school notebook and fun USB sticks with four GB of storage. The sports office is giving away four combi-passes that allow you to work out free of charge as well as participate in all group classes and training sessions that will be held in the THU gym. The offer will be valid from September 2013 to January 2014. Café Dok75 is placing a lunch coupon in every goodie bag that lets you enjoy lunch with a classmate/friend or other person for free. You will also each get two free drinks.

Win an HHs goodie bag

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How to win Want to win a goodie bag? Send an e-mail by 30 August to link@hhs.nl with the answer to the following question: How many credits do you need to earn your first year to pass (‘BSA norm’)? The winners will be announced on our Facebook page – facebook.com/thulinkonline – during the introduction.

my the hague

Eating a chicken burger in a Vegetarian Snack Bar A guy walks in to a vegetarian snack bar and orders a bratwurst. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but at ‘De Vegetarische Snackbar’ on the Stationsplein in The Hague, it happens often. And there’s more: you can get satay, a bacon burger or even a Bear’s Claw (a meatball with onion rings on a skewer that’s popular among the Dutch).

It sounds good, as long as the meatless chicken burger (€4.50) and the vegetarian bratwurst (€3.50) are tasty. The former comes in a sturdy bun with lettuce and mayonnaise and the latter comes in cardboard and seems surprisingly small. As far

as the taste goes, in both cases, the ‘original’ is better.

But, then there’s the €6 Karma Special (Broodje Karma Speciaal), the animal-friendly equivalent of a Shoarma sandwich. Combined with French fries cooked in rice oil (€1.50) and an organic juice (€2.50-€3.75), it makes for a great lunch or a nighttime snack. • MV

Where should you go in The Hague? And what should you avoid? Here are five (hidden) gems from Dimitar Vasilev, a fourth-year ICMstudent from Bulgaria. ‘The Grote Markt is really like coming home!’ story René Rector • image Thirjeet Gurwara

Do you party a lot?

In my first year I partied constantly, starting from Wednesday till Sunday. My best advice: start going out on Friday evening and leave it to weekends. Otherwise, you’ll sacrifice your study to it. Now, I am more critical and I pick my parties more carefully.

The place to be in The Hague…

Generally: the Grote Markt. It’s really like coming home. It’s easy to meet your friends there, and it has the atmosphere like it’s one big terrace, one happy family. If I’m not going out, I have a thing for parks. The Haagse Bos is my favorite spot for a picnic by the water. It’s very laid back.

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De Vegetarische Snackbar Stationsplein 5A The Hague

Tune in,

up

Favorite spot in school?

If you need a moment for yourself… go to the Slinger, up on the highest floors. The higher you climb, the more privacy and silence there is. It’s my favorite spot to think.

A spot in The Hague that’s ready for demolition?

Being an expat, I don’t think I’m in the position to criticize The Hague. But what really annoys me are the never-ending street repairs. The Dutch start repairing their streets if there are two tiles out of place. It’s totally unnecessary, if you ask me.

Link, the independent news source for The Hague University of Applied Sciences, keeps you up to date on THU news, interesting facts and background information.

Best restaurant?

Read the Link Magazine Distributed throughout THU every month (in Dutch) and several times a year in English.

Check out Link Online Get the latest news (in English) online: link-en.hhs.nl

Join us on Facebook There are daily updates on facebook.com/ thulinkonline

Do you have something to report? Contact us at: link@hhs.nl

L.A. American Food (Gedempte Gracht 667). There is nothing American about it. But as a student, I like nutritious food, and cheap food, of course. Nothing beats their ‘kip met rijst en groente’ (chicken-rice with vegies). They sell it for three euros and it tastes fantastic.

Hidden gems?

I’ve spent the best evenings in the beer-soaked bars just around the corner. A few months ago, I discovered this marvelous pub called La Grenouille (de Kikker) on Molenstraat 13. They have live music almost every night. There’s only twelve seats or so, but the atmosphere is beyond compare. If I’m in the mood for some deep house music, the beach club Whoosah (Zwarte pad 66) is perfect.

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The Flip Side

…

3 1 0 2 Intro JOIN US?

Attend orientation week in early September and get to know the university, your study programme, your fellow students and the city. story Youri van Vliet • image Quintin van der Blonk

Central introduction The Hague University of Applied Sciences is organising a central introduction week from 2-6 September. Various outdoor pubs, bars, lounges and canopies will be set up on the square in front of the main entrance, on the inner court and in the garden behind the main building. Throughout the entire week, you can get information about the different student unions (see page 21 to find out which union is right for you!) and organisations like Studeren op Maat (assistance to students with disabilities) and the Haagse Studentenvakbond (student union). You can also take part in a range of activities. Link will be

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holding a photo shoot with a professional photographer between 11 am and 2 pm on 5 and 6 September. We often need students for our cover, but naturally you can also stop by just to have a professional picture taken of yourself and your new classmates.

held until the early morning hours at such locations as PIP (Binckhorstlaan 36), Paard van Troje (Prinsegracht 12) and Supermarkt on Grote Markt. For more information, visit www.ohohintro.nl.

Oh Oh Intro 2013

Want to learn more about the The Hague student city?

The Oh Oh Intro for all Hague students starts at 3 pm on Thursday, 5 September, on Lange Voorhout. This (free) student festival, which lasts until 11 pm, should not be missed. The line-up includes Friends of the Family, Jungle by Night and Benny Rodrigues. A number of after-parties will also be

A website was recently launched with everything you need to know about being a student in The Hague. Here you will find information on housing, necessary documents, student jobs, Hague nightlife and tips on how to survive your first days in The Netherlands.

Visit www.studyinthehague.com