The International |
LETTER FROM THE
IN THIS ISSUE
Editors
o
Dear fellow ICM students and other interested readers!
Can you smell it? Can you? LOVE IS IN THE AIR! It is the Day of Love soon, and that means… Well read it in this year’s first edition of The International. This magazine is custom made to your likings, with a team of hard working writers finding out what moves you with one main theme: Valentine’s Day. If you are an outsider, you might as well put this magazine down; you have no clue what it is about. We ICM students are a special breed of human. We are social, we are crazy and we want the world to know it (but if you are an outsider, it does not matter, you can try to read it and who knows.. you may enjoy it!). Like previous editions, this edition of The International will consist of three main parts: Uni-verse, International and Student Life. Now, you may think these are all alike, but don’t ever make that mistake again. Uni-verse is about life at university, things we have to do and may not always like to do, you know what we’re talking about. The International section will discuss all the ups and downs of living in Holland as an international student and some tips and guides to help you get your feet on the ground in this crazy country. Student Life is exactly what you would expect it to be, it has nothing to do with school. It will consist of things to do BESIDES school and discuss topics that would otherwise not be discussed. This years’ goal is to bring the reader closer to the magazine. We want to make sure that you actually read this, not like any old study book. That is why we have added some new features in which you can express yourself.Take a look inside! See you in the hallways! The ICM International Editors-in-chief,
UNI-VERSE
Chief Editors
Xezal Ercan Jasper Jacobs Daniël van der Wensch
9
Executive Editor Kassiani Nikolopoulou
Photographers
Wai Kuan Ng Sebastian Pendry
8
INTERNATIONAL
13
Writers
Ioana Miron Olaf Nagtegaal Simona Mario Stoyanova Shari de Riggs Cassandra Korth Sharon de Groot
Daniel van der Wensch
7 8 9
12 13 15 16 17 18
1 | The International
The Art of Getting Back How to Survive as an International Student Travel Stories
STUDENT LIFE
4 Jasper Jacobs
5 Tips For Surviving Exam Week ICM Dialogue Presents: Karaoke Night
Designers
Sarah Picolet (Lead) Jair Jaime Croes
12 Xezal Ercan
4 5
What Should You Wear for Valentine’s Day? Single on Valentine’s Day There’s Always a Way: Money Saving Tips for Students Five Places to Party in Amsterdam Seven Steps for a Perfect Valentine Facebook Discussion
The International | 2
5 Tips For Surviving Exam Week
By Shari de Riggs
make a list.
Make a list in order of importance along with its deadline and cross things off when you’ve completed them. Seeing how much you have to do as well as visualizing your progress makes your endless amount of work seem doable.
Take a break.
Take a break from your work every now and then to regroup. If you work continuously for hours, you might not be as productive as you would have if you took a few breaks. Here’s the tip: for every 20 minutes of work, you should have a 5 minute break. Don’t make your breaks too long though, as you might lose your motivation or worse; get distracted. | The International
Remember to eat.
Around exam time, most students go on the “deadline diet.” The deadline diet is when someone forgets to eat or simply doesn’t have time to eat because they are working to meet deadlines. You should stop working and have at least three well-balanced meals per day. You can have tiny snacks while you work or are on your break. If you don’t eat, your body won’t get the energy it needs to function properly which might be the reason you have trouble concentrating.
Get proper rest.
Deadlines can cause students to work until dawn, which isn’t the best for your body. A full 8-hours of sleep is needed for your body to function to it’s full potential and by pulling that all-nighter, you might be harming your body. Instead of pulling all-nighters, plan in advance which brings us to Tip #5.
stop procrastinating.
As students, we can easily see what our final assignments are in advance. Instead of making plans to start early and equally spread the work out over the course of the semester, we try to do 8 weeks of work in the space of one weekend. While you might hand in everything on time, is it really your best work? The best way to get the most out of your college experience while getting great grades is to have an equal balance. Divide your time equally between school and whatever else you may have going on in your life. Start your assignments as soon as you can and you’ll avoid the end-of-semester stress. The International | 4
ICM Dialogue Presents:
KARAOKE NIGHT Reviewed By Simona Mario Stoyanova
I
CM Dialogue proved again that studying and parties go hand-in-hand. Despite the upcoming deadlines, accompanied by the notorious Study Week 8 which we all despise, the ICM party organizers took the initiative and created an open mic night to welcome 2014. The event, hosted by freshmen Tara Derksen, took place in Stef’s on Thursday, 9th of January. Officially, the singing craze was scheduled to kick start at 7pm, but few hours prior to the event the thoughtful team of the party organization decided to give an earlier doze of live music to those who couldn’t make it for the grand opening of the singing session. You are probably interested how the karaoke night actually did sound. Let’s put it this way… Because she had faith, Valerie was so excited to leave/get out and hit the country roads to the paradise city. The ultimate version of ICM Got Talent 2014 revealed some really decent singers. 5 | The International
The male version of ‘Respect’ - I heard that night was good enough to make the gospel goddess Aretha Franklin come over and shake hands with the gifted singer. Furthermore, according to freshman Alicia Del Pozo, the party mood reached its peak with one of the Spice Girls classics – Wannabe. There was one aspect I couldn’t NOT notice regarding the grand finale of the song. The ICMers concluded the Spices greatest hit with the typical voice ornaments, used in Glee’s cover version, which are actually absent in the original version. Well, it seems to me that I’m not the only Glee fan here!
The official event of the karaoke night promised free snacks and due to my relatively late arrival at the party ground, the only left-overs indicating the presence of pizza were the empty pizza boxes. The only snacks available were the good looking breaded bites, which I didn’t have the courage to try, because of their non-veggie but friendly appearance. Despite the fact that were very few ICMers that attended, the party appeared to be a great success judging by the people’s smiley faces, the gazillion cigarette butts in front of Stef’s the morning after and my drunken head during my morning class.
The paramount performance of the night for me was the ICM rendition of Summer Nights. It was 1978 again and Danny Zuko, Sandy and their cliques brought back the status quo of our beloved Grease. The only things missing in the modern 2014 movie scene were the leather jackets of the T-Birds and the long polyester skirts of the Pink Ladies. The International |
how to survive as an international In holland By Cassandra Korth
B
eing an international study, ICM has many students from different nationalities and cultures. However, have you ever wondered how difficult is it to adapt to the Dutch culture? What should you do when you see something that seems out of the ordinary, but a Dutch person looks strangely at? I have the answers for you!
To
all international students, I would like to say “I am proud of you!” Being an international student is not easy and it has its challenges, even though it sure is beautiful. For me, one of the hardest parts of studying far away from home is getting back after visiting my family and friends. The last time I was home was during Christmas (which happens to be my favorite holiday) and it was lovely as usual. I got to spend time with my family and I got to see my dearest friends. I think that because I am away from home 9-10 months each year, the moments I spend with the loved ones are even more special. So after about two weeks of staying home, I was with my brother at the airport and I had that lump in my throat again. I am sure you all felt it at least once… And then after a short flight and almost falling asleep in the train afterwards, I got to Utrecht. I was back again, but this time it wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be because I learned some tricks and, lucky for you, I am willing to share them.
o
7 | The International
Well firstly, the Netherlands is one of the most multicultural and open-minded countries in the world, even though it’s so small; this is why a lot of people travel here. Also, the Dutch school system is easier to get in to as an international student because universities in the Netherlands have a very good reputation.
EMBRACE THE EXPERIENCE If you’re an international student, you get to travel, you get to practice your English and maybe even learn a new language (I am still working on my Dutch skills). You get to meet a lot of people from different countries and even from your own country. This leads to my next tip…
r5 You are here to study I am not sure you want to read this but focusing on your studies gets your mind off things that upset you. Even more, if you really open your eyes, you will definitely find stuff you’ll love to learn about.
Kl
Remember You have friends Once you’re back, contact your friends. I am sure they missed you and you have to admit that you missed them too. Catching up is going to take your mind off home, at least for 3-4 hours… let’s make it 6.
EF In the end, you should be fine and I will be too. Oh… and remember you can always Skype!
If you’re an international student and you’re scared that you’ll be on an isolated island when you arrive in Holland, think again. The Dutch learned to speak English from the beginning of their lives, whether it was at school or at home. They learn this while watching TV or movies, but most importantly, the Dutch get taught English in school. Which means that if you want to come here; you don’t have to worry about speaking Dutch! Who needs to speak Dutch? Nearly everyone is capable of speaking the English language. This way, communicating with the Dutch is very easy and it won’t be a barrier you will have to cross. Of course, it helps if you learn some Dutch words; it always gives them a laugh when you say the wrong things. However, it’s not that easy here due to the cultural differences that you may come across during your time here. If you come from a European country, it might not be that hard to adapt to the Dutch culture. But still, the Dutch have some traditions that might be a bit weird or strange for you. Not only that, but the food is very different and most of it
is not very healthy. The weirdest of these must be their famous raw fish called ‘haring’ (herring). Not only do the Dutch eat it raw, but they also put onions on them. Make sure to avoid verbal contact within a couple of meters after someone has eaten a “haring,” IT SMELLS! They also eat “pannenkoeken,” which we all know as pancakes. However, they’re not your average pancakes with syrup; they literally will put anything on their pancakes! “Hagelslag” and “drop” are two sweet gastronomic oddities that the Dutch love. The first are small chocolate sprinkles that are put on bread. They come in all shapes and sizes and they range from fruit flavors to dark chocolate. Drop is their take on liquorish, but again, this is not like the stuff we know. When visiting a candy store, I was amazed at the variety they had to offer. If you want to try these out, consult a Dutchman/woman first, because you never know what you might end up with. Whilst summing up these delicacies, I started wondering: how do all these Dutch people stay so thin?! Well, here is the answer: they cycle! They always cycle, no matter where, no matter when or what they have to carry (3 children on the front, a guitar on their back or a big bag on their handle bar…). If you really want to adapt to the Dutch culture, get a bike. Do not be confused about traffic rules here, the Dutch have their own rules, so please take care of yourself while cycling. Another unfamiliar tradition is the Dutch version of Christmas: Sinterklaas. As an outsider, you see Santa Claus with a golden rod. He’s accompanied by his “Black Pete’s”, who throw weird, but tasty, sweets into their direct surroundings. Small children are either
thrilled to see them or are terrified to death. The trick here is to just smile and wave. If you’re nice, you might even end up getting a present from the old man! The direct attitude of the Dutch is also something that can shock someone from a different culture. When you finally get used to cycling around in Utrecht or any other major city, you may not get the welcoming you wanted when it comes to Dutch traffic. Other cyclists and people in cars will let you know straight away if you have done something wrong, either by an obscene gesture and/or a honk of the horn directed at you. A simple ‘Yo no hablo Dutchy’ might do the trick here. There are still many more examples to be given that are found in their strange culture, but you will find them out on your own sooner or later. Overall, the Dutch people are nice. They are very welcoming, open-minded and friendly. It doesn’t matter what your problem is, they will try to help you. Of course, life is not always easy for an international student, because you have to get used to the unfamiliar Dutch language, to the thousands of bikes on the streets, to their food (of which, they are really proud of, by the way) and to their traditions. You’ll learn how to get use to the Netherlands and everything that comes along with it. You don’t have to become a “cheese head,” but try to discover this culture and be proud of yourself. Above all, enjoy your time following an international study program with international students. You’ve picked the right country, I’m sure!
The International | 8
Travel Stories By Olaf Nagtegaal A
s a young student, you want to explore everything. Going abroad to a far away country is what most young people dream of. Especially with the technology in this 21st century, it becomes easier to go the other side of the world and hop from one place to another. Some young students took this opportunity and travelled to different places on this wonderful planet. Two of these students shared their experiences with us and we all want to say one thing: “Don’t stop yourself from chasing your dreams!’’
Name: Roxanne Tom Age: 23 Destination: Australia
It was my first big trip ever and I never could have imagined that it would turn into the change of my life. It was October 2007, ready for departure. I departed from Schiphol Amsterdam with the destination of Sydney, Australia. A friend of mine joined me on this trip and we were both pretty excited about ‘’not knowing what was going to happen.’’ In the plane to Sydney, we met a group of other backpackers. A guy from 9 | The International
Belgium and two other guys from Holland. After a few hours, and some alcoholic refreshments, we started to get to know each other better. I was 18 at the time and the others seemed to be a bit older (somewhere in their 20’s). I quickly noticed that I started to like one of the guys very much. We landed in Australia. A blistering heat came towards us when the stewards opened the door of the plane. It was definitely summer and we were already enjoying it more and more by the minute. We decided to go to the hostel with all the backpackers, including the charming guy (Matthijs). Weeks went by, we enjoyed life to the fullest. Drinking and enjoying the peacefulness of the beaches on the East Coast until the early mornings. My friend and I also went on many trips and once in a while, we travelled with the others. During these months, I started to get a good connection with Matthijs. After a month, Matthijs decided to travel through New Zealand. My friend already went back to Holland and I decided to stay in Australia. Weeks went by and finally, Matthijs came back to Australia. This was the moment that opened up everything for me. I decided to pick him up from the airport and when we finally could hold each other again he gave me a present: a necklace with a Maori symbol. (Symbol for ‘’save travelling’’). This moment actually symbolized our love for each other.
The weeks that followed were amazing. While travelling the East Coast, we came across amazing landscapes and spotted many animals; kangaroos, deadly snakes, koalas, etc. Once we spotted orcas while lying on the beach, on the first day of Christmas! They even jumped out of the water for us. We also came across some penguins. They walked by, stood still to take a picture with us and walked away. All amazing experiences. In these weeks, we both realized that we were actually in love. I could have never have imagined that this would happen on my first big trip. We travelled a bit more and went back in August 2008. He lived at the other side of the country, so it was weird getting used to seeing each other twice a month, instead of every day. But after a year, he moved to Utrecht and now we live happily ever after.
Name: Koen Oosterbroek Age: 25 Destination: China
In September 2012, I moved to Beijing, China, to do my study abroad. What an incredibly overwhelming country! It felt like moving to another kind of world. I met a lot of new people on campus. People from all over the world and well of course; we were going out once every week. Going out in China is not comparable to the Western world, but still has one thing in common; lots of alcohol. After a long and intense night out, we wanted to head home. It was a rainy morning, around 4AM. However, there was a problem. We didn’t have the address of our student flat and Mandarin wasn’t really our best language. After a lot of discussion, there seemed to be no options available. So I decided that I could find my own way home, by myself.
‘’Why not?’’ I left the group and started walking, Walking into a city that I had just met. Imagine yourself in a world where everything is totally different than what you’re used to; strange buildings, strange Chinese symbols, animals on the street, people staring at you and you are walking there as a white Western guy, still a little dizzy from the alcohol a couple of hours before and you don’t know where
to go exactly. Already a few hours passed by but it was still an early morning. I had already crossed many streets, jumped some fences to look for any signs. Everything was written in Mandarin so I had no clue at all where I was. At one moment, I walked into a house where this guy looked at me, like he had never seen a white guy before. That was scary and I quickly continued. For me, it seemed that I had already walked through the entire city. Suddenly, I noticed a park in the distance. Hmm. A park, why not try that? So I jumped over a
fence again and walked onto the wet grass. Afterwards, I suddenly realized that I had seen this park before. I realized that this was the park next to my campus. I finally found my way home! After a long night, running around in a strange world there seemed to be an end to this story. It was weird because I actually just started to enjoy this adventure. I had so much fun running around, so much freedom. No one would tell me what do, when and how. No, I was on my own and could decide whatever I wanted to do. Last challenge: getting into the hotel, which was still closed. I jumped over another
fence and had to break in into my own hotel. I finally made it to bed after a long ‘’night out.’’ Funny thing is, I couldn’t fall asleep. I was still thinking about the overload of happiness and freedom I had during my night out. I have never regretted my decision, to go out on my own, at all.
The International | 10
What should you wear on Valentines Day? By Shari de Riggs Valentine’s
day can be just another ordinary day or it can be one of the most romantic days of the year. It all depends on what you do, who you spend it with and, most importantly, what you wear. Wearing the right thing could be the difference between going home alone on Valentine’s Day or coming home the morning after.
| The International
For the
Lads
It all depends on your plans, guys. If you’re staying in, you can pretty much wear what you want. However, it might be nice if you go the extra mile of dressing up. Stay away from plaid or flannel shirts and go for a simple pattern-less button down. If you don’t want to over do it, go for a white dress shirt with dark jeans and your best (clean) shoes. The same white dress shirt with dark jeans look can go for those of you planning to go out as well. If you can, slick your hair back with some hair gel and splash on some cologne. This look works because you’ll be appropriately dressed regardless of what your plans are.
For the
Gals
For the girls, wearing red or wearing jeans on Valentine’s Day is a serious fashion faux pas. Even if you aren’t the girly type, switch it up for the night and wear a skirt or a dress. If you’re going for a cutelook, you could wear a skater skirt with a sweater. If you want something sexier, wear your hottest LBD (little black dress). Don’t forget to pair your look with tights or pantyhose because it could getcold! Go for a monochromatic look (greys, blacks, and whites) and add some color to your outfit with your shoes, lipstick and/or accessories. It goes without saying that makeup is a must and while heels are optional, they are definitely sexy.
The International | 12
parties don’t make the cut, simply because house music is NOT romantic! Instead, go for some place smaller, cozier and not that public. You would be surprised what you will discover. Here are some examples:
Café Flater
Situated in the very center of the city, right across the “Old Canal,” Café Flater is undoubtedly one of Utrecht’s undiscovered jewels. This cozy little place, with welcoming colorful lights could leave a permanent mark in your heart. Under the sounds of Gypsy Kings and Amy Winehouse, there is no chance that you would feel left behind by love, especially if the cute bartender lets you play your favorite Foster the People songs and takes vodka shots with you. Moreover, what is particularly great about Café Flater is that so far there is no ICM student that starts sniffing around. Both Dutch and non-Dutch, young and older costumers will surround you, but you’d stay out of the curious sight of your fellow students. Of course, you can always bump into one of them, while standing outside of the bar for a silent moment between you and your cigarette.
SINGLEBeON VALENTINE’S DAY: in love with yourself! This is your moment. By Simona Mario Stoyanova
F
ourteenth of February - the only day of the year when the letter “V” doesn’t simply stand for Virginity or Vendetta. It stands for Valentine, the priest who secretly married the emperors’ soldiers to their loved ones. He did this despite the ban and severe punishment for marriages during the time of the Roman Empire. Over the centuries, the tradition of glorifying mutual love has survived and evolved in a way that no one could imagine. Heart-shaped candy, red roses, stuffed animals, expensive presents and bizarre gestures, all saying those three little words that we all want to hear: Be. My. Valentine. 13 | The International
All we really want is love’s confusing joy. But does this mean that we’re not supposed to celebrate this holiday of love and mutuality, if we don’t have anybody to share it with? Valentine’s Day is not just another holiday when you get the chance to acknowledge your perfect relationship in front of everybody. Some would even say that it’s not a real holiday, since we don’t get the day off. What do we singles do when everybody else is sticking their feelings in front of our faces? We embrace it, proudly announcing: Yes, I’m single and I love it! Indeed, Valentine’s Day could represent this giant cosmic b***hslap, when you get to gain some redundant weight, just because your loyal friend’s candy appears
to be the perfect replacement for a boyfriend, but in reality she doesn’t have this smoothing effect. We are romantic and we love Love. So don’t just bury yourself in your bad and watch another series of The Carrie Diaries! It’s your time to feel gorgeous and desired. The city of Utrecht is the place where you can fall in and out of love in the blink of an eye.
bridges and buildings in medieval style, and the magnificent nocturnal shadow of The Dom would put a spell on everyone who suffers from a broken heart. You would even get the same shiver only from the lighting system of Winkel van Sinkel, which suspiciously reminds us of those filthy little red lights in yet another notorious Dutch city in a very close proximity to our beloved Utrecht.
Where to go in Utrecht for Valentine’s Day?
Single or not, if you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Utrecht, don’t just go for those already familiar places, where you tend to pay frequent visits on Fridays and Saturdays after an exhausting study week and where everyone is annoyingly acquainted with your drunken stories. So Techno, Pop-O-Matic / Kill All the Hipsters
Utrecht has the tips of its toes immerged in romantic vibes. If you don’t fall in love with anybody here, you will at least get enchanted by the city itself. The calm waters of Oudegracht, the many little
Friendly people, absolutely no familiar faces and rather “alternative” music: Flater definitely has a great mixture of advantages which would probably make your Valentine’s Day a lot better than the time that coupled lovebirds will spend together.
Stairway to Heaven
Bizarre Latino rhythms, classical rock, Dubstep or Alternative: Stairway to Heaven offers a wide range of sounds which will touch your heart and soul. Being relatively big, this place has its own “way of thinking.” You would probably find it strange how the authentic guitars, signed by few of the greatest Rock’N’Roll musicians of all time, alongside with the original Kurt Cobain hoodie attached to the wall, would fit in with the crazy Tuesday salsa parties or the Saturday karaoke nights, when the attempt not to sing ABBA’s greatest hits appears to be a hideous endeavor. Valentine’s Day or not, just pay a visit and you will discover that this place undoubtedly deserves its name. You would most likely dance your a** off, exchange few numbers and wake up slightly tipsy in the morning.
't Oude Pothuys
When you reach the first block, after you pass Tivoli, turn right. You see stairs, leading to an underground floor. You disappointingly discover that this place you have heard of which offers awesome live music, is actually a restaurant. But right before you turn your back and don’t want to proceed any further, you notice another room with quite a lot people, who are cheering, who knows why! This is the concert venue of 't Oude Pothuys. 't Oude Pothuys – strange name! Most of us can’t even pronounce it right. The name of this pretty and authentic place derives from old Dutch and it basically means Old Pub. But there is nothing old about it. Well, besides the furniture and the music. If you are enthusiastic for something different, but still very Utrecht-y, try paying a visit to this place, especially on Valentine’s Day. The good old Blues, the dirty Jazz and classical rock sounds represent a perfect prelude to a new romance. Let’s face it, nobody deserves to be alone and miserable on Valentine’s Day. Tip from the author: Valentine’s Day or not, whenever you pay a visit to a random bar, make sure that you and your clique will find at least one or two empty seats at the bar. This is a general rule, which you should embrace fast, and it will make your night become slightly more entertaining.
But why sit at the bar and not at a regular table? There is always a giant flow of people, all struggling to reach the bar to get a drink. This would lead us to two bright conclusions: firstly, there is absolutely no need to take a queue, since you’re already in the bartender’s sight. Secondly, because of your strategic position, you will suddenly find yourself under the spotlight of attention. It’s unbelievable how much male attention a woman can get only from sitting at this very place. Now, with all these little tips and insights, you are officially ready to own the streets of Utrecht. In a relationship or not, you are completely qualified to celebrate the holiday of love regardless of the lack of romantic partner. Just remember: be extremely confident, be dead gorgeous and be madly in love with yourself! Happy Valentine’s Day! The International | 14
5 Places To Party In
Amsterdam
S
5. Take a packed lunch or a snack with you.
ome never seem to have enough money to live a decent student life, some refuse to go out because they don’t have money for drinks and some are buried in depts. These situations can be avoided by getting a part-time job but since this is not always easy to find, there are also some other things you can do:
You already have things you like in the fridge so all you need to do is wake up 10 -15 minutes earlier in the morning to make a sand- wich or two for your lunch break. This way you don’t have to buy something expensive from the college cafeteria or something cheap that you will not enjoy.
1. Be organized.
Decide on a budget for yourself at the beginning of the month and try to stick to it. Keep track of all your purchases and ask for the receipt. If you look at what you spend your money on, you might realize you buy things you do not really need or things that can be replaced with cheaper but similar products.
2. Travel cheap.
We all know walking is healthy and is definitely cheap (all you need is a pair of legs, and you get those for free). For longer distances you can use a bike and for even longer distances, if you check and ask the right people, you can find a subscription method that fits your budget.
3. Cut out vices.
Smoking is bad for you and so is too much drinking. Try to quit smoking and also reduce the number of beers. What you can also do is replace your bad vices with ones that are not so bad, such as eating chocolate. A chocolate bar is cheaper than a pack of cigarettes and no worries about gaining weight because you will burn calories when you walk or cycle. 15 | | The TheInternational International
l
4. Buy used books or borrow them from the library.
There usually are others who used the same books you do now and once you use them, maybe you can sell them again, take part in spreading the knowledge. Also, if you go to the library on time, you might be able to borrow the books you need before someone else does.
W
hen you live in a place like the Netherlands and you’re just a short train ride away from one of the most popular cities in the world, you’re bound to wander into that city from time to time. The International has compiled a diverse list of places to party in Amsterdam. With over a hundred events, you’ll never find yourself short of something to do in this city: here are a few choices to choose from!
Thursday Nights Music: EDM (Electronic Dance Music) Pros: Party with no cover fee for Students, Easy to find. Cons: Expensive drinks.
(Near Leidseplein) Tuesday Nights Music: Dancehall & Reggae Pros: One of the only places open on Tuesday nights. Cons: Small venue, hard to find.
Saturdays Music: HipHop and R&B Pros: Good music, Good atmosphere. Cons: Long line, only featured on Saturdays.
2. Brasil Music Bar, Lange Leidsedwarsstraat
3. Encore at Melkweg, Leidseplein
7. Try to have fun for free.
Keep track of activities organized by college groups. It can be fun listening to others while they struggle to sing a famous song during karaoke night. You can also have a good time taking part in an international dinner where you can eat delicious things from all parts of the world. And there surely is a website that tells you what you can do for free in the town you live in; you just have to find it (try googling “Gratis in Utrecht”).
1. REVEAL at Escape, Rembrandtplein
6. Don’t spend time with big spenders.
Try to avoid spending time with people who don’t care how much they spend. A beer doesn’t look so good next to a fancy drink. Either because you want to maintain your “cool” appearance or just because of the heat of the moment, you might wake up spending more than you planned.
By Shari de Riggs
4. Coco’s Outback, Thorbeckeplein
(opposite Rembrandtplein) Clubbing Nights (Friday and Saturday) Music: Live DJ Pros: Really cheap drinks, Karaoke on Thursdays, Easy to find. Cons: Tourists, mainstream music.
5. Club NYX, Reguliersdwarstraat
(Gay Club) Thursday, Friday and Saturday Music: Three floors offering different styles of music Pros: Straight friendly, special events, two floors and a DJ at the toilets/ smokeroom. Cons: Hard to find, almost always full (come early).
The International | 16
Steps For A Perfect Valentine’s Day
7
By Shari de Riggs
In our first year, we all have passed a certain amount of courses to receive the required 45 points to move on to the next year. Should this be the manner in which the HU should proceed? Why yes, why no?
Evaluate your relationship.
Is the relationship serious? Do you love this person? If any of the answers to the questions above are no, then you shouldn’t be planning the perfect Valentine’s Day. Putting a lot of effort into a Valentine’s Day celebration for someone you’ve just started to see or someone you see casually will send mixed signals and you really don’t want to do that. If your relationship is serious and exclusive, then by all means, proceed to Step 2.
Plan.
Think about your partner’s likes/dislikes. Take them into consideration when making your plans. If you’re staying in, look for a new recipe online that uses some of their favorite ingredients. If you’re going out, look for deals on sites like NuDeal and Groupon. Don’t limit yourself to the night of the 14th, you can make a whole day of it by surprising your mate with breakfast in bed.
3 4
In January, we of the ICM International asked you to take part in a discussion on Facebook. Here is the outcome:
1
2
Communicate.
After you’ve planned everything out (this includes making your reservations in advance), talk to your partner and let them know that you’ve made plans. While surprises are cute, they can be really unfortunate if both of you try to surprise each other at the same time. Even if you don’t tell them the specifics, just let them know that you’ve made plans.
19 January at 16:31
Yes, because: 1. I’m pretty sure it’s a mandatory requirement for HBO’s that cannot be changed by the HU. 2. There should be at least some requirements to continuing on with the study, and 45 ECTS out of 60 when you get 2 chances per course is really not that high of a requirement. If someone cannot get 45 ECTS (unless they have a valid reason) maybe they should consider another study... Since ICM cannot legally screen (Dutch) students before accepting them, this requirement should allow school to see who is really fitting for the course and who isn’t.
Roos Eversdijk
Buy.
19 January at 17:04
Whether or not you buy a present is entirely up to you. And don’t be that person who says “no presents this year” and then you show up with a giant teddy bear. It puts the other person in a very awkward position. Talk about whether or not you will exchange gifts beforehand.
Pick your outfit.
Your perfect night isn’t complete unless you look the part. Read about what to wear for Valentine’s Day on Page 16.
Prepare.
This requires a little more effort than the planning step, but this is where you put in work. If you’re going out, there is little to no preparation. If you’re staying in, you have a lot more preparation. Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare and get dressed. Don’t be late or keep your partner waiting.
7 17 | The International
Nirit Michaeli
Enjoy.
5
6
Don’t get upset if everything doesn’t go according to plan. So what if you burned the food? It doesn’t matter that your waitress was rude. All that matters is you spending time with and showing your appreciation for your significant other.
Agree with Nirit100%. Also, I think that, since students can’t be screened, the 5 ECTS (or so) for English Basics (of which the level should definitely be higher) should be mandatory. More than 45 points would probably reinforce a better work ethic from students, but is probably not feasible.
Will van der Merwe 19 January at 17:18
Listen, I think 45 is already a very low pass rate. But what t I don’t agree with is that students who are book smart, and do well in exams, who obtain their “P” before other students who get theirs in the second year have a higher chance at being chosen for an exchange of their choice.
I feel there is a serious flaw in the credit system, whether you have 45/60 credits; you cannot apply a mathematical way of determining merit on a communication study where factors such as creativity, innovation, writing and thinking outside the box to solve problems come into play. I feel the issue isn’t whether 45 credits is too low or too high, I feel the issue is whether that should be the way the school measures success. Particularly, you can have two students who apply for an exchange at the same university which only has one spot open: One student who does very well with projects and comes up with the most innovating campaigns and strategies, but failed one subject in his first year. Then the other student doesn’t have a creative bone in their body, but passes all their exams (perhaps even with a 5.5). Its a bit ridiculous that the latter student who scraped by in all his/her exams will get their choice of university above the creative, innovative one. I feel this is the problem with the credit system, and not how many of few you need to obtain to pass.
Jelena Sts
20 January at 00:56
Roos, there is much more universities out there worse than HU. HU at least listens to students opinion. Other universities don’t. Jasper, from my opinion 45 points is just right. This gives an opportunity for those, who have a talent, but not very consistent to pass. I would also point out that, if you have specific reasons for your productivity problems in the first year, you still have a right to continue. The only rule - it should be put out in the open: discussed with counsellor. So actually, you can continue even with 30 points. Maybe even less, if you are lucky.
By Jasper Jacobs Ellen Houlding 20 January at 00:16
Let me throw a controversial opinion in the mix for fun: I think it should not be compulsory to obtain any credits. To get an education you have to pay a fee, not to mention the cost of books. Studying can be a real financial investment. Money is time; now that’s a great saying. If it was not compulsory to obtain any credits, it would most probably take a lot of money and time for students to obtain their degree. And somewhere along the way students will realize this and get on with it. Personally, I think intrapersonal skills is something one learns by himself, it is part of ones growth as a person. If one were to realise this [I need to pass my exams otherwise I will be 10 years on and X Euro’s in debt before I get my bachelor’s] by himself (with maybe some pressure from parents) not only will one grow as a person a lot more, one would also take this into account for the future. Because, as some might already know, one learns a better lesson by himself than when one is forced to do the right thing. All in all, it could be a win-win situation for all. The HU enjoys more fees over time, which hopefully will result into better education and one has experienced real personal growth. I know that this is an ideology. Realistically when this theory is put into practice it will be half of what it is. But, I find, we’re at that point already. So what does it matter which compromise it is?
The International | 18
| The International