Issue 2 by IBCoMagazine

IBCoMagazine

2013/2014, Issue 2

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s It Like To Be A Freshman? ibcom graduation

ibcom course representatives

Editorial Dear fellow IBCoMmers, Are the clocks ticking extra rapidly this year? It seems like the summer has just ended a couple of weeks ago, but a quick peek at my calendar reveals that we are heading full speed ahead towards the winter break. Well, people say time goes by twice as fast if you are enjoying yourself, which I hope you all are at this point! Certainly, the past couple of months did not lack new impressions for us IBCoMmers. Some of us took their first steps on university ground, triumphed over their first exams, and went on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Stress, nervousness, but also the relief and happiness when everything was overcome and the last paper or exam handed in. For most of our new freshmen, as well as for our exchange students, the past months also stand for their first experiences in living in a new city or even a new country. Many are also living on their own for the first time in general, hopefully with plenty of unforgettable moments of freedom and sociability but probably also with numerous difficulties and obstacles that needed to be overcome. The second years have in the meantime decided on their individual focus areas and are slowly but surely orientating themselves towards what they would like to do after their degree. And some of our third years can probably tell you a thing or two about their personal rollercoaster rides as well, as they are spread all over the world at this time on their exchange semester, whilst all the others are preparing themselves for their internships and their last half a year as IBCoM students! So many impressions, so many perspectives! Good thing our IBCoMagazine team was meanwhile completed with a number of highly ambitious new writers to cover the whole IBCoM sphere! In that regard, this second issue of IBCoMagazine is like a gigantic goodie bag of feelings and experiences - there is something in it for everybody! You can read up on how some of our new freshmen experienced their first weeks in Rotterdam and as part of IBCoM specifically (p.6). Or why don’t you have take a look at how all our seniors are doing, both the ones on exchange (p.8) and the ones that are experiencing their last IBCoM year in Rotterdam (p.10)! And certainly, certainly you do not want to miss out on the second part of ‘What is IBCoM?’ (p.4). I am looking forward to all the adventures we will walk through together in the upcoming months, and be assured, that you will be able to read up on many of them in here! For now, I hope you all enjoy reading this second issue of IBCoMagazine!

Julian Sonntag

Deputy Editor, IBCoMagazine 2013-2014

credits Editor-In-Chief Deputy Editor Managing Editor Copy Editor Art Director

Gaffar Rampage Julian Sonntag Monica Nicolova Rei Raksanugraha Monika Hlubinová

Advisory team

Brenda Grashoff Emma Hamilton Johannes von Engelhardt

Writers

Anna Efimenko Ruta Ziabkute Anne van Rozendaal Bilal Kabdani Tainah Bernardino Stijn van Venrooij Maria Cojocaru Margarita Kovalchuk

Graphics

Laura Dumitru

Content 4 What is ibcom? pt.2

What‘s It Like To Be A Freshman?

8 How To Go On Exchange 10 destination: rotterdam

meet our course representatives

ibcom media survey 14 class dismissed: second ibcom graduation 20

ibcom media diet survey

„Drie Voor een Euro!“

meet our course representatives

´ ´ Euro!“ „Drie Voor een Dutch Cuisine

24 Emma´s kruidnootjes 25 academic calendar 26 special thanks

Class Dismissed: The 2nd IBCoM Graduation 3

What is

IBCoM? part 2

“Communication and Media? So, what exactly do you study?”

“Tell me something about communication I don’t know!”

By Anna Efimenko

“What kind of job will you get with such a study?”

Do these questions ring a bell? If you study IBCoM, they definitely should. We decided to tackle the issue of what the study of Communication and Media really is with the help of our IBCoM staff members: Prof. Dr. Jeroen Jansz, IBCoM internship coordinator Renée Mast and Johannes von Engelhardt.

Johannes von Engelhardt

Renée Mast

Jeroen Jansz

I think within IBCoM you find people who want to work for media corporations or do journalistic work, but you also have people who want to do public relations or develop media strategies for companies. Also, there are those who want to do research in an academic or in a more commercial setting. For me, this diversity is an advantage, as it makes teaching and discussions more lively. You get people not just from different cultural backgrounds, but also with different ambitions about what they want to achieve.

I think IBCoM is a very broad and interesting study that can bring you a lot of knowledge, and it can bring you to a lot of different places, which is why it can be a little bit confusing. But, if we look at the last two years of internships, I think the main focus is on PR, communication, marketing and a little bit of journalism- those four categories. Every company nowadays has a communication department- it is a very important job nowadays, especially with the new media.

The key feature of IBCom for me is its interdisciplinary nature. The programme is organized in such a way that we also include a lot of information from adjacent fields (sociology, psychology, political science, organizational theory). That means that we educate students in the domain of communication and media, but as students develop themselves in the programme, they do have the sensitivity for these other fields.

‘So, what exactly do you study and what can you do with it?’ Johannes von Engelhardt

Renee Mast

I studied communication science at the University of Amsterdam and for me it was exactly the same. ‘So, what will you be able to do with it?’ I think there is less of a clear cut answer to that question than if you study biomedicine, for example. But that’s mostly because you can eventually go in many different directions, which also happens very much at the master level. While the bachelor opens up the whole spectrum of the things that you could do, in the master you can focus more on the area you are interested in.

People are always very negative about things they don’t know. I think you are doing something new and that’s what ‘scares’ people. They don’t know, and this is why they might perceive it in such a way. But people could also be interested in what you are doing, or they are just simply challenging you to tell a little bit more.

I think the ‘problem of explaining’ relates mostly to the social science aspect of IBCoM, and it is an issue all social scientists have to deal with–people either think what you’re studying is common sense or they think it’s not worth studying because it’s just how the world is. Part of why I like teaching in IBCoM is because we try to teach students to be critical about things that a lot of people see as commonsense- like the ways in which the media explain the world to us. And in programmes like IBCoM this is one of the skills students should develop- not to take the status quo granted. I very much believe that studying at the university is not only about acquiring concrete skills and knowledge. It’s also about approaching the social world, challenging commonsense, training your mind in analytical and critical thinking- which is something much more difficult to measure and difficult to explain to someone.

Jeroen Jansz The most fundamental reason is embedded in the philosophy of science. It’s what philosophers of science call the subject-object problem. You are studying something that is part of who you are. People communicate constantly and are very much involved with media, and you are, as a student/academic, supposed to distance yourself from the object. The object you are studying yourself as a subject collides with who you are as a person, and that makes people have an attitude like ‘Tell me something I don’t know about communication- I communicate and use media all the time so I know what communication and media is all about’.

TIPS Stay positive! Renée Mast You as a student have to develop your own idea about what you want to do. If someone asks you what you are studying, I would pick out a field, a theme or a question that you find interesting. Rather than trying to explain everything we do in the programme, you should tell the person why you are there. You tell your own story and then you can be passionate about that specific thing. If you try to explain the whole field of media and communication at a party, where someone just out of politeness asked you what you study - that’s probably a bad idea. Johannes von Engelhardt I always advise people to have a few examples available, preferably recent and counter-intuitive. Jeroen Jansz It can be your own story of what you are doing and want to achieve, which job you’d love to have, not only telling people what communication and media is. Renée Mast For 1st year students: Be open to whatever input you get! Open your mind, engage with new ideas that might at first seem strange or unfamiliar to you, before you decide where you want to go. For 2nd & 3rd years: try to find the area within media and communication that you are excited about and pursue it. Choose electives/seminars in that general area & start looking for a master’s in time. But before that, be open and explore the whole spectrum. Johannes von Engelhardt

What is it like to be a FRESHMAN? by stijn van venrooij

Starbucks must have been delighted with all the new, stressed out first years living on caffeine during the exams. It was nothing but sitting in the library all day, summarising, studying, lacking sleep and mostly, lacking a social life. But now that that’s all said and done, it’s time to relax a bit and evaluate how IBCoM has been for our batch of freshmen so far. Yanniek van Dooren “So far, I really like IBCoM! Especially the international aspect, the fact that we go to class with people from all around the world. I’ve always wanted to be in an international environment and when I was looking for the perfect study last year, that played a very big role in my decision. I find everything really interesting, even more than I had expected, to be honest. I particularly liked IHC in the first term. We discovered that things we don’t even think about in daily life aren’t as obvious as we think they are, for example the nonverbal stuff. The highlight so far would be the last academic skills tutorial. To celebrate, we ate pizza in class with the whole group. Because it was Halloween, some people dressed up as well. Everyone had a great time and it was the perfect way to end the first term. I can’t say for certain how my exams went, because I’m a bit scared that I might not have done as well as I hoped or thought I did. Luckily, we already had some mock exams so we knew what to expect, but still, the night before the ISSR exam was pretty much the worst night of my life. I have literally been stressing all night. But of course, always look on the bright side of life: hopefully I passed all of them!”

Denisa Fidlerova “I think IBCoM is really nice so far. The first term was very broad and I can't wait to get a bit deeper into the real media and communication study. I guess, at first I thought it was all about having a lot of parties and lots of free time, but I also hoped to have nice teachers and peers. The first part I was wrong about, but the second part makes up for it fully. I also really like the fact that all the lecturers we have had so far are people who are very well educated and that they know what they are talking about. All of them have opinions and they are willing to go for discussions. But not only the teachers, my fellow students as well. The only thing I don't like is the extensive reading, but that would have been the case in any course, I guess. And, ok, to be honest: the course guides and exams are a bit vague. I didn’t know there was anything like chance correction until I read it on the very last slide of the ISSR lecture. But when it comes to the tutorials, I’ve always been very positively surprised! Living in the Netherlands is not completely new to me. Last year, I was working as an au pair in Holland so I know how things work in here, more or less. But learning the Dutch language is very difficult.”

Gerwin Bakker “IBCoM is great fun and also very interesting to me. When I started the programme, I kind of expected us to discuss the media-part a bit more instead of a general introduction to communication. But when I think about it now, it makes sense. What I particularly like is the ‘internationality’ of the course. It’s not just talking English and being in class with people from different places. Everyone has their own view on things, which makes the program way more interesting and diverse. Obviously, the best thing so far was Bootcamp. For me, there couldn’t have been a better introduction than that. Since I had not been to the Eurekaweek, it was the perfect way to get to know people and to lay a foundation for the next few weeks. And of course, everyone had the time of their lives! I haven’t really discovered any lows yet, though the IHC exam was no picnic. Also, the tutorials at 9 in the morning and the waking up early that goes with that are not my favourite either. I have mixed feelings about my exams. For IHC, I studied almost a full week long, every day in the UB, so I thought I was very well prepared. But the exam was, like I said, not that easy. On the other side, for ISSR I only started studying the day before and I had a score of 28 out of 32, so with that I’m very satisfied.”

Raizel Eliasberg “IBCoM is great so far, I’m very happy that I chose this bachelor degree. I'd expected it to be quite hard to speak English every minute of every hour, but even academic English hasn’t been an obstacle. I met the most amazing people and the international aspect is not what I had expected it to be, it's way better! Already in Eurekaweek I started learning so much about other cultures as I encountered people from all over the world and from the craziest combinations of nationalities. I have learned so much more than just about communication and media. I feel like doing an international bachelor enriches me as a person in a way. Another thing that I did not expect is the big work load. We really have to keep up and work hard. But it's very manageable, and most of the time I like the content, so you won't hear me complaining. In September I moved to Rotterdam. At first it was scary of course, moving out, starting all over again in a big new city, but it already feels like home. And Rotterdam is such an epic city! That was yet another surprise, as I had never really been here before I started IBCoM. The shopping is great. The clubbing is great, for students it's perfect. One thing I would like to do more is bike, because my free public transport card is making me so lazy!”

All in all, the first years seem to be pretty satisfied with IBCoM so far. Nice people, good teachers, great subjects, and even the exams were not that horrible. Only one tiny, little point of criticism: the coffee is way too expensive. 7

exchange

How to go on

in 5 or 6 steps

by bilal kabdani

There you are, sitting in front of your computer/laptop/device that allows you to view the list of exchange universities within the IBCoM programme; so many options, but which one to pick? After a long period of deciding, narrowing down your options, and consulting friends, family and acquaintances, you finally managed to put a shortlist together which, unfortunately, still exceeds three, which is the number you are striving to reach. Once you have found a solution to overcome this minor issue, there are still a lot of things to take care of. These include persuading the staff that you are the perfect candidate for your desired university, doing all the stuff that they require you to do (they like to switch it up every year, rumour has it that this year the person who uploads a video of him/her juggling with three mothballs while cooking the perfect crĂ¨me brĂťlĂŠe has a slight advantage over their competitors) and sorting out all the finances, visas, housing situations and other stuff you might forget about. A step-by-step approach for this whole process could come in very handy, which is why this article has been brought to life and will aid you in your quest towards world domination going on exchange.

Step 1: Making sure you can go on exchange in the first place This step will come in handy when you are considering applying to go on exchange; making sure you are eligible to go on exchange in the first place. For this to be the case, your GPA has to be higher than a reasonable 6.5; you furthermore are also required to have completed all your BA-1 and BA-2 (Term 1) courses at the time of application. The additional challenge is to also complete all your courses in Term 2 of BA-2, as this is a requirement at the time of selection.

Step 2: Deciding on your potential exchange destinations You decided for yourself that you will go on exchange; no matter how hard the challenge, you will face it and overcome it. After motivating and reassuring yourself that you are ready for the big adventure, you realize that you have absolutely no clue where this adventure will take you. There are a lot of destinations to pick from, which means there are a lot of decisions to make. You might have that one city or university you always wanted to go to; if you belong to this group, skip to step 3. If you struggle to figure out which university to go to, first decide what is more important, the university or the city. Once you have made that choice, start narrowing down based on several factors: culture, budget, courses, amount of CO2-emission on main streets and maybe even potential travelling you want to do once you are there. Note down for yourself what is important to you, and make your decision based on that. Letting other people decide for you or flipping a coin are also possibilities, but not recommended.

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Step 3: Applying One of the most important steps of going on exchange is the application; as you may have guessed already, this will determine whether you will actually make it to the hall of fame select group of exchange people. The fun thing about this is that they (the people who run IBCoM and stuff) change the application process every year; you have a better chance of guessing how many people get killed by vending machines on a yearly basis (in case any of you are wondering, about 13 people). The one thing that you can be sure of though is that a motivation letter will have to be written. In this motivation letter, you will have to persuade the staff of your choice of universities; your argumentation will show the people who will send – or not send – you away how badly you want that spot. Try to be creative here; crossword puzzles concealing your arguments and poetry are usually highly appreciated. Next to this motivation letter you are usually required to do one or two other things; when you read this article, you will already know what else you have to do. I am going to take a long shot and guess that you all have to come up with a slogan for IBCoM; if I am right you will all donate five euros each to charity. If I am wrong you all get a free subscription on IBCoMagazine for the rest of the year!

Step 4: D-day D-day, also known as day-that-you-get-to-hear-where-you-will-be-going-on-exchange-day, is for some people a difficult day to come through. The feeling of nervousness, tension and excitement all at once is hard to handle for some. A good thing to remember is that no matter how nervous you are, it is already decided for you where you will be heading; no matter how many cartwheels you do in the hall of the L-building, it will not change the outcome (there are a lot of people who would like to see that though). Chocolate always works as well; make sure however to not get killed by a vending machine when you get it. It would be quite sad if your last Facebook-update would be ‘Gotta get some chocolate from the vending machine, tension is killing me omg!! #exchange #nervous #crossedfingers #worldpeace’. This is however an unlikely scenario; you will probably add more hashtags wonder why you were so nervous in the first place.

Step 5: Preparation It is useful to make a checklist for yourself containing all the important stuff you must do before you leave. The most important things to cover are securing housing and a visa (if you need one), reviewing your financial situation and making sure that you take the right amount of courses; you still need to do some work on your exchange so make sure to pick courses that you like! You can apply for the Erasmus grant, while Dutchies must not forget to apply for their OV-reimbursement. Of course, if you feel daring, you can also opt for the rash route, which basically means not preparing properly and an ‘I’ll-see-what-happens-when-I-get-there’ attitude (not recommended).

Step 6: On exchange This is why you went through all the trouble: to go on exchange. You better make the best of it and enjoy it! Not everything will go smoothly, but that is part of the experience; you get to know yourself better in many ways (at least, that is what people say). You meet new people, make new friends, and discover new habits; you sometimes even find answers to questions you had for a long time. What are my actual interests? Who am I (during a night out where you had a drink too much and forgot your ID)? Can I settle in a new environment? Who let the dogs out? How do I survive a vending machine apocalypse?

Good luck on your journey, wherever it may take you!

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destination:

Rotterdam by tainah bernardino

Should I stay or should I go? The question was circulating in our minds when as BA-2 students, we had to decide to go or not to go on exchange during our 3rd year. For some, the thrill of a foreign country is irresistible, but some of us prefer to deepen our knowledge and experiences about the city we’ve all grown to love. Check out what some of our BA-3 students had to say about doing a Minor in Rotterdam.

Ragna Schwung

M i n o r i n P ri n ci p l e s of Negot iation “Instead of going on exchange, I wanted to stay in Rotterdam and complete a minor. My first choice, [...] was „Principles of Negotiation“, an RSM Minor taught by Dimitrios Tsekouras. It was an extremely interesting, valuable and educating course. My original motivation to join was because I find a lot of my personal weaknesses in the ways that I negotiated sometimes, and wanted to improve. [...] The most valuable thing that I will take away from my minor are the life-experiences we learnt in class. Every class, we performed different roleplays with classmates, sometimes one-on-one, sometimes group negotiations, and every time with different motives and goals. [...] It allowed us insight on how to deal with certain people, how to read certain gestures, and how to look out for techniques. I enjoyed these hands on activities the most, because every week we were also able to improve what we learnt, and learn from others around us. [...] Apart from my minor, I have also begun playing football at the Antibarbari football league in Rotterdam, [...]. I can only recommend the minor, [..]. It is exciting, pushes you to your personal limit, and allows you to really alter yourself as a person and as a negotiator. [...] I have gained more confidence about how to handle different people, cultures and situations. Definitely recommend it!”

Henry Sung

Minor in Experiential Learning: Consultancy with Social Entrepreneurs “Doing a minor at Erasmus is great. This being my 3rd year in Erasmus, I’ve gotten very comfortable with hanging out on the Woudestein campus, and doing a minor here allows me to do a lot of that. This year I’ve also gotten to know more people from different faculties, and that’s something I’m really happy about. The minor I’m doing is probably one of the better courses I have ever taken here. We worked with a client organisation to tackle some real-life problems. I think it was a critically valuable experience and gave me new outlook on my future plans. Aside from my school stuff, I’ve been playing with my folk-punk band [called Kurwa Kurwa] more often, which is another reason that makes me glad about staying in Rotterdam. We’ve been emailing venues all around town; hopefully in the near future you can see us playing a show!”

Daniel van Vliet

M i n o r i n E - ma r ke t i n g: st rategies for fut ure success “Staying in Rotterdam is fine. Of course it is weird that everybody is on exchange but doing a minor is really interesting and there is enough to do in Rotterdam itself. And I already had my fair share abroad, of course. The minor was a lot of fun with exciting examples and it really goes in depth. Also, the teacher was great as he was really funny and passionate about the subject. I really would recommend this minor as it is not only a beneficial course but also fun to do. Now I am really busy with Histartes being in the 32nd board in the function Internal Relations. It is a lot of work and a lot is going to change [in] the upcoming year so that is exciting (also for IBCoM students *wink*). We are also organising a Parents’ Day the 30th of November which is open for everyone, so come with your family if they live in the Netherlands! Next to that, I‘m searching for an internship which is keeping me quite busy too.”

"The most valuable thing that I will take away from my minor are the life-experiences we learnt in class.“ Ragna Schwung

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“Doing a minor at Erasmus is great." Henry Sung

Last moments

of term 1 for IBCoM 1st years by Ruta Ziabkute

Meet Our

Course Representatives

by margarita (daisy) Kovalchuk

The IBCoM programme creates a special atmosphere of friendliness and support, which results in warm relationships between students, teachers and staff members. However, there are always some opinions, doubts, experiences and even pieces of criticism regarding the studies which we, the students, would like to share with someone who sees things from our perspective as well who will give a hand and give constructive advice. That is what the dream-team of BA1 (Dima Velichkov, Annabel van Gestel, Shirin Engel) and BA2/3 (Gaffar Rampage, Dana Mol, Ina Scharun) course representatives stands for. So as to make a useful acquaintanceship and also to learn more about their activity, IBCoMagazine asked some of them a couple of questions.

Why did you volunteer to become a course representative? Annabel van Gestel: I thought it would be nice to do something extra IBCoM-related next to the classes. It‘s just a good thing for the students to have someone to go to when something is happening within a course that the management or lecturer needs to know of. Dimitar Velichkov: I was intrigued by the opportunity to occupy a representational role and ultimately be of help to my fellow classmates, the program as a whole, and have a better and direct professional communication channel with the administration.

What are your main duties? Shirin Engel: Now it is my responsibility to ask people about issues that they have with the program and do my best to regulate it. Annabel van Gestel: Students can come to me when they have problems with something related to the course which I can consequently communicate towards the lecturer or, if necessary, to the management board. Dana Mol: I am basically the „communicator“ for my professors and my peers. If any of them have any remarks or questions, I let them know. Putting this metaphorically, I can be seen as a „bridge!”

What kind of support do you most frequently provide to the IBCoMmers as a CR? Dimitar Velichkov: So far no one has approached me and that is a pity. It‘s more or less moral support to ensure that their problems are heard and they reach the management. Dana Mol: Mostly it‘s about dealing with miscommunication: answering questions about grades and assignments.

What is the greatest thing about being a CR? Dimitar Velichkov: For me personally is about communicating with people and getting to know their experiences and the struggles they are having. And also making a difference and ensuring that my voice is heard! Shirin Engel: The chance to help other people and to contribute to improve this course! Dana Mol: As clichĂŠ it might sound: helping people! I like my course, the people in it and the professors that teach it! You are welcome to contact course representatives via Facebook or on face-to-face basis. Remember, this cheerful team aims to make the process of your stay at the university as smooth as possible, so do not hesitate to talk to them about any important issue!

Class dismissed

The 2nd IBCoM Graduation By Monika Nicolova & Ruta ziabkute

Gowns on the racks, last minute checks by the IBCoM staff, first laughs and excitement all around -- everyone was ready to face the day that we have all been waiting for -- the 2nd IBCoM Graduation.

The ceremony was approaching quickly and yet there are still so many things left to do. Strong wind was fighting the racks near the C building, where graduates had the chance to get their own cap and gown, take individual pictures with a professional photographer, and finally start to feel the festive vibe in the air. Later on, all the graduates gathered for a group photo, and the act of throwing caps in the air was well rehearsed beforehand.

In the meantime, family and friends were already over-flooding the entrance of the A building and waiting for the graduates to approach in a short while. After a few minutes, the blue wave entered the scene and everyone went crazy, showing off their photography skills and clicking the camera buttons more often than the pictures they can actually make. The ceremony started after Emma Hamilton invited everyone to sit down and greet the long blue line led by Susanne Janssen and Jeroen Jansz. The event was quite long, but the interview with Ahmed Al-Rawi by Noortje De Boer and James Dooms, followed by a Cum Laude graduate speech by Christoph Rosenthal, made the students remember all the happy days and funny things they learnt or still have to pick up. The atmosphere in the aula became more colourful and entertaining. The ceremony ended with the Cum Laude students and the lecturers saying a speech regarding the honorary student and all their achievements, both academic and personal. And there we had our 2nd IBCoM Graduation. The caps were finally in the air, along with lots of smiles, pictures, unsuccessful attempts to steal the gowns and blame Cum Laude for it, and finally, the IBCoM graduates happily left the Erasmus University campus one by one, dreaming and wondering what is going to happen next.

But when the sun goes down, it is time for a celebration! After the beautifully organised graduation ceremony at the university, after all official speeches, congratulations, tears and family gatherings, it was finally time to honour the end of this educational journey with a glass of champagne. This year, with a little help from the IBCoM staff members and IBCoMmunity, the graduate students had the opportunity to celebrate together at the Mangusto Cocktail Bar. The main actors of the event were welcomed with a glass of Prosecco as a starter of the night. The chic setting of the cocktail bar fitted perfectly with the gorgeous outfits of the guests. For a couple of hours, Mangusto resembled a fashion gathering of some of the most sophisticated fashionistas known: elegant maxi dresses, tailored suits, the all-time favourite ‘little black dress’ could be spotted that evening, attaching a ‘red carpet’ sense to the event. Sipping the bubblies, the graduates were recalling the memories of the past three years in IBCoM, Erasmus University and Rotterdam. Discussions about the future, plans for meeting again soon, and promises to keep in touch were the central topics of the evening, accompanied by delicious cocktails.

rotterdam Markets

Drie Voor Één Euro! By Gaffar Rampage & Julian Sonntag

The frozen pizza - the lifesaver of every student, a faithful companion to most, accompanying us throughout our entire academic career, in good times and in bad. No doubt, few things can guarantee us so much deliciousness for such a little price, and this is where the crucial point comes into play: money! The one thing we all as students can never have enough of. But if we reflected on our general food consumption, many, apart from the few die-hard pizza fanatics in our circle, would probably conclude that it is the empty wallets that guide them to the frozen section of their closest supermarket night after night. Well, now, it is time to listen up! If you’ve ever wished you could have a more nutritious meal without having to fork out what little money you have on expensive restaurants, then don’t fret. This article is for all of us who way too often have to be content with a frozen pizza for dinner as our tight student budgets do not allow us to feed all our cravings for fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and fish, as well as for the gourmet warriors amongst us who are willing to invest most of our monthly savings for the sake of a well-balanced and comprehensive diet. You can be helped, because good food doesn’t have to be expensive! There is hope, there is light at the end of tunnel, there is a way out of this greasy spiral: the Rotterdam markets! Six days a week, Rotterdam’s open-air markets take place in different locations all across the city, such as at the Afrikaanderplein in the south or in Delfshaven, west of the city. By far the largest market can be found on Tuesdays and Saturdays on the Binnenrotte in the city center. Open from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon, the market reaches from the Blaak metro station all the way down to Meent street (and even beyond)! The smell of fresh Kibbeling, the sounds of men shouting “drie voor één euro!”, and the bustle of the crowd; the market is an adventure for the senses. Amongst the stands which number more than 400, you will find virtually anything you might be looking for, and a whole lot more. There is such a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, cheese, nuts, bread and antipasti that it’ll make you dizzy. The produce is often seasonal, so you can sometimes find specialty items for a steal.

While you are strolling past the stalls, you will most likely run into something that’ll grab your interest in a heartbeat, some of which you might not even expect to find at a street market. Besides plentiful clothing stalls, there are old vinyls and video game consoles, while the guy across the aisle might cut you a deal on random antique sculptures or even some toothpaste. You can bring home an old school laptop or even a laundry machine (if you can carry it on the back of your bike!).

The Blaak Market Open: Tuesdays and Saturdays, 08:00 to 17:30 Number of stalls: over 400

Tips A trip to the market is always an experience, with the sights and sounds of the hundreds of stalls. But too much careless exposure to this exciting sensation could eventually be harmful for your wallet! Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of your trip: * If you see something being sold at four for €2 and you only need two, just buy two! You’ll get it for the same rate. * For real steals on food, go on Tuesday near closing time when stalls are clearing stocks. Remember to check if they are good though, often you have to eat it pretty soon! * You can try most of the food you’re about to buy: fruits, nuts, olives, especially cheese. Just ask! * Go shopping together with friends! It’s more fun, and you can share the deals. * The Dutch may not have the world’s most renowned cuisine, but they sure know how to snack! Try some warm Kibbeling (deep-fried battered fish), a steaming hot, jumbo-sized Stroopwafel, some fresh local mussels, or a Vietnamese loempia. * Keep your belongings safe. Rotterdam may not be the most notorious city for pickpocketing, but with so many people around it’s always better to be safe than sorry. The Markthal In October 2014, Rotterdam’s full market experience will be established with the grand opening of the Markthal at Blaak. What at this point looks more like a gigantic spaceship will make up a brand new food complex open every single day of the week from morning till late. Inspired by the vibrant European indoor markets of Barcelona, Madrid, and Copenhagen, the Markthal will boast a selection of fresh groceries and ready food, with a hundred market stalls and a variety of cafés and restaurants. Prices may be slightly more expensive than at the regular market, but the Markthal will be open all week and is sheltered from the often harsh Dutch weather, and that, we think, is a fair deal.

Dutch Cuisine: So, you’ve made it! You have come all the way down to the second largest harbour of Europe, in order to reach your “IBCOM DREAM”. Although this programme is exactly how you expected it to be, you probably still miss your own culture, and in particular those traditional dishes that you were used to that sometimes made you feel like a real food addict. Well, here are some tips of how you can avoid this unpleasant feeling.

Is There More To It Than

Fries? By Maria-Stefania Cojocaru

Tip number 1:

Treat life like a recipe and add more spices to it! As you have previously all discovered in IHC, words should not always be taken literally, because often our words have an underlying meaning. Thus, go beyond this concept, and try to understand that you must take full advantage of your stay in Rotterdam. So, don’t postpone it any longer, and start expanding your knowledge today!

Tip number 2:

Be part of the Dutch culture! One of the easiest ways to do this is by discovering the Dutch cuisine. But how can you actually do this? Well, this is the main reason why I have written this article, and this implies sharing with you you some major aspects of the Dutch gastronomy, like: what, where and how to eat certain types of dutch dishes. You have probably previously thought that Dutch food is bland and boring, lacking spice, both literally and figurately. But, you might want to reconsider this preconception, as the Dutch kitchen has been enriched by many foreign flavours (such as the old Indonesian wealth of spices or the latest Turkish and Moroccan influences as a result of trading and the influx of immigrants from all over the world. First of all, you should know that there is a previously “10 top list of ” Dutch foods you should try at least once while you are here, which is composed of: poffertjes, bitterballen, http://thehawksmoor.com/wp-content/gallery/main-gallery/soused-herring.jpg stroopwafels, oliebollen, koffie verkeerd, soused herring, limburgse vlaai, chocoladeletters, stamppot and patat. It might be interesting to know that, these types of food, are included in the three regional forms of Dutch cuisine, distinguished by modern culinary writers, as follows: the Northeastern cuisine, the Western cuisine, the Southern cuisine.

In reality, you can expect a lot of variety with Dutch cuisine, but for now, I will focus on only two types of typical Dutch foods, and these are: Soused Herring and Limburgse Vlaai. You probably wonder what these unfamiliar terms mean. Thus, let`s find out what Soused Herring actually is. Basically, Soused Herring is a very traditional food in the Netherlands that was developed in the Middle Ages by the Dutch. Is important to notice that what really makes Soused Herrings a veritable dutch dish, is the fact that Herrings should be caught between the end of May and the beginning of July in the North Sea near Denmark or Norway, before the breeding season starts. One of the main reasons for doing this is that herrings at this time are unusually rich in oils (over 15%), and their roe and milt have not started to develop yet. Not only is Soused Herring really tasty and makes you wanna have an extra portion, but it is also extremely healthy, as it provides the natural oils that the human body needs, while still having a much lower salt content and being much milder in taste than its competitive dish: the German Loggermatjes. Dutch herring are traditionally eaten by holding the fish by the tail and dunking it into your mouth with your head thrown back. If that doesn't seem appealing, herring can also be eaten in bite size pieces or on a sandwich called “broodje haring.” They can also be served with potatoes boiled in their skins, French beans or finely sliced fried bacon and onions. You can find herrings at street stands and shops all around Rotterdam. Just look for the Dutch flag! Now, let`s move on to the other type of Dutch dish that I have mentioned in the previous paragraph. Although it has a really fancy name, Limburgse Vlaai is simply just a delicious pie with a tasty light crust, often filled with fruits like apples, cherries or apricots. This particular type of dessert is special, because it forms a part of the Dutch Legacy, as the Netherlands hasn't only been receiving culinary influences, but also left its mark behind in former colonies and territories. So, for instance, this type of fruit pie was taken to the New World by early Dutch settlers, where they evolved into the donut. Another interesting detail about this dish is http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO5q2VztHaA/T9BIfXaqsbI/AAAAAAAADqA/hcqjkILCL4E/s1600/vlaai-limburgse-WimpysAppel5.JPG that is originally from the Limburg area in the south of the Netherlands, and is said to have been created in the town of Weert by a woman named Maria Hubertina Hendrix who sold her pies at the train station. Several varieties of Vlaai, such as with whipped cream, chocolate or other toppings are served throughout the city. If you are at least a little bit interested in its taste, don’t forget to enjoy a slice for dessert or with your afternoon coffee or tea. Sweet! Last, but not least, I believe that you should know that one of the best typical Dutch restaurants in Rotterdam is called: Eethuisje van Delfshaven. It is located on Mathenesserdijk 436A 3026GV Rotterdam, and the best way to get there is by subway. Eethuisje van Delfshaven is opened from Sunday to Friday, between 16:00 and 21:00 pm and is one of the most suitable restaurants for international students, as it offers plenty of Dutch dishes which will definitely make you taste a piece of the Dutch culture!

All in all, I hope I made you realise that Dutch cuisine presents much more than what most of us have previously thought. It may not compete with French or Chinese gastronomy, as it does not have that many dish varieties, but it is definitely special in its own way, and it will be an extra memory to add to your experience as a student

Emma's Kruidnootjes

By Anne van Rozendaal

The fifth of December is approaching. Little children are getting excited and people are preparing themselves for the traditional Dutch celebration: ‘Sinterklaas.’ The annual fest is characterised by the ‘Sint,’ Black Pete, gifts, poems, chocolate letters, and of course: kruidnootjes! For the non-Dutch amongst us: kruidnootjes are a type of small biscuits that taste a little bit like ‘speculaas.’ They are only available during the November-December months, when everybody stuffs themselves with them and then has to wait again until next year.It turns out that the IBCoM staff is not just occupied with running and managing our bachelor programme - they too, are celebrating the spirit of Sinterklaas. Our very own Emma Hamilton is making an effort to contribute to the ‘Make-A-Wish’ charity by selling the traditional kruidnootjes. IBCoMagazine spoke with Emma about this initiative. So what exactly is the idea behind selling kruidnootjes? Make-A-Wish annually cooperates with the Wibra store to organise ‘Actie Strooigoed.’ This means that people are asked to sell and buy bags of kruidnootjes of which the entire proceeds goes to the Make-A-Wish foundation – which is fulfilling wishes of terminally ill children. Emma mentions how she stumbled upon this initiative last year and thought it was a great concept: ‘All that was needed was the effort from people to sell the bags – I thought that was the least I could do for a good cause!’ Miss Hamilton’s mother is currently a ‘Wish Granter,’ which means she is one of the many volunteers that organises the special days for the children and makes sure their wishes come true. ‘It is fantastic to hear what special

TIP: Help Emma collect more money for Make-A-Wish and buy some kruidnootjes for only 1,50€ on the 30th of November during the university’s ‘Sinterklaas feast’ in the Aula or on Tuesday, the 3rd of December from 10.00 to15.00 in the L-hall (in front of LB-067). Also check out the Make-A-Wish Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/MakeAWishNederland. days for the children come out of wishes with key words such as ‘Climbing and Crawling’, ‘Racing’, ‘Diving’ and ‘Being a Princess’ and to see the smiles on the faces of these kids,’ Emma mentions. Last year was the first time Emma engaged in this initiative. However, it appears she has got the taste for it as she plans on selling kruidnootjes every year from now on: ‘I picked up the kruidnootjes on the sixth of November and I sell them to everyone who wants to buy them – colleagues, students, friends, and neighbours! So what do these kruidnootjes cost exactly, I asked Emma. ‘The bags (250 grams) are € 1,50 each (and they are really tasty!).’ And yes they are indeed very tasty, I can confirm. When we have kruidnootjes at home, they last no longer than a day! Emma takes the sales of kruidnootjes very seriously. She is determined to contribute to the Make-A-Wish charity that gives special children a very special day: ‘I ordered 648 bags, so I would have € 1000,- to donate to Make-A-Wish. So far, I have sold 124 bags, so please come get some off my hands!’

Academic Calendar 16,12.

10.1.2014

15.1.2014

IBCoM Christmas Drink

IBCoMpanion Closure Event

Exchange Application Deadline

Photo: www.depts.washington.edu

Photo: www.flavoractiv.com

Photo: www..eshcc.eur.nl

thanks for reading the

Special thanks to Laura for her graphic design of Infographics. For more info visit her website http://immah.ro/

the Next issue will come out on 10/02/2014 ÂŠ2013/2014