Issue 3

IBCoMagazine

2013/2014, Issue 3

IBCoM Cookoff IFFR Hidden places on campus

Media Highlights 2013

Exchange students New Year‘s Resolutions

Editorial Dear fellow IBCoMmers, Just a few weeks ago, it felt like we could do anything in the world. The night sky painted with fireworks was the ultimate spark to motivate ourselves to embark on a new adventure or to continue travelling down the road we see our future in. I am sure that many of us have witnessed brilliant spectacles of blossoming lights and thought to ourselves, “This year, I will.”

And yet, February seems to have appeared without warning. While some of us have tasted the sweet victory of slowly yet surely making their way to their new year resolutions, some of us (like myself) have stumbled at some point already, perhaps even looking over our list again and thinking that things are looking rather grim so early in the year. And certainly, the gray clouds of the Netherlands in the winter do not help!

But not everything has to be as bleak as the sky. The third term marks a lot of exciting events that will unfold in the next few months. For instance, we can celebrate the return of our beloved third years who have gone on their exchange programmes, and welcome the incoming students who have come from every corner of the earth to live here in Rotterdam. We can cheer the BA-1 students on as they continue to battle the mandatory courses, pray for the BA-2 students who are moving heaven and hell for their chance to study and live in a different country, and wish the BA-3 students who will be having their internships luck. This term is full of exciting new developments simply waiting to happen.

Fortunately, the IBCoMagazine team is always ready to report on anything and everything that simply begs to be shared. Why not look into the various New Year’s Resolutions our IBCoM students and staff are planning to achieve in 2014 (‘…’, p. xx), or the upcoming TEDx Erasmus University will be hosting (‘…’, p.xx)? And of course, if nostalgia is tugging at your heartstrings, our dedicated team of writers has covered plenty memorable events, from the IBCoMpanion Closure Event (‘…’, p. xx) to the highlights of the past year that media has documented for us (‘…’, p. xx).

So many stories to share, so many impressions to tell! Our tales are just few among many, but they certainly do not lack the enthusiasm and excitement. Without further ado, we present to you the third issue of our IBCoMagazine!

Rei Safia Raksanugraha

Copy Editor of 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

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Anna Efimenko Ruta Ziabkute Anne van Rozendaal Bilal Kabdani Tainah Bernardino Stijn van Venrooij Maria Cojocaru Margarita Kovalchuk Nour Abdul-Hadi Haba

Content 4 tedx erasmus univ.

5 Ibcompanion closure event 6 exchange students 8 ibcom year representatives

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ibcom christmas drink

12 media highlights 2013

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Tedx erasmus university

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iffr

15 ibcom new year resolutions 16 New Year‘s Traditions from 18 around the world 6 19 Exchange infographics 22 ibcom food culture

media highlights 2013

exchange students

24 hidden places on campus 26 A word, please? semantics 27 IBCoM External Assessmen

hidden places on campus 3

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By Ruta ziabkute

There are more than 1600 TED talks so far, and we can get the opportunity to hear 8 of them at the TEDxErasmusUniversity this March.

TED is a well-known, non-profit organisation devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. In the beginning, its goal was to bring people together to share their knowledge on technology, entertainment and design (TED); however, over the years more topics were included in the speeches and TED expanded as an organisation in general; therefore, TEDx was created, which stands for independently organised TED event.

19 Erasmus University students (most of them from IBCoM: BA-1/2/3, exchange and alumni) decided to organize an independent TEDx event – TEDxErasmusUniversity. With the topic #Think, TEDxErasmusUniversity is a university-wide initiative that aims to incite and excite the open-minded community for a unique event that we can join on the 6th of March, 18:00, at the Erasmus Pavillion.

There are more than 1600 TED talks so far, and we can get the opportunity to hear 8 of them at the TEDxErasmusUniversity this March. 8 speakers will be covering 7 topics, namely health, culture, governance, technology, wealth, society and education. Also, not all the speakers will be from Erasmus University, which will give the event a more open and creative touch.

We are proud to say that a couple of the speakers for this event will be our very own IBCoM staff and alumni students. These IBCoM speakers will be announced as the event approaches, however IBCoMagazine is proud to have the exclusive opportunity to announce the first IBCoM speaker – Johannes von Engelhardt. In 20102011, he spent six months at a Tanzanian NGO, exploring new forms of gathering data in developing countries.

During the past two years, Johannes has led a mobile phone panel project in Tanzania, and has worked for the World Bank on large-scale panel survey projects in Senegal and Togo. Therefore, he will be doing a TEDx talk regarding mobile phones and its role in the work of development agencies.

IBCoMagazine is excited to hear our staff and alumni represent IBCoM in a month at the TEDxErasmusUniversity event, with the topic #Think. We hope to see you there, and For more information, visit TEDxErasmusUniversity website or the Facebook page

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IBCompanion closure event by stijn van venrooij & julian Sonntag

Just a few months ago, a bunch of young IBCoM freshmen came to campus for the first time. Luckily, they did not have to find out everything by themselves, as they received some help from their lifesavers: the IBCoMpanions. But time flies. The IBCoMpanion Programme has come to an end and those first years have grown up so fast.

Of course you remember Bootcamp from the very first week of IBCoM (or maybe not, actually), but there was also another very important event: meeting your IBCoMpanions and the rest of your group. It all seems so long ago now, doesn’t it?

The opening event was followed by several meetings. “Those were very helpful,” says Lotte Sanders. “Especially the meeting before the first exams, where we were told what to expect.”

“Next to that, it was also a lot of fun,” says Nabila Hisbaron. “The IBCoMpanions are like your older siblings.

Having them there to guide you is awesome.” Lotte agrees: “My IBCoMpanions organized fun things and everyone was just really nice to hang out with.”

For many of our 2nd year IBCoMmers, being a mentor was a task they had never taken on before, and they were therefore quite eager to dive into their new roles. “My IBCoMpanions helped me a lot last year, so I was hoping to return the favor.”, tells Denise Vollebergh, and adds that she will certainly stay in touch with her mentees, just as she does with her own IBCoMpanions. Gabrielle op ‘t Hoog remembers how she felt at the beginning of her time in Rotterdam, in a new city and environment, and how good it felt knowing that she “always had someone to fall back on”.

Gabrielle really enjoyed her time as an IBCoMpanion, and describes how interesting it was to see how the new first years got more and more acquainted with how things work within IBCoM and in Rotterdam, and therefore did not need much help anymore towards the end. For Jason Teetz, the IBCoMpanion programme also meant a great chance to meet and spend time with the new firsties and, of course, some of the third years.

He mentions that he had decided to apply for the programme a long time ago, not only to re-live the fantastic Bootcamp experience one more time, but “to pass on what I have been given by my IBCoMpanions”.

But all good things come to an end, and on January 10th, there was the IBCoMpanion Closure Event. After a helpful Q&A session on the upcoming exams (“Do not not understand stats”) and a final activity which included creating some lovely new sayings, it was time to say goodbye. Well, sort of. As Nabila phrases: “It’s not like I am never going to see them again, it is just not officially organized anymore.”

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Exchange students

by Monica Nicolova

The topic of going on exchange has been one of the most discussed in the past few weeks among IBCoM students.

We decided to ask some of the incoming exchange students about their experience in Rotterdam, Erasmus and IBCoM. Here is what they had to tell us:

Why did you decide to go on exchange?

It was always an ambition, to go abroad, spend time somewhere else, learn about different cultures, different people, in a different way.

Fabio Salmoni, 25, Brazil It’s an experience that gives you a lot. You practice English, improve your communication skills, have contacts with people of different backgrounds and cultures, and you can have access to different ways of teaching and methods of studying.

Martina De Dona, 23, Italy All my life, I was adventurous person, trying to experience and get from my situation the most I can and I knew that going on exchange can be one life-time offer if I decide to study only one bachelor.

Giedrė Remėzaitė, 21, Lithuania I wanted to have the experience of studying abroad, in a completely different environment from the one I used to live and study in Italy.

Gaia Lorenzi, 23, Italy

Why did you decide to come to Rotterdam, Erasmus University and IBCoM?

Giedre: Before deciding where to go on exchange, I had a chance to visit the Netherlands where I spent a week travelling around the country and I fell in love with it.I found this university with a great history behind it and diverse courses in Rotterdam and I thought, either I am going to this university or I am not going to my exchange at all. And since I am here, I guess I was lucky!

Fabio: The reasons why I chose it in first place are numerous. As a design and also communication student, the Netherlands is one of our main references when it comes to innovation in the creative industries and cultural incentive.

I wanted to go to a place where I could try to learn another language (what a fool to think I would learn Dutch) and still improve my skills in English.

Lastly, the Netherlands is famous for being one of the most open countries to international cultures.

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What do you like the most about being an IBCoM exchange student?

Martina: I like the fact that the majority of the time, you have to work in a team with other students as you learn to cooperate and share viewpoints.The professors I had were also ready to help and to answer any kind of questions and make clear the points I had difficulties with.

Gaia: I really appreciate the different background of the studies and the different perspectives which comes from the internationality of the students.

Fabio:The extremely international environment is really mind-widening. It's the easiness to meet people and get to know them. The simplest question like "where are you from?" is already enough to make you have hours-long conversations. Regarding the support from the staff, IBCoM have some really hardworking people! What makes EUR, and IBCoM included, better than most universities is the fact that it has a philosophy of innovation and being part of a community.

I feel that the whole IBCoM programme is changing all the time, keeping up with relevant matters of its time.

This makes Erasmus University a hub for intellectual and social development Giedre: It’s the motivation of students which motivates me. People are members of plenty organizations, dreaming about business plans still being halfway in their studies. Academically speaking, what I liked the most is the structure of lectures as problems and obscurities can be solved instantly and discussion-type lectures make the learning more vibrant.

Would you recommend Rotterdam, Erasmus and IBCoM as an exchange destination?

Gaia: Exchange at Erasmus is not the “easy and fun� exchange as there is a lot of studying but it is also true that I met amazing people, both Italian and exchange, I had the chance to visit a lot of countries around the Netherlands. I just wished the weather would be better!

Fabio: Definitely! You have a non-stoppable cultural agenda mixed with one of the leading entrepreneurial hubs. It is all in one. A warning I would give is this one: after an exchange in Rotterdam, as an IBCoM student, it can be difficult to find a place to settle down without having that itching sensation of traveling around.

Giedre: Definitely. But if you want to fit in here and think outside the box, you have to be outside the box.

Our incoming exchange students have proved that an exchange destination is not simply a final point of a journey, but a new way of seeing things which provides us with a new pair of lenses to see the world around us.

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IBCoM

year representatives by stijn van venrooij

For most of us, IBCoM has turned out to be the right choice. That is why we chose to do this, after all. However, sometimes you might just need to get some things off of your chest. We’ve already introduced you to our course representatives in the last issue, but there is more help on the way: meet our year representatives, Jesse Prince (BA-1) and Hanna Maria Hüttermann (BA-2/3).

First of all: what is your job as a year representative?

Hanna Maria: ‘Also, we take part in external evaluations and we represent our fellow students in the Programme Committee, which consists of other student representatives and staff members. During these meetings, we discuss the term evaluations and try to improve the curriculum.’

Jesse: ‘Basically, what we do is connecting students and staff. When students have a problem, they can come to us. We can bring that particular issue up during one of our meetings.’

Why did you decide to sign up for this task?

Hanna Maria: ‘I applied because I like being engaged in the IBCoM programme. I think I‘m both easily approachable and outgoing, so I figured that I would be the right choice.’

Jesse: ‘I saw the ‚job offer’ on Facebook.. Being there for my fellow students, meaning something to the programme, and really being able to help out whenever necessary all sounded really good to me.’

And what is it like to be a year representative?

Jesse: ‘The staff makes our job a lot easier by organizing everything so well, so we’re mostly talking about things that can get even better. It’s a lot of fun to find out what happens behind the scenes of IBCoM. Though it seems only natural that things are the way they are, there are a lot of people working very hard to make everything run as smoothly as it currently does.’

Hanna Maria: ‘The most enjoyable thing is to see that things actually change. It makes me happy to see that advices are taken seriously and that the cohort in following years profit from the critique we give today.’

So if you ever need help, do not hesitate to contact Jesse or Hanna Maria. You can find them on Facebook, send them an email, or you can always go up to them and have a chat. IBCoM year representatives, at your service!

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ibcom

Christmas drink by maria cojocaru

Dear Santa, Last year, on the 16th of December, the IBCoM team organized a special event to once again celebrate Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone from the IBCoM community was invited to participate, and thus the freshmen, the second year students, and the lecturers have accepted this invitation and came to the Christmas celebration.

But, there are some things that I would like to share with you concerning this event, aspects that you might find pleasant and enjoyable while probably reading this letter in front of the fireplace, on your warm and comfortable sofa. I can already imagine you trying to discover where the IBCoM community was gathered. The location where the event took place is called “Amigo”, and I can honestly tell you that this name really caught my attention, due to the fact that it reminded me of the Spanish significance of this word, which is “friend”.

Beautiful and cosy, warm and exciting, Amigo was a place that immediately made us feel like it was time to enjoy the Christmas break which came right after two challenging terms. As soon as we entered the place, the vast majority of lecturers and course representatives were waiting for us with two lovely coins in their hands, coins that allowed us to pick two drinks from the available menu. We really enjoyed the food that was being served during the entire event, and all I can remember is that we could not wait to taste again those wonderful dishes. My fellow students and I also shared our plans for the Christmas holidays, mostly on how we would go back to our countries and treasure every single moment with our beloved families and friends.

Well, Santa, I am afraid my letter is coming to an end, but I do have to tell you something else. I was quite disappointed that you did not show up, as you were supposed to be the special guest who would come to Amigo bar in order to bring us lots of gifts. However, we do hope that you would be able to make it to our celebration next year.

These were the latest news concerning the IBCoM community from Erasmus University Rotterdam, but don’t be sad, Santa, as I will always keep you posted. Just wait for our next letter…

Yours faithfully,

The IBCoM community backround: http://www.psdgraphics.com/file/white-snow.jpg

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Rotterdam Skylines

by Ruta Ziabkute

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Media highlights

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"A click of the mouse can reveal your most horrifying regrets and joyful memories“ by rei safia

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly The chilly winds of winter have come and swept away the passing days of 2013, steadily pushing us further into the new year. With every moment of excitement upon successfully taking baby steps to achieving our resolutions, we forget the thrilling moments the previous year brought us—the trivial jokes made under the influence of alcohol, the tears of blood shed over our papers and exams, the lamentation of unsuccessful saving months and having to resort to microwavable pizzas and cup noodles.

Thankfully, we can always take a break from the pressure to create a fresh, memorable year, breathe in, and look back at the one thing that remembers all the bittersweet and entertaining highlights of 2013: the media.

To remind us of the great (and not so great) memories, here are some of the biggest highlights that the media, both traditional and new, deem worthy to note, organised in the Focus Areas of our BA-2 days.

Communication and Business (C&B): Aldi’s horsemeat scandal

Years of trust and good standing were marred in a heartbeat. Aldi was ensnared like an innocent, unknowing game and fed to the lions of the media. While the scandal itself originated from their suppliers of beef, it did not change the fact that Aldi took the heaviest blow from the media. Unable to close the stable door after the horse has bolted, Aldi faced one of the biggest business scandals of 2013.

Communication and Politics (C&P): The Middle East conflicts

When it comes to politics, what greater discourse was there in the media than the turmoil in the Middle East?

From the civil war and bombings in Benghazi to the chemical weapon attacks and ongoing unrest in Syria, it is a matter that not only concerns the nations in the Middle East, but also their allies—most prominently, the United States. While the increased exposure to violent images may have steeled our hearts, we also need to remember that the numbers and figures of casualties are not just for show. The least we can do is mourn for the lost sons and daughters, the injured soldiers and civilians, and pray for peace to return to the lands that desire it most.

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Retrieved from: http://guardianlv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Miley-Cyrus-is-2013.jpg

Retrieved from: http://www.spitsnieuws.nl/sites/

Retrieved from: http://tomremington.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/horseburger.jpg

Retrieved from: http://jewishnewsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/157.jpg

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Communication, Culture and Society (CCS): Zwarte Piet vs. United Nations

The opposition came out of the blue, and the Netherlands was taken by surprise. The tradition of Zwarte Piet had remained untouched by foreign influences for years, and the discourses surrounding the racial connotations some see in him has always been something the Dutch—and those living in the Netherlands—discuss among themselves. When the United Nations caught wind of this cultural heritage, what once was an internal matter turned into an international debate. Whether you view it as a step towards a better future or an insult to the tradition, the Piet is here to stay be it with modifications.

Media and Entertainment (M&E): Miley Cyrus

She took the media’s attention by storm throughout 2013. Her eccentric feats generated reactions that could be categorized into two distinct groups: those who foresee another impending doom of Rebecca Black’s Friday, and those who hail the personification of the irony of ‘freedom’ that is Hollywood and the entertainment industry. And regardless of whether or not you wish for it, she simply can’t stop.

International and Global Communication (IGC): E.Snowden vs. the NSA

What labels a man a hero or a criminal depends on one’s own perspectives, but that did not stop the media from playing the “Where in the World is Edward Snowden?” game, regardless of how he is being framed. He crosses over international borders just as swiftly and stealthily as the NSA’s spying programme, and the aftermaths of the whole ordeal falls onto the Obama administration like the pile of dirty laundry you do not even want to look at, let alone deal with.

New Media Technologies (NMT): Google+ and YouTube

There were looks of confusion, exchanges of doubtful concerns, whispers of silent anxiety… and yet what we can remember most vividly is the complaints. We remember the days when everything seems to be wrong— from things like constantly having to tell Google+ that you want to use your old YouTube username as opposed to your profile name, to the layout of Youtube changing about a trillion times in a month, to the comment system leading to the rise of Bob and his tank. While these complaints have died down considerably, the memory of those days live on.

Though we have only managed to cover the most memorable glimpses of the past year, there is nothing to fear.

The media has made it much easier for us to battle the cold and lonesome embrace of nostalgia. But remember, a click of the mouse can reveal your most horrifying regrets and joyful memories, so let us be sure that this year will not hold much of the former for ourselves!

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IFFR Young Film Critics and Moviegoers Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/station_nord/6828528745/

by Nour abdul-hadi haba

IFFR can be considered a niche event where a person’s level of involvement ranges in response of “I try to visit as many movies as I can” to, “uhmm..?”, but isn’t there’s always more to it? Yes, here you also have the actual media event (i.e. press releases, website management, screenings, critics and films). It’s definitely something to experience and part of getting to know Rotterdam. It’s also a great way to see some of the theoretical things we learn in IBCoM in action! On some level, it’s comparable to a staged behind-the scenes snapshot of the film industry – one that mirrors several other media industries. I managed to get an angle on one of actors involved with IFFR, a Young Film Critic, Michael Pattison, who says, “One of the joys of being a film critic is that it covers a number of functions simultaneously. I don't see myself as a tastemaker or as part of some kind of cultural vanguard, but it would be disingenuous to say I'm not part of that whole factory. I like the curatorial potential of criticism, of highlighting overlooked films that might not otherwise get distributed.”

The IFFR Young Film Critics Traineeship is a programme opened to all candidates interested in entering this very field. If you watch a lot of films, this might be a suitable stepping stone to look into next year, as it emphasizes skill and talent rather than associations. For instance, one of IFFR’s film critics (Michael Pattison) saw it as a logical opportunity to grasp for networking. After finishing the Locarno Critics Academy last summer, he saw IFFR as a place that allowed “for that weird and scary grey area between having experience - even as a paid journalist - but not quite having the network required for regular work. It resists that dreadful assumption that professions like this develop overnight, that they have a go-to blueprint by which to secure a way in.”

At this point, it’s difficult to say whether you should read the reviews before watching some of these films. Not everybody takes away the same message from a film but having your mind guided towards certain cues can add an unexpected dimension. Also, some of these films can and do go for the abstract, and abstractions can leave one very confused. The perk here is that if you were confused, then you could directly ask the director although naturally, some films take longer to process than others. It’s also entertaining during the Q&A where some directors are more fluent with answering questions while others are a bit awkwardly amusing, which lends to an even more unique experience. Whether it be rain or sunshine (and normally it’s rain), people from all over come to attend this event. It’s not all just film buffs but movie-goers in general who might find that one or two movies may actually suit their tastes or interests.

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IBCOoM´s

New Year Resolutions

by Anne van rozendaal

We are past the first month of the new year and many people made New Year’s resolutions and other exiting plans for the coming year. Working out, quit smoking, going to conferences or maybe conducting an interesting research –what is it exactly that IBCoM is planning and looking forward to in 2014? Find out what our staff and students are looking forward to and read the recommendations that IBCoM staff and students have in the ‘bucket list’ boxes!

Ahmed Al-Rawi About making new years resolutions: ‘I make many important resolutions every month rather than every year. This includes planning research projects like finalizing my YouTube book before September 2014 and starting with another book on Facebook. I think resolutions are the results of specific needs one has. For example, if you feel you are over-weight, you start with a diet and exercise. If you feel your language skills are not good enough, you begin reading and practicing.’

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

‘I am looking forward to attending a conference in March 2014 that will be held at York University in Canada. I got funding from York University and I’m glad to present my paper on the use of social media by migrant groups.’

Bucket list: Never allow anyone to tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams. I have lived all my life fighting people who doubted my ability to achieve some of my goals and they included some very close to me. Of course, your aims have to be realistic based on your ability which you must trust to keep on going. I think the key to success is patience, confidence, and faith in yourself.

Brenda Grashoff

About new years resolutions: ‘Traditionally, I don‘t do New Year‘s resolutions. I think people shouldn‘t need this one moment to decide that they should do things differently. If you want things to change, don‘t wait until the New Year is here: just make changes now. Today is the first day of the rest of your life, so make a decision and stick to it, no matter what day in the year it is.’

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What are you looking forward to in 2014?

‘I have a lot to look forward to in 2014, both in my professional and personal life.

I can‘t imagine anybody not noticing the transformation of our campus. So much has changed and it will continue to look even better! I‘m also looking forward to representing IBCoM at several (inter-)national Careers Fairs and to meeting all prospective students. We‘ll be admitting 175 students to IBCoM for 2014-2015, so it‘ll be a busy Summer! I don‘t mind, though: even though I‘ll be working hard, I know I‘ll meet some of the most motivated, ambitious and inspiring individuals, who will all be starting in IBCoM. On a personal level, I‘m getting married in May! Needless to say, 2014 is a very special year for me!’

Gabriëlle Op 't Hoog About new years resolutions: ‘To be honest, I don‘t believe in resolutions anymore. I did a few years ago; they were very general like to stop complaining, but after three weeks of trying I forgot about them. Whenever I make resolutions and I cannot make them happen, I start feeling guilty and sad. So I decided not to come up with any resolutions and instead I try to ‚improve‘ my behavior throughout the year. Just changing your lifestyle because a new year has arrived doesn‘t make sense to me, I think that if you really want to change something about yourself you can do that at any time.’

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

In 2014, I will (hopefully) go on exchange, so that‘s the major thing I am looking forward to. Besides, as a girl from the south of the Netherlands, I am looking forward to Carnival! I wouldn‘t want to miss the four days of dressing up, partying, laughing and drinking:).’

Bucket list: I do not have a particular bucket list item, but I do have a motto which inspires and motivates me. It‘s from a Nike campaign: ‚Yesterday you said tomorrow‘. Whenever I feel like not doing anything or postponing plans and dreams, this saying reminds me to go out and start making plans concrete instead of just thinking about them.

Aly Dabbous

About new years resolutions ‘I want to travel around Europe more because I only have a short amount of time left until my study ends, so it would be a nice experience to see other countries in Europe as well. The second resolution I made is to participate in an extracurriculur activity at university because studying abroad is also about being active in university and building connections and networks.

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

‘Already in the next two months I will be travelling to Prague and Berlin! Besides, I am planning to sign up for an internship (apart from the required one) in the summer. Doing an internship over the summer is a good way to use my free time and looks good on my resume, too.’

Bucket list: ‘I would say as an international student it is much more fun and fulfilling to gain something other than what you learn from university during your stay. It could be traveling, working, being a member of an organization, basically anything!’

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New Year’s Traditions

Around the World by tanah bernardno

10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

How many times, and how often, has this phrase been said around the world and by our IBCoM students and staff on New Year’s Eve? Whether it’s the traditional garb of a region and culture, swimsuits, or cheesy cool New Year‘s glasses that we all thought would disappear after 2009, people around the world put on their best to ring in the New Year. Let us find out how this highly anticipated event is celebrated in some countries around the world.

Brazil

In Rio de Janeiro, New Year’s Eve is a big event! Since it is summer, celebrating at the beach or any other place outdoors is great. At Copacabana beach alone around two million people from around the world gather to celebrate. People usually wear white to bring good luck. Other colors can ‘attract’ other wishes such as: green for health, or red for love. And if you really want to make sure the new year starts off well, remember to appease the Goddess of the Sea, Iemanja with some white flowers you offer to the sea! Iemanja is a popular Goddess in the Brazilian myths. Many Brazilians bring Her gifts on New Year‘s day or the day before.

Spain

Eating 12 grapes (‘uvas de la suerte’) at midnight in line with the 12 chimes of the Puerta del Sol square bell in Madrid is the Spanish recipe for good luck for the New Year. The tradition dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. And even if you cannot be in Madrid for the bell and to celebrate, you can get together with your friends and family around the television, because the striking clock is broadcast live all around Spain.

Alternatively, you can celebrate the New Year in numerous hotels, restaurants, and clubs that offer New Year‘s Eve parties.

The Netherlands

By celebrating New Year’s in the Netherlands, you must have certainly come across some snack foods such as ‘oliebollen’ (oil dumplings), which are deep-fried balls of dough in various flavours, covered with icing sugar.

They are usually eaten during the New Year period and in the run-up to the New Year street stalls appear to meet the demand. In Rotterdam, you can watch fireworks near the Erasmus Bridge for example. And if you are immune to the cold North Sea, it has become traditional to take a Nieuwjaarsduik (New Years dive) on January 1st. This involves taking a dip at Scheveningen beach in the Hague.

Certainly there are more traditions from around the world; yet no matter where you were or which New Year’s traditions you followed, we hope you had a great time ringing in 2014!

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19

Rotterdam Skylines

by Ruta Ziabkute

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21

M o C IB

Food Culture

By Julian Sonntag & monika hlubinova

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So far, the world of food has found its place in every issue of the IBCoMagazine. Rightfully so, as cooking is one of the few things we all do every day!

Or do you not?

In our last issue, we tried to bring you closer to the not-so-famous Dutch cuisines, and show you that there is still quite more to it than bitterballen, frikandel and fries. Oh, and let’s not forget about the instructions on how to find fresh and cheap groceries in this city, introducing you to Rotterdam’s street market culture.

Well, we thought now it’s time to go a step further. We would like to find out what you are doing with all those vegetables, meats, fish and whatever ingredients you may need for your perfect meal.

As we all know, our beloved IBCoM community is stacked with students from all around the globe, people from all continents and more than 70 different countries overall, who have all brought with them their own individual tastes and preferences, expertise, and the cooking book their mum passed on their way when they left their homely shelter. Rumours are spreading that many intercultural food parties have been thrown, and the time has come that we would like to take a closer look on that. What is your favourite, absolute, most fantastic, ridiculously delicious meal from home? Monika and Julian got the stone rolling, presenting to you their favourite dishes from their home countries, and hopefully, in the next issue of IBCoMagazine you will share yours!

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Monika Thinking of a favorite food of mine has been quite of a challenge as there are plenty of yummy things to munch on. However, when I think of a fast and delicious food, only one comes to my mind - Lečo. The origin of this dish is hazy, but at home in Slovakia, it is typically made when you are short on time, or how we say “it’s one week before payday” (short on money), as it requires only a handful of ingredients and the whole ensemble takes 10 minutes to cook. So, let’s get this cooking started.

First of all, you finely chop some onion and sizzle it up on an oiled up pan.

After it is nice and see-through, you add chopped tomato and paprika. You cook it until paprika is soft. As for seasoning, you add salt and black pepper to your liking. Finally, you can add eggs to the mixture and stir until the eggs are finely made. Adding eggs is optional; the dish tastes great with or without them. Lečo is usually served with rice or you just eat it with a slice of bread. Simple, isn’t it? Saves you a bunch of time and tickles your taste buds like no other. Hope you will enjoy this meal as much as we do at home. Good luck and bon appetite.

Retrieved from: http://www.varecha.pravda.sk

Julian I proudly present to you my favourite meal from the part of Germany I come from: Kässpätzle. Yes, it looks weird, it may sound weird, but it sure doesn‘t taste weird. It‘s pretty damn fantastic, actually, and yet quite simple to make. Käs(e) is cheese in German, so you don‘t need to be Sherlock to guess there is a great deal of cheese involved; Swiss cheese to be exact. Spätzle are some kind of freshly made pasta-ish dumplings.

Basically, you make a dough out of flour, eggs, salt and sparkling water, and you cut or press little chunks into boiling salty water. They‘ll only take a minute or two to be done, and then you just pile them up: a layer of Spätzle, cover everything with swiss cheese, then another layer of Spätzle, more cheese… you know the drill. Some fried or caramelized onions on top and loads of pepper, let them melt together in the oven for a couple of minutes, and voila! You’ve got your badass version of Mac ‚n‘ cheese. Enjoy!

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Hidden places on campus By anna efimenko

Every day we come to the university, go to lectures and canteens; some of us cannot help stopping by Starbucks.

We spend a considerable amount of time in the library (especially during exam period, which is now finally over). We do these almost out of habit without thinking too much where to go and what to do. As a result, we get used to certain locations and often stop noticing the variety of places the university campus provides us with.

Now, let’s imagine that we are playing hide-and-seek, yet we are not the ones who hide, but rather those who seek. Who is hiding, then? Well, it may sound weird, but we are playing with the university campus - it has hidden a lot of places from our eye, and only the curious can find the road to them! I know we are all ‘adults’, but it is worth going back to our childhood days sometimes and play ‘Dora the Explorer’. Let’s find some of those hidden places!

Are you passionate about music?

Didn’t bring your piano from home?

Don’t worry, you can still become the next Beethoven right on our campus.

There’s a ’hidden’ piano practice room in the A-building- in the Aula auditorium. You can get a piano card for 15 € and continue growing your talent!

Sure, you have all been to lecture halls, canteens, library, yet have you ever visited the Erasmus Gallery? Find this hidden place for art exhibitions right in the corridor between the A- and C-buildings!

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Besides, the ESN office (the student organization you are probably all very familiar with) is also hidden in the N-building. As a practical tip: you can get a free Lebara SIM card from them (N1-13). From the hidden in the N-building ESN office, you can head towards that of AISEC, the youth-run organization that stands for providing a platform for youth leadership development. If you are interested in doing an internship abroad or acquiring skills necessary for your future career, find the hidden AISEC office in NB-09.

Another hidden place on campus is the N-building- it is very small and located right near the Sports Centre. It is rather difficult to notice and you wouldn’t usually need to go inside. Yet there are many hidden places in it which you probably don’t know about.

First of all, there’s the Islamic prayer area on the ground floor. It is designed for the individual use of Muslim students and staff, and has all the required facilities available (e.g. prayer mats, Koran).

There is no doubt that you are familiar with the tallest and oldest building of the Erasmus University. It’s hard not to spot and not to pass by the H-building. Yet, what you probably don’t know is that on the 17th floor, you will find a spectacular panorama view of Rotterdam skyline. What is located in this ‘hidden’ place is the Faculty Club where one can book meeting rooms and the restaurant for business and educational purposes.

Finally, I am pretty sure most of you are rather used to the place the ABN-AMRO Bank is located on Woudestein, yet, as everything is under construction, just as everywhere in Rotterdam, the bank is currently hidden at a different location - it is still behind the joyful and colorful V-buidling, but now closer to the main university entrance (T-building direction).

There’s always something hidden from your reality. Find a minute to explore and don’t let your habits put you in the ‘box’!

P.S. Do you know a ‘hidden’ place on campus? Share it with us- ibcomagazine@eshcc.eur.nl

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A word, please?

Semantics

By Bilal Kabdani

Many of us wonder what is happening to the world these days. Problems everywhere, inflation affecting millions of people, and global warming about to make toast of all of us; but there is a sunny side (global warming, right?) to this story. You, as a communication student, are able to change all of this; all you need to do is master the art of semantics.

How does semantics enable you to write your name in the history books though? I will demonstrate this with an example, for which the fictional characters Alfonso and Stephanie have volunteered. Alfonso and Stephanie were discussing something, when Alfonso makes the comment “It is all because of semantics”. “What antics?” asks Stephanie, to which Alfonso responds that he meant semantics. “That’s right, some antics! What antics? What are you withholding from me?!” A massive fight enfolds, after which they never speak to each other. Two lives ruined because of simple miscommunication; but what if these were two countries? Two continents?

Two planets? Two galaxies? An intergalactic war could be developing as you read this, and you are just sitting there wondering when Girls Aloud will have their next European tour.

Semantics is the study of meaning and relation between words, phrases, and more words. It finds its origin in the Greek word ‘semantikos’ which means important; the ancient Greeks had their priorities straight, as semantics are indeed of massive importance to the human kind. The Greeks had great speakers such as Plato and Socrates, and truly developed semantics (and then there are also people like John Stamos and the dude from ‘The Dictator’). Semantics lies at the basis of everything we do, as we make meaning out of words to understand what is going on. It is pretty incredible when you think about it; someone, somewhere decided that the word ‘wallet’ would describe the object in which one puts his change, cards etc.

Amazing that we all agree to have the same understanding of the word (I am more inclined to use it as a saying, e.g. “Let’s wall it!” which means to run with a relatively high speed against a wall).

Semantics is something that should be respected; a communication student like yourself should study this explicit form of art and know how to use it in combat. Massive opportunities lie ahead to prevent IW I (Intergalactic War I), and your name could go down in the history books as one of the protagonists of that story. Do you want to miss out on that? Would you rather go down in the history books as inhabitant of the Earth prior to its destruction by creatures from outer space?

You can make this world a better place and potentially save it; the decision whether you will lies in your hands.

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IBCoM

External Assessment

By Gaffar Rampage

On the 12th of December, 2013, IBCoM lecturers, staff and students were on high alert as they welcomed a delegation of scholars who were invited to conduct the young Bachelor programme’s first external review. The review panel consisted of three Communication professors from universities across Europe as well as a graduate student from the University of Amsterdam.

As an accredited university programme in the Netherlands, IBCoM is subject to the stringent quality control of the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO). Entering its fifth year of existence, the programme was scheduled for a review. Having conducted a self-evaluation, lecturers, support staff as well as a representative group of students and graduates were invited to interviews with the external review panel. Upon obtaining positive results from the NVAO investigation, the programme could then apply for re-accreditation.

As the panel prepared to present its findings, IBCoM staff and students alike gathered at the Faculty Club on the 17th floor of the H-building. In its preliminary report, the panel, led by Professor Hilde van den Bulck from the University of Antwerp, commended the IBCoM programme for having achieved such high standards in the few years since its establishment. The panel was also impressed with the level of internationalisation in the programme, specifically noting that there appears to be a ‘shared vision’ on what internationalisation actually means.

One notable comment made by the panel concerns the leadership of the programme; namely, the panel noted an imbalance between the senior staff who were mostly Dutch, and the junior staff who were mostly international. On that note, the panel welcomes plans to recruit an additional international senior staff member. Our by-now famous support team received a special mention for their impressive and well-organised work.

The panel also recognises the challenging and ambitious nature of the programme, and although it acknowledged that this was reflected in the high level of ambitions of students, it recommended a critical reflection on the values that are propagated in the programme. The panel concluded by noting that there appears to be a good relationship between students and staff. In their opinion, IBCoM students seem happy, are ambitious, and feel that they have a say in the future of the programme.

The full report of the panel is expected in March 2014.

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thanks for reading the

the Next issue will come out on 05/05/2014 Š2013/2014