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FLOWZINE Cultural Spotlight GREECE JARNO OPMEER F1 E-Racing The Power of TikTok

Issue 26 May 2022

Dear Flowzine readers, At the moment, most covid measures have been dropped. Flow has already had many great activities in 2022 and we would like to thank you for staying with Flow even though there were fewer physical activities to do before 2022! With exams coming up, this edition of the Flowzine will help you deal with stress, while also giving you a change to look forward to the summer vacations! In addition, we have all kinds of great articles ready for you again. Have fun reading! Much blue and yellow love, Désirée van den Berg InFlow commissioner ‘21-’22

COLOPHON

Flowzine is the official magazine of Study Association Flow. Issue no. 26 Contact: NL: inflowcommissie@svflow.nl EN: inflowcommittee@svflow.nl

Commissioner: Désirée van den Berg Design: Désirée van den Berg, Maria Mouratidi, Femke Monshouwer, Isabel Prinsen & Sherwin Lee Committee: Désirée van den Berg, Lynn Willems, Sophie Vullings, Femke Monshouwer, Maria Mouratidi, Sherwin Lee & Isabel Prinsen Special thanks to: Jarno Opmeer, William van Wijk & Rein Vervoort

CONTENTS

13 15 17 19 22

Column Cultural Spotlight: Greece By Maria Mouratidi

Why are Videogames so Popular? By Sherwin Lee

Reader Stories

Jarno Opmeer about F1 E-racing By Désirée van den Berg & Isabel Prinsen

All about Stress By Sophie Vullings

The Five - Traveling of the Beaten Path With William van Wijk By Désirée van den Berg The Power of TikTok By Lynn Willems

Lettuce Research - Top 7 types of Lettuce By Rein Vervoort (who knows nothing about lettuce) Student Loans - What’s Happening? By Femke Monshouwer

Recipe - Overnight Student Oats By Isabel Prinsen

Cultural Spotlight: Greece Ancient Greece Greece (also known as Hellas) is a country in southeastern Europe of just 11 million people but with a long history and culture tracing back to the ancient years (8th century BC). Ancient Greeks, known for their big influence on the entire world, made advances in architecture (neo-classical style), sculpture, philosophy (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle), mathematics (Thales, Pythagoras) political system (direct democracy), theatre (drama) and sports (Olympic games).

The Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire (330 – 1453 AC) in the Mediterranean lands had a great impact on Greece. It shifted the popular belief from the polytheistic religion (Olympic gods) and cult practices to Eastern Orthodox Christianity. This shift had a major influence on Greek culture, art, and cuisine. Nowadays, walking around historical places in Greece, someone can notice buildings with styles from different ages that survived through the years.

Ottoman Occupation – Greek War of Independence From the mid-15th century up until 1821, Greece was under Ottoman rule. Locals lost administrative power in their country until the rise of Greek nationalism which helped Greeks organize a rebellion against the empire (Greek War of Independence). Modern Greece After the successful war, Greece started re-establishing its leadership and eventually led itself to a democratic state. Language Greek language, documented as the world’s oldest living language, is one of the richest languages because of the multiple meanings each word can ascribe to. It was a basis for Latin and thus many Latin-based languages today. It is now widely used in international scientific vocabulary. Greeks are very proud of their language, and all their traditions are very tightly tied to it. Music The music of Greece is quite diverse and celebrated by its people. It can be separated into two types: Folk and Byzantine music. The former is said to have risen during the Greek revolution. It is based on folk poetry accompanied by clarinets, tambourines, laouto violins, and other instruments. Most Greek regions have their distinct sound and songs (especially islands like Ikaria or Crete). Accom-

panying music, choreographies are danced by multiple people together. Byzantine music is mostly church music; composed of hymns.

Climate

Greek climate is very characteristically Mediterranean. It is very well-known for warm temperatures and mild winters making it perfect for spring and summer vacations. Sun is very prominent in these seasons and everyone’s mood can’t help but be uplifted. Attractions Because Greece is filled with mountains as well as peninsulas and islands, there are plenty of activities to choose from if you visit. Apart from the rich historical and cultural attractions (Acropolis, Mycenae), there are many places with breathtaking views (Meteora rock formation, Zagorochoria mountain villages, Parnassus Mountain, Prespes Lakes). Islands are very popular during the summer because of their celebrative atmosphere and beautiful scenery; Clearwater beaches, coastal caves, ancient villages, monasteries, and quaint small towns. There are two bodies of water surrounding Greece, the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. Some highlight islands in the former one are Crete, Rhodes, and Milos (volcanic island) while Corfu is an Ionian Island hard to miss. People Everyone visiting Greece admits how bright, friendly and talkative people are. Greek people are open and have a quality best described by the word ‘filotimo’ (love of honor). They

have a slower pace of life, especially people from more rural areas. Often, you can notice some lenient and chaotic spirit in their daily lives. Greek people are quite religious, and the church has great influence on their society. Greeks love grand celebrations and they have a strong sense of union that traces back to their history. They take pride in what they do and are stubborn and smart in a cunning way. Finally, Greek people are obsessed with their food as it has always been the main way to meet and bond with each other.

Food Greek cuisine has plenty of traditional local ingredients like oil, cheese, and wine. Most popular dishes include vegetables cooked with oil, grilled meat (famous souvlaki), tomato salad (with feta and olives), and fish. There are also many influences from Turkish cuisine, only less spicy, with a more Mediterranean vibe. Grandmas have a long history of being the “good cooks” of the family. They follow recipes passed down from their ancestors. They usually make delicious snacks like pies (cheese pie, spinach pie) or hand-made desserts (spoon sweets).

~ By Maria Mouratidi

Why are Videogames so Popular? The astronomical rise of the video game industry has been a sight to behold. If you were to ask one of the few teens who tried Tennis for Two in 1958, it’s hard to believe the progress that the industry has made since then. From a couple of glowing pixels on a CRT screen, the industry has blossomed into a multi-billion dollar business. How did the developers, the community, and businessmen helped groom the industry into the goliath that it is today? It’s important to briefly understand the history of the video game industry. The first ever video game, Tennis for Two, was purely a university project to demonstrate the potential of then-new technology. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s where the idea of video games was brought up once more alongside the increasing popularity of compact computer systems. Atari, an engineering company, developed Pong, the first ever video game to become a global success. Video games then would enter the trend of being implemented into video game machines, known as consoles, an idea that is still used today. As time passed, familiar names such as Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony and Sega soon joined the fray - games started to include more advanced graphics and mechanics, while consoles and computers started to come in all shapes and forms.

Even though the video game industry has seen an impressive rise of popularity, it wasn’t until the introduction of the internet where the potential of gaming really started to show. Before the internet, video games were single player with little to no thought towards multiplayer. The internet allowed fellow players to play with each other with ease, while game and hardware manufacturers saw the opportunity to introduce social and competitive aspects into the industry. Applications such as YouTube and Twitch let gamers upload and display their skills, while enabling others to take an interest with the game itself. Currently, video games developers are experimenting with the realm of virtual reality, giving players the opportunity to further immerse themselves in the game itself. Optionally, video games have also been used as a realm of scientific experimentation, where researchers study brain activity.

Some players would spend time being amazed by the sheer detail that game developers have put into their brainchild... By briefly reading through the history of video gaming, you could probably see a few reasons on why gaming has gotten so mainstream. However, there are quite a few contributing factors to their popularity, with the first being the technological advancements that attract admirers of technology. Video

gaming has very often been on the forefront of technological advancements, with graphical improvements of video games being shown on the latest hardware. It’s quite pleasurable to see the graphical improvements over time, and how that contributes to the immersiveness of the virtual world. Some players would spend time being amazed by the sheer detail that game developers have put into their brainchild, and wonder how that was possible.

Another popular reason for video games is, surprisingly, the social aspect of games. Video games have quickly become a popular hobby all around the world, but each game has their own community where a player can interact with other fellow players. Perhaps it could be a discussion of the best strategy to defeat a dungeon, or even interpretations of the game’s story - you won’t go a day without a fellow player bringing up a new topic of discussion! Beyond just discussions, modern-day video games will usually have a multiplayer aspect where players can play with other players all around the world. But in addition to that, it is also possible to form a team with your friends and play an online match together, making the experience so much more fun. The

opposite is also possible, where you might meet new friends on the game as well.

There’s no limit to what a story might be, and video games give players an eye-opening opportunity to experience their favorite stories visually. The diversity of video games is a common reason as to why it has become so widespread. Beyond multiplayer games, there’s also plenty of video game genres that will certainly cater to your preferences. Perhaps you want to be on your toes during your games, of which horror game series such as Resident Evil or Outlast will be perfect for you. Or maybe you just want to rack your brain over every potential outcome, in that case games such as Hearthstone or Magic: The Gathering will suit your taste. But one main reason why players flock to video games is actually oftentimes one of the foundations of a video game: the storytelling. Scenario writers get to showcase their best work in an attempt to get players emotionally invested in the story - there’s a whole dictionary worth of approaches to a video game’s story. Over the years, game developers even started taking inspiration from moviemaking, such as Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding. There’s no limit to what a story might be, and video games give players an eye-opening opportunity to experience their favorite stories visually. Read more on the next page > > >

Psychologically, video games help us fulfill several real world human needs. When times get tough, sometimes all you need is that one thing to take your mind off your day-to-day struggles. Psychologically, video games help us fulfill several real world human needs. Immersyve, a research company, discovered that humans always have a list of needs that operates all the time, of which video games perfectly addresses several of them. A couple of those needs are competence, autonomy and relatedness - these all revolve around the need to feel independent, to seek control and to feel significant. Video games manage to help us obtain such needs while making us feel better about ourselves. The best example of this is at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where video game popularity and sales surged massively since they helped us to efficiently cope with those needs while at home. Games like Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley became perfect time passers and kept players’ attention throughout their hours of gameplay.

de of video games. A surprising benefit of video gaming is the supplementary improvement of fine skills such as visual perception and motor skills. Hand-eye coordination is especially notable, as games from the shooter genre relies heavily on good performances in sensorimotor tasks. Reasons such as the above all have led to video gaming being used more and more in child development, and educational games designed specifically for these purposes have slowly seen more play. Video games have come a long way, and the potential still remains untapped. Ignoring the cons of video games, video games are important in human society, and the popularity of video games serves as evidence for it. New professions have been created due to the video game industry, and have given people many memorable memories. Even after 70 years, video games will still continue to amaze others.

A surprising benefit of video gaming is the supplementary improvement of fine skills such as visual perception and motor skills. Perhaps the most unorthodox reason for the popularity of video games is actually for educational purposes. Games genres such as historical games help increase interest in historical events, such as World War I and the American Civil War, could lead to players wanting to learn more about such events outsi-

READER STORIES What is your Study Trip dream destination?

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F1 Esports vs. F1 Racing With Jarno Opmeer What motivated you to move from physical racing to e-racing? Due to a lack of sponsor money, I eventually stopped racing. Because I’d been following sim racing for a while, I started with that.

“... so I started building a simulation at home and racing competitively.” In recent years, we have seen that online education and work have been possible among others. We’ve also seen that there are many differences in online and offline communication. Since Esport is becoming more and more popular, the InFlow members wondered what differences there are between Esport and physical sport, specifically in racing. To find out more about the F1 Esport world and the differences with physical racing, we asked some questions to Jarno Opmeer: a former Dutch racing driver who made the switch to professional sim racing in 2019.

How did you start sim racing? Through preparations for real racing. It involved a lot of sim work, so I started building a simulation at home and racing competitively.

How was your first experience e-racing? In the beginning it was very disappointing. I was so much slower than the pros. Even in my first F1 Esports season I was often way too slow compared to the top 3.

What is your role within your team? I am a sim racer for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Esports Team. That means that I participate on their behalf in several sim racing competitions, such as F1 Esports, 24h of Le Mans Virtual and Formula E: Accelerate.

F1 Esports vs. F1 Racing What are the biggest differences for you between the physical race track and sim racing?

The biggest differences for me are the G-forces, less travel and less time waiting between test days.

How does your e-team differ from a physical team? We do pretty much the same thing, but on a smaller scale and without technicians. In case we do need it, we are fortunately at the same location as the real F1 team!

How does training differ between the two sports? Are there things that have stayed the same? For Esports we can train a lot more since you don’t have to travel and there is no limit on testing.

“You can really see who is the better driver through training and not through who has the better team.”

Communication comparing Esport and physical racers Do you have a lot of physical contact (besides the races) or does it mainly stay online? I personally hardly have any contact with other riders except my teammates.

Do close ties develop between F1 Esports racers, such as between the participants of physical F1 (for example Ricciardo and Verstappen)? Some riders are good friends but it is always difficult as riders hardly see each other.

What do you think could be improved in communication in F1 Esports? Especially the communication between the organization and drivers is often very bad.

Are there things you like more online compared to physical racing, and vice versa? I especially like the unlimited testing in sim racing. In this way, sim racing has a lot more in common with a normal sport than physical racing. You can really see who is the better driver through training and not through who has the better team.

Follow Jarno Opmeer via Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jarnoopmeer Or Instagram: @jarnoopmeer

All About Stress

Stress, we’ve all experienced it before

and we’ll probably experience it again in the future. Stress is an unpleasant feeling that we rather steer clear of. But there’s no denying that life is stressful at times, and we can’t always avoid it. However, it’s good to know what causes stress, what it can lead to, and what some ways are of dealing with stress and that is exactly what we’ll talk about in this article.

What is stress? Stress is oftentimes described as the feeling of being overwhelmed or unable to cope with mental or emotional pressure. Many different things can lead to stress. For example when we experience something new or when we feel that we have little control over a certain situation. Even positive life changes can be a source of stress, such as moving to a new house, gaining a job promotion, or going on a holiday. And of course, being a student and having to deal with deadlines and exams goes hand in hand with stress. When we experience a stressful situation, our body produces stress hormones that trigger a fight or flight response and activate our immune system. It helps us to quickly respond to dangerous situations. Luckily, our stress hormones usually go back to normal once the stressful event is over. But sometimes, too much stress can cause negative

effects. It can leave us in a permanent state of fight or flight which makes us feel overwhelmed or unable to cope. It can even affect our physical and mental health in the long run.

What are some side-effects of stress? Stress shows itself in many different ways and we all experience it differently. When having stress, you might feel anxious, afraid, angry, sad, irritable, frustrated or even depressed. The feeling of stress is not just inside our heads. We can feel it in our entire body. For example, you may experience headaches, nausea, hyperventilation, sweating, or heart palpitations. You can even start to behave differently when you’re stressed. You may be indecisive, avoid other people or snap at them, be emotional, or have problems falling or staying asleep. When the stressful event is over, these side effects often go away. However, if they stay for a longer period, it may be wise to reach out to someone.

What are ways to deal with stress? We all deal with stress differently and several people have by now probably figured out a way to make it more manageable. If not, below are some things that can help you feel less tense and overwhelmed.

Recognise the thing that is making you feel stressed It’s important to acknowledge the emotional and physical warning signs of stress and what’s causing you to feel that way. When you recognize the thing that’s making you feel stressed, it’s easier to come up with a solution and find a way to make that feeling go away.

Get some exercise Physical exercise is a good way of managing the effects of stress. It produces endorphins that boost your mood. It can be difficult to motivate yourself though, but remember that even a little bit of activity can make a real difference. For example, go for a short walk outside for 15 to 20 minutes to clear your head.

...take a break now and then. Take a break Even though you might feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to do all the things that are on your to-do list, it can be good to take a break now and

then. This makes a big difference later in your tasks, which makes your productivity more effective. Take some time to relax and do things that give you a positive feeling and give you energy.

Stop for a second and take a few deep breaths. Remember to breathe Stop for a second and take a few deep breaths. It can help take some of the pressure off. Online you can find a large number of breathing exercises that can help reduce stress and make you feel calmer.

Reach out for help It is always a good idea to talk about your problems to someone. This can be a good friend of yours, a close relative, or anyone that you feel comfortable talking to. If you continue to feel overwhelmed by stress, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Tilburg University itself offers help for students who need it. There are several student psychologists that you can reach out to. Take a look at the website of Tilburg University for more information on that. Hopefully, this article and these tips can be of help whenever you feel a bit overwhelmed. And remember to be kind to yourself. There’s no need to beat yourself up when for example you haven’t finished that assignment yet or didn’t start studying for your upcoming exams yet. As hard as it may be, try not to stress too much and you’ll see that in the end, everything will be alright.

The Five: Traveling off the Beaten Path ~ William van Wijk

You shouldn’t think too much when you decide on traveling. Just do it and you’ll figure out what you find interesting and what you would like to do. Budapest triggered my passion for transport, which made me want to go to Italy for example. It’s nice to discover the world in your own way to look at what the cities are really like, not the tourist attractions. So that also leads to places you wouldn’t think of in the first place. That’s how I ended up in the following five places:

1. Budapest

Budapest is William’s favorite city in Europe. He was most impressed by the swimming facility, public transport, and hotspots around the Danube (Donau): “Budapest is also called the swimming capital of Europe, thanks to the many beautiful bathhouses and thermal baths. The public transport along the Danube takes you past many of the city’s hotspots, such as the parliament building, Matthias Church, and past beautiful bridges. Their tramway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it is still used practically, which is what I like about it. The metro network in Budapest is the second oldest in Europe. Metro line 1 is the oldest and is dug out by hand. Super small trolleys and corridors, beautiful woodwork, and small tiles in the stations… I love that! Plus, Hungary is a relatively cheap country, where you can eat super luxurious and maybe only spend €15, -.”

2. Moldova

William describes Moldova as the most special one on his list. He explains why: “Moldova is the least touristy country in Europe and the poorest. You pay 2 Lei (10 cents) for a bus ticket that lasts you an hour, which is very cheap. It was also striking that although you would expect the capital Chisinau to be a grey Eastern Bloc city, it is one of the greenest cities with beautiful parks. Also, the country is less behind than I expected: restaurants are open 24/7, and Western billboards and Western restaurants are everywhere.” According to William, there are many abandoned buildings in Moldova, because they don’t demolish anything due to prohibitive costs. Much of this reminds one of the Soviet eras that seemed more successful to them than this era. In addition, William told another special thing: “Transnistria is an area in Moldova with its own money, border crossing, and visa, but with a European passport, you get in. There are statues of Stalin and working and non-working tanks. In front of the parliament building in Tiraspol (capital of Transnistria) stands the head of Lenin. However, it is recommended that you visit this country with a guide. But in short, it is a very special piece of Europe!”

3. Naples

If you visit Naples, William recommends visiting the volcano Vesuvius, the only one in Europe that is still active and last erupted in 1944. The entrance fee to the volcano and the bus is €25, -. In addition, William explains that this Typical Italian city is notorious for scamming tourists, but it appears less during the less touristy periods. Moreover, the markets there were very cute and fun according to him: “You can really buy anything over there!” Still, according to him, there is absolutely no Rome or Venetian charm, and not directly aimed at tourists, which attracted William to be able to act more like a local. “You can eat great food for a good price, though, and on the coastline, there are many vantage points from which you can view the city and the volcano. The city is built on and between hills, very cool!” Pompeii is located next to Naples, well known in the history books. Because of the lava rock that once covered the city, Pompeii is well preserved, and you can visit what the city looked like 2000 years ago. So, for example, you can find squares, theatres, and houses. William: “It’s very impressive, a kind of open-air museum.”

4. Mallorca (wintertime)

“Are you looking for a place where you want to grab some sunshine and rest in the winter, this island is ideal (so not in summertime). You can go around the mountainous island at 100 km/h if you have a car license on the motor scooter. The harbors are very beautiful, and the palm trees and Mediterranean climate give you the feeling that it’s summer, while it’s January for example. The capital Palma has some more static buildings, structures, and straight roads. The villages have cute little houses, cramped streets, and crooked curves.”

5. Rijeka, Croatia

The coast of Croatia is very beautiful but also touristy in the summer. The port city Rijeka, on the other hand, is less touristy, making it another destination off the beaten path. Still, William was impressed: “The biggest containerships arrive at the harbor here. Very impressive! There is also a famous castle in Rijeka where parties are often organized. It is built in the hills, which makes the surroundings extra beautiful. They have a pier that runs very far into the sea, which makes it seem like you are walking towards the ‘end of the world’ (especially in the evening).”

The Power of TikTok You can’t really understand today’s

society when you’re not on TikTok. The memes, songs, dances, references, and so on. But how did this app become so immensely popular in such a short amount of time? And what makes it so addictive to use? After the article ‘The incredible rise of TikTok’ in the 21st issue of the Flowzine in November 2020, we decided to have a look at the app again.

TikTok / Douyin was initially launched into China’s App market in September 2016, reaching 100 million users in a year. TikTok, the international version, was released in September 2017, following the acquisition of a video-sharing startup, Musical.ly. Douyin kept its launch name in China, and now the twin apps are available in 141 countries, working in 39 languages via the App Store and Google Play. Since its launch in 2016, TikTok has been downloaded 3 billion times, gaining 383 million installs in the first half of 2021, which is when the pandemic started.

Out of the 4.48 billion active social media users, 22.32% use TikTok regularly.

According to parent company Bytedance, TikTok currently has 1 billion active users per month. These numbers make the app one of the fastest-growing apps ever in terms of the percentage of the market it has captured since 2016. Out of the 4.8 billion internet users worldwide, 20.83% of them use TikTok. Out of the 4.48 billion active social media users, 22.32% use TikTok regularly. The average time spent on TikTok per day is 52 minutes worldwide, with 90% of users accessing it daily. Its average session time of 10.85 minutes makes it the most engaging social media app available today. These numbers show how immensely popular TikTok currently is. TikTok generates a feed for its audience according to what content they view. The app uses artificial intelligence algorithms, which are guided by previously liked content. These algorithms can predict the preferences that you would give to a piece of content based on the activity of similar users to you. Another aspect of TikTok that makes it tempting to use is the creative content that is found on the app.

...content has to be short and captivating in order to be addictive. DataSeries claim that content has to be short and captivating in order to be addictive. What makes TikTok addicting to users is the high traffic of different content streamed, its feature of having

people connected, and their ability to make short clips that will easily catch an audience’s attention, according to DataSeries. TikTok may be addictive if the content provides enough stimulus for the users to exhibit addiction symptoms and a neurological reaction that is consistent with addiction. TikTok as a platform fulfills some of those requirements for addiction. The short videos provide us with relevant information that stimulates a dopamine response. This process is constantly held up by consistently supplying us with more appropriately recommended videos. TikTok also allows its users to engage intimately and anonymously with many content creators without being judged or feeling obligated to participate while permitting users to judge. This sense of distant engagement may stimulate the chance to develop an addiction.

...how the platform’s design layout makes for an optimal user experience. Another reason that TikTok might be addictive, that many people overlook, is how the platform’s design layout makes for an optimal user experience. TikTok’s nature is short, eye-grabbing content, which makes the user’s attention fragile. Too many ads or bad recommendations and the user’s attention can quickly end. Another way the user’s attention can quickly end is inconvenient icon placement (the like, comment, share, and profile buttons) and wasted screen space, which makes up the app’s design layout.

TikTok’s design layout doesn’t waste any screen space... On TikTok, these four icons are stacked on top of each other, all located on the right side of the screen. Additionally, they are all placed between the center and the bottom of the screen, making it the most accessible for users to click these icons. TikTok’s icon placement makes the user experiences more accessible, enjoyable, and addicting. Another unique aspect of TikTok’s layout is that users can scroll through comments while the video remains playing. This makes that users do not have to decide between looking at the video or looking at the comments. Lastly, wasting screen space can add to the users’ attention decrease. Any little distraction or element that takes away from the content has the potential to drive the user away. TikTok’s design layout doesn’t waste any screen space, keeping users’ attention on the videos.

All-in-all, many aspects make TikTok so popular and addictive. The personal feed, creative and different content, short videos, design layout, and many more. As much as we all love TikTok, we have to be careful not to get addicted to it. As long as we do this, I think it’s an amazing app to use with some amazing features!

Lettuce Research - Top 7 Types of Lettuce ~ By A Guy Who Knows Nothing About Lettuce

We are all students of Tilburg University, students of a renowned research institute. As I am nearing the end of my bachelor’s career, I am about to write my thesis. Before you, you have my practice thesis, my first on-hand research document. I hope you enjoy and learn something from the knowledge you are about to bestow your eyes on.

7. The Devils Lettuce

To start this article strong and show that I am a strict and fair critic, I’ll instantly advise you not to buy this type of lettuce! My quest to research all different types of lettuce was not easy. Especially with the Devil’s Lettuce. The sellers were really unprofessional. I had to text and wait for over an hour. When they finally arrived, surrounded by mystery, I had to get in their car and they drove off. After a few blocks, I finally bought some of this lettuce. In my research, not a single type of lettuce was as expensive as the Devil’s Lettuce. And the bad review only just started. The lettuce came in weird little bags, the portion size not even enough for a single serving. Once you have opened the package you are greeted by a strong and unpleasant smell and to top it all off it tasted horribly on my ham sandwich. However, I did finish the sandwich to prevent food waste, you know me, Mr. Responsible. It made me feel all weird and funny. I would not buy the Devil’s lettuce again, I now understand where the name comes from.

6. Coral Lettuce

Coral lettuce, just like regular coral comes in all different kinds of colors. Or actually, just two. But that is twice as much as most other lettuces, and therefore it is a winner in its own category. The taste is fine but I feel like it promotes false advertising, tastes nothing like the sea. Maybe this is where they found Nemo, and named Coral lettuce after it.

5. Watercress

Watercress is a cute type of lettuce. I accidentally discovered it while shopping in Albert Heijn. This teaches us a lesson that we always have to be sharp when it comes to research. You never know how or when you will run into new species. I felt like Indiana Jones, made me feel good. However, due the excitement I forgot to buy the lettuce, so I am unable to tell you about the taste. But the packaging was nice. Such pretty lettuce which also gives you strong Indiana Jones vibes, surely can’t be bad!

4. Butterhead Lettuce

It is already in the name, Butterhead lettuce, a little bit sweet, soft, and with a slight buttery flavor. It is a great type of lettuce to use for salads, and because of the big leaves, they make a great substitute for hamburger buns, or to use during Korean BBQ! Also, did you know that butterhead lettuce contains more iron than other types of lettuce? This makes it even a better choice for vegetarians. It also provides lots of Vitamin A and Vitamin K as well as some minerals and potassium. To summarize, a great choice!

3. Argula

Spicy lettuce...

2. Iceberg Lettuce

A classic for a reason, fresh, crispy and fits almost every meal. The taste is really good but subtle. That’s understandable because Iceberg lettuce is made of 95% of water. If you take into account that average humans are 70% water, it means that every human is 66,5% made of Iceberg lettuce! No wonder we like it that much when we are basically walking Iceberg lettuce ourselves! It does put the €1,- bags of Iceberg lettuce in a new perspective when you realize it could contain 66,5% human…

1. Egg Salad

Egg Salad is by far the best one I have researched in this project. A real celebration of lettuce. Egg salad doesn’t really look like an egg, nor lettuce, but it has salad in its name so I trust it to be alright. I am happy I decided to go with my instinct because damn, it was tasty. In comparison to all the other types of lettuce, it has a little bit of a weird texture, but the taste is really nice. In my experience, it tastes really good on its own, on a sandwich or on something like toast. I could really see this type of lettuce make its way onto a charcuterie board! I would definitely recommend this type of salad. I wonder how it grows in the wild though…

Student Loans: What’s happening? The basic grant for students in higher education was canceled in 2015. Since then, a loan system has been implemented. The controversial current student loan system is once again under discussion. More and more political parties, such as PvdA, are advocating the reintroduction of the basic student grant. In this article, we will give you a short overview of what has changed during the years. And maybe even more important: what is going to change in the future and what does that mean for us students?

had to obtain sufficient credit each year. If they didn’t obtain those credits, the student had to repay the grant. The system of the ‘performance grant’ came three years later: if the student obtained a diploma within ten years, the grant became a gift. If the diploma wasn’t obtained, de grant became a repayable loan.

Government contribution: basic grant Until 2015, University (of applied science) students who lived in dorms received a monthly amount of approximately 280 euros. This contribution from the government was to pay for tuition, books, a dorm room, living expenses, and of course tuition fees. Students who were still living with their parents received a contribution of about 100 euros.

Brief history The grant for financial study support was introduced in 1986. Before this period, parents of studying children received higher child support. So at this time, children were dependent on their parents. The student grant provided an independent way of financial support for students. In 1993 the reins were tightened with a system called ‘tempo grand’. This made the grant a conditional gift and the student in question

...some young people no longer dared to make the jump to higher education due to considerable student debts. Radical change But this changed radically four years ago. Since the academic year of 2015/2016, the basic grant has been abolished for new students. Why did the government do that? Their idea was that highly educated people will get many opportunities in the labor market and can easily repay such a

loan. That turned out the be too simple. After all, not everyone becomes a lawyer or some other highly paid profession. Teachers and young nurses, for example, who do not earn very much, also have student debts. Furthermore, kids in college are quite expensive for middle-income parents. And what critics already predicted came true: some young people no longer dared to make the jump to higher education due to considerable student debts. But, not yet being aware of this at the moment, multiple political parties, among which VVD, GroenLinks, D66, and PvdA, had voted in favor. A social loan system was introduced in its place. With this system, the grant is always a loan, which must be repaid on terms and with interest. Only students whose parents earn less than 30,000 euros do receive an additional grant which does not have to be repaid. How much money these students would get depended on the precise income of their parents. The maximum amount was 413,17 euros but this could also be considerably lower.

“We see that students are under increasing pressure to perform.” “Study debt counts heavily” Two years ago, the political party PvdA also announced they wanted to abolish the loan system, even though this party introduced the system at the time. “We see that students are under increasing pressure to perform. Especially for children whose parents don’t have a lot of money, the students’ debt counts heavily”, said then-chairman Lodewijk Asscher. Together with parties GroenLinks and CristenUnie, the PvdA joined Coalition-Y, a youth manifesto for more permanent jobs, affordable housing, and, the reintroduction of the basic grant.

Big commotion This decision led to a lot of protests. The then minister Jet Bussemaker promised that there was going to be more money available for better education. Later on, there was a lot of commotion about whether that money actually ended up in the right place. The considerable rising debts would not make the housing and financial situation of students any easier now and in the future. Those critical voices have only increased over the years. In May this year, the political party GroenLinks also announced they wanted to abolish the loan system.

Changes are in progress Now, two years after the original pro-voting party also voted against it, the loan system will be abolished definitive and the basic grant will return in 2023. This is stated in the coalition agreement that parties VVD, D66, CDA, and CristenUnie presented December last year. ‘Looking after each other, looking forward to the future’, is the title of this coalition agreement.

To compensate students who have been studying between 2015 and 2022, 1 billion euros has been set aside. Compensation students 2015 – 2022 To compensate students who have been studying between 2015 and 2022, 1 billion euros has been set aside. The compensation is probably going to be around 1000 euros per student, but the exact amount for the so-called ‘unlucky generation’ will depend on the number of months they studied without the right to the basic grant. “When students are in debt, this debt will be reduced”, writes Robbert Dijkgraaf, minister of Education. There is, however a ‘performance grant criteria’: this means that students must graduate within a certain number of years. “That is an important requirement” thus Dijkgraaf. It may take until 2025 before students will actually receive this compensation for their debts.

Amount of money

be around 2350 euros in the college year 2022/2023. This would mean the tuition fees are one and a half times higher than in 2008, while the basic grant is the same. The government has always indicated that the scholarship is not fully covering. They assume that parents also contribute to their child’s studies and students themselves are also expected to provide their income through, for example, a job.

Recap So, to summarize this rollercoaster of events: since the year 1986 students got money from the government for study tuition and study expenses through a system named basic grant. In 2015 this basic grant got canceled. Next came a loan system, which wasn’t received very well. Now, the basic grant will be reintroduced by the academic year of 2023/2024. And yes, maybe the grant isn’t that high concerning the tuition fees these days, but it sure is a good step forward and a good development. This is a development that will lead to more people getting the opportunity to study without getting a student debt.

Officially it is still unknown how much money exactly the student grant will consist of. A calculation by the Central Planning Bureau (CPB) gives an estimate: students living at home can count on around 108 euros per month and students living in dorms could receive around 300 euros per month. These are approximately the same amounts as around the year 2008. At that time, however, the tuition fees were considerably lower. In 2008/2009 the tuition fees were 1565 euros per year, whilst it could

Overnight Student Oats

Making a good breakfast can be a struggle, especially as a student. Bread goes moldy before you can eat all of it and cereal every day becomes boring. On top of that, you just do not have the energy to whip up something actually tasty and filling, like an omelet. If you can relate to any of this, we might have something for you! Overnight oats is one of the easiest and diverse breakfast recipes I have ever made. Perfect for when you get back from a long night of going out and have just enough energy to drag yourself to the kitchen, or when you have an early lecture and just need something quick and easy on the go. You can make it exactly as complicated or easy as you want, and it will always taste good!

Base

- Container with a lid - Rolled oats - Milk, any kind works - Sweetener, like Honey/Sugar/Syrup The basic version of overnight oats couldn’t be any more simple. 1. Start by putting the oats in the container. If you want to measure it out, 35 grams should be enough. Though just scooping up a handful will give you about the same amount without having to pull out the scale. 2. Cover the oats completely with your preferred kind of milk. If you want an exact amount, you need about 150ml. 3. Leave the container with the lid on in the fridge. It needs a minimum of two hours, but you can easily leave them in the fridge for a maximum of five days. When you get hungry, just take them out and add sweetener to taste. Enjoy! Tip: If you prefer your oats a little thicker, add either a scoop of Greek yogurt or some chia seeds with the milk and oats. Of course, the great thing about overnight oats is that you can customize them to your heart’s content. You can basically add everything but the kitchen sink, though here are a few suggestions that might leave you inspired. Variation 1: Blueberry Muffin - Handful of blueberries (frozen of fresh) - Couple of drops of vanilla extract - ½ teaspoon of cinnamon

Variation 2: Peanut Butter & Chocolate - 2 tablespoons of chocolate spread (more is allowed)/1 tablespoon of cocoa powder - 1 spoon of peanut butter - Some toasted peanuts/chocolate chips (add in the morning)