Not for the faint-hearted The ‘highs’ of new experiences in a foreign country are almost inevitably alternated by the lows of loneliness. Dutch and international students and employees often live in different worlds. How to burst the bubble? u Marten van de Wier
O
ne after another, the Bulgarian dishes arrive. Victoria Daskalova turns every entrance into a special occasion, asking the guests for their attention. “This is a spring salad with eggplant and tomatoes. It’s a recipe from my grandmother. I personally love the stink. It inspires me.” A group of six Bulgarians is cooking in the common room of student church Maranatha. There’s a lot of phyllo dough, cheese and yoghurt. Every dish tells a story. “This one is from a region where
19 bursting the bubble
the people have a strong attitude. You can taste it in the salad”, says Daskalova. The Tilburg international students network ICONN organises international dinners every few months. The Mexicans cooked already, next ones up are the Brazilians. Forty students are present tonight: from America, Germany, Finland, Estonia, and Hungary. Dutch students are welcome to join in, but apart from the two in the ICONN board, only one has turned up. Earlier this year, ICONN started a mentor project at the School