Konrad Maruszczak Leyre Urquidi Malva Rodríguez Mara Rodrigues Nicolás Medina

2012/2013 Minor of Journalism

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IndexMusic

Events

Tips Travellings Interviews

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3. 4. 5.

Index1.EVENTS

- Sinterklaas is back!........................................................................................3

- Let’s go to the cinema!...................................................................................4

- Yin Xiuzhen, second hand art at the Groningen Museum..................................5

2.MUSIC

- Piano concert: Ivo and Steinway & Sons–A perfect combination..............................7

- Songbird Festival...........................................................................................8

- Batucada course............................................................................................9

3.TIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

- Are you stressed?.........................................................................................11

- Catching a cold............................................................................................12

- The Netherlands: Universe of bicycles............................................................13

4.TRAVELLING IN THE NETHERLANDS

- Den Haag....................................................................................................14

- Amsterdam...................................................................................................15

- Beyond Groningen.......................................................................................17

5.INTERVIEWS

- Perkilis.........................................................................................................18

- Bernard Rylance...........................................................................................19

- Clare Devine................................................................................................20

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SINTERKLAAS IS BACK!One of the most significant figures of Dutch Christmas arrived last week to The Netherlands

Last Sunday Amsterdam was full of people. Everybody wanted to see how Sinterklaas arrived to the city and they didn’t care if they had to wait a little bit for it. All the main streets were replete of people waiting for the arrival of the man who brings every year presents for all the Dutch children. Their expectation made that also those tourists who had never heard about

Sinterklaas before stay to see the parade as well.

The first ones to arrive were Sinterklaas helpers, Zwarte Pieten. Some of them were walking, others running, other skating and also a few of them were in floats. They gave perpenoten to everybody and they also took pictures with the people and gave handshakes to the parade-goers. With their joy and their lively customes, Sinterklaas’s helpers rejoiced everybody and made the desire of the coming Christmas even bigger.

Finally, Sinterklaas arrived riding his white horse, Sleipnir. He waved to the attendees and smiled all the time. Everybody, children and adult people were happy to see him and they waved him back. Now, Dutch kids have to behave properly if they want to the some gifts the

5th of December. Sinterklaas will now if they don’t, and nobody likes not to receive any gift that day…

TEXT AND PHOTO BY:LEYRE URQUIDI

Saint Nicholas is back in Amsterdam

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When you are studying outside, normally, you look care of your economy. The first time that a person purposed me to go to the cinema, I thought that it was so expensive (in relation of my country, it was almost the double price), but then I met Pathé Unlimited.

What is it about? Pathé Unlimited is a card that allows watching films in all Pathé cinemas in the Netherlands, is unlimited, on all days of the week. So you can go as often as you like!

More information:http://www.pathe.nl/

You can get two different types of cards. The first is Pathé Unlimited, you can access to all regular screenings for only € 19, per month, and with a 10% discount on food and drinks. The second is Pathé Unlimited Gold, you can access to all movies, including 3D, IMAX and IMAX 3D representations, for only € 26, per month (then there is not a surcharge for 3D, IMAX and IMAX 3D). Even, you get a 25% discount on food and drinks.

But you have to know that the subscription has a minimum duration of 4 months, and you need a Dutch bank account (but if you don't have it, you can ask one to a friend).

I don't have this type of card in my city, but I think that it is a great idea, and I must share with another exchange students that unaware its existence. I have watched three films this week, and the best thing is the films are in original version. You can improve your English at the same time that you are having a fun time with your friends!

TEXT BY:MALVA RODRÍGUEZ

LET’S GO TO THE CINEMA!

PATHÉCINEMAGRONINGEN

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Yin Xiuzhen, second hand art at the Groninger Museum

She is considered one of the most prominent artists of her generation, as a performer artist (installation and interactive performance). This Chinese artist graduated in the late 80s in the Beijing Capital Normal University, working as a mirror of her environment since then. And now we have the chance to enjoy her artworks here in Groningen (June to November) as one of the temporary exhibitions showed in the Groninger Museum.

Her work mainly consists in the creation of art with second hand clothes as starting point. She got to create weapons (The Weapons), human organs (Thought, Engine) and all different kind of art. Bydoing that she makes kind of a reinvention of usual ideas, objects and so on, by using one of the most common materials: clothes. Used by we could say almost everybody, and turned into quite special pieces of art.

During the different rooms that formed the exhibition at the Museum we can go through some of her key works, as well as some created for the occasion. This is the case of the portable city section, where she built city (using clothes, of course) inside of travel suitcases: Vancouver, Shanghai, Singapore). So she made the called Portable City as a reconstruction of Groningen for this occasion, using clothes used by citizen here, a city build by pieces from the people living in it.

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Looking through some of her most famous artworks we can find pictures from installations which hasn’t been taken to Groningen, as well as some of her most creative ideas: book shelf looking like books on one side, but revealing clothes part on the other sides; an airplane made with just white clothes; a review of her life using shoes with printed images of herself in these shoes sole. One of the outstanding works standing in the Museum land was the Collective Subconscious, which basically is a stretched van wrapped with tons of different colored clothes, so the inland of this vehicle will fill with the reflections of the light through the different textures, where you can sit and relax, a little eye inside of this collective subconscious. Also noteworthy is the Fashion Terrorism artwork, consisting of different kind of weapons and items you are not allowed to be carrying on an aircraft, made with second hand clothes, which covers the whole issue with a distinct characteristic once again.

Those are some of the powerful reasons for not missing the chance to go to the Groninger Museum. A stimulating journey within Yin’s mind, exploring her unique point of view from the reality we live in. An uncommon and artistic walk for people to enjoy it.

TEXT BY:NICOLAS MEDINA

PHOTOS BY:ARTNET.COM

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Ivo and Steinway & Sons – A perfect combinationAt Thursday night, over 200 people came to the Oosterpoort. In the Grote Zaal on the fabulous illuminated stage people could see the shiny, black, beautiful piano Steinway&Sons. It waited for the master. The great hall looked very special with strange shapes on the walls and seems to have gold color. After 8 o’clock, Chopin’s genious, Ivo Pogorelić, was welcomed by thunderous applause by the audience.

Ivo Pogorelić became famous not because he won something but lost. In 1980 he entered the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and was eliminated in the third round. But one of the adjudicators, Argentinian pianist, Martha Argerich proclaimed him a "genius" and resigned from the jury in protest. That was the moment his career started. First he played in New Yorker’s Carnegie Hall, then in London. He started to cooperate

with the world's leading orchestras like Boston Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, and many others. But here in Groningen he played only with his best friend, the piano.

The Maestro/Ivo Pogorelić played the piano with great conviction and joy. The audience could see that he is really into piano playing. His face showed something that seemed to be a mix of being serious and passionate. Sometimes

seemed that Ivo cried, sometimes he seemed to be angry. He tried to fit his feeling to the track. Because of that his performance was even more captivating. After a while of playing, he seemed to have infected the audience - some of people tried to imagine how they would play this track and moved fingers in the air.

Mostly, Pogorelić played Chopin’s and Franz Liszt’s compositions. It might seem that on piano concert’s come mostly older people, from “piano age”. Surprisingly, many young people came to see this great pianist. Pogorelić showed with his piano playing that classical music does not have to be boring. And what is important is that the concert didn’t cost a fortune. You could get the cheapest ticket for 10€.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY:KONRAD MARUSZCZAK

A piano concert

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Sunday 25h of November. The majestic city of Rotterdam wake up with a delightful sunny day, a nice, saturated and intense blue sky. The big Central Library opens its doors at 1pm as every Sunday gathering hundreds of people from all the ages; the statue of the famous Erasmo de Rotterdam continues standing at Groterkerplein; people walking across the Erasmusburg enjoying the views and the warm touch of the enormous yellow star on their faces. Later, in the first hours of afternoon, the idyllic weather changed drastically: the blue turned into grey, the soft wind turned into a gale, and the warm feeling in the face is replaced by thousands of tiny rain drops coming from all directions. But it is okay, we have a cozy den to refuge.

De Doelen building, for concerts and congresses, taking charge in this special date the hosting for the 2ndedition of the Songbird Festival. From 4pm and for 6 hours approximately, the building became a festival

arena where more than 20 artists had the charming assignment of fulfilled the different areas of De Doelen with music with the most singer-songwriter pure style. Once you entered the main hall, you counted with 5 different concert rooms: Grote zaal, Willem Burger, Arcadis, Jurriaanse or Eduard Flipse; what to listen was completely up to you.

From all these options given to the audience of the festival, the most crowded room during the whole evening was the Grote zaal, stage where the main artists performed. Dutch Douwe Bob Posthuma (once winner of the TV show De Beste Singer-Songwriter van Nederland), was the one in charge of opening the festival, as a local way to do it, with a bit more than half an hour of songs. After this one, the most expected moment of probably the whole festival was coming closer, Matt Corby performance. This 21 years old Australian singer has became recently one of the man in the spotlight inside the world

of the singer-songwriter; among the adjectives that can be used to describe him and his music, passionate, deep and wild would be a good selection as he showed performing songs such as Made of Stone or Brother during his time on the stage in Rotterdam.

From one Australian singer to a American one, living in Australia of Japanese descent, Justin Nozuka, who gave a quite intimate concert, accompanied only by a drum player, an eventually with a pair of guitar players to do some nice three guitars melody songs. And to finish the evening, the British Michael Kiwanuka, an also young soul singer-songwriter escorted with the biggest amount of musicians on the stage from the 4 artists that played. I am Getting Ready, Rest, Tell me a Tale or Home Again, pretty recognizable melodies for anyone who knows Kiwanuka and pleasant to hear for anyone who did not at the moment.

A talented and stimulating collection of artists, formed not only by this 4, but with other names like Tanita Tikaram, Llane La Havas, Jaume Faulkner, Nina June, Coby Grant or Yori Swart out of the twenty playing at the same time all around the building. All together created a charming atmosphere in this corner of Rotterdam, a homey and warm musical alternative for a cold and windy Sunday.

TEXT BY:NICOLAS MEDINA

PHOTOS BY:SONGBIRD FESTIVAL WEBSITE

Songbird Festival, a musical nest to take shelter from a windy and cold Sunday in Rotterdam

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What is a Batucada?Well, is quite difficult to explain what is a Batucada, but I will try it. It is a big group of people playing drums all together; it could be between 15-30 persons. Batucada is a substyle of samba and refers to an African influenced Brazilian percussive style, but we mix also with Rock, Banghra, or electronic rhythms. These rhythms are characteristic by its repetitive and fast pace.

There are a lot of kind of drumsto play there, but in our school(called Borumbaia) we use fivedifferent drums; Repique is thehigh-pitched played with twonylon sticks; Caixa is a snaredrum; Surdo uno is the biggestdrum that provides the on beat; Surdo dos is tunedslightly higher than the Surdouno and is played accentuatingthe second and fourth beats ofthe measure (between the onbeat of Surdo uno, it is called off-beat) and the last one is the Dobrada that is tuned slightly higher and is smaller than the Surdos as well.

How emerged the idea of creating a Batucada in Groningen?When I was in Valencia I said to my director and good friend, Guillermo Tarín, that I was going to do an Erasmus program in The Netherlands and I was going to miss him and to play percussion with all

my mates, and then he told me that I should create another school in Groningen as we have in Valencia. It was the first idea.

CAST (cultural activities for students) collaborates with this project. How did you get in touch with them? Did they make things easy to carry on the project?I sent an email to the Hanze, because Guillermo and me were thinking to ask to the university for some information, but they didn’t answer me until two weeks, then they told me that they was very interested in make the course but I should talk with them to see how/when/where to do the activity, and I was really happy. It was before the summer, therefore I had to go on the middle of the

summer and furthermore I took advantage to visit the city and improve my English. When I came to the city I went to talk with Marlies (from the Hanze CAST), who has helped me a lot to make all the process in the best way, they are going to sponsor us!

Is necessary for attendance to be musician?The only requirement is that they want have a great time and meet new people, there aren't limits of age and you shouldn’t know how to play music. In that way we have to play together and it's a good way to integrate because you have to play in the team, cooperate with students from Hanze or RUG. But in the end you will learn some music concepts while you are improving your Batucada skills.

“I was going to miss him and to play percussion with all my mates, and then he told me that I should create another school in Groningen as we have in Valencia. It was the first idea”.

Miquel Cañada

Batucada courseIt will start on 10th of October, within only two weeks!

Miquel Cañada is from Valencia (Spain). He is doing his last year of industrial design engineering career and he will do the final project on the Hanzehogeschool of Groningen as well. In addition, he is planning a course of Batucada with the collaboration of the Hanze

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Which have your experiences been with Batucada?Borumbaia, is a music cultural organisation from Valencia, we have a percussion school and one group (Combe Capelle) for the most important events, like music festivals, concerts or private parties. The school have five groups of 20-25 persons, and we have different levels, depends on the age of the

group. In Valencia, Borumbaia has been supporting a lot of ONG like Intermon Oxfam, so we do an important social work.

I’m playing in Combe Capelle for a one year, but also I am going to the school (Borumbaia) to improve during 4 years ago, but this last year I have been spent a lot of time in the practices. During this 4 years I

have been in a lot of events around Valencia and also this summer we were playing in the Rototom Sunplash (one of the biggest reggae music festivals of the word) was awesome to play with the biggest of the reggae music.

What would you say students to encourage them to attend your class?

If you want to spend a very good time while you are learning percussion and also dance and play like a monkey, you should come with us: When the people knows how to play the rhythms I will try to get concerts on the street or maybe in some club, It could be interesting for you.

The first class is for free, just to try it and if you like it then you can join the whole course!

You can find us in Facebook (Borumbaia Groningen) and we will invite you to one event where there is a lot of information to join the course. You could watch some videos if you add us, or just writing Borumbaia (or Combe Capelle) on YouTube as well.

“We were playing in the

Rototom Sunplash (one of

the biggest reggae music festivals of the

word) was awesome to play with the biggest

of the reggae music”.

TEXT BY:MALVA RODRÍGUEZ

PHOTOS BY:ITZIAR VIANA & CARLO CRIPPA

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TIPS

Are you stressed? Take a nap!

Several researches show that a nap helps you to be relaxed

after a stressful situation

Nowadays being stressed is very normal. Working, studying, taking care of children... All those things make that people can’t be so relaxed as they should, and it also affects to the sleeping time. On average, we sleep at least two hours less than the hours we should sleep for own well-being. This is a serius issue, because not sleeping enough may

produce hypertension and heart problems.Some reseachers from the University of Allergheny College (Pennsylvania) tried to prove if taking a nap would help to recover from a mental stressful time. For making the experiment, they selected 85 healthy students and they tested their blood pressure and how their sleeping habits were. Researchers divided students into two groups, and one of

the groups was allowed to sleep 60 minutes everyday. During the time the experiment lasted, researchers observerd that the level of blood pressure of the students who were able to take a nap dicreased after sleeping at least 45 minutes.

Finally, they got to the conclusion that sleeping a nap after a stresfull situation helps to relax and to feel better.

Take a nap!

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TEXT BY:LEYRE URQUIDI

THE WINTER IS GOING TO START, AND, RIGHT NOW, OUR DEFENCES ARE WEAK!

HERE, YOU HAVE SOME TIPS TO COMBAT AND PREVENT COLDS!

CAN YOU PREVENT A COLD?

Text by: Malva Rodríguez.

CATCHING A COLD

AVOID THE SUDDEN TEMPERATURE CHANGES. Wrap up when you go to the street.

DO NOT TAKE ANY MEDICINE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION.Consult your doctor if you choose to take medication.

Your body have to rest if you have been sick with a cold. HELP YOUR DEFENCES, take a break, and avoid the stress.

FOLLOW A GOOD DIET.

Good eating habits are essential. Do not miss many hours without taking anything. It is better if you take a good breakfast in the morning. Your diet must to be plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially, those rich in vitamin C. Some scientifics claim that vitamin C and cold have no link. Well, perhaps, in any case, follow a good diet.

KEEP YOUR NOSE CLEAN. Wash your nose if you sneeze, and it is also very important to keep our hands clean, in general. Don't wait for contagion symptoms.

MAINTAIN A PROPET DIET.

Try to strengthen your defences, in general, and, particularly, when the first signs appear: you have to learn to feel the slightest symptoms that colds provoke. If you are successful, you might even be able to win some battles. Drink a glass of warm milk with honey or orange juice.

WARM FEET.

Inside or outside, do not let your feet getting cold. The fact is that many people who get cold feet, is an advance of a cold (almost certain). So, even, if you don't find a clear cause-effect relationship between your feet and the cold, why take the risk?

DRINK MUCH LIQUIDS. Water, juices, teas, milk... The effect is that the mucus become more liquid, and they are easier to expel.

VENTILATE. Ventilate your home and the place where you work, a few minutes daily and avoid enclosed spaces with too people. You must renew the air that you breathe.

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One of the things that foreign people attract attention about the Netherlands is the bikes. I remembered my first trip to this country when I was 15 years old, and I think that everybody say the same when they come here, “There are more bikes than population”.

The Netherlands is an example of becoming aware of the environmental care. They used to ride their bicycle as a transport system. It is a positive element to the society, they do daily exercise, they don't contaminate, they don't create traffic, etc.

Most of the Dutch population have a high control of the vial education, and when they are young, they receive a big training about riding a bike in a safely way.

Of course, the Dutch cities are prepared to bikes, they have flat streets and a big cycleway which communicate all places. Foreign people are jealous

about this infrastructure, and this bicycle system.

But, all this situation is mixed with another reality, the bikes are in great demand. So, if possible that your bike are in continuos dangerous to be stolen. There are a lot of people who work robbing bikes, and then, they sell it for a reduced price (3 – 20 €) when to buy one bike in a shop, their price is about 90€ (the cheapest one).

Any way, you can also buy a cheap bike from the police, they sell the bikes which are bad parking or stolen. In Groningen, it is the first friday of each month, very early in the morning.

The Netherlands:Universe of Bicycles

Text & Photographies by: Malva Rodriguez

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The photo just above is from the spokes of a bike (Torino, Italy)

The photo in the right side is in Haren, The Netherlands

The photo in the left side is in Amsterdam, the Netherladns

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THE HAGUEThe Hague (Den Haag in Dutch) is the third largest city of The Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and its total population is of 1.011.459 inhabitants. The Hague is the headquarters of the Dutch Government, and in that city you can find important political buildings such as the Parliament. The Hague is also the headquarters of all the foreign embassies and it’s the place were the Queen Beatrix lives and perform her royal activities.

There are a large number of international companies that have their headquarters in this Dutch city, like, for example, TNT, an international company of mail and logistics. The economy of the city is largely influenced by the big number of civil servants who work there, and the town is also considered as the administrative metropolis of The Netherlands.

The Hague is also one of the headquarters of the UN (United Nations) and it hosts some of its institutions, such as the International Court of Justice. Another international organisations established in The Hague are Europol, the International Criminal Court and the European Patent Office.

The Hague has a special architectural charm, based in the combination of old buildings and skyscrapers. One can feel in the Middle Ages, but just looking in another direction realizes that he actually is in the 21st century. Apart from beautiful buildings, in the centre of the town there are a lot of interesting statues. The most known are the equestrian statue of William Orange, made by Émile de Nieuwerkerke, the statue of Prince Bernard, sculpted by Johan Philip Koelman, and the fountain of the

earl William the Second, a piece of Ludwig Jünger and Pierre Cuypers. Some of the most famous places that every tourist should visit in The Hague are Madurodan, a city that shows The Netherlands as a miniature, Mauritshuis, a museum that exhibits paintings of important artists like Vermeer, Rembrandt and Paulus Potter, and the Municipal Museum, where the largest collection of Piet Mondrian’s paintings is hosted.

The Hague is one of those cities that you can’t miss if you go to The Netherlands. Everybody that goes there feels that it’s different from other cities like Utrecht or Rotterdam, but they are not always able to explain exactly what the main differences are. So, is there a best way to know what makes The Hague different from other Dutch cities than visiting it? We don’t think so.

TEXT & PHOTO BY:LEYRE URQUIDI

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AMSTERDAM

All students who live in Groningen must visit the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, a lovely city. There they have original buildings date from the XVI and XVII centuries, everybody who walks on the streets, can see the known architecture of the buildings, which looks failing when you are crossing.

A trip in Amsterdam could be made in two days, but you need more time to enjoy everything there. You can do the distance between Groningen and Amsterdam in two hours by car or can travel by train and it takes about two hours and a half (24 Euros by train).

In Amsterdam you have daily and night life and you can do a lot of things. The culture there is really strong, so you can visit

the museums, Allard Pierson museum, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandthuis, Nederlands Scheepvaart Museum, and a lot of them more, or you always can see the Anne Frank house. The price for adult is between 6 and 17 Euros, depending of the museum and in some museums you can have young card discount.

AMSTERDAM

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If you prefer to be outside, you can walk in Amsterdam and it is a recommended experience, the canals are precious, there are old buildings and bridges and you also can visit the several gardens. Indeed, there are many places to rest and take something to eat or drink.

You have to visit the Bloemenmarkt, the flowers market, near to the Singel canal. Of course, you can do a tour in a boat, go shopping, or whatever activities that you want to realize. You also can visit in the night, the red district, the most famous attractive in Amsterdam. Or if you prefer to learn about the soft drugs, this is a city known for being liberal in this point. So, you can visit Bulldog cafés, the oldest coffee shop in Amsterdam that now becomes a mark. This coffee shop was founded in 1975.

Amsterdam is a complete city where you can enjoy the wild life, the typical habits, learn more about the Dutch culture and history and, in the end, it’s not a big city. You can visit each museum in half a day and enjoy the night and all the benefits of all country, there you can see the essence of the Netherlands.

TEXT BY:MALVA RODRÍGUEZ & MARA RODRIGUES

PHOTOS BY:MALVA RODRIGUEZ

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Groningen is an university town, which homes many foreign students who live in the city. It is known that Groningen has a great nightlife, many bars and nightclubs, but what do students know about outside of Groningen?

Last Saturday, some friends and I decided to do a bike tour through some of the villages in the south of Groningen. At first, we were a little lazy to take the bike, sightseeing was the unique reason, but then we realized that was a worthwhile experience.

Our first visit was Haren, which is known because of event a few weeks ago (ProjectX). It is considered one of the most beautiful areas of the Netherlands, and has a beautiful lake where population do windsurfing (when the weather is good) or ice skating when it is frozen.

After Haren, the route was to Glimmen, where we had to pass over the railroad tracks. From Glimmen to Noordlaren, where we saw fields of corn and a very nice dolmen.

Later, our route followed by Midlaren to De Groeve. When we came back to Groningen, we had to take a coffee in Zuidlaren to recharge energies.

During the day we enjoyed a fantastic tour, where every step we were in a place to explore, some canal and windmills accompanied us. It was Dutch style itself.

It is an experience I recommend to everyone, however Groningen have many places to show us, we can not put aside their surroundings, rural areas which are the real postcards from the Netherlands.

Text and Photos: Malva Rodríguez López

BEYOND GRONINGEN

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Why did you came to Holland?I was corresponding with University of Groningen, with psychology department for one year before my arrival and then I signed up. I wasn’t sure I want to study here. First I thought that I will study in England but there life is expensive and I can’t afford. When I decided to came here I wanted to look for a job and then start study. Back in Greece I’ve studied dentistry for 3,5 year in Dental Technical School first. I didn’t go to study dentistry straight away. After the school I went to the army for one year and finished the dental school.

Why did you decide to change your field of study? After my dental school and 3 years work as a dentist I thought that is

not a kind of work I want to do. It’s fine when I work couple of days per month like now in Rotterdam but for full time work – I don’t think so. It will became boring really soon. That’s why I’ve decided to study psychology back in Greece and I have for 1,5 year. In Greece though they teach lot of theory and not many practice. Here is different. I had some theoretical knowledge in psychology so I’ve thought it would be better to improve practical skills. Why psychology? It’s strange but I like to think theoretically, I like analyze thinks why they look in this way and why not in that way. It’s similar thinking to philosophy and first I’ve wanted to study that, but it’s too hard for me.

What do you think about Dutch people? Are they lazy?No definitely not. I don’t know how things look here, but in Rotterdam they are very attentive, industrious and hard working. I can’t say they are lazy. In addition they are very open to different culture, they are polite and friendly. And they make your job easy – that’s very

important. The best in Dutch people I think is they calm. Everybody are very calm, possessed and they not kind of “hot temperament” as in Greece or in other Mediterranean countries. But I’m not to try be like them, I don’t identify with them.

Do you miss home?Not really. I can’t imagine work in Greece. There are so many more beautiful and hot countries and better than Greece that I don’t want to come back there. I have a family there and they visit me regularly but me, myself I was in Greece only once for two years. Greece is just too crazy for me.What are your plans for the future?For now I’m very pleased that I study here and want to follow my studies. I really want to pass my master in very, very good school like Oxford or somewhere in America. But it depends on my bachelor grade and money of course. I want to have a decent job to cope with my study here and abroad in the future.

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY:KONRAD MARUSZCZAK

PERKILIS (34)Country: Greece,3 times the size of the NetherlandsStudy: Psychology Likes: play the guitar, reading books, sportDislikes: hermetic people, technocracy

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Bernard Rylance Gonzalez is 21 years old. He is an exchange student and is studying Construction Management at Hanze University.

Bernard Rylance, where does your name come from? Well, I am from Jerez (Cadiz, Spain), but my father is English, from Manchester, and my mother is from Spain. This is why I have two first names.

How did your parents meet each other? When my father ended his degree in English Philology, he asked for a grant to go to some foreign country. He was working for one year in Spain, and later he wanted go to Greece, however he could not do it because of his personal situation, and he had to stay in Spain. Then, during the second year he met my mother and they decided to open an English academy in my town.

Have your parents ever thought about coming back to England?My father does not want to come back to England, but it is true that before my little sister was born they were thinking about moving to the United Arab Emirates because they thought that it would be a good business. Finally, they decided to stay in Cadiz.

Then, do you have double nationality?I am in a strange situation, because I have two different passports, so, bureaucratically, it is like I am two different persons (the English one is Bernard Rylance, but the Spanish one is Bernard Rylance Gonzalez). Apparently, when you are 18 years old you are supposed to choose one of them, but I have not made up my mind yet.

Which of these nationalities do you prefer?Right now, I could not choose one of them. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. I have to decide where I want to live because it will be the most sensible thing to do. Moreover, it is known that in Spain Health Insurance is free for everyone, but it is also true that England offers a lot of scholarships for students and eases financing the creation of new business.

Why did you decide to study in Groningen?I wanted to do my Erasmus in Central Europe, then I could choose between Denmark, Czech Republic or the Netherlands. I did not know what to do, but when I asked my Spanish tutor which could be the best place to finish my project, he answered “Hanze University of Groningen”, and that is the reason why I am here.

Do you think that there are many differences between Spain, England and the Netherlands?Actually, between England and the Netherlands there are not so many, because they have similar timetables, but Dutch people tend

to be more open-minded and they always try to help you if you need it. However, Spain itself is pretty different from the other two.

Would you like your parents' personal story to happen to you? I mean, do you think that you will stay here and maybe meet someone and build up a family?Maybe, I do not expect to meet my wife here, right now. However, I do not like the idea of returning to Spain. When I finish my project I prefer to move to Germany or any other European country where I can study or find a job. In Spain there are not many job offers for an engineer.

To which extent do you think this experience will be enriching for your personal and professional development?I think that it is a good chance to grow as a person and being introduced in the international community. I feel very lucky for studying at the Hanze University and assimilate the most of this experience.

Text and photo: Malva Rodríguez López

“When I asked my Spanish tutor which could be the best place to finish my project, he answered “Hanze University of Groningen”, and that is the reason why I am here.”

Bernard Rylance

19

Why did you choose Groningen?First I look abroad in general because it was cheaper. I was looking to diferente places, some in Germany and in The Netherlands, where is cheaper than in the UK and more interesting as well. SoI finally came to Groningen.

What is the most shocking thing about the city for you? The most difficult to adapt yourself to?Probably I would say bike, even thought it seems pretty obvious. In the begining, I felt so strange of the bike. In my hometown I´m used to the bus or the cabs, not the bike. I had ridden a bike before but it’s not really safe to ride everywhere by bike back in the UK.

Which is the most strange/interesting experience you have experienced so far?The Santa Claus (Sinterklaas) celebration. The parade is kind of racist I think: Santa Claus, he is riding a white horse, with his white hair, while the rest of the people in the float is also white people but with painted black faces. One thing I find really interesting is Queen’s Day, it’s amazing, I was here this year for the celebration and it was so

orange, so many people and the whole city was like a big party.

You said you’ve been here for one year. Do you ever feel homesick?Yes, sure. Sometimes, not like at the begining or at the end, just sometimes. I feel like missing this person or this friend, the hills… I do miss the hills. When you are on the train and all is just flat, flat, flat, all the same I miss the hills. Furthermore when I’m home during the summer I miss things from Groningen as well, so being here, the whole experience, compensates this feeling.

I’m in my country of origin, trying to decide which city I should go to for the next year; why would I pick.Okay, I can sell it, like an advert. It’s really small city, so you can go everywhere easily but also you can know a lot of people really fast, so everytime you go to the city you see somebody that you know. The whole city is like a big family.

TEXT AND PHOTO BY:NICOLAS MEDINA

Clare Devine

Portsmouth (England)

22 years old

Biology Master In Groningen for

1 year

20

In the beginning of the year, we could choose to do, to this credit, something just about us. Maybe that wasn’t enough because our world is about everything around us. So, this magazine is more than just us, it’s something about journalism students, with a piece of Hanze University and a little bit about Groningen, or more than all of that, something about Netherlands. We can just read it, or learn something about living abroad during six months. We tried explaining you the best way to do something, how to choose and how to get the best advantages in everything what you can do. International Life in Groningen is all of it and more than this, or we tried to do more than this.

We hope everyone enjoy reading this magazine, because we wanted to do something we can use all the time, something clever or useful. We are five journalism minor students working for everyone, as journalist’s life. We tried to understand what our needs here, in Groningen, in our exchange experience and connect all of it here for you, our reader. You can find information about music, cinema, trips in Netherlands and tips to have the best experience of your life, in this country. And, trust us, you can have the best experience of your life here. Come back inside to read this magazine and you’ll see you will not be disappointed. We wish you good trips, following our tips. Enjoy it!

EditorsKonrad Maruszczak(Poland)

Leyre Urquidi(Spain)

Mara Rodrigues(Portugal)

Malva Rodríguez(Spain)

Nicolás Medina(Spain)

Malva Rodríguez(Spain)

Teacher Eugene Jessen

Lay-out

Academic

counseling JOURNALISM

MINOR