Vibes

. good and bad, happy and sad. From the warm and friendly academic ‘Center Parks’ type of campus of the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, I was dropped at the cold and distant TU Delft, which to me feels like a factory producing engineers and research reports – efficient and with good quality final products. Indeed, the Dutch are well organized and pragmatic – students learn to work in groups, result-oriented of course. Sure, after spoiling my first ’typical Dutch’ agenda (a present) by using it as a sketchbook, I now have even got used to using a Palmtop! But does this all bring out the best in the individual? To be honest, the only real vibes I’ve felt here were those in the floor of the central library. The teachers certainly aren’t to blame: they’re nice, knowledgeable and committed, although most professors are difficult to catch for an in-depth talk. So is it ’the system’, as Adrienne van den Bogaard recently stated?

Yet, I will carry my Dutch ‘ir’ title with pride, keeping in mind the famous Dutch architects that were students or professors at TU Delft. Things I certainly will remember? My astonishment upon the first arriving at Delft Central Station on a Sunday evening – all those girls and boys with hockey sticks seemed to me like species from outer space. My life in the spacebox with the sound and smell of Chinese food being fried – and then setting off the fire alarm! And the ‘ever-present’ plastic lunch bags with cheese sandwiches inside. I will miss my fellow international students, who have been my bridge to new countries and cultures. I learned to watch out for ‘sampling’, as I experienced myself – being a woman from Turkey in the Netherlands . as stereotyping and prejudices lie in wait. Right now I’m happy to be leaving Delft, as most graduates are. But since I’ll be staying in this country, I’m sure I’ll stop by again. If only for a piece of ‘appeltaart’ at Kobus Kuch or a cheap beer at the BouwPub.

Ekim Tan

Hopefully I’m graduated by now. This Thursday morning I gave my final presentation. My expectations about TU Delft have now become experiences. What’s left is a bag full of memories… good and bad, happy and sad. From the warm and friendly academic ‘Center Parks’ type of campus of the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, I was dropped at the cold and distant TU Delft, which to me feels like a factory producing engineers and research reports – efficient and with good quality final products. Indeed, the Dutch are well organized and pragmatic – students learn to work in groups, result-oriented of course. Sure, after spoiling my first ’typical Dutch’ agenda (a present) by using it as a sketchbook, I now have even got used to using a Palmtop! But does this all bring out the best in the individual? To be honest, the only real vibes I’ve felt here were those in the floor of the central library. The teachers certainly aren’t to blame: they’re nice, knowledgeable and committed, although most professors are difficult to catch for an in-depth talk. So is it ’the system’, as Adrienne van den Bogaard recently stated?

Yet, I will carry my Dutch ‘ir’ title with pride, keeping in mind the famous Dutch architects that were students or professors at TU Delft. Things I certainly will remember? My astonishment upon the first arriving at Delft Central Station on a Sunday evening – all those girls and boys with hockey sticks seemed to me like species from outer space. My life in the spacebox with the sound and smell of Chinese food being fried – and then setting off the fire alarm! And the ‘ever-present’ plastic lunch bags with cheese sandwiches inside. I will miss my fellow international students, who have been my bridge to new countries and cultures. I learned to watch out for ‘sampling’, as I experienced myself – being a woman from Turkey in the Netherlands . as stereotyping and prejudices lie in wait. Right now I’m happy to be leaving Delft, as most graduates are. But since I’ll be staying in this country, I’m sure I’ll stop by again. If only for a piece of ‘appeltaart’ at Kobus Kuch or a cheap beer at the BouwPub.

Ekim Tan