I’m very grateful that Page 4 recently published an article about the housing problems in Delft. It speaks of my experience and gives me a voice. What I don’t understand is why Annemarie Rima [President of the International Office] cannot stand to hear different voices.
Nor do I understand the reaction of Mr. Benschop [President of Duwo]. Doesn’t he know that foreign students have a very busy program and do not have much spare time to do grocery shopping, certainly not everyday! Why doesn’t he ask himself how inconvenient it would be for him to live without a freezer?
I’m a foreign student, following the five-year BSc/MSc course in Industrial Design. I’ve encountered a lot of problems finding a room and trying to mix with the lives of Dutch students. I’ve moved six times during my 5-year stay here. An instemming is absolutely nothing for me. I’m 26-years-old, so I’m too old for a one-person room from Duwo and too young for a regular room. Finally, I got a two-room apartment from Vestia.
The Netherlands is a small county. Many Dutch students have their own kring, their own friends and family. They already have a busy social life. What’s more, with the culture difference, we have little in common with each other. I can hardly make any real good Dutch friends here. Therefore, I’m very glad that TU Delft now has an international MSc program. At present I’ve got friends from India, Poland, Italy and Belgium. We’ve had many great times together.
Studying abroad isn’t an easy process. We foreigners must fight against loneliness, deal with cultural difference and struggle with language problems. I’m not complaining though, because we’ve decided to study in this lovely country of windmills and tulips and we must be prepared for difficulties. However, I do think that all the people who are involved with helping international students cope should be more considerate and more patient. Because there are times and situations that Dutch people take for granted, but which are extra difficult for foreigners.
Xi Zeng
BSc/MSc student
Industrial Design Engineering
I’m very grateful that Page 4 recently published an article about the housing problems in Delft. It speaks of my experience and gives me a voice. What I don’t understand is why Annemarie Rima [President of the International Office] cannot stand to hear different voices. Nor do I understand the reaction of Mr. Benschop [President of Duwo]. Doesn’t he know that foreign students have a very busy program and do not have much spare time to do grocery shopping, certainly not everyday! Why doesn’t he ask himself how inconvenient it would be for him to live without a freezer?
I’m a foreign student, following the five-year BSc/MSc course in Industrial Design. I’ve encountered a lot of problems finding a room and trying to mix with the lives of Dutch students. I’ve moved six times during my 5-year stay here. An instemming is absolutely nothing for me. I’m 26-years-old, so I’m too old for a one-person room from Duwo and too young for a regular room. Finally, I got a two-room apartment from Vestia.
The Netherlands is a small county. Many Dutch students have their own kring, their own friends and family. They already have a busy social life. What’s more, with the culture difference, we have little in common with each other. I can hardly make any real good Dutch friends here. Therefore, I’m very glad that TU Delft now has an international MSc program. At present I’ve got friends from India, Poland, Italy and Belgium. We’ve had many great times together.
Studying abroad isn’t an easy process. We foreigners must fight against loneliness, deal with cultural difference and struggle with language problems. I’m not complaining though, because we’ve decided to study in this lovely country of windmills and tulips and we must be prepared for difficulties. However, I do think that all the people who are involved with helping international students cope should be more considerate and more patient. Because there are times and situations that Dutch people take for granted, but which are extra difficult for foreigners.
Xi Zeng
BSc/MSc student
Industrial Design Engineering
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