The Indonesian PhD student, Yusuf Hartono, leads a rather multi-dimensional life. When not contemplating complex mathematical formulas or playing guitar in the Salvation Army band, Yusof can be found out on the streets of Delft, delivering newspapers.
His friends say he has a double PhD: Philosophical Doctor and Paper Home Delivery.
Can you tell us a bit about your thesis and its application to daily life?
The title is “Ergodic Property of Continued Fraction Algorithm” and it’s about the application of dynamic system of continued fraction algorithm to obtain probability characteristics of another continued fraction. I tried to use rational numbers to approximate irrational numbers. A real-life example of its application is what Christian Huygens did in making his planetarium’s teeth-wheel.
In addition to working on your PhD, you’re also a paperboy?
Yes, I deliver newspapers every morning and afternoon. I have two regions in the morning and three in the afternoon. In one day I deliver a total of 350 newspapers, the Volkskraant, Trouw, AD…, six days a week, Monday to Saturday. I wake up at 5 am to fetch the papers from the agent and then deliver them, usually finishing at 7 a.m. Then, around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, I deliver the evening newspapers.
Is being a paperboy difficult work?
For me it’s fun! My boss said the region where I deliver the morning papers is the most difficult one, because you’ve got to go up and down stairs in some really high apartment buildings. When I was on leave to attend a conference for several days, the person who replaced me could only stand my job for two days…he almost collapsed. And they needed 4 people to replace me to deliver papers to my five regions.
Why do you do this job? For financial reasons?
No, not at all! My scholarship is enough for me. Two things that attracted me to becoming a paperboy: first, it’s fun, I’m really fond of walking, and as a paperboy I can always walk around, can’t I? Secondly, it’s a challenge, working as a paperboy is challenging. Imagine, it suddenly rains or the weather is cold…newspapers still have to be delivered, no excuses, clients want their papers, they don’t care. That’s the challenge. If I had to choose between working as a paperboy or for a cleaning service, for example, I’d definitely choose paperboy.
Have you ever had any bad experiences in connection to your job as a paperboy? Some people may look down on this job?
Maybe…maybe some people think that way, but it’s none of my business. It’s only in their minds and for me this will not change the reality.
What are your plans for when you finish your PhD?
I’m going back to Indonesia, to the university where I used to teach. I’ll teach mathematics at the University of Sriwijaya.
Are you sad to be leaving Holland, because many Indonesians who studied in Europe aren’t eager to return to Indonesia, where the facilities are poor and you don’t have all the sophisticated things you have here?
I really enjoy my life in Indonesia. I can always enjoy my life everywhere I live. Besides, you can also find the “bad” things of this country; for example, it’s cold here and food is expensive!
In addition to studying and delivering newspapers, Yusuf is also an organizer of the discussion groups Global Meeting Point and the Inter-religious Dialog Group.
The Indonesian PhD student, Yusuf Hartono, leads a rather multi-dimensional life. When not contemplating complex mathematical formulas or playing guitar in the Salvation Army band, Yusof can be found out on the streets of Delft, delivering newspapers. His friends say he has a double PhD: Philosophical Doctor and Paper Home Delivery.
Can you tell us a bit about your thesis and its application to daily life?
The title is “Ergodic Property of Continued Fraction Algorithm” and it’s about the application of dynamic system of continued fraction algorithm to obtain probability characteristics of another continued fraction. I tried to use rational numbers to approximate irrational numbers. A real-life example of its application is what Christian Huygens did in making his planetarium’s teeth-wheel.
In addition to working on your PhD, you’re also a paperboy?
Yes, I deliver newspapers every morning and afternoon. I have two regions in the morning and three in the afternoon. In one day I deliver a total of 350 newspapers, the Volkskraant, Trouw, AD…, six days a week, Monday to Saturday. I wake up at 5 am to fetch the papers from the agent and then deliver them, usually finishing at 7 a.m. Then, around 4 o’clock in the afternoon, I deliver the evening newspapers.
Is being a paperboy difficult work?
For me it’s fun! My boss said the region where I deliver the morning papers is the most difficult one, because you’ve got to go up and down stairs in some really high apartment buildings. When I was on leave to attend a conference for several days, the person who replaced me could only stand my job for two days…he almost collapsed. And they needed 4 people to replace me to deliver papers to my five regions.
Why do you do this job? For financial reasons?
No, not at all! My scholarship is enough for me. Two things that attracted me to becoming a paperboy: first, it’s fun, I’m really fond of walking, and as a paperboy I can always walk around, can’t I? Secondly, it’s a challenge, working as a paperboy is challenging. Imagine, it suddenly rains or the weather is cold…newspapers still have to be delivered, no excuses, clients want their papers, they don’t care. That’s the challenge. If I had to choose between working as a paperboy or for a cleaning service, for example, I’d definitely choose paperboy.
Have you ever had any bad experiences in connection to your job as a paperboy? Some people may look down on this job?
Maybe…maybe some people think that way, but it’s none of my business. It’s only in their minds and for me this will not change the reality.
What are your plans for when you finish your PhD?
I’m going back to Indonesia, to the university where I used to teach. I’ll teach mathematics at the University of Sriwijaya.
Are you sad to be leaving Holland, because many Indonesians who studied in Europe aren’t eager to return to Indonesia, where the facilities are poor and you don’t have all the sophisticated things you have here?
I really enjoy my life in Indonesia. I can always enjoy my life everywhere I live. Besides, you can also find the “bad” things of this country; for example, it’s cold here and food is expensive!
In addition to studying and delivering newspapers, Yusuf is also an organizer of the discussion groups Global Meeting Point and the Inter-religious Dialog Group.
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