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Chinese Student Association Active at TU/e
A Chinese student association with more than a thousand
members studying in the Netherlands is becoming quite active at
TU/e. Electrical engineer Liu Yong has been asked to take responsibility
for setting up a chapter of the association on this campus.
"Our main goal is to help
people with the details of living in the Netherlands", says
Liu. "The problems we have are really all to do with communication.
The Dutch language is very difficult for us. We all read and write
English, but many of us haven't had enough opportunities to practice
conversation skills. So Dutch people have a hard time understanding
our English."
"We're working on lists of procedures in all sorts of areas
to try to make sure people don't feel totally lost at TU/e and
in Eindhoven. For example, the list contains details of where
to apply for English courses. How to register for housing or apply
for a visa. How to travel. How to find what you want in the shops.
I myself sometimes just guess what's in the package when I go
grocery shopping. So I might end up drinking condensed milk instead
of fresh milk, which I like."
"Also, we help people find other activities at TU/e they
might enjoy. Some Chinese students took part in the badminton
tournament in Gilze last weekend. I myself have joined the table
tennis club Taveres."
100 Chinese
TU/e is attracting more and more Chinese graduate students, Ph.D.
students and post-docs. At the moment there are more than one
hundred people from all over China studying in Eindhoven. And
their numbers are increasing steadily. At the moment TU Delft
has the biggest group of Chinese students in the Netherlands,
some 500.
Liu is part of Electrical Engineering's optical fibre communication
research. He is working on an optical packet switch. "This
is something we will be using far into the future," he says.
"At the moment I'm concentrating on broadening my knowledge
of the field."
"I am trying to get to know the city of Eindhoven a little
better, as I'd like to bring my wife and baby over from Chengdu
City if possible. Four years is a long time to be separated."
"TU/e is a very good place to study. After I arrived in the
Netherlands last year, I was pleasantly surprised to find TU/e
was voted best university of technology in Europe in 1998. One
of the first things the people from BIA told me when I arrived
is that Eindhoven is not so good for entertainment. That doesn't
matter to me, because I came here to work."
On the other hand, Liu is now responsible for organising recreational
events for the Chinese student population at TU/e. Liu says it's
not up to him to think up activities, his main task is to set
things in motion if Chinese students have any requests.
The first event was a well-attended party to celebrate the Chinese
Spring Festival, or New Year on January 15. Spring Festival is
the most important event on the Chinese calendar. A time to set
off fireworks, exchange presents, prepare special food and stay
up all night celebrating with friends. Chinese students were understandably
a bit disappointed that their party at TU/e was so short, as it
was held on a Saturday afternoon in a classroom./.
On February 10 the Studium Generale film committee is screening
a number of Chinese films at Liu's request. (1.30-5.30 p.m., collegezaal
2, Auditorium).