The initiative for the introduction comes from the SSRE. Committee member Anika Cristini (herself originally Italian) did not think it was fair that there is an introductory week for Dutch students and even an intro of three weeks for international Master students, but that on central level nothing had been organized so far for the exchange students. “Besides, we as SSRE executive committee enjoy promoting student life in Eindhoven. That includes giving visibility to the exchange students. I contacted STU and they shared our enthusiasm there.”

The day began traditionally and ended playfully. In the morning the program included a great deal of business information in particular. After lunch they were shown around on campus and made a bus tour through the city. During that city tour the students were occasionally surprised at completely different things than by the pieces of information they got from the SSRE guides. When the bus stops in order to grant right of way to a cyclist, the Italian Diomede Pistoresi jokes to his fellow countryman: “Wow, in Rome a bus driver would stop to make sure that he hit the bicycle.” For the Indonesian Johnny Lim (23), who studies in Singapore, it is the first time that he sees snow. “One of the first things I have to do here is buy more warm clothes, and boots to walk in the snow.”

The long day ended in De Bunker with a ‘stamppot dinner’ (dinner of mashed pots) and a party. For some of them the introduction to Dutch ‘cuisine’ was rather heavy. “It’s very difficult for me to eat”, admits the Indian Sunny Roy (21). “It’s not spicy!” (NS/SK)/.