International/Cultural Night

(Rwandan, Indonesian, Jamaican (Me), Indonesian, Ethiopian)

So there I was running all over Kingston the week before departure trying to get the right fabric to have a national dress made to take for what IHS called an International Night. Huh?? What's that about? I had no idea and I was sorely tempted to ignore the voice telling me get one, after all I've never worn one before. Well, glad I didn't listen.

Its by far and wide one of the most memorable events on the school calendar and promises to be good every year barring none. So I spent 6 hours on April 2009 cooking up a storm of Jamaican run-down with puree garlic pumpkin with boiled 'spinners' dumpling (a dish that normally takes no more than 2 hours, poor Jeanette). But worth it it was. What took place could only be called a culinary gastronomical delight. So bring the national dress, bring your best recipe and bring your favorite local music and just in case a bottle of Peptobismol would be good planning.

(A Thai, Mozambican, Vietnamese, Egyptians in National Dress)

Arrival in the Netherlands

Goedemorgen en Welkom in Nederland!!!. Ok that's about as much Dutch as I can muster...but I am just welcoming you to the Netherlands. Now you've probably received an email from the Course Bureau's efficient and helpful Cocky Adams or Ruud Frank (wonderful folks who you'll meet shortly). They've arranged for you to be picked up at Schipol airport but to be honest you've never been to Europe before and you're not quite sure what to expect on arrival.
Here are some tips.

1. Please keep the number of the person greeting you nearby. Any difficulties or delays in immigration/customs you might want to kindly ask for a call to let them know you did arrive but need some more time.


2. Please keep nearby the number of first, the course bureau contact or second, the student warden contact, as flights get delayed, rerouted etc and you really should let them know ASAP.


3. Please travel with the invitation/acceptance letter of the school nearby as some students do experience a bit of questions in immigration and its much easier if you can just whip out the proof of why you are here.

Now unlike many other Universities here, IHS send a friendly Dutch student or another international student to greet you. I've had the pleasure of being the first friendly face that students see and the thing to do is on exiting the gate - head towards the "Meeting Point" (Big red + white cube in photo below). Yeah that's me in the photo above....taking a snooze waiting for an early arrival. LOL!! Now all you need to do is stay put until you spot someone carrying an Erasmus IHS sign. That's your person!! If they are not there when you arrive stay put, don't go - they will be there shortly - perhaps just putting some other students on a train to Rotterdam to come back upstairs to get you.

Now if you have waited long and can't get the pick up person by phone and you must leave Schipol to find your way to Rotterdam - please resist the temptation to charter a taxi....last student did that paid 150 Euros and there is no need. Its really a terribly easy trip to do if you must. Here are the steps.

1. Head to the Train Tickets and Services area and join a line to buy a SINGLE Trip ticket to Rotterdam Central. Between 10-12 Euros depending on payment type...cash/credit etc.


2. If its not too early in the morning head to the Information Booth which is right between the Meeting Point cube and the Ticket Counter. (See photo above, right)


3. Ask the Representative what time is the next train to Rotterdam and which Platform is it departing from but most important ask for a DIRECT NON TRANSFER TRAIN.


4. The trip to Rotterdam is either an hour or 45 minutes depending on whether your train stops only between major cities. The arrivals at each stop are announced so as long as you don't fall asleep from jet lag you will arrive at Rotterdam Central without a hitch.

Now if the Information Desk is not open you can read the information board which is shown in the image (see below left). The towns and cities are in alphabetical order. Look for Rotterdam and it will tell you what time the next train will depart and from which platform (USUALLY 5 OR 6). The platform is identifiable in the photo below (to the right).

I would recommend strongly that if the Information booth is closed ask the person at the ticket counter, when the train departs, from which platform and ENSURE THAT YOU ASK FOR A TRAIN THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A TRANSFER.!!

A LAST TIP - Just to ensure you are boarding the right train...ensure that when you head downstairs to the platform that you can see ROTTERDAM on the list of stops on the lit board. (See pic above on the right.). This information will be posted on the board a few minutes before train pulls in AND if uncertain ASK. The Dutch are friendly and helpful. More than likely you won't need it but if possible print this post and take on your trip.
All the best on your adventure!!!
The only warning necessary is to ensure that you do not take a train to Rotterdam that requires a transfer and try not to fall asleep on the train and miss your stop. The next post deals with arrival at the station and the 5 minute walk to the Weenapad. Your home for the next 12 months.