24 Hours with

Neomi

08.00

Starting the day

‘I usually get out of bed at 08.00 hrs, make some tea and get ready for my class. at 09.00 hrs I pack lunch and make sure I have all of my books, but there usually isn’t time to do much else! I live at Science Park so it‘s just a short walk to AUC. When walking to school, the fresh air really wakes me up.’

09.00

Class

‘On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have class. I feel really lucky this semester, because I have been thoroughly enjoying my classes. In my Big Books literature class, we are reading selections of Western literature and discussing them. The professor for this class is especially good – he encourages real discussion in the classroom, and a deeper reading of the texts – which makes me think about and engage with the content more.’

12.00

Cheesy lunch

‘I normally pack lunch, either with leftovers or a sandwich and fruit. It’s really hilarious to me that the Dutch packed lunch is automatically bread and cheese, and I have to admit that’s what I have been doing myself. I also find it interesting that the Dutch eat their lunch cold. I really needed time to get used to that.’

13.00

Class again

‘In my Brain and Cognition class, I feel stimulated by the lectures every day. I find the material fascinating and the professor genuinely passionate about the subject. And in my History & Culture of the Dutch Golden Age, I love learning about the major events in Dutch history that form the background of the country I live in today. Plus, we go on some excursions around the city, which are a lot of fun.’

18:00

School's out

‘My school day is over. I usually go home and prepare dinner myself. I try to live as cheaply as possible, so I save on things like meals in order to have other nice experiences! On my days off I like to go to museums and explore the city. I am trying out a lot of libraries and cafés to find the best and cheapest place to study’

21.00

Good night bus

‘In the evenings after school I usually end up meeting with friends to either go out, or have a relaxed night in, or, if I have a lot of homework I stay in and try to get it done. Some nights, if there are interesting events I will go to those – I went to a Stedelijk Museum lecture by the cultural anthropologist and social activist Gayatri Spivak, and to a free jazz night at Bimhuis. It depends on what’s happening at that moment.’