Staff and Students Gather to Have Fun 

Wittenborg recently hosted an International Food & Karaoke Night at its Amsterdam study location, bringing staff and students from both master's and bachelor's programmes together for an evening of fun.  

Sam Kalya, Wittenborg's Recruitment & Sales Representative, shared insights into the event that took place on 15 March, highlighting the vibrant atmosphere. "Staff and students had a lot of fun. It is important to remember that part of being an international student is the social aspect."

Apart from karaoke, staff and students also had the option of showcasing a dish from their home country. There were about ten dishes to choose from. MBA (Master of Business Administration) student in Amsterdam, Zeinab Askarian's Kalam Polo was a fan favourite. "I wanted to introduce some of Iran's traditional dishes to people from other countries and get their feedback."

Zeinab explained that Kalam Polo's ingredients are rice, cabbage, meatballs and some vegetables. "It is cooked in a specific city of Iran. My mother-in-law taught me how to prepare it."

Zeinab encouraged other students to take part in similar events and cook dishes representing their cultures. "I want other students to participate in such events and cook themselves."

Zeinab also shared her experience of trying different dishes from various cultures at the event. She mentioned, "I was familiar with the dishes from Iran but there was a dish from India that I also really liked."

Andreas Ooijer, a Senior Lecturer at Wittenborg, kickstarted the karaoke before the special guest, Boris Cvetanovski, better known as Ris Flower, took the stage. The Macedonian singer-songwriter performed his original songs and popular covers. 

"Participating in events that celebrate diverse cultures and aim to connect people through music perfectly aligns with my purpose as a performer," said Boris. "And also - music and food together? That's a recipe for a good mood. It was an opportunity to bring people together using the universal language of music."

Boris shared that one of his favourite moments was when he performed 'Another Brick in the Wall' by Pink Floyd. "The energy in the room went wild! Seeing both students and lecturers singing along with equal passion and interacting with each other was a powerful reminder to me that music truly transcends age and background."

Apart from the food and music, Boris, whose wife Marija is also a student at Wittenborg, enjoyed the conversations he had with people. "We discussed their home countries' music, cultural backgrounds, and what inspired them to study at Wittenborg. It was also great hearing about their experiences as international students in the Netherlands so far." 

WUP 02/04/2024 
by Erene Roux 
©WUAS Press