Five Questions
Dinu Abdella (29, from Ethiopia) studied at UCU and is completing her PhD in International Development Studies.
How did you get to study in Utrecht?
"One of my friends was already studying over here. She told me she really liked it at Utrecht University. I visited her one summer and decided to come and study here the year after. What I immediately liked about the Netherlands is that there is so much to see and do in such a small country. And everything is so conveniently close! So much so that at 29 I still have not felt the urge to get my driving licence. I can easily get around just by bike, tram, bus or train."
What metaphor would you use to describe Ethiopia?
"Ethiopia is too diverse to be described as a whole, but I can try to describe the region I come from. Our communities are very small and close-knit: everyone knows everyone and everyone talks about everyone else. People sometimes say about the area: ‘People even put their work down to gossip!”
What is the national symbol of Ethiopia?
"Without a doubt: the lion. During the communist era it was even part of our national flag, but this is no longer the case."
What is different about life in the Netherlands?
"What strikes me, and I admit I am generalising, is that everything happens the way the society expects it to happen. Everyone lives according to a diary, people even arrange to meet in two months time at 8.55!! This is perfectly normal over here, even friends do this! It surely took some getting used to…"
What is funny about the Dutch?
"You answer the phone by saying your name where I would just say ‘Hello’. And you eat chips with mayonnaise, who would do such a thing?"