Reflection

Monday (08-30-2016) Culture Immersion Industrial Engineering and Management

Today started out to be very frustrating.

Because I switched majors from nursing to Industrial Engineering and Management, I do not have access to the new portal yet. I called the school multiple times last week, but no one was able to help me fix the problem, and that’s why I came an hour early today. To find out where I have to be, I asked a lady at the desk downstairs. She told me that everyone is waiting at the canteen, so that’s where I headed to. Eventually I found out that there were only people there from the programs Elektrotechniek and Mechatronica. I went back downstairs to ask again, and this time a guy was sitting there. He told me to go to the International department, because he was not sure where I had to be at, and he had a hard time communicating in English. As I was walking up the stairs, I saw the IE&M sign on the first floor. The lady there at the desk asked around to find out where I had to be and brought me to a class. I noticed that the number by the door was also mentioned in an e-mail. The students in that class were watching a movie, but since I was ten minutes late and missed the introduction, I did not understand the point of the movie. There was also no teacher in the class, and because I was already late I decided not to disturb anyone. Eventually (after another hour) the teacher walked into the room and started speaking dutch. At this point I could not believe my ears. I was at the wrong place again! I walked up to her and told her that I was in the IE&M program. This sweet lady finally walked me to the right class, where I was welcomed by another teacher. I must say that the fact that so many people, including the ones I called and e- mailed with did not know where I had to be, was certainly the most interesting part of the day. Finding out where I had to be was  thus the hardest thing. What I loved most though, was seeing the diversity of the IE&M class, because since I am from Suriname and studied at an International School, I immediately felt home. Just within my group there are people from Indonesia, one person from Nigeria, one from Bangladesh, and another person from St. Maarten (My side of the world also yay!). I must say that I did not expect such great diversity, but it certainly is very beautiful and exciting! Later on we had the chance to ask questions (42 questions to be exact). I liked that, because the things that I missed in the morning came to the surface and got explained by the teacher, especially the details about the pop up museum that will take place at one past two on Friday. Hereafter, my group met up with our tutor. He seems like a nice guy, and he is willing to guide us and help us with a lot. I am curious and excited about the coming days, and hope that I get access to the IE&M portal very soon!