"I am much less stressed in Belgium"
Thanks to the Erasmus Mundus exchange programme, students and academic staff from across the world are given the opportunity to study or to work at a European university. K.U.Leuven already had a co-operation agreement with Russia, and will now also collaborate with India.
Two of the numerous students who were able to book tickets from India to Leuven as a result of Erasmus Mundus are Vinay Jayaram (26) and Roshan Oinam (24). Vinay is writing a doctorate at the Faculty of Bio-Engineering and arrived in Leuven a few months ago. “Belgium is world famous for its research in the fields of science, engineering and technology”, Vinay tells us. “I came across publications by professors at K.U.Leuven regularly during my research in India. When I was given the chance to come to Europe, it did not take me long to decide to come to Leuven.”
“From the very first day, I was given a wonderful reception by my supervisor, Professor Christophe Courtin, my co-supervisor Jan Delcour and my colleagues at the department. They have done everything to make the transition to living and working here as comfortable as possible. I feel very at home already. Of course I miss my family, but fortunately the internet allows me to be in almost daily contact with them. I will start Dutch classes soon. When I leave here in four years, I want to be able to speak at least a little Dutch.”
Roshan, who is enrolled in the Master of Advanced Business Studies at the Faculty of Business and Economics, has been here since the end of August. Things went slightly awry at the airport in Zaventem: “I was completely confused. Should I take a taxi to Leuven or the train? If the latter, which one? Fortunately, I bumped into a number of other Indian students who showed me where to go and what to do. I felt very lonely in the first few days and I wanted to jump on the next flight back home. (laughs) I feel much better now though, but I still miss my parents and my girlfriend very much.”
Vinay is frequently surprised by the lifestyle of students in Leuven. “In India, there is a much greater emphasis on your studies and there is almost no time for sport or cultural activities. There is much more balance here between study and relaxation, and thus much less stress.” Vinay happily spends all his free time discovering his new, temporary home. “Somebody told me that there is a different story associated with every square metre of Belgium. Your history is amazing.”
Roshan too immediately noticed a difference when he was given his course timetable. “In India, I had class from nine am until five pm, and attendance was mandatory. Even on Saturdays. When you get home at six o’clock in the evening, you have no energy left to do anything recreational. Students in Leuven have much more time to play sports and to revise. I have already taken my first badminton lesson.”
“I also cook myself almost every day. I don’t understand the menus at the restaurants anyway. I did buy every kind of beer I could find at the supermarket though. (laughs) Compared to India, beer is very cheap here.”
Are there any strange aspects to Belgium? Vinay: “The weather is so unpredictable. In one day, you can experience every type of climate India has.” Roshan: “You know what I dislike? Having to walk down the street with my dirty clothes when I want to wash them. That is very strange. (laughs) On the other hand, it is fantastic that cars and busses actually stop for you when you want to cross the street. In India, everybody is in a hurry and you have to be very careful. As a pedestrian, I feel much safer on the streets of Leuven!”
