Was it a typical week?
‘No, it wasn’t. I did less studying than I usually do. This time I spent four hours of the weekend studying, but I usually study twice as much, not counting lectures. This was the first week of the new study period. Then you still have to get going.’
Do you always spend that much time on Pulse?
‘It was the launch week of student union Pulse, and I wanted to contribute to that. But that was an incidental extra.’
Anything else about this week that was unusual?
‘I had bought a new guitar, so I spent a lot of time on that. It took me one and a half hours to string it. I also practised a lot for a performance with my band. We usually practise on Wednesday evenings, but the drummer had fallen and hit his head.’
Do you never watch TV?
‘No, watching TV is dumb and a waste of time. We only have three channels at Droef and I don’t even know how the telly works. Occasionally I watch at a friend’s place if we are tired after a lecture.’
What course are you doing at the moment?
‘Cell Physiology and Genetics. It’s a nice course and you have a bit more independence than in most courses. So more independent study.’
Likely to need an extension for your degree?
‘No, I am right on schedule.’
Do your studies stress you out?
‘Not really, I get more stressed from what I do alongside my studies. You have to keep an overview, and do a lot of little things. My degree programme is very clearly structured, though, and I can work with that very well. I can cope with it and I like it, so it doesn’t take it out of me to make an effort for it.’
Fixed extracurricular activities?
‘I play in a band, and we practise every Wednesday. I earn some money from taking school students around who are visiting for a day. Every Monday I go to the members’ evening at Unitas.’
Ambitious?
‘Yes, my grade average is an 8 and I always aim at a 10. For the science subjects, at least. For communication I put the most time into the report. For the exam it’s just a question of writing an awful lot.’ Agenda Daan Monday 13 07.30 get up, set up Pulse promotion campaign in Forum 09.30 breakfast 10.15 lecture at the Dreijen 12.30 flyering for Pulse 13.15 lecture at the Lebo 15.15 shopping 16.00 lunch 16.45 computer 17.30 buy, cook and eat dinner 20.45 have a beer, listen to music, play guitar with friend 22.00 to café Daniels, behind the bar for Unitas 01.30 bake bread Tuesday 14 09.00 get up, breakfast, read, do the laundry 10.15 lecture at the Dreijen 12.30 lunch 13.45 shopping for Pulse at Arion 15.15 email 16.15 thesis fair at the Forum 16.50 sauna in Lunteren with my girlfriend 01.00 go to bed Wednesday 15 08.30 get up, breakfast, email 10.15 lecture at the Dreijen 12.15 lunch 13.15 lecture at the Lebo 15.15 email, computer, play guitar 18.00 dinner, listen to music and have a beer with a friend 22.30 karaoke with Alchimica study association at Annie’s bar 00.30 bake bread, go to bed Thursday 16 09.15 get up, breakfast 10.00 pick up visiting secondary school students, lecture at the Dreijen 12.15 lunch with the visiting students 13.50 practical in the Forum 16.30 tea with visiting student, tidy up, play guitar 18.15 cook and eat dinner 19.10 Pulse café in Arion 22.30 birthday party 00.00 go to bed Friday 17 08.20 get up, breakfast 08.45 doctor at Duivendaal 10.20 shopping, computer, laundry 12.15 lunch with girlfriend 14.00 computer, guitar maintenance 14.30 laundry, cleaning, Pulse 15.15 fill in questionnaire, collect book 16.00 watch a film, computer, play guitar 18.15 cook and eat 19.30 watch Trainspotting 21.00 have a beer, listen to music with friends 22.00 watch a performance at the Overkant 01.00 to bed Weekend