Before I came to study in Groningen last September I would have answered: “half six”. Now though I know this is incorrect. As my English has steadily improved due to studying in English and making some international friends, I now know it is in fact “half five”.

Thus far ignorant of the possibilities student life in Groningen could offer me; I started my studies in Mathematics not knowing what I should do with all my free time. While I attended lectures and tutorials, I tried to get a feeling for what my fellow students did in their free time. At the same time my dependency on coffee first drove me to FMF where I could get some free caffeine in the breaks of lectures. But as the line for coffee was always quite long there, I searched for alternatives. That’s when I found out about the existence of T.F.V. ‘Professor Francken’ as yet another place to get coffee. After becoming a member I quickly found out that Francken was more than free coffee.

During the Running dinner and the subsequent Karakterborrel I learnt to like the ‘beautiful madmen’ of T.F.V. ‘Professor Francken’. From a fellow student I learned about the different committees and that the Buixie was the most awesome of them all. So still in search for a useful activity next to my studies, I inquired some more and quickly decided she was right. Hence, I applied to join, and to my surprise I got selected as the Buixie sjaars. The first evening was a real blast and I immediately knew joining the Buixie was the best choice I could have made.

Now a fully-fledged member of a serious committee I am faced with the responsibility to come up with a schedule for the trip and to arrange all the visits accordingly. This means I have to do a lot of emailing to researchers and companies alike. I always had, and still have, a problem with procrastination. But I strongly feel being in the Buixie helps me to get a grip on my planning problems. At least better than I could on my own, taking in account I would let down twenty-six happy travellers if I mess up my tasks.

Naturally, the Foreign Excursion Committee isn’t continuously working their fingers to the bones, as there is always a time to get tipsy after meetings. Due to these evenings I sometimes miss other appointments altogether, as they can go on for quite some hours. Do not make the mistake of asking for the time though, because however long the evening may take, the answer you will receive is: “Time for a strawpedo!”