Juli Osepashvili, an international student from Georgia, is studying at Windesheim until the summer. For WIN, she is reporting on her experiences.
Living and studying in the Netherlands has been a completely different experience compared to my life back home in Georgia. One of the first things that caught my attention at Windesheim University was the approach to smoking rules. Here, it’s a common thing to hear (whether from teachers, staff, or even fellow students) that if you want to smoke, you have to cross the road. Everyone knows the phrase by heart.
Unfair and confusing
But here’s where it gets ironic: despite how often this rule is repeated, it’s usually the Dutch students themselves who are smoking right in front of the entrance. It’s almost impossible to miss, just look at the cigarette butts scattered on the ground. If locals can’t follow the rules, how can exchange students be expected to follow them? It feels a bit unfair and confusing, especially when the rule is so emphasized.
Back home in Georgia, things are different. We recently moved into a new building that now houses all faculties under one roof. At the beginning there were no rules about smoking, people could smoke wherever they wanted. Eventually designated smoking areas were introduced, and now there are a few spots where students are officially allowed to smoke. But during breaks, these places get so crowded that students just go back to smoking wherever they find space.
Cross the road
Interestingly, both Windesheim and GIPA (my university in Georgia) have fines for smoking in the wrong place, so I’ve heard. But honestly, I’ve never heard of anyone actually getting fined in either country.
Overall, I’ve realized that both universities have their similarities and differences. In the end I want to give advice to fellow Windesheim students – just “cross the road.”
