Studies: International Business and Management Studies
Country: Ukraine, 46 million inhabitants, 15 times the size of the Netherlands
Loves: sports, nature, healthy life
Hates: really nothing
Had you ever been in the Netherlands before?
‘Sure. In 2006 I visited Amsterdam. As a matter of fact, it felt as home. Quite the opposite from Germany where I was staying with some friends in Osnabrück. The only thing they seem to be occupied with is work. Work, work, work. Even in daytime the cities are completely desolate. Amsterdam is quite different. People are interested and helpful. Indeed, just like home.’
Home, where is that?
‘Nikolaev is a town on the Black Sea coast, near Odessa. If you want to look it up, make sure not to take an old map. During the USSR-episode Nikolaev was not on it. It was a closed city, with a large naval and military airport, a shipbuilding yard and so on. I grew up in the nineties, a period when everything changed. There was a lot of crime and poverty. Nowadays it’s a little better. In my opinion Ukraine should become a society like the Netherlands, we have to work on that. One of the major problems is that Ukrainians rarely speak foreign languages.’
You seem to manage quite all right, however.
‘Thank you very much. I went to an English school for eight years, so it isn’t that bad. Moreover, I took the opportunity to take the free lessons American Mormons offered. There are lots of them in Ukraine. I am a religious man. Christianity is very widespread in Ukraine. To me all Christian denominations are equal.’
Why did you choose for Groningen?
‘I wanted to go to the Netherlands. Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen was the first school to react. On the internet the city seemed pretty cool. Sometimes decisions are taken easily. For a long time I tried to become a professional basketball player. At some point I hád to choose. Either sports or further my studies. So here I am.’
Can you give us a Ukrainian proverb?
‘Bez tryda ne vitawiw i rubki iz pryda. Without any effort, you can’t even catch the smallest fish in the pond.’
Source: HanzeMag
Author: Boudewijn Otten