ING, International Neighbor Group
Alternating coffee mornings, creative activities and traditional meals from many cultures with outings to places of interest in the region, the hostesses aim to share aspects of Dutch culture with their guests who come from all over the world - Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt, Iraq, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to name just a few of the countries represented at these social gatherings.
Wijdan Jarah, a young mother from Jordan and wife of a PhD candidate at the UT, explained that she joined the ING because she was bored sitting at home all day. This has been a way for her to make friends, to connect with other women who came to Enschede because of their husband's careers. For Jelena Radovanovic, who came from Yugoslavia with her husband who is a PhD candidate at the UT, the ING offers a chance to learn about Dutch culture: Sinterklaas, polders, and social protocol. Since Hiroku Oku, whose husband is a UT researcher, arrived three years ago from Japan, the ING has enabled her to make friends, which can be especially difficult for partners of researchers who make only temporary homes in the Twente region. She especially likes learning traditional dances from other visiting women.
The ING hostesses volunteer because they are eager to meet women from other countries as well as other longtime local residents who share an interest in the world beyond the borders of the Netherlands. Lies Nijdam-De Jong describes her involvement as an opportunity 'to see our own culture from a different perspective'.
The mission of the ING is changing as the student demographic at the ITC evolves. Laws have changed preventing ITC Masters students, who come mainly from developing countries, from bringing their families for longer than three months. In the decades since the ITC moved to Enschede, the number of female students has also increased dramatically. To serve their needs, the ING now offers them social gatherings once every two months on Friday evenings.
WiT, Women in Twente. ' The UT doesn't offer anything for spouses,' laments Phing Choo, American wife of a UT professor. When she discovered WiT through an acquaintances at ITC, she was thrilled by the camaraderie it provided.
WiT offers social contact and emotional support for both transient and permanent communities of Twente region. Dutch group members are on hand to help newcomers integrate into the local milieu, proffering vital information on local issues, exchanging tips on running one's household in a foreign country, clarifying confusing concepts like the medical insurance system, or even illustrating the famous Dutch gezelligheid.
The social aspect of this group allows for intercultural discussions, exploration of art, music, and dance. Activities are based on members' interests, such as museum outings, dancing, and potluck dinners. WiT also helps put together people with similar interests; from WiT have sprung sub-groups that walk or sew together.
For more information about the ING, call the chairwoman Edith ter Heegde at 053 428 2864. For more information on WiT, contact: Phing Choo: 053 436 1698 or [email protected].
