My own shower or the group’s shower?
Hussein is from Turkey and has been studying at TU/e for about more than a year now. I met him the other day and asked him how he is experiencing our campus and Community. To cut a long story short (indeed!), he mentioned what struck him most were the showers at the sports center. He described them as large and open halls where representatives of the same sex stand there naked. Just a little bit too much for him to happily join the other Adams in this collective freshening up process! What can he/we do about this?
Take the 4 recommendations towards reconciling a dilemma a.k.a. the 4 Rs I mentioned in my previous columns, and apply them to this case. Difficult to realize. If Hussein wants to adapt to the local context of the group showers, he will stand there naked and feel uncomfortable. If he wants to be just himself like at home, he will put on his swimming suit and the others will stare at him and most likely laugh at him for this. So again an awkward situation.
His solution? Quickly go back to his apartment and take his shower there in his safe personal environment. And then quickly go back to class on time, if possible. No real reconciliation of values, more something like a practical compromise.
This has to do with the physical environment of our campus, the first stage in developing a truly international Community. Take an onion and peel it layer per layer. We are now touching on the external layer. Entering our campus via the Diversity Lane (we used to call that path het Limbopad years ago, yes, it’s my current dream…), someone’s 5 senses will detect the truly international atmosphere of our science park.
A few examples: All signposting will be bilingual and in correct English (please, don’t turn the lights off while on the toilets…). Food in the cafeterias will be reflecting the cultural diversity of our Community members. There will be a silent room dedicated to praying, meditation, mindfulness, etc. Publications like Cursor and SG-programs will be more and more bilingual and diverse.
Both local and international students will live on campus in mixed units and buy their food from the local supermarket (can’t wait to see it in Flux!). The TU/e-website will also further reflect a sense of inclusiveness.
And finally guess what? Yes, there will also be some individual shower cabins for those who need some privacy. Values dealing with your own body, your intimacy cannot be ignored in an international Community. Sports unify, they say, but what about the aftermath? The next layer is about education and communication, and that is quite some peeling. Keep your tears for next time.
Discussie