How long have you worked at the University of Twente?
‘Since the 1st of February 2001. I started at the BMS Faculty and after six years I moved to the International Office, now called the Scholarship Office & International Relations.’
Are you single, married, in love?
‘I’m not married, but I’ve been living with my boyfriend for 23 years. We have two sons, nine and thirteen years old.’
Where do you live?
‘Oldenzaal. Now I try to cycle from Oldenzaal to work at least two or three times a week. It’s my New Year’s resolution.’
Do you have other New Year's resolutions?
‘To lose weight, eat more healthy, do more sports. We try to go for lunch walks with my colleagues every day, but it doesn’t always work out. But otherwise it’s going well so far. Today I cycled to work. I usually don’t give myself New Year's resolutions. Last years I was very busy with my studies, but I finished that, got a bit of rest and now I’m ready to go.’
What did you study?
‘Bedrijfskunde (Business Administration) at Saxion. It took a lot of my time and I had to combine it with my family and a full-time job, so there was a lot of juggling. But I was able to combine my studies with projects at our department, so I could directly apply what I learnt.’
Why did you decide to start studying again?
‘Every year I follow a course organized by the HR department here at the UT and once every three years or so I look for something extra, something outside the university. Because otherwise I just stand still. I’m curious and I like to learn. I don’t want to stand still. That’s why I also joined the University Council – to learn something new. First I was on a different council. My son has ADHD and is following special education. I was a chairperson at the council Attendiz Foundation for special education in the region of Twente for a few years. I couldn’t follow a regular study course then, so I was looking for other ways to learn. You don’t always have to follow a study programme to learn. You learn every time you meet someone new.’
Do you have any hobbies?
‘I like to read, although I don’t always have the time. Right now I’m reading the Redbreast by Jo Nesbø. It’s so exciting! I bought it when I was in London in December. I like to keep up my English, so I read an English book every now and then. I also have a “dining club” with my friends, I love to try new recipes.’
What is on your bucket list?
‘I’d like to travel with my partner. To explore Canada and Iceland driving around in a mobile home. With my children we would like to go to Spain by plane next year, because my sons never flew before. I want them to have that experience. Last year we went to Ameland by boat and they loved it. It was so great to see those big eyes full of excitement.’
Do you have any hidden talents?
‘I like to paint. I don’t do it very often anymore, because my kids always want to join me and then I’m busy helping them, not painting. But when I finish a painting my partner always says “It’s great, you should take it to your office.”’
And do you?
‘Yes, I do. There are three paintings I made hanging in my office. For example, I painted the “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. I modernized it a bit. My colleagues really like my paintings, which is good because they have to look at them. One time they even played a prank on me and pretended somebody stole the painting. “See, you are a famous painter. People like it so much they steal it.” But I knew what they were up to.’
Are you originally from Twente?
‘Yes, I was born and raised in Oldenzaal. Actually, my partner wants to move away from Oldenzaal but I want to stay in the region. I really like the city, we have so much! I like the Hulsbeek, the city center, the carnival.’
Do you participate in the carnival?
‘I did when I was very young, fourteen or fifteen. Now I just watch the parade.’
If you weren’t living here and working here, what would you be doing?
‘I really like handwork – painting, drawing, embroidery and so on. I love those hobby stores, I can really get lost in them. So maybe I would work in a shop like that or, even better, have my own hobby shop.’
