Winter Magazine

MAGAZINE
THE SIX DEADLY SINS
OF THE BOARD
‘TIS THE SEASON...
FOR JOYOUS BEVERAGES
Recipes for (hot) festive beverages
will come to your rescue.
WINTER IN NIJMEGEN
DURING CORONA
And many
more!
Some ideas on how to defeat
quarantine boredom and enjoy
wintertime in Nijmegen and online!
WINTER EDITION 2020-2021

SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Table of Contents
05
Excel Ourselves -
The Six Deadly Sins
of the XXXI st Board
Vanagloria, Luxuria, Avaritia,
Acedia, Ira, and Gula: The
Six Deadly Sins of the XXXI st
Board of Synergy...
12
Winter in Nijmegen
During Corona
Here are some ideas on
how to defeat quarantine
boredom and enjoy wintertime
in Nijmegen and online!
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
17
‘Tis the season... for
joyous beverages!
Heat it up! The following
recipes for (hot) festive
beverages, with or without
alcohol, will come to your
rescue.
03
09
15
Preface
Mental Health at Radboud
University
Workshop: I Do Not Know
What I Want
21
25
26
Active Members of the
Month - October
Active Member of the
Month - November
Synergy Division
20
Column - The Netherlands
From an Outsider’s
Perspective
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Preface
D ear Readers,
Welcome (back) to the Synergy magazine! For this Winter edition, we have tried to
write a COVID friendly edition – with plenty of things to do this time of year, articles on
some of Synergy’s online events and information on how Radboud could support you
should you struggle with your mental health. In addition, the Synergy board has kindly
provided us with an overview of “their” deadly sins to bring you closer to the lustrum
theme. We have also introduced a new column in which international students tell us
about their home country, and in this edition our first guest writer is from Germany.
The Magazine Committee is relatively small this year: we are with just two
members – Lindsay and Christin – supported by Synergy secretary and
vice-chairman Eva. As a result, we suffer from just a little bit of envy towards those
committees that were able to attract more members. But, like everyone (we hope), we
are working on overcoming this sin and improving ourselves this year.
Due to our size, we were originally quite overwhelmed at the prospect of filling a magazine
by Christmas. But with the help of some amazing guest writers and the support of the
board we were able to do it nevertheless. So, a big thank you to everyone who helped us
out, and we hope that you and all of our readers are happy with the final results.
Have fun reading and wishing you all festive times ahead!
PS: Should you have any ideas for articles or wish to write one yourself,
please always feel free to reach out to us: magazine@synergy.nu.
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The Magazine Committee:
Christin Adams – Chairwoman/ All-rounder
After an internationally focused bachelor,
Christin has now found her way into the BA
premaster at Radboud. When there are no
COVID restrictions she likes to check out the
different boulder halls in the area, enjoys
spending time outdoors and plays the flute in
an orchestra.
Lindsay Beelen – All-rounder
Originally an art historian to be, she now
spends her time doing her pre-master’s in
Business Administration. Her hobbies and
interests change almost every other week as
she likes to dive into new things, but her love
for writing remains constant.
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Excel Ourselves - The Six
Deadly Sins of the XXXI st
Board
Vanagloria (Vanity)
Luc Spronk - Chairman
As the chairman, it is my job to be the face of the
association. Of course, I should have a fine-looking
appearance myself then. You could even say that
vanity is a part of my job too. This shows the best in
the morning, so let me tell you what a typical morning
looks like.
Every morning I take the
cucumbers off my eyes and
splash some fresh water
on my face. I put in my
lenses so that I can properly
see myself in the mirror.
“Am I still dreaming?”, I
think to myself when I see
my reflection. A long hot
shower will then wash off all
the stress of yesterday and
get my body clean in every
nook, corner and pore. I
get myself dry, put on my
clothes and start preparing
breakfast. Since I once
watched a short video on
Instagram, I am convinced
that my breakfast should
be plant-based, ecologically
grown, ethically produced
and CO2 neutral because
otherwise that would be bad
for my skin. Finally, I take my
shot of essential oils; today I
look radiant (again).
Modesty surely can be one
of my qualities, just not in
the morning. If you can take
good care of yourself, you
can take good care of your
work!
“If you can take good care of yourself, you can
take good care of your work!”
“If only everyone had
unlimited money...”
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Luxuria (Lust)
Eva Mientjes - Secretary & Vice-Chairman
When you started reading this you probably hoped for
some juicy gossip about my love life. Unfortunately, I
have to disappoint you and I will keep the details to
myself. Currently, I am on a pink cloud somewhere
as I have fallen in love and that is one way in which I
affiliate with the sin lust.
“I have many
desires...”
But lust does not necessarily
mean sexual desire, you can
also think of lust as a desire
for something else. In that
case I have many desires:
more time as a student,
activities with friends and
family, perfection, cuddling
cute animals, walks in
beautiful nature, travelling,
reading, developing myself,
unlimited shopping money,
plants that do not die,
etcetera.
As you might have already
guessed my strongest desire
at this moment is lust
for the end of the COVID-19
pandemic. Hopefully we can
organise amazing physical
activities very soon, where
we can dance, sport, laugh
and hug each other again!
Avaritia (Greed)
Mendy van Reeuwijk - Treasurer
As I am the treasurer of Synergy you probably won’t be surprised that I chose the sin
avaritia. Apart from the fact that I think the word has a great sound to it, I mean,
”Avaritia, Avaritia, Avaritia”, just sounds better every time, this is also the sin I
identify the most with.
When I asked my friends for
a great skill of mine, I got the
answer: I don’t know how,
but you somehow find a
deal for everything. Which
is a skill I’m obviously very
proud of.
Synergy 3D painting on the
ground? YES please. Getting
the Dirty Daddies for an
Open Synergy? I don’t see
a problem. If only everyone
had unlimited money…
Unfortunately, I do get very
enthusiastic about things
without looking at the price
tag first. I mean an enormous
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Acedia (Sloth)
Zoë Backbier - Marketing Officer
Just to be clear: if a teacher or professor asks,
I am a very productive student. I never loaf on
the job, and my grades are always above 8.0.
“...slow and steady
always wins the race”
OK, now that’s out of the way,
let’s get real. When I got time
off, don’t expect me to go
jogging or mountain climbing.
I would choose a night of
Netflixing with a glass of wine
over climbing the Waalbrug
anytime. Don’t get me wrong:
during the week I give my full
100% for Synergy. But I would
be lying if I said I was not looking
forward to being pampered by
my parents over the weekend.
And yes, I would be more than
happy to participate in the
Batavierenrace! However, do
not expect to see me running.
The best I can do is claim a spot
for our tents with a beer in my
hand. Because after all, slow
and steady always wins the
race.
Ira (Wrath)
Rebecca Veltman - Internal and Educational Affairs
I chose the sin ‘vengeful’, because I truly find this interesting. There are thousands of chick
flicks and a million songs about girls who take revenge on their ex-boyfriend or former best
friend by spreading gossip or setting someone’s car on fire.
This is all very funny, but in the
end these acts coming from
feelings of anger do not solve
anything. Things that work in
movies and songs do not always
apply to real life. It is a real
cliché but, in the end, the best
revenge is to get over whatever
happened, work hard and
make sure you improve your
own situation. Real revenge
is becoming happier and/or
more successful than you were
before. Revenge can be a real
motivator for yourself, show
that you’re better than others
and especially that you are
better off without your ‘enemy’.
I truly think revenge inspires
people as there are so many
people who are for example
bullied as kids, and later in life
they own a big company or they
become really famous. This
shows that working on yourself
is always better than trying to
ruin someone else’s life.
However, if you do feel like
taking revenge, then I do have
one tip for you. Do not ask me
to help; I am pretty tiny so I
can’t help with lifting anything
and since I do not have a driving
license, I cannot ride them over
with a bus either ;)
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Gula (Gluttony)
Wessel Schemkes -
External Affairs
For the members that already know me, it may not come as a
surprise that I am the board member that has the strongest
affiliation with the sin gluttony.
My love for fast food started
at a young age, and at the
age of 12 I was already frying
my own fries in the shed in
our backyard. I started my
first job when I was 15 at
a local cafeteria, and since
then I never backed away
from a delicious treat out of
the frying pan.
Long ago, when the bars
were still open and you
could still wander in the
streets till 6 am, I was one
of the regular customers at
the FEBO (Dutch snackbar).
There were some nights that
I spent less on beer than I
did at the FEBO (the good
old Synergy Drinks).
But the best snack is by far
the ‘Mexicano’. The members
that where at the lustrum
reveal drink last November
can remember the epic
speech that I gave about
why the Mexicano is the best
snack. But to summarize
for you: Imagine a frikandel
(2nd best snack in the
world), but spicy (I already
hear your enthusiasm) and
it is flat (ergonomic, easily
transportable, and bigger
than every other snack).
I urge every Synergy member
to run to the nearest
cafeteria and support the
small business owner in
these difficult times.
“I urge every Synergy member to run to the
nearest cafetaria and support the small
business owner in these difficult times.”
“Real revenge is becoming
happier and/or more succesful
than you were before.”
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Mental Health at Radboud
University
What kind of help does Student Support at Radboud
University offer me? And which help is suitable for me?
Lindsay Beelen
You may already know that each study program has their own study advisors
to turn to if you want to inform them about personal problems or questions
related to your study program, but did you also know that Radboud
University offers courses, training sessions and workshops related to, let’s
say, assertiveness?
It is common to encounter hurdles during
your student life. Before you know it, life
happens, and you’re not able to study as
much as you’d like to. Maybe you need to
support a loved one during difficult times.
It could also be that you have trouble
focusing. Or perhaps it’s not the studying
that troubles you, maybe interacting with
your fellow students during group projects
gives you anxiety. One thing to remember
is that it’s okay to ask for help and that
you’re not alone. Radboud University can
offer help in several ways.
Student advisor
When you start encountering problems,
the best person to alert first is your
student advisor. Early contact can prevent
study delay. Beyond providing information
about your program, they are also able
to lend a sympathetic ear and, if suitable
to your situation, refer you to one of the
specialized people listed below. Especially
when you don’t really know what kind of
help would best suit your situation, the
student advisor is a great starting point.
A sneak peek of the courses offered at
Radboud University…
Preventing Burnout
Study Stimulation Therapy Group
Assertiveness
Performance Anxiety
… and many others.
For a complete overview, please visit
https://www.ru.nl/currentstudents/
during-your-studies/overview-counsellors-advisors/courses-training-sessions-workshops/
Student psychologist
When you mainly struggle with personal
and study-related problems, the student
psychologist may be a right fit for you. If
you have a hard time coping with anxiety,
stress or depression they’ll be able to help.
The same goes for perfectionism and
problems with motivation or focusing. An
intake can be made online.
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Besides that, there’s a free e-health
platform, called ‘Gezondeboel’, available
to RU-students. Many aspects, like
stress and loneliness, are covered.
Some more specific examples of online
modules are ‘Standing up for yourself’,
‘Dealing with corona stress’ and ‘Too
much social media’. An account can be
made online at any time, without need
of a prior appointment.
Student counsellor
This is the right person to contact when you
are in need of adapted studying or are at
risk of delay. Some reasons for requesting
special provisions could be long-lasting
health conditions or diagnoses like ADHD
and autism spectrum disorder. Other
situations could be encountering financial
problems, expecting and/ or caring for
a child or combining your study with
exceptional talent.
or repeatedly receiving comments
about your appearance. The advisor will
independently listen to you and try to find
a solution to stop the unwanted behavior.
They can also help you with filing a
complaint with the complaints committee
at Radboud University.
Support with addiction
When you are at risk of getting into
trouble due to an addiction, the student
counsellor or student psychologist could
refer you to IrisZorg for a Moti-4 intake.
It is also possible to sign up by yourself.
Moti-4 is a program of four individual
meetings, in which you will critically
examine your addictive behavior with a
prevention worker. It is not a treatment,
rather, it should be seen as a preventive
intervention. The target audience consists
of students who experience substance
abuse or have trouble with excessive
gaming or gambling.
Study trainer
The study trainer will mostly be able to
help with strategic studying and problems
with procrastination. Negative thoughts
during studying or time management
in general are also a topic to talk about
with the study trainer. They can refer you
to several courses, like the ones on selfmanagement
or perfectionism.
Confidential advisor
This is the person to go to when you’re
experiencing undesirable behavior
from others. For example: your study
experience could be disturbed by bullying,
(sexual) intimidation or discrimination.
Some subtle forms which could reduce
your enjoyment of studying are being
ignored on purpose by fellow students
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Student chaplaincy
Looking for something else? Often
overlooked, the Student Chaplaincy is a
good place to check out. Besides religious
services they can also offer you conviviality
in the form of, for example, the film club,
where multicultural Fine Arts movies are
analyzed. Several discussion groups are
available as well, for example a grief group
for students and the Talking Face2Face
group, in which ethical and philosophical
questions are discussed. The chaplaincy
also offers several workshops and courses:
In Balance, Almost graduated: What’s
next? and Bible Study. If art inspires and
motivates you, it’s possible to be part of
one of their art projects. The ‘purification
grave’ is one of those projects and has
received some media attention: students
are invited to meditate in the grave dug
in the garden. Last but not least, the
chaplaincy regularly organizes excursions
to abbeys. If you are not particularly
interested in any of these activities, the
chaplains are also able to offer you a
listening ear. All students of every kind of
background are welcome to visit.
To schedule an appointment or to read more info first, it is recommended to check
the website of Radboud University.
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Winter in Nijmegen
during Corona
Christin Adams
Here are some IDEAS on how to defeat
QUARANTINE boredom and ENJOY
wintertime in NIJMEGEN and online!
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Winter in Nijmegen
during Corona
Christin Adams
Here are some ideas on how to defeat quarantine boredom and enjoy
wintertime in Nijmegen and online.
Christmas-time is approaching and the
(not so) snowy season is underway. Now
that it is December, most of us would
usually spend a lot of time on Christmas
parties, enjoying all the special family
traditions that we have for this time of
year or discovering what Nijmegen and
its surroundings have to offer in winter
– think ice skating, Christmas markets,
lovely decorations and cold weather.
Since this year is different in so many
aspects, not all of us might get the
privilege of enjoying this time as usual.
Visiting your family for the holidays has
suddenly become equally impossible as
meeting friends for a night of movies and
Gluhwein. However hard this year might
be, this is not a reason to despair! We
have collected some ideas on what to do
this winter so you can still enjoy the break
from university the way you usually would
– just a little different.
Digital ideas
Zoom baking sessions
Cooking sessions via video calls seem
to have become quite popular in recent
months, and now it is time to bring out
your favorite cooking recipes and share
them with your friends! Simply share
some recipes in advance so everyone has
the ingredients ready and bake them in
your own kitchen. You might not be able
to offer each other a taste, but if you hold
your phone close enough to the oven you
can almost imagine what it might smell
like… Of course, this works equally well
for almost any other activity – try to make
your own Christmas decorations or try out
our Gluhwein recipes from page 17.
Watch some movies
December is the season of Blockbuster
cinema releases. But who says that you
can’t enjoy a movie with friends from
around the planet in the comfort of your
own home? Whether you go back to old
classics or check out the newest Netflix
hit – watching a movie or show together is
very easily doable with today’s technology.
And if your “seat neighbor” starts asking
questions throughout the whole film, just
put them on mute.
Digital Secret Santa
Since you might not be able to surprise
your friends with presents in person this
year, why don’t you do a digital secret
Santa? Here is how it goes: As usual, every
person gets assigned one other person
to get a little present. An amount of
money (could be 0) is set and people start
wondering what to get their gift recipient.
This year, how about a new eBook to stop
quarantine boredom? Or a personalized
Spotify playlist with winter/ Christmas
songs (from your home country?) that you
think they might like? Get creative!
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
#DOESLIEF – Be nice
Next to asking its citizens to be careful and follow the Corona regulations, the Dutch government
also asks everyone to be nice to each other and help others in these difficult times. Some ideas for
nice things to do for others:
If you follow the hygiene measures while being, you could leave a surprise box of home-made
cookies for family members, friends, neighbors in front of their door. Best paired with a nice,
personalized note!
This one might be overdone by now, but there are always people from risk groups that would
appreciate some help with grocery shopping etc. to ensure they leave the house as little as possible.
Offer your help to neighbors or others you know and show them that you care.
In Person
Try out all the sweet Dutch winter specialties
Oliebollen: Balls of fried dough with raisins
and sugar that you can find in pop-up
stands all over the country. Hopefully, we
will be able to get these delicious snacks
this year.
Pepernoten: While not only sold in Winter
these are a good to know snack the entire
year around, and personally, I think they
have something very Christmassy in them.
In any case, if you have not tried them yet,
you definitely should.
(Gevulde) Speculaas: Typical cookie that
includes all spices connected to Winter –
often found in different shapes. There also
is a version filled with marzipan – yummy!
Go walking/ Get outdoors
Hiking is a nice activity in summer and winter
alike. While the Netherlands might not offer
you the experience of getting to the top of
high mountains, there still are a lot of nice
natural places across the country, including
around Nijmegen. A stroll through one of
the many parks or along the river Waal can
be a nice way to destress from everything
that’s going on.
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Workshop: I Do Not Know
What I Want
Lindsay Beelen
On the 4th of November the workshop ‘I do not know what I want’ was held
online and led by Ignace de Haes, career officer at the Faculty of Philosophy,
Theology and Religious Studies. Science is practiced from the perspective of
not knowing. Why won’t we face the future from the same perspective?
Exercise
“I DO NOT KNOW…” Those were the first
words participants were asked to write on
their own sheet of paper. “…which career
path to choose.” And these words were
how I decided to finish my sentence. I look
up, and most participants are still writing
eagerly. By the amount of people attending,
I can see how the topic lives among
students. After everyone has put down
their pens, the instructor
explains: “Behind the not
knowing is either fear or
indifference. Which one
applies to your situation?”
That’s easy, I think, as I
write down “I’m afraid I’ll
change my mind.”
Discussion
A discussion ensues.
Many participants have
written down a similar
problem. Which master to pick? And what
is my next best step to take? It is hard to
figure out, and we are eager to learn how to
distinguish the ‘right’ decision. An obvious
approach would be to look up loads of
information first. After all, it would seem
unwise to make an uninformed decision.
But at some point, we know the essentials,
and every new detail adds to the insecurity.
In turn, that insecurity could lead to
If you already
know everything
that is to come and
every decision is
laid out in front
of you, you might
miss some other
beautiful paths
in life. Be open to
change.
procrastination, because what if an
essential detail is missed? You seem to
reach a wall.
Then what can be done? A good step
would be to tune in with your feelings and
look for the cause of your insecurity. Can
something be done about it? Sometimes,
that is not possible. Then the only way left
is to take the plunge and see how it goes!
It sounds easier said
than done, and not
every participant seems
convinced. Then the
instructor ensures us:
“In case you make the
wrong decision, it is
always possible to get
back on track.” In that
way, choices made in
the past are always
good choices, because
they will have taught you something that
was previously unknown to you. It helps
you make better decisions in the future.
During the workshop, words spoken by
the author and former U.S. Navy SEAL
William McRaven come to mind: “True
leaders must learn from their failures, use
these lessons to motivate themselves and
not be afraid to try again or make the next
tough decision.”
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
In the end, all choices are choices of
feeling, and we try to improve them by
using our wit. It is good to listen to advice
from others, but it should be avoided to
decide against your own drive and gut
feeling.
Lesson Learned
Doubt is an inevitable part of the decisionmaking
process. When you are in the state
of not knowing, there are two options:
continue doubting or you can just do it!
Dealing with dubiety and insecurity makes
you open to dealing with whatever comes
your way. If you already know everything
that is to come and every decision is laid
out in front of you, you might miss some
other beautiful paths in life. Be open to
chance.
Thank you, Mr. De Haes, for providing
us with this interesting and valuable
workshop!
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
‘Tis the season... for joyous
beverages!
Lindsay Beelen
The chilly weather, having to get up when it’s still dark outside and being
forced to wear multiple layers of clothes: winter has arrived. Luckily, there
are many ways to add some spice to the season. First suggestion: heat it up!
The following recipes for (hot) festive beverages, with or without alcohol, will
come to your rescue.
It might be cold and dark outside, but it’s
also the perfect festive season to hang out
with friends and loved ones and have it
accompanied by a nice drink. What’s better
than a homemade version? They will be a
recipe for good times ahead!
Romans adored this type of beverage and
in the sixteenth century the drink, then
given the name hippokras, was considered
as something of high value. People saw it
as an item which balanced the elements
of cold, hot, dry and wet. The added sugar
was even believed to have medicinal
qualities! Are you ready to explore history?
Bisschopswijn
Alcoholic beverage
This recipe will get you approx. 6 glasses
ahead.
Go Dutch…with bisschopswijn
Bisschopswijn? Translated in a quite
literal way it means ‘bishop’s wine’ and
traditionally it’s a drink meant to be
consumed during the holiday of Sinterklaas
(who was a bishop). Even to the Dutch
this might not seem familiar anymore,
but it’s similar to the better-known
German glühwein. The only difference is
that bisschopswijn is made with peels of
oranges, while the latter can also be made
with other citrus fruits.
Drinks made from wine with added spices
are seen throughout all of Europe, and it’s
not surprising considering its history. The
Ingredients:
1 bottle of red wine
5 cloves (add more to taste)
2 oranges
2 cinnamon sticks
75g of sugar (can be replaced with 2-3
tbs of honey)
Optional: spices like star anise or mace,
or a splash of red port
Procedure:
Cut the oranges into slices and insert
the cloves in them. Start heating the
beverage on a stove, and add all desired
ingredients into the wine. Keep the
temperature constant, 70°C is ideal. No
boiling, or the alcohol will start evaporating!
Ideally, the spices would seep in
for about one hour, but no one will stop
you if you drink it earlier ;)
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
The French vin chaud...try it blanc
The French hot wine served during the
holidays is about the same as we like it here:
red and spiced. But if you stroll through
the markets, in some areas you’ll also find
the variant made with white wine. Wines
from the Alsace region are perfect for
vin chaud blanc and some recommended
grape varieties are Gewürztraminer, Pinot
Gris and Riesling. With this recipe you
won’t see red!
Vin chaud blanc
Alcoholic beverage
This recipe will get you approx. 6 glasses
ahead.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of white (French) wine, not too
dry
0.5 orange
0.5 lemon
150ml of water
80g of sugar (can be less or more) Spices:
1 cinnamon stick, 1 star anise, 1 clove, a
pinch of nutmeg.
Procedure:
Remove the orange and lemon peels to
prevent a bitter taste. Cut both fruits into
parts. Add the wine and the water into a
saucepan and add the other ingredients,
but skip the sugar for now. Let it heat
on a stove for about 10 minutes. Never,
ever, let it boil. Then, add the sugar. Don’t
forget to stir in between. After 5 more
minutes the drink is ready to serve!
Hot buttered rum
An alcoholic drink with butter? In Europe
hot buttered rum is not the easiest to
find, especially since it’s usually something
made at home, but in the United States
this drink has a rich history dating back to
even before the Revolutionary War. Back
then, rum was cheap and insanely popular
with the colonists. They believed it was
nutritious and together with the butter it
provided some healthy calories. Nowadays
we know better, but this sweet comfort
drink will definitely keep you warm.
Hot buttered rum
Alcoholic beverage
This recipe will get you approx. 4 glasses
ahead.
Ingredients:
180 ml of dark rum
480 ml of hot water
115 grams of butter (can be replaced
with coconut oil to make it vegan)
130 grams of brown sugar
Spices: a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg and
allspice
A pinch of salt
A splash of vanilla extract
Procedure:
Add the butter (or coconut oil) in a mixing
bowl, together with the sugar, spices, salt
and vanilla extract. Beat the ingredients
well. Grab four heat resistant glasses and
divide the batter among them. Add 45ml
of rum to each glass. Then, add 120 ml of
hot water to each glass, but do not add
when still boiling, because it might ruin
the taste of the rum. Stir well! If you want,
add some extra cinnamon on top.
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Virgin pornstar mocktail
The Pornstar Martini is popular, stylish and
famous, thanks to its evocative name and
its particular flavor. It has been around
for about two decades and is a real looker
with its immediately recognizable color. If
you want to keep the evening alcohol free,
you can make everyone else jealous with
this cheeky mocktail.
Virgin pornstar mocktail
Alcohol-free
This recipe will get you one drink. A cocktail
shaker and a strainer will be needed.
Ingredients:
1 passion fruit
75ml passion fruit juice (may be substituted
with tropical juice)
2 tsp. vanilla syrup
1 tbsp. lime juice
Some ice
Some soda water to top up
Procedure:
Cut the passion fruit in half. Put one half
aside. The other half needs to be scooped
out and put into the cocktail shaker.
Add both juices and the syrup, then finish
with some ice. Shake well, then (double)
strain the beverage into a glass. Now add
the second half of passion fruit on top.
Serve with some soda water to top up.
exam period will be waiting for us, and a
mental reset will be needed. Matcha drinks
can help with studying and concentration
and are a nice replacement for your daily
cup of coffee. The idea for a powdered
variant of green tea, matcha, was
brought from China to Japan and there its
popularity increased in the 12th century.
Zen Buddhists drank it as a stimulant to
aid in their long meditation. It helped
them stay focused and awake. Later on,
the military elite adopted this practice as
well. Follow the spirit of the lustrum year
and defeat acedia (sloth)!
Matcha Latte
Alcohol-free
This recipe will get you one drink.
Ingredients:
1 tsp matcha powder
100ml of hot water
150 ml of your milk of choice
Optional: some coconut blossom sugar,
or any other kind of sweetener.
Procedure:
Heat the water, but don’t let it boil. If you
want to add hot milk, start heating it as
well. To add foam it’s possible to froth
the milk. Put a small amount of hot water
in a cup and add matcha. Whisk the
drink well to prevent any lumps of tea. A
smooth paste should be the result. Next,
add the leftover water and the (hot) milk.
Stir your drink and add any sweeteners
if you’d like to. Tip: you can also choose
to add only the hot water, to create the
original tea drank by monks. However,
the taste will be a lot stronger and it’s not
ideal for beginners.
Matcha latte
The final boss of this article is the peaceful
matcha latte. Why? Because when the
holidays are over, a new year with a new
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Column - The Netherlands
From an Outsider’s
Perspective
Marleen - Germany
For this new column, we are inviting Synergy members from around the
globe to tell us their perspective on living in the Netherlands. This edition,
we asked Marleen to write something on the differences she noted when
moving here from Germany.
When I arrived in the Netherlands a bit more than three years ago, I didn’t know
much about the country in general. Even though I am from Germany and I grew up
only 600km away from Nijmegen, I always assumed that the culture must be about the
same and the language easy to learn. So, it was quite a moment when I met my mentor
group with mostly Dutch students and I realized that I couldn’t understand anything at all.
Everyone would talk English to me and try to teach me some Dutch (my first sentence in
Dutch was “frituur is cultuur”) but overall, there were more differences between Dutchies
and Germans than I expected.
Firstly, Dutch people only eat a very small snack for lunch, like a toasty for example. In
Germany, I was used to getting a real meal at around 1 or 2 and then something smaller
for dinner. That difference is especially important for me because I do get hungry in the
middle of the day. Secondly, in the Netherlands everyone sends Tikkies for everything. We
do not have that system in Germany, so we would not care that much about paying back
2€ to a friend immediately. I like how easy it is to pay without cash, but I think it’s also nice
to sometimes invite a friend or to get invited.
After all the memories that I have made in the Netherlands, I do feel like this is my home for
now. I don’t get confused anymore when people arrange their chairs in a circle to for me
unclear purposes and I love eating pepernoten in the winter. For all other internationals, I
recommend learning the language as much as possible (it takes some time but it’s worth
it), and I suggest reading the book “Why the Dutch are Different” by Ben Coates. But most
importantly, enjoy your time in the Netherlands!
Are you an international student interested in writing a similar column for our next edition,
informing other Synergy members about your country? Reach out to us to learn how
(magazine@synergy.nu).
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Active Members of the
Month - October
Synergy Business Trip Committee
Hi dear Synergy members! This month, it is the honor of the Business Trip
Committee to gain a spot in the Synergy magazine. Before we take you into
our rollercoaster of the past year, we will introduce ourselves to you.
Deana Cremers (Chairman)
This is Deana Cremers, she is 22 years old and started the master
Marketing in September. As a chairman it was her main task to
guide, motivate and support all committee members in their tasks.
The reason she applied for this committee is because she really
loves going on a city trip. Her hobbies are reading, going for a
drink with snacks (!), and spending time with the people she loves
the most. She is very proud to say that the committee has done
its very utmost trying to continue the trip, but unfortunately the
circumstances did not allow it.
Rik Razing (Internal Affairs and Marketing
Officer) & Bente Moeskops (Internal Affairs)
Rik (20) and Bente (20) both study the bachelor
Business Administration. If you ever need them,
you can find Bente in the beautiful nature of
Nijmegen and Rik in the RU sports centre. They
were very excited to explore a new city with
you all, the business culture and of course the
student life! As internal affairs officers they took
responsibility of the hostel, pubs and restaurants. As a marketing officer Rik also took
care of all the promotion towards the Business Trip.
Romée Snel & Marleen Richters (External Affairs)
Romée (19) and Marleen (20) also study the
bachelor Business Administration. Romee loves to
learn about new cultures and cities, and Marleen’s
favorite combination is beer and travelling. It
is very clear that these girls were a perfect fit
in our committe. As external affairs they were
responsible for selecting interesting companies
to visit.
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Lyanne Wagemans (Treasurer & External affairs)
This is Lyanne, she is 21 years old and currently in her third year of
the bachelor Business Administration. In her spare time, she likes
to travel, have a good time with friends at festivals or pubs, plays
sports and wants to broaden her perspective. Lyanne performed
a dual function in our committee as she was responsible of the
finance but also supported Romée and Marleen with the external
affairs.
Our first plan for the Business Trip
T
he committee started somewhere in April, a few weeks after everybody was settled
nicely in quarantine. For some it was the first committee to be a part of, for the
chairman the first time to be a chairman. Despite the circumstances, our committee was
very excited to organize an unforgettable trip and positive that everything would be better
in November (at least we kept the hope). We made a list of suitable, fun and interesting
destinations for the Business Trip to take place. Luckily, we had some overlapping desired
cities, and one of them was Copenhagen. After hesitating for a moment (it really is that
exciting to capture the location), we decided ‘Copenhagen it is!’.
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
From this moment, the external affairs started with making a big list of interesting companies
to contact for a company visit in November. There was a surprisingly large interest from
the companies in our trip and we soon managed to arrange three enthusiastic companies.
The internal affairs started with contacting Piet as Synergy’s confidential bus driver. In
addition, they reached out to several hostels, pubs and restaurants. It is regrettable to share
they arranged a student friendly hostel and a great pub-crawl with welcome shots at each pub.
Even in the summer break we worked so hard that in September our trip seemed
almost completed. Unfortunately, at this time the measures got tightened up
again in a way that it was irresponsible to continue the trip to Copenhagen.
However, our committee shared a strong degree of perseverance and creativity, so
despite the cancellation of Copenhagen being a disappointment it was at the same time
a challenge to come up with something new.
“... our trip seemed almost completed.”
Our second plan for the Business Trip
So, no worries, together with the board we decided to organize a Business Trip 2.0
in our own country! We barely had two months left thus everything we arranged for
Copenhagen in five months we now did in a couple of weeks. Rotterdam and Utrecht
became the new destinations of our trip. Again companies, hostels, restaurants, and
pubs were contacted. We faced the challenge that a lot of companies were interested,
but not allowed to welcome any visitors to their office. Comparable challenges came up
for arranging hostels, restaurants and pubs as they could only allow a limited number
of guests. Meanwhile the measures got worse every week, and in the middle of October
the board decided to also cancel the Business Trip 2.0. It was a very sad moment to
realize there would be no trip, but it was even more sad that this was the end of us
working together as a committee. It is amazing how we build such a strong bond through
meeting and collaborating mainly online.
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Our plan for the future as (ex) committee
After the committee ended, we still contacted each other to join some Synergy activities
and go for a drink (with a snack of course). Currently, the measures don’t allow
us to catch up with the whole group, but we are looking forward to plan some fun
activities, join some great Synergy activities and maybe even visit Copenhagen when
the circumstances become better in the future. For now, all we can say to our fellow
Synergy members that it is really amazing to organize the Business Trip and make it as
unforgettable as possible. We as committee were so intensely involved in this trip, that
later we will not even remember if we actually went to Copenhagen or not. After these
months we came out ten times as wise and it was above all a big pleasure.
“After these months we came
out ten times as wise and it
was above all a big pleasure.”
“It is amazing how we build such a
strong bond through meeting and
collaborating mainly online.”
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Active Member of the Month
- November
Christin Adams
The active member of the month in November was Irene, an active Synergy
member known for her energy and commitment.
her role in organizing the lustrum week.
Irene is originally from Enschede and
is studying the bachelor in Business
Administration in her second year.
She especially likes her concentration
in Business Economics. Irene joined
Synergy right after she started studying
in Nijmegen as a way to get involved and
meet new people – and it sounds like she
was successful with both goals.
Currently Irene is a member of the
Lustrum Committee – she is the marketing
officer and is responsible for promoting
the committee’s activities around the
lustrum. This includes the build-up to the
lustrum theme reveal in early November
and everything leading up to the lustrum
weeks in May 2021. When I asked her what
she thought about the lustrum theme
reveal she said that she thought that it
worked out quite well with doing the reveal
online and that she really looks forward to
In the past she has also been the treasurer
of the Business Trip Committee that
planned the trip to Berlin that took place
in March. Irene says that being treasurer
was a very different challenge compared
to being the marketing officer, but also
one that she really enjoyed. Luckily for
the committee, their trip was planned for
early March, so they were still able to go
to Berlin and got to see their trip come to
fruition.
Next to being an active member, Irene
has also attended quite a few of Synergy
events and parties. She also decided to go
on last year’s ski trip – even though she
never went skiing before. Still, she can
recommend the experience to anyone
interested in meeting new people – and
(learning how to) ski in the process.
When she is not busy studying or attending
Synergy events, Irene likes to work out at
home or meet up with her friends. Over
the past year they have tried out many
of the different cafés in Nijmegen, and
they also like to go for a few beers in the
evening. Irene likes to try out different
beers and even has a list of all the beers
she has tasted – with a comment on how
well she liked each of the 140 sorts that
she has tried so far. Irene also enjoys
cooking with friends.
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
Synergy Division
Attention, attention, active members! The Synergy Division of 20/21 has begun!
We have created 88 fun challenges that you and your teammates must complete
in order to win. The committee with the most points at the end of the year will win
a great prize.
While these are hard times, we hope that the Synergy Division will give you an
opportunity to have fun and to spend time with your committee. Your committee
can organize a Division Day, for example, where you try to finish as many challenges
as you can with your team. Committees can gain extra points by doing activities
together.
Follow synergydivision20.21 on Instagram to see what the other committees are
up to. You can find the rules and other information in the description.
Don’t forget that every committee member that joins us at the online drinks will
receive an extra point! We can’t wait to see your pictures and videos. Does your
committee have what it takes to win this year’s Synergy Division?
- Synergy Drink Committee 20/21
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SYNERGY MAGAZINE
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