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We create a pleasant and safe study and work environment together. To do that well, it can be helpful if you know more about each other. That's what Boshra Moosavi (just started her master's in veterinary medicine) and Saskia Arndt (professor of animal behaviour) think too. They got together - especially for the International Day for Cultural Diversity - to discuss their own habits, what they learn from each other and what they wish for the future. The spoken language is Dutch, as if it is quite normal. But if you know their background, you might look at it differently.  

Boshra: "I graduated in Iran as a veterinarian. Three years ago I came to the Netherlands and wanted to work as a vet again. With my degree, that was not possible right away. That's why I started my master in veterinary medicine in February. For me in the programme, it is sometimes repetition, but I also learn a lot of new things. In Iran, for instance, there are mostly farm animals. Here, there are a lot more companion animals, which is what I want to learn about. You also learn about communication and making a business plan. Very valuable and an addition to the substantive and scientific focus I got in Iran."

Saskia: "I have been working at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine for 18 years now. I am a biologist with a specialisation in behaviour, professor of animal behaviour for 5 years now and recently also chair of our . I was born and raised in Germany and it was a conscious decision to join the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the Netherlands. I had a PhD at the time, just had a job and then this opportunity came along. I went for the function."

We got into a conversation about how she experiences veterinary medicine in the Netherlands.

Boshra: "In recent years, I have done a lot to learn Dutch well. By talking a lot with Dutch people, watching the news every night and doing courses. I also started doing voluntary work. That's how I met Saskia. At an animal pasture near our houses. I really wanted to work there because of the people and the animals and I was allowed to volunteer. There are all kinds of animals there: deer, alpacas, peacocks, swans, sheep, goats, different birds. And thanks to the birds, I learnt the word 'volière' there."

Saskia: "When new people start as volunteers, they always introduce themselves. Then we sit together before we start taking care of the animals and pooping in the meadow. I heard Boshra telling about the master's she had yet to start at that time. I was immediately excited and we got into a conversation about how she experiences veterinary medicine in the Netherlands."

The first time I saw someone eating during a lecture, I was shocked.

Boshra:" I worked as an assistant in a veterinary clinic for six months. The atmosphere of work is very different from my country. In my country, there is great hierarchy. When the boss just sat down to eat a sandwich together, I didn't know what I saw. Communicating is also easy. If you have something on your mind, you can just say it. I find it fairer, more equal. That makes it a nice workplace. And also as a student. I was used to the fact that if a teacher came in, you were immediately silent. Also eating during class. That was really not allowed in Iran. The first time I saw someone eating during a lecture I was shocked. Now I do it too, I love it when that's allowed."

kia: "These examples are quite exciting for me to hear. I get to co-educate future vets and am quite focused on conditions in the Netherlands. When I hear this, it makes me realise how we do things in the Netherlands. It's all much less obvious than we think. Of course, I experienced this myself when I came from Germany. What struck me in the beginning? Lots of meetings and everyone had to give an opinion. I was used to working faster towards a decision.  It's also little things in everyday life, you go along with that anyway. A Sara or Abraham when you turn 50 and with the World or European Football Championships, our house also turns orange.

My wish is that we become more aware of the diversity that is already there.

"Sometimes I also notice that it has become a combo with the best of both worlds. Bringing cultures together, your personality and your values are important here. So my wish is that we become more aware of the diversity that is already there. For example, I know colleagues from the US, France, Italy, Germany. Engage with colleagues about your background and organise awareness for cultural differences. I really enjoyed hearing that at our faculty they are working on this at IRAS by, for example, letting everyone bring something tasty from their own kitchen. It is in the little things and we as an EDI committee are also working on similar actions to organise something like this for the entire faculty as well. The trick is to find each other and then get along."

Boshra: "Sure, differences remain. I don't have a threshold in this, but rather enjoy talking about differences and learning from each other. In my country, I had no knowledge of Christmas, there we just celebrated New Year in March, with spring. Here, Christmas is much bigger, now it gets a little bigger for me every year too."

I actually enjoy talking about differences and learning from each other.

Saskia: "I so enjoy looking for the 'us'. Despite coming from different countries, we have a lot of things in common. We have a thing for animals, work in the same place, do the same volunteer work. I love hearing her experiences, drive, and gratitude. That gives me goosebumps. I see her working hard, and I'm not just talking about shovelling poop at the animal pasture. I think that's clever."

Boshra: "Hearing that makes me more driven to achieve my goals. Thank you."

At the end of the conversation, Saskia and Boshra exchanged their interests (see below) and took a photo together. There, another joint clothing preference became clear. Can you see it in the picture? 

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