Do you know how to recognize an international student?
Is it because of the five different citizenships they have? No.
Can it be indicated by the video of them backstage at a Keinemusik concert in Ibiza? Not particularly (but this one can be one of the strongest arguments).
Maybe the hint is to be found in the diplomatic ties in their families? Wrong.
The real answer is hiding in their rented (or not) flats – to be located in the bottom shelf of an Ikea night stand, being an ample supply of their home countries’ pharmacy assortment. Disclaimer - if you come from a country with a fancy history of natural medicine, the pharmacy assortment in this text can be substituted for whatever curative herbs are to be found (if anyone has a real Chinese anti-cold tea, I am willing to pay millions of Polish złoty for it – so let me know if you do, because it is your one and only chance to get this incredibly strong currency onto your Revolut account).
I became aware of how big this phenomenon is last weekend. I went for a run with my Finnish friend, and like all international students, we went for a chat with a very organic iced latte. As we complained about the Dutch weather, the topic really narrowed itself down to one question: “What do you do when you catch a cold? Or even worse, like a sinus infection or so?” And there is always only one right answer – I cure myself with whatever my parents packed me in my bag before I left for the university.
Therefore, international students are to Big Pharma what the HP logo is on the uniform of a Formula 1 Ferrari driver: a huge source of sponsorship. There is even a hierarchy between medicine cupboards – whoever has the antibiotic or sinus steroid nose sprays is basically immortal. When he walks through the drought, the wind chants, “Long live the king!”
And as the flu season slowly starts to take over again, I recommend everyone to dress appropriately for the weather, so the Dutch (ànd Polish) GP’s favourite remedy - Paracetamol - can be left untouched.
Rita Wiśniewska, third-year European Law student