AES ANGEL OF JOY 

By MAWUTODZI K ABISSATH

THE ANGEL OF JOY

An African proverb postulates: “If Sunday will be sparkling, Saturday will send the signals.”

Monday, 28 October 2013 could be jotted down as a magnificent united Monday in the lives of AES students for 2013-2014 academic years. For it was a day that did not only bring them together as academic members of one family but also leading them to discover the angel of joy in the Netherlands.

And Like the three wise men of the biblical tale who journeyed from the East, under the guide of  a star to discover the infant Jesus in a manger, so too, about 30 wise AES students of   ISS, under the direction of Prof. Jun Borras,  travelled to a Rotterdam farm to unveil  their angel of joy.

Little daughter Koos, suddenly became the centre of attraction.  As ever happy as a child, little Koos first extricated her self from the warm arms of her father unto the ground. Then she started meandering her way in between the forest of legs of visiting students . Initially, her antics distracted the academician’s  attention from  listening  to her father. Then she started hugging the visitors’ thighs at the level of her height.  Eventually her excitement, joviality and innocent happiness brought joy to every heart and soul  on the field trip.

The field trip itself could be described in one word – fantastic! Professor  Jun Borras, Convener of the Agrarian and Environmental Studies (AES) Major in MA in Development Studies 2013-14, could not have chosen a better occasion for such  study tour. For those of us who not have the opportunity to participate in the initial opening ceremony at the beginning of the academic year the trip was an eye opener.  Prof Jun become the star that led the 30  wise folks to discover the angel of joy.

Miss Nalini Harnam, Programme Administrator for AES, who saw to the organization and actualization  of  the field trip deserves commendation.  But the person who stole the show was Professor  emeritus  Ben White who taught at ISS for 32 dedicated  years. He retired only two years ago but  still plays remarkable roles  in the academic  lives of  AES students from MA to Post-doctorate levels. He was my man of the match . It  was in the sanctum of his kitchen that the party was held. But there was no music!

Was Ben a gastronomic specialist? It was amazing how he could put together such a variety of sumptuous meals including mouth-watering vegetarian cuisine .  Sparkling red and white wines from France to South-Africa were  flowing like the canals of the farm. Those who proclaimed themselves to be connoisseurs of the game could not exhaust the stock.  Like Christ fed the multitude on the mountain, Prof Jun had to collect the left-overs going round pleading with everybody  to accept and swallow the last egg before  we  departed.  It was a heart-warming experience. It was fun galore!

All said and done, the day had been  useful and fruitful. The objective of the trip was fulfilled, in my view. The host, Mr. Koos van Derlann  conducted the inspection tour and narrated how  he  had  had to inherit  the farm from his demised  father at the age of 17. Fowls, sheep, smart dogs  and fat cats were all inspected. The amazing  huge  fatty  cows that produce the fresh milk for public  consumption  were a sight to behold. The over 60 milky cows feed on over 70 tones   of green grass and   produce over  250 -350 grams of milk annually.

 What distinguishes Mr. Koos van Derlann and his industrious wife Monique’s farm from others is that they engage in organic farming. All their products are natural and healthy for human consumption. My only regret is that there is no English version among the voluminous literature available on the history and evolution of the farm. For the benefit of international students of ISS translation of a summary of Dutch literature into English will do a magic for maximum  appreciation of the wonderful job  the farm is doing to feed the  world.

Story  and Photographs by Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath

2013-14 MA Student at ISS/Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Hauge, The Netherlands

 

2013-14 AES MA Students A

2013-14 AES MA Students B

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