Meet the People of Amsterdam. Here we will showcase a different Amsterdam native every week. Every Amsterdam native will share a little about their lives during quarantine, sharing their favorite spots, and what makes Amsterdam so special to them. These interviews showcased another perspective that influenced their lifestyles. Read about how each individual continues to work on their work-life balance. Take it all in. After all, the People of Amsterdam know Amsterdam best. This week: David A. Rozsa, Master Student @Vrije Universiteit
What a dramatic change! Who would have ever thought we would be forced to sip our coffee in pajamas while pretending to be half well dressed in front of a camera in our living rooms. I remember when it was the norm to be excited about spending more time with our loved ones and staying at home alone before the pandemic. Like many others, my life has drastically changed since the beginning of this year. I used to work as a consultant within the healthcare industry in a commercial environment. In other words, I was responsible for keeping the wheels of capitalism turning in the Netherlands. This new reality has made me realize that it is time for a new adventure. I, therefore, decided to pursue a master’s course and I can proudly say that since this September I am officially an unemployed student in the middle of an economic crisis. I made it!
It’s no secret that I had to face many of my demons when this new reality emerged. I had to re-evaluate how I was going to stay positive, keep myself productive, and ensure that I finish my day-to-day tasks and activities. I quickly realized that certain things, like working out or dressing up nicely every day, were not as important as it used to be. Along with all these difficulties, I tried to implement new routines, such as waking up early, not only to further increase my daily suffering but also to meditate in the morning to help me stay focused throughout the day. Each day, I would also set up a few easy goals to stimulate the dopamine level in my brain before going to bed at night.
How do you continue to build a relationship with the people you work with?
I was mostly calling and video calling with my teammates and other colleagues. Now that I’m a full-time student, we usually meet at the university. Fortunately, I can still enjoy the university experience that I always dreamt about, of course from a safe distance, in a hygienic atmosphere, and with a mask on my face.
I’m a huge fan of nature so my first choice would always be to hang out in parks across the city. One of the most beautiful parks would be Beatrix park in the south of Amsterdam. I also really like the atmosphere at the Marie Heinekenplein and the Gerard Douplein in De Pijp, both of which are always full of people and cool stuff to do.
I am certainly more disciplined than ever before! On a serious note, I never thought I would be stuck with myself for such a long period of time. I’m honestly amazed at how well I’m doing so far. It has been particularly difficult trying to study during quarantine and being so easily distracted at any given moment. I am pretty sure the mind wonders when it has got nowhere else to go. I think individually we need to figure out ways to fully accept ourselves and be fairly realistic to each goal that we are setting to achieve. A word of advice, you should try to minimize the possibilities of procrastinating and doing unnecessary activities, such as rearranging your entire living space because you have a strong inner urge to do so. I find it rather important to keep short breaks for the brain to quickly recharge itself and to give yourself incentives once you achieved one or more goals of that given day.
I’m almost in daily contact with my family, especially with my father. Except when it rains in Amsterdam, then I’m feeling rather gloomy to call abroad. My siblings are scattered around the globe and it is already hard to keep track of their lives and the many cultural differences that come with it. Instead, we keep it short and simple. Just like any other supportive and loving brother would do. My father is an art historian, who specialized in the early avant-garde period, focusing on well-known artists such as Chagall, Piet Mondrian, Moholy-Nagy, and Ossip Zadkine. I’m exceptionally proud of him because he was able to visually memorize so much information, just so he could call himself one. My mother, on the other hand, is a strong, independent businesswoman who helps keep my father’s everyday finances in order. She is also an active supporter of the resistance against the illiberal Viktor Orban regime in Budapest. Her determined nature and constant support and care have helped me through these tough times. I think I inherited the best of both worlds. At least this is what they are telling me when I call. I never know, what to make out of it. Whether they’re saying it with all honesty or they’re only keeping me in this false reality so that I wouldn’t get hurt in these strange times while I’m currently unemployed.
This new reality has changed so much! A part of my new lifestyle is being a germophobe and being concerned that my friends and family could be harmed due to this virus at any given moment. I was always a curious soul who wanted to travel, live, and discover new cultures. After living and working in cities like London, Philadelphia, Budapest, Tel-Aviv, Vienna, and Amsterdam I never thought my main priority would be ensuring that I wore the appropriate protective equipment whilst visiting my elderly neighbors. I’m hoping not to keep this newly formed lifestyle alive and this strange new reality will change back to somewhat normal times soon.
My greatest pride would have to be my acceptance into University this May. It is both an investment and a risk that at the age of twenty-eight, in such uncertain times, I decided to leave my professional career behind, along with all the perks it brought with it, and become a student.
My new place where I tend to hang out a lot is The School of Life. It’s a really cool place that combines a coffee shop, bookstore, and a sort of school with seminars. Their niche is to look at subjects, such as self-knowledge, work, philosophy, relationships from a different angle.
I’m a huge fan of Thai and Indonesian food. I’m very happy that Siriphon* and Dèsa* have reopened their doors. Regarding the local stores, I missed the BBROOD* bakeries the most and some of the local cheese shops.
Ugh, that’s a tough one. I think this year I would really like to go on an adventure to discover the streets of Amsterdam that I’ve never visited before.
I cannot wait to attend unhygienic public events filled with people annoyingly pushing you throughout the whole evening and constantly invading your private space. Meanwhile, you are trying to maneuver away from getting spilled by a drunk person who starts sincerely apologizing a few seconds after he or she realizes that their actions are encroaching on the annoying side. These are the norms that I got used to, that’s the kind of freedom that I miss. Not the current freedom that after a sneeze or a cough most people are seriously concerned about you while their actual concern is getting as far away from you as possible.
Most importantly, you must be at peace with yourself. Do as much as you can, so that you can avoid feeling as though you are a constant enemy of yourself. Don’t give up too easily, because what you put in is what you will get out. In case you have any feelings of remorse, go back and try to fix it. If nothing more can be done, then it is important to know when to let go and move on.
