Green Glasses - Adding Perspectives to the Leiden Experience

October 2, 2024 | Leiden International Centre

In the book Green Glasses, Magdalena Palma shares her own story along with stories of other internationals about their time here in Leiden.

Sharing the experiences of others

Through the inspiring, culturally different world views of internationals living in Leiden, Magdalena shares the stories of how they used the opportunity of moving countries and cultures to create something unique. Although at times it was not always easy for some, and there were challenges to overcome, they were able to find a way to meld the good things from their own cultures and the new experiences they were having in the Netherlands to gain a richer more fuller experience. Here are some of the many stories you will find in the book.

A Tiny big gift to the City – The Gnome House or the “Wouter de Kabouter” house.

Cesar Coll (a Mexican-Spanish man) and his (Dutch) partner Marianne gifted the city of Leiden with a whimsical surprise in the summer of 2020. While on a walk in Plantsoen park, Cesar noticed the roots of a tree shaped like a tiny door. Inspired by this, the couple created "Elmer’s House," a charming gnome home nestled at the base of a tree, adding a magical touch to the park.

Japanese Tradition at the Leiden Market – The Ooi Family

The Ooi family, after participating in the Japanese Festival in Amstelveen, decided to bring a taste of Japan to the Leiden Market. They set up a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki stand, blending their cultural heritage and culinary skills with the local market atmosphere, creating a unique and successful business.

The Master of the Herring: a Scottish Leidenaar – Adrian Young

In 2006, Scottish expat Adrian Young became involved with Leiden’s 3rd of October Vereeniging, which celebrates the city's historical liberation. By 2016, he was named "Haringmeester," or "Master of the Herring," becoming the first international face of this iconic tradition, blending his Scottish roots with Dutch customs.

A Game of Social Integration – Joanne Chauveau

Joanne Chauveau, a French native, moved to Leiden in 2017 and used her lifelong love of volleyball to integrate into the community. Her passion for the sport helped her build friendships and eventually led her to coach the men’s team at GGV Volleyball Club, creating a special connection to her new city.

Her own reflections

It was as an exchange student that Magdalena learned about the sunglasses analogy. “The analogy says that everyone wears sunglasses of a certain colour. They represent our cultural identity and background, which influence how we see and interpret reality.[...] You arrive to a new country wearing the sunglasses you brought from your home country [...] In the host country you start to have new experiences and integrate to a new culture, so you start to also wear their sunglasses and see things through their lenses”. Ultimately, “you end up wearing both pairs of glasses, one over the other. Neither is better than the other”.

Leiden was Magdalena’s third international experience, and it took her by surpirse: “Leiden is a hidden gem, a paradise. It is the perfect city. I leave my house and I see beauty in the streets, I start the day with beauty [...] In Chile, we have a lot of nature, with amazing fauna and landscapes outside the city. But here, there are swans in the city. Nature and the city are interconnected".

She says Leiden offered her and her family lots of things to do, from thrift shops, to books, to activities for children and adults and Leiden provided many opportunities to meet other people. She really appreciated her time here – "I love Leiden - [it] will always be precious to me".

About the author

Magdalena Palma, a journalist from Chile, was asked by Blaauwberg – a Leiden based knowledge and research company – to write about and share the stories of other internationals living in Leiden and what is becoming a very international and multicultural city to celebrate their 25th anniversary.

What is your story? Have you been here a while and want to share with others your story of how you came to Leiden and how you are discovering to blend your two cultures, get in touch.