Education

Ronald Reagan got me interested in politics

What brought you to Holland? Each month Page 4 asks a member of the TU’s foreign legion to share their thoughts with us. This week we meet Peter Njobet (33), from Limbe, Cameroon. He’s currently a member of Aula’s cleaning staff and lives in Delft with his girlfriend and baby daughter.

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My sense of adventure. I’m an architect and worked for Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Works & Transport for two years, designing roads, drawing and surveying. But I wanted to see the world and experience other cultures, so here I am.

How are you experiencing Dutch culture? It’s pretty quiet here, much quieter than I’m used to. I miss Cameroon’s wild nightlife, which starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. That’s why the French colonialists refuse to leave – they’re having too much fun.

Do you like working for the TU?

My colleagues are nice and understanding. The work is unskilled, so what can I say about it? It’s okay for now. My mother paid a lot of money for my architecture studies though, so if she knew that I was now working as a cleaner she’d be very angry.

What’s the greatest challenge facing Africa?

Corruption, which keeps the common man poor. Cameroon has vast natural resources, a rich soil. We even have oil. But when a journalist asked Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, what was being done with Cameroon’s oil revenues, the President replied, “None of your business.”

What book has influenced your life?

‘Essay of a Modern Mystic’, by Spencer Lewis, an American Rosicrucian. It changed my way of thinking. It’s message is that life is about believing in yourself, being strong, and loving humanity.

Which famous person(s) would you like to meet?

Ronald Reagan and Martin Luther King. Reagan got me interested in politics. I loved his style, his way of speaking, he even convinced me of what he was saying and I’m not even an American! Reagan ended the Cold War and the Russian people should thank him for setting them free. Martin Luther King spoke the truth about human equality: what matters is one’s virtue and intelligence, not the color of your skin.

George W. Bush? Inexperienced. Empty.

Why is Cameroon so good in football? Kids play it everywhere, all the time, and we play for the joy of playing and the pride in winning.

What causes you anxiety?

I worry that I’ll never speak Dutch well enough to succeed in this society. I think I’m improving, but every day I hear new words, and then I doubt that I’ll ever speak Dutch fluently. I speak English and French, but Dutch is much more difficult.

Where’s your favorite place in Delft?

[laughing] To be honest, all these old buildings don’t really appeal to me. I much prefer modern architecture; I like Rotterdam.

What are your hopes for the future? One day I hope to be a practicing architect. God gave me one gift, and that’s technical drawing; it’s what I’m good at. But to get hired here, I need to speak Dutch fluently.

And your dreams?

I’d like to become a politician. Politics is my passion. I dream of returning to Cameroon to help change the political situation there. I’d like to help my people have a better life.

Each month Page 4 asks a member of the TU’s foreign legion to share their thoughts with us. This week we meet Peter Njobet (33), from Limbe, Cameroon. He’s currently a member of Aula’s cleaning staff and lives in Delft with his girlfriend and baby daughter.

My sense of adventure. I’m an architect and worked for Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Works & Transport for two years, designing roads, drawing and surveying. But I wanted to see the world and experience other cultures, so here I am.

How are you experiencing Dutch culture? It’s pretty quiet here, much quieter than I’m used to. I miss Cameroon’s wild nightlife, which starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. That’s why the French colonialists refuse to leave – they’re having too much fun.

Do you like working for the TU?

My colleagues are nice and understanding. The work is unskilled, so what can I say about it? It’s okay for now. My mother paid a lot of money for my architecture studies though, so if she knew that I was now working as a cleaner she’d be very angry.

What’s the greatest challenge facing Africa?

Corruption, which keeps the common man poor. Cameroon has vast natural resources, a rich soil. We even have oil. But when a journalist asked Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, what was being done with Cameroon’s oil revenues, the President replied, “None of your business.”

What book has influenced your life?

‘Essay of a Modern Mystic’, by Spencer Lewis, an American Rosicrucian. It changed my way of thinking. It’s message is that life is about believing in yourself, being strong, and loving humanity.

Which famous person(s) would you like to meet?

Ronald Reagan and Martin Luther King. Reagan got me interested in politics. I loved his style, his way of speaking, he even convinced me of what he was saying and I’m not even an American! Reagan ended the Cold War and the Russian people should thank him for setting them free. Martin Luther King spoke the truth about human equality: what matters is one’s virtue and intelligence, not the color of your skin.

George W. Bush? Inexperienced. Empty.

Why is Cameroon so good in football? Kids play it everywhere, all the time, and we play for the joy of playing and the pride in winning.

What causes you anxiety?

I worry that I’ll never speak Dutch well enough to succeed in this society. I think I’m improving, but every day I hear new words, and then I doubt that I’ll ever speak Dutch fluently. I speak English and French, but Dutch is much more difficult.

Where’s your favorite place in Delft?

[laughing] To be honest, all these old buildings don’t really appeal to me. I much prefer modern architecture; I like Rotterdam.

What are your hopes for the future? One day I hope to be a practicing architect. God gave me one gift, and that’s technical drawing; it’s what I’m good at. But to get hired here, I need to speak Dutch fluently.

And your dreams?

I’d like to become a politician. Politics is my passion. I dream of returning to Cameroon to help change the political situation there. I’d like to help my people have a better life.

Editor Redactie

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