She has a Bachelor's in Chemistry and Physics from University of Babes-Bolyai, Cluj and she and her husband applied for a Master's at UT after hearing about it from a Hungarian professor. "I saw it as a big opportunity to come and study here", remarks Krisztina. She continues excitedly about her project: "The aim of my project is to produce new crack-free tubular membranes with centrifugal casting using perovskite-structured materials. Dense perovskite membranes can be used for oxygen separation in various applications like production of oxygen from air, SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell), oxygen sensors or the partial oxidation of methane to from synthesis gas. A tubular shape is advantageous for large-scale use. The experimental work is focussed on the reproducibility of the tubular membranes produced before by others in this group, using the same procedure, the preparation of different composition's perovskite powder with the EDTA method and production of new crack-free tubes from these powders".
So what kind of problems did you face in Nether........"money problems" -comes the prompt reply before the question is even finished! "My husband and I came here with 800 euros and we had to pay 270 euros each for our residence permits and another 270 euros as advance rent. It was tough". Another hitch was that Dutch authorities demanded the stamp "apostille" on her documents to consider them bona fide. Krisztina found out about it only after coming to Netherlands. Luckily, the authorities relented and she did not have to go all the way back home only for the sake of a stamp.
The whole interview is punctuated with Krisztina's contagious laughter other than when she is asked about how life here compares with that back home. She says sadly, "The two lifestyles are completely different. Life is good here. In Romania, people work very, very long hours. Sometimes they come back from work at 10 pm, not only that there have been occasions when they get home at 3 in the morning only to report back to work at 10 the same morning! They then have to pay high taxes which hardly leaves any money for the family. There are no canteens for most people, they normally get lunch from home. Life is hard there because everybody is working too much and there is neither the time nor the money to enjoy life.'
Krisztina and her husband hope to get PhD positions in Netherlands after completing their Master's programme.
Hometown : Transylvania
Languages : Hungarian, Romanian, English, bit of German
Favourite Food : Stuffed Cabbage with Sour Cream
Favourite Movie : Green Card
Favourite Sport : Swimming
Favourite Music : Michael Jackson
Best part of living in Netherlands : lot of natural beauty, it is very picturesque.
Worst part of living in Netherlands : Unable to walk around in open fields because they are private.
Deepa Talasila
Krisztina Ra'Duly-Scheuermann
