Hala Bakri Hussien ElRofai is a graduate of the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Khartoum, the pioneer of university education in Africa. When asked about her several surnames she explains that they are a common occurrence in her home country. In Sudan women do not take their husband's name when they get married. Surnames come from the father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and (sometimes) great-great grandfather; one way of showing off a family tree!
Last year she came to the UT to do a master's programme at Mathematical Sciences. There were some initial difficulties with her application, but a statement from her university smoothed the way and last year she started her Master's programme at the Mathematical Physics and Computational Mechanics group.
On the good sides of studying and living here, Hala states: "The system is totally different. In Khartoum we don't have trimesters, which in my opinion are more convenient for learning difficult subjects and doing a large number of different assignments. Back home the students only do their best for a grade on the final exam."
Hala comes from the biggest country in Africa, where Sunni Muslims, like her, are in the majority. She is excited about the prayer room for Muslims that was opened at the UT a few weeks ago. "In this way all Muslims at the UT can meet each other and enjoy the moments of prayer together."
After graduation she was a teaching-assistant at the University of Khartoum for two years. Those days were important, but she is happier now that she can travel and meet other people, cultures and societies. "I travel in Holland more than in Sudan. I don't have a lot of time, and I am in a kind of hurry to visit and see as many nice spots as possible."
Hala admits: "I haven't seen so much of my country, but I can say that Sudan has a lot of beautiful spots like pyramids, much smaller than their well-known counterparts in Egypt, made in a totally different style, but also with hieroglyphic inscriptions. The capital, Khartoum, at the convergence of the Blue and White Niles, "can be missed". In comparison with the humidity in the Netherlands, Sudanese climate offers dry weather with rainy periods and hot summers. Hala adds: "I miss the warm days, but not the heat we get back home". But Hala intends return home to her family and former job at the University. She says: "As soon as I finish my master's studies I will go back to Sudan!"
Hometown: Khartoum, Sudan
Language: Arabic, English
Favourite food: Lady's fingers (kind of vegetable with beef or lamb and onion)
Favourite music genre: Sudanese music
Favourite place in NL: The Hague
Best part about living in the NL: Dutch people are so friendly, and people are almost equal
Worst part about living in the NL: social life (agenda problems)
Hobbies: reading, taking photos when I feel like it (flowers)
Jelena Radovanovic
Hala Bakri Hussien ElRofai
