My first few weeks as an IISMA awardee in Enschede moved slowly. I spent most days adjusting to dorm life. My room was quiet, the hallways were quieter, and the weather outside always felt colder than it looked. Every morning, I went to class, came back, and tried to make food with whatever I had left in the fridge. I ate rice almost every day. It was easy and familiar, but even rice could get boring when it tasted the same all the time.
After a long day at university, I often came back drained. I took accounting courses during the exchange program, even though I was an English major. In Indonesia, I never had to deal with numbers. Suddenly, I was surrounded by them. Formulas, tables, and calculations filled my head. I had to study extra just to keep up, and by the time I got back to my room, I had no energy left to cook.
Most afternoons, I opened the fridge hoping something would excite me, but nothing ever did. Just eggs, rice, and whatever vegetables were still hanging on. I didn’t want to chop, cook, or clean. I just wanted something warm that did not come from my own pan. I just wanted something that was made by someone else.
When my friends and I were too tired to do anything, we sometimes decided to go out and eat lunch. We weren’t celebrating anything. We just needed to get out of the dorms, breathe a little, and find something new. Enschede wasn’t a big city, but it had its quiet corners. Little by little, I found where to go when I needed comfort, good food, or just time with friends.
Donner Max: Tasty Wraps and Warm Welcomes
One afternoon, my friends and I had just finished our Management Accounting class. It was the hardest class for me because it was full of numbers. Every session felt like a mental workout, and on that day, I felt that my energy had been squeezed out completely.
We walked out of the class feeling tired and exhausted. No one talked about cooking for lunch. Then one of my friends said, “Let’s go get something to eat. I can’t deal with the kitchen today.” Everyone nodded. I felt the same. Cooking and cleaning sounded too heavy for that moment. So, we walked to the city center, hoping to find something good.
While we were walking, one of us suddenly remembered a kebab place our senior once told us about. “Do you guys remember the halal kebab that’s cheap and open till late?” That made all of us pause. We looked at each other and agreed to try it.
The place was called Donner Max. It was at Oude Markt. When we got there, the place was busy. People were chatting, and the smell of grilled meat came from the open door. It made my stomach growl.
As we entered, the cashier looked at us and smiled. Maybe he heard us speaking Indonesian, because right away, he said, “Selamat datang,” which means “Welcome.” I looked up, surprised. He spoke more Indonesian words with a laugh, and somehow that made the space feel less foreign. He joked while we ordered, and before we left the counter, he said, “Selamat makan,” which means “Enjoy your meal.”
The kebab only cost €4.50[1], but it was big. The bread felt warm in my hands, and the first bite was soft and juicy. The meat had flavor, the sauce was creamy, and the crunch from the vegetables balanced it all. I didn’t say much. I just ate, feeling the heat of the food warm me from the inside.
That afternoon, we sat by the window and watched people walk by. I felt full, not just from the food but also from the small joy of sharing a meal with friends. Donner Max was open from 11:00 to 4:00.
Fusion Wok: A Nice Place for a Special Day
One day, we had an IISMA student welcoming event at Saxion. After it finished, my friends and I decided to have dinner together. One of our seniors once told us about a place called Fusion Wok. She said the food was really good but a little expensive. Since it was rare for us all to be together, and it was a friend’s birthday, we thought it was a good chance to go.
We walked there as a group. The autumn air felt sharp on our cheeks. Our hands stayed warm inside our pockets. Our steps were quick to beat the cold. Even with the chill, we kept laughing and talking about the food.
Fusion Wok is located at Boulevard 1945 306. It is a small Asian restaurant near our dorms. The restaurant was closed on Mondays, but it was open on every other day from 11:00 to 22:00. When we walked inside, warm air wrapped around us. Soft yellow lights made the room feel calm and cozy. The tables were clean and ready. It was quiet, like a secret place some people know. The menu had many dishes like duck, chicken, and pork, all with rich sauces. We decided to share the food to save money.
When we ordered, some of my friends who wanted to eat pork looked a little awkward and unsure because some of us were Muslim. One asked, “Is it okay if we order pork?” We smiled and said, “Yes, it’s fine.” They relaxed and said, “Great. Then we’ll get it.”
When the food arrived, the table was filled quickly with steaming plates. The smell was a mix of sweet and spicy. We passed dishes and served rice with spoons. The sound of plates and spoons filled the air.
My favorite was the roasted duck. The skin cracked softly when I bit it. The meat inside felt soft and juicy. The flavors hit my tongue with a little sweetness and a touch of spice that stayed. I closed my eyes for a moment to enjoy it. Each bite felt like a quiet comfort.
Donner Max and Fusion Wok were very different. Donner Max was a casual and cheap place that stayed open late. Fusion Wok was a nicer spot for special occasions. Both were good and showed that Enschede had many food choices. Whether it was the quick kebab after a tough class or the cozy dinner with friends celebrating a birthday, each table gave me a little warmth and a sense of belonging far from home.
[1] All the prices mentioned in this article might change because of the currency fluctuations.
Corners of enschede 
Leave a comment