Anyone who steps into the Sanders Building in the morning can already spot the familiar grey hair and beard through the glass revolving doors. Beneath it lurks the welcoming face of Raymond. "Good morning!" his cheerful greeting rings out from behind the desk, a constant in the life of many students and staff.
We meet on a Wednesday afternoon at the Sanders Building entrance, walk around the ground floor, have a cup of coffee, and settle down at his workstation. By then, Raymond's workday has already been well underway; he is always the first in the building at 8 hrs. "From that moment on, I am the point of contact and the one with the key", he explains. He likes to be on time for the students and staff who start early. "They deserve a warm welcome too, maybe even more so", he laughs.
Friend to humans and animals
The entrance has looked so characteristic for about five years - since Raymond started here. "I am a Rotterdammer, so I was familiar with Erasmus. However, I only got to know Erasmus School of Law when I started working here. I knew lawyers were trained somewhere, but I did not know it happened here." Raymond started on the third floor. Later, he was placed at the entrance – which was just two empty tables at the time. His arrival brought the entrance to life.
Besides his greeting ritual, Raymond keeps an eye on things and is the go-to person for visitors. Questions range from the location of a lecture hall to the best place to get coffee. The questions keep him busy, especially during the academic new year after the summer. Moreover, his care extends beyond the building. During our conversation, he suddenly excuses himself: "Hold on a second, I will be right back." Outside the revolving doors, crows are waiting for their daily portion of food. Raymond is also a familiar figure to them on campus. His love for animals is not limited to the campus: "At home, in my backyard, I have several birdhouses. They are doing well; I can tell you that."
"I think it is great that so many different people and languages come together here."
Raymond
"My business"
Yes, Raymond feels right at home here, in his"own city". “But” he begins with a wink, "they could speak a bit more Rotterdam dialect. The campus could use a little more of that Rotterdam straightforwardness." However, he doubts whether that would work in a courtroom. "Hello, rechtert! This man is completely innocent! No, maybe not", he chuckles, shaking his head. "But I love that so many different people and languages come together here. This, Rotterdam, is the perfect place for that. As long as it is fun."
At the beginning of the day, Raymond never knows what his workday will look like. "I like that; every day is different." However, what he does know is that he will be here for a while. "It is my place, my thing, and, therefore, my 'business' to keep it running." Around 4 hrs., he usually ends his workday. "And I really put the workday behind me when I leave. We will see what happens the next day." It is now a quarter past three, and as Raymond slowly tidies up his things, he invites me to chat again another time. "But next time, we will have some apple pie from Koekela or Dudok", he suggests. The door is always open…
