A family's shared journey

Family ties

Gilberto Herrera Ruiz and Silvia Matallana Villegas came to ISS as a couple in 1997. From Japan to Uganda, Ireland to Nepal, Gilberto recalls how his classmates brought experiences from countries facing similar challenges and how together they explored ways to tackle underdevelopment. ‘I still remember the richness of those lessons as I projected them onto my future,’ he says.

For Silvia, ISS was ‘a highly specialized academic spot in the world of development studies, where all voices were heard and respected but also challenged’. Nearly 30 years later, she and Gilberto encouraged their son, Simón Herrera Ruiz, to embark on an MA in Development Studies. Seeing her son choose ISS brought Silvia a sense of pride. ‘He understood the impact those years had on my life and was eager to experience it himself,’ she says.

Stories of the past

Growing up, Simón heard countless ISS stories. His parents lived as a couple in Dorus Rijkersplein – ISS’s student accommodation – where a fax machine in their room became an unexpected hub for meeting classmates, with each exchange paid for by a home-cooked meal from a different country. After class, the couple often strolled along The Hague’s canals, sharing a McDonald’s sundae and enjoying the city’s calm.

Simón’s own ISS experience has been shaped by technology, easier travel and a different academic landscape. Yet some things have stayed the same such as his parents’ favourite spots at The Hague Market.

A shared perspective

Sylvia and Simón have exchanged countless late-night thoughts – often at 3am Mexican time – about his academic and personal journey. ‘Sometimes my own experience is no longer valid, and he cleverly argues his point until I see the world through his eyes,’ Silvia admits.

Three decades apart, the family agrees that while ISS has adapted to a changing world, it has held on to its core: a warm, multicultural space where ideas cross borders and perspectives meet.