Passport Nationality
The Netherlands
Current City
Shanghai
University
Northeastern University
Current Job, Company
Retail manager, Gap
What Chinese cities have you lived in?
Shanghai, Beijing, GuangZhou
What school(s) did you attend in China?
SAS PD, WAB, Utahloy
What was one China stereotype that you thought before moving?
I had none, born here.
How wrong were you?
I wasn’t…
Favorite spot in your China city
The bund
Coolest travel experience while living in China
Hiking Huangshan
Favorite school trip
Inner Mongolia
What were the top school activities you were involved in?
Soccer
While in China did you win any awards or work on any awesome projects that you wouldn’t have been able to back home?
Yes. Raised money to help build a School
Write a piece of advice you would have liked to have before moving to China.
When you get here LEARN CHINESE!!
What is your fav Chinese dish?
yuxiangrousi.
Got any fake market tips?
start your bargaining at 1/3 less than you actually want to pay. That will give you some wiggle room while negotiating.
What was one special opportunity or activity you got to participate in while living in China?
I was given the opportunity to help out at the ‘Men’s mountain biking Olympic trials’! That was pretty awesome! I met a bunch of world renown athletes from all over the world!
What else did we miss in your life that you’d like to share?
I know China for most people is not easy or comfortable moving to, it is the place I consider home though, and I think I have experienced China like very few others have. I am only 19 and I am fluent in Chinese, I have had the opportunity to travel many places inside and outside of China. I am truly a global citizen.
What is one thing you wish you had done or gotten involved in while living in China?
I wish that I had learned a third language. I was always jealous of my friends who were from Europe, and spoke in there mother tongue at home, had school in English, and took chinese as their language course at school.
What did it feel like leaving China?
I was really sad… Also really hard. China Is my home and I was moving across the world to live by myself.
How do you think you are differently equipped for life than the people around you are who didn’t get to experience international education? [better or worse]
I think I am better equipped, I think I have a larger awareness and understanding of different cultures. And that gives me a strength of adaptability.
