“I really wanted to do my major somewhere abroad, and Eindhoven’s Industrial Design program is very good. I had already taken a vacation in Amsterdam and was not very enthusiastic about it. The Dutch are kind and open people, but I am not crazy about the Dutch weather.

In China you face a lot of restrictions when you take your major; very few materials and facilities are available for making a prototype. You can talk about your work only with your mentor or fellow students. This contrasts sharply with the Netherlands, where the facilities for making actual objects are readily available. And since developing a design or a real product really appeals to me, I need that.

Shopping is one area where there is a big difference between China and the Netherlands. Especially ordering food, which you can do almost 24 hours a day in China. This means I can enjoy eating even at night. In the Netherlands you usually have to place your food order before eight o’clock in the evening. Another difference is that there are cycle lanes in the Netherlands. This is convenient and, most importantly, safe. In China there are few bike lanes, so cycling in China is very dangerous.

I love the parties that are held here, especially the departmental ones organized by the study association. I find them more fun than just having a chat with someone. I do find Dutch people a little bit ‘crazy’ because they can party until six o’clock the next morning. That is not customary in China.

Once I have graduated, I want to stay in the Netherlands to do an internship. But first I am going to try to pass my courses next year.”