Text: Eva van der Graaf
Mengyu Wu (23) stands out from the crowd in Wageningen. She looks like she might be some kind of fashion student in Arnhem. Nevertheless, the Environmental Sciences student feels completely at home in Wageningen.
Mengyu comes from Shanghai, China. After studying gardening in Shanghai she decided to come to Wageningen for her Master’s. ‘In my Bachelor’s I mainly learned about various kinds of plant species and how to manage them in practice. Now, l am mostly studying Soil Biology. Because it’s relevant to what I did in my Bachelor’s, but also because I wanted something a little bit different. I think soil is more interesting than just plants so I wanted to learn more about that.’
For a girl from a big city, Wageningen must have been quite a big adjustment. ‘Although it is very different, I have a lot of fun here. During the courses I enjoy working in groups and being able to socialize. I think that’s very fun. Over the past months I have met many people from different countries who are now my friends.’
Students don’t care about what they wear but I enjoy selecting clothes and dressing decently
Mengyu is a little bit of a shopaholic, she admits. ‘In China my major hobby would be online shopping but in Netherlands I don’t think much of the delivery system so I like to visit bigger cities like Arnhem or Amsterdam. I’m not really into specific brands; I will walk around the main streets and go into a store if I am attracted to it. I also brought some clothes from China. I especially enjoy wearing skirts. I have a lot of different styles, lengths and colors.
Here in Wageningen, I know some students don’t care about what they wear but I enjoy selecting clothes and dressing decently every day. What I wear boosts my confidence and puts me in a good mood!’
