I grew up and stayed in China until I was 20 years old. I studied Economics and Quantitative Finance at the Erasmus University of Rotterdam. When I left China, I was curious and excited to explore Europe and learn about its culture, people, and lifestyle. But at the same time, I felt scared—everything I knew about Europe came from books and the Internet. I arrived in the Netherlands with two big suitcases, broken English, and a belief in creating a better future for myself.
In Europe people are more relaxed and laid-back about work, and the quality of life is good. There’s a lot of nature and it’s so easy to travel from country to country. Society feels more liberal and progressive on a lot of public topics, enjoying more equality as a woman. However I did miss the connection among people, closer and less formal in China. For instance, you might get invited to a dinner party right after meeting new friends, but in Dutch culture, it can take months to receive such an invitation. Life in Europe is more peaceful compared to the fast-paced lifestyle in China, but the speed of progress and change feels slower too.
I left Amsterdam for Bali in September 2022, and I absolutely loved living there. Beach life and surfing every day was quite chill, and I had the chance to meet many new friends from different cultures and backgrounds. It was also an opportunity to experience a completely different way of life while embracing my passion for surfing. It gave me space to reflect on my life, get to know myself better, and figure out what really matters to me.
The local culture and tradition in Bali is similar to where I grew up in rural China. It reminds me of my hometown. It helped with my homesickness in 2022 where I couldn’t go back to China due to the strict travel rules at that time.
I got into surfing by accident I would say. I was travelling in Bali with a friend, she was quite busy with her work, so she signed me up for a surf lesson to keep me occupied. I went to the lesson, and I got completely hooked.
When I’m surfing, I feel free and deeply connected to nature. Whether it’s waiting for a wave, sitting in the lineup, or just watching the water move, it always brings me peace.
For me, freedom means having choices—being able to decide whether to quit a job you don’t like or stay until you find something better. It also means having a free mind—the belief that you can do whatever you want or go wherever you want, without being confined by the idea that you “have to” do or be something. Achieving this kind of freedom requires an open mind, curiosity about the world around you and beyond, and the courage to explore the unknown and embrace uncertainty.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s how important it is to live in the moment. The most important thing is “now.” Trust in what you’ve built in the past, welcome what the future holds, and don’t let “what-ifs” distract you from living in the moment.