How did you notice an increase in anti-Chinese sentiments here in the Netherlands?
‘Concerning recent events, one development that I found really uncomfortable was the song from Radio 10 DJ Lex Gaarthuis about the virus. It was not funny, but luckily people, especially Chinese people in the Netherlands, had the courage to protest against. Even the Dutch authorities are looking into it now. Speaking in general, it might be too much playing the discrimination card. However, I now have been in Twente for four years and I notice a general prejudice towards Chinese people. That has always been present, but now a bit more.’
Could you explain a bit more what this prejudice consists of?
‘People have very strong stereotypes about Chinese people. They automatically link you to something they have read on the internet. Someone even told me that I was the first Chinese he ever spoke to in his whole life: he was 25 years old! These stereotypes are weird, because they do not represent me. Explaining that these stereotypes are wrong and that each Chinese is different is tiring and somewhat disappointing: people should see Chinese as individuals and not as one big group.’
How is this on campus?
‘Generally, I think that the campus has a very good environment and that there are no real problems there. Still, there are prejudices that you also face at the university. For instance, people consider Chinese people to be very silent and accommodating. This is not really true: most Chinese students have difficulties expressing themselves in English and directness is not as normal for Chinese students as it is for Dutch students.’
Do you have any ideas on how the situation could be improved?
‘There are a lot of different reasons for the bias, but it is slowly getting better and better. It also has to come from both sides: Chinese students have to speak up for themselves and learn to communicate better, while other students have to realise that we are the same as them, but we sometimes need a bit more time to feel comfortable to let ourselves be heard.’
What do you hear from your family about the situation in China?
‘I get most of my news either from my family or from the media, but it is clear that the country is in an emergent state. The government does its best to control the outbreak, but its response is somewhat late. As for my family, they are alright, but they are concerned. They live not that far from the province of Hubei but distances do not matter much in this problem: the whole country is in isolation and almost nobody leaves their house.’
Upon request, the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars in Enschede, said they have nothing to add to the story of Yifei.
