Hundreds of boys in white T-shirts are shouting along to I Will Survive. There’s a lot of pushing but not much dancing. Viviane Bui (18) looks annoyed as she checks her phone while waiting for her friend by the toilets. Cowboy boots, short skirt, and subtly glittering make-up. Her black top slips off her shoulder, revealing a tattoo: a cluster of stars. In contrast to the monotony of Annabel, Viviane stands out with her well-coordinated accessories and understated confidence. During Eurekaweek, she’s pulling out all the stops with her fashion. She’s been here since Sunday but is already running out of clothes. Her parents are bringing another suitcase tomorrow. “You can never have too many.”
Quick to judge
In northern Germany, she never felt comfortable dressing her way. Short skirts were already seen as a problem there. In the small town where she comes from, people were quick to judge. Viviane knew she wanted to come to Rotterdam after watching videos of Polak on TikTok. She thought the campus looked so beautiful that she immediately knew this was the city for her. Here, she can surround herself with beauty and truly be herself, short skirts and all. She finds beauty everywhere: in the people, the associations she wants to join, and the nightlife she’s slowly falling in love with.
People here react much more positively to her clothes than in Germany. Viviane is especially touched by the women here. They give each other compliments and support one another. They’re ‘girls’ girls’, she says admiringly. As we talk, a circle of new friends forms around her. All fellow Communication and Media students who met in the past few days. They laugh together, ignoring the drunken boys in white T-shirts. They all agree that Viviane is the most stylish of them all. Her nails, in particular, are admired with awe. Iridescent pink with 3D butterflies on her ring fingers. Her nails are her thing, they’re always done. That’s how she manages to look stylish even at a hungover breakfast.
