{"id":81187,"date":"2017-10-24T12:00:03","date_gmt":"2017-10-24T10:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=81187"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:52","slug":"dit-ben-ik-wachikma-mschelia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2017\/10\/24\/dit-ben-ik-wachikma-mschelia\/","title":{"rendered":"This is me: Wachikma Mschelia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnna Mazur<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Change of style. <\/strong>\u201cIt was quite difficult to change my style of clothes when I first moved to the Netherlands for my Bachelor Studies four years ago. In Nigeria, we wear really traditional clothes, dresses rather than trousers, made of more natural textiles. Wearing jeans every day was something I had to get used to. Especially since I come from Maiduguri, a city in the north of Nigeria, which is more conservative and not used to Western fashion. In the south of the country, people are more liberal and familiar with Western culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Food, sun and collective culture.<\/strong> \u201cThe change in food habits was another cultural aspect I had to get used to, and one of the things I miss the most. Traditional African food usually takes a long time to prepare, and I don\u2019t have time due to my studies. Besides, vegetables and meat are very expensive. So, I\u2019ve really adjusted to eating pasta and bread much more frequently, like the Europeans. I also miss the sun and the collective culture. Even if they\u2019re not blood-related, people in Africa have more of a \u2018family attitude\u2019, whereas in Europe people are individualistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnna Mazur<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

African communities. <\/strong>\u201cThere are more African places to go and eat, party and meet new people than you might think. My favourite restaurants are Mama Essi <\/em>and De smaak van Africa<\/em>. I\u2019ve made some good friends through the Association of Students of African Heritage, joining different Afro-beat parties or seminars with guest speakers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Out of my comfort zone. <\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s uncommon for Nigerians to go and study in the Netherlands. The UK is more popular. My sister is currently studying there too. But I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and experience something totally new. When I arrived, it was a bit difficult but I had no choice than to adapt, and the multicultural aspect of the city also played a helpful role. Now I\u2019m glad that I chose to come to Rotterdam. It\u2019s made me stronger, more confident and ready to face life\u2019s challenges as an adult. I don\u2019t often go to the UK to visit my sister, because it\u2019s difficult to arrange a British visa, so the whole family \u2013 my parents, sister and four brothers \u2013 only reunites in summer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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