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Introduction

The unfamiliar greetings softly collide in the air, touching something intangible yet seemingly leaving no mark. These women gradually grow accustomed to these fleeting interactions—"Hello,” "Morning," —phrases that float on the periphery of their world, both light and weighty.

Through these subtle everyday fragments, I aim to explore how Chinese female students navigate their place in a distant, often detached, space like the Netherlands. Their "nearby" is not a fixed geographic concept but rather constructed through countless bodily movements, crossed gazes, and silent intersections.

chapter 1 Does That Place Let You Smoke Weed?

The Netherlands, an unconventional destination for studying abroad, represents a unique choice. By conducting interviews and surveys, this chapter explores why these women choose such a country—Is it the academic or employment opportunities? Immigration policies? Or perhaps more personal, hidden reasons? Does this decision signal a deviation from mainstream paths and hint at a distinctive cultural adaptation process they experience in the Netherlands?

Select Participants

-Chinese female students studying in the Netherlands, with over six months of local living experience to ensure familiarity with the local community and to build a sense of daily life. -Recruitment Methods
online：Post invitations on social platforms (e.g., WeChat groups, xiaohongshu) with explanations of the research purpose and expected time commitment
offline：Posting flyers on campus Directly ask Chinese-speaking female I meet in my daily life if they would like to participate.

Interview and Observation Format

Dynamic Walking Interviews

-Route Selection: Ask participants to recommend a meaningful route in their daily life (e.g., from home to campus, a favorite park, or a regular grocery store).Walking sessions should last 30-45 minutes, with observations and dialogue along the way.
-I would like to explore the interviewees' living habits while in China through natural and relaxed dialogue, as well as to gain more information by observing their body gestures and movements. There are two main aspects here: one is to learn about the interviewees' habits through dialogue, and the other is to learn more about their acculturation and social behaviours through body language observation.

sample questions: When you were in China, did you take regular walks? Where do you usually go for a walk? Why did you choose these places? Are there any grocery stores or shops that you frequent? When you are in China, do you often shop online or do you prefer to go to physical shops? What are the differences between your city and the cities here (in the Netherlands)? Do you find any noticeable differences in the pace of life, shopping habits or anything else? Are there activities you sometimes do in the Netherlands that you didn't do in China, such as taking frequent walks? Are there some things you prefer to do offline here?

-Recording Method: Take notes during the walk(Record changes in emotional tone of voice and posture that cannot be demonstrated by the recording), supplemented with photos or videos of the environment (with participant consent).

Key Observation: Observe if the respondent has a faster pace and stops often to look at the scenery or interact with me. Observe how respondents interact with strangers while walking. For example, do they actively move out of the way of others or do they deliberately keep their distance when they come across other people or do they initiate greetings. This may vary from culture to culture. Have respondents adjusted their perception of ‘personal space’ in the new environment? Do respondents greet or smile at pedestrians on the street, or do they tend to remain silent.

Static Interview

Conducted after the walking interview, starting with light, everyday topics and gradually moving on to sensitive or complex topics.
- Location: Choose an environment that is comfortable for the interviewee, such as a café, or a student accommodation.

Sample question: Studying in the Netherlands is a relatively uncommon choice, with many people preferring to go to English-speaking countries such as the US and the UK. What were your reasons for choosing the Netherlands at the time? Was it because of the academic opportunities here, the employment policy, or were there other personal reasons?

Social media emoji and meme observations

Although I am studying in Netherlands, I still spend a significant amount of time on Chinese social media platforms. A particular aspect of this is my usage of emojis and meme. When chatting in English, I tend to think carefully about whether an emoji is appropriate and polite. However, when using Chinese social media, I feel more liberated and expressive emojis.

The amount of time respondents spend on Chinese social media platforms. Frequency and type of emoji and meme used by the respondents. Explore the differences in the use of emoji and meme between respondents' Chinese and non-native social media platforms.

chapter 2 Saying Hello in the Lift

How do Chinese women’s bodily actions reflect their cultural adaptation in daily life? When they greet someone in an elevator, does this seemingly simple act hide a more profound “performance of survival in a foreign environment?”How do they adjust their behavior in both public and private spaces—from initial awkwardness to gradual adaptation.

chapter 3 Hotpot Tonight?

How do Chinese female students seek a sense of belonging within the wider international student community and Dutch society? It may be possible to do so through group activities, social platforms and the use of public spaces, exploring how they build support systems in these 'non-spaces' and gradually create their own spaces. A combination of interview and survey data demonstrates how individuals and collectives adapt and resist in unfamiliar environments.

References

• Biao Xiang,The Nearby: A Scope of Seeing
• Goffman, Erving. The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
• Hall, Edward T. The Hidden Dimension
• Mauss, Marcel. Techniques of the Body
• Auge, Marc. Non-Places: Introduction to an Anthropology of Supermodernity