“The way we talk around things in England doesn’t work here,” says Phil from York, England. “People need to hear directly what you mean. Especially in work situations; that’s where people here just tell you it’s not right. It took me a few years to learn that, but at and point I realised that this is the most efficient and logical thing to do. This way, people know where they stand and there is no miscommunication. That’s great.”
A design study took him to Rotterdam for the first time in 2009. “We did a tour in the city. I remember we visited the Middellandstraat. Immediately I got the impression that Rotterdam was a vibrant city. I saw a lot of people on the streets, there was a lot going on. It’s raw now, but in a good way. It’s not intimidating.”
Lots to offer
He stayed for his internship. “That was a great experience, that really made an impression. There is so much to do, especially considering the size of the city. I don’t think there are other cities of this size that have so much to offer, especially when it comes to culture and design,” he says. Yet at that age, he was not yet thinking about the future, which city he wanted to live in. Until he met his girlfriend. After his internship, he had to return to York, but he travelled to the Netherlands every month for two and a half years to see her. Then he moved to Rotterdam permanently.
Walking, sports and the community centre
To feel at home in the city, he spent hours walking through the neighbourhoods. “Still there are parts I don’t know well, and the city is also changing all the time. That’s why I still walk often. That’s how I find a new restaurant or café or park or building being renovated.” He also got to know new people quickly. “I think that’s important. It’s interesting that you can meet people from all over the world here. You meet them by doing things you like: sports or going to the community centre. I didn’t know the latter from England. But it connects you with a part of the city, which really gives a good sense of community. So there may be more of them.”
Progressive and humour
He leaves his city of York behind. “It’s a beautiful old city, but it doesn’t have that much to offer in terms of culture. And people don’t want to change things in the city or in their own behaviour; they are not progressive. Rotterdam is, you can feel that in the city, in the energy. The city gives space to people and cultures from all over the world. Everything is possible here.” Yet there are also similarities. “I really have the kind of humour that comes from northern England, a bit dry. I noticed here that your humour is a bit the same,” he laughs.