THE QUEEN OF THE RECHARGE AND DANCE ZONE: FLO WINDEY
Flo Windey: you undoubtedly know her! This enthusiastic Brussels madcap is indispensable in our Flemish media landscape. From festival reporter for StuBru and host of Flowjob and Club Flo to on-stage iconic duo with Skyve: she does it all! We at STAN were very excited to talk to her about student life and are curious about what she really thinks of Antwerp.
What was it like for you to be on our brand new Recharge stage?
“Very enjoyable, especially because you are so close to the audience, you can really see that they want to hear these things. I thought it was cool that for once it was possible to talk about mental health and being a student without losing yourself. Students are often under pressure and then I think: take the pressure off. That balance, it’s really allowed sometimes!”
Besides that balance you were talking about, what did you think was the most important advice to give to students?
“That they shouldn’t lose themselves in studying or in partying. You have to find the right way. It’s super important to keep seeing each other and to go outside! If you went outside a lot at the beginning of the academic year, to class, to meeting days,… That’s important, because if people then suddenly see you less, they will check up on you! And vice versa as well. Making friends isn’t easy, but you have to. That’s why I want to say: you have to put more effort into it, more than usual.
At StuDay this year, we have 4 zones. Which zone would you check out anyway?
“Ooh… I’m a human though, if I go somewhere and I know it’s to party, I’m dancing. Rain or no rain, I’ll be there. As a new student in Antwerp, I would also check out the Recharge zone though, to refuel and rest. And also maybe to listen to a nice talk (laughs).”
Today you’re at StuDay, but you’ve been at so many other festivals this summer: Pukkelpop, Tomorrowland, Sunrise…. What was — besides StuDay — your best festival experience this summer?
“I don’t know if anything can match StuDay…. (laughs). Nothing can match Pukkelpop, Tomorrowland and Rockwerchter for playing myself. But Krammerrock is really the holy grail to go to by yourself. They always say that Pukkelpop is the last festival of the summer, but that really isn’t true lol. For me, Krammerrock is the dessert of the festival summer, the icing on the cake.”
During your talk, you also talked about your own student days. What were you actually like as a student yourself?
“I wasn’t too good a student, but I was very dedicated. I had a vision: I wanted that degree. I had also promised my grandmother and grandfather that I would get that degree, so then I really had to! But the first two years I really searched, also went very wrong, but once I found journalism, I was off. I was very chaotic though and I didn’t always know what my priorities were. I said it in my talk just now: long live the calendar app Trusty. Still very handy and underrated. I searched for a very long time as a student and even got a second degree, because then I did really find my niche. ‘I know how it works.’ I didn’t find my liking in that first direction, my motivation was much too superficial. You have to find the direction you can find yourself in. Deep shit.”
You are originally from Brussels, but you came to study in Antwerp. How did you like the city and what were your favorite spots?
“To be honnest: Antwerp and I, that wasn’t love at first sight. I was born and raised in Brussels, and yes, if you know Brussels well, it is very difficult to be impressed by another city. To me, Antwerp was just a big city that was falling out. I made a lot of friends here and I had a really good time here. People often think I’m from Antwerp, by the way.”
“Look, in Antwerp you have everything, but in Brussels there’s just more. My favorite spots… Would I gatekeep? (laughs) The Dageraadplaats, for sure! I discovered that very late, so many bars together, good atmosphere, a starry sky…. And Mission Masala! I love indian food. And the night stores in Borgerhout are always very nice too! I lived in Borgerhout for a year and everyone says hello in a really familiar way, I really appreciated that. Turnhoutsebaan and Dageraadplaats are the place to be.”
How cute is Flo? Okay, we forgive her that Antwerp is not her favorite city! She gave us good survival tips for our studentlife like balance is key and the Trusty calendar app. To end the festival summer and StuDay, Flo and Skyve set the Dance Zone on fire!
