Moving to the Netherlands was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I left a community that was always there for me. I left everything I’ve ever known to be with the man I love. The decision to move abroad was not an easy one. Uprooting your life is never easy. The first year and a half were especially difficult for me. But now I’ve lived in the…
We all have to write more English text than we prefer at one point or another. That could be redoing your CV and cover letter or just conversing with your colleagues via email. Everyone has their strong suits. You may be great at math or science and hate writing. That’s fine. But if you want to improve your English writing, then read this blog post. I am a freelance writer…
Please take note this post contains affiliate links. The holidays are just around the corner, and that means it’s the gift-giving season. One of the things I love the most about traveling home to see my family is giving them Dutch-themed gifts. You can always give your family and friends another pair of socks, but giving them some kruidnoten or a flessenlikker just hits differently. This way, I can share…
Recently someone commented on one of my videos that I’m not an immigrant because I’m from the west. A lot of internationals use the terms immigrant and expat interchangeably; me included sometimes. But the reality is, I came here for love, did all the inburgeringsexamen, and own a business registered with the Dutch chamber of commerce. So by definition, I am an immigrant. As that’s out of the way, here’s…
You are probably familiar with the expression, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” You may have grown up hearing something similar, if not that exact expression. I’m a big believer in what this expression means. In my opinion, it is never too late to learn something new. You never know what’s going to happen in the future, so why not live life to the fullest? But, of course, live…
Navigating through any healthcare system unfamiliar to you is challenging. But navigating through a system that considers “paracetamol” a cure-all is so much harder. If you love the Dutch healthcare system and think it is perfect, then this blog post isn’t for you. However, if you’ve had issues getting the doctor(s) to take you seriously, please read this blog post. A lot of foreigners in the Netherlands have had bad…
I may have been born and raised in the USA, but I grew up bilingual. Both my parents are Jewish immigrants to the USA from the former Soviet Union. I’ve often heard from immigrants/expats in the Netherlands that they are told not to speak with their children in their native language because it’ll confuse them. I know not everyone is told this, but many with whom I’ve talked with personally…
Please take note this post contains affiliate links. Being your own boss is so romanticized on social media, it is insane. Do I love working for myself as a freelance writer and editor? Absolutely! Is freelancing for everyone? Absolutely not! There are so many reasons why working as an employee is better than working for yourself. But on the flip side, being your own boss comes with many advantages. You…
Please note that this blog post contains affiliate links. Most people who travel to Portugal go to Lisbon. This makes a lot of sense. Lisbon is the capital and the most populated city in Portugal. In my opinion, Lisbon is overrated and should be skipped. This comes from someone who grew up in a small city, lived in NYC for many years, and now lives in a tiny town-like city.…
Whenever I see anyone post on social media about why they love the Netherlands, it’s always about the same things. They love the public transport, cycling culture, vakantie geld, affordable flowers, good education, safety, and such. But there are so many other reasons why the Netherlands is a great place to live that people don’t often talk about. Of course, this blog post is skewed by my perception and upbringing…
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