Changing Outlook on Working Life: Lessons from Living Abroad

In the US, especially in big cities, every neighborhood is bound to have at least one nice café that you can go to. You know what's great about Europe, and especially here in the Netherlands? Every neighborhood is bound to have at least A FEW good cafés. Café in Utrecht. A bit empty due to...

A Coffee in Amsterdam (with a small cookie)

Cafes and "terrasjes" will be open starting June 1st. After more than two months of being closed down due to the COVID-19 crisis, I, along with the rest of the Netherlands, will finally be able to enjoy a good coffee outside of my own home. For those of you who don't know, the Dutch word...

How I moved abroad to the Netherlands

My friends were so shocked when I told them that I was moving to the Netherlands permanently. Sure, I had talked about moving to Europe, but no one was prepared for when it happened. Least of all me. This blog is obviously about my experiences abroad, but I haven't yet written about my journey to...

No, You Can’t Ask Me That!

When you think about the typical characteristics of the Dutch, one of the first things that you're sure to hear is how the Dutch are oh-so-direct! "You've got stuff between your teeth!" So ruthless and straight to the point. Us Americans, we're polite, we'll let you smile to the world with a celery stub in...

Making Friends in the Netherlands vs. the U.S.

It's been 3 months since I moved to the Netherlands. Even though I've visited here several times before, my primary social network is through my partner, who is Dutch. Now, granted, I'm much luckier than many other expats who complain that they never talk to Dutch people EVER, but getting to know people here has...