Struggling with Dutch culture one day at a time.
I know what you're thinking— everybody loves sunny days! Well, but not like the Dutch. When the sun is out, so are the Dutch. I don't think they understand that they still have the option of staying at home even when it's not raining. Most days in the Netherlands are rainy and cold, so I... Continue Reading →
Ah, Amsterdam, the city of lovely canals, museums, and old buildings that will knock your socks off. The city is hot on the maps, and even right now when travelling isn't possible due to COVID-19, Instagram is still filled with old pictures of people who have travelled there in the past. Amsterdam canals, houseboats, and... Continue Reading →
Here's the crazy thing. When my girlfriend Sara first told me that biking in the US was a living nightmare for her, I just didn't get it. Biking isn't BIG in the US overall, but it is gaining popularity in many American cities. How different could the Netherlands really be? To be fair, this was... Continue Reading →
When my Dutch girlfriend told me that her friends in the Netherlands owned boats, I was shocked. I checked with her to make sure she wasn't trying to say "row boat" or "canoe" instead. Nope, she means actual freaking boats with motors and everything. It's not that boats are particularly expensive— I mean, they can... Continue Reading →
Like many people who like to travel and experience different cultures, I absolutely LOVE knowing more about how people live. It was no different when I would visit the Netherlands. Especially in big cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht, it was amazing to get to see the lives of hundreds of people all at once. Because... Continue Reading →
What can I say, in the past four years that I've gotten to know the Dutch culture and the Dutch people, they've won a place in my heart. But because the country is so small, many people I know aren't very familiar with the Dutch way of life. I bet there are some Americans out... Continue Reading →
If you talk to an American about Europe, at some point, you will talk about one of two things: how old and beautiful the buildings are in European cities, and how the cafés in Europe are just fucking adorable. Why do you think I moved to the Netherlands? The Nieuwegracht in Utrecht, lined with old... Continue Reading →
You might be familiar with the Danish word "hygge", which roughly means something like "cozy". Well, the Dutch have a word for it too— gezelligheid. Yeah, I know, it's a bit of a mouthful. Maybe that's why the Danish one caught on more. But the Dutch really love for things to be "gezellig" (cozy). If... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Walks around the city— one of the things that keeps me from going insane in these times of COVID-19. I've been a good girl, and I spend most of my days indoors. I practice social distancing. But a couple of times a week, I go out for a stroll to stretch out my legs (that... Continue Reading →
Recently, I've had several conversations about the renting process in Amsterdam and Utrecht with people who're looking to move to these cities. My partner Sara and I have looked for several short term places in Amsterdam, and last year, I had to look for my first permanent rental as an expat. At the time, Sara... Continue Reading →
This is a topic that's very personal to me. As those of you who've read my blog before already know, I'm gay. I mention it like literally in each post so it's not a secret, even though I wish I could have this post be some kind of grand coming out to the internet. But... Continue Reading →
A large number of expats want to live in Amsterdam. And a large number of expats end up actually living in Amsterdam. It makes sense, there are a ton of jobs there, everyone speaks English, and you can make friends with other expats. But since the prices have been rising in the Dutch capital, it... Continue Reading →
Feeling helpless in this time when the world is going to shit? COVID-19 has terrorized our society, and the world we live in will no longer be the same. People are affected by the current crisis in so many different ways. If only there was something we could do! I've had this feeling of helplessness... Continue Reading →
Because I'm an American expat living in the Netherlands, I almost always find myself comparing between the two cultures, even without trying. I mean, I even wrote a post about how something as simple as grocery shopping can be so different in the two countries. So of course, now in this Coronavirus crisis, I find... Continue Reading →
I didn't believe that there could be a silver lining to being forced to stay indoors for weeks on end. When the quarantining measures were first put in place, I remember seeing a bunch of social media posts that just didn't make any sense to me. One friend of mine shared a "social distancing/quarantining schedule"... Continue Reading →
Are you ready to hear something totally crazy? I recently found out that one of my least favorite chores has now become something I look forward to. A pleasant experience that I enjoy, even! You guess it— it's shopping for groceries! (Sorry, no bonus genius points here, it's in the title.) Grocery shopping is one... Continue Reading →
Do you want to what the absolute one that blew my mind about Dutch people? When I first visited the Netherlands and got to know the country better, one of the things I immediately realized was that the Dutch youth were way more mature than what I was used to. Americans in college are basically... Continue Reading →
Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands 