You may have heard the saying, "when in Rome, do as Romans do." I'm a big believer in that. My family is multicultural, and I am an American from New York. But I also lived in India for many years and my family is Persian. My extended family is spread out all over the world,... Continue Reading →
How I improved my Dutch in 6 months to become conversational.
One thing that is extremely common here in the Netherlands is that many American expats don't speak Dutch. I'm talking about people who've lived here for ten years and can barely string two Dutch words together. What's up with that? The Dutch people I talk to about this say that they find this annoying, and... Continue Reading →
What to bring when moving abroad and how to bring it.
My girlfriend and I have currently gone through the process of moving to the Netherlands from the United States. For those of you who are new to this blog, she is Dutch and this move will be her coming back home after having spent five years in the US. As we've found out, you can... Continue Reading →
I am social-distancing alone because my girlfriend is stuck abroad.
In my post earlier this week, 3 Expat Problems in this Coronavirus Outbreak, I talked about some general issues that expats are facing in these unfamiliar and uncertain times. But today, it's time for me to get personal. After all, that's why I endeavored to start a blog. For the last two weeks, my girlfriend... Continue Reading →
3 Reasons Why I Moved to the Netherlands
Lately, people have been asking me how my recent-ish move to the Netherlands has been treating me. The question comes from both friends and strangers alike, and it makes sense! I'm from New York, the concrete jungle. I'm also very American in many ways. I like everything to be biiiiggg. Small European toilets? I can't... Continue Reading →
3 Expat Problems in this Coronavirus Outbreak
The coronavirus outbreak has made it a trying time for everyone. I've been hearing about all kinds of problems from various groups of individuals, those who can't work from home, those from countries where the healthcare system isn't as accessible, from people in crowded places who are worried for the safety of others. The list... Continue Reading →
Moving to the Netherlands without a Job? Here’s what to expect.
You've decided to move to the Netherlands— Congratulations! Even though I can't promise that you'll love every minute of it, I can say from experience that you'll have plenty of fantastic moments at least. When I first told people that I wanted moving to the Dutchlands, as I (and only me, as far as I'm... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Feeling Settled But Not Really
When people ask me how long I've been here, I hesitate because I'm not quite sure. I remember the date I got on a plane to Schipol airport, a rainy day the first week of September, but I don't recall when it was that I knew I wouldn't be going back. When I arrived in... Continue Reading →
15 Things to Know Before Moving to the Netherlands
A guide for Americans moving to the Netherlands. 1. Get a burgerservicenummer (BSN)! The first thing you need to do right after you've moved to the Netherlands is get a BSN number. Without it, you can't get a bank account. And without a bank account, you're pretty much fucked. You can't pay for many things... Continue Reading →
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... Continue Reading →
Commuting in the Netherlands
About a month ago, I started my new job in the Netherlands. Yay! But because my work is located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, and because my temporary apartment is in Amsterdam West, it took me an hour an a half each way to get to work. It's as bad as it sounds... well, not... Continue Reading →
Those Beautiful Amsterdam Houses!
When I dreamed about moving to the Netherlands, an image that would come to mind without fail were those of the beautiful Amsterdam canal buildings. I've lived in the US for the last 12 years and I had never spent more than 2 consecutive months in Europe. Living in the Netherlands now is a dream... Continue Reading →
Celebrating Birthdays in the Netherlands
This weekend, I attended the birthday celebrations of two of my girlfriend's friends. It was an especially nice way to round off the first week at my new job. It was also a great occasion to gain some insight into Dutch culture. I usually expect that things like celebrating birthdays should be more or less... Continue Reading →
Preparing to Move into a New Apartment
We have now officially signed the contract to live in an apartment in the center of Utrecht-- yay! Living in an apartment in the city center in a building made centuries ago, I'm excited to live that dream! BUT, of course there's a "but", why wouldn't there be a "but", life would be so totally... Continue Reading →
Grocery Shopping in the Netherlands
There are many things I love about grocery shopping in the Netherlands. For instance, everything is much, much cheaper than in the US. In the US, I can buy a tomato for 89 cents. Here, I can buy a pack of eight tomatoes for the same price. And these are your run-of-the-mill normal tomatoes, not some classy... Continue Reading →
Dutch Hell of Apartment Hunting
Have you visited the Netherlands before? Have you been to Amsterdam, seen the beautiful houses, envisioned yourself living in one of those beautiful apartments overlooking the canal? Me too! It's just so simple, leave it all behind, and it can all be yours. Well, I did, and let me tell you something, I was pretty... Continue Reading →
Dutch Americano: A Blog about Living in the Netherlands 