Some of you may read this title and think I'm talking about learning to bike in the Netherlands specifically. That's the beauty of an ambiguous title like this—it means what you want it to mean. In the early days when I would visit the Netherlands as a tourist, I refrained from biking here. At the... Continue Reading →
Living in the Netherlands: How will the Dutch Lifestyle change after COVID-19?
Okay, so I moved to the Netherlands to experience the Dutch way of life. The typical Dutch lifestyle with "gezelligheid" (coziness). And the Netherlands is still a very cozy country, but will Dutch culture withstand the changes brought on by the infamous coronavirus? I know you're thinking the same thing about where you live right... Continue Reading →
5 Things that make the Dutch so heartwarming!
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 →
3 Things that make the Netherlands a “gezellig” place to live
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 →
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... Continue Reading →
My 3 favorite neighborhoods in Utrecht
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 →
Being gay in the Netherlands vs the US
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 →
3 Things Americans can Learn from Dutch College Kids
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 →
5 Things I do Differently Since I Moved to the Netherlands
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 →
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 →
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 →