The ins and Outs of Expat Careers: Nicola McCall and A Tale of Adaptation

Nicola McCall calls the Netherlands
home for now
Photo: A van Mulligen (c)

British born Nicola McCall currently calls the Netherlands her home. Nicola’s life as an expat has been the consequence of her partner’s career – his employer has relocated the McCall family a number of times over the years.

Like Louise Wiles featured two weeks ago, Nicola is an expat coach. Whilst living abroad, her career and the development of her own career has been inspired and created by her own personal, expat journey. It has been a story of adapting.

Before Nicola moved overseas for the first time she worked in an international retailer’s headquarters as a Senior Human Resources (HR) specialist. She was responsible for employee relations, internal communications and employee engagement. With her move abroad, she formed a plan for her future career and actively pursued it. She explains,

“I intended to return to HR on our repatriation to the UK (which was planned for Summer 2006) so I did a UK University Post Graduate Certificate in Personal and Business Coaching, as this was a skill set being sought by HR functions at that time.”

But as we know, things don’t always work out the way we plan. Nicola found herself having to adapt when the family ended up staying abroad. She says,

“During the training I saw the potential to work with expatriate spouses in similar circumstances to my own and inspired by Jo Parfitt’s Career in Your Suitcase website and books, I decided to start my own expatriate coaching business in March 2006.”

There was a serious financial cost attached to this career shift.

“Retraining and accommodation costs whilst studying were in the region of £4,000. I had some career support allowance from my partner’s employers but the majority of the finance for my career change was personal,” explains Nicola.

She also needed other types of support to effectuate her desired career change,

“I could not have done the training in the UK nor home study without my partner’s support to care for our son. I also had support from my course colleagues, expats for practice and a mentor coach to help me complete my studies.”

However, the fact that Nicola is still living overseas five years later with a successful career of her own is testament to the fact that the personal investment was a worthy one. Her hard work and determination have paid off in the long run.

To all potential expat coaches out there, Nicola has some sound advice,

“There are many coaches coaching internationally so make sure you undertake training that gives you a qualification and accreditation that is internationally recognised. Join a professional association to support your continuing professional development.  Look carefully at what your niche is and don’t be surprised that you may actually attract those outside your niche in the first year!”

She encourages anyone who has an idea for their own business to give it a go. Nicola says,

“If you think you can – you can!”

To make a success of your overseas career, Nicola pinpoints an essential trait to help you keep going in the face of adversity,

“You need persistence. It is common to ask “why am I bothering?” particularly when you are facing the uncertainty of a new location, you are juggling family commitments, learning a new language, studying – in short creating a new life in a new location! But persistence will keep you on track.”

She also stresses the importance of a sound network and contact with peers.

“Asking for help and reciprocating when you can is one of the easiest ways to connect with others in a similar field – I believe it is part and parcel of networking,” she tells.

And finally, in Nicola’s opinion, a successful overseas career needs a dash of something extra,

“You need a sense of humour – it’s essential anywhere, anytime!"

Nicola's Recommended Links
Inspiring Expat Women sites and books:
www.expatwomen.com - information site covering expat women’s lives abroad
www.expatexpert.com  Robin Pascoe (see also her books)
www.joparfitt.com & www.career-in-your-suitcase.com  Jo Parfitt's resources for expat careers

Expat Entrepreneur: How to create and maintain your own portable career anywhere in the world - by Jo Parfitt 

containing a useful chapter on careers as an expat woman

Becoming a Coach/ Expat Coaching

www.expatcoachassociation.com

www.coachfederation.org/research-education/icf-credentials

www.associationforcoaching.com/home/index.htm

Useful article from 2003 the Pathways and Pitfalls of Coaching - 

www.associationforcoaching.com/pub/Path0312.pdf

Career information

http://www.johnleescareers.com/   -  you can register on the home page for access to career tools 

Networking

www.twitter.com

Nicola McCall

Nicola McCall MCIPD is a UK University Post Graduate qualified Coach, specializing in coaching expatriates to find fulfillment during their work and life abroad.  Visit www.livelifenowcoaching.com for more information.

The Ins and Outs of Expat Careers: Sarah Johnson and Teaching with a Twist

When her husband got a job with Nike in Hilversum, the Netherlands, Sarah Johnson left her teaching job in the UK to join him just across the North Sea.

For all intents and purposes, Sarah found that a move abroad brought with it the loss of her career. However, Sarah was eventually able to use her core skill set to blow new life into her career abroad. She explains,

"I was a teacher of Modern Languages (French and German) at a secondary school in the UK and now I teach Dutch to adults."

Instead of working in a school, Sarah works privately from her own home. She tells why she chose this route,

"I would never wish to teach in a Dutch school.  Discipline is seen very differently and I therefore never tried to get a job in a school."

To redirect her career, Sarah used her existing teaching skills and concentrated on a niche group; namely foreigners living in her local area in the Netherlands who wanted to learn Dutch. She explains how the idea came about,

Sarah Johnson's expat career took
an unexpected turn
at toddler swimming
Photo: Jeremy Doorten

"It was purely down to a friend asking me - 8 years ago now.  She heard me speaking to some dutch mums whilst we were at toddler swimming and asked me.  I laughed, but then reflected on it and put out feelers to see if anyone would be interested.  My Dutch was fluent, in that I could hold a conversation about anything, but certainly not to the level I can speak nowadays - although I'm still not faultless.  My first student was Spanish, oddly enough, and then my British circle of students started."

What Sarah has pursued is quite unusual. Language teaching abroad typically focusses on teaching your native language to locals, but Sarah has turned that idea on its head to support non-natives to learn the local, foreign language.

There is, as often is the case, a but. Sarah's career abroad has not been straight forward. There has been soul searching and she followed a downward slope before she picked herself up and got back on track.

"When we first moved to the Netherlands I went into customer services briefly until having our first child.  After that, I lost my way and didn’t know how to get back on track. When I hit my all-time low, I decided to write a book about how I was feeling.  Through many twists and turns of fortune, and through taking opportunities when they presented themselves, I found myself teaching Dutch to non-natives," she says.

Sarah started with one student and built up her client base gradually until she was teaching eight lessons a week. And then she took it a step further,

"In August 2009 I formed my company “Building Blocks Multilingual” which is becoming increasingly successful.   Instead of teaching hourly lessons on a weekly basis I am now offering intensive courses, which are proving to be popular.  My aim is to get the language system – Blank Canvas – that I have devised and developed myself, which makes learning languages more straight forward, into schools across the globe.

Sarah Johnson shows that thinking outside the box and making the most of a creative mind and opportunities really can pay off.

Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a language teacher and the creator of Building Blocks Multilingual. 
You can contact her on 035 623 2746 or on her mobile 06 25 52 30 85 or send her an email at johnsons1 at mac dot com

She blogs her novel under the writer's name of Summer Knight. In her own words, Sarah explains,

"It details the difficulties I encountered in a different country, having lost my career to all intents and purposes.  I try to post a chapter every week: 

http://metamorph2010.wordpress.com/"

The Ins and Outs of Expat Careers

Photo: Vera Berard

Next Monday a new blog series begins on "A Letter from the Netherlands" about pursuing a career when you live abroad.

Particularly for accompanying partners, and those who move overseas to live with a local, this subject is a thorny one. For some, moving overseas is the perfect opportunity to make a career change and take a risk doing that one thing they always wanted to do. For some an expat life opens up doors. Others find doors slammed hard in their face.

The reasons for being unable to pursue your current career abroad are varied: lack of work permit; qualifications not being recognised; no jobs available in the local arena; cultural differences; legal restrictions; retraining needed; safety reasons; language barriers..... and so it goes on.

But it's certainly not all doom and gloom as our interviewees will reveal. A move overseas is a tremendous career opportunity for those who can think outside the box and put their creative being to work.

Over the coming weeks I will be speaking to a range of expats in different countries about their careers and how a move overseas effected their working lives. They'll share their experiences and give tips and advice and share links and resources that have helped them along their expat career journey.

If you have an expat career story you would like to share, please send a mail to "amanda at thewritingwell dot eu" and I'll let you know how.

On the subject of expat careers, the March edition of the Expats@Home newsletter goes out tomorrow with guest expert Tara Agacayak telling us about creative careers. You can found out more and sign up at http://www.thewritingwell.eu/Newsletter.html.

Expat Challenges by Kate Berger

Kate Berger, an expat expert
specialising in helping expat kids

For the Expats@Home February newsletter, I asked expat expert, Kate Berger, to share a little about some of the challenges that face expats. She interviewed some local expats from different countries and shared them with us. The result was interesting with issues ranging from how to make friends to ensuring that your retirement plan can sustain you in later life.

Kate Berger offers emotional health services for expatriate children and adolescents in the Amsterdam area through her practice, The Expat Kids Club. Individual and group sessions are offered, and target issues including anxiety, family & peer conficts, and socio/emotional adjustment to non-native lifestyles & cultures. For more information visit http://www.expatkidsclub.com/index.html

If you want to read the article in it's entirety visit the archive. If you want to sign up for future editions of my newsletter visit my website page.

Interview With Me On Orangesplaash

Orangesplaash, an expat blog with tales of travel adventures, cross-cultural dilemmas and expat tips has published an interview with me. It was great fun and made me realise what fun my journey has been in the Netherlands.

"Amanda van Mulligen is our expat guest for this week, sharing tips and tales from her expat  life in the Netherlands spanning more than 10 years. A fellow expat blogger, Amanda writes passionately about all things expat related, along with managing her own company The Writing Well,  that provides English language writing services. I personally enjoy her writing style and insights into expat life in the Netherlands."

If you want to read the full interview visit Orangesplaash. Thanks Arwa for asking me to participate.

Expat Entrepreneur Inspiration

One of the wonderful things about expat life is the network of people you build along your journey. Every now and then, (actually quite often I find) there is someone that crosses your path that is worth shouting about.

Last August, I was inspired to write about a few of the amazing women I have come into contact with over the years I have been living an expat life (and you can read A World of Inspiration: A Patchwork Quilt on Velvet Escape). I have yet again been inspired to write about another expat; an expat entrepreneur who not only takes her own photography business seriously but her social responsibility too.

Natalie's Award from the WBII
Photo: Natalie Carstens

In fact, the Dutch based Women's Business Initiative International (WBII) has just awarded British expat Natalie Carstens with the Social Innovation Award for her exceptional contribution to the social projects she involves herself with. I decided to talk to her about the projects she works on, and about expat life.

Natalie photographed by her
husband, Heiko Carstens

Natalie came to the Netherlands just over six years ago whilst completing her Masters degree. Her career looked much different back in the UK she explains:

"I was a full time student. For my Bachelors degree in Information Engineering and Technology Management I spent a one-year internship with the UK Ministry of Defence. As a result of my internship I received sponsorship for a Masters degree in Information Security and Computer Crime."

Whilst the Netherlands is Natalie's first experience of expat life, she has certainly not been afraid of change. I asked her how she came to make such a dramatic career switch from IT to photography and she happily recalls:

"I discovered IMAGES International Photography Club and joined straightaway. I loved photography and thought it would be a great way to meet people outside of work. It wasn’t long before I joined the Committee and I spent three and a half enjoyable years filling the roles of Website Editor, Publicity Officer and Chairman. Quite unexpectedly I discovered something I loved with my heart and soul."

It was not an easy decision to leave secure employment and start up for herself, but convinced that she should follow her passion she set up Tigs Creations in 2008 and hasn't looked back.

She says, "Now I work full time as a children and family portrait photographer, specialising in pregnancy and newborn portraiture."

But she also involves herself in much more, namely two social projects that are closely linked to her photography: The Littlest Heroes and Zoocrew.eu. I asked Natalie to tell a little about these projects, and how she came to be a part of them:

The Littlest Heroes Project. Photo by Natalie Carstens

"The Littlest Heroes Project is non-profit organisation made up of a network of professional photographers worldwide that have come together to help give back and capture miracles through the beauty of photography. The project provides our littlest heroes (children who suffer from any type of serious illness of life altering disability) and their family with a complimentary photo session and selection of photos. This is an amazing gift for these families that are dealing with hectic schedules as their child battles disease and sickness. When I first came across the website I could not hold back the tears. The stories and images of these brave children (including the story of the founder of the project) really tugged at my heartstrings and I knew instantly I wanted to be a part of this very special project."

She goes on to tell about zoocrew.eu:

Photo: Natalie Carstens

"The idea behind zoocrew.eu came from four photographer friends with a shared passion for wildlife. We were regularly visiting zoos together and day trips turned into weekends away to visit zoos that were further away. Each zoo visit sparked a discussion about the variety and health of the animals, the quality of the enclosures etc. and during one of our discussions we realised the importance of promoting the conservation projects and breeding programmes that are funded and supported by the various zoos. After some brainstorming the idea for the zoocrew.eu project became more and more a reality and my husband and I launched the website in January 2008."

One of the photos from the romantic portrait session offered for Helping Hearts. Photo by Natalie Carstens

Natalie was also moved to help the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti. She offered a romantic portrait session on-location as a prize to one of her blog readers who donated to the Dutch National Giro555, as part of the Helping Hearts for Haiti initiative.

For Natalie, involvement in social projects is a natural activity:

"I’ve never really questioned ‘why’; it’s more something that I do on impulse. If I feel passionate about something I like to find a way I can help."

She explains that taking social responsibility is not only good on a personal level and for those less fortunate, but can also be good for your own business,

"Supporting a social project enriches businesses and opens doors. Some projects may also present new business opportunities as well as the chance to grow your network further."

Her advice for others who would like to get involved in a social project? Simply...

"Choose a social project that tugs at your heart and go ahead and support it!"

What are you waiting for?

*This was first published in April 2010 in the Expats@Home series of newsletters. If you want to receive future copies of my newsletter you can sign up in the right hand column on this blog or read more on my website http://www.thewritingwell.eu/Newsletter.html.*

Expats in (E)motion Blog

Debby Poort (interviewed on this blog last year and founder of Yellow Wood Integrative Psychotherapy Practice) and Kate Berger (founder of the Expat Kid's Club) have teamed up to write a blog for expats in the Netherlands that deals with mental health issues. In their own words:

"We created Expats in (E)motion because we believe that being an expat is an emotional journey–not just a physical relocation. As expats we are bombarded with new experiences every single day. With these new experiences come emotions, some we may have long forgotten we ever had, and some we never thought we would ever have to face."

Topics that these two experts tackle through the blog are:

-Making new friends
-Dealing with homesickness
-Maintaining health
-Learning to speak Dutch
-Having a new baby/sibling
-Preparing for repatriation

Go to http://expatsinemotion.blog.com/ for more information and to read their blog.

Arwa Lokhandwala in the Hot Seat - Interview with an Expat

Arwa Lokhandwala is an Indian expat living in the Netherlands. She is an active blogger, writer and Twitterer and tells here about her year to date in the Netherlands.

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?

Its been exactly one year on 10^th Dec, 2009 since I set foot in Netherlands. And I can't bring myself to believe that, time really does fly.

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?

My husband got a job with a company in the Netherlands and so we relocated here one year ago from India.

What is your profession?

I studied Electronics Engineering and was working as an IT professional in a global firm back in India. But having moved to Netherlands, due to the recession I have not been successful in getting a job in the IT field.

This has given me the time and the motivation to pursue the first love of my life – writing. So here I am working as a freelance writer, blogger (http://orangesplaash.blogspot.com/ ) and communication specialist. I write on various topics ranging from Expats, Home Improvement, Interior Decoration, Online Writing, to Article Writing etc.

I am also interested in social media and am looking out for ways to leverage the enormous potential of social media.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
There are a lot of differences with respect to the culture, the way of life etc. But the most glaring difference of course is the language. This becomes all the more evident with all the official documentation after moving here as it is all in Dutch. Nevertheless, almost everybody here can speak English as well and therefore in supermarkets etc it's not a problem.

I am learning Dutch now and am enjoying the lessons. And since the Dutch speak very good English, they do not give me much opportunity to practice my broken Dutch a lot :-)

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
I was very surprised to learn about the appointment system here. It came as a shock to me that you have to make an appointment even with your neighbor to catch up for coffee and a nice chat.

The Dutch keep small personal diaries with them, noting down appointments and meeting times for almost everyone. So, now I know that it is required for everyone right from a cycle mechanic to the doctor.

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?

Oh, I would surely miss a lot of things – lovely things that now symbolise the Netherlands to me, including but not limited to the friendly people, tulips, windmills, canals, the markets, muffins, hagelslag, cheese, blue berries, the public transport, the great health care system, the cleanliness and the traditions like Sinterklaas, koninginnedag, etc.

As an expat, I have come to know a new way of life, a new culture and new people. So, I would miss all the lovely memories and moments.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?

When we came here in December last year, the weather was really cold and windy; and the days were short. It does not help one bit that it is raining almost every day here. Having come from a tropical country like India, wearing thick jackets and carrying an umbrella in the purse always is quite tedious.

What is your favourite Dutch word?

The first word that caught my attention after coming here was “gezellig”. I like the way it is pronounced and what the word stands for. Its a unique word and I use it very often.

How would you describe the Dutch people?

I have found the Dutch people very helpful and friendly. They are eager to help you out with everything - the formulieren, at the supermarkets and in the trams.

They are very health conscious, biking their way to the office. They also come across as coffee loving, straightforward, punctual and patient. I appreciate the fact that they can wait for hours in long queues almost unruffled.

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?

• www.expatica.com
• www.2bdutch.nl
• www.atouchofdutch.blogspot.com
• www.letterfromthenetherlands.blogspot.com
• www.yourrotterdam.com
• www.dutchgrammar.com
• www.xpat.nl
• www.access-nl.org
• www.joparfitt.com
• www.dutchnews.nl
• www.amsterdam.info
• www.journeyplanner.9292.nl
• And lastly my own humble blog - http://orangesplaash.blogspot.com/

Nicola McCall in the Hot Seat - Interview with an Expat

Nicola McCall is a British expat based in the Netherlands. She is an expat entrepreneur, running a coaching and Human Resources solutions business that specialises in helping fellow expatriates cope with change overseas. From language and social skills to bike riding and the rain, Nicola shares her feelings about life in the land of the Dutch.

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
We arrived in 2004, went to US in 2006, came back in 2007. So 5 and a half years in all which I can’t believe some days!

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?
My partner works for a Dutch bank and was on 2 year expat contract initially. We’d previously been in Dublin for 2 years.

What is your profession?
I am a Human Resources professional who since 2006 has used my HR knowledge, combined with expatriate experiences to run an Expatriate Coaching service http://www.livelifenowcoaching.com/ for English speaking expats internationally. I undertook a professional accredited Coaching course in the UK and have a Post Graduate Certificate in Personal and Business Coaching from the University of Chester.

Why do expats need coaching I’m often asked? It's about being able to feel like you are being seen and heard for the first time in what feels like a long time and to come away feeling that you matter again. This is particularly true when coaching non-working spouses. My main focus in coaching is about finding fulfillment that fits with the coachee's needs and values for the time that they live abroad. I see this in so many expat women entrepreneurs like ourselves. Women such as Jo Parfitt and Robin Pascoe who then inspired me to find a role for myself in a life that at times isn’t really a life I had planned!

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
Language of course is the big difference. Also shopping and customer service here, although it has improved, does at times leave me wanting to go to the UK. Otherwise, there are subtle differences on the whole and I may have been here long enough now to not notice them so much anymore. What I really miss is the changing geography of the countryside in the UK - especially hills.

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
Riding a bicycle again after 20 something years and finding I really enjoyed it!!!

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
The sense of safeness here – everything in order and in place on the whole, you are safe in your home, walking on the streets, things seem to come back to you here if you lose them – although my Dutch friends have assured me I was very lucky to have gotten my bicycle back after it was stolen.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
Rude people and drivers…..I know, I know, they are anywhere and I lived in the Middle East where roads and personal space are bad, but its just so inherent in social behaviour and infringing personal space here – WHY? I’m also going to have to mention the RAIN too.

What is your favourite Dutch word?
Knuffel! My son, when he was small, went to a local kinderdagverblijf and this became a word that represented exactly what he needed from me at that time.

How would you describe the Dutch people?
A conundrum! They are incredibly outgoing and sociable in the International World and speak languages and enjoy living life to the full, but put them all together back home in the Netherlands and they are tough nuts to crack – they hide away or prefer to go home, make appointments to visit, stone-faced and self centered, want you to speak Dutch which when you try you’re told they won’t waste their time and/or just switch back to English. This is obviously my perception and by no way forms a real picture of anyone I know personally!

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?
http://www.access-nl.org/
http://www.expatica.com/
http://www.iwcu.nl/ - this group has been important part of my life here in the Netherlands
http://www.clogsandtulips.blogspot.com/ - Tiffany’s view on life in NL, as she builds a new life here after leaving the USA and marrying her Dutchman.
http://www.expatexpert.com/ - Robin Pascoe’s informative site and book links
http://www.joparfitt.com/ - Inspiration and sense!

American Life Through Dutch Eyes

As an expat in the Netherlands, you tend to focus on what others think about life here but when I came into contact with expat entrepreneur Linda Hemerik, I was curious about what the Dutch miss about their own country when they move overseas.

Linda lives in the US and gave an interview on this blog a few months back. She was also the subject of an Expat Women article I wrote. She recently shared with me what it is like to be living in the US, how she experiences life there, what she misses about the Netherlands, and the differences she sees between the Dutch and American lifestyle. It highlights Dutch culture, and the difference to life in America and makes for interesting reading.

"Imagine schools in the Netherlands telling Dutch school children to leave their trusted two-wheelers at home and find an alternative means of travelling to school. It is inconceivable here in the land of cycling, but some schools in New York State forbid cycling to school because of safety and liability issues." ............. You can read the full article on Expatica.

Tiffany Jansen in the Hot Seat - Interview with an Expat

Tiffany Jansen is an American who has been living in the Netherlands for a little under a year now. She is carving a career for herself in creative and ingenious ways, and is a name you may have come across if you visit the expat sites.


How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
My plane landed at Schipol Airport on 7 December 2008, so not quite a year. My American dog Turner and I have been enjoying life in the Netherlands ever since!

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?
My husband is Dutch. We met through mutual friends while he was on vacation in the US and got tired of the long distance thing pretty quickly, so we decided to get married. Because I was back in school for my Masters and he was the one with a steady, good paying job, it was clear that I would be the one to make the move. The wedding was on 29 November 2008 after which we did a quick honeymoon before packing my suitcases, grabbing the dog, and hopping on the plane!

What is your profession?
With the economy being what it is, my limited work experience, and my not quite being fluent in Dutch, I have been having a beast of a time trying to find a job here. So I sort of made my own. I started a company called Little Broadway (http://littlebroadway.webs.com/) which travels around to international schools holding an 8-week musical theater program. I just registered at the Kamer van Koophandel and have 2 schools lined up so far. I also sell some of my handmade knitted items on Etsy.com (http://www.stuffmadewithyarn.etsy.com/) and do some freelance writing and the sporadic nannying gig.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
People in the Netherlands are far more physically active. The cycling is a big factor that comes to mind. Americans are so ridiculously dependent on their cars. Also the portion sizes are much smaller here and the food is healthier overall. I love the way that Europeans in general treat animals. I remember being on a bus in the US and reading a sign above the driver saying “No food, drugs, weapons, animals, or other hazardous material.” I, for one, get a kick out of being able to take my hazardous material out shopping with me followed by a nice cup of coffee in a restaurant (he usually gets served first!) and then a lovely walk in a number of beautiful parks sans leash. If I want to take my hazardous material on a bus or a train, all I need to do is buy him a ticket. Don’t even get me started on politics, healthcare, etc!

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
Learning how to cook. I never cooked in the US and my parents rarely ever did. We were extremely busy, so we always ate out and hardly ever ate together as a family. It’s also loads cheaper to eat out in the US than it is to cook in. The idea of grocery shopping and cooking every day blew me away. Now I love cooking and trying new recipes and having friends over for dinner!

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
My bike, my friends, the International Women’s Contact Utrecht, healthcare, the exotic feeling of being a foreigner, being able to use my Dutch as I learn it, the tradition of bringing flowers or wine for your host/hostess, windmills, canals, the rich history, cheap and easy-to-use public transportation

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
The weather, of course! I know that’s what everyone says, but it is a big deal. The days get so ridiculously short and sometimes you forget what the sun looks like. I hardly ever got sick in the US, but have been ill constantly since arriving here. I think it’s the wetness in the air from all the rain and being so close to the canals. On the flipside, when the sun does come out, everyone’s out in it, no matter what the weather’s like otherwise. And during the summer, the sun doesn’t go down until around 11pm!

What is your favourite Dutch word?
I would have to say borstenhouder. You’ve gotta hand it to the Dutch for calling it exactly what it is!

How would you describe the Dutch people?
Extremely open-minded and friendly. I’ve even had people at the supermarket take the time to correct my Dutch or teach me how to say something new. Every time I walk Turner, at least one person makes it a point to stop me and tell me how beautiful he is and, in general, they’re quick to smile or give a quick “Hallo” or “Goedemorgen/middag/avond” as they walk by. They’re straightforward and honest, at times to a fault. They cycle as though they’re on a kamikaze mission, and their driving’s just about the same. I’ve heard a lot about Dutch ‘rudeness’ which I’ve experienced extremely little of. I’d have to say the biggest shock was at Thialf with my husband when a guy from behind grabbed me by the shoulders and literally moved me to the side and out of his way.

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?
Of course, there’s my blog Clogs and Tulips: An American in Holland at http://clogsandtulips.blogspot.com/. Others are:
http://www.2bdutch.nl/, http://letterfromthenetherlands.blogspot.com/, http://atouchofdutch.blogspot.com/, www.expatica.com/nl, http://www.access-nl.org/, http://www.howtosurviveholland.nl/, http://www.expatexchange.com/, http://dutchnews.nl/

Nynke Bruinsma in the Hot Seat: Interview With a Dutch Expat

Nynke Bruinsma is a Dutch expat living in England. She co-owns 'The Expat Coaches', a company that helps expats across the world make the best of their life overseas with coaching in English or Dutch. She tells about life across the North Sea and how England, contrary to her pre-conceptions, is very different to the Netherlands.

How long have you been living overseas?
We have moved from Amsterdam to the UK in 2004, so that is five years now.

What brought you initially overseas?

This is not really a glamorous reason, nor a reason showing my independence I’m afraid. It was my husband’s job. He works for NYSE Euronext as Head of Global Employee Communications. He used to work in Amsterdam but got an assignment in London. And I wholeheartedly said ‘yes’. I was ready for a change in my career and our children were still young (1 and 3 years old).

However, at that time, little did I know about the huge impact it would have on my life.

What is your profession?
I used to work as a Head of Facilities departments (housekeeping, reception, catering and maintenance) in the Health sector. Moving abroad turned out to be the moment to change my career. The move was a shock to my system and I started to think about how other expat partners might have the same experience. I thought about what would have helped me most to adjust to my new situation and figured out it would have been someone asking me ‘what about you?’, ‘what is it you want to gain out of this experience of living abroad?’. That’s where the idea of becoming an Expat Coach came from. Now I own my own business ‘The Expat Coaches’, together with my business partner, who moved back to the Netherlands last summer (the husband’s job again!). I formally trained to become a coach and am still training to become a Corporate Coach.

What is the main difference between your host country and the Netherlands?
Obviously people are driving on the left here, while the rest of Europe (the UK is really part of Europe although I have the feeling they sometimes think otherwise!) drives on the right.

Although the South East of England is a crowded part of the country it feels very spacious to me. Only half an hour’s drive from London, you find yourself in the middle of the countryside.
Someone told me the UK is now actually more crowded than the Netherlands (is that possible?)but it doesn’t feel crowded at all here.

Obviously the UK is much bigger in size and number of inhabitants than the Netherlands. And it consists of so many different sorts of landscapes. We really enjoy seeing a lot of the country (although the distances we have to drive to reach destinations are much longer compared to the Netherlands).

The differences between rich and poor seem to be more obvious. There is a huge gap between someone living in a large detached house with a car park of several very expensive cars and the teenage mum living in the council flat. In the Netherlands there is a larger average group with a smaller gap between rich and poor.

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make living overseas?
I guess I had to adjust to the culture much more than I expected. I hadn’t realized there would be so many cultural differences. From my perspective I thought two Western European countries, both belonging to the EU, with a language I could understand and speak, would be quite alike. But cultural differences appeared in many situations on different levels. Sometimes it is not even possible to describe or pinpoint exactly what the difference is but you do experience and feel it.

What would you miss most England if you were to leave tomorrow?
We’re living close the London. I would really miss being able to take the train to enjoy a day in London: shopping in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Covent Garden, going out for dinner with friends and enjoy a musical afterwards.

And, more importantly, the bunch of (Dutch) friends we have here. Living abroad taught me that ‘home’ is where you are with your family and where you enjoy being amongst a group of friends.

What do you like least about England?
Liability is a big issue. You have to sign for everything to make sure you can’t make a claim. Another big issue is ‘health and safety’. All the regulations leave not much room for ‘common sense’.
And of course my children are very dear to me and I want to protect them from sexual abuse and pedophiles but I find the plans to have parents of my children’s classmates to hand in a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau Check) if they accompany a school trip, ridiculous. I have the same thoughts about discussions about nursery staff not being able to comfort and cuddle a child because touching a child might be wrongly interpreted!

What is your favourite English word?
English is a very rich language. There are so many words to describe a situation, feeling or thought so precise. I love the word ‘pathetic’. There is no right Dutch translation for it. The Dutch word ‘pathetisch’ doesn’t cut it and is hardly used.

How would you compare the English to the Dutch people?
Of course we Dutchies are very famous for being direct (or is it ‘blunt’?!). I do experience this myself now when I’m back in the Netherlands. It doesn’t have anything to do with being rude but we’re just not used to saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ after every sentence or question. After 5 years in the UK I think it makes life just a little bit nicer when you are polite and friendly.

On the other hand, being Dutch also means ‘what you see is what you get’. This means that occasionally, I find it really difficult here in the UK to understand what someone really thinks and feels behind the polite words and phrases. A friend of mine once said ‘English people are so polite, it’s almost rude’. I can relate to that, because it can drive me nuts when someone stays very polite, but in the meantime there’s no action at all to solve your problem.

And I have to say I was quite shocked to realise the politeness can also be a very thin layer of
Refinement. The first time during the post Christmas sales, I was appalled by the mess people make in the shops. Shops close their dressing rooms during the sales and clothes are all over the floor. I think the famous ‘Drie Dwaze Dagen’ in the ‘Bijenkorf’ (a large 3 day sale in a chain of department stores in cities in the Netherlands) are very refined in comparison.

Another difference is people are not trying to hide their dialect/accent in public jobs (news reporters on television for example). When we arrived here I was under the impression I could speak and understand English. But especially in the beginning when you have to arrange all sort of things like broadband, telephone, energy supplies, bank cards etc I spent so much time on the phone not understanding the other person. And I felt embarrassed to repeatedly have to say ‘sorry’, ‘excuse me, can you repeat?’.

Are there any foods or products you miss from the Netherlands?
Yes of course! Because we can visit the Netherlands by car, I usually have a shopping list of products to bring back to the UK. I always bring sprinkles (hagelslag). We eat it on sandwiches and not only to decorate cakes. I also bring mayonnaise because I haven’t found one I really like here. And of course the sweets that go with our typical Dutch ‘Sinterklaas’ feast.
I usually bring cheese, although you can buy ‘Edam’ and ‘Gouda’ cheese in slices here.

Is there a large (Dutch) expat community in your host location?
Yes, there is, because quite a lot of (Dutch) companies have an office in London. Also a lot of Dutch bankers chose to work here for several years. I guess because there are more interesting job opportunities. Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell even founded a Dutch school here (25 minutes by train from London). The school has become an International School (International School of London in Surrey) since last September. But until now that school attracted a lot of Dutch families to Woking.

What was the biggest challenge you faced moving overseas?
Like I said before, moving abroad was a big shock to my system. I had a career in the Netherlands and shared the care for our family with my husband. Overnight, I became a stay-at-home mum in a country where I didn’t know anyone. Sometimes the postman was the only adult I saw during the day.

While my husband was very excited about his adventure in the City, I suddenly had to figure out everything on my own and make decisions about, for instance, the nursery for our children. Of course this had impact on the balance (or lack of balance) in our relationship.

I really felt I had to ‘reinvent’ myself. Luckily I managed to do so and after the first difficult months I started to feel at home. Now I’m very happy we made the move because it gave me the opportunity to change my career in a way I’m not sure I would have been able to do if I had stayed in The Netherlands.

For me, moving abroad turned out to be a unique opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and enjoy a different environment with new people in a different culture which refreshes your perspective on your home country. And because I truly believe most expats can have the same experience, I love to support others through my coaching.

The Rewards of Networking as an Expatriate

Through Expat Women Entrepreneurs I recently connected with a Dutch expat living in the US, Linda Hemerik. She is the CEO of US Unlocked, and recently launched worldwide shipping so she was looking for people all over the world to put some articles together to help her spread the message. Linda started looking for writers in her inner network; people like me who she had met through networking and support groups, and then she cast her net wider.

I am now working on a series of articles about Linda, not just about her as a business woman and the CEO of US Unlocked, but about Linda the expat and mother of four, about a Dutch woman currently living in the US.

By interviewing her I found out she has a fascinating story to tell as she has also lived in India and Mexico - two difficult expat locations. She has so many experiences and tales to share, and tips for others living overseas. You can read the article about Linda called "Making the Most of Your Expat Life: Linda Hemerik's Journey through Three Countries" on Expat Women.

You can also read an interview I did with Linda for this blog.

Networking is a powerful tool, and essential to expatriates. By linking in to different groups through social networking you get to meet some fascinating people, hear some amazing stories and you could find it also boosts your business.

Linda Hemerik in the Hot Seat: Interview With a Dutch Expat

This week's interview has a twist to it, just to keep you all on your toes. Instead of interviewing an expat living in the Netherlands, this interview is with a Dutch expat living in the United States.

Linda has been living overseas for just over twelve years now. She started off her expat life in India, moved to Mexico and then returned briefly to the Netherlands before taking off to the US.

Linda's expat journey is a fascinating one and an article I have written about her will be appearing in due course on http://www.expatwomen.com/. She is an expat entrepreneur, who I met through http://www.expatwomenentrepreneurs.com/, and she is the CEO of US Unlocked - a US shopping and shipping service that allows you to buy the stuff from the States that, without a US credit card or address, you wouldn't normally have access to.

I asked Linda about what she misses about the Netherlands and what life in the US is like for a Dutchie.

What is the main difference between your host country and the Netherlands?
The Dutch are very direct in their interaction, which is not very well understood or appreciated here. The Americans are much more laid back. Another thing I have come to find out about Americans is that socialising is incredibly uncomplicated. Nobody expects a 5 star meal when they are invited to dinner. A BBQ or even ordering is perfectly fine.

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make living overseas?
This country is divided in Democrats and Republicans, while Holland has multiple political parties. When the elections were going on I found out that a few of my friends were voting Republican, while I had never thought about their political preference before and just assumed that all my friends more or less thought the same (democratic) way about things, judging from the same values that made us want to be friends. I had to really adjust to this and learn to not bring up politics anymore. It was a little weird.

What would you miss most about your host country if you were to leave tomorrow?
American holidays, like Memorial Day and 4th of July. I love the laid back way the Americans celebrate. For parades or fire works, they casually show up a few minutes before. In this area, people place chairs a few days before these events to guarantee a good spot. It amazes me every time that the chairs are still there, untouched, a couple of days later.

What do you like least about your host country?
That my kids are not allowed to go to school riding their bikes. For a Dutch person this is truly incomprehensible. It has to do with all the safety rules and prevention of liability issues you are subject to all the time here. They usually do not bother me too much, but this one does.

What is your favourite American word?
Awesome!

Are there any foods or products you miss from the Netherlands?
Dutch bread and deli meats! The first thing I always do is eat slices of bread, each one with a different type of meat on it. So good! The kids eat dutch breakfast toppings on their bread every morning. We always have a supply of Hagelslag, Vruchtenhagel en Gestampte Muisjes.

Is there a large (Dutch) expat community in your host location?
No, there is just one other dutch expat family.

What was the biggest challenge you faced moving overseas?
It was waiting for our visa while my husband was already working in the US. Our container was waiting for us here, our house was rented out already and I was hopping from one two bedroom apartment to the other with my 4 kids back in the Netherlands and living out of a suitcase. This lasted 3 months. As soon as we had our visa, we travelled the next day.

An Interview with an Expat - Keith Jenkins in the Hot Seat

Keith Jenkins came to the Netherlands from his homeland of Malaysia nearly two decades ago. He now has Dutch citizenship, and quite rightly no longer considers himself an expat here. He is the creator of the Velvet Escape blog, a beautiful travel blog which is definitely worth checking out.

Here's Keith's take on life in the Dutch capital.

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
I wanted to say “Too long” but that’s unfair. I really enjoy my life here and I feel very blessed that I had the opportunity to settle down in Amsterdam. It’s my home now. Answer to your question: 18 wonderful years.

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?

Like many before and after me… Love! I met my partner in Malaysia (where I’m from) and after two years of hundreds of letters (there was no email back then), phone calls and the occasional visit, I decided to move over and give it a go. I enrolled at the University of Amsterdam where I studied Dutch first (they have a fantastic Dutch language programme), then Politics/Economics for four years; graduated with a Masters degree in 1996.
Moving here has certainly been the biggest adventure of my life!

What is your profession?
That’s a question to which I have yet to formulate a proper answer. I worked as a relationship manager, equities analyst, and then as an investment proposals manager in asset management at ABN AMRO Bank for a total of ten years. The bank was taken over and I opted to leave. I travelled around the world for five months, thinking I’d be able to get a new banking job when I returned. Alas, the financial sector collapsed when I was halfway through my trip. I returned to Amsterdam and there were no jobs so I decided to turn to what I enjoy doing: writing, specifically, travel-writing. I launched my travel blog (http://velvetescape.com/blog) on 30th December 2008 and I’ve been having a ball with it since.

Marketing the Velvet Escape name on Twitter and facebook really got me interested in the workings of social media and its boundless possibilities. So, I now have an offshoot business: social media advisory for (predominantly travel-related) small businesses, called Velvet Connect. I advise these businesses how to effectively market themselves by engaging with and building a community via various social media platforms.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
The weather! Malaysia is hot and humid all year round. I love the four seasons here. One thing I can’t stand is the wind though. Rain, snow, hail, whatever… I can handle, but not the wind!

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
Phew, that’s a tough one. I would have to say the one cookie per cup of coffee/tea custom. I was like.. just hand me the cookie jar will you! ;-)

I guess another adjustment was the language. I must commend the instructors at the University of Amsterdam. They drilled us continuously on speaking without an accent and getting our grammar right. After a year, I was speaking and writing Queen’s Dutch. Consequence: my classmates at uni either admired me (for my language prowess) or thought I was a snob (for speaking almost faultlessly). I had to adjust to that too, though years later, when I joined ABN AMRO Bank, my accentless Dutch proved to be a big asset.

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
So many things. Most of all, I would miss the gorgeous canals. I would also miss the fact that this country is so well organised.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
The strict opening times. Coming from Malaysia, which has certainly embraced the 24-hour economy, I’m still miffed that I can’t simply pop over to the local supermarket if I’ve run out of sugar at 10pm (there are no night shops near where I live) or on Sundays. When is 7-11 going to make its debut here?!

Another aspect that really gets to me is the fact that I have to make an appointment each time I need a doctor (which thankfully is not often!).

What is your favourite Dutch word?
‘Gezellig’!! No question about it. I fell in love with the word as well as its meaning the first time I heard it.

How would you describe the Dutch people?
The Dutch speak their minds (which I’ve grown to respect). There’s no beating around the bush here, which is great. No nuances, just in-your-face, straight-to-the-point opinions. Sure saves loads of time though! They’re also incredibly ‘nuchter’… umm, that means something like ‘grounded’ or ‘sensible’, I think. I also love the fact that the average Dutch person speaks at least two languages.

The Dutch are also a fun/party-loving, bike-crazy, football-mad, proud, business-minded and travel-hungry people. I’m constantly amazed that for such a small country, with only 16 million inhabitants, it’s global footprint is enormous. Just think of the multitude of Dutch multinationals, its rich history in global trade (and colonisation), its outstanding sporting achievements and the fact that Dutchies really travel the world (they’re everywhere!).

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?
I have a few I check once in a while. These include http://www.expatica.nl/ , http://www.dutchdailynews.com/ and http://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/

Stephanie Owen in the Hot Seat - Interview with an Expat

Stephanie Owen is a fellow English woman and a relative newbie in the Netherlands. Her tale of impulsively sailing over the puddle that is the North Sea for the love of a Dutchman is one that rings many bells for me. Here is Stephanie's take on life so far as an expat in the Netherlands.

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
I came across on the ferry on March 1st 2009 with my other half. I can’t believe it’s been 5 months already, still feels like I’m on holiday!

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?
The afore-mentioned other half is Dutch. We met through a travel website and lived together previously in London though I am from Yorkshire. Jaap was offered a temporary transfer by his employer to their London office and asked me to move in with him prior to my rather impulsive decision to move back to The Netherlands with him on a permanent basis!

What is your profession?
I am unfortunately still eagerly job-hunting at the moment. As you can probably appreciate it is not the best time to be doing so in the current economic climate and with me only having a limited knowledge of the Dutch language so far it is proving difficult. English speaking jobs are not easy to come by. So in between the job-hunting and lingo learning I am enjoying wandering off the beaten track and exploring this lovely little country, gathering information for my travel blogs.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
There are so many, it’s difficult to pinpoint but the whole atmosphere and way of life is so much slower and more relaxed here. I think the major thing that needs mentioning is the public transport system. It is such a novelty to have trains which actually show up on time! To the minute! It’s wonderfully organized and something we are not used to back in good ol’ Blighty.

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
Again, I could name several, aside from the obvious problems with the lingo and driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, which I am still not used to yet, I would have to say the bizarre, short shopping hours, particularly for grocery shopping. The country comes to a complete standstill on a Sunday. It frequently caught me out when I first moved here – running out of milk then realizing you can’t pop to your local corner store or supermarket. In fact many of the shops in Vlaardingen city centre do not open during the week either, some trade for only 3 days a week?!

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
It would definitely have to be the wonderful canals. I am a typical Piscean and adore the water, I absolutely love to visit the old towns such as Delft, Gouda, etc and gaze for hours on end enviously at the houseboats which I certainly intend to own one day - not to mention the great ‘floating restaurants’ (Oh and also stroopwafels they are absolutely divine, I could live on this local delicacy alone!)

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
The terrible drivers! The vast majority of Dutch drivers seem to have a complete disregard for others and for the rules of the road. I consider myself a bit of a speed demon but also a good driver, at least I am not completely oblivious to others on the road. The flat landscape also takes a little getting used to, I do miss the beautiful, hilly scenery of Yorkshire.

What is your favourite Dutch word?
Dankjewel. Perhaps a boring choice, but the first Dutch word I learnt and very important to a stereotypical, polite English person as myself.

How would you describe the Dutch people?
I have to say I find the majority of Dutch people I have encountered to be very ‘multi-faceted’. On the one hand people here seem to be very friendly - I love the fact that almost all complete strangers say hello to you in the street and randomly strike up conversation but then on the other hand they are very direct, abrupt and to the point about certain matters, which many ‘buitenlanders’ may mistake for rudeness or even aggressiveness. Back on a positive note, they are wonderfully organized and reliable but laid back at the same time, cheese-lovers, beer-lovers and fiercely patriotic. I fit in well here!

Do you have any blogs or websites that you find enjoyable about the Netherlands for people living here?
www.expatica.com has been very helpful to me since I arrived, I think every topic you could possibly think of is covered on this website. It can also be used as a social networking site to meet other expats or simply to discuss issues on the various forums.

www.foreignersinholland.com is a new social networking website (similar to Facebook) which is ready for official release early next month and will hopefully be a huge success.

www.travbuddy.com has to be my favourite website of all time, though not aimed at expats, it is a fabulous travel blog website where I record my adventures here in The Netherlands. It is an invaluable source for impartial travel advice from tourist attractions to restaurants and hotels etc.

Feel free to look me up on any of these sites. Username: Moshers_Moll I would appreciate any comments on my blogs and/or pictures as it is my dream to be a freelance photographer or even travel writer one day.

Christina Giannelia in the Hot Seat: Interview with an Expat

Christina has Canadian and Austrian nationality and came to the Netherlands for one reason: to dance. Christina is one of the privileged chosen for a place at the Rotterdam Dance Academy. This is a definite first for the Expats in the Hot Seat series!

How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
One year

What brought you initially to the Netherlands?
I was accepted into the Rotterdam Dance Academy at Codarts University for the Arts.

What is your profession?
I am a contemporary dancer.

What is the main difference between your country of origin and the Netherlands?
The weather, it snows a lot in Canada!

What was the most surprising adjustment you needed to make when moving to the Netherlands?
That the stores close much earlier than I was used to. I often needed to do my grocery shopping between rehearsals because they would be closed by the time I was finished for the day.

What would you miss most about the Netherlands if you were to leave tomorrow?
Their investment into arts and culture. I admire the number of festivals and showings there are here.

What do you like least about the Netherlands?
The rain when mixed with heavy winds - while riding my bike…

What is your favourite Dutch word?
Bromfiets

How would you describe the Dutch people?
Accepting to most things but at the same time they are clear about their rules and regulations.