Living abroad – to see or not to see?
Once you’ve unpacked, found a job, worked out the transport system, and all the other things that come with settling in to your adopted country, you can finally start enjoying your new surroundings. A...
Yearly Archive: 2011
Do the Dutch really only have one cookie per coffee?
On my first year studying in the Netherlands, all the international students had to attend the basic Dutch courses held by the school. It was one of my favorite courses because I could meet...
Getting excited about the little things
It’s a common expression, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’, it also always makes me sing Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell, but that’s another story. In this context it reminds me of...
Thailand takes top spot for expats
HSBC International is soon to release the full results from its 2011 Expat Explorer survey. In their preview, Thailand comes out top of the league table for lifestyle and economic factors. Bahrain was last...
Feel the Dance
“El tango es tan antiguo como el hombre, nació con el primer dolor del alma.”“The tango is as old as mankind, it was born when the soul first felt pain.” R. Ostuni Most cultures...
How to cope with learning Chinese – Lessons from a native speaker
Since we’ve been together, my Dutch boyfriend has faced a challenge which he calls a long-term mental torture. This torture has nothing to do with me, actually, I don’t take him shoe shopping or...
Learning to wait for service
Spain is well known for many things – it’s amazing food, beautiful beaches and friendly people. One thing it is not known for, however, is efficient service – this is especially true during summer....
You’ve got a friend – Making friends as an expat
One of the worries that faces people preparing to make the transition abroad, aside from language barriers and culture shock, is how to make new friends. Leaving behind a trusted group of confidants that...
Lessons from a Spanish Landlord
Do you remember when your parents would tell you about that old car they had to drive when they were younger? You know, the one with the different colored door and that just needed...
This sounds like double Dutch! My adventures in language learning
I’ve been learning Dutch, my second foreign language, for three years. Anyone who’s ever heard the language can agree that it is not an easy one. Some people even argue whether it is a...
