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Blog: wordgeyser Topics:expat, netherlands, family and life expatsblogs
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Category Archives: Expat Experiences
The Non-Expat Expat: Not Fitting The Box
We’ve lived away from our birth country for 20 years and a lot’s happened in that time – we moved to the USA, raised a family, took American citizenship, relocated back to Europe and will move on again. The first two … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Expat Experiences, The Netherlands
Tagged advice for new expats, advice from long term expat, American citizenship, becoming an expat, effect of expat life on children, empty nest, families living overseas, Family, global families, HIFX expat website, living abroad, long time expats, tips for expats, tips for moving abroad, tips for moving overseas, want to live overseas?, what new expats need to know, when kids live overseas, when kids move away, where is home?
15 Comments
Living in The Netherlands: What to Bring with You
I was recently asked what would be an essential item to bring to the Netherlands if I was moving here. A loaded question – one I didn’t want to answer without serious consideration. Much depends on where you’re coming from, whether … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Dutch Culture, Expat Experiences, Family Life, The Netherlands
Tagged american school of the hague, expat relocation to the netherlands, help moving to the netherlands, living in the Netherlands, moving to the hague, moving to the netherlands, relocating to the netherlands, tips for international moves, tips for moving overseas, what do expats need to bring to the ntherlands, what to bring to the netherlands
4 Comments
Transitions: Life’s Waiting Rooms
The carpeted floor beneath my bare feet pitches gently and I realise the ship has left the placid calm of the harbour, cleared the rocky promontories encircling its entrance, and moved out into open water. The movement is almost imperceptible, … Continue reading
Living in the Netherlands: The Good, The Bad and The Frustrating.
I first wrote about moving to the Netherlands several years ago when I’d had time to settle in and get established, but was still new enough to the Dutch culture to see it through fresh eyes. Since that original article … Continue reading
A Sense of Place: Genetics and Travel
Have you ever traveled somewhere and felt instantly at home? Or arrived in a new place and felt a sense of disconnection you couldn’t put your finger on? I’m sure we all have, but why does it happen? I’ve arrived … Continue reading
Posted in Expat Experiences, Family Life, Inspiration and Reflection, Travel
Tagged ancestral DNA, canada, connections with physical places, D4-7 allele gene, DNA profiling, familiarity of places, family history, feeling connected, feeling connected to a place, genetic, Genographic project, humans as DNA carriers, National Geographic Society, the expat gene, the migratory gene, the travel gene, Vancouver
17 Comments
Dutch Delights: The Magic of Winter Days
The first snow day of the winter and in its wake the dreary, endless days of the Dutch fall are forgotten. Day after day of leaden skies, like a dirty, heavy, sodden blanket thrown over the country, dripping constantly, suffocating … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Expat Experiences, Inspiration and Reflection, The Netherlands
Tagged finding joy, james Joyce the dubliners, joy in nature, making memories, memories of snow, snaow days in holland, snow days, snow days in the netherlands, snow in new orleans, winter in Holland, winter in the netherlands
19 Comments
Empty Nest Syndrome: It’s Not All About the Kids Leaving
I promised myself I wouldn’t write anything further on the empty nest syndrome. Not because there’s nothing to write about, but because it’s an emotive subject for many, with parents on either side of the fence and the majority just … Continue reading
Posted in Empty Nest, Expat Experiences, Family Life
Tagged empty nest life stage, empty nest myth, empty nest syndrome, expat empty nest, kids leaving home, marriage and the empty nest, marriage breakdown when the kids leave, marriage breakup and the empty nest, mothers and the empty nest, what to do when the kids leave home, will marriage survive the empty nest, women and the empty nest
18 Comments
IB Diploma: The Only Way Forward for Global Education
Throughout the world thousands of students are waiting for the results of their IB (International Baccalaureate) examinations sat in May and June. They are the culmination of two years of blood, sweat, tears, sleepless nights and some hard partying once … Continue reading
Posted in England and Things English, Expat Experiences, Family Life
Tagged academic qualifications for expats, Advanced Placement exams, expat education, expat students, GCE Advanced Level, Global Education, globally recognised qualifications, High School graduates, IB Diploma Programme, IB results 2012, International Baccalaureate, international education, International qualifications, international students, UK unversity, university applications
7 Comments
Light Bulb Moments: Recognizing the ‘Monkey Mind’
Ever heard the expression ‘monkey mind’? For those of you rolling your eyes in disbelief that once again I’m behind on things, please bear with me. I only came across this recently, in the process of editing a book. I … Continue reading
Posted in Expat Experiences, Family Life, Personal challenges, Writing
Tagged apple gidley, empty nest, expat experiences, Expat Life Slice by Slice by Apple Gidley, feeling overwhelmed, feelings about children leaving home, Graduating high School, monkey mind. traveeling to France, Senior Prom, stepping back, when you can't write, writers block
4 Comments
Queen’s Day: The Quieter Side
I’ve decided to share the quieter side of Queen’s Day, Koninginnedag, a day to celebrate the birthday of the former Queen, Juliana. The present Queen, Beatrix, spends the day with members of the Royal family, visiting towns throughout the Netherlands. … Continue reading
The Expat Good Samaritan: Cultural Attitudes to Caring
Whether you’re a serial expat moving from country to country with the huge machine of a global company, working in a foreign country under your own steam or emigrate from one country to another, there will be times when disaster … Continue reading
Posted in Expat Experiences, Family Life, Inspiration and Reflection, Personal challenges
Tagged caring in the community, cultural attitudes to caring, expat caring, helping other expats, looking after others overseas, responding to others in crisis, the good samaritan, what to do in a crisis
2 Comments
Global Tax : Inescapable and Unrelenting
It’s February and there’s that sinking feeling in my stomach. Not the winter blues, instead the gargantuan beast from hell, the preparation of the annual tax returns. You can’t forget about it, or pretend it’s not happening, stick fingers in your … Continue reading
Managing Expectations: The Dutch Health Service
Before we start I’d like to make it absolutely clear that on arrival in any foreign country, whether to live, work or take a vacation my expectation of the local health care systems is always neutral. This avoids confusion should … Continue reading
Mental Sabbatical: A Time to Step Back
After the New Year and a return to the Netherlands from visiting friends and family, I did something inconceivable only a few months previously. I decided to take a step back from life, review it and decide whether anything needed … Continue reading
The End Day of the Year
The end days of the year; the hiatus between Christmas and the start of the new year. Strange days with a dreamlike quality, slightly out of focus and removed from the reality of day-to-day routines. A sense of anti-climax after … Continue reading
The Dutch 30% Tax Rule and International Teachers
I’ve written about the Dutch 30% tax ruling before, a topic foremost in most expats’ minds during the annual tax period. This year the topic gained the status of national debate when the junior tax minister, Frans Weekers, considered introducing an income … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Dutch Laws, Taxes and Bureaucracy, Expat Experiences, Politics and Social Comment, The Netherlands
Tagged american school of the hague, dutch 30% tax rule, dutch 30% tax rule and teachers, international schools, international schools in the netherlands, international teachers, international teachers and dutch tax, Netherlands
1 Comment
Law and Order Dutch Style: Impersonating a Police Officer
Last weekend our youngest son experienced a rite of passage we had hoped he could have avoided, unlike his older siblings. With much high-fiving from them, he joined their ranks, having come into contact with the local constabulary during a … Continue reading
Somewhere Between Anna Wintour and Citizen Kane
The next great adventure and literary project? A concept and vision which first appeared on my horizon at the beginning of September. A dream graphic designer, Simone Branson, has nurtured since her late teens. The product of a British father … Continue reading
Grand Theft Auto : The Bureaucracy Begins
. . . a continuation from previously, when I entered our secure garage to find my car gone . . . There was an awful blank moment when the enormity of the empty space hit me like a train. Where … Continue reading
Grand Theft Auto : And Not The Computer Game
I know many of you will be wondering where I’ve been, why there have been no entertaining posts to read and absorb over morning coffee for most of the past week. My apologies; I take my coffee duties seriously and … Continue reading
Expat Tax: What the Dutch Really Think
Catching up on the Dutch news today I was stopped in my tracks by an item headed ‘Minister to stop 30% tax ruling . . .’ and didn’t read any further. For those who don’t know (and why would you?) … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Dutch Culture, Dutch Laws, Taxes and Bureaucracy, Expat Experiences
Tagged 30% rule, 30% tax rule in the Netherlands, dutch tax, exats and foreign tax, expat taxes in the netherlands, Frans Weekers, how much tax do the dutch pay?, tax breaks for foreigners in the Netherlands
9 Comments
Cultural Insensitivity 9/11: When Journalists should not have an Opinion
Monday morning, getting started on the week. Catching up on emails and media coverage getting a feel for what’s happening in the world. I subscribe to blogs sent automatically by email. It’s a professional interest if you will, seeing what fellow … Continue reading
S.A.D or Just Sad?: The Legacy of the Dutch Summer
I have bemoaned the non-arrival of the Dutch summer for well, the whole of the summer. Much was promised in the warm, soft days of spring when we could venture outdoors sans sweaters and coats, absorb the warming sunlight through our … Continue reading
And the Dog Came Too: Travelling with Expat Pets
The often forgotten passengers in a life of global gallivanting are the unsung heroes who are dragged hither and thither, without discussion or consideration of climate; our family pets. Now I know there are people who have cats and idolize … Continue reading
Brothels Closed at 10pm and No Magic Mushrooms? In AMSTERDAM?
One thing with living in the Netherlands, visitors are always asking about the drug culture and sex industry. It’s a source of great fascination to many people that the Dutch are tolerant and open about these less than respectable, by the … Continue reading
Expat Arrivals: Newbies in Town part 1
It’s that time of year again; after weeks of frenetic activity in June and early July with people packing up and moving out, the tide has turned. The first container trucks are appearing on the narrow leafy streets of Wassenaar … Continue reading
Mont Blanc: In Memorium
In memory of James Stephen Brownhill 30 September 1988, Sheffield, UK – 1 July 2011, Frendo Spur,Chamonix, France I have written about James, his family and his life elsewhere, this page is to quietly acknowledge their loss, and … Continue reading
Repatriation of the Deceased: If You Die Overseas Die in The Netherlands
I did have a mental debate as to whether I should write about today’s topic. After listening to both sides for several days I’ve decided we’re all adults and can deal with grown up things. Ever given a thought to what … Continue reading
Posted in Dutch Culture, Expat Experiences, The Netherlands
Tagged airport mortuaries, amsterdam's schiphol airport, death overseas, death overseas. death while travelling oversea, funerals, getting the body home, holland, mortuary at Amsterdam airport, Theo de Haardt, when an expat dies, when an expat dies overseas
8 Comments
USA Consulate in Amsterdam: A Little Taste of Home
I had cause this week to head up to the US Consulate in Amsterdam. We had received a phone call from Harry whilst we were on vacation that his US passport had expired 3 months ago. Why he was even checking … Continue reading
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PVC: The Journey Continues
This week finds me back in Houston in time for Lizzy’s surgery to relieve Pelvic Vascular Congestion. (I chronicled her journey to here a couple of posts back). I have to admit this trip was not as hopeful as my … Continue reading →