YEAR 1 : The Honeymoon Period
Europe has always amused me as a child so I was really excited when my boyfriend (now spouse) asked me to join him in Netherlands. I was young, in my 20’s (head over heels in love), and quickly agreed to move to Netherlands.
My first year in Netherlands is what I call -” The Honeymoon Period”. I was in awe of the picturesque landscape of this country. On my way from airport to home, I saw windmills, cows and pastures. The cows were so white that it seemed they were painted and I remember clicking photos while the bypassers stared.
We were headed to live in the most popular city of the Netherlands – Amsterdam.
In my first month, I stumbled over countless bicycles that always came with lightning speed. It occurred to me later, that I wasn’t supposed to walk on some roads – the cycle paths. The centre of the city was densely populated and we strolled neck to neck on shopping streets. We spent weekends discovering cafes, bars and clubs.To my surprise, I saw weed and Marijuana sold on street outlets – named “Coffee shops!” . Beer was sold in supermarkets and people relaxed on boats in canals, while sipping Heineken and soaking the sun.
It was unlike any other country I’ve been to and I imagined if this was what they meant by paradise!
YEAR 2 : Take me back, please!
The honeymoon period was over soon and I started taking notice of my surroundings more. In the months that followed, I became grumpy old woman who constantly cribbed and announced to go back home. I hated the weather which was so unpredictable and kept questioning which season it was? I walked to work, drenched in rain and fought the wind to get back home. Most weekends, there was no sun and I laid on my sofa watching television.
Months went by and the boredom peaked. So, I decided to undertake a mission to socialize. Beginning with the closest proximity, I approached our neighbour. – Ms. Linde. I stopped by her door while she muttered in Dutch. I waved my head while I tried to listen. She smiled at me and I just felt dumb. It seemed, I needed a hearing aid coz all I could hear was “Ghhs” and Hello.
I tried my luck with the next the two floors, ringing their bells with quite some hope. Neither responded so I came back home and switched on the T.V ,once more. Tired and resentful, I announced again – “I will go back. Would you also come?”.
YEAR 3 : A Ray of hope
Soon, new year arrived and I made new resolutions. I remember, this year was “A Ray of Hope”. I decided to master Dutch, so I joined a language course. Learning from basics – the alphabets, numbers and months, I felt being back to the primary school. The good thing though, was I met more expats who shared my plight and reckoned my struggle. We formed a cult and I booked our agendas so my weekends were no longer dull.
At home, I displayed my brand new skills and babbled dutch words every day. I became hopeful and my happy self, relieving my spouse from new complaints.
YEAR 4 : Orientation Completed
My training, last year, infused Dutch culture and I found myself in between crossroads. I celebrated King’s day and also Diwali. I couldn’t miss Easter or Sinterklaas either.
At home, things changed too and we changed food menu. We bought a book to cook dutch food . My spouse split bills and I split chores. We bought new cycles and rolled through the city. I crashed some tourists , who walked wrong roads.
Orientation ends. Year 5 begins..!
© Copyright 2020. Megha Gupta. All rights reserved.
Comments
15 responses to “How I spent four years in The Netherlands”
This is so funny and truly heartwarming, Megha! I can relate to each and every scene here, well done. 🙂
I come from from Norway and love brought me to Germany, new culture, new language, new ways of everything … and I also needed a few years to adopt properly.
Oh, I am so happy to see you recognize this situation. I always imagined that its easier for europeans to slip in! 🙂 btw, Norway is such a beatiful place and I’m sure you would have missed it for very long.
A lovely post, Megha, which I enjoyed reading. I loved the last line about crashing into tourists who walked on the wrong roads – a lovely full circle from the beginning.
Hello Mary. Thanks for sharing your comment. I’m glad you liked it 🙂
I am an ex-pat as well, a German living in England for many years now. I know these different stages very well, After more than 30 years I fall back on and off to my critical phase. On the other hand, the quality of living in an idyllic village next to the sea is great.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your experience
Klausbernd 🙂
Thanks for sharing this Klausbernd. Helps me manage my own expectations of coming years! 🙂
this is so sweet, including your charming illustrations. I’d love if you’d guest blog post for my site. if you’re so inclined, here’s a link to general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ
Dear da-AL, thank you for comment. A guest blog sounds wonderful. I will go through the link and reach out soon!
beautifully expressed and thank you for sharing the experience
Glad you liked it 🙂
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The comics are so awesome! Being an expat is always a struggle and like you mentioned, the period of adjustment can take years! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. I am glad you mention this. 🙂 it gets better with time though 🙂
I visited your site I read your blog. Beautiful experience share for four month in abroad. Very nice written you. I like.