Moving to Amsterdam

I had written a draft for this post months ago, but felt like I hadn't properly settled into this new chapter of my life to be able to tell it all. Now that I feel like it's the right time, here's everything I've wanted to share about my move to the Netherlands. :)

I thought the best way to explain it was writing it here - that way you can read all about it if you happen to be interested or if you're a family/friend whom I didn't get to tell my big move about. And I do feel like I owe some sort of explanation for the sudden leave.

I wish I was taking photos for publications again with this shot

So here it is in parts:

1. I didn't tell most people (except my immediate family and some friends) because I just felt like my odds of people giving their opinion about my decision or wishing I would fail in some way would be lesser if I didn't tell anyone about my move. I know that sounds pretty cynical but I was also fairly stressed out at the time and I just didn't want to have to deal with others' ideas of what I should do. Also, my partner is just overall not a fan of social media and loves having our own privacy, so there you go. 

2. It happened suddenly for me too. Sure, we had this move in the works for months, but it was always, always a 50/50. We never knew what the IND would say, what new document would be required (FYI even when we got here we apparently missed a couple), or what their final decision would be on us going together. And it was just this overarching stress at the back of my mind, both of our minds, for months. I thought I was going to start having some serious psychosomatic health problems. So you can understand why the added stress of telling people and dealing with their reactions was just something I was not ready for. Which is why I'm now telling the whole "move" the way that I want.

3. We found out we were clear to go at the end of February. And we had to be here by the beginning of April. So I thought, alright, I need to sort out my housing, packing, etc. in the coming month plus any important meetings/events. And then immediately, we had a Covid scare. We quarantined 1 week to make sure we were clear, and continued to monitor ourselves the next week for any symptoms that might pop up. I did try to set up a couple of meetings, but my friends and fam were also having close contacts of their own, so there really wasn't any time left in the last week when I had to be packing up.

And that just covers why I left so suddenly. A lot of other things have happened since then:

• We got our own place
• We spent a little time in Turkey (you can read my blogs on food and dessert here)
• I got a job
• ...and I already have plans to visit home!
  
  

  

  I also spent my birthday in the Netherlands for the first time

There are a bunch of things I've had to get used to since moving here, such as:

• reading everything in Dutch (no I still don't know the language, but after reading enough I can mostly guess what the words mean)
• dealing with bills, taxes, and government documents here (still ongoing as of December btw)
• buying the right kind of clothing (YET again. I feel like I've learnt nothing from being in the US, or the clothes here are just not made with the same quality and are much more expensive)

It's been a wild ride. I will not recommend moving to another country for those who like to be comfortable. That being said, sometimes when I look out the window here of our (thankfully and fortunately larger-than-usual-for-Amsterdam) apartment, and think about how I get to sit at home and do work, I can't help but feel very blessed. So for all of you who did wish me well and prayed for me, I am very grateful.

A view of the sunset from my window

This was basically most of my year at a glance, and I thought it'd be an appropriate post to end 2022. I hope to see you again next year, with many more exciting things to come.

xo