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Europe
Barbara Vermeulen in Netherlands
We moved to the Netherlands, also known as Holland, the country of windmills, tulips, clogs and cheese, in 2005. At first we lived in Bodegraven, a small town halfway between Leiden and Utrecht, where very few people speak English. In the cities you have no problem finding people who can speak English. I guess in a place like Bodegraven they don’t really need to be able to speak English, not really a place ...
BRANDON MARC in Sweden
I slowly open my eyes as light comes streaming in through the window. Wake up! It’s time to get up. I check the time, and quickly realise that I forgot to close the blinds. It’s 3am in the morning.I’ve been living in Sweden for just over two years now, and still I find northern Europe’s irregular pattern of dark and light disconcerting at times. However, other than the weather and the fact that Cape Town i ...
MARC HARDING in Stockholm, Sweden
Aah… The Kingdom of Sweden, neatly tucked among its Nordic cousins, Denmark, Norway and Finland and straddling the Arctic Circle is not one of the places on earth I imagined myself living in, but here I am. There is a lot more to this country than Volvo, ABBA and Bjorn Borg. It has a fascinating history and many unique traditions (and no not everyone here is blond haired, blue eyed and promiscuous…myth bust ...
IAN SNOOKE in France
Allez les verts! -Yes, that is what I have been screaming all along through the World Cup. Vert means green. I am writing from Provence; France. I grew up in Hartbeespoort on a mountain and Paris is just way too crowded for me. France is a country that loves to make their cities and villages look nice. Sometimes just taking a stroll through one of the towns will amaze you. The cathedrals are very impressiv ...
ILZE OOSTHUIZEN in the Netherlands
I’m a Afrikaans farm girl coming from Brits, living in the Netherlands now, and working here as an au pair... I’m here since the 28th of December 2007 and will stay till the end of this year. Its alot of fun living aboard, meeting new people and having some cultural exchange. I’m staying in a small historical town called Schiedam which isn’t far from Rotterdam. I’m still exploring and adjusting to the the ...
VICKY GIOUGLI in Greece
A South African in GreeceBefore moving to Greece, the only experience I had of the country was of summer holidays. Holidays spent on the beach during the day and clubbing at night… I was hoping to have more of that when I moved here. Reality soon set in when I had to get by without knowing the language and when I realised the easiest job for me to do at the time was to teach English, as most South Africans ...
WERNER SAUL in Slovakia
As the plane came in for landing over Bratislava airport, I realised that I am really far away from home, nothing looked even slightly familiar. I thought I was crazy to come here on my own. My South African passport was scrutinized by the immigration police at the airport, which didn’t help to make me feel any more welcome. They even had to make a phone call to find out what the procedure was for South Afri ...
LISE STEYN in Amsterdam
Life in Amsterdam is a culture shock! I am currently doing my Masters Degree in Art Restoration at the University of Amsterdam and I am confronted daily with issues and thoughts that are completely foreign to me. What have I learned so far? Well…
Be direct. It really confuses people when you are polite.
The Dutch don’t take compliments well; they think you are being insincere. If you compliment something, ...
ADRIAAN BOSCH in Germany
As I sit and stare out my window at the dark clouds and gently falling rain, I find myself thinking “what am I doing here?” I look down at the Dark Weiss beer on my desk, my snowboard all waxed up and ready to go in the corner, and the answers come flooding back, I am in the middle of Europe in a country that shaped the modern world! There are definitely worse places I could be. I lived in England and thou ...
LUZANDA ELLIS in Switzerland
Heidi, Heidi, jou wêreld is in die Berge. Heidi, Heidi, dis jou tuiste en jou geluk...Most people think of Heidi, Peter and little stinky goats when they think of Switzerland, but it has so much more to offer... like clocks, watches, chocolate and lekker cheese.. and let’s not forget that famous Swiss Army Knife… ;)Switzerland is located in Western Europe, bordered by Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Lic ...
RAYMOND MORRIS in Brussels
My wife and I live in Brussels and although no place is ever perfect, the positives of living here by far outweigh the negatives.This cosmopolitan city is crawling with expatriates, many from the EU-community or NATO. International bodies abound and every UN-recognized country seems to have a mission or three just around the corner. Despite Belgium being officially a trilingual country (Flemish, French an ...
CONNIE MYBURGH in Italy
It’s been a long walk since I was born and bred in Namibia, then moved to Cape Town and at the mature age of 42, moved to Italy. My idea was “a year overseas – hopefully Germany or Switzerland, but I got Italy and yes, after 10 years, I am still here and I guess, forever! Italy gave me a wonderful new life.
I knew very little about Italy except the PASTA stories. I knew they speak Italian, but I never kne ...
KARIN GLASS in Tenerife
My life here is great, I really enjoy the sunshine here, I miss Cape Town and family but here I feel safe. I enjoy exploring and new ventures and seeing how the Canarian people live. I work in a hotel which is owned by a South African, on weekends we braai or go to the beach. I was home for my sisters wedding and I try go back every year.
LAVERNE WYATT-SKRIUBAKKEN in Norway
The best thing about Norway is the nature! Norway is the fairytale land I grew up seeing in kiddies books. I thought such places did not really exist. The awesome mountains, cute little wooden houses (capped with snow in winter) and breathtaking views create a wonderland ripe for exploring any season.
The Biggest cultural difference: The spirit of ubuntu. Each person is an independent and self sufficient i ...
