Dutch Programs for Pregnant Women

Everywhere requires adjustment from the place before. Even though I find Amsterdam to be a pretty close ideological match to San Francisco there have obviously been several areas where I've gone from confusion, to learning, adjusting, and finally understanding; of course the Dutch method of dealing with Pregnancy is no exception.

First off, there is a huge push here for home births. Everyone is assigned a midwife, and I've heard of people having to switch midwifes simply because they were being overtly pressured away from their choice of hospital birth. As with many arguments, there is scientific evidence on both sides; but in this case, most people recognize the mothers comfort should override others ideals. Second off you have the government required home inspection and post care nurse. This sounds much more fascist than it is, it's actually quite wonderful and shows the level of importance put on the safety of the child. Some people think that this could be invasive, the government should be less involved, smaller, etc; but I think there is also evidence that people just can't always be trusted, whether it be due to ignorance or negligence having a nurse come to your house and inspect your preparedness isn't such a bad thing. After the birth another nurse (Kraamzorg) will be at the house for 8 days to help with light cleaning, cooking, teaching you how to bath and breastfeed, etc. Historically these tasks were cared to by family, but times have changed and many find their families further and further away.

The one thing that has made me feel the most at home (and at ease) was Pregnancy Yoga with Lillith Turk at the the Active Health Center. I'm a bit biased because I LOVE YOGA. The class I've been taking is in English and just lovely. It is the one thing that feels like home. The studio could be in California, Vermont, Venezuela, or Amsterdam. In the studio there is no discussion of which birth method is best, no pressure to adapt to a new system, no need to explain why you have chosen a different system; just neutral discussions, stretching, and relaxation.

I highly recommend this class/series to any English speaking expectant Mother in Amsterdam. Our class was full of women from all nationalities and Lillith welcomes new students to come for a free trial class :)

Enjoy!

Amsterdam Charm

I took this recently with Hipstamatic on my iPhone. Fun! Charming!!

More links for Amsterdam Expats

This is a swell updated guide for expats that my Venezuelan friend put together....there is some overlap with my previous list, and some more detail in areas I formerly left out...

Not only are these links for job seekers, there are also social groups, and other general living info. Coming up on my year anniversary of living abroad in Amsterdam, I can say that a lot of my expat friends needed a few years to settle in; and many of them ended up starting their own companies with much success. The global job climate has changed so much in the past decade. Many cultures are leaning more towards a localized workforce and I've had several friends tell me that although they were hired abroad 4-5 years ago, they are not sure they would have the same opportunities now.

Enjoy!

English Language Jobs
Undutchables
Netherlands Jobs 77
Xpats Jobs
Just Landed (Netherlands Jobs Link)
Via Via
Depart Jobs
Intermedriar Jobs
Together Abroad
Pay Scale
Times Jobs
Experteer International jobs
Work from home style jobs
Marketing jobs in English
Freelance Jobs in the Netherlands
More Freelance Jobs in the Netherlands
Bright Connect
Another Freelance Job site for the Netherlands

Common and most used agencies/websites:
Monsterboard
Unique
Undutchables
Jobs in Amsterdam
Expat Jobs
Michael Page (HUGE International Recruitment company...specializes in Financial sector)

List of job recruitment agencies:
I AMsterdam Job Recruitment page

General info (living, business, city, health, family, etc):
Expatica
Expatax
I AMsterdam


Success!

A Paradox

On the one hand, I love vintage. Antiques. Classic styles and beauty that was built to last. Sturdy wood. It will last the ages. It's heavy. Oh, it's so heavy. And it doesn't fit in a suitcase. That is the paradox. I love Vintage style, but I live a mobile lifestyle. Maybe one day I'll have the means (calling all creative partners) to design some lovely vintage inspired pieces that also fold into your pocket; in the meantime I'm going practical and have been looking at baby gear that is great for creating a baby space, any place.

Here are two of my favorites, first the Mawok Baby 'Hammock':



The Mawok Baby 'Hammock' from Sweden can be attached to any door to create a sleeping space that allows for gentle rocking. It's portable and looks amazing. If only there were a folding 'stand' that would allow it to sit on the floor, where you could rock it with your foot while eating (for example)....still, a great product.

Secondly, the Graco Element Pack n' Play with Bassinet attachment:



This product has great reviews as a portable playpen and sleeper. The Bassinet function allows for newborns to be safe and easy to reach, while it can also be used up to 2 years (30 lbs) as a crib. A flexible, versatile, mobile win.

Maybe not the most romantic items, but a bit exciting...yes?

Spring in a Nutshell

I've let the blog fall wayside, and I'll keep this recap short and simple.

Immigration takes strength and can be quite a rollercoaster. The first 6 months can be likened to any other major life struggle. I'm coming out of it with the same feeling that I had around 6 months after a devastating house fire. I lost everything, my past, my comforts; all in one night. Immigration felt a bit like that. And now, as I move further and further from the moment of change; growth and learning are coming into site. I could probably write a book about this form of loss and growth. I know I'm not the first one to experience it, and it can come through so many different ways....

We took a famously long Dutch vacation for the better part of the Spring. It was lovely and exhausting, as just before embarking we found out I'm pregnant. Needless to say the pregnancy has kept me busy enough and I can't complain about not working right now :) Having said that, expect to see a lot more 'having a baby in a foreign country' and 'being a pregnant expat' type of entries. I'll still try and keep them loaded with links and info.

So in a nutshell: I'm pregnant, we had a wonderful long holiday while the man and I are still but two, the days are long, and the sun is plentiful <3

BEWARE: Import Tax and Shipping

Heed this warning! Whatever price is put on your incoming package for 'Insurance', will be the amount you are taxed on; about 19% import tax.

Example:

My Father recently shipped me my Ski Boots along with several 'Mr. Clean Magic Erasers' (which are amazing and unavailable in Holland). The boots are a few seasons old, well worn; the Magic Erasers were new and valued at about $8.00 total. The total value for Insurance was $300. We were taxed 54€. Even though the boots were not new and such, doesn't matter; they tax off of the insurance value on the package. This is on top of already paying $60.00 shipping, and will probably be the last time I receive items in this manner. Oddly we were not charged like this tax when I received my Christmas package, which had a higher value...Christmas items were sent via FedEx as gifts, and the recent items were sent via USPS as just a normal package. I'm still a bit confused by the whole thing.

When my man called to discuss this with the Postmaster, they said the worst is when people just blindly say the value is 1000€ and get charged exorbitantly, having only a couple hundred worth of items in the package. The tax can exceed the actual value of the package in this case, but there is no compromising. Whatever is listed as the Insurance value is taxed.

You have been warned!

Dutch "Discussion" Style

A large part of being homesick is missing familiarity. I'm finding this exasperated recently as many (most? all?) of my discussions with Dutch people feel like battlezones. I suppose it doesn't help that I'm American and everyone thinks they know everything about America. Which bring me to my biggest frustration with Dutch "discussions": too many statements, not enough questions.

I think it would be nice sometime, if someone, asked me about where I'm from. What was my town like? Did I ride bikes there, too? This has yet to happen...though many people have told me about America. False experts abound. There seems to be an emphasis on making direct statements at a raised volume. I find this rather unnerving. Another affect of these "discussions" is I constantly feel like I'm having to defend myself. Since hardly any questions are asked, I feel like a sound board (punching bag?) for peoples already set opinions and I'm constantly trying to share the notion that experiences other than their own are possible. It's tiring. Even when I mentioned to someone that I'd found this fun thing called "Meet-Up's" (see previous post) and that there were a lot of activities, I was told "that's the problem with expats, they just end up hanging out with themselves, blah blah". Well you know what, I have hardly spent anytime with other expats in my 4 months here, but it is sure looking tempting.

My complaints come from social experiences, but I guess it translates to the Business World, as well. I found this little blurb (below) about Dutch Communication Style from WorldBusinessCulture.com, it (slightly more objectively) highlights the same characteristics that I mention above....

"Dutch Communication Styles

Respect is shown through speaking one's mind and being direct. Little respect is given to those who appear devious or underhand in what they are saying. This directness of approach can sometimes be misconstrued as aggression or even rudeness - but is, rather, a useful tool for enabling the meeting to reach an agreed solution.

Paradoxically, due to the consensual nature of decision making in the Netherlands it can be sometimes difficult to get a straight 'yes' or 'no'. This seeming unwillingness is more a sign of no decision having been yet reached than any subtle politicking.

It is important to appear unpretentious. Whatever you are, do not think of yourself as something special. Therefore self-promotion of the type that might be found in the USA is seen as being distasteful and will probably be thought of as arrogant.

Although humour is often used in business situations, it is not all-pervasive and discussions are often very serious with irony or sarcasm being interpreted as lack of commitment. Remember that even though the Dutch speak very good English, much humour is culturally-based and unintelligible to other cultures."

As we would say in America, 'I was raised with manners'. I went to etiquette school. I'm generally polite (minus throwing shade with the inner circle) and those are traits I value.

In conclusion, it looks like I might be in for the long haul of 'the rude' vs 'the arrogant'. Otherwise known as the opposite of fun. I'm not stoked on this, can you tell? This is my first post with the label 'homesick', and probably not my last.

Enjoy!