What Expatriate Life Comes Down To

An expatriate’s life, I’ve determined, is simple: It is simply one of learning new systems. We need to learn new languages, new rules and regulations, new ways to conduct business, new ways to get information. The list could go on and on. Think of any thing you do, from the simple to the complex, and imagine having to relearn it according to a different set of norms and values. And even those systems that are familiar to us, we need to learn that they are NOT different from our home country.

You’ve already read about some of the systems that have affected me the most: shopping, the language, the rules of public places (especially when bikes are concerned). But there are multitudes of others.

1. Those related to moving overseas: residence permits and customs. These systems are bureaucratic and time-consuming, but easy to manage otherwise. Of course, most letters related to anything “official” are only in Dutch. That makes it a little difficult.
2. Finances: the Euro and conversion rates, setting up bank accounts, remembering sales tax is included in prices. I still don’t understand buying and selling dollars for Euros, but I have mastered the art of multiplying everything by 1.33 to determine what the price in US Dollars would be (but then I have to subtract 8% since tax is already included…) And my bank account here carries my maiden name, with no mention of my married name. That still makes me nervous, but it is what the bank required.
3. Getting around: an archaic public transport ticketing system, different road signs, and automobile drivers that are kind to bicyclists. When riding public transport in Holland, one must know how many zones they are traversing, and then “stamp” their “stripkaart” accordingly. It’s bizarre, and difficult to use considering there are over 20 zones in Rotterdam and surrounding areas. Most road signs are fairly self-explanatory, but they are still very different than in America. And I am so thankful that motorists slow down for bicyclists…it makes my life much safer!
4. Life: different ways to use household appliances, interacting with neighbors, garbage disposal, receiving mail, making phone calls. The two more interesting ones – garbage disposal and mail delivery. I don’t believe it is like this everywhere in Rotterdam, but in our new neighborhood there are giant underground garbage bins. Rather than curbside pickup, we put our garbage in these bins. They resemble library book returns…that’s actually what I thought they were after we moved here. Postmen, dressed in red, ride bikes throughout the city delivering the mail. Trucks follow with larger packages and to pick up the mail in the postboxes.