Expat Life

What nobody tells you about being a digital nomad

December 3, 2018 by Karen Turner 8 Comments

It’s been about a year since our lives descended into chaos and we didn’t have a permanent address in any continent. We had just exited the Schengen area as our work visa was up. Within the span of a few months, we had traversed Albania, Belgium, Romania, France, and the Netherlands (3/5 with a cat in tow). I kept wondering what the hell we were doing with our lives. There’s a simple answer: We had become digital nomads.

Maybe now that we’re back in a stable place, I’ve had time to process this hellish period that I put behind me and rarely discuss. These are some thoughts about our time as “digital nomads,” the culture surrounding digital nomads, and how to be a responsible digital nomad. I don’t expect everyone to agree, but it’s based on my experiences.

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Maximize your Vacation Days with Working Full Time

November 14, 2016 by Karen Turner 30 Comments

I’m an American working a 9-5 job. I know you don’t have enough vacation days off to travel. Instead of saying quit your job to travel, this post is about how to travel more with a job. Working 9-5 often means dreaming of vacation days, but this is how to travel more often by maximizing your vacation days out of the office. Keep reading to see how I managed to swing visiting 12 countries in 12 months with a full-time job.

Traveling is not always about traveling for days…but it’s about going to where you’ve dreamed of visiting, no matter how long you have. Keep reading for easy steps to travel more with a full time job!

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Expat life in Amsterdam: What it’s like to live in Amsterdam

November 2, 2018 by Karen Turner 9 Comments

It’s been about three and half years since I moved to the Netherlands and until this time last year, I lived in Amsterdam. I’d like to think that this has given me a bit of perspective on what is unique about living in Amsterdam and what is more typical for the rest of the Netherlands. I came into this process fairly blind, so I hope that this can help others determine if living in Amsterdam is the right decision for them. I say this as someone who is a little less biased than the average Amsterdammer.

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Can Amsterdam be saved from overtourism? Thoughts on sustainable tourism in Amsterdam

July 26, 2018 by Karen Turner 4 Comments

As a former resident of Amsterdam, I’m concerned about overtourism in Amsterdam, which threatens the livability of Amsterdam as house prices skyrocket and many neighborhoods have become overtaken by tourists. Although the city of Amsterdam has enacted new legislation to limit the impacts of tourism, the numbers of tourists visiting the capital of the Netherlands isn’t slowing down.

A marketing campaign that began in 2016 by the Amsterdam Marketing still seeks to bring more tourists to other destinations in the Holland region, a goal shared by many tourists who hope to see the Netherlands beyond Amsterdam. However, in trying to bring tourists to other destinations, the campaign has rebranded nearby towns and attractions (that aren’t part of Amsterdam) as parts of Amsterdam. Does Amsterdam truly value sustainable tourism or does it only wish to push unwanted tourists beyond its city borders?

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Expat Advice: Moving Overseas for a relationship

January 6, 2016 by Karen Turner 12 Comments

If you’re considering moving overseas for a relationship, you might be wondering is this a good idea? Read this expert expat advice on if you should move overseas for a relationship and if you’ll be happy when moving to a new country for love.

Doing your research is quite important when considering moving to a new country with a Significant Other. These are the questions I thought most about prior to moving and the ones that were most important in my decision to come along.

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How to make new friends as an expat: Tips from 3+ years living abroad

November 1, 2018 by Karen Turner 3 Comments

It’s funny: It’s been over three and half years since I moved abroad, however restarting my life last year multiple times in two cities (Paris and the Hague) reminded me how isolating expat life can be. I don’t always write about my personal life, but it’s hard making friends as an adult, especially as an expat. I’ll be including some tips for making friends as an expat.

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What to know about adopting a cat in the Netherlands for expats

November 1, 2018 by Karen Turner 9 Comments

So, we have some great news: We have a new furry creature at home! Last month, we adopted an adorable kitten from a Dutch cat shelter. Compared to the United States, it was significantly different, so I figured that I’d quickly post about what it’s like to adopt a cat in the Netherlands.

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Releasing Seals into the Wadden Sea & Travel Tips for Friesland

June 26, 2017 by Karen Turner 17 Comments

Our weekend trip to Friesland was magical as it included releasing seals back into the wild (technically starting in Groningen, but we sailed into Frisian water), taking a boat tour to the UNESCO world heritage site of the Wadden Sea, enjoying the sandbanks/views of the Frisian islands, and exploring the traditional polder landscape of Friesland as well as the cute cities of Friesland.

For those seeking an ethical animal experience to add to their travel bucket list, releasing wild seals back in the wild is a must. If you’re looking for the best activities to do in the Netherlands, I definitely rank this responsible tourism do as one of my favorite memories.

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7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Living Abroad

April 18, 2016 by Karen Turner 19 Comments

Before we begin, let me say moving abroad is not easy and although everyone loves to write about the benefits, it’s not a fairytale. It’s especially hard if you’re moving to a country unemployed like I did, but whether you can get a job depends on a lot on your field, qualifications, visa, language skills, and the country itself. These are the seven things that I wish someone had told me a year ago to make moving abroad easier. …

The Cost of Living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

November 27, 2017 by Karen Turner 9 Comments

After living in Amsterdam for over two and a half years, I was surprised how many questions that I’d get about the cost of living in Amsterdam as an expat. I’ve broken down our monthly expenses in Amsterdam from rent to phone bills in the Netherlands, so hopefully this will help you decide if living in Amsterdam is for you.

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