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  1. Amr Gamal
    3
    Grey and boring. This means: • no hot sun and also no strong rains/thunderstorms • no poverty and no rich • simple and modest • no big crying and no big laughing • no screaming (of happiness or of upsetness) • flat (no mountains, no up and downs, flat tastes) As a "latin" origin, I was used to big differences and the middle term still surprises me. It has advantages and disadvantages. It is a calmer life, no big risks, you usually know what you can count with. Though, sometimes is like a passion, and you may miss it, and you may feel like screaming very loud, or just missing the strong rain or the strong sun, or just laughing without a reason. Sometimes, holidays are enough ... maybe ... or if you know the other side, maybe one day, you just need to be at the sun all the time, if you were born used to that. I feel safe here, but I miss the Portuguese side. We can't have it all. UPDATE (Begin 2016): I am not at this moment "hispanic". I am still living in Europe (Netherlands). Though, we were going to move to Atlanta in May-2016 and I was looking schools for my small son and he would be hispanic there. I just mixed up. Me and my little son have darker hair, eyes, skin, ... a very "latin" look. So, I just corrected. UPDATE (April-2017): I returned to my home Country Portugal, mainly because my oldest son decided to return. By the way, I learned Dutch, I was the one teaching Dutch to my small son (now 8 years old) and I miss some things from the Netherlands. As I said above, we can´t have it all. Our home Country will be always our home, also. That makes a difference. Not for the language, but for the culture when you are raising children. Well, Lisbon is still Europe
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8 years 1 Answer 2332 views

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  1. Suresh Kumar
    0
    Dutch universities are known to be among the best universities in the world, competing with other famous UK and U.S. universities. You could say the Netherlands is one of the top non-English speaking countries where you can study abroad, get a quality education and find loads of degrees taught in English. I think I'm eligible to answer this question because I came to the Netherlands as a 17-year kid from India to pursue my bachelors here without knowing anyone in Europe. I did my BSc. International Business from Maastricht University and I'm still residing in the Netherlands. I always felt like home here which is rear these days as an immigrant considering the situations these days in other parts of the world (Anyway, that's not the topic). HOW IS STUDYING DIFFERENT HERE? • As a student, you have to take responsibility, be active during class and feel free to share your ideas and opinions. You should definitely develop a strategic plan long before the project deadlines, do a thorough research and present your ideas clearly and concisely. In one word, you will become an independent learner. • If you come from a society where there is hierarchy and where you’re expected keep a certain distance between you and your professors, you may come across some cultural problems. There is a more casual relationship between students and the faculty in the Netherlands. • You may be shocked to find that more than three-quarters of the population in the Netherlands claim to be proficient in English. It’s true! This is also a great advantage if you are a foreigner and don’t speak any Dutch. The fact that English is everywhere will make life outside of the university campus quite easy. • The tuition fees and cost of living are considerably lower than in English-speaking countries. • Holland is one of the safest countries in the world • Some of the world’s biggest multinationals, including Philips, Heineken, KLM, Shell, ING and Unilever, are Dutch. So you have many options once you are done with your studies. Of course, learning Dutch will boast the Opportunities manifolds (RECOMMENDED) • You should understand that with the sheer workload that you will face here, you need to learn how to study efficiently. In essence, its a wonderful experience and you will gain a lot of exposure
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8 years 1 Answer 2257 views

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  1. El-Demouhi
    2
    There is a considerable difference in chances for Indians living Netherlands vs Indians living in India presently on the chances of getting a job. That being said I know many people who have succeeded in both the journeys. All depends on how lady luck is smiling on you. • For Indians living in Netherlands already- Make a really good CV and cover letter. You must adjust the CV to each application. Read through the job description and try to guess what the job demands. Try to learn dutch. It takes a long time though. The rejections would be high but you’ll get the odd interview calls, there kill it with you charm. Go to various event fairs, recruitment agencies etc. They are helpful. Plus there are lots of other things which you’ll learn only when you are into the process. Remember finding a job is a job itself here. You need dedication and effort. • For Indians living in India - Find a way to come to Netherlands. IT services companies are good options. Go to the gym, beef up, add your good looks and charm and then find a dutch partner, :) So after you come here, go to the step For Indians living in Netherlands already. Still if you can’t come here - If you are highly skilled in some rare things which is difficult to find, look through linkedin and various job sites and they might just be looking for you, who nows!!! I know people who got directly employed from India. Keep persevering!!
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8 years 1 Answer 2117 views

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  1. Divya
    0
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8 years 1 Answer 1904 views

Question
  1. Amr Gamal
    -2
    It is a complicated answer. Let me point out the differences- Governance - I find the people here politically more disinterested than India. They treat the govt as an isolated entity from themselves so their level of involvement is much lower than an average Indian. So I found that the govt works as an corporate entity, people pay them money and they deliver the services. Elections happen without much hue and cry or large events. You’ll find couple of advertisements here and there with some television shows and that’s about it. Taxation - It is notoriously high and also I find it highly inefficient in Netherlands. Personal income tax, high VAT, road tax etc. There is not much incentive nor options for personal savings. They even tax you for you savings and investments. It is always countered by saying that it has good social security - so essentially it encourages you to be overtly dependent on govt and it’s present day circumstances. Unlike, Asian countries where people build their own savings - that thing is very different in Netherlands. Quality of life- Much much better. Clean air, clean water, great solid waste management. Food in the supermarkets looks fresh and clean. Lot’s of green spaces around. Cars don’t honk nor belch black smoke fumes. Infrastructure - Superb. Very good roads. Trains, buses are clean and mostly punctual. Water gas electricity are always very reliable and stable. Mind it, it all comes at a very high cost, you need to pay road tax every month,petrol is the most expensive in the world I think with so many charges and surcharges and all that is quite a substantial amount. Trains, buses, taxis are much much more expensive than Asia. People - I think it is very difficult to break into the dutch society and even if you do you’ll find it difficult to connect with them. Their upbringing is much different from yours and you’ll find them not knowing much about the rest of the world. You need to put a lot of effort to get by with the dutch way of life, and it is entirely upto you whether you want to give that effort. If you don’t want to it shouldn’t be a problem as you’ll have an expat community in you same mother tongue where you’ll be absorbed easily. Racism - It exists, and it is covert in most cases. You can simply avoid them or be indifferent to them. I mean, if you develop this attitude like “who cares”? or “why give a damm”? I think it would make your stay way more enjoyable. Remember, Indians are very successful internationally because they know from the Mahabharata the difference between “karmabhoomi” and “janmabhoomi”. In your karmabhoomi you don’t need to absorb everything in it or adapt to it nor you need to participate in every aspect of the society. It is entirely upto you what you seek. There are lots of other things, but I think I’ll stop here now and maybe write at some other time
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8 years 1 Answer 1684 views

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  1. Abu Hashem
    1
in progress 2
8 years 1 Answer 1622 views

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  1. Ram
    -2
in progress 2
8 years 1 Answer 1589 views

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  1. Fouad Badawy
    4
    You have various options. I live in The Hague as an expat, so my answer is based on that, but other major cities will have something similar, although probably less expat choice: • Send to a regular Dutch school. Your child will be taught in Dutch and have a good, Dutch education. Teachers will tolerate communicating with you in English. At the secondary school level, there are a few select schools for high achievers that will deliver a bilingual education (Dutch/English). Advantage is that normal Dutch education is free. The best choice if you plan on permanent immigration to the Netherlands or cannot afford the international system. • Send to a private national school. In and around The Hague there is the British School of The Netherlands (BSN), American School of The Hague (ASH), French School, German School, Indonesian School, etc. These will follow the relevant national syllabus and charge around Euro 15-20k per year in fees. Generally an excellent education with an international student community but largely monoculture teaching community, with overall school culture based on the national system. • Send to an International School. In The Hague there is the International School of The Hague (ISH) and the European School. These are private schools as well, but affiliated with a Dutch schools foundation so enjoy a 50% state subsidy of fees (so typically around €7000 per year). Very international environment with typically children and teachers from all over the planet, following the International Baccalaureat system. A very broadening experience for the children in this increasingly xenophobic world, and the one I would personally recommend - particularly given the cost advantage. My children have been through all three approaches (Dutch primary, ISH primary and secondary and BSN secondary) and all three were excellent. But my preference was the ISH - the international viewpoint, school culture, quality of education and community are superb. Hope this helps. You have plenty of options
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8 years 1 Answer 1551 views

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Hi!  Does anyone have a good website to find dog friendly apartments or family living for rent in Rotterdam?  The websites that I'm finding aren't listing if the apartments are dog friendly or not.  I'm happy to work with a ...
  1. NRIPIO
    0
in progress 0
5 years 1 Answer 1403 views