AMSTERDAMNED

Our overland trip from Marrakesh to Lisbon started with an explosion on our senses the moment we arrived in Casablanca and made our way to Marrakech. The smells, the sounds, the sights were all different, chaotic and overstimulating. Morocco was the first country truly outside my cultural bubble and the culture shock I felt was as claustrophobic as the narrow covered streets within the Medina walls.  After working our way overland into Spain we were exhausted, exhausted from ...

The little white boxes of sweets are very recognisable in Morocco and they stir quite a lot of emotions, our little white box caused a commotion, was ogled, begged for and almost stolen.We bought our sweets in Djemaa El-Fna, which was probably not unlike most nights buzzing with music, snake charmers, henna ladies and hundreds of tourists. Restaurant waiters continuously tried to lure us in to eat and we retreated into one of many, pleased to have a moment to savor the peace of no one...

Last month we packed all our things and made the big move, as travel lovers (and insiders) we were excited to try Airbnb for the first time and so we booked ourselves into an apartment for a month while we looked for a more permanent place live. We were so inspired by the honest, cheap and friendly vibe the whole thing seemed to have, and what better than living it up like a local'We arrived on the weekend and things were looking fantastic, the apartment was spacious and so beautifully...

This week we packed all our favorite things in a handful of boxes, and a little moving company came to take it all away. That's right folks, we're moving on from Amsterdam. As a Sydneysider targeted by the cities social incompetence I'd daydream about moving and living around the world, always finding a new exciting place to explore and if I was lucky enough, to call home. In the most exasperating times I swore I would never go back as I imagined myself in some rural part of Hawaii living...

Some numbers related to my professional life in Amsterdam since moving here almost 2 years ago;~ 13 - jobs somewhat related to my career that I could apply for~ 28 - jobs not specific to my career that I would do out of shear desperation for something to do1 - university course related to my career path I could apply for5 - volunteer jobs in the Netherlands I would love to do9 - recruiters that I am signed up with~ 46 - job applications and cover letters sent2 - emails regarding university...

When I moved here almost 3 years ago I felt I slipped into Amsterdam so effortlessly that at times I wondered if I had lived here my entire life. I found the locals easy to understand and easy to deal with, I loved the sense of community that I felt all around me and I loved that women were completely liberated, independent and confident. And recently this all made sense when I learnt a little about Hofstede and his Cultural Dimension Theory, Hofstede identified several values (dimensions)...

The delicious Rollende Keukens or Rolling Kitchens was in town again this long weekend for the 4th year in a row. Dozens of mobile kitchens head to the park at Westergasfabriek turning it into a delicious open air restaurant with live music and theatre, and the atmosphere is nothing like what you would expect in Amsterdam: big trucks, carnival rides for kids, horses, music and smoking BBQ's all give the feel of a small American county fair.  Although our group...

When in Rome, do as the Romans do, you will have to if you want to cross the street.During my 9 day vacation in Rome it was day 3 when I was finally fed up waiting for traffic to stop for me at zebra crossings and so with no Italians in sight to follow I decided that I would be assertive and cool and just like the Romans I would start walking across the street and not wait by the sidewalk, I even turned to my husband said ?you know what' I'm just going to walk, I'm walking' I'm walking' I'm...

On a regular basis I receive emails from people all around the world hoping or planning to move to Amsterdam, they ask for all sorts of things from how to find a job and an apartment to how to cope with the weather. I try my best to get back to everyone but with my A.D.D a couple sometimes slip through the cracks ? If I never got back to you I sincerely apologise, and if you're still thinking of moving and need advice email me, I will reply this time, I promise' or you can just read this...

Last year when I was planning my wedding in The Netherlands I noticed a gap in the wedding industry that could help me navigate my way around vendors who were reliable and offered excellent service. My year of wedding planning was filled with many frustrations that many brides will encounter; rude or pushy vendors, service providers not getting back to you, inability to find vendors who suit your style, vendors who don't provide what was asked for etc. This gave me valuable experience...