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joyreturns

Joanne

@joyreturns

Member

Canadian expat in the Netherlands

Forum posts

3

About me

Canadian

Lives in Groningen

Speaks english, dutch

Registration: 16 November 2010

About

Even though I live in Holland for more than 24 years, I still consider myself first and foremost Canadian. I am a west coast woman, who still daily misses her coastal mountains, and forests. I lived in and around Vancouver until my late twenties. Met a dutchie, and eventually moved here. It was a HUGE change for me, but thanks to caring family and new friends I learned the language, and learned to laugh at my mistakes, and misunderstandings of the dutch culture and traditions. For me the best way to adjust (here they call it "inburgering) was just to dare to make mistakes, and learn from it. My "canadjen" accent will always be there, so will my memories of my first love, and my real home...Canada. Holland is great, but totally different to Canada. Accept those differences, and try to see the special qualities and uniqueness of what Holland has to offer...equally special and beautiful. I am lucky....I have TWO homes...the life I have here with my family ....and my life in Vancouver, with my family who are still there. The best of BOTH worlds.
Interests: photography, creative art, music, reading, dog training, writing

My expat journey

canadanetherlands
Netherlands

Netherlands

Canada

Canada

Activity

joyreturns
joyreturns replied to a thread
15 years ago
yelena1112

Any Californian Expat in Groningen? by yelena1112

Hello, We are a married couple in our late 30's, we are new to Netherlands currently my husband works and lives in Groningen and i am going to join him in june after our son finishes his 10th grade in SF bay area... Just looking for the new friends ...

joyreturns

Hi, welcome to expats. I am not from California, but am a "West Coast" person....from further up north....Vancouver BC Canada. Hope you make new contacts here in Holland. I also live in the Groningen area...and have lived in Holland for now almost ... Read More

joyreturns
joyreturns replied to a thread
15 years ago
joyreturns

born a Canadian, always a Canadian...no matter where you live by joyreturns

Hi there. A note from a "long time" expat...to other expats... After living aboard (in Holland) for more than 20 years....I still always refer to myself as a Canadian, THEN also being dutch. For me my being Canadian, is not only my birthright, but ...

joyreturns

Hello. I am glad you enjoyed the story of my experience of living here in Holland. It is still a learning curve for me, but a positive one. Even after all these years here, I still am learning something new about being a "dutchy"...Actually we are ... Read More

joyreturns
joyreturns created a thread
15 years ago

born a Canadian, always a Canadian...no matter where you live

Hi there. A note from a "long time" expat...to other expats... After living aboard (in Holland) for more than 20 years....I still always refer to myself as a Canadian, THEN also being dutch. For me my being Canadian, is not only my birthright, but ... Read More