Experiencing a different culture, meeting new people, and learning a new language are only some of the things that Laura is doing in Holland. This young woman currently works as an au pair in Wassenaar, which is a lot different from her home in Ireland. Having lived in the Netherlands for only a few months, she has nevertheless learned many things and benefited physically and socially from adapting to the Dutch lifestyle.

Laura Furlong

-Where were you born?
Ireland - County Wexford

-In which country and city are you living now?
Netherlands - Wassenaar

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Living with a family I au pair for

-How long have you been living in the Netherlands?
Since January 2007

-What is your age?
I am 22 yrs. old.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Holland?
I wanted to travel and pursue my career in dance. I had intended to go to the States first but changed my mind as I had always planned to see Europe - I felt that Holland would be the best place as the standard of living here is better than some other European countries, and English is spoken in a lot of places so it would give me the time to adjust to a new culture before learning the language. Also, Holland is very close to Germany, France, Italy, etc., so it would be possible for me to live here and travel to other European countries in my time off. They also have a high standard for dance education here and I wanted to take more classes after college in different new dance styles so I decided on Holland.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
I did not require a visa or work permit.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
The medical insurance was organised by the host family.

-How do you make your living in the Netherlands? Do you have any type of income generated?
I am currently working as an au pair for a very nice Dutch/American family. It is not a massive income; however, I get my accommodation, food and bills covered and also to travel with the family to Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, etc.

I got the job when I arrived in Holland using an expatriate web-site. It took me three months to get a job here, not because English-speaking jobs are rare, but firstly it was not the best time of year to come here – October, as even Amsterdam is dead and there is not much work available, and secondly it took 2 months to get my SOFI number, which I had been misled to believe was easily obtained. Originally you only had to arrive at the Tax Office, wait your turn and show your passport. Now however, they brought in a new system where you have to ring to make an appointment and they ring you back. But you really have to hassle these people for them to get back to you. So it took a long time - even though I called daily.

The Undutchables and Blue Lynx are two good job agencies for expats but you need a very high level of education in business-related subjects. Otherwise, the only work is in call centres like interview NSS, barwork or childcare.

The best thing is to know the language when you get here. It opens more possibilities.

-Do you speak Dutch and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I am still learning Dutch. It is quite a complex language. I do want to be able to speak it but I don't get much chance to use it as the children speak English to me, and speak Dutch only to their mother. I've come to a point where I can say some general things like greetings, names of animals and things I hear the children saying, and I can understand quite a lot of it. The problem is though, if you speak English to a Dutch person they will always speak English back and you really have to make an effort to get them to try speaking Dutch to you.

It is important to try to integrate into the local culture and observe their customs, and I always try to do that - that is why I chose to live in a foreign country for exactly that type of experience. Initially though, it is difficult to not make comparisons to where you are from and trying to adjust to new surroundings and customs.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Yes, I do miss home and my family sometimes – it's hard not having them there for support and we can't talk as much because it's too expensive. But it's a step into moving into independence and relying only on yourself, and that’s hard for everyone.

I am from the countryside, so with the hustle and bustle here even in Wassenaar where it is mostly expats and quite secluded, I can't compare it to home - living in the middle of nowhere with just fields and nature around you. My local area has always been lacking in recreational facilities; I think that is why so many young people drink excessively - but the emphasis is more on meeting people and discussing everyday lives.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
Yes. I hope to stay here another year after my au pair contract is up, then I would like to go to Australia and the States after that. I would like to see as much of the world as possible in the time I have. I want to continue my study in dance and hopefully become a choreographer in the States and have my own dance school/company.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I am not currently renting as my accommodation is provided. However, I was looking into the cost of accommodation here - a room in a house in The Hague or Amsterdam is going for 350 euros upward and that may only be a space of 10-15 square meters. An apartment can go from 700-2000 euros a month. The important thing to note is private rental is cheaper. Agencies usually ask 4 months rent in advance - so 1 month deposit, 2 months in advance and 1 month for there commission. Also, a lot of housing is unfurnished but you can buy very cheap furniture, you just have to know where to get it.

-What is the cost of living in Holland?
The cost of living here is lower than in Ireland - the wages are less. Minimum wage is around 8 euros per hour; however, tax starts at 45%. So accommodation is very expensive in comparison to earning potential - this may be different for highly skilled people as the wage is much better.

-What do you think about the Dutch?
When I first arrived I was staying in Amsterdam and I wasn't treated the best as they thought I was just another tourist. Plus, a lot of them have a problem with the English tourists so anyone who speaks English is ultimately presumed to be from England. However, I always got a positive response when I said I was from Ireland.

Outside of Amsterdam though, people are much more open-minded and much friendlier - they show no prejudice whatsoever. I think the only problems arose from the excessive tourism from the sex and drugs trade.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in the Netherlands?
The positive aspects are that the Dutch focus much more on health and the environment - cycling is normal and common, and recycling, and eating lots of fruit and vegetables and not much junk food. So I have become much healthier since I arrived. The country itself is very beautiful, lots of trees and very green and because there are not many hills you can look out and see across the horizon for miles. Everyone is really friendly and it's great to see things from a different point of view - by accepting and integrating into a new culture.

The negative aspect is the cost of living vs. wages; however, it is not that bad. It is not a poor country by any means, it's just not as economically sound as my home country, so it's hard not to make comparisons.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Holland?
Open yourself up and accept the people and the culture - as they say when in Rome, do as the Romans do; apply the same for Holland. Ride a bike, recycle, eat healthy, learn the language and meet Dutch people.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about anything related to the Netherlands?
www.amsterdamweekly.nl
www.expatriates.com
www.undutchables.nl