2 years in Holland

• Moved from Amsterdam to The Hague

• Learned Dutch

• Wrote a second novel

• Traveled to Paris, New York, Tel Aviv, Kansas City, Brussels, Rome

• Got married

• Got a kid

Life has never been so hectic. Two years ago I was single, living in an expensive apartment in Amsterdam East. Then I reconnected with someone I had met in Holland in 2011, and he had a six-year-old kid. I started spending all my time with them in The Hague and realised I loved it. Less busy, more hospitable. I moved in and we got married a few weeks ago. The Rabbi, along with the community, blessed us last week.

Job-wise, I’m still at the same company and the challenges are fun and immense. I work with ambitious people who want to change the industry. I’m lucky to be in a division focused on customer needs and financial wellness, and people truly value my work.

With a job, kid, partner, novel it’s difficult to find time to network and get to know more people in the industry, whether in UX or writing, but I do what I can. My biggest surprise moving from Switzerland to Holland was the loss of my tight-knit professional network. I didn’t expect to miss so many people. Holland has more agencies and possibilities for connection, I’m sure, but I’m still (relatively) new.

So much has happened in only two years, and I’m grateful for all of it.