I'm an American who moved to the Netherlands 9 years ago. I love the bike culture, but I miss Trader Joe's and speaking English.
An American expatriate shares her experience of moving to the Netherlands in 2017 to provide a better environment for her children. While she appreciates the local bike culture and community, she notes the challenges of adjusting to a new language and missing American conveniences.
Why it matters
It provides insight into the motivations behind the 'expat' lifestyle and the cultural trade-offs involved in international relocation.
Jaime Bancroft-Gennaro. Courtesy of Jaime Bancroft-Gennaro Jaime Bancroft-Gennaro moved from the US to the Netherlands in 2017 for a better family life. Her family's transition included embracing Dutch culture and challenges like language barriers. She appreciates the Netherlands' bike culture and community, despite missing American conveniences. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jaime Bancroft-Gennaro, a 50-year-old consultant and coach, who moved from the US to the Netherlands. It's been edited for length and clarity. I was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in San Diego, and went to college in Santa Cruz. After graduating, I moved to Oregon. At first, I lived in Bend, and then I spent 15 years in Portland. When my son was born in 2009, my husband and I moved to Italy , where my husband is from. He was homesick, and it felt like the right move at the time.
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