Managing Relocation Guilt, Starting Universiteit + Did I pass my Theorie Exam?

American expat living in Amstelveen, Netherlands. Mother to one sweet baby boy. Registered Nurse, passionate about climate change and health disparities. My spouse, who is a Dutch citizen, convinced me to move here after a devastating wildfire season in California.

[@jNoor780]

Ellen, buy a bakfiets in stead of a car. You and your son will love it!

[@accidentalgenius8252]

If they already have a car, yes!

[@ExpatEllen]

I want a bakfiets so bad! I think it would be great for winter so my son can be more comfortable in there with a blanket and snacks 😊 but I understand they are in high demand, expensive, and get stolen a lot. I didnt realize most of them are electric and have a battery! The ones I was looking at were several thousand euros! So for now he is on the back with me on the bike which is fine too 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@drerri]

@@ExpatEllen non electric second hand bakfietsen don't get stolen and cost between 300-800 euros.

[@erikmulder2574]

I had to laugh when I saw Yankee go home. That person surely did not realize yankee is a Dutch word from the times the Dutch owned Manhattan and originally is Jan Kees. So you are at home. Welcome home. I can imagine it is hard to have your son out of sight when he is at the kinderopvang. However remember Dutch kids are amongst the happiest in the world. This is based n early independence. Kinderopvang is a first step, where he learns to share, play and respect other children and make decisions without mom or dad. I would finish the driver license study. The extra time I think must be because you are not native Dutch. I never got that offer. It is just giving you some additional independence. I know you are a nurse by trade, however your study material do not really scream healthcare to me, what is your study direction if you want to share that? In my view, your youtube channel is for showing your family what is happening in your life, get hints and tips from Dutch countrymen to get quickly settled and to help other immigrants to a place where they can check if you had the same struggles and how to resolve those. And it is just fun. In case someone does not like it, you do nowhere state people have to watch your channel 🤷‍♂️. Keep them coming, I like your video’s

[@jeaninevanlente3520]

I left Holland and moved to Canada 15 years ago. I so understand your feelings of guilt and it will get better over time, but wil flare up now and then. Your family wants you to be happy and successful, so be as happy and successful as you can be in this new country and share this happiness and these successes with them. Wishing you all the best and if it ever helps to speak with someone in a similar situation, let me know. It does help to talk about it.

[@kencymone660]

I love your channel! Keep doing what you do!!

[@petervanlaethem]

I wish you a good start with your masters!

[@jpdj2715]

Gentle and warm waves of the North Sea - to put that into perspective: Amsterdam (and the beach resort you went to) are at 52.4 Northern latitude - Quebec City is at 46.8N and in Europe that's between Paris and Milano latitude. Washington DC with 38.9N is a bit more North than Lisbon. Miami, FL, is as far South as 25.8N and this side of the globe, that would be about smack bang in the middle of the Sahara. Thanks to the Warm Gulf Stream in the Atlantic, we have warmer climate than latitude calls for.

[@sanaissa9195]

You rock Ellen! The way you described putting your baby boy in school is exactly how I felt when I did it with my son. You'll be so happy when you see him enjoying his friends and learning new things. I'm so proud of you!!!

[@enricio]

You're just wonderful and will do fine in The Netherlands. ❤

[@jsmoor4988]

Welcome to your new life multiplicity mom! Good to see you doing well. Enjoy your new chapters in life !! Good luck at “de Boelelaan”

[@lisag2319]

I wish you all the best with your studies! Getting my masters degree was a walk in the park when compared to getting my drivers license (it was the practical part that nearly defeated me). So I understand you 😅 Still, I hope you won't give up! The information is still fresh in your memory right now and trying it later will take a lot more extra studying (and giving the CBR more of your money 😝).

[@Maguramishi]

Thanks for the mention! The offer still stands

[@QuodNomenTibiEst]

Heel veel succes met de eerste weken op de universiteit! Petje af dat je dit allemaal combineert: kind van 2!!, een ander land en ook nog een master studie! Knap hoor!

[@rickrides8352]

7:04 I can relate to that. I did a - parttime! - master in Utrecht and had to go to campus every lesson from one of the courses. During daytime. Hard to do while having a job and a family, and living in another town. Good luck with your studies!

[@vexisonline]

I, for one, am glad you started this channel as it gives us insights into our cultural differences and similarities. I definitely hadn't conceived how much guilt immigration could entail, and how there's a slight dissonance in pursuing a better future for your own family while leaving others behind. I'm happy you were able to start your higher education here and hope you'll still have time to give us regular updates. Keep it up, and stay safe and happy 😊

[@rfrhattem4581]

Hey Ellen,.hopefully you and your family are ok! I have enjoyed your vlogs so much and really good to see how your perspective is and your pro's and dont's living here. I am looking forward to see your next post, hopefully,.soon again!

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

Wow, you're doing great! Wish you good physical and mental strength going through the busy times coming, but it'll not be so busy forever, just keep that in mind. Oh yeah and the beaches in the Netherlands are amazing, not surprising so many Germans visit the Netherlands for the wonderful coastal areas. You should visit one of the islands, and my advice is to go to Schiermonnikoog or Vlieland, that is if you want to have a really relaxed, zen time to maximally clear your head.

[@MichelBaek]

Hi Ellen, great update of your experiences. Good luck with university. Good that you put the theory exam on hold since you are extremely busy with more important things. One mistake you made is calling the bureau CBS. CBS is Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (they collect statistics), you are talking about CBR which means Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen (drivers licenses). Hope you get over your homesickness soon. Looking forward to your next update. ❤️

[@pietdegeling4696]

I love your happiness. It makes me feel good too. Sorry to hear about your 50 year old back, but me, being 64, wish my back was 50. I look forward to following you and your family on your path to the future. Thank you for also taking me, via those vlogs, on your parh

[@janrobertbos]

All of my family were very pleased to welcome the 101 Airborne division in Eindhoven in 1944; you are VERY welcome in the Netherlands!!!

[@carmenm.4091]

I moved to the other side of the country to be with my new husband and this is already hard for me and my mother of 81, who’s very independent and has a busy social life and doesn’t really need my care but loves the attention and being together. I get what you’re saying and even though I am much further in life than you, I still don’t know the answer! So don’t be to hard on your self. You’re doing a great job making something of your life.

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Hi Ellen, your dutch is getting better! Say hi to your mother! 🤞keep the faith! 🤞👍

[@LeesaYu]

I really related to your feelings of guilt about leaving family behind, in pursuit of your own happiness and future. I always feel bad that I’m not around to spend more time with my ageing parents, esp since I’m an only child. Currently planning our first trip to Australia in 2 years, and it will sadly cost us nearly $10K and will take 24+ hrs on the plane. So I probably won’t be able to afford (time/money wise) to visit home frequently. My husband is the same - he left his home country (also 24+ hrs away from Australia!) for good 10 yrs ago, and it’s always a worry for us about what we will do when our parents get very old and need care :( no solutions but just some empathy for what you’re feeling! Also good luck with your new uni degree!!!!!!

[@TheEvertw]

Good luck with settling into your new lifestyle! It is great that you are picking up your studies. Don't feel bad about flunking your theory exam: many people do. CBR likes complex questions where several rules need to be applied at once. Sometimes there are even gray areas where you can argue for both options, which I think is completely unfair...

[@BrazenNL]

"Yankee go home!" is amazing! Got me actually lauging out loud. Always remember that those statements say more about the people saying them than you. Also, you're a nurse, so you know if your son truly needs immediate care. If so, call 112 and they'll send an ambulance. This is not the US, you won't be billed for it.

[@jwenting]

yes, and for things that don't need a full ambulance they have emergency doctors in cars or on motorcycles as well.

[@erwingobee3890]

Or... she could call a taxi, very simple.

[@ExpatEllen]

They don’t have child car seats in them

[@jwenting]

@@ExpatEllen not sure if that's a problem with taxis. They probably have exemptions from the laws requiring them (and a small child you can hold in your lap of course). For emergencies, I seriously doubt anyone would care anyway. Greater problem would be getting a taxi quickly.

[@BrazenNL]

@@jwenting For emergencies, you want something with shiny lights and a siren. Holding a child is the worse advice ever. If it's not an emergency, calm down and wipe the blood away with your sleeve. She's a nurse, she knows the difference.

[@1957mattes]

Nice that your mother was visiting. And that your timing with your child to school and you to university is just right. Fills the void. And about feelings of guilt towards your family, think about your husband's family and think about where for you the center of the universe is. In your head😁

[@MichielBesseling]

Thanks for your Honesty.

[@hkelder1956]

My son lives with his family in thailand. So three of our grandchildren live there. We respect their choice, but it did hurt quite often. Fortunately they plan to return to NL next summer. Wish you best.

[@roelofvenema6500]

Good luck with your study on the VU Amsterdam.

[@laracroftonline]

Big respect, your dutch has become quite good.

[@joanne1114]

I think it’s the disgrace they charge you for being able to do the theory exam in English of give you some extra time. And as for that question “why do you do this”: I’m glad you do. It’s nice for you to document the steps you take and for us it’s really nice and educating in a way to follow your steps. See our country through your eyes. It’s also entertaining, you’re good at this.

[@royklein9206]

I really can't imagine how anyone can say something negative about you or your videos!

[@bartlucassen9145]

I wish you well with your back Ellen and maybe most people don’t get their driving licence in one time, for shore my kids didn’t .

[@eddys.3524]

Hi Ellen, nice video with your mom visiting. A lot of changes going to Universiteit and combined with inburgering... just ask us and we'll try to help. I'm so sorry to hear about your back... and at that young an age.. It could indeed be work related, hence my question : Doesn't the US have laws about working conditions, e.g. limiting the amount somebody is allowed to lift? We do. Sometimes they are a bit annoying but it's for the good... Anyways, I hope the physical therapy gives you relieve and some improvement. And about the "Yankee" thing.... it's a pleasure to have you here and I hope you're not affected by that name-calling. I hope you can find some time to make a new video and tell us about your first experiences on the Universiteit too.

[@cobba42]

Looking back, almost every bigger life decision had some regret or another attached to it. Sort of the alternate timeline thing. Can't say that I've always made the best ones. But from the looks of it you may have with moving to The NL. But I'm sure had you stayed you'd have had a different set of regrets. As for the drivers license: I would imagine that if you tried again sometime soon, you'd have an easier time getting one than were you to put it off. Since now what you have learned is still fresh and might just need a bit of extra work to get "over the finish line". There are some practice exam websites that can help you further prepare. All that said with the caveat that I have no idea whether or not you can fit that in your already busy schedule. While I agree that for the most part you won't need it day to day, it could come in handy on a vacation (taking turns while driving) or other special circumstances.

[@dicknr1]

if you wonder why do dutch people keep their curtains open all day, well in hot summers we close everything blocking light and heat. Shade helps. Secondly you can grab a fan or airco from stores here too. Choose 1 that has enough power to supply a bedroom, if its too hot you all sleep in airco room.

[@FLEXiGON]

Hi Ellen, thank you for your nice vlogs! It's so sad to hear your about your back, unfortunately my back is also about '20 years older' than I am :( If the fysiotherapeut or manueel therapeut can not really help you, I advise you to visit a sportarts/revalidatie arts. In my case the MRI scan clearly showed the cause of my back problems, that years of physiotherapy could not have showed or solve. It's a bit hard to explain it in just a few words. Take care!

[@williamdrijver4141]

Best beaches in The Netherlands: Ouddorp / Zeeland province and the Wadden islands in the north. Closer to Amsterdam: Noordwijk aan Zee and Bergen aan Zee are attractive. But not on crowded holidays 🙂

[@yvonnesopacua9901]

Girl, petje af coz you're doing well and do a lot of to integrate in the Netherlands 👍😊

[@ronaldderooij1774]

The remark "why are you doing this" is Dutch directness. If it was meant in a negative way, somthing like "you are not good at it" or "you give crappy information" or something like it would have been added. I like your energy a lot. I think you will be able to make it here, no doubt.

[@Aviopic]

I have no clue why she even assumed "Davey Jones" is Dutch as both first and last name aren't 😉

[@fredegthuijsen4095]

je hegt te veel in 1 keer in je korte tijd dat je hier bent alles komt goed alles op zijn tijd

[@RH-ro3sg]

I would recommend you to continue trying to get that driver's licence, now that you've already sunk significant efforts into it and your knowledge is still fresh. You'll probably want that license anyway eventually, if not now, then in a few years. Though I can also understand that with your master's starting, your workload is heavy enough as it is. Got my driving theory the first time. What made the difference for me was, after I thought was done studying, I started practicing exams. There are free practice exams to be found on the internet, but not all of those are equally accurate or up to date. I paid a small amount of money (20 euros) to get access to the practice exams in the 'ANWB theoriecentrum' (ANWB=the national association for bikers and motor vehicle drivers, so these guys are trustworthy) , and as far as I can tell after having done the real exam and passing, those were quite accurate. Allowed me to identify my weak points and study upon them before taking the next practice exam, etc. Not trying to advertise for them but my experience with them was that it was well worth the money. I don't think they offer these practice exams in English, though, so it would depend upon how comfortable you are with exams in Dutch as to whether this is useful to you.

[@wimschiphorst8541]

Why I think you should persevere. Time permitting. A driver's license also counts as an ID card. Even though I don't use the car much anymore, considering the age. I find the driver's license easier to carry, given its size than a driver's license.

[@Bowwow30]

I can fully understand your feelings of guilt towards your family. I feel it's not my position to comment on that, other than that I fully understand and I hope that your feelings of guilt will decrease/wane/grow feeble (I don't know what the correct word is in this context). I love your frankness in your videos and I'm a big fan of your channel (although I often comment in a way that could be seen as critical).

[@albertdoddema4926]

Funny, especially when you consider where Yankee is originated. Apparently Yankee was ‘short’ from JanKees, a combination of two of the most common Dutch names, as mostly people from the Netherlands were trying their luck in New Amsterdam, in the then so called ‘new world’. Then it was a nickname for the Dutch given by the English settlers. So (originally) being called a Yankee, is stating that you are Dutch. And a consequence of that is that you came and all ready are ‘home’! 😂😂

[@tgb-nm8yd]

But you can buy a mobile unit if you live in a rented appartement. While not as effective as a split unit it does cool a bedroom down to a comfortable temperature. For 1500 Euro's you can get a really good one that is pretty energy efficient. I use only renewable electricity so there's no damaging the environment. When you buy house you have al the HVAC you need .

[@lowie267]

Your are great 👍🍀🍀🍀

[@MarjoleinNoyceBellingaMobiel]

Having tried to park a car near the VU.... you might be quicker by bike from Amstelveen than by car!

[@NTac_Tic]

the car theorie exam is brutal. It took me 5 times. And when i did pass i had the exact score to pass...

[@freudsigmund72]

seawater warm in Zandvoort this time of year? yes it is the warmest time of year, but 19 degrees water temperature is just too cold for me.

[@tante_Ique]

Good luck at university. 👍

[@jwenting]

CBR, not CBS :) I've for a long time thought they deliberately fail people in order to make extra money, and to limit the number of licenses being handed out. I've experienced being failed by them (not on the theory) on minute technicalities several times, until my driving instructor sat with me and the instructor in the car during my driving test and the mistakes I made (all minor details, nothing big) were all ignored and I had my license 20 minutes after starting the engine (the test was supposed to take an hour).

[@SAMUDRAMAC]

About the yankee thing. One of the theories where the word Yankees is derived from is that back in the days the British were nicknaming the Dutch as Jan-Kees (2 common dutch names). Yankees would then be the Dutch. If you look at it that way it would mean: Dutchie go back to the Netherlands. So just stay put. You’ll find idiots anywhere. Love to have you here.

[@nfboogaard]

Yes I wanted to post this too haha. Derogatory term for a Dutchie, Ellen should be flattered xD

[@camillawilliams3954]

I really admire your effort to take on a uni study in the Netherlands. But why did you specifically choose this study? And what is your goal?

[@grauwsaur]

Although I find that extra fee for a time extension for the theory exam quite strange too, when I got my driver’s license about 20 years ago there was no such option at all, I think €20 is pretty negligible compared to the total cost of getting your license here in the Netherlands, so I don’t think it is prohibitive. I don’t know the current rates, but when I took driver’s lessons just one lesson would already cost twice that, and you need a fair number of lessons depending on how intuitive a driver you are, practical exam is quite strict. Not to mention the cost of owning a car, I spend as much a month on taxes, and then additionally a similar amount for insurance as well.

[@jwenting]

I think the extension is offered only in specific cases (language problems, dyslexia, things like that) but I'm not sure. It was indeed never offered to me either when I took my exam 30+ years ago. Though the structure of the exam of course has changed since then, as well.

[@RH-ro3sg]

@@jwenting I did my theory only 2 years ago and neither can I recall this being offered to me, so I agree this is probably only offered in specific cases.

[@uss-usaf-atlantis]

Hello welcome

[@strikeformatik]

Just went through schiphol, it was fine.

[@ShipSpottingNederland]

Prachtig dat iedereen reageert en aardig is, maar ze reageren niet met Nederlandse tekst, zodat jij er ook wat aan hebt voor je Nederlands ;)

[@margreetanceaux3906]

When I did the test for my driver’s license (exactly 50 years ago…) I was a law student at the Rotterdam Erasmus University - and I failed my theory. My instructor was extremely pissed, as I passed the actual driver’s test with flying colors. In 2018 I had my own clash with the CBR, because I had to have my car (and subsequently my license) adapted to a disability, resulting from chemo. Of course you have to answer a long list of medical questions, present ánd past, and to my horror the CBR then focused completely on this 1 issue that was not in any way related to the effects of the chemo that I struggle with. The application for the amendment to my license took 7 months, and for the first (and so far only) time in my life send me into a hysterical rage. They also set the expiration on a 3 yr schedule, so this spring I had to apply for a renewal, which to my amazement was handled very efficiently - except that the CBR is still focused on this old issue, and doesn’t have a clue on my chemo-induced disability. In other words: they are improving, but they pretend to have medical insight, which they clearly don’t. This long story, to comfort you that the CBR is annoying anybody, regardless of your nationality or native tongue…

[@jwenting]

yup. I've had my runins with the CBR medical team. I applied for a flight medical (I was taking flying lessons) in 2018 and it was denied because I'm on anti depressants (extremely low dose). That I have a letter from the prescribing doctor detailing explicitly I'm taking them for a sleeping disorder, not depression, was deemed irrelevant (despite the reason they're blacklisted being that they don't want people with clinical depression renting an aircraft and crashing into things, not after the airliner crash in France a few years before that happened because of that). The doctor examining me thought I'd get an easy exemption because of that, the medical board however (after several weeks of waiting, I guess they were split) went with the letter of the law and denied me.

[@RH-ro3sg]

Yep, if you've got any medical issue that might potentially be a problem when driving, the CBR will take the hard route, even after an expert (certified by them) has declared there _won't_ be an issue as far as they can see. They'll ignore that advice and still demand that you do all these additional tests. I suppose it's a 'better safe than sorry' approach (that part of it is not necessarily wrong) but I also suspect them a bit of milking such cases for extra money. Also, I've got my annoyances with the theory exam. They ask irrelevant questions, presumably just to see if you've studied hard enough. I mean I don't have any problems with those questions about traffic rules, judging situations or who should get priority in a specific situation, etc. - these are all relevant. But I also got questions such as 'what is the border percentage of alcohol in your blood that will get you an EMA (Educatieve Maatregel- educational punitive correction) instead of a LEMA (a lighter variant of the same punitive correction)' - shouldn't you simply know as a driver you'd better drink one consumption at most (to stay on the safe side ) or preferably none at all? Or purposely misleading questions concerning legal definitions that you don't ever need in practice (and even if you'd ever need to, you'd look them up in that case). I'm glad I got that theory exam in my first try (and my practical exam, too) , but I was still annoyed by it.

[@sutreB]

The worst decision in my life was being honest to the CBR (and therefore the goverment in general) and saying yes to one of the medical questions when I went for A rijbewijs (I already had A2). Later I got another irrelevant for driving issue and it got even worse and costs 1000 euro per year.

[@margreetanceaux3906]

@@sutreB Worked for the municipality for 40 years… still in hindsight I wished I had not been truthful to the CBR. In 2018 I deemed them completely bonkers. Had been ill, treated, recuperating and reintegrating for 2,5 years. Serious stuff. Which I explained, because I myself decided I was no longer fit to drive a 100% regular car. So what’s so hard to understand about ‘cancer, chemo, radiation’? But the CBR wanted me to check in with a ‘sleep clinic’ to determine my apnea. Discussed it with me on the phone… "Oh ma’am, you are very angry". You bet I was.

[@sutreB]

@@margreetanceaux3906 Ik begrijp dat het van belang is dat een automobilist veilig rijd, maar dit slaat alles. En dan kom je zoveel ouderen tegen die niet veilig meer rijden. Alleen een overheidsinstantie kan zo inefficiënt blijven bestaan.

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

In the Netherlands an univesity bachelor is "useless" if you want a job, it's better to go to HBO then instead. Things like internships and a bit more practical stuff will be in the master in the Netherlands. What's up with Americans and calling to someone / to a company. At my work we have some American customers. I always pick up the phone with "company name, my name" and this Americans people don't say their name but start saying the name of the person they want to call, not even "can we speak with mister X". We are now more or less used to it and know they want to speak the boss, but the first times were quite weird. Especially since they pronounce his name totally wrong so we had no idea what they want

[@dicknr1]

NYY, Yankees, are actually based on the pilgrims time. When the dutch took over America as the first westerners. New amsterdam and along with that came many people with names: Jan/kees from the netherlands. Because the team existed of many of these dutch names. They fooled around and said Yankees, I dont see how thats a insult at all. But the history is fun to know.

[@ChrisMcCandless77777]

All Emigrants feel the same it makes no different where you came from. Sure you leave a lot behind when you leave, but you also get a lot in return. and we don't live in 1800 anymore. nowadays you get on a plane and you are on the other side of the world. so we have it better than the Emigrants of the past. At the end you have to ask yourself you didn't leave for nothing because you were looking for something that couldn't be found where you came from. see it as a journey of your personal development. And if you don't like it in a few years, what will stop you from going back or starting a new adventure somewhere else. remember the only person holding you back, is yourself Good luck to you girl

[@bli2008]

you should pursue getting your driver license. there will be occasionsin the future that you'll regret not having one. don't give up now

[@bli2008]

just found this video about traffic course. maybe helps a bit. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5Svo4mQd9SJb5Y

[@nfboogaard]

Hey what kind of design study are you doing? I don't use instagram or anything.

[@hkelder1956]

How are you? An updates soon?

[@sretePtraB]

13:25.... Bro..... 😄

[@MA-ek1xl]

What's it like going to dutch doctors?

[@deheermailmum5036]

Hi Ellen. Whats your mothers impression of the Netherlands?

[@accidentalgenius8252]

Wanted to hear that too!

[@carolyngriffith1335]

I really enjoyed my visit and look forward to coming back. The Netherlands is very different from the USA. Ellen’s life has changed in so many ways. That surprised me. Here she had a big house filled with everything and anything she wanted. Her job was stressful, life was crazy. She may not have the luxuries that she did but if she’s happy then I’m happy. Ellen’s Mom 🤗

[@deheermailmum5036]

@@carolyngriffith1335 thanks Ellen's Mom. ( Ellen is name of my sister by the way).

[@StefanRink]

Ignore the trolls and haters, they are just jealous. You are most welcome here and if someone is an creep or *sshole just ignore them so they'll get bored and give up. As for cooling, just get a giant ventilator and aim it at your bed and you'll be fine at least up to 34c. As for drivers license, you don't need it. The one time a year you need a car you just call a friend. 😉 Good luck with your back and the university.

[@drerri]

Always call an ambulance if you think you need one. This is not the US, emergency services really are here to help.

[@MartijnHover]

Actually, "yankee" is supposed to be derived from the Dutch name "Jan-Kees". 😀

[@Edobber]

Hi Ellen, what are you going to study at the VU?

[@ExpatEllen]

Global Health Research 😊

[@Edobber]

@@ExpatEllen That’s wonderful! You’re going to make the world a little bit beter!

[@freudsigmund72]

I recently learned that the word yankee is a derogatory term used by the Brittish on the Dutch.... I guess they are welcoming you?

[@ElMariachi1337]

I mean that Yankees go home by a guy named Butt Dickenz ? Don't feed the trollz is an old internet thing, lol. Good luck at the VU and maybe you are one of the older in the masters, but my 80 year old mum still goes to the VU to follow Italian and French lessons because she likes to keep up. So don't worry, you are never too old to learn!

[@Xlsy221]

Whoa, I didn't know you could pay for extra time on the theory exam. It's extortionate enough they charge extra for the English version of the exam, but extra time should be given for free to those who need it and not sold for money. I never knew it worked like this, and I'm pretty sure it didn't when I was getting my drivers license but this is very disappointing.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Having an English version of the exam is an extra service. That must be paid for. I don't see anything wrong with that. But I must admit I am a bit annoyed by the slow erosion of our language to English. I mean, when you call customer service of Albert Heijn in Amsterdam, you immediately get an English voice.... That's bad, I think.

[@RH-ro3sg]

@@ronaldderooij1774 I agree offering the exam in English is an extra service and therefore it's not unreasonable to charge a (modest) additional fee. Having to paying for extra time is more doubtful. That is, I can understand you need more time if you're, say, dyslectic, but in such cases (e.g. if you're certifiably dyslectic) extra time should be given for free. Though they'll probably rationalize it with 'such a test taker occupies our facilities for 45 rather than 30 minutes' or some such argument. And of course, no extra time should be allotted to those 'judge this traffic situation in x seconds'-questions -- after all, you won't get any extra time for that when you're actually driving, either, dyslectic or not.

[@ewoutbuhler5217]

Good on you, good luck with your masters! Appreciate you are taking the time to respond to some of the comments. Some were quite mean and overly direct, that the fault of that keyboard warrior. You do you, if this is a thing you linke, just go ahead and vlog the heck out of yourself 😁😁 I guess if one is not entertained, well, move on. I really like your analysis and ponderings about your experiences. You are obviously an intelligent women. For sure I do not always agree, but I do find it interesting to hear your view. Not sure why the Dutch tend to be obsessed by American opinions of our country. Lately the Americans are simply easy to hate. Surely not you as a person, but that country full of seemingly polarized, egocentric know-it-alls that are for some reason not able to maintain some kind of humane civilization with actual equal opportunity. There's a lot we can learn from the US, and certainly on what NOT to do. BTW: I looked up the extra costs related to CBR exams for going English (5,50€) and going Extra time (12,00€). These are related to actual extra costs that the CBR does incur for the extra effort they have to deliver. So it seems to be fair and official. Extra time is mainly for people with dyslexia and similar and in case you have this, you will be able to get reimbursed. So if you re-take the exam, take it again if you feel this will improve the likelihood of success. Good luck, enjoy! and keep it up...

[@bramvalkenburg5655]

At 19:22, did you just got cat called?

[@ExpatEllen]

No no that doesn’t happen here!

[@AlexK-yr2th]

Why you stop making video's?

[@gijsbertuslaurensvandevooren]

Be Dutch commit yourself to the New years dive. 🤪

[@aeiouaeiou100]

CBR is absolute shit, agreed

[@rienvanwelzen9200]

Please stay Yankee!

[@Anonymous-sb9rr]

The driving exam is pay to win now? That kinda ruins the game.

[@henrijansen4224]

If Yankee means Jan-Kees than you're at home!

[@Teslacoil333]

Love you’re video’s, maybe next time spit out your chewing gum before you start the video.. 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁 Your awesome😎

[@funnyfromadam]

You really should prepare yourself for the most dark, disturbing and negative comments on your channel as a vlogger. It happens all the time and even on the most innocent childrens channels. Ignore it and never take it personally. It's here and it will never go away, unless you disable the comment section. Anyway, do you know Eva and her channel? Also from the US and immigrated to the Netherlands. Here's her channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aorakqxrqtiGr5Y

[@jpdj2715]

Your first months in the NL must have inherently had a lot of distraction. So much to organize and new things. It also feels a bit like a holiday, maybe. Then when the combination of distraction or diversion and elation settles down, I can imagine you are hit by homesickness. Now you start a study and have more things going on for you, that probably will soon be over. Feeling guilt? In the NL, that is a Roman Catholic concept that can be traumatic in itself for RC people. I guess it has to do with having to go to confession and consequent punishments. In PC (protestant Christian) circles that was more a personal thing and it did not lead to pathologically denying wrong doings or else they had to be confessed on Sunday. For PC, it was, man up and take responsibility. As a gross generalization. It's sociologically interesting to hear this relocation guilt from a US person as prejudice here is that USAnians are the most mobile and move long distance more often in their lifetimes. And you see the problem with such statistics is that it masks even the potential that, as the French say, "partir c'est mourir un peu" (to leave is to die a little), and so potential feelings or emotions are swept under the rug again. I think the feeling of guilt is uncalled for - as said above, emotions or feelings are a different thing. So it needs time. Losing a loved one can take between 2 and 7 years to process, digest, or whatever you call it. So far you lost nobody, I guess. And yes, there is the desire, instinct, to spend time with your child with your relatives, there's no denying that. But look at it this way: Miami to LA is a 5:30 flight, NY-LA is 6:00, and Amsterdam-NY is only 8:05 or Amsterdam to LA is only 11:05. The world has become the global village and where you are near Amsterdam airport is not much farther from your family than being on the other side of the USA. As to the xenophobic comment, I do not know where that is coming from. It's not representative of 90% or more of Dutch society. Such negative people are best ignored. Each time you pay attention to one, they feel vindicated - antisocial attention seekers.

[@Wielie0305]

About the go home thing. You’ve got idiots everywhere. Let them be… Don’t argue with the stupid. They’ll beat you with experience. I never had AC in my homes. I don’t need one. But If I had one I could not live without it anymore. Just like cars without an AC. It’s a no go now I’m used to it…

[@H1SCOTTY]

It’s almost a perfect circle, except for you being called names, but Yankee is a Dutch word (names exactly) adopted by the British. It comes from the names Jan-Kees.

[@Greyhound53200]

About the 'Yankee go home' comment: every country has its portion of assholes. One of ours obviously felt the need to introduce himself.

[@bertoverweel6588]

Hallo , did you know that "Yankee" is from the Dutch name "Jan Kees" . Groetjes

[@captnonius]

For a dutch person to call you 'yankee' is hilarous. Probably not realising it is an american term of abuse invented by combining the two very common dutch names Jan and Kees! So: right back at you (uhhh us).

[@albertlay8927]

You keep saying "CBS". It is "CBR": Centraal Bureau Rijvaardigheidsbewijzen. CBS is the "Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek".

[@ExpatEllen]

🤦🏼‍♀️ thank you

[@albertlay8927]

@@ExpatEllen Did you manage to pronounce rijvaardigheidsbewijzen? "Rijbewijs" is actually the abbreviation of it. Rijbewijs would literally mean "prove of driving". "Vaardigheid" means something like skill. So officially it is the document that proves that you have the skills to drive. This includes knowing all the rules, in case you are riding a horse&carriage and a brommobiel is coming and you need to know who has right of way.

[@09conrado]

These theory exams are notoriously tricky. Intelligent people fail them all the time just because they're absolutely not logical. Just pound in the absurd answers and fill in what they want you to say and you'll pass. Not if you think for yourself. This used to infuriate me a lot when my kids were studying for the theory exam.

[@1957mattes]

And about yankees go home...... the word yankee comes from the Dutch in America who are called Jan and kees. So if you're a yankee.... are you now at home😁😁😁

[@rudolffabrie3233]

Americans are not so flexible in adapting to other cultures or other ways of life they are used to. So it will take a lot of effort.

[@jayandreas1131]

Sounds like double empty nest: both you and your mother probably missing their kid.

[@MrHaagsesjonny1]

Veel succes🍀 met de VU studie. And in respect to your California exodus regarding the weather 🌡→ Hopefully you will also ''survive'' the winter period ('22-'23) here amidst the increasing European energy crisis (due to the Ukraine-Russian war). Good luck in ❄wintery Nederland keeping your home adequately warm 🔥and the power bill low! 🪙🪙🪙