REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK going back to America from the Netherlands

As an American living abroad for 7 years, it can be a culture shock going back to America for the first time in 3 years. It's in the everyday details where things that used to feel normal just don't anymore.
Moving abroad isn't easy, but going back isn't easy either. Once you get used to the European lifestyle
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💬 We're Sean and Jessica from the USA and are now expats living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 2014. We travel all around Europe to discover new places, good food, and memorable experiences. You'll also find a bunch of Amsterdam content because we love our new home city! Follow our European travel adventures for food and fun 😄
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[@TheKeystoneChannel]

Being Dutch and I've followed a lot from the US politically and society, I think the reason things are becoming individualistic in the Netherlands is cause a lot is being adopted from the US, the big corporations running the show together with politics makes the divisions bigger and also people becoming more individualistic unfortunately , I miss the way the Netherlands was.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I totally agree.

[@TheKeystoneChannel]

@@aWanderlustForLife Happy New Year to you! (A bit early , but still :)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

@@TheKeystoneChannel Happy New Year!

[@elizabethnilsson1815]

THE US KILL OUT THE HUMAN RACE AS THEY RE OR BECAME ROBOTS AND DO NOT KNOW WHAT KINDNESS OR LOVE OR HUMANITY IS. THEY ARE ROBOT SALVE FOR MONEY - THOSE IN A POLITICS and many of these so called 'EX[ATS ' IS ONE OF THEMWHO WORKING AS or WORKING FOR

[@TheRockkickass]

Why are you following are stuff, Americans would never follow Dutch news or culture. Y’all gotta embrace yourselves and do your own thing

[@scottman895]

I really enjoyed this one! I can totally understand you having reverse culture shock when visiting the US after living there and being born there. Even when I travel out of the country for a week or two, I come back and I always say to myself, "Why don't we have this here or why do we even have this?" Public transportation is one thing which really needs to be improved here in US cities. I've been to many cities here, where you pretty much have to have a car to go around to a different part of a downtown area in a city.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thanks! It's a big reason why I wish everyone could and would travel. See how others live.

[@rosab8026]

....para tener un buen nivel de servicios públicos, como el transporte o la sanidad, pagamos nuestros impuestos, por nosotros y nuestros conciudadanos, es la mayor muestra de patriotismo....no le cantamos a nuestra bandera con la mano en el corazón, pagamos impuestos para mejorar la vida de todos, a la vez que la nuestra. Un país es la gente que vive en el....

[@safe-keeper1042]

I remember living in Houston and loving it there, but at the same time it felt so... uncanny, or unnatural. I'm not sure what word to even use, but it was something about the way too wide roads, houses that all looked so much alike (all right next to each other, and all with same-y front lawns, and all the box office chain stores that just made it feel so... artificial. Later I discovered channels like Not Just Bikes that put into words for me what I felt when I lived there. So grateful I live somewhere (Bergen, Norway) where I can get pretty much anywhere by light rail and bus.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Love Not Just Bikes! He does such a good job. And we were in Bergen this year and really loved it and hope to go back. My best friends lives in Northern Norway so I know I'll be back eventually 😊

[@FrankHeuvelman]

In rural towns there is only one provider for household goods, one supermarket, one fast food drive through, one internet provider and one energy company. Just like in the good-old Soviet Union. Complete with empty shelves. Oh irony. Capitalism is such a blessing...

[@Dirkje-jq5lr]

What i love from the Netherlands or Belgium is their bycicle’s culture (specially in the Netherlands) and their public transportation which is pretty good. Having a car can be awkward and expensive (depending on lifestyle). The other aspect is the zero gun’s culture; in the US there is obsession for having guns, which is weird.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

It really is a great country from my perspective. But to be completely honest, there aren't zero guns. We've had a few shootings in Amsterdam.

[@rosab8026]

@@aWanderlustForLife Existe control de armas, normativa, que controla su pertenencia y su uso...la gente caza, en casi todos los países ..y las mafias obtienen armas ilegales, o un policía o militar puede tener un problema mental en un momento dado....no es ni mucho menos lo normal...Estados Unidos no deja ni legisla contra las armas por 2 motivos principales, me parece: Por el miedo patologico y la desconfianza que las grandes corporaciones promueven co forma de controlar a la población y evitar movimientos de unidad ciudadana. Y en segundo lugar porque son estas empresas las que imponen las leyes, a través de los muy corruptos políticos a su sueldo, y obtienen unas increíbles ganancias con ello....Con este sistema, las perspectivas son malas....en unos pocos días , he contado 3 grandes matanzas, una de ellas al menos niños de primaria ( como unos 20 de una vez) ...si eso os parece noal.. .si pensáis que compensa.... Yo me negaría a tener hijos, en Estados Unidos ...

[@FrankHeuvelman]

Weird and deadly.

[@888records]

With zero guns the person might mean that zero guns are allowed

[@dutchyjhome]

Once you have decided to live in another country, especially in a country on the other side of the world, you will go through all the steps of grieving: you say goodbye to family, friends and everything you are emotionally attached to in your original country. And don't underestimate it; this farewell can be compared with saying goodbye to someone who has fallen away from you, as you probably may know. In addition, the home country and the conditions in the home country as you left it will not be the home country and the conditions in which you will find it after years abroad for 2 reasons: 1. Your home country and the people who live there (family and friends) is/are subject to constant changes and evolutions, however small as they can be which you hardly notice when you live there, but all together most likely will provide you a completely different experience of your home country and that this is the reason that after years of absence your home country no longer feels like your home country and your friends and even family the way you left it/them. 2. Like it or not, you still get used (socially, politically, climate-technically and more) to the host country where you stay for a number of years and this habituation changes your perspective with regard to many things you your homeland. Being critical in your home country with regard to matters that you previously never discussed in your home country will therefore occur more often than you would like. And you simply cannot have both; you will have to make choices. Structural choices that give you a future in your country of choice. By choosing a certain country, you distance yourself and say goodbye to the other country, including the people who live there, and you welcome the new country, the new language and the new culture and the new norms and values ​​and the people who live there just like yourself. Even if you fully accept the host country or new country and fully integrate into this new country with the new language and the new culture and the new norms and values, you will go through the complete grieving process of parting with regard to the old country. It is absolutely not possible to keep everything you had in the old country without hindering your integration in the new country. This really is a Black or White situation, you've gotta choose...so it's all about choices unfortunately. You simply can't have both. The grieving process is inevitable, but don't go into the grieving process without giving yourself a real chance of success in the host country or perhaps during permanent immigration; the new country. These are unfortunately the facts as they are. Nothing you did not know already I guess, but maybe a nice line-up of facts and recognitions which can make you smile ;-)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Love this and it did make me smile. It's a well thought out...umm...thought 😂 And that's always nice. You are completely right. It's hard no matter what.

[@philsarkol6443]

What struck me most was, that you were being remembered of the fear of guns and gunshootings when you were over there. That it was in the back of your mind. I am under the impression that those years here in Amsterdam has made you feel more liberated and more free, as in a weight off your shoulders. Thx for your smile and positivity of living here in the Netherlands and Amsterdam specially. The very best wishes for you and your loved ones, here and in Virginia. Keep safe and healthy in 2022!! greetings Phil..

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you so much, Phil! I do feel safe in Amsterdam. Took a few popped tires and those pesky firecrackers in December to not make me jump everything I heard a "pop", but I feel so much lighter. It wasn't something I ever expected, but I'm very happy about it.

[@rosab8026]

@@aWanderlustForLife Estados Unidos no me parece el país de la libertad, sino el país del condicionamiento y del miedo. Son el mercado y fuerza de trabajo perfectos para las grandes corporaciones: sin derechos, sin voz y con miedo y desconfianza.....obteniendo sensación de alivio y libertad a través de la compra compulsiva....Les deseo suerte....es una situación tremenda, poco envidiable, aunque muchos solo se dan cuenta cuando estalla en su cara, cuando algo les sucede a ellos.....

[@FrankHeuvelman]

You said it Phil, I thought it. You're becoming more relaxed, misses Wanderlust. It's in the way you dress, talk and more in general you have become a self conscious, well informed typically Dutch woman. I suggest a leather jacked and worn out jeans to grow even further.

[@jantimmerby]

Freedom is not needing a car every time you have to get out your door. Freedom is being able to send your children out to play unsupertended. Freedom is to be able to send your children to school without fearing they will be shot. Freedom is being able to live one's life without fear of getting sick.

[@vellramontano8783]

Thank you for the background music , very soothing compared to other content on here about reverse culture shock.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for your feedback! I'm always testing out things,so I appreciate you saying something.

[@iamdeo1724]

Thank you for making this video Jessica. I am happy to share that I am moving to Netherlands this year. My family and I are so excited for this new chapter in our lives. Our new adventure begins in just a couple of weeks. Forgive me if I misunderstood…did you leave Amsterdam and moved back to Virginia? OR did you visit Virginia (USA) I did not quite understand.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Congratulations! How exciting! Yeah, apparently that bit wasn't clear. I was visiting family, not moving back. We have no plans to move back to the US 😊 Best of luck to you!

[@Asdos.]

Welkom in Holland 🇳🇱

[@dustylong]

​@@aWanderlustForLifeNot clear at all 😅 Thought you'd been visiting now, but definitly were moving back later. Glad you're not 🤗

[@pvds2009]

for people that are coming to the netherlands, it's bigger then amsterdam, outside there, there is more room bigger houses and cheaper, lots of space for cars and easy acces to trains. from top to bottom you can drive in 4 hours and that is with a truck. so if you go, look outside of amsterdam. from a lot of places it's just an hour away by train, or 45 min by car. keep that in mind :).

[@hansbraam73]

Could it be that because many Americans never visit other countries and cultures they stuck in the notion that their way of life is the right way of life? If you, like most Europeans, cross the border regularly in many directions you notice that things can get done in a different way and it may improve your society.

[@user-eu1rh2nm8j]

Def.

[@kayelle8005]

American companies don’t give their employees enough vacation time to allow them to see much of the world. Helps keep them blinkered and not asking for more. Plus their woeful education standards means many of them think anything remotely citizen centric must be “socialism”

[@blotski]

Definitely, I live in the north of England and even from there it's only an hour by plane to Paris, Amsterdam, Hamburg etc. I flew from Liverpool to Barcelona after work one Friday. We left work in England and were eating in a restaurant in Barcelona the same evening. I recently read a thread on YT about different accents and an American was saying how he never really thought of himself as 'having an accent'. He thought of people who spoke differently to him as being the ones who had accents. He realised he was wrong to think like that but it's a measure of how isolated from the world some Americans really are.

[@karinb57]

Hi there!! I'm a Dutchie that moved to Virginia. I'm in the Shenandoah Valley. I love living here, it's a very rural area. The Blue Ridge Mountains are so pretty, nature here is amazing. The things I miss about the Netherlands are...riding my bike, it's dangerous here to do so. And it would take me half a day to get groceries. Family and friends. I have found it hard to make real friends here. It's like they say.....we gotto do lunch sometime. And it never happens. Also just visiting someone in their home doesn't seem to be a thing. The gun thing worries me too. The politics, girl...I have tried to discuss it with people, but it usually doesn't lead to anything good. I love it here, but I miss my country and family.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

It's like we swapped! I'd love to talk to you more about this, if you'd like. Reach out on Instagram @awanderlustforlife. I'd love to learn more about where in the valley you ended up!

[@dustylong]

Wow Karin! You live in the John Denver song, Country roads 😁

[@catharinaforbes-boeren82]

About the difference cereals in the USA, just look at the ingredient lists and see that they all have the same in them. Corn+ high fructose corn syrup,etc. I lived 10 years in the USA and could comment but I think the USA needs a lot off changes to make it liveabe for 90%.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Yeah, there looks to be a lot of variety but it's not so much. But, on the shelf, it's still a bit overwhelming.

[@TheKeystoneChannel]

Actually, I discovered (through friends in the US and comparing products) that the ingredients in the US are at least double as much then in Europe and apparently this has to do with additives that are forbidden here in Europe, so they tossed them in the American products. Extremely unhealthy additives. I guess the pharma industry needs to make money too

[@rosab8026]

👍👍👍👍

[@rosab8026]

@@aWanderlustForLife ...te digo cuántos cereales desayuno yo....?? Rebanadas de pan de leña tostado con tomate, aceite de oliva y jamón....o con mermelada casera...y un café...o un yogur con fruta picada.....de ahí la poca necesidad de "variedad de cereales"...😂😂

[@regritchin9888]

Your views are fine truthful and factual. Take Care and Best Wishes to you and your better half : )

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thanks! You take care, too.

[@MPKush]

I completely agree with everything you said in this video, from my experiences in the US, I feel like everything is so commercialized and mass produced. Most ( not all ) things don’t feel as authentic as from my travels in Europe. The stark contrast in the shopping culture is quite shocking. I’ve been binging your videos for the past week, keep up the great work! I’d love to visit the Netherlands some day :)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I'm so glad you've been liking my videos! The overcommercialization is becoming more and more a thing over here too. But still less so. It's a completely different mentality when it comes to "stuff" which is way healthier for the wallet, and mental health I'd think. If you do visit, please let me know!

[@jeffreybruner5462]

Thanks for making this one. I don't think many Americans realize how stressful living here has become, so it probably was a bit of a shock for an expat returning after three years away.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I know everyone has their own feelings about it, but it seem stressful to live there these days...even if it just feels "normal". It was until I moves abroad and I felt the weight of so many things lifted that I realized how hard it was and that it wasn't like that everywhere.

[@dustylong]

​@@aWanderlustForLifeThen why go back to the states? I wouldn't, if I'd feel like you do 🤔

[@PalmerAdina]

100 percent agree with you on the gun situation...

[@spawn666reaper]

Interesting. Love the pictures on the wall btw. The coffee offer still stands.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you! And yes definitely in the new year we'll make it happen!

[@mdhazeldine]

I'm British, living in the UK and married to a Canadian. I have been to the USA twice, Canada 12 times and the Netherlands twice. I find it interesting your comments about loving the freedom of getting in a car and about (seemingly) missing fast food. I see a lot of videos by Americans and Canadians lamenting the North American car dependent lifestyle and gushing about how great things are in the Netherlands and how you don't need a car there etc. etc. You're one of the only ones I've seen who has experienced both and actually has something positive to say about those aspects of living in the U.S. Personally, I get where you're coming from about the freedom of owning a car. I have had periods in my life where I had one and where I didn't. If I could choose, I would much rather have one, or at least have easy access to one, but what sucks is when that's your ONLY option and you spend so much time being stuck in traffic because of that. Regarding fast food, I really dislike the American/Canadian fast food culture and I think we have a better, healthier balance here in Europe. But, I will say I have a soft spot for A&W in Canada. haha. My one "treat" I have when I go there!

[@AmandaPonzioMouttaki]

My biggest reverse culture shock is always grocery stores. I get SO overwhelmed with all the choices. I miss it sometimes but it's paralyzing when I'm there.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Exactly! I miss some of the choices they have in the US, but I appreciate the quality I get here.

[@user-ie6jr4bg1w]

I disagree, in the us you have to plan to get shopping. This is because you can’t go for just a drive to the shop. You need to take a lot of time, travel a fair distance and pack a lot of things in your car making people more on edge and making the driving situation more dangerous. In amsterdam you dont have to think about your shopping, you can just walk over to any shop and they are usually close by, say a 10 minute walk away. Thats my experience.

[@blutharbear4321]

love the pictures on your wall

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you! We collect them when we travel.

[@benjaminlamey3591]

I see it differently, when I go home I also need a car for everything. it is a freedom there, but where I live it is a burden, I feel so much better since I sold mine for a bike ...

[@javiermarcialcespedesberne8575]

Hola, que tal?, como van?, Los mejores y más cordiales Saludos desde puente piedra, lima, Perú, ojalá que puedas hacer venir a más compatriotas y amistades en algún momento a mi país y que disfrutes mucho de todo por aquí, con la familia y los amigos,felicidades por tus vídeos...

[@jeroen669]

For your information: cars might be less dominant in the Netherlands, but it is still the main mode of transportation. About 50% of all trips and 75% of all travelled kilometers are done by car. Cities like Amsterdam, Den haag or Utrecht don't represent the country as a whole.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I know it doesn't represent the entire country, but since I've lived in Amsterdam for 7 years, this is my experience. That is why I reiterated it at the beginning.

[@dustylong]

​​@@aWanderlustForLifeStill, the title says The Netherlands, which makes Americans think we don't drive at all here 🥲 I live in the south of The Netherlands, in a rural area and public transportation really isn't that good. We really do need a car, for shopping, visiting relatives and so on. Aside from our 4 larger cities, cars are a thing here. Certainly outside the Randstad, in the other provincies 🤗

[@THMILLER]

The USA does have massive portions. I had dinner there and had left overs for 2 days.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

They can be huge!

[@qixxor2075]

Ive been to many supermarkets in the states, but…. Choice of things I wanted was very limited! Think bread … almost always factory white bread on soft buns…. Really? Herbs for cooking.. fresh? Not there. Vegetables? Very limited choice. I bet that Spanish supermarket had a better choice… Now if you want anything frozen? Loooots of choice. So I guess it’s all what you want… things a European want I very limited, and more for a farmers market…

[@rosab8026]

Es otra forma de ver la alimentación....En Europa predomina el producto fresco y nuestras normativas controlan la calidad de la alimentación. Al gobierno de Estados Unidos no le preocupa la salud del ciudadano: las empresas de alimentación abaratan sus costes con calidades inferiores y la falta de salud del ciudadano es una fuente de enormes ingresos para las corporaciones sanitarias y sus seguros ...Todo ganancia. Excepto para el ciudadano, claro está....Benditas leyes europeas ..

[@jackvandersluis1723]

So sad you are leaving Amsterdam, maybe one day you will return, I wish you a happy new start in the USA! GOOD LUCK! 👍

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you, Jack! But this was just from a visit to my family. It's been 3 years since I had been back so I thought this could be an interesting perspective. I have no plans to move away from Amsterdam. 😊

[@vdlindentje]

@@aWanderlustForLife oooooowwww Gelukkig! 👍🏻😘

[@Yochemm]

@@vdlindentje Slijmbal!!!! Zoek je een kusje!! 🙂

[@johnkochen7264]

You are not wrong. The Netherlands is becoming more individualistic. I am convinced it is because people move around more and the demographics are changing drastically. We have fewer and fewer small communities where everybody know everybody and where helping your neighbours is a normal part of life. There has been (and still is) a large influx of refugees from Asia who either have a hard time integrating into Dutch society or simply refuse to do so preferring to stay within their own bubble of contacts.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I see it in both the Dutch and expats (all expats...not just from one area).

[@a.nonymous2089]

Sounds as if Dutch life is so much healthier.

[@You-mr3lo]

Most families in the Netherlands have 2 or more cars...so i dont get your problem. We dont need to drive far for gas or whatever.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

As I said, I live in Amsterdam where cars are less common than other areas of the country. We just don't need them and the overall cost of cars are quite high...especially when we dont need them.

[@fionaalgera3391]

I can’t imagine living where I live in the Netherlands without at least one car! Public transport is virtually non existent here. Without a car I would have a huge problem! And public transport is ridiculously expensive! Driving is simply cheaper.

[@You-mr3lo]

@@fionaalgera3391 where do you live?

[@You-mr3lo]

@@aWanderlustForLife life in Amsterdam with a car may be more expensive. Everywhere you have to pay for permits, there are narrow streets, small rooms with excessively high rent. Small living spaces therefore provide relatively more people and therefore more cars in a small area. there is simply no room for everyone to park a car. many Amsterdammers have therefore moved to other cities where it is not so busy. where living conditions are relatively better. there are plenty of historic cities in the Netherlands where you can live without the hassle of tourism from Amsterdam. examples of this are The Hague, s-Hertogenbosch Maastricht, Zwolle, Deventer, Breda and Bergen op Zoom. In these cities there are historically attractive buildings and monuments, but not the mass tourism from Amsterdam. You should visit some. I can really recommend Hertogenbosch in particular. Here, the fortifications, historic streets, the underground canal tours, the museum quarter, the Natura2000 areas and the stories surrounding Jheronimus Bosch and the 80-year war are really a nice alternative to what Amsterdam has to offer.

[@Basic190]

Didn’t she explain in the beginning that she’s talking about her specific situation, not the whole of the Netherlands or the USA???

[@hansabass]

Freedom is a kinda subjective thing, isn't it. For me always having to get in the car and having to drive these distances does not equal freedom for me but more a kind of burden. And considering choices, choosing between all these different fastfood restaurants would be for me having no choice at all, 'cause I don't like fastfood... Sorry... ;-) Besides that shit is all rubbish and so bad for your health

[@rosab8026]

Igual aquí....Un buen transporte público, ciudades o pueblos tranquilos y acogedores, amigos para salir a tomar algo y comida buena, variada, saludable y de calidad....nada más para ser feliz...

[@desireandfire]

I completely agree!! Omg I hate driving and the fact that I have to spend thousands on gas and on insurance, etc. every year. I love bicycles and would much rather use them, also walking as I'm all about saving money. I hate that there are no sidewalks here in my American city except downtown.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

Love the muzak.

[@Hades035]

@9:30 In the netherlands, gun ownership is different then in the US but that doesnt mean we dont have incidents with firearms. For example the 2011 shooting in Alphen aan den rijn. prohibiting firearms does not prevent people to have them :)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Of course, it even happens in Japan. But the occurrences are EXTREMELY low here.

[@Hades035]

@@aWanderlustForLife We have less people then there are in NewYork but we have more then 1 shooting a day :) Besides that, more and more people are getting stabbed each day here. Also more then once a day. I am not sure if it is much safer here :)

[@BENTWOONEZERO]

Amsterdam does seem a pretty safe city, they are 73 less safe in Europe according to 2020 crime index figures ! Only Edinburgh of the UK cities is safer, I live in Bradford England we are the 3rd worst in Europe.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Yeah, I've always felt safe here. Though of course, no place is perfect.

[@geoffpriestley7001]

Im in Bradford as well i can understand how we got 3rd thought it would be 1 st or 2nd

[@BENTWOONEZERO]

@@geoffpriestley7001 61 years living here and you go in the center now its all drunks and druggies, the standard of driving is terrible and the car insurance premiums are very high due to it. I want to move to Scarborough.

[@geoffpriestley7001]

@@BENTWOONEZERO 67 years my step daughter lives in Bridlington the drug scene is just as bad there but they font have the gangs. Hope you get your wish after all that time in Bradford you deserve a better retirement

[@BENTWOONEZERO]

@@geoffpriestley7001 Thanks.

[@ronalddejong3017]

I won't start on guns or politics. Tricky enough subjects. But that "I am looking out for no 1, me - attitude" only cost you more in the end for health insurance. You think you buy a private plan with items customized for you and the company is making you pay tru the nose for it. Now imagine 100,000 individuals all with a separate plan (of which the basics are all the same). Insurance companies put these people on one heap and make deals with medical groups and hospitals. If you had an opportunity to compare the prices a hospital charge you as a private patient or the prices they charge an insurance company, you probably need a visit to a hospital to come over the shock. By rejecting the "there is more strenght in numbers" principle over the "me, me, me" principle the Americans threw away their power as consumers and corporate America is hanging you out to dry and get off with your hard earned dollars, ever since. Have you ever wondered how those "Socialist" or "Communist" (as Reps like to call them) get away with their universal health care system and still have a more reliable and efficient system than the good old U S of A? Where people do not have to make a choice of life and death just because the price of insulin is five time higher than just on the other side of the border? Forcing people to go on the black market to get cheaper insulin with all (criminal) consequences.

[@SpartanOfFinance]

I live in South Jersey and we are all armed. Very little crime here. Philly is virtually gun free and you can watch whats happening there. Europe is still a lot safer. People seem a bit saner on Europe.

[@trentfowler2888]

I got a lump in my throat when you were talking about guns. It is after dark and I can't go for a walk in my neigborhood and feel safe. It is so sad. I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There are gun shows where you can just buy one like half a mile up the street. I'm pretty sure you can tell that I don't fit in here politically either. I've been consuming your videos voraciously the last few days. Can you expand just a little on how moved directly from Virginia please. My wife and I have decided to begin the process of figuring out how to be expats!

[@jeffreybruner5462]

If one of you is self-employed or has a side business, look into the Dutch American Friendship Treaty. It's a unique treaty that makes the Netherlands one of the easiest countries for Americans to immigrate to.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for responding to him! I appreciate you sharing any knowledge you may have.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for your comment! I talk about it a little more in depth in other videos (just look for the expat playlist if you haven't found it yet). But the short answer is that my husband's heritage is Italian and we spent a few years getting documents and him applying for Italian citizenship. So, we can live/work anywhere in the EU.

[@trentfowler2888]

@@jeffreybruner5462 Thank you. We've been thinking about that point of entry. I'm in tech but am also interested in solar/wind/EVs. I still can't get my head around the fact that the country will have us at all!

[@trentfowler2888]

@@aWanderlustForLife Okay, I'm on it. I'll watch everything you have, I really love your videos (great glasses btw). I don't want to give the impression that we need to upgrade our physical space. We have a great house with a pool (actually own two houses) but I've lost all of my friends to gun control or politics. My biggest fear is that we are going to get shutdown on bringing the pets, they are our kids. My other thing is the weather but I can handle that I'm pretty sure.

[@a.nonymous2089]

Ha ha, I'm from Virginia, too. Where in VA are you from?

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Sorry, I don't get into specifics about some parts of my life

[@buhdahto]

Having citizenship-based taxation and FATCA/FBAR make leaving the U.S. rather difficult.

[@hunchbackaudio]

I would trade the whole cereal wall for a loaf of good quality bread. I guess the USA is not for me. Cereal is not edible to my taste.

[@tompiper9276]

Parking in the Netherlands... I just wanted to park, I didn't want the buy the street!!

[@marcvolgers8352]

Its interesting you call it freedom you can go anywhere with the car, but is it? What are the alternatives? In The Netherlands you can choose between car, public transport and for shorter distances bike or walk. But, if I have to believe the Not Just Bikes channel, in many North American places its mainly focused on cars. That wouldn't seem like freedom to me. I do have a car, but also a bike and (pre covid) use public transport. For work, public transport was my best option (car would actually be longer, not to mention parking cost while my boss pays for 1st class public transport), for family visit car (in that case public transport is longer), shopping car for week/bike for small errands. Kids to/from school bike (it would actually take longer due to parking and walking) etc.

[@robertvaneersel3741]

And you seem to compare a town to Amsterdam. The Netherlands is bigger than Amsterdam. People in the rural area also own cars. Furthermore public transport and bikes are more environment friendly.

[@marcvolgers8352]

@@robertvaneersel3741 ​ @Robert van Eersel why would you think I speak of Amsterdam? I live in a medium sized city outside the Randstad (150.000 inh). Most people in the cities have a car as well.

[@robertvaneersel3741]

@@marcvolgers8352 I'm sorry for the confusion that I caused. With 'you' I meant Jessica.

[@vlndfee6481]

How are you now? Foodshortes ?

[@AndreUtrecht]

I'm really interested in the phenomenon of having cultureshock. With myself and also to hear from others.... perhaps one day you should film in the US while talking about this subject. And for your US viewers it would have been perhaps nice to film what you mean about things being different in NL. Yes The Netherlands is becoming more hardcore capitalist, step by step. Just like the anglosaxon cultures are. We have a multi party system here in NL. Which means that not one political party will ever have an absolute majority in parliament. So every time after elections, they need to create a coalition government. The relative biggest party will have first choice to find other parties they want to govern with so that when they create (new) policy they will have enough votes in parliament to also make this into real politics. The party that is the relative biggest one in the past many years is the VVD. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. It is a libertarian party. To be compared to the individualistic society in the US. Economy first with as less influence from a government as possible. Like in the US. The VVD is hardcore capitalist. Companies and entrepreneurs come first. Profits of these companies come first. Free market rules. And this philosophy you see slowly trickling down into our health care system and in how we organise our health insurance. If the VVD was the absolute ruler in parliament they would create a society not much different from the US. No protected rent or as less as possible. Only commercial rent (In NL for the past many decades there's a real shortage of affordable housing. As well in the rental department as in the buying department. Young professionals find it harder and harder to find affordable housing. Amsterdam for example is getting too expensive for teachers and nurses. Then you have people working at the schools teaching and in hospitals nursing but they need to commute from areas where housing is relatively cheaper. This is all due to a free-er housing market which a party like the VVD stimulates. It means more profit for the owners of buildings. Remember: companies and entrepreneurs are the people they govern for. (by the way expats are part of Amsterdam getting more expensive because it is these expats with their mostly highly paid jobs who are used to high rents in the countries they are coming from, who are willing to pay the high rents). Anyway, the VVD often looks to the CDA (and the more extreme Christian party ChristenUnie). The CDA, the Christian Democrats who have a lot of following with the more rural communities with lots of farmers. The CDA also believes in the family as the corner stone of society and societal problems preferably are being solved by families themselves. And not by a government. And of course churches or whatever Christian organisations can standby to offer help to the unfortunate. What is traditionally called Left has its roots in Christian believes about community and taking care of each other. But just like in the US Christians move away from this, are in fact becoming quite far in the right wing spectrum. Although the CDA is like the VVD still quite moderate right wing. But. The CDA is losing lots if its traditional followers because under the influence of the internet and twitter and the fascist wave that's going over the world. New parties with much more extreme views are coming up and parties like the VVD and CDA are losing votes to them. It is all based on fear. The left is being attacked (= attacking free thinking, free press, free media, an independent juridical system etc) as being the boogy man and all bad. In the end it is a very reactionary wave. And ironically enough this is because governments with the VVD at the steering wheel are making people, individuals more and more 'responsible' for their own failure, inequality grows, class society grows. People can't connect the dots, and can't see it is their own Dutch government that is causing all this inequality, the housing shortage, the free market controlling the housing market and health care in more and more ways. It is these governments who are creating the lesser secure work conditions, salaries not really keeping pace with inflation, etc etc.... people blame non-whites, the Other, foreigners etc etc. And behind the scenes the ones gaining power from this are making more profits. So thanks to a hardcore capitalist, individualistic party like the VVD, who doesn't want its voters to pay lots of tax (as said mostly the entrepreneurs and independents) and thus a smaller government is preferred and thus also less mingling (expensive!) with society (= less protecting the poor and the weak) is slowly eroding Dutch society. Hopefully after this extreme right wing, fascist wave a new progressive wave will follow again with all its prosperity and and the ending of extreme inequality. (Sorry, this is not an essay and perhaps a bit from 'de hak op de tak' as we would say in Dutch. But I just ventilate a quick response by typing fast. Didn't want spend too much time on this comment, hence it is a bit incoherent).

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for such a thorough comment! I'm sure there are others who will appreciate reading it as well. I do have other videos laying out the difference and I how I feel "shocked" about American things now. Maybe you'll find those interesting as well.

[@poskeegget8043]

Rural town of 20 000 people. . . Well, they say everything is bigger in America. . .

[@brian5154]

Mainland Europeans don't generally eat cereal.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

_*America is merely a individualist nation."_ You bet it is. That's why so many Americans are so unhappy. (Not to mention aggressive.)

[@yellowlynx]

Americans is not actually free - you need a car and a car is not that affordable. If you are below 18, you are not free - even so - you may not be able to afford a car. The mandate of car ownership before you can participate in society and community is crazy. In other places, we don't have those depressing single home houses and sub-urban area, we can go anywhere by foot, bike, or public transport and many elementary school students can go to school by themselves - and that give them a sense of independence and freedom.

[@herbertdarick7693]

But global warming is the same wherever you are. It's the big challenge how to tackle that. We need to do that together the whole with world involved.

[@petefluffy7420]

About time you changed. The other clothes were getting a bit whiffy.

[@erikmulder2574]

You sound like there are no cars in the Netherlands 😂. It makes sense when living in Amsterdam you use the bike or public transportation, but it is a choice not to own a car. But you know that, just to give the full picture to the American followers. I’ve been in the USA quite a few times and I do not appreciate the big stores and malls. It is not only over the top and much more choice than you actually need, it also contributes to waist. The only time I felt unsafe in the USA was actually in Virginia. I was walking through town with a friend and looked at a pretty lady when he asked me what I was looking at. I responded a pretty lady where he responded, walk on that is dangerous, she is black. That made me feel really uncomfortable, not only because it seems to be dangerous, but also because he made a difference in ethnicity. That was almost 40 years ago, however I still recall that moment. You are right, the Netherlands is changing, and I wonder if that may also come from more than 20 years VVD in politics. VVD focusses on economy and income where parties like PVDA who were in power in the past are more left wing and more concentrate on representing the needs of the people. Better social securities, free healthcare and affordable housing and day to day cost. Both sides are not bad, however it works best if they take turns in running the country. By focussing on economy for the last 20 years you now notice poverty is rising to a point that the average wage no longer is sufficient to pay all your bills and do some fun stuff occasionally. Having a long run of left wing parties would killing economy in the long run. Politics, always a tough topic.

[@sjefhendrickx2257]

Yeah, America a “ free” country….🥴🤥

[@rosab8026]

👍😏

[@rolandxor179]

My view of the 2nd amendment is that the USA never had a Hitler ? Yes people die from gun shots and gun crime but Hitler is on another level in terms of deaths.

[@hansdorenstouter8890]

06-01-2021

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

well... native american genocide, 400 years of the most brutal slavery in history.... The 2. Amandment clearly states that you are allowed to own a gun as being part of a well regulated state milita. The US only switched to a standing federal army not comprised of state militas in the last years of the 19th century, after the civil war. Almost every regiment fighting in the civil war for example was such an well regulated state militia, conscripted into federal service. This interpretation was held up until the 1990´s by supreme court, until a precedent defining jurisdiction was made. But still, the 2. only allows gun owndership in combination to voluntary service (for example national guard, Army etc), the enforcement of said definition has just been ignored. And Hitler and the NSDAP actually did not increase gun regulation when they were in power, but relaxed them for every ethnic german over 18 and encouraged gun ownership and particiation in paramilitaric organisations. Only the jewish population (less than 1% of the german population at that time) and non ethnic germans were denied. (non ethnic germans were less than 5%) So no your argument does not hold any water. Also the US Militias of today are more leaning towards a far right/extremist authoritarian leadership than towards democracy and protection of civil rights.

[@rolandxor179]

@@zhufortheimpaler4041 Yikes ! Okay let me try to respond. The USA was a seperate nation from those of the 'native Americans' who themselves fought over and conquered the land ,enslaving pillaging , genociding. Most 'native Americans' died from European diseases small pox in particular. I put native American in quotation marks because these tribes,nations,empires would not identify themselves as such. America is named after a Italian map maker Amerigo Vespucci. Empires are part of human history. Slavery is part of human history there is nothing unusual about American slavery it was certainly not 'the most brutal' quite the opposite I would say. What sets Americans apart is that they abolished it which inspired Europeans to abolish slavery in their colonies. Which is why slavery today is marginal compared to what it was for thousands of years of human history. The point is that the USA never had a totalitarian government. No Hitler , no Stalin no whatever. An armed citizenry is much more difficult to control. Or to put in death camps.

[@zhufortheimpaler4041]

@@rolandxor179 okay there is a lot to unpackt and correct here.... First in respect to slavery: yes slavery was part of human societies since antiquety. that is correct so far. BUT the slavery in antiquety and even european medival times has always been less brutal than the one of the American Colonies. Slaves had no good life in antiquety, but in the majority of cases it was limited by time and or offspring was never enslaved. In medival times it was similar. In both cases the slave was seen as investment, like an expensive tool. The US slavery differs from that, as slaves were explicitly black/colord and degraded as animals that need brutal punishments and force to be disciplined. US slavery is very different to ancient slavery. The factor of racism is one major driving factor of the increased brutality. A US Slave had a "date of expiration" when he was worn out and then would be replaced. The life expectancy of a slave in the american colonies was on average 20 years shorter than of a free white worker. So yes the US Slavery was a new dimension in slavery and brutality. And Again NO. The US was not the first nation to ablish slavery, it was more or less the last. EVERY European Nation had abolished slavery previous to the US considering it. To add to that: The war of independance from the UK was primarily fought to preserve the capital income of the "Founding Fathers" who were up to their necks in slave trade. Coincidentally a few years before the Revolution of 1775, in european intelectual circles the idea to abolish slavery came up and got traction. legislations to limit slave trade etc were put into place, wich diminished US slave trader profits. Guess what happened next. Native genocide: The US Government under Adams, Jackson etc actively pursued campaigns of extinction against the american native population. It is documented and well established that the US Government under several Presidents conducted purposeful genocide on the native population. Does it matter if the native nations had war with each other etc? No in this respect it is irrelevant. It is whataboutism. Its the same to bring up Stalin or Mao when it comes to the Holocaust. Diverting the Narrative, nothing else. Totalitarian Government: Take a look at the early presidents and voting rights and then look up voting rights today. Or take a look at January 6. 2021. The US has a major struggle with authoritarianism and totalitarianism since its founding. And again my comment from above: The Nazis increased gun ownership, not limit it. What should the less than 1% of german or european jews do? armed revolt? they would be gunned down in seconds. Its a bullshit argument from the NRA and right wing nutjobs that do not understand or even study history.

[@rolandxor179]

@@zhufortheimpaler4041 I wrote a extensive response just for youtube to censor it. So don't think I am ignoring what you wrote.

[@chriskwakernaat2328]

Having a car in The Netherlands isnt very expensive , Amsterdam is expensive for cars. This is why i hate america for it's gun culture. "he has one , so i need one to protect me from him" that's what happens.

[@edmundhulsdouw6078]

First, we do like our American friends. What i havend hird is samone seaing we want to have guns ,with that comes casualies.

[@Pelerincha]

It is a good topic and interesting. I'm from VA and live in N.VA. You can't compare your little town of 20,000 to Amsterdam where I was born and lived and visit every year for vacation....You began good but like my wife who is American say you started ramble on and lost us when you began to talk about guns and this that...Be more on point. You lived in A'dam, talk about healthcare, and other things.....the difference. We love going back to Holland to bike and it is great and i can give anyone tips where to go biking and things but one thing I will never do is live there permanently, no way.....

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thanks for your comment. I talk about those things in other videos. But the thing is, I can compare those two places because they are the only places I've lived. I wasn't trying to compare apples to apples here. Just my life experience.

[@Pelerincha]

@@aWanderlustForLife I hope you're doing well with this shutdown...GOOD LUCK!!!

[@herbertdarick7693]

You've remained a typical Dutchman: berating other people.

[@Pelerincha]

@@herbertdarick7693 And thank you for berating my opinions....

[@herbertdarick7693]

@@Pelerincha I am a Dutchman too! I left my country many years ago. You can take the Dutch bloke out of Holland but you can't take Holland out of the bloke.

[@hansj5846]

If you need a gun for protection you should seriously reconsider where you're living.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Unfortunately, not everyone has a choice.

[@61tomtomtom]

What a nonsens. Trams busses trains go constant. What are you talking about

[@SuperDutchjohn]

Amsterdam is NOT the Netherlands, far from it, where I live in the Netherlands there is no bus, no train, absolutely NOTHING, you simply NEED a car here.......Would I trade it for the "wonderful" Amsterdam????............Not even when they gave me 10 million euro's!!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

No, it's not the Netherlands. These videos are from my personal perspective. But 8.4 million people live in the Randstad and most of those people could say they don't need a car. I appreciate your perspective, but on my channel I share my life in case others follow suit. I'm not saying how all the Dutch live a specific way, that's just silly. No one person lives the same as another, especially city vs countryside.

[@jetfromholland4533]

Your life in Amsterdam is not representative of how the average Dutchie lives. I live in a big village in Holland, about a half an hour/45 minutes away from the big cities, and I hop in my car and go where ever I want. I don’t use public transport. Amsterdam is different story! Bye!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Yes. It's my experience from living in Amsterdam for 7 years. Didn't I say that? I can't comment on someone else's life experience.

[@zekevarg3043]

You can drive a car in Amsterdam if you want to.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Of course. But I don't think anyone likes to.

[@deesje153]

Happily we can drive in all the other city''s in the Netherlands, it s just Amsterdam who is not car friendly because they don t have enough space, Evry other city you can drive, or take public travel wich is very good.And park your car in Amsterdam is very expensive too, so that s why evrybody go by public travel . I live in Spijkenisse under the smoke of Rotterdam and can t live without my car and use it evry day. You talk only about Amsterdam and that gives a foreign an fals idea over how things are going. Well it s only in Amsterdam a problem to drive but in the rest of the Netherlands evrybody use his car and drive whenever you want and where ever you wanna go, even if you wanna go to Amsterdam but try to park your car, you be sorry you go by car to that city .

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I understand. My videos are about Amsterdam because that's where I've lived for 7 years. There are other KZbinrs who don't live in Amsterdam who cover similar topics. But I'm here to give me personal experience. However, I always appreciate these comments so people can see the differences. So thank you for that!

[@deesje153]

@@aWanderlustForLife hi yes there are a lot of diffrents , it s good for you to see that and experienced, if you ever come back to our little froggyland , try another city, i think your suprised because it s also very diffrent. Evry city has a diffrent way of manners , that s the fun part :-))

[@aWanderlustForLife]

We don't have any plans to move from Amsterdam but we'll likely spend more time exploring the country this year! Some areas are harder to get to than others (with trains and buses) but we'll do our best 😊

[@deesje153]

@@aWanderlustForLife Great well your welcome, coffee is brown if you visit my place :-)

[@erwinmulder1338]

Your sense of freedom or lack thereof is severely colored by the fact you live in Amsterdam. If you're living anywhere outside of the 'big cities' we also drive a lot in the Netherlands.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

As I mentioned, I'm well aware that living in a city has to do with a lot of this.

[@user-eu1rh2nm8j]

Not as much as in the USA though. U cant live out of your car here. Way more people here ride their bike, even if they own a car.

[@hugom.nijhof9191]

So you didn't go back yet? Than the real culture shock will come after you moved...

[@aWanderlustForLife]

No, I have no plans on moving back to the USA. I just visited for 10 days

[@aWanderlustForLife]

@L M I use both words and mention it in a few of my videos. I am an immigrant and I'm not ashamed of that. But "expat" does better on KZbin so I use that word more often.

[@SideWalkAstronomyNetherlands]

Don't drink the tap water, and watch out with food in the USA, extra paint, hormones, salt, sugar, and fat are in the food over there. No regulations...

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Don't drink the tap water? In the US? Why? Tap water is regulated locally. There are minimum requirments to be met, but for the overwhelming majority of cities, it's incredibly safe aside from a couple outliers. Most people just complain of the taste due to fluoride which is in the water in a lot of places.

[@GDixon-ch3yl]

Say what? I'm sorry but drinking water is safe in the United States of America. So is the food and what are you talking about extra paint hormone salt and sugar and fat and no regulations what to teak. 😂😂🤣🤣🤣 Hilariously uninformed!

[@mommy2cody6]

@@GDixon-ch3yl actually they are right about our food. The processed food in the US has many more added preservatives than in other countries. It didn't used to, its to make the food last longer and "taste better". If you do a little bit of research you can find many pictures of say Campbell's soup labels compared side by side and the ingredient list in the US can is shocking. Unless your eating clean the processed food is full of junk.

[@BNJ24]

No, they are right about the water. I traveled for work and would check the water in every city before drinking and you wouldn't believe how many were unsafe. Erin Brokovich has an excellent book on a little known chemical most Americans are drinking.