Wanderlusting Expats - In Search of a Life Less Ordinary

I use and rely on Google translate a LOT and it makes life easier in many ways. But, the translations aren't perfect and they sometimes make me laugh, like this one did today. I logged in to track a package and saw this: Apparently the Dutch word for 'delivered' and 'worried' are too similar for Google. Bezorgd = worried Bezorgen = delivered.

I'd read that the Netherlands, and The Hague especially, was a great place for novice expats to move to because of how many people speak English. Perhaps this set my expectations too high because it's been a more difficult transition that I'd expected. I was prepared for a bit of homesickness and longing for familiar people and places.I wasn't prepared to feel exhausted from trying to understand my surroundings. I knew we wouldn't find all of our usual foods, but I didn't know that every trip to the grocery store would involve google translate. I wasn't prepared to have to use google maps every time we left our apartment. As a tourist, these kinds of things are fun. It's all part of the adventure, and you know that it will come to an end in a few days. But, when your kids ask to go swimming and you spend an hour trying to understand where the local pools are, when they're open and how to get there, it doesn't feel fun. It f...

I was first introduced to De Haagse Markt last year when I was visiting my sister. I loved everything about it - the sense of community my sister has with her favourite vendors, the selection of food, and most of all, the prices! It reminded me of our market in Dartmouth, and I was keen to visit now that we're living here. Maren and I headed out to meet Friedel mid-morning while the others enjoyed a quiet morning in our apartment. As you can see, Maren was as excited as I was. ;) Heading to the tram at Den Haag HS Finding her beloved mangoes - 4 for 1 Euro! All of this (some organic) for less than 10 euros, about $14.50 dollars. Each of those bags of tomatoes would be $5 at home, and the mangoes at least $2 each. There are two 1/2 pints of organic blueberries we got for about $2. Not pictured: Friedel (not sure now that happened, LOL), coffee, compliments of her "coffee guy", cheese, and delicious sesame bagel type things from the bakery aroun...