Dutch dentist experience… by Kay on 25 October 2025 Posted in Life abroad Getting health insurance… Since moving to the Netherlands, I have taken the necessary steps to ensure I have the necessary health insurance. Something that I wanted to get done straight away! Mainly because it’s yet something else ticked off my long list of things to do here. I just want things like that out of Read More
Somehow survived my first school trip… by Kay on 18 October 2025 Posted in Teaching So, how can I sum up the first school trip in my new job and newfound country? A bundle of nerves with a bit of local history thrown in! Somehow survived my first school trip in the Netherlands… I think! Feeling all prepared and organised beforehand… It had all started off so well with the Read More
Attempting to ride my bicycle! by Kay on 25 August 2025 Posted in Life abroad After weeks of saying I’m going to do it, I’ve finally gotten on my bike – with a little help from a colleague! I am finally attempting to ride my bicycle! So, one Friday afternoon at work, just as we’d seen the children off for the end of the week, one of my colleagues appears Read More
So far, so good! by Kay on 24 July 2025 Posted in Life abroad It’s been roughly a month now since I moved here to start my new job. And as anyone who’s moved to another country knows, it takes a while to find your feet. But I’m slowly getting there. I feel more comfortable and at ease than I did a month ago, at least! At the moment, Read More
The art of making friends when you’re a second-time expat! by Kay on 29 June 2025 Posted in Life abroad The art of making new friends when you’re a second-time expat is daunting and never going to be plane sailing! Being an introvert, making new friends hasn’t always been my strong point! Having said that, I do have some strong friendship groups from where I grew up, university and work. Although we don’t get to Read More
International teaching take 2! by Kay on 16 June 2025 Posted in Teaching Although job hunting and my interview experiences haven’t been so great of late, I am still not deterred. I am still keen to teach, and with the UK not being considered an option, the international teaching take 2 job hunt continues! The nervous niggles… Although I’m quite excited by the prospect of a new beginning Read More
The whoas of interviews! by Kay on 8 June 2025 Posted in Teaching Summertime chilling… As I’m lounging about in the garden for the fourth day of the first week of the holidays my mind starts to wonder, as it does. Spending the summer back home with everyone has been lovely so far. But, I can’t help contemplate the whoas of interviews past and what is likely to Read More
Closing of the first overseas chapter… by Kay on 15 April 2025 Posted in Teaching Where does the time go? As we get closer to the end of the school year and that well-earned summer break, I sit with my coffee on the terrace on a sunny Sunday morning. Tomorrow will be the last week of the year and the closing of the first overseas chapter for me. As I Read More
A staff meeting and a half!! by Kay on 6 March 2025 Posted in Teaching Monthly staff meeting… Once a month we were required, in our contracts, to work until 7 pm. Sometimes this was allocated time in our classes updating displays, marking, preparing resources or meetings within our teaching teams. Other times there were specific things the management team wanted to discuss and inform us about. So it was Read More
Hour of need, or just another gormless ‘me’ moment? by Kay on 25 February 2025 Posted in Life abroad Homesick… Sadly, my time at home for the Christmas break had come to an end. My flight was at 7:15 pm. After the long 3-month term, I had no idea just how homesick I had been and how much I’d missed home. I guess the whole moving overseas and starting a new job had kept Read More
