Expat and emigration interviews: the story of Aimee (The Netherlands) who went to Curacao during the winter in Europe

Who is Aimee?

• Read more about her experiences below through the interview below.

Motivation & experiences

What do people need to know about you to understand your wintering story in Curaçao?

• I don't like the cold at all; when the sun is shining, I feel much better. I have a hard time dealing with pre-winter and winter itself.

Was there a specific moment or event that inspired you to spend the winter abroad?

• I saw the weather forecast and it was so incredibly cold in the Netherlands. According to the forecast, it was going to continue to freeze. Then I thought, why not go away? I want to get away, and I don't want to suddenly find myself wondering in May why I stayed in the Netherlands during the winter months.

How did you prepare for your winter stay in Curacao?

• I contacted Wereldstap in Curacao. They did a short intake with me and arranged my ticket, house, and airport pickup. Wonderful, no worries.

What does your life look like? What kind of work or activities make you feel truly at home in Curaçao?

• Through Wereldstap, I also came into contact with the Branch Coral Foundation, and I actually started rehabilitating corals underwater almost immediately upon arrival. That's something I do twice a week.

How does your daily routine differ from that in your home country?

• I am alone in Curaçao, I have few obligations, so I am really picking up my own routines again. In Curaçao, I am focusing more on self-development again and I read a lot during the hours when it is hot outside.

Do you already have an idea about the future?

• I really like Curacao as an island; the local people are very friendly and sociable. I don't know if the island is big enough for me in the long run. The fact that it's so Dutch here is very nice, pleasant, and easy, but at the same time, it's not.

Culture & social interactions

What was your first encounter with a local resident?

• On the first day I arrived, my landlord, his wife, their daughter, and son-in-law were waiting for me at their house. The landlord's cousin lives on the same street and takes care of all the odd jobs and helps out when I've left my keys inside, for example.

How is your contact with the local population?

• There are also many local people at the bus stops, and if they speak Dutch, that makes it easy. You often have to wait for the bus, usually about 15-30 minutes, so it's easy to chat while waiting, which is a nice way to pass the time. On my first morning, I talked to Humprey, alias Boefje, about his time in the Netherlands and the bingo he plays. He is particularly happy with his senior discount card, which allows him to take the bus (half price) for 50 euro cents!

Do you have any tips for meeting people?

• There are many different types of people on Curacao: those who live on the island permanently, those who spend the winter there, and tourists. Find a nice coffee shop where you can start your morning with a cup of coffee, ask people in your network in the Netherlands if they know anyone on Curacao, or do some volunteer work.

What is the best or most inspiring thing about spending the winter there?

• The sun is shining, the weather is really nice here, I haven't worn a sweater or jacket a single day. The warmth around me makes it easier for me to function and inspiration comes more quickly.

What is the funniest or most painful misunderstanding you have experienced due to language or cultural differences?

• I am learning the bus routes (partly with the help of the ABC app) and ask people waiting at the bus stop which bus I should take, or whether my bus plan is correct. Sometimes they say something, but I have no idea what they mean. I ask them what they mean, in a mix of Dutch and Spanish, and then they just start talking louder and even almost shouting. I think they are talking about areas that I don't know.

Have you adopted any local customs?

• Life here is relaxed, it seems like nobody cares, so I try to do the same. Whether I will ever be able to adopt that attitude, or whether I will succeed, I don't know.

How do the locals react to the fact that you now live and work here?

• They like it and don't find it particularly unusual, because many people spend the winter in Curacao.

What is your favorite local tradition/holiday?

• I've now experienced carnival, which was definitely an experience.

Are there any customs in social interaction that you found difficult to understand or had to get used to?

• Only the Dutch accent that people use, which is sometimes difficult to understand (in my opinion).

How does friendship here differ from how it is experienced in your home country?

• I don't know enough about that yet. My neighbor once took me to the hospital because I ran into him on the street in his car, and I still had quite a way to walk. Later, I thanked him, and he said he likes to help people. It's also true that most people know each other, or know each other's names. So it feels close-knit in a way.

Challenges & Growth

Have there been moments when you doubted your choice, or what disappointed you?

• Some days I have quite a lot of contact with my family and friends back home in the Netherlands, and then I feel like I might as well have stayed at home. Being accessible online and (now in winter) the 5-hour time difference has advantages and disadvantages.

In hindsight, what would you have liked to know about Curaçao beforehand?

• I'm not sure at the moment.

What would you do differently next time, and what advice would you give to others with the same idea?

• I'm not sure at this very moment.

What was the biggest culture shock?

• It seems like most people embrace their bodies and age and wear tight clothes and suits that I would feel too old and too fat to wear.

What skill did you never think you would need, but ended up developing?

• I thought I was pretty confident, but in new social situations I can suddenly become very insecure.

How do you deal with homesickness/loneliness? What do you miss most?

• I breathe through the homesickness and try to accept and embrace it. I try to be open to new contacts and not force things. Fortunately, you can easily get that cheese sandwich here. I don't really miss anything yet.

Are there things you appreciate more about your home country now that you're here?

• That you can easily walk and cycle everywhere in the Netherlands, that you're less dependent on your own transport.

Practical rules & issues

How do you deal with bureaucracy in your new country? Do you ever have to deal with it?

• I still find bureaucracy interesting and fun to experience and observe. In Curacao, internet, gas, and water bills are still paid in cash at the companies themselves.

What was the most difficult rule to understand/follow?

• There are rules in traffic, but people in cars stop and let you go first, as a pedestrian and as a fellow motorist. Then they honk their horns as a friendly gesture.

How did you find a suitable place to live?

• Through Wereldstap on Curacao. I made my wishes known, and they were all fulfilled.

Was it difficult?

• According to many stories around me, it is hard to find accomodation in high season.

What are the biggest differences in costs between this country and your home country?

• Wherever you are, it is convenient and cheaper to adapt to what is locally available in the country. Local fruit and vegetables are very affordable in Curaçao. A bag of crisps is relatively expensive, sometimes as much as €5 per bag, and also unhealthy. That makes the choice easy. What is difficult is that everything has to be shipped in, and some of the frozen foods you buy in the supermarket have already been defrosted.

What have you learned about insurance, taxes, and other financial obligations abroad?

• It's important to take a close look at your travel insurance, especially if, like me, you're going to be spending a lot of time underwater. If they ask whether you want to pay in dollars or guilders, I always choose the local currency. You can use your debit card everywhere, and with a maximum of 100 guilders per transaction, you can use your card in your wallet on your phone.

Have you used local healthcare services (general practitioner, specialist, dentist, etc.) and what stands out to you?

• I went to the emergency room at the hospital, which was very nice, and the doctors were patient, clear, and direct. The dentist was also nice, professional, and very friendly.

What is similar or completely different from healthcare in the Netherlands?

• You have to pay your bill cash, as a deposit (in my case around 900 US dollar). The final bill you get a couple of weeks later at your homeadress. 

What is useful for others to know/take into account?

• Be patient with everything you do.

Are there any specific issues or tips regarding ‘safety’ or ‘health’ that would be useful for other people who are going to live or work at your destination for a longer period of time?

• I was warned not to walk alone on the streets after sunset. I watch out in the dark, always wear my sneakers instead of flip-flops, carry as little as possible, and avoid the alleys.

Meaningful activities

Have you developed any new hobbies or interests since living in Curaçao?

• I am more involved in nature conservation and my own intellectual and physical development around this. Corals in the sea and cetaceans, that kind of thing. Until recently, I never knew that cetaceans were dolphins and whales.

Are there any projects or activities you are involved in that give you a sense of satisfaction? What do you do in your free time to feel connected to yourself and your surroundings?

• Staying active underwater is enjoyable; exercising while doing something good at the same time, what could be better than that? I swim every day for a short while, in the morning before noon or in the afternoon after 4 p.m.

Which local traditions or rituals have inspired or touched you?

• How do you find the balance between working, relaxing, and enjoying your new surroundings?

Communication

Have you learned the local language, and if so, how?

• No not yet.

How do you stay in touch with home?

• It's so easy to stay in touch with Signal, WhatsApp, and email.

What are some communication problems you've encountered?

• Sometimes the Wi-Fi connection isn't very stable and the internet goes down for a while.

What have you learned?

• To take it easy... I've let go of the idea that what can be done tomorrow can also be done today, and I practice doing what can be done today tomorrow.