Cheryl Douratsos
What brought you to the city?
The job. I was living/working in London and after deciding I wanted a different job/time for a change, I was offered a job in Hilversum, then Amsterdam was the preferred choice of living location - taken advice from a few friends i knew who worked at same company.
What are your cultural pros and cons?
Cons: Lack of 'manners' from the Dutch…. don't hold open doors for others, spitting on the ground (even women), too much dog poo everywhere!
Pros: It's a calmer way of life with a 'what happens happens' attitude. Also it's so easy to move around the city. You can get from one side to the other in 20mins, whereas in London it would take two hours.
What do you miss from your home
The supermarkets, Albert Heijn or Dirk don't offer much.
What do you do differently now?
Less spending on clothes shopping - prefer to save my money to spend on visits to the UK. I find things more expensive here, especially clothes.
Favourite memory of the city
Late nights/early morning trudge home after a wild night out. All in my younger days of course.
What's your personal recommendation (restaurant, cafe, website)?
Thuisbezorgd.nl - brilliant invention! Best restaurant: Betty's Vegetarian Restaurant - yummy!
Have you tried the herring yet?
Nope, I'm a strict veggie and not sure i would try it even if i wasn't!
What advice would you give a newcomer?
Accept that things are done differently to some extent, embrace that difference and enjoy!
- Tell a friend
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