Emma Terama

What brought you to the city?  

Love.

What are your cultural pros and cons?   

I like the multicultural feeling of A'dam. I love to shop in the turkish and moroccan shops for veggies and the gd'ole lamb's meat every now and then. I like the beaches in the N-West (Petten is cute and uncrowded). I like the fact that you can get by using English although I have studied Dutch, and do my best in communicating with it. I love the idea of biking all over (reduces emissions from cars), and the fact that cars look out for bikes & pedestrians. I like it how women return to work soon after having a baby. 

As for Cons, I dislike to ask for any service/update three times. This applies to UPC, landlords, handymen and insurance companies alike. The Dutch seem to be far from the 'German' (or Nordic for that matter)efficiency. Sometimes people are a little TOO frank. We laugh about it, mostly. At work, people don't socialise much. Also no coffee-rooms... at least no chairs in them. Dutch bread (and traditional food) is also nothing to brag about. I also hate it how the trams close the doors before you're able to step on/off. It's sooo rude.

Is there anything you miss from your hometown?

Traditional answer would be family, but I’d say the sea coast (the archipelago there is quite sth) & the rye bread!

What do you do differently now?   

I use more services: laundry, tailor, etc. they’re cheaper than in Finland.

Favourite Dutch word or phrase?

Kip, inderdaad!

Favourite memory of the city?

Sushi and Opera at the DNO (De Nederlandse Opera), Waterlooplein. We saw Ercole Amante, it was a birthday present from my boyfriend, I was 5 months pregnant at the time.

Any personal recommendations like shops, restaurants, websites etc?

We like eating fish, especially for starters - the mixed seafood/crayfish platter at Lucius. I also like best of all the markets the cosy neighbourhood market at Ten Katestraat (Ten Katemarkt).

Have you tried the local herring?

Afraid not... but Finns eat herring anyway, only more like in sauce than just plain.

What advice would you give to a newcomer?

Try something new, do something old. I started biking in the crowdand kept doing yoga.