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Originally Posted by Belinda_Cooperstone1
Buy a Canadian Flag. (Sorry just had to say it, I just came back from there 3 months ago)
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Americans are not hated. although many Americans did come to Europe with Canadian flags because of opposition to war.
Very sad that some individuals attacked Americans based on what their goverment decides. but tha's human nature eh? I mean if i woudl be attacked fro what my goverment did or what it did to Indonesia....yikes!!
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Tell me as an American how I can make it in Amsterdam?
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In the sense to be actve part of local life? Learn dutch. If you have learned Dutch and you can communitae well, all doors open for you!
Americans likely have not many troubles assimilating. You will experience different culture, habits, you might have to learn to deal with that, especially the thing you might not like. It takes time to understand certain things. Like that people can be pretty rude sometimes. But not always it is meant rude, so you as foreigners, might think something is personal, when it's not. These are important things to know, if not,t hen you might get disappointed.
Just make contact with people. Show you want to be in contact with the locals, they love it if they see you wanna be part of society.The problems with mmigration here are arriving when people detect you are here but you actually don't want to be part of society and you don't like dutch culture. Then the doors are closing. You get nothing done anymore.
so you have to be positive. americans are positive people, so i don't think that'a problem. You guys are funny and entertaining usually.
If Dutch understand you are American learning Dutch and want to live there, they get interrested. Cause they might seek friendship with you.
If you mean you want to "make it" in society, to get succesfull and rich.
Then it's all of these above, especially learning Dutch, work hard and adjust yourself to the local labour ethics.That shouldn't be a problem for most Americans either, like hardworking etc. But there is a different culture in the office fro example, so you should find out for yourself the difference between what you are used to and what you experience.
Important is to not get too sensitive about things you get offended by, you need a bit of a shield, to protect yourself emotionally in case people can be rude or offensive, or they don't mean it that way, but might come across that way to you. i've seen people from other countries when i worked at Fortis Bank and some of them where crying, cause they felt peopel where mean to them. In the end they understood it was just a misunderstanding and then people also where taking care of them and making it good to them. for more emotional and sensitive people, i think Americans are more sentimental
in general, you have to be warned.
Don't expect to get many compliments. If people say "that wasn't bad", they mean you did really good, and there are many like these expressions.
There are blogs online of expats who todl the same as i did from their own experience, i think these where accurate about ehtics, culture, how to get along etc. And expect that it is being said to you if you didn't do it good. Wich happens to everybody.
If people see you are loyal and motivated, you usually make lots of progress, more important then your education on average.
Just like with all things, don't get offended too quickly, like Dutch humor:
Dutch Humor at Work
Dutched Pinay on Expatriotism: Dutch Humor at Work
Dutch customs and etiquette
Dutch customs and etiquette - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
dutch humor - Community Forums - Expatica
Dutch humor is dark and sarcastic usually.
I hope it helps you Goldwing!
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