5 things I miss about NYC vs 5 I things could do without
Expat living has it's ups and downs.
👋 Hey there! I’m Alexis. I write about life, creativity, being a freelance writer, and everything in between. If you enjoy corny humor and cute cat pictures with a splash of advice (and maybe personal essays), you’ll probably fit in around here.
After ending a relationship (actually getting divorced), I moved to Amsterdam on a whim in 2019.
I was 33, looking for a change, and wanted to explore my Dutch roots (my father is from the Netherlands). I didn’t have a job or friends here, but I was one year into freelancing and even though I wasn’t making much money yet I figured, fuck it, if this doesn’t work out I can always go back to the US.
So, I packed my bags, rented out my apartment in Brooklyn, and embraced the unknown!
I knew a few people through people and luckily moved right into the apartment of my friend’s girlfriend while they tested a year of living together (yes, that’s a thing here in the Netherlands).
Anyway, the apartment was a cute Dutch-style canal-side apartment with a beautiful view and easy access to the city since it was smack in the center, right next to the Red Light District. It was a great introduction to living in Amsterdam, but I would never live there long-term. It’s crazy to think that five years ago I came here with one large roller suitcase and one travel backpack and now I own an apartment, furniture, appliances, an e-bike, and have settled down here.
Here’s a photo diary of my first apartment. I created it during the pandemic, which started six months after I moved.
After arriving in Amsterdam, I started going to meetups all the time. Running clubs, beer drinking meetups, I organized a freelance coworking group. I quicky made a few expat friends and didn’t miss home at all. Of course, I missed my family and friends, but that was it. Learning a new city, meeting new people, and traveling, it was all so refreshing and a much-needed life reset.
It wasn’t until I went back to NYC a few times that I noticed what I missed and what I could do without. It evolves all the time, but these are the things I miss the most.
5 things I miss about NYC
NY style pizza and bagels
Bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches (on an everything bagel is my go-to, but a Kaiser roll also works!)
Family and friends
Sunshine
Tacos
5 things I could do without
I’m not trying to bash New York City or the US. Who knows, I could move back someday. But there are a few things I don’t miss one bit…
Rude TSA and airport staff
Bad coffee
Tipping
Overpriced food, drinks, and pretty much everything
Crowded, smelly NYC (particularly the subway)
Have you ever lived abroad? Or would you like to?
If you’re living abroad, what do you miss the most and what could you do without?
If you’re not living abroad, what do you think you would miss? Where would you like to move?
Ooo this is refreshing to hear. I just moved to Denmark without a job or friends and I am doing the meet ups faze. Glad to hear it worked out for you! It sounds like you made the right choice
Hello, we bought a Maison Secondaire in the Creuse in France in 2004 and actually lived there from 2010 to 2015 when we came back to th UK.
I think it is fascinating living in another country with all the different things to learn. Not least the language. It's also fascinating looking at your country from the outside and from a foreigners perspective.