Some cultural lines you will never cross

Published on: 27 July 202127 July 2021 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

After a lovely cultural event we all (a group of 10) stepped into an Ethiopian restaurant. A kitchen I had not experienced before. After ordering, our food was served on, one huge round metal plate from which we were to eat together with our hands. Culture clash I was taken aback, not because of having […]

Hierarchy and the different layers of YOU in Nepal

Published on: 13 July 202113 July 2021 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

Chain of command In the Nepali culture in Nepal there exists a complex from of hierarchical layer in almost every community. There is a hierarchical layer in the society, in the economic status of a person or family, the age, your position in the family relation, religion, ethnicity and the cast system. And to make […]

Planning the sun…

Published on: 20 April 202120 April 2021 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

Saving the brides of tomorrow

Published on: 11 March 202012 March 2020 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

Child marriage not to a person but to a fruit and again to the Sun is as much a modern day common practice among the Newar ethnic group of Nepal. This is a tradition that has been handed down from generations. Ihi Ihi (pronounced Ehee) in which pre-adolescent girls are married to the Bael fruit, […]

If you can’t beat them, then join them

Published on: 24 April 201924 April 2019 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

“How much are you asking for that second hand doll?” “Three Euros” “I will give you two” “Done” Permit-free trade Soon the streets will be a-bustling with people young and old in all the cities and towns in The Netherlands. As they walk along inspecting the second hand goods for sale at the flea-market. As […]

No more excuses

Published on: 10 January 201910 January 2019 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

“Oh, it is cold..” “It is raining… hailing…” “No, there is a blizzard…” “It is too expensive due to the tax raise since 2019…” No more excuses Here is something I would like to share with you that I have been relying on since the last ten years. With visible impact and result. Above all […]

Gift or not to gift

Published on: 3 December 2018 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

“Is this some kind of a sick joke? They gave us shoes as gift, how insulting!’ “It is not just shoes, the wooden clogs are famous in The Netherlands. These clogs are actually pen holders which have been hand painted as well.” “Who cares, a shoe is a shoe and you cannot disguise that fact…” […]

How the Dutch share good news

Published on: 12 October 201812 October 2018 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

How the Dutch share good news is my blog on the website of I am Expat click here to read the blog.

You are worth it

Published on: 3 October 20183 October 2018 by Kirtika van Hunen Comment

“Being an expat is not easy…I just won my battle of depression after a decade of struggle…”

“I am an expat who has struggled with depression..”

“I have recently recovered from …”

These are a few of the posts I came across in face book recently.

Outrageously impolite

Published on: 19 August 201819 August 2018 by Kirtika van Hunen 2 Comments

‘So when you are communicateing via a letter or an e-mail then you just begin with the matter at hand. Like, you have not yet paid the bills, in the first sentence. The idea is to catch the attention of the reader. Then you go on to explain why, how and the rest of the […]