Some cultural lines you will never cross

Published on: 27 juli 202127 juli 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...

Planning the sun…

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

Saving the brides of tomorrow

Published on: 11 maart 202012 maart 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...

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...

No more excuses

Published on: 10 januari 201910 januari 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...

How the Dutch share good news

Published on: 12 oktober 201812 oktober 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 oktober 20183 oktober 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 augustus 201819 augustus 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,...

Hairpin Bends

Published on: 30 april 20189 juni 2018 by Kirtika van Hunen 2 Comments

“Just when things were moving so smoothly, again this…. oh, so frustrating…” I suppose every reader will identify themselves with me when I say the following; almost every time I have a plan to go from A to B, I stay focused on my target and set off in...