Tag: moving

Job Interviews

On By MirjamIn life, workLeave a comment

Ah, the dreaded job interview. I know the anxiety has to be bubbling in your stomach just thinking about them. The job interview life is the life I’m currently living being back on the job hunt.

As we are moving to Rotterdam in the next two months, I have spent vast hours scouring the job sites, writing cover letters, and sending my CV to potential employers.

Some jobs are random and others are what I consider “dream jobs.” I’d really be happy getting any of them. #moneyplease

The wait for responses is brutal, anxiously opening your emails to check and see if anyones interested, it almost feels like being back on a dating app. It is especially difficult when each job you apply for, you believe you’d would be a perfect fit for. You and twenty others, that is.

While the wait is hard, it almost feels worth it when you do get a request for an interview. like, YES! SOMEONE WANTS ME! I AM WORTHY!

Then, the reality hits, and it’s like, SHIT, INTERVIEW TIME. :/

Interviews are no joke. The interviewer staring you down, analysing your responses, thinking of impossible scenario questions, almost trying to trip you up. Really, they can be soul crushing at times.

I’ve realised the key to them, is to be bubbly. Every interview I have done, I’m just Miss Bubbles, cause even if I’m not the perfect fit, they can’t say I wasn’t nice. That I didn’t have personality. Bubbly also gives me confidence, it makes me feel more likeable, and relatable. In turn, it makes me become the person I like and the one I want people to see me as. I think it portrays the most inner version of me.

I think a company that doesn’t like bubbly, wouldn’t be the place for me anyways. Cue: DEPRESSING.

Mostly though, interviews are just talking about yourself. If you love yourself and are proud of yourself and your accomplishments, most of the time they won’t go badly.

Just remember, if it doesn’t go your way, don’t give up. There will be a job for you and in the meantime, just look at those interviews as practice for the next ones. The more practice, the better you get. Soon, you’ll be a Miss (or Mr) Bubbles too.

What are some of your tips & tricks to crushing an interview?

Comment Below!

The Next Step

On By MirjamIn life, TravelLeave a comment

Today, we put our deposit down for our new apartment. We are finally doing the move to the Netherlands. For my partner, J, this is all new, but for me, I have been waiting my whole life to move back to the Netherlands.

It has taken many twists and turns, countries and jobs, to end up heading back to the country my life began. Each step was meant to be, and has made me into the person I am today. Each experience I have had, both the good and the bad, have shaped me and prepared me for this life ahead.

Really though, I am blessed to have a partner who is so supportive of me and is as adventurous as I am. I honestly believe he is the one who really pushed me into finally taking the leap to move to the one place I have always dreamed to be. It is an adventure we are now able to take together and I cannot wait.

Being born in Rotterdam and growing up in a Dutch family living in America, I have always maintained a strong love for the motherland. With majority of my family still living in the Netherlands, there is a real sense of ‘coming home’ with this move.

It will, of course, as any move be an adjustment and maybe a culture shock, but I believe it is the start of a glorious new chapter. The Dutch chapter, the one where I’m in love with life, my partner, our ‘future’ cat, and my country.

I hope to keep you all updated on the move and the adjustment regarding living in the Netherlands, as well as, bring you many new stories and experiences. It’s sure to be a rollercoaster, so fasten your seatbelts!

Living Alone

On By MirjamIn lifeLeave a comment

Recently, I moved out of my childhood home, into my own apartment. This was needed in the sense that I’m about to be 26, and it is time to live my own life.

Growing up, my childhood home would be considered small for the area I live in, even more so with that fact that there were 6 of us living in it. This did lead to some chaotic times, but also created some of my fondest memories.

Due to growing up so close knit, the adjustment period to living alone has had its up and downs. These are the top five things I have realized living alone so far:

  1. I hate cooking for myself.
  2. I am suddenly obsessed with cleaning.
  3. I love how when I want company I can invite someone over, and when I want to be alone, I can shut out the world.
  4. I love not having anyone constantly asking me what I am doing.
  5. I miss the loudness of my childhood home.

So, it turns out I am not the greatest cook. The other day I burnt pasta, no idea how it occurred, but it did. It is also SUPER hard to portion the right amount for one person and not have leftovers. I am no fan of leftovers, so it is important not to have any. The future looks bleak cooking wise, so will likely stick to pre-made meals.

I have never been a messy person, but lately my love of cleanliness has reached a whole new level. Having anything out of place drives me mad, and all dust must be dusted, at all times. I think it could just be knowing I pay a massive amount of rent, so my place should at least stay looking good.

I would say I am more of an introvert in life, but one that can be extroverted WHEN I WANT TO BE. Living alone is ideal because I have days where I invite a friend over for a drink and then can be all set with socializing for a few days. Being alone does not bore me, I’m quite content with my own company.

When I moved home from Ireland, one aspect of having to live in my childhood home again that drove me insane was my parents always needing to know what I was doing and where I was. It created a lot of tension between us, only because I was used to going my own way and it was a step backwards for me having to relay all this information all the time. Living alone, I can just go about my day and no one knows the wiser.

Finally, it does get very quiet living alone. My childhood home was always very loud because there were so many of us. I definitely miss that aspect of it. To combat that silence, I have taken to always having a background noise on, whether it be the tv or music. I also talk to my plants, A LOT.

Well, there you have it. Living alone is a new experience for me, one that I love most of the time, but also have my conflicts with. I think the plan is to get a cat and once that happens, it will be happy days for sure.

Cheers!

Mirjam

What are your experiences with living alone or moving out of your childhood home. Feel free to leave a comment! Xx