Dutch in Translation

     I'd guess you have listened to her while riding the bus, on the radio, in a store or restaurant. Maybe it's even on your playlist! It is on mine. Now, why would I want to tell you about her today? Because I would love for you to understand where the lyrics of this song come from, and to know what she's achieved in spite of her pain. To me, she's simply inspiring.      This is how it all began: I was on the train  on my way to Leuven while  listening to the song Dat ik je mis .  I went to stay for a few days with my high school friend Camila who currently lives in Dubai. Why was she in Belgium? Believe it or not, she was taking a Dutch summer course! Why, for goodness sake, if she lives in Dubai, right? It turns out she is married to a wonderful Belgian man, they have three lovely daughters, and she thought it was about time she started speaking better Dutch.       Anyway, let me get back to the son...

      Has it happened to you that when you do something you enjoy, time flies? The task at hand seems easy and ideas flow, do you agree? Well, learning is one example. When you take pleasure in learning, nothing can stop you, just like the song !             As a teacher and a lifelong learner, I follow my heart as to what sources to choose in order to improve my Dutch, get ready for my inburgering exams, and feed my curious mind. I tell this to my students all the time, choose what you like and go from there. As for today, I'd like to share with you some lessons from Zenleraar Haemin Sunim I've found in the latest Happinez magazine ( nummer 4 , 2019,  pp . 22-27). Who is Zenleraar Haemin Sunim?      He is a Zen Buddhist teacher and writer. He is also known as the "Twitter monk" since he has more than 1 million followers. 

After being through the process of becoming a freelancer in the Netherlands, I thought of sharing the info on how to register at the Kamer van Koophandel  (Chamber of Commerce). If you know someone that might find it useful, please share it. Furthermore, if there is any way I can help you with, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be delighted to assist in any way I can. Step 1. Check if you must register at the Chamber of Commerce. There are 3 criteria used to determine if you are an entrepreneur. Check if they apply to you. You can verify  here . Step 2. Think of a company name! To begin with, get all the help you can. Ask people for ideas and explore a business name generator online. Make sure it is short and that it expresses who you are and what you do. In my case, I asked my students, friends, and family to lend me a hand. We all did research and voted on the name. This went on for weeks. Until one day, it just felt right. Step 3. Prepare a busines...

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."  Marcel Proust My First 3 Months in the Netherlands I wish I had started writing a journal back in those days. I have a terrible memory, you see. From what I remember, I was excelling at being a housewife, studying Dutch every day, and enjoying my new social life. On the other hand, my sweetheart and I were figuring out how to be with one another, and I too was unrestful figuring out what who would I become.  Month #4 I got my first job as a postbezorger, and that was quite a ride as you know... (If you don't, read " Finding a Job in the Netherlands: PostNL and I .") Month #5 At the taalcafe, I was asked if I had been a teacher. When I said  yes , this beautiful Russian lady expressed she would love having a teacher like me.  This took me completely by surprise! Some days later, I contacted a language school in Eindhov...

"Youth is not enough. And love is not enough. And success is not enough. And, if we could achieve it, enough would not be enough."  Mignon McLaughlin Since I moved to The Netherlands, I have been constantly trying to find my place, and my bike . . .    Once upon a time, I had baked a nice and yummy cake. Despite this, I had the feeling that there was something missing to make it sumptuous and exotic, comforting and filling. Right then, I decided to explore and  search. I wanted to find that mysterious and desired ingredient. It turned out to be love. And lucky me! I found my sweetheart! He was far, 9000 km away. Nevertheless, that didn't matter since we were optimistic and in love. We drafted a plan and changes started to unfold, decisions were taken, adversity was overcome, and the new chapter of our lives was ready to take off. In order to have my new cake, I only needed to update the recipe and start baking!  Obviously, I thought I was prepared f...

    I burned my ships.     It is said that when Hernán Cortés landed in Veracruz in 1519, he ordered his troops to set the ships on fire. Why would that be? Well, it is actually very simple. There would be no way back or, at least, it would be more challenging to retreat than to fight back. (Worth mentioning too is that this is just one example in history where this decision has been made.)  Starting today, I will tell you the story of a  Mexican girl who burned her ships and moved for love to The Netherlands. This is me, Laura. Welcome to  Dutch in Translation.