Adventures in Integration

Amanda
22:05 PM October 24, 2012

Open, honest blogging about life in the netherlands as a foreigner. Has me nodding my head in recognition!

Maarten
11:54 AM November 01, 2012

Great blog, very witty and with lots of useful links.

Danny
13:44 PM November 01, 2012

Awesome blog!

Andrew Williams
17:38 PM November 01, 2012

Great reading, very entertaining views on her life in the Netherlands!

Jan
07:16 AM November 03, 2012

excellent reading, Nerissa's blogs are very honest and witty. Congratulations and all the best....

Sanne
09:01 AM November 03, 2012

You know these blogs which you visit once and you never come back? Ok, this is one of those rare blogs I keep coming back to. It's so honest and funny, you almost wish you would be an expat yourself!

Caroline
17:03 PM November 03, 2012

Nerissa never fails to inform AND amuse... Good trick!

Zejna
08:23 AM November 21, 2012

Love Nerissa's writing! Honest, very open and fun to read!

Evelien
08:34 AM November 21, 2012

Even for me as a Dutchie, the blog is very recognizable! We are sometimes a little bit weird and Nerissa perfectly describes that fact!

Claudia
08:37 AM November 21, 2012

Insightful, funny and moving writing and many useful links :)

Henk
09:05 AM November 21, 2012

This blog is pretty awesome even for native Dutch. Funny and sometimes confronting to look in the mirror and see an image of your own society!

Rhys
09:17 AM November 21, 2012

As another Aussie in the Netherlands it's always great to read about the reactions to Dutch life from someone with a similar background (see the Dutch sauna post for reference:)

Ria
09:54 AM November 21, 2012

Nerissa's blogs are great, entertaining and informative!

Alex
10:10 AM November 21, 2012

Whether it's dramatic, pure happiness or just another day you manage to capture your nostalgia that makes an excellent read. Since you managed to get my attention, you deserve my five stars. Well done!

Carol Nieuwland-goss
10:13 AM November 21, 2012

nerissa's blog is one of my favorites to read as she so humorously & eloquently shares the realities of an expat's life in holland...she also manages to tuck in some great tips and links that really do make a difference for a fellow expat. highly like!

Sarah
10:14 AM November 21, 2012

you write the way most of us expats feel,and makes us feel not so alone.

Cath
10:17 AM November 21, 2012

As a Canadian living in Australia with a Dutchman I relate to Nerissa's blogs. I find her descriptions of life in a different country so accurate and life with a Dutchman equally good. I look forward to every update.

Colleen Burke
10:58 AM November 21, 2012

Love the blog, funny and informative !

Garjan
11:32 AM November 21, 2012

Nerissa's blog is one of the two blogs I read regularly: her observations on the Dutch make me smile. They are apt and her comments are funny, most of the times. Because sometimes her posts make me aware of the fact that there are a lot of subtle ways in which we exclude people. Nerissa's blog is honest in presenting our national identity in all its shades, most (50?) of them grey.

Renee S
12:38 PM November 21, 2012

Knowing Nerissa in real life makes her blog that much more meaningful! She's funny and insightful and most of all honest about her experiences! Totally one of my faves!

Connie
13:33 PM November 21, 2012

Always worth the read for not only humor but loads of information too

Cat
13:48 PM November 21, 2012

Love the blog! I can totally relate to so many of the posts and it is kind of comforting to know that I'm not alone on this expat journey :)

Jose
15:04 PM November 21, 2012

Great blog! Honest and funny. Makes me realise that the Dutch way of living can be a bit weird for an expat...

Ema Martins
17:28 PM November 21, 2012

Nerissa, love the way you write! Either being about a normal day or something special (like the sauna) you give a funny and honest perspective on things! Keep on writing like this - you definitely captivated my attention!

Chantal
19:16 PM November 21, 2012

The world becomes a little smaller each days when people are bringing us together via internet. Nerissa has style and humour in her blog, keep it up!

Juliette
20:13 PM November 21, 2012

I love Nerissa her blog. As a Dutchie it is great to read how our culture is perceived. It is great fun how Nerissa writes about it and to be honest, she experiences things we haven't done yet. Which gives is great ideas! So I would like to say: Go Neriss!

Ro
23:08 PM November 21, 2012

What a great read! This is the perfect way to share challenges and successes of life in a new country. Keep blogging Nerissa!

Hans
02:35 AM November 22, 2012

Nerissa's blog is fabulous. I love the humour she finds in looking at the Dutch habits that we don't even know we have. She also is so good at making fun of herself. So much whit and humour.

Geerke
14:32 PM November 22, 2012

Love this blog in wich Nerissa writes about our Dutch habits.

Itziar
18:31 PM November 22, 2012

Fun to read! I identify with many of your great stories. Keep writing Nerissa!

Aditi
22:43 PM November 22, 2012

As an expat in Netherlands, I used to love reading her blogs. They were funny, witty and informative. Now while I am in Australia, I still continue reading Nerissa's blog , not because she is from Australia and has references to it in the blog but because its fun. Keep the good work Nerissa

Elf
06:15 AM November 23, 2012

Great work!

Patrick
13:13 PM November 23, 2012

Very entertaining blog. I as a Dutchie should know if the writing about Holland is true. Great job!

Rebecca Toussaint
13:17 PM November 23, 2012

I love reading Nerissa´s blog and completely identify with her tales of the weirdness that is Cloggsville. Keep up the good work Nerissa!

Mike
13:31 PM November 23, 2012

Being a dutchie myself, I find that Nerissa provides a view on dutch society that's humorous, accurate AND witty!

Siti
18:06 PM November 23, 2012

awesome blog & very informative

Cheryl
14:37 PM November 26, 2012

Always a giggle when I read Nerissa s blog

Stephanie
15:20 PM November 26, 2012

A witty, insider's view of integration at it's most hardcore. Well done, Nerissa!

Danitsja
15:40 PM November 26, 2012

Nerissa has a way of portaying the Dutch culture in a recognizable en very entertaining way. Well done!

Nick
15:43 PM November 26, 2012

Great blog Nerissa!

Enock
16:05 PM November 26, 2012

Interesting choice and blend of words that make up Nerisa's infortaining blogs unique

Martha
16:12 PM November 26, 2012

Her blogs are always so hilarious yet full of useful info.

Rosalie
16:55 PM November 26, 2012

Fantastic!

Mariska
17:50 PM November 26, 2012

Great one...AGAIN!!

Mark
19:26 PM November 26, 2012

Great Blog, Keep up the good work!

Emma
22:17 PM November 26, 2012

Charmingly entertaining!

Renee
09:35 AM November 27, 2012

Love reading this blog :)

Leo
08:59 AM November 29, 2012

Although very confronting blog for a Dutchman to read, it still is always a pleasure to read it. Keep it coming!

Katy
10:08 AM November 29, 2012

An open and honest view along with useful information. And I usually get a good chuckle at some of Nerissa's adventures.

Karin Nooij
10:11 AM November 29, 2012

Nerissa is my favorite blogger!!

Candace
10:18 AM November 29, 2012

Awesome blog!!!!!

Barry
10:32 AM November 29, 2012

Wonderful read, although could do with more dragons.

Matt Newton
10:40 AM November 29, 2012

Nerissa's writing brings life in the Netherlands alive for those of us still lingering in the antipodes! Think of the witticism of Pratchett, the prose of Kay, with a liberal dash of Austen Tayshus. Got to be the best blog out there! Drop kick a pint glass!

Sanne Priem
10:44 AM November 29, 2012

I tend to either chuckle or laugh out loud reading Nerissa's blogs. The way she writes about my country makes me happy that at least one person from as far as Australia finds some cultural habits of Dutch people as rediculous as I do. I think I should've been born in down under ;-) Keep it coming Neris!

Truly GA Patz
10:55 AM November 29, 2012

can you beleive this child went off to a country in the other hemisphere n stayed in love... just quietly I get that bit. but then she did the get a job , mortgage, buy a raincoat, heater and then has a baby!!!! what was she thinking....love you miss niss and wish you nothing but the best. thanks for the vicarious entertainment. live it up xxxx

Sally
11:14 AM November 29, 2012

Best blogger ever

Fiona
12:03 PM November 29, 2012

Love reading your stories Niss. Louise has a Monash degree in journalism, and you are leading the way. Go girl!!! Cant wait to hear the stories "in the flesh" at Christmas.

Mark Kremer
12:32 PM November 29, 2012

Great blog!

Ro
12:43 PM November 29, 2012

Reading this blog almost urges me to hop on a plane, grab a bicycle and head for the nearest crazy road to play the death defying chicken . Great writing Nerissa ...you are one brave lady!

Harley
13:31 PM November 29, 2012

Consistently clever, witty and amusing. Also funny, but not as as funny as being stuck in horizontal hail while at Tintagel Castle! :)

Olga
22:56 PM November 29, 2012

What can I say.....Nerissa you're a legend!!! I honestly don't think that I would have passed my Imburgering exam without your blog...what a lifeline! Reading about your experiences was invaluable in my preparation and I have passed the link on to other expats here in Maastricht. Besides all of that, the rest of your blogs are hilarious! You are one observant, witty, funny, genuine woman...shine on you crazy diamond! x

Amanda
02:14 AM November 30, 2012

Awsome blog Nerissa, very funny.. Really can't wait for you to write a book !!

KJ
13:15 PM December 03, 2012

I've been following This one for a long time. Always great. :-)

Leah
09:25 AM December 05, 2012

The blog is fantastic.....A must read for anyone coming to the Netherlands!

Nicole
09:26 AM December 05, 2012

Love it! :)

Astrid
09:54 AM December 05, 2012

A great blog that even give dutchies insight in their own culture, behaviour and habits.

Mara
09:57 AM December 05, 2012

GREAT BLOG!!!! I love it!!!

Maria
10:09 AM December 05, 2012

your blog is funny, we need more blogs like this one to understand that we are not alone in this crazy country!

CA
12:51 PM December 05, 2012

Insightful. Very Entertaining, have read them all!

Christian Jousset
15:45 PM December 05, 2012

This lady rocks! Uluru included!! Very insightful. Go girl go!

'Drea
16:39 PM December 05, 2012

Humorous! Insightful!!Perceptive!!!Honest!!!! All describe the feelings that are felt while reading Nerissa's blogs.

Mandy
16:55 PM December 05, 2012

Always worth a read 'caus very funny!

Lily
17:13 PM December 05, 2012

Great blog about us.....:)

Judith Tordoir
01:13 AM December 06, 2012

Witty, Hilariously down-to-earth, makes me feel I can do leaps and hurdles laughing all the way!!! Love your blogs Nerissa!!! You're a true Star, Girl!!! Hugs n love, xxx :D