Ryan and I are excited as we are less than a month away from our move date and everything is really starting to come together. I have gotten a lot of questions so I wanted to share a few details of our move!
Visa:
We are all approved a ready to go! I am able to be on Ryan’s Highly Skilled Migrant Visa that is good for 5 years until April 1, 2026. We had to submit documentation of our relationship with lots of pictures, plane tickets, etc. to prove that we are actually together and have been for a while, but it was honestly easier than I thought it would be!
Work:
It took 5 months, but I am all good to go on having my job transfer! I will be in the same department (BASES at NielsenIQ) but on a different project team. I will be considered a Core Insights Manager working on developing product innovations for a major global conglomerate and doing the research/analysis behind them. I have already met my new manager and am starting to meet my new team members which is really fun! My new client is based out of London, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. It sounds like I will have some business trips around Europe in my future in a post COVID world so fingers crossed! My new team is spread throughout the EU with my new manager out of Brussels and my team split across Oxford, London, and Warsaw. I will be working fully remotely for the time being, but there is an office in a suburb of Amsterdam. No one from my department works out of the NielsenIQ office so we will see if I go into the office a few days a week or end up getting a coworking spot somewhere. I feel like it should be pretty easy to meet new friends in a coworking space so we will see! Also, my new role is 37 hours a week with 27 vacation days so I think I will adjust well to the work life balance of Europe!
Apartment:
As of today we have officially found a place to live! We have been working with an expat firm called Settly and a housing firm called Expat Housing Network to view places. This was super easy and all paid for by Ryan’s work. EHN sent us apartments online that meet our search criteria and then scheduled and attended tours of the apartments while facetiming us to see. We landed on a two bedroom, modern, and large apartment in the city center that sits right on a canal! I can’t wait to set up my work from home desk and get to stare out at this view every day! Look at those views below!
Flight:
We will be flying out with all of our belongings in 2 checked bags and 2 carry-ons. Everything else has either been sold or put into storage! Ryan and I have been making several trips to GoodWill and his parents house to store our stuff. My hobby of pottery is great, until you have so many pieces you have to store then. I am also excited to be flighting business class for the first time. We are currently the only people booked out of around 35 seats so it should be a quiet flight. Check out those nice large seats that also recline into a bed. Just have to make sure Ryan doesn’t get too used to this luxury 😉
Traveling During a Global Pandemic
We are so so lucky to be landing in the Netherlands fully vaccinated after getting extra doses from volunteering several weekends at a COVID vaccination clinic in Chicago. Although, even though we are fully vaccinated we have to have a PCR test 72 hours before arrival, a rapid test 4 hours before departure, and then quarantine and test upon arrival. The plane as mentioned should be super quiet as it is very difficult to travel internationally right now and the only reason we are able to get into the country is because we have residency permits.
Additionally, the Netherlands is quite locked down now for COVID. All restaurants are closed even outdoor seating, limited retailers open and even the flower garden Keukenhof is closer for tourists! I guess we will explore our new homes with lots of outdoor walks!
❤ Melanie
Smiles from Miles Away 