Welcome Desk Volunteer at Holland Expat Center South

Carla Cayen, Welcome Desk Volunteer at Holland Expat Center South By Olivia van den Broek-Neri

Holland Expat Center South has volunteers working at its Welcome Desk in Eindhoven. These persons welcome internationals to the region and help answer their questions. In each issue, we ask a different volunteer to share his or her story as to why they are in Eindhoven. For this issue, we spoke with Carla Cayen–de Jong who is from the United States and lives in Eindhoven. When she moved to Eindhoven almost 20 years ago, there was no Expat Center.

“I think that the Expat Center is a brilliant thing, because there wasn’t such a thing when I moved here almost 20 years ago,” she says. “It makes life so much easier for people!”

Despite not having as many resources as current day internationals do, Carla was able to settle, but it took time. “For

me it took a number of years to acclimate to the lifestyle.”

A natural host Her welcoming personality and desire to help people drove her to assist other internationals who were in her same situation. “I enjoy hosting things, showing people the way,” she says. This is apparent in what she has done in the past.

A time before Holland Expat Center South and The Hub Carla moved to Eindhoven before two important organizations for internationals existed: Holland Expat Center South and The Hub. Despite that lack, she used her hosting skills and love of helping people to give back to the international community by organizing events. points out that she still keeps in touch with the people who attended those events she helped organize. “We really made lifelong friends!”

It was a different time in Eindhoven; there were not many things organized for internationals, and people really stuck together. “If someone didn’t show up, you would inquire. It was very tight-knit.” Even today, Carla meets up with a group of those people on a regular basis!

Carla was also an area representative for the International Women’s Club Eindhoven. Today, we are lucky to have her as a volunteer at our Welcome Desk!

Volunteering at the Welcome Desk Carla is at the Welcome Desk on Monday afternoons. “A lot of people come in looking for a job,” she says. “They have a partner and they want to work here.” She welcomes the opportunity to help guide these people in finding their way in Eindhoven.

Carla’s advice for newcomers

“I always encourage people to learn Dutch.” Carla points out how learning Dutch is a friendly gesture to the locals, and it will also give you a level of independence.” 1

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“I always tell people that the Expat’s Guide is the Eindhoven Expat Bible: everything you need to know is in this book, and then some,” she says. Stop by and get your free copy.”

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“It doesn’t cost anything to ask us a question! We are ready, willing and able to help you!”

A future working with internationals Carla has worked at the Diagnostic Center for 15 years. Her personal and professional experience has interested her in working with the international community, which is why she started volunteering at the Expat Center. “What I want to try and do now, by working at the Expat Center, is to gain more knowledge. I would like to develop into a role where I am working more with expats.”

Internationals with questions about settling in the south of the Netherlands, are welcome to contact Holland Expat Center South. The Expat Center is a nonprofit governmental agency. There is no charge for our services and no appointment necessary. Our office is open from 09:00-17:00 on Monday through Friday.

Brainport to Stay

Welcome to Brainport Eindhoven, a region in North Brabant! Do you want to settle here or stay for a while? Then this program will help you out!

Ten-week program

From 6 March 2020, the Brainport to Stay program will be offering internationals a ten-week long program led by the best of the region’s professionals. This program will show you the ins and outs of living in the Netherlands, from education to housing, medical care and so much more! We want to teach you the most important skills you need to settle in the Netherlands.

Location

Summa College, Sterrenlaan 6, 5631 KA Eindhoven

Price

This course will cost you only 375.-

Sign up

Do you want to join us? Then sign up at brainporttostay@summacollege.nl

For more information? Call or email Melanie Rinehart at 06-38164027 / mr.rinehart@summacollege.nl

Follow #brainporttostay

100 YEARS BAKERS FURNITURE IN EINDHOVEN

DUTCH DESIGN

WE LOVE TO GIVE YOU PROFESSIONAL ADVICE

Whether you are furnishing a complete living room or looking for a specific piece such as a lounge chair, cupboard or coffee table, our staff will help you any way they can. We welcome you with coffee and a Dutch cake and give you time to look around and ask questions. Feel at home at Bakers!

Dutch medicine

Like any average Dutch person, I quite enjoy complaining about my country. It’s a national hobby that we collectively practice whenever we find something to be grumpy about. After all, we are going down the drain, we never ever will win the world football cup, it always rains here and the Dutch are always complaining.

However, there is one topic I will never complain about and that is our healthcare system. Doctors and nurses save lives all the time and they care when they can no longer help a patient. When my father died, one oncologist sent me a handwritten letter (who does that these days?) to tell me he had enjoyed his conversations with my dad, and another oncologist called me to wish me and my family well. These were doctors who lose patients every day and refuse to get used to it. I was impressed. I still am.

I know that many internationals find Dutch doctors to be cruel. Why? Because Dutch doctors will not prescribe medication every time you think you need it. “Come back in three days if the coughing has not gone.” Or worse: “This is just a bit of flu; happens to everyone” – when you think you’re about to die. You don’t want to be told you’ll be fine – you want attention. And antibiotics. In many countries doctors easily prescribe these, but not here. And as much as I sympathize with your excruciating headache and sore throat, these doctors are absolutely right not to give you any medicine. Why take expensive pills if you don’t need them? And it makes perfect sense to be careful with prescribing antibiotics as the bacteria can become resistant and the pills can lose their effectiveness.

My mother used to be a nurse in a home for elderly people. She once told me she had discovered the best medicine ever: whenever residents wanted medicine because they could not sleep, had a headache or stomach problems, she would give them a special pill that always worked. My mother was famous for this medicine, called ‘Placebo’. Major ingredient: attention. A true Dutch nurse!

Monique Mols Corporate Communications, ASML

A HIGH-QUALITY PERSONAL APPROACH TO LEGAL ISSUES

As one of the largest family law fi rms in the Netherlands, our offi ce is home to high-quality, well-renowned attorneys and divorce mediators. We offer a personal approach to legal services across a whole spectrum of family law and/or inheritance law disputes, both to international, as well as Dutch clients.

Every day we advise and represent our clients in family and inheritance law matters. Our services are based on a personal approach, never losing sight of the human dimension of a case. We are at your side in diffi cult times, but also when you settle in the Netherlands and want to be informed about the family law-related consequences. If you are interested in no-nonsense advice on obtaining a decent out-ofcourt settlement or a court decision, we look forward to hearing from you.

For more information please visit our website or send an email to cvandervegt@scg-advocaten.nl.

WWW.SCG- ADVOCATEN .NL

AMSTERDAM OFFICE De Lairessestraat 151 1075 HK Amsterdam Tel +31 (0)88 909 49 20 Fax +31 (0)88 909 49 99

EINDHOVEN OFFICE

Prove your language level via

the State Exams Nt2! A diploma

recognized by the Dutch government.

Expats and the State Exams Nt2

Why? The Helpdesk State Exams Nt2 will tell you: • Living in the Netherlands means getting in contact with Dutchies. Your children might bring Dutch friends home with them and go to Dutch schools. When participating in Dutch society, it helps to speak the language. • Mastering Dutch is not always obligatory when applying for a job, but you’ll still benefit from the diploma: being able to communicate in Dutch is useful in informal contexts, when being part of a meeting or when wanting to understand Dutch articles and instructions. Therefore employers might be willing to pay the costs. • An official language diploma might be needed when applying for studies or courses. • You can use the diploma to apply for a Dutch passport.

Four exams, two language levels The State Exams Dutch as a Second Language (Nt2) are Dutch proficiency exams for nonnative adult speakers, consisting of four parts: reading, writing, listening and speaking. There are exams at two levels: 1. Programme I is intended for people applying for mbo or working at vocational level. The language level of this programme is B1 (CEFR). 2. Programme II is at language level B2 and is intended for people aiming to work or study at an academic level. You don’t have to pass Programme I before taking Programme II.

Want to know more? • Visit www.staatsexamensnt2.nl to find practice exams and a list of schools that provide language courses. • Follow us on Facebook and stay up to date about expat fairs and get tips & tricks. @StaatsexamensNt2 • For information about the exams or advice on how to prepare, contact the helpdesk State Exams Nt2 via info@staatsexamensnt2.nl or 020-5253844. • Do you want to register for the exams? DUO is responsible for registration. You can find information on how to register on our website.