Make it Grow! - Part 4
Karen Tests Stuff - June 2024 - International Relocation to the Netherlands
This is the fourth part of a series of blogs about my recent move from the United States to the Netherlands. If you haven't checked out the others in this series, you can find them here:
You can also access the video here ?? https://youtu.be/Gl_91K_iB00
Questions collected from you on social media, continued...
What's one thing that you've experienced that was an absolute surprise? - Simon
I've been surprised by the kindness of others. I feel like maybe I shouldn't have been, because you're all such wonderful people. I knew there had to be more people like me in the world, but when my world was very small, it was tough for me to find those people.
Now that my world has grown exponentially, the kindness of others constantly surprises me. Especially through the people who are willing to give of their resources to help me at cost to themselves, but with no real tangible benefit that they could gain. That has been the most surprising thing to me, but I'm so grateful for it.
I want to be able to do what you all have done for me, for other people. I want to help other people come behind me and experience the same joys and the same revelations as I have, because it's not about, "Okay, I've made it. I can stop now." It's rather a feeling of, "Okay, I'm in a better place. How do I help other people reach this place, too?" That's just the kind of person that I am. The kindness of others was a joyful surprise.
What would you say are the similarities and differences between the two countries in how things are ran or handled (in your field)? - Aaron
The actual technologies that are used are very similar between countries. It varies from project to project, of course, but it's smaller, more subtle things, too. Like the pace of life, for instance. Not work related, but I've had a few people ask me why the Netherlands? My answer has been: I feel like every time I got off the plane at Schiphol, my soul settled into its natural rhythm. A little bit slower, a little bit more intentional, and a little bit more kind to my body. That has made a huge difference specifically in my mental health, but we can talk about that in a whole additional series. I've got many thoughts on that.
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In my field of work, the Netherlands is a huge hub for software testing knowledge and for influential minds. I'm so grateful to be able to be on the same continent with them and in the same country. To learn from these people, to gain insight from their experience, and hopefully to bring other people with me while I'm at it.
In the US, there are lots of software testing conferences and groups and communities, like namely the Kansas City Women in Technology. They're not specific to software testing, but they're an incredible community that has supported my speaking career and my goals. Those women and non binary folks who are involved in that community have been such incredible allies.
However, something that's a big difference is the work culture, where in the US I felt like I was disposable. I didn't matter as a human being. I was just a resource for the company to make money. Whereas now, especially in the position that I'm in with my new company that I'm working for, I feel like I'm valued. I don't just add to the bottom line. I add actual growth opportunities and my ideas hold value. These blog posts and community outreach holds value.
The work that I've been doing on nights and weekends before, is now being celebrated! That's a huge difference for me - to not have to do this in my spare time, but actually do this and be recognized for the value that it brings. I'm very happy with that. That's a big difference.
And to be honest, overall, I know that every country in the world has its problems. There are problems here just like there were back in the US. But honestly, the severity of those problems seems so much lesser here. The way the communities around me respond to these problems is a positive change for me, which I think says a lot about my mental health back in the States and the treatment or inherent worth of people in the workforce.
I would encourage anyone who's looking to make this change to seriously compare where you are and where you want to be, and see what matches with you.
If you could do it over again, what would you change? - Meg
If I could do it again, I would bring Liliana (my cat) with me - the first time. I arranged with a transport company to help her arrive to me because I wasn't sure if I could bring her on my own. I think my exact words were, I wasn't sure if I could keep her and myself alive during the 12-hour long journey over here.
The animal transport company helped me by kind of throwing me into the deep end. I had to put together all of the documentation on my own, make the arrangements with the vet for her medical clearance so that she'll be accepted into the EU and all of these different things that I didn't think I could do myself, when this started out.
Now that I've basically had to do it all on my own, I'm going to collect her myself. I know that I have the strength to do it. I have all of her documents in order. It's time. If I could go back and do it again, that's what I would change. I would bring her with me immediately because living this month without her has been one of the hardest things I've ever gone through, feeling helpless to help her back in the States.
She's been very well cared for by one of my friends back home. She's been treated like the absolute princess that she is, and I'm eternally grateful to that person.
Editorial note - she is here with me now, and I love every second of my life now that she's home where she belongs.
Thank you to all who submitted prompts for me to cover here and in my video - I love y'all so much. Hugs!
Stay tuned for the conclusion, where I will wrap up what I've learned through this process.