Why I left The Netherlands after 7 years

Summary

David Wen shares his experiences of living in the Netherlands for seven years, revealing why he chose to return to California. Initially drawn to Europe during his university years, David pursued his dream of living abroad, starting with a study program in Maastricht, which led to professional fulfillment in Amsterdam. However, after facing personal hardships and reassessing his priorities, particularly valuing family, he decided to return home. Now, David is exploring what it means to integrate Dutch lifestyle elements while reconnecting with his roots in San Francisco. Through his journey, he remains committed to sharing his perspectives on life, influenced by diverse cultures, via his channel, seeking to understand "what makes a good life."

Highlights

• David Wen spent seven impactful years in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱
• Initially motivated by curiosity, his European journey was driven by a dream during his university days. 🌍
• Encountering life's challenges, David prioritized family, leading to his return to California. 🏡
• He's interested in integrating Dutch lifestyle aspects into his life back in the US. 🚲
• David plans to continue sharing his insights on culture and life through his channel. 📹
• Although not living in the Netherlands, he holds on to the Dutch philosophy of living. 🍃

Key Takeaways

• David valued the European lifestyle where time is prioritized over money. 🕒
• Pursuing a master's in the Netherlands became David's gateway to living in Europe. 🎓
• David embraced a fulfilling career and made lasting friendships in Amsterdam. 🤝
• Life challenges and family priorities prompted David's return to California. 🌍
• David is curious about blending Dutch cultural influences into his American life. 🇳🇱🇺🇸
• He aims to explore and understand diverse cultural systems and perspectives. 🌐

Overview

David Wen opens up about his journey from the US to the Netherlands, a decision driven by curiosity and dreams born during his university days. The allure of European life, with its emphasis on valuing time differently, pulled him overseas, culminating in a vibrant life full of personal and professional growth.

He recounts the challenges he faced, notably in 2024, which was a turning point. After grappling with job loss and a personal emergency, David returned to California, emphasizing the importance of family and realigning his life’s priorities. Despite harsh experiences, he regards them as opportunities for growth and reflection.

Looking ahead, David is keen on blending the Dutch way of life, characterized by directness and balance, into his life in San Francisco. His channel will continue evolving, sharing his insights on life influenced by Dutch, American, and Chinese cultures, always exploring what makes a life well-lived.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:00: Introduction and Personal Reflections The author spent seven years in the Netherlands experiencing peace, adventure, and happiness, and built a life and a sense of belonging there. However, circumstances changed, prompting a return to California. The author intends to share more about the reasons for leaving, future plans, and the direction of their channel. The chapter begins with a story of how the author originally ended up in the Netherlands.
• 01:00 - 03:00: Journey to Europe In the chapter titled 'Journey to Europe', the author reflects on their decision to leave America, not as an escape, but due to a curiosity about the world and Europe in particular. During their university years, they studied abroad in Spain and often interacted with Europeans who shared insights into a different lifestyle, one that prioritized time over money. Inspired by these interactions, the author recorded in their journal a dream or intention connected with this experience.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Life in the Netherlands The chapter begins with the narrator reminiscing about a long-held dream of living and working abroad in Europe, which they had temporarily forgotten after graduating and beginning their career. However, approaching their thirties, they felt stuck in their life and career, while observing friends settling down prompted a pressure to do the same. Yet, they decided they were not ready for that commitment just yet.
• 04:00 - 05:30: Challenges in 2024 and Return to California In the chapter titled 'Challenges in 2024 and Return to California,' the narrator reflects on a long-held dream of living and working in Europe. Despite a near opportunity in Helsinki, the plan didn't materialize. Subsequently, a promising job prospect in London arose, but after reaching the final round of selection, the narrator was ultimately not chosen. Faced with the disappointment, they considered abandoning their dreams.
• 05:30 - 07:30: Future Plans and Personal Growth The chapter discusses the narrator's discovery of the opportunity to study abroad in Europe, specifically in the Netherlands, as a means for personal and professional growth. The narrator highlights the benefits of studying in the Netherlands, such as numerous English-language programs, the welcoming nature of the Dutch people, the abundance of international job opportunities post-graduation, and the cost-effectiveness compared to American education. The chapter ends with the narrator applying and successfully being accepted into a program.
• 07:30 - 09:30: Cultural Influences and Future for the Channel The chapter titled 'Cultural Influences and Future for the Channel' discusses the author's experiences after being accepted into a program in the southern city of Mastrict. Initially unfamiliar with the town, the author discovers, through a YouTube video, that it is a charming place to study. Embracing the opportunity, the author grows fond of both the town and their studies. After completing the program, the author secures a job in Amsterdam, marking a significant life transition.
• 09:30 - 11:30: Gratitude and Conclusion The chapter titled "Gratitude and Conclusion" reflects on a period of significant personal transition and fulfillment. The speaker describes moving to a new city, starting a new job, and the challenges of adapting to a new environment without knowing anyone. Despite these initial hardships, the speaker expresses gratitude for living next to beautiful canals and experiencing a magical time in that location. Over time, they grew to love their work, finding a fulfilling profession, and made great friends, highlighting a journey from uncertainty to contentment and connection.

Why I left The Netherlands after 7 years Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 Seven years in the Netherlands. Peace, adventure, happiness. I built a life. I found myself. I felt at home. But then everything changed. And now I'm back in California. And in this video, I'd like to share with you why I left, what's next for me, and the future of this channel. But first, let me tell you a quick story of how I ended up in the
• 00:30 - 01:00 Netherlands. Let's go back 7 years. So, I didn't leave America to escape America. I left because I was curious about the world and I was curious about Europe. Back in university, I studied abroad in Spain. And I always met Europeans on my travels who told me about a different way of life. One where time was valued more than money. So I wrote down in my journal, "One day I
• 01:00 - 01:30 want to work and live abroad in Europe." And you know, I graduated from university, started working, and kind of forgot about this dream until my late 20s. Maybe it's because I saw the big 3 0 coming. I also felt stuck in my life and career. A lot of my friends were starting to settle down. I also felt the pressure to settle down as well. But I thought not yet. And then I
• 01:30 - 02:00 remembered this dream. One day I want to work and live abroad in Europe. And I kind of felt like it was now or never. So, I started applying for jobs in Europe and I almost ended up in Helsinki, but that didn't work out. And then this dream job came to me in London. I applied, got to the final round, but I didn't get it. At that point, I almost decided to give up. But
• 02:00 - 02:30 then I learned that I could study abroad in Europe and get a master's and that would be my gateway into Europe. And so the Netherlands came up. They have a bunch of programs in English. The Dutch speak amazing English. They're known for being welcoming and finding a job would be easier afterwards because there's so many international companies. And plus, it's a lot cheaper than American education. So I applied and I got
• 02:30 - 03:00 accepted into a program in the south of the country in a tiny city called Mastrict. I didn't know much about Must, but I watched a YouTube video and it seemed like a very cute and charming town to study in. So, I said yes. And I ended up loving living in Must. And I ended up loving what I studied. And after that, I found a job up north and moved to Amsterdam. And then co it was
• 03:00 - 03:30 hard. New city, new job, new everything. and I didn't really know anyone. Luckily, I lived right next to the canals and it was a magical time to be there. I also ended up loving my work and finally found a profession that I really enjoy that fulfills me. I started making friends, great friends. And then
• 03:30 - 04:00 slowly but surely, I started really enjoying life in the Netherlands. And then 2024 happened. It was the hardest year of my life. It started off with getting laid off and then more life happened. Now, I won't say too much to keep my private life private, but I will say that there was an emergency back home last year that turned my life
• 04:00 - 04:30 upside down. And so I had to travel back and forth between the US and Europe. And life happens, things happen, values change, priorities change, and for me, family is everything. And so I made the decision for now to come back to California. So what are my plans? To be
• 04:30 - 05:00 honest, I don't know. There's a part of me that feels behind in life, especially being in a place like San Francisco. San Francisco is home, always has been home, and I love it. And I miss the energy here, but sometimes it can be overwhelming, especially when people keep asking you, "What do you do? What are your plans?" And then I have to remind myself, you had the hardest year of your
• 05:00 - 05:30 life last year. just chill out, just Nixon. But one thing is for sure, I will spend time reconnecting with family, friends, the city, myself, probably get back into work. And the work that I do is coaching, facilitation, training. But one thing that I am curious about is who am I now? because living in the Netherlands changed me and
• 05:30 - 06:00 I'm curious even though I'm not living in the Netherlands anymore. Can I bring the Dutch back with me? And I I mean the Dutch mentality, for example, will I be more direct in my communication here? Will I retain the work to live mentality? Will I continue riding my bike? How will I integrate my
• 06:00 - 06:30 learnings? I don't know, but I want to find out. So, what's next for this channel? Well, making videos, it's given me so much joy. It's been such a cool experience to be able to share my own experience, to connect with others, to learn from others as well. And you know what's really ironic is that here in San Francisco, I've always wanted to become a teacher, but because it's so expensive here and teachers
• 06:30 - 07:00 don't make a lot, I decided to go a different path. But because of the Netherlands, I kind of changed my career to become a teacher trainer for organizations. And in a way, I kind of became a teacher on the internet as well. So, I would like to continue teaching, sharing, and learning. But things are going to change. It won't be life in the Netherlands, but it's going
• 07:00 - 07:30 to include that Dutch perspective. And when I look at my videos, what I'm actually interested in exploring is what makes a good life. And what makes a good life in my opinion a lot depends on the systems and cultures that we are a part of. And for me, I'm now heavily influenced by American, Chinese, and Dutch cultures. On one hand, it's been really confusing, but on the other, it's been pretty interesting because I get to
• 07:30 - 08:00 choose and pick what I like about each culture and apply it to my own life. So, I want to continue exploring different cultures and systems. And first I want to rediscover America. I know American culture is everywhere. At the same time I also think it's one of the most misunderstood cultures out there as well. And for me being away it made me realize how much I miss about American culture. At the same time it made me
• 08:00 - 08:30 realize how broken certain parts of the system are as well. And so I want to rediscover America, who I am, with this new Dutch and European lens as well. I'm sure I'll have more reflections to share sometime, but for now, I just want to say thank you to the Netherlands. I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to study in a place like MRI
• 08:30 - 09:00 and I was able to change and find a career that I love. I'm grateful to have lived in a place like MRI and Amsterdam. two very international places where I met people from around the world, diverse cultures and people and people that changed the way that I saw the world. I'm grateful to have experience
• 09:00 - 09:30 living in a place with worldclass urban design. I walked, cycled, and took public transport everywhere, and it's amazing. I'm also grateful to have slowed down. You know, I didn't realize how fast I was running until I got to the Netherlands. The Dutch way of life is indeed a slower pace of life compared to
• 09:30 - 10:00 the American way. And it's not to say one is better than the other, but it is indeed slower. And I was able to slow down. And now I also realize and understand why the Dutch are some of the happiest people in the world with one of the highest qualities of life. I'm also grateful for people that have watched these videos. You know, I never planned to make YouTube videos. It
• 10:00 - 10:30 just kind of happened during co there was nothing to do. So making videos in a way gave me purpose, life, connection when there wasn't any. I think back to that dream I had about 15 years ago of living and working abroad. And while I never expected to be in the Netherlands, I'm glad things worked out. It turned out to be a dream come true. And I have a pretty good feeling
• 10:30 - 11:00 that I'll be out in the world again one day. But for now, I just want to say thank you, Dano. And goodbye and totsins for now. This is it. This is it. It's uh It's good.
• 11:00 - 11:30 Wow. Yeah.