E28: Nkechi Runsewe on immigrating being her most difficult adult experience

Hello, I'd really like to grow this email list. If you enjoy this newsletter, it would mean the world to Jola and I if you encouraged one friend/fellow immigrant/colleague to subscribe…Very likely, the the only thing you will get in return is warm fuzzy feelings, and if I can attribute it to you, I’d personally send you a thank you email.

Join us as we explore the bitter-sweet world of the immigrant.

In this episode, I’m speaking with Nkechi Runsewe, who moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Amsterdam, Holland for work.

Imagine for a moment you are on the metro headed to work. Suddenly, the bus lurches to a stop, and the driver makes an announcement in Dutch. And everyone hurriedly gets down.

You try to ask them, but everyone seems to be in a hurry to get off the bus.

What would you do? I would probably get off the bus scared and all. Nkechi was no different.

“They say everyone in The Netherlands speaks English. But the system is designed for those who speak or can read Dutch.”

In this conversation, Nkechi and I chat about:

* The overwhelming supermarket moment

* Going to a country as a tourist vs. going there as a local

* Dealing with change

* The amazing Nigerian community in Amsterdam and how they helped her settle in

* The tradeoffs when choosing between putting her kids in the Dutch school system vs. the International school system

* The importance of replacing the traditions you took for granted back home with new ones

Enjoy!

Official Links

👋🏽 Follow Nkechi on LinkedIn

Did you read it?

If you got this email in error or no longer wish to receive emails from The Newcomers Podcast, Substack has a sweet and easy way to unsubscribe.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenewcomerspod.com