International Zeeland Newcomers Center
2021 is an important year in view of the developments to put the Expat Center Zeeland well on the map!
In this newsletter we emphasize the start of the International Community – International Zeeland Newcomers Center. The community has been launched with a webinar in October 2020. This has been received as a top initiative. However the question remains: ‘how to continue’?
Events in work and living culture
The Expat Center Zeeland will organize events for the International Community to involve internationals in our work and living culture. The focus is made on connecting, building relationships and sharing knowledge. Different nationalities can share knowledge; this provides inspiration and international talents give new ideas. This is also recognized by employers. We link the events that we will organize in the future to three themes: information, education and entertainment (culture). The International Community gives added value for internationals and their families to integrate well and to experience greater involvement.
The Zeeland International Community consists of a small team. Together we set up initiatives that can contribute to live and work in Zeeland with pleasure and with perspective.
Milton Ceron, part of the team and being an international coming from Mexico says:
‘How can you benefit from the Expat Center and from the International Community? Facilities to work cross border and coming from different countries is normal in today’s world. Companies are better prepared to facilitate transitions as much as possible between countries. However, practical matters remain . When personal questions arise, it is easier to ask other international persons who have a same situation or experience. I call it empathy. People that have walked the same way, with the same questions and looking for answers to find solutions living and working in a new country, in a new environment. The International Community is to network amongst internationals. The expat center is in place to help you integrate in a fast and pleasant way. That’s when you start to enjoy the bright side of living & working in another country’.
Further developments
More programs and projects are on our to do list . Also at international companies, such as Dow Benelux, projects are being initiated for internationals & nationals. More information about these developments in our next newsletter. Physical events, such as culture & entertainment will need to wait, due to COVID-19; however, as a team we are looking at these initiatives too.
Katarzyna Mazur Calle, part of the team and being an international coming from abroad says:
‘ I’ve been international for most of my life; born in Poland, grew up in Finland, lived in Spain and now, finally, settling down in Netherlands. Being an expat it’s not only a journey from your home country but it is also a trip to a new place, that you will need to learn to call home. It’s been 14 years and I’m still learning about calling the Netherlands “home”.
While the whole “new country, new customs, new language, new rules” situation can be overwhelming , there is one thing that holds really true no matter where you move to. An international community. Such a community can very much contribute to a sense of shared belonging. Certainly, there is an international society in Zeeland—individuals finding ways to co-exist, and an international system–an attempt to define regulations for interactions—but that does not imply that a community existed.
Expat Center Zeeland, it’s a perfect base for us to create such a community.’
Follow International Zeeland Newcomers Center via Facebook. A private group has been established to have the internationals in Zeeland (NL) network among themselves. https://www.facebook.com/platforminternationalszeeland.
Just sign up if you like to explore Zeeland!