Adjira Scoop's relocation journey from Curaçao to The Netherlands

Adjira Scoop, a Trustmoore employee who relocated from Curaçao to The Netherlands in August 2023. Adjira shares her experiences and insights about her journey from her initial decision to relocate, the support provided by Trustmoore during the process, and her observations about the differences between the offices in Curaçao and The Netherlands. She also discusses the challenges she faced, such as adjusting to the Dutch office culture and social dynamics, as well as her hopes for the future. Throughout the chat, Adjira offers candid reflections on her relocation experience, highlighting both the joys and struggles of starting a new in a foreign country.

Question: Okay, let's start. Can you tell me when you started at Trustmoore and where you started and where you are now? 

Adrija: I started at Trustmoore in March 2022 in Curaçao and I'm currently in the Netherlands. I started here in Amsterdam on 1st August 2023.

What made you want to relocate to the Netherlands?

I wanted to pursue my Master’s degree in Law and at the time I started in Curaçao Trustmoore was super flexible with me, I could work less hours and accommodated my studies. I started at the University of Curaçao, but I didn't really like it there. I wanted to grow as a person, and improve my Dutch and English language skills. So, I decided to move to The Netherlands and enrolled at Tilburg University and at the moment I'm following a pre-master. 

So, how did you go about initiating the process? 

After my end-year review with my manager, I informed her that I want to go to The Netherlands to pursue my master’s. She was happy that I wanted to explore a new country and university. With my move to the Netherlands, I also wanted to explore changing from the compliance team to the internal legal team. And so, it all fell into place after that.

And now you're doing legal work. Is that what you would like to do after your Master study? 

Right now, I am combining my Master study with part-time work. I always thought of working as a mediator or working as a company lawyer. This part-time job is a great opportunity to experience it and decide on my future. 

And after your Master would you want to go back to Curaçao? 

I am so new in The Netherlands that sometimes I want to go back. I must get used to everything here and still working on this. I also want to pursue other studies, so maybe that might also sway my decisions to go back directly after my Master. Eventually I would like to go back to Curaçao but I don't know when that would be.

How did Trustmoore help you during the relocation process? 

They facilitated a part-time job for me. I’m working as a work student internal legal. I was in a small housing crisis; I couldn't really find a house. The People & Culture team really helped me a lot with my search. They really took their time to help me find a house. 

How’s your time in The Netherlands so far?

I’m figuring everything out and trying to understand social dynamics. But you know what I really had to get used to? Boterhammetje met kaas . I went from eating sushi and vegetables or rice with chicken to a “boterhametje met kaas”. What people eat for dinner here, I ate that for lunch in Curaçao.

What are the similarities and differences in the office culture? 

The non-corporate culture in the office and way of interacting. The social activities are a bit different, but the party culture is similar, we work hard and love to celebrate milestones together.

And what do you kind of hope like for the rest of this relocation process? 

I want to feel more at home here in The Netherlands. And what I really want to get out of this, as I said, is growing as a person and improving my Dutch and English language skills. I just want to integrate myself into Trustmoore, and be able to grow in the company. Because even though I may have other future study plans, or I may have other directions that I would want to pursue, TM still feels right for me, and I still feel at home. So, I would really like to grow here. 

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