On this page ...
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This page is specifically
for family and friends who are interested in me and my new live
in the USA. This page focuses on the locations, where I came
from and where I moved to.
October 26th, 2003, I moved to the US. Below you will find a list of things I did, encounters I had, pictures, people, etc.
It will not be super detailed, but it will give you an idea ...
By the way: More pictures I made can be found at DevianArt.
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Kaarten
This map (partial
Europe) show where I came from:
A small, but cozy town in the province "Noord Brabants" - Ulvenhout (next
to Breda).
This map of the USA, show where I live now:
A small town called Osceola, in the state Wisconsin.
The weather in Osceola is mostly sunny.
With the exception of 2 or 3 weeks in fall, the weather can be rather cloudy.
Temperatures are very nice here during
the summer.
The summer seems to last longer than in Nederland.
Say end of March to mid October.
Temperatures fluctuate between 20 and 35 degrees (Celcius).
When winter comes, temperatures change
very fast: within a week from +20 to 0 degrees (Celcius).
Temperaturewise the winter can be very
cold - but due to a low humidity it does not feel as bad as it sounds.
In Holland, the high humidity makes the cold go into your clothes - not something
that happens here.
Also note that sunshine can make it very pleasant.
It's definitly a landclimate: lot's
of snow in the winter (see photo's).
A few people asked me what I make, and
what the costs are to live here.
Well, I'm not going to advertise my income here, but it's about the same
as what I made in Holland (specially since the Dollar decreased so much
in value). However my buyingpower is much higher than what I was used
to in Holland.
Taxes are low, and product come cheap,
just to give you an idea:
5% Sales tax (Holland: 20%!),
$70 tax for your car ("expensive" because I have personalized license
plates!),
Gasoline is about 31 Euro cent per liter (Holland: more than 2 Euros!),
income tax is about 30% (Holland: I paid almost 55%).
As you can see; these are already significant
savings ...
Osceola is a small town, and looks like
it's in the middle of nowhere.
But it's not as bad as it sounds/looks:
Minneapolis/St.Paul is a drive of about 45 minutes - for american standards
nothing big.
Also keep in mind: traffic is way more relaxed than what I was used to in Holland.
A 10 minute drive brings me to supermarktes, bars, car repair shops,
etc.
Bigger stores take is within 20 minutes by car.
Oh, and people here are VERY friendly!
And the image most people have on American people is way off.
Nothing like the movies.
They are friendly people, and helpfull people.
With the same wishes and dreams we all have.
I love living here!
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