Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Susy

Susy is a new reader to Clogs and Tulips and - much to my delight - has decided to bring back the Tiptoe Through the Tulips interview series! Originally from Canada, Susy has really thrown herself into life in the Netherlands, even going so far as to become Dutch. Welcome Susy!
How long have you been living in the Netherlands and what brought you here?
I’ve been here almost 10yrs. Came for a dutchie I met on line in ’99, got married in 2005 and divorced April 2010
Do you plan to stay in the Netherlands, move back to your home country, or try somewhere else?
Staying here. I’m dutch now, did my nursing degree here, have a good job and just bought my own house. I'm also once again in a relationship with a Dutchie.
What do you do during the day (job, stay at home mom, entrepreneur, student, etc)?
I work full-time as a nurse in a GP’s practice.
What’s the most notable difference between your home country and the Netherlands?
Weather. Here is more temperate, more even. Montreal is a city of extremes.
Where is your favorite place to visit in the Netherlands?
I like the wadden islands. I love small villages, country-side too. Not much for tourist attractions or big cities
Give us one thing you love about the Netherlands and one thing you loathe…
I love the history. I loathe nothing really… sometimes it bugs me though that some Dutch people get stuck in doing things a certain way because they always have done it that way. No room for creativity/thinking outside the box.
What’s one thing you’ve had to adjust to since coming to the Netherlands and how did you adjust (or are you still working on it)?
Speaking a new language.
Do you have an embarrassing moment since you’ve moved that you would like to share with us (an unfortunate language blunder, or a funny getting-back-on-the-bike story)?
I was working in a nursing home where no English AT ALL was spoken just 6 mths after I arrived in this country. So I was laughed at/ridiculed constantly about my Dutch.
What’s the best piece of advice you received that you would like to pass along to anyone coming to the Netherlands?
Learn dutch!!! It will open eyes, doors and hearts!