After leaving Australia three years ago to relocate (for the 2nd time!) to the Netherlands, it’s taken me a while to settle in and find my feet.  I relaunched my social media business, Zestee, here a few months after arriving and have had the pleasure of working with some great clients including TheHagueOnLine, Expatica, Anne Frank House Education Department and more.

I have also continued with my other blogs/events via this website, Dutch Australian, as well as the Professional Parents Network (for those balancing family and work) and recently started a new website, Culture and Kids.  Yes, I like to keep busy, and using the skills I have developed (and now teach) in social media, I’m able to successfully combine all these things, alongside raising my two little Dutch Australians.

Almost a year ago, I began freelancing at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (known in Dutch as the Haagse Hogeschool).  I started with a 5 week contract in October/November 2014 teaching the second half of the Ebusiness module to second year students following the IBMS (International Business and Management Studies) Bachelor Programme.  I incorporated social media strategy and other areas of experience I had in digital/online marketing, with a particular focus on teaching the students to build a website.  I really enjoyed this and was very pleased to be invited back for a 5 month part-time freelance contract from January-June 2015, this time teaching Integrated/International Marketing to second year students, Business Planning to first year students and also being involved in the Intercultural Competence and final year thesis programmes.

From next week, I feel like I am going to practically live there as I’m about to start teaching 2.5 days a week (Ebusiness and Branding) and studying 2.5 days a week (beginning a 2 year part time Masters in International Communication Management).

One of the things I like best about working (and about to start studying) there is the multicultural environment.  Like The Hague itself as a city, the university reflects the amazing diversity, with students and staff from around the world.

I wrote a previous blog post about having two homes – now it’s almost like having three!

Renee