ten.year.in.holland

 this month marks the 10 year of your journey in your adopted land.  you remembered you arrived this country on the 15th of september 2003 and started working since 1st october 2003.
you just realized how blessed you're in the past 10 years.  unlike many who arrived here without a job and to some finding a job still presents a big challenge to many. for you, it's just an international transfer from your employer in hong kong to lowland. it's more or less the continuation of your working life but with some downgrade of your career. still it didn't take you too long, probably seven months and you are back on track with your career in this new land.

 it hasn't been easy, being an asian, a woman, working in a very masculine environment and where dutch is still not the language you mastered in business context. but you survived, survived well and in fact many people perceived you surpassing most people in the same situation as you.

 just today, as you received your payslip, you noticed there's a fall short of income and you realized the privilege that you've been enjoying has come to an end.  starting from this month, you are no longer an "expatriate" (in the dutch definition) whom enjoys 30 percent tax free on your income.  you're now just a regular dutch resident tax payer, and that means you're now succumb to regular resident tax and that explains the fall short of your income which is quite significant.

it's a mixed feeling... at one hand you're thankful for the past 10 years and yet you feel a little lost of a short fall of income.  you need to get use to the idea that 50 percent of your hard sweat and labor will go to the government.
a quick version of autumn apple tart for tea today, let the sweet and tarty apple to combat the bitter sweet mixed feeling...