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The Relocator: What This Expat Learned From Moving Abroad for the Second Time

October 22, 2026

Having relocated from India to Singapore and then again to Amsterdam, moving abroad twice has taught one international professional about finding her feet somewhere new.

Originally from India and most recently based in Singapore, Isha decided to make the move to Europe when an opportunity arose to join Adyen in Amsterdam as a Partner Solutions Engineer. With a new job ahead, an apartment to find and her cat along for the journey, she spent her first few weeks settling in at Zoku Amsterdam. We caught up with her to talk about navigating an international relocation, finding familiarity in a new city and learning to get comfortable with the unknown.

You’ve relocated internationally before. How was moving to Amsterdam different from your previous experience?

When I moved to Singapore, the transition was relatively smooth because I was joining friends at a startup. I already knew around 80% of the people I’d be working with, and most had been living there for some time. They’d already figured out the practical things, like setting up a bank account or finding an apartment, so I could simply ask for their recommendations and follow a checklist.

Amsterdam has been different because I’ve had to figure out much more on my own. But that’s also part of what makes it exciting. I also gave myself a couple of weeks before starting my new job to recover from the jet lag, get my paperwork sorted and find somewhere permanent to live. Now I’m about to start a new job and move into a new apartment at the same time, so there’s quite a lot happening at once.

Both moves happened quite spontaneously. I moved to Singapore within about three weeks, and moving to Europe wasn’t something I had actively planned either. I’d always had this idea that I might live in Europe someday, and when the opportunity came up, I thought, why not? What’s the worst that can happen? I can always go back.

How have you started building a routine and finding familiarity in a new city?

The first thing I looked up when I arrived was where to find an Indian grocery store. I’m a big chai person, so having my chai in the morning is important to me. I asked a few people for recommendations and found a store called Authentic India. It had everything I needed: spices, chai, Indian snacks. Once I had that sorted, I felt pretty good.

The second thing was finding somewhere to dance salsa. I’ve been dancing for a while, and luckily I have friends in Singapore who knew people in Amsterdam’s salsa community. They connected me with a few dancers here, so I could start figuring out where to go dancing on the weekends.

I think finding those small things that are already part of your life makes a big difference when everything else around you is new.

The best way to approach it is to take things one step at a time rather than trying to solve everything at once."

What were you looking for in a place to stay during your first few weeks in Amsterdam?

I knew I needed somewhere to stay for at least three or four weeks while looking for an apartment. I’m not somebody who particularly enjoys staying in hotels. After three or four days in a regular hotel room, I start getting cabin fever.

I wanted the comfort of an apartment, but with the amenities of a hotel, like a restaurant, somewhere to get coffee and social spaces where I could meet people. I also didn’t want to have to go out to eat every day, so having somewhere that felt a little more like home was important.

When I found Zoku, the Loft seemed to offer that balance. It had a kitchenette, felt like a studio apartment and was pet friendly, which was essential because I was relocating with my cat. The social aspect also appealed to me. I liked that I could spend time by myself with my cat, but also have opportunities to meet people when I wanted to.

You also relocated with your cat. How has he adjusted to life in Amsterdam?

I’m not sure he fully realizes we’ve flown halfway across the world! The most stressful part of the move was probably the 15 hours or so during the journey when I couldn’t see him. But once we arrived, he settled in surprisingly quickly. Within about half an hour, he was already running around and had found his little corner.

Honestly, I think he’s adjusting even better than I am! He loves looking out the window, and I often find him just sitting there watching everything outside.

For me, having him here makes a big difference. Sometimes I still feel like I’m on vacation, and it hasn’t completely sunk in that I’ve actually moved countries. But having him with me brings a sense of familiarity, even when everything else feels new.

What advice would you give someone preparing for an international relocation?

My biggest piece of advice, and something I keep reminding myself, is to get comfortable with the unknown. You’re not going to have everything figured out straight away. There will always be new things to learn and practical problems to solve. I might not know how to set up my utilities yet, but that’s okay. I’ll figure it out. I’ve already figured out my commute to work, so that’s one thing sorted.

The best way to approach it is to take things one step at a time rather than trying to solve everything at once.

I also think it’s important to find something familiar that gives you a sense of comfort. We live in a world where you can find most things almost anywhere, and sometimes just one small part of your usual routine can help you feel more settled. For me, that’s chai. Literally, on day one, my priority was finding chai. Everything else will follow!

About Isha

Originally from India, Isha relocated to Singapore to work as a tech consultant. She recently relocated, with her cat Bagel, for work to work as a Partner Solutions Engineer at Adyen.

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