A homecoming

Here we go. After so many years of discussing, and at one point nearly making it happen, I find myself coming home to The Netherlands and bringing of course my wife and 2 year old son. Might I add I’m not just coming home to The Netherlands but to the Maastricht region in South Limburg, which in my humble opinion is the best area of the country.

So why are we doing this? We asked ourselves the same question because this is not a decision you make overnight. I will first have to explain a little of our background to set the stage.

You probably guessed by now that I am a native “South Limburger”, or a “Limbo” as they call it in the Netherlands (this is not a necessarily a term of endearment but comparable to saying “you’re a Southerner” in the US – sometimes implying that you are a bit slower and behind the times).

I grew up in a village called Puth which is near Sittard. Went to high school in Geleen and finished with a Masters in Environmental Health Sciences from Maastricht University in 1995. Then in 1997 I packed up my bags and went to work for the National Institutes of Health in North Carolina. My initial plan was to be in the US for 5 years and then return home.

However, as happens in life, things tend to go a bit different than what you plan. After a few years of living in Chapel Hill I met my wife Melissa, a Raleigh, North Carolina native. By the time we met I had decided to give up my career and go back to college for my Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine – a four year full time commitment. So off we went to Santa Monica, California so that I could attend Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Fast forward a few years and we are now living in the beautiful mountain town of Asheville, North Carolina. I have my own acupuncture and Chinese herbal clinic that also employs massage therapists, a physical therapist, and nutritionists.

So you may wonder “Why the Move?” Melissa and I have always had a bit of a gypsy mentality…seeking out new adventures and cultures. Before we brought our son Ezra home from Ethiopia we could travel easily and whenever we chose. However, as new parents our focus changed a bit and we began to think of where we would like to settle with family being nearby being the main criteria.

My parents are elderly and we want Ezra to get to know them as well as my very large Dutch family…I am the youngest of 5 and have 12 nieces and nephews. In the US Melissa has a large family as well but the age of her parents is much younger, therefore the travel to Europe for them comes more easily.

So here we were thinking “not only can we be close to family, but also have great access to Europe and other areas of the world”. Having great access to Europe while being near to family became a deciding factor for us.

Melissa is mostly excited about the move but of course has a bit of trepidation thrown in, which is mainly due to learning a new language and starting from scratch with our social life. She has a very adventurous and courageous nature so I feel sure that more than anything, this move will be exciting for her. Let me add that we are very aware of the stages you go through as an expat and that life will not always be a bed of roses but overall we feel strongly this is a great move for our family.

Another reason for our move is the change of pace. The focus becoming a bit more on working to live as opposed to living to work, which is more of an unspoken and not so welcome mantra in the US. The more relaxed attitude is very important to us as it is a key component to a balanced life. The Chinese say that “overwork” will deplete you of your Qi (pronounced: chee) which in turn can lead to a variety of ailments and (chronic) illnesses.

This brings me to my final point as to why we are moving to South-Limburg. Even though the Netherlands is pretty progressive I think the general public needs to have more access to information about complementary medicine such as acupuncture and Chinese herbology. After living in Asheville, the most progressive city in the South as well as the whole of the US, with all its alternative practitioners, organic grocery stores, organic farms, CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) etc… I was shocked to find out that there is fairly little to find in South Limburg. I would expect that in the smaller villages of course but even in Maastricht it is a lot less common. My goal is to bring awareness and change in these areas when we get there!

For now we are focusing on all the details for the big move on April 14 and reminding ourselves to stay in the moment and breathe.

By Ben Willems

Ben Willems has been living in the US (Asheville, NC to be more specific) for the last 13 years but will soon return to Maastricht with his American wife and son. Ben has been working as a licensed Chinese Medicine doctor (acupuncture, chinese herbal medicine, Tuina, moxibustion etc..) in Asheville for the last five years.