First coined in 1929 by an Austrian psychologist, the term ‘lifestyle' reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group, which includes social relations, consumption, entertainment, and dress. Being an expat, of course, is a lifestyle in and of itself, and Expatica has all the articles you need when it comes to sculpting the expat life that's good for you.

Expat lifestyle: The chameleon wanderer

Expat life engenders an international outlook coupled with an ability to blend relatively ‘seamlessly’ into other cultures. "When people ask me where I am from," writes one TCK (third culture kid) in her Cosmopolitan manifesto, “I hesitate for a split second...with vague hopes of reinventing my typical reply. But then I do it again… I’m French and American and grew up in England and Belgium.”  "Members" of the expat culture club are hard to spot; after all, expat living is an experience, not an identity. Even though the expat lifestyle can become exhausting, from dating to home living, Expatica has tips for men and women on how to make it work, and one academic even hazards a definition of expat culture.

Shopping and fashion

How you shop and what you buy certainly helps to define your ‘image’, and expats will be influenced by what’s on offer in the Netherlands no matter how much they resist. Despite what some expats might think, Dutch fashion does exist and Amsterdam is gaining ground as a fashion capital. After only three months of shopping in Amsterdam, one American already has her favourites. Our food blogger directs you to the best places to pick up delicacies in Shopping in Amsterdam, part 1 and part 2.    And yes, you can find good ice-cream parlours in the Netherlands according to Expatica readers.

Shopping in Amsterdam offers something for everyone, from stores selling high-end fashion and brands to more budget-friendly outlets. In the business world, first impressions can be lasting. Here are some tips for dressing across cultures along with some guidelines on how to look slimmer in your clothes.

Making green choices

Green living is a lifestyle and organic clothing is coming of age. Organic, recycled 'recessionista chic' has hit Berlin’s catwalks, and across Europe eco-friendly can only add value to a label.  ‘Green’ food doesn’t mean ‘no style’ and, when it comes to entertaining, benefit from one of our reader’s tips on how to throw a garden party. Expatica offers energy-saving tips and also features  'Beat the crunch: Make it and mend it' offers tips on making good use of the things we would normally throw away as one outlet in Rotterdam has discovered.

Relationships and networking

Flirting across cultures requires just a little thought, and in the era of  social networking the approach has changed somewhat. Read ‘Love in the age of Facebook’ and ‘Breaking up in the time of Twitter'. What is love? The marketplace of Eros takes a look into the web dating world, while YouTube reports and articles on how teens consume media and internet tell more about online connections globally.

Join Expatica’s dating site to increase your chances of meeting like-minded internationals in your new country of residence. Or keep your eye out for Expatica events such as Singles Dinner Mixers (next one on 10 September), Speed dating or social networking events. Click here for a full listing of groups and clubs in the Netherlands.

Ask Expat Aunt in the Netherlands

Finally, Expatica has introduced new online experts, Expat Aunt/ Uncle to help you tackle the day-to-day issues of living abroad. 

Write to Expat Aunt in the Netherlands Nicola McCall, part of Expatica’s new Expat Aunt/ Uncle section (in Expatica's Ask the expert section under the Expat Aunt & Uncle category) to seek advice and tips on how to make the best of life abroad.