"When I worked from Cape Town for six months, I realized the digital nomad lifestyle was a perfect fit. After returning to the Netherlands, I wasn't feeling completely comfortable, and after six months, I decided to move to Australia. I didn't get there until much later, however, because the planned pit stop in Bali took much longer than I'd anticipated. After a year, I did end up going to Australia for a month-long vacation, because Bali was my new home."

When I left for Bali, everyone was initially shocked, and I was often asked if I was okay. I knew this would be the best move for me, and secretly, those around me weren't surprised either. When I moved from Bali to Lisbon, I didn't really tell anyone. When I then suddenly announced I wasn't on vacation, but would be staying, everyone was pleasantly surprised, especially since I'm now closer to the Netherlands.

"In many different ways. For example, go to a gym where you also have a bit of a community. Also when you join a co-working In a place like this, you can easily connect with other people, often freelancers or people with their own businesses. It's incredibly interesting. Once you know a few people, you'll often be asked along to dinners or events with their friends, which is how you meet people through word of mouth. But don't forget to venture out on your own too. Make sure you're really... present If you're feeling positive, look around you with an open mind, try not to always be on your phone or laptop when you're out for coffee or a walk, and try to laugh a lot. It sounds obvious, but once you radiate positivity, you'll find that positive people and events will naturally come your way.

"Although it is very different from what most people are used to, (full agendas months ahead, I've been there)I've learned that over-planning is never a good idea. You never know what a new place will bring, and when you're open to whatever comes your way, you'll experience all sorts of things. Even more so in Bali than in Lisbon, where everything is a bit more organized and structured. In Lisbon, there's a pop-up or event you can attend every weekend. But even here, the go with the flow lifestyle Much more present than I've noticed in the Netherlands. Transportation on an island like Bali and in a city is also very different. In Bali, you can't really walk around, and I did everything by scooter. Here I can still take an evening walk, which I missed in Bali.

Well, I always carry a lot of stuff with me, so I travel with a lot of luggage. I always roll up my clothes, and sometimes I even use vacuum bags to fit more in my suitcase. The first time, I didn't realize that this makes my suitcase a lot heavier. So don't forget to book extra baggage allowance.