On online shopping: Why Net-a-porter is better than LuisaviaRoma

This year I discovered online shopping. I can't tell you how much my wallet, my credit card and my husband protested.. But since last year and the first part of this year had been the busiest for me (school, work, work, travel, work) the Internet had been my best friend as it allowed me to save precious time from going to the stores.

I started with outnet.com, discounted online store of net-a-porter.com and bought several items. Service was good, I enjoyed my purchases and when they go on weekend sale, I just couldn't resist buying.  Here I got a beautiful red bag from Alexander McQueen which makes me swoon until now and an orange dress which turns head at parties.

There was one time that I got somehow tired of outnet.com. So I switched to its mother company for my purchases. And it had been a harmonious relationship since then. Net-a-porter is fast in approving my purchases, customer service is great and returns are not a problem.

But then the fickle me tried another online store, luisaviaroma.com. They have the same market and services as net-a-porter.com but they have more sales. And from these sales I saw another shoes which was selling from almost 80% off. Women are always excited to get new pairs of shoes and waiting for it is just painful.

Unfortunately if you use a credit card, Luisaviaroma will verify your account first through your bank which can delay the approval of your order. After exchanging emails with Luisaviaroma, with which they promise to send the tracking number right away, Im still not sure when my purchase will arrive. I've never experience it with net-a-porter and the one time my purchase was delayed, they gave me a credit note.

I guess this is something I have to get used to when buying online - the waiting time. Online shopping reduces the "instant gratification" which normal stores allow you to have.

What about you? Which is your favorite online store?

Back go blogging: The NT2 diploma

Ready to follow a new road in my Dutch integration

 It's been a very busy year for me - juggling one full time jobs and two part time, going to school, travelling, being a wife and a trying to met expectations. I guess you notice it from the lack of blog posts. But finally I can breath again with a little free time on my hand before I start getting busy again. I miss this blog.

Pat of my crazy schedule last year and early this year was the one year inburgering cursus that I took in preparation for my Nederlands als Tweede Taal exams. I signed a one-year contract with the gemeente who gave me the free course. I was very thankful to the Dutch government of course, for that opportunity but it took toll on my energy and my time. I was stressed every week and at some point I wanted to stop already. According to my contract, I need to pass my exams before May 2013 so I didn't need to hurry. I was saying the state should cut me some slack because I've only been in the country for two years and has only started school in May 2010.

But the sooner I passed, the sooner I can concentrate on other things - for example building my career. I gave up my driving lessons and tried to concentrate on my jobs and school. And this July, I took the dreaded exam, along with hundreds of students who are required to learn the complicated Dutch language.

I was already prepared to fail at least two of the four parts - the speaking and writing. I had a terrible case of mouth sores, which manifest itself whenever I am stressed. And during exam weeks, I had mouth sore the whole month and was mostly on soup and soft diet. My concentration was not at best.

I was only thankful that finally, classes are over and I can focus my energy on other things. Fortunately luck was on my side and on August 1oth, a day before my birthday, I received one of the best gifts in my 27th year on Earth - my NT2 diploma!

Before I got the diploma, I can converse in Dutch but only to select people and whenever I am under chocolate or when I want to impress and acquittance after saying that I've only been here for two years. For usual conversations, I'd rather talk in English. I was dead afraid of making mistakes. But now I am more confident speaking Dutch to just anybody - even customers and suppliers at my office. The proof from the government gave me that freedom not to be afraid and just continue on building on my skills. In a way, it made me happier.

The last year had taught me a lot and gave me adventures that I never imagined I'd have. But that's for the next post. I can say that Im now well immersed but true to the spirit of this blog - I never stop shopping and cooking, only now I tend to overspend a little bit. Take that as a reward of all the efforts in living in my new home.