Marlieke is originally from the Netherlands but she now lives in Gran Canaria. She decided to move abroad after a vacation in 2014. She instantly felt a connection to the island, which made her pursue the dream of living and working there one day.  She’s been on vacations in Spain, Greece, France, and Italy since then but none of the places gave her the same feeling as Gran Canaria.

Her personal experience with moving abroad makes her even more passionate about helping others gain the same satisfaction, happiness, and growth. The personal growth that comes from stepping out of your comfort zone is one of the most rewarding aspects of moving abroad. It helps you meet new people, learn new languages, and experience a completely different environment and side of yourself.

Marlieke enjoys shopping, dancing bachata, going out for dinner and drinks, and watching movies. She’s also a big animal lover, especially – and surprisingly – goats and geese, and now she helps stray cats on Gran Canaria.

Her advice for anyone moving abroad is to not give up, especially when it gets challenging. It can be an emotional process, but it’s all worth it in the end, and you’ll learn so much about yourself.