I’m LEGAL(ish)!

Finally. This morning I had a call from the commune to come and pick up my Identity Card. It's orange, which means it's tied to Andrew's. So I still can't work. However, now that I have it I am allowed to stay here for a year (then I have to...

A Word of Advice for Expats

So, after six months of waiting, I think I have finally had my police visit. I say 'I think I had' it, because I didn't actually answer the door. After a bad night, with little sleep, I was still in bed at 9:30 when the bell rang. Andrew, who had...

Come and Knock on my Door

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt. “Oh no… the doorbell!” Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Stumble. Clomp. Thunk. Crash. Stomp. Stomp. Rattle. Screeeeeetch. That is what it sounds like, every time I have to answer my front door. I’ve commented before on the unusual architecture of my home. The front door is no exception. You...

Confessions of a Travel Junkie

I've talked about numerous reasons why I enjoy being an expat: the challenging new experiences, meeting interesting people from around the world, trying new and different foods, but there's really only one reason why I agreed to embark on the expat adventure — I'm a travel junkie. Travel is my...

Success as an Expat

One of the hardest things about being an expat is leaving friends and family behind. Suddenly, all of the friends I had made over a lifetime in Canada were an ocean away. The prospect of making a new circle of friends was daunting. When we arrived in Belgium, I believed...

The Belgian Style File

"What is Belgian style," friends have asked me in the past and after some thought, I've come up with one word — individuality. Some of my fellow expats and Belgians may scoff at this statement. Sure, all of the chain fashion stores are here and there is a good number...

Snow fun at all!

To everyone in Belgium who doesn't like winter, I apologize for the snow and I take full responsibility for it. The snow is all my fault. I shouldn't have shot my mouth off about moving to a 'nicer' climate. But I really hate winter. I hate snow. I hate the...

D.I. Why?

It's 7 am. I open my eyes and try to clear my groggy head. I haven't awoken to an alarm clock radio as I used to in Canada. Instead, there is a 'symphony' of noises — the whir of a cement mixer, the hum of a crane, the pounding of...

Bread, Glorious, Fresh Bread

I wake up with a start and look at the clock. It's 3am. I must have a slice of bread with peanut butter. There is no bread in the house and there are no 24 hour supermarkets here. But I don't despair; I can go to the vending machine around...