A Cut Above

I had my hair cut this week. This is not, under normal circumstances, an arduous challenge. However, as an expat, doing mundane, everyday tasks can be a bit of an ordeal, especially in a new land and in a foreign tongue. As a woman with short hair, I tried to...

A travel-hardened pro

Compared to Canada, Belgium is an incredibly easy country to get around in. There are loads of buses, trams and metros, but my favorite Belgian travel method is, by far, the train. Canada has trains of course. However, the golden age of rail that our country was built on is...

Living with the Landlords

I couldn't shower this week because there was a retired Flemish couple in my bath tub. My landlords were repairing our shower and the stress of having them in the house for two days was starting to get to me. A few months after we moved in, I noticed a...

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...

Alison Cornford-Matheson