Thank You, Come Again

2006 was a busy year for Andrew and me. After a year of living outside Canada, our friends and family finally decided they missed us (or wanted to seize the opportunity of a free bed and personal tour guides in Europe.) Either way, I didn't mind a bit. For me,...

Breathing Easy

After living in Belgium for almost two years now, I've noticed little change on the smoking ban front. I cough my way through smoky cafes, trying to find a corner where I can breathe easy, only to have a table of seven chain-smokers appear beside me as soon as I'm...

Banking on Belgium

In the mid 1990s, Belgium revolutionised banking by leading the way into a cashless society. At least, that's what my bank's advertising tells me. Actually, my wallet contains way more cash than it ever did in Canada – and trust me, it's not because I have any more money. One...

Biking Belgian Style

After almost two years of living in Benelux, I am one step closer to being like the locals — thanks to the kindness of my neighbours, I finally have a bicycle. As a child in Canada, I had various bicycles (my favourite, at eight-years-old, was a pink and white number...

Lest We Forget

War and Peace has been on my mind a lot lately, (No, not the Tolstoy novel which I had to read in university). It seems I can’t look at the news these days without reading about an ‘armed conflict’ somewhere. Some days it feels like everyone in the world is...

The Landlords… again

I have been dreading tonight for the past week. I will spend all day worrying about what will happen. No, I'm not headed back to the commune. It has the potential to be even more stressful … the landlords are coming! Don't get me wrong, my landlords are very lovely...

Taste the World

If there is anything that Andrew and I enjoy doing as much as travelling, it's eating. While I love to cook and experiment with new recipes, I have to admit that when the budget allows (or I'm just sick of the kitchen) I love to dine out. Brussels is a...

Expat Careers: The Inside Story

Like many expats, Andrew and I moved overseas because of Andrew's career. Unlike some, we were given a choice and we decided together to take on the challenge. Since then, we've faced many obstacles together, but there are some that Andrew has had to face alone. I don't talk about...

Feline Fun

Belgians love a good party. Even the tiniest villages have some sort of annual celebration. Throw in a parade, live music and of course a good helping of Belgian beer and you’ve got yourself a Belgian festival.

Articles About Expat Living in Belgium (Page 10)