Conquering Babel Helps Expats Learn a New Language

Brussels Expat, Claire Handscombe

One of the most important steps, an expat can take towards integrating into their new home country, is learning the local language. Learning a new language can be a daunting task, but one expat in Brussels is here to help. Claire Handscombe is a private language tutor who has recently published an ebook on how to learn a new language, called Conquering Babel.

We took some time to read through Claire’s book and found it practical and inspiring. We asked her a few questions about her expat experience here in Belgium and her new ebook.

Hopdog – Healthy Hotdogs in Brussels

Hopdog and owners Sameul and Chady (photo via Hopdog)

Hotdogs probably aren’t the first food that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘gourmet.’ But a new company in Brussels is trying to change that. They’re called Hopdog and they’re taking food in a bun to a whole new level.

After one quick look at Hopdog’s website and menu, we decided we had to give these healthy, gourmet hotdogs a try. So, we grabbed a couple of willing friends and went to taste-test.

La Cloche a Fromage – Cheese Restaurant in Strasbourg, France

This entry is part 1 of 9 in the series CheeseWeb Tastes Cheese

Cheese-lovers can’t miss the amazing cheese shop and restaurant La Cloche a Fromage in Strasbourg, France. This restaurant is a must-dine experience not for the lactose intolerant!

Reaching Nirvana at the Vivanta by Taj, Kumarakom, Kerala

This entry is part 7 of 10 in the series Incredible India

Nirvana – The Taj Kumarakom

Our luxury experience at the Taj Kumarakom Hotel in Kerala, India was a resort stay we’ll never forget.

Goa, India – A Relaxing Beach Vacation

This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series Incredible India

Candolim Beach, Goa, India

For many, Goa, India still conjures up images of hippies, all-night raves, drugs and drunken debauchery. This side of Goa still exists, or so I’m told, but it’s certainly not the Goa we experienced. For us, Goa was a place of laid-back relaxation, fresh seafood and drinks on endless sandy beaches. In a word, Goa was restorative, but not without its own lessons on surrendering to India.

Hotel Stays – Comfort is in the Details

Is this a great hotel room?

Andrew and I have been travelling quite a bit recently and that means spending our nights in hotels. We’ve been fortunate to stay in a few really fantastic hotels over the years; Castles, beach resorts, incredible cottages, even a church. But normally when we travel, the hotel itself is not as important as the destination. We just want a clean, affordable place to lay our heads at night.

Sleep with Angels in Mechelen – Martin’s Patershof Hotel

Martin’s Patershof Hotel in a former Church

This year for Valentine’s Day, Andrew surprised me with a romantic getaway. It wasn’t to a spa. Nor was it to a cosy cottage in the countryside. For Valentine’s Day this year, we went to Mechelen and stayed overnight in a church.

You’re probably thinking, sleeping in a church doesn’t sound very romantic it all. That was my first thought when Andrew sprung his surprise on me. The church in question is, these days, known as the Martin’s Patershof Hotel. And I assure you, it was a very romantic getaway indeed.

The Margi Hotel, Vouliagmeni, Greece

This entry is part 1 of 7 in the series Glorious Greece

We spent many hours on this terrace of this restaurant in Vouliagmeni

After a hectic summer and autumn, Andrew and I took a short holiday in Greece, to relax and spend some time together. We were lucky to find a perfect balance of sightseeing in Athens and chilling out by the Aegean Sea, by basing ourselves in the lovely beach town of Vouliagmeni.

Thermae Boetfort Belgian Spa near Brussels

Chilling at the spa – image by duchessa

It’s been blistering hot in Brussels for the past week or so. Although I love to see the sun, after melting in my 30+ degree living-room, I was ready to cool off. Fighting for a square inch of sand on the Belgian coast didn’t appeal and we’ve decided not to renew our gym membership, so the pool was out. Wondering where I could escape the heat on Saturday, I realised we hadn’t been to a Belgian spa in over a year.

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