Well, I think I am ready to wrap this blog up. In some ways, I wish I would have done a lot more with it while I was in Belgium, but I am also glad that I was able to just live my life while I was there.
If we were asked to go on another overseas assignment, I think maybe we might. Maybe. Who knows. It depends on a lot of factors.
I don't think I've gotten the overseas bug out of my system, though.
I love traveling, and if I could do anything in the world, it would be to just travel. That is what being in Belgium afforded us--the ability to travel to numerous places, during the convenience of our weekends.
There were a lot of things that were harder about living there, and we really missed our family, but it's amazing how much smaller technology makes the world seem.
If you are ever given the opportunity to live overseas, I would suggest that you weigh the pros and cons and think about it for a while. Then, try to make it work! You will learn so much about yourself and people, in general. You will see the world in a different way.
Thanks for reading.
Au revoir. Take care.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Some Old Notes
We've been sorting through our stuff since we moved into our new house, and I came across an old note I wrote while still in Belgium. The note was some "advice" for someone who would be moving to Belgium. I jotted it down about a month or so after we arrived. Some of it is kind of trivial, but some of it could be very helpful to someone moving from the U.S. to there. Some of it could also be applied to any overseas relocation. It did bring up some forgotten memories...
1) Please don't shuffle your playing cards so loudly while everyone is trying to sleep on the "overnight" flight. You, yourself, should be trying to sleep, too...even if you really don't think you will.
2) Don't put your garbage out the night before pick-up when there's a chance some wild animal(s) will disperse your trash all up and down the road.
3) Do learn to say numbers in their language (or bring a pen and paper to write them down) when you go to fill up your gas tank.
4) Do get Euros before you leave the U.S. Otherwise, you can maybe get some at an ATM in the Brussels airport after you arrive.
5) Do keep your eyes peeled to the right. You never know when another driver is going to take advantage of the "priority to the right" driving law.
6) Do remember that things don't have to make sense.
7) Do remember that you are not going to have the same life here.
8) Remember to see this as an experience. Try to stay positive and be adventurous.
9) Don't visit the panarama at the Butte du Lion, but DO climb up the hill to the lion.
10) When it's not raining, just go. You never know what the weather will be like in 30 minutes.
11) Accept rental furnishings. It makes your life in an empty house more comfortable.
12) Remember your patience when you are waiting all day for a package that could have been delivered over a week ago...and for the telephone hook-up that you signed up for a month ago.
13) Do mail yourself some of your belongings when you can't fit all of them in your carry-on and checked luggage. But, take the most economical route, and use the flat rate boxes at the USPS.
14) Don't forget to bring along an abundant sense of humor. You'll need it much of the time.
15) Be ready to slow down, because thngs don't move as quickly as they do in the U.S. There are more holidays, lunch breaks, and Sundays off.
16) Be prepared to be pretty overwhelmed at first. You will gain your bearings more and more each day.
17) Try the Orangina.
1) Please don't shuffle your playing cards so loudly while everyone is trying to sleep on the "overnight" flight. You, yourself, should be trying to sleep, too...even if you really don't think you will.
2) Don't put your garbage out the night before pick-up when there's a chance some wild animal(s) will disperse your trash all up and down the road.
3) Do learn to say numbers in their language (or bring a pen and paper to write them down) when you go to fill up your gas tank.
4) Do get Euros before you leave the U.S. Otherwise, you can maybe get some at an ATM in the Brussels airport after you arrive.
5) Do keep your eyes peeled to the right. You never know when another driver is going to take advantage of the "priority to the right" driving law.
6) Do remember that things don't have to make sense.
7) Do remember that you are not going to have the same life here.
8) Remember to see this as an experience. Try to stay positive and be adventurous.
9) Don't visit the panarama at the Butte du Lion, but DO climb up the hill to the lion.
10) When it's not raining, just go. You never know what the weather will be like in 30 minutes.
11) Accept rental furnishings. It makes your life in an empty house more comfortable.
12) Remember your patience when you are waiting all day for a package that could have been delivered over a week ago...and for the telephone hook-up that you signed up for a month ago.
13) Do mail yourself some of your belongings when you can't fit all of them in your carry-on and checked luggage. But, take the most economical route, and use the flat rate boxes at the USPS.
14) Don't forget to bring along an abundant sense of humor. You'll need it much of the time.
15) Be ready to slow down, because thngs don't move as quickly as they do in the U.S. There are more holidays, lunch breaks, and Sundays off.
16) Be prepared to be pretty overwhelmed at first. You will gain your bearings more and more each day.
17) Try the Orangina.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Old Habits
Yesterday, Sam and I were at the Sports Authority, as I wanted to check out their bathing suits. After I picked a few out, I wondered if they had a fitting room. As I meandered through the store, I thought, "I don't know how to say 'fitting room.' Maybe I could say, 'Une salle essayer cette vetements,' or something like that." Immediately, I realized what I was doing, and I laughed to myself. And I did feel a little relieved...but I also felt a little sad. I guess it's to be expected, but there are quite a few things that I do miss about Belgium.
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