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.