Life in Brussels
In order to widen the subject matter on the expat forum blog, today we will be covering a country which seems to attract its fair share of expats while not perhaps attracted as much attention on the forums as you might expect. Belgium, and in particular Brussels, is a country which many of us are fully aware of but few of us know any significant details about with regards to life in the country and exactly what it has to offer.
It is no surprise to see that the person who began the thread is in the financial industry and has moved to Brussels with a financial company. One of the first problems which will hit you when you move to Brussels, and in fact Belgium as a whole, is the fact that French and Dutch are very popular languages and those who only speak English may well feel a little isolated in the early days.
However, it would seem that Brussels has much going for it and could be one of the more prominent untapped potential expat destinations of the world.
Meeting expats in Belgium
As Belgium has a particularly close relationship with the European Union it is a hive of financial companies which attract more and more expats from around Europe and around the world. However, for those who only speak English there can be issues in the early days and one particular comment on the thread suggests an American Woman’s Club in Brussels for those looking to meet fellow English speaking expats. Interestingly, it seems as though the club will accept male as well as female members although perhaps only on an associate members basis.
Nevertheless this particular type of club, and there are many in Brussels, would seem like a perfect starting place to find further expats in the region.
The timeline for new expats
While there is much discussion on this thread and other threads about potential issues and potential problems when moving overseas there is one particular comment which seems to, “in a nutshell”, cover the issue of moving overseas for the first time and the various stages which you can expect to experience, which include:-
The honeymoon period
The honeymoon period when moving overseas for a new life is said to last around three weeks, which is around about the time of a long vacation, and is where the adventure is exciting and everything is new. However, once the “excitement factor” begins to wear off we then move into the next stage which can be a difficult period.
Realisation that you are in a foreign land
Described as the “downtrend”, after three weeks many people believe that you begin to find out potential problems and potential issues in your new homeland, while often ignoring the plus points and focusing on negative issues. It is highly unlikely that you will have developed “coping mechanisms” and in this particular period, which can last around six months, you may begin to wish you had never moved to your new country in the first place. However, positive developments are just around the corner and under no circumstances should you make any snap decisions in the first six months to possibly return home or move elsewhere.
Settling in period
After around six months you will begin to find that you are carrying out everyday mundane jobs such as shopping, going to the bank and other potential everyday tasks which you may have ignored in the early days. It is when you begin the “mundane” actions of life that you will begin to settle down and have a more balanced approach to your new life and your new country.
The timeline for this particular expat
Interestingly, the expat who began this particular thread believes that they have skipped the honeymoon period as they were placed in a hotel from day one and without being able to speak Dutch or French they are struggling to communicate with not only the hotel staff but potentially their workmates as well. However, the period of resettlement seems to be roughly the same although it will never be exactly the same for each and every expat moving overseas, whichever country they may be in.
Socialising with new work colleagues
One interesting recommendation revolves around building your own social network and the fact that it is easy to reduce your social network in the beginning than to expand it later on. One person who has “been there and done it” believes that you should accept every invitation you are offered in the early days, to social events such as meals and drinks, and try to make as many friends and contacts as possible.
It is inevitable that being the new expat on the block you will be something of a celebrity figure in the short term, although after this novelty factor has worn off you will begin to formulate and retain a close social network of friends and contacts. When you compare this against refusing invitations in the early days, which many people may see as being particularly rude, it is easy to see how it may be difficult to expand your network as time goes by. There is no doubt that first impressions do last in every walk of life and you must remember your new colleagues and your new neighbours will not have a clue about you, your character or your needs.
Brussels
A number of comments on the thread seem to confirm that Brussels is in fact a very cosmopolitan city, one of very few in Belgium which wholly embrace the international community and international way of life. There are some issues regarding racism and extremist parties in some areas of Belgium but again it is literally a “horses for courses” situation and you need to do your homework to see which cities, towns and areas of Belgium may suit you.
Conclusion
Belgium, and in particular Brussels, would appear to attract significant expats because of its close relationship with the European Union but does not tend to get an awful lot of mention in expat forums. Those looking to move to Belgium will find the thread in question very interesting, very informative and very easy to read. To be forewarned is to be forearmed and it is vital that you are fully aware of what you’re letting yourself in for and what you can expect.
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