For The Journey Not just the destination…

Oops, I haven’t posted for almost a week.  It seems weird, but I’ve actually been very busy – with the apartment, my class, shopping, and just getting to know the area.  There are little frustrations here and there, but overall, I’m still having a great time.

We moved into the apartment today.  I wanted to get this post up because after this weekend, we probably won’t have Internet access for a couple of weeks.  Our sea shipment was delivered without any damage.  Because we have a narrow staircase and a tiny (fits barely 2 people) elevator, they sent it up through our window.  This is actually really common around here.  You can see how little room there was for the trams to pass in the photo.

I still have a lot of unpacking to do, but already, we’ve had to store a lot in our cave (what they call little storage rooms in the basement).  American furniture, especially from a 4 bed/3 bath house, gets scrunched in pretty tight in a Belgian 2 bed/1 bath apartment.  We still have to buy a sofa and some closets this weekend.

Speaking of shopping, we had a few electronics to pick up that we didn’t bring over with us.  We got a TV, Blue Ray/DVD player, and a washer/dryer combo.  Shopping here is a little tricky, especially when the salesmen and I don’t speak the same language.  It mostly involved seeing what the stores offered, going home and researching/translating it, and then going back and actually buying it.  January is one of the two months they’re allowed to have sales here, so we made sure to do our shopping this month, and in a couple of weeks, our things will be delivered.

I’ve also spent a lot of time at the American Women’s Club where I’m taking an Intro to Living in Belgium course.  It’s been great.  The club is a great resource with a book and DVD library, a ton of classes, a cafe, and friendly English-speaking women. :)  We’ve learned everything from household appliances (add salt to the dishwashers) to what kind of trash goes in which color bag. Doctors, insurance agents, and dentists have come to talk to us too.  I also went on a day trip with some club members to Antwerp to wander the shopping strip.

It doesn’t sound like much, but really, that’s what has been taking up my time.  I’ve met a few really sweet expat ladies here and have had a great time getting together with them.  January has really felt like go-go-go since we’re trying to get everything organized and set up, but hopefully February will slow down some.  Thomas and I have started planning a few trips for the coming months – Rome, Dublin, and hopefully Paris.  I’m really looking forward to the easy travel part of living overseas.  The photos in this post are not related, but just things I’ve seen around the area.

A couple of days ago, Lilac Colored Glasses, another expat in Belgium, put out a request for people who wanted to be interviewed, so I volunteered.  Here’s what she came up with for me.  The photos in this post are just some random shots I’ve seen in day-to-day life here and not related to the questions.  I’ve posted some more over on Flickr:

• Random Shots around the Area (14 photos)

So you’re pretty crafty. Is that learned on your own or did you take a lot of classes in sewing, crafting, designing, etc. (I love that tote you made! If you ever start selling them let me know)

I think I’ve always had a crafty side – when I was a kid, I loved making things with beads, puffy paints, etc.  I discovered sewing a few years ago when my mother-in-law lent me her sewing machine.  I took a class to make a totebag and I was hooked after that.  I have really enjoyed swapping crafts, and my goal for this year is to make a bed-sized quilt.  I get ideas and learn new techniques from crafty bloggers.  I can’t imagine selling my tote bags, but maybe we could come up with some kind of a trade where I could make you one. :)

Have you had a pancake in Belgium yet? If so, do you like them more or less that American ones? If not then go get one woman!

I don’t think I’ve had a Belgium pancake, unless it’s the same as a crepe.  I looked them up online and they sound like they’re like crepes, but not sweet, and can be served for dinner with meat.  I’ll have to find a place that makes them.  As for crepes, we’ve been getting them at the grocery store and putting jam on them for breakfast.  They’re pretty good, but I’m not sure if they’re better than American chocolate chip pancakes.  Yum!

Outside of Brussels and the Brabant area, what’s the next city that you want to see in Belgium?

I’ve breifly seen Brugge, so next I’d like to see Gent.  I heard it’s a fun college town, and perhaps I can meet you in person.  I also saw that one of my favorite bands, Reel Big Fish is having a concert there.  They’re very happy, bouncy ska music – Thomas plays them (or the Pietasters) if I won’t get out of bed in the morning.  Antwerp is also on my list, but really, I don’t know anything about Belgium cities.  Are there any that you suggest?

You used to live in Atlanta…what do you think of the weather here?

It snowed a couple days after I arrived here and that was a shock.  But really, the snow was easy to get around in – it was on the ground. :)  The rain is a little less desirable, but it doesn’t help that I haven’t been carrying around my umbrella.  At least it’s not the torrental downpours that we had in Atlanta.  I’m also surprised that I haven’t minded the colder temperatures, but as long as I’m dressed warmly, I’m good.

How do you like the public transportation system? (I was afraid to use it when I first moved here but I like it a lot now)

I love the public transportation.  We live right by a tram and from there, I can easily hop downtown where I can switch to the Metro or Train.  I take a bus to the American Women’s Club which is a little outside of town, but it’s still easy.  I’ve got a monthly pass that lets me ride all of these (within Brussels city limits) as much as I want within a month, and I’m definitly getting my money’s worth.

Want to be interviewed too?  Leave me a comment and I’ll send you some questions.  And then you can continue the interviewing invitation on your blog…

Today, I had a wonderful day meeting my blog friend, Julie.  Julie moved to Belgium a few months before me, but we have been emailing back and forth, and finally met in person today.  She took me antiquing at Troc.

Troc is a chain of stores around Europe that sells antique furniture, dishes, books, art, and other random things.  It’s sort of like a warehouse, where things are piled on shelves and on tables, and you just have to look through them.

We went to the store in Wavre, but I found out that there is also one near me in Etterbeek.  I will definitely have to check it out.

The cool thing  about Troc is that all of their items are listed on their website.  You can see what they have before going and watch if the price changes.

I didn’t buy anything today, but I saw a lot of neat things, more of which you can see on Flickr:

• Trip to Troc (20 photos)