Busy Bee
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.
Sunrise by the Hippodrome
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.
Our furniture coming up through the window
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.
St. Catherine's Cathedral
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.
Snowy Day at Boondael Train Station
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.
The Simonis Metro and Bus Stop
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.
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it sounds like you’re getting the hang of things there :)
and keeping busy! take care!!
The photo of St. Catherine’s Cathedral is beautiful! It sounds like you are getting the swing of things over there. I am curious though why do you need to add salt to the dishwasher?
i just can’t wrap my brain around that lift picture. I finally figured out the silver line was part of the lift and not another tram…
brit´s last blog post..Home, home on the range
Good luck with the final move-in minutiae!
Why salt in the dishwasher? That seems odd. So are you guys in your new place now?
Thanks for the pictures. Why the salt in the dishwasher?
nmitch5357@aol.com´s last blog post..‘Stabbed In the Heart’
Science lesson for the day from your school teacher mother: European dishwashers have an element that ours in the US don’t have – a water softener. The device is a basket-like contraption that contains resin in small yellow balls, which remove calcium and magnesium ions from incoming hard water.
Dishwasher salt is sodium chloride with no iodine added, and the granules are larger than in table salt. Dishwasher salt activates the mechanical device in the machine that softens the water. Water softeners in the US must also have salt added to work.
I keep meaning to tell you about a friend of mine who leads walks in England. If you ever get over there you’d probably enjoy signing up for one of his walks. I’d love to if I ever get to England again!
Here is David’s web site. We’ve known each other since high school: http://www.englishcountrywalks.com
Tell him I sent you!
When I moved into my funky apartment in Chicago (from Denver where we have wide open spaces- and staircases) I marveled at how they got my stuff in by hoisting it up and over the balcony into our bedroom.
Bliss or Miss´s last blog post..Week 1
Holy crap has your life changed in a few short months huh? Furniture through the window and only two months of sales? I can’t imagine what you’re going through. You homesick yet?
Lauren´s last blog post..Not your average music video