First time in Switzerland. And the best part of the trip was visiting the Mont Blanc. In France.

​Seriously, just look at that beauty:

No, we did not eat fromage fondue or Swiss chocolate.

Because we live in Belgium, you know, best chocolate in the world?

Just kidding, our Swiss francs were only enough to eat actual food. Like half a chicken, salad and the best potatoes for 15 bucks! 

We also went to the opera for the first time and saw Mozart's The Magic Flute on New Year's eve. What an amazing spectacle! 

Do you want a touch of magic in your life? Just add some nature and art. 

How were your holidays? 

On my first year back to Belgium one of my classmates at the Dutch course said: “The first two years are the most difficult”. I braced myself and went on with all the resilience I could muster.

I didn’t know what to expect and I felt completely lost most of the time but somehow, at the end of my third year back here, things are falling into place.

It will take time, but you will get used to everything and start feeling at home. You’ll get your documents in order. You’ll find a job. You’ll make friends. Don’t lose heart.

Let’s talk about Belgium:

On Language

Dutch and the ITNA test 
Again. In another language
Language learning tools
Nergens beter dan thuis

The Process

Diploma Equivalence in Belgium
The integration program in Belgium
Cohabitation in Belgium
Cohabitation in Belgium, part II
The slow process of starting over
The stay-at-home expatriate

Around

Moving to Ghent, Belgium
Carnaval in Aalst, Belgium
Geraardsbergen, the city of pies
Dinant - nature, fun and saxophones everywhere
Summer in Flanders
One weekend, four countries

This and that

8 styles of beer to try in Belgium
Volunteering in Belgium
Feeling like a person

On TripAdvisor

Best food in Brussels
Guide to Brussels outdoors
Museum guide to Brussels

On Fans of Flanders

Clutch that Dutch
That’s what I like about you
Popcorn
My city, my love
Life’s little lessons (for expats)
Love and... Paperwork. Welcome to Belgium!
Immigration: the saga continues
Amazing Little Flanders
Rediscovering Belgium

Interviews
​
Small Planet Studio - Re-entry Reality: It's not the end of the world
Wonderful Wanderings - Expats in Belgium
Bright Expats Blog

Fiction

​Home is who you are
A boy in Ghent

Last year I followed the Integration Program for foreigners, which consists of a social orientation class, Dutch classes and work/study coaching. They also intermediate diploma equivalence processes for free.

I have a Brazilian diploma in English teaching and this is what my recognition process looked like:

1. I provided Kom-Pas (now In-Gent) with the following documents:

• A copy of my diploma and a copy of my grades history (they had these translated).
• Official (original or scanned) subjects’ descriptions (provided by my University).
• Translation of the subjects’ descriptions (a summary in English made by me).
• My résumé.
• Letters from former employers or any document proving professional experience (optional).

 
   2.   My dossier was sent to Flemish Universities for analysis.

   3.   I was invited for an interview and a sample English lesson.

   4.   I received an official document saying my diploma is equivalent to Bachelor Secundair Onderwijs - onderwijs vak: Engels.

It seems like a very straightforward process, but in reality there’s a lot of waiting around, of being asked for documents you can’t provide and of more waiting around. This little process lasted a year and a half.

There were moments I completely forgot about it and I never really counted on it. I thought of it as a bonus, if it worked out well.

It did, and now I’m allowed to work as a teacher. And I hope I’m done with paperwork for a while. 

Have you had your diploma recognized? How was it? 

Or are you going to try? 

Here are some useful links: 

National Academic Recognition Information Center (NARIC-Vlaanderen)
​Inburgering (Civic Integration Program)
In-Gent Integratie en Inburgering

Ivna, please tell us about who you are and where you are from.

​I am a Brazilian journalist and writer and I've been living in Belgium since 2005. I was born in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro. I came to Europe in 2003 to do a master's degree and I met my husband, with whom I have a son. 

What motivated you to live abroad?

I wanted to speak a foreign language and I chose French. That's why I went to Strasbourg. I also wanted to know a bit more about the EU. In Strasbourg there is a good University where I could focus on this topic.

What were your expectations before you moved to Belgium? Did the reality align with those expectations?

I did't know Belgium before. I came here because my husband works for Le Parisien newspaper. I also became a correspondent for a Brazilian newspaper and after that I became a Portuguese teacher for Europeans, especially at the European Parliament.
Belgium is a very good country with a good quality of life. The multicultural environment is very attractive and I love this because every day I can learn with them. 

What are the biggest challenges in starting a new life abroad?

I think that it's the integration. We have to be open to the other culture and the other way of thinking. In the beginning it was very difficult because I didn't have friends. In addition, I had to face the reality. I was very lonely, I had never known that in Brazil. I have a big family and many friends.  Now I've made many friends and I am very adapted to the country. 

How has living abroad changed you? What have you learned?

Living abroad is something very special. You get to know many people, you have to speak another language, and if you compare it to Rio, Belgium is very cold.
I've learned to be open minded, more patient, and that people are the same everywhere. I think that in Belgium we have respect for people, the political conscience is more concrete and the relationship between people has to be respected. Teachers, doctors, lawyers and children have to know what they are and respect each other.
 
What do you wish you had known before leaving your home country?

More about politics in Belgium, for example. How this country can function with the complicated system.

Tell us about your writing. What inspires you?

I love to write. I love Portuguese and I love reading. I am a journalist, as I said. My son Elias is my inspiration. I was very happy when he was born and I thought "why not write about the different phases of a baby?".
And then, one day I found out I had breast cancer and he asked me what was happening all the time. So I explained and I presented this idea to a friend of mine, a writer too, Thalita Rebouças. She presented this to an editor and the editor loved it immediately. What´s happening to my mummy? tells my own story of facing breast cancer with my son.  

What are you working on at the moment? 

I am teaching Portuguese to Europeans and I am a French to Portuguese translator as well. And I have finished too books for children, one about King Pedro II and the other about the twins Fábio and Rafael.

Any advice you’d like to share with those who dream of creating a new, happier life?

I think people can live every day with passion. I know that's difficult, but when you almost die because of a disease you see things in another way. Only you can make your life a happy life. Happiness is inside us...

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Ivna! 

How about you? Have you been recreating your life abroad? Feel free to leave a comment! 

The little country of Belgium is a giant when it comes to beer brewing. Not only is it home to the largest brewing company (AB InBev), it also boasts a huge variety of styles and brewing traditions with over 1000 types of beer. For that reason it can seem a daunting task for the uninitiated visitor to figure out which beers to try when in Belgium. Of course you can always ask the bartender or a friendly native, who will gladly help you. For now this list might help to get an overview of what’s out there.

​1. Trappist beers

Some Trappists probably rank among the most well-known Belgian beers. Trappist is a protected trademark and the beers are brewed by Cistercian monks in a monastery. Only 11 Cistercian monasteries in the world brew Trappist beers, six of which are in Belgium. Although they are all labeled as Trappist, each of these beers has its own style and taste. The Belgian Trappists are Westmalle, Westvleteren, Achel, Chimay, Rochefort and Orval.

You might recognize Westvleteren because its “12” has been consistently rated as the best beer in the world. This one might be a bit tricky to find. Some people get it straight from the monastery (http://sintsixtus.be/) but most specialized beer shops should have it.

A personal favorite of mine is Orval. It is a bit of an odd one out among the Trappists. Only one type is brewed, which is an amber, dry hopped beer of 6,2%. The scent is fruity and hoppy. The taste is lightly sour due to wild Brettanomyces yeast involved in the brewing process. Some bars will serve different ages of Orval because the taste evolves as it ripens in the bottle. Young Orval has a fruity and hoppy aroma, while year-old Orval will start to develop a more complex bitter taste.
​
For a stronger hit you can try Westmalle tripel (9,5%) with a strong taste and rich aroma, Chimay bleu (9%) with a smooth and malty flavor or Rochefort 10, a full-bodied, complex dark brown beer.
Just in case you are curious about the other Trappist beers there is Gregorius from Austria, Spencer from the US, Tre Fontane from Italy and Zundert and La Trappe from the Netherlands. La Trappe was actually the first Cistercian monastery and started this brewing tradition in 1685, hence the term Trappist beers.
 
 
 
2. Spontaneous fermentation

Another typical Belgian product are the beers of spontaneous fermentation. These beers are produced in the region around Brussels called Pajottenland and along the Zenne river. What makes these beers unique is that they get fermented by wild yeasts from the environment, like Brettanomyces. The first fermentation produces lambic beer, which is aged on oak barrels. Lambic is a flat beer with a sour refreshing taste. Because aged hops are used in the brewing, there is little bitterness.

A second fermentation with a blend of young and aged lambic produces Gueuze. It ferments further in the bottle resulting in strong carbonation. This gives the beer a crisp sparkly taste and is the reason why it is often called the Champagne of beers. Other complex flavours and aromas derive from the wild yeast and aging process. Fruits like sour cherries or raspberries are macerated in the lambic to produce Kriek and Framboise respectively.  

Some well-known Gueuze makers are Cantillon, Oud-Beersel, Girardin, Boon, Lindemans (try the cuvée René), Timmermans, Hanssens and 3 Fonteinen.
​
Most bars in Belgium should have one or more beers of spontaneous fermentation but to have the real experience, a visit to the Pajottenland region is advised. A personal recommendation is a little bar in the Gueuze heartland called In de verzekering tegen de grote dorst. This bar also hosts a biannual international festival of spontaneous fermentation attracting many foreign beer enthousiasts. One town over you can also visit De Cam, a nice bar and small-scale Gueuze-blender where you can taste the local cuisine and drink the locally produced Gueuze, Lambic, Kriek or Framboise.
​
 
3. Flemish red

This style of beer is remarkable for its fruity taste and red color despite any presence of fruits in the brewing process. The beer originates from the region “West-Flanders” and owes its distinct color and taste to a combination of the use of malt and the aging on oak barrels. The classic to try is Rodenbach, if possible in combination with some fresh grey shrimp at the Belgian seaside. Another Flemish red ale is Duchesse de Bourgogne.
​
 
4. Old brown

The region of East-Flanders also has a typical style of beer. Old brown is a beer with a long aging process in stainless steel tanks. The color is more brownish than red and the taste is smooth and malty with a light sourness. Liefmans Goudenband and Brouwers Verzet Oud Bruin are great examples of this brewing style.
​
 
5. Saison 

Going to the French speaking part of Belgium, in the region of Henegouwen, we find the origin of saison beer. This used to be a seasonal beer that was brewed in winter to provide a thirst quencher for the harvesting period. Saison beers tend to be ambery blond with complex flavours coming from hops and yeast. Saison Dupont is a standard in this genre.
​

6. Speciale Belge

This type of beer is an amber ale of about 5 to 6%. Caramelized malt is used in the brewing, which gives this beer a smooth taste with a gentle hoppy aroma. Palm is the most well-known and can be ordered in any bar by showing the palm of your hand to a waiter. De Koninck is another great example of this style, usually ordered as a “bolleke Koninck”.
​

7. Belgian white

​Belgian white or “witbier”, is named after the light blond, hazy look of the beer. This is caused by suspended yeast and wheat proteins in the beer. Beside hops, coriander and orange peels are used in the brewing process and give the beer its fresh characteristic flavour. This type of beer was revived by Pierre Celis who started the Hoegaarden and later the Celis brewery in Austin Texas.

 
8. Abbey beers

Aside from Trappist monks there are several other monasteries that produce beers.  Certified Belgian Abbey beers are brewed by non-Trappist monasteries or under license of a monastery. Like Trappist beers there is no single style for Abbey beers but most breweries make strong blond triple and lighter brown double beers. One of my favorites is Maredsous triple, a well-rounded 10% amber beer with fruity aromas. There are some 23 certified Belgian Abbey beers but many more brewers brew following the Abbey tradition. Some of these uncertified ones to try are Triple Karmeliet, Witkap triple and Sint-Bernardus Abt 12 (this last one is a good alternative if you can’t find Westvleteren 12).

Guest post by Robrecht. 

Hi guys! How was your week? I've been working and studying and I've finally reached Stephen King's last brick of The Dark Tower series. On top of that, there's always browsing the internet for gems of wisdom (and cat videos). Here are some for you: 

Do you love traveling? Have you ever wondered why you can't be still for long? This might explain it. 

A medical miracle to inspire you. 

I don't know why, but this makes me smile :) 

​And this. 

If you're in Belgium for the holidays, don't miss the Christmas markets. 

Book Depository has discounts of up to 50%, plus gift recommendations by interest. Oh, and free delivery! Are there better gifts than books?

Have you been searching for happiness? 

I'll be making a variation of this dish tonight, how about you? 

Speaking of food, you've probably seen the 'processed meat causes cancer' news. Here are my thoughts on that. 

Feeling tired? Here's how to have more energy. 
"It's much simpler than that. Here's what I've realized: If I want more energy, I don't need to go out and find more energy from some outside source. I only need stop wasting the energy that I already possess on stupid shit." Elizabeth Gilbert

​Happy weekend, everyone! 

“The opposite of happiness is not sadness, but boredom.” Tim Ferris in The 4-hour workweek

We all need something to look forward to.

We need fun and excitement to counterbalance our serious routines.

We need some adventure to feel alive!

Adventure certainly means different things to you and me, and we crave it in different doses. To me, it has to do with travel, with new places and experiences. If I stay put for too long, stuck in routine, having nothing cool to look forward to, I get restless.

But we can’t just pack up and leave when feeling bored (unfortunately). So I’ve been exploring new ways to add more spark to our lives:

1. Look around you with fresh eyes

As children, most of the world surrounding us was new and surprising. We were curious, we wondered, we explored, we played. Remember to have fun.

2. Go to an animal park

It will give you that feeling of being far away. You’ll relax, forget about your to-do list and the city noise. Plus, animals are amazing!

3. Go for a walk in nature
​
Find the closest park, forest or beach. Turn off the internet on your phone. Turn on your ears, open your eyes, breathe consciously. 

4. Go camping

Adventure means getting out of your comfort zone! You might not have reception, electricity or even a toilet, but make sure you have amazing nature and books (and wine) on your camping trip!

5. Have an exotic meal

Next time you eat out, try a different cuisine! Thai? Greek? Congolese? Brazilian? If you like cooking, try an unusual recipe and invite friends over!

6. Visit a new town

Spend a day walking around a town you’ve never been before. Find out what the best local food and drinks are. Window shop. Sit down and people-watch.

7. Go to a show you love

Live performances always make me feel good. One of my favorites is Cirque du Soleil – it’s the closest thing to magic I know.

8. Book the cheapest flight

This requires you to be… well, adventurous! Choose a date you want to travel and just find the cheapest destination available. That’s how we’re going to Geneva on NYE!

When you spread little bits of excitement in your life, they’ll attract more and more. 

What adventure are you going on TODAY?

I have always been organized. Always enjoyed cleaning out my closet and throwing stuff away. Making space.

When I left for the USA in 2009, I gave most of my old clothes, shoes and accessories away. I burned a lot of notebooks, letters, cards and school material. I didn’t need any of that in my new life. I traveled light, one suitcase and one carry-on, and I felt lighter still. I was setting off for a year that would be the beginning of the rest of my life. I needed space and clarity.

Au Pairs made decent money, considering we didn’t have any obligations, and things are cheap there. It would have been easy to fall into the trap, but before buying anything I always asked myself: “Do I really need that?” The answer was often no and most of my money went to trips, events, going out and my bank account back in Brazil. 

I packed my bags and moved another four times after that: USA – Brazil, Brazil – Belgium, Belgium – Brazil and finally Brazil – Belgium again. Cleaning up my belongings is a ritual I love. I appreciate the memories, reflect on how I’ve changed and feel great in letting go. I was proud to have everything I owned and needed in a suitcase or two. Such freedom! 

But now… 

Now for the first time in my life I’m living in my own home. It’s a small apartment and we keep it very neat - we recycle everything we can and we’re quite conscious shoppers, but I still believe we could do with a little less. 

Less clothes, to start with. I donated two big bags in the end of summer and there are a few items on probation that, if not worn by the end of the year, will definitely find a new owner. It’s much more fun to have selected clothes that I love and look good in than to have a cluttered closet full of what I “don’t really like but might wear one day”. We all know how that goes. 

I don’t think I could strictly adopt a capsule wardrobe, but my philosophy is easy and simple to live by: How many pairs of shoes do you possibly need? How many bags? How many dresses? I haven’t bought jewelry in a long time and you’ll often see me wearing the same eye shadow and red nail polish (now thanks to my sister I have So! Many! Colors! Five.)

Less “things” lying around. A good rule for this one is: if it’s not useful or beautiful, get rid of it. I’m pretty merciless in letting go of things, but I can’t say the same for my boyfriend. We’re working on it. We never ever play the wii and I suspect it doesn’t work anymore, but it’s still there. A couple of side tables I don’t really love, tennis rackets we haven't used in two years, cups, candles, magazines and other knick-knacks can certainly find a new fate. 

If you’d like to give us awesome gifts, just give us books. Or a bottle of wine. Or a restaurant coupon. We don’t mind those one bit. We’re far from living a minimalist life, but I’ll certainly keep trying. 

Less things to do. Saying no is hard sometimes, but it’s essential. I’m learning to skip engagements I don’t really want to go to or activities I don’t love in order to focus on what brings me joy. 

Less unhealthy food. We’re cutting soft drinks, packaged treats, processed meat, frozen meals. We’re lucky to have the time and inspiration to cook our own food every day. To avoid waste, we plan what we'll eat the following week and only buy those things (also because of our tiny fridge). 

Simplify. It’s calming. It’s good for the environment. Your wallet will appreciate it.
​ 

What I've been reading on the subject:
You can choose to want less, Yes and Yes 
All you need is less, The Guardian
The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in Your Life
Simple Living Manifesto: 72 ideas to Simplify Your Life
The Cheapskate Guide: 50 Tips for Frugal Living

​Any suggestion? 

Here's a poem about summer holidays:


There are sunny days and cloudy days.

Fun and boredom.

Energy and laziness.

Activity and rest.

There is company and there is solitude.

Silence and noise.

Creation and contemplation.

And every day there’s life.

Calm down, anxious heart.

 

What do you do when you have so much free time and nothing really urgent on your to-do list?

Since I started working full time I couldn’t manage time or energy for writing, so I looked forward to these two months off and I had big plans. So – much – tiiiiiiime!

What I thought I would be doing: writing new stories, writing blog posts, reading the books that have been waiting in the shelves for ages (The Chronicles of Narnia and Sherlock Holmes. Instead I’m stuck in The Dark Tower series), going to the library and cafés to write or brainstorm, doing yoga.

What I have actually been doing for three weeks: cleaning and decluttering, watching movies, sleeping in and taking naps between reads.

I’m even taking a course for teaching assistant in Dutch. Yes, I’m proud of myself for that one.

So while I have no problem keeping busy, I feel like I should be doing more. Being productive and developing myself. I have never been able to just relax and do nothing. I beat myself up over wasting time but I can’t muster the energy to create.

Are you like this too? How do you use your time?

Let’s give ourselves permission to follow our nature, to do whatever we like.

I will: read in bed, watch videos, meet up with friends, not leave the house for days if the weather is bad, bake delicious cake and eat half of it, treat myself to a home-spa, drink a cocktail on Monday evening, ride my bike, try yoga classes on YouTube and be sore for a week.

While I thought this over, I understood that this is not the time for routine, for discipline. It’s not the time to start a new good habit or to catch up with abandoned creative ambitions. You don’t owe anyone but yourself. Take it easy. If you end up writing or doing yoga now and then, perfect. If not, go take a nap. Doing nothing is also human. Life goes on.

 

A spontaneous road trip to a gorgeous and peaceful place like Bacharach, Germany can do wonders to a controlling soul like mine.

No timetables, no rush, no stress.

Lots of green, birdsong, sunshine, local food and wine.

The valley towns are protected Unesco heritage, unspoiled and authentic. No restaurant chains, no ugly apartment blocks, no traffic, just the old houses, castles and medieval ruins.

Take a quiet break, wherever you are. You know you need it. 

We recommend:

Weingut & Gästehaus Sonnenhof - Bed and Breakfast on a grape farm. It's in Oberheimbach, not far from Bacharach.  
The hilly hiking path! Totally worth the sore muscles. 
Rusticana - inexpensive, tasty meals. 
Kulturia Rheinterrasse - can't find a link, but it's on the main street. Super authentic, good food and friendly service. 
Eiscafe Italia 76 - near Rusticana. Try the Riesling ice cream!