After graduation: One year in Belgium

Brussels, Ghent, what a year! It was not an easy decision to make after having obtained my master's degree in Paris, and believe me, I did regret it very badly once I actually had to move, but after my very first day of work I was convinced I was going to have another good experience abroad. Living in the country that is right in between my two homes could only turn out to be a very interesting year. While being Dutch and living in France it is pretty fun to move to Belgium for a year!

For one thing, I truly enjoyed speaking both languages of the country. And I loved to be surrounded by people who were speaking the same languages as me. It might sound weird, but it did create a certain connection for me. So far, I have only known my Dutch family and friends who do not speak French, my French friends who do not speak Dutch, and many other friends who speak neither Dutch nor French. I realized that somehow, I identified myself faster with Belgians because of those languages. Moreover, it was a perfect practice to switch con-stant-ly between the different languages.

And well, let's not make a secret of the fact that I also enjoyed all the great beers, delicious chocolates, waffles and mostly: the best fries in the world!

But seriously, of all the countries I have been temporarily living in, Belgium is treating foreigners really differently. It is obvious that I went to the capital of Europe, the city that should have the most foreign habitants of our continent. And you could feel that in everything. I have never found an apartment this easily, not even in my own country. The fact that almost everything was pretty easy to get (a phone plan, medical appointments) gives a pretty welcoming feeling.

So I do not know which genius decided to create the Thalys, but I do thank him very much for making this year survivable. Without this train, it would probably not have been as much fun to work in one country, while having a fiancé in another country, and a family in a third country.

And now I am ready to move back to Paris! Ready to find my next destination!