Where should I make my forever home? I always thought it would be in the U.K. or Virginia. I could have moved to Mexico, Panama, or Portugal. My friends are enjoying inexpensive lives there. Some have retired and are living luxuriously for less than $1,000 a month! But no, I decided to move to Belgium. […]
Moving to Belgium – It Ain’t Cheap Read More »
Learning a new language can be a challenge, especially when you are a native English speaker learning Dutch.
Speak to Me — in Dutch! Read More »
It’s almost Easter, the time of year when Belgians go a bit mad — with color, festivity, and, of course, beer. It’s carnival week. People let their hair down and don colorful wigs and crazy costumes for three days of revelry. It’s been a tradition since the Middle Ages! There are parades, music, and merriment.
It’s Carnival Time in Belgium Read More »
Planning a trip to Europe? If you are a shopaholic, mark your calendars for January and July. It’s the perfect time to do your European shopping, and with the dollar’s current strength against the euro, it’s time to grab your credit card and hop across the pond for the big, seasonal sales. While they aren’t
Shop ‘Til You Drop in Europe Read More »
The ball dropped in New York City’s Times Square, and fireworks blazed across the skies across the world. Yeah, it’s 2023. Hallelujah. It’s hard to believe that we could celebrate again after COVID forced so many festivities to be canceled for so long. In Europe, even the Christmas markets returned this season. Boy, I’d missed
Experiencing The Best of Belgium During the Holidays Read More »
COVID-19 has been a nightmare for nearly three years, a nightmare I thought I’d avoided. I had four vaccinations and no infection, and even dated someone infected with the virus. Yet, I escaped it. Okay, I admit it. I was feeling a bit cocky. I dodged a bullet, or so I thought. And then, just
Travel Smart and Dodge A Bullet Read More »
Every four years, the world goes mad. Why? World Cup football, or soccer as we Yanks say, returns, pitting 32 teams against each other in a race for bragging rights — and $42 million in prize money. The runner-up gets $30 million. Just by qualifying for the competition, the players’ wallets get a bit thicker
The World Has Gone Mad Read More »
Thanksgiving, which we affectionately called turkey day when we were kids, has always been my favorite holiday. For me, it’s about friends, family and food. But for Europeans, it’s just another day on the calendar. Thanksgiving in Europe is just an American thing. Why I Love Thanksgiving Unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving is free of crazy commercialism.
Thanksgiving in Europe Read More »
“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.” That wasn’t just Peter Finch’s rallying cry in the 1987 film Broadcast News. It’s a battle cry around the world these days. Here in Belgium, anger about rising costs and reduced buying power have come to a head with a “national day of
There are so many challenges being an expat living in Europe. I didn’t think renting a house would be one of them. When I left Minnesota in 2016, I rented out my house, first to family members who took loving care of it, and then to renters vetted by a local management company. I never expected
Bad Renters: A Cautionary Tale Read More »
