I was just wondering if there was anyone in the area that would be interested in getting together for coffee or whatever.
Full Version: In Need of English Speaking Friends
Hi everyone! I'm an American living in northern France not very far from the Belgian boarder (near Mons). I moved here with my boyfriend but am still working with my company in the US remotely so I don't get much opportunity to get out and meet people. So I'm feeling pretty isolated. I was just wondering if there was anyone in the area that would be interested in getting together for coffee or whatever.
I was just wondering if there was anyone in the area that would be interested in getting together for coffee or whatever.
mons? there is a large NATO troops in that region. pletty of American soldiers
QUOTE (Jacey @ Nov 14 2008, 07:40 AM) 
Hi everyone! I'm an American living in northern France not very far from the Belgian boarder (near Mons). I moved here with my boyfriend but am still working with my company in the US remotely so I don't get much opportunity to get out and meet people. So I'm feeling pretty isolated. I was just wondering if there was anyone in the area that would be interested in getting together for coffee or whatever.
I was just wondering if there was anyone in the area that would be interested in getting together for coffee or whatever.Hi Jacey, I was reading your posting and am currently in the same position. I've moved back with my belgian husband late last year and have a job and am working from home. After settling in I'm starting to feel very isolated. How are you doing now and have you managed to meet people now?
Regards,jo-ann
QUOTE (cbs4jtlc @ Feb 13 2009, 10:24 AM)
Hi Jacey, I was reading your posting and am currently in the same position. I've moved back with my belgian husband late last year and have a job and am working from home. After settling in I'm starting to feel very isolated. How are you doing now and have you managed to meet people now?
Regards,jo-ann
Regards,jo-ann
Hello ladies,
I would suggest you check out the website www.meetup.com
I joined a "New in Town" (Brussels) group and a few others. I've found it to be a great way to meet people and make friends (including other Americans). I'm an American businessman who moved to Brussels last October.
Best of luck!
Doug
QUOTE (cbs4jtlc @ Feb 13 2009, 10:24 AM)
Hi Jacey, I was reading your posting and am currently in the same position. I've moved back with my belgian husband late last year and have a job and am working from home. After settling in I'm starting to feel very isolated. How are you doing now and have you managed to meet people now?
Regards,jo-ann
Regards,jo-ann
Hi Jo-ann, It's nice to meet you. Things here are okay. It's still hard to meet people. I've tried connecting with people from the NATO base in Mons but most are wives with small kids etc and are more connected with people already in Mons with the NATO base. Meeting folks has been hard. Especially when you don't speak the language... I'm taking French lessons now but when you work for the US from home and you speak English in the house, it's hard to practice it. I found that listening to French radio has helped a little... Watching TV helps some but only if it's either something I've already seen or if there are subtitles (which are hard to find)...
How about you? How are coping with it? Where in Belgium are you... if yo don't mind me asking...
Regards, Jacey
QUOTE (Jacey @ Nov 14 2008, 07:40 AM)
Hi everyone! I'm an American living in northern France not very far from the Belgian boarder (near Mons). I moved here with my boyfriend but am still working with my company in the US remotely so I don't get much opportunity to get out and meet people. So I'm feeling pretty isolated. I was just wondering if there was anyone in the area that would be interested in getting together for coffee or whatever.
I was just wondering if there was anyone in the area that would be interested in getting together for coffee or whatever.Hi Jacey, I live in Bever, which is also not too far from the french border, I have not long had a baby boy, he is 10months and I am also feeling very isolated as before I had him I used to commute to UK from Belgium(hubby works in Brussels and is flemish) I worked in a hospital in kent as I am an anaesthetic nurse. None of my neighbours are in during the day and there are no little children here, so also my baby is isolated; So I too would like to meet other people for coffee and chat, and also some mums, though not excusivley cos I chat baby talk 24/7 so grown up chat would be good. Pippa (pash7848@yahoo.co.uk)
Hi Jacey,
I am also from the US and work at home. My husband and I are about to move to Belgium from the Netherlands.
I really miss having friends and someone to socialize with, esp. in your mother tongue.
Where in the US are you from?
I am also from the US and work at home. My husband and I are about to move to Belgium from the Netherlands.
I really miss having friends and someone to socialize with, esp. in your mother tongue.
Where in the US are you from?
Hi Julie,
I'm origianally from Oklahoma but I've lived almost everywhere in the US (Missouri, New Your, New Jersey, Florida, California, North Carolina... you get the picture). We relocated to Northern France from North Carolina for work. My boyfriend works in a French office but I work from home.
How about you? Where in Belgium are you moving? When?
I'm origianally from Oklahoma but I've lived almost everywhere in the US (Missouri, New Your, New Jersey, Florida, California, North Carolina... you get the picture). We relocated to Northern France from North Carolina for work. My boyfriend works in a French office but I work from home.
How about you? Where in Belgium are you moving? When?
QUOTE (Julie Shoots @ Mar 2 2009, 11:33 PM)
Hi Jacey,
I am also from the US and work at home. My husband and I are about to move to Belgium from the Netherlands.
I really miss having friends and someone to socialize with, esp. in your mother tongue.
Where in the US are you from?
I am also from the US and work at home. My husband and I are about to move to Belgium from the Netherlands.
I really miss having friends and someone to socialize with, esp. in your mother tongue.
Where in the US are you from?
Hi Julie,
I'm origianally from Oklahoma but I've lived almost everywhere in the US (Missouri, New Your, New Jersey, Florida, California, North Carolina... you get the picture). We relocated to Northern France from North Carolina for work. My boyfriend works in a French office but I work from home.
How about you? Where in Belgium are you moving? When?
I'm origianally from Oklahoma but I've lived almost everywhere in the US (Missouri, New Your, New Jersey, Florida, California, North Carolina... you get the picture). We relocated to Northern France from North Carolina for work. My boyfriend works in a French office but I work from home.
How about you? Where in Belgium are you moving? When?
QUOTE (Julie Shoots @ Mar 2 2009, 11:33 PM)
Hi Jacey,
I am also from the US and work at home. My husband and I are about to move to Belgium from the Netherlands.
I really miss having friends and someone to socialize with, esp. in your mother tongue.
Where in the US are you from?
I am also from the US and work at home. My husband and I are about to move to Belgium from the Netherlands.
I really miss having friends and someone to socialize with, esp. in your mother tongue.
Where in the US are you from?
Hi Pippa,
Congratulations on your young son. That must be exciting and challenging all at the same time. I see also that you have horses. I love horses and have been riding all my life... Hopefully I will be able to start lesson here in France too but I have to find someone willing to take on an English speaking student...
Which at the moment we are finding difficult... but I'm not giving up. you said they are to thoroughbreds, did you bring them with you from England? I haven't seen many thoroughbreds here... mostly the warmbloods and draft horses...
I looked up Bever on the map... it is a small little town but I bet it's peaceful. but like you say, isolated.
Congratulations on your young son. That must be exciting and challenging all at the same time. I see also that you have horses. I love horses and have been riding all my life... Hopefully I will be able to start lesson here in France too but I have to find someone willing to take on an English speaking student...
Which at the moment we are finding difficult... but I'm not giving up. you said they are to thoroughbreds, did you bring them with you from England? I haven't seen many thoroughbreds here... mostly the warmbloods and draft horses...I looked up Bever on the map... it is a small little town but I bet it's peaceful. but like you say, isolated.
QUOTE (Pippa_Serneels @ Feb 23 2009, 03:05 PM)
Hi Jacey, I live in Bever, which is also not too far from the french border, I have not long had a baby boy, he is 10months and I am also feeling very isolated as before I had him I used to commute to UK from Belgium(hubby works in Brussels and is flemish) I worked in a hospital in kent as I am an anaesthetic nurse. None of my neighbours are in during the day and there are no little children here, so also my baby is isolated; So I too would like to meet other people for coffee and chat, and also some mums, though not excusivley cos I chat baby talk 24/7 so grown up chat would be good. Pippa (pash7848@yahoo.co.uk)
Hi Jacey,
I am originally from New Orleans, and like yourself and many Americans, have lived several places in the US- Boston, NYC, Raleigh, the Gulf Coast, etc...
My husband is Dutch and after living together in the US for over 6 years we decided it was time to move back to Europe.
We plan to move to Belgium as soon as possible, most likely the Gent area and have been searching non-stop for apartments on-line.
How do you like living in Europe?
I am originally from New Orleans, and like yourself and many Americans, have lived several places in the US- Boston, NYC, Raleigh, the Gulf Coast, etc...
My husband is Dutch and after living together in the US for over 6 years we decided it was time to move back to Europe.
We plan to move to Belgium as soon as possible, most likely the Gent area and have been searching non-stop for apartments on-line.
How do you like living in Europe?
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