Hello,

My wife and I are recent arrivals, and will be in Belgium for the next few years as I am on assignment here. We’re currently living in Kortrijk, but will be moving to Gent soon. We’re from New York/California. We don’t know any other Americans here, but it might be nice to meet a few even as we work to integrate. Is anyone in or near Gent?

Also, my wife has a MS degree but can’t work here, so she’s trying to start up a freelance writing career. She’s interested in finding a writing partner, preferably in Belgium, who she can toss e-mails to and from now and again making sure she’s not sitting on her bum the whole time. Maybe even a critiquing partner if someone is ambitious.

At any rate, I hope to meet a few U.S. expats soon.

Why can't she work? Visa reasons?

I suppose she can if she got a work permit, but isn't that expensive? My company paid for mine, which is why we're here.

Is it possible some places would hire American expats, even if there are greater costs associated with it?

Hello,

On Friday, November 17 at 9pm there's a drink organised in the Irish Pub Celtic Towers in Ghent as a network event for expats.
For more information, you can send a mail to <a href="mailto:expatsgent@yahoo.com" Target="_BLANK">expatsgent@yahoo.com</a>

BR,

Kris

Hi, Arianthe,

I find myself in a somewhat similar position as your wife about working in Belgium. Living with family whose career has moved them to Belgium has been frustrating because first, you must deal with a lengthy visa process, and second, even if one gets a work permit, the taxes will likely be prohibitive for her second salary/job. I have actually discussed this with a couple of expat spouses who were taxed unmercifully and it just became fiscally impossible for them to continue.

I do a lot of freelance writing therefore and live in Brussels. I suppose you could say that I'm just "sitting on my bum" leading a meaningless life, if you were so inclined to label me such, but that's pretty much what writers do - ya dig! I have published and spend a fair amount of time copyreading and researching as well as traveling. I don't know if your wife is going in this direction, but I might be open to exchanging e-mails, etc. I do know that it takes a while to integrate into the Belgium way of life and learning the language takes a fair amount of time if she is not fluent in French or Dutch. I guarantee this is a far cry from CA on all fronts.

Hello-

Ah, sorry I missed your post. My e-mail address is phillip.willingham (A+) gmail (d0t) com. Please send me an e-mail, and I'll get you in touch with my wife.

hi!
any expats living in gent can also message me!
Thanks!