Reflecting on my life in Brussels over the last year, I realize how I have changed in my thinking toward my adopted city. It hasn't been Brussels that has changed - it has been my 'growing up' into the city that has changed.

It was very difficult at first. I don't know what I expected - people to greet me on the street with open arms and big smiles or something. What I mistook for rudeness was a Belgian aloofness perhaps with strangers. As I travel a lot between Brussels and Amsterdam, an inevitable comparison has always been present in my thinking. I was immediately dazzled by the openness and tolerance of A'dam, which immediately impressed me. As I have come to compare the two more recently, however, I realize that this is only a surface concept as A'dam has its own 'difficult' side.

Brussels is actually so much more than it appears from first impressions. Sure, it has problems - too much bureaocracy, taxation, and separatism, frequently dirty with ongoing, unfinished construction. And when will the city realize that more street and highway signs are better than few or none? The Tourism Board should address this issue sooner rather than later. But everyday that I am here, I discover something new and wonderful, whether it is a restaurant or shop or exhibition just opened or whatever.

I have come to believe that people share many of the same behaviors no matter where they live. For expats, it is about adjusting and seeing the positive and working within the environment. I still really love going to the smaller Flemish cities (Brugge, Gent, etc.), but I feel comfortable here now and suddenly the people seem much more friendly and kind. It took awhile but I made the leap from adolescent thinking to adult thinking. My initial self-absorption has made way for a more generous appraisal and Brussels has become home.

you're a dreamer...

what brought you to Brussels: love, work, an urge for red meat?

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HAHAHAHAHA! I love the "red meat" guess. I don't know how I ended up here...I fell and hit my head and woke up here.
Let's see..hummmm!
I don't actually go to work - I'm a freelance writer so I can live anywhere.
I seem to be relationship-less at the moment.

Can't you see I'm busy giving myself a pep talk on Brussels? Hee Hee.

better no relation-ship
than in a titanic of a relation-ship


<sorry for the silly pun, couldn't stop myself>

ach zo... a writer... a true dreamer....

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Ok, ok, I'll admit it. Great pun, btw. I have to tell you that it's rough being a pragmatist/dreamer - cynic/idealist.

One of the reasons I like Brussels, which will really make you laugh, is that it's a great jumping off place for getting to OTHER places. I've been thinking lately where I would really rather be if I could choose somewhere else. It would definitely involve a pristine, white sandy beach, warm water, fewer people (tourists), and good organic VEGETARIAN food/products.

Any suggestions?

Where would you be if you weren't here :?

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phlegmy, regarding my original post about Brussels, I let myself get sidetracked and meant to ask you why you called me 'a dreamer'? I'm really curious - are you in disagreement with what I wrote about Brussels, and if so, why? I mentioned I was giving myself a pep talk, but I just am wondering about what you think about the city overall :?:

The (very) good, the bad and the ugly can be visually summarised by this map of socio-economic divisions in Brussels

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Thanks for the map; it really puts things into perspective. I live in the city and I guess you would call my neighborhood the Grand Place area and surroundings. So I see everyday life through a blend of too many tourists, beggars, service personnel, etc., not exactly an accurate feel for the place. I just can't seem to overcome the juxtaposition of wealth and poverty that you see everywhere, but I assume there is a middle class in there hiding somewhere around in Uccle and some of the few areas on the map.

I find prices to be quite high on clothing, watches, and other items - at least for me. Groceries, if I'm careful, are pretty expensive but less, I'm sure, than in many places.

Not being from here I'm unable to get a real picture as I don't meet many Belgians. I would really like to know more about the 'real' Brussels, but my lack of association makes it difficult. The few I've met all live outside of Brussels, in Leuven or around there, Antwerp, etc.

All I know is that it rains way too much and I keep having allergy problems. Where's the beach?

City?

1) Historically, it's a hotchpot of villages that shave been tossed together... not a city like Gent, Liège, Antwerpen
2) Politically, those 19 mayors are trying to do each other in all of the time.... porposals to merge these former villages (remember, place like Watermaal-Bosvoorde, Oudergem have what... 30.000 residents?) have always been rejected so they can keep messing around with OCMW CPAS money (and also because Ukkel doesnot enjoy the idea of paying for Sint-Joost)
3) Sociologically Brussels is very divided... BCBG gang in Oudergem/Ukkel.... anywhere you see MR-FDF posters during elections basically, Moroccan Molenbeek, Turkish Schaarbeek, Portugeezers and Polish in Saint-Gilles... and then of course eurocrats, though they tend to head toward Overijse/Hoeilaart.... which gives you Germans demanding to use French in local administration...

To be honest... I like it because people-wise it is the most interesting spot nearby... but I hate it because of the way its original language/culture has been eradicated in the 19th and 20th century and 9/10 times I still can't order a sandwich in my mother tongue.... and I have quite a few Brusseleers in my pedigree.

Most Flems couldn't be arsed about the place after office hours really ...

I still think my favorite city is Gent.

In the end the only refuge we'll find is in the dungeons of our own mind... the luckiest among us being solipsists.

Hey kama,

I'm new to the forum, but I've been reading some of your posts (you seem fairly prolific). I'm not in Belgium yet, but when I get there, we should meet up for a vegetarian meal somewhere. I've spent a lot of time in Belgium and can appreciate your observations.

A little more about me: My wife is Belgian and moved back a while ago. I'll be joining her likely at the end of the summer. Both of us are sort-of vegetarians. After a couple weeks in Panama, we both eat fish and seafood.

As for vegetarian products, there is less than there was 5-8 years ago. But, some good stuff can still be found. Have you had Quorn yet? Great stuff. Also, my wife makes regular trips to the Makro, of all places, for rosesaucisse (I'm sure I slaughtered the spelling), which is basically vegetarian bologna. It's excellent. As for restaurants, I've never had too much of a problem. Of course, I could eat pizza every day. There is more than pizza though. Really, I don't think it's more difficult eating vegetarian than it is in the USA.

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Good to meet you and your wife through this board. I've been in Brussells for almost a year now and I truly discover something new about the city almost every day.

It actually took me months to track down either vegetarian offerings in non-veg places or veg places to eat here because it's a carnivore's delight. Brussels has so many fantastic restaurants but finding good veg places is more difficult here than in the US, I think (although w/both, you just have to know where to look). You can always rely on Exki and the Foodmaker; I also love Yaki (a little Thai restaurant) at the Bourse. I further rely on the Bio products at Den Teapot natural grocery and the Bio products at GB and DelHaize. Since you eat fish and seafood, many places offer great dishes with that. I also like the Indian restaurant at the Bourse, La Maharani. They have a great Sag Aloo and so forth. At the Petit Sablon, there is a little tearoom, that offers vegetarian quiche and a salad; always good. I am still collecting names obviously. Yes, I sometimes buy the Quorn products (tofu), but I wish DelHaize carried the Tivoll soy product that they sell for Albert Haijn (NL). I can't get the little studjes here (probably misspelled).

I have ended up doing a lot of home cooking just because I get frustrated (and to save costs). I am still looking for any restaurant in Brussels that serves soy products (like veg one). I did find a couple in Paris, which totally excited me. Yes, it would be fun to get together once you get here. I can't begin to describe my upset when I have seen horsemeat on menus here - I think it's a cultural upset as it shouldn't matter, I guess, if you're vegetarian as to what meat is being served.

I think Brussels is an interesting diverse city; you never know what to expect; yesterday, I wandered into Grand Place and they had a full symphony orchestra on an outdoor stage playing a wonderful concert. People of every age, nationality, and manner of dress were just standing there absorbing the magnificent strains of music and it was just great!
Keep in touch!