1 edit
There is a big chance I might be offered a job in my company's branch in
Brussels. The salary isn't great, I don't know anyone there, nor can I
speak Flemish or French...
In addition, this means I will have to leave everything behind, my job,
my friends.. everything.. my life in the UK..
Just because I am dying for a change, I think I'll be going for it. I am
thinking, try it for a year or so.. I could always leave..
Is there anyone here from Brussels who can guide me, or anyone is able
offer a piece of advice to ol' peachy here?
Originally posted by PeachyI would say don't worry about it and have a good time. You would make new friends in a hurry. Also, Belgium isn't that far away. A lot of people in Brussels can also speak English, so I don't think you would have any problems. 🙂
There is a big chance I might be offered a job in my company's branch in
Brussels. The salary isn't great, I don't know anyone there, nor can I
speak Flemish or French...
In addition, this means I will have to leave everything behind, my job,
my friends.. everything.. my life in the UK..
Just because I am dying for a change, I think I'll be going ...[text shortened]... Brussels who can guide me, or anyone is able
offer a piece of advice to ol' peachy here?
1 edit
Originally posted by lauseyYeh, and the good thing I'll be givin a laptop and have my home internet
I would say don't worry about it and have a good time. You would make new friends in a hurry. Also, Belgium isn't that far away. A lot of people in Brussels can also speak English, so I don't think you would have any problems. 🙂
connection paid for.. so i'll always be here.. (the sad person that I am... ) 🙂
Cheers!
Edit: still abit scary.....😳
Originally posted by Peachybest thing I ever did was go to Poland for a "short" holiday. I stayed for 8 years...
There is a big chance I might be offered a job in my company's branch in
Brussels. The salary isn't great, I don't know anyone there, nor can I
speak Flemish or French...
In addition, this means I will have to leave everything behind, my job,
my friends.. everything.. my life in the UK..
Just because I am dying for a change, I think I'll be going ...[text shortened]... Brussels who can guide me, or anyone is able
offer a piece of advice to ol' peachy here?
If you have never lived (more than just a holiday, I mean months) outside of the UK, I would recommend that you go for the experience of living in a foreign country. Once you have lived in a different society; bought your bread and beer there (if they sell it: you may just find you prefer something different); paid your rent and gas bills; read the subway ads, newspapers and comics (and at least tried to understand what they say); learnt how they do that little nose wiggle; etc, etc,... then you can see things differently. Then when you get back to the UK (if you ever do...), you can see what's wrong with it, as well as what's right (if anything). Then you can understand what's important, why people think certain things, do certain things.
Go for it, and go with an open mind. You will become a better person for the experience.
Originally posted by PeachyI did the same thing and stayed for 2 years before returning to Ireland. I would say try it as variety is the spice of life, but you will get bored after a couple of years. The restuarants are the best anywhere, the nightlife is quite good, you are close to Paris, Amsterdam, Bruge, even The Alps. However, and here is the crunch, Belgium is generally quite dull. So 2 years and then hop off to somewhere else I say.
There is a big chance I might be offered a job in my company's branch in
Brussels. The salary isn't great, I don't know anyone there, nor can I
speak Flemish or French...
In addition, this means I will have to leave everything behind, my job,
my friends.. everything.. my life in the UK..
Just because I am dying for a change, I think I'll be going ...[text shortened]... Brussels who can guide me, or anyone is able
offer a piece of advice to ol' peachy here?
Originally posted by PeachyIs this likely to be a stepping stone to a better position within the company?
There is a big chance I might be offered a job in my company's branch in
Brussels. The salary isn't great, I don't know anyone there, nor can I
speak Flemish or French...
In addition, this means I will have to leave everything behind, my job,
my friends.. everything.. my life in the UK..
Just because I am dying for a change, I think I'll be going ...[text shortened]... Brussels who can guide me, or anyone is able
offer a piece of advice to ol' peachy here?
Are the company doing better abroad and maybe trying to get better staff from UK into overseas positions before closing down UK operations?
What are your options/rights if company sack you when in Belgium rather than in UK?
Are they paying relocation expenses or do you have to fund yourself?
Have you immediate family committments (wife/children) to consider?
Have you looked at your income position when living in Belgium - will you have more or less pay taking into account tax payable?
Have you considered your expenses? General cost of living, accomodation, healthcare etc.
Do you really want to live in Belgium?
Do you really want to leave UK?
Consider the pros and cons, then and only then make your decision.
Just remember though, you are talking about relocating to BELGIUM!
😉
Originally posted by PeachyYou'll go there, make friends, meet a girl/guy, maybe buy a house, get a promotion in your company, but you'll still miss "home". A year will pass and you'll talk about making plans to move back, but that'll mean, selling the house, leaving the girl/guy, leaving your new friends, finding a job...etc., so you'll put it off a while longer. A few more years will pass and you'll notice that you haven't made any progress toward your goal of moving back. By now, you're starting to resent Brussels, your job, girlfriend...etc. Your drinking is starting to get out of control. Your life enters a downward spiral and the hole you've dug for yourself gets deeper and deeper until it seems that there's no way out. You curse yourself for making the decision to move. "Why did I do it?", you ask. "Beacuse I was bored?" "Restless?" With your last bit of energy, you howl at the 4 padded walls that surround you. Then the lights start to dim and you sink into nothingness.
There is a big chance I might be offered a job in my company's branch in
Brussels. The salary isn't great, I don't know anyone there, nor can I
speak Flemish or French...
In addition, this means I will have to leave everything behind, my job,
my friends.. everything.. my life in the UK..
Just because I am dying for a change, I think I'll be going ...[text shortened]... Brussels who can guide me, or anyone is able
offer a piece of advice to ol' peachy here?
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Originally posted by rbmorristhat's one dark scenario you concured up!
You'll go there, make friends, meet a girl/guy, maybe buy a house, get a promotion in your company, but you'll still miss "home". A year will pass and you'll talk about making plans to move back, but that'll mean, selling the house, leaving the girl/guy, leaving your new friends, finding a job...etc., so you'll put it off a while longer. A few more years ...[text shortened]... hat surround you. Then the lights start to dim and you sink into nothingness.
i say change is good, living abroad is good, and having employment while living abroad is especially good.
Originally posted by PeachyI go over to Belgium every 2 or 3 weeks as my girlfriend lives there - It is a brilliant country - very friendly people - great beer, far batter drinking culture and I haven't met anyone between 10-40 who doesn't speak English (Honest) Go for it - you will love the country, try living a bit away from Brussels, my girlfriend lives in Gent which is an easy 30 minute train ride away - also Brugge is great. Hope it works out for you, I'm sure it will.
There is a big chance I might be offered a job in my company's branch in
Brussels. The salary isn't great, I don't know anyone there, nor can I
speak Flemish or French...
In addition, this means I will have to leave everything behind, my job,
my friends.. everything.. my life in the UK..
Just because I am dying for a change, I think I'll be going ...[text shortened]... Brussels who can guide me, or anyone is able
offer a piece of advice to ol' peachy here?
If you want any tips or to go for a beer when you go over just let me know - I'm over lots and might well move out if I see a good teaching job in Brussels.
Originally posted by tonytiger41I agree completely. I have been living abroad for six years now, and have never missed "home". I feel more at home here than I have ever felt in Germany.
that's one dark scenario you concured up!
i say change is good, living abroad is good, and having employment while living abroad is especially good.
Originally posted by Daemon SinWell, then you also got what you wanted, didn't you? It's not impossible that I'll move back to Germany some day, but at the moment I don't see this happen any time soon. But if I should ever have that wish, I don't see why I shouldn't go ahead and do it. Of course things become more complicated if you have a partner or a family.
I lived in Holland for 7 years, then I did feel homesick and moved back to the UK :'(
By the way, I also have a sister who has been living in Brussels with her family for ten years or so. I don't think she has ever regretted that decision (which wasn't made because she absolutely wanted to move to Brussels, but because both she and her husband got a job there) either.
Originally posted by NordlysI guess it depends on the type of person you are. In all seriousness, it can be difficult (not impossible, but difficult) to disentangle yourself from your new life. Just something to consider. I speak from experience.
Well, then you also got what you wanted, didn't you? It's not impossible that I'll move back to Germany some day, but at the moment I don't see this happen any time soon. But if I should ever have that wish, I don't see why I shouldn't go ahead and do it. Of course things become more complicated if you have a partner or a family.
By the way, I also have a ...[text shortened]... anted to move to Brussels, but because both she and her husband got a job there) either.
I came back to the UK from Belgium last year after living in Brussles for 3 years - I didn't really chose to come back as I was having a great time, but the rught job came up.
I'm there again right now, working on a project. Brussels is great - friendly, no violence, loads of different cultrues and nationalities but the most central language is English (although I'd recommend trying to learn another language or two while you're here or you can look ignorant...). I've still got loads of friends over here and visit them in Belgium or their home countries when I get chance (Bolivia next 🙂)
You should have no problem making a fun life here. At the worst it doesn't work out & you go off and try something else - I truely believe it is better to regret something that you have done rather than something you didn't do (except perhaps murder...)
PM me if you like and we can chat about it more.