Want to move to Belgium

[DougT93]

I intend to move to Belgium in 2003 for personal reasons. However, there is a small matter of getting a job first. Although I am working on learning both French & Dutch, concentrating harder on French, I doubt I would be functional in either or both by next year. Now don't laugh too hard, but...what job resources are out there for me? If there are any....

Thanks in advance for your help.

[imported_chanda]

Hi, DougT93,

I used to live in Belgium for at least 11 years and came to the United States in 1992. I have to tell you that I really miss Belgium. I be visiting Belgium also in 2003, maybe in the summer. I have all my classmates there and other special close friends that I haven't seen since I came to the U.S.. I don't know what country you're from, but don't worry about getting a job there. Do you have any family over there or friends that might hook you up with a job. That would be the easiest way. Hey, you know what. Don't be so worried about the language, as long you know a little of each of the languages. Especially if you're primary language is English, you could work somewhere in the northern part of the Capital city where the big companies. I don't know your Educational background, but you have really good education, you could maybe apply at company that deals with the English language and keep on studying the French and Dutch language.
I don't know if this message did any good, but I wish you all the luck in the world.

Former Belgian Residence

[DougT93]

It did; thank you.

I was wondering how hard it would be to get a work visa. I hear employers are hesitant to do that. any idea how true that is?

[imported_chanda]

Hi DougT93,

Talking about work visa or work permit. You might to check the website www.workpermit.com . They could help you out.
Okidoki. About the employers, I'm not sure, because I was still underaged to work when I left.

I hope you check out this website and talk to those people about your problem. And by the way, I speak Dutch and a little French myself. Well, if you want to practice, maybe next time you could write me back in Dutch or French or you could do a mixture of each. That last part would be so funny.

See ya,

[DougT93]

It would indeed. I was working on both, but my friends - who are the reason I want to move there - told me I need french more, that most of the Flemish already know English. So I have been working much harder on French, since it seems I might need it more, is harder to learn than Dutch, and since, if I don't live in Brussels itself, I intend to live in Wallonia. but I am still working on the Dutch somewhat, as I think it's a good idea to know both when living there.

I want to be there by May, so I will likely not be anywhere near fluent in either when I get there. But immersion should help a lot.

[imported_chanda]

I know what you mean. When I used to live in Belgium, I had French since fifth grade and I still couldn't create a full conversation without stuttering. I understood everything they said but had a hard time conjugating the verbs. Especially right now that I don't have anyone among my relatives speaking the French language. I don't have no one to practice with. Every time my dad calls me up from Belgium(yeah, he still lives there), he always tells me that I have to keep on practicing by watching the French channel and reading French books. But lighten up, if your friends speak French, they should be practicing with you by speaking to you in French, and writing in French. Because you could try to translate the letter yourself and learn from your mistakes. I agree with you, French is a very hard language to learn if you really don't have someone to practice with everyday. But try to learn the basic conversation and words. Or you know what? Write a conversation down that might take place in English and translate that and see if it makes sense.

I have to tell you this. It will be hard to learn the language now until May. But once you are there and are surrounded by other people that speaks the language that you are learning, try to blend in and try your best to create and answer back in the French or Dutch language. When you hang around with your friends, let them speak to you in French and let you answer back and let them correct you. I don't know what else to say. I know you could do it.

[imported_chanda]

HI Doug,

I hope you are doing okay. I just wanted to let you know that you don't have to worry about the language to much. Once, you are there, it's not going to take that long to learn the language (French or Dutch). You will catch up with the language so fast that you wouldn't even know yourself. I know you will have a little problem with the writing part. But that you just have to keep on practicing. Just like the time you learned the English language. Pretend you are in the first grade again.

I hope to hear from you very soon again.

[DougT93]

Yep, I'm still around.

Well, I e-mailed some inquiries to a few headhunters Sunday evening, but have yet to receive any response. I do need to learn how to write a C.V., although it looks like it's just a matter of making subtle changes to the resumé I already have. I see they want college grades on it, though. That might be a problem....

I think you're right about the language stuff. Like I said before (I think), my friend tells me that most of the Dutch already know English also, while the French don't. I am concentrating more on the French, what with Rosetta Stone CDRoms, plus a couple websites I've bookmarked to read when I can.

I travel there next month; arrive Valentine's Day, and stay for 2+ weeks. I may take a side trip during that time, but I haven't decided on that yet.

Later! :-)

[imported_chanda]

DougT93:

I hope you have a safe and fun trip and enjoy Belgium as much as you can, because I love it there. What do you mean with "problems with College grades?" But anyway,
I wish you all the luck in the world and I hope during those two weeks or more that you might run into some of my former classmates, because most of them are all living in the Capital City or further for their schooling. If you are over in Belgium, don't forget to e-mail me how it is over there and how you are doing and give me some updates from time to time. Okidoki?

[DougT93]

Problems with college grades = I didn't do very well. :-~

I'll keep in touch. It looks like they might accept my U.S. style resumé, so we'll see what happens.

[imported_chanda]

Hi DougT93,

Do you mean the company that you are trying to apply for, wants to see a copy of your College grades or do they just want to see a total GPA on your resume. I thought they only require that when a person is still in High School and applying for a job. But maybe that happen only in the U.S. I still don't know what country your from? I hope you don't mind me asking. Are you going to visit the Flemish part of Belgium too or are you going to visit only the French part? You know, when I read that you are going to move to Belgium, I'm so excited for you. One thing, I hope you get to see "Manneke Pis". You know, it's that little boy statue that just stands there and pees. Well, I hope that everything works out for you over there in Belgium and don't forget to let me know the updates.

Sincerely,

Chanda

[DougT93]

Hi Chanda.

It's been a little while, I know; I'm sorry about that. But in that time was a two week trip to Belgium. My desire to move there has not wavered; if anything, it's stronger. But the job pickings were mighty slim indeed. I only had one that was even as much as a sniff. But I don't intend to quit. I ordered a book from the American Chamber of Commerce in Brussels that lists all the American companies that employ in Belgium. I'll just start with those based here in Dallas & work my way out.

And yes...I did see the boy. :-~

Later!

[imported_chanda]

Hi Doug:

I couldn't believe my eyes when I received a message on my computer saying that you've replied. You've really made my day that morning. I was getting worried that you were having to much fun over there and not write me back. But you know what? I'm so glad that everything seems to be okay with you. Oh my gosh, I'm still having that big smile on my face. Look what you have done. How is it over there? Was it snowing? I hope that everything goes fine especially during this time of year. With all this talk about war. Don't you think it's kind of crazy. What did you think about this war when the U.S. announced that they might or will start the war this week. Isn't it kind of scary? I don't want another war, because I know what war is all about when I was a little girl. Oh, maybe I didn't tell you that I came from Cambodia.
You know what? No more talk about war, because it's freaking me out. Wishing you a lot of luck and hope to hear from you again as soon as possible.
FYI: I hope I could get out of the country by November, because I want to visit my Godparents over in Belgium. I just found out that my Godmother died a year ago. Can't you believe it. No one wanted to tell me, incase I go insane. That's funny of them to think that way about me. Hehehehe.

See ya,

Chanda

[imported_chanda]

I forgot to tell you something else.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I hope you are wearing green. If not, you better prepare yourself incase some of your friends might do something to you.

See ya,

Chanda

[DougT93]

Well, I'm still around. Or not. Or so....

I'm trying to figure out how to write a cover letter to prospective employers, while working in that I'm interested in Belgium only. To be honest, I'm pretty clueless about writing any kind of cover letter. Once I can figure that out, I'll start e-mail resumés.

Of course, a job in Belgium could be the least of my worries pretty soon, but that's another story....