Here is the tale of our first days in Brussel. If we didn't want a change we would be crying in our soup. But since we evidently think that change is good, we are cultivating a greater sense of humor. Upon our arrival we had reserved a car service to bring an SUV for our 9 suitcases and 4 bodies. It was really interesting to see a gentleman holding his Ipad with the name Nick Felix in large letters as a sign. However, when Nick told him that he was Nick Felix, he had a look of disbelief. He later told us that people sometimes pretend to be others in hopes of getting a free ride. But the reason he didn't believe Nick was because of the 3 other people and the 9 bags that were following him. He came expecting one person and four bags. So he had earlier turned in an SUV for a Mercedes sedan. Once he realized that he had misread the reservation and that the number 4 referred not to the number of bags but people, he was extremely apologetic. We rather he and Nick managed to cram 9 bags plus 2 backpacks and the four of us into the car. It was hilarious! We were so good humored about it and he actually promised us free passage to anywhere the next time we need it. His name was Maurice and he was very helpful. Especially because once we arrived at the apartment there was no one to receive us immediately. So we all "hung out" in his car.
The apartment is very nice and perfect for us in some peculiar ways. But it is a 4th (or 5th) floor walk up--No Elevator. We climb and descend 78 stairs every time we come or go. Imagine bringing the bags in--ALL 9 BAGS! Maurice even helped with that. So it is a workout, for real. I am almost used to it now. Actually I prefer walking up to walking down the stairs.
Yesterday we visited a school. I had looked into that school when I as in Georgia. However, the directeur made no promises and told me to just come in when we arrived. So we popped in at 2:30 pm. The girls loved it. The school is about 150 yrs old (at least the building is). Today we visited another school and before we could get to the classroom through the courtyard where the kids were playing, Karielle was surrounded by a minimum of 6 children who evidently were expecting her and wanted to know if she could play. Both girls completely forgot about the other school and told us they wanted to go here. As we talked to the secretary of the directeur (the director had already left), the girl joined their new classmates in different activities. So I guess it was somewhat decided by them where they will go.
Then there are the adventures of the STIB (the transportation system). We have yet to find a kiosk during the hours that they are open. There are machines to buy metrocards and bus passes. But, the machines accept only coins or credit cards. This is only a problem because it will not accept our credit cards. We don't know why. Yesterday we did manage to get one of the machines to accept one of my cards. But no such luck today. We actually missed a meeting because we were trying to clear up the problem but we need the phonecard to add more minutes to Nick's phone in order to call and get the address of the meeting place and find out what bus or metro to take. But the card didn't work or the service didn't work. But we figure it out. So we trekked over to the Metro station not to take the Metro but to catch a bus. But since we still didn't succeed in getting the bus ticket. We just threw in the towel and went back to the apartment. There are some sorts of travel passes for the bus and metro but we don't even know how to get them. We need a kiosk with a human inside! Soooo these are the adventures of the Felixes so far.
We have gone to a "Friterie" and had......des FRITES. Fries are available with any one of about 15 sauces. We just now tried some chocolate but the Belgian waffles have yet to be explored. We are told that there are two types of Belgian waffles and that there is a raging debate as to which is best. I look forward to trying them both.
I wrote this long story at 1:00 am. So needless to say I am suffering from Jet lag. Well until the next time. Ciao.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
The Slow Move Become Swift
I have been expecting to move to Belgium for three months. Each phase of the move took three times as much time as expected. Initially, we were told "Oh...you will have the work permit by mid November, for sure. Instead we received a notice that there was a great delay in processing work permits as approximately 8 employees suddenly resign, walked off or were sacked (Which of the three, I do not know.) from the office that grants the permits. Nick's application was still sitting on a pile of applications that remained untouched. We could hope to see it in another month.
Mid December comes and then goes. Our friends throw a goodbye party for us. But we didn't leave. In actuality, my friends were very happy about the delay. At least that is what they told me. Jokes were made about how we were not really leaving. We just wanted to see how much we were appreciated. We said to ourselves, "Surely we will be gone by the end of December". Yet the only thing that went by was the end of December and we were still there. We received the work permit on December 24th. We applied for the visa on December 27th. On the 28th we were inform of everything that was lacking in our application. "What!" "Not possible!" Or so we thought. We take issue with the grammatical accuracy of statements written on the website regarding required documents. The intent is to ask for documents such as copies of birth certificates and marriage licenses that are not older than 6 months. Instead that ask for these documents to have been apostilled not longer that 6 months. There is no point in arguing. After all the person at the consulate did not write and design the website. So off we went to get more recent copies of our children's birth certificates. The holidays also played a role in slowing this already not so swift move.
On January 2nd, once all new copies were acquired and I returned to the Consulate. I asked how long before we would receive the visas. It was explained to me that there is a process and it takes time. So I thought that I would be waiting at least another week. As we were not in January, I had stopped trying to guess when we would leave. Then suddenly our move was kicked into overdrive! . After the explanation of the time consuming process, I receive a call saying that the visas are ready the very same afternoon. We were ecstatic went temporarily insane. I say this because that evening Nick booked flights to Brussels for the 8th. We went from a passive waiting mode to a whirlwind of activity with a very definite deadline that we set while in a state of ecstatic insanity.
THE MOVE HAD NOW BECOME--SWIFT
Mid December comes and then goes. Our friends throw a goodbye party for us. But we didn't leave. In actuality, my friends were very happy about the delay. At least that is what they told me. Jokes were made about how we were not really leaving. We just wanted to see how much we were appreciated. We said to ourselves, "Surely we will be gone by the end of December". Yet the only thing that went by was the end of December and we were still there. We received the work permit on December 24th. We applied for the visa on December 27th. On the 28th we were inform of everything that was lacking in our application. "What!" "Not possible!" Or so we thought. We take issue with the grammatical accuracy of statements written on the website regarding required documents. The intent is to ask for documents such as copies of birth certificates and marriage licenses that are not older than 6 months. Instead that ask for these documents to have been apostilled not longer that 6 months. There is no point in arguing. After all the person at the consulate did not write and design the website. So off we went to get more recent copies of our children's birth certificates. The holidays also played a role in slowing this already not so swift move.
On January 2nd, once all new copies were acquired and I returned to the Consulate. I asked how long before we would receive the visas. It was explained to me that there is a process and it takes time. So I thought that I would be waiting at least another week. As we were not in January, I had stopped trying to guess when we would leave. Then suddenly our move was kicked into overdrive! . After the explanation of the time consuming process, I receive a call saying that the visas are ready the very same afternoon. We were ecstatic went temporarily insane. I say this because that evening Nick booked flights to Brussels for the 8th. We went from a passive waiting mode to a whirlwind of activity with a very definite deadline that we set while in a state of ecstatic insanity.
THE MOVE HAD NOW BECOME--SWIFT
Friday, January 18, 2013
Apostilled Apostilled! Apostilled?
I have heard many "light bulb" jokes in my life--some funnier than others. You know...How many doctors (lawyers, Americans...) does it take to change a light bulb? Of course, such jokes never reflect true life experience. Or they didn't for me until now. Unfortunately, this was not a joke, though I have managed to laugh at it all the same. The question is: How many government workers does it take to certify the authenticity of a birth certificate? The answer is ... I have lost count.
Belgium requires that our birth certificates and marriage license be apostilled. To everyone that I mentioned this, I received either a blank stare or a question asking what is "apostilled". To be honest I did not really know what it was at first. I began to understand when I completed this process for my two daughters. The steps were very simple. I grabbed their birth certificates, drove to an office on the northeastern side of Atlanta. Got somewhat lost on the way as well. Once I found the office, I told the receptionist what I needed. She directed me to another person who took my documents and asked me to be seated in the reception area. I had brought both a book and my knitting. I was prepared for a long wait. I got comfortable and opened my book. But before I could read a word, I was being handed the papers and told to pay the receptionist the equivalent of four dollars per document. This was great! I even had time to do some much needed shoe shopping since we will not immediately have a car in Brussels. I feel the need for practical (and hopefully stylish) walking shoes.
The documents now have an attachment which make it clear the signatures are those of the officials who were in office at the time of the birth certificates were sign and that they are genuine. The new paper is not officially part of the birth certificates. Otherwise, how would a foreign government know whether or not I personally printed a fancy document and called it my daughter's birth certificate. The apostille is another layer of authenticity that is accepted by a number of nations around the world. Of course, this is just my layman's definition. It is hardly official. For an official definition feel free to look it up. It was instituted by The Hague Convention in 1961.
This easy process in Atlanta lulled my into a false sense of ease. Two birth certificates apostilled and I didn't even break a sweat. I was feeling great until I realized that here in the states a document is apostilled by the State Department of the state in which it was issued. And this is where "ease" went of vacation. Both Nick and I were born in New York. We were also married in New York. Atlanta Georgia is a long distance from there. Okay, we said as we rolled up our sleeves and sought information as to how to get these document apostilled. We read the procedure on the state government website. We wrote a check to the state. Printed out our requests and clipped the to each document. We purchased a prepaid express mail envelope so that we could receive the documents quickly. (Because at the time we were under the illusion that the process of leaving the country and getting a work permit from Belgium would be fairly quick.)
Well we did receive our documents about 10 days later. They were not apostilled. They were untouched except for the sheet attached to each one telling us what we must do before they can authenticate it. Each document had different instructions of where we must send it first. What they failed to tell us is that the original birth certificates could not be apostilled. We need to order new "long form" birth certificates. We could order them online however, not at the same site because Nick was born in one of the five boroughs of New York City. So there is an extra step in the process for him. Well approximately two weeks and $130.00 later we had new still unapostilled birth certificates. The marriage license had to be sent to the county clerk of the county in which we were married. It too had not yet been apostilled.
We went to New York to visit family and physically went to the Dept of State to get our documents apostilled. We went early in attempt to be there when the office opened. This process not including travel time took at least and hour. Payment must be made by money order as the credit card reader was not functioning that day. I am APOSTILLED, that is certified and recertified that I was born and did indeed legally get married.
I now know why there are agencies that do all this legwork. At I can see the value of such a service.
Belgium requires that our birth certificates and marriage license be apostilled. To everyone that I mentioned this, I received either a blank stare or a question asking what is "apostilled". To be honest I did not really know what it was at first. I began to understand when I completed this process for my two daughters. The steps were very simple. I grabbed their birth certificates, drove to an office on the northeastern side of Atlanta. Got somewhat lost on the way as well. Once I found the office, I told the receptionist what I needed. She directed me to another person who took my documents and asked me to be seated in the reception area. I had brought both a book and my knitting. I was prepared for a long wait. I got comfortable and opened my book. But before I could read a word, I was being handed the papers and told to pay the receptionist the equivalent of four dollars per document. This was great! I even had time to do some much needed shoe shopping since we will not immediately have a car in Brussels. I feel the need for practical (and hopefully stylish) walking shoes.
The documents now have an attachment which make it clear the signatures are those of the officials who were in office at the time of the birth certificates were sign and that they are genuine. The new paper is not officially part of the birth certificates. Otherwise, how would a foreign government know whether or not I personally printed a fancy document and called it my daughter's birth certificate. The apostille is another layer of authenticity that is accepted by a number of nations around the world. Of course, this is just my layman's definition. It is hardly official. For an official definition feel free to look it up. It was instituted by The Hague Convention in 1961.
This easy process in Atlanta lulled my into a false sense of ease. Two birth certificates apostilled and I didn't even break a sweat. I was feeling great until I realized that here in the states a document is apostilled by the State Department of the state in which it was issued. And this is where "ease" went of vacation. Both Nick and I were born in New York. We were also married in New York. Atlanta Georgia is a long distance from there. Okay, we said as we rolled up our sleeves and sought information as to how to get these document apostilled. We read the procedure on the state government website. We wrote a check to the state. Printed out our requests and clipped the to each document. We purchased a prepaid express mail envelope so that we could receive the documents quickly. (Because at the time we were under the illusion that the process of leaving the country and getting a work permit from Belgium would be fairly quick.)
Well we did receive our documents about 10 days later. They were not apostilled. They were untouched except for the sheet attached to each one telling us what we must do before they can authenticate it. Each document had different instructions of where we must send it first. What they failed to tell us is that the original birth certificates could not be apostilled. We need to order new "long form" birth certificates. We could order them online however, not at the same site because Nick was born in one of the five boroughs of New York City. So there is an extra step in the process for him. Well approximately two weeks and $130.00 later we had new still unapostilled birth certificates. The marriage license had to be sent to the county clerk of the county in which we were married. It too had not yet been apostilled.
We went to New York to visit family and physically went to the Dept of State to get our documents apostilled. We went early in attempt to be there when the office opened. This process not including travel time took at least and hour. Payment must be made by money order as the credit card reader was not functioning that day. I am APOSTILLED, that is certified and recertified that I was born and did indeed legally get married.
I now know why there are agencies that do all this legwork. At I can see the value of such a service.
Monday, November 19, 2012
A Garage "Sale".
I really did it! With a lot of help and advice, I survived my first ever garage sale. Now that it is over it was a learning experience. I now realize that there is an art to having a garage sale. It also became clear to me that we are not all natural born artists. My garage by the way, is still full of items unsold that I refuse to put back in the house.
We will do it again, however, this time I will know that just short of paying each customer to take away different items is where I should stop. It is necessary to really understand that they are doing me a favor by carting off my former possessions for one tenth of it value. If I am attached to any of these items emotionally, the garage sale is the serving of final divorce papers between me and my stuff. Otherwise, I will be unable to sell it. Next time I won't have to stand by cooly as people laugh internally at my overpricing of what they consider to be junk. Yes, I now know (or think that I know) to secret to a successful garage sale.
So in the words of my husband, "Humility is the secret to a successful garage sale because no one is impressed with your junk."
We will do it again, however, this time I will know that just short of paying each customer to take away different items is where I should stop. It is necessary to really understand that they are doing me a favor by carting off my former possessions for one tenth of it value. If I am attached to any of these items emotionally, the garage sale is the serving of final divorce papers between me and my stuff. Otherwise, I will be unable to sell it. Next time I won't have to stand by cooly as people laugh internally at my overpricing of what they consider to be junk. Yes, I now know (or think that I know) to secret to a successful garage sale.
So in the words of my husband, "Humility is the secret to a successful garage sale because no one is impressed with your junk."
Friday, November 9, 2012
A Soon To Be Expat
My name is Audrey. I live near Atlanta Georgia but will soon be living in Brussels, Belgium. How exciting is that! I am the mother of two beautiful girls ages 8 and 11. I will be what is known as an "accompanying spouse". I prefer this term to "trailing spouse" as it bring to my mind the image of a caveman pulling his mate behind him by the hair.
We have known for more than a few days that we are actually going to move to Brussels. This means that we have had time to jump on the emotional roller coaster on which shrieks of joy and excitement can easily convert to screams of frustration and fear. It is perhaps a good thing that preparation takes some time. It gives me time to settle down emotionally while trying to sort, pack up and sell seemingly endless household items.
I am going to have my first ever garage sale (believe it or not). I am selling furniture on craigslist and basically giving away clothes. As I do all this, I realize that I appear somewhat clueless (because I am). I am enjoying being clueless because in this case it is low pressure. I know that whether I sell everything or nothing, I will be moving.
The problem is that I do not know when I am moving exactly. Working with a phantom date is bothersome. I am hardly the first to pass by these phases of an international move. I can use all the advice that I can get. Writing about the move and life overseas (real vs imagined), is my way of coping as well as documenting all the changes, surprises and pitfalls of this process.
We have known for more than a few days that we are actually going to move to Brussels. This means that we have had time to jump on the emotional roller coaster on which shrieks of joy and excitement can easily convert to screams of frustration and fear. It is perhaps a good thing that preparation takes some time. It gives me time to settle down emotionally while trying to sort, pack up and sell seemingly endless household items.
I am going to have my first ever garage sale (believe it or not). I am selling furniture on craigslist and basically giving away clothes. As I do all this, I realize that I appear somewhat clueless (because I am). I am enjoying being clueless because in this case it is low pressure. I know that whether I sell everything or nothing, I will be moving.
The problem is that I do not know when I am moving exactly. Working with a phantom date is bothersome. I am hardly the first to pass by these phases of an international move. I can use all the advice that I can get. Writing about the move and life overseas (real vs imagined), is my way of coping as well as documenting all the changes, surprises and pitfalls of this process.
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