By the time I arrived in Leuven in September, I had resolved to enrol in Italian classes alongside my masters. I was told that Dutch wouldn’t be needed in Belgium or The Netherlands because most people speak English, which isn’t the case in Italy. Belgians were happy to code-switch to English and would deprecatingly reassure… Read More Being gezellig in Leuven and Nijmegen
I’m such a big city person that it’s been a refreshing change to live in a small town like Leuven for a time, where after a few months I know the layout of the town pretty well and have lots of favourite haunts that I frequent with friends. I also bump into people I know… Read More Enjoying the cosiness of a small town like Leuven
On Saturday night I went to my first real Belgian house party — where the lingua franca was French. Spending time with the other half of the country made me appreciate that, indeed, the cultural divide between Flanders and Wallonia is a real phenomenon. I mean, I live in Leuven, a mere stone’s throw from… Read More Finding common ground between the Flemish and the French in Belgium
Sunday is the day of rest in Belgium and most businesses are closed. Although at first I found it jarring, I now enjoy having a day where I’m essentially forced to slow down. So I spend most Sundays at home and when the weather is bad, it’s perfect being indoors reading a book. But today… Read More An unexpected Sunday cycle around Kessel-lo
Given that making new friends seems to be one of my favourite pastimes, it’s little wonder that I’ve been enjoying myself here in Leuven. I said in a previous post that I wanted to write about all these new international friends, and lately I’ve been reflecting on it in the context of making friends in… Read More Friendship and loneliness in Leuven
Belgium, where I’m living now, was actually one of the first countries I ever visited;Â I spent almost a week here on my first ever trip to Europe at the age of 20. I went because of a childhood friendship with my Belgian penpal, who lived in a town outside of Antwerp called Oostmalle. Towards the… Read More More questions than answers about Belgium
The Travels of Elephant Woman 