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Homeless in a foreign country

OK, there is no need to feel sorry for me, but this is a new experience for this blog, even if not totally new for this blogger.  I once again find myself without a home, staying temporarily in hotels and serviced apartments and living out of suitcases.  I estimated that I have spend well over a year “in transition” between countries since I started my peregrinations in 1982, just before I started my first job.

The last few days in Singapore were full of excitement, and unique experiences.

On Thursday I had my second meeting with representatives of the Government of Singapore – a totally new experience for me.  In this case, I was answering questions on the HAZOP for my project which we had provided to the Ministry of Manpower a few months earlier.  The questions were quite surprising, and showed good understanding on their part, but were also easy to answer.

On Friday, I had a fantastic get-together with a lot of my local friends, especially the members of Papillon.  I was sad to be saying good bye to people who meant so much to me over the past three years but I am sure we will meet again.  I need pictures please!

On Saturday, I gave away some of my furniture and had dinner with the SPA-X Team and other members of the project I have been working on – I had worked for five years with some of the people there, ever since I started on the project when I moved to Baton Rouge in 2004. 

On Sunday, I left my apartment to move into the hotel, with two large suitcases that will be all I have for a few weeks. 

On Monday, the movers came to start packing.  I always hate the packing and unpacking days.  I have to be present, but there is really very little for me to do.  I generally pack my stereo, and my computer, but the rest I leave to the professionals; I try to stay out of their way, but it is more and more difficult as they pack the chair I am sitting on, the table I am working on or the couch I am trying to relax on… 

On Tuesday, the packing continued and at the end of the day, I returned my Cable TV Set-top box and cancelled my Internet connection. I also had dinner at Kinara with a few good friends from work.  Kinara, on Boat Quay, is one of the first restaurant I went to in Singapore when I first visited there in 1996;  I have been back many times and always really enjoy it – one of the few places that I will go to on Boat Quay as most other restaurants there are tourist traps.

On Wednesday, all my posessions, now reduced to 213 packages, were moved into a single larger box (a 40ft container).  It is only 3/4 full.  In the evening, dinner with another good friend; her husband could not join us, but two people who work with him are sitting at a nearby table – that will get tongues wagging!  If you want to have a ‘discreet affaire’, don’t do it in Singapore as you will always run into some one you know, even when you are really innocent! 

On Thursday, I returned my car and the keys to my great apartment (sorry Papillon, no more parties!) – at 23:05, I left Singapore bound for Frankfurt and then Belgium.

You may think that Belgium does not qualify as a ‘foreign’ country for me, but I have not lived here in over 12 years and it has changed a lot since I left, changes that are not always apparent when just visiting.  I have changed a lot too and the combination of both of these will make re-adaptation that much more difficult.  I always warn friends that I encounter on their first foreign assignment that the move ‘home’ is the toughest of all – many have later confirmed to me that they agreed after the fact, even though they did not believe me ahead of it.  One way to make it easier is to approach it with the same open mind and spirit of adventure as a move to a foreign country – I therefore keep telling myself that I am doing just that – eventually I may even believe it.

You have seen the view from my apartment in Singapore (see a couple of posts earlier) – so here is what I see from my Hotel (this is only a single shot …)

 hilview2

Not the same as Singapore, but nice nonetheless.  The tall buildings in the back are  not that tall – only about 30 floors.  There are no skyscrapers in Belgium.  On the other hand, the building in the foreground is several hundred years old (has been renovated recently) and was the residence of one of the local high officials in Napoleon’s time.

hilview1

Looking the other way.  The large empty lot has been used for temporary sculpture exhibits.  On Saturdays, there is a “beach” resort set up with beach chairs, umbrellas and a wet bar.  I guess this is for the few people who are not on vacation in Spain or Italy right now.

I thought that by moving in July, I would avoid the climactic shock that could occur if I were to move in winter.  Unfortunately, the weather is particularly cool for the month, with a daylight temperature of around 17 C and less at night.  I was still able to eat outside on my first evening in Brussels – I picked the right restaurant, the one with a very large awning over the eating area, not to protect from the sun, but from the rain that started to fall mid-way through my meal.

I also have to get used to sunlight at 10PM again.  I am tired and ready to go to sleep at 8PM (jet lag is doing that) but the sun is still shining and I am not even thinking of dinner yet.  My stomach is grumbling, but my mind is telling me that if the sun is up, it is too early for dinner – the sun goes down around 7PM every day in Singapore and that has now conditioned my expectations.

My arrival in Belgium did not reduce significantly the things I needed to do.  On the Friday of my arrival, I needed to go to Antwerp to pick up a check for my apartment; on Saturday, I started shopping for all the things I need to buy.  On Tuesday there was a big party in Brussels.  I thought it was because I had arrived, but I was told instead that this is for the Belgian National Holiday which also occurs on 21 July.  I had a late dinner on top of the Museum of Musical Instruments and from there watched the annual fireworks display.

On Wednesday I completed the purchase of my new apartment and on Friday, I spent most of the day getting the licence plates so that I could drive my car out of the dealer’s lot.  I first had to go to the car dealer to get all the necessary documents, than I went to the insurance broker who than took me to the insurance company so that they could affix a yellow sticker on the pink “registration” document for the car.  Return to the insurance broker for signature of all the documents than a trip to Brussels to the office of Auto Registration.  There are over two hundred people waiting! However, I need a “Transit” plate and there is no line for that.  However, I do not have the right documents from the dealer.  I call them to get it ready while I hop on a taxi – half hour later, I am back waiting in line – there are two people ahead of  me.  One number is called; when the second is called, no one shows up so I am hopeful that I will be served quickly.  However, the attendant decides that this is a good opportunity to make a few phone calls, check e-mail and chat with other attendants.  Finally, my number is called and I get one plate (for the rear of the car).  Since I need two, I have to have one made – fortunately, there are three shops near the office of Auto Registration where you can get plates made, so, another 10 euros lighter, I now have two plates and can take another taxi to the dealer to pick up my car!  Please take a look – I think it was worth it!

newcar

On Saturday I moved to a temporary apartment near Montgomery Square.  Every morning when I wake up, I can salute Field Marshall Montgomery and thank him for what he did to free Belgium in WWII

monty1

On Sunday, I went jogging for the first time.  I passed right under the monuments built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Belgium’s independence – NO, this is not Berlin!

50naire

OK, so technically I am not “homeless” in Belgium, but I am still “furnitureless” and will continue to be so for another 3-4 weeks.  We will see what happens between now and that time.  A lot of ‘new’ stuff in Belgium that I need to get used to again…

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2 thoughts on “Homeless in a foreign country

  1. So far, you’re surviving what is described as the “burn-up on re-entry” problem. Repatriation is an interesting experience, as you see the world through slight different lens, and people you know learn about changes in you.

  2. It is a BIG shock to the system. Hang in there, take it one day at a time and you’ll be fine. Think – you have a “real” car now that can go faster than 90km/h, you have > 5 varieties of beer to choose from, and there is good bread, good wine and good cheese. :o) Keep us posted on your adventures.

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