Personal JOurneys

Li Li Chong is working in Concertgebouw Brugge as a Participation & Outreach Expert.

"I always enjoy Coffee Mornings where we can unwind together and get to know new international expats or locals from Bruges who are looking to connect with newcomers. We get to exchange contacts and tips with each other and further help people navigate their way into building a new life here. 

I have learned that you are best here as your unique self. Wealth, I have come to understand, can also be defined by the relationships you build, the wisdom you share, and the support you give and receive. That is why I am such a strong supporter of the community-building and bridge-building mission of the International House West Flanders."

LinkedIn profile

*photo copyright under Sightways

Mariela Ychante is working in Arteveldehogeschool as a Spanish lecturer.

"International House West Flanders has been a space to get to know other fellow newcomers in West Flanders. It is a great initiative to build a network and it is a door to a friendly community.  The activities have helped to get to know people that have recently arrived but also some other people that have been here for longer. This has been key to exchange experiences and advice. I am excited to see more things coming for a more inclusive and more newcomers-friendly West Flanders."

LinkedIn profile

Andrea Lowry is working as a Clinical Music Therapist, Teacher, Singer-Songwriter,and Performer. She has rich experiences from moving around in Europe for the past 20 years.

"IHWF - is refreshing place to connect with people. At the coffee mornings, you meet local people from all backgrounds and experiences. The thing I like most about these meetings is that they are not just fun and informative, I feel like I can actually contribute something. In our last gathering, I hosted two rounds of conversation that were set-up well with Tanya's suggested questions. 

It was easy to share about my projects with VZW's in Brugge. I found out fascinating stories of those at my table and also realised that I had met one of them 3 years ago in Oostende! It really feels like a small world when you share a table for the Coffee Mornings at IHWF. "

LinkedIn profile

Jeff Alemdjou is working in CNH as an Embedded Software & Robotics Engineer.

"The vibe was very chill and friendly, and people were really genuine, too. It was a speed-dating event but for making friends. You get to talk to someone new every once in a while. It is a fun way to connect with a bunch of new people in a short time. International House also invited us to join their upcoming events!"

LinkedIn Profile

Translation:

"Germany is ready for a new lease of life"

Arthur Lahaye (28) works for Unilin Panels as a project coordinator at Otto Schneider GmbH, a company that produces custom-made panels for mezzanines and shelving units. The site is about a 25-minute drive from Frankfurt, where he lives. He previously worked for Unilin in Amsterdam.

During an internship at Duvel Moortgat in Shanghai, I got a taste for an international career. When I graduated with my master's degree in International Business from Luiss Business School in Rome in 2021, I specifically started looking for a job abroad. Working in an international context appeals to me, but at the same time, I consciously chose a Belgian company. That provides stability and extra motivation. The West Flemish entrepreneurship, can-do mentality, and no-nonsense approach at Unilin are a good fit for who I am. Moreover, the company offers various opportunities for international work.

Unilin provided excellent support with all administrative matters. I did search for my own accommodation, which wasn't easy. I've now been living in Sachsenhausen for two years – a great neighborhood with many restaurants, green spaces, and within walking distance of the River Main. A pleasant home environment is important for professional success.

I didn't know anyone when I arrived in Frankfurt. To get to know people, I joined a rowing club and play soccer on Mondays. As an expat, it's not easy to build a social network. I sometimes miss the Belgian conviviality and a well-poured beer. Therefore, I invest a lot of time in my friends and family in Belgium. I'm often on the road and practically live out of my suitcase.

Germans work very precisely and disciplined. The downside is that they sometimes stick so closely to rules and structure that things get delayed. In meetings, they generally communicate participatively, clearly, and directly than Belgians. Germans' customer focus is also striking: when problems arise, we immediately call the customer to find a solution together. That proactive approach and service make all the difference.

It's clear that the German economy needs a boost. Of all industrialized countries, Germans work the fewest hours. Much paperwork is handled by mail, and payments are often made in cash only. Quite strange for a city like Frankfurt, the financial heart of Europe. The Germans are also clearly lagging behind when it comes to digitalization.

Published in December 2025

Translation:

"Belgians are more open than Norwegians"

Jens Eldøy, a Norwegian, has lived and worked in Belgium since 2019. He is Terminal Manager of the Zeepipe & Dunkerque Terminal and Branch Manager Belgium & France for Gassco. The Norwegian state-owned company operates natural gas pipelines and transports 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from the Norwegian continental shelf to Europe and the UK.

Although I am Norwegian, Norway feels like "abroad" to me. Until 2007, I worked in Germany for Equinor, formerly Statoil, and in 2007 I started working for Gassco in Norway. In 2013, I returned to Germany. Since September 2019, I have been working in Belgium and France, where Gassco has terminals in Zeebrugge and Dunkirk. I live in Bruges, my wife in Hanover. After all these years, we've gotten used to commuting.

My company took care of most of the paperwork for me, such as the Limosa declaration and the A1 certificate. I only had to go to the Huis van de Bruggeling (House of the Bruges Residents). I quickly received an E-card (a registration certificate for EU citizens staying for more than three months), which allows me to handle a lot of things digitally. The hardest part about moving to the center of Bruges was the fact that part of the street had to be closed for the furniture lift (laughs).

If I move again, I'll miss Belgium. You have everything you need here. It may be a small country, but it's located in the heart of Europe and easily accessible. I love Bruges, the sea and the beautiful beaches, and the many restaurants. Belgians are spoiled when it comes to food. The chocolate and beer are very good. And another cliché: I caught the cycling bug here. The people themselves are more open than Norwegians.

In Norwegian companies, hierarchy is less important. In Belgium, there's still a certain distance from "the boss," and in France, even more so. It's also striking that everyone here speaks so many languages. I understand Dutch and can get by, but in professional situations, it's not essential to speak it, simply because everyone speaks English. On the one hand, that's convenient, but on the other, I regret not mastering the local language better.

Published in February 2024

Translation:

"The colleagues are very helpful."

Salvador Fernando Rojas Olvera from Mexico has been living in Belgium with his wife since July of last year. He works as a product e gineer at Tremec in Zedelgem, which develops mechatronics, software, and hardware for dual-clutch gearboxes.

I had already worked for Tremec in Mexico for six years. I had to prepare a lot of documents and translations to obtain a work permit for Belgium and a visa to be able to move. The entire process took almost six months.

We are still adjusting to life here. Belgium works differently than Mexico, but my colleagues give me the necessary advice. They are very accessible and helpful. My wife is studying Dutch to find a job here. I also plan to learn Dutch. That is important for full integration. The way of working in the company is largely the same.

I do enjoy the company culture at Tremec Belgium. They take good care of their employees here. It's nice to meet people outside of work and do extra activities with colleagues. As an impat, that's really enjoyable.

What do I miss? The Mexican food, and – depending on the day in question – the weather. (laughs) Apart from that, I can't say yet what I miss; it's too early for that. It's still an adjustment, of course, but every beginning is difficult.

Published in April 2024

Translation:

"Employees are more valued in Belgium"

Fernanda Augusto, a Brazilian woman, is 33 years old. In the spring of 2019, she followed love to Belgium. She has since married Jeroen, and they have three children together. Fernanda works in the finance department of Nayan in Ardooie, specializing in e-commerce, digital marketing, marketplaces, and customer experience. There, she progressed to become a controller.

My expat story began in June 2016. That's when I left Brazil temporarily to do an intercultural exchange in the US. I met Jeroen during a vacation in Miami. For various reasons, I didn't want to return to Brazil. I applied for Italian nationality (which is possible because my family has Italian roots), and started a long-distance relationship with Jeroen. After becoming an Italian citizen, I followed love and moved to Belgium.

Having European citizenship and living with a Belgian citizen made it easier to stay in Belgium. The integration course wasn't mand tory, and I could also continue looking for a job. I decided to take an intensive Dutch course for six months. That wasn't easy, but I had a lot of support from my husband, his family, and friends. I made (and still make) mistakes, but the people always remained friendly and polite. They were always so enthusiastic that I made the effort to learn their language, and that gave me a boost to want to learn.

Thanks to daily life with a Belgian citizen, integration went quite smoothly. The fact that I've lived in the US and Italy also helped. Belgium was a new country for me, but I already had experience with the changes in language, food, customs, etc.

In Belgium, more importance is placed on work-life balance. In Brazil, it's normal to be away from home from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Long workdays, traffic jams, learning new skills,…: it's difficult to combine everything. Due to the limited supply of well-educated people, employees are also more valued in Belgium than in Brazil, in my opinion.

I'm not a fan of the wet weather in Flanders. In Brazil, there are far fewer gray days than in Belgium – even in São Paulo, which Brazilians call "terra da garoa," or "land of the drizzle." The food is also completely different. In Brazil, rice and beans are the basis of our diet, and we usually eat meat twice a day. There are many Belgian habits that I've already integrated into my life, such as eating a sandwich as a full meal. In Brazil, bread is only breakfast or sometimes a "cheat meal." Now, as a mom of a 4-year-old boy and 3-month-old twin girls, I'm perfectly happy to indulge in some snacks every now and then!

Published in April 2025

Translation:

"I sometimes get annoyed by the Dutch"

Karsten Foekens from Zierikzee ended up in Belgium when he was looking for a new adventure. He applied for jobs in Amsterdam and Berlin, among other places, but chose a job in Ghent. After that first Belgian work experience, he started working for the Bruges-based project developer Danneels, where he has now been CEO for almost four years.

When I moved to Belgium 8.5 years ago, I didn't know anyone here. I was tired of my job in Rotterdam and was looking for a new experience. I first moved to Ghent – where I worked at the time – and have since moved again. I work in Bruges and live
in Antwerp. It's a city with international appeal that is also easily accessible from Breda, Rotterdam, Ghent, Zierikzee, and Bruges.

I don't really consider myself an expat. I started working in a neighboring country, didn't have to learn a different language or
culture, and the administrative hassle wasn't too bad, all things considered. The most striking thing was that the local police officer had to visit – we don't have that custom in the Netherlands. I have a few good Belgian friends, whom I met when I first moved here, but my largest group of friends is still in the Netherlands.

The cliché is true: Dutch people say what they think. That way, you quickly know where you stand. Flemings are more cautious, more reserved. On the one hand, I consider it my strength that I dare to say things, but on the other hand, I've had to curb that directness a bit. By the way, I now understand that Flemings find the Dutch a bit rude, loud, and arrogant. I didn't see it before, but now I'm starting to annoy myself. (laughs)

In Belgium – and especially in West Flanders – the urge to be enterprising is strong. People dare to take (calculated) risks and have ambition to grow. I also feel a bit freer here. Because contrary to what Flemish people think, there are still many more rules and fines in the Netherlands. They are strictly followed, while Flemings are more creative with them.

Published in June 2024.

Translation:

"I appreciate the positive spirit in Flanders"

Régis André has been CEO of Cebeo since January 1, 2021. The electrical wholesaler for all electrical equipment employs more than 1,000 people. The company is part of the international Sonepar group, for which Régis André previously worked in France.

I'm from Paris, but I didn't really know Belgium. My new job was not only a professional challenge for me, it was also an opportunity to discover a different culture and language. That's why I consciously chose to live in Flanders, even though Cebeo's headquarters in Waregem is not far from France and Wallonia. My wife still works in Paris. She spends one out of three weekends with me in Belgium, and on the other weekends I go to France.

Flanders is richer than France: you can see this, for example, in the quality of the houses. As a result, the Flemish market is more mature and sophisticated than the French. It is also a denser area, which means the level of service is higher than in France.

Belgium is an interesting market for testing new developments. It is a small country with a sophisticated, demanding and complex market, and with well-educated and multilingual people. This makes Belgium an ideal test platform. The new online shop of the Sonepar Group, for example, was co-designed and first tested in Belgium.

Flemish people are more to the point and communicate more directly. The French always beat around the bush to get their message across. Before a meeting starts, in France, there is a lot of chatter; in Flanders, attendees are working on their laptops. They are professional and efficient, but at the same time, they are also somewhat colder than the French.

There's a more positive spirit here than in France. I really appreciate the optimistic attitude of the Flemish, as well as their sense of humor. The French are more critical and rarely happy. I've received a good and warm welcome here. Everyone makes an effort to speak French, while I speak a little Dutch myself. The 40 hours of lessons I took are of course not enough. That's why I practice every day on Duolingo.

Published in August 2024.

Translation:

"I found my dream job here"

Barbara Chmiel (39) is a UI/UX Designer at Platform Science in Ypres. She moved from Poland to Belgium five years ago for her partner's job. They live together in Ostend.

After completing my master's degree, I started working in Poland as a graphic designer. In Belgium, I found a job as a technical
customer service representative at Trimble. After an internal internship, I transferred to another department last year and became a UX/UI designer – my dream job! I am responsible for the usability and visual design of the applications within the Platform Science division in Europe, formerly known as Trimble Transportation & Logistics.

The entire process of obtaining a residence permit took more than a year. I didn't need any specific documents to move to Belgium, as Poland is an EU country. But to stay legally in Belgium for more than 90 days, I had to confirm my job-seeking status. Later, my partner and I registered as legally cohabiting, and then I applied for a residence permit.

It's easier to rent an apartment in Poland; there's much less paperwork. The job search process is similar, but in Belgium, I had more trouble finding work in my region as long as I didn't speak Dutch. That's why I decided to take an intensive language course first.

The work-life balance is better in Belgium. Employees are less inclined to work overtime, and managers respect working hours. The ratio between your wage and living expenses is also better here. In Poland, I found it difficult to save.

I miss my family and friends and the Polish sense of community. I've since built up a number of friendships through sports groups and word of mouth. Belgians are a bit reserved at first, but once you win their hearts, they become good friends.

Published in August 2025.

Translation:

"The difference in salary is enormous"

Iosif Dragos (36) moved from Romania to Kortrijk two months ago. He works as an engineer at a small West Flemish company that recycles plastics, through a temporary employment agency specializing in international recruitment.

In Romania, I obtained a diploma as a transport technician and then studied political science, international relations and security studies at university. I worked there in an 80,000 m² Mercedes-Benz warehouse. The first two and a half years as a forklift driver and then three and a half years as a team leader. Working in Romania is tough. The difference in salary is also enormous: for one week's Belgian salary, you have to work a whole month in Romania.

I found work in Belgium very quickly. I contacted Axintor by email. After I submitted my resume, they found me a job very quickly—after just one week. I had to wait another month to start, because I still had some exams to take in Romania. The company where I work was waiting for me.

Romania is a country that doesn't offer certainties for tomorrow. Romanians are welcoming to tourists, always with a smile on their faces. But behind that smile also lies frustration. They live in a beautiful country, but one with many shortcomings, which cause a lot of stress and worries about tomorrow. Everywhere you look, people walk with their heads down and worry about everyday problems.

I'm here alone in a country I've never been to before. I've also never worked in any country other than Romania before. I don't know anyone here. I'm trying to adapt, because I want to settle here permanently. I haven't experienced the stress and worries I had in Romania here yet. People help me with what I need, and I feel relaxed and welcome here.

In Romania, I often went hiking in nature, hence my love for nature photography. The mountain landscapes are stunning, and the roads are indescribably beautiful, whether you go by car, motorcycle, or even on foot through the forest. I love photography. I also enjoy visiting Belgian cities. I don't like being in the picture myself, but I took some beautiful photos in Kortrijk and on the beach in Ostend.

Published in June 2024.