Hi all! I'm a new member here, so allow me to introduce myself. I'm an American and considering a job in Leuven. I am looking for any insights and advice you may be able to offer. I have yet to visit Belgium, but in a couple months I will be traveling to Leuven for a job interview and staying a few extra days to get a better feel for the area. I'd love to hear any experiences or information you may have that might be relevant, but perhaps I'll start with a few specific questions:
1) Currently, I only speak English. If I decide to take the job, I'll certainly try to start learning Dutch to try to fit in with the locals as much as possible. But, how well will I be able to get along with my English? How common is it for store owners and businesses to speak English? Are there English menus ect? (I'm not worried about English speaking at my job, just outside in the "real" world. ) Any suggestions on learning Dutch? I was thinking I would try Rosetta Stone. And is there a difference between Flemish and Dutch?
2) Any suggestions on what I should see and do while in Leuven to get a good feel of what life in Leuven will be like?
3) Any suggestions on housing and neighborhoods in Leuven I should check out while I am there? I doubt I would be back until I permanently move and would like to have an idea of apartments. Is 6 months prior to a move too soon to look at specific apartments? Do people pick them out this far in advance or do most leases start more immediately?
4) How has your experience been in Belgium? The best, most challenging, most unexpected things?
I'd love to hear from you whether you have answers to these specific questions or just want to say Hi or share your experiences! Thanks!
Considering a job in Leuven!
1) you should find not too much difficulty in getting along with just English. You can register for integration classes for free which includes Dutch language, alternatively you can study at very low cost at an adult education centre using "language cheques" which halve the already low prices.
2)Leuven is quite small, you can just walk around the city within the ring, you can walk from one side to another in less than an hours.Outside the ring is a lovely provincial park called Kessel-lo, still only a 30 minute walk from the city centre.
3) where you live, that would depend on where your work would be, post the work address and I'll suggest where. No 6 months in advance is too long in advance, people have to give 3 months notice of vacating rental properties, so no more than 3 months in advance.
4)Experience of Belgium? Well been here almost 5 years, have family with me. Belgians are very very very very very hard to get to know at more than a superficial level. Family is ultra important and most weekends seem to be taken up with most Belgians with visiting their family. Friends seem to come from childhood with little need to add new foreigner friends. Work colleagues don't normally socialise outside work with work colleages, just their friends and family. It can be very frustrating as an incomer, but there is a reasonable international community you can socialise with instead. Officialdom can be very bureaucratic, who you know seems to make a difference, corruption seems quite normal and accepted here. Very poor attitudes to drunk driving, something like 50% of Belgians admit to doing it and don't seem to have a problem! These attitudes are really hard to accept.
Thank you school mum, that is very helpful. I'll msg you my work location and see if you have any suggestions for where to live.
Hi! I'm assuming you are already in Leuven by now and have integrated into the culture. I was curious where you found work without knowing Dutch? I'm also American and am currently here looking for a job. If you know anything I'd love to hear some insight. Thanks!
Hi Corrine,
Thanks for the message. I have not yet moved to Leuven, but I did go visit during my job interview. I absolutely loved my time in Leuven and accepted the job offer and look forward to the move in the upcoming months. I'll msg you more info.
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