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Big Fan of doing Nothing, but...

mins
July 24, 2008 1:17:27 AM CEST

hi,

I 've been living in Belgium for 3 months, and my social life is nothing but real “DISASTER!!”.
I have no one to meet after work and during the weekend, and no one to call.

Yes, I’m desperate to find friends, but can’t find the way..
If I were a religious person or big fan of sports, It would be easier to find a place to fit in,…
But unfortunately I m not.
blarfy
July 30, 2008 1:17:53 AM CEST

Oh yeah, it's true. Belgium seems to be AWFUL for social life. I've been here nearly a year and have met.... no one! I've made no new friends and if I didn't have my wife, I would probably not talk to anyone between leaving work and arriving at work.

It's pathetic.

However, some folks have tried setting stuff up. Try over at internations.org, there seems to be a Brussels group.
hal2000
August 1, 2008 2:16:05 AM CEST

Sigh, I know how you feel. I've never found it as tough as here in Brussels. Or I'm maybe just getting old.
Befriending locals is not easy as they all want you to speak perfect French, which I don't. And EU expats, as mentioned in other threads, can find enough members of their own nationality to hang around with. I feel that's not really an option for me so my group of friends.....ow...is non-existent.
emilio416
August 1, 2008 6:48:31 PM CEST

mins (Jul 23 2008, 11:17 PM) said: > original post
hi,

I 've been living in Belgium for 3 months, and my social life is nothing but real “DISASTER!!”.
I have no one to meet after work and during the weekend, and no one to call.

Yes, I’m desperate to find friends, but can’t find the way..
If I were a religious person or big fan of sports, It would be easier to find a place to fit in,…
But unfortunately I m not.

Is there anyone like me?
Send me an E-mail, and we can get together in Leuven or hasselt, talk about how disastrous social life we have in Belgium.
(don't get me wrong, I 'm usually very positive person)

Pkals2001@yahoo.co.kr

If my doctor allowed me to drink a few pints (which he doesn't, unfortunately...) we might meet in the oldest Brussels café that's still going strong , "Het Gulden Bloemeke van Papier" (1568 I believe), only 120 meters from Manneken Pis. I'm sure we would have a good time. If not, we might give "De Dolle Mol" in the Sporenmakersstraat/Rue des Épéronniers a go, or "'t Spinnekopke" in the Karthuizerstraat/Rue des Chartreux. There are good places in Brussels, but they are HIDDEN and, most importantly, you have to be there AT THE RIGHT MOMENT. I have sent people to one of the best cafés in Brussels, LA BÉCASSE (behind Saint Nicolas church), only to hear from them it was empty when they went in...
Demona
September 28, 2008 8:51:13 PM CEST

Well, if all of us are having such a darn hard time finding people to talk to, why don't we all just get together! When is the next concert or market in Brussels?
brusselsrower
October 1, 2008 4:31:56 PM CEST

It might sound a bit esoteric, but (as well as being middle-aged and married), I’m part of a pretty good social scene at the RSNB rowing club on the canal on the North side of Brussels. The rowers are about half-and-half Belgian and expat and there’s no shortage of English spoken. As well as rowing, the club has a table-tennis hall, outdoor basketball and tennis courts and a brand new sports hall for basket, tennis and badminton. There’s a beautiful old clubhouse with bar and meal service.

Annual fee is a maximum of €225 for access to all sports, single sports are less e.g. rowing is €175. There is a social membership for just €30/year. There’s also a learn-to-row course for €30.

If you would like to know more, contact me, brusselsrower@gmail.com
ecrane
October 3, 2008 10:34:53 PM CEST

Yeah unfortunately I know all too well what you mean- it seems so hard to meet people in Brussels and some of those I have met don't seem all that welcoming. I think you could wait for ages and it would not get any easier. Soooo, I'm with Demona- I think we need to take the plunge and organise to meet up. How about we have a drink together one friday after work or saturday? We could meet at a central location and then try some of emilio's suggestions for pubs?
let me know what you think!
mins
October 8, 2008 12:25:22 AM CEST

hal2000 (Jul 31 2008, 11:16 PM) said: > original post
Sigh, I know how you feel. I've never found it as tough as here in Brussels. Or I'm maybe just getting old.
Befriending locals is not easy as they all want you to speak perfect French, which I don't. And EU expats, as mentioned in other threads, can find enough members of their own nationality to hang around with. I feel that's not really an option for me so my group of friends.....ow...is non-existent.

I started to learn(actually, it’s more like getting used to it or survival) being alone during the weekend, and still feel good about myself sitting in a restaurant alone. Last weekend I went to Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, so far….it’s the best place for me in Belgium alone, and spending time. Sight…. But, I am still weak individual who want to have a company can talk watching the paintings… oh, it’s better to be strong enough than seeking friends.
Any way life is cool… (it might be)
mins
October 8, 2008 12:44:03 AM CEST

ecrane (Oct 3 2008, 07:34 PM) said: > original post
Yeah unfortunately I know all too well what you mean- it seems so hard to meet people in Brussels and some of those I have met don't seem all that welcoming. I think you could wait for ages and it would not get any easier. Soooo, I'm with Demona- I think we need to take the plunge and organise to meet up. How about we have a drink together one friday after work or saturday? We could meet at a central location and then try some of emilio's suggestions for pubs?
let me know what you think!

wow it's so ~~ nice, it's been months since I entered this web site, and today... I found many people think like me... yes... ecrane....I think it's such a good idea...all of us have a drink together..
hal2000
October 8, 2008 8:32:48 PM CEST

mins (Oct 7 2008, 10:44 PM) said: > original post
I think it's such a good idea...all of us have a drink together..

I'm in for a beer. Hopefully a few more people react so we can set a date?
Demona
October 11, 2008 1:57:15 AM CEST

I wouldn't mind going to an Irish Pub, in the city center, if that were ok with everyone. I prefer a good hard-cider rather than a beer & it can only be found in the Irish Pubs.
mins
October 11, 2008 7:22:11 PM CEST

demona (Oct 10 2008, 10:57 PM) said: > original post
I wouldn't mind going to an Irish Pub, in the city center, if that were ok with everyone. I prefer a good hard-cider rather than a beer & it can only be found in the Irish Pubs.

let's set up a day & place. how about next friday or saturday?
Demona
October 15, 2008 11:06:05 PM CEST

mins (Oct 11 2008, 04:22 PM) said: > original post
let's set up a day & place. how about next friday or saturday?

How 'bout Friday!? That way anyone that wants to come can have something nice to do after work and then they can still have something else planned for Saturday.

Anyone object to 7:30 or so?

Which I only know a few Irish Pubs, if anyone has some good suggestions, I'm all ears. Oh, post the address so that we can look it up! That's the easiest way..I think.
andyknows
October 19, 2008 8:42:33 PM CEST

Hello folks - i am part of the Expatica team, have lived in Belgium for many years and deal with many of the networks in Belgium. If you look in the events area, you will see that I am constantly setting up meeting opportunities for people to connect. If you want to have a place to meet new people, we also have the Expatica Cafe open now near Montgomery. Do you get the Expatica news letter? This would also help. If you want to be placed on my mailing list for things to do, drop me an email at my personal address which is mychalks@skynet.be and if you need some to chat to about things my GSM number is 0478.482023.

Let me know when you plan to meet and I will make every effort to be there. In the mean time, we have an Expatica Halloween party on Friday 31 October at Autoworld, Parc du Cinquantenaire.
Cheers Chalks

I sympathise with all of the above but it is all Brussels based, is there anything in Antwerp?
reddy
October 20, 2008 6:28:56 PM CEST

yeah, all the activities and meetings seem to happen in Brussels
but there's gotta be some expat life in Antwerp?? hopefully...
Demona
October 23, 2008 12:35:23 AM CEST

Well, if you guys want something in Antwerp..then do it. Most people just need a time,place and the willingness of others to do stuff!

I run off to Mechelen, Leuven, Antwerp and Vilvoorde any time someone I know invites me!

I'm just trying to get people to go to an Irish Pub in Brussels b/c it is a bit more local for me and I would like to get to know my area a bit better.
Scheder
- 1 posts
May 6, 2012 3:11:45 PM CEST

mins said:
hi,

I 've been living in Belgium for 3 months, and my social life is nothing but real “DISASTER!!”.
I have no one to meet after work and during the weekend, and no one to call.

Yes, I’m desperate to find friends, but can’t find the way..
If I were a religious person or big fan of sports, It would be easier to find a place to fit in,…
But unfortunately I m not.

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