Becoming BE

Hey, it’s been awhile. How are you?
How has life been with you over a year on this pandemic?
I hope life is better in your part of the world! 😘

My family and I are all doing well. We may have been stuck at home in Belgium more than we’re supposed to, but our health and safety is what matters the most, especially at this time.

During winter and early spring this year in Belgium, we’re still in partial lockdown. Traveling outside the country is very much restricted. Most people are still teleworking. Restaurants and bars have been closed since late November. Social distancing, wearing masks, limited social bubbles, curfews, and hand hygiene have remained to be the norm.

On the other hand, outdoor activities are more encouraged. Retail stores, as well as supermarkets, bakeries, and pharmacies, are allowed to stay open as long as they follow the prescribed rules. Food takeaways have somehow kept my foodie blues away.

To top it all, schools and daycare services are not only open and available, but are also more prepared, proactive, and vigilant than ever. What a huge relief and peace of mind for working parents like me. Believe it or not, it does take a village to raise a child. So, kudos to our kids’ teachers and childminders for their amazing dedication at this challenging time.

Another interesting thing that’s been happening here is that local travel is booming. Count us in as one of those thousands, if not millions, of those who have explored Belgium more than anyone ever expects. Simply put, we couldn’t afford to get stuck at home all over again. That’s just why.

Although the vaccination campaign got off to a rough, undeniably slow start, more and more people are now getting their vaccines. As of this writing, Belgium is the fastest country in Europe administering vaccines to its citizens.

That includes me, my husband, our families, relatives, and friends…

…So, hold on just a little longer. It will get better soon.

Atomium and Waterloo

On the first weekend of the new year, we brought our girls to Atomium in Brussels.

Atomium is the iconic landmark in Belgium that was originally built as the main pavilion for the Brussels’ World Fair (Expo 58) in 1958. Depicting nine iron atoms ⚛️ in the shape of the unit cell of an iron crystal, Atomium was built to embody the faith in scientific progress at that time.

Naysayers said it would remain for only six months, as it was not intentionally built to last, but more than sixty years after, Atomium is still standing firmly on the same ground, stronger than ever!

A few weeks after we visited Waterloo. Another Belgian landmark is checked off my list.

I’m curious to check out Waterloo for two reasons: to stand on the battle ground that defeated Napoleon, and to sing that Abba song. 🔥

Unfortunately, the indoor museums were not open to the public but walking around the vast farmland where the infamous battle took place was already an interesting starter. I’ll surely come back here together with the girls, when they’re old enough to start hitting on history books. I want to watch the reenactment of that Waterloo battle; that’s still on my bucket list! So, for now, I’m bookmarking waterloo1815.be.

Slaapwel, Opa

Amber is 3 – a digital party

We’re still not allowed to host a party with more than one guest at home. So, we decided to host an online birthday bash with our extended family, and invited oma (grandma) to join us in our party bubble.

I set up a Facebook Event that goes with access to Facebook Rooms and sent the invite to the guests. Prior to the party, we also personally delivered patekes (small cakes) to those who live near us and told them about the online quiz about Amber that we’d be hosting.

Despite being the party organizer, the childminder, the videographer, the technical support gal, the cook, the gamemaster rolled into one on that day, I’m happy to report that everyone had fun, and so did I! 😁.

Especially on the quiz, oh dear, they’re all surprisingly competitive. Even though there’s no price at stake, for sure it’s the sweetest bragging right that it’s the winning “house” who knows Amber the most. 😉

Aprilse Grillen

As long as it is rainy and cold enough in the month of April, you often hear people say, “You see, April is doing what it wants.” In Belgium and the Netherlands, people often talk about Aprilse Grillen.

For me, it is this time of the year when Belgian weather goes bipolar. You can get to experience the four seasons all in one day. Or spring feels today, then snow and hail tomorrow, and sunny the day after. What a treat! 🌩️🌦

Easter Holiday in Limburg

This year’s weather went more unpredictable compared to last year, and according to hubby, this kind of weather is really quite expected in Belgium. Say what?

We got more days of hail, snow and freeze during January and February; but then come early March, we got an earlier treat of spring feels. So, I thought it’s going to be like this through and through, just like last year, which sucks because we didn’t stay much outdoors at that time.

I was already looking forward to bright, cozy spring days for our Easter holiday in Limburg when, BAM! Aprilse grillen arrived and messed up our body temps again. Despite that we’re all feeling under the weather (and getting sick in this coronatijd does make you feel anxious), it was fun to see my girls enjoying the snow together (impersonating the Frozen sisters for the nth time).

We celebrated Easter at the De Oude Winning, which is an 18th-century square farm that has its stables converted into B&B rooms and holiday homes. Then, we moved on and stayed at Orshof for the next few days. We visited to see the Genoels-Elderen wine castle, Doorkijkkerk – Reading between the lines, the outskirts of Tongeren and Sint-Truiden, the ever-favorite Maasmechelen, and the open-air museum of historical houses in Bokrijk.

Hallerbos blue forest

In the springtime of May, we visited The Blue Forest in Hallerbos.

Hallerbos is the most important and most extensive forest area between Zenne and Zoniën. The forest is a crowd favorite thanks to the beautiful purple carpet of bluebells, which bloom around mid-April. The giant Sequoia trees also make a visit to this forest more than worth it.

A long weekend in Ostend

After 5 years living in Belgium, I finally made it to its seaside city, Ostend.

I got a teaser of what Ostend offers – its seaside esplanade, the pier, its aesthetically pleasing train station, and fine-sand beaches.

Walking around we also come across the Casino, the Fort Napoleon, the Mercator, Hippodrome Wellington, St. Petrus and St. Paulus Church, and the Rock Strangers, these attention-seeking art pieces sitting at its coast. Near the beach we also visited the well-preserved section of the Atlantic Wall. Due to numerous corona measures, unfortunately, we didn’t spend as much time as we’d want to. Plus, the usually windy, cold, and rainy weather, it wasn’t helping to motivate us either so…there’s a reason to come back?

Plopsaland Dream

It brings back the good old memories of my teen days when my eldest daughter started sharing her vriendenboek to her classmates and friends. It’s the slam book (or slam book we call it in the Philippines); you know, that cool 80s/90s thing we share amongst our friends.

I remember that I started slam booking (Is that even a word really?) when I was 10. Here in Belgium, the kids can start as early as they’re off to school! And that’s as early as 3, but #imho, their social skills start to flourish by around they’re 4 so…

Anyway, Imma wrote in her own vriendenboek (slam book) that her biggest dream is to visit Plopsaland. We just made it happen and added some extra fun stuff in between. P.S. Bigger, exciting dreams to come, eh? I can sense Disneyland… oh no.😅 But first, Pairi Daiza, I prefer this for the kiddos. 😉

Keeping up with #GrowingUpImma #GrowingUpAmber

Imma recited her nieuwjaarsbrief for her godparents. For the first time, she prepared by memorizing the lines and reciting her piece as if she was reading it! Amber on the other hand, also knows her lines too. Short but sweet, we recited it along with her. How cool is that huh? It’s a #proudmommoment !

Imma and Amber are doing a lot more things together lately. Both go to the same school and daycare, and they also do the same after-school activities i.e., gymnastics, dancing, swimming. Imma has been protective and caring to her sister, while Amber is willing to listen and take her sister’s advice. Yet they’re also growing up with each having her own character and interests. Just seeing them grow and evolve like this is so amazing.

Foodie Life Update

I’ve got to be honest, there’s nothing much that sparks joy from this side of my life lately. I’ve been busy with other things as well, so I really don’t have much time and enthusiasm to explore new cuisines, learn more recipes, or level up my kitchen skills.

Add to that not-so-big-deal dilemma is that restaurants are closed during the winter, and it was only during late spring that the government allowed restaurants to gradually open. We resorted to takeaways instead.

Only until last May we finally could dine in, al fresco. We went to our usual favorites at first. Then after long months since the last time we had our dinner date (sans the girls), my hubby and I finally went at De Ganzenpoel.

In any case, check out my food exploration on my IG @PerpieEatsLately. 😉

*crossing fingers for more interesting food journey in the future*

Becoming Belgian (and European)

After reading this Kafkaesque saga of this Canadian couple on their quest to become Belgian citizens, I can fairly say that my experience of applying for Belgian citizenship didn’t appear as painstaking as theirs.

I somewhat share Alison’s experience on the fact that there wasn’t a celebration by the time I got my new nationality. But my commune invited me for an impressive reception, where they recognized and celebrated my completion of my integration program, a prerequisite towards my intended Belgian-ness.

Thanks to my husband who, as if, had set his sights towards me becoming a Belgian, I underwent the integration program and Dutch classes as soon as we moved here from Switzerland. Several months later, I got a fulltime job. Then a few years further on, I gave birth to my daughters.

Five years of living in Belgium with a steady career and a growing family with me, I can fairly say that I’ve integrated socially and economically in this country that I now call home.

So yeah, I’m officially a Belgian.

Yet even more so, Imma (I’m gonna 😉) try to embrace the Belgian-ness in me; and being a European as well, since we’re part of this epic union, the EU!

This and that, my friend, will be the next part of my life journey *currently brewing some passion project ideas & deep dive into it, but I don’t know…* #letsseehowitgoes I’m a full time wife-mom-techie_worker rolled into one, moonlighting for a side hustle, creative outlet, self-expression, multi-hyphenate lifestyle, so…WISH ME LUCK!

What matters most is that TODAY, I am grateful. 🙏