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moving abroad - this time it's more serious. [aka my life in Belgium]


J. van Deijck

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J. van Deijck

today the boss of trams department called my team leader and asked to "borrow" me at Friday because they need me there.

I talked with my best friend about it and he said it's a valid proof of appreciation and trust. they never ask for anybody else - just always for me. and every time our department is temporarily closed due to new train cars transport, everyone stays at home - except me. I am being sent to other departments to help. I feel really proud of myself. 

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J. van Deijck

here's what I recently received.

 

tumblr_ppysia0V5l1upic5ho1_1280.jpg

 

you probably know what it means.

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J. van Deijck

also. silly me developed a fully platonic squish on one of my workmates who apparently doesn't treat me seriously. well, most of the time it seems. pff.

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  • 2 weeks later...
J. van Deijck

since today I started working on my first department. their boss called our TC to ask specifically for me. but on the longest break I come to eat with my old workmates anyway. :D

some say I should be proud of myself if everyone wants to work with me.

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  • 2 weeks later...
J. van Deijck

next week I am going to have some trainings that are supposed to upgrade my competences. unofficially I know everyone is so pleased with my work that they just want me to be more flexible.

which means, I am officially being promoted.

 

yay me :3

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Skycaptain

Glad you've settled in, and congratulations 🎊 🎊 on getting promoted 

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J. van Deijck
7 hours ago, Skycaptain said:

Glad you've settled in, and congratulations 🎊 🎊 on getting promoted 

aw thank you! ^_^🐱 it was easier than I thought, Flemish people are mostly very nice and friendly. I just can't believe how many friends I've made through almost a year of living here ❤️ :3

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J. van Deijck

oh well, so yesterday someone has made a complaint about me doing nothing at work. (!!!) now one of my best friends is my team leader, and my team got really angry about it. they called our two bosses and had to calm me down because I started screaming. (Yes, I know...). they both said they're not going to treat this complaint seriously and that they're going to officially warn this person about discrimination because they know how brilliant worker I am and that he should talk to me first. it made me really happy to know it ♡

when my friend heard the complaint, she got angry. she started yelling at the person, saying she doesn't want to hear anything bad about me and that people should be learning from me how to work properly. then my boss told me th at apparently someone is jealous because I know my job better than him.

I just wish I knew exactly who it was because... well, I can't stand the thought of shaking hands with a possible liar. I just want to look him in the eyes.

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J. van Deijck

so the case of my complaint is being taken care of by both workers unions that are in our factory. I already know there was somebody from the office. my workmates are all on my side, and my boss himself said he trusts me. life is beautiful again ❤️

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  • 1 month later...
J. van Deijck

so I was supposed to pay 300€ for a tattoo, but the guy who did it charged me only 220€. not only he did a great job, but also this. I think I'm gonna be back to him :D

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  • 1 month later...
J. van Deijck

as I mentioned somewhere else, I was terrified for my future in my workplace, but thankfully I stayed. ♡ I hope it's gonna last long.

today is also my first time going to a specialist doctor in this country. I'm waiting for an ophthalmologist appointment right now and I'm pretty curious of how it's going to look like.

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J. van Deijck

also, still waiting for my tax return. I wish I could get it already, that would mean more money for my vacation.

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  • 3 weeks later...
J. van Deijck

back to work. surprisingly not that bad, even though both my team leaders are still on holiday and I was panicking about it 😂

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J. van Deijck
On 7/30/2019 at 10:04 PM, Jelle van der Lee said:

also, still waiting for my tax return. I wish I could get it already, that would mean more money for my vacation.

and still waiting. pff :mellow:

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  • 7 months later...
J. van Deijck

Ha yeah, thanks :D

 

back to this thread: I got my tax return by the end of 2019. I got a permanent contract at work. Currently my workplace is closed due to coronavirus and my unfinished thing is laying on the table and waiting :( everything here is closed, except for big supermarkets. 

 

Oh and of course I started taking Dutch classes! ♡ I'm doing better and better :3

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  • 1 month later...
J. van Deijck

While the corona thing is bad in itself, I can feel I am really lucky in comparison to some people.

In my native country a lot of people have lost their jobs and/or income due to corona. I didn't lose my job as I have a permanent contract, and my boss called me as soon as the factory reopened. Now I have work for at least two months. Even though I spent 6 weeks at home, I didn't lose my income since I was paid both compensation from the government and compliments from work, as the result I got almost the exact amount of my typical salary. They also return gas and electricity money go people and I also got mine, and since everything was closed, I spent money only on food and managed to save a lot for my savings account.

 

I really love this odd little country. I hope it won't make me cry too much at the end of the year when it comes to pay the taxes.

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  • 5 months later...

Hey Jelle! I haven't made an account yet, but I felt like saying something hahaha. I actually live in Belgium, Flanders. It was pretty funny to see you talking about it. I hope you enjoy your time in our country, I'm not too fond of Flanders itself but perhaps no one is after living in their country for their entire life. If you'd have questions or something, you can always ask me! 

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On 9/9/2018 at 3:19 PM, Jelle van der Lee said:

okay so you lovely people remember that I asked what to do while going to Belgium quite long ago. but it was only temporary. now I have the chance to move there for longer and possibly even settle here (which is my dream btw). now I have a question for those who have moved countries within EU. what am I supposed to do first? how long do I have to wait?

from what I got to know already, i need to get this job contract first. after I know for sure that I'm going to get this job, i should contact the embassy. I don't need any visa because both countries belong to the EU and my ID will be enough. after coming to Belgium, i have 8 days to confirm that I'm going to stay there for longer than 3 months.

any other helpful information? 

 

EDIT: after such a long time I think it's going to be my "diary" thread about my life in this odd little country :D

Not strictly EU but I moved several times and never had to do anything. I just got a job, moved there, registered with the local authorities and that was it.

edit: oh yes organise a bank account, register for health insurance (I think Belgium has a Mutualität system (not sure about the Belgian name)) , though your Ehic card should be fine to start with.

Be glad you're not moving to Brexitland, that's going to be something different 😄

 

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J. van Deijck

Haha and the funny thing is I actually considered moving to the Brexitland a few years ago :lol: thankfully it didn't happen, knowing what's going on there now.

In most of the cases it's not that easy to move there, and I had no European insurance or whatever. Now I have the EHIC card from CM and life is beautiful. :D I avoided the accomodation-job contract loop, so I was lucky. I think I was really lucky from the start, though. Almost 3 years passed and I still love it here and I find it my place on Earth :D well, it's not like 100% of Belgians is polite and nice, but let's be honest, every country has all possible kinds of people. I am mostly surrounded by the great ones :P

I'm also a member of the trade union, it happened to be ACV, even though people say ABVV would be better. :P I have no reasons to complain, though.

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That's really great to hear! 🙂 With the last election it was widely reported that the far (or further) right parties had the upper hand by a large margin. Good to hear people are friendly generally. It's great to find a place where you belong and where you feel at home <still looking>

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J. van Deijck
12 hours ago, Acing It said:

With the last election it was widely reported that the far (or further) right parties had the upper hand by a large margin.

This is true :D Vlaams Belang won the election, but I think they're not in charge anyway. :P someone kind of explained it to me and in general they say Belgium has no government anymore :lol:

Thank you and I hope the same for  you :cake:

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