Hello from Alex

This morning we enrolled Maarten to school and he could immediately start.
I believe this 'shock method' works the best for him.
He said firmly 'no' when the principal was about to bring him into his new class. When we were leaving him behind, there was the look in his eyes... the same look like two years ago on his first day of the preschool.

Not smart, but I forgot his jacket and therefore I had to return to the school again. I was nicely surprised how he was already participating.

Just minutes ago I received this message from a mom of one of his Californian friends:

Alex wants to say hello to Maarten and is sending two pictures of the human body that he drew in their anatomy studies. He misses Maarten very much and was sad when I picked him at school on Maarten's last day. We attended William's birthday party yesterday, and his mother said that William cried for four days. It sounds like the classroom misses him and wants to say hello.

Maarten also keeps drawing pictures for his Californian friends and many times I have to spell the names of his ex-class mates (especially his girlfriends!), so that he can write it down correctly.

He obviously doesn't understand the situation yet.

Is it smart to show him Alex's message?

Getting somewhere

The air shipment is probably already at the customs right now and we hope it to be delivered straight to our new home. Yes! The house hunt is over and even we will get the keys soon, it will take another month till all our household goods will arrive and we will hopefully finally settle down.
Thanks to our realtor we found also a suitable school for Maarten. Quite surprising is that you can enroll your child to school after one of the school holidays only. We seem to have luck in that. This week was the fall break and tomorrow we have an appointment with the school director. I hope Maarten can start soon!
This school should offer a similar program to the Montessori which will hopefully help Maarten to adjust faster. Lessons are given in Dutch, of course, and even there are no English classes for his age, they offer optional French lessons after normal school hours.
We'll know more after tomorrow.

Speaking about languages. To hear Dutch/Flemish around somehow makes a big difference to me. This compared to the years spent in Brussels feeling uncomfortable because of my poor French.
I know I will get over it soon but I still tend to speak English to strangers. And Maarten's permanent jabbering in "Miss Ruth's language" naturally adds to that.
It was similar when we first arrived to California. Then I would react in French when a stranger addressed me.

There are many things we have to get used to again, such as payable parking and restrooms!, small parking lots, restricted openings hours, so many bikers on the streets and above of all the weather!


We haven't seen here much of the sun till now, yet today we had surprisingly nice sunny crisp day which we spent at the beach!

The first two days

The flight was quite pleasant.
The lay back chairs with footrest were almost as comfy as a bed and I surely used the back massage a lot.
Maarten even slept for a couple of hours but his persistent coughing made not only myself uncomfortable.
I only wish there are direct flights between San Francisco and Brussels.

The Frankfurt Airport was the first downer after landing on the Old Continent. Was it really so dirty or am I already that spoiled from spending last years in the Teletubbie like Tri-Valley Area?

The traffic between Brussels and Ghent was pretty bad and it was really pouring but we safely arrived to our temporary home. We were short on Euro cash for the taxi and the driver of course didn't accept any cards (something we have to get accustomed to again). I was really surprised when he agreed on a lower price (meaning all cash we had) for the taxi fare.
According to many expats the Belgians are friendlier than the Dutch. Was this the case or was he asking too much at first?


Our next-month-home was also a nice surprise. There are some fine hotels in Ghent but we had a preference for a furnished apartment. I believe, one week living in a hotel with Maarten was already enough.
I like a lot this little newly redone loft apartment in the downtown. Only too bad that they forgot to connect the water supply to the washer and dishwasher.

"De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst"

It took the movers 3 days to pack all of our stuff. What a sad view to see our home full of cardboard boxes!
Anyway, we finally got the house clean today.
What a relief that the cars and appliances are sold, although only for a charity price.

But there is still no end to our to-do list.

I see how naif it was to think we will spare some time for more trips.


Luckily we managed at least to visit our favorite pumpkin patch and Maarten had even more pumpkin fun at school. By the way, his school is one of the things we are going to miss badly. I may come back to this later...

Among of all those sad good byes it seems I finally came to terms with the local police...since Maarten became a Junior Officer of the San Ramon Police yesterday morning!

I've already brought up my concerns about Maarten's adjusting to the changes but actually it's me who is going to have difficulties with that.
Only the fact that we are staying in a hotel only one mile away from 'our home' gives me a stomach ache. Suddenly everything 'American', seems to me just wonderful, even the Applebee's !
As for Maarten, he really has a blast. He can use the hotel elevator several times a day and instead of oatmeal he gets the colorful cheerios every morning!
What more one can wish for?!


To spare this post any further wailing I should mention our Angel Island outing we did a week ago.
We took the ferry from Tiburon and climbed Mt. Livermore, the highest spot of the island.
Here you get incredible 360-degree views of the stunning San Francisco Bay Area nearly the entire trip.

We couldn't wish for a better good bye to this absolutely marvelous area.

It's raining; it's pouring.

I usually complain about the sunny, hot and dry weather here in California...

This morning's storm, partially the remnants of Typhoon Melor, which blasted Japan late last week, obviously brought more troubles for the Californians.
Next to the threat of devastating flooding and mudslides, we can also expect power outages. This is quite a scary idea. We experienced how badly such a power outage can damage your household just when we moved into our San Ramon home 3 years ago.

Gusty winds and heavy rain already caused a lot of traffic problems this morning.
Wrapped in his 'Dutch' rain gear, Rob had a safe bike ride to work despite the bad weather.
Yet this was a long drive to school for me and Maarten. The freeway was completely congested due to several car accidents.

But our 'California boy' was totally thrilled about the raindrops drumming heavily against the roof and windows. I wonder if he'll still appreciate the rainy weather in Belgium.

I know how this might sound, but the rain is actually really needed and welcome in this dry area. And unlike the previous years, more wet weather might come for California this winter!

Maarten's First Belt Promotion

Maarten had his first belt promotion ceremony this afternoon.

Together with his fellow students of different belt levels he had to demonstrate the forms, defenses and other techniques he had learned in his Taekwondo classes.

I'm sorry now that I wasn't able to attend the event.
Maarten still seems to me to be too playful for such a serious opportunity.
I didn't want to see him disappointed and therefore I simply chickened out.

I should have more trust in my little 'hard man' (as Maarten calls himself!) since, according to his proud dad, he was doing just great.

Tomales Point

Rob is not only busy with his global projects, they've already asked him to work for the Belgium office. And there are so many matters to arrange for our relocation in the end of October: we have to book a hotel here in California, then another for the first month in Ghent, transportation, make arrangements with the moving company, get the sailing permit, terminate all our contracts and obligations here, sell our cars (pretty difficult in such a short period), sell appliances...


No wonder we are trying to escape this daily hassle and worries on a trail.
Though the blackberry's buzzing follows us everywhere.

This morning while driving the country road among the old dairy farms we suddenly lost cell coverage. Here at the north end of the Point Reyes National Seashore even so close to the San Francisco Bay Area metropolis we temporarily escaped civilisation.


Here you are surrounded by water: the Pacific Ocean and Tomales, Bodega and Drakes Bay.
There were a few tourists at the trailhead but most of them seemed to be already satisfied with the views from the parking lot. They were after the tule elk. You didn't have to travel too far to see elk from the trail. But if you looked carefully you could spot them already from the car.


This nearly 10 miles trail is open and very sandy in spots, and it was also quite hot for the season, so we prized ourselves we didn't bring Maarten. One rolling hill after another; when you think this hill is going to be the last, there is one more. Pretty tricky but also adventurous.
And the hike seems rather neverending on the way back.

The views are spectacular in all directions.
You hear only the waves crashing against the cliffs, barking sea lions and a
lighthouse fog horn when you are nearing the end of the Tomales Point.


And what about the V-shaped tracks (and poo!) on the trail. There are hundreds of elk living on the peninsula.
We met an elderly couple. They were overenthusiastic about the bull elk chilling by the pond.

You really have to come and experience for yourself to understand.

Jack London State Historic Park

So little time left and still so much to do and see even only in the immediate surroundings.

We were waiting a couple of months till Rob finally got some days off.
Even though it is a bit late for our planned mountain trips we still can use the time to make short trips around the Bay Area.
You know, those kind of trips you keep postponing as those 'you can do anytime later'... at least you hope so.

Today we went to the rolling hills of the Sonoma Valley. Just a few minutes from the town of Glen Ellen here among the natural beauty, Jack London and his wife Charmin once lived.

I guess I'm not the only one who knows London as a novelist and journalist. But visiting his Beauty Ranch and wineries teaches us that he was also a farmer and rancher. He raised many domestic animals, cultivated a wide variety of crops, he even tried to grow spineless cactus for use as a cattle feed in arid areas!
He was quite innovative in his way of farming and after what I've learned today I would call him a pioneer of organic farming.

Passing London's Cottage, barns and several ruins we strolled along the wineyards. Climbing through the redwood forest we reached the shallow lake built by London for recreation. Even though today it's more a muddy and mossy pond but it's still a very serene place. Especially if you share it only with a couple of deer.

The trail to Wolfs House was a less cheerful experience.
Their dream house burned down just weeks before the Londons were to move in.
Also the grave of London and his wife is found on a little hill along this trail. Just next to the grave site of two pioneer children who lived on this land in the 1870's.

This park is a dreamlike nature setting especially for those who like outdoors and historic places.
It is magical!

People keep asking me

‘Are you excited to go home?’
Home??!
My home is still here in San Ramon! How can I be excited about living in Ghent which I know only from The Ghent Festivities?

But yes, somehow I’m excited and frightened simultaneously.
What’s wrong with me? I used to love the excitement of change and I didn’t mind to start again.
Now I feel tired and dull.
I live in a kind of grey world, I feel like I can’t enjoy it anymore here and even though I’m anxious, I’m very curious to learn what’s about to come out there.

Anyway, I really try my best not to make this moving a big deal. Maarten is quite a sensitive boy so it should be better without any 'big goodbyes'.
But we still had to prepare him for the change.
He is looking forward to live ‘close’ to his grandmas and all the friendly uncles and aunties, but...there are a lot of ‘buts’ and 'whys'.
And I've already noticed ‘some’ changes’ in his behavior.

Quite understandable since California is where he grew up. His home is here, even though he actually was born in Belgium.


As the experts say, growing abroad has a lot of advantages for our children. They may learn foreign languages and their exposure to varieties of cultures may add to more respect and tolerance for different norms and values.
But how about their friendships? They have to start again and again. Will their relationships remain shallow because they know it’s only for the time being?

As for Maarten, I guess, we don’t have to worry about that. Not yet.

Change isn't scary - it's growth. And growth is the essence of life. Getting sentimental?

My mom enrolled me into a German class when I was about 8 years old. Despite the fact that she was partly German, my mother was never allowed to learn the language.
I had to do that instead of her.

I hated it but there were some nice parts as well.
I liked my teacher who was originally from West Germany. She used to tell us about her travels in the 'distant West'; about skiing in the Alps and about the huge trees growing only in California!
I still remember all those dream away stories.

Then the year 1989 came and suddenly we were actually allowed to travel wherever we wanted to.
I did a lot and I also scanned the bookstores in search for guidebooks about all my dream countries.
Once together with books about India and Australia I also bought one about California.

Unfortunately I didn't have a travel buddy then...you may guess, the money was the issue!
Thanks to one of my colleagues I came in touch with her ex-schoolmate and we were planning on going together. To California!
But then at last she made up her mind and decided to put her money into her wedding and into a house she was about to build with her fiancé!
How could you choose settling down over a trip to California?!!

Continuing travelling and moving around I kept my guide books.
Then, four years ago, while we were packing again to move to the Ardennes I found those books and seriously considered to throw them away.
As a fresh mom I was not that much into travels anymore.
But, maybe out of nostalgia, I kept them.

Only one month later Rob came home with this job offer and so... here I'm, living in one of my dream-to-visit countries, hugging the huge trees myself!!


After the years the places on the pictures in my guidebook don't seem to me that exotic as before.
But don't get me wrong! California is definitely a place of indescribable natural beauty and it was worth using the opportunity of living here.
Even though I'm ready for the change I'm going to miss California immensely.

But cheer up!
There are still some unused guidebooks left!