Good intentions for the new year

Exploring the Western Slovakia was what we planned for the last week of this year. But due to the weather and our car condition we had to postpone this trip.
Unfortunately this also means that Maarten has to miss his babi and děda a little longer.

Short trips to the Ardennes would fulfill my longing to be in the mountains and forests again. Yet during our daily wandering through the Deurle's picturesque streets and forest paths we came across many signs marking the local network of hiking trails.

Don't worry; I'm not going to compare the bare flat plains of East Flanders with the wilderness of the American West.

Still, we've probably been very lucky to find a house in this charming village with such beautiful surroundings.

There is a good reason why Deurle is called the village of castles and domains. Our house is just across the street from The Castle de Spoelberch and The Castle of Ooidonk is located one kilometer further west.
Only if there was a bridge over the winding Lys river then.





On the foggy and rainy Wednesday morning I finally got on my bike and made a short trip across the river.




Despite the cold it was truly great and I'm intending to continue exploring the area on my bike.
Just my outfit urgently needs a little 'warm' update, such as a pair of neoprene booties to start with.

It's nice to spend Christmas with the family. We had to miss that for the last four years.
Only a shame that some have a little understanding and obviously can't imagine what an overseas moving like ours practically means. Besides of that, not a bit of interest in our Californian life. That makes me sad.
But over this subject has already been written a lot.
I guess, to expect understanding from friends and family who have not moved far or at all from where they grew-up will probably bring only frustrations.


And, please, don't ask me, if I'm happy to be 'home' again! Yes, I've lived in Belgium before, but the Lys region, even though a very pretty area, is completely new for me. So no, I'm not feeling like coming home again. It may be the same Europe I've left four years ago, but I've definitely changed. Or has everything changed and the things I liked are now gone?
And no, I'm not talking about the reacclimatizing to the wet and dark Belgian winter!

I know I'm probably too soon for conclusions but till now I have found it very difficult to "settle-in". I have the feeling that only other returning ex-pats can understand.

While unavoidably I miss things and people from my life in California, at the same time I am aware of all the frustrations I had while living there. Similarly, when I was in California, I missed Holland, Czech and even Belgium but was also aware of all the less pleasant aspects of life here.

Even if you're not aware of it, it changes you every time you move internationally. You're not the same person anymore, so you shouldn't expect to be at ease with all the same.
Therefore it’s hard to find 'your place' when you hold different values in life.

However, I don't want to end up like some of the frustrated ex-pats who don't really feel like they belong anywhere.

So, please, give me a little more time.

Snow in Flanders

The snow has started to fall yesterday afternoon just before we left for our first play date with local Anglophone kids. No need to say how difficult it was to get Maarten in the car.
He was pretty excited to hear 'Miss Ruth's language' again but the homemade cookies were most definitely the highlight of the party!
Except of the pastry-and-pies discussion I enjoyed myself as well.
You know, I’m not the playgroup’s biggest fan. Yet, I believe, engaging Maarten in social interaction with English speaking children may be important for developing and maintaining this language. We'll see.

Wondering how our settling down in Belgium continues?
It is, actually, my true intention to forget the last couple of weeks. I would sum it up as a sad and stressful experience in a house full of chaos and boxes; however it can always be worse...
And being busy trying to unpack and set up the new household is the best way I keep my mind off missing California.


We will surely not be unpacked and settled before Christmas but looking out of the window into the snow-covered garden and seeing Maarten so happy going to his new school makes everything good.

Full of water

Friday evening after picking up Rob from his work I hit a curb with the front wheel. It was pretty bad. The front tire was completely torn so the wheel needed to be replaced.
It was dark, stormy and we had no phone number of the road assistance, we also couldn't find the car-jack in our temporary car.
After an hour or something, when we accepted there is simple none, we did find it (together with the number of the road assistance!).
Despite the pouring rain and a tired and impatient Maarten, Rob managed to attach the spare wheel at last...

This is how my weekend has started.

Saturday night Maarten had a fever, swollen eye and was complaining about earache.
Obviously an ear infection, but this morning miraculously he woke up as healthy as a horse, insisting his ear is not hurting at all, that "it is only full of water".


Therefore I gave up and, however, instead of looking for a pediatrician we went to visit Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet.

Leverkussen Express...

...is on my mind.

This vessel is carrying the container with our furniture and household goods and it has probably almost crossed the Atlantic.
It is actually scheduled for tomorrow to arrive in Antwerp harbor!

Even though it will stay in customs for at least another week, there is a good chance that we will be settled in our new home right before Christmas!

Thanks Hendrik!

Sinterklaas is in the country again! Maarten looks out the window every evening in hoop to spot the old bischop or his helpmate Piet.
At school he's learned some traditional Sinterklaas songs but he is also singing some in French! This is a little frustrating for me since 'Saint Nicolas' and 'tralala' is all I understand.


I didn't have the car today so Maarten had to miss his school.
A long planned trip to the historical downtown was a good option for me but how to make it attractive for Maarten as well?

Luckily I've recently read about Hendrik, the little ghost of Huis van Alijn, a museum right in the downtown.
All children under 9 years of age can put there their shoes at one of the many museum fireplaces.
There we had a good reason to get out to the rainy streets of Ghent!
Maarten drew a picture of Sinterklaas (and me) and put it in one of his sneakers.

After the Saint Nicholas' eve Maarten can pick up his shoe again with, hopefully, a little something in it.
If he has been good of course!

Bos t'Ename

Again I can describe my 'first' impressions and adjusting to the new life here but maybe it's better to safe that for later when the initial heavy emotions will cool off.

Even here in Belgium I want to hold onto writing about my search for beautiful (natural) places.
In California no real effort was needed for that since there are stunning places on every step you make. But what about here in crowded Europe?

Geography was always my favorite subject but I remember learning about the Benelux at the elementary was rather boring. Nothing spectacular considering the landscape or climate and even... not 'real' mountains!

When I first moved to Brussels from Amsterdam in 1998 I surprisingly found a nice combination of historical, cultural and even natural beauty.
But now after spending the last years exploring stunning California I will probably need to make more effort to (re)discover the Belgian natural places again.

If you want to make me really happy bring me to a forest!
Right, but this might be a little problem if you live in East Flanders.

I've been told, there is still some forest in The Flemish Ardennnes, only 15 minutes drive from our home.


I did some research and found a place proudly called The Ename Forest. If you ask me, there are rather stretches of woods (and...sorry, Maarten, there are no bears in there!) but the way the locals try to maintain and expand this natural preserve is impressive.

This wooded area is also interesting due to its long history. The educational information panels along the Mariette Tielemans trail explain the historical importance of many places.


Without these panels you will probably not realize that you are walking on a sunken road used already in Roman times and you will definitelly pass the Rabit Hill without noticing. Such man-made hills with artificial holes were used in the Middle Ages to raise rabbits.


From the windy hill you get a nice view of The Schelde Valley. Walking in such a rural setting truly refreshes your mind.
Nothing new, the outdoors is always good for MY soul!

Despite lack of 'real' forests this hilly region with its pictoresque villages and meadows with grazing cows is a perfect place to find peace and definetelly worth of further exploring.

"Mami, budeš stará babka?"

Mommy, are you going to be an old grandma?

Yes, probably.

But I don't want you to!

And my never-crying boy started to sob.

Miss Geneviève told us that moms and dads will become grandmas and grandpas and then they'll die.
I don't want you to die!


Ooh yeah.. I forgot about the Grandparents Day at Maarten's school. The children had to be dressed to represent different types of sports disciplines.
Most of our stuff is still somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic so we had to improvise with my T-shirt and hat.

Maarten came home with self made cards for his grandparents. Neither his grandma nor grandpa appeared at the party. What a disappointment!

But you've told me we are going to live closer to 'babi'.

Uhm... ehmm ...yes, we are closer.
Instead of twelve hours fly it's 'only' twelve hours drive...

"Happiness comes when we stop wailing about the troubles that we have and offer thanks for all of the troubles that we don't have."

I should remind myself of this more often.

These are stressful days, but being busy might be a sign of a good progress and hopefully we are on the right track.

Therefore after the last couple of wailing posts I should write something about the nice things of our Belgian life.

Besides the traffic, living in the downtown of an European city is pleasant. There actually are people in the streets, not only cars!
I wish there was also a little more color!






I probably still don't fully realize the nicest part of being back in Europe. The closeness of family and friends!

After one year of separation I could hug my sister and our cute little cousin Jonas again!

Maarten enjoys his new school, even though he seems to fall back into his gestural and mimical communication from a year ago.
Back in California it took a while before he dared to speak English to his schoolmates. Even he is fluent in Dutch he will probably need some time to use this language at school as well.

Luckily he seems to like his new school and fits in well. He even has got his first birthday party invitation!

Maarten's teacher is so kind to blog about their activities. Every week we get updates about what's going on in the classroom. You can follow it HERE. (in Dutch but it's mostly pictures)




There is some progress in making our home more inviting and livable.
Rob finally finished sanding the floor in one of the bedrooms. The formal residents 'accidentally' painted it grey.
I admit, the sanded floor does look stunning but ask Rob if it really was worth three days of heavy labor followed by really bad headache!

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 also found 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!

They are back!

Playing, cooling off with their flippers up or just floating and relaxing.
Some were swimming quietly along looking at us for a while and then back under the water to reappear some place else a little later.


If it wasn't so foggy and drizzly I could sit and watch them all day long.

Sadly, we found again four more sea lion corpses!




We walked the beach all the way to the historic distillery.
It's fun to hop on the slippery rocks, though some places were difficult to pass because of the drift seaweed.
Many birds were feeding there.



Along the bluff and on the beach there are still some remnants of the Ocean Shore Railroad once following northern California's coastline. You can still see the bridge support, rusted iron, bricks and concrete walls.
The rest has gone into the sea...

One morning at the beach

I like the foggy mornings at the beach.
We are trying to get there as early as possible to explore the tide pools. Sometimes we are lucky to see the abundant marine life on the exposed rocks.
We did not managed to be there during the low tide at 6:30! this Sunday, but there is always enough to do and see on this beach anyway.


There are usually many sea lions resting on the reef at a safe distance.
But this time there were none.




We noticed some of them swimming curiously around and playing hide and seek with us.


Couple of death sea lions washed ashore may be the reason.
Did they die of natural causes?

Our little diver

Maarten used to refuse swimming with his head down when he was asked to do so by Mister Rob, the swimming instructor.
Naturally he could, but he simply didn't see any reason for doing it.
Why should I put my head down when I can keep it up!
Sooo stubborn!

One year later nothing is more fun to him than swimming underwater.
And he can swim all across the pool by himself!
What a relief.

Santa Barbara (7 - 9 August)

Many find Santa Barbara worth paying a visit for it's pleasant coastal climate, Spanish architecture and youthful vivacity.
This is a real holiday area.
With hills on the background and beaches lined by palm trees, the pretty town looks rich and prosperous.
Even though this first impression may change if you take a stroll outside the historic State Street area.
I haven't seen so many homeless together in a long time. Often accompanied by dogs they wander the streets pushing grocery carts loaded with junk.
So sad!


We enjoyed the beach and pool at our hotel
but we couldn't miss the old historical Mission.







It felt a little strange seeing historical buildings like those here in California.

Last weekend Santa Barbara was even more crowded because of it's Fiesta.
The original noble purpose of increasing presence of police to avoid incidents during the celebrations shifted obviously to hunting for confused tourists lost in the chaotic downtown's traffic. The unlucky ones had to add a traffic ticket to the price of their Santa Barbara stay.
The police beacons red and blue lights were flashing all over the place.

I'd rather not comment on that any further but it was quite a relief to leave Santa Barbara on Sunday morning.


We stopped in the kitschy Danish town of Solvang traditionally to buy European bread and pastry.

Our trip home went smoothly.
But then just past Fremont we got accompanied by this strange acting police car.
The car was being driven in an aggressive erratic manner across the freeway switching lanes continually.
The police behaviour in this country still puzzles me.