Andreea: A complicated Belgian administration that will only lead to frustration if you are not charged with a good dose of patience (not my forte!), a good dose of humor and the occasional glass of wine when you get home. Belgian administration is notorious to give you only half the information and to send you from one place to another until you get dizzy. And you still don’t have all the papers you need. Arm yourself with patience and ask every question you can think of to avoid days (if not weeks) of running around. However the system itself is there and it is good.

1. On a practical level. You need to have an address, then you’ll have your residence, which is then your ticket to health insurance, to bank accounts, and other necessary matters.
   
   
2. Individualism. Something else that I find a little strange, is that neighbors don’t seem to know each other or want to know each other (in the city). An initial feeling of coldness will come from the locals (Belgians) but give them some time and they will open up.
   
   
3. To gain weight. I am not kidding. The food (chocolate anyone?) and beer in this country are so good, it will be difficult to resist: then again you can always register at a gym, which will only increase your potential to meet new and interesting people.
    
4. Rain. Rain. Rain.
   
   
5. Use your connections. I guess this would apply anywhere, but unlike bigger European cities, Brussels is very much of an insider city. Talk to your colleagues at work, talk to your friends, ask them what you would like to know. I had invaluable advice from colleagues be it on where to find construction materials (!), be it concerning work permits, where to find an organic shop, or where to register for a language course. People are an incredible network in Brussels and it would be a pity if you would miss out on this easy accessible information.