Good Advice on a close call

Whether giving or receiving, everybody could always use good advice. Some would say you should never take advice from anyone, that you should figure things out on your own. I absolutely agree, that is good advice. However, I believe one should always take advice when it comes to dating/living together or marriage. Especially when your heart and gut are sending conflicting messages.

I fell in love with this really cute guy on "Spring Break" one year with friends. Once the week ended, reality set in. He lived in Britain, I lived in the US. We managed to continue our long distance romance for one year and a half. I remember the phone calls, the flights, the fights, the engagement and his bad temper. All this before it was decided I would move to the UK to be with him. There was just one problem. I had just turned 21 and not finished with university. Was I really going to uproot and change the course of my young life for someone? How were we going to live? Could I find work? Was I gambling the best parts of my life on the wrong person?The decision vexed me. I hadn't even begun to absorb the necessary pabulum that would show me what a move to London would really entail. This person that I had so quickly fallen in love with on holiday, turned out to be emotionally needy, possessive and insanely jealous. Even with him thousands of miles away, I was miserable. How was I going to end this without hurting him? My heart was telling me that I loved him, but my gut instinct was telling me you have to break-up with now.

I asked and received advice from everyone I knew. I already knew what they were going to tell me. I just needed my decision reaffirmed. Everyone told me the same thing - finish your education before anything else! To make a long story short, I broke his heart. I felt horrible, but I couldn't lie to myself or him any longer. In retrospect, it was much easier to end the relationship from afar than in a little apartment across the Atlantic.

Throughout the years, this individual has tried to reconnect on numerous occasions. Just yesterday he tried to befriend me on Facebook. He just doesn't get it. His attempts only served to remind me that I avoided a huge mistake by adhering to sound advice.

I leave you with this - listen to your family and friends. They're only giving you advice because they care about you. But most of all, listen to your instinct. It will never lie to you.

( I would have never come to Brussels;)

Brussels Couples

He's from Italy, she's from Germany. She's American, he's Dutch. He's Norwegian, she's German. You get the picture. Global couples are the norm in Brussels not the exception. Single men and women flock here from all over Europe (and the world for that matter) to find a good tax-exempt position, or to complete an internship, in one of the EU institutions. Once in Brussels, one is thrown into this global pinata where the chances of falling in love with someone from a different nationality is almost guaranteed. Right away you both have a few things in common - you're strangers in a foreign land, you hate the weather and you love the Belgian gastronomy. Can the relationship go further than this?

If things get more serious, the relationship changes. Once both of you began to discuss other topics besides lousy Belgian drivers and loving the local brews, you begin to embrace not only the others culture, but the language. Brussels offers a smorgasbord of language courses at 100 different language schools - Finnish, Icelandic, Serbian, and French just to name a few. It may be easy to rely on English if you live in Brussels. Nevertheless, speaking your partners language (well) matters. It will bring you closer to his/her family and friends if you speak the language. In addition, if you decide to have children together, your partner will speak his/her language with your child. You don't want to feel left out of their conversations do you? That being said, learn your partners language. It will take time, but it will happen.

Marriages between global couples have the chance of lasting just as long as a marriage between those married to someone of the same nationality. Nevertheless, being married or together with someone of a different nationality makes all the more interesting and enjoyable. You'll appreciate Brussels so much more.

Belgian Culture this week - Nuit Blanche in Brussels

White Night or Sleepless Night, is the annual city-wide party in Brussels (just another day in New York City). This night offers a surplus of cultural and artistic venues, live music and beer tasting throughout the city. Shops stay open until midnight and restaurants and bars leave their doors open way past normal business hours (Belgian bars often stay open until 7am. I had a good run in my younger days). You can learn more about this Belgian "Mardi Gras" here. Don't Miss it!

Belgian Culture this week - Free Beer in Grand Place

That's right folks! September 4-6, marks the annual beer weekend in Brussels - Weekend de la Biere. Head down to Grand Place where you can taste 44 different types of beer. The event also features live music and parades. Fun for the whole family? That depends on you. I will not be there unfortunately. Something just doesn't feel right about beer tasting with a 3 month-old baby (Although I know that would be perfectly acceptable in this country).

For more information, go to the event website here.

Clouseau En Dans

Feel Free and Dance! Happy Friday. Enjoy this clip from Clouseau (not Inspector Clouseau), the successful Belgian pop group. Most of their music is in Flemish, but that shouldn't deter anyone from shaking their booty. Flemish pop group with a French name? Yes that's right. Just another paradoxical characteristic of Belgian society.

We all heart Belgium today

July 21st is the Belgian national day for those of you who didn't know. It's a great day to get out there and watch the military parade, practice your best French or Flemish, eat some mussels, chocolate or fritjes, and wash it all down with a one of the country's 450 varieties of beer.

Belgian culture this month - The Underwear Museum

The Musée du Slip opened in Brussels this month giving visitors a real glimpse at the preferred undergarments of famous Belgian celebrities. Ever wanted to know if the Belgian finance minister prefers boxers of briefs? Or what about famous Belgian singer Johnny Halleday? You'll find the answers and much more housed in the new museum created by Belgian artist Jan Bucquoy. You'll discover that everyone gets their undies in a bunch at some point in time.

Mr. Bucquoy is planning a similar exhibition in Paris later this year. It will be exciting to see the preferred choices of the French. Much sexier I'm sure.

Musée du Slip belge
Rue De Tiere 15 - 1030 Schaerbeek
Phone: 02/241.55.75

Read the full article from Reuters.