mess on apt-for-rent pictures

Do you get ticked off by an iron left on a bathroom sink? or a kitchen sink full of dirty dishes? I do! I can't believe some people don't. I know male student apartments that look tidier and cleaner than some of the Sodomas shown on Immoweb. I don't mean to judge the people living there, anyone can have in the privacy of their home the mess they desire. But to decide to photograph it with the purpose of gaining interest of potential buyers/tenants - that is just beyond me. People obviously have the right to their own levels of aesthetic needs and my higher expectations have no powers of influencing this, yet pictures, presenting either a sloppy house, or taken with a shaky hand, out of focus, do nothing to atract interest. I find them repelling. Sad, perhaps I omit good potential future homes; but once I see the mess, I just can't concentrate on other features and loose all interest.
Good for the ones who are less demanding I guess...

Elections to the European Parliament

If you're a foreigner who lives in Belgium and still hasn't figured out how you can vote, it's time you do so if you're interested in participating! I wanted to vote. For a while was worried it wouldn't be possible, as I heard from Italian and Spanish friends, their deadlines were up. Fortunately this is not the case for Poles, or for any EU citizens who are resident in Poland, but who will be in Belgium on the day of the election. Very glad. It's not often public administration in Poland makes things easy, even less frequent, makes things better than the public administrations of other countries. This time, it has achieved it and deserves praise!

You can read more of the official notice here. Or go directly to the online registration which allows to register to vote anywhere outside of Poland (i.e. everywhere abroad where Polish Consulates organise elections). Very handy, easy, done in a minute.

The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actually clears up one last doubt I had, that is, do you need to register if you obtain a certificate of right to vote at home. I had called my city hall before digging all these infos on the web. As I had voted outside my place of residence before (but within Poland) knew I required the certificate and knew it was a simple formality to get it. Figuring that voting abroad should be similar I got the certificate just in case. Now I know that having registered online, the requirement of presenting a certificate does not apply to me. But since you never know, and since it cost me no trouble, plus was free of charge, I'm glad I have it just in case;)

aujourd'hui il fait vraiment beau

After 2 days tied to my bed with my collection of vick's vapo rub products, I decided I had to go out. It looked nice out the window, but than again, so it did the day I underestimated the strength of the Belgian sun and got sick. I wanted to get back to my jogging, which I had so much enjoyed right after arriving. There may be many downsides to colder climates but when it comes to jogging, a max 20 celcius, is best according to me. Hesitan but eager, wearing 2 layers of tops and a scarf I headed for the wonderful Cinquantenaire. Today I took a different route and arrived at an entrance gate sooner. Would have liked to say, I just ran faster, but the weakened by the cold lungs and throat allowed only for an average tempo. Happy that I had found this shortcut, which not only meant I got to spend more time crousing the park allies, it also meant having to stop at only 2 roadlights. Although I avoided the busiest thouroughfare in the area, I did get to do my share of observations today as well. Not sure how much more warm it acually is today vis-à-vis Saturday, yet today I saw plenty of bare legs, short sleeves, once even flip-flops:) I also noticed that the more springy clothes and accessories sported today streched outside the limits of beige, brown and black. So maybe there is a spring in Brussels after all?;)
Without being too sarcastic, there's one advice I need to give to anyone who is planning a move to Brussels soon, 2 items you can not forget are a coat and a hair dryer. Air drying hair is not an option here at all, unless July proves me wrong. The lack of a coat just means you run a daily risk of wearing wet clothes. An umbrella is not always enough...

are the Poles really too sensitive?

First week in Brussels

The first few days in Brussels have been great. Much more interesting than anticipated. I knew coming to Brussels would be a positive change, yet experienced with previous moves my expectations were veered towards the difficulties of a new unknown home, finding your way in a new mentality, with all street names sounding unfamiliar, all landmarks being of no reference point yet, having to ask about almost everything and scarcely being able to rely on intuition.
Brussels has turned out to be much less complicated in that sense. I still have plenty to discover, plenty to get wrong and plenty to be disillusioned about, but I can say with satisfaction, the first stage, which is behind me and which tends to pose most difficulty turned out to be fun and not difficult at all.
Brussels has so much of what I've missed for a very long time. Many deny it the status of a metropolis, stating it is obviously no NY or Paris, but I think it has all it needs to feel like a true great city. Public transport, boulevards, parks, cafes, boutiques, museums, gyms...I could go on, but from this list alone you already must realise I have lived deprived of basic urban civilisation and therefore understand am easily pleased.
Arriving here in spring has its advantages; the season in the north of Europe has a particular charm, everything has just turned vivid green from being grey for months, the plants are either in full bloom or about to, in both cases boasting the freshest of colours and offering the most tranquil of moods.
I did get sick though. I am still in awe of how unreasonably I behaved wearing flip-flops in Brussels in May... It seemed warmer. It was sunny and central heating is still on in the temporary accommodation we're staying at; I was under the impression that it really was warm enough. This feeling was reinforced by the fact that the preceding day I had seen so many people so 'over'dressed; there was plenty of wool scarves, jackets with fur collars, boots, thick tights. I was very surprised to see this because it seemed like full fledged autumn attire, where was everyone's spring closet? Not only were the colours all dark earth tones, focused mainly around black, but the fabrics were all heavy and thick. I was running late to a lunch date with my former classmates and as I underestimated the distance, was walking rather fast through the city centre. I wore a jacket but quickly got rid of it staying in a short sleeve t-shirt. I must have turned quite a few heads haha, but I was honestly too warm. In fact having gone jogging in the Cinquantenaire early that morning I had already then realised it was not cold at all. This one day experience of being too warm drove me to the conclusion that everyone here must be too stressed out to care about how they dress, insane or just very in love with their autumn clothing and made me all the more confident that I can dress much more spring appropriate. So I opted for bare legs and flip-flops; and here I am, second day in bed curing my cold. I still love the city though;)