10 Things You Shouldn’t Forget When Becoming an Expat in Antwerp: a Special Post by Laura Soave, Aka Nonnative Blog

10 top tips you might find handy if you are new (or newish!) to the City of Antwerp.

1. Don’t forget to ask for help.    In Antwerp you’ll find so many communities for each nationality that you can easily reach on different social networks. Use these tools when you need help. Ask politely for info: you’ll find better allies here, than anywhere else.
See: Expats in Antwerp group on Facebook or go to Language café events like at Via Via Reis Café 2. Keep in contact with friends and family.   This might sound cheesy, but life doesn’t stop for them just because we’re away. They get old, have babies, they move on. You might want to ensure that you hear from them regularly. It’s just a little more effort that you have to make, than if you still lived close to them. Try: apps like  Skype 3. Learn the local language.  This might sound silly when living in a English-friendly country, but learning some Flemish might give you advantages you didn’t consider before…. and don’t forget that leaving a shop or the post office with a smile, is also a positive way of connecting with your new neighbours. See: Where can you learn Dutch? 4. Keep your mind open.   Not everything you’re used to is better than the Belgian culture that is hosting you. Keep your mind open to new ideas and new ways of doing everyday things. See: Stad Antwerpen website Find out about family support on Kind en Gezin Get out and about with a Velo citybike 5. Make local friends too.   Explore the international community in the city you’re living, but don’t forget to make friends with Antwerpenaars too. They don’t have to become your best friends yet, you need them to help you better understand the society, to feel less misplaced. when someone explains a local joke to you, it can help you feel more included. See Meet Up Antwerp Visit a local library Join a local sports activity. 6. Learn about history.   History is what makes a city big or small. It’s number one evaluation element to figure out whether a city is interesting or not. Never ignore this important aspect while being part of Antwerp community. It could be finding a local guide, going to a museum and reading the little guide book or reading some history books at the library, etc. History is what makes everything start. See: Visit Antwerp website and check out the page about Antwerp Museums 7.  Sharing is caring.   Some people might seem less interested in you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share the traditions of your own culture. If you listen and respect Belgian culture, locals will appreciate every once in a while being introduced to an aspect of your culture too. It doesn’t have to be big; it could be something small like baking something typical for your office. 8. Avoid negative comparisons.    If you are about to start a new journey in Antwerp, try to be positive about your new environment, and avoid negative comparisons. People around you should accept you for who you are, where you come from and what you stand for. In return, give the host culture a real chance to introduce itself. See Spotted by Locals 9. Never miss an opportunity to have new encounters.  You are never really alone if you surround yourself with new friends. If people you don’t know well invite you for an activity or an event in the city where you live, try to attend. Even if you’re not going to have the time of your life every time, it’s important to participate in as many events as possible and meet as many people as possible. See Uit in Vlaanderen website  for “what’s on” info, or join Internations, or a community group in Hoplr. 10. Never settle down. Keep exploring Antwerp; never give up the chance of finding something new you weren’t aware of. Be amazed, like a child that sees everything everyday as if it’s the first time. See local tours like Voyage Local, Achterklap, Belgium Food Tours, Antwerp by Bike or Antwerp Ghostwalk

About the blogger

Laura Soave (nonnative blog)

Laura Soave is an Antwerp blogger and designer from Italy. Check out her blog: nonnative and find her on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter  

Would you like to write a guest post about your experiences (or knowledge) of Antwerp? contact me on nessascityblog@gmail.com. I’d like to hear your Antwerp story.

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