Good news! I am one step closer to obtaining a work permit. This morning, after much harassment from a lovely man at the embassy, officials at the commune of Ixelles finally relented and completed my forms. If all goes well at the regional employment office on Monday, I will be soon be able to legally work in Belgium. (I'm not holding my breath.)
Though today was a good day for me, I couldn't help but overhear another conversation between an American expat and an unsympathetic commune official. It went something like this:
Overwhelmed Expat: Do you speak English? I just moved to Brussels and think I need to register with the commune.
Annoyed Official: Do you have an address?
Expat: Oh, no. I haven't found a place to live yet.
Official: You have eight days.
Expat: I have eight days from the time I arrive in Brussels to find a place and register with you?
Official: Oui.
Expat (starting to look really panicked): What if I can't find a place in that time? I arrived on the second and it's already the sixth.
Official (starting to look really annoyed): Then I can't help you.
Be strong, overwhelmed expat. It gets easier:)
free harry
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