Life with Liv

  • The Expat Experience

    Being an expat in Belgium

    An expatriate (abbreviated to expat) is someone who resides outside their native country. As the capital of the European Union, Brussels attracts expats from all over the world. In fact, about 13% of the population in Belgium are expats. The idea of living abroad is a dream for many, but it’s important to keep in mind that expat life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. So what’s expat life really been like for us?

    How we’re adjusting & settling in

    Today marks 6 weeks of living in Brussels! We are official Belgian residents now, according to the paper work. We are settled into our apartment, but still waiting for the rest of our belongings. The shipment from home was in two phases: one air shipment and one sea shipment. We received the air shipment which had some of our clothes, shoes, kitchen essentials, and Mallow’s belongings of course. We still have yet to receive our sea shipment which contains all the rest of our belongings. I cannot wait to have our Peloton and workout equipment! Although we walk sooo much here, this is the first time in my life I have not had a gym membership. Also in the sea shipment is the rest of our clothes, shoes, decorations, household essentials, beauty products…all items that will make us feel more at home. The sea shipment is over 3,000 lbs and to be honest I can’t really remember what else is in it. Safe to say I probably over packed 😉 The estimated delivery is March 15!

    What we have been up to

    We have been working hard to find the best places to bring our visitors. I can confidently say that I know the best waffle and fry stand in the city center (and seriously I need to stop going here but they are so dang good!). We have already taken 1 weekend trip to Amsterdam, a day trip to Antwerp, and a day trip to Bruges. All of these places were unique in their own way, and I can’t wait to go back when the weather gets warmer. We’ve also had visitors already! Ben played junior hockey with Roni who lives in Sweden. My cousin Myriam was visiting Europe and stayed with us for a few days. My sister is an au pair in Italy through May so she also came for a weekend! Safe to say we have been busy.

    What are the best things about living in Brussels?

    • Quality of life – the mentality here is about working to live rather than living to work
    • Delicious food and hundreds of beers – No matter what type of food you’re in the mood for – Belgian, French, Thai, Italian, Greek, etc. – you can find it in Brussels. I will say that the Mexican food options are lacking, but we make do with cooking at Mexican food at home
    • Centrally located – we are just a short train or plane ride away from Paris, Amsterdam, London, Germany, etc.

    Other Pros:

    • Diversity – with over 184 different nationalities and 104 languages spoken, Brussels is the second most cosmopolitan city in the world after Dubai
    • Cultural scenes
    • Low crime rates
    • Public transit is everywhere. The only reason I have/need a car is because I work outside of the city

    What are the worst things about living in Brussels?

    • Traffic
    • Weather (190 rainy days a year and little sunshine)
    • Extremely high tax rates, more that 50% for some. However, Belgians are entitled to a pension starting at the age of 65 (it works differently for expats but this is still something that could effect some expats)

    The hardest part over all?
    Missing family and friends is without a doubt the hardest part. Ben and I are very intentional in our relationships and are use to hosting people at our home nearly every weekend. I know that moving away doesn’t mean we are going to lose that, but the truth is that sometimes it just sucks. We knew this would be something we have to navigate, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy. We are so lucky for the support and encouragement leading up to this point. Every time I feel lonely, I picture the 80+ people who showed up at our going away party!

    What you can do to support us!

    • Come visit 😉
    • We love to receive mail! Both of our parents have our mailing address, or you can ask us. We can’t receive packages (otherwise we have to pay a hefty fee for customs), but letters or postcards are welcomed
    • Check in with us. Sometimes we feel lonely!

  • 48 hours in Amsterdam

    48 hours in Amsterdam

    We spent last weekend in Amsterdam and had an absolute blast! Here is how we spent just 48 hours in this amazing city, and some dos and don’ts if you ever plan to go.

    How we got there

    Amsterdam is only a 3 hour train ride from Brussels! We took the train after work on Friday from the Brussels-Midi station to Amsterdam Central station. We live just two stops away from Brussels-Midi via the metro. The train we took was just a regular train, not a high speed train. Some may opt in for first-class tickets to have more space, but I thought second-class was sufficient for only a 3 hour ride. We caught the late afternoon train back on Sunday, but there are plenty of options depending on how early/late you want to get back. I think next time we would drive, because it would be cheaper and the same amount of time. And by we, I mean Ben would drive 😉

    Where we stayed

    We stayed at the ibis Amsterdam Centre Stopera. This is a 3-star hotel and the staff were very friendly. The rooms were small, which is very typical for Europe. However, they were clean and that’s the most important thing to me! The name of the hotel was deceiving, as were weren’t really in the city center. We were only two stops away via public transport, but I think next time we would stay in Jordaan. Many people opt in to stay at hostels, which is a cheaper alternative if that’s something you’re into!

    Where we dined

    Rosario Cocina Mexicana – After dropping off our suitcases, this was our first meal on Friday night and it was incredible. All of their dishes are sharing dishes and are the size of a starter, so they recommend ordering 6. I had the best piña colada and tacos there. It had been sooo long since we had Mexican food! Definitely make a reservation because the restaurant is very small and jam-packed.

    De Carrousel Pannenkoeken – Not even going to lie, we ate here twice LOL. This breakfast restaurant serves up famous Dutch pancakes with just about any topping you can imagine. The tables inside are set around an old-fashioned carousel ride, and you seat yourself once a table becomes available. I wasn’t sure if this was a total tourist trap or not, but I overheard someone behind me saying that he comes here often and brings visitors, too. Regardless, you have to eat Dutch pancakes at some point throughout your time in Amsterdam.

    Moeders – On Saturday night, we had a classic Dutch meal at Moeders. Translating to Mothers, this place features photos of moms on every inch of each wall. I wish we had found this place sooner to bring a picture of my mom and mother-in-law. We had a hodge podge of stews, potatoes, apple sauce, cabbage, and finished the meal off with a piece of Dutch apple pie. Definitely recommend.

    The Burger Room – This Wizard of Oz themed restaurant serves gargantuan burgers of all kinds, plus they have Parmesan fries and onion rings so you can’t go wrong. Loved the vibes in here and if you are nearby, I would recommend stopping here. But don’t go out of your way, as it’s very pricey and I’m sure there’s other great burgers in the city.

    What we did there

    Heineken experience & rooftop – this interactive tour through the former brewery and tasting room is a must do! It was seriously so fun and we even participated in a beer challenge & of course Ben won! We added on the rooftop experience which gave us a great view of the entire city. If you go in the winter, maybe skip the rooftop but I’m sure it’s amazing in the summer/warmer months.

    Flagship Canal Cruise in Classic Boat – we had a live guide with drinks and Dutch cheese. Although this was more of a booze cruise, the canal ride was a great way to see the city and learn some fun facts. There’s plenty of options for canal rides based on your interests.

    Ben said it was one of the best cheeses he’s ever had

    Anne Frank Museum – this was truly so powerful. I was emotional through out our entire time as we learned all about Anne Frank’s life, walked throughout her house, saw where she hid for 2 years, and even saw her journal. It’s another reminder of how every day in our lives is a gift and we need to be appreciative of all that we have. If this interests you, book your tickets as far out as possible. They release the tickets for 6 weeks out and they sell out fast.

    This bookshelf was kept locked every day and Anne Frank and her family hid here from the Nazi’s for two years.

    Van Gogh Museum – learning all about Van Gogh and his troubled life was very intriguing. He struggled to find his way until he became a painter at 27. He only painted for 10 years until he ended his life. We added on the audio guide, but I would recommend you just do the highlights otherwise you can find yourself in this museum for 3 hours and there’s so much to do in a short weekend.

    Me trying to be artsy lol

    How much we spent

    • Trains tickets roundtrip = $90 per person
    • Transportation pass for 48 hours = €15 per person
    • Hotel = $440
    • Anne Frank museum = €16 per person
    • Canal ride = €30 per person
    • Heineken experience & rooftop = €25 per person
    • Van Gogh museum = €20 per person
    • Food costs = I don’t want to know lol

    Dos & Don’ts

    • Do: make reservations for dinner and museums
    • Don’t: stand or walk in the bike lane otherwise you will get hit. Did you know there’s over 1.2 million bikes in Amsterdam? 20,000 each year are taken out of the canals (and resold)
    • Do: be prepared to be scarred for life if you walk through the Red Light District 😂
    • Don’t: walk into a “coffee shop” and expect to have coffee. It’s actually a cannabis shop. If you’re looking for caffeine, find a cafe
    • Do: carry around €,50 or €1 when going to the bars if you want to use the restroom. Unless you’re a guy, there’s public urinals on some street corners🤣

    We had an incredible time and I’m sure we will go back with friends and family that want to visit!

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  • Our new apartment

    Our new apartment

    Brussels is made up of 19 different municipalities (also referred to as communes, sectors, or districts), each with their own governing body. The government of each municipality is responsible for law enforcement, upkeep of schools and roads, and registering its’ citizens. Each commune has a mayor, a council, and an executive. Additionally, Brussels is the capital of the Flemish Region, capital of Belgium, and the administrative center of the European Union. Essentially, Brussels is the equivalent of Washington D.C. And because there are so many communes, Belgium has a very complex governmental system.

    The orange star on this map is where we are living

    We have just moved from our temporary housing into a beautiful apartment in the City of Brussels, which is the largest municipality and historical center of the Brussels-Capital Region.

    If you had told me that we would end up in the center of Brussels, I would have never believed you. I am only 15km (9.3 miles) away from work, but it takes me about 45 minutes to get there with traffic.😅 We debated on living in other communes, but ultimately decided that living in the city center means that we will be close to transportation, dining, entertainment, and all that Brussels has to offer! Even though we are in the heart of the city, the apartment is located at the end of a pedestrian-only walkway. Luckily, it isn’t all that loud or busy…yet Mallow still finds a way to bark out the window and everything and everyone.

    I just think this place is so cute

    It is unusually spacious for the city, with a total area of 135m2 (1453 sqft). To give you a point of reference, the other apartments we toured were 85-95m2 (914-1022 sqft). It is located on the 4th floor (5th level) with an exceptional view! The elevator leads directly into the apartment (i like to pretend I live in a penthouse). There are two large bedrooms, one of which is set up as a guest room (@ my friends and family who want to come and visit). There is also an office, in-unit washer, and 2 bathrooms. Fun fact: our apartment building is over 150 years old.

    The black kitchen is one of the coolest features!

    We are renting it fully furnished, which is typical because it is too difficult to move furniture in and out of the city center. In fact, you have to use an external elevator!

    Here’s an example of someone moving into an apartment where an external elevator is necessary

    The couple that we are renting from are born and raised in Belgium, and have traveled thoroughly throughout both Europe and the US. They speak English, which makes it much easier to communicate. Along with leaving a list of local recommendations, they popped a bottle of champagne for us after we signed the lease!

    Celebratory champagne!

    Ben & I are big believers that the right thing always happens. When I tell you I have looked at hundreds of apartments online before finding this one, I mean it. This apartment is so full of character, spacious, and already feels like home! But don’t take my word for it, come and visit to find out for yourself 😉

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  • My career so far

    My career so far

    I am constantly in awe of how things work out…

    Many people don’t know this but for the first seventeen years of my life, I thought I wanted to be a teacher. I was always someone who made my sister play school growing up (sorry Grace). I am super organized and have no problem leading a crowd. It wasn’t until my last year of high school that I decided I wanted to study business. I didn’t know exactly what area, so I started off college as a general business major. After discovering that I was interested in International Business, the requirement of this major was to declare a second major, a language minor, and study abroad. I added on Human Resources Management and Spanish, and studied abroad in Barcelona in the summer of 2017.

    The final summer before graduating college, I had an HR internship with Hubbell Lighting. That was my first experience in the manufacturing industry, where I worked in an office that was 50% salaried workers and 50% hourly employees working in the warehouse.

    We won the intern contest and got to wear these shirts on our last day of the internship!

    This internship is where I first developed my passion for the hourly workforce. At Hubbell, I was managed by Amber Carter, who is still a good friend and mentor today. Amber treated me like a regular, fulltime employee. I worked directly with Directors, Vice Presidents, and business leaders to support over 200 employees.

    A picture of Amber & I at my bridal shower.

    While in my senior year of college, Amber joined Komatsu and always shared how great of an organization it was. After graduating college, I went to Thailand for a couple of weeks because I wanted to travel before beginning to work full-time. Thailand is still the best place I have ever been. Check out the picture below of me at an elephant sanctuary.

    Literally the best day of my life.

    I was originally looking for an HR generalist position, with the long-term goal of being an HR Manager. The only entry-level position in HR available at Komatsu at the time was a Compensation and Benefits Analyst. I reflected on my past experiences and started to think about if this would be a role that would best use my skillset. While at Hubbell, I worked on a project to analyze compensation issues per the compensation policy guidelines and worked with leadership for decisions on promotions and salary adjustments.

    Additionally, one of my favorite classes during undergrad at Grand Valley was a compensation and benefits class. Not to mention, I knew that I wanted to work for a large international organization. Comp/ben was an area of HR that I knew would be important to understand, and working in the same department as Amber again was an added bonus. After accepting the role, I spent 2 years in that position. The HR department then went through a restructure, and a Talent Development Specialist role became available. I still had my position and really enjoyed the work I was doing, but I thought that getting additional experience in another COE (center of excellence) would be beneficial for being an HR manager one day.

    The Talent Development Specialist job description was intriguing, and the reporting manager was someone who was a part of a policy committee I was leading at the time. I ended up moving into Talent Development, and loved every second of it. The team that I worked alongside made me feel encouraged and we accomplished many large initiatives. I like to joke that I was creating my own HR rotational program all along!

    All this to say…everything that happened in the past lead me to this moment. Both of the roles that I held have perfectly prepared me for this role I have just began abroad.

    Ben & I at the Komatsu manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2021.

  • Major differences I’ve noticed so far

    Culture shock is something that I knew we’d have to navigate. No matter where you move to, they probably do a few things differently. When you move internationally, that adds a whole other layer. The most typical things to consider are language barriers, social cues, and unfamiliar customs.

    Here is what I have found to be the biggest differences in our time here so far:

    • Every one and their mother (literally) smokes cigarettes here. People of all ages, ethnicities, social status, at all times of the day…the secondhand smoke exposure is real
    • The first floor here is called the ground floor, and the second level is actually the first floor. Our temporary apartment is unit 702, but we’re actually on the 8th level
    • Belgian’s wear their engagement ring on the ring finger on the left hand. After you are officially married, the wedding band replaces the engagement ring on the left hand and is moved to the right hand
    • When you dine out, you have to pay for water. You have the option between still and sparkling in a half liter or a liter. Oftentimes, wine or beer is cheaper!
    • You are legally required to sort your garbage, which is referred to as rubbish. Blue bags are for plastics and metals. Yellow bags are for paper and cardboard. Green bags are for leaves, weeds, and grass cuttings. Orange bags are for food waste. White bags are known as the catch-all. Don’t even get me started on sorting glass! This is a whole other category.
    • Not only do you share the road with other cars, but also with trams. (pretty sure this happens in San Francisco, but definitely not where I’m from in Illinois!) Traffic here is also notoriously bad, as Brussels ranks the 3rd most congested city
    • The driving age is 18, not 16
    • Speaking of age, the legal drinking age is 16 at bars, and 18 for liquor with over 20% alcohol
    • Dogs are off-leash, roaming freely at parks and on the streets. This is still so crazy to me!
    • It isn’t that hard to find an apartment with an in-unit washing machine, but forget about a dryer. Because of the cost of energy, hang-drying is the most common method
    • Because bills already include a service charge, you don’t tip at restaurants, hair dresses, or if you take a taxi
    • Speaking of restaurants…even in a nice sit-down restaurant, you go up to the front of the restaurant and pay your bill to the cashier
    • Most refrigerators are extremely small, resulting in people going to the grocery store each day. And freezers? If you’re lucky, maybe you have one shelf
    • Public transportation is clean (relatively)
    • “Cafes” aren’t coffee shops, they’re actually bars 
    • Doors open inward and locks work differently. For example, in order to get out of our apartment, we have to use the key. Talk about a fire hazard!
    • Instead of saying “I’m so hungry I could eat a cow”, the expression is “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Some people actually eat horse here 😦
    • Instead of saying, “Kill two birds with one stone”, the expression is “Catch two flys in one clap”
    • Air conditioning in apartments/homes is essentially nonexistent due to cultural, territorial and climatic reasons. In fact, less than 5% of all European households have AC. An actual picture of me this Summer…

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  • Our first week(ish) in Brussels

    After a tearful goodbye, we departed Chicago and had a direct flight to Brussels. We landed in Belgium on the morning of January 17th and it has been a whirlwind ever since.

    After landing, a driver was waiting for us where he took us to our temporary accommodation where we will be staying until mid-February. Our temporary housing is right near Parc du Cinquantenaire, a 19th-century city park with floral gardens and fountains, home to art and military museums.

    Later that evening, Mallow finally arrived. We could barely wait up for her, as we were so exhausted. The number one tip for tackling jet lag is to avoid napping, and we were unsuccessful at that!

    Our family was finally together and we began adjusting to the time difference and exploring. The next day we unpacked a couple of suitcases and made sure Mallow got plenty of exercise. The pet relocation company provided us with a bunch of tips on how to get your pet acclimated, and part of that means making sure they get back to a normal routine.

    On Thursday morning, a private taxi picked me up from the apartment and I headed into the office for my first day of work as the first ever American expat at our European headquarters. Our office is located in Vilvoorde, which is only about 20 kilometers but takes roughly 45 minutes with traffic. In Brussels, everyone speaks French and some English. However, Vilvoorde is located in the Flemish Region of Belgium which is the Dutch-speaking portion of Belgium. Essentially, I need to learn both French and Dutch…wish me luck lol. The official language of the office in Vilvoorde is English, so I can certainly get by.

    I was able to finally meet the HR team in person, and go through orientation. I received my laptop, rental car, gas card, and company phone. I also learned that it is extremely common for companies here to provide their employees with cars for tax advantages. I didn’t have these benefits in America so internally I was thinking, “this is sooo cool!!!”

    The car is a Peugeot 2008, and yes, it is automatic. I made sure that my offer letter specified that I receive an automatic car, because ya girl cannot drive stick shift! After three months, I get to choose between different options that I will have for the rest of my time here. The only time I plan on using my car is to get to and from work. If you live and work in Brussels city center, there is no need for a car. I only need one because work is tricky to get to via public transport. Speaking of that…

    The team hosted a welcome lunch for me, and kindly invited Ben. I asked him to meet us at the restaurant in Vilvoorde at 12:30 and he didn’t show up until a little past 1. Turns out, he took the wrong bus and accidentally ended up at the airport LOL. He was so embarrassed but we are able to laugh at it now.

    Driving here has definitely been the hardest part for me (besides being away from family and friends obviously). Luckily, the driving is on the same side of the street as the US, however they are crazy filled with pedestrians, cars, trams, buses, bikers, dogs, electric scooters, and more. Hopefully it will get better…but for now, keep me in your thoughts!

    We have also done some exploring. Below is a picture of the Grand-Palace, known for its decorative and aesthetic wealth. It is breathtaking, and the funny thing is we just stumbled upon it. That’s the thing I love about Europe…you find beautiful things without even looking for them.

    We have also had some great cuisine. The refrigerator at our temporary accommodation only has two shelves, and the kitchen is extremely small so we have been dining out more often than I’d like to admit. Belgium is (obviously) known for their chocolate and waffles, but they also have frites (fries) stands on nearly every corner! Brussels is one of the most diverse and multicultural cities in the world, with over 104 languages spoken and 184 nationalities (eurocities.eu). A typical Belgian dish is called boulets liégeois; it is meatballs swimming in an apple and onion gravy, served with frites.

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  • Our moving process

    You know how in all those movies/tv shows characters seem to just pick up their lives and move to a cool new country? That isn’t quite how this process works.
     
    I accepted my job offer to work in Belgium back in early June 2022. Originally, we thought I would be in Belgium by September…then it was October…and then I didn’t end up here until January.

    So why did it take so long and then suddenly it was time to pack up and go?

    The process had several intense steps. The first step was to apply for my single permit, which felt like I had to gather every single document of mine that ever existed. My organization (all the way up to the CEO) also had to provide documents. I had to provide the following:
        •    Passport
        •    Diploma
        •    Birth certificate
        •    Resume
        •    Police Clearance Letter, legalized with an apostille (had to go downtown Chicago to get an apostille, which I had never even heard of before)
        •    Federal contribution fee to Belgian Ministry of Internal Affairs
        •    Medical certificate, only authorized to be completed by 6 doctors in the USA (luckily there is one in Chicago!)  
        •    Proof of health insurance covering a cost of EUR 30,000              
        •    Assignment letter, dated and signed by employer and employee
        •    Employment contract with the home company (US doesn’t use employment contracts so this was tricky to navigate)
        •    Limosa declaration
        •    Certificate of Coverage from US social security (this took 4 months to receive!)
     
    After receiving the single permit, I had to obtain the Authorization to Work from the Ministry of Employment in Belgium. Several weeks later, I received the Authorization to reside from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Belgium. This clearance gave me my Annex 46, which was needed to be able to apply for the Visa.

    It was time to gather documentation for my husband and head off to the Belgium consulate in NYC. We went to apply in person, as they had to take our biometrics. For that, we needed:

    • Visa Application forms
    •  Our passports
    • 2 recent passport-size pictures
    • Our marriage certificate, legalized by apostille
    • Proof that the principal visa applicant is authorized to reside in Belgium (our Annex 46)
    • My spouse’s Police Clearance Letter/FBI Identification Record. (it had to be the original sealed version, otherwise it would have been rejected)
    • My spouse’s medical certificate
    • Proof of sufficient lodging
    • Proof of stable, regular and sufficient means of subsistence
    • Proof all the family members are covered by a health insurance
    • Visa/Consular fee 

    The trip to NYC was very stressful because I wanted to ensure I had every document that was needed. (don’t worry- we did do some sightseeing and ate lots of NY pizza)

    It was there we learned that our visas would be approved and mailed to us in January. From that day on, the packing began!
     
    All of these steps mentioned do not include sorting our belongings to determine what we were storing, donating, or setting aside to be shipped to Belgium, working with the international movers, working with the pet relocation company, working with the benefits department to be put on the international benefits plan, discussing tax equalization with our assigned tax preparation assistant, taking our dog to the vet to receive her USDA endorsement and EU health certificate, all while still working full time and managing the stress of moving more than 4,000 miles away.

    It was such a crazy process, and it wasn’t until we were on the flight to Belgium where it finally felt real.

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  • Bye Bye Ben & Liv

    Sooo everyone thought that I would cry the whole night at our going away party, and I made it through the entire night without a single tear! (Don’t ask me about the next day though…or the day after that…)

    We had the best time surrounded by our closest family and friends. The amount of love and support we have is difficult to even put into words. The night went by in a blink of an eye, but we received so much encouragement.

    I am someone who often tells people how much they mean to me. I express affection regularly, often saying “I love you’s”, giving complements, and verbal encouragement. (My love language is words of affirmation) What I have realized throughout this past month is that even though not everyone verbally acknowledges how much they love us, they have shown it ten-fold. I could think of tons of examples, but I’ll just share a few.

    My team at work hosted a going away lunch, where five people drove down from Wisconsin and they gave me an amazing travel-themed gift basket. My mom flew in from Virginia to be at our going away party, while we had friends drive in from multiple hours away. Ben’s parents have let us completely take over their basement with all of our storage boxes and furniture. My car is currently sitting in my in-laws garage…I didn’t even get a garage spot at my own house before this! Between our friends and family, I think we had seven going away dinners. We also have a really awesome group of friends that spent an entire Saturday helping us move. Don’t worry – we provided them with alcohol and pizza.

    The last two days in America, we had over a dozen people stop by our empty home to wish us luck and give us hugs goodbye. Since we have arrived, so many people have called or texted to check-in with us. Like I said, the support we have is unlike anything I have ever experienced…and I am so so grateful.

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

  • How is my dog getting to Belgium?

    Funny enough, another one of the most common questions I get is “Are you bringing your dog?”

    The answer to this is an absolute yes. That question is typically followed up with, “How is she getting Belgium?

    We have partnered with World Care Pet Transport to help Mallow safely arrive in Belgium! The process has been crazy. She has a full trip itinerary, beginning with what documents are required to fly with her. That list includes:

    • Original Microchip Scan Statement
    • Original Rabies Certificate
    • Original fit-to-fly certificate
    • USDA endorsed EU health certificate
    • Zip lock Bag of dry food (approximately for 2 days)

    The most interesting part of this process was her final health check at the vet to receive both her fit-to-fly certificate and her USDA endorsed EU health certificate. This vet appointment has to occur within 10 days of her flight, also allowing time for it to be overnighted to the USDA for endorsement. Only certain vets are certified to conduct and sign off on the exam, and luckily both doctors at our normal veterinarians office are certified!

    Dr.Flanagan conducted the exam and it was monitored by Rachel, the manager on duty. Rachel even came in on her day off to ensure it was done perfectly because even the smallest mistake can cause issues with customs. We are so thankful for Spring Valley Vet in Schaumburg for always taking such good care of our dog.

    Mallow at the vet waiting to receive all her documents needed to travel✈️

    Mallow will fly from O’Hare to Frankfurt this upcoming Monday, and then be driven from Frankfurt to Brussels. There are only certain pet-friendly routes, and this is the option that works best with our flight. Customs for pets at the Frankfurt airport can take up to 6 hours! Although we are super nervous for her journey, all we can do is trust the process. Luckily, Mallow is acclimated to her pet carrier (which we call her room), and the pet relocation company promised to send many pictures and keep us updated.

  • How did this even happen?

    The most common question people ask me when I tell them I am moving to Belgium is something along the lines of, “How did this even happen?” To say it’s an opportunity of a lifetime would be an understatement.

    I vividly remember sitting in Professor Dan Wiljanen’s class during undergrad at Grand Valley State University when we had a guest speaker come in and tell us about how he had worked abroad. The career development and stories he shared stuck with me. It was in that moment I knew I wanted to do that. My majors were Human Resources and International Business, with the requirement of studying abroad.

    Studying abroad was one of the best experiences ever and something I didn’t think twice about. Living abroad on the other hand is much different. It truthfully has always been something that interested me, but I didn’t know how it would work, especially not at this early stage in my career.

    My company often sends very senior employees from Japan to work in the US, but rarely from the US outbound. In career explanatory conversations with my manager at the time, I had expressed interest in taking on a global role, but didn’t think it was even a possibility.

    The truth is that it’s really easy to doubt yourself…
    “There’s probably not a role available for my level”
    “What would it look like to relocate?”
    “It just wouldn’t workout”
    were just some of the many thoughts going through my head.

    But sometimes the stars align (and you have a really awesome team advocating for you). My VP of HR reached out to our European HQ in Brussels, and there happened to be a headcount available. I updated my resume, met with the team there virtually, they created a role for me, sent over the job description for my review, and a few weeks later I received the job offer!

    Every bullet point of the job description was a YES from me. I will be working on engagement surveys, training, development, leadership programs, aspects of DE&I, CSR activities, and so much more. Meeting with the team there to discuss the role felt natural. Door after door kept opening so easily, making me feel certain that this was the right thing.

    I am so thankful that this is happening. It is hard for me to take a step back and be proud of myself. I never want to seem boastful, but I do know how hard I have worked to get here.

    T-7 days. Eeek!!!

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