Thu, 23 May 2013
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British expat Stephen Myers enjoys the quality of life in Belgium, but is frustrated by the bureaucracy.Name: Stephen Myers
Nationality: British
City of residence: De Pinte
Date of birth: 1950
Civil status: Married
Occupation: Retired
Reason for moving to Belgium: Marriage
Lived in Belgium for: 6 years
What was your first impression of Belgium?
A cosmopolitan country with multi-lingual and multi-cultural inhabitants.
What do you think of the food?
Very high standard of food and service. Generally, far more consistent than most other countries.
What do you think of the shopping in Belgium?
A wide range of shops, although tends to be rather more expensive than UK equivalents.
What do you appreciate about living in Belgium?
Friendliness. High standards of service.
What do you find most frustrating about living in Belgium?
Bureaucracy, and some of the rules. Poor standard of driving and total disregard of driving laws, e.g., use of mobile phones in cars, exceeding the speed limit, lack of signals.
What puzzles you about Belgium, and what do you miss since you've moved here?
How can a country survive so long without any effective Government?
How does the quality of life in Belgium compare to the quality of life in other countries that you've lived in?
Quality of life is very high.
If you could change anything about Belgium, what would it be?
Cut the bureaucracy.
What advice would you give to a newcomer?
Go to your local town hall and find out what you have to do before they come calling on you!
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