WE MOVED TO…BELGIUM

Friday 1st December 2006

Adrian Monti

Amy Morris, 32, and her husband Roger, 38, moved from Weybridge, Surrey, to Brussels two years ago. They're expecting their first baby in May.

Why Belgium?
Roger was working for an international express delivery company which has its headquarters in Brussels and he was offered a job there. At the same time I applied for a job as a primary school teacher at the British International School in Brussels, which I got, so we moved here in August 2003.

How do your homes compare?
We had a normal two-up, two-down cottage in Weybridge, which we rent out for £800 a month. We now have a two-bedroom apartment in the centre of Brussels in a five-storey townhouse. The rent is £800 a month too, but it's three times as big as our old home.

What were the biggest adjustments?
Although we can usually find someone who speaks English, it's probably the language. To feel more integrated we've had French lessons (that's the main language in this area) and can now communicate reasonably well. At first we also struggled to find our bearings—even though it's quite a small city, the centre is very old and higgledy-piggledy. For the first year we always had to take a map with us!

What's the healthcare like?
Really good. Everyone has private healthcare, but it's dependent on income. And although there's a GP system, you're not tied to one particular doctor or surgery like you are in the UK. Each time you go, you have to pay €25 (around £17), which you claim back on your policy. Dental care is about €40 (£27) for a check-up, and again you can claim it back.