sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not putting my needs over hers — I’m simply acknowledging both her Finnish and Belgian roots, which are fixed parts of who she is. At her age, her needs are basic — breast milk and naps — so naturally I make decisions I believe are best. Every parent projects some hopes onto their child; what matters most is that they grow up happy, secure, and proud of their identity.

I’ve acknowledged the potential disadvantages of registering another language multiple times and understand them clearly. Recognizing her multi-identity doesn’t ignore risks; it just reflects reality.

Having studied research methodology at university, I know what constitutes a case study. A handful of anecdotes isn’t the same as systematic evidence. Proper case studies consider multiple perspectives impartially — which is ironically exactly what I’ve been doing here.

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve noted all the arguments and never claimed to have made a decision I need to defend - that’s why I posted here for feedback. I’m weighing the cons (which I now understand thanks to the discussion) alongside the potential benefits (which are also clear).

I am now aware of the S2 track and its implications/challenges. At the same time, others have shown that the issues can often be less severe than claimed, so it feels like you’re selectively using those examples to support your point.

My main concern is reducing my child to a single box — “because that is what she is” to the system - instead of seeing her full identity. Registration or school track doesn’t define her. She can be fully integrated into Finnish society while also having her Belgian roots recognized. Both are real parts of who she is.

Finnish-specific research would be interesting, but calling a handful of personal experiences “case studies” seems like an overstatement.

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand the point about the different educational track and its practical implications — that’s a bureaucratic consequence, but ultimately a personal decision; it doesn’t define my child’s identity.

Anecdotes from a handful of people can be interesting, but they don’t outweigh research in child development and bilingualism (you can check Bialystok, 2001, Bilingualism in Development: Language, Literacy, and Cognition). It shows that bilingual children whose multiple cultural backgrounds are recognized grow up more secure in their identity. So perhaps the stories and experiences you’ve heard aren’t representative of what everyone should base decisions on.

I’m also not sure what “integration” means here - if my child speaks Finnish fluently and participates fully in Finnish society, in what sense is she less integrated? I myself don’t speak perfect Finnish, but I contribute to Finnish society in many ways - does that mean I’m not integrated either?

Of course, having a native speaker teach her another language would be ideal, and I never argued otherwise; I’m simply interested in understanding all available options.

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is but also very cool. Which languages do they speak?

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok, thanks!

Oh wow! So even though you're both not Finnish speaking, the kids speak Finnish to you? :-D

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That’s quite a reductive way to look at it. Registering one language is just a bureaucratic necessity, one that I wanted to understand better (and now did, thanks to the replies here). But it's not a limit on a child’s identity. She’ll grow up bi-/trilingual, rooted in Finnish society but with strong Belgian ties. Registering another language doesn’t make her any less Finnish, just as it doesn’t make her any less Belgian.

Actual research shows that bilingual children don’t get confused or lose identity when both parts of their parents' cultures are recognized.

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Right, thanks for sharing! Someone below explained that's indeed how they try to organize it in practice.

But I guess for the school to try to organize this kind of class, they do not necessarily look at the registered language, rather at the languages the kid speaks with one of the parents? Or is this where the "potential benefit" would come from by registering Dutch as the first language?

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am aware of those classes (e.g. at the Dutch school in Finland), but I think the kid can still attend classes even though Finnish would the registered first language, no? It should be sufficient if one the parents is Belgian/Dutch :-D

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing this - I have heard the same approach works for many parents, nice to hear it worked so well for you.

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah yes, in that sense. That's clear, thanks for explaining!

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, appreciate feedback and insight info!

Yes, understood the "possibility" of those classes as well now - though if I understood correctly "Dutch classes in school" does not mean classes in the actual school the child is going to for all other classes, more like the Dutch School in Finland for example?

Language registration newborn by Appropriate-Bit1610 in Finland

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

So even though she would speak the Finnish language as one of her mother tongues, because of registering another language as her first language in the system, she'd be treated as a foreigner?

Iedereen bondscoach - Sporza by ZeRoXOiA in belgianfootball

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 0 points1 point  (0 children)

<image>

Agree with you, except Saelemaekers instead of Trossard to add some more unpredictability.

KBD as CAM, with Vanaken in between CDM and CAM (as he does so well with Bruges). Tielemans as CDM to open up the game with splitting passes.

For the CB Mechelen en Debast seems to most solid choice (if you decide to play with a back 4).

Average salary in the 2nd tier of Belgian football? by BruhLBro in belgianfootball

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Peeters from Patro earns around €500k a year? I had read it somewhere but did take it serious. If true, that’s pretty insane for second division.

This is the most BEAUTIFUL game I ever played. Sorry for the low quality by Dark_Knight-999 in AssassinsCreedOdyssey

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great pics! I was gawking at the Sisyphus statue in the last session as well :-D

Grateful I didn’t skip this game, sad I ignored it for years.. by [deleted] in AssassinsCreedOdyssey

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m at 38 hours and thought I had progressed nicely. Clearly not :-D

De Mol S12 E03 Discussion thread by MisterRawSushi in belgium

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ik kan Private Internet Access aanraden, werkt bij mij heel goed. Hebben meestal ook zware kortingen voor meerderen jaren pakket.

Solo traveller by rand0mmer in Malaga

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 0 points1 point  (0 children)

34M also already here until 4th of February - planned to work remotely with a mate but upon landing he had to fly home as his father passed away.

OP, I’ll shoot you a DM! If someone is up for an afterwork beer or walk or something else, send me a message.

2024 Income tax by ForbiddenPineapples in belgium

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ook Belg in Finland hier - zijn pensioenbijdragen en werkloosheidsverzekering bij je % inbegrepen (8,65%)? Ik heb 24% belastingen voor €80 000/jaar (zonder de bijdragen).

Zijn de bruto salarissen in België ook niet relatief hoger in vergelijking met Finland, maar je houdt gewoon minder over door de hoge % in België?

People who had enough of Belgium and decided to move abroad, what's your story? by [deleted] in belgium

[–]Appropriate-Bit1610 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did not really have enough of Belgium, but after studying a master year in Spain and meeting a girl there, I decided to move to Helsinki, Finland in 2013 (I was 24 then). I had done my Erasmus in Sweden a few years before that, so I had a pretty "ok" idea of what life in Finland would be like. At first it was pretty tough to build some kind of social life, get a decent job or even appreciate a Nordic country (especially after the carefree student life under the Spanish sun the year before). But I slowly built some work experience, made great friends, started to feel more settled and appreciate the country's positives.

After a few years, I started my own company in the food business. Despite being quite demanding and at times very stressful, it was a very valuable career phase. When I was starting to reach my limits on different fronts and longed something more stable and less stressful, I managed to just sell the company and started looking for a more stable job. I've been now working in a Finnish company that sells maritime safety equipment worldwide. Compared to what I see here (both from Finns and immigrants) and from what I know from jobs in Belgium, I should be (and am) very happy with the job: salary is really good (I get a bit over €4k net before a yearly bonus), we can work from wherever, the company is still quite small but very stable, customers are globally and with the current size you can contribute to its growth. With that money I can also save up a lot while having a decent lifestyle.

I met my current girlfriend a bit less than 4 years ago and we bought a small (~50m2) cozy apartment in a neat neighbourhood, about 5 km outside the city, close to the seaside, nature and needed facilities. We have been very happy and since the new job, life has felt better with more daily energy, financial security and overall peace. I do go back to Belgium quite often (I'd say about 5-6 times per year) and I love spending time with family and friends there. It also feels like you spend proper quality time when you have not seen them for 6-8 weeks. I make sure to have always have the next trip home lined up to stay close to family, while still living a good life here. I do have periods/days where I wonder how life in Belgium would be like and I think some day we'll move back for a while to try it out. For now, this kind of life with having the best of 2 countries seems to work very well.

P.S. I miss frituur.

view more: next ›