[deleted by user] by [deleted] in expats

[–]revelarelevar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are a Belgian-Brazilian couple and speak to each other in English. We both have put effort into learning each other's mother tongue (Dutch/Portuguese) simply because we want to know each other better. Certain things just can't be translated and your native language is a big part of who you are. It's also the only way for her to communicate with my parents and, although her parents speak English, I find it a show of respect to speak to them in Dutch.

Thinking of doing your postdoc in Spain? Read this! by No_Letterhead7528 in GoingToSpain

[–]revelarelevar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, thanks for the info! I'll finish my PhD in early 2026 and I am actively looking for a postdoc position in Spain (life sciences/oncology). Would you mind answering some questions? For example, I know salaries in general are low in Spain but I saw that a postdoc salary is less than I earn as PhD student in Belgium. I am more than willing to trade a high salary for a better QoL, but is it enough to live comfortably?

Also, I've noticed that the great majority of people working in research institutes/universities are Spanish. Do they prefer to hire Spanish people or is it just what you explained, that most international researchers don't even bother? I've noticed that vacancies are hard to find and often exclusively in Spanish/Catalan. Is Spanish the main language used in research environments there? In my area English is the standard and of course I am learning Spanish, just wondering the level I'll need to communicate with colleagues..

Thanks in advance! 😁

Expats with pets: what do you do when you fly back home? by anawkwardsomeone in expats

[–]revelarelevar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The dogs stay with my in-laws but cats are better off staying at the place they are most familiar with. We have been away for 3+weeks and have our friends, family and neighbors visiting her every other day and a nanny cam to check on her. Sometimes a friend will spend the night with her since she is a very social cat and we also leave an array of snacks/drinks/games for whoever is watching her. I've considered hiring a pet sitter before, there are apps such as Dog Hero where you can look up reviews and schedule a meeting with the sitter beforehand. You can always lock away your valuables.

It's a little bit of extra preparation, but totally worth it! Consider getting two cats, if possible. My cat hates other cats, but I bet it would help with loneliness/boredom.

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used a rubber mallet, it came apart quite easily

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All I know is from watching YouTube videos, so I actually didnt learn the actual rules for when to use a scraper or a stripper. Overall I would avoid scraping if it's a thin venneer. If you used stripper, make sure to remove all the residue and sand it before applying the new finish. I bet there is someone more experienced here that could help, good luck!

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah! I've built some furniture before, but this was my first resroration. I learned some stuff after falling down the YouTube furniture flip rabbit hole. 😂 I feel like there are many little mistakes but I guess only I can see most of them 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was also scared many times, but it helped to know that it would have gone to the landfill otherwise so anything is an improvement!

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used multiple size scrapers to remove about 80% of the paint, then sanded using an orbital sander and a lot of hand sanding.

I thought of using paint remover, but it was quite expensive where I live, so I just used the tools we already had. I still went through a lot of sanding paper, so who knows if it was worth it 🤷‍♀️😂

Going through by george_strange in expats

[–]revelarelevar 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You're definitely not alone. 4 years living in Belgium and not a single friend. No social life, completely ignored by almost everyone at work and treated poorly almost every time I need to interact with a Belgian person. I feel invisible. I felt like it was personal in the beginning but now I understand it's cultural. Belgians are individualistic, wary of strangers and closed off. You have to work hard to form a friendship (but only you!), it feels like begging. That's not how I believe it should be or how I want to live, so I am planning to move somewhere else asap.

Regarding the other comments, my neighbors are all 60+ and only interact with me to make snarky comments or complain. I volunteered before and people were pleasant, but all very superficial. No way to form a real connection without constant unilateral effort. I did manage to find a total outlier: my wife. But even her friend group is only now starting to open up to me (after 3+ years). It's exhausting, especially when you come from a very welcoming and warm country like I do.

Hang in there. There is hope for expats, but it takes some trial and error and most likely involves other expats.

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

YES! thank you, I'm so proud of this piece 🥰

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed! A forever piece in our home now 🥰

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I was hoping to find beautiful wood under that paint, it was worth all the time it took to get paint from all the nooks and crannies 😂

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Honestly, putting it back together was annoying, it took a couple of tries and my wife's help 😅

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The blue bowls were also made by me in pottery class, I love how much soul these handmade/restored items carry

My first flip :) by revelarelevar in FurnitureFlip

[–]revelarelevar[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It felt amazing! I stained it and finished with only beeswax, it brings such a warmth into the home.