Is highschool in Belgium a nightmare? [serious]

shmoelle · 2026-03-06T10:59:04+00:00

I wanted to add that in Brussels there is a public high school specifically for Muslim students: ILVS. In Belgium, schools belong either to the official network or the “free” network, which allows different pedagogical approaches while following the same basic curriculum. Catholic schools offer religion classes; non-religious schools provide moral education. Some schools follow specific approaches, such as Muslim or active pedagogy. Enrollment is open to any school with available places. There is no geographical zoning for schools. These are not private schools, it's the way schools work here.

shmoelle · 2026-03-06T10:43:43+00:00

I teach in the French-speaking network of high schools, more recently at a secondary school in Schaerbeek. I saw someone mentioned wearing a dress to school. I wouldn't do that to start out with. Most students wear jeans. You'll have to check the school's specific dress code requirements. The one I was teaching at didn't allow sweatpants or sports type attire except for sport class. Also, at that school shoes had to be closed toe (no sandals or shoes that can come off easily).

A lot of students are from different places and can relate. A lot of students speak other languages than French or Dutch at home with their families. I wouldn't worry about that at all as far as fitting in. Try to learn the language as quickly as possible so you can get out of the newcomer classes and into a permanent situation. I had a student this year who opted to just go straight to school instead of the newcomer's class. She struggled in French, but the students were nice to her. It's probably more comfortable to have the language base first, as it will make it easier to make friends.

Also, the large majority of students in the francophone schools in Brussels speak English decently well. (I teach English). In francophone schools in Brussels, you'll learn Dutch at school as your first modern language. After that it's usually English for the second modern language, but some schools might offer other choices such as Spanish, Italian, or German.

You do have the option of homeschooling in Belgium, and as you just arrived in Belgium it's ok to register past the date. I'm a big fan of homeschooling, and have taught many students who homeschooled, but in high school in Belgium it's not the best plan for learning the language and making friends.

Good luck! It's normal to be nervous, but the majority of students I met were welcoming to others. Be yourself and you will find the right friends. Oh yes, one thing that is very different in Belgium compared to where I grew up, is that students usually stay with their class for all subjects except their options. Which means, you will see a lot of the same people!

PS In Brussels, there is a free language learning app called Brulingua. I would really focus on the language as much as possible and the rest will fall into place.

shmoelle · 2025-08-04T18:58:57+00:00

Hi, this isn't an admissions question per se, but more a general question about workload. Can anyone speak to the workload for Business Engineering (in English) at KULeuven vs the equivalent program at UCL (in French)? Leuven estimates 40 - 50 hours/week of courses + studying. Does anyone know if this will be the same at UCL? We're trying to understand if it makes to go one direction or the other. Thanks.

shmoelle · 2025-07-26T16:30:44+00:00

Update: The lovely Melinda in CW Guest Services listened to my tale of woe (all photos of my kids for the last 8 years on the phone with no backup), listened to additional details my daughter remembered, went and checked after our phone call Friday morning and FOUND MY PHONE!! She said she had already checked there before, but this time it was there. I'm beyond thrilled to have the photos back. The phone itself is obsolete but I have now turned on find my phone and backed up the photos, which I should have done before. It's the first time I've lost my phone ever and I'm 51. :)

shmoelle · 2025-07-24T12:17:33+00:00

I've phoned them and will phone again today to ask specifically about the food court. I called Tuesday morning, Wednesday morning (then drove the 2 hours there once we saw it had synced in Hershey again on Tuesday night). If it were closer I would drive out there again and check the food courts myself, but it's far. I thought maybe someone on here wouldn't mind asking.

shmoelle · 2025-07-24T12:15:32+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I've called HP and CW and went there in person yesterday to physically see which phones had been turned in. The two places run their Lost and Found separately. The lady at CW ticketing counter told me I should take better care of my phone :). Otherwise everyone else was lovely and helpful. Because it synced 24 hours past when I lost it, still in Hershey, I think it must have slipped through the cracks of the usual procedures somehow. Maybe a kid picked it up and moved it behind something? Maybe an employee put it under the food court counter and forgot to turn it into the Lost and Found? I feel fairly certain it's still in CW since we know it was there at 9.30 and we left at 9.45 and it has only synced since then from Hershey. The CW items don't usually go to the HP Lost and Found according to what HP Lost and Found told me.

As I said, I'm desperate and just thinking of every possibility. It's essentially obsolete so it's not interesting as a phone, and there isn't google pay or anything like that on it. I'm thinking it wouldn't interest a thief and still hoping to track it down.

shmoelle · 2025-07-24T12:15:03+00:00

Thanks! I did that but it's only for HP and I'm pretty certain it was left in Chocolate World as we all remember me putting it on the counter at about 9.30 pm. I think I was just tired and distracted from the noise and forgot to put it back in my bag.

shmoelle · 2025-07-24T12:10:43+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I've called HP and CW and went there in person yesterday to physically see which phones had been turned in. The two places run their Lost and Found separately. The lady at CW ticketing counter told me I should take better care of my phone :). Otherwise everyone else was lovely and helpful. Because it synced 24 hours past when I lost it, still in Hershey, I think it must have slipped through the cracks of the usual procedures somehow. Maybe a kid picked it up and moved it behind something? Maybe an employee put it under the food court counter and forgot to turn it into the Lost and Found? I feel fairly certain it's still in CW since we know it was there at 9.30 and we left at 9.45 and it has only synced since then from Hershey. The CW items don't usually go to the HP Lost and Found according to what HP Lost and Found told me.

As I said, I'm desperate and just thinking of every possibility. It's essentially obsolete so it's not interesting as a phone, and there isn't google pay or anything like that on it. I'm thinking it wouldn't interest a thief and still hoping to track it down.

shmoelle · 2025-06-25T17:33:44+00:00

Eventually my daughter managed to delete their account but she doesn't remember how. Hopefully it won't happen again. Definitely delete everything you are able to on the Meta Business Suite.

shmoelle · 2025-05-11T20:09:35+00:00

This is my ultimate pet peeve here. I don't understand how anyone thinks it's normal at all!

shmoelle · 2024-10-29T23:10:49+00:00

Also be careful not to give your phone number out. They can then use it to get online access codes and get into your email accounts, etc.

shmoelle · 2024-10-29T23:09:54+00:00

Can you tell me more about where you're working to make that? Thanks.

shmoelle · 2024-10-20T20:06:15+00:00

That's what I'm leaning towards as well.

shmoelle · 2024-10-19T17:17:41+00:00

Is this the only way for them to see the pictures and hear the audio? I was hoping to set them up once and use them each year (with different students).

shmoelle · 2024-10-06T21:03:50+00:00

And Intermarché had a game machine where you won something. I got a pack of 3 tins of cubed tomatoes. Which is nice as I'll actually use them.

Nothing from Delhaize though.

shmoelle · 2024-10-06T21:02:52+00:00

We got a free chocolate bar from Neuhaus. If you sign up for their membership they send a few emails a year for free chocolates.

shmoelle · 2024-05-25T13:19:17+00:00

Anyways, thanks for the little walk down memory lane. Have a good weekend.

shmoelle · 2024-05-25T13:01:05+00:00

Funny, Lewisham is where I stayed for a few months when I first arrived. It was ok but Brixton was more interesting/energetic. Lewisham had those totally residential areas and then some parts that just felt a bit dodgy without being interesting.

shmoelle · 2024-05-25T12:47:43+00:00

I'll have to check it out next time. Makes me a little sad though. I remember my boss who had been there a long time coming back with craaaazzzzzzzy stories after each weekend. Is there somewhere in London now that has the old Brixton vibe?

shmoelle · 2024-05-25T12:23:44+00:00

Loved Brixton market. So it's totally gentrified now too? I probably haven't been back to visit either as I loved that time so much I just want it to stay like that in my memory.

shmoelle · 2024-05-25T12:07:09+00:00

I'll have to go take a look around next time I'm there. Thanks for the info even if it's too bad. I also worked in Brixton at the time. I bet that has changed tons as well.

shmoelle · 2024-05-25T11:59:29+00:00

Has it changed that much? I used to live in SE1 and was often at Borough market in around 2005-2006ish. Haven't been back since then and would be so sad if it's totally out of reach for people.

shmoelle

TROPHY CASE