Here's a hint

I have mentioned it before, but there is a Hints for Living in Brussels class that the American Women's Club puts on twice a year. I took the class last January and it was invaluable. For 100 euros, I got a total of 18 hours of class time learning about Belgium (there were 6 classes), a huge notebook filled with lots of great tips for getting adjusted, great snacks every day, and I met lots of friends who helped me with my transition and who I still keep up with a year later. Obviously, I can't say enough good things about this class. In fact, I enjoyed the class so much that I volunteered to help on the committee and even teach the Public Transportation section.

Working in membership, I meet lots of women who are new to Belgium. I also seem to just be a magnet to new expats even outside of the Women's Club. I definitely remember how hard it is to adjust and how many things you have going on, but it amazes me the amount of times I just rave about the Hints class and a woman says, "Well, maybe, but I just don't know. I think I have caught on to everything I need to know here. I don't think I'll go." The most frustrating part is that just two minutes before the same woman was probably complaining to me about how hard it is to meet people, and how she couldn't believe you had to bag your own groceries here.

I was recently telling Kyle about how I can't believe that a newcomer can hear from five different people how great the class is and how much it helped them to adjust, and yet they still don't go because they think they don't need it. But then Kyle and I came to the conclusion--how many things have we been encouraged to do in life, but we didn't? Why is it that it takes doing it yourself to believe something is worthwhile, but hearing the same recommendation from five people doesn't persuade you? So next time any of you have a really, really strong recommendation about it and I just shrug you off, just say, "Emily, you remember your blog about Hints???"