There is a common and well deserved perception in Belgium that American expats are just rolling in the money. Because Kyle and I have about 1/8 of the expat package that most others do, I feel more like a Belgian and I must say that I agree with them. Most companies relocation packages include a car, a housing allowance, and your children's tuition ($24,000 a year per child). The funniest thing to me is when American expats will say, "The companies are getting so stingy, I don't even have GPS in my car!" or other things like that.
Today really reminded me of just how lucky expats are though. I was with a new friend that is moving into a beautiful, truly European house. In the exchange with the landlord we learned all about the gardener, the plumber, the general fit-it man, the security alarm man, the painter, and the maids. It is a full time job just keeping up with the help! Afterwards I went to a going away tea. While there, I heard about a friend of mine that is moving to London for another job and has just signed a lease for an apartment that is 14oo pounds a week, yes, a week! To do the math for you, with the current exchange rate, that is $10,000 a month in rent. You might think this person is rude and snotty, but she is really nice and normal -- she just happens to live in a great place.
Maybe I am just fooling myself, and when I a 55 I will want a life like that, but I must say that at 26, I am pretty happy only having to keep up with a small apartment. Even though it gets frustrating at times, there is only a small area where things can be lost, fully cleaning the place only takes two hours, and it reminds me to stay humble knowing that this life of apartment living and public transportation is much more of how the rest of the world lives than in the American expat bubble.
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