I am a Filipino leaving for Brussels, Belgium in September. can I find Filipinos there?

Question

Anybody here who knows the climate there in October to December? What are the must-see places in the countryside? I shall be very glad to find firends from there.....

Answer 1

im from the UK so i can only help you so much, i know a girl called Maris who is from the phillopines, although she has moved arounfdd places all her life and has lived here in England for nearly 10 years. Why would you need to meet Phillopino people? you would learn more about the courty from the Belgins! The weather i can help you with as its imilar to the UK mostley moderate climate, the weather gets colder form September/ October all the way through to January / Febuary

the temps are around  2-3 degrees at night and around 11-12  

during the day in these areas in these months - wait for Janaury! - Sometimes its -4 degrees in the winter!

Answer 2

First:

You could check this out with the Philippino Consulate in Brussels. They can give you the names of groups of expatriate Philippinos living in Belgium. You should register at your Consulate as this will allow you to get into contact with other nationals, keep you posted on what happens in your country and you may eventually also get invites to some cultural or other activities too.

2nd:

Never take weather for granted in Belgium. It can change in an eye-blink.

September is still considered one of the nicest months. Normally it is quite sunny and not too wet during this month.

October>>December are really the Winter months and are very cold. You better be prepared because it is very humid, cold and wet. Sometimes freezing too. Everybody in Belgium makes sure never to leave the house in the morning without a sweater, a jaquet and an umbrella. Those are the 3 must haves.... because the weather is very capricious indeed.

3rd :

Lots of must see places but the best would be (some in the cities, some in the countryside):

old parts of the city (above ground & underground) , musea, architecture, Art Nouveau, old cafés & older buildings, parcs, green houses with exotic flowers & plants, palaces, castles, churches & cathedrals, monastries (where the monks make beer and cheese), the special Christmas open markets in most cities mentioned hereunder, etc...

As a Philippino, you should try to check out the churches and cathedrals. Some of them are really awesome.

Cities (mostly very old cities) worthwhile visiting :

-Brussels {downtown and uptown )

-Overijse/Jesus-Eik (famous for their cafés and their Arboratum & forest - La forêt de Soignes)

-Brugge (canals, old city, lace craft, old nunnery called le Béguinage OR Begijnenhof)

-Gent (old city)

-Damme (countryside near Brugge)

-Ostende (seaside and surroundings)

-Yper (WW1 & WW2 sites)

-Antwerp (old city)

-Namur (perfume factory, citadelle, old city)

- Liège (old city, cathedral)

-Dinant (idem)

-Han-sur-Lesse (underground caves)

-Durbuy

- the whole Ardenne part (Southern Belgium)

The train system is very good and can take you to any city in no time as Belgium is not a very large country (special package prices for week-end trips, special passes/combos including trip + places of interests)

Check out the "Tourist Information Centers" in the different cities. Brussels has got his on the main market place (Grand-Place) on the ground floor of the townhall. You can get all the info you need there about Belgium.

Every city has something worthwhile to offer. Although Belgian food is less salty and certainly less sweet then Philippino food, you should try and enjoy the Belgian cuisine : experiment the food (each region has its own very unique specialities & drinks especially the Belgian beers). This should be on your To-do list too.

You can also check/do your home work on Belgium before arriving by buying a book e.g. Blue Planet : Belgium. This serie is very well documented on everything and any thing in Belgium. This is on for sale in the good bookstores in the Philippines.

Hope you enjoy your stay and wish you all the best in our beautiful country.

Hope this helps.

Edit :for the 2nd answerer : once in a while it is vital to get in touch with your own ethnic group even if it is only to be able to speak your own language and sample your own specialities within a group of people who have the same culture. This is especially true as, sometimes, you get homesick and you need a boost so to speak.

Answer 3

yes, you may see Filipinos in Belgium.  I went there 2 years ago and have seen some Filipinos at Brussels.  Don't forget to visit Netherlands too.  You can reach it by train....  Goodluck!  btw, i'm a filipino too. :-)