Antwerpen area ex pat

[imported_vicx]

Used to live in Antwerp area 5 or so years ago may be back in area in Feb, whats new

[JKLDdancer]

Hi-I was sad to see that know one replied to your message so I thought I would write you a quick/sweet message. I hope you have a wonderful new year!

*Julia*

[imported_vicx]

Thanks for reply, though Oregon is a bit of a distance fron Antwerp, Do you think anyone is alive in Belgium the silence is deafening, maybe too much beer after the 2YK

Cheers for now

[JKLDdancer]

I'm glad you hade a good new year. Where exactly do you live? Did I mention that I'm traveling to Belgium In July? I'm going to live there for 1 year. I have always wanted to go ever since I was little. I hope it's as baeutiful as the pictures I've seen. Well it was nice to hear from you.

Take care! *Julia*

[imported_vicx]

Hi Julia
I live in Newcastle Northern England, but my job takes me all over the world, hence I live in Belgium for a while.
The Country is ok, but not as beautiful as it's neighbours of Luxembourg and Germany.
My work now takes me to the Arabian Gulf but I may have to visit southern Holland & Belgium next leave.
Have you visited Europe before ?

All the best for now
Take care out there
Vicx

[JKLDdancer]

No, I have never been to Europe before but look forward to going in July. I have family in Ireland that I have never meet before and plan on meeting them when my travles begin. You must have an interesting job that allows you to travle. My dream is to live in Europe some day. Although I have never been there the land fascinates me so much. I can hardly wait. Well I must be on my way. Hope to hear from you soon!

*Julia*

[imported_vicx]

Hi Julia
Having a bad day, can't do anything right, forgot my daughters birthday oops. Bought the card but got the dates or days wrong.
You seem very keen on Europe, but as like anything in this life expectations rarely live up to reality.
I hope you do make it but europe is very diversified and there are great differences between even neighbouring countries, which is not the same as the states (or am I wrong)
My job may sound interesting but the travel does wear you down, and a lot of the time away from home is spent thinking about home.
My favourite place though has to be Africa, now there is a culture shock but a shock worth the experience, as the old expression goes "you may leave Africa but Africa never leaves you" and that I have found very true.
I worked in Angola for 6 months, it's poverty stricken, totally corrupt with no infrastructure, but what a place to experience. Kenya also was aplace to fall in love with.
Sorry I prattle on now and bore you, take care for now, I leave for the Gulf on the 11th Jan
vic

[JKLDdancer]

You don't bore me the least bit. I love hearing about other peoples adventures. I only hope I get to see the places you have seen. You are so lucky. But I do understand about missing home. I know if I was gone from my family, no matter how beautiful the place, I would wish they were right there with me.
I know it may sound silly, the way I talk about Europe. But I it's my deram. I don't know about you but when I have a dream I could talk about it forever. And now finaly my dream is comming true and I cant belive it. I hope some day a dream you have deep down will come true, it's a great feeling. Don't let anyone stand in your way, and that's the best advice I can give you. But I bet you already new that. You seem to be very wise, I can sence that in you. you have been so many places you must be wise. I hope you have fun in Gulf! My best wishes to you and your little girl. Safe and happy travles.

Your friend-*Julia*

[imported_vicx]

Hi Julia
You don't sound silly at all, hold on to your dream, but be ready for some not reaching expectations.
My Daughter ain't so young I am an old man, so maybe I sound a bit sceptical or even cynical.
Look forward to your adventure and I wish you all the best in fulfilling your dreams.
I suppose if I didn't enjoy the travel then I would not still be doing it. You seem very positive and outgoing young lady, keep it up and enjoy your experiences.
I'm just sitting in tonight vegging, the weather here is quite cold so not very inviting to leave the house, how is it your end!
My family (brothers and sister) are also a bit spread out (Must have some gypsy in us), my sister lives in Jo'burg South Africa and one of my Brothers is in Florida, he's a Rock star, or was, not sure if they are still popular in the states.
What is the purpose of your Belgian adventure??
I live near the border with Scotland, now there is a beautiful country, if you find it possible give it a visit, see Edinburgh and then go to the highlands on the West coast. I have worked on an Island up there on the Hebrides, people soo friendly and welcoming it is refreshing. They don't lock there doors such is the level of trust there, the countryside is very barren but beautiful on the islands and a great sense of solitude.
There ends my travelougr for today, you help me reminisce, in fact after I received your last mail if prompted me to ring an old friend I met while working in the South of France, she's Brazilian and live in Inverness Scotland. We had a good half hour chat about old times and plan to meet up next time I'm home.
So in your own way you have got 2 old friends together again, she's a lovely lady, a bit crazy as are most Brazilians but a good friend.
All for now look forward to hearing from you

All the best Vicx

[JKLDdancer]

Vicx-
I think it's wonderful that your reminiscing about good times. You seem to have lived an interesting life so far. I on the other hand have barly started mine but I hope that mine will be even half at the most, as interesting as your's has been. I belive that we live short lives and I intend on living mine out to it's fullest.
What's in Belgium you ask? Well, a lot of things but there's one thing there that I'm sertin of. Love. I meet someone while they were visiting America and I...well, I'm not sure what it is but I would like to find out.
I have never felt this way before with anyone. With words I cannot describe. I've never been the sentimental type, in fact I've never been in love. But I think this might be it. You don't have to answer, but have you ever been in love before? It's kind of a silly question to ask, a question of a little girl even.
In Belgium there is beauty, I am surtin of it. Did I tell you I was a painter? Well, I am. I paint it's my hobbie. I love to paint!
Oh, by the way, do you speek french? I speek it fairly well but am not yet fluent.
Well, it's very late so I think I'll leave you with saying, good luck with all that you do and all that you meet and safe and happy travels. Till next time.

Your friend *Julia*

[imported_vicx]

Ah Thats answers all the questions you are in love.
Then yes anywhere in the world will be beautiful, Of course I have been and am at the moment but she is on the other side of the world.
Good luck with it, your French will come in handy, though in my experience most Belgians speak English, and speak it very well.
Are you going to the French or Flemish speaking area.
Have to dash at the moment but will come back to you later.
Good luck
Vic

[JKLDdancer]

You make me laugh!
I'm visting the a part of Belgium where they speek french. But some of the people there speek english but not many. If I may ask? Are the Belgium people as freindly as I've been told? For I do not know what to expect.
I think it's funny what you said about everything being beautiful when your in love. It's true as the sky is blue.
Enough about me, so how are your travles? I hope every thing is going well with work. Not many people get to travle like you do for a profession, you mentioned in one of your letters that youe've been to Africa! I think that would be the next place I would like to see after Europe. I would acctualy like to see the whole world. I wonder if there are people out there that want to come to America as much as I want to go to Europe? Sure there are. Have you ever been to America before?
Do you have a cat? I do. I take my cat every where, I think a cat is the best companion because no matter what there always there for. You can tell a cat anything you want and they wont say a word. When your sad they snuggle with you, when your happy there happy. They live there whole lives sleeping, eating, and loveing you. I've hade my cat for many years and her and I have been through so much, she truley is my gardian angel. Your thinking, how weird, someone thinking that about an animal, but it's true they live to please you and, make you mad, but dosen't anyone do those same things that cares about you?
I think I need to clear my mind. I'm thinking a little to much about everything and that's not always good. So I think I'm going to have some tea and read a book. Well, thanks for listening once again! Realy, Thanks!

All my luck *Julia*

[imported_vicx]

Hi Julia
CATS, CATS don't talk to me about cats, my lady at one time had three, and I think if push came to shove the cats would win and I'd be out.
Is it a female thing with cats, I don't love em or hate them, I wish them no harm but they are a bit too independant for me.
I think it's a childhood scar with me and cats, but why whenever in a movie you know something bad is going to happen when they zoom in on a cat ?????
I can only talk like this when my lady is not about, steal her money, kick her man but never,never hurt her cats.
Getting back to the Belgians, as all peoples good and bad Julia. Had some good relationships and bad with people out there, I think you'll find quite a cultural difference from tthe states, they have a much more liberal outlook to what you and I have, I suppose us Brits are more like Americans than Europeans in thaT respect.
In the major Cities of Belgium and holland you may be a bit shocked by what you see, but I'm sure you'll take it in you'r stride. Everyone sets their own stndards. OOps sorry getting a bit deep.
One word of warning the Belgians have some of the best and most diversified beers inEurope, so take it easy on the stuff, it's quite potent.
Ah Africa just talking about it brings back memories, I have a story to tell you, so hope it doesn't bore you. While working in Port Ambriz in Angola my house maid was pregnant (the women out there are always pregnant) so when I returned from leave I took a suitcase full of babies clothes, disposable nappies etc etc. Irene my maid just burst into tears and ran out, I thought I done something wrong, maybe offended the local ettiquette, any way the next day she went on her knees and kissed my hand and said when the baby arrived if a boy it would be called Victor and if a girl Victoria, so there is a 10 year old in Angola named after me. I didn't realise it but apparantly what I'd taken out was totally out of the reach of the villagers, and if they could find it would have cost her 2 years wages.
Well I'm proud of it.
Maybe one day I'll return there, it's all in the lap of the gods

So Long for now, take care and keep smiling

Vic

[JKLDdancer]

Vic- that's so wonderful. So you do good deeds for people? I think that's great!!! You realy have a positive out look on life and I think that's great too. I'm sorry about the whole cat thing! I just was in one of those kind of modes. Don't get me wrong though, I love my cat. I think it's great feeling to be proud of something, I've been proud of many things I've done, but not nearly as interesting as what you've done. I't's kind of weird, I've known so many interesting people in my life, but I've never once meet you and you have so much to say, and so many things you've done, it's amazing! I enjoy so much getting letters from you, it's kind of like reading a book. Every time I hear about your travels and the things you've done it just inspires me more to do all the things I want to do in life.
I think it's so great that you've managed to have kids, and travel to so many places in one life time! That I think, you should be proud of. You have accoplished so much, touched so many hearts and minds. I only hope that I will achive half the things you have in my life time! I hope you don't think I sound dumb, I just think you should be proud!
So, Where are you traveling next? Didn't you say you were going to be in Belgium? I cant wait to go, I know I'm going to love it! I also look forward in visiting the rest of Europe!
I hope I haven't been to personal in our last letters to each ohter. I just have so much to say and some times I get carried away with my self. Well I hope your time in Belgium is good and It would be great if you got to meet up with some old friends, that's always nice. Till next time-
*Julia*

P.S. Keep your head up hi and never stop laughing!!!

[imported_vicx]

Julia,
You keep my spirits up, Always good to hear from you, and you seem very sensitive, see the world young lady and enjoy all the experiences that it brings.
Also lady do not apologies for being Frank, honest, and open. You do not get too personal, in fact I think it's a pleasure to speak to you, your cat seems very close to you and I did not mean to say that I disliked cats , it's just my lady so much loves hers that I know it must be something I ain't sensitive enough to understand. That only highlights my insensitivity, and shows that people like yourself have a greater depth than me.
Nuff said I do tend to go on, Had a phone call today and have to leave for the Gulf Tues 11th, off to Qatar Arabian gulf, look it up on the map. The capital (only real city there) is Doha and I'm about 60 mile east of it, so give me a wave if your passing, e-mail address is v_johnson@qgpc.com.qa. The system is quite tempremental out there so understand if you do write there may be no reply, if not will contact you in 29 days.
So Julia take care, hold on to your dreams and fulfill them all.
Nice to have met you and good luck
" Nobody is gone unless you want them to go.
If you don't want them to go, then they will be with you forever"
Author unknown

Tot Straaks, Au revoiur

See ya
Vic