I must say, it does not take much to impress people. As I battled a mere five hours of daylight and growing frustration with my immigration prospects, those at home would see one photo of a cobblestone street or castle and unleash their envy of my “fairytale life.” As more people consider their own goals and ask if living in Europe is “really as great as [they] think it will be,” I would like to list an objective reality check here:
1. You will not live like you do as a tourist. Many Americans romanticize Europe because they have only seen it on vacation, not realizing that living there is completely different. For example, the walkable city centers that tourists visit are often too expensive for locals to live in. While tourists admire the ease of traveling between European countries, I have never heard of a local actually driving across the border just for dinner. In addition, you may even spend several months unable to leave the country as you wait for your residence permit to be renewed or the card to be issued.
2. The novelty wears off. Whether it be the food, the language, the weather, or the castles, there will be a point when you realize that everything that once seemed new and exciting has become rather unremarkable. While this is not inherently a negative change, it does shift your perspective. It is only when the glamour wears off that you can truly examine whether your decision to move was worthwhile.
3. Learning the local language often is not enough to truly integrate. No matter how well I was able to speak and comprehend French, there were always going to be movie and music references, phrases, and cultural icons that I did not know. While this is not in itself a unique phenomenon and can even exist among those born in the same country, the subtle barrier certainly adds to the feeling that you do not truly 'belong.'
4. As a foreigner, your job search will be twice as difficult. It is no surprise that many local jobs prefer applicants with work authorization, so it can be complicated if you have a temporary work permit or no work permit at all. Additionally, many jobs prefer 'native' language abilities, leaving second language speakers in limbo.
5. Your biggest headaches will likely be things you rarely had to think about in your home country. You may end up in a seemingly impossible situation such as needing a rental contract to receive your residence card, but needing your residence card to be issued a rental contract - and more than likely, your local friends will have no idea how to help you as these issues do not affect them.
While I enjoyed my years in Belgium and do not at all regret going, I would caution others to take these points into consideration. Living in Europe was great in some ways, and disappointing in others - but, I promise you, living abroad is far more complex than admiring cobblestone streets and castles!