Ana Elisa Miranda's Blog, page 2

Magic in Switzerland

First time in Switzerland. And the best part of the trip was visiting the Mont Blanc. In France.

Seriously, just look at that beauty:

No, we did not eat fromage fondue or Swiss chocolate.

Because we live in Belgium, you know, best chocolate in the world?

Just kidding, our Swiss francs were only enough to eat actual food. Like half a chicken, salad and the best potatoes for 15 bucks!

We also went to the opera for the first time and saw Mozart's The Magic Flute on New Year's eve. What an amaz...

Moving to Belgium? Read this.

On my first year back to Belgium one of my classmates at the Dutch course said: “The first two years are the most difficult”. I braced myself and went on with all the resilience I could muster.

I didn’t know what to expect and I felt completely lost most of the time but somehow, at the end of my third year back here, things are falling into place.

It will take time, but you will get used to everything and start feeling at home. You’ll get your documents in order. You’ll find a job. You’ll...

Diploma Equivalence in Belgium

Last year I followed the Integration Program for foreigners, which consists of a social orientation class, Dutch classes and work/study coaching. They also intermediate diploma equivalence processes for free.

I have a Brazilian diploma in English teaching and this is what my recognition process looked like:

I providedKom-Pas (now In-Gent) with the following documents:
A copy of my diploma and a copy of my grades history (they had these translated).Official (original or scanned) subjects’ descrip...

Interview - Ivna Maluly

I'm excited to share this and many more conversations with you. I've been meeting amazing women who are recreating their lives and homes abroad.

That takes a lot of courage and resilience! If you're in a similar situation, know that you're not alone!

Ivna Chedier Malulyis a journalist and children's books author. She's from Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Author ofCadê seu peito, mamãe?(available in English: What's happening to my mummy?),Gabriel e a FraldinhaandMaria Luiza e a...

8 styles of beer to try in Belgium

The little country of Belgium is a giant when it comes to beer brewing. Not only is it home to the largest brewing company (AB InBev), it also boasts a huge variety of styles and brewing traditions with over 1000 types of beer. For that reason it can seem a daunting task for the uninitiated visitor to figure out which beers to try when in Belgium. Of course you can always ask the bartender or a friendly native, who will gladly help you. For now this list might help to get an overview of what’...

Web Nuggets

Hi guys! How was your week? I've been working and studying and I've finally reached Stephen King's last brick of The Dark Tower series. On top of that, there's always browsing the internet for gems of wisdom (and cat videos). Here are some for you: Do you love traveling? Have you ever wondered why you can't be still for long? This might explain it.

A medical miracle to inspire you.

I don't know why, but this makes me smile :)

And this.

If you're in Belgium for the holidays, don't miss the Ch...

8 ways to feel more adventurous

“The opposite of happiness is not sadness, but boredom.” Tim Ferris in The 4-hour workweek

We all need something to look forward to.

We need fun and excitement to counterbalance our serious routines.

We need some adventure to feel alive!

Adventure certainly means different things to you and me, and we crave it in different doses. To me, it has to do with travel, with new places and experiences. If I stay put for too long, stuck in routine, having nothing cool to look forward to, I get restless.

Bu...

Do I really need that?

Ihave always been organized. Always enjoyed cleaning out my closet. Throwing stuff away. Making space.

When I left for the USA in 2009, I gave most of my old clothes, shoes and accessories away. I burned a lot of notebooks, letters, cards and school material. I didn’t need any of that in my new life. I traveled light, one suitcase and one carry-on, and I felt lighter still. I was setting off for a year that would be the beginning of the rest of my life. I needed space and clarity.

Au Pairs made...

The fear of doing nothing

Here's a poem about summer holidays:


There are sunny days and cloudy days.

Fun and boredom.

Energy and laziness.

Activity and rest.

There is company and there is solitude.

Silence and noise.

Creation and contemplation.

And every day there’s life.

Calm down, anxious heart.



What do you do when you have so much free time and nothing really urgent on your to-do list?

Since I started working full time I couldn’t manage time or energy for writing, so I looked forward to these two months off and I h...

The unspoiled gem of the Rhine Valley

A spontaneous road trip to a gorgeous and peaceful place like Bacharach, Germany can do wonders to a controlling soul like mine.

No timetables, no rush, no stress.

Lots of green, birdsong, sunshine, local food and wine.

The valley towns are protected Unesco heritage, unspoiled and authentic. No restaurant chains, no ugly apartment blocks, no traffic, just the old houses, castles and medieval ruins.

Take a quiet break, wherever you are. You know you need it.

View from the B&B. ...