acemi is abroad

It's sad to see that I didn't post anything in last 5 months. It must confess it didn't really bother me much but made me question the reason every now and then. I have enough excuses (non-work related activities: French class, gym, clubbing, no time, etc.) to escape from the ultimate question: "Do I enjoy my life in abroad, I mean honestly?" Difficult to find the correct answer in all that chaos in my mind. But what is more difficult is to decide on the next step, not necessarily something new, which is still pending for me.

I wish myself some mental peace (maybe I should do more than just wishing but anyways) and feel free to join me if you fancy hearing some about what I do

I love the diversity in Brussels! This weekend we had an outdoor party organized by latinos for everyone in Brussels, enjoyed good live latin music and good atmosphere.

and not in a zoo! I saw a fox running in front of my apartment building at around 2.30 am as I was coming back from Friday night out last week. I can't call my quarter natural environment for a fox since it is not far from the city centre but apparently the Parc Woluwe which is 10 min. walking distance from home nestles some foxes as well as rabbits, swans and many species of birds.

Since I didn't have to sleep on the street I cannot say "Yes I know how it feels like being homeless" but yes I was homeless for one month. I was homeless although I had the right to stay in a room I paid the rent for. But I am glad that I have some really good friends around and I could get through last April, a month full with uncertainity.

I spent the Easter in Madrid and came back home on Easter Monday which is a public holiday all over Europe and this means all shops are closed on this day in this part of the world. Since I came home early in the morning and couldn't sleep properly in previous night the first thing I did was to sleep. As I woke up starving I knew that I could eat the food I left in the fridge for this moment but... My dear flatmate was selfish enough to finish all instant food that was bought by me (and we never shared food in this manner apart from kindly offerings). My physical conditions (being just woken up and starving) pushed me to go to his room and ask him please to stop eating my food, after and before saying that I was sorry. After he got over the shock (you might be shocked if a flatmate complains for the first time in 3 months) and he decided to end the contract in less than 1 minute. I had one month to move out from the apartment. This didn't sound fair to me and that was the start of one-week-long fights.

We had fights like cats and dogs, like a married couple who cannot get along anymore, like jealous siblings for very tiny silly things... I got angry as he refused to listen to me when he knew I was right, he was not happy as I was telling him how selfish he was (I hate people to lie themselves). I unfortunately let him enjoy watching me losing control of myself by anger which is quite familiar to me from my childhood. After a guy came to visit the room (of course without my authorisation to enter into my room) and probably he liked and wanted to take the room as soon as possible he became wilder so that I would leave sooner and he could live with his new male flatmate happily ever after. One week after the first discussion I ended up leaving the flat urgently in same night after he attacked me physically. He didn't hurt me much and I didn't attack him at all but I had a bruise to show to the police.

I stayed in a friend's place in Antwerp for one week what I appreciate very much but 4h train rides everyday to and from the office was suffering and plus desperate feeling of being homeless... The next week I could move to another friend's place in Brussels and immediate househunting has started. On last day of April I could move into my place where I share a big flat with a german girl.

I don't believe I was such a bad flatmate to deserve this, especially not in a foreign country. As I expected, police didn't show much interest and they never called me back. The lesson I learned from this incident is to be careful with a heterophobic single gay in his 40s who suffers a desperate and unhappy life and is rasist (I think he is too rasist for a South Africa born white belgian) and run away fast. I doubt there are many like him though but I feel very uncomfortable still whenever I go to the area (La Bourse, city centre) as if I would meet him and he would tell me something.

I know it was just bad luck and I still feel happy living in Brussels. And now I have a funny story to tell to my grandchildren

In this chaos of course I couldn't take care of my blog but I hope to be back to the community soon

Since a few weeks we, residents of Brussels, enjoy lovely sunny weather especially at the weekend. I don't mean to complain but stink of urine on sidewalk or at the entrence/exit of a subway station ruins the light feeling of walking in the sun. Could we have a little bit of rain, during the week maybe? Please!