European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 18, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The class pauses in Leven at a statue representing a student who is pouring knowledge into his head. The newcomers enjoy belgian waffles at the Brussels train station. Family dog darts across the Street causing a car to swerve and crash. Cats Are excluded from this last category because they Are considered wild animals in Belgium. In the matter of registering pigs a government officials really Are considering . Cards for porkers ostensibly to keep track of those with diseases. But even the belgians chuckle at this one for them it s just another link in the bureaucratic Chain. To complicate matters further there Are at least 14 different types of status for the approximately 10,000 government sponsored americans who live in Belgium. In Brussels alone there Are three . Government missions the . Embassy the . Mission to the european economic Community and the . Nato Mission. Other agencies include a Federal aviation administration office in Brussels the state department s Only overseas transportation office in Antwerp and nato s International staff nato s communications and information systems Agency and nato support activity which provides logistical and administrative support to . Military and civilian personnel and dependents. Some of these people carry diplomatic status some fall under the so called status of forces agreements while others have Only limited or no privileges associated with their status. Sound crazy ask Gisele do Leman. She runs classes at the Brussels american nato support activity for newcomers that cover All the nuts and bolts of surviving in Belgium. Quot people say it s hard to live Here but As soon As you know the rules it s easier Quot said a cheerful do Leman to about a dozen newcomers attending a recent class. Typical of those in the class was Mary Yancy who accompanied her husband to Brussels in May. Yancy said that language has been the biggest Challenge for her. She used a private housing Agency to help her find a House but had trouble getting her car registered. Laurie Vea who arrived in Brussels in june said that the various differences in status among americans makes it difficult for newcomers to know what they can and cannot do. Quot it s not like Germany where almost everybody has the same status Quot she said. Language was also a problem for Vea who recently attempted to order in French at a belgian restaurant. Quot i told the Man i was a French Fry Quot she said adding that she was surprised that the waiter did t offer to pour Ketchup Over her. Sandra Weintraub who works at nato Wilh her husband Ron finds the bureaucracy of Belgium the biggest problem because it is so Complex and Tim consuming. But she said she enjoyed the survival skills class because it gave her a Chance to share her problems with others in the same boat. Quot it s Nice to see other newcomers. We can help each other Quot she said. In the survival skills class do Leman walks newcomers through the intricacies of paying Bills for utilities and housing setting up Bank accounts buying insurance applying for a Telephone and using the belgian Post office. Typically do Leman is asked about Bills. Often newcomers find that their Telephone deposits Are suddenly increased if they Start making some Lon distance phone Calls. The increase in Deposit called a Quot provision Quot in French can sometimes amount to several Hundred dollars other questions reflect the confusion Felt by those coming to a strange town for the first time. Quot do you have any clue As to where to find a phone Booth Quot do Leman was asked in a class recently. Quot look by a Church Ora town Hall Quot she said. Do Leman also tries to give a lot of practical tips such As you Don t have to put Money in parking meters after 7 . Or on sundays or How to look up times when the City picks up major trash items. A second part of the class called Quot metro madness Quot takes newcomers through the Maze of tire Brussels Public transportation system. On a recent Outing about 20 newcomers braver a combination of bus train and Railroad to get to the nearby town of Leven where they had lunch and an afternoon tour of the historic University town. Like students cramming for finals the newcomers scrutinized their maps of the Public transportation system and Learned How to buy the different typos of tickets. For some it was their first time on a subway. Despite All the problems newcomers who Are fortified with a sense of humor and a Little grit will do All right Vea said. Quot you have to look at this like it s an adventure and not be  october 18, 1990 stripes Magazine 9