I'm a lawbreaker and live unregistered in my current hideout in Brussels. I'm still registered in the apartment that I left in October 2011. At that time it was a dilemma whether to keep myself registered in Brussels or not, but insurance regulations decided it for me. My travel insurance would fly my sick body to the country that I'm registered to. I don't have health insurance in Estonia, so Belgium had to remain as the motherland.
Anyhow, back in Brussels there were some reasons why I had to postpone registering myself to my new address. At the same time my old apartment has remained empty. It is social housing with probably thousands of people in the queue waiting to get a cheap place to live, but the Brussels city takes its time. It has been only, what, 9 months since the apartment is completely empty. My flatmates and my name are still on the doorbell. So every now and then I pass by the old apartment building to check the post. I have to wait besides the door until someone happens to go in or get out and be their shadow.
Today I got there and discovered the post box to be empty. I knew that there were supposed to be important papers for me. I was expecting to pick up tax return form which I have to fill in and send out before the end of the month. But there was nothing. I waited for another person to come in or go out, so I could get through the second locked door and make my way to the garbage room.
Soon enough I was going through the paper bin (thank god/belgium on&off government for the sorting of garbage!) and I found my tax return papers, a city tax bill and my new credit card.This has been the most successful half an hour in a dumpster for me so far! Though at home i once found a 5 euro bill in the bin. Just papers, business papers (The Dude).
Anyhow, back in Brussels there were some reasons why I had to postpone registering myself to my new address. At the same time my old apartment has remained empty. It is social housing with probably thousands of people in the queue waiting to get a cheap place to live, but the Brussels city takes its time. It has been only, what, 9 months since the apartment is completely empty. My flatmates and my name are still on the doorbell. So every now and then I pass by the old apartment building to check the post. I have to wait besides the door until someone happens to go in or get out and be their shadow.
Today I got there and discovered the post box to be empty. I knew that there were supposed to be important papers for me. I was expecting to pick up tax return form which I have to fill in and send out before the end of the month. But there was nothing. I waited for another person to come in or go out, so I could get through the second locked door and make my way to the garbage room.
Soon enough I was going through the paper bin (thank god/belgium on&off government for the sorting of garbage!) and I found my tax return papers, a city tax bill and my new credit card.This has been the most successful half an hour in a dumpster for me so far! Though at home i once found a 5 euro bill in the bin. Just papers, business papers (The Dude).
Ene, some of your post crack me up!!!! I can totally relate about the address changing, as I am at the cross fork in my future travels and temporary stay.
ReplyDeleteSending you lots of love from the States***
--g