One of the first things I did upon moving here was to join the American Women's Club of Luxembourg. This is a club for English-speaking women of any nationality and has been an invaluable resource for me already. The Facebook group is particularly helpful, as you can ask almost any question on almost any topic--shopping, travel, recycling, repair services, restaurants, events, etiquette, doctors, on and on--and someone (or lots of someones) chimes in with an answer.
The AWCL "clubhouse" (converted apartment) just a couple blocks from our place. Here, they hold gatherings such as welcome coffees and nights out. They also carry some American groceries (think Jiff and Cheerios), and stock American/English books and DVDs to check out. There's someone woman-ing the front desk several hours a day if you have a question or need a chat (in English). There are also sub-groups you can join based on your interests, such as cooking, hiking, scrapbooking, and French conversation to name just a few, which often use the clubhouse as a meeting space.
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| at one of the monthly Welcome Coffees |
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| shelf of groceries in the kitchen |
I am amazed and thankful that such a resource exists here. I've met lots of interesting and amiable women already through the group, and between the AWCL and the similarly acronym-ed ANCL (All Nations Church of Luxembourg), I am keeping one foot solidly in the English-speaking/expat world. The tricky part continues to be planting the other foot in the immigrant/non-expat world that we more technically "belong" in, with Pete's indefinite local work contract and the kids in the local schools. We'll be working on that one for a long time before we really feel comfortable. I think once people return from their summer holidays (they city's sort of emptied out right now) and the kids more fully integrate into school this coming fall, it will get a bit easier. And as I learn more French. Ack.
Oh, and there's a British Ladies Club of Luxembourg as well! Haven't checked that one out yet.
1 comment:
So glad you have this resource, Rosie. And don't forget to lay on the accent when you visit the British club. You're pretty good at that...
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