Rendez-vous would like to introduce you to this month’s Meet a Member, Petra Gericke.

What brought you to Belgium? How long have you been here?

My husband was transferred to Belgium and we moved here in December 2008. We moved from Dubai, where we lived for 3½ exciting years. We are originally from Germany.

Do you have children? (How many? How old are they? Where do they go to school?)

We have two boys. Our seven-year old (Ben Luca) was born in Frankfurt, Germany and our two-year old (Sam Nino) was born in Dubai. Ben Luca goes to ISB and Sam Nino goes to Rani.

What do you miss most about where you used to live? (If anything.)

I miss the easy way of living, the weather and the dessert.

What is your favorite thing about living in Belgium?

I enjoy being back in Europe. I like the nature here. I also like the beautiful residential areas with all those, cosy, posh, traditional houses. I also like that it is an expat city, where there are people from other nations and cultures from countries all over the world and together, make it quite good.

What has surprised you about living in Belgium?

The two different cultures that co-exist together, (Wallonian and Flemish) that are sooo different from each other and don't seem to like each other very much.

What is your least favorite thing about living in Belgium?

The rain.

What have you found the most challenging about living in Belgium?

The language(s). It’s also difficult to find the right clothes for the weather here. And shopping is more difficult. There isn’t a good "one stop shop" or a decent Mall. Also, there is not a Starbucks (besides the one at the airport).

What was the best advice you received when you were adapting to your new country?

To become a member at AWCB and to buy the HINTS Book. (I was too late for the Hints Class).

What advice do you have for newcomers in Belgium?

Don’t let yourself get frustrated, if you do, drum it out and get a smile on your face. Try to meet people and at a minimum, get yourself a HINTS Book!

Do you have any hobbies?

My hobbies are African Hand Drumming and Scuba Diving. I also enjoy good food and a good cup of coffee with a good friend.

What do you enjoy doing at the Club?

First if all it's a relief for me to come to the Club. There is the crèche where I can drop off my two-year old and there are always very friendly English speaking people. Even though I am German, the AWCB is definitely a second home for me. (Which makes me wonder, am I really a European???)

How do you volunteer at the Club?

I volunteer at Reception. Together with Janine Shipton, I am the Reception Co-Chair. My profession is Hotel Management, and as such I often worked at hotel receptions, so for me, this was the most obvious place to volunteer.

I like to be busy so Reception is a good place to be. It is never boring and it is a great place to meet people. As I like to chat (just ask my husband) Reception is the best place to be at the Club.

Our biggest challenge as co-chairs, is to fill all of the shifts. We have ten shifts each week and it is my goal to find enough volunteers for all of these shifts. So if you want to meet lovely people, come and join the Reception team at the AWCB. We are always looking for new volunteers!