Forced Integration

I got a registered letter the other day, and as you might it expect, it was not good news. It was a falsely cheerful letter informing me that I am required by law to take integration classes if I am going to continue living in Belgium. At first it seemed almost like good news, as they mentioned I would get to learn Dutch for free. But it quickly became apparent that this was going to make our lives VERY difficult - it turns out that I am going to be forced to go to "school" for 4 to 5 days a week for 2 years! I will learn Dutch, which is certainly helpful, but other than that I will learn a lot of useless crap in classes designed for people from third world countries. These classes are not optional. If I do not take them, we will be fined.

We cannot afford childcare, and even if we could, I do not want someone else taking care of my baby. I recognize the fact that I am very lucky to be able to stay home with the baby, but this is how we both want it. I do not want a stranger getting all those little smiles and "firsts," I want to be there for everything! I could accept the inevitability of daycare if I had to go to work, but to force her into daycare so I can take some idiotic classes that will bore me to tears is just ridiculous.

G called and explained to them that I am not planning to become a Belgian citizen, but it doesn't matter, even legal residents such as myself have to take the classes. When he told them I was breastfeeding, they said we should report in to their offices as required (we have three months to report before we are fined) and that they will try to find a solution that allows me to continue breastfeeding, whatever that may mean. We are hoping for an extension at least.

Its clear this is going to make our lives much more difficult and unpleasant, its just not clear yet HOW unpleasant it will be or how soon it will be forced upon us.



In more pleasant news, my mother arrived on Monday and we are so happy to have her here! She had some trouble with her luggage, but they delivered it eventually. We have not been doing much, just hanging around the house mostly. Yesterday, Luna fell asleep on Gramma's shoulder and took a nice twenty or thirty minute nap. They seem to like each other! :D