‘Once I had enrolled at the Tervuren Adult Education Centre, learning the Dutch language was quite straightforward. De Fabeltjeskrant (a children’s television series featuring puppetry and stop motion) was a great help.’ The reserved nature of the Belgians does not stop her from appreciating our country. ‘We have grown to love this place. Life is much more disciplined in Germany but that also implies a certain degree of rigidity. Belgium also has many rules, but they are applied with Belgian flair and flexibility so life is more bearable and more human.’