Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

An Unusual Integration Story: The Belgian Expats Of Kuşadası


  • Please log in to reply
1 reply to this topic

#1 Abi

Abi

    Puppy Guardian

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 11,276 posts

Posted 01 April 2012 - 12:42 PM

While the arrival of Turkish migrants to Belgium is celebrated with cultural activities, especially on its 50th anniversary, a quarter of a century old inverse flow of Belgians to Turkey is still a bit of a mystery.

Although Belgian authorities do not have any official records of the first Belgian expats to arrive in the Kuşadası district of Aydın, Belgians have been living in this area for 27 years.

Many Belgians moved to the warm Aegean district to enjoy their retirement, while some moved to Kuşadası for other reasons and went through the kinds of difficulties that Turkish immigrants in Belgium did. Many of these Belgian expats say they enjoy living in the magnificent atmosphere of Kuşadası and do not miss their homeland except for Belgian chocolate. Most of the expats say they don’t think, not even for a second, about moving back to Belgium.

One of the Belgian expats, Jean Paul Peters, has opened an integration center for Belgians in Kuşadası called Trefpunt Kuşadası, which means “Kuşadası Meeting Point” in Flemish. Unlike migration centers in other countries, the Trefpunt is located on the ground floor of a house that sits in a residential neighborhood in the Belgian area of Kuşadası....

.More

#2 sunny

sunny

    Cesme Expert

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 11,702 posts

Posted 01 April 2012 - 12:55 PM

It's good to see that other nationalities have their own support groups/person.
I wonder what other nationalities have similar set-ups?