Some Common Questions - Answers

* How much cash should I one carry for taking care of initial expenses?
For one month food expense could be upto 200euros per person. This is exaggerated cost considering you buy all costly items in the shops nearby instead of going to shops where u get for low cost and cook at home most of the times. Travel in and around Leuven should not be more than 27-30euros per month as you can get a monthly or three month or yearly pass in the bus De Lijn. If you forsee any other costs, let me know so that I can tell you an approximate expense that you may incur.

* Is currency card from banks like HDFC, Axis, Citibank, etc a better option than carrying cash?
Such Currency cards are not accepted at all shops or ATMs. You can withdraw cash from some ATMs. Better is to open a student account (no or least maintenance charges) and add money to this account and use Belgian account debit card in shops. If no bank offers you free account, then Keytrade Bank is one such Bank. You choose if its safer by having cash in Currency Card as u can withdraw or by hard cash. Later on after you have the account and debit card, you can start using that. Be aware that Belgian Debit cards cannot be used for online transactions.

* What documents should I carry while travelling and will be required at point of entry?
- Apart from passport you will not need anything. Just as add on you can carry copy of your medical certificate. If you want to work here while you pursue yr higher education, then needless to say that all yr educational certificates in original and copies are required. I hope u r nt travelling with yr family.

* What type of plug converters should I get for laptop adapters, mobile phone chargers and other electronic stuffs? You will not need any converter if its 2 pin plug. If 3 pin then you will need a converter. you can buy them in Brussels. Costs abt 2euros.

* Should I buy an international calling card to call back home for initial few days? If yes, which one shoud I go for? If you have access to internet then no calling card is required. Calls on freecall.com will cost you 2 euro cents a min if calls are made to Indian mobile num or less if calls are made to Indian landline num. I would suggest you to finish your calls when you have access to internet.

* Later, what will be the best option to call to India? Answered above

* How easily can one get a mobile connection in Leuven and in your opinion, which one would be a good deal? Lycamobile is cheapest in case you are working. But otherwise it seems there are a lot of options for students under student plans. I have no clue. Please check with students ;)

* What would be weather like in first week of Sept?
I am planning to get few woollen stuffs from India and buy rest of them there? Could be raining or just moderate temp in September. Until October end, it would not be cold. It will in fact start then. Sweater and a rain jacket (optional thermal wear) shd be enuf from India. You can buy warm wear here. Thats better as you could guage yrself abt how warm you need to be.

* What are the options for vegetarian food in Leuven? Is it possible to manage without cooking myself :-) ?
Sandwich, Pizza and falafel are the only options apart from Indian food in Indian hotels for vegetarian. A veggie falafel would cost abt 3.5 euros.If you calculate the cost yrself, you would start cooking as the basic ingredients are far cheaper if you start cooking at home.Sandwich could cost anywhere between 2-6euros. Same is the cost of pizza. Cola is cheaper only in the supermarkets.

* Is the size of bed and pillow similar there and in India? Should I get single or double bedsheets?
single bed size could vary from 70 cm x200 cm to 80cm x90cm double bed size varies from 140x200 to 180x200 cm. Pillow size and shape can be anything.

* I read that one can wash clothes in public washing machines. Is there any other option? What are the options for ironing?
U can try washing at home by soaking clothes in soap water. And washing in the bath tub itself. Drying would be a problem due to weather conditions. In case there is a balcony, u can dry it there. Still it will not be possible to dry clothes in winter without dryer. Ironing: Pressing clothes at home with electric iron box which can be bought from India or bought here locally costs abt 9eur.

* Should I get toiletries, cosmetics, etc in stock or is it fine to buy them there itself?
Not sure if the ones u get here suits ur skin. Atleast for the first one month its better to get from there. Cold cream for skin is a must. You wud nt get soaps like Savlon, Dettol in the local shops. In Pakistani or Indian shops that might cost abt 1-2 eur. You get another one in Delhaize. It does nt have any fragrance. It costs abt 70cents for 3 soaps. Except for Fragrance, we felt it was good. This is subjective to one person. To wash clothes, you may need Ariel or any other soap powder or soap. The soap powder cost is abt 3-6euros a kilo.

* In one of your posts, you wrote that Reebok shoes would be available in 20Eur. That's cheaper then in India. Is it same for other brands too like Nike, Adidas, etc?
Havent found any other till now. Just Reebok when there is sale.. and price cud be 15-20eur. Its upto yr discretion on what all u will buy here and what you will get it from there.

* I have bought an electic rice cooker. Will that be fine? Do I need to get a plug converter for it too? Or I can buy converters at reasonable prices there itself? Answered earlier

* How much should quilts and blankets cost there?
You cannot probably carry thick bedsheet or quilt from India. It costs abt 20-30euros and thats the cheapest price.

Added in the interest of other people who are in search of answers for similar questions..

Looking forward for more queries :-)