Personal Essay

Would you like to improve your language skills and networking in a casual atmosphere? This event is for you! All languages welcome! Everyone is welcome! The aim is to speak with native/fluent speakers of your target language(s). You'll be around all types of people throughout the whole event. We will be in a private area. A great atmosphere is guaranteed! You'll have to order a drink to attend the event 😀 Don't hesitate to contact us for any further information

Are you someone who is local (or a westerner who has lived in the city for a while, understand the local culture and speak the local language) and are confident when meeting new people of different backgrounds and cultures? We’re looking for a lively friendly host to manage some of our weekly Fastfriends meetups in your city. As a host, your role would be to: ✨ Welcome members and make them feel comfortable ✨ Encourage conversations and help people connect \- direct and manage our fastfriending socialising format ✨ Keep the energy positive and the fast friending event flowing smoothly \- manage the event relationship with the venue What is in it for you? \- this is a volunteer role but we give you an expense allowance to cover some of your expenses\. \- ⁠you get exposure to the local and international community and can make a positive contribution \- ⁠you get experience with meeting new people\,running social events and managing groups\. We would love to hear from you. Please write a quick message to Dan at ‪+44 7715705005‬ and let's chat.

Let's meet to write! Schedule : 18:30 - 18:45: Arrival & introduction tour. Share briefly with the group your project and the "goal of the day". 18:45 - 20:00 : Let's write! 20:00 : Closing tour. Did you achieve the "goal of the day" ? See you soon !

**Cinema Palace : Parallel Tales** 04/06 @ 18h30 **'Histoires parallèles' d'Asghar Farhadi, vertigineux enchevêtrement de réel et de fiction** [...] Après 'Le passé', Asghar Farhadi ('Le client', 'Une séparation') retourne à Paris pour cette fiction fascinante qui s’inspire du sixième volet du 'Décalogue' de Krzystof Kieslowski, empruntant la musique composée par Zbigniew Preisner pour le film originel. Soutenu par une distribution exceptionnelle, le cinéaste iranien déploie un scénario virtuose qui aurait pu se contenter de poser la question, somme toute classique, de la fiction qui pille et déforme la réalité. Mais dès lors que le personnage passionnant d’Adam rentre en contact avec la réelle Anna, Nita de son vrai nom, lui dérobe son journal intime et s’arrange pour qu’elle lise le manuscrit écrit par Sylvie autour d’elle, 'Histoires parallèles' emprunte une direction autrement plus troublante. [...] [Cinema Palace](https://cinema-palace.be/fr/film/histoires-paralleles) [Rafael Wolf pour la Radio Télévision Suisse](https://www.rts.ch/info/culture/cinema/2026/article/histoires-paralleles-d-asghar-farhadi-vertigineux-enchevetrement-de-reel-et-de-fiction-29243622.html) **For Dreamers, Coffee shots, Orezza, eau de Saint-Georges !**

Welcome to TechTuesday at HSBXL. It’s where tech enthusiasts hang out, projects get tinkered with, and the occasional debate over the best programming language ensues. Whether you’re an old hand at hacking or just dipping your toes: * **Chats & Code**: Engage in hushed tech tales, showcase your latest digital masterpiece, or simply bask in the mesmerizing rhythm of coders at work. * **Ambient Rhythms**: We curate a backdrop of everything from ambient rock to downtempo electronica. It sets the mood, enhancing the creativity without becoming a distraction. * **Refreshment Protocol**: Club Mate to fuel your creativity, assorted beers for contemplation, and soft drinks for a refreshing pause. Choose your brew. * **Machinery Magic**: Our space boasts more than just computers. Soldering irons hiss and 3D printers hum, telling tales of projects brought to life. * **Knowledge Exchange**: Encountered a tech puzzle? Someone in the room might have just the insight you need. And if you’ve unraveled a digital mystery, consider sharing it. **Note**: The beauty of HSBXL is its welcoming ethos. Member or not, if you’re curious and respectful, you’re one of us. ### Getting to HSBXL HSBXL, the beacon for tech enthusiasts in Brussels, awaits. For your navigational needs, check [here](https://hsbxl.be/enter/). Barrier issues? Broadcast at +32 28804004. For real-time digital dialogues, tap into our [Matrix chatroom](https://matrix.to/#/#hsbxl:matrix.org). ### Bring Along Your tech gear, a project in progress, or simply a mind open to the endless possibilities of tech. That’s TechTuesday at HSBXL. A laid-back evening where tech happens, naturally. See you there.

**Welcome to our May UX Beers in Mechelen!** This time, we will host our event on Tuesday the 26th of May at [Buffl](https://buffl.be) in Mechelen. [Ariad](https://www.ariadgroup.com/) and [Creative Skills](https://www.creativeskills.be/) sponsor our events. Follow the event online? We stream live via [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBqyTDAyQBw) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# UX TALKS **Talk 1: Research Reinvented** [Michiel Willekens](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michiel-willekens/), Productmanager @ BUFFL and [Seppe Stroo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/seppe-stroo-843b82128/), Founding partner @ BUFFL In this presentation, BUFFL will demonstrate how rethinking research can drive real business results through a pragmatic case study. You’ll discover how to translate business objectives into the right customer questions and how to act on those insights immediately to accelerate growth and sales. By bringing the live voice of thousands of (potential) customers into the decision-making process, organizations can ask the right questions at the right time and turn insights into measurable business impact: from increased sales and customer loyalty/experience to stronger brand awareness and more effective activation strategies. **Talk 2: Synthetic Personas – real insights or digital illusions?** [Kate Foszcz](https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarzyna-foszcz/?locale=en), AI Product designer @ Ebay Can synthetic personas help us make better business decisions, or are we just interviewing very convincing imaginary friends? In this talk, Kate will explore where synthetic personas can actually bring value, from testing assumptions to speeding up research, and where they can quietly mislead us with biased, overconfident, or poorly grounded answers. Expect a practical look at how to design these systems responsibly, when to trust them, and when to go back to real humans. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SCHEDULE 18:00 - Doors open. Drinks & snacks 19.00 - 19.15 - Introduction to UX Belgium Meetup, announcements 19.15 - 19:45 - Talk #1 19:45 -20:15 - BREAK 20:15 - 20:45 - Talk #2 20:45 - 21:30 - Socialize \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# SLACK CHANNEL We have our own UX Belgium slack channel. [Come join us and say hi!](https://join.slack.com/t/ux-belgium/shared_invite/zt-1bjpnuiog-T4Di4flXYPWgbT9KrZ53CA) \*\*\* \#\#\# YOUTUBE CHANNEL All our livestreams and talks are recorded and available on our [UX Belgium youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCno7V18T-EglYXprgrUZQ7A). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \#\#\# ABOUT UX BELGIUM UX Belgium is a growing community of User Experience (UX) professionals in and around Belgium. Look for these types of events: UX Beers Periodically, we gather at a different agency or venue to drink beers, network and listen to speakers on various themes in the world of UX and digital design. UX Antwerp: Each last Tuesday of the month UX Brussels: Each second Tuesday of the month, 4x per year UX Workshops Now and then we organize events to dive deeper into specific skills and techniques in UX. These are smaller, hands-on workshops designed to boost your UX toolbox. \*\*\* The UX Belgium Meetup Team

Do you like keeping your French up to date? Or do you want to help the ones that need some help here? If so, this meet up activity might be something for you :) Let's meet in order to have conversations in French together! * How to find us? - This meetup will take place at an easy to find venue, which is very close to subway station Gare Central and nearly to Grande place Brussels In this venue, it's possible to eat a little something - or to just have some drinks. we are in the hotel there is the big table , If you want speak with a few people you can change your chair or your place. For those who already speak a bit of French - ANYONE that can take part in the Meet up without having to ask "What does this mean?" all the time, is MORE than welcome! (And yes, pretending to understand it all and "Nodd and smile IS allowed :) ) Because reading and listening are very good teachers too... In fact anything that doesn't slow down practicing the language goes :) Or in more strict words: this Meet up is not the best place to go to for absolute beginners If you can not find call please Olivier 0476600552 or Mehrdad 0486652242 [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rue+du+March%C3%A9+Aux+Herbes+100,+1000+Bruxelles/@50.8466178,4.3551211,3a,28.7y,35.83h,95.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spHFBcXTJGMiNd7y_1PFAgg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x47c3c47f9e11971f:0x7c45bfb50b08362a!8m2!3d50.8467965!4d4.3553835](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rue+du+March%C3%A9+Aux+Herbes+100,+1000+Bruxelles/@50.8466178,4.3551211,3a,28.7y,35.83h,95.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1spHFBcXTJGMiNd7y_1PFAgg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x47c3c47f9e11971f:0x7c45bfb50b08362a!8m2!3d50.8467965!4d4.3553835) Address is Rue du Marché Aux Herbes 100 Enjoy the Meetup!

For our second meeting we are reading "Everything is Television" by Derek Thompson, a relevant media literacy essay. https://www.derekthompson.org/p/why-everything-became-television Hoping for a good weather so let's meet in the park again :) Grab your favorite cup of brew and join the circle, we'll be on the side, next to fountain in Parc du Cinquantenaire. The exact location will be shared that day in the comments. Come to chat about... Anything really! How to live a good life, your favorite Substacks, your new hobby, the art of living slowly, ideas you are processing, coffee places you recently found, music records you bought, essays you read or wrote, meals you made, clothes you thrifted, movies you watched, and the music you heard.

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

What would make a city "ideal"? The answer(s) might first appear on the surface (excuse the pun) to be a no-brainer: thriving, prosperous, clean, safe, energizing yet relaxing, beautiful, affordable, etc ... However, as we further unpack and explore all these factors, we might soon begin to see that the answer(s) may not be that simple after all - not only considering the reality of limited resources (not enough money or energy - or surface area - to realize all visions, therefore choices have to be made), but also confronting the reality that each decision made will have implications on the whole system, as every element in a city both influences and requires all others. Inspired by Plato's *Republic,* one approach to answer the question "What is an ideal city?" could be to compare this question with the question, "What is an ideal human being?" If there might be *many* types of ideal cities or human beings, what properties (again, excuse the pun!) would they all have in common? Each city should best of course be studied in the context of its particular history, geography, climate, ecosystem, economics, culture etc. How have cities optimized (achieving differing degrees of success) their natural advantages while compensating for their vulnerabilities? What type(s) of people would be the ideal cities' inhabitants and visitors? How homogeneous or heterogeneous should a city be to both flourish and function optimally? (cf. meetup topic of 7/11/2020). In which ways should its citizens behave uniformly and in which ways diversely? Should architecture and urban design be used to promote social/political/ethical behaviour? How would *social* navigation ("networking" and maintaining ties) in our city operate? What sorts of infrastructure and urban culture would facilitate thriving interactions? How can city and nature be best reconciled? How should our cities deal with climate change and function sustainably? Where do we go from now? What lies in the future for our cities in the world today? At the micro level... What would your ideal city look like? (For example - just 1 out of hundreds of possible questions - how high should its highrises be?) What would be the ideal size of geographical area that we would consider to be our "home territory" i.e. the amount of earth surface area that we move upon during an average day/week/month of our living? How would we move around? What would your own personal lifestyle be like in your ideal city? Would a "low-stress" lifestyle be ideal, and if so, what characteristics of our ideal city would facilitate this? What would you argue are the most positive and negative aspects of cities you can think of in the world today? Jane Jacobs' ideas, values and theories continue to remain a standard reference even today, 65 years later [https://youtu.be/Y4k6SXaUXho?is=zdkUoi9hbzE7Lpg-](https://youtu.be/Y4k6SXaUXho?is=zdkUoi9hbzE7Lpg-) Carlos Moreno's concept of "15-min city", introduced 10 years ago, has become increasingly popular - as well as debated [https://youtu.be/a1tUy8uqlOE?is=RW4eRLplijnyomKU](https://youtu.be/a1tUy8uqlOE?is=RW4eRLplijnyomKU) Edward Glaeser interview (only if you have enough time) [https://youtu.be/k2USzajXfLk?is=2sPas0L8_C0COrL](https://youtu.be/k2USzajXfLk?is=2sPas0L8_C0COrL) *(begin from 03.00) Where we're going (possibly)... [https://youtu.be/T6mK-Ukr_ts?is=QjHyf8uVu6GlzuTF](https://youtu.be/T6mK-Ukr_ts?is=QjHyf8uVu6GlzuTF) [https://youtu.be/zHgfKz7aQkY?is=H56JVVaLlJXbLRjl](https://youtu.be/zHgfKz7aQkY?is=H56JVVaLlJXbLRjl) [https://youtu.be/hfHtFiqw-IY?is=-LVjTtb07ZSYPosI](https://youtu.be/hfHtFiqw-IY?is=-LVjTtb07ZSYPosI) Photo (by Alan Woo): Chóngqìng from the air (May 2026)

Please [register yourself on the website ](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/7QLiiTnqLMxNg6Bdm5Bm)to receive the details of how to join. This powerful healing technique removes the negative energies and blockages to then nbe replaced by life energy or prana. Organized by Juliana Cruz, a Pranic Healing practitioner for over 10 years. These donation-based sessions are in a group session, done by different practitioners who have learned Pranic Healing. The sessions take from 20 to 30 minutes. * **Sunday** **From 11:30 to 12:50** 20 - 30 min session per person First-come, first-served. This practice comes after a meditation (from 10:30 to 11:30) to receive and share energies of loving-kindness to the entire Earth. You can join by [registering yourself here](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/j5YTbU6YaGLgGOXyvMNn). With love, Juliana

Hello, readers ! In May we are reading Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev. We will meet at Maison de Quartier Malibran, Rue de la Digue 10, 1050 Ixelles. **Please keep your RSVP up to date** and happy reading!

Navigating Loss and Transition: A Reflective Workshop By David Sunderland Brussels, 27 May 2026 Register here: https://www.imaginationclub.org/brussels/navigating_loss_and_transition.php We all experience loss – of roles, relationships, identities, expectations, or direction – yet we rarely pause to reflect on it. This interactive workshop creates a calm, reflective space to explore how loss shapes our lives and decisions, both personally and professionally. Drawing on a simple but powerful format (including candles, silence, and guided questions), participants are invited to share, listen, and reflect at their own pace. The session blends elements of “death cafés” with a broader exploration of transition, helping participants better understand endings – and what they make possible. Participants will: \* Explore different types of loss (personal, professional, existential). \* Reflect on how transitions shape identity, decisions, and growth \* Practice listening and speaking in a structured, non-judgmental space \* Gain language and perspective for navigating change and uncertainty \* Identify insights they can carry into work and everyday life. Conclusion You will leave with a deeper understanding of loss as a source of clarity, connection, and possibility. About David Sunderland David is British and French since 2019. He also has strong Brazilian sympathies after being married to a Brazilian woman for nearly 20 years. A similar period of time working in the United Nations, along with various other voluntary and civil society work, has reinforced his idealism while granting him more pragmatic perspectives around planning, communication and human relations. He founded, and continues to be Chair of, www.plenna.org that encourages better preparation for death and dying, whatever one's age or situation. His personal website, including links to his writing (with details on his forthcoming book, ’The Punctuation of Loss’), is www.intermundia.org. **Practical Information** **When** Wednesday, 27 May 2026 from 18h45-21h00 **Where?** Timesmore Boulevard St Michel 47, 1040 Brussels **How much?** €15 to cover expenses including materials, drinks, snacks, etc. - payable at the door. **Event web page** https://www.imaginationclub.org/brussels/navigating_loss_and_transition.php **Please Share** If you feel your friends, family and/or colleagues may be interested in this workshop, please share it with them. The Imagination Club relies on new participants to cover our operational costs and maintain a diverse, perceptive and intelligent audience (in other words, people like you) for our events. **Might you be interested to give an experimental workshop at the Imagination Club?** Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned professional, you are welcome to try out your workshop ideas at the club. We have dates available for this season.

Hallo Freunde der deutschen Sprache, wir laden alle, die gern ihr Deutsch üben wollen, zum nächsten Treffen ein! Bei schönen Wetter sitzen wir vielleicht sogar im Garten des James Joyce. Falls Ihr angemeldet seid, aber nicht kommen könnt, wären wir dankbar für Eure Abmeldung (WhatsApp - Mike: +32 475 60 88 68). Wir freuen uns auf den Austausch mit Euch!

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

If you are interested in selecting investment choices for your 401(k) or other workplace savings plan, minimizing your income tax liability, or identifying the most effective investments for your brokerage account, we are the group for you. We are a local chapter of Bogleheads, whose investment strategy can be found here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy Or you can peruse the Boglehead forum here: https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php I look forward to seeing you there. Mark Vonder Haar

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

**Welcome to the Women’s Columbus Bogleheads® Sub-Group** This sub-group is for **women who want to learn and discuss finances in a safe, supportive space**. For those interested in moving towards financial independence and retirement by learning investment basics, choosing your 401(k) investments, minimizing taxes, and more. We’re a local chapter of **Bogleheads®**, following a long-term, practical investment philosophy: [Investment Philosophy](https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy): https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy [Bogleheads Forum](https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php): https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php No question is too small, and no experience is too simple. Share, ask, and learn — at your own pace, without judgment, in a group of like-minded women. Let’s build confidence and knowledge **together**!

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Join us this Thursday 6:30 pm at the Westerville Veterans Memorial for two loops around the Westerville Sports Complex fields. This 1 mile loop is a flat fully paved trail that straddles Alum Creek. Join us for a beautiful evening hike together!