Newcomers’ Orientation Briefing
HSG is looking forward to welcoming all SHAPE Newcomers on 9 and 10 July.
The Newcomers’ Orientation is free of charge and open to the entire SHAPE community.
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Mrs Storez breifing some Newcomers on the variety of shopkeepers. |
HSG will hold its next Newcomers’ Orientation briefing on 9 and 10 July. The first day of the programme will take place at the SHAPE Events Centre on 9 July from 0900 to 1300 hours, and will be divided into two parts. The first part is intended to help ease the whole official matter of settling in, and will provide information about arrival procedures, housing, medical facilities, etc.
The second part of the day will help you become accustomed to living in Belgium. Mr Dobbels, Chief of the Registration Office, will brief everyone about the driving rules on SHAPE and in Belgium. A representative of the Morale and Welfare Branch will introduce all MWB activities and the services they offer. Mons and surrounding areas offer numerous social, cultural and touristic activities. The briefing given by Mr Vasko from the Office of Tourism in Mons and Mrs Jacquet of the Federation of Tourism in Hainaut will give newcomers the opportunity to learn not only about Mons but also about Belgium and its tourist destinations. Mrs Storez will speak about the shopkeepers, the markets in Mons and surrounding areas and will help familarize everyone with the car parks and the public transportation system. Mrs Kadziola will present
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Reception at the Town Hall of Mons. |
the hospital Ambroise Paré and its collaboration with SHAPE. Mrs Verschueren will introduce the Manège of Mons (Theatre) and will give an insight into the performances it offers throughout the year. The briefing ends with refreshments and finger foods.
The second day consists of a guided tour by bus. The bus leaves on 10 July at 0845 hours from the Events Centre car park. The tour will begin with a short visit to the lift in Strépy-Thieu. This exceptional construction was built to compensate for a height difference of 73 metres between canals. The tour also includes a guided visit to the Collegiate Church of Sainte-Waudru, a jewel of Gothic architecture built from 1449 to 1686. It will continue with a walk through the pedestrian street of Mons to the Grand Place, where everyone can caress the head of the well-known ‘lucky-charm’ monkey. The tour ends at
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Reception at the Events Centre. |
the Town Hall in Mons with a reception hosted by a Mr Nicolas Martin, Alderman of Trade and Tourism, and the distribution of a welcome package with gifts and coupons offered by the shopkeepers of Mons.
We hope you will be satisfied with this Newcomers’ Orientation briefing, and we sincerely wish you all an exciting and happy stay in Belgium. For more information and registration, contact the host nation liaison officer, Capitaine de Corvette Didier Parmentier on 065/44.33.39 or ext 3399, or by email: jean.parmentier@shape.nato.int.