Myrtle Alegado: Someone catches your eye, his or her personality is attractive, you get along well, and you start falling for this person. You live in the same country, but there's actually a language barrier. Today, we'll meet Michael and Cindy, from Belgium, and they'll share what it was like in the beginning of their cross-cultural relationship and how they're doing now as newlyweds.



Welcome to Happy Life, a podcast brought to you by INC Media Audio that aims to help newlyweds navigate through the first years of marriage.



I’m your host, Myrtle Alegado, and I’ve been married to my husband, Paul, since 1999. Later, we'll hear some Bible-based advice through Brother Felmar Serreno, a minister of the gospel in the Church Of Christ.



[Show Catchphrase]



Inspiration to make your marriage thrive, you’re listening to Happy Life 



Myrtle: As mentioned earlier, our newlyweds today are from Belgium. Hi, Michael and Cindy. We hope you're both doing well over there.



Cindy Van Acker: I'm doing very good. Thank you so much, Myrtle, for your time for today.



Michael Van Acker: Hello, Myrtle. Thank you for having us and happy to be here.



Myrtle: So would you two mind giving us a little background information on where you both grew up?



Michael: I was born in Zele. Zele is a very small town in Belgium, a small community. Almost everyone knows each other, a lot of greens and nature close by. My dad, he is a Belgian while my mom is a Filipina.



Myrtle: You were born and raised in Zele.



Michael: Yes, I was born in Zele and also raised.



Myrtle: Oh wow. That's pretty awesome. So how about you, Cindy?



Cindy: For myself, my parents are both Filipino. I grew up in the capital city of Brussels, Belgium.



Myrtle: And now do you still live in Brussels or Zele or did you both move somewhere else?



Michael: Now we are living in Schoonaarde, also in Belgium of course, and it's about 45 minutes driving from the capital city, Brussels.



Myrtle: Okay, so a little bit on the outskirts up in the suburbs maybe. So, we talked previously and you mentioned that, although you live in the same country, you speak different languages, right?



Cindy: Yes. It is correct, Myrtle. Actually, in Belgium, we speak different languages. But it actually depends [on] where you live. Usually we speak French, Dutch or German. But for myself, since I live in the capital city of Brussels, I speak and am fluent in French.



Michael: And since I grew up in a Dutch area, I'm speaking Dutch. It’s my mother language. So actually, we don't speak each other’s languages.



Myrtle: That is so interesting. Okay, wait, I have to ask you both. How do you say happy life in Dutch and then in French?



Michael: In Dutch, it's gelukkig leven.



Myrtle: Okay, I will not even try to repeat that. [laughs] Cindy, how do you say it in French?



Cindy: La vie heureuse.



Myrtle:  Oh wow, that is so cool. So what was it like trying to talk to each other in the beginning when you first met?