Comments on: Belgium - First Impressions http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/ A Family with Location ADD Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:51:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: The Wandering Family » Blog Archive » Up, Up, and Away http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-7515 The Wandering Family » Blog Archive » Up, Up, and Away Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:58:51 +0000 http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-7515 [...] to the airport was a stark contrast to my arrival here. When I got here not a single person would help me and I SO needed it. Coming here, I parked [...] […] to the airport was a stark contrast to my arrival here. When I got here not a single person would help me and I SO needed it. Coming here, I parked […]

]]> By: Sara http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-86 Sara Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:35:01 +0000 http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-86 Miguel - I think it depends on the American because personally I am very welcoming and accepting of different cultures, but I see what you are saying. That being said.. I\'m an extremely proud American and always will be. And I can say this.. no matter what others think of americans, I will always be extremely open and welcoming to them. That is just the way I am and I\'m sure me being American is part of it. We are called a melting pot for a reason. The reason I am studying French is because I live in the French part, Walloon. It wouldn\'t do me any good to learn dutch/flemish first as I need to initially know how to speak to the people at the market and in my town to ask for directions, etc. Once I get French down, dutch is next I can assure you. Miguel - I think it depends on the American because personally I am very welcoming and accepting of different cultures, but I see what you are saying. That being said.. I\’m an extremely proud American and always will be. And I can say this.. no matter what others think of americans, I will always be extremely open and welcoming to them. That is just the way I am and I\’m sure me being American is part of it. We are called a melting pot for a reason.

The reason I am studying French is because I live in the French part, Walloon. It wouldn\’t do me any good to learn dutch/flemish first as I need to initially know how to speak to the people at the market and in my town to ask for directions, etc. Once I get French down, dutch is next I can assure you.

]]> By: Miguel http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-84 Miguel Mon, 16 Oct 2006 06:16:30 +0000 http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-84 Well, as a Belgian citizen, I can tell you of many experiences like this one in the UK. Maybe if US citizens would show more respect and knowledge about other peoples and cultures the reaction towards you would have been different. I have several American acquaintaces here in Belgium and one of them told me last Sunday that after 5 years in Belgium she regrets the way Americans see their own country and how they look to the outside World. For me, I am proud of being European and not an American. PS Maybe it would be a good idea if you would learn some Dutch/Flemish, since it's the language spoken by 60% of the Belgian population. French is only spoken by a bit more than 30%. Just to help you and not to read that we don't want to help you. Well, as a Belgian citizen, I can tell you of many experiences like this one in the UK. Maybe if US citizens would show more respect and knowledge about other peoples and cultures the reaction towards you would have been different.

I have several American acquaintaces here in Belgium and one of them told me last Sunday that after 5 years in Belgium she regrets the way Americans see their own country and how they look to the outside World.

For me, I am proud of being European and not an American.

PS Maybe it would be a good idea if you would learn some Dutch/Flemish, since it’s the language spoken by 60% of the Belgian population. French is only spoken by a bit more than 30%. Just to help you and not to read that we don’t want to help you.

]]> By: Barbara http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-38 Barbara Sun, 27 Aug 2006 22:02:53 +0000 http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-38 If you can learn arabic, I am sure you can learn french. Enjoy every moment. Love Barbara If you can learn arabic, I am sure you can learn french. Enjoy every moment.
Love Barbara

]]> By: Weon http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-37 Weon Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:04:24 +0000 http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-37 Flippin' impolite Belgians - you wouldn't get people refusing to help you in the UK. Oh no, they'd just pretend they hadn't heard you and walk on by! Big cars - not so big here in Europe. It seems that we have been weaned on a diet of smaller cars and less pollution. I guess that's what happens when you have to buy all of your oil from other countries. Looking forward to seeing your pictures of Brussels. Chin up and keep soldiering on (no pun intended Drew). Flippin’ impolite Belgians - you wouldn’t get people refusing to help you in the UK. Oh no, they’d just pretend they hadn’t heard you and walk on by!

Big cars - not so big here in Europe. It seems that we have been weaned on a diet of smaller cars and less pollution. I guess that’s what happens when you have to buy all of your oil from other countries.

Looking forward to seeing your pictures of Brussels. Chin up and keep soldiering on (no pun intended Drew).

]]> By: Kevin http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-36 Kevin Thu, 24 Aug 2006 02:29:24 +0000 http://www.wanderingfamily.com/2006/08/23/belgium-first-impressions/#comment-36 Hey guys. Glad to hear you made it OK. Sounds shitty over there...why don't you guy's come back to your house in Pooler :) We miss you guys already. We are very happy that you guys are together though. All is well here and we will take care of your requests. Talk to you soon. Hey guys. Glad to hear you made it OK. Sounds shitty over there…why don’t you guy’s come back to your house in Pooler :) We miss you guys already. We are very happy that you guys are together though. All is well here and we will take care of your requests. Talk to you soon.

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