A Continent Away

Who would have thought our kids would be on separate continents and we'd be on a third.  Never in a million years could I have predicted that.

I've come to realize how important technology is now with internet, email, text messaging . . . 

A generation ago, there was none of this.  

Today is Ross's birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSS!

We are a continent away and I was so looking forward to an internet chat.  It wasn't the same as being there, but until we are on the same latitude and longitude point, I am very grateful for that.

In the meantime, Ross, there's a big hug and kiss from me with your name on it and I can't wait much longer to deliver it!

We love you and hope you are having a great day :)

Chocolade Postzegels

As you know, Belgium is famous for waffles and beer, but also for chocolate.

I learned recently that the postal service was to produce chocolate postage stamps (thanks, Ross) and naturally, I knew I was going to need some of these.  

They finally went on sale this week and I expected to go to my local P.O. and wait it line . . . well, that's a 'given' because there is always a line to wait in - anywhere I go.  

Anyway, I got online to determine how many stamps per pack, how much it would cost, etc.

I was disappointed to learn they aren't even available in Hasselt - only in 2 Belgian cities an hour away :-\ 

But they are for sale online so . . . that was way too easy.  

So they arrived yesterday!

They do smell and taste a bit like chocolate, but mostly they're just fun.  They're also international so I've got some letters to write!

If you're interested, here's a short video on how they made the stamps.  It's in English, of course :)

Converting

The other day I went to the post office as I often do.  Many of the employees seem to recognize me despite my hair adjustments.  Naturally, we start off in Dutch, which for everyone's sake, is quickly over.

I took a couple of packages in to mail and the total was slightly more than I had calculated.  I have no idea why I do this (calculate at home), but I weighed the package and figured the cost on the handy bpost website.  

Anyway, by this time we'd already left the Dutch behind and I asked her how many kilograms the package weighed.  I thought about it later and wondered if I had in fact asked her how many kilometers it weighed.  That is profoundly possible since I have yet to grasp this godforsaken metric system.  

Do your kids a favor - teach them metrics!

Although I've found it's really best to learn the new system rather than converting, instead, I've decided to make it as difficult as possible.

Like in the case of temperature.  The weather is a huge factor in my life and I like to know just how cold it really is out there.  As much as I want to simply realize that 4 degrees celsius is quite chilly, I really just want to know it's 39.2F.  That I understand.

I googled "easy method for converting temperature" and here it is . . .

F = 9/5 x C + 32

This is "easy"?!  In a split second, I'm going to divide 9 by 5, multiply that by whatever the celsius is and then add 32 to that?  I need a calculator just for the 9/5 part!

The other morning Jim looked out our bedroom window and said "there's not a cloud in the sky".  Turned out there actually was a cloud - one big one you call "overcast" and we call "very Belgian".

Is there no mercy for us middle aged (assuming we live to be over a 100) expats?  Will I ever one day think that Jefferson is 64.37 km from Longview?  Will I ever say our house is 185.81 sq meters?  Will I ever look at a package of ground beef and think it's 453.59 grams or a pound of cocaine is .453 kilograms?  Of course not.  

Will I ever know that wine comes in 750 ml bottles?  Well, that's different.

There is some good news - cooking is easy because celsius on the oven is basically half.  Like 350 is more or less 175 and since I rarely cook, this is handy, but useless.  Plus, the pizza box has 180C for reheating written right on the box.

More good news - a liter is pretty much the same as a quart, but since milk only comes in one liter, this, too is handy, but not needed.  

That's right - gallons of milk do not exist.  Maybe it's because so many people here tote their groceries by hand like we do.  Well, I think I speak for everyone here when I say "if I'm totin' a gallon of anything, it's gonna have a cork in it".

Happy birthday, Pop!

Lipstick Time

I used to work with a lady who, near the end of the work day would say "it's lipstick time".  She liked and spent/wasted probably as much money on lipstick as I did/do.  Lipstick may even trump shoes and purses on my list of things I love to shop for.  May.

So, I couldn't resist reading this short article with a photo of lipstick on the Xpats website I frequent . . .

Mar 11, 2013

 The Bulletin editorial team

Today marks a milestone for animal welfare, with the sale of cosmetics tested on animals now completely forbidden across the European Union. The ban includes cosmetics in the broadest sense, including shampoo, soap, makeup, deodorant, perfume, shaving cream, etc. The ban on animal-tested cosmetics is good news for animal rights organisation GAIA which spent the last 20 years lobbying for the ban. European Commissioner for Health Affairs Tonio Borg said the measure sends an "important signal" to the cosmetic industry on animal welfare. "Europe can now set an example for responsible innovation in cosmetics without compromising the safety of consumers."

Although Belgium and a few other countries had long since banned testing on animals, it didn't mean that products couldn't be imported from other countries.  As of last week, that's also banned.  You can see from the limited list in the article above, it isn't just lipstick either.  It runs the gamut, including nearly every product in the Health and Beauty section. 

So, what's in all those products that are or are not tested on animals?  I have no idea.  It may be all about animal testing in the EU, but it's apparently all about color in the U.S. . . .

Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, cosmetic products and ingredients do not require FDA approval before they go on the market. The exception is color additives (other than those used in most hair dyes). Companies and individuals who market cosmetics have the legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their products.

Well, I'm glad that last line doesn't apply to food and drugs.  Thanks again, big government, for saving me from myself.

If you're interested in what's in your cosmetics, I can't help you, but if you want to ensure the products you buy are or are not tested, PETA has a handy list for you.  It would be a bit complicated if you seriously want to avoid the "do test" products, but I guess I don't have to worry about it thanks to the EU taking care of that for me.

Perhaps this is why I can't buy Chapstick here?

"We do test" list

"We don't test" list

Chocolade

Leonidas is a confectionery in Belgium and we're not the only ones who think they make really good chocolate.  

We've probably eaten our weight in it since moving here.  

They are famous for their filled confections.  Here, those are called pralines.  Any filled chocolate is a praline and Leonidas offers dozens of different kinds.  

The candy is very reasonably priced too with the added bonus of a beautifully wrapped box even when it's not a gift.

Leonidas was founded by Greek Leonidas George Kestekides.  He immigrated to the U.S. and learned the confectioner trade, then presented his confections and won a gold medal at the 1913 World's Fair in Ghent, and the rest is history.  He moved to Belgium and remained here.

We have the good fortune of having 3 Leonidas locations in downtown Hasselt.  Leonidas chocolates are sold in 1,250 shops in 50 countries all over the world, but all the confections are made right here in Belgium.

This year, Leonidas celebrates 100 years of business and we plan to do our part to keep them going!

A Bit Wintry

According to Punxsutawney Phil, Spring will come early this year - somewhere.  For us in Belgium, it is still in the distance.  We got nearly 6 inches of snow last night and today and the wind is crazy!

Hasselt's 5-Star Prison

This is the front page of our newspaper today.

Naturally when I saw the headline "Americans find Hasselt prison star hotel", I was interested.  Turns out the only maximum security prison in Belgium is right here in Hasselt.

Did not know that.

Hmmm.  There you have it.  It's not Norway . . . but close.

Making Change

The news article at the bottom of this post appeared in the local newspaper this week.  I'm not sure what the woman in the photo has to do with anything, but the story is about how four thieves figured out how to crack the software on the coin changer vending machine at the wassalon (aka washateria) and made off with 900 euros.  I'll admit that's a huge chunk of change.  Pun intended.

It wasn't here in Hasselt, but in the nearby town of Lommel (45 min. away).  

So, that same day, of all days, I went to our  handy wassalon right across the street, put my 20 euro bill in the coin changer vending machine and nothing.  This has never happened before.  Never.  A lady, who strangely enough, looked very similar to the one in the photo below, told me the coin changer was kapot.  Yes, that's actually the Dutch word for "crapped out".

Because thieves stole from a machine 45 min. away, the owner in Hasselt has decided to shut his machine down?  You've got to be kidding me.

She (wassalon customer) said to go to the grocery next door and they'd give me coins.  Well, I guess I wasn't just the second one to do that and they "limited" me to just enough coins that I didn't have enough to start even one washer.

Plan B.  I walk ten minutes down to the bank in search of coins.  I ask the teller in my best Dutch to exchange my 50 euro bill for one euro coins.  He said (in Dutch) "Who wants these coins?" "Is it for a store?"  Yes, he actually said that.

Well, first of all, unless I'm not doing the math right, a 50 euro bill and 50 euro in coins is equal!  So, unless there's a ration on coins, you (teller) really don't need to know who or why.  Here's how this works . . . I give you this bill and you give me coins.  Comprende?

But not wanting to be belligerent, I did my best to tell him in Dutch that I need them for the wassalon.  Appearing irritated with my Dutch, he said "Do you speak English?" Okay. YES.  Yes, I do!  And NO. No, I don't know the Dutch word for "exchange".  I'm pulling most of this out of my ass as it is!

It's uitwisseling.

Then, if that weren't enough, he asked if I have an account at the bank.  For Christ's sake, I'm not asking for a loan, I'm exchanging a bill for coins.  Is that some service you offer only to store owners and account holders?  Does this really have to be this complicated? YES.  Yes, it does.

Being my non-belligerent self, I said, yes, I have an account.  Clearly I was not believable, because unbelievably, he then asked for the account number.  Fortunately I had the foresight to bring my debit card which I handed over.  Then and ONLY then would he take my 50 and give me 2 rolls of coins.

True story.

Then I walked the ten minutes back to the wassalon and did a little laundry.

Dieven kraken software van betaalautomaat in wassalon

06:16 Vier dieven hebben vrijdagavond moeiteloos de betaalautomaat van wassalon Wash-O-Matic langs de Hoevenstraat in Lommel leeggeroofd. Met gespecialiseerde apparatuur wist het viertal de software te kraken, waarna al het kleingeld spontaan uit de automaat kwam. “900 euro”, zucht zaakvoerster Marie-José. “Ze zijn ervandoor met de jackpot.”

Op bewakingsbeelden is te zien hoe de daders een toestelletje aan de betaalautomaat houden. “Met dat machientje hebben ze de software gemanipuleerd, waardoor al het kleingeld er spontaan uitrolde.”

Volgens de politie gaat het om een nieuwe techniek. “Ik heb de leverancier van de betaalautomaat gecontacteerd, en ook voor hen bleek zo’n diefstal compleet nieuw”, aldus de zaakvoerster.

RuSt/GVB  Foto's GVB/HBvL