Some time among the Belgians

In all the time we were living in Hasselt, we never met another American also living in Hasselt so we were unique to everyone we met and they were curious about why we were living there and very surprised to learn that we actually liked it there.

We also formed some opinions about the country, the people, and life in general. Most importantly, despite 3 official languages (French, Dutch and German), Belgians speak fluent English which made life way too easy for us and learning Dutch impossible.  Nederlands is moeilijk.

Lest I forget one day . . . these are a few facts and a few of my own personal opinions about Belgium and Belgians . . .

Belgium is a kingdom with a king and queen and ranks among the most densely populated countries in the world. The climate is temperate, making it not too hot and not too cold, Goldilocks.  

Belgians are generally nice and usually helpful, but not outwardly friendly.  If you approach someone and ask for help or directions, you will find them most willing, but it is rare for someone to smile and say "good morning" to a stranger on the street.

Belgians are attractive, not always beautiful.  They are well-groomed and fashionable.  Most are physically fit and average in size.  Personal appearance is not an afterthought - it is an important aspect of daily life.  No warm-ups outside the house. 

Belgians are family-oriented and prefer to live in close proximity to extended family. They are patient with their children, rarely scolding or raising their voice and never raising a hand to them in public.

Belgians love their homeland, but are not patriotic.  Their flag doesn't fly from every bank and car dealership, but Belgians also don't have any intention of leaving their country.  They want to own their own home, right there, and preferably build it with their own hands.

Belgians retire young and receive a decent pension.  They pay about 50% of their income in taxes and most have no incentive or desire to work more than 40 hours a week.  If at all affordable, they will spend 2 full weeks on holiday every year - somewhere that's warm and almost exclusively during July and August. They enjoy life.

Belgians are tolerant, accepting and almost indifferent.  Less than 5% of the population attend church and practiced religion is almost non-existent.

Belgians are over-educated and speak at least 4 languages fluently.  They are rigid and structured to a fault, preferring every aspect of their lives be planned. Impromptu is not in their vocabulary.

Belgians are entitled to all social services - their tax dollars at work.  They enjoy universal healthcare, but no, it is not free.  The country is famous for its bureaucracy and with five political parties, the people don't ever expect a majority nor do they take their government seriously. Elections are hardly noticeable.

In my opinion, Belgium is ahead of the curve in many ways.  Euthanasia has been legal for the last 13 years.  Abortion has been legal for 25 years.  Gay marriage legal for 13 years. Microchip credit cards and paperless transactions were established 25 years ago. Yes, that "new" microchip you still don't have on your credit card - they had it 25 years ago! I'd call that "ahead of the curve".

If Belgians marry, it will be after many years as a couple, usually with several children and perhaps a decade of cohabitation prior to a legal contract. Although some couples also have a church wedding, marriage is only legal when performed by a civil registrar, usually at the City Hall.  

With over 11 million people (~1000 people per sq mile - 10 times that of La. or Tex.!), drivers are mostly courteous and attentive, considering the number of them on the roads.  A drivers license, possible at age 18, is expensive and not easy to achieve.  Many fail several times before earning that coveted certificate. Pedestrians and cyclists are abundant and they always have the right of way. With designated sidewalks and bike lanes, they are fairly safe - considering the number of cars on the road.  

Belgians and all Europeans enjoy generous public transportation options.  They are affordable and relatively reliable.  There's always room for improvement, but one can easily live an entire life and travel the world without ever owning a car, although most Belgians do have a car - hence the horrendous traffic.

Belgians enjoy life, but perhaps the one thing they talk about and/or complain about most is the weather. The national color is grey.  Just kidding.  Kismet.  I, too, complained about the weather and now I remember the true definitions of "air you can wear" and "hot as hell".

Belgium - famous for great beer, delicious chocolate and waffles, a cafe' on every corner and good people.

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We had the good fortune to get to know a lot of Belgians and were able to glean a little into how some of them feel about Americans.  We almost never encountered anyone who was openly negative about the U.S. 

Disclaimer!  This is my own personal opinion about what Belgians think of Americans in general - obviously not ALL Americans and obviously not ALL Belgians.  And it probably won't surprise you.  The media has done a fine job of painting us all with the same brush.  I hope we left those who knew us with a better feeling about Americans than what they see and hear in the news.

Belgians think most Americans are very patriotic and think the world ends at the American border. They think most Americans want to impose morals and values on the rest of the world even if it kills and/or bankrupts us.

Belgians think most Americans are arrogant and unenlightened, particularly ignorant of history, geography and current worldly events.  They also think most Americans are intolerant and very religious.  

Belgians think most Americans are always in a hurry, are wasteful and obese.  

However, having said all that . . . Belgians apparently don't think any of that is necessarily bad. Most want to visit America and those who get the chance remark that Americans are friendly, the prices are reasonable, and they hope to get to visit again!

Lest I forget . . . 

an american no longer in belgië

Hello, it's me . . . an american no longer in belgië.

After 7 months, I stopped long enough to reflect and feel a need to chronicle . . . something.

Our departure from Belgium.  Our return to the States.  That last Turkse kebap.  That first American glazed donut.

I want to remember and  . . .  I don't want to forget.

Being back in the States has given a whole new meaning to the words "joyful" and "wistful" and "adjustment" and a little "regret".

Seven years away is a long time and a lot of things have changed and I don't mean just my hair color.

Maybe things haven't changed.  Maybe I've changed.  Probably both. As Jim said, we left a little different and we came back a lot different.

I've definitely stooped to a whole new level of low in fashion.  I'm way too comfortable going straight from yard work to the home improvement center. Flip flops and all.  That would never have happened in Belgium. Dress to the nines or stay home.

I had gotten way too accustomed to using the blinkers while abroad.  I'm adjusting to keeping one hand free for all those things we Americans do in the car besides drive. Eating, drinking, and mostly texting. Blinkers - optional. Attentive driving also optional.

And those greetings.  How you doin' today?  Can I help you find anything?  Are you lookin' for somethin' in particular?  Welcome to this store you're in.  Did you find everything ok?  If I can help you, let me know.

Yes, you can help me by not talking to me!  I have a hard enough time remembering why I'm even here.

I had definitely forgotten about all that greeting that goes on because you will absolutely not hear that abroad and I think I prefer it.  The "not talking to me" part.

I long to walk right across the street to the grocery store full of good wine, a whole aisle of smelly cheese and fresh baked bread.

I must admit, it is nice to walk into my very own in-house laundry room fit with an American washer and dryer and not walking across the street toting my dirty clothes and bag of Euros.

I long to walk or bike downtown to the corner cafe' for a coffee or a glass of wine or a great beer.

But, I sometimes enjoy driving the car (no blinkers, of course) to one of 50 Mexican restaurants within a 5 mile radius and ordering a large frozen margarita.  Where "large" actually means as big as my head.

I long to go to a restaurant with no television, where we can linger and the waiter ignores you and doesn't ask for your drink order before you even sit down.  And who doesn't bring the check with our drinks.

So I begin a new chapter because I want to remember . . . and I don't want to forget.

   

Of course I took pictures.

Here's to hoping this transition gets better.

Bitterzoet Carrefour

Our home away from home.  Belgium.

As I write this post, with tears in my eyes, it's only fitting that it be in my very own, mediocre, grammatically incorrect, Flemish words . . .

Onze leven in Belgie is tot een einde te komen.  Onze tijd hier was een fantastische ervaring.  Wij zijn zo fortuinlijk.  Het was meer dan een avontuur.  Het is ons thuis.  Ik zou niet wissel deze ervaring voor iets in het wereld.  Zes jaar is een zeer lange tijd en zullen wij het heel veel missen.

Ons verhuizen is ook bitterzoet omdat moet vertrek wij zonder Ross, maar weet wij dat hij is oke en blij. Wij kijken nu uit naar onze nieuw leven dichtbij de rest van ons familie en Ross zal snel volgen .

Tot ziens naar deze kleine land wij thuis gebeld!

Lock Down

This is the header of our newspaper every day now . . . Paris Attacks.  The threat level remains at 4, the highest, for Brussels.  The city is in somewhat of a lock down, but slowly going back to normal.  This tiny country making headline news around the world . . . and not in a good way.

Brussels is normally a bustling metro city of nearly 2 million people.  A land area smaller than Baton Rouge, but with twice as many people.  More than 60% of the residents of Brussels are foreign-born making it the second most diverse city behind Dubai.

The Paris attacks have moved down a notch or two in the headlines and life goes back to normal for most - because it has to. 

The refugee crisis in which many European countries were welcoming, has morphed into racism and fear. What a shame that the same people who are trying to escape suffer again at the same hands that drove them to run in the first place.

Criminals.  That's all they are.

It shouldn't be so easy to find people with nothing to live for and nothing to lose.  Like Curtis Loew, on the day these criminals lost their lives, that's all they had to lose.

It's unimaginable for most of us.

The Corner Cafe'

One of these days we will no longer be living in Belgium and for the record, I don't want to forget some important things, both good and not as good, about living here. 

Today it's the cafe'.

The cafe' is more of an experience in Belgium than a place.  Going out for coffee or a beer or a glass of wine is something to be savored.  Rather than entertain friends in your home for drinks, the cafe' is where they often meet. 

It's also been one of our favorite things to do here.  On a beautiful day, it's nearly impossible to find a seat at a local cafe', but we can't resist trying.  Belgians are like turtles - when the sun comes out, they are out basking in it. 

This cafe' is a couple of blocks from our house.  Within 15 minutes or less, we can walk from our house to no less than 50 cafes like this one.

This is the Grote Markt (in the center of the city) and this is typical for a sunny day in Hasselt.

Even as the days grow shorter and the weather turns cool, the cafe' is still the place to be.  You can see the heaters on the walls to keep an open terrace nice and cozy.

I think I need one of those heaters for our own house!

This cafe' and hotel is also a few blocks from our house.  It is just a five minute walk and one of our favorite places to have a drink.

They are also very prepared with heaters even on the umbrellas!

The corner cafe'.  Definitely one of the things I will miss the most about Belgium.