Observations and Customs

Here are some early observations about some differences between life in Belgium and the US.  (These are not by any means, complaints.)  We just thought some of you might be interested in hearing about some of the things we have noticed thus far:

• It's August, and it stays light out now 'til about 10-10:15pm.  Sun comes up early (not exactly sure since I'm not up, but in the peak summertime, I think it's around 4:30am.  It probably stays light out 'til 10:45-11pm in June at the peak.   Black-out shades are a must!!

• So far the weather has been what we expected-- sunny and rainy all in the same day.  It's been really nice the last week that we've been here (today marks the 1 week mark!)--probably mid 70s most days.  Nights are cooler (high 50s and 60s).  Temperature is in Celsius, so I'm still trying to get used to that.  Our car reads it in Farenheit, so that is helpful!   Like I said, most days it rains for an hour, then gets sunny, then may rain another hour or so later in the day, and then sunny again.  It reminds me of living in Scotland in college.   The one thing, we weren't expecting is it being so windy.  Evidentally, they get wind storms here.  Even the trash cans at the lodge are tied down.  It's countryside, so it's not surprising that it is so windy. 

• Belgians value Sundays as a day for family.  People in the US don't seem to slow down as much as people used to when the stores were closed for the Sabbath.  Here, stores and many restaurants are closed on Sunday.   Also, the Belgians do not cut grass on Sundays or after 8pm on any other night.  Since we are guests in Belgium, we will adhere to their customs.  Sundays sound nice to me!  :)

• From what I understand, restaurant servers are paid by salary with benefits, so tipping 20% is not normal here.  Usually, you just round your bill up to the next nearest Euro or maybe give 1 Euro extra for exceptional service.  So if your bill came to 34.20 Euro, then you just pay 35 Euro or 36 for exceptional service.   On the other hand, the bagger at the grocery store bags your groceries, brings them out to your car, and puts them in your car for you.  You do tip them.   

• As for driving, we are learning many of the new signs here.  The biggest driving difference is something called "priority to your right."   You have to be so careful driving in these little back roads where houses are located.  Most roads are only big enough for 1 car to travel down, but it is still a two-way road.  Interesting?  Yes!  You have to pull over, sometimes in the grass, to let people pass.  Often, the road you are on may seem like the priority road since it is wider than a road that it intersects, but it may not be.  There may be a little goatpath of a road at an intersection (envision a bike path width or slightly larger), and if it is on your right, then you must stop and let them go first.  In the US, we would most likely have a stop sign and then know that we have to yield to the other traffic that we are about to turn into.   We are getting used to it and trying to be very careful. 

• Ok, now for the good stuff--Belgian Beer!!  The beer is very strong here.  1 beer may be 10% alcohol or higher.  I really like one called Grimbergen (rouge), meaning it's an amber/red color.  Delicious!  And there is a beer glass for every type of beer here, so we've got a lot to learn!!  Wonder if they offer a class at the base on this with a field trip to a local brewery?  ;)   Michael has also tried Chimay.  I believe it was a blonde and very good, but I preferred the Grimbergen.  Mike also likes Leffe a lot.   Also, I heard that St. Feuillien is supposed to be amazing.  It's on my list.  We have lots to try.  Looking forward to heading to all the nearby breweries and Trappist Monestaries.   Last night at the end of a girls' night excursion, the restaurant handed out lemoncello shots enhanced with caramel as a "thank you" for all 20-something ladies that came in.   I would have loved to have grabbed one of those, but I had to be good since I'm a new driver here on unfamilar, dark roads.   Next time....!

• We love getting lost in all the backroads of the Belgian countryside.  The homes are beautiful--often red or tan brick (or partial stone and infilled with brick as needed in the really old homes), terracotta roofs, flowers galore and cows & sheep in some of the yards!!  But admidst all these old farm houses you will often see solar panels on roofs.  Belgium is very progressive in terms of energey efficiency and reusing its resources. As they have so little space, they are compelled to use every squre inch of land they have in the most efficient way. The same goes with reusing materials.  Recycling is a must.  There are 3 colored bags that we willl have to buy at the local store for recycling 3 different items .  They are see-through, so if you make a mistake, the pick-up companies won't take your bags. Hence, you learn fast to do it right!   Also, you must bring your cloth bags to many stores because they simply do not have plastic bags.  So you either have your bags, or carrry your items in your arms (like I did today!) 

• Lastly for now, I want to discuss how welcomed we have felt in Belgium.  Where we are living, where Michael will work, and where the boys will attend school is so interesting because it's not just Belgians.  Because of NATO, we will be surrounded by such a multi-cultural community.  We are excited for this.  On most of the days that we were in-processing at the base, we would eat lunch in the cafe at the main building.    When we walk through the enormous cafe, we were seeing men and women in uniform of all the branches of services from a multitude of countries....Belgium, USA, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Holland....just to name a few.  The list goes on and on.   And then there are plenty of men and women who are most likely civilian and dressed in suits and the like.  It's amazing to walk through a room and hear one language over here and then, turn your head in another direction and hear another language over there.  The common theme throughout it all is that people are so friendly and kind.  We are constantly being welcomed (we must look new dragging 2 young kids in tow everywhere we go).   It's nice to feel this way, and we are so thankful.  Last week at my first big shopping trip at the commissary, I was hugged by one of the grocery store baggers, an incredibly sweet older Belgian woman.  That made my night.  How could you not feel welcomed?!  :)

A little sidenote:  Thank you to the Zilch family (Jen) and the Yehling family (Kris) for our first pieces of REAL snail mail!!  We're always so excited when we go to the post office to see what good mail might be hiding under those bills.  We'll be writing back soon!!  

Love to you all!