CultureShock! Belgium

Elliott Mark

Description

CultureShock! Belgium is the definitive guide for anyone who wants to settle seamlessly into the country famous for its chocolates, mussels, frites, waffles, and beer. Though linguist differences have divided the land into distinct regions, it is these same differences that have given Belgium much of its cultural diversity and its multi-faceted society. This book will provide you with much-needed knowledge about the three languages-Walloon, Flemish, and French-and show you the importance of knowing which one you should speak in which region of the country. But that is not all. Glean all the practical tips and advice that will make settling in a breeze plus other information such as how to socialize with Belgians. Learn more about the priorite a droite rule and what you should do if you are made Bob for the night or if a Gilles de Binche with tarantula headgear throws oranges at you. CultureShock! Belgium is the only guide you will need to understand Belgium and its people as well as fully enjoy your life in this delightful country.

Sujets

• Belgium

Informations

• Publié par: Marshall Cavendish International
• Date de parution: 01 février 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789814484251
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 5 Mo

Extrait

This 4th edition published in 2011 by:
Marshall Cavendish Corporation
99 White Plains Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591-9001
www.marshallcavendish.us
First published in 2001 by Times Media Pte Ltd; 2nd edition published in 2003; 3rd edition published in 2006 by Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited.
Copyright 2006, 2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: [phone], fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]
The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this book, and specifically disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
Other Marshall Cavendish Offices:
Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited. 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196 Marshall Cavendish International. PO Box 65829, London EC1P 1NY, UK Marshall Cavendish International (Thailand) Co Ltd. 253 Asoke, 12th Flr, Sukhumvit 21 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Times Subang, Lot 46, Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Marshall Cavendish is a trademark of Times Publishing Limited
eISBN: 978 981 4484 25 1
Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalog number
Printed in Singapore by Times Printers Pte Ltd
Photo Credits:
All black and white photos by the author except pages 40-41, 132-133 (alt. TYPE/REUTERS); pages 35, 36-37, 55, 116, 151 ( Photolibrary.com ); page 123 (Dani Systermans); pages 105, 163, 164, 186, 192, 231 (Jo Systermans). All colour photos from Photolibrary. Cover photo: Corbis
All illustrations by TRIGG
ABOUT THE SERIES
Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from one s comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.
Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.
Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the people-where they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.
Then on with the practical aspects-how to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through topics such as how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But that s not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.
To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.
CONTENTS
Note
Acknowledgements
Dedication
Map of Belgium
Chapter 1
First Impressions
What is Belgium?
Chapter 2
Land and History
Weather
Regionalism
History
Chapter 3
The Belgian People
Characteristics
Women s Issues
Attitudes to Medicine
The Monarchy
The Belgian Home
Law and Order
Heritage
Religion
Chapter 4
Socialising and Fitting In
Regional Differences and Stereotypes
Belgium: Is It About to Split?
Belgium and the EU
View of Foreigners
Social Institutions and Customs
Sex and Prostitution
Homosexuality
Robbing the Cradle
Naturism
Pets
Chapter 5
Settling In
Formalities
Finding a Home
A Citizen s Responsibilities
Domestic Help
Utilities
What to Bring From Home?
Education
Banking
Taxes
Shopping
Health and Hospitals
Wills and Death Duties
Transportation
Leaving Belgium
Telecommunications
Chapter 6
Food and Drink
At the Bakery
Cheese
Chocolate
Meat and Meat Attitudes
Vegetables
Seafood
Traditional Belgian Cuisine
Street Food
Regional Specialities
Dining in Belgium
The Land of Beer
Wine
Other Belgian Tipples
Soft Drinks
Water
Coffee and Tea
Bars and Caf s
Chapter 7
Culture, Sport and Travel
Belgian Art and Artists
Cartoon Strips (Bande Dessin e/Stripverhaal)
Opera, Theatre and Dance
Cinema
Music
Television
Radio
Literature
Sports
Curious Alternative Sports in Rural Belgium
Festivals and Events
Non-annual Pageants
Going Abroad
Where to Go?
Overnight Accommodation
Information on Events
Chapter 8
Language
Multilingual Belgians
Why Do They Speak English So Well?
Flemish and Nederlands
French-French versus Belgian-French
Using Francophone Computers
Translated Sayings
Walloon
Bruxellois
Belgian German
Names
Non-verbal Communication
Chapter 9
Business and Work
Pay
Business Etiquette
Working Environment
Socialising with Clients and Colleagues
Bureaucracy
Unionism
Unemployment
Working In Black
Corruption
Belgian Businesses
Currency and Money
Chapter 10
Fast Facts
The Federal Government
Famous Belgians
Place Names
Acronyms and Other Belgian Catchphrases
Culture Quiz
Do s and Don ts
Glossary
Resource Guide
Further Reading
About the Author
Index
NOTE
ON PLACE NAMES AND FOREIGN WORDS
In a trilingual country like Belgium, there are alternative words for almost everything, including place names. In general, this book uses the names appropriate to the area of origin: i.e. Flemish names in Flanders and French names in Wallonia. Important exceptions are the names of the following cities:
Brussels (should be Brussel/Bruxelles)
Bruges (Brugge)
Antwerp (Antwerpen)
Ostend (Oostende)
For those I have used the familiar English forms. An extensive list of French-Flemish variants is given in the Glossary.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thirty thousand thank you s to Dani Systermans without whom I wouldn t have come to Belgium in the first place and certainly couldn t have written this book. Her inspiration, support and kindness (in not making me eat those Brussels sprouts) are beyond measure. Unending thanks too to my unbeatable family across the Channel, to Wieland de Hoon for his patience and beer stamina, to Kris, Beverly, Marc, Dominique, Stella Pierre, Deedee, Carine, Karine, the staff at Waterloo OTSI, and dozens of other people who have helped me experience and enjoy this country so much more. May your chips never want for mayonnaise.
DEDICATION


To the memory of Jo Systermans (Hermont), who sadly didn t live long enough to see it published.

Belgium-Officially Not Boring -headline on a British travel website

U NLIKE MANY OF THE MORE OBVIOUSLY EXOTIC COUNTRIES covered by books in this series, Belgium is a place that carefully shields visitors from the most immediate forms of culture shock. On the surface things seem very straightforward. The people are practical, multilingual and obliging. As an English speaker, you ll be able to get by without learning the languages and without leaving the comfortable confines of a multinational expatriate environment. Then three years later, you discover that your apparently level-headed neighbour sneaks out to carnivals dressed in a barrel costume, boggle-eyed mask, and tarantula hat to throw oranges at passers-by. Or that his smart university student daughter spends unashamed hours reading comic books. That his wife drinks beer flavoured with raspberries. That they all rave about holidays on one of Europe s most rainy, concrete blighted beaches. Belgium takes a perverse pleasure in its boring image. It s an image which it almost seems to foster, perhaps, to make it seem ideally suited as the capital of Europe. But underneath, the culture is a unique, complex and intriguing blend: proud but not nationalistic, friendly but reserved, accommodating yet obstinate. And practical in its approach to almost any issue. This book helps you uncover the real Belgium, and to help you make the most of your time amongst Europe s most underestimated people.

My First Impressions of Belgium
Before coming to live here, like so many other foreigners, the limit of my knowledge of Belgium was a series of stereotypes: the quaint canals of Bruges, the wickedly strong beers, the dull flat views seen in transit from Belgian motorways, the melt-in-the-mouth wonder of Belgian chocolates, Tintin and Hercule Poirot.... I d met many interesting and inspiring Belgians while travelling in exotic distant lands yet had never stopped to doubt all the derogatory images: Belgium the grey, Belgium the wet, Belgium the boring.
But when one of those travelling Belgians became my wife, it was time to learn more. Being British, the first shock was di