Belgium for Beginners - Part III - the Language Mélange!!!

This is a country which has capitalised big time on its ONE outstanding feature - its Geographical Location. Being right at the center and at the heart of Europe was both a boon and a bane over centuries. It went through the most brutal battles, was ravaged by savages and conquered by barbarians but managed to maintain its poise throughout and finally reached great heights - all because of its location. Belgium is known for its Trinity of Official languages derived from the immediate neighbours - again a matter of location!

English maybe the most popular business communication language and popular all over the world but in Europe the national language reigns Supreme. Belgium tries to maintain its pride with the various regions fighting for supremacy of their languages - French, Dutch and German. You cannot distinguish which one is more important and never mention that any one of them is easier or more popular than the other. Simply accept all the three.

If you are a visitor then try to learn the basics of atleast one language and remember to respect all the others. Needless to say - languages are developed and derived from cultures so kindly google or yahoo search a little of each culture before visiting. If you are planning to stay in Belgium get to know which area you will be staying in and the dominant language of that area before moving in.

English rarely works out here although Brussels has a self-declared status of a Cosmopolitan city. Even if you hear a little English now and then, don't expect the clarity or the accents that you are used to. This language barrier is a common complaint by ex-pats and visitors.

There's an old saying - When in Rome act like a Roman - now you may add -Talk like a Roman too! It suits the situation in Belgium. Most of the other countries have adapted to English but Belgium is either still evolving or trying to maintain its Old-world status!

Belgium for Beginners - Part II - the Food

If you are travelling from India and are here to stay then you better be prepared to get experimental with your food. The Indian palate is not designed to accept bland food (read as no seasoning) or coarse food (read as sandwiches hard to bite) or rare/medium food (read as half cooked meat)! That's just a starter...

Belgian cuisine is similar to French, based on game and seafood. Butter, cream, beer and wine are generously used in cooking. French cuisine is considered the best in the world - dainty, classic and tasty. A cut above the rest! But definitely its a question of palate and seasoning. The rest of the world seems to enjoy bland food. The blander the better and what a nightmare for Indians. You do get acclimitised to some aspects after a time but the basic craving remains.

Now if you are vegetarian then GOD save you. For one - you wont know what to choose from the menu and two - you wont know how to ask in a language which they understand. So, a restaurant outing can be a nightmare at the beginning. Meat eaters, too, need to ask for a well cooked steak and check that it's not ham or pork if they are religious!

The Flip side of things is that you get amazing Viennoiseries - all types of fresh bread, croissants, pain au chocolate, baguettes, brioches, raisin buns, etc, all very delectable !

Some of the top of the tops available here are:

1. The Belgian fries - frites (invented by the Belgians not the French)

2. The Belgian beer (400 varieties are brewed here)

3. The Belgian chocolate (the highest export)

4. The Belgian waffles - simply world class

(and my latest Favorite is - The Tartines!)

The supermarkets are well stocked with juicy fruits and fresh 'English' vegetables! Meat varieties are unlimited and the 'Ready to eat' varieties are mind boggling. Cooking is easy here with all the tinned food and the freezer gardens.

Ofcourse you have the traditional South Asian shops selling everything from mustard to mint but then, they are way out of the normal living areas. You've gotto make an expedition (we call it) to reach them and trolley back your purchases from those outlandish areas. A little difficult but worth the effort!

The rest is upto you. Cook your food or Buy your food and simply- dig in! And while you are at it don't bother about that waist line or the extra calories! Bon Appetit!

(Thanks to Alexandra who inspired me to write this...answering her questions on Indian culinary tastes and the Belgium influence!)

Belgium for Beginners - Part I - the Northern Light

After a chilling winter - said to be one of the coldest in the past 25 years - the weather has now reverted itself to what all visitors are warned against: chronic rain.

I was waiting in a hospital lounge and what better to do than read an old English magazine (for the first time I found something in English). I was amazed to read this description- "Belgium occupies roughly the same parallel as Irkutsk and Moose Jaw", in an article by Leona Francombe. Now something caught my attention and it took me sometime to figure out that she kept drawing parallels between Belgium and these outlandish sounding names of places in Siberia because of the depressing weather! A little harsh but true.

Some general weather updates:

- Common weather throughout the year - RAIN

- Windy as HELL

- Jackets - NEEDED throughout the year

- Learn to live/work/talk/eat in the dark (but save electricity as much as possible big time)

- Dont expect the day to start or end as per normal time

- Sometimes the sun rises at 9am and sometimes it sets at 11pm too depending on the season

The Northern light is a TREASURE - you have to enjoy every second of daylight and freak out if there is SUN light! Not an exaggeration because most days you would wake up to a dull, depressing, dark, rainy day and you are expected to live a normal life and not get affected by your surroundings!

The only way to be cool is to be mentally active and alert and have good friends around you always. The minute you lose touch with society you can easily decline into oblivion - thats the power of the NORTHERN Light (or the lack of it)!

I've painted quite a sad picture but if I can stay cheerful inspite of the weather and lack of light so can YOU! I suppose I can live in Saskatchewan or Irkutsk too with this experience - what say?