I have touched on the language barrier issues that exist in Belgium; however, I would like to expand on these issues and the extent of obstacles they produces in not only Belgium but in Europe.I work for a company called EuroJobsites. It is a company with different websites posting job ads for specific industries like euroengineers, euroscientist, eurobrussels, etc. All of our job postings are in English. Naturally, this means our job postings attract an audience that speaks English but also companies that speak English It has taken me a couple weeks to process and really understand the extent of this. ...continue reading "Dissecting the Language Barrier"
Tag: Aubrey
Farewell Pope Benedict
As most the world knows, the Pope Benedict XVI has retired as the current pope, a retirement that has not happen in 700 years. I first heard about this breaking news story when running on the treadmill at the local gym; CNN international is one of the only channels in English.
I found this news story particularly interesting. Not only because I was raised Catholic, but I think more so because I am in Europe and much closer to action. The catholic church is one of the largest body of people in the world consisting of over 1.1 billion people. In recent history, no ruler of such a mass of people has voluntarily stepped down. I think this is significant for many reasons such as what does this mean for the church, does this change perception of the catholic church and how did the world react?
Apparently, I was the only one curious. The reaction in Europe is completely different than I thought it would be. I was expecting people to be moved by just a ground breaking action. After all, humans are a creature of habit. We like rules and laws to keep law and order in society and nothing could reek havoc more than breaking a tradition that is more than 700 years old. ...continue reading "Farewell Pope Benedict"
Brussels Review
Brutally Honest Opinion of Brussels:
Overall, I rate Brussels a 7 and just to give you an idea of how I rate other cities: Washington DC 9, NYC 8, Atlanta 8, Charlotte, NC 9. Brussels thus far is a city I appreciate but not a city that I have potential to fall in love with and here is why..
Pros: Brussels is a multicultural hub. The majority of Brussels citizens are open minded to foreigners and different languages. The entire city if filled with different nationalities and backgrounds that keep the prejudices that other French speaking countries have to a minimum. People are for the most part friendly to Americans and other nationalities.
The people of Brussels are very liberal socially. They passed a gay marriage act in two hours and the people of Belgium barely seemed to notice. They are open about most topics and dress far from conservatively.
As mentioned before, there are French fries and waffles on every corner. It doesn't get much better than that.
Cons: First I want to point out, Brussels is not the cute European town that would be expected when travelling to Brussels for the first time. It has some pretty sectors but the other parts are not as quaint and Euro looking. The town looks a little dreadful. Though, this might have something to do with the weather. The weather is dreadful. It’s what I imagine Seattle to be like: nonstop rain. It rains almost every day for at least an hour, is cloudy all the time, and of course it is cold as well.. but I think that’s just a Northern thing that isn't actually a legitimate complaint.
Brussels just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. Which I know seems completely absurd but I remember walking in DC for the first time and falling in love. Also, every time I’m in downtown (uptown) Charlotte I am comfortable and at home. Brussels - not the case. I don’t think Brussels has the charm I am used to.
Heckling. We can’t go anywhere without getting shout outs from men. Harassment is an issue they have been trying to address. While the men never touch you and the confidence booster is nice, it is quite annoying.
Everyone goes about their own business here. There is no talking in lines, picking up a conversation on bus, or anything a southern gal is used to. Where I grew up, you chat with everyone or make polite small chat. Everything is quiet here, public transportation, the gym, etc. The only time it is loud is if you share a train with another group of Americans. The stereotype holds true - Americans are loud. Most likely due to the fact that Europe is quiet.
However, like any place you live, the people you surround yourself with is what makes the place home or not home. I think Brussels would be about a 4 or a 5 if it weren't for the family our CIEE group creates. Though I would never move here, these next 3 months will still be fabulous.
Carnaval
Carnaval is the weekend before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent. It is celebrated all over the world. It is famously celebrated in New Orleans, South America, Germany, Italy, and Spain. However, after talking to a couple of friends' relatives we decided it would be cheaper and worth while to check out Carnaval in southern Holland.
Friday night we took a train out of Brussels to Heidle, Belgium where a friend's grandparents live. It is right on the border of Belgium and Holland and 100% Dutch speaking. We arrived around 10 pm due to a train accident that had stopped our train a couple stops before our target station. Thank god our friend knows Dutch and her grandparents drive cars.
We ate a homemade pasta dinner, chowed down on some magnum bars and hit the hay. We all had no idea what to expect. We drove 40 minutes north to a town called Breda. It is a small town in southern Holland that was known to be filled with students. When we arrived, we were far from disappointed. There were floats being prepped for the day, people wearing the craziest costumes, and balloons everywhere.
We parked the car in a parking garage and decided upon a meeting point if anyone got lost, layered on our coats, and set out to find costumes. Everyone wears a costume. The costume shop was little and was clearly there just for the weekend. We decided getting hats was the way to go so we could easily find each other in the crowds. Plus all the girls we are with are over 5.7 so I suggest making tall friends when going abroad. It comes in handy.
After costume shopping we headed to the chip stand. For festivities like this, cities usually have a coin or ticket system that all the restaurants and street vendors take instead of cash. It is easier this way. We bought our chips and waited for the parade. The old men were playing their instruments between shots of whiskey, the women had big dresses on, and the floats were creepy heads of jokers. The parade led into the center square where there is a huge stage with an announcer, singers and dancers. Because its the first day of Carnaval, it is tradition for the mayor to give the key of the city to the prince of Carnaval. It is supposed to be symbolic that the prince is in charge of the city until Tuesday when Carnaval is over.
The show kicks off the festivities and the party begins. The whole idea of Carnaval is so wonderful. The entire city coming together to celebrate in the wackiest costumes. The whole time we didn't see one fight, or one upset face. Every person in the city wore a smile and danced to their traditional music. It was overall an extraordinary experience and I recommend any one abroad to partake in the festivities.
On Tuesday we are going to a town in Belgium to celebrate the last day of Carnaval as a class. It is one of our CIEE excursions and will be great fun. I'm looking forward to comparing the different towns and their traditions.
Food Food Food
Belgium is known for amazing food and drink. The stereotypes hold true and Belgians know a little something about waffles. They are absolutely everywhere. Downtown, there are copious amounts of shops and bakeries that specialize in the Belgian tradition. We have waffle food trucks on campus and at the exit of most metro stops. As if this weren't enough waffles are Belgian's version of a Twinkie. They are wrapped in cellophane in every vending machine and packaged in grocery stores. They are enjoyed plain of course but one can't help but try a delectable waffle covered in whip cream, chocolate, ice cream, and a delicate fruit topping. I've seen peanut butter, Nutella and a spread called Speculoos spread on top. I feel like it is Belgium’s version of a crepe? ...continue reading "Food Food Food"
Vesailes College
We toured our school, Vesailes College, today. It is a small school of approximately 300 students where all the classes are taught in English. It specializes in business, communication, and international affairs. Nearly half the student population are study abroad students from around the world. The students come from various programs affiliated with Vesailes College (VeCo for short) such as CIEE and ISEP. The teacher to student ratio is very low. My classes will have at most 30 students in them. ...continue reading "Vesailes College"
Homestay
Through CIEE in Belgium, you have the option of a homestay and an apartment stay. Because GW is on a payment tier system, I would advise GW students to do a homestay so meals are included. Homestays by no means limits your ability to come and go as you please but merely gives you a better immersion in the Belgian culture. ...continue reading "Homestay"
Volunteering
The second Saturday in Brussels we had the option to volunteer with the rest of CIEE students. We worked with a group called Serve the City; they help the homeless, elderly, abused women, and children around Brussels. The group is run by men and families that are funded from the states. They have monthly excursions of about 50 people to go out and help various nonprofits in the city. ...continue reading "Volunteering"
Perception of Americans
Because Brussels is the capital of the EU, the city is very diverse. When you sit on the tram, it is completely normal to hear three or four different languages. Therefore, being foreign isn't an out of the ordinary thing. We do stick out like sore thumbs however. We have found the public transportation buses and trams to be extremely quiet. However, the students in our group are very much the opposite. Speaking English in our normal tone is quite loud compared to the people of Belgium. ...continue reading "Perception of Americans"
Travel
Friday Jan 11:
Goal: Measure out exactly 99.5 pounds of clothes. My plan to pack for this adventure is to bring two suitcases that are under the 50 pound limit, leaving room for the return trip, and avoiding paying the high fees twice. If are you are close family friend, then you know I have a big problem being successful with staying within these weight restrictions. This is a sketchy maneuver and only tomorrow will we find out if I succeeded. ...continue reading "Travel"