Comments on: 25 Differences in Belgium and the US http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/ Not just the destination... Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:21:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Hilary Peta http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5312 Hilary Peta Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:51:32 +0000 http://forthejourney.net/?p=2764#comment-5312 I am from UK and most thngs are the same diferneces except increasingly you are rewarded for being more eco friendly and bringing your own bag to a supermarket. Also I think it is as in France you can get tap water in most restaurants but you have to order a 'carafe d'eau' otherwise they brin g bottled water. Belgium has the most expensive water ever- often more pricey than beer in restaurants! I am from UK and most thngs are the same diferneces except increasingly you are rewarded for being more eco friendly and bringing your own bag to a supermarket.
Also I think it is as in France you can get tap water in most restaurants but you have to order a ‘carafe d’eau’ otherwise they brin g bottled water. Belgium has the most expensive water ever- often more pricey than beer in restaurants!

]]> By: Ellie http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5091 Ellie Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:06:06 +0000 http://forthejourney.net/?p=2764#comment-5091 Your differenes are spot on and it's funny for me reading them as a European who has spent time living in the US - I totally miss reasonable-sized drinks, free refills of coffee, ice in my drinks, free water, attentive customer service etc! I think a lot of the differences (re: fridges, car spaces etc) come down to there being a lot less space in Europe - everything has to be smaller because there just isn't room to spread out! So cars are smaller, apartments are smaller, streets are narrower etc etc. And a lot of other differences come down to not valuing customer service (eg the having to ask for your check thing - and the feeling of being totally ignored by the waiter!), and to people valuing leisure/personal and family time over work (the fact that shops close early and close completely on Sundays - these employees don't want to work, they want their time off, and it seems the customers are OK with that!). Sounds like you're enjoying discovering European culture anyway :-) Your differenes are spot on and it’s funny for me reading them as a European who has spent time living in the US – I totally miss reasonable-sized drinks, free refills of coffee, ice in my drinks, free water, attentive customer service etc!
I think a lot of the differences (re: fridges, car spaces etc) come down to there being a lot less space in Europe – everything has to be smaller because there just isn’t room to spread out! So cars are smaller, apartments are smaller, streets are narrower etc etc. And a lot of other differences come down to not valuing customer service (eg the having to ask for your check thing – and the feeling of being totally ignored by the waiter!), and to people valuing leisure/personal and family time over work (the fact that shops close early and close completely on Sundays – these employees don’t want to work, they want their time off, and it seems the customers are OK with that!).
Sounds like you’re enjoying discovering European culture anyway :-)

]]> By: simon http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5065 simon Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:45:16 +0000 http://forthejourney.net/?p=2764#comment-5065 Lisa: there are other things to do after 8pm than go shopping, you know. .-= simon´s last blog ..<a href="http://simonlitton.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/monumental/" rel="nofollow">Monumental</a> =-. Lisa: there are other things to do after 8pm than go shopping, you know.
.-= simon´s last blog ..Monumental =-.

]]> By: Cristina http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5035 Cristina Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:03:31 +0000 http://forthejourney.net/?p=2764#comment-5035 #15 is a very necessary parking technique when working with such tight spaces as those found in the streets of many European cities! ;o) I enjoy the fact that they don't bring you the bill without your asking for it (at restaurants). It allows you to have a relaxed meal without feeliing like the waiter is trying to rush you out to make space for the next client! The fridges are annouing though... .-= Cristina´s last blog ..<a href="http://crazycrishereandthere.blogspot.com/2009/10/tv-addiction-combining-two-favourites.html" rel="nofollow">TV Addiction: combining two favourites!</a> =-. #15 is a very necessary parking technique when working with such tight spaces as those found in the streets of many European cities! ;o)

I enjoy the fact that they don’t bring you the bill without your asking for it (at restaurants). It allows you to have a relaxed meal without feeliing like the waiter is trying to rush you out to make space for the next client!

The fridges are annouing though…
.-= Cristina´s last blog ..TV Addiction: combining two favourites! =-.

]]> By: Michelle http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5034 Michelle Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:31:11 +0000 http://forthejourney.net/?p=2764#comment-5034 Wow! Very interesting! .-= Michelle´s last blog ..<a href="http://itsjustwhatido.blogspot.com/2009/10/fall-break.html" rel="nofollow">Fall Break</a> =-. Wow! Very interesting!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Fall Break =-.

]]> By: Lisa's Chaos http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5033 Lisa's Chaos Thu, 29 Oct 2009 01:06:28 +0000 http://forthejourney.net/?p=2764#comment-5033 Wow, I'm not sure I could make it there! What do you do after 8pm? There's no where to go! I would totally miss my ice and my 32 oz cup! They do wear scarves that way up in WI too, lol - I had never seen it before moving here though. And we have half days one Wednesday a month. .-= Lisa's Chaos´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/lisaschaos/~3/DRLIqxJrja8/" rel="nofollow">Creepy Crawlies</a> =-. Wow, I’m not sure I could make it there! What do you do after 8pm? There’s no where to go! I would totally miss my ice and my 32 oz cup! They do wear scarves that way up in WI too, lol – I had never seen it before moving here though. And we have half days one Wednesday a month.
.-= Lisa’s Chaos´s last blog ..Creepy Crawlies =-.

]]> By: Ali Meyer http://forthejourney.net/2009/10/25-differences-in-belgium-and-the-us/comment-page-1/#comment-5031 Ali Meyer Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:31 +0000 http://forthejourney.net/?p=2764#comment-5031 Good list of differences. I think it's quite strange how I always have to pay cash for all of Reagan's Doctor's appointments and mine...it's like they're hiding a portion of it! .-= Ali Meyer´s last blog ..<a href="http://aliandshannonbelgiumlife.blogspot.com/2009/10/golf-tournament-hosted-by-american-club.html" rel="nofollow">Golf Tournament hosted by the American Club of Brussels & Reagan's day at the Babysitter's (Sept 27)</a> =-. Good list of differences. I think it’s quite strange how I always have to pay cash for all of Reagan’s Doctor’s appointments and mine…it’s like they’re hiding a portion of it!
.-= Ali Meyer´s last blog ..Golf Tournament hosted by the American Club of Brussels & Reagan’s day at the Babysitter’s (Sept 27) =-.

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