French fries

Last week I had bought freezed french fries. I hadn't eought place in my fridge so I put them to the fridge in common kitchen. After one day when I wanted to prepare them I saw a sheet of paper with information that it's forbidden to do it. I really couldn't find a reason of this so I went to our caretaker and asked her about it. She told me that there is no possibility to prepare fries because in the kitchen there isn't an oven and she can't make her own available to us. I said that it's not a problem because I want to prepare them on a frying pan. As soon as I finished explain it, she looked at me like on crazy person. I saw in her eyes question: "Are you crazy?! Fries on the frying pan!!! Unacceptable!!". But she said nothing and I could do my fries in the easiest way I know.

Later, I told all story to my boyfriend and he also wasn't very convinced in my recipe and culinary skills. He said that fries are usually prepared on the oven or fries machine. For me it's not a big deal to do fries on frying pan but for Belgian people it seems to be very important thing. They pay special attention on quality and taste of fries. I have never thought about specific taste of fries. I haven't felt big difference when they were prepared on the oven, frying pan or fries machine. Fries are one of "symbol" of Belgium so I believe that they are pro in preparing them.

Strenght of domicile culture - second biggest shock

From some time I have been searching one book. Unfortunatelly I didn't find it in any library in Gent so when there was an opportunity to go to Brussel again I decided to try one more time. I didn't want to buy this book because it was quite expensive and I just wanted to see what is inside it. My friend showed me the website where I could check if the book is the library. Finally I found it in the library of Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

The campus was quite big so I asked a student where can I find the library. She was very nice and she told me that she show me the way. We talked a little and when she learned about my issue she decided to help me and ask the librarian (in Dutch) if I can borrow the book. Unfortunatelly there was no possibility to borrow anything by me because I wasn't a student of their University.

And then the girl came up with idea that she can take the book and give it to me for one day. I asked her if it's not a problem but she assured me that no. I was shocked because she didn't know me at all. She trusted me so much that I couldn't believe it. I asked her how it's possible and if she isn't afraid that I would steal the book. The girl told me that it's a question of attitude. She trusts people and she believes that if she is so kind to people, they will behave in the same way towards her. So if she did me so big favour, I would feel obligated to turn it back. And I have to admit that she is right, at least in my case. Even when I'm thinking about it now, it seems to be like a scene from a movie for me. She has seen me for the first time in her life, she knew that I live in Gent but even thought she trusted me. All way to my home in Brussel I couldn't believe what had happened.

In my country this situation would have never happened, I think that in most of countries. People rather aren't so trustfull. Polish people could even say that the girl was very naive and they would feel sorry for her. But I'm glad that I had a chance to meet her. She has left a mark somewhere inside me that I would like also trust more other people.

Next day I met her again to bring back the book. We've decided to stay in touch so it was really nice adventure with happy end :)

By the way, the girl wasn't Belgian, but she come from Iraq. It's very good example of how country's culture and parents nurture affect on people's behaviour even if they live in different country.

Luxemburg - the well-being country

On Saturday with friends I was visiting Luxemburg. I hadn’t been really convinced if in this country is something interesting to see. When I was in Bruxelles first time, I visited Mini-Europe and I remember that from Luxemburg they show only one bridge as the most value thing from the country. But after our trip, I change my mind about it. The topography of the capital is very surprising because it is very mountainous. There are a lot of bridges and viaducts and gulfs are very deep. That can impressed. Especially that there is much ruins of defence wall or castle. Strange thing is that in the capital, there wasn’t many cars. Maybe because of the weekend.  

The biggest impression for me was that Luxemburg is very rich country. SOME of the prices for social services are so low that it seems to be joke. For example, in the city they have Velo Service. It’s totally the same as in Bruxelles that you can borrow city bike for money and leave it in special zones. So in Bruxelles the daily cost of borrow the bike is 1,5e. In Luxeburg for one week you pay 1e!!! That shocked me very much and I couldn’t believe it. I tried to find some catch in their system but no success. I’ll mention also that annual cost of Velo is only 15e. The prices of  public transport are also lower – the single fare ticket cost 1,5e and you can use it for 2 hours (in Gent – 1,8e/1h). Most of museums are also free of charge. I’m wondering where they collect money for all this things because I had heard that their taxes are also quite low. I could also compare the prices of products in supermarket and they are similar to the Belgian prices. The biggest difference in prices I found in prices of houses and apartments. In Luxemburg they are very high. 

The second thing I examined were languages. In Luxemburg, there are three official languages: Louxemburgish, French and German. In the capital we found shops with products in French and German, but I didn’t see the third language at all. Most of people that we asked about sth, spoke French. So my conclusion is that French is the main language of Luxemburg. Many people know also English. Communication with local people wasn’t very hard. Although there was one young girl who didn’t know meaning of world fan in English and French language. I liked Luxemburg very much and I’m curious more about their life style and country system.

"Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day"

After non-successful effort of finding a church with polish masses, I decided to go on mass in English to the Church on St. Pieter’s Square. Inside the church I asked a priest about English mass and he not only confirmed it but also introduced me to other Polish people. He told me that usually English mass is in the Chapel but today it would be in main church and it would be two-language mass. I didn’t understand it until it started. 

There were 3 priest and 3 priest assistants. On both sides of altar were two ambos. Near each was standing one priest during almost all mass. One of them was speaking in Dutch and the other one was speaking in English. Unfortunately the English part was shorter and not every time after the Dutch part. The homily was read by “civil” woman from the sheet of paper and only in national language.  I was wondering if she had prepared it by herself or by the priest because in my country the speech is told only by priest. But songs during the mass were in different languages, I recognized English, Dutch, German and Italian. The priests used very often incense. I really like the smell of it but even for me it was a little too much and I sneezed once or twice. I think that favorite part for people is the sign of peace time. Everyone were very open with it. They were passing the church to show it and even priests went from the altar to people to give them hand. In Poland this moment is rather symbolic and people just give hands themselves. Here some of people gave cheek kiss. What is more surprising, during the most important part (changing wine into Jesus blood), they don’t kneel but they sit. Strange custom.

During the mass, some of the children were drawing sth. That was shock for me because church isn’t proper place for such behavior in my opinion, it’s not kindergarten. But later, near the entrance of the church I saw that there is a basket with pencils and Christian picture to draw and religious books for children. So that means the priests accept it and even encourage a little for this kind of behavior. I’m wondering what is their real purpose of it: keep silence, nice association with church for children…

There was one more unusual thing I want to mention about. During the mass there was a small show prepared by Hindi guest (maybe priest as well but I’m not sure) who through the dance show us different view on ways of praying. It was interesting, especially that the man was wearing original traditional outfit - ornamental loose trousers and many jewelry on his neck and feet. I saw that the priests were interested in this show quite strong.

All mass evokes a smile on my face because it was so different than I had expected. So my advice after this happening – if you want to see and experience sth interesting, go to a church :p