Directions

SWMBO and I must really look like we know where we are going because we are magnets for people asking for directions. A typical sightseeing stroll for us results in at least one person and often many more stopping and asking us for directions. Usually in French. If we are in the center of Brussels, often, we can provide the directions providing we can communicate. Other times, not so much. Today was one of those times. We decided that the beautiful weather warranted a park visit but we decided to go to a different one for us, a large one near the Atomium.  http://atomium.be/?lang=en We wandered around for a while when a car pulled up next to us and a gentleman jumped out with a Bon Jour and asked us for directions. I had no idea where he wanted to go, but fortunately the next people he stopped did. From the looks of the hand gestures, he was pretty well lost. About 10 minutes later a little old man greeted us. Again with a Bon Jour and then asked where the Palais Royale was. I struggled for a couple of minutes trying to figure out how to say "I think it is down that road but I am not sure." in French. He then said to me, "You are not so good at this, the french". True little old man, true. But at least I was able to give him the correct directions, so I am not totally worthless.

The whole exchange got SWMBO and I talking while wandering the park grounds. If we had tried this expat thing 15 years ago, our experience would have been totally different. When I go to work, 90% of the time, everyone speaks english. It is accented, but it is still english. I come home from work and our cable package has in addition to the Flemish and French channels, the Discovery channel, History channel, E, ESPN and a variety of other essentially American and British channels. And of course, everything I read or download on the internet is essentially American generated. It is only when you head out to shop or go to restaurants that you really have the sense of foreignness. For me, it is almost like living in the US Monday through Friday and then weekending in Europe. So after living here for more than a year, my French has not gotten any better. SWMBO's Flemish is improving rapidly, but she has to be in the community more than me. She lives in Belgium full time. I am only a visitor.

Soggy

Belgium has lived up to its rainy reputation this week; especially this weekend. The rain has been relentless. Consistent, if not torrential. It is the kind of rain that keeps you from following through on plans or making new ones. 

SWMBO and I had originally planned on going to Antwerp to shop and explore. After breakfast though, it was apparent that it would only end in profanity, so we switched plans and opted for the mall to see if I could find a fall coat.  Having lived in Maryland the last 20 years, I never really needed anything heavier than a wind shirt or a sweater at this time of the year. In the Mid Atlantic, you go from Summer to Winter without too much of an Autumn. Belgium is different. It is more like New England. The temperature can swing pretty dramatically over the course of a day, never mind the constant threat of rain. So I need to find something.

We started at the mall. The Woluwe Shopping Center is the closest thing to an American mall we have here. It is small but has a decent selection of shops as well as a boucherie, fromagerie, a grocery store and a little Italian market. What it does not have, are too many options for the male shopper; at least the American male shopper. SWMBO believes that we just have to shed our American fashion sensibility and integrate. Which is easy for her to say. The women’s clothes are fashionable if a bit more revealing than in the US.  For men, you can go in two directions, either formal i.e., sport coats, etc. Or you can embrace your inner euro-trash self and find something colorful, shiny and skin tight. Not much in between the two.

From a fashion standpoint it doesn’t really matter however, because I am afflicted with something more difficult to shop for, American size. I think most stores in Belgium cater to an average male size of about 5 foot 7 and 145 pounds. After a day of shopping not just in Woluwe, but also around Avenue Louise, I honestly did not find a jacket that would have fit me in high school. It was a little frustrating because it is not as though my gut was doing me in. For the most part, they were just built for really tiny guys.

So it looks like I will hold off getting a jacket until I can get either to the US or to Germany. Someplace where large is large.