6 Months Already

It's hard to believe that it's been six months in Belgium already. I glanced at our picture site and was just amazed at how many places we've been, yet we have so many more on our list. I can't believe that in less than six months we've been to Amsterdam, Brussels, Rome, and London...not to mention countless other beautiful little towns. We've been to 5 different countries and more than 10 cities....each with it's own unique charm. We came to Belgium not only to see Europe, but just do something different...and so far mission accomplished. I thought I would take the six month mark to write about some general observations of living and working here.

If you have been keeping up with the blog, you probably have a good idea of what life is like in Belgium. At first glance, you would say that it's not that different from living in the States. People hop in their cars and go to work...come home and have dinner...repeat. There are many subtle differences though, and these are what we have found so interesting.

Americans live to work, while Europeans work to live. It is a cliche, but it's very true.

People here are less about material possessions. Most Belgians live in a small house, drive a tiny car, and don't have an HD TV. They are more about experiences and personal relationships. For example, our neighbor has guests over on his patio for dinner and drinks 3 or 4 nights per week. While I am thoroughly enjoying this part of the Belgian lifestyle, I am from time to time reminded that I am an American...I miss the shopping malls...Target...and most of all, Best Buy. That being said, I wish I could combine the best of both of worlds. When I return home, I will certainly miss the cafes and the laid back lifestyle of Europe.

Another major difference I've found is that businesses are employee focused instead of customer focused. The government has so many labor rules in force here that it is almost impossible to fire someone. As a result, clerks tend to not really care about helping you, the customer. Businesses close at 6:00 and all day Sunday, seemingly because they just don't care about making money...it's just not one of their values.

Everything here is just less Darwinistic. Instead of the cut throat, survival of the fittest methods of American business, Belgium is more about protecting everyone and keeping everyone equal. The government protects businesses, so there is no penalty for not adapting and modernizing. As a result, the companies and workers here are just indifferent. For example, almost no local businesses have websites. Even the smallest "mom and pop" shop back home has a small website with at least their opening hours and directions. That's just not the case here.

While all this is can be frustrating as a customer, it is fantastic as a worker. 38 hour workweeks 6 weeks of vacation each year are normal out here. It all fits well with Belgian values...they work less and make less money than Americans so they can't buy as much. However, they have more time for friends and family. Neither way is better I guess...it's just what you value more.

One thing I have really come to respect of Belgians (really Europeans in general) is their...for the lack of a better word., economical...nature. They are never wasteful. Everyone knows about the small cars and small houses, but it extends to almost every aspect of their lives. As we've talked about in a previous blog, you are charged by the trash bag here. You buy a roll from the store and set them on the street once per week. If you use less bags, you pay less for trash disposal. Also, recycling bags are half price, so there is financial reward for recycling. Most grocery stores have bottle return machines at the entrance where you can deposit used bottles in and get a voucher for € 0.10 each. Again, they give you a financial reward for recycling. Other examples include half price electricity in the evenings and on weekends, as well as charging for bags at the grocery store so you reuse them. They even give a large tax break on diesel fuel (about €1.00 / gallon), which provides better mileage than unleaded gas.

Another fascinating thing to watch here is the ongoing political crisis. I don't know how much coverage it is receiving in the US, but Belgium is in a non-violent civil war. There is a Belgian magazine published in English called The Bulletin. The last headline read, "Meltdown: The End of Belgium?" The background is that Belgium is divided into two regions, Wallonia and Flanders. The two regions speaks different languages, very different cultures, and most importantly, very different economic situations. The northern half of the country (Flemish speaking) is prosperous, while the southern (French speaking) area is quite poor, which is a complete reversal of the last 50 years. As a result, the northern and southern halves of the country do not get along at all. The city of Brussels is one of the biggest things holding the country together, as both sides claim it. The city itself is in the Flemish region, but it is French speaking. It's entirely possible that we won't be living in Belgium much longer, as it might not exist!

I've rambled on enough for now, but stay tuned for our adventures over the next six months, including my thoughts on working at NATO...it's a fascinating place!