CultureShock! Belgium: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock!) By Mark Elliot

CultureShock! Belgium is the definitive guide for anyone who wants to settle seamlessly into the country famous for its chocolates, mussels, frites, waffles, and beer. Though linguist differences have divided the land into distinct regions, it is these same differences that have given Belgium much of its cultural diversity and its multi faceted society. This book will provide you with much needed knowledge about the three languagesWalloon, Flemish, and Frenchand show you the importance of knowing which one you should speak in which region of the country. But that is not all. Glean all the practical tips and advice that will make settling in a breeze plus other information such as how to socialize with Belgians. Learn about the priorit droite rule and what you should do if you are made Bob for the night or if a Gilles de Binche with tarantula headgear throws oranges at you. CultureShock! Belgium is the only guide you will need to understand Belgium and its people as well as fully enjoy your life in this delightful country. CultureShock! Belgium: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock!)

I read some of this with my Belgian boyfriend, and we laughed a lot because it's really not that accurate. A well researched book that is sooooo much than a 'travel guide'. Although lots of facts are available, it is all done with a sense of humour that I appreciated. Some 'laugh out loud' moments on public transport :) I also learnt some things about my Belgian partner. Things that I thought were his little 'quirks' are indeed Belgian traitsgood to know!

With the move planned for next year, I feel better prepared and excited about what lays ahead thank you. Kindle I bought this book prior to going on sabbatical for a year in Flemish Brabant. The advice and background in this book proved to be very useful, and even when it wasn't essential, it helped reduce frustration at some of the difficult aspects of the process. An example is the multiple visits to City Hall in order to obtain a residency permit, as well as the police visit to the house. Chapters on banking, transportation, and eating are particularly good, although things change fairly quickly, so some information was already dated. The best aspect of the book is how comprehensive it is, which is impressive for a single author volume. The only quibbles are some missing or incorrect details. The worst missing piece of advice (for an American) is the lack of mention of the no right on red rule for cars and cyclists, which turns out to be fairly universal in Europe. Thankfully I haven't gotten a ticket in my car sharing adventures, but only after it was pointed out by an American riding behind me to an event. (There was mention of the priority on the right rule, which is important and non intuitive.) The other thing is a slight bias against (or ignorance of) the Dutch speaking side of the country. The author points out some examples of where the Dutch use French words and the Flemish don't, but for each of these, there are several the other way around. And while Leuven is a Dutch speaking town, I've heard a fair amount of French used, without eliciting any apparent rancor. That's not to say that there isn't tension between the two main language groups, as there has been for decades.