Tue, 9 February 2010
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Expat voices
Expat Voices: Kimberley Lovato on living in Belgium (page 1)
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Writer and blogger Kimberley Lovato finds the quality of life here quite refreshing but wouldn't mind if the the service people speeded up...
What was your first impression of Belgium?
NIce piece, Kimberley - and a beautiful picture of yourself, if I may say. ;-)
You're in good company on this column, what with me being the first to post...x
I totally agree on the lack of customer service and this applies to every sector. Apparently they are not interested in establishing lasting relationships with their customers. The fast driving is not a problem, what is a major concern is the recklessness of the driving! In the US, even when you have the right of way you are told to look before you go - not here! This is why there are so many accidents on the street in Brussels. My heart goes out to the elderly who are unable to act so quickly when driving.
I spend 3 years in Brussels and enjoyed the mix of people from all over. It seems a very livable and likable city if you take away the insane car drivers and reduce some of the criminal activity in certain areas. (I witnessed a handgun assault in St. Gilles near Place Morichar.)
I now live in Limburg near Hasselt and must say that there is a different mentality in the Flemish zone. There is much more of a work ethic that I am used to that seems to be missing from Brussels and in Wallonia. The cultural divide is about much more than language...and there is a reason why Flanders is more prosperous than Wallonia.. Brussels is saved by the sea of highly (some would say over)paid EU functionaries, despite its high level of unemployment. You want customer service? You'll find more of it the further you get from Brussels!
BTW- I liked your article! What do you think of the winter weather? After coming from California, it must have taken some getting used to...unless you come from northern Calif.! ;-)
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