Belgium...on a shoestring

Dutch language and cultural observations

Australian wine is half the price here than in Australia
Be careful with plurals: some end with 's' others end with 'en': eg. dog(s) = hond(en) BUT finger(s) = vinger(s) - vingeren = fingering
Beer costs nothing
Friendliness is a favour, not a way of life (in some places!)
Fries are eaten with dinner 2-3 times a week
Handicapped = Limited
One ray of sun = traffic jam to the grotty ocean
Pubic hair = Shame hair
Smoking a pipe and performing fellatio use the same verb
Solarium = normal
Some words are untranslatable
Supermarket = Stress (no nice lady to chat or pack your bag for you)
When a baby is born, you are required to give people parcels of little sugar coated chocolate beans (suikerbonen)
Winter = Depression

Sunday, February 12, 2006