Tuesday, February 28, 2012
foreign exchange student from Belgium Flanders?
foreign exchange student from Belgium Flanders?
okay- so my family and I are getting a foreign exchange student from Belgium Flanders. She's a girl and she's 17. We have gone through the process of getting checked and accepted into the program and we now have her email address. They told us to feel free to email her and introduce ourselves and such. What should I say? and what should we do to make her feel welcome as soon as she gets here (in August)? and what should we not do (I don't know the customs and everything)? Thanks in advance! :)
Belgium - 1 Answers
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1 :
Exchange students are eager to learn all about the country they are coming to - So do not be too concerned about her feeling welcome - I was a Belgian exchange student myself at age 16 - I was in Los Angeles (Santa Monica) - Was 1959... long ago...! - My English was already excellent, but was more of "British" vocabulary - A few things were strange to me about the USA, even if I knew a lot - First was driving, my friends of 16 age driving (it is 18 in Belgium) - Time of the day, USA speak am/pm... in Belgium they use the 24 hours - Belgians say hello by shaking hands (and a kiss on the cheek for girls) - Not shaking hands like Americans do when saying hello, was strange - The first weeks, I thought Americans were "distant" if not shaking hands - Then I had difficulties being on "first names" basis with adult people - As Belgians, we are educated to say Mr. and Mrs. by respect - Belgians do drink beer or wine with their dinner at very young age - You will have to explain the alcohol laws in USA - Traditions are different in Belgium - Drinking milk with a dinner might seem strange to her - I personally liked to have apple juice or ice tea - Milk is more of a breakfast beverage to a Belgian - And I thought of American coffee as "black water" - Belgians are accustomed to stronger coffee - About food, Belgians have no problem with American food - Many Belgians eat beef meat more "rare" than Americans do - Medium-rare by American standards should be about ok - Shall I mention that "french fries" are actually from Belgium - We prefer eating them dipped in mustard - ketchup is not common - Weather in Belgium is often miserable - cloudy and rains - Most areas in USA have a climate that is a delight for Belgians - A few Flemish words are easy and resemble English - Welkom is welcome, and pronounces about the same - Goeiendag - is good day - pronounces = GOO-YEN-DAGH Goeienavond - is good evening - pronounces = GOO-YEN-AVEN (AVEN like the first part of "avenue") - Dank U wel - is thank you very much - pronounces "DANK UH WELL" The "U" is not an easy vowel for Americans - same as the German ü - .
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