Question

-paragraph letter in English, and compare Belgian culture and American culture, especially in terms of foods, sports, transportation, population, and demographics. How is your culture similar to Belgian culture? How is it different?

Answer 1

10. Dogs

You will see dogs everywhere. On the metro, in shops, on the streets, dogs are welcome in more public places in France! Unfortunately, you will also see their poop everywhere. People don’t really seem to care about picking up after thier pets. Eyes to the sidewalk and watch where you step!

Edgar, our host dog, likes sitting at the table. Our host mom spoils him rotten!
Edgar, our host dog, likes sitting at the table. Our host mom spoils him rotten!
9. Brands

You may be surprised about the number of “American” brands you see here. I know I was shocked to see a Ford and Chevy dealership, as well as to find Goldfish crackers and Neutrogena face wash in the grocery store. However, just because something is the same brand doesn’t mean it’s the same, especially when it comes to food. Europe is much stricter about preservatives in their food, so it tastes different. The Lays Barbecue potato chips in France have much more diverse flavor than those in the U.S.! Also, be prepared to pay much more. My roommate and I found Skippy peanut butter in the grocery store, but it was 8 euro for a tiny jar!

8. Meals

I could write a whole blog post about this, so I’ll try to summarize!

The French have a saying about meals: At breakfast, we eat like kings. At lunch, like lords. At dinner, like servants. Whether or not that’s true definitely depends on the situation!

In general, meals consist of several courses. With my family friends in Lyon, dinner would start with a bowl of soup, then we’d have the main dish, and then cheese or yogurt with fruit. My host family in Paris generally just has the main dish and dessert, but there are other families with more courses. It all depends!

7. Bread

We generally only think of baguettes as “French bread,” but if you walk into a “boulangerie” (bakery), you’ll see that there are so many more kinds than that!

Bread is so much a part of a French meal that it’s viewed more as a tool than as a part of the meal. Rather than just eating a piece of bread by itself, you use a piece of bread to help push something onto your fork, or to clean your plate in between meals. We generally use the same dish for multiple courses, otherwise the cleanup would be astronomical! Also, it’s generally set on the tablecloth next to your plate, not on it!