Sunday, January 15, 2012

Miserable Belgians

I really do try to only post positive things, but the truth sometimes needs to be told.  The truth is that Belgians (as a general group) are miserable people.  They live everyday showing open disdain for those around them, they rarely smile and frankly, they are unattractive.

The last one is a result of poor skin care, lots of outdoor walking in a polluted city and the frowns that inevitably become permanent due to lack of smiling.  I have been told they do not like Americans because as a group we smile too much.  They distrust the expression because they don't see how it could be sincere.  Many Belgians have hunched backs from years of poor posture.

Very seldom do Belgians speak a kind word to anyone outside their accepted group of friends - which of course, makes it nearly impossible to make new friends.  Even some dog loving people (who are usually very friendly) refuse to say good evening when met in the park.  As a general rule they don't speak to strangers; EXCEPT when you have committed a faux pas against society's rules.  In this case, Belgians have no qualms about immediately calling out a stranger and publicly excoriating them.

Just such happened to me last night.  I entered a parking lot and took the first parking spot directly in front of me.  A woman who had gone around the row of cars to enter from the other side immediately started yelling at me in French.  The fact that I had no intention of offending her, or "stealing her spot" in a public parking area were of no consequence. She followed me into the store and further harassed me in the aisles.  I did not see class in her actions.

This type of behavior is very common, happens nearly everyday.  As I don't read or speak the language fluently there are many opportunities for me to offend.  Since I do not have native Belgian friends to help me learn the unwritten rules of society, I offend everyday.  And it is not big things, but it is everything!  The general public here fully expects every person to behave identically.  Anyone not fitting in properly will suffer.

I have enough experience to realize that the negative responses I receive have little to do with me personally and are more a reflection on this society.  Doesn't make living among them any more enjoyable.