Hi Bev

Nice to meet you

Thanks for the reply! It's really interesting. As a matter of fact, I never thought about how do expats live in Belgium - except those from the EEC that lived in my grand parent's home.

I grew up with expats so for me it's normal to have them here.

I also have been at school with Waterloo inhabitants and they often told me about the American community of this town. It's really a big one.

Regarding the furniture, a friend of mine has been living in Canada for many years and brought everything back to Belgium as American stuff is TOP quality. She improved her Belgian home in order to get everything working fine. However, my teacher told about this "custom" like if it was protectionnism; not wanting to use things that are from a foreign country even while living in this foreign contry and it is the reason why I didn't accept what she stated.

Well, the European Union employees also have their own store ; we used to shop there when my grand parents rent rooms to European expats, lol. The store closed few years ago and it seems it reopened lately; so, European employees shop there as it's a duty free shop I think and they also are able to find their own food.

Regarding the doctor case, I also think it's normal to visit the doctor in your area as a non English speaking doctor can't help for a serious disease as much as an English speaking one does. But I presume that when having the flu, expats go to see a local doctor - otherwise it would be quite expensive to cure, lol.

Well the whole thread came after we have been talking about a new way to teach foreign languages in England. And so our teacher started treating English-speaking people i.e. their lack of knowledge of foreign languages means lack of culture, closed mind and then moving overseas while bringing all their own stuff, etc.

Making use of stereotypes can be funny when you are telling a joke but I don't like it when it comes to serious things, especially when it comes to teach something to the others.

Well, it's a good start for tomorrow's course, lol.

Hope getting more and more answers.

Have a great day!
Dom.