Culture through the eyes of a kid
Well, the family has returned from Europe. You can check out pics.
www.howards.myphotoalbum.com
Look at the top album: Belgium trip
Grand #1 says" The milk is gross there---it tastes funny and is warm".....
EXPLANANTION- They shop almost daily in Belgium. Everything is FRESH, thus no need for large refrigerators in your home...and freezers are almost non-exixtent. And, since she likes milk COLD, this was not palatable to her kinda warm!
"The chocolate is soooo good"....yep, they are known for their chocolates....there are many family business that make it daily there and you can watch them. Also, the hotel puts boxes fo chocolate out for you twice a day. The first I tasted was weird, but this current kind is creamy...with any flavor you could wish!! DIL says this time the orange one is her fave.
THE ROOMS ARE SMALL....yep, in Europe, all rooms are small...in the hotels, you must look long and hard andd pay a premium to have more that an area to fit a twin bed in.
YOU CANNOT BUY YOUR FAVORITE ITEMS AS IN THE USA....yes, you can, for the most part, but you must be able to read Dutch (half the country is Dutch, and half French)...and you must be prepared to spend about 40% more!! DIL was excited to find formula....but it is like $50 here and $70 there!
YOU HAVE THE SEASONS THERE....Yeppers. six weeks of warm 70 degrees or more and the rest is chilly or cold!!
SMOKNG IS BANNED WORLDWIDE....not quite so....everyone sits outside at the cafes/restaurants and SMOKES....air pollution at its finest! )I was concerned and asked if they smoked outside the entry way of buildings and offices and restaurants...and this was the reply)
KIDS ARE BORED IN RESTAURANTS AND PARENTS HAVE TO LEAVE WITH UNRULY ONES......not so ---they have playgrounds by the cafes/restaurants, and the parents can dine outdoors to "keep an eye on them". (BTW, food costs in a cafe/restaurant costs 40% more, also)
MACDONALDS IS NOT EVERYWHERE...Oh, yes it is alive and well in Europe...I asked if they had weird menu items....(they do in China...like tofu and some other local delicacy items!!)...and to their knowledge, they do not (NOTE: in the regular restaurants, the burgers are not served with buns, just the patty!!)
YOU GAIN WEIGHT BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX OF ITALIAN FOOD EVERYWHERE!!! You must walk or bicycle almost everywhere, so one has the propensity to lose weight!!
And for the fashion saavy: Welsh women are fashionistas (even the young)...all must coordinate (gloves, boots, socks, etc!!) INFANTS INCLUDED!!
Also, the "drains are funny and small round holes"...this from a 4 YO ---mom did not notice, but for a kid who takes regular baths, I believe the observation!! Guess there is no 'screen over the drain'!
This almost makes me sad...we have about ten weeks till they will be gone....
A web cam and plane tickets (three, of course) are on my list for Santa!
www.howards.myphotoalbum.com
Look at the top album: Belgium trip
Grand #1 says" The milk is gross there---it tastes funny and is warm".....
EXPLANANTION- They shop almost daily in Belgium. Everything is FRESH, thus no need for large refrigerators in your home...and freezers are almost non-exixtent. And, since she likes milk COLD, this was not palatable to her kinda warm!
"The chocolate is soooo good"....yep, they are known for their chocolates....there are many family business that make it daily there and you can watch them. Also, the hotel puts boxes fo chocolate out for you twice a day. The first I tasted was weird, but this current kind is creamy...with any flavor you could wish!! DIL says this time the orange one is her fave.
THE ROOMS ARE SMALL....yep, in Europe, all rooms are small...in the hotels, you must look long and hard andd pay a premium to have more that an area to fit a twin bed in.
YOU CANNOT BUY YOUR FAVORITE ITEMS AS IN THE USA....yes, you can, for the most part, but you must be able to read Dutch (half the country is Dutch, and half French)...and you must be prepared to spend about 40% more!! DIL was excited to find formula....but it is like $50 here and $70 there!
YOU HAVE THE SEASONS THERE....Yeppers. six weeks of warm 70 degrees or more and the rest is chilly or cold!!
SMOKNG IS BANNED WORLDWIDE....not quite so....everyone sits outside at the cafes/restaurants and SMOKES....air pollution at its finest! )I was concerned and asked if they smoked outside the entry way of buildings and offices and restaurants...and this was the reply)
KIDS ARE BORED IN RESTAURANTS AND PARENTS HAVE TO LEAVE WITH UNRULY ONES......not so ---they have playgrounds by the cafes/restaurants, and the parents can dine outdoors to "keep an eye on them". (BTW, food costs in a cafe/restaurant costs 40% more, also)
MACDONALDS IS NOT EVERYWHERE...Oh, yes it is alive and well in Europe...I asked if they had weird menu items....(they do in China...like tofu and some other local delicacy items!!)...and to their knowledge, they do not (NOTE: in the regular restaurants, the burgers are not served with buns, just the patty!!)
YOU GAIN WEIGHT BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX OF ITALIAN FOOD EVERYWHERE!!! You must walk or bicycle almost everywhere, so one has the propensity to lose weight!!
And for the fashion saavy: Welsh women are fashionistas (even the young)...all must coordinate (gloves, boots, socks, etc!!) INFANTS INCLUDED!!
Also, the "drains are funny and small round holes"...this from a 4 YO ---mom did not notice, but for a kid who takes regular baths, I believe the observation!! Guess there is no 'screen over the drain'!
This almost makes me sad...we have about ten weeks till they will be gone....
A web cam and plane tickets (three, of course) are on my list for Santa!
posted by Memories for a Lifetime at
6:37 AM
5 Comments:
The things kids say!!! So funny
Where are they going?
By
marshan, at 10:42 AM
okay, scratch that....I see they are moving to Belgium??? WOW!!! Poor Grandma!!!
By
marshan, at 10:45 AM
The web cam is a must!
By
Rita Loca, at 5:12 PM
So many of your descriptions remind me of Mexico! Who would have thought. The rooms are small, if you have a fridge at all, even in a upper middle class home, it is for the daily buys, milk is almost always warmer than I like, but I learned to love it while I was prego with Josh there, and people everywhere seem to be smoking!!! Much of Latin America actually reminds me of Italy and many parts of Europe. A lot of the same style architecture in buildings and city layouts. Oh but in Mexico, they have the Jalepeno packets (like the ketchup) and the Mexican Burger, burgers with avocados on them, tabasco packets, salsa verde (green sauce)etc.
I'm on my way over to see their photo album now. Don't you just love technology? The world is at our fingertips!
By
Unknown, at 5:26 PM
Was the cute white house the one they bought to move into? It's very charming. I love it!
By
Unknown, at 5:32 PM
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