Xenophobes and Xylophones
March 14, 2012

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Okay, this post has absolutely nothing to do with xylophones.  I just wanted to type the word.  *giggle*  Come on, when was the last time you typed it?  Try  it.  Xylophone.  It's fun! 

I hate to admit this but I had to look up Xenophobe.  Really, I did.  I can't believe you all knew what it meant and I didn't!  I'm not that dumb, am I? Well, sometimes......  hehe  Anyhow, for those of you like me, who don't know, here's the definition from an online dictionary.  A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign, especially of strangers or foreign peoples.  So, now you know!  :)

I wouldn't say I have a fear of foreigners.   I'm afraid of lots of things, but not foreigners.  Certainly not Belgians.  Should I be?  LOL.  Tell me the truth now!   Mum, you honestly think I've been xenophobic since I was a little girl?  Really?  Wow.  I had no idea!  I will confess what I am afraid of.  Terrified really.  Ready for it?  Xylophones.  LOL.  Is there a word for that? 

Anyhow, this book is awesome!  (Big thanks to B for sending it to me!) I've learned so much!  Here are some of my favourite parts:

~ french(ed) fries are cut to the size of ladies pinky finger and fried twice to make them extra crispy (can't wait to try them!)  With Mayonaisse!
~  Belgians devote every Saturday to fastidiously cleaning their homes.  Hey!  That's just like me.  I knew there was a reason I liked those Belgians!  (Although I wouldn't say I was fastidious about it!)
~ Belgians eat 8 kgs of chocolate a year and apparently the chocolates are VERY affordable  (I could be in trouble! hehe)
~ everyone kisses each other when they meet.  Three times.  Even the grizzled old men kiss each other.   (What about the cute young men?  LOL) 
~ There's flemish and walloons and one is french and one is dutch.....and I kinda got confused after that

That's all for now.  I can't give it all away, can I?  If you need more information the book will be available for rent (hehe) after I return on April 5.  Cost?  A Belgian chocolate, of course!

Oh, I have a question, my resident Belgian residents.   You know those outdoor cafe restaurants, where people sit and have coffee or a meal?  First, will they be open when I am there?  IE:  Do people sit outside even when it's not full summer?  Second, what is the protocol?  Do you just pick an empty table/chair and sit and the man comes to serve you?  Or do you go inside, put your order, and then you go out and side at the table of your choice?  How does it work?  I don't want to look like a dummy........I want to be confident.  And I"m so not.  LOL.   So, please, tell me the rules! 

And, I think that's about enough for tonight, don't you?  It's almost bedtime and I'm sleepy.  Until tomorrow, my friends.  I leave you with this, cause I think it's funny.   And I read in the Xenophobe book that Belgians like eels.  I'll pass on that, thank you.  ;) 

T.
xxx