Belgium - Culture Smart! : The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Varga, Bernadett.

Culture Smart!, author.

Series:

Culture Smart!

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Manners and customs.

Civilization.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (118 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

Belgium - Culture Smart!

Place of Publication:

Chicago : Kuperard, 2022.

Summary:

Don't just see the sights-- get to know the people.Belgium has somehow acquired the reputation of being Europe's most boring country-- a reputation that is entirely undeserved. But perhaps this bland image is a smokescreen, the conventional exterior hiding a subversive sense of humor, a surreal imagination, and a deep-rooted disdain for authority. Or perhaps it is a camouflage, a way in which Belgium, still overrun-- however peacefully-- by foreigners, can keep a few of its secrets to itself. Two main factors seem to determine the values Belgians hold and the ways they approach life: the effects of the linguistic divide, and the country's long history of exposure to other cultures through trade, war, and occupation-- its experience of being simultaneously very small and very strategically placed. Culture Smart! Belgium will help you navigate these swirling waters. It is for anyone who wants to understand Belgian society and encounter it with sensitivity and poise. We trace the land's turbulent history and look at how the past has shaped the collective and personal values of today's Belgians. We look at the Belgian people at work, at play, and at home, and offer tips to help you get along with the people you will meet, on both sides of the divide, and navigate the new situations that you are likely to encounter. Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

Contents:

Intro

Title Page

Copyright

About the Author

Contents

Map of Belgium

Introduction

Key Facts

1 Land and People

Geography

Climate

A Brief History

The Linguistic Divide

Belgium's Cities

Government and Politics

The Economy

Belgium in Europe

Belgium in the World

2 Values and Attitudes

Separate But Not Separate

The Legacy of Occupation and Trade

The Good Life

A Talent for Compromise

Tolerance

… and Its Backlash

The Catholic Heritage

Multicultural Belgium

Men and Women

Attitudes Toward Foreigners

Attitudes Toward the European Union

Humor: Situation Desperate, but Not Serious

So … Is There a National Identity?

3 Customs and Traditions

Public Holidays

A Festive Calendar

"Ordinary" Festivities

Weddings and Other Rites of Passage

4 Making Friends

How Not to Be an Expat

Being a Foreign Student

Joining Clubs, Societies, and Classes

Dating

Café Culture

Hospitality

5 At Home

Quality of Life

The Home and Homemaking

Family Life

Health Care

Education

The Daily Round

Pets

6 Time Out

Eating and Drinking

The Arts

Sex à la Belge

Shopping for Pleasure

In the Countryside

Sports

7 Travel, Health, and Safety

Trains

Buses, Metro, and Streetcars

Taxis

Boats

Driving

Cycling and Scooting

Walking

Where to Stay

Health

Safety and Security

8 Business Briefing

Family Firms and Multinationals

The Belgian Workforce

Job Seeking in Belgium

Women in Business

Management Styles

Doing Business: a Mini-Guide

Meetings

Presentations

Negotiations and Decision Making

Contracts and Follow-Up

Handling Disagreements.

Meeting the EU Institutions

9 Communicating

Which Language?

Written Communication

Face-to-Face

The Media

Phones and Sim Cards

The Internet and Social Media

Mail

Conclusion

Appendix: Useful Apps

Further Reading

Picture Credits

Acknowledgment.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-78702-313-3

OCLC:

1330935745