Back in The US of A

It has been too long since I last wrote in this blog. On our way home we spent a view days in Brussels before our departing flight left. Gilles, Ludovic, Yaelle, Alec and Jeff drove from Scy Chazelles and stopped off in Waterloo, yep, the famous battle site, to see some more uniforms. Gilles wasn't exactly thrilled as this battle was against the French and British and, well, the British won. Rachel and I took the more leisurely route to Brussels travelling by train. Brussels, the seat of the European Parliament, of Belgian waffles covered in chocolate and Kriek Cherry beer with mussels. Except for the parliament a rather appropriate description of heaven. A truly cosmopolitan city where one can hear many languages spoken. When I ordered a coffee at the airport I asked the young woman what languages she spoke. Her response, "Zwahili, French, English and Flamish." The Belgians we met seemed to be a friendly, open sort, curious and knowledgeable about the US of A. When speaking in French with a woman on the subway I mistakenly used the informal "tu" -you conjugation of the verb to be. There is a serious distinction between formal and informal usage of you in French and it is considered disrespectful to use the informal with people you do not know. When I corrected myself with the woman on the subway she replied that only in France is that a concern, that the Belgians are much more informal. Now if the Belgians could just improve their bread I would consider Brussels anear perfect city. Stay tuned for photos.