Culture Smart Belgium

A Quick Guide to Customs and Etiquette

Mandy MacDonald

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Paperback

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Kuperard Publishers
15 May 2009

Travel & holiday; Languages & ESL; Dutch - Cultural Material; French - Cultural Material; German - Cultural Material; Phrase Books

Series: Culture Smart!

Small but perfectly placed, Belgium is the historical meeting point of northern Europe s chief trading routes. It sits on the continent s northwestern seaboard, with several important ports, and borders on the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France. Belgium has somehow acquired the reputation of being Europe s most boring country, a reputation however, that is entirely undeserved.

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 aims to help you navigate these swirling waters. It is for anyone businessperson, student, or tourist who wants to understand Belgian society and encounter it with sensitivity and poise. We trace the land s turbulent history and try to see 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 some tips to help you get along with Belgian colleagues and acquaintances without tears on either side!

By: Mandy MacDonald
Imprint: Kuperard Publishers
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: Reprinted edition
Dimensions: Height: 169mm, Width: 110mm, Spine: 13mm
Weight: 172g
ISBN: 9781857333220
ISBN 10: 1857333225
Series: Culture Smart!
Pages: 168
Publication Date: 15 May 2009
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Out of Print

Brief History Politics - Economic Life Traditions - Friendships & Family Relationships Bureaucracy Religion Humour - Local Holidays Taboos Invitations Gifts Dress - Business etiquette - Punctuality & Appointments - Team working Communication Negotiating - Women in Society Tips - Eating Out - Traditional Food - Dos and Don t - Making Friends

Reviews for Culture Smart Belgium: A Quick Guide to Customs and Etiquette

Culture Smart! has come to the rescue of hapless travellers...' Sunday Times Travel, ' the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries.' Global Travel, ' full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas.' Observer, ' as useful as they are entertaining.' Easy Jet Magazine, ' offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world.' New York Times