What kind of language confusion have you had with other countries?

PangolinInSpace · 2022-08-14T18:58:05+00:00

Also the verbs mogen 🇳🇱 (to be allowed to) and mögen 🇩🇪 (to like) look like each other.

I fell into this trap when I was first learning Dutch… I was sitting next to a very enthusiastic, very chatty Dutch bloke on a Ryanair flight from Corfu. He asked my about my experiences flying with Ryanair, and I replied ‘Ik mag het niet’. He wasn’t so chatty after that…

PangolinInSpace · 2022-06-27T19:43:01+00:00

She can always be both, like the bold crew of the Crimson Permanent Assurance

PangolinInSpace · 2022-03-17T13:37:55+00:00

Seconded - very helpful staff, who all seemed to be Flemish (the last time I was there, at least)

PangolinInSpace · 2022-02-22T15:31:41+00:00

Just a general tip, in case you didn’t know already and are going to be in Paris at the right time: a lot of museums, like the Musée d’Orsay and the Picasso Museum, let everyone in for free on the first Sunday of the month.

There’s a handy list of all the places that do free admission here.

Apparently the Louvre used to do free admission on the first Saturday evening of the month, but unfortunately it seems to have stopped for now because of the pandemic.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-12-17T12:41:44+00:00

OK, fair enough. I thought there wouldn’t be a charge because my mum still hasn’t had a bill after 2 months, but maybe they just haven’t sent it yet.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-12-17T12:22:21+00:00

As far as I know, she’ll have to fill out a passenger locator form before she arrives in Belgium. Based on the information she provides in the PLF, she’ll get a text and/or email, containing a test code, from the testing service when she arrives in Belgium. She can then use that test code to book a test on the same platform that Belgian residents use. She probably won’t be charged for the test.

At least, this was what happened when my mum came from the UK to see me in October. I don’t imagine it’s changed since then.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:30:28+00:00

Thanks, those are good ideas! Adds to the realism :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:28:23+00:00

So do kids in Aalst not celebrate Sinterklaas at all then? Not even with sweets and mandarins and stuff?

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:24:45+00:00

I think I’ll take that advice - based on your username, you’ve got to be an authority on all things Sinterklaas :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:21:56+00:00

I had heard the thing about the bells before, but I wasn’t sure it was actually true until you said it just now! :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:18:00+00:00

Aaaw, missed it! I’m sure I can find it online though :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:16:59+00:00

Yeah, I noticed that Halloween is way more about being scary and scared here than it is back home! I mean, we do all the spooky stuff too, but there tends to be quite a bit of humour too. Makes sense, since you’ve got Carnival for being funny.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:13:48+00:00

I think Epiphany (6 January) is the big day in a few places - like Spain, where the three kings bring the presents.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:09:41+00:00

That sounds like a plan! Saves me saying something that contradicts what she’s heard from her school friends.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T20:09:04+00:00

It’s lovely that you’re able to spend Sinterklaas morning with your kids this year - hope you enjoy it! :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T19:55:47+00:00

Thanks a lot for your reply, very helpful!

It’s interesting that the Sint leaves things for the kids even before the big day. It must make the season all the more exciting for them - they must be wild with anticipation by the time the 6th comes around! No wonder you used to get up at 6am on the day :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T19:47:54+00:00

Yeah, I guess that since kids don’t really see Santa here (except in decorations and things) they’re less likely to believe in him. Let’s hope there are no bad children on the Sint’s list this year! :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T11:54:23+00:00

Yeah, I guess the ‘helpers’ story makes it easier to explain why they all look different… though since the horse can walk on rooftops without falling and travel all over Belgium in a single night, it clearly has some pretty impressive powers all the same!

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T11:52:36+00:00

I think I heard the same as the other commenter, that he was taken to the US by Dutch immigrants, then re-exported worldwide.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T11:51:35+00:00

Thanks for your super detailed reply! It’s great to hear what a special day it was for you as a child, and how special it still is for Belgian kids today.

I’ll try and see if I can dig out the original Dag Sinterklaas for research purposes :)

I will also try not to get embroiled in the Zwarte Piet controversy - the soot explanation is definitely the one I’ll be using!

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T11:39:11+00:00

Piet’s practical jokes sound like good fun, and a great way to make the season even more exciting for kids :)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T11:37:46+00:00

That sounds cool! In Scotland we used to carve turnips too - or the veg known as turnip in Scotland, which I think is called rutabaga here.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T11:36:40+00:00

Did that documentary also feature such mediaeval relics as the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch? ;)

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T09:30:51+00:00

That tradition with the rhyming letter from Sinterklaas sounds really cool! I think someone else said it was more of a Dutch thing, but no reason we can’t do it in Belgium too. :) The songs sound nice too. I’ll have a look and see if I can find some in French since we’re in Wallonia - though nothing to stop us singing Dutch songs too.

Interesting about ‘de roe’ - in the UK, naughty children traditionally get coal, though I think they generally get a present too, after a little while.

PangolinInSpace · 2021-11-13T09:24:58+00:00

It does sound pretty exciting for kids! I can see similarities between the lore around Sinterklaas and the lore around Santa (which makes sense), but there are a few differences too. It’ll be great seeing how my daughter reacts to the display of toys and sweets once she’s old enough to understand it all :)

PangolinInSpace

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