I’ve been here for a little over three weeks and I thought I might share with you some observations I have made while being here in Brussels:

1. Although Belgians do not wear deodorant and have horrible body odor, they are the nicest people (outside of the bureaucratic tape everywhere!).
2. Every person in Belgium owns a dog. Every person owns a dog that craps in the middle of sidewalk. Every person leaves the crap his or her dog drops in the sidewalk. It is sometimes unavoidable to step in dog crap.
3. You must bring your own bags to the grocery store to bag your items.
4. Nowhere besides the US sells peanut butter.
5. Belgium has the most unpredictable weather that can expectedly change within minutes.
6. Always carry an umbrella regardless whether you leave your house and cannot see a single cloud in the sky.
7. The Belgian bureaucracy is the most confusing and unorganized bureaucracy in the world.
8. Fraternities do exist outside American universities.
9. The Mexican stereotype of being a “cholo” exists outside the US.
10. Spanish is known in Belgium probably just as much, if not more, than English.
11. Nothing is open before 9am and after 5pm in Belgium.
12. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is open on Sunday in Belgium and the rest of Europe.
13. Wine is ridiculously cheap (I haven’t found a bottle over 10 Euros or about $13 yet!).
14. Beer is more common and cheaper than any other beverage in Belgium.
15. Water is the most expensive beverage.
16. Beer is sold in the school cafeteria that is only open during lunch.
17. Smoking is still common in Europe.
18. Do not ever speak French in Flanders and never speak Dutch (Flemish) in the French speaking areas.
19. Belgium may possibly split into two countries in the next couple of decades according to their dialects.
20. Hardly anyone in Belgium is Belgian.