Hi There Flemish People
I have been living in Flanders for a while now - and I am one of the greatest fans of Flanders and the Flemish. However, I just have one questions - what is the normal response in Flemish culture to someone falling over? I've now managed to go 'arse-over-tit' (a Kiwi'sm there) a couple of times here -and every time (I am quite clumsy) everyone has ignored me... even when bleeding. Is that normal here? Are people trying to pretend that it didn't happen in order to spare my feelings of humiliation? Or do people really not give a rats-arse?

Just a question.

Other than that I love the Flemish. Triffic people. I'm even thinking of starting a business importing the Flemish to other countries.

BTW - where is Phlegmie? I miss him. I was just reading one of his old postings and it was hilarious.

It is I!

(though I had to re-register under a slightly different nick... wonder what happenend... admin?)

These mongruls have got me working... GDP is flailing upward again... thx to Flemistan...

Well, this is an old post but I'll give it a go.

The other day, I stumbled on the sidewalk. I look up, and an older man saw what happened.
Far be it for me to be ashamed, so I kind of smiled ruefully at him. Instantly, he averted his eyes.

In summation, I think it is b/c they don't want you to notice they observed your 'shame'.

But then again, I tell people if their fly is open, and they are shocked!
Or, if a kid drops their scarf and I call the parent back to give it to them, they are astounded.
I really think it is a cultural thing.
Belgians are HUUUGE on privacy, but so big on it it borders on the ludicrous ~

I don't think people are that huge on privacy here. I find Belgians much more nosy than Americans. I think "indifference" would be a more appropriate term.

About three years ago I was riding my bike on a bike lane and another car turning from the road clipped my rear wheel. As I fell I slipped under another guys car (who happened to have the front of the car in the bike lane, a no no) and I slid half way under his car.

Now this is when he get's out and starts to yell at me for hitting his car. In my pain I didn't even try Dutch. Just went right into the "You are at fault, I don't car that I damaged your car cause you were in the bike lane. I'm going to call the cops on you." This shut him up quick and he stopped bothering me.

Now the guy who hit me was super helpful. Asked to take me to the hospital. Wrote up a report for an accident and even put "I am at fault" on it. Offered to pay for any damage to me or my bike. I wasn't hurt, my bike was fine and I was just more shook up than anything. Two other people who witnessed this stopped to help. The guy who hit me called me that night just to make sure I was ok.

It's something that to me seems to be very person dependent here in Belgium as far as helping.