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Belgium – : same culture?

Nathalie Moua, Céline Cross Nicolay

Intercultural Communication in Business and Management

Englsh Track 2004

Introduction

At the beginning of our stay in Cracow, in October, a lot of integration parties and trips were organised so that new – FRANCE: A LONG HISTORY Erasmus students coming from different countries of Europe, could get to know each other. First weeks were really interesting and funny for us. This period was market Since Antiquity, Belgium and France, geographically close with suspicion, curiosity but above all with stereotypes. neighbours, have parts of common history. As Belgium The stereotypes were really present helped us to feel more history is not as well-known as this of France, we decided comfortable: “this guy is French for sure, he has this funny to talk about Belgium, relating some events with France. accent and this girl, she’s Italian with such black hairs”. Stereotypes are deeply rooted in people’s mind but Before the Romans conquered the region in 57 BC, sometimes it occurs that they are not true. We could also Belgium was populated by the “Belgae”, one of the experience it during those first weeks of our Erasmus various Celtic tribes of Gaul. The origin of the adventure. country’s name is thus Celtic. Romans, conducted by Julius Caesar, exterminated Celtic groups to extend the power of Rome and called their new province CELINE: When Erasmus students introduced themselves to me, they always asked me after if I was from France. “Gallia Belgica”. When I was telling that I am Belgian, they answered that th there was no difference for them and this made me really In the 4 Century, Franks, a Germanic tribe, invaded nervous sometimes. Belgium is a little country but I don’t Belgium and established the capital of their dynasty, the like to be perceived as French Merovingian, in Tournai. The difference between the north NATHALIE: The same happened to me but it was the and the south of Belgium started from the period when the opposite. I am French but everybody is always sure that I Franks separated the country in two parts: and am from Japan or China . Soon after, Clovis I, the King of Franks, was

baptised and left Tournai for Paris. After Clovis’s death, the Because of this funny story which happened several times, Merovingian kingdom weakened and the Carolingian we decided to write our paper on Belgium and France to dynasty came into power. Charlemagne ruled for almost present those countries. In the first part, we will briefly half a century, creating an empire that covered nearly all explain the history of Belgium and its relations with France. continental Europe. On Charlemagne’s death, the Empire Then, we will analyse, basing on Hofstede’s studies, which was divided, under the Treaty of Verdun in 843, into two attitudes and cultural dimensions are totally different for parts: West Francia to Charles the Bold (France today) our countries, which are almost similar and finally which and East Francia to Louis the German (Germany today). are exactly the same. The North of Belgium was integrated into West Francia whereas the South into East Francia. To help us in this work, we conducted a survey among In the 9 th Century, on Belgian territory, private kingdoms Erasmus students, Polish people and also among our expanded economically and demographically: the Counts respective friends from France and Belgium. The of Flanders, the Princedom of Liege…These entities were questionnaire is attached in the appendix and the quasi independent and very rich thanks to trade and results are interpreted throughout our paper. industries. That’s the reason why the King of France tried to annex them but the population resisted and unified the

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area. At the beginning of the 10 th Century, cities began to remained very agricultural. The French domination develop, especially in the Counties of Flanders. Until 1300, stopped in 1815, with the defeat of Napoleon in Waterloo. the growth of cities was alimented by a favourable The Allied powers decided that Belgium would be a part of economic situation. This growth however stopped in the the Kingdom of the Netherlands but Belgian’s patience had 14 th Century due to crisis and epidemics. At the end of 13 th run out. Revolution erupted in and rapidly across Century, a lot of battles occurred between the French King the country. Finally, on 20 th January 1831, after centuries and the Counts of Flanders. At the end of the “One of wars and external rule, Belgian was recognised as an hundred years war”, present Belgium and the Netherlands independent state. Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, a duke, passed to the hands of the Burgundian Dukes. The became the first Belgian King. i Burgundian Duke, Philip the Good, had a very big influence in Belgium. Under his reign, Belgium expanded As we can see, Belgium and France history is often and flourished. He suppressed the independence of the interrelated and this can explain the actual cultural cities, brought them under the rule of Brussels and proximity between our countries. consolidated the economy. When his successor Charles V ARE WE SO ALIKE? died, Flanders was in the hands of the Spanish Crown, Being nationalist or cosmopolitan following the marriage of his daughter with the Spanish heir. One of the most obvious and important differences The ascension of Philip II to the Spanish throne in 1555 between Belgium and France is that whereas French are brought about the next crisis in Belgium’s history. King nationalists, are cosmopolites and more open- Philip was a strict catholic and this didn’t coincide with the minded. Let’s talk about France first. rising Protestantism movement in the north. Under his reign, the present-day Netherlands obtained their In our survey, we asked people to describe typical French. independency but present-day Belgium remained under The first and most often answer given by foreigners was Spanish possession and was called the Spanish “nationalist” or “proud”. This stereotype of French is Netherlands. Over the next century, France was the most known all over the world. Indeed, French have a view of powerful state in Europe under the rule Louis XIV, the Sun their country as special and unique. They think they are King. The French made a lot of effort to extend their the centre of the universe and around them the rest of the control over the Spanish Netherlands. Louis XIV didn’t world rotates. In his studies, Martin J. Gannon compares want to renounce. As a result, present-day Belgium was French with wine and states “Like a flawless bottle of during a large part of the 17 th century, a battleground vintage wine, it is as if God had decreed that there be between Louis XIV and his different Austrian, English and perfection in the land and people of France” ii Dutch opponents. The borders between France and

Belgium today became apparent at this time. By 1783, One can easily understand this pride to be French if we Louis XIV became tired with battles and with the Treaty of have a look on the history of the country. Actually, Utrecht, in 1713; France ceded its claims over the Spanish France’s concept of grandeur is not very old and was Netherlands to the Habsburg, rulers in Austria. Actually, imposed by force by Louis XIV, the Sun King, who spread the region didn’t pay much attention to Habsburg claims the idea that France was the best country of the world with and at the end of the 18 th Century; Belgium was ready to the best language and universal values. This concept assert its independence. When the French revolution hasn’t disappeared until now and is still very strong. started in 1789, the country organised revolts against the Honestly, it’s normal! In France, there is everything! Austrians and in 1790, independence was declared in the Belgians try not to care about but actually, they are jealous form of the United States of Belgium. Bu because of the of their neighbours. France represents a lot of different division between the new rulers, Austria rapidly re- landscapes: seas, mountains and islands. Then there are established the power. In 1795, French liberated Belgium. also a lot of wonderful cities: Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, and With the rise of Napoleon, Belgium was fully integrated in Nice. One shouldn’t forget also the delicious and delicate the French Empire. At the same time, the industrial French cuisine, their unique products like cheeses, revolution occurred in Belgium, Wallonia became one the baguettes and of course wine! Finally, France is also a most industrialised regions in Europe whereas Flanders

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country of culture and arts; there are plenty of famous the collar of a garment; they bring out the best qualities of artists in all categories (music, painting, cinema, sport) those with whom they work without being flashy or calling to themselves.” iii Belgians tend not to expose their Another adjective used to describe French was “not good capabilities and they are even sometimes really critics. in foreign languages”! This is unfortunately true and is also Some can understand this approach as an “inferiority a consequence of their nationalism. Among Erasmus complex”. students, French are easily recognisable because of their funny accent in English. They don’t pronounce “h” correctly However, this idea is opposite to Belgian’s attitude towards and have a very strong “r”. Actually, they don’t like different characteristics of their country. Belgium is a small speaking foreign languages or even refuse to do so. If it country but has got its character. Belgians have a lot of would be possible, they would like the entire world to qualities and a lot of things to be proud of. In Belgium, speak French. Not only do they want everybody to speak some of the best beers and chocolates are produced. Lace French but they want everybody to be French. They are is also of great importance. There are plenty of beautiful called by the Belgians “thieves” because they have this cities to visit: Bruges, Tournai, Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, bad habit to assimilate that all the famous and mediated and Liege. Art and culture are well-developed: there is a Belgians persons are French. According to them, Jacques museum for everything! There are famous Belgian painters Brel and Johnny Hallyday, famous singers, are French. too (Brueghels, the Van Eycks) and writers (Simenon, Sister Emmanuelle, a nun acting for poor people in Egypt, Amélie Nothomb). Belgians are really imaginative as well, is French. Recently, at the Eurovision competition, it was a particularly in the area of cartoons: Tintin, the Smurfs and Belgian who represented France but one can be sure that many others are also Belgian. no French knew about it. They are doing the same with other nationalities; let’s take the examples of Chopin or Belgians are not as nationalists as French. This national Marie Curie! identity is not brought to the fore. Because of the political

The French nationalist feeling has a very negative effect division of the country into three regions and communities, on politics. French are not really open and even individuals act and think first as or Flemings and xenophobe. Everybody remembers that during the last then as Belgians. During public holidays, Walloons spend presidential elections in France, an extremist and racist man called “Le Pen” reached the last tour and almost won their week-end at the Belgian coast, which belongs to the the elections. This was a real shame for France which part and vice versa for Flemings going for claims to be the mother country of democracy and whose camping in Wallonia. In both cases, they feel like national slogan is “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité”. This phenomenon can be observed in the behaviours of French foreigners in their own country, this can be explained partly Erasmus students. French stay together and don’t often because of language differences but also because of the mix with other nationalities. reaction of the population. Flemings and Walloons are

What about Belgium? In some questionnaires, to the more distant towards each other than towards foreign question “What represents Belgium and France for you?” tourists for instance. In some cases, they simply overlook some persons answered: “France is big and Belgium is their joint relation. small”. This is clear and nothing can be done to change it. Belgium is not a well-known country. Foreigners are rarely aware of Belgian accomplishments and have never However, it’s interesting to notice how this behaviour turns travelled there, maybe to Brussels airport but that’s all! to be completely different in special situations. When it is This was noticeable in our questionnaire. People had needed, the country of Belgium is united and at this time, a difficulties to describe Belgium and Belgians. According to Belgian is a Belgian and no distinction is made between Martin J. Gannon, the reason behind this lack of the north and the south. Different examples can illustrate international recognition is the result of Belgian approach this. First example: the King and the royal family. They to life. Belgians are not proud at all like their French represent the unification of the country. Belgians love their neighbours: “they act much like a small piece of lace on

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King and it’s better not to criticise him. When the King avoidance is high. Belgium is on the third position with a Baudouin died in 1993, the whole country was crying. In score of 94 and France is sixth, with a score of 86. v two days, more than half a million of Belgians went to Power distance is defined as human inequalities which Brussels to pay homage to their King. French are “can occur in areas such as prestige, wealth, and power”. somehow jealous of Belgian monarchy. To console Social status is also a characteristic of a country where themselves, they publish a weekly magazine relating all power distance exists. In the power distance index values news of the different European monarchies. It’s called by country, Belgium and France are once again close and “Point de Vue” and French like it very much. Second ranked in the upper part of the chart as countries with a example: the Belgian tennis women. The number one and high level of power distance. vi two in the world tennis classification are Belgians (Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters) and when there is a competition, According to us, uncertainty avoidance and power distance the whole country is united to watch and support their are closely related in the case of Belgium and France. That favourite players. The third example is “Dutroux case”. In is the reason why we will link them. 1996, after the arrest of this paedophile and being aware of all the dysfunction and corruption of the Belgian judicial In France and Belgium, people do not like uncertainty and and police system, a big “Marche blanche” demonstration this reaction is clearly shown in their interactions with other was organised in Brussels by all the Belgians with no people. Bureaucracy is over exaggerated. Everything is consideration of the region of origin or the mother tongue. formalised, rules are set up and cannot be changed. In conclusion, Belgium is more united than it seems to be! Usually when someone enters a new company he or she receives a leaflet explaining him or her the habits of the The last difference between Belgians and French is that company from A to Z with all the rules which have to be respected. Sometimes the leaflet also indicates at what Belgians are more open-minded. Thanks to the diversity of time the employee is allowed to eat or who he or she their cultures, Belgians are extremely opened towards the should call depending on the problem or the question he or rest of the world. They speak many languages and are not she has to ask. Belgian and French are well known to have “specific papers and experts for everything” vii afraid to deal with foreigners. In Belgium, if you want to find a job, you have to speak at least two of the national Uncertainty avoidance is correlated with high anxiety and stress. This characteristic is manifested in both countries in languages. Otherwise, your chances to do a big career are several ways. Belgian and French want to control compromised. All Belgian politicians speak both everything and make sure that nothing can go wrong; languages. During all the national events, speeches are therefore they are busy 24/7 and stressed. French even have a popular expression saying: Métro, boulot, dodo , conducted in at least Dutch and French, which is quite which means subway, working, sleeping. complicated sometimes and extend them in time. That’s surely because of its cosmopolitan spirit, central location The result of this high stress is that Belgian and French frequently have little breaks and are prescribed and balance nature that Brussels was chosen as the EU tranquillisers and bed rest quite easily by their doctors if and NATO headquarters. we compare it with Poland. We noticed that in Poland everybody works non stop and there is a little percentage

of people taking some rest. This difference between Avoiding uncertainty and power distance France and Poland is more obvious since the number of legal working hours per week has been diminished from 39 In his studies, Hofstede classified uncertainty avoidance as to 35 hours. the second dimension in national culture and according to him; different societies have different reactions to it. Power distance surrounds all interactions. Hierarchy is well Uncertainty is characterised by “rule orientation, employment stability, and stress.” iv Belgium and France defined in all types of organisations but also in everyday have been ranked as countries where uncertainty life. To explain the first part, we can give the example of a

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university. Titles are really important and the positions of by writing things in the three officials languages) and this teachers have to be respected. Students and teachers are leads sometimes to strange and funny situations. There is not close friends and they speak to each other by using the the example of an old venerable tree in the commune of formal way. The teacher will be more likely to say: Uccle/Ukkel which is in the region of Brussels which

Mademoiselle, voulez-vous … which translation is Miss, belongs to none of the French or Dutch speaking part. A could you please…and not Miss, can you… French speaker offered funds for the preservation of this

tree and when the Flemish minority knew it they suddenly

Letters are also formalised in our countries and we do decided to also sponsor their own tree. The result is that think that this is the best example to demonstrate our now, the commune of Uccle/Ukkel has two protected trees, power distance. There is an insistence on politeness and one with French roots the other with Dutch roots. The attention to social form. Where English use two words, French speakers have to write at least one sentence just to classical and most famous example occurred in 1990 say exactly the same thing. Still with the same example, in when the King Baudoin who was against abortion has order to find a job, people have to write applications letters been declared unable to govern the country during one and those have rules. These letters have to be addressed to the right person (Ms, Mrs, Mr) without any mistake and day just the time needed by the government to vote the with the correct polite form at the end : Veuillez accepter law. So this has been made under the “agreement” of the Madame, Monsieur, mes salutations les plus distinguées King and legally. which simply means “Sincerely”. An example of everyday life can be that in the street no Solutions are obligatory in Belgium whereas in France it is one says “Hello” to someone he or she does not know. In obligatory to impose changes. the United States, this is quite common and nobody is Being individual and friendly shocked. In our countries, we prefer to use the formal way: “Bonjour” and not “Salut” which is really informal. In his studies, Hofstede also measured country’s individualism and once again, France and Belgium had However the reaction to changes differs between Belgium quite the same result. According to Hofstede, individualism and France. In France, when the government presents a is “the relationship between the individual and the viii new project or wants to change anything in the well collectivity which prevails in a given society.” Sometimes organised and well structured French life, it is always a big this situation is seen as a source of well being and in some issue. French are well known to demonstrate for any other countries it is seen as alienation. reason. Surveys have proved several times that usually The result of the study shows that Belgium such as France people who demonstrate do not even know why they are combines large power distance with high individualism. We doing it. Even when the change has to be made because it have seen before that Belgian and French has a large is the only possible issue, and even if the majority agreed power distance. This factor also influences a lot the on some points, there is still a group, which will refuse the individualistic factor because co-operation is not common project, just for the “honour”. While French take a in our organisations. Most of the times, a French will just deductive and dogmatic approach, Belgians are inductive do what his superiors asked him to do, and nothing else and pragmatic. because it has been decided like that.

This can be seen in problem solving and decision making: Strangely, the Belgians and the French are individualistic in organisations but they tend to be more friendly in their in Belgium, everything is based on compromise, relationship with friends and family. Friendship is really consensus and co-operation. This can be explained by important and usually lasts for all life in our countries.

Belgian political situation. Things in Belgium are always Greetings are also of great important: shaking hands is the rule if we don’t know each other but if we are close friends, done in order to make everybody happy (mostly resolved we kiss (in Belgium: even boys kiss but only one time

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whereas in France, the number of kisses depends on the French comes from a culinary technique where to French region and boys usually never kiss). means to cut in long and slender strips xi .There is the classical steak with French- fries, but the most popular way Friendship means also joie de vivre . In both countries, we to eat it is with mussel. In fact, Belgians eat their French- do like eating and drinking. In business, most of the fries with everything: curry sauce, béchamel sauce, important decisions are taken during lunch time because ketchup, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, sausages, on the top of discussions go on faster and easier when French are a sandwich, plain French-fries just with salt… eating and also drinking their glass of wine. And then in Choosing one national kind of food for France is quite those cases, power distance and individualism factors hard. If Belgium has more than 500 types of beer, France decrease. In our countries, lunch or dinner is always a classified its wine according to eight of its regions: Alsace, gathering and no wonder why we are known all over the world, as said before, for our cuisine. Belgium has beer, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Champagne, Jura, chocolate and French-fries; France has wine, baguette and Languedoc, Loire, Provence, Rhône, Roussillon and South cheese. East. Belgians love French wine. French viticulturists often

In Belgium, French fries are more than important; it is a come to Belgium to organise some wine fairs. According to whole industry, a whole way of life. It’s a symbol of the our survey, the typical French eats frog legs, cheese and country. Une frite mayonnaise ! There can be very few Belgians who have never said this phrase. Because baguette and drinks wine. Most of those stereotypes are French-fries have got a special place in the culinary culture quite true but French do not eat frog legs and snails in of the country. Belgians have their favourite “frit kots” every meal. Those dishes are most festive dishes so they everywhere (kiosks located along high traffic roads or inside cities where French-fries are cooked and sold) usually just appear during Christmas times. whereas French have their favourites cafés. The origin of “frites” is obscure. The term “French- fries” tend to attribute this invention to French but all Belgians will reply that it is French and Belgians are attached to the family and the xii wrong! Amélie Nothomb, a famous Belgian writer has community. R. Hill described it as the “bunker syndrome” . declared this: “It is obvious that French-fries have to be He gives the example of someone from Lier who would be eaten in Belgium. Because there is a lot of differences very upset if we think that he is from Antwerp, even if there between a French French-fries and a Belgian French-fries. is just eight miles which separates the two cities. French […] French French-fries are often too soft or over cooked also have the same problem with location when foreigners or sometimes not enough” ix . “According to popular belief, or tourist said that they are from a city or a region because this recipe was first used in the Meuse valley, between those two regions are close to each other. But this is not Dinant and Liège. The poor inhabitants of this region had actually the same! Even if French are nationalists, they are the custom of accompanying their meals with small fried still attached to their region of origin and someone from fish, but when the river was frozen and they were unable to Marseille will definitely not appreciate to be taken for fish, they cut potatoes lengthwise and fried them in oil to someone from Nice. accompany their meals.” x The reason why they are called This attachment to the community is more obvious when it “French-fries” dates to World War 2. American and English comes to family matters. R. Hill depicts the case of young soldiers first tasted the dish with French speaker Belgians wedded Belgians who still live in the parental home. Or and this may explain the confusion. Belgians are now used then young wedded can have their own home close to their to eat their French-fries with all kind of sauce or on the parents’. It is also the same case in France. Young people side with all kind of dishes. This is the story that most of stay longer and longer with their parents and a French the Belgians will tend to believe, but there is also some director even made a movie about that: Tanguy , which tells more explanations according to the origin of French-fries. the story of 28 years old young man who does not want to The word French can come from the fact that potatoes leave his cocoon. where cooked this way the first time in France and that Conclusion would be the reason why it has been called like this. But other people will be more likely to believe that the part

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To finish with, we can add that the Belgians and the HOFSTEDE Geert (1991) Culture’s French are attached to the Society and the others just Consequences, London: Harper Collins Business by looking at their social system. Retirement pensions MOLE J. (1996) Mind Your Manners, London: are taken in charged by all the workers and Nicholas Brealey Publishing Government help lot families, by issuing funds. Social WILLEQUET Jacques (1988) Histoire illustrée de security is available for everybody in our countries la Belgique, Italy: Kina Italia and at a very low price. This, for sure has to be Internet changed because demography has changed a lot since the application of those systems. This will http://www.straightdope.com however be hard to be accomplished because we are http://www.diplobel.org attached to it and it is also a question of solidarity. http://www.frites.be French likes Belgian and Belgian also likes French, http://home2.planetinternet.be even thought we make fun of each other by telling silly http://www.cartage.org.lb jokes, but there is a popular saying in France which http://www.belgium.be says : Qui aime bien, châtie bien in other words if you http://www.senat.fr like someone you tend to hurt him or her more than http://www.guideduroutard.com the others. Then French also makes fun of the Belgian http://www.visitbelgium.com accent because they pronounce word in a strange way which is sometimes quite hard to understand.

appendix 1. So are Belgian and French so alike? The answer can be yes because we shared part of our history and QUESTIONNAIRE: because we are close neighbours. We are alike because some of us speak the same language, but Belgium Vs. France: same culture? Nationality: that’s all. Belgians have their own identity, which can Age: look more like a patchwork if we stay close to 1. Have you ever travelled to Belgium and/or France? stereotype but then if we look closer and deeper, No ٱ Yes ٱ Belgians are more than rich. They have as many If yes, can you tell us why, when, and where and for how long? different cultures as France even if France is much ______bigger and have more regions than Belgium. So don’t ______forget than a Belgian is not French and do not confuse ______them because we have things in common but we are 2. According to you what is Belgium? ______not each exactly the same. ______Vive la Belgique! ______Vive la France! What is France? ______Vive l’amitié franco-belge ! ______Vive l’Union européenne ! ______

3. What differences have you noticed between Bibliography Belgian and French? According to you is it the same? ______Books ______GANNON Martin J. (1994) Understanding Global ______

Cultures, London: Sage 4. Can you give some adjectives describing a HILL Richard (2001) We Europeans, Brussels : Belgian : Belgium: Euro publications ______

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French: ______• Belgium: An escalator broke down during high traffic time: 40 people stayed on it during 5 hours.

5. Do you know any joke about Belgian or French? • A French is visiting his friend who just had a baby : ______"How cute he is! So how old is he?" ______"Just 15 days old" ______“And what's his name?" ______"I don't know... he does not talk yet" ______• A German tourist is travelling through Belgium and 6. What do they drink and or eat? got lost. He saw two old men sitting under a tree and Belgian:______asked for his way : ______"Excuse me, do you speak English?" (In English in French:______the original joke) ______No answer from the two old men. "Entschuldigung, Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" 7. Last but not least, if you have to chose in Still no answer. which country would you rather spend your holidays : "Scusatemi, parlate l'italiano?" Belgium Still no answer. Completely desperate, the tourist ٱ .France decided to leave ٱ Then the two old men started to say in French: "Don't you think that we should start to learn a foreign Dziekujemy bardzo language?" The other: "What's the point? See, this man was speaking at least three languages and it didn't help him that much."

APPENDIX 2 • How do we recognise a Belgian baby in a maternity? Some jokes about Belgian and French: It is the only one with a cuddly toy shaped like French -fries. • French people don't take shower, they just use “eau

de toilette” • How many jokes about Belgian are there? Just two,

because all the others are true. • Two Belgians are in a car. One is asking the other

one: "Could you please look at the warning lights. Are they working? • A Belgian died while he was drinking milk. The other look through the window: "It is working, it is The milk was poisoned? not, it is working, it is not..." No: the cow just sat.

• How to become rich in France? • Why do Belgians have round garden? Buy French at the price he is worth and sell it at the So dogs cannot piss in the corners. price he thinks he is worth. • How to recognise a Belgian gangster? • French are like crocodile: They have short legs and It is the only one who robbed a casino and went away big mouth! [avoir une grande gueule= to be proud] with the chips.

• Why do we say in Belgium going to the toilet and in • How do we recognise a Belgian in a shoe store? France going to the toilets? Because in France, we should go to several places This is the only one who tries the boxes. before finding one which is clean.

• Why are Belgian babies smaller than French babies? • Why do Belgian women have squared breast? Because they are the only ones who were born in So that the baby will get used to eat french fries. Brussels sprouts.

• How to make a Belgian become crazy? Put him in a round room and tell him that there is a french fries hidden in a corner.

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APPENDIX 3

Recipe of the real Belgian french- fries

Adapted from a Belgian recipe and translated by Nathalie.

• Wash and peel some big potatoes • Cut the potatoes in large sticks of 1 centimetre. Try to cut them regularly. • To make some good French fries, they have to be cooked two times. • The first time, grease shouldn’t boil too much so that the French fries can cook slowly and totally. • When the French fries are ready, dry them. • Then heat the grease for the second turn. When the grease starts to smoke and not before (it is really important), put the French fries back in it and shake quickly the basket. • When the French fries start to become gold, take them off, dry them, put salt on it and serve them right away.

It is said that it is better to use animal grease than vegetal grease. The best way to prepare French-fries according to the Belgian way is to use beef grease.

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APPENDIX 4

Charts

Figure 1: Country Uncertainty Avoidance Index. Country Uncertainty Avoidance Index

Country Actual Controlling for age 1 Greece 112 98 2Portugal 104 102 3 Belgium 94 80 4 Japan 92 112 5 Peru 87 91 6 France 86 73 7 Chile 86 66 Mean of the 39 countries 64 64

Source: Hofstede, G. (1991) Culture’s Consequences, London: Harper Collins Business

Figure 2: Power Distance Index Values by Country Based on the Scores on Three Attitudes Survey Questions to a Stratified Example of Seven Occupations at Two Points in a Time

Power Distance Index

Actual Predicted 1 Philippines 94 73 2 Mexico 81 70 3 Venezuela 81 66 4 India 77 78 5 Syngapore 74 64 6 Brazil 69 72 7 Hong Kong 68 56 8 France 68 42 9 Columbia 67 75 10 Turkey 66 60 11 Belgium 65 36 12 Peru 64 69 Mean of the 39 countries 51 52

Source: Hofstede, G. (1991) Culture’s Consequences, London: Harper Collins Business

i http://www.belgium.be http://www.cartage.org.lb WILLEQUET Jacques (1988) Histoire illustrée de la Belgique, Italy: Kina Italia ii GANNON Martin J. (1994) Understanding Global Cultures, London: Sage, p87.

Euro–limes – numer 1(5) – styczeń 2005 www.euro-limes.ae.krakow.pl Katedra Studiów Europejskich Akademii Ekonomicznej w Krakowie

iii GANNON Martin J. (1994) Understanding Global Cultures, London: Sage, p159. iv HOFSTEDE Geert (1991) Culture’s Consequences, London: Harper Collins Business, p110. v HOFSTEDE Geert (1991) Culture’s Consequences, London: Harper Collins Business, p122. vi See Appendix vii GANNON Martin J. (1994) Understanding Global Cultures, London: Sage, p154. viii HOFSTEDE Geert (1991) Culture’s Consequences, London: Harper Collins Business, p148. ix www.frites.be x www.belgium.be xi http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mfrenchfry.html xii HILL Richard (2001) We Europeans, Brussels Belgium: Euro publications, p147.