So I am back from dinner with our VP – a traditional Southern France meal of Duck and a nice bottle of wine, and I am so full.  I always like to reflect in my last blog of things I learned from the visit.  This trip, I learned:

• Belgium Politie (Police) just arrested terrorists from Pakistan, here in Brussles, who were plotting to blow something up. No, really, I just found that out at dinner!
• Brussels is the capital of both Belgium, and the European Union. (They stole the EU Capital from Strasberg , France!)
• “Please” is often translated as “Thank you” here…
• French, while one of the offical languages, is not always the one they’re speaking. Try Dutch or German as well.
• Once again, Diet Coke is taboo – it’s called Coke Light.
• Pedestrians *always* have the right away in a cross walk, and will prove it!
• Everyone drives a standard, so get out of that automatic and learn something new!
• Bathtubs are not guarantees – break the creature comfort.
• You can live two full weeks with no TV - I just did.
• Le Madeline prepared me for French Cuisine – Croque Monsiure ce vou plait
• Contact FM, Q-Music and BEL RTL are not “cool” radio stations, so don’t brag that you listen to them.
• Don’t order Steak Tartar, unless your up for some raw hamburger meat.
• McDonalds does not serve “all white meat chicken” outside the US.
• GPS is a gift from GOD!
• Visa – it’s not *everyhwere* you want to be – but the Euro is!
• The alumininum in soda cans in EU is much more sturdy than in the US.
• Greek resteraunts are *everywhere* in Belgium – enjoy a pita!
• Learn a subway system – any system – before traveling abroad… trust me
• Try it – you’ll probably like it.

And finally – things I’ll miss (albeit some of them dorky)…

• The little chocolate things the client had in the breakroom.
• The cold weather.
• Nora Jones blaring outside my hotel window from the Christmas market EVERY NIGHT.
• The awesome lights on the historic buildings celebrating Christmas.
• The way I pretended to know French with my Bonsiur and Au revior.
• Not understanding a damn thing said on the radio except Katy Perry, Coldplay and Pink.
• Agressive driving.
• The fascination from others into what “we”, my company, does.
• Being lost in a world and feeling so comfortable at the same time.

Traveling abroad is one of the many things I am so thankful for in my career and with my company.  My next trip is back to one, maybe two, places in Europe in early 2009, and I am ready for more experiences.

-30-