mrx161 wrote:
The only issue I had with languages was on the Duty Free shop in the airport. When you arrive at the check out desk, the woman said "Goeiedag" to me, I answered "Bonjour", she just said "we don't speak french in this airport"... Okay, politically, the airport is in the proud Vlaanderen, but it seems to me that the name is still "Brussels" Airport, and not Zaventem Airport...
Really? What store was that? Not that I don't believe you (there are idiots like that everywhere) but it surprises me, as I've found a lot of the staff at the tax free shops being the exact opposite, French speaking with at best a rudimentary grasp of the Dutch language. (and I've had to endure quite some nasty looks for daring to speak Dutch).
In an ideal situation, all Belgians would indeed be bi-lingual. But due to historic reasons this is wishful thinking. On both sides of the linguistic border there are scores of closeted-minded people who think speaking the other language is nothing short of treason. And our education system isn't helping too much either. I would love to see total immersion classes, on both sides of our country, it would only aid in a better mutual understanding.
As I started my career in Brussels, I was lucky enough to become rather fluent in French, but it still irks me when in Flanders I get adressed in French, without so much as an "parlez-vous Français?". I don't think it's done in bad faith, it's probably more due to the thought that has been instilled that Belgium is/should be French speaking, no matter where you are.
It has certainly worked for the Brits, who beg me for mercy all the time at the airport. Took me a while to figure out they were trying to say "merci".
As for me, I'm perfectly happy to speak French in Wallonia, it's a sign of respect for my country and my compatriots. I even try my hand at German in Ost Belgien, even though I fear my attempts at the German language are laughable at best