One of the challenges faced by anyone in arriving in a new country is getting to grips with the local customs, the language.
In Belgium, that challenge magnified as there are two languages to learn, Français and Nederlands.
Nederlands is then spiced up a bit with various regional differences and some carefully inserted words designed to make sure it stands out from the language spoken by the inhabitants of that country to the North.
Despite my weekly lessons, I am essentially clueless.
However, I have benefited from a very clever public awareness scheme seemingly designed to help those new to the country get to grips with the most important words.
A scheme operated by governments at every level across the region.
Those words?
– omleiden
– omlegging
– onderbroken
But the really clever part is that the bright orange awareness raising posters signs, that are used to reinforce these crucial words, also guide the visitor to new and undiscovered places, some never to be visited again.
It really is a very clever initiative.
A little diversion from the rigour of #photo101
belgianstreets 
I love the way language learning is facilitated in Brussels! But pray you, what do those three words mean?? Brussels is such a neat city, judging from your photos, even the street work looks tidy, no unnecessary mess…
Good evening!
– redirect
– rearrangement
– intermittent
Ah…behind that tidy facade…
Oh, and I hope you liked the shot of the tram lines…. 😉
Ha!! So that was a funny point which I didn’t get… The tram lines literally excited me though I’m hardly ever excited about anything. Perhaps with the exception of cats. And trams.
Maybe I overcooked this post 😉 but I’m thrilled the tram lines had an impact…still thinking up the cat post for belgradestreets…
You didn’t overcook this post, it would be me not being at my best brain-wise today… I’ll wait for the cat post as long as it takes, no worries.
Sent you an old cat post as a teaser…..hope you get some rest….
I’ve seen and loved! I noticed a Freshly Pressed badge on your other blog: would you care directing me to the post that was freshly pressed, if you can find it? You see, I’m curious… But let it be if it’s too much bother!
Of course and thank you again Mara…here it is…
http://belgradestreets.com/2012/01/25/snow-снег/
It was a real shock when it got freshly pressed…
The images are indeed amazing! Beautiful in black and white. I can see now a bit better how you miss Belgrade…
Thank you!! And oh yes, I miss it, It is strange re-reading posts and remembering…
Ps – I am not normally a cat person but they have cropped up in past posts…. Maybe you will like this old one
http://belgradestreets.com/2012/04/26/schrodingers-cat-and-photography/
Of course you’re not normally a cat person, because then you’d be perfect 😉 I love the post. It doesn’t surprise me that you have a background in philosophy. I don’t claim I totally grasped all the implications of your post, but I love the idea of Schrodinger’s cat in photography.
Oh I am way way way from perfect…God help me….
my philosophy background (inverted commas required) was limited to that course but it left an impression…..re-reading that post it does feel a bit pretentious now…I used to sit in cafes and bars banging away on my Mac, it was a very special time…
Oh I guess all of us think of our younger selves as pretentious. I should be well-versed at philosophy, as a graduate in the humanities, but it never quite appealed to me. Perhaps this is where my mental faculties hit the limits as to how much I can do, think and understand. Too bad.
From what I have read your mental faculties seem in pretty good shape…and my imperfections extend well beyond philosophy….
Mine too, of course. And thanks!
…and thank you
I am rubbish at other languages so i totally sympathize with you!