Lilac Colored Glasses

Jovanka is a fellow expat living in Gent. She’s also a stand up comedian, so I’ll have to see if she’s performing in the Gentse Feesten this year. Anyway, I really liked these questions because they are from an expat living in Belgium perspective, so they were sort of unexpected, insomuch as when I am asked about living here, these sorts of questions never really come up.

What is your favorite Dutch word and why?…My first one was “Nachtwinkel” which used to crack me up for some reason.
I’m not sure if I have a favorite word in Dutch. I kind of like the word “waterzooi” I guess. I have to say though, the word I’ll always remember in Dutch is “ongeloofelijk” because it’s the first Dutch word I learned all by myself. From a Pizza Hut commercial actually.

What’s your favorite topping on frietjes?…Mine used to be “Samurai” (before I went vegan).
Hrm, I’d have to say garlic sauce or tartar sauce.  Vol au vent is good too, but I don’t like how it makes the fries mushy towards the end.

The three kiss thing when greeting people: Do you love it or find it invasive and tedious? (Personally I found it charming until I had to kiss everyone like a million times at my wedding).
Crap, I totally didn’t even think about the fact that I’ll have to do this at our reception here. I’ve never seen it as charming…I find it more than tedious if the group I’m greeting is larger than 2 people. I really felt uncomfoartable doing the kiss thing when I first moved here. I enjoy my personal space. I’m not a hugger at all. In fact, there are pictures of me throughout my childhood where you can see me clenching my fists (unconsciously) while I’m being hugged. So kissing was very difficult to get used to and I still feel awkward doing it if I’m meeting a group of people who are more or less strangers.

So, there you have it! Mind you, I’m always open to questions if you have any, so feel free to ask away at any time. Oh and here’s a quick list of terms:
nachtwinkel – night shop
waterzooi – a thin stew made with chicken or fish, vegetables and cream (Gent’s specialty)
ongeloofelijk – unbelievable
frietjes – fries (which are not, nor have they ever been French, fyi)
samurai sauce – a spicy sauce made from sambal and mayonnaise