LEARNINGS FROM THREE WEEKS OF TRAVEL TO BELGIUM AND PORTUGAL
Trading in 90,000 miles for a roundtrip first-class ticket to Europe was worth every mile. This was the first time I have ever gone to Europe in first-class. Talk about making it easier on one. I am writing this 32,000 miles up in the sky.
I learned from my daughter that the first course is not starter or appetizer as we call it in the States. An entrée is the first thing served. In first class, smoked salmon, delicious fish compote, fresh dark roll, and a glass of wine were served. I won’t even go into what ate for the meal. Let’s just say I am not hungry.
I have consumed more champagne/wine already this year than I normally drink in six months. Okay I bought into the European idea that red wine is good for your health.
Family time revolves around meals. It is not unusual to have four courses for large gatherings. Sprinkle that with LOTS of French and you get the idea that for a non-French speaker the evening can seem quite long.
Motorways --- a smog alert can trigger 90 kmh (not sure that is right—our equivalent of mph) speed limits. Locals are convinced it is a way the police find a way to pick up extra revenue because few people actually obey the speed limit and speeding tickets are common during a smog alert.
Haven’t figured out why European showers have the showers that fit into a clip at the top and you have the coil to deal with. Even worse, it flips out of your hand ending up in a newly cleansed bathroom.
Kitchen appliances have directions written in French. You thought different microwaves were complicated in the United States---you haven’t seen anything until you try to warm something in a French or Portuguese kitchen.
People are truly kind and are anxious to show off their country to visitors. Even though I have traveled to visit my daughter in Belgium many times, it is always an adventure—this trip was no exception.
By the way, my suitcase is loaded with Belgium chocolate. I’m thinking people will be happy to see me for the next few days.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
This trip reminded me about the importance of learning another language. I mentioned it before, yet, going to give you the site again http://www.livemocha.com
I will be learning French this year. My daughter was impressed when I pronounced something correctly. Livemocha has gotten me started on the right track.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Thursday, January 08, 2009
TRYING LOCAL FOODS IN PORTUGAL
It is an adventure going to the grocery store, here on the southern shores of Portugal. In the United States, we may have 40 different kinds of dishwashing soap. In the stores here, maybe 10 different kinds at the most.
On the other hand, if you are looking for wine, the choices are overwhelming. Imagine an isle in a large American supermarket running the full length of the store. Well, here I saw different kinds of Portuguese wine indicated by region the entire length of the aisle. Various Port wines lined half the next.
My daughter and I finally resorted to choosing wine based on the looks of its label. It then became a contest to see who could find the better wine. The first two bottles, she won—it seems she knew that in Europe that the years 2005 and 2007 were good years for wine. Unfortunately, for me I didn’t know that and chose a bottle from 2006.
Like cheese? Well this is the place to come. Again, the deli is piled with cheeses from all over Europe. Our evening meal normally consists of wine, cheese, and hard salami that is sliced very thin.
Now for the truly outstanding treat. In December and January, the trees are covered with ripe oranges and lemons. Families pick their fruit and bag them in ten-pound bags. As soon you leave the city proper, you can start seeing piles of fresh oranges at the end of driveways waiting for someone like me to stop and make a purchase. The bag with at least 30 oranges costs two Euro or almost $3. Now if you really want to start your morning out right, have a glass of Portugal’s freshly squeezed orange juice.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
If you travel a great deal, start a file system where you can put restaurant cards, articles and attraction ideas. Since I live in the United States, I have broken up the country into regions. When I am heading to a specific region, I pull out the file.
It is an adventure going to the grocery store, here on the southern shores of Portugal. In the United States, we may have 40 different kinds of dishwashing soap. In the stores here, maybe 10 different kinds at the most.
On the other hand, if you are looking for wine, the choices are overwhelming. Imagine an isle in a large American supermarket running the full length of the store. Well, here I saw different kinds of Portuguese wine indicated by region the entire length of the aisle. Various Port wines lined half the next.
My daughter and I finally resorted to choosing wine based on the looks of its label. It then became a contest to see who could find the better wine. The first two bottles, she won—it seems she knew that in Europe that the years 2005 and 2007 were good years for wine. Unfortunately, for me I didn’t know that and chose a bottle from 2006.
Like cheese? Well this is the place to come. Again, the deli is piled with cheeses from all over Europe. Our evening meal normally consists of wine, cheese, and hard salami that is sliced very thin.
Now for the truly outstanding treat. In December and January, the trees are covered with ripe oranges and lemons. Families pick their fruit and bag them in ten-pound bags. As soon you leave the city proper, you can start seeing piles of fresh oranges at the end of driveways waiting for someone like me to stop and make a purchase. The bag with at least 30 oranges costs two Euro or almost $3. Now if you really want to start your morning out right, have a glass of Portugal’s freshly squeezed orange juice.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
If you travel a great deal, start a file system where you can put restaurant cards, articles and attraction ideas. Since I live in the United States, I have broken up the country into regions. When I am heading to a specific region, I pull out the file.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
WORDS FOR 2009 GOALS
Have you written your goals for the year yet?
We write our goals on a slip of paper and toss it into our “important drawer or important file”. If the sheet doesn’t find its way to one of these two places, it is often buried beneath the stacks on our desk.
Chris Brogan is one of the prolific writers on Twitter. http://www.twitter.com He has provided a useful and easy way to remember goals. Check out his blog at http://www.chrisbrogan.com
My three words for the year are: Believe, Build and Write.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
Make sure when you are out-and-about you write down your great ideas. Even when you say it to yourself three times, a great idea can escape your mind. The more you open your mind to what is going on around you, the quicker great ideas flow to you.
Have you written your goals for the year yet?
We write our goals on a slip of paper and toss it into our “important drawer or important file”. If the sheet doesn’t find its way to one of these two places, it is often buried beneath the stacks on our desk.
Chris Brogan is one of the prolific writers on Twitter. http://www.twitter.com He has provided a useful and easy way to remember goals. Check out his blog at http://www.chrisbrogan.com
My three words for the year are: Believe, Build and Write.
BUSINESS COMMUNICATION TIP:
Make sure when you are out-and-about you write down your great ideas. Even when you say it to yourself three times, a great idea can escape your mind. The more you open your mind to what is going on around you, the quicker great ideas flow to you.
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