Xpat Experience #1 - The Exchange

It occurred to me that I have been basically writing about our experiences traveling and have neglected the fun that has been living in Brussels as an American. This is the tale of Catherine returns a tea kettle. One of the rumors in the expat community is that it is ridiculously hard to return items in Brussels. Customer service is not what it is in America. In one way I like it; the salesperson leaves you alone to shop, waiters aren't hovering over your table pretending to care that you need water, butter, more coke, another drink, etc etc. If you want something you ask. If not, then you will barely get a hello from the service. There are of course the rare exception but as a whole, if you want something you have to wait patiently, ask a much of times, and make several different appointments.

So, our first month here Charles and I purchased an electric tea kettle. For a few days all was well. Charles prepared his tea no problem. Then one morning I noticed a huge pile of water underneath the kettle. Oh dear. After two more uses and continuing water leakage, Charles asked me to return the kettle. So in my ignorance of Brussels lovely resistance to exchanges I ventured back to the store. Before heading that way I researched and practiced how to say "this has a leak from the bottom" or a "une fuite à partir du bas" So, I went to the shop, picked up a newer better model of the kettle we purchased and headed toward the counter. When my number was announced I timidly told the scowling sales girl "une fuite dans la bas." The response was a blank stare so in a classic way of trying to get someone to understand I said a little bit louder, une foutre dans la bas. Now her scowl deepened and she replied Comment? So getting more brave I repeated quite loudly, une foutre, une foutre. She grabbed the tea kettle from me and ran toward the back room. After about twenty minutes, she returned and asked me in French if I wanted a autre one. Oui, I replied and proudly placed the new kettle on the counter. She exchanged the item, had me pay the extra, and then said goodbye. Pswhew, that was easy. I proudly shared my story with a fella expat who spoke French how well my exchange went. When I repeated what I told the salesgirl, she started laughing and said no wonder the girl was so quick to help. She told me I was saying "foutre"" not fuite so I looked up foutre vs. fuite. OOPPs! (http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#fr|en|fuite%0Afoutre)

Fuite and foutre sound very similar to an untrained tongue!!