May 28This French Paper Mill Has Been Running for Five CenturiesSituated two miles from the center of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat at the confluence of the Tard and Vienne Rivers, surrounded by rolling fields on one side and unspoiled woods on another, the Moulin du Got’s idyllic location has remained unchanged since the mill was constructed here in the late fifteenth century. This…Paper7 min read
May 20French Fries Aren’t French…They’re BelgianYou’re no doubt familiar with French fries. If you’ve ever traveled to Belgium, though, then you’ve likely heard a different story about this food. That is, fries are not French. They are Belgian. According to the Belgians, fries originated in Belgium. The French contest this claim, and research into the…Belgium5 min read
May 9Why Europe Has Its Own HolidayToday is Europe Day. What is Europe Day? It’s a celebration of “peace and unity” in Europe, according to the European Commission. …European Union5 min read
Jan 16How to Play Inappropriate Party Games in a Second LanguageWhen you’ve mastered humor in a second language, you’ve mastered that language. …Foreign Language5 min read
Dec 5, 2021English the Most Common Language in Europe? Not If the French Can Help ItA while back, I wrote about Euro English, or “globish,” and how it’s taking root throughout Europe. The English language is developing and shifting as non-native speakers use it to communicate with each other, a phenomenon I find utterly fascinating. Not everyone is happy about Euro English, though. One European…France5 min read
Nov 22, 2021Can We Be Done With Anti-COVID Protests Now?Yesterday, 35,000 people gathered in central Brussels to express their disapproval for recent coronavirus restrictions that the federal government re-introduced last week. The protest turned violent, with 44 arrests and three injured police officers. Protestors threw objects at the police and officers used water cannons and tear gas to try…Belgium5 min read
Jul 20, 2021Why Belgium Is Actually Two CountriesOn July 21, Belgium celebrates its National Day. It commemorates the day in 1830 when a German prince living in England traveled to Belgium and swore allegiance to a constitution that a bunch of revolutionaries wrote after chasing out their Dutch rulers. …Belgium6 min read
Apr 26, 2021The Rise of Euro EnglishWhat’s the most common choice for a second language in Europe? It’s not French, German, Spanish, or Italian. It’s English. In Europe, English is the most widely spoken non-native language. Thirty-eight percent of the population speaks English and in 19 European Union member-states, it’s the dominant foreign language. …Europe5 min read
Jan 29, 2021What Europeans Think of Americans Post-TrumpThe European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) did a survey of residents in 11 European countries at the end of 2020 to gauge their attitudes toward the trans-Atlantic relationship. …European Union4 min read
Jun 29, 2020Does an American Diaspora Exist?Americans residing abroad are a diverse group. They move and live overseas for different reasons, to various countries. The answer to the question “Who are Americans abroad?” isn’t so straightforward. Americans living overseas aren’t counted on the U.S. census. The U.S. government, unlike most other nations in the world, doesn’t strive to keep accurate counts of American…American Expats8 min read
