BLEGNY COAL MINE

Charli-B

PRE: I was excited about going into the coal mine, I expected it to be so hot that my clothes would be  drenched in sweat, and I thought there was going to be the thick black air I couldn’t see through and coated my lungs then began to wonder if we were going to get haz-mat suits and how it would be pretty cool if we actually did get to where haz-mat suits in the mine.

Post: WELP! No HAZ-MAT SUITS; NO HEAT, (it was surprisingly freezing down there) AND NO BLACK AIR! It DID, however, taste like dirt. Yes. The air tasted like dirt. Why was I tasting it? Because I was breathing through my mouth and happened to catch a sample on my tongue **shruggs** MOVING ON! There weren’t any haz-mat suits but I got where a Coal Miner shirt and yellow work helmet  -THAT WAS COOL enough for me, I felt OFFICIAL.

Blegny-Mine

COM 263
The Grand Narrative:
After visiting couple websites for the Blegny Coal Mine, I noticed that the stories that were told by our tour guide were NOT on the website. I remember him telling us about how there was terrible accident that happened in the mine. A coal miner was transporting coal on the lift when he shouldn’t have been. (The lifts were made to transport the the miners up and down into the mine) But this who-ha attempted to transport a steel cart of coal. – I still shake my head to that. Because of his actions just about 200 miners lost there live.
There’s no figures, no stories, no gruesome pictures to depict the truth of what really happened. I’m assuming it’s because they didn’t want to scare off tourist by enabling them to think there were ghost in the mine.

IBS 101
Aesthetics: (Still referring to the website)
When you glance over the websites color and form, you’ll notice how the shade of blue is kind of calming, if not, dull. The words are situated in a way that enables you to navigate down the page without ambiguity. However, I’m still confused and asking my self why there’s no stories about the accidents that took place down there so many years ago. Notice it says 1980 is when the mine had its last coal mining transfer from Liege and was finally shut down as a functioning Coal mine and immediatley turned it into a tourist attraction. In my opinion, the truth has been over shadowed by the greatness the Mine has brought the town of Blegny. Which was work and productivity to the town.

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PORT OF LIEGE

Charli-B

Pre: When I heard “Port Of Liege, I didn’t know what to think, I never heard of a “port” before. .. Actually I did think about Newport Cigarettes once, but I knew that couldn’t have been it at all. Then I thought more into it, and thought about a mass area where big rigs (Diesels) drop their loads of cargo off.

Post: The Port of Liege is legit. Small but powerful and well equipped to handle what comes in the port and what leave. Especially with there new additions being added and should be finished by 2015. THREE different ways in and out; train, water, land transportation.
THREE different ways in and out; train, water, land transportation.
The Liege Trilogiport project underscores the Liege Port Authority’s (APL) determination to take part in the Liege region’s economic restructuring process. Enjoying the support of the Visé, Herstal and Oupeye municipalities, plus all the key economic players in Liege, the scheme offers unique advantages for the revival of the Lower Meuse Valley and the Liege region as a whole.

Liege Trilogiport will enable the Liege Port Authority to accommodate new companies in the future and underpin the expansion of its river traffic, while ensuring the permanent economic development of the Liege region. As a fully-fledged “logistical village “, Liege Trilogiport represents one of the initial schemes for economic restructuring in the Liege region.

ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING SHOWCASE

COM 263
The Relationship Between Nature & Humans
In chapter 2 of Experiencing Intercultural communication it talks about The relationship between nature and human. At the Port of Liege I notice a brush area directly between the community and the port. The speaker was talking about how they were slapped with couple of lawsuits because of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) “Conflicts between environmentalist and land developers often center on disagreements over this value orientation” -which is why I find it intriguing that the Port of LIege and the community behind came to agreement on the grassy area, both parties are happy with end result, and construction continues!

IBS 101
Socio-Economic Rationale:
  “. . Socio-economics addresses the study of the relationship between business or economic activity and the social life of residents in a nation. In the context of international trade, socio-economics explores the relative negative impact of free trade upon society’s welfare, as well as government policy measures that are implemented to minimize the negative outcomes to society in a [community]”
 By having the grassy area between the community and the Port of Liege, it created a cushion, in a sense, the community doesn’t have to look at the industrial eye-sore in their back yards. Thus, the City of Liege avoided any future law suits!

ARRIVAL JOURNAL #2(EXTRA CREDIT)

Charli-B

Example of Social Class: 

As I waited for my section to be called to board the plane I noticed (and felt) and sense of superiority from those in line to  board first ,”First class”, I assumed, as if they were more important than those boarding the plane after them.  In the book, it talks about how culture is expressed as behavior. The non verbal communication I saw screamed ” I”M MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU, THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO WAIT.”  They looked like the everyday business men and women that work in the Admin office of the MCC. Other than their fancy business suits, they didn’t look so important, nor too different than me. I’m convinced they were just like me though, because, like my self and other business men and women alike, we all have our own attitudes, values and beliefs.

JOURNAL# 1: ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOUR OF LIEGE

Charli-B
PRE: 
I was under the impression the Archaeological Tour of Liege was going to be a tour of the city on a Double-Decker bus, seeing all the major tourist attractions in the city; with a tour guide that came with an extremely thick accent that I wasn’t going to be able to understand. I also thought it was going to be bigger and more extravagant than what it was. However, I was left with an impression like no other. 
Post:
After the tour I was caught off guard by how impact full it was and how wrong I was. First of all Double-Decker buses are in London England. Second, the Archaeological Tour was just that: an Archaeological remains of the Gallo-Roman Villa The fact that there was an entire Roman Villa under the streets of Liege was bizarre; 9,000 years of history beneath Place Saint-Lambert. Third, the tour guide DID have thick french accent that was difficult to understand, but given the culture and environment, it was expected. Concepts: I was able to tie in the the Economic Imperative from Com263 and Factor Endowments from IBS101.

Economic Imperative: knowing about other cultures and communication patterns.(Ie: understanding the cultures identity and history) After Exploring around the Roman Villas I now have a better understanding  for Liege. It’s hasn’t quite set the tone of the culture, however its has set the tone for the environment and answers the question: “Why’s this city look so ancient..?” BECAUSE IT IS!

 

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Factor Endowments:  Porter’s model looks more closely at the quality of the factor endowments (i.e., land, labor, capital, and technology). For example, how can the quality of labor in a specific country be described—skilled, unskilled, highly technical?
The land of  the Roman Villa is beneath Place Saint Lambert, while a museum  was constructed around and over the Villa. Thelabor needed would be from those that had merited knowledge of the history of he site -the knowledge and skills to provide accurate information to those visitors who came to see the Roman Villa.Capital:By turning the Roman Villa into an archeaological museum, the city is able to generate income for which expenses it may need. Technology: Being in a technology driven era, it’s safe to say that without some of the visual effects, to add emphasis on particular exhibits such as the the iPAD, and large LSD screen, The museum may not do as well without them, For example, when kids go to into a museum, the iPADs set them in a trance and their attention is focused completely on the movement of the iPAD screen. 

BELGIUM -POST IMPRESSION (NOW THAT I’M HERE)

Charli-B

Liege, Belgium, is legit.  There apartments/dorms we’re staying in are right down the street from a strip of boutiques in one direction and a grocery store -which is inside the mall. I must say that I was wrong.  The City of Liege is beautiful -when it’s not raining. Our apartments are chic and cozy, there’s no AC but we’re never there during the day ant we can open the windows at night so it works out. Definitely a nice place to temporarily call home.
The Belgian Culture is divided but unified at the same time. There’s the French Wallonian Belgians in the South (Closer to France), the Flemish Belgians (Near Flanders in the North); then there are pockets of German Belgians in random areas throughout the country. 4197340 I found out that when you’re taking the train across the country, you will here the language over the intercom change from one city to the next, for example,  in Liege (See map) they speak French, and Brussels, Belgium’s capital, they speak Flemish. Crazy right??
Another observation, is that the people of Belgium are kind and have humble souls. It’s almost as though their Ethical Judgement and Culture values have been molded by a peaceful force that it no where to be found. After chatting with a married couple who have lived in Liege for 11 years (Natives to Italy) I was informed that most Belgians actually do like Americans and what America Has done to help Europe. Though there are those few stubborn ones who will give Americans a hard time just to do it.
Being an American in a another country, for the first time at that, can be quite intimidating. However, when I first arrived in Belgium I wasn’t expecting it to be as developed as they were. Which only goes to show you shouldn’t believe ANYTHING of what you see on TV, you should get out and see for your self!