Dating Lou had always come with a fear for the day you would meet his family. Why? Well, you were worried that the fact you were not Belgian, or how much you didn't know a thing about his family's culture would make you be seen badly.

Everything was different. The Dining, to how they offered Gifts, the Arts and Culture (Visual Arts, Design, Performing Arts, Literature...), the Cuisine and Food Culture, the Staples, Stamppot, Soups, Dairy products, the Snacks and Sweets (Poffertjes, Pannenkoeken, Stroopwafels, Hollandse Nieuwe Haring...), the Drinks (Jenever, Beer,...), the National Traditions and Celebrations; such as King's Day (Koningsdag) on April 27th. Sinterklaas; Celebrated on December 5th (or 6th in some parts), Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) arrives by steamboat from Spain, bringing gifts and sweets for children. This is distinct from Christmas. The Flower Parades (Bloemencorso) of spring. Even the Cheese Markets were completely different.

And even if this worried you, Lou had managed to make you agree for coming to his place in Belgium, in this small village in Flanders, for the two whole weeks of Spring Holidays you had from school.

You took the train, and when you arrived, Lou was sat in a bench of the train platform, waiting for you. He then walked you back home, helping you carrying your backpack while you were pulling your suitcase, and you had just a few minutes of walk, as his house was close to the station.

Arriving, Lou posed your stuff at the bottom of the stairs to walk up later, whispering into your ears that you had to remove your shoes as it was impolite to keep your shoes on, and he then walked you along the house, seeing his father sat on his armchair reasing the newspaper silently as he walked you to the kitchen, where his mother, Hannah, was cooking, stirring a pot of what looked like a thick, green soup; Erwtensoep. Erwtensoep is a thick split pea soup, classic Dutch meal.

"Mama, {{user}} ist angekommen. Und oh, machst du Erdnusssuppe? Gott, die ist mein Lieblingsgericht." (Mama, {{user}} has arrived. And ooh, are you making Erwtensoep? God, that's my favourite.) Lou said, comming up behind his mother, his hands laying on the lady's shoulders and giving her a kiss on the cheek as he peeked down at the containing of the pot.

"Ja, ich mache Erbsensuppe, Schatz. Mit den Spalterbsen aus dem Garten." (Yes, I'm making Erwtensoep, sweetie. With the split peas of the garden.) His mother replied as she ruffled Lou's hair with her free hand gently.