First, chose your music version, through either Youtube, Dailymotion or Metacafé.
Then, help yourself with the alphabet below, or go straight to the transliteration - try to learn this song with the real alphabet (anyway you’ll need to master it before your journey)… if you want to carry on your immersion, have a look as well to Калинка, Kalinka

First, chose your music version, through either Youtube, Dailymotion or Metacafé.
Then, help yourself with the alphabet below, or go straight to the transliteration - try to learn this song with the real alphabet (anyway you’ll need to master it before your journey)…I you want to carry on your absorption of Russian culture, have a look to Катюша, Katyusha…

Disturbing piece of art from an artist (Mladen Stilinović) born in Belgrade & living in Croatia. What if we swapped the word “artist” by “businessman” ? The message is much deeper though, and makes us questioning about the real definition of “artist”…

1. Brussels becomes part of Flanders ? I would hardly accept this idea - even if I speak Flemish, my mother tongue is French. Language Diversity (a concept I care a lot) might be at risk. On the other hand, if Brussels becomes part of Flanders, and if the UN, EU institutions make their job, Flanders might be coerced to become a bilingual entity (Brussels or the poison pill:-). This might be funny to try (but the joke might be for a short while).

2. Brussels becomes the first European state directly ruled by the European Commission? I would hardly accept this idea (being governed by a Greek, or a Swedish, or any other European citizen except a native). On the other hand, not so far ago (175 years ago), we were used to be ruled by Dutch, French, Austrian, Spanish,… during centuries). It would be a pretty big administration for such a small city though

3. Brussels becomes part of Wallonia ? Walloons speak French, we share common media (TV and newspapers). But do I want Brussels to be managed like Charleroi ? Sorry this was easy, but well, the most populated city of Wallonia is not really an example of transparency.

4. “Wallonia-Brussels” becomes part of France ? French speaks French, we share common media (TV and newspapers). But do I want a Sarkozy-Bruni duet as a royal example ? Ok, frankly, I don’t care, but Language Diversity (a concept I care a lot about) might be at risk in this case (I love speaking other languages).

5. Wallonia becomes part of Luxembourg (or maybe Wallonia takes over Luxemburg) ? In Luxembourg, 3 national languages. They are friendly, a bit rough, but friendly, they know how to manage business, and make money… mmmh why not, I’d like to explore this idea. A future country with 4 national languages, good governance, still some royal family… from a cultural point of view, it might be very powerful…

6. Wallonia, like Brussels becomes part of a “European federation entity”, under commandment of the EC. This might get very funny, but could open huge opportunities (an open-air laboratory on how to boost a whole region, a “EU flagship”, where ideas will be directly put into practice). On the other hand, the country is paralyzed by a very complex decision apparel, economy is not flourishing, entrepreneurship is still considered as a strange concept. Tough challenge,… would be these 16 844 km² be ready to become a Multicultural chaos ?

7. The Netherlands become part of Flanders (I know this is a bit cynic) ? Dutch speak a very close language to Flemish. But do you seriously believe Flemish would like to be called “Dutch” (I mean Hollanders being called Flemish?) ? There is after all a deep cultural gap (Flemish are mainly catholics, and Dutch protestants), and anyway The Netherlands will not accept to be called “Flanders”. This could constitute though one of the most powerful economic bloc… since Flanders would leave out Wallonia because of the money…

In the case some hurdles happen (at the “linguistic border”), if things get serious, I sell everything (I have nothing) and will live somewhere else, abroad (making money and surviving is hard enough) - maybe I’ll be entitled to get a US / Australian nationality ? Cool perspective (but please, not Arkansas)… Little Belgium between little Armenia and Little Italy…