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We asked six longtime expats for their most helpful tips for newcomers to Luxembourg. Here's what they said:
Sarah, 42
If a shirtless old man and his grandson knock on your door and ask in Spanish if you'd like to buy a pineapple fresh from the tree, just say no. The old man buys them from a guy up the street for a fraction of what he'll charge you. It also means that you're not actually in Luxembourg. You’ve mistakenly relocated to Costa Rica, as we did. Always make sure to double-check your flight info.
Zulmira, 34
The day will come when someone at work opens a bottle of crémant early in the day and claims it's for so-and-so's birthday. When they offer you a glass, just say no. It's a setup to see if you're a day drinker so they can mercilessly tease you for the rest of forever. It's been nine years since I fell for the trick, and all I did was take a sip. My colleagues still hiccup, stumble, and pretend to be drunk whenever they see me.
Jonas, 49
Our first summer here, my family and I went to the Schueberfouer. I guess I misunderstood the concept, because instead of trying to buy a ticket for the funhouse, I tried to buy the funhouse. Honestly, I'm not rich. I just believed that was what I was supposed to do. I haggled with the ticket vendor for a whole hour before the police intervened. My kids still refuse to find the humor in it.
Hugo, 71
I had read that in Luxembourg you can take care of pretty much everything at the commune. After my wife and I completed our initial paperwork, I started going to the commune for other tasks such as getting a haircut, buying worm medicine for my cat, and finding a trustworthy medium to communicate with my cousin Stefania who disappeared during a singles cruise in the Caribbean back in 2002. Well, it turns out that you can't do any of these things at the commune. Be prepared to lose a lot of time running around to different places.
Ariel, 25
Some people find the customer service rather poor, especially in Luxembourg City. My partner and I found a great little shop where they basically sell everything, and where the salesman is super helpful. I can't remember the name of the shop, and I don't think the guy is there anymore, but if you get a chance to be helped by Kevin, do it. Or maybe his name was Ludovic or Luc. Anyway, he's probably still working somewhere. So just keep an eye open for him.
Trevor, 24
Making friends with locals can seem a little daunting at first, but just be patient. In a generation or two, you'll have a fully formed social circle.
