Currently: Deland, FL
With just 5 days left in this amazing place, I’m feeling torn. On one hand I’m more than ready to go home. I’m ready to hear my sweet horse’s nicker, hug my family and boyfriend, see my amazing friends, and go to the beach. On the other hand, I’m going to miss cappuccinos and croissants, cocktail dates at LIB, fabulous dinners at Kokob, and most of all, my host family. Brussels, you’ve quickly become my second home.
301 people died at Breendonk at the hands of the Nazi regime during the second World War.
I promise I’m actually studying on this study abroad. It just so happens that in one of my classes I’m studying beer.
Yesterday, we took a train to the city of Poperinge where we rented bicycles and rode through the hops fields and cow farms to reach the famous monastery that brews Westvleteren Trappist beer, named the Best Beer in the World many years in a row by RateBeer.com. It has since gained a reputation for not only being a great beer, but also for being incredibly hard to come by.
Perks of living with a homestay: They know all of the best places to eat and shop.
Just when you think you’re starting to get the hang of public transportation, it humbles you.
Yesterday I was on my way to Zellik Riding Club from my homestay in Laeken. I made it from the tram stop to the train station and with my riding boots on and helmet strapped to my backpack, I strutted onto platform 3 of the Jette train station and patiently waited for my train to roll in 15 minutes later.
As the train rolled up right on time, I hopped in and found a seat by the door, since Zellik was only one stop away. After a few minutes, I knew we were coming close to my stop, so I got up and waited by the door for the train to stop only… it didn’t.
I always say coffee runs through my veins.
Every time I would travel to Europe, unless I could figure out where the nearest Starbs was, I would struggle to find a place that would serve me filter coffee and not just offer espresso based drinks. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve learned to love a good cappuccino and I’m lucky that my host family does have a k-cup machine, but sometimes it’s nice to go out and have a cup of coffee and read a book or do homework at a cute and cozy cafe. In Deland, Boston Coffee is a long time favorite, but recently we have even more options to choose from (Campus Grounds, Trilogy, etc.)
Even though I’ll probably continue to stop at Pain Quotidien on my way to class for a croissant and cappuccino, I think I’ve found something even better that’s worth going a little out of my way for.
If you know about Belgium, you know that there are predominantly three languages spoken here: Flemish, Dutch, and French. What you might not know is that the language divide is still a source of tension. The north half of the country speaks mostly Flemish while the south speaks mostly French, and in Luxembourg you’ll hear Dutch. While the city of Brussels is situated in the north, it’s one of few places in the north where you’ll mostly hear French (and a whole lot of English) walking through the streets.
Now that you have some background, let me just say that this language divide is no joke. Take a train a town or two outside of Brussels and the French slowly disappears until everything turns to Flemish.
Every summer since I was 14, my dad has taken me to Europe with him. I’ve been to some large cities like London, and some tiny towns like Lenzburg in Switzerland. I always knew I wanted to study abroad when I was in high school. I wanted to spend more than just 2 weeks exploring and getting to know different cultures, food, places, and people. What I didn’t realize is how terrified I would actually be when the time came to board a plane and live with a family that I had never met, in a city that I’d never been to, with people that I didn’t know. A summer abroad isn’t a very long time in the grand scheme of things, but the unknown is always a scary thing, and I had no idea what to expect. Lucky for me, this trip has been filled with amazing people, an amazing host family, and of course, great beer and food. Continue reading “Bienvenue à Bruxelles”
Mack's Compass 