Brussels, Belgium: another place checked off of my bucket list, although I was only there for 16 hours. My friend Tatiana and I planned to visit Germany, where Tatiana has family, during our spring break, and decided to stop in the Belgian capital on our way there. It marked our first excursion to other countries just beyond the Netherlands, where we are currently studying. And although getting there was not, as some people would say, “half the fun,” it turned out to be a day I will remember forever.
First the bad news. The bus we took was, to put it mildly, not ideal, cramped with a tiny bathroom that resembled a shed and uncomfortable seats that left me constantly asking: Are we there yet? As the ache in my neck, back and legs grew, my patience began to run thin. Still the beautiful scenery that rolled by me was a wonderful consolation, so different from anything I am used to seeing in my native New York City (windmills versus glass-and-steel skyscrapers). I reflected on that as we went along. But more than anything, I was ready to arrive in Brussels.
Four hours later, we did. I smiled until my cheeks hurt. It hit me that I was seeing the world and realizing one of my dreams. When I was 7 years old, I promised myself that one day I would become an explorer, just like Dora. Now here I was. Tatiana’s family had agreed to meet us in Brussels and together we took in everything the city had to offer. It was beautiful, alive with people laughing, drinking and generally enjoying themselves. Among the highlights of our time there was visiting the Grand Palace of Brussels and sampling authentic Belgian waffles, piled high with strawberries and whipped cream. (If you are ever in Belgium, do not skip the waffles. They will blow your mind.)
Before I knew it, it was for us to say goodbye to Belgium and continue on to Germany with Tatiana's family. I was eager to see beautiful towns like Heidelberg and Bernkastel-Kues. I would love to return to Brussels, though. I imagine myself going back to the same beautiful square we visited, taking in the sites and sounds, and devouring those waffles again. That is a remarkable place to visit – even if it’s just for 16 hours.
Hasina Foye ’23 is an aspiring journalist from Bronx, N.Y., who is studying English literature and communications at Le Moyne. Hasina is spending the spring semester of 2022 at Hague University in the Netherlands and will be sharing her reflections on life abroad. Please continue to follow her journey here.