Author: Olivia S.

By: Tiana Nguyen

I’m not quite sure why I chose to go to Belgium for this mini month-long adventure. I mean really, I’m just little ol’ me – a 25 year old who just graduated from the University of Oregon in Psychology and is perhaps a little too obsessed with consuming sweets and embarrassed by my French speaking skills. But I spent the past year working as a tutor and many more learning French, so therefore I chose the Greenheart Travel teach in a homestay program to fulfill my summer activities. To be honest, I picked a location within Greenheart Travel’s choices almost at random – I figured that I’m still young and I might as well let fate take me where it may, right?

Well, I know now that I couldn’t have chosen a better way to spend my summer. The family I’ve ended up staying with is thoughtful, fun, and friendly to say the least. The first thing they said was that they planned on treating me like I was their daughter, which is more kind than I even expected. The family consists of a son one year younger than me named Gautier who is head down in the featured photo, a 20 year old daughter named Danaé who is in the photo wearing sunglasses next to friend Guillaume and me, and the parents Josine and Philippe (not in the photo).

Every day I take this peaceful walk through the countryside alongside Gautier and his dog, and it couldn’t be a more perfect way to begin a summer day.

On a side note, let me just say that if God were to create a commandment that said something along the lines of ‘thou shalt not consume chocolate,’ me, along with many others in Belgium would be committing some MAJOR sin. What can I say, though? When in Rome, you do as the Romans; when in Belgium, you eat lots of Belgian chocolate! And truly, their chocolate is good in any form: drizzled over, cooked with, or baked inside of any food… such as the famous Belgian waffle. And then perhaps you can top it all off with some Belgian beer, like the local’s favorite brand, Juplier.

Now that I think about it… how in the world are they all not 100 pounds overweight?!

Oddly enough, while I do have the raging need to eat chocolate with every meal, at the same time fast food doesn’t really seem to be a thing. In the past two weeks, I have only spotted two fast food restaurants – one of which was a McDonald’s because, really, is it possible to go anywhere in the world and not find one? I’m thinking not. Combine all this with the superb friendliness of everyone I’ve met, their charming attempts at communicating in English, and all the adorable pets everyone has in their homes… And I am loving Belgium.

By: Tiana Nguyen

Charming. That is what Belgium is – it’s full of charm, unique character, and extraordinarily friendly strangers. I mean, if kisses on my cheeks were pennies I’d be loaded! First off, I feel truly honored that people who were virtual strangers allowed me into their home and treats me as family. I didn’t know what to expect especially given the fairly thick language barrier, but thoughtfulness and kindness overflows into their actions.

On the 21^st of July 2015, was Belgium’s national independence day, and the family I’m staying with took me into the center of Brussels and onto the palace grounds of the King of Belgium. Other officials were seated on the front side of the palace with us and as we watched the fireworks show I just kept thinking to myself “Wow. This is it, a perfect moment in time that I’ll never forget.” Apparently, hardly anyone is allowed to do this in Belgium let alone foreigners like me, so I must say this example personifies the kindness of the people in this lovely country.

It’s truly a toss up who is truly learning the most, the family I’m living with or me. Yes, we have many English conversations and mini-lessons on pronunciation and whatnot; but I have been given the opportunity to learn so much more than just language, although yes, I am learning a massive amount of French.

On a side note, can I just add that it was quite strange at first to turn on the TV and hear American programs being played with cheesy French voiceovers! The other day I watched Harry Potter en français, and Harry had quite a different voice! But by being here, I get to observe another culture’s way of life and become a part of it, do and see new things, try new foods… I’ve learned that dinnertime meals in Belgium tends to be at lunchtime, for some reason they’re obsessed with french fries and bread, even children greet one another with a kiss on the cheek, not everyone in the world knows or needs to know English (shocker I know!), and that pretty much every local I’ve met so far has at least one pet.

The culture of the Belgian people is something you must experience for yourself – and when I say this, I don’t mean that you should go to Brussels and tour the streets and stay in a hotel, although Brussels is very beautiful and diverse European city. But this is not how the real Belgium is nor how the people are – merely a facet of a cut jewel. Leave the big city, live like the locals for a little while if you’re able to – I promise you, it’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else.