tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post540900298281938706..comments2024-02-01T07:12:45.459-08:00Comments on Travel with Alaine: Why living in Brussels was difficult for me and how I adjustedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-46315824507755802532019-02-19T07:15:49.497-08:002019-02-19T07:15:49.497-08:00I visited Brussels last summer and I also didn'...I visited Brussels last summer and I also didn't have the best experience ever. I had my backpack stolen on a railway station and the whole time I stayed in Brussels it was raining. Anyway, I remembered a few thing from my trip after reading your article, thanks :) Dota Betshttps://omg.betnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-30873488873215908592017-06-28T08:47:08.571-07:002017-06-28T08:47:08.571-07:00Nice to see things from your point of view. Thanks...Nice to see things from your point of view. Thanks! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15791217997094822516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-8169800549314692482017-05-22T20:27:50.130-07:002017-05-22T20:27:50.130-07:00Hi Lauren - thanks for the comment :) I definitely...Hi Lauren - thanks for the comment :) I definitely feel like I learned a lot from living there. It was the first place (and I've lived in many different countries and cities) where I was completely isolated as I didn't know anyone. Most of the places I've moved to, I've at least got some friends there and then make more friends easily through them. I had to make friends from scratch. And when I started to feel comfortable, my internship was done and I moved away again.Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-37059296246830477802017-05-18T19:05:13.563-07:002017-05-18T19:05:13.563-07:00Really interesting read. I'm always fanisincat...Really interesting read. I'm always fanisincated to hear about other people's experiences in other countries, especially ones who live there. Although Brussels was beautiful and I only spent a day and a half, I definitely didn't feel as safe as I do in other countries. Like anything else though it was an experience that you can look back on and has probably made you a stronger person :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11741908081340530529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-55687093361633212052017-05-08T18:39:51.199-07:002017-05-08T18:39:51.199-07:00Glad that you liked reading my experience of livin...Glad that you liked reading my experience of living in Brussels. I don't have a hometown nor did my parents install strong cultural ties so wherever I go, whatever I'm exposed to, and whomever I associate with, I adopt certain cultural traditions that I like and make it my own. :-) Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-28438446208832649722017-05-08T18:31:05.482-07:002017-05-08T18:31:05.482-07:00Like I mentioned in my post, some places were easi...Like I mentioned in my post, some places were easier to adjust to for me, sadly Brussels was not one of those places. I think given more time, I would've started to adapt to living there. I've been traveling a lot the past year and do quite a bit of slow travel, and not really playing the part of tourist very well (hahaha) but its because I've adjusted to feeling at "home" there almost immediately. Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-43670209625273592702017-05-06T03:41:29.894-07:002017-05-06T03:41:29.894-07:00You're feelings are similar to mine. I really ...You're feelings are similar to mine. I really appreciate this post. I grew up between two cultures and I also moved around a lot... I never felt at home. When I moved to Paris, it was difficult to adjust. I think one of those reasons was because it was the first move I had decided for myself. Thanks for sharing your story, and I'm happy you appreciate the city now! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12210949757093846661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-53664146338640277992017-05-06T01:43:33.597-07:002017-05-06T01:43:33.597-07:00It's sad to read that you had such a hard time...It's sad to read that you had such a hard time adapting to a place. It has never really happened to me. I grew tired of one of the places where I've lived the longest, but that was because of the work routine that was making me see everything kind of ugly. It's nice to read that you appreciated the city when you came back, though!Evahttp://electricbluefood.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-80160660130142038282017-05-05T07:37:10.202-07:002017-05-05T07:37:10.202-07:00Oh Google translate... what would we do without Go...Oh Google translate... what would we do without Google Translate and Google Maps! If there was wifi - that really helped a lot. I heard there are new devices where you can get realtime translations now. I still think learning some words of the language is good though. Learning new languages is always good for the brain ;-) Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-37108577426896055782017-04-30T02:56:49.660-07:002017-04-30T02:56:49.660-07:00Ah I can totally relate. As an ex-pat myself, livi...Ah I can totally relate. As an ex-pat myself, living somewhere I don't really enjoy. Language barriers can be hard, thats why google translate on my phone is my life saver. Especially in grocery stores hahaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-70747698478855651892017-04-29T16:33:19.302-07:002017-04-29T16:33:19.302-07:00Yea it is a bit dodgy at night but not all parts. ...Yea it is a bit dodgy at night but not all parts. I used to work in ghetto Brooklyn and had a tough girl attitude - which I adopted whenever I was in central Brussels. I think it helps. <br />I've been to Antwerp and Leuven - I think Antwerp was really beautiful despite the rainy weather when I went. Leuven was cozy! Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-48500928202526868692017-04-29T16:26:26.928-07:002017-04-29T16:26:26.928-07:00Yes, those attacks were certainly a shock! I left ...Yes, those attacks were certainly a shock! I left just 5 days before the attacks and felt extremely sad. Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-78321385899066654762017-04-29T14:46:01.945-07:002017-04-29T14:46:01.945-07:00Interesting read. I'm Belgian (Flemish) and ha...Interesting read. I'm Belgian (Flemish) and have only been to Brussels...idk...maybe 5 times in my life (like most Flemish people of my age where I live). Brussels is very different from the rest of Belgium and I always found it to be a bit gloomy and yeah, dangerous too, especially at night...<br />Anyway, it's nice to hear that you made the best out of it and started to love it after a while. :)Cristinahttps://cristinagudrun.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-70756624839941950252017-04-29T14:38:57.996-07:002017-04-29T14:38:57.996-07:00Yea, sometimes people fall in love with different ...Yea, sometimes people fall in love with different places. I loved living in New York City the moment I set foot on there and left not on my own volition 7 years later (I wanted to live there a minimum of 9 years). Brussels was a big learning experience for me. :-) I hope to visit again someday.Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-2520952183898044752017-04-29T14:28:54.480-07:002017-04-29T14:28:54.480-07:00Yes, it was a bit scary at times - I left just 5 d...Yes, it was a bit scary at times - I left just 5 days before the terror attacks. <br />I really enjoyed Grand Place, Place de Bourse area was really nice and I hung out there quite a bit. There were also a few little gems that I found as well. Alainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413051427487218943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-85428516790230408382017-04-29T14:18:35.966-07:002017-04-29T14:18:35.966-07:00I can relate to what you experienced in Brussels -...I can relate to what you experienced in Brussels - weird at times, a bit scary because of the attacks but oh so charming in the end! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-79470266065480643522017-04-29T13:58:51.132-07:002017-04-29T13:58:51.132-07:00Im sorry to hear that it was difficult for you! I ...Im sorry to hear that it was difficult for you! I loved the city from the beginning but that was due to getting go know people and going out a lot which you say it was not your case. But I agree that the language barrier and the gloomy weather is a real problem in Brussels (but still I managed to stay here for almodt 7 years and it's not yet over haha). Michaela @1001voyagesgourmandshttp://1001voyagesgourmands.com/en/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833914300594357264.post-53206842249867428372017-04-29T13:51:23.435-07:002017-04-29T13:51:23.435-07:00Having visited Brussels recently, I can see how it...Having visited Brussels recently, I can see how it would be difficult to live in! You're right -- some problems are more general to living in a new place, but I think I'd still be nervous about safety problems. That being said, there were some beautiful parts to Brussels, like the Grand Place. Glad to hear you liked it when you returned!Juliannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10130195919227883705noreply@blogger.com