Brussels, My First Day

Yesterday I lived my first full day in Belgium. My sleep deprived, time-confused body woke before dawn and my spirit prayed for a blessing on my new life. I opened the windows of my temporary room above the office; my 'princess room' at the top of the tower of 6 flights of steep narrow stairs and admired my new neighbourhood in the light of morning.

I donned my new look for European winter (good riddance puffy coat & touque!): my blue Egyptian scarf and my black felt coat on loan from my ever-more-stylish sister. I walked and walked city streets, below narrow houses with balconies and grand windows, between designer stores and enticing coffee shops in the company of a past friend and housemate, and future friend and colleague. I bought an umbrella, a sim card, a metro card and a French phrase book: equipped for my new environment.

I met friends of friends and was welcomed into their kitchen to help them prepare for a great birthday feast. I made the birthday cake: a moist lemon almond. I created cheesy stuffed mushrooms. I broke a wine glass in my hand in the dish pan and sliced my finger, gushing blood into the dish water. I whipped a giant bowl of whipped cream and managed to whip my hand as well. I decorated the baked cake with 40 candles and created a pyramid of brownies. I constructed mini Pavlovas: sweet macaroon mounds graced with fresh whipped cream and robust raspberries. I met dozens of friends of friends, dressed in party clothes and mingling in a room with high painted ceilings with decorative mouldings. I met violin makers and journalists and translaters and fellow humanitarian workers, from Australia, Britain, Columbia and the Netherlands. I was befriended and tried to befriend. With my more-salient-than-ever North American accent and my never-cared-that-much fashion sense, I was brave and gregarious, and attempted to be lovely and eloquent. I may not have succeeded perfectly (somehow I still feel a shy 12-year-old). I felt a part of a lovely environment, a gracious community, yet not quite a part, a little afraid I don't quite belong, but with a pinch of hope I might with time.

And thus passed the first day of my life in Belgium.