I accidentally went to Belgium.

Bonjour à tous,

So I accidentally ended up in Belgium last Saturday afternoon.

But before I tell you how let’s back up a few hours that morning. So currently I have not moved into my apartment and I won’t until the 17th of October, which means I’ve been hostel hopping and renting air bnb’s. I rented my first air bnb for 9 days in order to allow time for me to find an apartment. I found an apartment I really liked the first day I arrived and I signed it that day, but I couldn’t move in until the 17th. I bit the bullet and went ahead with the apartment anyways because renting an apartment in France is not the easiest thing when you are a l’étranger. Also, getting an apartment would allow me to do a lot more like get a metrocard (you need a justification du domicile aka proof of address) also for opening a bank account. So basically I got my place and then I was able to prove to various french entities that I was a legit person trying to live here.

Anyways, last Saturday morning I had to move out of my air bnb to a hostel for 2 days and then move into another airbnb near my apartment for the next 2.5 weeks. I came to France with a giant black suitcase, a small rolling suitcase and then a small backpack and black shoulder bag. I could handle all of this in the airport but going across town like 4 times is a little harder than I originally anticipated, especially when roads are cobblestone or sidewalks are under construction. In retrospect though, it is only 1 month of shuffling around when I will be here for 7 so it’s not bad at all.

I went to Belgium and it was very interesting because I didn’t really expect to. That Saturday afternoon I was planning on going to my reference teacher’s (basically the teacher that helps me get situated at the school) to fill out paperwork (or so I thought). I ended up eating a full 3 course lunch with her and her husband and 2 kids. They made me chicken, green beans and potatoes and I also ate this waffle like treat with sugar on it that is from the Flandres region. I was not at all expecting to get this sort of welcome! Emilie (my reference teacher) has been very helpful and accommodating (she texted me everyday before and after I arrived asking how I was doing). Also, the first Saturday when I arrived Emilie took me out to eat with my other colleagues from one of the middle schools I will be teaching at. It was so much fun to meet them before hand and they asked if I want to do a dance class with them lol!

So, after we filled out paperwork and figured everything out she asked if I wanted to see her city called Bailleul. She packed the car with her 2 kids and her and her husband drove me around the city and explained some of their favorite spots and explained to me that yes, we were right on the border of Belgium and France!

This is my first view of Belgium! Emilie's husband pointed out on the right side the sign that says "Belgie".

Suddenly, I was on this long road and Emilie told me that the reason so many people were walking back from the tabac to their cars is because the Tabac (Tabacco outlets) are much cheaper in Belgium than in France. Then she proceeds to explain that the left side of the road is in fact Belgium. Only one problem, I was on the right! So we were not technically in Belgium yet but her husband continued to drive up the road and there it was, the sign that said Welcome to Belgium but in French and also in a language I could not recognize. We drove around the country side and I looked out at the beautiful views. It had just rained so there was a bit of haziness through the sunshine. Emilie and her husband were sweet enough to drive me back to Lille (about 20 minutes away from the border). And then I said goodbye and we did La bise and her daughter (who is about 3) asked for a bisous (kiss/la bise) goodbye (probably the cutest thing in my life).

So that was the day I accidentally went to Belgium (and had an unexpected 3 course meal??)

À bientôt,

Kristin