Last Night in Brussels

This is possibly my last or one of my last posts on this blog. The blog is about my adventures in "Euroland," and tomorrow I am moving to Washington, DC, to live in my cousin Brendon's house. I may have a couple of follow-up posts, but I want to keep this blog about a definite segment of my life and won't continue with stories from DC.

It's been a busy week of goodbye parties and farewells. It's been hard, but for some reason it doesn't feel like goodbye for me. The world is, of course, becoming more interconnected, and Brussels will continue to be an important node in the world of international politics that I am trying to break into. The plan right now is to get setup in DC, find a job, and double down on the French lessons. I want to be marketable to send back into the "field."

I leave this country 20 pounds lighter, with a fixed knee and a greatly enhanced sense of fashion. And of course a master's degree and the skills and contacts to make it in the realm of political science. For that I am grateful to my school, the University of Kent at Brussels. It has been a fantastic opportunity that I hope I have taken advantage of to the fullest of my abilities.

I want to thank Cátia and Claudia for hosting me for the past two weeks. It was a lot of fun to be a daily part of your lives. Thanks to all of the friends who I said goodbye to this week, and all of those who have said goodbye earlier. And thank you to you who have been reading this blog.

"A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles." - Tim Cahill

Last Party at Home

I lived in such a beautiful apartment, but it was located a bit outside of the cluster of where my friends lived. So I really didn't have a lot of friends over, usually preferring to go to where they were instead. But before I moved out I had a party at the house. Fahim, Salvador, and Lara came with their instruments, and we sat around playing songs for other friends. It was a good time.

I have completely moved out of the apartment, and am staying on the couch of Cátia and Claudia, who have yet again graciously allowed me to stay with them. When I came to Brussels, I brought a backpack and a large suitcase. I will be taking those two pieces of luggage home, plus another suitcase. As I was packing I unironically wondered how I accumulated so much stuff. It made me realize how I have basically lived with just a handful of clothes, a laptop, and a guitar (which I will sell before leaving) for the past 20 months.

There will be more time to be sentimental as the day comes closer. So here are some photos:

Salvador, Yasmin, Yulia, and me.

Clockwise from left: Me taking myself too seriously, roommates Anneska and Camille, friends Sevil and Natalia.

Roommate Thierry, Anneska, Camille, and Anneska's friend whose name I don't remember but she seemed very nice.

Fahim laying the funk.