The Right to be Unfriendly

View of Town Hall in Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

I enjoyed my experience in the Netherlands very much. I found the city to be the epitome of culture. It was such a colorful place, architecturally, politically, and socially. After visiting the Hague and learning more about the Dutch language and its existence in Belgium, I imagine Belgium to be a more political space, structured and not very vibrant. After Amsterdam, I cannot really imagine any other city as a comparable place. Learning that Brussels is the capital of the European Union, I feel more confident of my expectations of Brussels as a more politically-driven city.

Palais Royal, Brussels, Belgium

After the city tour of the city, led by Professor Dewulf, I am conflicted of my overall impression of the city. While for the most part my anticipations were proven correct, there are areas of the city that do not add up to my expectations. The city is an eclectic mix of politics, street culture, dust and cobblestones, ornate gold detailing and art nouveau, graffiti art, and medieval architecture. I find it fascinating that street art, waffle stands and the Manneken Pis all reside on the same street.

Street Art, close to Manneken Pis, Brussels, Belgium

In all, I find the city exciting and inviting, and I want to explore. Yet, this excitement is limited solely to the city as a place rather than as a people. It saddens me to make this distinction between the two, because when I like a city, I typically like it for both qualities. I am disappointed that I do not feel safe here. The people are very private and I find them more unfriendly. They are certainly less accommodating than the people I met in the Netherlands. This makes me more wary of my surroundings since the language barrier is more prominent here. In all, I have come to the conclusion that the Netherlands was chosen as our first European destination so as to ease us into our European travels. Had we visited Belgium first, I think I would have been slightly discouraged in my desires to continue.

Manneken Pis Statue, Brussels, Belgium

However, because I have seen how wonderful Europe can be, I am hopeful that the country as a whole has more to offer. For now, my impression of Brussels is not a good one. Though it is a split society of both Dutch and French people, I have not really met any Dutch-speaking people. The majority of the people I have met speak French. I wonder if this is why my experience has differed so greatly from my previous experience in the Netherlands. I was quite enamored with the Dutch. I found them to be a gregarious, amicable group. I felt safe and unsuspecting. At this time, I cannot say the same for the French-speaking people I have met thus far.

Museum of mUsical Instruments in Art Nouveau style, Brussels, Belgium

Evaluating them as a people, I am not impressed, but this makes me think about my own identity as an American in a foreign place. The French people are probably just as unimpressed with me as I am with them because of my expectations for them to be so accommodating. I have come to their country with only a limited knowledge of French. Perhaps I am a little different because I have been attempting to communicate in French, which is not very good, but still an effort. But I have seen the frustration in their eyes when someone speaks in English. In terms of identity, I can see how language plays such an important role. The people of Brussels are only being themselves. The French people are of French identity and therefore speak that language. I see how the people of Brussels are just as protective of their language as the Dutch. They certainly embody the idea expressed in the Hague's motto, "Je Mainiendrai," though it is not their own motto, and though they exercise it to a much greater extent. They certainly maintain, but now I recognize their right to do so.

 

Sophia