ISA Study Abroad in Brussels, Belgium

Why did you pick this program?

Catherine: I've always known I wanted to travel and go abroad during college. So I went to the Study Abroad Office grabbed a couple books and started looking! It was happenstance that I chose Brussels.

Originally I wanted to go to Croatia, and my mom wanted me to go to Austria. So after 2 months of arguing, Brussels somehow became the compromise. That compromise ended up to be the best compromise ever. Brussels was the perfect fit for me in so many ways.

What do you wish someone had told you before you went abroad?

Catherine: I feel like everyone always feels like there are 100 things you need to know before going abroad. Like sew a purse into your bra to keep you money and stuff in or something like that. But that is all people really tell you about before you go abroad. However, I didn't think that aspect was as bad as people made it out to be. So I would say go abroad and don't be naive about things. Know that you could be pick pocketed but it isn't that extreme in most places.

I would also tell students, to NOT travel every weekend. I spent the first 2 months of my time abroad in Brussels and I don't regret any of it. I was able to go exploring and actually get to know the place I was living in. Immerse yourself into the culture of the place you go to. You will appreciate it more.

What is the most important thing you learned abroad?

Catherine: Cliche as it may sound, while abroad I learned a lot about myself. I like to use the analogy that abroad is similar to jail, in the sense that it changes you. You don't come out the same as when you went it. Abroad was a time of self discovery for me. I came back feeling more comfortable and confident in my own skin and in being me. There is a lot I do now that I would never have dreamed of doing before abroad. But now I have the courage and confidence to do it.

What do you tell your friends who are thinking about going abroad?

Catherine: GO! Abroad is life changing. You become a well round person because you learn to accept the cultures around you. You become more cultured because you are immersed in a different culture for so long. You learn about yourself. And you experience the world. I have only been to 5.5% of the world! 5.5%! But that 5.5% showed me a world that I didn't know existed.

What was the hardest part about going abroad?

Catherine: Knowing that I had to leave was probably the hardest part for me. I was ready to leave as soon as I got my acceptance e-mail in April. So when August came I was 110% ready to go. I never even looked back. Abroad did wonders for me and I didn't know how I would be when I came back. But it turns out I was scared for no good reason.

What's your favorite story to tell about your time abroad?

Catherine: I have so many stories that I like to tell about my time abroad. But one of my favorites is from a day trip to the Belgian Coast. Myself and 7 other friends woke up early one Saturday morning and took a train ride out to Knokke, Belgium. We spent the day on the beach sitting. sleeping and talking. It was really early in the semester, so we were still friends for the sake of being friends. We spent the whole day lounging and talking in the sun.

Then on the train back, I was sitting with 2 of my friends talking about our plans for that night and one of them stopped and said wait... guys we're friends. Myself and the other girl with me just looked at him and were like well yeah duh. But he continued to explain that we were now friends because we wanted to be friends with each other, not because we had to be. We were just as close as friends who had been friends for a couple years.

I love telling this story, as cheesy and as sappy as it is, it is one of my favorite memories. That was the moment that I realized I had made friends, by being myself. I also think this is important for people thinking about going abroad, because, I know a lot of people are worried about making friends.

What happens is you get there and you are in a group of people all in the same boat as you and you find the one or few that you vibe with and latch on. But eventually you guys become friends for more than you need someone to lean on. But it isn't as big of a deal or noticeable as people make it seem.

What made this experience unique and special?

Catherine: The right attitude makes any experience unique and special. I had a great experience because I made sure I did what I wanted and had fun. I just didn't care about what people thought. I did and I enjoyed every second of it.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Catherine: Eat, drink, and explore! Brussels invented fries and waffles. Has thousands of types of beers. And has a culture that is so unique it is ridiculous. If you go to Vesalius College, take Intercultural Communications with Professor Walravens. It is worth waking up at 8am for. Get lost... on purpose! Brussels has so many nooks and interesting sites all over the place that you would never know about if you didn't go get lost.

What made this trip meaningful to you, or how did this trip change your perceptions, future path?

Catherine: This trip changed my look on life. I thought I wanted to be in hotels and travel the world just me and my dog. But I came back not knowing what I want to do with myself. Usually that would stress and freak me out 7 ways till Sunday. However, the lifestyle and atmosphere of Brussels wore off on me, so I am happy.

I don't know what I want to do with my life, but I am just living and doing what makes me happy. Spending money on experiences and do whatever I want. And I am not worried about my future, I am not stressed or freaked out. I am the happiest I have ever been. That's one thing I am so glad I took away from my abroad experience.