Women inspiring women in Brussels

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Traveling solo makes for a great filter. It makes you quick to detect those that are not worth your time, and it makes you highly appreciate that one person you truly have a connection with and enjoy being around.

Let me rewind for a second. I work at a bar in New York City called The Hog Pit (37 W 26th St between Broadway and 6th ave in Manhattan. Go go go!). My boss works with a lovely woman from Belgium named Patricia. While I had only seen Patricia’s face maybe once for a few minutes, I can always recognize her voice the second she calls. She is, under all circumstances, extra friendly (clearly not a New Yorker) on the phone, taking her time to ask how I’m doing, and, the most obvious factor being that it is often the only international phone call coming in.

I never fully understood what Patricia’s and The Hog Pit’s relationship was (I just knew it was some type of marketing deal in Europe), but when I was headed to Brussels, Belgium in April 2018, Patricia’s hometown, I decided to shoot her an e-mail just to let her know I’m headed her way.

I, however, never actually sent that e-mail. I was only in Brugges for one day, followed by Brussels for one day and one night. When I was in Brugges I had yet to hear from Patricia, so I checked my e-mail to find it had never actually sent. I promptly sent it with an apology for being so last minute. Here is what I received, almost immediately, as a response:

Hi Kaitlyn

So Good you are in Bruges ! You have choice the best time to come over in last minute : the weather is beautiful !
I would love to show you Brussels ! At what time can you be in the city ?
You should take train and get out at Gare Centrale.
Can you be here in the morning ? We can spend part of the day together.
I have a commitment at 6 pm.
Have you a bed to sleep ? Otherwise you are welcome at our home !
Let me know.
Xoxo

Patricia

Now, keep in mind, this is a woman I have met maybe once for three minutes total. Her heart-warming response made me immediately excited for Brussels.

Fast-forward to the next afternoon, we met at 2PM at the main train station and my experience in Belgium was immediately transformed. Patricia showed me all around town; we took the tram around town, she showed me to the Grand-Place, taught me how to find the “good” chocolate in Belgium verses the chocolate that was imported from China (most valuable life lesson to date), and she took me on a brief bar tour to try different Belgium beers and snacks (and I even tried the infamous presse, aka head-cheese!).


One of my favorite moments was, in front of the Royal Palace of Brussels, I asked her to take a photo of me on my GoPro, and she was frustrated that people were in my shot! A woman after my own heart, I swear! We waited patiently for these people to move so I could be the star of the photo.

me, myself, and I

What was most inspiring of all, however, was Patricia’s story in how sometimes the simplest most passionate things in our lives can lead us to a better future.

Patricia told me she had always loved New York City and got in touch with a French-based New York City blogger and told him she could help recommend some great places in New York for him. They began to work together and fast forward a few years later, they now run a successful NYC-based book for French tourists in which you can find here:

http://www.cnewyork.net

^^ I mean, this is how I met Patricia! She is a wonderful inspirational woman who was beyond generous in showing me around her beautiful country and I am forever grateful for The Hog Pit for introducing me to my very own personal tour guide to Belgium.

 


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