9.26.21

I made it a rule to be back to my hostel before dark when I am alone.

On the train from Bruge to Brussels, I realized I hadn’t eaten anything but chocolate and toast, and it was almost 6pm. I knew I had seen a lot of patisseries and set on saving some money, I decided to find something on the walk home from the station.

The train got back to Brussels around 6:45 where I left and followed a strip of restaurants. None of them seemed like good options, or maybe I was just being too picky. So I keep walking until I realized I was pretty off track and the sun set at 7:30, I was 30 minutes away from the hostel at 7:10.

I had already been getting uneasy vibes. Not sure why until I realized it was because I was only seeing men walking on the streets, hardly any women or kids.

I kept heading to the hostel when I heard a man yelling at me. I stopped and turned around (first mistake) because I thought I had dropped something and he was trying to tell me. Then he ran up to me and started speaking French. He held out his hand for me to shake it, but I declined and started looking around to see if anyone was nearby. There was only one person at the end of the block- a man who was watching us, but I wasn’t sure if he was this guys friend or watching out of concern for me. The man wouldn’t stop talking to me even though it was clear I had no idea what he was saying. I kept backing up, but he would quickly step forward and fill the space. He got very close to me. Then, I think he said something about money and he reached in his pocket and a brown, I think wooden, ball fell out. I was definitely very scared and told him I have to go, that my friend is waiting for me, and I turned and began speed walking away. I heard him begin to quickly follow me,and continue to talk and ask me questions, but I didn’t turn back and I quickened my pace until I reached the end of the block where there was a restaurant and many people around the corner. I turned and he was gone.

I got the closest food I could find, suddenly no longer picky. I got some potato thing and some fried cheese and ate it quickly as I speed walked home, constantly checking behind me.

Ok- so before I get lectured (especially by you mama!), I know that I shouldn’t have stopped in the first place when he was yelling at me, I should have found a way to leave the situation sooner, and most importantly I shouldn’t have been walking down a more secluded street close to sun set. I know all of these things! I made many errs in judgement and I have learned from it. I was a very scary experience and I am very grateful I was about to get out of it.

I am safe, and tomorrow is a new day.