Back on European soil, and couldn't be happier

I missed everything so much it’s ridiculous. I didn’t realize quite how much. For the first time in 3 months my nose doesn’t hurt because of the dry, dry air. It’s only 1pm, I have only been back on this continent for less than 3 hours, and already I have walked more than the last 3 months put together I’m sure. I have also already had more fruit (quite unintentionally as I’ve been eating ‘fast food’ on the go) than I’ve had any given day of the last 3 months. I’ve also finally gotten to wear my wonderful big red scarf again (more to fit in than out of necessity, as it’s only -4 here too). I love it all.

The sound of the Spanish song playing over the loudspeaker at the healthy fast food place I ate at. The simple fact that there is a healthy fast food place, where a chèvre et tomate pizza/quiche and tea + a little chocolate cost the same as a 6” sub at subway. Languages and nationalities all around me. Scarves, boots, long sweaters and fabulous purses as far as the eye can see. The feel of taking the metro, tram and train. Tea and a tiny Belgian chocolate after meals. The sheer exquisite taste of food, even fast food; everything from pizza to fries is like a symphony of flavours playing out on your palate. Belgians laughing and conversing intimately (not just gossiping) whilst a crowd queues and bustles throughout the streets and cafés. Back to the land where tea cost 2,30€ and a beer 2,10€. I’m tired, jet lagged, and functioning solely on caffeine, but I couldn’t be happier about it.

It’s even refreshing in some sort of twisted way to see everyone bundled up with their parkas and fur coats for the -4C weather of skiffs of snow and beautiful sunshine. In the same way as it is being greeted not by the smiles and idle constant friendly chatter of Canadians but the polite total indifference of Europeans. I never want to leave again.