Brussels, yes please

I arrived in Brussels at 8am and then had a little snooze at my hotel before heading over to the meeting. This was an Exchange forum between European and American women. I was distracted and exhausted when I arrived, but by the time I left these women at 11pm, I felt energized and excited about being a feminist.

I chaired a panel on electoral systems and gender equality. I am very good at moderating panels and today was no exception. With little preparation I nailed it. Why do I brag? Because women often don’t claim their expertise. I’m very good at moderating. At one stage, people were so into it that I had to stand and literally direct traffic. People were excited at the end of my panel. I was so happy.

We then headed out for the evening, first to an awards ceremony that was not so big on pomp and circumstance, but I met an Irish woman and got to nerd out and catch up on all that’s happening in Eire.

Then a few of us went to dinner and I was hoping for the perfect Belgium meal. Bingo! Steak frites and a transformative beer later (anno 1125) I was very satisfied. The dinner conversation was great. I first chatted with a woman who consults for IFES and caught up on those issues and was very happy to have some time with her to go over things only briefly described over emails. Then we chatted about personal things, which was nice bonding. Then I overheard the women sitting across from me chat about being moms of one child, boys and I had to butt in. We chatted about raising one kid, about raising a boy, about being working moms and it was so great. I was with my people in a charming place whose memories and respect of culture are forever in my heart.

Despite all of my fretting about leaving Austin and plane rides, being in Brussels is just so great.