The Los Angeles-Paris flight was much cheaper than an LA-Brussels flight, so I decided it was a good excuse to spend a few days in Paris, then travel by train to Hasselt, Belgium. While I loved Paris, it was clear that French was essential. I did not personally have any rude encounters because of my lack of French, but I have heard stories of foreigners who have been made to feel uncomfortable due to their inability to speak the language. I think that most people in France likely speak English, but it is absolutely preferred to use French when ordering food, shopping for groceries or asking for directions. I hear that it is a very similar linguistic situation in Germany, the country which also borders Belgium. The interesting thing about Belgium, however, is that not only does everyone speak English pretty well, but they seem happy to do so. Belgium is split into three different language regions, so every Belgian learns at least Dutch, English, French and a bit of German in school. Most Belgians in my area (the Dutch-speaking) are most comfortable speaking Dutch and English. English is essentially the language that brings together the different areas of Belgium. Thus, it is a very commnly spoken language, which is helpful to me!
It has also been wondeful to explore all the cities of Belgium. Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a bustling city with cobblestone streets, and it is a very walkable city. Brussels is home to the European Union and many foreign embassies. This fact draws in a lot of professionals from all over the globe. Walking around in Brussels, you will hear Spanish, Italian, German, French and other languages being spoken. Ghent is a canal city that I visited over the weekend.
