It is also very walkable: within twenty-five minutes you can get from one end of the city circle to the other. Ghent is less touristy than Brussels, but still offers many restaurants, bars, and a beautiful setting alongside the canals. My city, Hasselt, is small and filled with students and families. It has a vibrant shopping street, which is bustling during the daytime hours.
Some of the difficulties I have experienced since moving to Belgium are primarily due to the pace of life. Things are slower in Belgium than in the U.S.A., which has its positive as well as negative sides. I feel less rushed and stressed here. The layouts of the cities inspire me to walk around, grab a bite to eat, and read a book. But the slow pace can become troublesome when you want to open a bank account, or get your residency card. These things, which would take a few hours in the U.S.A., take weeks (and counting). Patience is definitely a virtue here in Belgium.
Overall, my time here in Belgium has been so magical. I have learned about a culture that is often overlooked by Americans, and it has welcomed me with open arms.
