Long reign the European connection
42 days before Brexmas.
Last night I began my first, intrepid journey to Europe’s mainland.
I’m using the next few days to cross off Belgium and the Netherlands from my list of EU countries. I’m going to cover the majority of EU countries is the last 29 days of the EU.
The best bit about having been a latch key kid is that coming to Brussels hasn’t fazed me yet. (It helps that they speak a slow, GCSE oral exam kind of French)
Reasons to be cheerful: Eurostar
The Eurostar was an experience of its own, so much nicer than local, British trains. But what happens to the Eurostar when we leave? Do we have to arrive 2 hours before to get through security checks?
The Eurostar is so much more than a train that connects our little island to a bigger chunk of the earth.
The Eurostar is a literal metaphor for the ease and comfort we’ve had with our neighbours for years. Interestingly, in the station, the ‘stranger zone’ was a few metres wider for Brits than for the continental crowd. So we all stood further away from people in queues and stood out like a sore thumb. Have we always been uncomfortable with being close to unfamiliar people?
There’s a sense of trust associated with having physical access to the mainland. We’re saying we share rules of engagement and pleasantries. By agreeing to the code, we get to exchange cultures and behaviours. It’s a bit like when you see your local shopkeeper and you share a smirk or do that funny nod.
Unions or circles of influence?
Just like friendships, if we don’t work at the relationship with our neighbours we risk distancing ourselves from people who we actually share common goals with. I’m worried that when we leave the EU we haven’t got the right mechanisms in place to make needing the alliance necessary.
Risking the cohesion in Europe won’t lead to the third world war like we thought could happen in the 80s. But, the economic damage will be difficult for all of us to rebuild from.
Recent news said people who graduated university during the 2008 global recession (so people in their early 30s) are still worse off today and haven’t gained their purchasing power back.
The fine balance of looking after our country’s current workers and the productivity risk from leaving the EU seems like too big a roll of the dice. And worse still, we won’t be able to go to the EU, cap in hand, asking for support.
Expats v Immigrants
Just being in this melting pot you see so much. Language contact, religious sects, colonialism and later the wars have influenced Brusseleirs’ lifestyle. Brussels like London thrives off the diversity of the characters that decide to make it home.
The way that Brussels has liberated culture from its exclusive restrictions makes it a place for immigrants from across Europe and beyond to feel like home. People have gone out of their way to make it easier for me to fit in. Isn’t that exactly why the European Union was created?
Now, for a few sights, photos to follow. Tell me where I should go! I’m here today and Monday (Cool political stuff only) Hit me up in the comments or on Twitter @asmattub
If you wanna see the unabridged version of this blog, watch my stories on Instagram @esmebxtt
