Le Club: Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Greeks, Italians, Americans...BELGIANS!
where else can you find all of these - LE CLUB, Boitsfort Bruxelles.

It all started when I met Ashley after school for drinks, at a place where she met a few friendly (MEN) Belgians a few days earlier while wandering. So, I arrive with Megan from ISB, we shake hands with the owner and comrades near the bar, then proceed to order drinks and sit at a quiet table near the window. It was an excited atmosphere, music blaring, sun shining, drinks refreshing. We couldn't help but feel like we were somehow providing this curious energy - causing grown men to dance and strangers to become friends. It wasn't long before the waiter came over and poured another drink...this one, would be on the house (he probably said that in French)

And that's when the fun began.

Ashley and I strolled to the bar, drinks in hand, smiles flashing... there we met Louis, Jean, the charming Greek owner and a few other kind-spirited Belgians. It seemed were we part of this great theatre interaction. And before long, our glasses were filled again.

The men were playing this strange dice game of adding and rolling and trying again. It seemed fun enough and they invited me to play. I stepped up to the plate and made a strong impression. I've always had my way with dice (all those years shootin' with Sky Masterson and Nathan Detroit finally paid off). Then, the drinks were filled again.

Conversations to follow: lives lived and lost, true love, distance, mother-son connections, french-speaking Belgians living in America, international education, artists, time and circumstance, BEER, the Greek life, this life. It was incredible to think that two wandering Americans (ages 23-24) could feel so at home with a crowd of drinking Belgians (ages 45-65). The conversations were genuine, funny, heartfelt, slurred, articulate, confusing, enlightening and inspiring. We were enjoying ourselves. Then, the drinks were filled again.

By now, the time is 1930...high bar stools are becoming a danger and we realize food is of the essence. We take a few trips back to the kitchen and share some of the preparations for Musaka (to be served Friday). We all eat from the same spoon and I can't help but laugh (oh yeah, and WHY is it that I'm always the LAST one in times like these!?!). oh well, by now we're like family. We continue laughing, finish our drinks in a flurry and skip out the door, kisses and salutations first of course. We shall return... but for now, it's off to Ciccio Bello and incredible pasta :) I love my life.