Izegem Station “Perron 1”

by Nishat Khan (India)

A leap into the unknown Belgium

A girl standing at Brussels airport with swollen eyes and completely lost in her own thoughts is waiting for her luggage. Everything looked so perfect 11 hours ago as I was travelling to a beautiful country Belgium for work. I was heading toward immigration gate with song in my head I’M A LITTLE BIT IN LOVE, NEVER FELT THIS WAY BEFORE. MM--MMM -- JUST A LITTLE BIT IN LOVE, OR PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT MORE. (Of Course I have ear-worms) But little I knew that God had different plans and before take-off, one phone call changed everything in a second. I collected my luggage and headed towards the hotel with heavy heart. As soon as I reached there, I called him. He still was sounding cold, and I thought ‘what’s wrong?’ After sometime, I got his sister's message ‘He is not sure about the marriage. I felt choked ‘Why is it always me?’ Next morning, it felt choking as there was no fresh air in the room. I went to the reception and requested a change of room, but they said ‘it is busy time in the city because Auto Expo is going on and we won’t be able to allot any other room’. I requested my admin department too but of no use. I was completely devastated. I came back to my tiny room and suddenly tears started rolling down my cheek. Next morning, the hotel manager asked me if I was okay to travel 1-1.5 hrs every day to office.I said YES…as I needed to get out of this place ASAP. He said ‘IZEGEM and it is far, but I can get you transferred to our hotel. The name of the place was new to me and I did not even know how to pronounce "Izegem" but it felt surreal picture-perfect town. Within 2 hours, I was at the ‘Park Hotel, Izegem’ and my heart said ‘This is exactly what I was searching for’. My journey started from "Izegem Station Perron 1" to “Kortrijk”. Unlike other mornings, it was a beautiful sunny morning. I started to walk towards the station, and was constantly thinking of serene Green nature and the misty coolness all around. Now the weekend came and Stephan (Hotel's manager) asked me about my plans. I simply said ‘Nothing’. He got curious ‘You are in Izegem! Tomorrow we have market day where you can find Indian spices’ with a big smile. I replied ‘but I can’t cook in the hotel’ and he was like ‘Why not? Use our home kitchen at night but you have to keep something for us too’. We both laughed. After all, cooking soothes my soul. Next morning, It was all quiet and then suddenly I got a sneaked view of a canal, from where a couple came out, ‘Hey, do you need something?’ I fumbled ‘No, actually I am on my way to the Sunday market.’ They suggested I go out from the other door to reach the market. I was amazed at their warm hospitality. That evening I felt like talking to my fiance. I called and told him to take his own time and let it go with the flow. I felt unburdened somehow. Now, every morning I was getting up with a smile and walking towards Perron 1, greeting people, and exploring the Belgian map. I was astonished after seeing the serenity and peace of this unknown municipality and others like Bourges and Ghant. The natural charm and peaceful environment was helping me to soothe my soul. ‘Ahh... Bourges! This gem feels like a home to me. It is a great fusion of old world charm and modern culture. Now I understand myself better and also the real meaning of ‘solace’. This trip worked like magic for me and for my relationship with him who became my husband 6 months later. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain