The second Saturday in Brussels we had the option to volunteer with the rest of CIEE students. We worked with a group called Serve the City; they help the homeless, elderly, abused women, and children around Brussels. The group is run by men and families that are funded from the states. They have monthly excursions of about 50 people to go out and help various nonprofits in the city.
We were assigned to a place right next to campus. It is a squat for Romanians, and I had no idea what I was in for. I have seen poverty living situations before and have completed a fair share of volunteering, but this place was surreal. It was in an abandoned building that housed about 50 people. The mattresses were grouped in the middle and there were tables and counters of cooking supplies along the walls. They don’t speak English or French and had virtually no education. The hygiene was unimaginable, facilities hardly livable, and the smell was intoxicating. We painted the little girls nails and tried to smile. Though this was not a typical study abroad experience, I think giving back to the place we will be residing for the next four months will is worth every second.