Your time in the current town is ending. So drop a finger on a random point on the map.
Send a message to a random AirBnB host there – receive an answer: “Yes – you’re most welcome!”
The next day, find your way to this strange town in yet another country via trains, buses, a few transfers. Step off the final train, onto a quiet platform. Breathe the new air. Navigate tiredly through still and unknown streets – feel the discreetly inquisitive, brief stares of the locals.
Knock on the door – the familiar apprehension of the unknown intensifies….why am I doing this!?… knock again… wonder if this is wise….then… footsteps… voices …. the door swings open..and there…BIG smile…warm welcome…friendly eyes…jubilant voice!
At that moment the realization sets in: this is home for the next few days, this is rest, this is understanding, conversation, comfort…. this is Carl. Carl Soete!
What an amazing character! Distinguished artist/painter. Living in his magnificently renovated house with Pixel, the dog. (Google him: carlsoete.be)
We concur to not speak English – our shared language origins must be celebrated: I’ll stick to Afrikaans and he to Dutch/Flemish. It goes brilliantly. Sometimes laughter, sometimes confusion, mostly well understood.
He makes breakfast. We eat on his veranda. We talk. About life, food, being lonely. I get to see his studio – his amazing work. We talk. About work, money, being healthy. He shares his very special Belgian beers with me. We talk. About being privileged, the summer, stress, my country, his country, taxes, women.
And then the moment comes to leave. We hug. Briefly catch the other’s eye. Exchange good wishes.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I step outside. And I’m alone again.
