PC student studying abroad in Brussels tells us how the community is holding up

March 23, 2016 5:09 pm

By Ana Bottary

@anabottary

Fear and uncertainty, two feelings that have subsided a bit Wednesday for Providence College student Conor Adler, who is studying abroad in Brussels. While the city is seeing a significant police and military presence, the community seems to be running as usual.

"The city is a little bit eerie but everyone is going about their jobs," says Adler.

Adler says many people are venturing out to show support in the city as well. He says their strength through this difficult time has helped him to be strong as well.

"I don’t know why, but I just think the people around me have made it pretty easy. Just because, they are trying to make it normal, we are trying to make it normal. Because of that, it hasn’t been as scary as I thought it would be," he says.

One thing he was taken aback by, the attack at the airport. He had a trip booked to fly out from there just two days later.

"If we had decided to fly out a couple of days earlier it could have been us. I’m incredibly grateful to be alive honestly."

Adler believes the healing had already started to begin Tuesday, after the lock down was lifted.

"I went out for a quick run and the people in Brussels were all out trying to make things as normal as possible. Everyone was kind of looking out for each other, it seemed like everyone was trying to talk to each other and comfort each other."

As of now, Adler says he will finish out his semester in Brussels. He also has an internship lined up in Madrid this summer.