#4. THE MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD?

NOT EVEN CLOSE!

When I tell people in Belgium that we're moving to El Salvador, one of the first questions I get is, "But isn't it dangerous there?" My retort is usually, "When was the last time you visited Brussels?"

I can't blame people for not recognizing the positive transformation that El Salvador has undergone and continues to experience. After all, the media, often referred to as the Fourth Estate, which should act as a watchdog over politics, has long ceased to be an independent force and has morphed into a propaganda machine for the system. Our legacy media often portrays countries, governments, and leaders who don't adhere to Western ideology in a negative light. But more and more people are starting to see through it and are switching to alternative media channels like X.com, podcasters, etc. So there is hope.

But back to the question, "The most dangerous country in the world?"

I remember watching an interview with Tucker Carlson and President Bukele. Bukele shared that as a young man, he was very drawn to the Western world and cities like, for example, San Francisco and Detroit. Now, however, he says he wouldn't want to live in those cities. "I find it almost unimaginable that someone from El Salvador wouldn't want to live in those cities anymore" he said. These words have stayed with me because we feel the same. We prefer a "developing country" over the Western civilization we grew up in.

I feel anything but safe in European cities. But during the 20 days I spent in El Salvador, I didn't feel unsafe for a single second, not even late at night when I was completely alone on the street. There's police and security everywhere, but not in a threatening way at all. These people are friendly; they smile at you, greet you, and even help you find your way if needed. This is also a huge difference from the security services in the West, which honestly scare me more than they make me feel safe and reassured.

Last summer, our Salvadoran friends came to visit us. They booked an apartment in Brussels via Airbnb. And guess what? These folks, who just a few years ago lived in a country that was labeled the murder capital of the world, people accustomed to life under the shadow of civil war and gang rule, were too scared to step outside their Brussels apartment.

I think we have the answer to the above question…

Despite the challenges, we made the most of it, determined to show our friends a good time in our country. Fortunately, Belgium hosts a festival that fills me with national pride, and that's Tomorrowland Belgium. Critics may have their say, but I believe in calling it what it is—an impeccably organized event, a fantastical dreamworld that draws visitors from every corner of the world. I take pride in having been part of this organization for ten years.

Luis, Cristina, Luis Jr, Jim, and Dirk went out to party at Tomorrowland for two nights. Just like all the 'People of Tomorrow,' our friends from El Salvador had a blast! I only joined them for one night at the festival. Juggling taxi duties for our Salvadoran friends and my job at the festival meant two nights of partying were too much for me. Instead, I had a delightful evening with Elena, our friends' daughter. Too young for the festival, she stayed at our house, and despite the significant age gap, we bonded over our shared love for dance and performance art. We chatted like old friends until 2 AM about our common interests. I will never forget that evening!

Towards the end of their stay, we invited the whole family over for dinner at our home. We intended to have a BBQ, but the quintessential Belgian weather - too wet and cold - forced us indoors. With our small house and the challenge of seating seven for dinner, we opted for the next best (and easiest) thing: a fondue and stone grill dinner. Typically something one would do in winter, but even though it was summer, it suited the near-winter conditions outside.

Once again, we savored a delightful evening with our friends. Our neighbors, Mieke and Ed, even joined us later for drinks and dessert, adding to the warmth of the night. Mieke and Ed are incredibly kind and warm people, the type of Belgians we wanted our friends to meet. And vice versa! We wanted Mieke and Ed, who are like family to us, to experience the Salvadoran warmth and friendship because they too often struggle with the cold Western world.

After all the hospitality our friends had shown us in El Salvador, it was our turn to return the favor with kindness and gratitude. We aimed to make their time in Belgium special, and we truly hope we achieved that.

By then, our house was already on the market, signaling our impending move to El Salvador. With plans set, the promise of seeing our friends again soon added a sweet note to our farewell.

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So far, I've written mostly about the backstory of our adventure. I hope everyone keeps following along because the real adventure of leaving the Western world and moving to El Salvador will begin in the following chapters. I will gradually transition into a diary-style format, describing our present adventures in what I believe to be the most beautiful country in the world.

(Click on my profile to read more stories about our adventure)