Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I wake up in Hasselt, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I’m running late. Classic me. I sprint down the Maastrichterstraat, dodging cyclists like I’m in some weird video game. I swear, these bikers are like ninjas. One almost took me out! I’m like, “Dude, chill! I’m just trying to get to work!”
Finally, I make it to the office, and guess what? My coffee machine is broken. Ugh! I need my caffeine fix, or I’m basically a zombie. So, I hit up the nearest café on the corner of de Kuilen and the Markt. I order a cappuccino, and the barista is super friendly. I’m thinking, “Okay, maybe today won’t be so bad.” But then, I spill it all over myself. Great. Just great. Now I smell like burnt coffee.
After that, I head to a meeting at the Hasselt City Hall. I’m pumped, right? We’re discussing some new programs for the community. But then, my colleague, let’s call him “Mr. Negative,” starts ranting about budget cuts. Like, dude, can we not? I’m trying to be optimistic here! I mean, we’re in Hasselt, the city of jenever and fashion. We should be celebrating, not crying over money!
Anyway, I zone out for a bit, thinking about the cool stuff we could do. Like, how awesome would it be to have a street festival on the Herkenrodestraat? Food trucks, live music, the whole shebang! But Mr. Negative just keeps droning on. I’m about to lose it.
Then, outta nowhere, my phone buzzes. It’s a text from my buddy. He’s like, “Dude, you gotta see this!” I’m thinking, “What now?” Turns out, there’s a pop-up market at the Grote Markt. I’m like, “Forget this meeting!” I sneak out, and let me tell you, it was worth it.
The market is buzzing! I’m walking around, checking out all the local goodies. There’s this stall selling the best Hasselt speculaas. I grab a piece, and it’s like heaven in my mouth. I’m grinning like an idiot. Then, I spot a guy juggling flaming torches. I’m like, “What the heck? Is this a circus or a market?”
But then, I see something that makes my heart drop. A kid trips and spills his ice cream all over the ground. I’m like, “Noooo!” I rush over, and the kid’s crying. I can’t handle it. I buy him a new one, and his face lights up. That’s the stuff, man. Makes the chaos worth it.
After that, I head back to the office, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. But of course, the day isn’t done with me yet. I get back, and my boss is like, “We need to talk.” Oh boy. Turns out, there’s a big event coming up, and they want me to lead it. I’m like, “What? Me?” I’m flattered but also freaking out.
So, I’m sitting there, trying to process everything. I’m thinking about all the cool things we could do in Hasselt. Maybe a street art project on the Vismarkt? Or a jenever tasting tour? The possibilities are endless!
Finally, I wrap up my day, and I’m walking home, still buzzing from all the craziness. I pass by the beautiful Japanese Garden, and I just stop. It’s so peaceful. I take a deep breath and think, “Hasselt, you’re a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade you for anything.”
And that’s my day. Full of ups and downs, but hey, that’s life, right? Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!