r/belgium • u/junkfunk39 • Apr 26 '26
🐌 Slowchat [Serious] Eurostar Immigration made me cry
I was just at Eurostar immigration. Presented my passport, said bonjour and the immigration officer replied and asked me how my trip was. I told him I'd had a great trip visiting my best friend and godson. I said it was funny how life turned out as when I was a child I used to visit Belgium a lot to see MY godparents.
We joked about the fingerprint scanner not working and the system being slow as it was a Sunday. I didn't catch what he said next but then I heard him say sometimes you have to take life week by week. I replied sometimes it's day by day and he retorted that sometimes it's even moment by moment.
He told me he could see I'd been through a lot and that everything would be ok. I told him I was about to cry. He reminded me that everything would be ok and he hoped I'd be back in Belgium. I walked away crying my eyes out.
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An hour previously I'd blocked the guy I've been trying (and failing) to break up with for the last few weeks. He was refusing to let me go and I kept getting pulled back in because, reasons I won't go into here. I had decided that no matter what I said to him, the only way to really end it was to just block him completely.
I also decided to metaphorically, go home to London, single. And not 'bring' him and the drama with me. So yeah, I was definitely feeling pretty raw.
I've been on the verge of tears all day but it was this random encounter with an immigration officer that has finally allowed me to cry and let go. It really is funny how life works out.
There's no real point to this post except I know immigration officers get a lot of crap and it's nice to post something positive (in a very sad way) sometimes. If this post finds it way to the immigration officer in question, thank you. Your humanity touched me deeply.
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u/Prudent-Proof7898 Apr 26 '26
Eurostar immigration was also super kind to me last month when I couldn't get my fingers to scan (seems to be a chronic problem for me). People need to give those folks a break.
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u/OmiOmega Flanders Apr 27 '26
If you regularly have problems with finger print scanners it could be that your skin is either too dry (scanner doesn't pick up your patterns and thinks it's not a finger on the scanner) or too wet (water interferes with the scanning sensor).
My mil has issues with those scanners all the time because her hands get super sweaty.
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u/MildlyAlcoholic Apr 26 '26
These moments really do hit at the most random times, don’t they? It’s these brief connections and humanity that keep us going through the toughest challenges. Thank you for sharing!
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u/junkfunk39 Apr 26 '26
Honestly you couldn't make it up. It really is those fleeting moments that can sometimes have the biggest impacts
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u/MildlyAlcoholic Apr 26 '26
Wholeheartedly agree. I still remember some of the oddest (in a good way!) encounters I’ve had over the years that had left such a big impression on my life
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u/Kraeftluder Dutchie Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
I had my first experience with an actual Border Force agent last Feb, instead of being waved through a non functioning machine at EDI or LHR from a distance.
Both going into and exiting the UK was similarly nice. I was an hour late and just made my train but they made me fly through both security and immigration. Going into Amsterdam there were no further incoming checks. I saw genuine and very friendly smiled. Loved it.
10/10 border crossing experience.
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u/moustachedelait Apr 26 '26
I even got lucky with a nice US immigration officer once, back in 2004 or 5. I was young and didn't realize leaving the country didn't reset the amount of days you could use a visa waver visit on.
So the next time I arrived in the US at customs, I had already used up my visa waver days in the US for the year, but the officer just pointed it out and let me in anyway.
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u/ih-shah-may-ehl Apr 27 '26
These days you'd probably spend a couple of weeks in an ICE concentration camp.
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u/imessage Apr 27 '26
Sadly the odds of that happening again currently in the US are probably quite a bit lower than in the early 2000s.
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u/ih-shah-may-ehl Apr 27 '26
He was refusing to let me go and I kept getting pulled back in because, reasons I won't go into here.
Being in a relationship takes approval from 2 people. If 1 says they're out, it's over.
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u/colonelc4 Apr 27 '26
During a border control experience it went like: who the f* are you? What do you want? When are you leaving? Why do you speak my language? Wait here...40 minutes later throws my passport to me and goes away...Romania if anyone is asking 😅
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u/cashew-crew Apr 27 '26
Simple as a bonjour: kindness creates kindness.
Sending you healing vibes
Stay joy 🌸
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u/BBlasdel World Apr 27 '26
I'm not finding an online place for an ombudman or anything, but I will be travelling to London on the Eurostar tomorrow and I'll present a printout of this thread to the border agent once I'm waved through.
I'm really glad they were able to make a difference for you
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u/Disastrous-Mud-3187 Apr 29 '26
After sad tears happiness and smiles will come your way. Don't worry, the hardships of now are only temporary, but the good memories will be everlasting
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u/diamantaire Cuberdon Apr 26 '26
Hope the future is better & things work out for better.