Belonging's Heartbeat in Brussels
In this heartfelt and insightful episode, host Doreen Cumberford and co-host Megan Norton are joined by Erin Meyer-Cherneux —author, cultural anthropologist, and visual artist —for a rich discussion about belonging, transnational identities, and the beauty of multicultural living.
Erin shares her journey from a small town in Texas to making a home in vibrant Brussels, raising four bilingual and multicultural children, and finding inspiration and connection in places like Normandy. She discusses the unique challenges and joys of building community in internationally transient environments and distills wisdom from her own life, including her experiences as an author and her love for art and long-distance swimming.
Together, they explore the importance of belonging—not just to a place, but to oneself and to humanity as a whole. The conversation covers everything from the meaning behind painting walls blue, to modeling connection for children, grieving friendships in expat circles, and drawing life lessons from World War II history.
Key Topics Covered
- Erin’s journey: From Texas to Belgium and finding both love and a sense of home
- Raising multicultural, multilingual children and navigating family identity
- The practice and philosophy of belonging in global, transient communities
- How Erin’s book, D Day Lessons for Today: How to Create Your Future History, draws life lessons from history for facing personal challenges
- The importance of intuition, self-knowledge, and “belonging to oneself”
- Initiatives like open water swimming across continents and art as transformative practice
- The resilience, adaptability, and richness found in the expat experience
- Cultivating curiosity, empathy, and connection across cultures
- How artifacts, traditions, and physical spaces (like blue-painted rooms and rugs) can foster a sense of home
Memorable Quotes
- “Brussels is my heartbeat and Normandy is my soul sigh.” – Erin Meyer Charnu
- “Belonging means belonging to yourself first—when I feel least like I belong, that’s when I’m not paying enough attention to myself.” – Erin Meyer Charnu
- “You can pick and choose the best of the different worlds that you live in.” – Erin Meyer Charnu
- “We all belong to the human race—and that diversity of expression is what makes the world so rich and colorful and wonderful.” – Erin Meyer Charnu
- “When you connect with someone, you realize you’re both human and have similar desires, even if they’re expressed differently.” – Erin Meyer Charnu
Further Resources
- Erin’s Book: D Day Lessons for Today: How to Create Your Future History
- Education First (EF) D-Day Anniversary Commemorative Exhibit
- The Belonging Project (hosted by Megan Norton)
Connect With Erin
- Erin Meyer-Cherneux: Author, artist, coach, and cultural anthropologist based in Brussels and Normandy
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Sign-off:
Masalama, sayonara, and hasta luego
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