While keeping regular business hours and not missing a beat with client deliverables, REED team members explore a different part of the world through our Work Away program. This creative team benefit provides the flexibility to work anywhere in the world for up to one month and a stipend to cover expenses. While on their trip, REED team members connect with Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) colleagues – shout out to PRGN partner Media Profile for the idea! – and collect beneficial experiences to bring home to our clients. Read along for the latest adventure!
Brook Farrell’s Work Away to Belgium
Where did you spend your Work Away, and why did you choose that location?
I began by backtracking in my work away planning! I purchased tickets to see Taylor Swift (my idol) in London and decided to plan a trip around it. Belgium is very central for weekend trips, and I spoke the language (or so I thought).
When looking at cities in Belgium, I immediately fell in love with Ghent!
Once I arrived, I learned that Belgium is split in half of what language is spoken and Ghent is in the Dutch-speaking region, not the French-speaking one as I had planned for. Luckily, most of the locals spoke English. While Ghent was my home base, I took a lot of trips from there. I ended up visiting nine countries and 16 cities in total!
What was the biggest adjustment you made as you settled into your temporary Work Away home?
Definitely, adjusting to the time change! I have always been a night owl but taking client meetings while it’s dark outside and planning a dinner break instead of a lunch break took time to adapt. Ghent is a university town, and my apartment was located across the street from a local café (bar). As I was working into the night, I was kept company by my neighbors enjoying their evening cocktails! I got so used to the sound that it felt too quiet when I first got home.
How did you connect with other PR professionals in your Work Away location?
We have a PRGN partner in Brussels, so I spent a day working in their office and getting to know their team. The Two Cents team was so welcoming, and I enjoyed learning more about their team and work. We exchanged work stories and typical days, and I introduced them to the idea of Summer Fridays!
What is the best thing you ate or drank on your trip?
Fries (frites!), chocolate and beer – all Belgian delicacies! The Flanders region of Belgium is known as the capital of chocolate, and I made sure to enjoy it!
What sights did you see while you explored?
I explored every corner of Ghent! I saw the famous three towers that make up the skyline (St. Nicholas Church, the Belfry and St. Bavo Cathedral). I spent many mornings and afternoons wandering along the Leie River, admiring St. Michael’s church and Bridge, the Post Hotel and shopping center, the Gravensteen (Castle of the Counts) and the many local cafes and shops.
I also took day trips to Bruges, Antwerp and Brussels and saw the sites there! During some PTO in the middle of my trip, I visited London and crammed as much of the city into three days as possible (I even visited a little piece of home at Third Man Records). I also spent 24 hours in Amsterdam on a rainy, almost-fall day.
After my trip, I enjoyed some PTO and explored Luxembourg, Zurich, Interlaken, Lake Como, and Milan with my family.
Name one professional and one personal benefit to REED’s Work Away program.
Professional: Experiencing other cultures and how they approach and interact with my clients’ industries was educational. It opened my eyes to ways we can work with our clients and strategies we can implement in the future!
Personal: There is so much in the world outside Nashville, and a month-long European adventure wouldn’t have been feasible in most situations. It was a life-changing trip, and I can’t wait to do it all over again in two years!