SIS Summer Abroad 2009: Politics and Policies in the EU, Brussels, Belgium

Just some final pictures...

2009-07-01T13:27:00.004+02:00

Along with my last written post, here are some pictures I took during my final few days in the city. Man, I miss that place!!!

Grand Place Pics

Waterloo

Atomium

Just some final words...

2009-07-01T13:22:00.002+02:00

Well, I’ve been back in DC for two and a half days now and I can’t stop having “Brussels pangs”. I miss everything: my breakfasts (which may or may not have included copious amounts of Belgian chocolate), speaking French on a daily basis, my fabulous internship, all my Brussels friends, who are more or less scattered across Europe for the next few weeks, the dynamic energy of Europe’s capital, and yes, the waffles.

This program was everything I could have asked for and more. I had a lot of fun (see above what I usually ate for breakfast!), and I learned a great deal about Belgium, a tiny country—just the size of Maryland—but, nonetheless, a nation that is unbelievably multifaceted. I also learned about the history and politics of the continent, and about the Europe’s working world. My internship at Liberty TV went above and beyond my expectations. The group I worked with was very talented and supportive, and I left with much more knowledge and many more practical skills than I had when I first arrived.

I am grateful for having had such an amazing opportunity and I strongly encourage others to participate in this program next year…just don’t tell me when you do, because I think I’ll be way too jealous to be able to handle it!

I ♥ BXL!

2009-06-27T20:00:00.015+02:00

Well, our program officially ended yesterday (which was an amazingly beautiful day for that matter), and I am here in Brussels alone. Everyone else has either gone back to the U.S. or is off to some other destination in Europe. Meanwhile, I will be here for a couple of days before heading to Hungary, France and Spain, and I wanted to make one last blog post about my experience here. In short, it was amazing!

I have had the time of my life in Brussels. Seven weeks is not such a long time, but I feel like I have been here for much longer. I have learned so much about Belgium and the European Union. I was able to travel throughout much of Belgium, which is truly a beautiful country with pleasant surprises at every turn. Last but not least, I have had an amazing time with friends I had known before (who I now feel much closer to) and new friends I have gotten to know along the way. We have had such a great experience in Brussels together. I will truly miss being here with them, but then again, we are all going back to D.C., and it will be so nice to see everyone there. As for new friends I have met in Brussels, I will definitely be back to visit them!

I am so fortunate and grateful to have been able to participate in this internship program. This has been one of the greatest summers of my life. I have completely fallen in love with Belgium, and I can’t wait to come back! I would also love to work in Brussels at some point in my life because of my growing interest in the EU.

Thank you for a tremendous program!!! I will never forget it!

Silver Lining

2009-06-24T19:12:00.000+02:00

Well, I am not the girl who enjoys writing blogs - or diaries - or really any type of thing like this. But, seeing as it is the end of the program, I thought I would take a shot at summing up my experience on this trip.

For me, this summer has been about the silver linings to this program!

Bad things have happened. My sister has had her gall bladder removed after having to go to the hospital repeatedly; my dog that I have had since I was 7 may be put down before I get home in a few days; my grandmother, who has just fought off cancer in 7 of her organs, has now sustained damage to her heart from the chemo and is just now out of the hospital; my father got married (without me there); two days after my dad's wedding, we found out he now has retina cancer in addition to breast and bone cancer and that the drugs that he has been taking have not been working. On top of all this, I have stressed and worried over trying to get projects done, trying to coordinate weekend trips, and trying to maintain my sanity when I call my family back home to get an update.

However, in spite of all this, I have had one of the best summers that I can remember. I have been lucky enough to have a great host family. My host mom, Patricia, makes sure that I know exactly where I need to go when I leave the house and my host sisters and I are chatting about the latest movies and music quite a bit. They have been incredibly kind to me. Once, after a very nice trip to the Pita Palace for mitraettes with Travis and Jenna, I got lost (or Travis pointed me in the wrong direction). My host mother and sister figured out where I was and picked me up on the street corner. When I told her how embarrassed I was, she told me it was ok and instead we went out and picked up dinner and treats from the grocery store. In fact, yesterday, my host mom and sister went to the gardens behind the African museum with the dog, Plum, and just walked and chatted. After coming home, we looked at pictures and had dinner. I didn't realize it because I was having a great time, but I did not make it up to my room until midnight. I adore this family and feel that I have been incredibly blessed to be welcomed into someone's home with such ease and friendliness!

Not to brag, but I also have had a fantastic internship with the Royal Military Academy. Some parts are not very fun: Rachel and I have had to write a 45-page paper on military academies in Europe, work 8.5 hours a day, and present our work in front of military officers. On the other hand, we are getting an actual project and we will be a part of the reason why this policy may or may not pass. The people in the office, contrary to popular opinion on military academies, have also been fantastic. Our supervisor, Patrice, stands up for the research we do and makes sure that we know that it is appreciated. He always tries to make jokes and to make us feel comfortable in the academy. The other intern, Marcel, also makes us laugh at his funny stories and at our attempts to speak Dutch words to him. Other people in the office – the Colonel, Pascal, and Jean-Pierre – have been very friendly to us and have tried to speak English to accommodate our (mostly my) inability to understand French or Dutch.

Finally, I have had a brilliant time travelling. I have been to the beach and rode in “kindercarts”, or bicycles built for 6. I have eaten Berliners in Koln, walked up to the top of many cathedrals, tried several different types of Belgian and German beers in pubs, been adventurous enough to eat national dishes, seen so many different parts of Europe and met so many kind and generous people on my travels.

I am ridiculously grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this program this year, especially since I go to UNC and not American University. While some not-very-pleasant things have happened in my life, I am glad to be here and I know that this opportunity will be significant for my future. I will take the experience of the academy, living with a Belgian family, travelling to new places, and meeting new friends on with me as I go. Thanks again!

Jenny

What I'll Miss Most

2009-06-23T12:01:00.023+02:00

Ok, I'm not much of a blogger but I'll give this a try.

I can't believe that my time in Brussels has dwindled down to 4 measly days. When I originally arrived, the 7 weeks ahead of me seemed daunting. I was sure that by the end of June I would be ready to go home, but it is exactly the opposite. If I could stay in Brussels, I would. Now the thought of heading back home, aside from the joy of seeing friends and family, seems awful. There are a myriad of things I am going to miss dearly. So far my list consists of:

Gaufres

There is nothing better than an authentic Belgian waffle fresh from the waffle iron. They have quickly become my favorite snack and their wide availability makes them a staple in my day. I will miss having the option to grab on on the way out of the metro after work, or walking downtown. Eggo just won't cut it anymore.

Speculoos

So I wasn't an immediate fan. Originally I tried the Speculoos cookies, which I think are pretty meh. I was informed that I should dip them in coffee, which I don't really like, so I decided to abandon the mission of liking Speculoos. I later found out that it also comes in a spread, and I have since developed a taste for Speculoos and Nutella sandwiches (thanks to Rob and Chris). I can't really describe Speculoos, it is just one of those things you have to experience for yourself. I think I may have to smuggle a jar home

Cafes

You don't realize how nice it is to have the option to sit outside with friends, enjoying a drink and perhaps a meal, and leisurely people watching. Cafes are a European staple it seems, and the landscape in D.C. just won't look right without them. Cafes are a great place to pop in quickly, or spend an afternoon. You can meet with friends or enjoy a little personal time, either way the atmosphere and the experience are something I am really going to miss. Perhaps outdoor cafes will come to D.C.

Breads

While most people think "France" when they think of breads, I'm thinking "Belgium." Belgium has an amazing assortment of breads for any meal and any taste. There are bakeries throughout Brussels, all filled with delectable pastries and loaves of soft brown goodness. I don't believe that Adkins would go over very well in Belgium, and I think that's a good thing. I am a big fan of the selection at Kraainem Carrefour, which spans several aisles in the back of the store stocked with tons of options, as well as an automatic slicer, so you have have your bread freshly sliced once you have made you decision.

Chocolate Shops

I pass at least 3 (if not more) chocolate shops on my way to work every morning. There is one in the metro where I change trams, and one within a 5 minute walk from my office. They are beautifully done, with shelves of perfectly aligned confectionery treats, in all kinds of chocolate, with all kinds of fillings. I have discovered a love for dark chocolate and hazelnut, as well as a new found appreciation for marzipan. My host mother gave me a 250 gram box from Leonidas and it was the most amazing gift I have ever received. I will miss popping into one walking down the street for a quick bite, or just to admire the stock. They also make great gifts as they will willingly wrap the boxes in decorative wrapping and ribbons. While leaving Belgium may be better for my diet, I will surely miss the indulgence.

Trams

I have a new found love of trams, and I really think they should re institute tram travel in DC. They can access places not serviced by the metro and they give you a chance to see the sights above ground. There is a tram stop at the end of my block and I take at least 2 trams every morning to get to my internship. They are simple, convenient and I just think they're neat. They give you another option besides the bus and the metro and sometimes are a lot easier and quicker than them as well. I fully support bringing back the tram :)

Train travel

I would love it if the U.S. expanded its train capabilities. The idea of showing up at the station, buying a ticket and an hour or so later being in a completely different country is so much fun to me. So much less hassle than catching a plane, especially with security the way it is, and if you have a fear of flying it gives another option besides making a ridiculously long drive. I love the trains in Belgium, even when the seats are full and you have to sit on the floor between cars. I can leave in the morning, spend the day at the coast, and be back before bedtime for 10 euro. That's a tough deal to beat.

Knowing exactly how much something costs

So while the VAT can be kind of annoying, knowing how much something will cost is fantastic. There is no confusion when you get to the check out, no need to configure additional costs. Splitting a tab at dinner is easy, and there is no need to worry that what you have in your wallet won't cover the ultimate purchase price. With the total cost already presented to you, you know what you can afford upfront and you don't have to worry about anything else on top of that. I think it is sooo much easier, even if it makes things a bit more pricey.

The Grand Place

There is nothing better than meeting friends for en evening on the Grand Place. At night, the buildings are softly lit and there are throngs of people sitting on blankets enjoying the evening. There are shops open late, cafes, waffles and chocolate on every side street, and the thrill of being immersed in the culture of a foreign city. There's nothing quite like it back home, and I will really miss it.

The Stockel Metro Station

I have spent a lot of time at the Stockel/Stokkel metro station, waiting for metros, waiting for Jenny, shopping at the Match or grabbing a fabulous sandwich. The Stockel metro is particularly endearing due to it's Tintin motif, which I think makes it one of the friendliest, most colorful stations. The walls are covered with Tintin scenes, and every time I glance at the wall I see something I didn't see before. It always puts a smile on my face :)

The Music in the Metro

So the metro is continuously playing music, and in the last 7 weeks I have heard more Pink, Lily Allen, and Katy Perry than I have heard in my life. It's usually the same few songs over and over, except at night a few hours before metro closes when it switches to classical. Then you know it's late and it's time to head home.

My abonnement

So when we first spent 30 euro for our metro passes I was a little taken aback by the cost, but now with how much I use it, I find that is is a far superior deal to the D.C. Smartrip card. I can use trams, buses, the metro, anywhere, all day long and I'm covered. I take at least 4 separate means of transport just to a from my internship every day, and I go from one side of the city to another. That kind of travel would be so expensive on the D.C. metro, and that doesn't include personal travel for meeting friends or sightseeing. I like the value and the freedom the abonnemont brings and I hope maybe one day the concept will make it over the Atlantic.

My Internship

I absolutely adore my internship. I am working at CEJI, an organization which works for an inclusive Europe. I have been working on a project lobbying the European Parliament to sign on to the London Declaration Combating Antisemitism, which entails a lot of research and grassroots kinds of efforts. I have learned a lot about MEPs, the Parliament, Belgian politics, and I have even been so lucky as to attend meetings at the Parliament. The people I work with are incredibly kind and friendly and they have taught me a great deal and made me feel really at home in the office. They have really enriched my experience here and I will never forget them.

My wonderful host family

So my host family is anything but Belgian, which I was a little disappointed about in the beginning, but have quickly gotten over. My family is full on British and live in Belgium for work. I have found that learning British English is almost like learning a completely different language at times, and I find their accent infectious. They are very kind and generous, they have totally opened their home to me, and last weekend they took me with them on a trip to London. I feel really lucky to have had such a positive experience with them, and I will miss them when I leave.

The amazing group of people I have met

I have met the most amazing people here and I will miss them terribly when we leave. I've been fortunate enough to have these fantastic people living close by so that seeing them is a breeze and it will be so odd when they are not a part of my everyday life. I'll miss riding the tram with Rob and Chris, meeting up with Jenny, Erica and Rachel for dinner, and meeting Luke, Caroline, Nikki and Lexi downtown. There are no other people that I would rather spend an evening with, or a day riding a kinderkart with at the coast, or even traveling to Paris. My best memories are filled with these people, and these memories are so cherished because these people are a part of them. Of everything, they are the best part of this experience.

All in all, this has been one of the greatest experiences in my life. If I could ever find a job in Brussels I would move here without hesitation. I love this city and this country, I love the people I have met and the things I have been fortunate enough to experience. I hope this is a program AU will continue for a while, especially for the grad students, because it really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...but mostly Trains.

2009-06-23T08:40:00.002+02:00

Brussels and Belgium have an amazing public transportation network. In Brussels, if the metro doesn't take you there, then an easily accessible tram or bus surely will. What I find to be most impressive, and something DC should really look into, is that Brussels publishes a widely-available public transportation map that includes the Metro, Bus, and Tram lines so you do not have to spend time trying comparing Bus and Metro maps to figure out where you are going. The bus is not a mystery here, as it is to most casual public transportation users in D.C. It makes getting around town much more convenient, and the up to the minute GPS location of all public transportation vehicles is available online and over the phone (I hear D.C. might be trying to start this project up again). And on top of all that, a month long, unlimited public transportation pass, that is good on all forms of transportation is only 30 Euros for people under 26. As a carless District resident, I rely heavily on the metro and bus system to get to school and work and am grateful for the hard work of WMATA employees, but I really appreciate what the city of Brussels provides its residents and am looking forward to making some suggestions to WMATA when I get back.

Belgium is a small country; roughly the size of Maryland. Due to its size and wealth it has been able to build a rail network that zips you around the country in no time and with relative ease. Early on during the trip, I purchased a Go Pass for 50 Euros that provided me with ten one way trips anywhere in Belgium and have had a great time using it. With a Go Pass you don't need to stand in line at the station, you just fill out your destination on the ticket, hop on the train and go, no reservation required. Brussels to Antwerp in 45 minutes; Brussels to Gent in 35 minutes; Gent to Brugge in 25 minutes; anyway you get the idea. It’s easy to get around, making for endless possibilities for short day trips around the country so that you can make it back to Brussels at night and save on paying for hotels everywhere you go.

Belgium also has a great highway network for those places that don't have easy train access, and renting a car or finding a friend of a friend that has one is a great option for trips around Belgium. Gas is more expensive here than in the US, but you get the feeling you're actually paying what it’s worth. For those with travel ambitions a bit further afield, Brussels' main airport is easily accessible by public transport from multiple places in the city. Getting down to the Charleroi airport, where the budget airlines fly out of, is also relatively easy.

I know this may sound like an infomercial for public transportation in Belgium, but I am impressed and envious of the ease of travel here without having to own a car. As those who live in the DC area without a car know, it can be frustrating relying on infrequent, uncoordinated public transport without even the option of convenient travel to surrounding areas.

I never want to leave...

2009-06-22T19:56:00.008+02:00

This has been a dream-come-true experience. Literally. My wildest dreams have all come true in Brussels. And honestly, I don't want to go back. I was pretty miserable in Washington. In fact, I'd been pretty depressed for a couple of years now. But I found my joy again in Brussels. I found my peace again in Brussels. I learned to laugh again in Brussels ... the laugh-until-you-cry laugh. God I had missed that!

Let me take a moment to express all my love and gratitude in the world to my 26 and 27-year-old "host parents," Isabelle and Jeff. They have been amazing "parents" to me! Even though I'm older than both of them, they have taken care of me in every way. Not only have they consistently cooked the greatest meals of my life for me, but Jeff has also been teaching me to cook! We've had great political and philosophical conversations, but they've also let me cry in front of them (I was so sad about leaving Brussels that I literally burst into tears in front of Jeff and Isabelle last week, but they assured me that I would be back, living in Europe, in no time, so there was no reason to be sad... they then handed me some chocolate to make me feel better ... and it worked). These guys are friends FOR LIFE!

Not only do I have the world's great "host parents," but I also have the world's great internship! Today, my boss Sharon said to me, "Leila, if I could, I'd hire you!" I love Sharon. She's the Managing Director of the State of Illinois - West Euopean Office of Trade and Investment. I've done so much at this internship! I've scheduled meetings with multinational organizations at the Paris Air Show. I've scheduled tours and briefings at the EU Commission and the Council of the EU for a visiting delegation from the University of Illinois (not to mention coordinating their hotels, restaurants, and 80-guest reception). Sharon has let me go to EU policy debates and panel discussions hosted by the European Policy Center and the German Marshall Fund. She invited me to the lauch of a new magazine called "WAB (Wallonia and Brussels) Magazine." While I was there I asked the editor if I could write for him, and he said yes! So I wrote an article about that night's launch party, and he wrote back to me today and said, "That was perfect. You set just the right tone. It'll be in this fall's issue." I'm going to be published in Europe!

Let me mention the Paris Air Show briefly. Yes, Sharon bought me a round-trip train ticket to Paris, a one-day pass to the Air Show, and tickets for the metro! I was there to man the "Rockford" booth. The city of Rockford, Illinois, had its own booth at the Paris Air Show to promote itself as a hub of aerospace technology and manufacturing. I also went to the booths of other aerospace companies and gave them information about "Quality Control Corporation," a precision manufacturing company from Illinois. So they definitely put me to work. But it was magical! While I was there I started talking to a gentleman from the UK. I told him that my dream was to live and work in the UK. He asked me what field I was in, and I told him that I was getting my Master's in International Media. He told me that he was a media consultant from the UK, gave me his card, and told me to email him my CV! What a day!

When I left the Paris Air Show, I only had a couple of hours before my train left back to Brussels. But I did have time to take the metro to the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I walked around for about 30 minutes, and then I saw it -- the Eiffel Towel! This was my first time seeing the Eiffel Tower, in person, in my entire life! You know that scene in the second-to-last episode of "Sex and the City," when Carrie sees the Eiffel Tower out of her hotel window, and she clasps her hands and jumps up and down like a kid? Well, that was me. I was elated! I even got a stranger to take a picture of me with the Eiffel Tower in the background. It may be small, but it's there.

Words cannot express how life-changing and life-affirming my time in Brussels has been. It brought me back to life. I was dead in D.C., but Europe brought me back to life. It reminded me of my passions and purpose. It reminded me that all of my wildest dreams can come true. I don't want to go back, I'm thoroughly dreading the plane ride back (what if I turn into anxiety-depression Leila again the moment I touch down in Dulles?), but my one saving grace is that I KNOW that I am living in Europe when I graduate next year. I absolutely did what I came here to do -- I healed, and I layed the foundation for my future life and my future career in Europe. I will be back.

Discovering Two Artists

2009-06-22T00:24:00.037+02:00

Living in Brussels has allowed me to discover two artists: Emile Claus and René Magritte. I had been vaguely familiar with these two artists before, but didn’t know too much about their work, or that they were Belgian.

Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent

Impressionism is one of my favorite styles of art. Between Monet, Renoir and Degas, I had completely overlooked Emile Claus, the most prominent representative of impressionism in Belgium. This was until I visited a special exhibition of Claus’s work at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent. The exhibit, titled “Emile Claus and Rural Life,” provided an extensive showcase of Claus’s work throughout his life and showed the artist’s stylistic progression over time. It was very interesting to see how Claus began painting realistic subjects with impressionistic backgrounds, then moved to a more dedicated impressionistic style with less of an emphasis on human subjects and finally, the absence of all human subjects in Claus’s paintings completed towards the end of his life. The exhibit was very nicely done, and I am now a big fan of Emile Claus! Here are images of two of my favorite Claus paintings; the first painting is one of Claus’s most famous works, completed earlier in his life, and the second is part of a series Claus painted during World War I while being in exile in London:

The Picnic, 1887

The Thames in London, 1916

I have also discovered René Magritte, the most prominent Belgian surrealist artist. I have never really liked or fully understood surrealism, but after visiting the brand new Musée Magritte in Brussels, the museum dedicated to the artist, I now have a new appreciation for the movement. The Musée Magritte opened only about three weeks ago to great fanfare and has already taken its place as being at the forefront of knowledge about the artist. Magritte painted highly interesting paintings, challenging the viewer’s perception of reality. Sometimes, I found it impossible to discern the meanings of certain Magritte paintings and would have needed an explanation to better understand them. Here are images of two of my favorite Magritte paintings, both among his most famous works:

The Empire of Light, 1954

The Treachery of Images, 1928-1929

Discovering these two artists is just one of the many ways I continue to be pleasantly surprised by Belgium!

Ascension Mania

2009-06-17T16:14:00.012+02:00

So I'm going retro here a little with some pics from Brugge's Ascension Day procession on May 21, more specifically--Procession of the Holy Blood. This was a Catholic procession to rival all processions, an endless stream of costumed locals, with no shortage of sheep herds, horses (of unusual size), dogs, camels, leather sandals and orange spray tans. And of course the procession-ee of honor, the Holy Blood itself, said to be brought back trimphantly from the Crusades by the Count of Flanders in 1150.
I was sniffling from a leftover virus through the event, menacing horses and all, but it was completely worth it to experience this local gem court-side.

Brussels in Pictures

2009-06-14T20:05:00.004+02:00

Some pics I took around the city...

View from the Top

Palais du Justice

Random Prettiness

Waffles!

Cafe Culture

Business and Bisous

2009-06-14T19:00:00.008+02:00

In keeping with the recent string of posts about internships, I’ll take some time to blog a bit about my own work experience in Brussels.

I’m interning at Liberty TV a French- and Dutch-language television station that broadcasts travel shows. Of the five organizations at which I had interviewed, this one had been my top choice, because I wanted to learn more about television production and because I wanted to be able to practice my French in a professional setting. I was ecstatic when I found out I had the job, but, I have to admit, once I got to the office on the first day and became submerged not only in a foreign work environment, but also in a foreign language, I began to wonder if I had gotten in over my head.

After the first couple of days however, I not only started to get used to this new setting, but I also started to have a lot of fun! My job entails assisting the television production team, a small group that consists of two anchors, a producer, and two video editors. My tasks generally include finding and writing up short, travel-related news reports for the anchors’ morning news segment, researching travel information about various countries around the world for a set of mini Web guides the team is producing, and helping to come up with a new design and content for the organization’s Web site. I’ve also written interview questions for guests, edited show segments using Final Cut Pro, assisted with filming by working the teleprompter, and participated in a screening during which the team watched and rated potential documentaries for the channel.

Over the past month, I’ve learned a great deal about television production. I’ve also had the opportunity to learn about a Belgian workplace. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of an American workplace. One thing that is different though, at least in my experience, is lunchtime. Generally the whole team will get together to eat and chat. Furthermore, unlike in the places where I have worked or interned at in the States, people take their whole allotted hour for their meal, instead of rushing back to their desks once they’re done with their food. Another workplace custom that is new to me is the way in which people greet one another. In Brussels people kiss each other once on each cheek when they say hello, even in a professional environment. These kisses are called 'bisous'. I’m not used greeting friends in this manner, much less co-workers, and I haven’t quite adjusted to this one yet, but I’m getting there!

So, all in all, my internship with Liberty TV has been wonderful. At times it has been frustrating to be working in a foreign languge, but I've learned a great deal from these challenges. Certainly, I'll never forget this experience, and I know the skills I have gained here will help me for years to come.

Interning at the EJC

2009-06-11T15:23:00.020+02:00

I was very excited when I heard that I would have the opportunity of interning at the European Journalism Centre (EJC)! The EJC was not originally listed in the Brussels program application as a possible place to intern with, and I remember listing it as one of the top organizations I would be interested in for an internship. I have even used the EJC’s work in the past when conducting research for multiple papers!

The EJC is primarily involved in organizing and executing seminars for journalists and Brussels correspondents for media outlets across Europe, but also for journalists from the countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and beyond, such as Turkey, the Balkan countries, Brazil and Canada. The primary goal of the seminars is to expose these journalists to the European Union and provide them with information about the structure and mission of EU institutions, so that the journalists are able to report more accurately about the EU. In addition, the EJC monitors and researches the media landscape across Europe and provides a tremendous amount of news and resources to journalists and members of the media across Europe and around the world.

My colleagues at the EJC are extremely friendly and very diverse, coming from countries such as Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Belgium, Spain, the UK, Portugal, Sweden and Macedonia, in addition to fellows from Japan and South Korea. Even my name and contact information is up on the EJC web site!

My internship experience so far has been fantastic! Since I am primarily interested in current events and the news media, with a regional interest in Europe, the EJC has been an ideal place to intern. I am primarily involved in helping the EJC implement its activities in various ways, and I am also able to attend many of the EJC’s seminars and events as an EJC observer. So far, I have attended seminar programmes relating to the ENP and issues concerning the Middle East conflict, the global role of the euro currency and how Turkish journalists can better understand the EU. I have also been able to visit the EJC’s headquarters in Maastricht.

During the remaining time of my internship, I will be able to attend additional seminars, a daily press briefing of the European Commission, and I will also have the opportunity to take a tour of the audiovisual production facilities of both the Commission and the European Parliament, which I have been told is state of the art.

Through the completion of my daily tasks, ability to attend various seminars and events, and interaction with such a diverse group of colleagues, this internship has truly broadened my knowledge about how the EU works, issues relating to media reporting about the EU and how Europeans view the EU. I am having a tremendous time so far and look forward to the time I have left here. One of the other interns here at the EJC now was an intern last summer, and one of my colleagues who works in the same room as me got a full-time position at the EJC after interning here, so I am excited about the possibility of working with or at the EJC sometime in the future!

Brussels: The Internship Experience

2009-06-09T14:47:00.002+02:00

So, along with all of the traveling we are doing around Europe. All the participants are at an internship somewhere in Brussels. Unfortunately, as a result of the European Parliament elections, there wasn't much in the way of actual EU internships, but the majority of us were able to find something we were interested in.

I am currently working for a consulting firm called Landmark Europe. You can check out the website here- it is undergoing a bit of work, but you're still able to get a pretty good idea of what we're doing. In my position, I'm focusing a lot on how decisions in the EU parliament, commission, and council (now that I know the difference between the three!) affect various aspects of our clients business. I am also charged with looking through some of the latest news reports on all kinds of things from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), climate change, pet foods, and nanotechnology. One of our biggest clients, which I probably shouldn't mention here, is a huge producer of candy as well as dog food, so there are multiple things that can affect the business they do.

Either way, I'm learning skills that I never would have otherwise, all while living in Europe. What more could a girl ask for?

Lessons from Norway

2009-06-08T14:09:00.009+02:00

What I learned visiting Norway this weekend:

Norway is part of Schengen; calculating exchange rates between Swedish, Norwegian and Danish Kroners is complicated; 3 boxes of chocolate and an apple through airport security are ok--but 103 ml (instead of 100) of liquid in a bottle is not; the Eastern coast of Norway is stunning; Norwegians speak excellent English; and life is good.

Ok so this isn't so much about Brussels. But it was certainly inspiring for my internship. Norway is a Nordic country and an Arctic state, and will play a key role if ever an Arctic Treaty is drafted. So far Norway has resisted joining the EU; and therefore the Commission + Parliament suggestion for a Treaty may not be so well-received. But climate change is changing the "nature of the beast" when it comes to access to the Arctic and its natural resources. I'm working on a report that reviews these positions and any future potential for international cooperation for protection and sustainable development. To be continued...

Five Things I love about Brussels

2009-06-07T09:11:00.012+02:00

I've been meaning to post a blog entry since I first got to Brussels last month, but things have been so hectic (in the best way possible!) that I haven't had a chance. Now that I can finally sit down and write about my experiences, I thought I’d kick things off by describing five things I absolutely love about this city:

The Streets Smell Like Waffles For centuries, waffles (or gaufres, as they are called here) have been a part of local cuisine and today you can find waffle vendors in dozens of places around the city. The mouth-watering scent of batter baking in irons fills the air surrounding the stands, making the streets literally smell like sugar. What’s more is that some subway stations have waffle vendors as well, so even the gritty underground can smell sugary sweet.

A Mix of Old and New It’s not uncommon for cities around the world to contain a mix of old and new. But nowhere does this hybrid seem more pronounced than here in Brussels, where the cobblestones of the city’s Grand Place, first set down in the 12^th century, lie just a few metro stops from the ultra-modern EU buildings, in which decisions are made that affect the future of the entire continent and beyond. With the elections on peoples’ minds (if for no other reason than voting is obligatory—most people seem fairly apathetic about them), on the news, and as the subject of posters plastered all over town, Brussels clearly has its eyes on what’s ahead. However, in the Grand Place area, surrounded by intricately carved, golden-tipped 15^th and 17^th century merchants guild buildings, it’s easy to lose yourself in Brussels’ past.

Pop Music on the Metro In DC, a long wait for the metro can be mind numbingly boring. But in the Brussels subway, cheesy pop music is played on the platform, which makes waiting for a train infinitely more fun. I’ve been hearing a lot of Katie Perry and Pink lately, but they’ve also played Mariah Carey, Prince, Cold Play, and Michael Jackson!

Environmentally Friendly Practices In Brussels, people are more conscious of their energy consumption and they conserve power in some interesting ways. For example, escalators don’t move until you step on them. Metro doors will not open unless you press on a button. Many supermarkets charge money for plastic bags. I’ve also noticed that people rarely walk around with take-away coffee cups, like they do in the United States. And if people do have them, they’re way smaller than a tall sized Starbucks cup.

International Meeting Ground As a bilingual city, Brussels inherently radiates a diverse vibe. Evidence of this duality pops up just about everywhere. Street signs are written in Dutch and French, subtitles for many foreign films are given in both languages (which means about half the movie screen is taken up by text!), and subway announcements are made in Dutch, French, and English. Furthermore, about a quarter of Brussels’ one million inhabitants are foreign-born. Add to that the number of people visiting the city for diplomatic and business reasons and your average tourists and you’ve got one very multicultural city.

The thing about living in such an area is that you never know who you’ll meet. As you saw from Rebecca’s recent post, some members of our group met Bruce Springsteen last week while hanging out in the Grand Place. At her internship, a student in the undergrad group met the Belgian astronaut that just went up into space. And two weeks ago on the subway, I got to talking with another passenger who turned out to be a friend of President Obama’s from his days at Harvard.

And this is only the beginning of why this city so great!

My internship in Brussels...

2009-06-03T19:10:00.005+02:00

I am having the time of my life in Belgium!!! I've only been here for a few weeks, but I already have a year's worth of spectacular anecdotes to tell. Let me use this first blog post to talk about my internship (that is, of course, why I came to Brussels).

I am interning at the State of Illinois - West European Office. And I love it. This office's goals are to help Illinois businesses that want to expand into the European market and also to encourage European businesses to move to and invest in the state of Illinois. I'm working on two different projects right now, but I'll just tell ya about the more exciting one.

The city of Rockford, Illinois, wants to promote itself as a center for aerospace engineering and manufacuring on the world stage, so representatives from the city of Rockford are going to the Paris Air Show in the middle of June to meet and network with the largest aerospace firms in the world. My job is to call all of these aerospace corporations and try to make appointments with their CEOs and sales reps one behalf of the city of Rockford.

And I love it! On my first day I was cold-calling companies in France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, etc. It was scary and intimidating at first, but then I really got into the rhythm of it. My supervisor said my goal was to book 5 appointments for the Rockford reps. So far I've confirmed 8 appointments ;-)

I've never worked in an office before. I've never had a job where I had to wear "grown-up" clothes before. I've never worked in sales, trade, or investment. But I'm loving it! I'm hooked. Every time I confirm another appointment, I punch the sky.

And the best part is --> my supervisor is sending me to Paris for a day so that I can see the fruits of my labor firsthand at the Paris Air Show. She gave me my train tickets today. I'm going to Paris, for the first time in my life, on Wednesday, June 15th. And someone else is paying for it. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

Here's a link to a local TV station in Rockford, Illinois, that did a story on the Paris Air Show. Click on the little camera next to the title "Paris Air Show" to watch the story. Then you'll get an idea of what I'm doing in Brussels. http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?s=10441452

I love Belgium. I don't ever want to leave.

Election Chirps

2009-06-03T14:39:00.003+02:00

So just to add another quick note on elections. The EP has taken their elections "awareness-raising" campaign to Twitter. Here's the English language version of their 22-official-language Twitter feed. 315 followers since they got started at the end of April. I guess that's not bad, but they have a ways to go before reaching the masses. Also will be interesting to see if they are able to innovate and use the "micro-blog" for something compelling after elections are over.

EU Elections?

2009-06-03T10:05:00.006+02:00

Belgium's EU Parliament elections are this Sunday, and I'm not much closer to knowing how much it weighs on the minds of voters--who are required by law to show up to the polls. My colleague at work seems to think it's a violation of human rights that citizens should be required by law to vote. Though she also couldn't fathom not voting. And true, in the U.S. we have the luxury to decide for ourselves whether or not to be apathetic, seems we take even that for granted...

Check out 100 Voters -- a photo essay by the EP surveying people around the city of Brussels on whether they've decided who to vote for. The EP certainly wants to rally the troops and word on the street is few EU folks care as much about EP elections as they do about local.

In other news, our first weekend we spent on a whirlwind tour of Flanders, for which I find this picture to be incredibly stereotypical. The weather was what I call schizophrenic, mostly raining, with random spots of sunshine and sudden bursts of cold wind. But our fearless leader Jerry (Dr. Sheridan) gave us phenomenal walking tours through Antwerp, Ghent and Brugge--well worth braving the rain. Here he is in the church in Antwerp keeping us informed while we tried not to disturb the serenity for worshippers.

So much about Flanders was wonderful. And just to prove that being a vegetarian in Belgium is nowhere near as difficult as you might think, feast your eyes on this delightful mushroom plate I ordered at a charming restaurant in Ghent--by far my favorite of the three towns. Savory and satisfying...

Brussels, the experience so far...

2009-06-02T22:39:00.006+02:00

We'll start from the most recent developments. Some of my fellow Brussel-ers and I went down to the Grand Place to check out the Brussels Jazz Festival. While having this experience, we ran into none other than THE Bruce Springsteen. Talk about an international city!
From the left, Feri Koszorus, myself, THE BOSS, Angie Das, and Zeke Spears.
Being the rock star he is, he wasn't completely thrilled to take the picture, but he was cool enough to chat with all of us for a little bit. The best part was, we were pretty much the only people who knew who he was.

We've visited lots of places so far, but I'll leave that for the other students to discuss a little bit.

European Elections

2009-05-14T20:25:00.000+02:00

Any buzz on the upcoming parliamentary elections ?

EU elections, Brussels-style

2009-05-14T13:20:00.006+02:00

This post is from Angie - Day 1 in Brussels (which was last Saturday) I visited the European Parliament buildings and came home with a video of these folks:

And yes, the guy in front is wearing a construction cone on his back. I guess these are the locals? Quite entertaining! the EU takes it's parliamentary elections very seriously...

Otherwise I'm still a little shell-shocked from 6 interviews in 2 days. Will keep you posted on the results... here's a pic from the Grand Place in the meantime: