I officially started my internship in Europe today. I am working as a communications intern for IDF Europe. The office is situated in a business and residential area south of downtown. Not quite as business-like as the Parliament area, but not nearly as touristy and chaotic as downtown. It's very strange to me to join the morning rush to work, hopping on trams and buses with real business people. It is even more surreal to me that I have my own desk and computer! I almost feel like an imposter...The office is very sleek and sophisticated, complete with modern black and red furniture. There's even a dishwasher and coffee maker! On top of a lovely setup, my co-workers are very friendly. They come from all over the globe - Madagascar, the UK, Holland, and other incredible places. I am excited to work with them and learn from them. I will undoubtedly encounter diverse perspectives that will open my eyes to new ways of communicating and thinking. Just today, one of my supervisors, Lala Rabemananjara, was filling me in on her travels to the US. She spoke of her visit to New York City with utter amazement and delight. She told me about how it just seemed like a city where anything is possible, where a city could rise from the hands of man and become something so majestic and inspirational. The cathedrals, she said, looked so historical. And there was so much to see and do, and so many sights at which to marvel. But the way in which she described the feeling of New York made me a bit homesick: "Anything and everything is possible....such freedom and liberty!" It made me smile to finally hear a positive perspective about America from someone who lives in Europe. I have heard a number of negative comments about our materialism and ignorance, but this was a refreshing perspective. America may not have the long and tumultuous history that Europe boasts, but we have ambition and success. We are far from perfect, but I appreciate our history and our culture. Especially now.
So back onto the work track, today was a really positive experience overall. Ms. Rabemananjara filled me in on the upcoming schedule for IDF Europe, and told me that I will be assisting with EU relations and communications as IDF Europe seeks new MEP's to promote diabetes legislation and awareness. After reading up on the cause and the background of IDF, I have a strong appreciation for their desire to promote healthy living and educate the public about this worldwide issue. It will be exciting to delve into the work and come to better understand the role of communications in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) and the world at large.
 Yesterday, my roommate Ashley and I decided that we wanted to be tourists in Brussels. Both of us begin our internships this week (unlike many of the other students on the trip), so we thought it would be best to stay close to "home" and skip the group trip to Antwerp.
After searching for a Bank of America compatible ATM along Avenue Marnix with no success, we ventured over to the Royal Palace to scope out the site. Admission is free (always a plus), and it will only be open for tours through August. The grounds are beautiful with maze-like gardens and intricate sculptures. It is a magnificent piece of property unlike anything I've seen in America. Upon entering, we were told to leave our bags with some ladies at the entrance in a purse check. Being the paranoid protector of my beloved Christmas gift purse that I am, I got antsy. Luckily, Ashley had similar sentiments. We wandered through the rooms along a carpeted pathway of ogling tourists, and stood in awe of the luxurious surroundings. We saw countless paintings of monarchs and Belgian scenery. The light fixtures along cost significantly more than my college career, I'm sure. I commented to Ashley that, while it was a beautiful museum, I could not imagine settling in with my Cheerios at a fancy marble table in a plush satin chair under a chandelier of diamonds and bopping around to Shakira. It got me thinking about how maybe stuffy people aren't really so stuffy, they're just conforming to their environment. There is no way I could be chill in that place. Now mind you the king resides in a different palace with his family, but I am sure that it is no less extravagant.
Anyway, I was soon reunited with my purse and belongings (much to my relief), and we continued on to the downtown area via the metro. Of course we got sucked in to buying a few school supplies to help us stay organized, and this led to a few clothing items to keep us warm and fashionable in the coming months. I even purchased a beautiful scarf of bright turquoise and pink and silver from a woman on the street for only 5 euro! Scarves are all the rage here right now. Girls wear them everywhere. We made it home after a short walk from the Merode metro and a grocery stop. After reading and tidying up a bit, we declared it a movie night. We watched Mr. and Mrs. Smith because it was on TV in English with Dutch subtitles. Nora decided to go out on the town after her day in Antwerp, but Ashley and I opted to stay in and watch a very bizarre movie that happened to be in English and involved a magic 8 ball and a highway and the girl who played the Pink Power Ranger. We ended up watching the whole thing because it was just too strange and terrible to turn away from.
Today has officially been declared a Lazy Sunday. I finally finished reading Winston Groom's "A Storm in Flanders" for our trip to Bruges in a few weeks, so now I just have to write the outline for the assignment. I found the book fascinating considering history and I don't usually get along too well. I'm anxious to see the trenches and the sites that I read about.
The rest of the day is full of homework and leisure. I am making a special tofu dish for dinner, so I'll post the final verdict on the outcome.
My internship starts tomorrow and I am ridiculously nervous. I haven't the slightest idea what to expect. But that's what adventure is all about. Right?
I have survived my first week of classes at Vesalius. Today, I had intercultural communication which looks like it will be fascinating. The course examines the overlaps in cultural communications, and the interactions among different cultures. We have to keep a journal of our own intercultural experiences and turn it in as a creative piece...this will be a fun assignment for me. I have already encountered a number of cultural challenges which have peaked my curiosity and captured my attention.
For instance, I have noticed that customer service is not one of the strong points in Brussels. With a few years of waitressing under my belt, this really stood out to me. I am very accustomed to encountering waitresses and cashiers that have permanent smiles plastered on their faces. Whether fake or sincere, it is customary. When someone receives a handbook on training in customer service, a smile and polites exchanges are at the very top of the list. Now don't get me wrong, there is the occassional grumpy waiter or arrogant saleswoman, but that is more of an exception in the US than it is over here. In Brussels, however, the cashiers typically scowl and mumble, unenthusiastic about "putting the customer first". I have encountered a few who are very pleasant and polite, but those are few and far between. Perhaps it is because I am merely a stupid American, and I am difficult to deal with. But maybe not?
Anyway, my European excursions are in the works! I have plans to go to Paris, Madrid, Venice, and Amsterdam (tentatively) with some of the girls on the trip. It is so bizarre to me that flying from country to country over here is just as easy as going from state to state in the US. It also helps that I have friends in different European countries (Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands) who I can visit. I am determined to take advantage of it while I can!
Oh and just for an update: my roommate Nora successfully survived the "Death Ride" at the Atomium yesterday! She said it was quite the rush. Wish I could have joined, but computer complications sent me on an unanticipated tour of the Brussels metro system. At least I made some computer savvy friends along the way.
My laptop has already self-destructed after being in Brussels for only a little more than a week...fabulous. My roommate Ashley and I ventured across town to the Apple store. After much confusion and a few befuddling direction requests with the natives, we finally stumbled upon the shop. The woman simply looked at me and said, "Oooooh it is very expensive to fix in Europe. You have to call Apple and send back to United States." So basically, Apple support is no good over here. Wonderful.
On another note, I started my Vesalius career today with my 3 hour "Communication Theories" class. There were only two other US study abroad students in the class, all the rest were Vesalius students from Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, etc. They described their summer holidays in Croatia, Italy, Spain, and other beautiful spots. Us Amurricans simply said we were at home in the States over the summer, working and saving up money so we could actually get to Europe. So blah. Throughout the class, my professor made reference to the shortcomings of American media, and how there are limited resources and we are all brainwashed by Fox News. Wonderful. I am already perceived as a dumb robot. It will definitely be interesting to hear more about the European culture and media because I don't know much about it. There is a lot of reading to do in the class because it is an upper level with mostly students in their final year, but I feel that I will learn a lot and get a perspective not available at home.
Tomorrow is the big interview day for the internship! Fingers crossed that I do not get lost and that all goes well!
Another update soon to come...
 Also, on the tour yesterday, we visited one of the Brussels landmarks called "The Atomium" - a tall DNA looking structure that could pass for the set of the Matrix. From the very top of the structure, we noticed that there were people leaping and sliding rapidly down a zip line rope. The jump is about 300 feet high, and it is known as the "Death Ride." Nora and I are considering taking the leap...
We've been in the apartment for about 2 days now, and it is wonderful to have a place to clean and decorate and just relax.
Yesterday, we did a 3 hour bus tour of the city of Brussels (above is a picture of the elegant Palais Royal de Bruxelles). It is so much bigger than I realized! People keep saying the it is a small city, but I swear, it seems insanely bigger and more complicated than Baltimore! There are some beautiful parks with ponds and fountains and beautiful trees. But only a few streets away from the beautiful greenery, the downtown area suddenly appears with lots of buildings and row houses. It is very eclectic to say the least...
Today, we went to a local farmer's market that had everything from socks and robes to gourmet cheese. It was fascinating! My roommates and I bought some fresh fruit and vegetables, and I even purchased a simple dress for 3 euro.
On a random note, I feel like a cultural prude here. Walking through the grocery store today, we heard the familiar jams of Snoop Dogg. This is fine to hear at a party or something, but in a family-oriented grocery store? Moms are pushing strollers about to the sweet words of "bull s***" and other profanity. So strange! One of the top songs on the video countdown these days is "F*** You" by Lily Allen. It is a fab song, but I was rather surprised to hear it in a nice outdoor restaurant the other day! Also, Nora and I decided to watch the movie "Showgirls" for some comical entertainment when it was on TV the other night. Little did we know that the uncensored version being shown on TV was full of nudity and explicit scenes. Now we know to brace ourselves if we intend to do some innocent channel-surfing.
We moved into the apartments today which means a steady internet source...finally!
The apartments are absolutely wonderful. We were all pleasantly surprised! It's very spacious with lots of natural lighting, a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, a nice tv, a terrace (I have included a picture of the view standing out there) and more. Also, the students living in the building are all EPA students (mostly from Furman), so it feels pretty safe. Nora and I are sharing a cute little room with plenty of storage space. Our front window looks out onto a street called "Gray" (which reminds me of DMB's song "Grey Street"), and it is directly across from a sandwich shop/bakery that has DELICIOUS bread! There is also a grocery store nearby so we can finally cook for ourselves! It will be nice to finally get settled into a routine.
There has been so much going on since I arrived last Saturday! We toured Vesalius College yesterday where we will be taking classes. Let me tell you, scenery wise, it is no Furman! I will most certainly appreciate Furman a lot more once I get back there. Especially the free access to the PAC workout facilities! To get a gym pass to the on-campus gym, you have to pay about 200 euros. Insane. Let's hope that the weather allows for walking around!
We officially move into the apartments tomorrow, so it will be good to get settled and shift out of tourist mode. I have included a picture of a cute little traveling book van that I saw on our street. There's even a piggy on it!
On Saturday, we will be doing a three hour tour of Brussels by bus with our Vesalius group, so it should be informative and fun. Shopping is always a temptation here because the clothes/shoes are so distinctive and cute, but it is pretty expensive so i have held back. Even small dinners are expensive! Soda costs about 1,50 euro a can (but the beer, of course, is much cheaper). It will be nice to finally settle in and make our own meals from home. Our landlord is sweet and accommodating. We even have our own washing machines in the apartment! We have a limit on energy/water consumption so we'll have to monitor that!
Speaking of which, I have noticed that the people here are very "green." You have to purchase a plastic bag at the grocery store, escalators start automatically with motion detectors, and the cars are super tiny (no SUV's!).
Well I'm off to dinner, but I will update again soon!
The natives of Brussels must have built-in American detectors. Everywhere we go, they stare and whisper and scowl. We don't even have to say anything. It's actually pretty amusing. I have quickly realized that you cannot take it personally because it is not something that is going to change.
There are a few natives who smile and ask questions about what we're doing here and how we are enjoying our visit so far. So it is refreshing when those rare interactions take place.
But to make up for the somewhat ugly social tendencies, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. My roommate Nora and I ran through Cinquantenaire park (which is shown in the photograph), located down the street from our hotel. It was surreal to run under the towering, historic columns. You just don't see buildings that intricate and awe-inspiring back in the states. It's strange to think that this will be my daily life for the next four months.
We also had the opportunity to tour the EU today. I am not the best at political theory and structure, but it was fascinating to see where so much history is made. I have spent so much time reading this book on the European Union for research that it is strange to finally see "the place."
There is so much more to tell, but maybe once I actually have internet access in my living quarters I can fill in some of the gaps.
Vesalius Orientation tomorrow! More reflections soon to come...
I am currently sitting in the coffee shop of the Brussels airport, on an emotional bubble between bursting into tears and cracking up laughing. Now the lack of sleep is a major factor in my emotional state, but I am ridiculously nervous. I am waiting to meet Nora whose flight has supposedly arrived already. There is a knot in my stomach that I know will not disappear until I see her face. I am in a sea of strangers. I am relieved to be here, but petrified at the same time.
As I exited customs (which was basically just a hallway…did I do that wrong?), there was a huge crowd of excited Europeans, holding signs and waving flags for relatives and exchange students and friends. There were so many flash bulbs and cheers that I almost felt as if I was strolling across the red carpet with my heavy luggage and sagging face. Many held signs with warm greetings like, “Welcome, Audrey!” while sporting curious and excited faces. I was tempted to rush up to one of them and claim an alternate identity of one of the exchange students, just so I could feel like I belong. But instead I retreated to the coffee shop. And here I sit. Fingers crossed that I will settle in and feel like I sort of fit.
I want to reach for my Blackberry, and feel the comfort of the rubbery case in my hands. I even imagine that I feel it vibrate. But no, it is long gone. I feel like somebody cut off my hand.
My mother forewarned me: “You will get homesick.” I just chuckled. But I already kind of see what she means. This is much like an American airport, but there is a different air about it. The mannerisms, the speech, the personality – they’re all slightly different. For instance, I cannot eavesdrop. To my right, I hear Spanish. In front of me, French. The signs posted about, German. It is both fascinating and intimidating. It is different, and it almost makes me wish I stood in the Newark airport a moment or two longer just to soak up good old Amurrica for a few more moments.
Ohmigoodness a strange European man just gave me a flashlight with a lil note then retracted the gift. Bonjour, Brussels. I am tres confused.
P.S. The restrooms here are putrid.
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