 The lyrics of the Fray's song "Vienna" ran melodiously through my head throughout my Vienna adventure as a soothing soundtrack. But as I saw the city for myself, I realized that there are no words that can properly capture the beauty of the city of Vienna. Stepping out of the metro or the "U" and into Stephansplatz square on Thursday evening, I was absolutely blown away. My aversion to the bitter cold was overtaken by the absolutely awe and amazement in lieu of the sights around me - the towering cathedral, the warmly lit storefronts, the men in traditional Viennese costume peddling Mozart concerts.
We wandered through the freezing rain and found ourselves a quirky little "Rosenberg Markt" restaurant. Not only were the staff members sporting liederhosen and traditional Viennese garb, but there was a huge spread of fresh Viennese delicacies: fresh fruits, thick bean soup, pastas and breads, chocolate cake, and Gruner Veltliner wine. Needless to say, we were quite satisfied with our chance selection.
After dinner, we were lucky enough to find a beautiful doubledecker Starbucks along the main drag near Stephansplatz. Although the price for a familiar taste of home was a bit pricier than usual, we couldn't help but indulge in the lovely taste treat. Just across the street from the Starbucks, the Vienna State Opera House was broadcasting an opera on a giant screen in the middle of the square.
Before long, my roommate Ashley and I hopped back on the U in search of our hotel for the evening. Although the directions indicated that the hotel was only 350 meters from the U stop, there was no indication of which direction to head in. After bracing the snowy cold for about 45 minutes, passing a few schnitzel stands, and asking 5 different people for directions, we made it! We crashed as soon as our heads hit the pillow.
 Friday was our day of true exploration. First off, we stopped in Cafe Central (at the brilliant suggestion of my father) where Austria's brilliant thinkers used to congregate for chess and brainstorming. With the high ceilings, the Old World furniture, historical paintings, strong coffee, and astoundingly fresh warm rolls, our breakfast at Cafe Central was truly unforgettable. A true breakfast of champions! I would say that a visit to Cafe Central is an absolute must while in Vienna. Next, we made our way to Hofburg Palace - an absolutely gorgeous and HUGE piece of Austrian history. Along the way, we spotted dozens of horse-drawn carriages and horses with little earmuffs to ease the pain of the bitter cold. We couldn't help but smile at seeing this! Ashley and I opted to take the tour of the Imperial Apartments in the Palace. There were what seemed to be thousands of different plates that the royals themselves used throughout history. Some were golden, others porcelain, many were detailed with intricate designs and seals. There were utensils that I did not even recognize! Ah, the luxuries of being a royal...
 The Sisi Museum of the Hofburg Palace was one of my favorite parts of the trip. The exhibit featured artifacts and photographs from the Empress Elizabeth's life, in a chronological account of her tumultuous life. I loved piecing together the story of this remarkable royal who had a difficult transition into her esteemed position. The exhibit intrigued me and made me anxious to further investigate the life of this deep character. We spent the rest of the afternoon popping in and out of quaint Viennese shops. The selections varied from traditional to modern, from schnitzels to Swarovski crystals. After a powernap back at the hotel, we met up with one my sister's friends from La Salle to go out on the town for the night. He and his friends are part of a year-long program in which they teach classes in local Viennese schools. It was nice to wander about with people who knew the little secrets and corners of the city. They took us to a hole-in-the-wall bar underground called " Zwoelf Apostelkeller" that we never would have found on our own! We knew that we were in for an authentic experience when we looked around to see groups of locals digging into schnitzels and sipping their lagers. We were quickly introduced to "Sturm" - a sweet and traditional Viennese wine. It was nice to chat with other Americans about their European experiences. They have only been here in Vienna for a month, but they spoke very highly of the people and the food and the atmosphere. We all came to the consensus that Target is one of the things that we miss most about America. It was refreshing to interact with some Americans in a foreign city and find some commonalities in our foreign experiences and struggles. Vienna was an absolute gem of a city - classic and breathtaking. I love that, as I travel from city to city, each one has a distinctive personality. This one happened to embody old world sophistication and luxury...with some traditional schnitzel flair. There was so much to explore and to do in the city, but the best part was simply wandering around and taking in the surroundings.
Last night, I got a taste of a classic American Sunday when I went to a local bar called “Fat Boy’s” with a few of my friends. Appropriately enough, Fat Boy’s is an all-American sports bar near the European Parliament where they screen ESPN and American football while serving up American style grub like chicken wings and nachos…yum yum! In my longing for a simple American indulgence, I asked for a Bud Light off of their bottled beer list, but I was unfortunately told that they actually didn’t have it – slightly disappointing! Something about how the shipments kept coming in expired. So I settled for Hoegaarden – when in Brussels, after all!
The crowd was surprisingly American, as well. It was very bizarre to encounter at least 25 random Americans in one place in Brussels. I never would have known there were so many in this city! The Eagles game assumed the prime position on the big screen, but it’s probably just as well considering the disappointing performance by my Ravens. As I watched McNabb and the boys dominate the field, I realized just how heartwarming it is to root for a pack of aggressive men in tight pants. It was very refreshing to realize that Americanized fun is not completely inaccessible in Brussels.
Yesterday, we had a visitor at work. After I was introduced as the new IDF Europe intern, he immediately asked me if I was from the United Kingdom. I told him that I am from the United States, and he looked at me with a puzzled look. A few minutes later, he said,
"You're really from America?" I nodded. "Why are you not so big and fat?" he said, motioning to his sides in an imaginative expansion of his own stomach. I was at a loss for words. "Uuuuuhh...that's just a stereotype. We're not all fat in the US," I replied defensively. But then I added, "Although I have noticed that there really aren't as many overweight people over here. It's a very different lifestyle."
My roommates and I recently lamented about how difficult it is to live day to day in Brussels sometimes. People stare at you quizzically and sternly, and they have no qualms about pushing you aside, or whispering judgmentally in front of your face. We long for the day when we will finally fit in again on US soil. In Bruges, I felt slightly more welcomed than I do here. But I will have a whole new appreciation for American living upon my return.
 While some of the other students scattered to places like London and Amsterdam for the weekend, my roommates and I spent the weekend in Brussels, regrouping after a hectic week of classes and work. Yesterday, we ventured into Grand Place downtown to check out the annual Brussels Beer Weekend. It was quite a sight! There were silly hats, and vintage cars, and more beer than I have ever seen in my entire life. We even noticed a visibly pregnant woman holding an empty glass of Duvel - a 10% alcohol content beverage. Very interesting.
We even saw a parade of strange characters in costume along the streets of De Brouckere. An older gentleman was wheeling about a recreation of the "Manneken Pis" - a small sculpture of a peeing boy that is an icon in Brussels. As he approached, I noticed that one of the parade officials muttered something about, "American." Before I knew it, a man was taking a picture of the Manneken "peeing" all over me. It was only water, but it was embarrassing. Thank you, Brussels, for peeing all over me. The ultimate sign that I am not wanted here, perhaps?
I have found that at this point in my adventure, the homesickness is setting in. I almost teared up yesterday when we stopped in a shopping gallery that reminded me of an American shopping mall...pretty pathetic. It doesn't help that the internet connection in our apartment has been rather spotty, making it difficult to connect to people back home (as if the time difference doesn't make this hard enough). I'm also nervous and stressed about my job at IDF. Tomorrow's meeting will be an important task for me, so I am anxious to do well.
I feel like I am at a strange point - between new excitement and comfortably settled in. It is still bizarre to me that I can't just order a water with dinner, or find a normal folder in the store to hold my papers (they are hard to come by, and the ones that you do find have strange flaps that are not very effective at holding papers in). I spoke with Nora today about similar anxieties. While we are thrilled to be here, we are worried about the fact that we are already counting down the weeks until we return. This study abroad trip is unique because, rather than traveling and touring and taking a few classes, we have to adjust to work and school and life in a specific city, and become more than just tourists. This is both stressful and amazing.
I'm just hoping that this stressed out feeling will subside once we begin traveling. Next weekend, we are heading off to Bruges with the Furman group to check out WWI sites and explore the beautiful town that is hailed as "the Venice of the North."
Waiting for the bus this morning, I turned on my iPod and mentally prepared myself for the day (determined that this time, I would actually notice the bus coming and flag it down before it pulled away as happened on Wednesday morning). The first song that came up was the title track from Needtobreathe's new album "The Outsiders." I smiled to myself as I listened to the lyrics, realizing that some of the concepts were actually quite appropriate for my current situation over here in Brussels:
"On the outside,
You’re free to roam
On the outside
We found it home
On the outside
There’s more to see"
I am, without a doubt, an outsider over here. No matter how I try to fit in, I still stand out. But, as I approach the three week mark of my stay in Brussels, I realize that it's okay. That's not to say that I will not try to adapt to my surroundings and respect this astounding and different culture, but I will be proud of who I am and where I come from. I may come from the outside, but I will explore and learn about and observe this new place. Not only am I learning more about the culture over here, but I am also delving deeper into the values of my American culture as the glaring differences rise to the surface. While my culture is different and doesn't quite fit into the puzzle of life over here, I won't be ashamed of it. When I first arrived, I was embarrassed that little behaviors like smiling at strangers and not knowing how to open the bus door left the natives scowling at my stupid "American" behavior. But now, I just laugh it off and know that I'm learning. I don't know that this is the specific message that Needtobreathe was going for, but I took pieces of it and made it my own.
Beyond this minor revelation, I had an interesting transit to work. Upon hopping on the tram and traveling just one stop in the direction toward work, the driver announced something in French. Then, all of the passengers began to get off the train. I hadn't the slightest idea what was going on, so, like a little lost lamb, I followed the herd of people to a nearby tram. The only problem was, I did not want to board a tram and end up in the middle of a corn field or Lord knows where. And then it began to rain. It was actually more comical than anything. I considered phoning my Furman professor for advice, but I decided to give into adventure and wing it. I approached the traffic director gentleman and inquired, "Parlez vous anglais?" Much to my relief, he replied, "Yes, I do." He then told me that I had to take the tram that everyone herded to for two stops, and then pick up the tram that would take me to work. Thank goodness. I did as he said and made it to the proper stop where I stood in a huge pack of Europeans in the chilly rain for a few moments before my saving grace of a tram finally arrived. I then resumed my "chill state" and settled into a tram swet where I soon noticed some of my IDF comrades were on the very same tram, and we struck up polite conversation about the craziness of the situation. Sweet victory. So the moral of this little tale is this: public transportation is a crazy beast. You never know where you might end up (besides in the lap of the smelly man beside you as the bus/tram/metro comes to a screeching halt without warning). Just go with it.
Today at work, I am compiling information for the meeting at Parliament on Monday. It has been a very informative week here so far, and I am excited to delve into these exciting projects. I am also looking forward to regrouping this weekend and curling up with my newly fixed Macbook.
On a side note, I got electrocuted yesterday when trying to plug in my Macbook to the adapter that was already in the outlet. Not a good decision, I concluded as the heat of the shock burned through my fingertips. You live and you learn.
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.
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...
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