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 Today I attended my first meeting in the Parliament as a representative for IDF Europe. This meeting is an component of what the IDF Europe crew classifies as "EU Affairs." We met with a few MEP's and the leaders of National Diabetes Organizations to discuss the future of the Diabetes Working Group in the European Union.
The day started off with a rather smooth commute to work (Public Transportation Tip #1: don’t try to be ladylike and cross your legs on the bus. You will topple over embarrassingly onto the person beside you). I tuned into some James Taylor to chill me out, and then headed into the office where I met Chris Delicata, the VP of IDF Europe, and Anne Marie Felton, the Chair of the Federation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND). They were both very charming and friendly. After editing a PowerPoint presentation and receiving an official IDF Europe blue circle pin, we hopped in a taxi to head to Parliament. As we drove through the streets of Brussels, Mrs. Felton pointed out nice restaurants and spots worth checking out. Upon arriving at Parliament, I had to show my passport and receive a badge certifying that I was an official guest of the UK MEP, Sarah Ludford. We then proceeded to the meeting room which overlooked the city of Brussels with a bird's eye view of the Palais de Justice. Somehow, I managed to turn my focus to the meeting and record important notes and suggestions for the meeting minutes. The major point on the agenda was to discuss the logistics of the upcoming World Diabetes Day that will take place in Brussels in mid-November. It was fascinating to be a part of the brainstorming process in politics. All of the planning and strategizing that occur behind closed doors was happening right there while I was in the room. I learned that many of the people have personal ties to the Diabetes cause (i.e. spouses and children suffering from Diabetes). Between hearing these stories and those of my father who has been working closely with a man suffering from severe complications of Diabetes, the cause seems much more real to me. It is astounding that such an epidemic goes relatively unnoticed when compared to Swine Flu and Cardiovascular Disease. In the meeting today, the attendees discussed how it is important that we research the ways in which Cardiovascular Disease has brought it's cause to the forefront of legislative agenda and medical research in an attempt to apply those same techniques to raising awareness about Diabetes. After the meeting, I returned to the office to type up my notes. There I met Lala who was nervously preparing to send her son off to study abroad for a year. I smiled in a sympathetic manner, remembering the high emotions on the day that I departed for Brussels. She expressed to me that, when she had children, she never imagined what all she would have to go through with them - preparation, separation, anxiety. But, she told me, she cannot imagine her life without her children. This woman has a huge heart. I love that she can be all business with me one moment, and the next open up to me with a profound observation or emotion about family, or cultural influences, or past adventures. I headed home pretty pleased with the way my day turned out. I had started out nervous and uncertain of what to expect, and I ended up rather confident and content. I settled in for the ride home. I quickly realized I wasn’t the only one having a good day – a young couple sitting across from me, about 14 or 15 years old, I’d have to say, were necking and kissing and canoodling without a care in the world. Ah, Europa…there is no holding back over here. 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.  Today, Lala explained to me a little bit more about what my duties will be at IDF Europe. She told me that I will serve as a liaison between IDF Europe and the European Parliament by attending meetings at Parliament and coordinating information exchange between the two. Since there has been a recent changeover in MEP's, IDF Europe is focusing on attracting new MEP's to join a working group and promote diabetes awareness. I have to attend my first big meeting at the European Parliament on Monday morning with a few MEP's and some of the leaders for different Diabetes organizations to discuss the events for the upcoming World Diabetes Day which is to take place in November. I have included in this entry a photograph of the building in which I work. It is a "green" building...very popular over here in Europe. Today I did a lot of research on the different political parties of the EU to learn more about which parties and committies are likely partners for IDF. I particularly enjoyed reading about the Greens, for some reason. They seem sort of Hippy-Chic haha. During my lunch break, I spoke with my supervisor, Lex, about his newly acquired mobile home. He told me about his plans to take it to Holland, his homeland. What a great way to take advantage of the different cultures and histories that are within driving distance over here in Europe. Before Lala left for the evening, she informed me that she has "dinner parties" every Wednesday evening, and invited me to join sometime. Unfortunately, I have class every Wednesday evening, but I hope to attend at some point. At the very least, it was a very thoughtful invitation. 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. | Gill Budd
I am a junior Communications major at Furman University. I like to freeze grapes and have fun. ArchivesDecember 2009 CategoriesAll |
Brussels: No Sprouts, Just Blog
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