I am really starting to get used to living here in Brussels. A healthy portion of the people speak French, and while it was confusing at first, the language is starting to become more familiar. It is also getting warmer here, which is very nice.
This week has been full of coffee, meetings, and late-night work. And coffee.
So, here is a daily day for Ashley. I wake up early, and have some breakfast and tea. Sometimes I cook eggs - but they cook differently than back at home! I am having difficulties having them not turn into globs.
I then walk for about 1/2 hour (longer if in heels, owwww) to the European Parliament. There is a bus system that can get me there in 10 minutes, but I really like getting the exercise and seeing everyone get going for the day. I start work between 8 and 9 a.m., spending about the first hour going through emails. After that I look through a really extensive calendar to find out what the most important meetings are for my political group, the EPP group. The EPP group is a center-right political group, and it is the biggest political group in the EP. My every day agenda varies - sometimes I will go to back-to-back meetings, and other days, like today, I will do assignments and research on foreign policy instead.
This week has been full of coffee, meetings, and late-night work. And coffee.
So, here is a daily day for Ashley. I wake up early, and have some breakfast and tea. Sometimes I cook eggs - but they cook differently than back at home! I am having difficulties having them not turn into globs.
I then walk for about 1/2 hour (longer if in heels, owwww) to the European Parliament. There is a bus system that can get me there in 10 minutes, but I really like getting the exercise and seeing everyone get going for the day. I start work between 8 and 9 a.m., spending about the first hour going through emails. After that I look through a really extensive calendar to find out what the most important meetings are for my political group, the EPP group. The EPP group is a center-right political group, and it is the biggest political group in the EP. My every day agenda varies - sometimes I will go to back-to-back meetings, and other days, like today, I will do assignments and research on foreign policy instead.
On the days I have to go to meetings, I have a lot of fun trying to find the meeting room. There are numerous floors and elevators that go to various places. Sometimes I just take an adventure and take a different elevator or escalator to see where it takes me.
It is interesting to watch these different cultured leaders work together. Ways of acting and speaking vary. However, emotions and knowledge are universal. Oftentimes the members of the group, and especially the Parliament, will start bickering with each other. However, overall they get along very well, given all their differences.
Things of note this week: a bank robbery happened last Friday. 8,000 Euros were stolen. Security has been heightened and new regulations are being discussed.
It is interesting to watch these different cultured leaders work together. Ways of acting and speaking vary. However, emotions and knowledge are universal. Oftentimes the members of the group, and especially the Parliament, will start bickering with each other. However, overall they get along very well, given all their differences.
Things of note this week: a bank robbery happened last Friday. 8,000 Euros were stolen. Security has been heightened and new regulations are being discussed.
Prince Charles came by. He spoke at the Low Carbon Prosperity Summit. I was really bummed I couldn't see him.
Also, today I went to a meeting for Miriam Sapiro, our Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. She spoke on the further elimination of trade barriers. It was interesting to watch an American ambassador speak from a European perspective.
After work I walk home around 6 p.m. and prepare dinner - I have been having fun experimenting on French recipes...experimenting being the operative word. :)
This weekend I plan on going down to southern Belgium to check out WWI and WWII remnants. I am really excited to go.
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