Field Trip to Brussels and Paris!

Field trips to the zoo, museums, etc. are cool and all but getting to take a field trip to the amazing cities of Brussels and Paris was an absolutely unforgettable experience.

Below features a beautiful afternoon where I enjoyed the best waffle of my entire life by the Arcades du Cinquantentaire. I got this waffle from a food truck here in the park, and when I was finished I saw the man who served it to me putting on a suit and heading over to the European government buildings which I feel reflects how multifaceted individuals, culture, and identity is in Belgium.

I honestly didn't know what to expect of Brussels. I anticipated it to have a quite bland and vanilla culture but it was actually quite the opposite. It is quite amazing to see the integration of the Flemish/ Dutch and French language and culture in one city. I don't think I can think of another city where this level of cultural coexistence and the integration of two languages is so prominent. Brussels is truly unique and with the addition of mouth-watering fries, thirst-quenching beer, and godly waffles, I found it to be a spectacular city.

So many once in a lifetime experiences, meetings, and learning that are still marinating in my brain. Visiting and speaking with members of the European Commission and the Council was never something I imagined myself doing but it has totally widened my understanding of how democracy manifests and how decision-making occurs.

One of my favorite talks was about the Green New Deal where I learned so much about renewable energies and the goals of the European Union in those regards. It made me realize how behind the United States are in the transition to renewables and I look forward to seeing if the European Union's initiatives will be able to cross the Atlantic in any way, shape, or form.

We also got to take a visit to the Turkish delegation of the EU, which was quite fascinating to hear essentially their pitch as to why they are suitable to be a member state of the EU - they have been attempting to join the EU since 1987 - and the challenges and obstacles that have emerged. Whether Türkiye is to ever be an official member of the EU, I have a stronger understanding of the importance of economic relations between Türkiye and the EU, as well as Türkiye's role as a global actor.

Another super interesting talk was at the Council where my biggest takeaway was about the challenges of translating common European policies into so many different languages.

Also got to spend a couple days in Paris. Some may say this city is overrated but I truly think it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It may be crowded, it may be dirty, but every street and turn has something charming or interesting to offer. While in Paris, we listened to a few lectures and gained some insight on what makes France's defense policy different as well as the history of immigration and internal perspectives.

Have been back enjoying Freiburg and some nice weather! School is picking up again but I look forward to a trip to Amsterdam in a couple weeks!

That is all although I definitely have more to say! Bye!

Lily :)