Okay, so it's been a very long time since I've updated this, but to be honest I haven't really had that much time to do so!!
So on Monday I got myself to school with minimal confusion (yay!) Where we had more orientation and a talk about our internship interview which we would get information on on Wednesday. We then had a tour of our campus and then had lunch at this amazing falafel place that is on campus, and relatively cheap!
After that I went back to my house and then I decided to walk to Stokkel (the metro closest to my house, about a tewnty minute walk) to get shampoo and notebooks, things that I needed. On the walk home though, it started POURING and although I was wearing my (baller) rainboots and had my umbrella that morning when the sun was shining, had decided to leave it at home this time!
Rule number one of living in Brussels: ALWAYS bring raingear.
So I walked back and got thoroughly soaked, then had a super delicious dinner cooked by my homestay mother (a sort of chiken and rice dish that looked thoroughly healthy AND yummy) and then I went with Shiza, Christina, and Katie to a bar that was not the best- the waiters were rude and we were like the only girls there so it was awkward.
The next day, apparently the bus drivers decided to go on an illegal strike, yet I had no way of knowing this, so ended up waiting for the bus in -8273498734 degree weather for an hour and it never came! I finally went back to my house to change my socks and go (extremely late) to class and ran into my homestay mother who gave me a ride. So my second day I was 45 minutes late, but since it was not my fault I didn't get in trouble. I do hate buses, though.
After that we had more orientation and then had a tour of Brussels on a bus, and then walked around where the palace was. It was really awesome- we got to learn a lot about the city and see all of the museums (Carmen!) and the courthouse which was ENORMOUS. After our walk though, we went back to the bus and I feel asleep! It was sad, but it did give me energy for INAUGURATION!
Which is what I did after the bus ride- half of the group went straight to a bar called Fat Boys- and American bar where the inauguration was going to be played on big screen- but I had to change and get money so I went home and met up with Trent at the Stokkel metro stop. We got so lost though and got off on three different metro stops- at the third we asked some German guy who was extremely nice where the Parliament was and he showed us. The bar is right across from European Parliament, and we managed to get there right as Biden was being sworn in.
OF COURSE I am SUPER bummed about not being in DC for the inauguration, but I have to admit it was nice to be inside and on a chair watching it, instead of with 67 million other people outside in the cold. After the inauguration we went to Celtica, a bar with 1 Euro beer and therefore friendly to budgets, then we went to a karaoke bar (no, I didn't sing!) but the crew that lives by Stokkel had to go back relatively early because the metro closes at midnight and we didn't want to catch the last one. This is also when I found out that Rinske, another girl from the program, lives about a block from me and so that we could walk back together! (which is what we had to do because the bus drivers were STILL on strike- don't worry, the neighborhood is super nice and there were three of us because we met this Belgian girl who lived next to us and is our age.) The walk is also really nice, too, everything is calm and you're basically walking in the suburbs. I've taken to walking half the time to Stokkel in the morning because the walk is amazing and I am desperately trying to fight off the inevitable weight gain I'm gonna have from all of this delicious food (although we do have a gym we can use for free- mom and dad I need you to bring my gym shoes!)
So the next day was my lowkey day! I had a meeting with my internship coordinator at noon, where I found out that I have five interview for internships- two are for members of European Parliament; one of the guys is (Adel will love this) Peter Statsny, one of the best hockey players for Slovenia and who once played for the JERSEY DEVILS!, one is for a guy who needs an intern to actually sit in on the Parliament sessions and take notes (really awesome!), and one is for a company called ICE VISTA which is half business and half dedicated to the conservation of polar bears? But the one I really want is with the International Rescue Committee, an organization that works all around the world on various issues including Rape in the Congo, immigration and refugees, and the crisis in the Sudan. I really hope I get that one! But the others sound extremely interesting so I'd be happy with either.
After getting my internship I went to get my abonnement which gives me ULIMITED rides on metro bus or tram for only 28 euros!! and then I had a delicious dinner with my homestay family (steak and these awesome mashed potato things- they treat me right!) and then I basically did nothing and really enjoyed resting a bit. This included many episodes of House.
Right now, I am hungry and need to go searching for food- so more on Thursday and Friday in an hour or so!
I love you all and miss you!
Pictures: 1) Jennie, Christine, Shiza, Katie, Christina, and Ben in Celtica
2) Beautiful park with the statue of Egmont and Horn
3) OBAMA!!! look how close I was!!
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