**Note: Previous posts from our trip- 1) Blog 1; 2) Blog 2; 3) Blog 3.  I am writing as little as possible on each blog post because I want my students’ voices to really tell our story.  For the most part, my thoughts on a lot of the topics we’re learning about can be found elsewhere on my blog.

Another great day for our trip.  We had two visits today- the EEAS and the European Parliament.  At the EEAS we got a chance to talk with two officials (who shall remain unnamed) about the EU Global Strategy and EU-US relations.  The EUGS has already been in place for one year, and you can read the EEAS’ report on developments here.  I actually think that the EU has an opportunity to take on more of a leadership role in global issues in the next few years.  As for EU-US relations, the students got a chance to learn about the two traditional pillars- security and trade.  Even Wisconsin (our home state) trades with the EU.

So happy to see the students’ listening and taking copious notes.

In the afternoon we went to the European Parliament, where had an excellent discussion about the role and competences of the EP, how it works with the other EU institutions, the party groups, and we got to see the plenary chamber.

Talking about EU enlargement.

Talking about the competences of the European parliament.

Inside the plenary chamber.

We finished our day at Cafe Maxburg for an excellent German meal, and we were quite fortunate to have been joined by Chris Kendall.  Chris and I have been talking about UK and EU politics over Twitter the past few years, and it was great to finally meet him in person.  In fact, this trip was pretty much made possible through relationships I’ve established via Twitter (but I’ll save that for a later date).

I have been so pleased with my students so far.  They are asking great questions, listening intently, and they are even trying out their language skills.  I was really proud when Julia used her Spanish to ask one of our presenters about his language skills, and Cat took a chance using her French to ask for a fork in the market.

Huge thanks to the following people who made this day memorable for my students and me: 1) EEAS- Our two unnamed presenters; 2) European Parliament- Kirsten Jongberg.

Ali B.
Today we began our day by visiting the European External Action Service. This meeting I found especially interesting due to the fact that most of the discussion was framed around foreign policy and United States/European Union relations, two topics I find fascinating to learn about. I found that the EU’s Global Strategy, newly implemented last year, centered on predictability, balance, a combination of internal and external policies, effectiveness, and promotion of peace, is a long term plan for tranquil relations. My initial reaction to this proposal is that it will be extremely beneficial to not only internal Europe, but external as well.  We also learned about how beneficial the European Union is to the United States and how the United States is beneficial to the European Union.

Our second meeting was with the European Union Parliament. At this meeting it finally clicked for me how each of the institutions work in unison to create the European Union as a whole. Not only did I learn a lot during this meeting, but we were also given the opportunity to tour the building and the area where the plenary sessions occur. I found it interesting how each of the political groups sat with their respective members. During each of the meetings I was able to thoroughly expand my previous knowledge into new thoughts and ideas on the EU.

Andy K.
So far my trip was full of fascinating institutions and this trend continued. After a few bumps to start the day, we traveled to the European External Action Service. Although we did little in terms of actually seeing around the place, we spent over 2 hours discussing Europe’s Global Strategy with two fascinating and knowledgeable individuals. Some of the highlights that I took from this were the importance of bilateral cooperations between the United Nations and the European Union. Neither organization can truly achieve their goals without each other. The future of Europe, and the rest of the world, in terms of issues such as terrorism, food security, sustainability, and development rest of the success of this crucial relationship. In addition to this we discussed a number of issues involving trade, (even getting as specific on how EU countries and Wisconsin benefit from mutual investment) and the geopolitical challenges from Russia in terms of cyber security and energy. Both people we talked to shared the same love for politics as I do, and this kept me immensely engaged the entire time.

After this we traveled back to the hotel and then to a local market where we picked out food and then preceded to enjoy it behind our next destination, the beautiful European Parliament. The European Parliament is by far my favorite institution due to its democratic nature with the direct election of politicians by the general public. Here we explored the current state of the European Union and how it operates in terms of budgetary matters. Sadly we spent little time on revenues which is an area I wanted to badly learn about. Despite this disappointment, I still found the presentation highly engaging and informative. After this I encountered (in my opinion) the most prestigious area, the parliament floor itself. As someone who dreams about speaking on such a floor I was just awestruck by the sheer awesomeness the hall possessed along with the immensely challenging work done by the translators. I can barely learn a second language, nevermind five or six! Overall this day has just continued to improve an already amazing trip and continues to equip me with new knowledge for the future.

Bailey A.
Today we visited the European External action service and learned about what it does and cannot do. It was another interesting morning to learn about some reasons behind voting for Brexit. It was really interesting to learn about the interconnectedness of countries both inside and outside the EU and how action externally is gradually becoming internal action as well. All of the advances that the EEAS has made in the past few years was really admirable especially given their limited ability on behalf of the member states.

In the afternoon we got a very interesting and very human explanation of the European Parliament, and at the end we got to go into a plenary chamber. It was so interesting to learn about all of the afterthoughts added in the past few years, such as rules on leaving the EU, and though it hasn’t been added yet, how countries could be “kicked out”. I always assumed that Switzerland wasn’t a part of the EU because of their reputation as being neutral all the time, so it was really interesting to learn that it isn’t just neutrality that is getting in the way, but the way their government is set up and their identity. We also got to see an approximate comparison between the US government and the EU government, which really helps to explain what role everyone has and what they do. After our conversation we were able to go into the plenary chamber and learn about how the interpreters work and what that means for the MEP’s. Another very interesting day.

Cat G.
Bonjour! Today has been another very exciting day in Brussels.  The jet lag officially set in, but at least I’m exhausted and sleep deprived in a beautiful European country.  We started out at the EEAS, which was a little intimidating because there were TV screens on the walls that announced important events coming up, and one of them just so happened to be a G5 summit — and here was our little student group fortunate enough to get a tour.  The first man we talked to was very nice.  He talked a lot about what the EU’s purpose was, and why it was important.  The actual European Union has had major impacts on both a global and regional scale as far as keeping peace in Europe and providing humanitarian aid. The second man was also very kind and he talked to us more specifically about what EU-US relations implied, and how the partnership between our countries is beneficial to all parties involved.  He even did a little bit of research on Wisconsin itself, linking statistics about our state’s exports to the conversation at hand.  We told him to feel free to come by and try some cheese curds if he ever had the chance to visit.  

After that we got lunch at a local grocery store, this one was different then the one we visited on Monday and full of little victories (I managed to ask for a fork in French!!).  Once everything was purchased we ate our food at the park across the street, which was actually quite beautiful and home to another architecturally stunning building and a bunch of quaint little white flowers.  

Once lunch was done we went to the European Parliament which was actually really cool.  We talked with our guide for quite some time about EU logistics and what role the parliament plays in law making.  Our group was even fortunate enough to see one of the conference rooms, with all of it’s translator booths.  Not going to lie, me and Julia geeked out about the languages for a little while, especially when our guide mentioned that she had a friend who knew (from complete fluency, to basic translations) forty two languages!  Forty two!! How wild is that?!  Like right now I’m struggling to learn two, and her friend just casually knows forty two!  Overall that trip was overall very informational and inspiring.

Dinner was pretty cool, we ate at a more local German restaurant and it was cool to try some new foods.  I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and all the cool activities we have lined up, I am especially interested in talking to the Swedish representatives tomorrow and getting more of an insight on their feminist foreign policy.  Bonsoir from Brussels!  -Cat

Greta S.
The EEAS was very enlightening, and I felt like the policy areas discussed by the first speaker were articulated so well and with great depth of human understanding of the policy. I felt that he was really honest and had very insightful things to say on a variety of matters, and it reminded me why I am interested in politics. With the second speaker, I appreciated the research he did on Wisconsin before talking to us, and I liked that he tied it into what he was talking to us about. Having that personal connection is  always appreciated by me and reinforces my learning a lot.

At European Parliament, I learned a lot about candidate countries and the process of entering the EU which was something I never new I wanted to know about, but I now find it really interesting. We also talked about language and interpretation and I just find it so cool how people can interpret in so many languages. In general I’ve been finding people’s personal stories about how they got their jobs and what they think of their work to be interesting.

Joe G.
We began the day by visiting the European External Action Service. We first got to listen to a presentation on the European Union Global Strategy, which I found very interesting and informative. This branch of the EU makes it even more clear that the European Union is political in nature, that is an organization that is based on and strives for principles of peace, despite sometimes being mistakenly thought of as being majorly based on trade. The strategy is largely based on the trait of resilience after conflicts and crises as this is the key to prosperity for any society. The strategy also focuses largely on the role of social protection in the success of the business and economy. We also talked about US-EU relations and their necessity for both governments.

After that we went to the European Parliament where we listened to a presentation on the structure of the EU and also specifically the structure of the Parliament. I thought it was very interesting to learn more about the political coalitions in the Parliament and also about the vast complications often surrounding the job of interpreting, with it often being necessary to use a pivot language. It was a day filled with interesting information and fun.

Julia P.
Ciao! The main theme running through today for me has been absolute awe at the plethora of languages people know here- which motivates me to try to pick up more than just English and some Spanish. This morning after breakfast we visited the EEAS, which was just absolutely fascinating. We were honored by two officials speaking to us, one focused more globally and one focused more on EU-US relations. I hope I didn’t bother them with all my questions, but this was definitely the place and time to ask! One of my questions I asked in Spanish, and it was just so awesome to be able to speak, to be understood, and then to understand.

After this we grabbed lunch from another little grocery store, and then headed to a park right next to our next meeting (European Parliament). The woman who met with us for that meeting was so nice and friendly but also extremely knowledgeable. We saw the breakdown the the EU’s process for admitting countries as well as the budget, which was super interesting. Following that, we were able to see the room parliament meets in for their Brussels location, and Cat and I were fascinated about that language translation and the fact that our guide’s friend spoke (more or less) forty two languages!!! In addition, the building itself was beautiful, and I loved that the country in presidency decorated the space with a mix of their artwork and art from the EU in general.

Then we came back for a much appreciated nap, and after that headed off to dinner. I was feeling tired, and in turn not that hungry, but once I stepped in that quaint, lively German restaurant that completely changed. My food was so good, and talking with Mr. Kendall was so captivating- their viewpoint on popular topics of debate was so interesting to hear and think about. The whole dinner was wonderful- good food and good company made for a great night! I’m looking forward to the Swedish representatives tomorrow- hopefully I can ask them about their Feminist Foreign Policy! Arrivederci!

Katie B.
We began the day at the European External Action Service where we learned a lot about the EU’s Global Strategy as well as EU-US relations. The EU Global Strategy is interesting because it focuses on advancing prosperity, promoting peace and guaranteeing security, fostering resilience of democracies, and championing a rules-based global order. I really appreciated learning about how the EU attempts to effectively approach crises that are to some seemingly unresolvable. Their preemptive approach focused on how important resilience is in order for nations to react well and quickly to any scenario. It was also great to hear about EU-US relations from the other side of the relationship. I especially enjoyed hearing about the value of mutual investment, as well as the many ways we do invest in one another’s nations. It was so cool to see all of the car companies, health services, and food production that is intertwined between the US and the EU.

Then we went to the EU Parliament. One thing I found really interesting was how everything is connected and overlapping, institution wise but also country wise. Seeing all of the 24 languages of the European Union able to be interpreted so that all members can use their language of origin was amazing.

Thanks for reading.

**Note: Previous posts from our trip- 1) Blog 1; 2) Blog 2.

I could not have asked for a better start for the first day of visits here in Brussels. We started with a tour and presentation at Europa- the home of the European Council and the Council of the EU.  We were lucky with our timing because the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU unveiled a digital project called “Unity.”

Group photo with one of our hosts, Alexandra Ekkelenkamp

One of the meeting rooms in Europa.

Ali will be representing Sweden in the EU at our first Model UN conference next year.

The red carpet for VIP’s when they arrive for high-level meetings.

Inside “Unity.”

After Europa, we stopped by a small market to grab a quick lunch and then headed off to the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU.  Here we got to talk about the role of the PermRep, Sweden and the European Parliament, some of Sweden’s education policies and how they fit in the Council of the EU, and then how the staff of the PermRep work within Coreper I.  (To see my previous posts on Sweden and Scandinavia, click here and here.)

Talking about the European Parliament.

Talking about education policies.

Huge thanks to the following people who made this day memorable for my students and me: 1) Europa- Alexandra Ekkelenkamp and Mojca Erjavec; 2) Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU- Charlotta Erikson, Arvid Palmkvist, Åsa Petri, and Natasa Boskovic.

Ali B.
We began our day today by waking up to a delicious breakfast provided to us by the hotel. After finishing that, we headed over to the European Union Council. Once we got inside the first thing I noticed was the impressive initiator of the building. To my surprise, the building I was looking at was considered the “old” part of the building. We were then taken on a tour of the impressive new building that recently opened earlier this year. Throughout the whole building the unity of each member state of the EU was well represented through the flags or color scheme through the whole building. After the tour was over we were given the opportunity to speak with Alexandra Ekkelenkamp. This was especially interesting because she was able to give us a unique view inside of the European Union. There we were able to highlight a large array of issues pertaining to the EU, a lot of these issues focusing on social media and how the internet has shaped modern day politics and policy making. We were very lucky to visit the Council on this specific day due to the opening of a new virtual reality, designed by Estonia, who recently took presidency of the council beginning in July.

Our next meeting was with Sweden’s representative to the European Union. I was very excited for this meeting because in December, I will take on the role of pretending to be Sweden’s representative to the EU for a Model United Nations conference. I believe that there is no better way to learn information than to complete immerse yourself in it, so this meeting was nothing but beneficial to my learning. The meeting began with an overview of Swedish representation to the EU and the EU system. Then we covered the EU parliament and the specific political parties that consist of it. After, we dove into the educational system of Sweden and current policy decisions being made. A very interesting aspect of this policy was the freedom of university students to obtain schooling somewhere away from their home country, as long as it is still in Europe. It was made very clear from the many, detailed policy points that the Swedish government wants its students to succeed and supports them in doing so. Overall, today was an exceptional day of learning new things and visiting admirable, unique places.

Andy K.
The second day of the trip was full of fascinating experiences both politically and culturally. Right off the bat we took a trip to the Council to the EU, an organization invested in many important decisions made in the EU. As soon as I walked in the actual building, my breath was taken away by the massive size and official image that was projected with colors of the 28 member states placed everywhere. I felt my very tired brain activate in a way only politics can activate it, and I knew immediately this wasn’t going to disappoint. This was confirmed after a 40 minute tour of the building that involved traveling to circular conference rooms dominated by themes of diversity, progress, and mostly of unity, VIP entrances, and just seeing how the day to day lives and jobs of workers are. After this we sat and and listened to a fascinating presentation involving the EU and general communications that focused on social media. This was strewn with surprising facts about how the EU decides what is the most important social media platforms and how they help push out the facts of what they actually do while combating fake news present on the internet. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this institution and marveled at the artwork and ideas that make the EU unique.

Next we attended a presentation/Q&A at the Swedish Permanent Mission to the EU. At first I wasn’t sure what to think about it, but soon I found myself in even more enjoyment than before! The policy talks centered around core Swedish values like climate change, along with education and the general ideas behind Sweden’s policy. Never have I found myself more engaged in a presentation this entire year. Not only were those speaking interesting, but they were clear experts which presented a view on topics I had never encountered before. For instance the educational values behind Sweden’s system I found extremely applicable to Verona’s schools, which often struggle with policies that Sweden has combatted such as how to ensure technology is used appropriately. In addition to this I enjoyed the fact they explained why the opposed creation of things that sound really good like “Student Loans For All EU Civilians,” but in reality ripped off Swedish tax payers and was actually destructive for everyone as a whole. I was completely invested for the entire two hours and I loved it all. This entire day revolved around subjects I feel extremely passionate about this and want to do the rest of my life. Politics in Europe may be in much different forms and institutions than in the United States, but the passion and issues remain the exact same. I can’t wait to have more days like this to continue to shape my perspective on the European Union and politics In general.

Bailey A.
Today we got a tour of the EU council and met with the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU. On our tour of the council we got to see both the old building and the new building. It was very interesting to see how they blended together and the symbolism of the different aspects of the building. We met with Alexandra Ekkelenkamp and learned about media and communication in the EU. It was really interesting to learn about how Brexit affected communications with the EU citizens on a subconscious level. It was also really interesting to learn about filter bubbles and how companies exploit the fact that people only like to look at what they agree with, and how that might have influenced the UK’s decision to leave. It was refreshing to hear about the different ways that the EU works to be transparent and open with the media and their citizens instead of making it into a mystical place nobody can understand. I think the most important thing to take away was that news is not what matters, we focus so much on what is going on all around us that we never focus on the big issues, which is why the EU tweets (and other social media) about the big issues and what they are doing.

In the afternoon we visited Sweden’s permanent representation and learned all about their involvement in the EU and the big topics they try to bring up. Most of the time when I think of Sweden, I think of how great they are doing to combat climate change and how vocal they are about it, so it was really interesting to learn that they really work hard to bring forests into the conversation. It was really interesting to hear about the different obstacles they face when trying to get other countries to agree with their point of view and the different reasons behind it, like other countries’s lack of trees. One of my favorite topics while we were there was Sweden’s work in the education field with refugees. Because Sweden takes in one of the highest percentages of refugees, integration especially with learning Swedish is important so that all of the young men and women can continue and have better lives than they would have had in their home countries. The language program for non native speakers makes so much sense and I feel like it makes a lot more sense than the ones we have in the states. They teach both the subjects and the language at the same time to keep it more engaging and successful than only teaching the language for two years. I feel like I could go on and on about all the things I have learned just in one day. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Cat G.
Today was a very, very amazing day.  Breakfast was wonderful and I have come to the easy conclusion that I am most definitely a pastry enthusiast.  After breakfast we made the short jaunt over to the European Council, which may have felt a little bit longer with heels, but it was really cool seeing more of the city so I didn’t really mind.  The EU council itself was architecturally astounding.  I loved the colorful design that decorated much of the ceiling and floor, and the room with the giant lantern was absolutely magnificent.  My favorite detail however would have to be the fact that the outside of the building was decorated with windows from all twenty eight of the member countries.  Each window was a different design and they were all made out of oak, which is the only tree that grows in all twenty eight member countries.  There is just something so pure about that and it made my heart really happy.  The rest of the tour was really cool and we even got to walk down the red carpet that all the super important government officials got to walk down, and not going to lie, it felt pretty good.  I really liked meeting Ms. Alexandra Ekkelenkamp and hearing her talk about her job and what she does and how she got to her current position.  I was also really awed about how she can speak six different languages?!  

We grabbed a bite to eat from a local grocery store and then moved on to the Sweden Representatives to the EU.  This was so super awesome.  Like, I already knew that Sweden was a really progressive country, but this was absolutely mind blowing.  The way they handle education in their country is just really admirable and to be honest I’m a little jealous.  

After we stopped by the hotel (au revoir heels) we walked to a Bulgarian restaurant for dinner, which was delicious.  All in all today has been a wonderful day and I’m excited to see what tomorrow has in store.  Bonsoir from Brussels! -Cat

Greta S.
Waking up to the fantastic hotel breakfast was the best way to start the day. The espresso drink machine made me so happy, as did the pastries and raw eggs that had to be cooked. At the EU Council, Europa was one of the coolest buildings I’ve ever seen because it was so intellectually designed and I loved how colorful it was. I thought it was really special that the EU translates all the speeches into all EU languages, and hearing how many languages everyone who worked there spoke was inspiring. I very much enjoyed hearing about how people get news and how it is catered to them because it’s such an annoying problem. I also loved learning about Twiplomacy because I usually don’t hear very much about how social media affects politics outside of Trump tweeting his conscience.

When we went to the permanent representation of Sweden to the EU, I liked hearing true thoughts on the proceedings of the EU Parliament rather than a filtered statement. I also was particularly interested in the Erasmus Program because it was interesting to hear how Sweden didn’t want the original version because they have a similar system, and that France didn’t want it because it would create social inequality. I like to hear about the politics that go on behind the legislation and that made it really fascinating. Then at dinner tonight, the people who worked at the restaurant didn’t speak very much English and it was exhilarating to hear more French, and I finally got to use my French phrasebook to decode the menu. Today I learned a lot, and I’m hyped for the rest of the week.

Joe G.
We started off the day by visiting The Council of the European Union, where we got a tour of both the old and new buildings. The architecture is very beautiful, well thought out and rich with symbolism. From the color scheme to the lantern shaped structure to the window panes, the entire design was created with the intent to convey the EU’s ideals of diversity, non-partisanship, and being forward looking. It was very surreal to walk around a conference room knowing that diplomats from countries all across Europe, have sat in those seats making decisions that impacted the lives of around 500 million people. We sat down and had a great presentation put on by Alexandra Ekkelenkamp about the structure of the EU and digital diplomacy. We discussed filter bubbles, which I have always found very interesting as the internet is always talked of as being a place to discover new ideas and values, but instead because of filter algorithms has become a reinforcer for already held beliefs and interests, never showing you anything that may contradict what you think to be true or right. This is damaging as it makes it much harder for people to feel empathy and creates political anger and fear. We also talked a lot about Brexit and the initial reaction to it, along with the fear that it, along with the U.S. election, brought that right-wing populism may gain support in many countries. However, more recently the French and Austrian elections vanquished that fear as it was proof that citizens have been watching the effects of populism and have heeded its overwhelming negative effects. I also learned about Glocalities, which is one approach that the EU is using to increase the distance of their reach and convince people of the necessity of the EU. This approach is value-based communication, meaning using very specific value of people in a place or region to convince them of your argument’s merit.

After a great visit at the Council, we walked to the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union, where we got talk to a number of people about their roles within Sweden’s representation. We also discussed the structure of the EU again. I was a little disappointed as I thought the talk would be more policy based but it was informative nonetheless and the people who worked there were knowledgeable and friendly.

Julia P.
Today was such an adventure- both for my mind and for my feet (guess who brought heels!). I started off the day with a classic, delicious European breakfast that left me feeling ready and more excited for the day than I already was. The first place we went was the EU Council, which was just…superb. The halls were ingeniously designed, with wood that was found in all EU countries with sustainable architecture and so much glass and light it felt more like being outside than inside. The other thing I loved about the EU Council building was the color- the backdrop of the elevators, random door, the meeting room floors & ceilings were all decorated with blocks of colors which made the spaces seem to generate creativity on their own. Additionally, I really enjoyed talking with Ms. Alexandra Ekkelenkamp and her experience in the media and communications within the Council.

After that visit, we grabbed lunch from a quaint grocery store- I got a baguette, cheese, and salami and tomatoes for a little but filling lunch. Then we visited the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU which I think has been the most fascinating part of the trip. We were all captivated by the inner workings of Swedish Government, and especially that if you’ve lived in Sweden for two years and you go to college there you can apply for a grant to study abroad for up to 6 years (hey, mom…?). Additionally, learning about education systems in the EU and the system of European Parliament was absolutely fascinating.

Following that, we went to hotel and changed (into flats!!) and walked to dinner (a little Bulgarian restaurant). I got Tatarskokofte (I’m still not totally sure what it is either, but it tasted amazing) and Ayran (salty, watered down greek yogurt…which tastes how you’d imagine). Today has been so cool and I can’t wait for tomorrow! Bon soir 🙂

Katie B.
Today we got the opportunity to tour the Council to the European Union, both the older building and the newer Europa were incredibly beautiful. I loved the way the buildings connected the rich history of the EU with the innovation of today. I especially enjoyed that the exterior of Europa is comprised of window panes from all EU member states, and that there is color incorporated throughout the building to liven up the space, as well as symbolize the ingenuity and inspiration in the EU and the colorful heritage of every country. We then had a meeting with Angela Ekkelenkamp, where we talked about a variety of interesting topics, including social media, improving communications among member states and the council, digital diplomacy, and Brexit. I really liked talking with her about how useful of a tool social media is in life and how much one can use it to their advantage. I use social media every day but I never fully realized how much use I could get out of it until now. It was also great to hear from a person that actually has been at the EU during and after the Brexit vote. Her focal point is one that I’ve never gotten to understand before and it was a really unique and beneficial point of view to get a better understanding of what’s going to happen with the UK and the EU.

After the visit to the Council we got to go to the Permanent Representative of Sweden to the EU. Our meeting there was really fascinating because we got the chance to hear from various members that actually work with the council or EU Parliament. I really enjoyed hearing about parliament and the different political parties and how they typically would form coalitions. I also really loved hearing about the education strategies of Sweden. I’ve always admired Sweden’s way of doing things and I think their various plans to tackle issues such as migrants needing an education but not knowing the language, to lessening the amount of people leaving school early is really interesting and is definitely having a positive impact on their community.

Thanks for reading.

**Note: If you missed “Blog 1”, click here.

After months of planning and reading, we’re finally here.  The weather was perfect today, and since we had no institutional visits scheduled, we did typical tourist activities- Grand Place, Manneken-Pis, double-decker bus tour of Brussels, and of course, waffles.

I am very excited to see how my students grow on this trip.  All of them are in Model UN and are interested in international relations and global issues, but I really want to increase their understanding of and appreciation for the EU and transatlantic relations.

For this post, I asked them to write a few words about their initial observations of Brussels.  Stay tuned for more throughout the week.

Ali B.
After completing our first day in Brussels, we managed to see a whole array of different things within the city. My favorite thing we did today was go on a bus tour to many significant landmarks throughout Brussels. Although I was at first wary of the tour being overly “tourist- based”, it was a terrific way to learn and experience many sites we otherwise wouldn’t go to. As the bus drove up to the Atomium I was immediately shocked at the stature of the building. Pictures could never prepare a person for how large it truly was. Also on this tour we were taken past gardens, cathedrals, and homes of past influential people of the city. After the tour we walked around Grand Place, where the surrounding buildings were unique with details along the sides. I expected Brussels to be much smaller overall. Although there are tourist based spots, a majority of the city is maintained as it’s initial state. I’m excited to learn more about Brussels history as the trip continues.

Andy K.
Throughout my entire life I have wanted to visit Europe and finally this gave me a chance, and it hasn’t disappointed. From the narrow winding streets to the prestigious churches towering over the city, this place is truly a unique one. Since the minute I have gotten here, I have been surprised by a number of different aspects of the city. For instance the massive emphasis on multilingualism is something I have never witnessed in the United States. Yes we have many different languages, but it is new to me for so many citizens to speak a variety of languages. More than anything though, the clash of historical and modern architecture gives the city a look that is very new to me. You can notice it anywhere, with modern day company buildings set right next to buildings built over 500 years ago. Today was only the start of the comparison of the many similarities and differences between the US and Brussels. However due to the longevity of buildings, cobblestone roads, and slight differences in how nearly everything is run, Brussels is clearly a city unlike any I have witnessed in my life.

Bailey A.
Today we arrived! Right off the bat I was impressed by customs, the lines were very short and the questions reasonable. This was very exciting because we were able to get out of the airport in under an hour to start our day. Once we started exploring I was very impressed with everyone’s mastery of languages, I didn’t get to use my French at all. I’m very glad we arrived on a quiet day, so we could get oriented without traffic adding new stress. We took a very interesting tour bus to the Atomium, and were able to see a lot of the major attractions without all the hassle. On that note, I was expecting the Mannekin Pis to be bigger! It was very cool nonetheless and I can’t wait to see more of the city while learning more about the EU.

Cat G.
Currently I’m running on very little sleep, but Brussels is absolutely gorgeous.  I love the architecture of all the buildings, and it’s so cool hear so many different languages when walking around the city.  We went to the Grand Plaza and it was absolutely astounding, I also really liked the tourbus ride we took of the Brussels, it was really cool to see all the different parts of the city.  So far I have had two Belgian waffles and one Gelato Cone and I couldn’t be happier.  I’m really excited to talk to the Sweden Representative to the EU tomorrow because I really admire their feminist foreign policy and I want to know more about how they use it when interacting with other countries, especially those with differing societal values.  I’m also really looking forward to sitting in on the EU council, and see how it actually operates from a first person perspective instead of just reading about it.  Today (and yesterday) has been a really wild, really phenomenal day and I’m really excited to see what tomorrow and the rest of this week has in store.  Bonsoir from Brussels!

Greta S.
Before coming, I was expecting to be most shocked by not being around only English, but I was actually way more surprised at how European everything is. Seeing the old buildings and statues and the stone streets is something I never really get to see in the United States, and seeing such a stark difference from the moment of walking on the streets was amazing. The bus tour was fascinating and showed me places I would have otherwise never known about, and walking around the Grand Place was beautiful. Even the hotel room feels new and makes it that much more special. It’s surreal to think that I’ve actually left the country and that I’m actually in Brussels, but it’s so incredible and I am so happy I’m here.

Joe G.
Today we arrived in Brussels, and promptly walked from our hotel to the Grand Place where we had lunch. I was immediately taken by the beautiful architecture and scenery surrounding us on all sides; the narrow streets, old buildings, and cobblestone sidewalks created a feeling of intimacy, a closeness shared between the city and I. We continued exploring the city on a bus tour, stopping at major landmarks, and niche neighborhoods along the way. The rich social and cultural history and influence held by this city is as far-reaching as it is intriguing. The Belgian people I have encountered have been open, friendly and helpful. There is much more of a feeling of connectedness, of respect, and of empathy here than in the U.S. It has already become very clear in the short time that i’ve been here that Belgians are proud of themselves and of their city, and I think justly so.

Julia P.
Whew! What a crazy, fantastic, awe-inspiring 24 hours – at this time yesterday our plane was taxing to the runway. After an 8 hr flight with movies & meals, we got into Brussels Airport around 9am Belgium time- 2am Wisconsin time!! But even though we were running on four hours of sleep (or less), there’s just something about this city that’s so energizing (well…except for dragging our suitcases up cobblestone hills). I loved the way old and new blend in this city- red roofs and intricate carvings mingle with glass and steel in the most interesting and amazing way possible. I also enjoyed the Grand Plaza, with the gilded buildings and little cafes hinting at a Parisian background it was just one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. But there’s no way one can see all of Brussels on foot as well as the double decker bus we took around Northern Brussels- which was fantastic, and featured the Atomium and gelato cones as well as many beautiful basilicas and churches. After that though, we all very much appreciated a nap before heading out to get the famed Belgian Waffles which were all they are hyped up to be. I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep in a bed (!!) before heading to the EU Council  and the Sweden Representative to the EU tomorrow. I’m excited to observe the inner workings of the council! Additionally, I’m interested to see how Sweden got their foreign policy up and going in the first place (from idea to reality) and how this policy has effected their relations with other countries- especially those in the middle east who tend towards the opposite side of the gender equality spectrum. All in all, with the birds chirping and live music strumming outside my window, and a view of intricate marble carvings sheltered by a classic European style tiled roof, I’m amazed by the crazy, fantastic-ness of this day and can’t wait for tomorrow! Au revoir!

Katie B.
During our first day in Brussels we did a lot of sightseeing and walking around the city. A few things that I found especially interesting were l’Atomium, le Mannequin Pis, and the unique balance seen with the abundance of tourist attractions in a beautiful, historical city. Finally getting to see l’Atomium in person was amazing because it is just so much larger than expected. It was really astonishing to stand underneath it and appreciate that it’s not just a sculpture but a functioning museum. I loved getting the chance to see le Mannequin Pis as well because it is such an infamous fountain head that has such a cool history and tradition behind it. It’s always amazing to see art in person that you’ve only seen in pictures. Lastly, I thought the fact that the city is equal parts waffle shops, souvenir stores, and bus tours, and beautiful statues, homes and parks, is really wonderful and makes Brussels unique.

Thanks for reading.

I’ve written before about the role teachers play in transatlantic relations (see, for example, this post and this one), and I teach about the EU in my classes, but this year I wanted to take it a step further- I decided to take my students to Brussels. For one week (July 8-15), I’ll be taking eight students on a study trip to learn about the EU and transatlantic relations.  During that time, we’ll be visiting the following places:

• The EU Council (thanks to Alexandra Ekkelenkamp and Dominique Bryan for helping to coordinate this visit)
• The Permanent Representation of Sweden to the EU (thanks to Anna-Charlotta Erikson for helping to coordinate this visit)
• The European External Action Service (thanks to Nicole Meijer for helping to coordinate this visit)
• The European Parliament (thanks to Kirsten Jongberg for helping to coordinate this visit)
• The European Committee of the Regions (thanks to Katie Owens and Francoise Dumont for helping to coordinate this visit)
• Sweden’s Social Democrats in the European Parliament (thanks to Helena Strandberg-Luthi and Elisabeth Gehrke for helping to coordinate this visit, and thanks to MEP Jytte Guteland for agreeing to meet with us)
• Deutsche Welle (thanks to Steffi Rosenbusch and Maximilian Hofmann for helping to coordinate this visit)
• US Mission to the EU (unfortunately, they had to cancel our visit due to last-minute obligations)
• #EUTweetUp (thanks to Jon Worth and Katie Owens for helping to coordinate this)
• The House of European History
• Bruges

To help them prepare, we met once a month, read a number of articles/papers, and visited the websites of each of the places.  I also created a Twitter list of the places we’ll be visiting and some of the people we’ll be meeting.

During our time there, my students and I will be sharing our experiences via social media and this blog.  To begin with, I had them write a paragraph about what they hoped to gain out of the trip.  Here are six of the responses:

Katie B.
I am so excited that my first time traveling to another country is to Brussels for this EU study trip! This trip is so full of wonderful opportunities and I’m so grateful I am able to participate. One thing I am especially looking forward to is our meeting with Sweden’s representative to the EU. I admire Sweden’s feminist approach to foreign policy, it is so comprehensive and well thought out and their execution is incredibly effective. I really think it is one of the main reasons they are such a successful, democratic, and advanced nation, so I hope to ask a lot of questions and gain a lot of information from that meeting. I am also really excited for our day trip to Bruges! The history behind art and architecture fascinates me, so Bruges, with its rich history and and gorgeous architecture, has been a dream destination of mine. There are so many wonderful things planned for the trip, and I can’t wait to go and experience it all next month!

Andy K.
In my entire life I have never been more excited about a trip and the prospects that it holds. As someone who is deeply passionate about politics, I relish at this amazing opportunity that this trip will give me to explore international relations.  I may not always agree on everything that the European Union does, however I must grasp a deeper knowledge on how it functions productively while balancing the wants of sovereign nations. Within this, I am specifically curious on economic policy and trade. For instance how does the EU ensure that trade agreements are beneficial to all member states with each individual state having diversified economies? Questions like this fascinate me and I hope I can get answers about them. On a different note I am looking forward to immersing myself in the culture of Brussels. For many years I have wanted to go to Europe and finally this trip gives me the chance to personally experience it. In conclusion I can’t wait for the knowledge that this trip will equip me with and the lifelong memories that I will make.

Julia P.
I’m super excited to not only see the past- the beautiful buildings and streets of the city- but also the future. I look forward to meeting with representatives from Sweden and the US missions to the EU and NATO to talk with them about what is happening now and their plans to change the world. I’d love to ask them how the Trump presidency has changed their personal experiences and/or altered their jobs. As this is a field I am considering for a career, I’d also like to ask them what their job entails on a day to day basis. Additionally, I hope to gain a broader, more internationally based knowledge on US issues. Living in the US can make a sheltered view on these topics, and I’m very interested to see how the international community views things such as border control, refugees, and healthcare. Lastly, I hope to also get to know the city of Brussels itself, and really experience the culture and pulse of this beautiful city. I’m looking forward to the trip!!

Bailey A.
You are not often given the chance to widen your worldview when living in a small town, inside a liberal bubble, in a state people in the rest of the country can’t even point out on a map. These exact reasons are why I jumped at the chance to visit a place with a nearly continental government, an institution the likes of which have never been seen before. Traveling abroad is a wonderful opportunity and learning experience, especially when combined with in-depth learning about world politics in the current political climate. It deeply interests me to learn about how everything is juggled between institutions, getting regional support, working on better trade, cooperating with volatile neighbor countries, countries making unpopular decisions, and foreign policy, while still managing to agree and be a leading world power. These are ambitious goals that are completely achievable with a strong system like this, and I can’t wait to see how they all fit together. I am also looking forward to speaking with Sweden’s Representative to the EU. Next year one of the three countries our Model UN team is representing is Sweden, and I can’t think of any better way to learn about Sweden than from one of the people who knows it best. I am really looking forward to meeting some of the people who make this whole operation work, while visiting such an amazing and historic country.

Catalina G.
I am really looking forward to this trip.  It will be really interesting to gain some more insight on transatlantic relations between the EU and the US.  I would especially like to gain some insight from government members in Brussels, both a UN and EU hotspot on their reactions to the US backing out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.  It will also be fascinating to learn more about the EU in general, and to learn about how it’s going to have to function differently after Brexit because I know the EU hit some bumps in November after the Brexit outcome.  I would also like to hear more about what that’s going to mean for the EU economy and the UK’s economy.  Another huge point of interest for me is Swedens feminist foreign policy and I would really like to know more about the impact it has in the EU.

Greta S.
If I’m honest, my initial reason for wanting to go to Brussels was because I had never left the country before and I knew my parents would say yes to this. However, my reasons for wanting to go were not all superficial. I knew my parents would say yes because they never say no to an opportunity to learn, and they knew that I would learn infinitely more going to Brussels than I would from any textbook or class. By going I am going to Brussels, I can see how what I learn is applied and how it is really played out. I can also ask questions that I want to know, and can find the answer to the question I want answered, and not ones that other people want answered. I also wanted to go because I wanted to see something different, and Brussels will be very different for me. I’ve had really similar experiences to all of my friends at school and just by being surrounded by people who aren’t exactly like me will teach me about who I am. I really love learning, and by going to Brussels I will gain factual, cultural, and personal knowledge, and I’m really excited for it.

Thanks for reading.