A Day in the Life: I live in Belgium!

Well my first day of an internship/real job/Belgian work adventure is in the books! It was so much fun to travel into Brussels and act like a typically working Belgian. I tried so hard to seem like a local and fit in, which involves not being loud/talking in "American voices," looking at maps, or speaking really at all-at least three heads turn when you do; you just can't hide that American accent. I would've pulled off being a local too if not for two things. On the way there, when I arrived in Brussels I wanted to go the bathroom before my walk to the office and before I started my day. I knew you had to pay and so I took out my euro and the man gave me back 0,50 euros (that's how they write $0.50-crazy huh?) and I walked through the little turnstyle no problem and feeling pretty proud of myself. I casually turn the corner and run right into the men's room as the man at the front is yelling "Madam! Madam!" and ushering me to go in the other direction. Darn. I was so close to not messing up!

Work was a much smoother day and the people in the office are so nice! EASA is a non-profit organization that applies and supports advertising standards across Europe and beyond so that advertisements stay honest, decent, and trustworthy; right up my ally I'd say! The office only has about 7 people working there so they will definitely put me to use which is pretty cool that I will be contributing. There is a really cool British intern there who has been there a couple months and I instantly got along with him and he was really fun to talk to. Our boss, Oliver, is in Paris for two days in meetings, so he told David to take me out to lunch and show me some of the city. We went to a healthy food place where you picked all your food out that was already made and then paid for it. I had NO idea what anything was and after putting down a sandwich that I swear had raw meat on it with brie (BLAH), I decided to just go with what David got, which was a quiche so it wasn't too reassuring of an option. It turned out to be DELICIOUS. I've never had a quiche but the eggs were so light and tasty on a delectable pastry. Solid choice David. It was a really fun lunch hour and I always love British accents so that was fun.

I didn't have much actual work to do today and mostly just felt in the way, but hopefully I'll be able to help more as time goes on. I'm really happy I decided to do the internship and already think it's an amazing experience-I'm living and working in BELGIUM. What the?? Super amazing. My only other mishap of the day was on the way home when I had no clue which train I was supposed to get on and can understand French about as well as I can understand Mandarin. I saw a train that said it was going to Louvain, which I figured was close enough to Leuven and got on. I sat in a really nice cabin that was so comfy and not crowded at all and I was feeling very happy with my selection-at least I'd get lost in comfort! Then the ticket man came in and I confidently showed him my pass and he said "This is a 2nd-class pass. You are in 1st-class madam!" Woops! I thought he would boot me off the train all dramatically but I only had to pay the difference of 2 euros AND I found out that the train would stop at Leuven. Wasn't totally a lose-lose.

Soooo all in all it was a great day. My feet ache and I wanted to go to bed right when I got home; it's like I'm a real adult now or something. I'm excited to go back tomorrow and explore some more of Brussels and enjoy Europe!

Here's a few pictures from my walk to work:








(Just tilt your head on this one, I can't figure out how to rotate it)