Hi! Bonjour! Hallo! My name is Bao. I am a Mathematics-Economics major, and a rising Junior. I have arrived in Brussels to study European Union governance and policymaking. I chose this experience because I want to pursue a career in economic policy, and thus, having a comparative education on one of the world’s most influential economic actor would be beneficial for my professional growth. Furthermore, I will be attending European Union institutions, and hearing first-hand from workers in the Commission, the Council of the EU, and more!

My initial assumptions before landing was that my minimal French skills would cause issues here. As it turns out, not only is English widely spoken, but the locals have been very accommodating when it comes to languages! I expected Brussels to be a very walkable city, with a reliable rail system. In the few hours since I initially arrived, the city exceeded my expectations! Apartments, hotels, and houses are located in walking distances of public transportation and businesses. Multiple parks are also available within 5 minute walks, in the area I am staying at! A question that I hope to explore is, outside of waffles and the European Union, what other forms of culture does Belgium take pride in?

Personally, I hope to grow as someone who has experienced another culture vastly different from what I have experienced. It has been humbling to not understand much of the daily conversations of the locals around Brussels, and to not know what it is like to be apart of the same societal culture. This trip will be my attempt to develop my identity in a place that I have no history in. What I hope to gain intellectually is being able to think about how an entirely different political system functions in its own domestic territory, and in the international world, and compare it to the United States government. Professionally, I hope to learn of the daily work of policy analysts, diplomats, and economists in the European Union. I am excited to write a policy paper as a part of the course, which will be a skill that is needed in my future career.

I cannot wait to experience the month of May in Brussels! See you then!