My first real “aha” moment came during a meeting with European Commission officials. Listening to them describe how a single policy gets negotiated across 27 member states, each with different governments, economies, and priorities, completely reframes how I think about governance. Something I found particularly interesting was how every agreement has to be accessible in…
Bye, Bye, Brussels
Looking back on my time in Brussels, and the EU as a whole, I feel grateful for everything a learned. Exploring a country and nation so foreign to me gave me so much perspective on the world and people around me! Learning of the cultural differences between Belgium, Amsterdam, the US, and many surrounding cities…
Why Brussels? Research, Research, Research!
My name is Andrea! I am currently a senior at the Frederick Honors College. I’m pursuing a dual degree in Political Science (Theory & Comparative) and History (Race and Violence). This summer I attended the Governance and Policy in Brussels program. I joined for mainly two reasons: I have a good relationship with one of…
Landed in Lisbon
Growing up, my mom was constantly talking about how much her study abroad experience changed her life. She spent her entire senior year of college traveling, gaining work experience and just learning about herself. My dad never got the chance to study abroad, and regrets not traveling when he was a young adult, but has…
Lisbon: Mid June
One of the coolest parts of my internship is getting to sit in on guest lectures that are hosted by the University of Lisbon and that my supervisor helps to organize. On Tuesday we got to learn about militarization of democratic cabinets, and used Brazil as an extremist case study. In broader terms, what factors…
Quinn’s Camera: Seville
I fall in love with every city I visit. It feels impossible not to: there’s a siren song that pulls me in inexplicably, inevitably, and suddenly I find myself head over heels. Sometimes it’s the people, or the food, or the way of life, and sometimes it’s the complete departure from what I’m used to…
Lisbon, The Finale
I am sitting at the metro station writing this, fighting back tears, and I am sure I will end up posting this from the airport gate, actively crying. I am so grateful for this experience, and I miss home so much. At the same time I cannot imagine leaving this place that I got to…
Lisbon: The Internship
Hello everyone! As I previously mentioned, my internship is at the ICS, which is the Social Science Department of the University of Lisbon. I am working with a professor and helping her on her research project on the members of parliament in Ghana and South Africa. I basically am going into this blind and with…
Lisbon, Halfway!
Hello!! The heatwave across Europe has finally hit Portugal, and we are really feeling it. I have never been more thankful for Lisbons preference towards AC, at least in the buildings I have spent the most time in. And when I cannot be in air conditioning, I have been in the ocean. So, I’m definitely…
Looking Back to Lisbon
Since my return home from Portugal, I have had some time to reflect on my experiences this summer. My time in Lisbon not only provided me with valuable insights and lessons for my academic and professional career, but also helped me understand how to better enjoy life. While I learned countless things working in my…