In Bruges

Saturday was our least busy day of the week. We started it out with a visit to the College of Europe in Bruges. This would be a fascinating college for an up and coming Eurocrat, especially their master's in diplomacy, but, as the name applies, it solely focuses on Europe. I need Asia in my life.
We were given a great presentation on the monetary policy of the EU. My roommate was actually doing his project on the central bank in Frankfurt, so I was excited to learn more about how the institution worked. The most important thing I learned is that I do not understand economics. I need to work on that. My roommate was very kind, and explained some of the things I didn't understand in a very helpful way.
The talk was followed by lunch and then a guided tour of Bruges. This was our only touristy day, so it was great to see the city. Quite beautiful, very romantic.

A bunch of the grantees

Bruges is known as the Venice of the north. It is a canal-based city, with wonderful medieval architecture throughout the city. We also saw a cloth that supposedly had a bit of Christ's blood on it. Relics are creepy. Four hours was not enough in this city, and hopefully, way in the future, I can come back and spend a weekend.

Moises in front of the clock tower

Horses make me think of Anna

Bus back to Belgium, back to the hotel, quick packing, walk to the train station, and then train to Amsterdam! Woop!

European Commission

On Friday, we visited the European Commission. I didn't really know much about the institutions of the EU, but the presentations helped clear it all up for me. Since the Lisbon Treaty, it is kind of similar to the system in the states, which, for me, makes it easier to understand.
The European Commission is the executive.
The European Council is the senate.
The European Parliament is the house.
The talks at the Commission were perhaps the most interesting of the week. Not only were we given a crash course in the basics of the institutions of the EU, we then had more detailed discussions on the EU's policy on neighboring states, its trade policy, EU-US relations, and economic governance in the EU. Lunch was a lot of seafood, and then afterward we walked back to the hotel and actually saw a bit of the city. I really enjoy Brussels.

Chocolate Mannequin Pis

I love cheese

Sight-seeing was followed by dinner as a group at a Thai restaurant. Really funny conversations about how we thought women became pregnant when we were kids. I thought the guy took a leak inside of the gal. Ha.