The bitter cold is the only thing I really have to complain about in Brussels right now. The every changing shade of grey of the sky has given way to the clear blue that I became so used to in Madrid.
The only unfortunate thing about this though is that I’m now trapped inside most of the day, having started my stage last Monday. But even that’s not much cause for complaint – I mostly enjoy the work and the only real stress comes from me willing myself not to mess up. The projects I’ve been given are largely interesting, although proof-reading memos because I’m the only English stagiere can only be so fun.
The events that my company puts on are another side to my work that I enjoy, not that I can claim to have worked at many of them, only a book launch last week for The Future History of the Arctic by Charles Emmerson, which was really interesting and where I met the Canadian ambassador to the E.U.
My least favourite aspect of work though is the commute; a week in and I’m already finding out how packed the metro can be at 9am. The one consolation to this however is that the Brussels metro is at least interesting. It seems the entire system was designed by the team behind Thunderbirds, looking like the 60s vision of the future.
I should congratulate them on their choice of music in the stations though. A bit of Bob Dylan makes the morning commute a little easier while Mozart et al. take the stress out of trying to get home.
And dissimilar to Madrid, it’s a home that I want to get to where I have the choice of hanging out in my room (with double bed) or chilling in the living/ dining room, which sports a flat screen TV above the fireplace.
Loyal readers will remember the painted wall and tree trunk that used to keep me company. In my new place, I can enjoy this.
Oh how times have changed.
0 Responses to “1 Down, 26 To Go”