On the first day, we headed to the European Commission, where officials help develop EU policies. I expected a presentation in the visitors' center. Instead, we were taken into the actual meeting facilities! Suddenly, I was sitting around a conference table in the Schuman Conference Room, thinking about the important discussions held in places like this. What in the world was a chef from New York doing here? Although I've spent more than 20 years making decisions about people, budgets and operations, these officials work on issues affecting entire countries! Other scholars asked detailed political questions while I struggled to understand half the terminology. Although I was a little intimidated, I loved every minute of it! When an official working in agriculture spoke with us, I even asked about programs similar to my internship with Cornell Cooperative Extension. I wasn't an expert, but I asked my question anyway. Later, we entered the European Parliament's Hemicycle, a chamber where elected representatives debate and vote. Imagine your school auditorium, except the decisions could affect millions of people!
That evening, a few of us went out for Japanese food and struck up a conversation with a woman sitting nearby. During our conversation, we learned that she was an official with Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs! We spent more than an hour discussing culture and diplomacy with no scheduled meeting or security badge, just an unexpected conversation over dinner. It’s funny how food brings people together.
Returning to Prague, I couldn't stop thinking about how much I'd experienced. I was intimidated at times, and I certainly didn't understand everything. But I loved being somewhere so unfamiliar.
