OK, so lots of news:
1. I was in an Environmental Committee hearing yesterday when it was announced that the Czech republic finally signed the Lisbon Treaty! Everyone in the parliament clapped, because this treaty gives (while marginally) the parliament more power in legislation.
2. I saw "This is It," the Michael Jackson movie with marietta in Brussels monday night- it was amazing- everyone in the audience loved it and clapped after every performance. I danced in my seat and well as cried at the realization that he is gone.. what a loss of great talent and a great soul. It was interesting to feel from outside the US what an impact he has around the world- no wonder they think American culture is special.. not that others aren't, but we certainly have had some very revolutionary performers.
3. Today I was in the last ENVI committee meeting where the Commissioner for the Environment came and spoke with the parliament about his goals for Copenhagen and his hopes for the parliament's participation there! The room was PACKED.. seems that the environmental committee is a very popular place to be this month, this year and I CAN'T BELIEVE I'm here to watch it all first hand.. now I just have to figure a way to get involved at COP.
4. Tonight I'm having my first real, authentic belgian waffles- cooked by my homestay mother. Marietta is here, which has really made everything a bit easier for me- because she balances me out.. and makes me less awkward at the dinner table! haha. Apparently it is normal to eat at least 4 or 5 waffles for dinner.. Etta and I can't believe this.. but we will see!
5. Etta and I saw the pope and was blessed by him!
Everything is really so interesting now.. and getting really crazy.. I have to write reports about several topics I attended debates on in the parliament. I have a test tomorrow on EU economics.. and I have my 15 page internship paper about construction products regulations due next wednesday! Yikes~! This is all after my week long break of traveling to Barcelona, Venice and Rome with Etta- look at my pictures on facebook- warning, I took hundreds of pictures. It was such an amazing trip! the Segrada Familia by Gauti in Barcelona blew my mind with its uniqueness and connection to nature- its the most vibrant and unique church I've ever been to - its really fantastic. The culture and people in Barcelona is really nice too.. very laid back and calming.
Venice was a dream come true. Everyone told me that is was dirty and smelly- but I didn't experience anything but beautiful blue water and crisp fall air. The buildings and boats were awesome.. besides how touristy it is, it really is as beautiful as I had imagined.. and I just got such a kick out of a "metro" which is a boat! The only thing lacking was the Venician people that you see in old movies like "Casanova".. most of the locals have left because its so expensive to live there (everything has to be shipped in), but the locals that remain own hotels or hostels or are gondoliers. We found a nice Gondolier for a good price.. it was a crystle clear day when the sun was begging to set.. it was perfect... a dream come true, I will remember it forever. The hostel we stayed in "A Venice Fish" was perfect too. It's a small hostel where you meet everyone who is staying there and they cook you breakfast and dinner- it is run by young people who try to show you a good time, even though there is really no night life in Venice- we had fun hanging out with them. I bought a beautiful hand made journal in Venice that reminds me of the night sky and a glass ring which looks like it has a galaxy inside it :) I also bought two masks from a young woman who makes them by hand. One for me and one for my mom. Mine is gold with tall peacock feathers spraying out of the center, my mom's is gold with read feathers on the side.
Then Rome! Rome was amazing even though I had been there for a day when I was 15 studying abroad in Spoleto. The best part was the tour guide we met because he gave us a free tour of the pantheon. We learned that the dome in the Pantheon was a really PERFECT and unrepeatable construction done by the Romans -whose architecture was a mystery for thousands of years after. It weight 50,000 tons - and there is a whole in the center at the top. To demonstrate how perfect it is, if you took the dome and made another one just like it, but inverted it and fit them together- it would make a PERFECT circle! The pantheon is called the Pantheon because "pan" means all and "theo" means gods, but now, ofcourse, it is a catholic church. Then we took a tour with the same guy for a good price of the Vatican museums, the Sistine chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. The Sistine Chapel meant a lot more seeing it this time because he explained the meaning of the different stages. I like that the first seen you are supposed to see is that of a drunk Noah being made fun of by his sons- its meant to represent the sin that we all hold within us.. but that we may still be redeemed and experience the light and faith of God after. I like this.. because it reminded me why so many people were drawn to Christianity- because it is a faith of forgiveness and redemption.. which I think most people seek. I know I do. Anyways, I like this message. I also, like the rest of the world, love the scene of the life force being passed from God to the lifeless Adam- you know, the famous fingers pointing to eachother post card?! Well, it really is beautiful :)
After a deeply spiritual experience at the Vatican, ironically, it was Halloween! And we were prepared, with the Venetian masks I bought. It was an unforgettable experience walking around Rome with Marietta- both of us the secret, Masquerade Ladies- it was funny watching people's reactions- and most people did react. I loved when we made people smile, and it was fun to wink at cute boys.. for all they know- I could be the Most beautiful girl in the world they will never see :) Halloween was crazy! Lots of silly american students, but also Italians... it was almost too crazy to have a good time at a bar because you couldn't move! I ran into my friend from American Hannah Oppenheim and K.P. at an Irish Bar- so that was funny! We weren't out long, we went back kinda early and I watched Larry King Live interview MJ's family at the premier of This Is It. Then the next day, on Sunday, we went to the Vatican at 12 and saw the pope come out of his window and give his blesssing! It was so cool, I wore my small gold cross to get blessed and etta bought a rosarie to bless - which she will give as a gift (won't say who to give it away). As we walked away after, I said to etta "blessed by the pope, Check!" haha.. one more thing down on my list of things to do. That last day was so beautiful and we spent it exploring the smaller parts of Rome, we walked down the river in rome which is lined by big beautiful trees that hang over the side of the river - the light through the yellow and orange leaves was so beautiful.
Well.. its almost time for Waffles and I should probably be studying the economics of the EU and not blogging, but I couldn't resist the urge to FINALLY update my blog! Lots of Love to all my friends and family- I've having the time of my life :)
