I really enjoyed my education abroad experience, and the program was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I believe anyone who can do it, should.

The experience in Brussels was very educational towards my goals in working in the international relations field. Studying abroad provided me with many resources and abilities to ask questions about institutions such as NATO, the EU Institutions, and the International Criminal Court.

During the program, we had classes Monday-Thursday and visits during the week to different international institutions and the Royal Museum for Central Africa. During these visits, we listened to speakers who work in the institutions and explained to us what work they do, the internship opportunities, and the type of long-term positions they offer. I was particularly very interested in the work the institutions are doing to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty, speaking to professionals there helped me gain a better understanding of what direction things are heading. A speaker in NATO mentioned working in Ukraine with officials to prepare them systematically for NATO requirements. Hearing about the work they do for countries deepened my understanding of how the institutions function and what they really do, providing me with more clarity for my future career choices. Not only did the speakers share their duties, but also their path that led them there.

Along with the visits, I learned a lot about Belgium; many people knew English there, making it fairly easy to communicate with locals. We also got to experience Belgium's Independence Day and see how they celebrate it with the food, music, and community events. I found it especially interesting that they do not call fries “French fries” because they actually originated in Belgium.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience from education to the culture and people; it was a simple transition and created countless memories.

• Name: Yuliya Senyk
• Status: Junior
• Major: International Relations
• Hometown: Clarkston, Michigan
• Program: International Relations in Brussels