Brussels

Our Class at SHAPE

My first out of two courses is titled "Managing International Conflicts: Institutions and Practice of International Security".  Because of this, our class took a trip to Brussels since there are a good amount of international institutions which work there. 

We had a very early train to Brussels from London, so I had to get up around I think 4:20-4:25 in order to get outside to the taxi to take us to the train station. So, it was quite an early morning for me.  I actually didn't sleep at all on the train, but preferred to read and look out at the countryside (especially in England before the Chunnel).

First we went to NATO's SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe), which is located just a bit outside of Brussels.  Basically the name describes what the institution is and does, being in charge of the allied operations worldwide.  We weren't really able to spend much time here or do too much.  We pretty much arrived there and picked up our host at the gate who escorted us in front of the building where we took a picture (the one above).  So I think they wanted us to think it was just as a memento, but I actually believe they just wanted a photo record of all the people going into the headquarters... Regardless, we then went into a room and had a presentation by our host on just kind of the basics of NATO and SHAPE. 

Pend and Strategic Concept from SHAPE

Flags and plaque in the lobby

More flags including the US

 From SHAPE we went back to Brussels and to the European Commission.  Here we had three speakers.  One talked about the Cooperation with international partners, one about the EU's Humanitarian aid policy and one about the institutions of the EU.  We got a fair amount of handouts at the European Commission, including a 2GB flash drive and a vast assortment of other things.

Class at the European Commission

Inside the European Commission

Flags of the EU

Goodies from the European Commission

The EU

One of the other EU buildings

After the European Commission we went to the main square in Brussels, but we were only there for like 40 minutes so we could only just walk around.  I was only just able to get a waffle and go to a pub before having to take a taxi to the train station where everyone made it just in time to make the train.

Some of the class in Brussels

Belgian Waffle!

St. Pancras Station.

I will put up a new post soon with more stuff from the last week and a half hopefully in the next day or so.