Just Breath

So my internship is basically the shiznit.

I just finished my second day but I already feel like part of the family. I work in the Corporate Affairs Department; meaning I deal with media overviews, internal/external communications, event planning, and lots of other various PR tools. The people I work with have been very welcoming and really treat each other with respect.

The work environment is surprisingly more laid back than I expected. I think one of the main things I am learning in my time here is that Europeans take their time in all areas in life, including work. As an American, I was always brought up to believe that the work place would be extremely fast paced,  stressful, and a constant rush to meet impossible deadlines. I hear it first-hand from friends who are young professionals and family members who often become easily burnt out from their jobs due to being overworked and constantly tired.

Though Europeans are hard workers and do their work in a timely matter, I was surprised how differently wired I was with my work ethic. When I am assigned tasks, I immediately start on them, become very focused, and don't stop until I am finished. My co-workers were shocked at how fast I finished all my assigned tasks. When I started to explain myself, one of my co-workers accurately summed it up..."You Americans, you work too hard; no time to relax and enjoy what you are doing. Take a break once in a while and breath, you'll begin to see the beauty in what you do."

After thinking it through, I realized he was right. I work my ass off and when was the last time I really just took a break for myself?

Overall, I could not be happier that I came to Brussels this summer. It has only been the first week and I have already learned so much, met amazing people, and completley immersed myself in their chocolate, beer and coffee. Life could not get any better.

All My Love