Hey! Ok, I’m finally writing again. I wrote an update on Wednesday, but when I tried to post it, it disappeared into the 5th dimension of cyberspace. That’s ok, I have to admit that it wasn’t very interesting. I reported on my first Brussels ‘celebrity sighting’: Meg Whitman, CEO of EBay. Yeah, a typically Brussels celebrity-this place is not too different from Washington D.C. in that regard. Well if any of you are EBay fanatics and simply dying to know what it's like to be in the same room as Meg Whitman, just drop me a note and I’ll be happy to tell you about it.

I’ve been working till about 6 every day. Monday and Tuesday were pretty rough, but now I think things are starting to come together a bit. I can imagine getting to a point where I’ll have it all down. I work on a ‘corridor’ with about 12 offices- all conservative British Members of the European Parliament(MEPs). There are several other American interns, so I don’t have to feel too self conscious about being the only ‘yank.’

One of the American interns is a guy named Paul who works 2 offices down from me. He is somewhat arrogant and full of himself (very Patrick Henry College:)We were chatting about work experiences and I got to drop the 'White House intern bomb.' He was sooooooo impressed. He momentarily dropped his arrogant veneer and gave way to ' oooh, I wish I could have had a White House internship.' etc. It was quite hilarious. hmmmm....so well the internship is good for that at least. It hasn’t done me much good for the rest.

Everyone is so friendly, though. I get invited along to everything. I spent most of last night hanging out with staff from my corridor at a café on the Place du Luxembourg which is right next to the parliament building. I had such a good time. There was lots of discussion about the World Cup this summer. Unlike discussions about the Redskins, this subject actually interests me and I even know a little bit about it. (not nearly as much as some of them though, whoa!)

Each MEP has a personal office that is right next door and about the same size as the office for their assistants. In my office it’s just me and one other staffer, a really nice guy named Oliver. So we do not have it very crowded. Some offices only have 1 assistant. Others-like the one next door to me- have 4. That is kind of insane…they don’t even all have computers!

The MEP’s pesonal offices also have a small bathroom with a shower-yes, a shower – in them. I’m relieved to report that my MEP uses his shower as a storage space. One girl I met told me the Polish MEP she works for uses his regularly and the staff use it too. Interesting.

Security at the Parliament is disturbingly lax. I set off the metal detector every single morning and no one ever double checks, they just let me though. Wednesday I was picking up my 'long term visitor' pass and I had forgotten my drivers license (which I had used as my ID for my initial visit to the accreditation office.) When I realized I'd forgotten it, guess what I showed them instead???...my national archives research card! And the guy accepted it. (To get one of those cards, all you have to do is fill out a form. You don’t have to show ID, so I could put that my name is ‘Gwyneth Paltrow’ and get that on the card). He sort of ho-hummed at first, but I kind of smiled sweetly and looked confused and then he just gave me the pass. Oh well.

Next week all the MEPs and some staff are going to Strasbourg for parliament's 'plenary session.’ All MEPs are required to be there because there will be many votes. We’ve been bombarded by faxes from whips reminding us that being dead is the only acceptable excuse for being absent. I am not going along to Strasbourg this time, but I think I will be going along for the next plenary session March. I am rather excited about having a quiet week here. I'll be able to get my bearings and the hours won't be so long. (Plus, I can use my MEP’s TV to watch Olympic Figure Skating). I am planning to take time to re-alphabetize the constituent query files. I enjoy alphabetizing things. It brings a sense of order to a disordered world.

Speaking of which, I should go back to my place to tidy up now. I left it in a bad state trying to get out the door this morning. I was going to hit the Grand Place, but got distracted by the shops I passed along the way. I had a lot of things I really had to buy. All the stores here close at 6-when I’m still working so it's hard to shop during the week. But now I’m pretty much all set.

The big fashion trend here seems to be hot pink shirts…for men. Interesting. I’ve bought one for my brother John for casual Fridays at the Coast Guard;)

Tomorrow I’m going to an international church with some people I got in touch with through family friends back in the US. I’m very excited about meeting them. I’ll post an update ASAP.