Speculoos

Bonjour et surprise! I'm actually updating more than once in a couple of days....what is the world coming to? Well, this is just a short post because I have the time today and probably will not tomorrow, and I wanted to let you all know about my fabulous internship. Once again, I am so so so so happy that I got the US Chamber of Commerce and I think that it's going to be a great semester. Since my real supervisor, Peter Chase, is currently conducting business in Prague, I reported to Elisabeth Roderburg (the only other person in the Brussels Office). At 10.30 am, I met with her and we got to know each other, she showed me the facilities, and I got an official badge and a key ordered. As you probably figured out, since there are only two people in the Brussels Office, we only occupy one room in a building in Schuman Place. However, it is prime property with high-up neighbors! The two buildings next to us house the Commission and Council of the European Union, and the offices on the same floor as us are rented by Intel, Rolls-Royce, and the Slovakian Embassy. Honestly, I feel like a pretty cool kid now that I'm getting my own key and badge to the building. Not only do I love the people, the work, and the location, I now have a new goal in life...to buy the drink machine that is in our kitchen at work. It is a giant machine that has a million different options on it (so they all call it the Monster apparently), and I have already tried three different drinks. There is everything from a white mocha button to a hot chocolate with fat-free milk button on it! When I saw it, I almost died. It was love at first sight, sound, and taste. Anyways, besides the Monster, the work day was fairly short and to the point. Since Peter is in Prague for the week, I have to wait until next week to get the details on my project. For now, I've been given a few different studies that they are working on and some EU policy papers that are relevant...and now I have lots more reading to do. I pretty much read for the rest of the day, with a short lunch break that included a walk to a delicious local sandwich bar, and then was dropped off at home by Elizabeth at about 3.30 pm. My first internship day passed by peacefully and successfully - I am certainly a lucky duck. But now that I'm home, I have a test to study for, some trade policy to read, and some tea to drink. This brings me to the name of my post - Speculoos. It is my new favorite substance...quite frankly, I'm not sure what it is exactly, but it looks like peanut butter and tastes like peanut butter/honey/graham crackers in a jar. It is DIVINE. I just finished spreading it on two pieces of whole grain bread to go with my tea and I can barely contain my excitement. So, I thought I would share my newest taste sensation with you all - if you see it at the grocery store, buy it. You won't regret it. And until next time, ciao!