So long Brussels

My time in Brussels has come to an end. I breaks my heart in a way, but I've been quite prepared some time.

Brussels is a city you start to love - by time. A city located in the heart of Europe with short distances to the next big cities. Brussels is a city where it is easy to feel home shortly, simply because you feel there is a synergy of people around who is in the same situation like you.

I have experienced and learned so much this past months. Living and working in a city with a variety of nationalities and political questions all around. Working at the Mission of Norway to the EU, where I have been told the most interesting stories from our diplomats, accompanying them to important meetings along with our ministers or state secretaries. Interviewed our Norwegian national experts in the European Commission. Followed the political processes in the EU and what kind of impact it will have on Norwegian interests.

I am more certain then ever that I hope this has not been the last opportunity of my working career (well actually, it hasn't even started!) to work with international relations. I simply love going to new places and meeting new people. I firmly belive that diplomatic relations will be even more important in the future. Working closely together and finding solutions built on consensus and mutual understanding is not the same as breaking down the nation states. To prevent conflicts, or worst case scenario: wars, we need to decent, curious and smart people in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who can provide our leaders with all the local knowledge they would need of all our collaborators abroad.

What I´ve enjoyed the most is the possibility this has given me to meet so many interesting human beings. I´ve never lived in a city where I feel that I have so much and so little in common with people at the same time. Much in common with the fact that Brussels is a city of ambitious, educated and interesting people. Little in common, because we all come from different countries - but we share interests and the will to influence tomorrow´s Europe.

There is so much that get us people together. It´s amazing to spend long nights with people from other countries, drinking good wine, eating nice food, just talking and comparing similarities and differences that unite us.

Being home in cold, white and winter Oslo feels strange. I am ready to get back to my daily life at the University of Oslo and finish my master degree in Political Science. Before I left for Brussels I was so tired of studying with no break for the past six years. Now I've really found the motivation I need to finish and start working life for good.

I still have some more columns to write about the city, so if you're noe tired of my blog, please continue to follow me.

See you around!

Margrete