International Institutions Seminar and Study Abroad: Belgium and the Netherlands
In the Spring Semester of 2016, I took an Honors seminar entitled International Institutions, to learn about various international government agencies, particularly within the European Union. The class ended with a 10 day trip to Paris, France; Brussels, Belgium; and the Hague, in the Netherlands. As this was my first college level political science class and I am a Neuroscience student, I was well out of my comfort zone. However, I learned a lot of political writing and how it differs from scientific writing, how international institutions work, and how to learn about and form opinions on current issues with a perspective of political theory. The trip at the end of the seminar was also educational and fun. I got to spend almost two weeks with my classmates and establish new relationships while taking in our surroundings and learning from those directly involved in international politics. This trip was a unique combination of tourism and education immersion. Most of the time, when learning about how a government institution or political theory works, it is through a textbook or in a lecture hall, even if the institution is located locally. Being able to learn about international institutions halfway around the world and then experience them firsthand was incredibly information, in addition to being able to ask questions of staff and members of the institutions.