ISA in Brussels, Belgium

Interview with Grant Berg, ISA Brussels alum

GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with ISA in Brussels, Belgium?

Grant: I decided to study abroad with ISA in Brussels because of the program's potential for my academic and professional development. I was an international relations major and I really wanted to study and work in a city that was cosmopolitan and international. Brussels was virtually the perfect city for this, and the ISA program looked like it had the combination of classes, recreation, and professional opportunity that I was looking for.

For example, the program offered some fascinating politics classes, like Immigration in the EU and the Dynamics of Democracy, which had a lot of appeal for me. Furthermore, there was the possibility that I could have an internship at a governmental or non-governmental organization while I was there, so I jumped at the opportunity.

GO: What made studying in Belgium a unique and special experience?

Grant: My time in Belgium was really memorable, and the are a few main reasons for the great experience. Firstly, the staff at ISA was tremendously helpful; the director and her assistant were courteous, sincere, and personable to me, especially when I had any problems with my classes or my internship.

For example, I was going on an end-of-the-program trip to Paris but I needed to submit my final internship report to a faculty member I'd never met in person. I remember frantically walking to the campus with a train to catch in an hour, without a clue of where the faculty member's office was. But the director offered to find the office and turn in the report before the deadline. If I hadn't received her help, I would have been a goner!

The recreational aspect of ISA was also great. ISA took us on excursions all over Belgium--we went to Ghent, Antwerp, The Hague, Liege, Bruges, and all around Brussels too. Each city was a cultural gem in its own right. The trips were distinctly relaxed and the ISA staff made for good company.

GO: How has this experience impacted your future?

Grant: The program opened up the world of non-governmental organizations to me and really got me interested in doing development work. I had an internship with a small NGO working with EU development projects and my crowning achievement was writing the longest report of my life! Additionally, I learned a great deal about the EU that I hadn't been exposed to at university. I certainly gained academic and professional respect for EU's political institutions.