Love of the Old World
If the EU is constantly, sometimes irritatingly, seeking out new ways of making itself relevant it is because it has so successfully completed its original mission: to keep the peace after more than a century of war. An achievement so obvious, that it's pocketed without a thought by all the millions of citizens of this unique organisation.
Mark Mardell, BBC Commentator
Europe has always held a unique fascination for me. It's why I chose to concentrate there. Whether in the eighteenth century or the twenty-first, it's always seemed cooler. Why I'm fascinated with the European Union rather than the United States has never been quite clear to me. Maybe it's because I got too bombarded with years upon years of survey classes of US History. Maybe it's because there's just many more centuries to draw upon. Maybe because it's not my country. Maybe because 35+ countries in a balancing act for their own interests and others seems incredibly fascinating - although I'm sure it's quite tedious if you're a diplomat.
But regardless of why it excites me, there is no doubt that it does. I cannot wait to be taking two European history classes this year plus a political science class on the EU. But mostly, I cannot wait to be living in Europe. In Vienna. In an appartment that might have been standing when the Congress of Vienna took place. Where I can walk the same cobblestone streets that Mozart and Metternich and Beethoven did. Where I can drop in on the symphony and the opera for $20.
And it's only 15 days away.
Mark Mardell, BBC Commentator
Europe has always held a unique fascination for me. It's why I chose to concentrate there. Whether in the eighteenth century or the twenty-first, it's always seemed cooler. Why I'm fascinated with the European Union rather than the United States has never been quite clear to me. Maybe it's because I got too bombarded with years upon years of survey classes of US History. Maybe it's because there's just many more centuries to draw upon. Maybe because it's not my country. Maybe because 35+ countries in a balancing act for their own interests and others seems incredibly fascinating - although I'm sure it's quite tedious if you're a diplomat.
But regardless of why it excites me, there is no doubt that it does. I cannot wait to be taking two European history classes this year plus a political science class on the EU. But mostly, I cannot wait to be living in Europe. In Vienna. In an appartment that might have been standing when the Congress of Vienna took place. Where I can walk the same cobblestone streets that Mozart and Metternich and Beethoven did. Where I can drop in on the symphony and the opera for $20.
And it's only 15 days away.