European Commission Stagiaire Journal - 2008

EC Stagiaires Journal
Luxembourg Mar-Jul 2008
Exotic Vacations • Caribbean Getaways • Tropical Paradises • Luxury Liners

index
Perspectives - moving on from the past 4
Alberto Ferreira
GREAT EXPECTATIONS 7
Koumarah Appadoo
language geek gets confused in luxembourg 12
Ulrika Stigeborn
Understanding Luxembourgish 14
Saskia Schipper
The Treasure Hunt from the Inside 16
Marianne Ollivier and Aude Girard
Why Heaven Was Copied After Mauritius 20
Koumarah Appadoo
The Trauma of Looking for Accomodation 25
Cristina Ganciulescu
Looking Back to the Stage 28
There Are Things I Like About Belgium 34
Anna Bulírová
Some Facts About Finland 36
Terhi Oinonen
Pictures
Luxembourg - Memories in Pictures 38
Official Trips - Brussels 40
Parties 44
Kitchen corner 46
who’s who in the ec traineeship 54
EC
Message from the ec stagiaires StagiaireS’
journal
journal team team
It has been marvellous, those five months. It has been the stuffs, dreams are made of. Yet, one year ago, none ALBERTO FERREIRA
of us was actually thinking that we would be here, in Luxembourg, at the European Commission. Life is like
Layout, DTP Edition,
this, you never know what will happen next. Writer
Just to remind ourselves, let us go through all those nice times
we have had together. We started by frequenting those great KOUMARAH APPADOO
and trendy pubs in the city centre and in the Grund. We started Editor, Writer
to get to know each other, not just the person, but the beer
also. Then we started going out with each other; we organised
Christina
trips, whether to Trier in Germany or Metz in France. Some of
GANCIULESCU
us even searched for people with common interests and then
Writer
attended concerts, or went to the cinema together. A couple
of us went on hiking, looking for fresh air and new landscapes. Then came the cream of the cream: the
MARTINA
stagiares’ parties. The first party organised went on to top the charts; it was simply amazing and lured so BELLOVICOVA
many people. The other parties were not of the same popularity, but still, those who attended could confirm Collaborator
that they had a jolly good time. Amongst the other events organised were the football matches (which
then suddenly disappeared), the treasure hunt, and the irregular party at some stagiare’s house. All these MANUELA FORTUNATI
occasions brought us together and helped us to shed our daily stress of work and life in Luxembourg. Let us Collaborator
not forget to mention the trips organised by the Traineeship Office, including the Brussels’ trip, which some
of us could acclaim as being the highlight of the stage!
Yet, those five months in Luxembourg were rather too short. It came all of a sudden, and went by as
suddenly as it came. Some of us shall be staying here, but some of us shall be leaving as well. We cannot be We would like to extend a
too melodramatic about it because there was ample time for us to enjoy ourselves. On the other hand, we special “thank you” to all those
have come out from the stage as people with a greater vision, more maturity and more knowledge about the who contributed to this journal
EU. Our work in a multi-cultural and multi-linguistic institution as the Commission has taught us that we can with their pictures and articles.
transcend all those cultural boundaries and still have friendship and not lose our identity. Without you, it would not exist
The purpose of creating this journal was not only to provide you with something to read after your stage. at all.
We all know that life does not stop here and it is certain that you shall be busy with your next objective
in mind. It was foreseen that we shall be going each in our own direction, with only memories and nothing
substantial. Hence, we also created this journal to serve as a souvenir for the years to come.
The Journal Team wishes to thank everybody for taking an interest in and reading this end -of-stage magazine.
We have endeavoured to provide you with a wide variety of articles as much as we could. We hope that you
shall all enjoy reading this journal. We wish you all the best in your career and life.
The EC Stagiares’ Journal Team

EC Stagiaires Journal Luxembourg Mar-Jul 2008
Perspectives
moving on from the past
A
s a second-time trainee, I did not have to contend
with the usual troubles of finding accomodation,
Some say that getting settled, knowing Luxembourg, etc. My

impression as I arrived to the airport was mainly that of a
holding a tranquil homecoming, instead of the nervewreck of the first
traineeship in traineeship. Older, wiser? Not at all. Just a clear sense of
the European “been there, done that”... twice.
institutions is When I got the call for the traineeship, I was actually
the chance of a working a dead-end job in my native country and thus
lifetime. What thought long and hard about accepting it. So I did the
logical thing: I refused it. My mother cried and my father
happens when confessed to me that I was a shame to the family and was
you have two officially banished from his will. After some severe bashing
under your belt? from my friends and discovering that some of my relatives
had changed phone numbers without warning me, I hastily
wrote one month later asking if the vacancy for the stage
was still open. Low and behold: it was. How lucky can you
get? (Am I back in the will, dad?)
The first time I arrived in Luxembourg with my bags in

tow, looking like a bewildered Robinson Crusoe falling
in the middle of a symphonic concert, it was late at night
on a Sunday and I immediately headed for the gare area.
Before the hour was over, some overly friendly people
had already offered me heavy drugs and I had had already
three sexual offers. I wondered to myself while I hastily
called a taxi: “did I take the wrong detour and end up in
Amsterdam?”. Little did I know that Luxembourg has a
strong underground life that few know of, but superficially
it is actually a paradise for families. For this stage, I knew
what I could count on and kept clear of such ignominous
paths to depravity and corruption of young souls. I can
manage that on my own, thank you very much.
Luxembourg is a strange city, a small village caught in not concerned with money. Now, everyone has the
the urban trappings of an European capital. While most Expensive Application at its disposal, even though only
claim it is dreadfully boring and bare of any real cultural a few people use it. It is good to know that taxpayer’s
activity, some find its simple and efficient organiza- money is being well applied.
tion and easy-going lifestyle appealing. It all depends
on the personality of the critic. Luxembourg has one The stage itself had no clearly defined tasks and, for
main appeal, regardless of the criticisms launched at three months, I was the allegorical jack-of-all-trades in
it: it is a strategically positioned platform for visiting all a small, friendly unit that truly defined the epithet of
of Europe. As trainees, we have visited the usual stops: “multicultural”. The main difference between the EP
Brussels, Strasbourg, Trier, Nancy, Metz, Saarbrucken, and the EC stages seem to be in terms of teamwork:
Frankfurt. The more adventurous occasionally ven- the European Commission seems to privilege smaller
ture into Paris, Amsterdam or other stops. teams which creates a more congenial and
It also is a melting pot of differ- closer teams than the European
ent cultures, includ- Parliament. Exceptions, as
ing German, French, always, confirm the rule
native Luxembourgish and this varies from unit
and even so-called to unit, but as a whole
“minorities” like it makes for two very
Portuguese and distinct experiences.
Italian. That’s not Personally, I believe I
to say Luxembourg have spent more time
has no self-identity. on coffee breaks and
It is just very well visiting colleague’s offic-
buried and you es (thus preventing them
need to dig deep to from doing their work
find it. as well) than actually sit-
ting at my desk. This is what the
My first few days as a second- “stagiaire experience” is all about:
time trainee were interesting. I nod- socializing and developing contacts.
ded a lot and pretended to actually know what my Learning? Becoming a more qualified professional?
unit did as my supervisor dumped 500 pages of theoret- Only if you have the discipline to be totally devoted to
ical, commercial and legal terms on my head. Knowing your work, which is of course an utopic ideal for most
when to talk and when not to is an art. (Future train- of us actually interested in living rather than existing.
ees, take notice.) As time went by, I began integrating
myself in the methods and overall organization of the Socially, most of the people that made the first trainee-
unit and, before long, was giving suggestions. Everyone ship so special were gone, and the context itself was
stared at me in horror when I candidly promoted the different. I have been lucky enough to find beauti-
idea that an Expensive Application should be installed ful people on both sides of the border, although the
in all of the unit’s computers. The jaw of my head of petty rivalries that sometimes came up between being
unit kept dropping hesitantly while he struggled to an “European Parliament trainee” and an “European
articulate his dismay: “do you know how much money Commission trainee” continues to confound me until
that will take?” Someone suggested that the EC was this moment.
While it is true that people tend to stick to their own world for yourself as the years go by.
groups (friends, family and work), one would think that Confusion abounds, especially when the possibili-
there would be a greater communication and comrad- ties are endless. We want responsibility, but never
ery between the trainees of the different institutions. feel quite prepared for it. We want happiness and yet
That logic is akin to teasing someone for having a big- we are afraid of losing what little we have with our
ger car than you do - when the truth is that both of you choices. We want clarity and yet we drown ourselves
have no money for the gasoline. in introspection.
Regardless, comparing the European Commission to But the experiences in these traineeships shed a lit-
the European Parliament is like a broken pencil: point- tle light on this mystery for me. It is all too tempting
less. Both institutions have different duties and struc- to travel down the well-beaten road and look for exits
tures and so it is only natural that both stages are differ-
with a clearly marked “Here Begins the Future” sign-
ent. post. While you have to rely on your past experiences
and your own per-
“
It is also true that, as a sonal knowledge, the
”
Comparing the European Commission to the
purely social experience, European Parliament is like a broken pencil: most rewarding possi-
the EC stage was much pointless. bilities become reality
more intense than the EP only when you have
stage. Parties were more frequent and the organiza- the courage to take the plunge, grind your teeth and
tion was overall much more professional, even though take the great leap into the unknown. No luck arrives
the themes were recycled from previous years. Tried unpondered, so sometimes you just have to stick it out
and true, but effective nonetheless. Pictures were and do not let yourself go with the flow, even when the
also much better this time around, maybe because tide seems too strong to fight against.
the group was overall more photogenic. Just a mere
aesthetic appreciation from an impartial observer, of “Been there, done that”? Sure. But what you missed the
course. first time around can change your life on the second. So
take the opportunity, be bold and take opportunities as
The other, more marking difference between the they come - or risk spending the rest of your life being
stages was the increasal in the average age. Whilst a the black sheep of the family. ■
year doesn’t make much difference in your teens, it
becomes a major thing once you pass
25. The choices you have to make, the
way you feel things happen to you
become a heavier burden in your
spirit. Many times, our conversa-
tions steered unintentionally in
the direction of job-searching,
future plans and relation-
ships. It is hard to continue
growing and seeking a differ-
ent, more suitable place in the
GREAT
E X PE C TATIONS
by
KOUMARAH APPADOO
w H at
are
your
impressions?
More than five months ago,we all received a contact from the These small ideas gradually became more convincing with time,
European Commission,whether a call,an email or a letter. It was such that they were no longer trivial ideas hanging in thin air;we
natural of us to start thinking of whether we should opt for the could legitimately call them‘expectations’ now. Hence,we were
traineeship or not. We had to take a decision. And we all eventu- all rearing expectations in the back of our head and it was these
ally made a choice and that is why we are here. However,just same expectations which propelled us to make a positive choice.
before making the choice,we had been secretly devising small But was it really positive? I carried out this small interview with a
ideas in our head,ideas about how the traineeship and life in Lux- random sample of trainees and this is what I came up with. Well,
embourg would be. That was a natural process of our thoughts. take a sip from your cup of tea,relax and judge for yourself.
ULRIKA
1 . What were your expectations about
L u xembourg and your j ob before you came and ,
to what extent were they fulfilled?
I must say that I didn´t know much about the country itself, since you often hear
more about Brussels than Luxembourg when it comes to the “EU business”.
As a translator with some knowledge about EU translation, I expected to get a
deeper knowledge about the different texts and to sort out the “EU jargon” that
is often used in such texts. After five months I can confirm that I´ve learned a
lot, both about EU texts and the translation tools used in the daily work.
2 . What did you like about Lu xembourg?

But life in Luxembourg has not been just work! I´ve met a lot of nice
people and we have had the possibility to discover this tiny country
together during these months. What I like most about Luxembourg is that
everything is so close! You can go to Germany one day, Trier is only 40
minutes away with the train, and you can easily reach Brussels or other
Belgian cities to spend a weekend there. It´s really sad that our time here
is running out, but I hope that there will be a reunion soon, maybe not in
Luxembourg but somewhere in Europe.
DAVID
1 . About Luxembourg as city, I didn’t have any special expectations. But
from the stage, I expected to work more and learn more than I finally did.
But I learned a lot from how the European institutions work and about the
problems of managing such amount of workers. I also expected, mainly
after the speech of the first days in Brussels, that the buildings will be
energy-efficient, and that there will be more environmental policies... And
after my arrival in JMO, I was disappointed with regards to these expecta-
tions.
2 . In Luxembourg, I found a beautiful and calm city and lovely country full
of nature. I loved hiking and cycling here, especially when I did it in good
company :) I think there is really a good quality of life and I am surprised
that in a city of the size of Luxembourg, it is possible to find such interest-
ing job opportunities. I would like to extend my time here by getting a job.
AUDE
1. I attended to work in the heart of Europe and in an
European atmosphere. It was a dream, now it became
reality!
2. From Luxembourg, I like the mix between nature and

city, mix of cultures and languages, mix between old
and new buildings, European institutions and the grand
duchy...
christophoros
1 . I tried to come to Luxembourg with as few expec- I was faced with the truth. I entered a really experi- managers and inspirational colleagues. So after all,
tations as possible. Of course, you cannot help it enced unit (the youngest is 30 years old) that handled the job wasn’t exactly what I was expecting but I
but find yourself thinking of what the future holds. In really big and long-lasting projects. It was really dif- wasn’t expecting what the job made me experience.
this case, what Luxembourg had prepared for us. ficult for them to include me in their level of expertise
Fortunately, some people gave me an idea about and they didn’t have any time for me to either train 2 . Luxembourg is one of those cities that grow
this place, so pictures were starting to be made in my me or help me. I was back to searching and reading on you. After waking up from the first shock,
head. Small, beautiful, boring and everything closes as at university, in order to catch up with what was you are starting to realize things you like about
at 18:00! That’s what they told me. Well, this was not going around me. I was feeling a bit frustrated since I this city. It’s simple things that make the dif-
far from the truth! Just one thing...we made it seems was looking for practical knowledge. However, I was ference...the view from the bus going home
as less boring as possible. Meeting interesting people performing small tasks in the meantime. On the one or going into town(Bus no 6), the green colour
in a boring place makes it...interesting! This word hand, I was doing everything they didn’t have time of the trees that surround the city, the random
was also the key description of the job I was expect- for and on the other hand, I was really helping fulfil meeting of friends in the centre and the small,
ing to find in the European Commission. It is true their work, which they really appreciated. It is not until cosy, usual bar. I also liked the fact that you
that I let myself run free with imagination regarding now that I can take a look back and see the greater have the opportunity to meet all sorts of peo-
work. After all, I was an enthusiastic, motivated and picture. It has been an amazing privilege to work for ple from different countries all over Europe
inexperienced graduate that needed to prove that the an institution that it is so big and to observe the way and the rest of the world. It’s strange though
knowledge gained through my studies was sufficient everything works. I also understood the importance of how the city looks different depending on the
enough to get me through this challenge. But then having a good working environment with charismatic weather. I like the city best when it is sunny.
10 EC Stagiaires Journal Luxembourg Mar-Jul 2008
wIOLA
1. My expectations were mostly connected to work. I did not put a lot of expectations on
the social part of the stage or the city. I was hoping to really gain experience and get to
know better how the commission works, together with deepening my knowledge in the
field I was going to work. Of course, I was hoping to work with nice people. If this was the
case? At the end of the traineeship I can say that most of my expectations were fulfilled
and that I have learned quite a lot through these 5 months. There were always some
things that could have been better; however I am very happy about my traineeship here.
2. From Luxembourg, I like the mix between nature and city, mix of cultures and languag-
es, mix between old and new buildings, European institutions and the grand duchy...
PABLO
1 . I was hoping to have an international atmosphere
and share different styles of working; to have the pos-
sibility to increase language skills; to improve my
chances to get a better job after the preparation in the
Commission; to understand better the dynamic of the
institutions in real life; and to develop my professional
skills according to my degree. My expectations were
fulfilled in the professional and social field and I ‘m also
very happy with the people I met here. I feel we can
have new friends for our life from here and also that our
experience contributes to our future and personal life.
2 . It’s best when it’s sunny. It’s a small city easy to

manage. We are lucky because we can be together a
lot of time and we can enjoy our time with people we
know, even though we are far from our home countries.
EC Stagiaires Journal Luxembourg Mar-Jul 2008 11
DALIA
1. Well, first of all, I thought that in Luxembourg there will be more Luxembourgish
people, but I saw that only ladies of 60 years old are really Luxembourgish. Others
can be from all over the world :) And I imagined that EU institutions work in a more
efficient way :)
2. I liked everything: people I met, activities I did and after, I started to like the city,
because in the beginning I felt quite lost in this city ;-)
CRISTINA
1. I was very happy when I found out that I
was going to work for 5 months in Luxembourg 2. I liked everything: the transportation system
at the European Commission. I couldn’t (more effective than in my country), the fact
believe it, it was such a great achievement! that the city is clean, that the weird people
I was very positive about everything even stay in the train station area, that with 45 EUR
though I knew that Luxembourg was expen- per month, you can visit the whole country,
sive and we were not going to receive a lot of the castles, the parks, the museums, the cars,
money. Regarding the job, I was a bit afraid and, most of all, the people I met here. It would
that I would not be able to measure up to have been nice if there had have been more
my task, but I was sure that I would learn a cafes or an amusement park or other places
lot of new things. And so I did… I enjoyed out of the ordinary, but I can’t complain. I liked
Luxembourg very much: the city, the long it and I will always remember it.
walks, the trips etc. I had a great time, I made
new friends, I discovered new things and I
learnt a lot. I worked hard, I acquired knowl-
edge in different fields, I was put in difficult
situations, and I managed. Now I feel more
confident, professionally speaking, and I see
my future in brighter colours.
LANGUAGE GEEK
GETS CONFUSED IN
LUXEMBOURG
When they told me that I was going to do
my translation traineeship in Luxembourg BY

I thought that I would do just fine using my U l r i k a s t i g e bo r n
knowledge of English. I knew that French
V
is the language spoken in Luxembourg and isiting Brussels for the introduction was just fine,
it’s a big city and the inhabitants are used to tourists
also in the different European institutions,
looking for Manneken Pis…English works almost
but hey, English is often considered the everywhere here.
lingua franca of the world today, so French

Coming to Luxembourg after the days in Brussels was…
can´t be a problem here, can it? quite different! The first days I stayed put to my English,
everywhere, just to make sure that I could handle the lin-
guistic situation. When I was out running one day, I met
people who greeted me in a strange way. To me it sounded
like the Spanish “muy bien”. Strange… Feeling a bit rude
not knowing what to answer, I learned my first word in
Luxembourgish: “MOYEN”. Perfect! But even though I tried
to rely on my English, sometimes I just pretended that I
understood French (not the best idea, I know, but some-
times you have to go wild and crazy, right?).
After taking a few French classes with poor Marianne (thank

you for your patience!), I thought the time had come to
practice my “new” language. I suddenly faced the next lin-
guistic problem. When you address people in their language,
you have opened up a conversation and must expect that
the person you are talking to will answer you in that specific
BY language.
Terhi Oinonen
I can handle this as far as easy questions are some essential phrases in French (normally you just
concerned, but when it goes beyond that (especially repeat what the person said to you to seem polite;
using numbers) things get difficult. And again, I felt like with ça va?, nice and easy!) and in case I feel
quite lost. totally lost in translation, I could rely on my basic
But the thing is that in Luxembourg you can but yet very useful knowledge of German.
actually manage the situation again by using your After all, Luxembourg is an interesting place to
(hopefully well-preserved) knowledge of German. In investigate for a language geek. You can hear most
Luxembourg you could face the following scenario: of the EU member states languages around you every
“
When entering a day. Having this
”
supermarket, you When you address people in their language, opportunity means
greet the man at you have opened up a conversation and that you eventually
must expect that the person you are
the counter with a talking to will answer you in that specific learn a few words
“moyen”. You ask for language. in languages you
a “sac en plastique” would otherwise
for your things and finally the man tells you the never have cared about.
sum of your purchase in German. You pick up So, to conclude this attempt to describe my
your things with a “merci” (which fortunately is linguistic confusion during my traineeship here,
the same in both Luxembourgish and French) and I can just say that it is possible to get used to this
leave the supermarket. This situation was more then schizophrenic usage of languages. There will be
confusing the first months here, but I have to say confusion, no doubt about it, but you can always
that I’ve accepted it now. I’ve come to understand learn from it. ■
UNDERSTANDING facts about

LUXEMBOURGISH
LUXEMBOURGISH
BY SASKIA sCHIPPER
A
s some of you know, I developed (apart from obsession with my
mobile phone) another love here in Luxembourg: Lëtzebuergesch.
Even if it is not an official language in the EU, and is often called a
minority langue, there should be a place here for this special and nice way to It’s part of the West
speak. Here you can find some important sentences. I know it is maybe too Germanic branch of the Indo
late now as most of us are leaving. But you never know, if you will come back ‑European family tree.
anytime… And even if not – it’s such a nice souvenir.:)
There are around
275,000 native speakers in
Luxembourg, and over 100,000
Lëtzebuergesch more who can speak and
English understand it.
(Luxembourgish)
Welcome Wëllkomm Luxembourgish is
Hello Moien, Salut the national language of
Luxembourg, but it is only
How are you? Wéi geet et dir? (inf) one of three administrative
Wéi geet et Iech? (frm) languages (along with French
Fine Gutt and German).Home speakers
live in Belgium (in the Arlon
What’s your name? Wéi heeschs du? district), in the Bitburg area of
My name is ... Ech heeschen ... Germany, and in Thionville,
France.
Where are you from? Vun wou kennst de? (inf)
Vun wou kommt der? (frm) Luxembourgish is written
with the Latin alphabet and the
I’m from ... Ech sin vun ..., Ech kommen vun...
additional diacritics ¨, ^, ´ as in
Pleased to meet you Et freet mëch, lech kennen ze léieren ë, ä, ê, é.
Good morning Gudde Moien
Good afternoon Gudde Metteg There are texts from
the 9th century, though this
Good evening Gudde Owend is not clearly defined as
Good night Gudd Nuecht Luxembourgish. The first
modern example dates from
Goodbye Äddi, Avuhr 1824.
Good luck Vill Glèck!
Cheers/Good health! Prost! In Luxembourg, children
study in Luxembourgish at
Have a nice day Schèinen Dag nach kindergarten level and in
Do you speak Luxembourgish? Schwätzt du Lëtzebuergesch? German and French at primary
level.
I love you Ech hunn dech gäer / Ech léiwe dech
the treasure hunt

from the inside
B Y M arianne O llivier
and A ude G irard
T
he idea came from the willingness to organ- of the event, communicating between us, as well as
ize a sports’ event which could gather a lot with the public authorities. About that, we first learnt
of people and raise funds for the charities of that the city council was not competent to deal with
the solidarity sub-committee. Members of both sub- treasure hunt authorizations, so we contacted the
committees (sports and solidarity) were pretty enthu- Ministry of middle classes, who told us that it was not
siastic about it and we decided that the event would competent to deal with our event and that we should
take place at the end of the traineeship period, on the contact the city council. As we say in French, this
first week end of July, as every week end before that was “the snake biting its tail”!
seemed to be occupied with other plans.
We walked all around the city to prepare the itinerary,
Even though we had been talking about it since April, had a lot of fun looking carefully around us for hints to
we really started to get organized in June. There were explain people where to go, and read guidebooks to
a lot of things to do: prepare an email to announce ask historical questions. It took about six hours, three
the event as well as a poster, speak about communi- after-work sessions, and one wandering around a forbid-
cation and people we decided to target for the treas- den area in Vauban’s fortress! Then, everything had to
ure hunt, plan the buffet lunch for the treasure hunt, be written down, the itinerary as well as the question-
plan the itinerary, the gifts, ask the city council for naire accompanying it, in English and French. Gifts also
an authorization to sell tickets on the street… All of had to be taken care of. After a long process to obtain
a sudden we found ourselves in a rush and found out promotional objects, we spoke to very friendly people
organizing this event was not just a fun story, espe- who quickly helped us collect the precious presents.
cially as time was running out and the initial plans we DG ECFIN and DG Education and Culture in Brussels
had made (like asking Pizza Hut to sponsor us by giv- and the stagiaires Remy at La Maison de L’Europe in
ing us free pizzas) were not quite easy to implement. Luxembourg and Manuela at the Publications Office
At the end, we settled it all by email: communication helped us obtain pens, cups, caps, T-shirts, pins…
Indeed, for us, interested about the European Union, know if they would find the hunt easy, interesting,
these were important souvenirs! At the end, we or would give up after half an hour or too difficult
found ourselves with kilos of EU-promoting by-prod- questions. We were especially preoccupied with the
ucts that we brought home and sorted according to fact that some of the hints on the way could not be
the order of the winning teams. Thanks to the gen- there anymore (one of them being a herd of sheep)
erosity of all the people we asked, we managed to or that the buildings in which they had to go (cathe-
obtain enough presents for each participant. Finally, dral, Neumünster abbey) might be closed. In order
we had a cooking night on the day before, having to see how they were going we decided to await
to cater for the participating teams. So we baked… them on the way in Clausen. After a while we saw a
not less than nine cakes, all with different flavours few teams passing by and were quite relieved!
“
(chocolate, cinnamon, banana, pear and almond).
”
No need to say that even before the treasure hunt, We found ourselves in a rush and found out
we were already kind of exhausted! organizing this event was not just a fun
story, especially as time was running out
and the initial plans we had made were not
And so the D-day arrived… As Place d’Armes, our quite easy to implement.
starting point, was full of stalls because of a market,
we didn’t need to “hide” as we had no formal author- After that we rushed towards the end-point (City
ization to sell on-street. We registered teams and park), carrying the boxes of cakes, gifts and drinks.
gave them the questionnaire, anxious When we arrived (around 16:30) a team was already
to there! All teams arrived one after the other. There
was still a lot to do: sell cakes and drinks, which was
pretty successful (all benefits went to the chari-
ties), and correct the questionnaire, which
was not so easy because we had to take into
account answers to the questions as well as
time! In spite of the rainy weather, a few teams
stayed, and luckily they were the first three, so
got all the nicest gifts.
Team n°1 was a group of people from the Court of justice, but
Facts and figures team n°2 was one of us (Christine, Nina, Saskia, and Bettina,
about the congratulations, girls!). And team n°3 was made of people
treasure hunt: from the EIB, quite a nice distribution of talents among the
institutions!
• 9 teams participated
In the end, we hope that participants were as happy as us to
• Winning teams were: participate as we were to organize this sort of event.
1) Evita, Agnese, Ainars, Peter
(Court of Justice) Indeed the challenge was to initiate a treasure hunt in
2) Nina, Saskia, Christine, Luxembourg, organize it with a few people in a very quick
Bettina time for 40 participants divided into 9 teams.
3) Jessica, Andre, Oliver,
Gregory (EIB) We think that our objectives were reached: earn money
4) Yannis, Ildiko, Diana to support the solidarity projects Graines d’Avenir (which
5) Anna, Nina, Jana, Serge help Tibetan childrens to be educated in their own culture),
Missionary Movement Gesu Fil Proxmu and Cantinho da
• 130 euros were earned Solidariedade, have fun and promote Europe thanks to
promotional presents. ■
Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean, to describe a whole country or its culture in a few
more than 800 km east of a much larger island, words. So, I thought, now is the chance for me to
Madagascar, which is located off the southeast put pen to paper and give you a brief overview of
coast of the African continent. During the stage, this exotic island, exquisitely loaded with crystal
I came across a couple of people asking me about clear blue sea, pearly chocolate-box shores, tropical
Mauritius. Unfortunately, it was quite impossible fish and exceptionally hospitable people.
W h y H e a v e n Wa s Cop
MauM auritius has a surface area of about 1865 km2

(720 square miles), is 65 km long and 48 km wide
with a total shore length of 330 km. The highest point
is at 828 meters. It forms part of the Mascarene Islands.
by k ou m a r a h In 1992, Mauritius finally became a republic.
a p p a d oo HISTORY
Mauritius is of volcanic origin, probably formed around
7 million years ago. However, it remained unknown
and uninhabited for a very long time. Neither is it
known who discovered Mauritius first.
op i ed A f t e r
uritius
The Arabs probably visited the first European to land on the island heavy bird, bigger than a chicken,
island during the Middle Ages, the at about 1511. The Portuguese with a large beak, found only on
evidence being a map drawn by might have found the island while that island. There had been no
Arab geographer Al Sharif El-Edrissi navigating on the trade route to endemic animal on the island
in 1153 which appears to show India. However, the Portuguese which preyed on the Dodo. It
Mauritius. The Arabs named it never aimed at settling and setting had therefore evolved without
“Dina Arobi”. up colonies in the east. So, they defences. On the other hand, it
At the end of the 15th century, did not stay very long on the was not used to seeing humans and
the Portuguese were amongst the land mass. The island eventually hence, showed no fear, making it
first settlers to come to the Indian appeared with the name “Ilha do an all too easy catch for a group
Ocean. At that time the Arabs Cerne” on early Portuguese maps.
controlled the spice trade. The In 1598, the first Dutch squadron
Portuguese had understood that if landed on the island and named
the spice trade could be diverted it Mauritius, in honour of Prince
from the usual land route, great Mauritz Van Nassau. The island
economic advantages could be was first used as a refreshing
gained. Hence, they launched station. It contained ebony trees
the ‘Conquista’ with the aim which could be used to repair
of controlling the spice trade. ships, fresh water and food in the
Domingo Fernandez Pereira, a form of the Dodo and tortoises.
Portuguese sailor, was probably the The Dodo was a flightless and
sea-beaten and mouth-watering named the island “Ile de France”.

sailors. It was only in 1638 that It was under the French Governor,
there was the first attempt of Mahé de Labourdonnais, that
Dutch settlement. The first Ile de France knew its first
attempt lasted for 20 years. There development: a harbour was
were other several attempts. But built. True colonisation started
the Dutch settlers eventually and it became successful as the
found the cyclonic weather too French were prepared to settle
unbearable and on the other hand, and develop the infrastructure, possession of the island. They
could no longer cope with the agriculture and economy and use it changed the name to Mauritius
damage caused to the crops by as a trading post rather than just a again. Under the Treaty of Paris
rats which they had themselves port of call. Soon, Labourdonnais of 1814, the French settlers were
indirectly brought through their transformed the island from a mere allowed to keep their laws, religion,
ships. Hence, they finally left the colony into the “star and key of customs and property.
island in 1710. The Dutch left a the Indian Ocean”; roads were One of the most important events
mixed legacy. They had introduced opened everywhere, a ship building during British rule was the abolition
sugarcane, tobacco and Java deer. industry commenced and the first of slavery in 1835. Shortly
But they also left rats and other sugar factory began to operate. afterwards, a lot of people from
feral animals such as pigs and cats The downside was that they had to India immigrated to Mauritius,
which sadly, led to the extinction introduce slaves from Africa so that with promises of a labour contract.
of the dodo. Hence, in English, progress could be made. The Indian immigrants were to
there is the expression: dead as a The French knew that Mauritius change rapidly the fabric of the
dodo. was at a strategic place in the society. They were later joined by
The French had been interested Indian Ocean and they exploited a small number of Chinese traders.
in the island too, since they saw it to the most: the French starting Cultivation of sugarcane was given
possibilities for trade and strategy. plaguing British vessels on their a boost and the island flourished,
In 1715, they took possession of way to and from India. Obviously, especially with the export of
the island in the name of King the British were not too happy. In sugar to England. Economic
Louis XV of France. They placed 1810, the British defeated progress necessitated the extension
a French flag near what the French and improvement of means of
is now Port Louis, and took communication and gradually
the capital. an adequate infrastructure was
They also created.
defined as being of mixed origin,

something which has developed
with time, after being subjected to
different cultures. Hence, eating in
Mauritius is a real adventure. Some
typical Mauritian dishes are Salami
de Cerf, Briyani, Dholl puri, Poisson
sale, and Fried rice, amongst
others. Since Mauritius is located
in the Tropics and is surrounded by
the sea, seafood is in abundance.
French pastries and baguettes
are very common and very much
sought after. Tragically, the British
did not leave much of their beloved
cuisine behind, but one thing
Around the middle of the 20th But the real surprise comes when which they did leave is the tradition
Century, there soon began a you let loose your curiosity and of having tea in the afternoon.
struggle for independence. It was sink into the real life. You shall The linguistic situation is Mauritius
only in 1968 that Mauritius became soon discover that the rich diversity is quite complex. English is the
an independent country within is found in every aspect of the official language and is used in
the Commonwealth of Nations. Mauritian life. Churches can be Parliament, courts and school
It had its own government and found next to a Mosque, as can administration. But it is not
constitution. In 1992, Mauritius Indian temples be next to Chinese commonly spoken. French is the
finally became a republic. pagodas. In addition, the people of unofficial language and is widely
Mauritius celebrate various festivals used by the mass media such
People and Culture belonging to different religions as newspapers and television
It has been rightly claimed that with equal gusto and fervour such broadcasts. It is also used at work,
Mauritius is the most cosmopolitan as Mahashivratri, Diwali, Cavadee, at school and in professional
island under the sun. Having had Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Easter and settings. The most common
such a rich history with a lot of Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) language is the Mauritian Creole.
population movement, Mauritius is among others. Therefore, the Nearly the entire population
now made up of a unique blend of cultural boundaries that cause so knows and uses Creole for
different people, cultures, religions much division amongst different communication. The Creole
and traditions. People of African, ethnicities in other countries are language should not be confused
Indian, Chinese and European virtually non-existent in Mauritius. with the adjective “Creole” as
origins have created a multi-ethnic Food is definitely one of previously used. Creole might
society where the various cultures Mauritius’ highlights. You can have emerged as a result of the
and traditions flourish in peace and enjoy an amazing array of cross- interaction between French settlers
harmony. And hence, you could be cultural cuisine, from Creole and and slaves. It does not have a
tempted to say that here, Europe European to Chinese and Indian. definite written form and is not
meets Africa, India and China. Who For example, you could have taught at school. The majority of
would imagine that such unique Indian-style curries accompanied the words of Creole are of French
and diversified customs could by French gateaux and Creole origin, with a mixture of words
thrive on such a small place? rougailles. “Creole” could be derived from English.
unique to the island. gems of philately. They were not the

Mauritius has only two seasons: sum- first adhesive stamps created in the
mer and winter. The winter is very world. These stamps are peculiar
mild and in summer, it can get as hot in that they are inscribed with the
as 32 degrees Celsius. For this rea- words “Post Office”, instead of “Post
son, plants belonging to other regions Paid” and are extremely rare. They
with similar climatic conditions can are also the most expensive stamps
grow on the island. Pierre Poivre, a in the world. The estimated value of
There are also a few words from
French administrator, exploited this each of these stamps is over 1 million
Indian languages and Malagasy.
idea in the 18th Century and cre- US Dollar, and will therefore hardly
However, nowadays, it seems that
ated a big garden, after introducing a find their way into an ordinary stamp
French is becoming more and more
wide variety of plant species from all collection.
common. This is mainly due to the
over the world. The garden is now Finally, Mauritius is often regarded as
naïve and ill-founded belief among
known as Pamplemousses Botanical a luxurious destination, where few
some people that French language
Garden and is simply a work of art. It could afford to go. But this is not
is associated with a higher social
includes the giant Amazon water lily, a wrong impression at all; the five-
status.
which has leaves up to one and half star hotels are far too expensive and
Features and attractions metres in diameter, and several types would be best suited to the wealthy
Mauritius is a paradise for the senses, of palm trees, including the Talipot lot. But very often, there are good
not only for the palate, but also for palm which waits up to 60 years to deals and these certainly have to
the eyes. Apart from the white sandy flower and then dies. The garden is be given some serious considera-
beaches, deep blue lagoons and radi- sure to enchant anyone in search of tion. Because if you have not been
ant sun, it also consists of numerous beauty, serenity and poetry. to Mauritius, then you have missed
other features of equal attractive For people with a philatelic taste, not only some of the best things that
value. For instance, there is the Mauritius can be of equally high inter- life could offer, but the earthly para-
seven-coloured earth at Chamarel. est. The country is famous for two dise itself. As Mark Twain said, “you
This is of natural formation, prob- of the rarest stamps in the World: gather the idea that Mauritius was
ably created after molten lava cooled. the 1847 “Post Office” Penny Orange made first and then Heaven, and that
There is also an area of the natural and the Two pence Blue. These rari- Heaven was copied after Mauritius.”■
rainforest, containing several spe- ties have achieved a reputation that
cies of plants and animals which are places them foremost among the true
The t r a u m a o f l o o k i ng
for a c c o m o d a t i o n
by Cristina Ganciulescu
L
ooking for accommodation in Luxembourg
can turn out to be quite a challenge, a real
adventure, and an unforgettable experience. For
those who started their search early, the experience of
looking for accommodation might have been simple
and straightforward, but for me… let’s just say that it’s
something I will definitely remember for a very long
time.
It all started back home in Romania. I didn’t want to
share the flat with anyone (you never know what your
room mate might be like, right?), so I began to search
for a studio. That’s just great, except that we only earn
1000 EUR per month, and Luxembourg is one of the
most expensive cities in Europe with regards to housing
prices. So, after serious investigations over the Internet,
contact with this user (I don’t remember her name),
I decided to let go of that idea of living alone, having a
because it was a fraud. What can I say? A perfect
studio to myself, etc.
beginning!
The next option was to share a flat with people of my
The idea of living with a family suddenly sounded
age, preferably. Ok, so I knew about this website where
better. The next thing I could come up with was to take
you could register, build your profile and then write to
another look at the list sent by the stage committee and
people who seem decent and have a room available in
eliminate any weird landlords (those people, quite a lot
their flat, house or whatever. That seemed like a good
of them, who didn’t allow visitors or who were asking
idea, but only for a little while… I received an answer
money if you wanted to have people over, those who
from a girl who appeared to be perfect: very nice, an
didn’t allow you to go out at night etc.). All was said and
animal lover, never home. Well, excellent! Except that
“ ”
in the second e-mail she said that I had to transfer an
unreasonable amount of money (the rent for three I remember that on that day I had a very
nice talk with my friend who encouraged
months) to her mother’s account in England. I might
me and reassured me that I would find
have been desperate to find accommodation, but I something I liked eventually, and that I
wasn’t stupid. So, I told her “no can do” and didn’t shouldn’t accept the unacceptable.
reply to her next e-mails in which she was trying to

convince me that I had nothing to worry about, that done. After that, I started writing to them. I conceived
everything was safe etc. Just when I was thinking that a nice e-mail as an introduction and I sent it to my new
perhaps I was too suspicious, an e-mail came from the list of landlords. Half of the replies weren’t good news:
website administrator, saying that I had to end any the rooms were already taken. The other half specified
that they would prefer if I didn’t have people from back
home visiting me or that I could, but my visitors had to I took the bus and it took me 40 minutes to get there. The
be women. If this isn’t strange, than what is? I couldn’t bus stop was next to a forest and there was only a small
understand why they were so weird about it. I mean, isn’t light on the road. I felt very scared and you don’t want
it normal to share your life experience with people who to know what thoughts crossed my mind then. Anyway,
are dear to you? Why stay isolated for 5 months, having in order to take the bus back I had to wait for another
a miserable life and, on the top of it all, pay for it? I still hour, so I figured that there was no turning back. I saw
haven’t found an answer to these questions… a car slowly approaching and a friendly face. It was the
Then, I found myself in Luxembourg with no landlord. She took me to the house and then she showed
accommodation (luckily I had a friend there who was nice me the room. Big disappointment! The room was in the
enough to let me stay for a while until I found something). basement next to the washing room, there was nothing
I didn’t want to give up on the idea of having my boyfriend on the floor (only bare cement), the heating system wasn’t
or my mom over. That wasn’t an option, so I kept on working and the window was so small that you couldn’t
calling and writing to people. The worst memories I see anything through it. The “best” thing was that there
have in Luxembourg were some people’s reaction, on were no buses there on weekends! I was so discouraged
the phone, to the fact that I have a boyfriend and that I that I didn’t even say no. I said I would think about it and
want him to be able to come visit me. It was like having a give them my decision the following day. I will skip the
disease! At least, that’s how I felt. I guess the best places part about walking around in Luxembourg city at midnight,
with the best landlords were already taken at the time so I in the pouring rain, getting lost and having nobody to ask
had to deal with the rest… where I was. I remember that on that day I had a very nice
My first actual visit to see a room in a house that wasn’t talk with my friend who encouraged me and reassured me
even in Luxembourg city took place at 10 PM. Apparently that I would find something I liked eventually, and that
that was when the landlords were home during the week. I shouldn’t accept the unacceptable. And I didn’t, thank
But I said ok, because they didn’t go nuts when they heard God!
that I would like to have visitors from time to time. They It was one day till the beginning of the traineeship and still
actually agreed to that. So, it sounded promising. no accommodation. I was still living with my friend and
my state of mind was getting worse. It was the morning of my departure

for Brussels when another reply knocked at my inbox door. I opened
the message and there it was, a new chance, something to hope for. It
wasn’t in Luxembourg city, it was in a village called Schwebach, but still,
it sounded promising. So, I told them if they could wait until I got back
from Brussels and keep the room for me. I promised them I would go
there directly from Brussels. And so I did (not after I panicked a hundred
times in the train on my way back because I was trying to call them and
nobody answered the phone). I arrived in Schwebach in the evening.
It was actually dark. I saw a field and a remote forest and some houses
near by. When I got to the house, I found that the landlords were very
nice and open. They offered me a tea (that’s rare) and they started a very
nice conversation. I felt comfortable. They talked about their life, their
family. We weren’t strangers anymore… I told them about what I have
been through, about people not accepting visits and visitors and they
found it as weird and stupid as I did. I felt so relieved. Meanwhile I was
secretly praying and hoping the room would be as nice and warm (I was
pretty cold) as they were. And, surprise! It was. A very cozy room, with a
computer and a nice window, and a floor all to myself. I even had my own
bathroom. I agreed to stay there and I slept like a baby that night. All my
worries had vanished in thin air.
Well, after five months of living in Schwebach I am still grateful I chose
this accommodation. It was an incredible experience that changed my
ideas about living with a family. It can be a beautiful thing when you meet
wonderful people. The morality of this story is, do not despair, don’t
accept the unacceptable, and don’t give up hope. So…don’t! ■
L ooking
stage
back to
the
by
Georgios
The Stage in Jean Monnet...
Thoughts and Feelings
1) your first day: looking around bewildered and sleepy,
Five months… Five months of mixed feel- with every day, who have coffee breaks
wishing I had my cat with me for some weird reason.
ings and emotions. We’ve experienced with you, whom you talk to whenever you
2) your badge: ok, awful picture, don’t need to be
them all: amazement, confusion, joy, diso- have a problem or when you just feel like
reminded, thanks. (Queuing was fun though :-P)
rientation, disappointment, regrets, happi- talking…
3) your office: ay! Mi oficina! Nice and cosy and sunny! ness etc. It was hard, but then it became This article is about experience, thoughts
More sunny than it should actually. And hot. Hot hot hot. easier. Why? Because and feelings. It combines
Kinda bare though, that’s why I put up some posters and we were not alone. humor with seriousness,
stuff. Kinda. Values like friendship, good memories and bad
4) your unit: he he he, that’s for the unit to know and for sharing, caring for one memories, it’s like a bag
you to guess :-P another, revealing our full of ideas and emotions
5) THE canteen: at first looked grand, then went too true self were common with which we all identi-
bland. during our traineeship fied at some point.
6) your work: interesting at the beginning, learning all
here in Luxembourg, In order to go through
Jean Monnet. When the main phases of our
the trades of the union and stuff, and then I realised that
you see this building life here, I chose a few
for some obscure reason I was getting the documents
for the very first time, key-words which marked
that the rest were too bored (or too busy and important)
from the outside as well our stay: the first day,
to do.
as from the inside, it the badge, the office, the
7) best memory: emm…the snow, the incredible storm
seems that it has noth- unit, THE canteen (prob-
in mid-June, the lunches outside, bits and pieces here
ing to offer. Nothing but ably we can all guess
and there... long days, one after the why the article is written
8) worst memory: Not pertinent. other…But as we came to realize later on, in capitals), the work, the best memory,
9) coffee breaks: more like smoking breaks for me, since it is not the building that makes your life the worst memory, and the coffee breaks.
I don’t drink coffee…. :-) let’s say plenty of them. And enjoyable here, it is the people in it, your Let us see what these words and phrases
rewarding ;-) colleagues and friends you have lunch have triggered.
Jana Ulrika
1) your first day: full of expectations
and curiosity
2) your badge: I find the Brussels
badge nicer.
3) your office: very small (narrow)
and dark (other translators always
bumping into things when they
come in)
4) your unit: nice and friendly 1) your first day: Confusing…everything looked the the middle of the traineeship period the chef invited us
Czech people:) same: brownish and yellow…nice place to stay! But to dishes like tongue (????WHY???) and other suspi-
5) THE canteen: Well, I have eaten
as you got used to it, it got better. Now I’m even think- cious meals (maybe this was the time when we discov-
better things but ok.
6) your work: sometimes too much. ing of buying a yellow locker on my own to use as a ered the EP canteen). At the moment, I would say that
Can be exhausting, demanding, wardrobe at home. Well, apart from that, the first day the food quality can differ a lot from day to day. But, let’s
stressful and frustrating because
the large amount of translations
here was about standing in a queue: to get the badge, put it this way: You will always have something to talk
makes you work like a machine to open a bank account… about at lunch! Comparing dishes, lack of color, taste
and there is no time really to appre-
u ciate or give a deeper thought to
2) your badge: I’ve managed to keep it with me every etc…
what you are doing and what you day…that’s worth mentioning! At first I didn’t like it at all, 6) your work: It has been very nice and not that
have already translated. I have also it’s not the best picture that has been taken…But now demanding. I had the privilege to be able to ask for
found out I miss contact with other
it’s far too late to do anything about it! more work if I felt like it, they never gave me too much
people while working. So translat-
ing is definitely not my dream job. 3) your office: I had the pleasure to share the office with work which was very good.
But it was worth the experience!!! Terhi, and it had been very nice! I will miss our “after- Translating a text about salmonella in detail is maybe
7) best memory: A few; e.g. talk-
noon snack time” (which is the time when you feel like not the best appetizer, but I guess that there are worse
ing to a lot of people about a lot
of interesting things; making new talking and eating instead of doing any translation at all. things…
friends; getting to know new peo- To us this usually occurs at around 16 in the afternoon). 7) best memory: I guess that it has nothing to do with
ple; when I got back the revision of
one of my translations into English
4) your unit: Typically Swedish I must say…At first I felt the building itself, but with the people here. I would say
with not that many mistakes:) very lonely since people seemed to stay in their offices that meeting the other trainees for coffee and lunch
8) worst memory: sitting until without speaking to anyone else. But as time passed made my days!
late hours in the office, losing my
badge (twice but always found in by, I got to know a few of them a bit better which was 8) worst memory: Must be the smell of the tongue dish
the end:), getting up very early very nice. in the canteen…
sometimes, listening to the same
5) THE canteen: This could be an essay…I would say Second place: The monthly security alarm testing…
information on the EU again and
again during some of the lec- that there were different stages during our traineeship always annoying!
tures and visits to the institutions period. At first, I don’t think that anyone was satisfied 9) coffee breaks: The coffee breaks have been essen-
(where I had to fight hard not to fall
with the food. Then, it gradually got better (or maybe tial for the daily work here at JMO. There is always a
asleep...)
9) coffee breaks: none we got used to the food quality, I can´t say for sure). In reason for a cup of coffee!
Christina 1) your first day: I was so nervous to go

5) THE canteen: We mostly go to the parliament. The food in Jean
Monnet often contains things I am allergic against and the would
to the Drosbach building on that day to register. I was a late-comer
never tell beforehand. There is meat in some salads. Once there
so I knew that I would be the only one. However, I met Ildikó there
was lamb in some kind of chicken drumstick. They never tell me
and we could go through the following steps together.
what is porc and what is not. A bit annoying for me.
2) your badge: My badge is useful, I can use it for the bus. I do not
6) your work: My workload is acceptable. I do nice things – many
mind wearing it.
press releases.
3) your office: On my first day nobody knew which room would be
7) best memory: My supervisor brought me flowers from his garden.
my office. Then I got it and recognized that I would be alone. I felt a
8) worst memory: A Polish translation that went wrong.
bit lonely but know I am happy to be alone – no one can disturb me.
9) coffee breaks: I never take a coffee break in the canteen. In
4) your unit: My unit is great. The Germans are very very helpful, we
my unit someone always makes coffee on Monday morning and
have coffee together every Monday and I can choose my work.
Thursday afternoon.
Kinga
1) your first day: total chaos in my head, I was getting lost in the building (that actually continued for a couple of weeks), many new Luisa
faces, could not remember all names.
2) your badge: if it was not for the way I look at the picture, I would quite like the badge, useful gadget that enables you to get sev- 1) your first day: it was excit-
eral discounts, one day I was unlucky (or rather absentminded) enough to leave my badge at home, so it took about half an hour ing, I met my Adviser and my
Unit, they were all very friendly
for the security to complete the procedure and let me in (that involved my advisor and the secretary, completing a detailed form, and helpful... I was trying to
and leaving my ID at the reception for the whole day). memorize my office number
3) your office: nice, spacious but gets very hot in the summer.
and how to get there. JM0 was,
and still is, a labyrinth... but at
4) your unit: very friendly and helpful, highly qualified people who REALLY do a great job. least I memorized my way to
5) THE canteen: I have slowly turned into a vegetarian as I found the meat meals too strange. the office.
6) your work: lots of work, but this way I’ve learnt to use the IT translation tools, I’ve
2) your badge: I was
acquired a lot of experience in translating EU texts and I’ve achieved the goal I had in mind very thrilled with my new
when coming here to do the traineeship. Luxembourg badge, since I
looked... let’s say...bad...in my
7) best memory: every Yoga class and the final relaxation :)
Brussels badge!
8) worst memory: I can’t really recall any in particular. It was very exciting to have
9) coffee breaks: the best moment of the average working day :) although I wasn’t able to a badge from the European
Commission
enjoy as many coffee breaks as I wanted to because of the workload.
3) your office: it has brown car-
pet on the wall.
Terhi 4) your unit: very friendly, very
1) your first day: It was a busy day with opening a bank account and meeting your advisor. loud... the BEST!
2) your badge: Actually my picture in the badge for Luxembourg was a better one than the one for
5) THE canteen: Tongue!
Brussels. Zungue, língua, jazyk, tungen,
3) your office: My office is big and I have a nice view. I also have company because I’m sharing the lengua, tong, limba, tungen,
języka, maternă, языка, tun-
room with a Swedish trainee.
gan, jezik...
4) your unit: People in my unit are really nice and friendly. They are really good translators. I won’t ever forget it...
5) THE canteen: First I didn’t like the food but towards the end of the traineeship I was starting to like it.
6) your work: Nice!
6) your work: I really enjoyed working here. I have translated texts with
interesting topics such as culture, education and also, legislative texts like 7) best memory: all my stage
amendments of regulations. is (in short time “was”) a whole
big wonderful memory
7) best memory: It has been nice to get to know trainees from different
countries and speaking different languages. 8) worst memory: Tongue!
8) worst memory: At the beginning I once got lost in Jean Monnet. It’s such
9) coffee breaks: the reason of
a labyrinth. my existence...JMO was not an
9) coffee breaks: The important social event, especially in the mornings. exception!
Christoforos
1) your first day: Excited and mostly scared about what i will be faced (thank God). My office is also close enough to the exit!
with at work. Trying to look cool and approachable. The guy that took me 4) your unit: My hierarchy is spanish with a Cypriot director. Can it get any
to the unit was really nice and open, but we never talked since then! My better than that? However, there is a lot of work they have to do. I just did
advisor interviewed me trying to decide what to do with me! I met almost all the things they didn’t have time to do!
everybody in the floor but by the end of this tour I forgot all their names! 5) THE canteen: Highlight of the day!
2) your badge: I have a badge to remind me how sleepy I was! I am not 6) your work: Could have been better.
sure if I was smiling...I think he took the picture just before I posed! 7) best memory: Playing table tennis and that football thingy in the train-
3) your office: C2/012 I share it with an official that is basically acting as ing center with Anne, David and Penelope.
my advisor!( good guy though!) I don’t even have my name on the door. 8) worst memory: Feeling stupid and not important at work.
My office is on the way to the training center...so I often get some visitors 9) coffee breaks: I wish we had coffee breaks all day long!
DAVID
Ildikó 1) your first day: On my first day, my advisor forgot to 6) your work: Not hard at all
1) your first day: soooo many new people pick me up after the meeting and after I just saw my 7) best memory: The lunch and coffee breaks with the
2) your badge: if you don’t look at the
office…Well… It was Friday, around 17:30… What other stagiaires and the day I celebrated my birthday
photo ….
3) your office: I did like it, could stay else could I do? On Monday our very nice Head of and “good bye build-
longer unit’s secretary introduced me to almost all the unit. ing” there. Also as
4) your unit: great colleagues
2) your badge: I prefer the Brussels one. Nicer design Chistoforos said this
5) THE canteen: let’s have lunch at the
Parliament and I look better in the picture day, we “worked” play-
6) your work: the best I had until now 3) your office: I had 3 offices,and always shared them. ing table football (baby-
7) best memory: there are soooooo
many! Maybe 80’ party in Viking
Two in JMO and one in DRB. In the first, I was in a foot) and table tennis in
8) worst memory: visit of the casemates corner but still I felt I had enough space. The second the fitness centre.
in JMO was much bigger and I had much more space 8) worst memory:
but it was a really hot office! And now in DRB... The Having to left the build-
EGLE office is not so big but it’s really bright even if cloudy. ing, meaning that I
And everything in the building is more modern, but the won’t have lunch with
1) your first day: Hard. Left alone to deal with
everything (log in problems, printer installation, location is not as good as Kirchberg. all the nice stagiaires
etc.). Afterwards I understood that it took only 20 4) your unit: they are mostly nice and friendly but they there.
minutes for my adviser to explain me everything
mostly speak French and I almost don’t speak it ... 9) coffee breaks: They are not coffee breaks! It’s net-
(twb, translation standards, normative memory,
IATE and so on) that I will be so bored to hear 5) THE canteen: For me, it was nice. I enjoyed meeting working!! :D And networking seems to be a very impor-
about during incredibly long courses. It was my with the other stagiaires for lunch. I think the food was tant thing in the Commission. I guess in the Parliament
fault that I did not grasp all information at that time.
An excellent example how to be effective but not
usually very good and really cheap. and other European Institutions too. ;)
very suitable for a scared trainee...
15 minutes trying to get out of this damn building
(next day it took only 10).
2) your badge: my photo is beautiful, so I like it Astrid the salad which isn’t also very good:)... but some-
times there are lucky days when it is possible to take
:) Just I wonder why everything is in stone age
1) your first day: meeting with all who are working in
(where are the electronic identifiers and passages even le plat du jour:)) at least we have a reduction for
or whatever?). our department and they were rubbing their hands
this…eheh.
3) your office: office is quite OK but JMO... Long saying: mmmmm... stagiaire, young and without expe-
narrow corridors with small cages, a true Kafka’s 6) your work: my work is one of my passions, so I
rience.
story. Horrible yellow wardrobes with terrible metal really like it… I never find my texts boring:).
sound like in prison. No ventilation, no space. You 2) your badge: once I forgot to take it with me, of
7) best memory: I do not have the very best mem-
suffocate here in all senses: your breath, your course I didn’t have also my passport, so they gave
eyes and emotions. ory connected to this building, in spite of all these
4) your unit: rather patient and friendly. Half of
me the label VISITEUR…
moments together when I had fun or when we had
them are so called “nice people”, other half think When I’m showing my badge in the canteen to have
parties in our unit to celebrate birthdays. The best
that they are the most important and very over- a reduction:)), these Italian men working there are
worked (hmm, haven’t they worked in Lithuania or memory of my stage is more connected to the trips
just forgot what it means to have a lot of work?) always saying ohlalaa stagiaire, quelle chance!!!!
I made, for example, a trip to Belgium during which
5) THE canteen: never been there, I’m too poor to So sometimes it brings trouble, sometimes it is funny
spend three Euros for dinner, not to speak about
we visited many towns in Belgium and went to the
to have it:)
other things seaside.
6) your work: the nastiest work in the unit. Nobody 3) your office: quite empty and grey,… when our
8) worst memory: At the beginning of the stage once I
wants to do what I am doing (so they gave it to unit has busy times, my table is full of documents to
me). It is not hard but… went to have lunch with my adviser and some others
translate. There are no dictionaries. Before coming, I
7) best memory: St John’s day together with some of our department. And there was a lady from another
people from my unit imagined that there were so many dictionaries here,
unit who was looking at me and saying: well, they
8) worst memory: a few arguments with people but everything is in the computer.
working in my unit (terrible). Next time I would just wanted to take a trainee also in our unit, but I told them
shut up and do it as they would say without any
4) your unit: I never had problems with my unit.
no! I didn’t let a trainee come here...
questions (it saves your nerves and time). Everybody is very friendly and helps me when neces-
That was quite sad moment, may be there have been
9) coffee breaks: what coffee breaks? I did not sary.
have any coffee breaks, too much of work… many troubles with some trainees. Now it seems that
5) THE canteen: I tried to avoid it for some months:)
in our unit everybody is very happy with my job and
eating only in the canteen of the court of justice... now
they don’t want to let me go yet...
I returned in our canteen, sometimes I’m taking only
9) coffee breaks: too many cakes…
PENELOPE
1) your first day: Too many names to remember and a complex building who turned out not to be complex at all... just illogical.
2) your badge: Nice piece of European identification, a pain when you leave it at home by mistake
3) your office: so glad to be in my own office, but in the end I miss having someone to talk to and that would also make me be a bit more focused on my
work.
4) your unit: hmmm... While being nice, they kept their distance.
5) THE canteen: I love the canteen. I really missed it when I was on holidays. It’s the meeting point of all the stagiaires and the place where we can
finally relax and enjoy a nice conversation. Foodwise... who cares! I liked it because of the people that I met and not because of the service that was
supposed to be provided.
6) your work: Very useful. It’s been five months of permanent improvment of my knowledge... Some knowl-
edge being more interesting than others, obviously.
7) best memory: Knowing that I was going to spend five months with lovely people in a nice environment.
8) worst memory: Looking back now and seeing that those five months are already gone.
9) coffee breaks: Didn’t have many... I was so responsible, busy and important!
VICKY
1) your first day: I could not find my office anymore. I thought I just had to go straight on from the stairs,
which is also the case when I go down…to go up I need to go round the stairs. Fortunately my search
only took a few minutes.
2) your badge: I don’t like my picture on the badge in Luxembourg and for some reason my lips are
very red on the Brussels badge…
3) your office: the best office in my unit, because it has the best view BUT incredibly warm in the after-
noon. Opening all the windows doesn’t help. When it is cold outside it is also cold inside. Since I am on
the end of the building and when it is windy outside it feels like my office will be blown away by the wind.
4) your unit: the people are really nice but I guess the age gap between me and the next “youngest” col-
league is 15 years. It feels more like they are the colleagues of my parents than my colleagues...
5) THE canteen: where to start…the good food, because I will be brief about that. They are actually able to make good food but you have to be really lucky
that you pick that dish and that it is the day of the week to make good food. The best thing you can get, is food that can be described as “okay”. Before I came
here I was quite a complicated person in relation to food; some things I eat, others I don’t. Here, I had to let go of my principles and just choose what looked
the best option(…) if I don’t want to starve or eat sandwiches all the time. Most of the time I chose the “okay” food, one of the reasons is that I first checked
the menu and looked up the words I didn’t understand. That way I couldn’t get a “wonderful” surprise on my plate. The food is also amazingly greasy, they can
actually make everything greasy.
6) your work: I am already specialised in doing “QE’. This is the major part of my translations. Nobody asks me anymore if I have time or if I want to do it, the
secretaries just put my name on it and bring it. The advantage is that they are not so long and there is always something new. That makes me specialised
in everything! I don’t do revisions, I am glad for that because I don’t even like to re-read my own texts (but I have to...). Otherwise it is okay, I have nice col-
leagues who are always willing to help. Sometimes I am really busy but most of the time I can do my work at my own pace. The only thing I don’t like is the
difference between Flemish and Dutch. They agreed to use Dutch from the Netherlands so it sometimes feels like I have to learn a new language...Some
words that we regularly use in Flanders are not used anymore by the Dutch people. It is funny when the oldest Dutch colleague in the unit tells me that a word
is really old-fashioned and they stopped using it years ago.
7) best memory: coffee breaks and lunch breaks with the other trainees (except for the food and the coffee), having met really nice people among the trainees
8) worst memory: the FOOD, the coffee and having to use Dutch in stead of Flemish…
9) coffee breaks: I don’t like the coffee…I prefer to make my own. I have drunk many different sorts of coffee but there is not one comparable to the coffee
here. They should have different tastes but everything tastes the same. They give you the coffee immediately after they made it but all the coffees I had here
were cold and in the best case tepid. Cleanliness is also a word that is not in their dictionary. The cups are always dirty, because they spill coffee before they
give it to you. In other companies, coffee is free, here you have to pay for it. I rather bring my own coffee and coffee machine than pay for coffee I don’t like in a
dirty cup...What I do like here (yes, something is coming…) is the orange juice.
MARTINA
1) your first day: I fell asleep during a conference, then found out that my advisor is going to go skiing for a week, and when I finally made it
to my office, I saw there was a sticker on the door saying “I don´t know, I don´t care, that´s why they put me in charge.” How… fitting?!
2) your badge: I keep forgetting it quite often, thanks to which I am now aware of the fact that the security guys only know one sentence in
english: “No badge - no entry.”
3) your office: It has undergone some serious reconstruction done by myself, due to which it displays interesting decoration on the walls,
that tends to evoke various reactions from people who step in for the first time:
Colleague: “What is that…?!”
Yannis: “I wouldn´t like to be your head of unit.”
Luisa: “Ooooooh…”
Advisor: “Umm… so… you are a fan of Nightwish?”
Secretary: “This is kind of bloody.”
Colleague 2: “Did you draw the pictures yourself?” (…if I did and they sold them as posters, would I be sitting here…?)
4) your unit: My old unit would have been fine, if it was not for the head of unit - who does not understand that “trainee” doesn´t equal
“slave”. After I complained, I ended up somplace else, my work is appreciated and I´m happy. Everyone is very kind, very helpful, and grate-
ful to have me. Too bad I only did this after several months of suffering!
5) THE canteen: First of all, I would like to say I don´t understand why do luxembourgish people enjoy raw meat so much… You would think
that the steaks say “moooo” when you try to cut them with your knife. Secondly, I don´t understand why they intend to cook national foods of various countries, label them as such and
then they all taste the same, look the same, and use the exact same ingredients. Thirdly, I don´t understand how is it possible that the canteen in Brussels can be equally disgusting. Do
they have some central kitchen where they employ children from third countries?!
6) your work: Weeeell… you get an english text and you translate it into czech, ya know?:)
7) best memory: Too many – trips, parties, people. The first good memory though came immediately - when I met Barbora in the Vienna airport before coming here – it was so nice to
realize that suddenly I was not coming alone.
8) worst memory: What can I say? It´s Luxembourg…Generally, all my BEST memories relate to the people (I love you guys). All the WORST ones relate to the place. But since the
people make the place, in the end the worst moments are bearable, after all.
9) coffee breaks: I know some people had them.
ANNA
1) your first day: The very first day? I flew from Prague via Switzerland to Luxembourg, there were heavy storms all around Europe, all flights in Zurich were delayed but after all the luck I seem to have had this
year, I was still lucky to arrive safe and sound to my destination. The first days of the stage were marked by too much bureaucracy, by a Siberian windy cold in Brussels (both cannot be but negative) and by many
new people and languages around (both cannot be but positive).
2) your badge: I have not had any interesting story about the badge. Perhaps just that for some two weeks it was the only personal identification document I had (after they had robbed all my other cards in
Brussels and I had been left totally paper-free).
3) your office: My office is like a small short noodle in the entrails of a labyrinth-like Jean Monnet with a desperate view into one of its internal “patios”, but I am a humble person who does not require too much.
Back home I am used to working by a window which leads into our garden and I must admit I miss it because I love and need to be in touch with nature, but the sheep grazing some 300 metres away from the
Commission and the wild rabbit I once saw having his early morning breakfast on the lawn in front of JMO are a sufficient comfort for me to survive 5 months 8 hours a day in an artificial and unfriendly building
where the only visible living organisms seem to be human (mainly translators).
4) your unit: I think all the people in my unit are very nice and as a trainee I have been assigned a reasonable amount of work.
5) THE canteen: Having lunch with the other trainees was definitely the best part of every working day
6) your work: I was assigned to work with the translation unit 1 and have therefore been most frequently asked to do economic
and legal texts which I have never been particularly fond of. But in that way I could at least learn something new... Most of
the documents have been quite boring, but some of them have been interesting and funny. I remember having translated
Commission Regulation (EC) No 374/2008 of 24 April 2008 amending for the 94th time Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002
imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden,
the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban”. It was the 94th amendment and since than there have been several new editions more;
it has to be translated every now and then because the terrorists in the annex cannot somehow help the temptation to make
minute changes in their average 6 nicknames (which are usually different but at the same time extremely similar)…Another
memorable document I translated was titled something like EFTA Surveillance Authority decision on alleged state aid with regard to the Norwegian reindeer slaughter industry. I remember I found the translation a
bit tricky, because as we do not have reindeer in the Czech Republic, the Czech solutions to some of the sentences, especially to the title itself, seemed to sound either too morbid or too funny…
there are things

I like about Belgium
But It Seems There Are Things
Belgium Does Not Like About Me ...
by Anna Bulírová
I
was captivated by the splendid guild houses of Grote Markt I actually did not need the majority of its contents any more ...
in Brussels, I enjoyed my visit to the original Atomium After many days of extensive search and several telephonic, email
and funny Mini-Europe, I was charmed by the magical and personal demands on all post services involved (i.e. Czech,
atmosphere of Brugge, and when window-shopping I was quite Belgian and Luxembourgish), I found out that the parcel had
tempted to buy some of the rather expensive pieces of fine arrived to a so-called Brucargo outside Brussels the very second
and fancy lace. I am also convinced that both Belgian fries and day after it had been sent, and there they kept it for the rest of
mussels are really the best I have ever tasted, and although I the time. Any particular reason for that? Any particular reason
have never been particularly fond of chocolate I must admit that why the Belgian Post was the only of the three that was unable
the cappuccino and cream pralines made in Belgium are not at to track the registered parcel by its number and had no idea at all
all bad and are actually more than eatable. I have also had the where it was?
honour of meeting some very nice and friendly people (Vicky, for In April I went to Belgium again, looking forward to meeting my
example), and in Jean Monnet I was happy to attend IT training boyfriend with whom I had planned to do some more travelling.
courses given by Gerard who is a very good teacher of Belgian Since I was twenty-five when I was buying the ticket and I was
nationality and taught me a lot. And since I have always liked twenty-five the day I went to Brussels, I bought a return ticket
simultaneous interpreting and enjoyed moving in a multicultural using the -26 years tariff. However, it was my birthday in Belgium
and multilingual environment, after all I have recently lived I still and I was coming back to Luxembourg just three days later. On
“ I believe that during all four visits I have paid to Belgium I was an interested and dutiful tourist.
nevertheless, I cannot help the feeling that for some reason the country has taken a certain
type of vengeance on me.
”
somehow wish I were good and lucky enough so as to pass the my way I was checked by two or three inspectors who thought
exam and become a Prague based free-lance interpreter who everything was okay, but no less than ten minutes before getting
would from time to time fly to work a few days in Berlaymont or off the train and taking a bus to Kirchberg, other two Belgian
another EU building. inspectors came and started to control the tickets again. Although
I believe that during all four visits I have paid to Belgium I was an supposedly this hardly ever takes place, I was asked to show
interested and dutiful tourist, discovering and appreciating all its them my identity card. When they saw that I was born on the
strengths, nevertheless, I cannot help the feeling that for some 12th April 1982, they insisted it was absolutely unacceptable to
reason the country has taken a certain type of vengeance on me. make use of my return ticket because it was April 15, 2008 and
In March, just after I left Prague with my luggage packed up I had already been twenty six. I had to pay a full price one-way
to more than the maximum weight permitted by the strict and trip Brussels – Luxembourg for more than 40 euros, including
precise Swiss Air, my parents sent me the rest of my personal a fine of 13 euros for not having a valid ticket. Had I made both
possessions needed for the 5-month stay by post. Although they trips being already twenty-six or had I returned after more than
were told the ten-kilo parcel would arrive on my Luxembourg a week after my birthday, I would not have said a word. In a
address within fourteen days at the latest, I was relieved and way they were right, but I still feel the whole situation was quite
frantic with joy to receive it only after almost six weeks, when ambivalent and the fine rather absurd. In the same scrupulous
fashion and following their example, perhaps I could have insisted

on a financial compensation because the train had actually arrived
to Luxembourg half an hour late ... Yet the most unforgettable
moment of my Belgian experience was still to come.
In May I was going to take a plane to Spain from Charleroi,
however, at the end I did not fly anywhere and was more than
happy to be able to come back to Luxembourg soon after arriving
to Brussels. As I was walking to the airport shuttle bus stop very
early in the morning on an open boulevard in the city centre,
several metres away from the hostel where I had stayed during
the March welcome conferences, I was attacked and robbed by
two men (I have become somewhat immigrant-sceptical since
then, I am afraid ...). Apart from money, telephone, several things
of mere sentimental value and the train ticket, they stole all my
personal documents. As a result I was denied boarding and lost
a top-season flight which had been considerably far from being
cheap. In view of the bad luck, I was at least lucky enough so as
not to suffer any but a material and psychological harm, and I am
extremely grateful to my guardian angel for that ... Fortunately, I
also had some money left in the pocket of my jeans, otherwise,
“ I was at least lucky enough so as not to

suffer any but a material and psychologi-
cal harm, and I am extremely grateful to my
guardian angel for that ...
”
I would have had no means to return back to Luxembourg, as it
was holiday and there was no one on the Czech consulate to help
me. In this context, my farewell message for you might therefore
be “Beware of Brussels!”
After a month, the Belgian police recovered my documents, but
was unwilling to send them to the police in Luxembourg and
insisted on me coming personally to their department to a so
called Rue de Houblon. At least I could take the opportunity of
the stage trip to Brussels in June ... I had heard that in Brussels
there were quarters that were not to be entered, but did not
know how they looked like or how one could know he was
close. Thanks to good cooperation between the authorities within
the Schengen area though, I had the opportunity to become
did not get to know where, when and by whom the papers had
acquainted with one of the seedbeds of crime despite having
been found or whether anything else from my bag had been
no interest. Perhaps the police gets some sort of commission
discovered, although in bad condition. Supposedly they did not
for all items stolen that it invites the victims to such quarters so
know!
that they can be deprived of their valuables once again? Thank
Originally, I got an offer of a traineeship both with the Council
you, Jana and Terhi, for accompanying me with my current
in Brussels and with the Commission in Luxembourg. Now I am
anxiety and paranoia I would have never been able to go there
perfectly happy and absolutely convinced that I made the right
on my own and recover my papers, among them my passport
decision of choosing Luxembourg, because God knows what else
that the muggers had probably used as toilet paper. The trip
would have happened to me! ■
was depressing and useless, because the commissioner who was
supposed to be there was absent and had not even informed his
colleagues, no more declarations were needed from me and I
S om e Fa cts
A b out
F I N L A ND
BY
Terhi Oinonen
F
inland, a country of thousands of lakes and islands, Hei! Mitä kuuluu? – Kiitos
sauna, Nokia mobile phones, an incomprehensible hyvää.
language, cold and dark winters, nightless night in Finnish is a member of the Finno-Ugric lan-
the Midsummer, shy and withdrawn Finns who drink a guage family and it modifies and inflects
the forms of nouns, adjectives, pronouns,
lot…These are the most common conceptions of Finland.
numerals and verbs, depending on their
roles in the sentence. There are no arti-
There are four distinct seasons in Finland: summer, cles or prepositions in Finnish. The Finnish
orthography is built upon the phonetic
autumn, winter and spring. In summer, when the tem-
principle: each sound of the language is
perature rises above 25 degrees Celsius, the day is regard- represented by exactly one letter, and each
ed as a hot day. All the heat and the light affect the Finns letter represents exactly one sound. This
makes the language easy for its speakers
so that we are more friendly and outgoing during the
to spell, and facilitates learning to read and
summer months. After the summer comes the autumn write.
with its rains and winds and after September 21, the days
become shorter every day until Christmas. The winter is geography
the longest season in Finland, for example, in the north-
Finland is indeed a country of thou-
ern part of the country, in Lapland, it prevails more than sands of lakes – 187,888 lakes and 179,584
six months from mid-October to the end of April. After islands to be precise. Finland’s land border
with Russian is the eastern border of the
a hard and cold winter comes the spring, and snow and
European Union. Even though the Finns
the ice on lakes and on the sea start to melt. The nature are Europeans, Finland is often missing
comes back from the dead and you start looking for the from the maps of Europe, for example,
from the television weather maps.
summer…
Recently, Finland has become quite famous because of NOKIA - CONNECTING PEOPLE
two surveys. Finland was the highest-performing coun- The world’s leading manufacturer of
try on the PISA (Programme for International Students mobile phones, Nokia, was founded and is
Assessment) 2006 science scale with an average of 563 still headquartered in Finland. Ninety-eight
per cent of households in Finland have
score points, the highest total ever recorded in a PISA mobile phones, which means that there are
study which gathers information on the results of educa- more mobile phones than fixed network
tion measured by combined learning results in science, telephones. Nowadays, most of the children
have their first mobile phone when they
mathematics and literacy. According to the annual 215- start school at the age of 7.
city survey conducted by the human resources consult-
ing company Mercer in June 2008, Helsinki, the capital
of Finland, was ranked as the world’s second safest city
together with the Swiss cities Bern, Geneva and Zurich. SAUNA BATHING
The most safe city in the world was Luxembourg. The
Sauna bathing is a typical Finnish phenom-
Finnish population is around 5,3 million and about 1,25 enon. The sauna is normally heated until
million people live in the Helsinki metropolitan area. 80-90 degrees Celsius in order to increase
the temperature of the skin to stimulate
perspiration and produce a feeling of relax-
It is often said that Finns are introverts. It’s true that we ation. For the Finns, the sauna is a weekly
are reserved to start with but when you get to know occurrence and families often go together
to the sauna naked.
Finns better with time, we make very loyal and reliable
friends and you might find out that actually we are very
talkative! ■
Luxembourg
Memories in
pictures
“ We Do not remember days;

we remember moments.
Cesare Pavese ”
OPOCE, ECFIN, DGT

Luxembourg Song Barbarous names
(tune of Yesterday) for where some of us have been working
Luxembourg… Luxembourg…
The city where we’d have never been The city where we’d have never been
Without the Commission traineeship Without the Commission traineeship
Oh Luxembourg Oh Luxembourg
That’s where we’ve been That’s where we’ve been
Liquid, The Viking, the Marx Bar, Parties, crazy nights,

Apoteca often difficult mornings
Just a few places Day trips, sporty times
where we spent a lot of time and of course, a lot of beer
Buses constantly being late or not We will not forget this charming little
passing city
Rain, hail, April snow And will not regret
and sometimes a ray of sun a second coming here
TREN, EMPL, SANCO, Marianne Ollivier

OFFICIAL TRIPS
brussels
“ We wander for distraction,

but we travel for
fulfillment.
Hilaire Belloc
”
PARTIES
Paint the town

red, blue or
kitchen A truly international experience can not be
Corner
complete without a taste of foreign cuisine.
Here you can find some of the more typical
recipes of countries that were represented
in the traineeship.
Cod with cream (bacalhau com natas)

Portugal
by Alberto Ferreira
1.
■ Cod (about 2 or 3 Cook the cod in milk. If using salt cod then remember to soak it for at least 24
pieces) hours previously to making this dish (preferably 48 hours).
■ 3 medium potatoes 2.
or 4 small ones, diced
Fry the potatoes, just until crusty and golden, preferably in very hot oil.
■ 1 package heavy
Meanwhile, remove the bones and skin from the cod and tear its flesh apart.
cream (about 0,5l)
■ 2 cups milk
3.
■ 2 tbsp flour In a pan, slice the onion in a bit of olive oil and add the torn cod and, gradually,
■ 2 medium onions, the fresh cream and milk. Control its texture by adding flour until it is creamy and
thinly sliced homogenous, but firm. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste. Add the fried pota-
■ salt, nutmeg and toes to the mix and stir.
pepper to taste 4.
Place the mix in an oven proof dish, topping with shredded cheese. Place in the
oven until golden brown about 200º C for 20 minutes.
Brussels Waffles
Belgium by Vicky Van Delsen
1.
■ 40 grams of fresh yeast Put the yeast in the tepid water and leave it to dissolve.
(1/2 oz) for 500 grams (1 lb) 2.
of flour
Put the flour in a big bowl and make a small hole in the middle of it.
■ 500 grams (1 lb) of flour
■ 40 cl (1pint) of tepid water
3.
■ 40 cl (1pint) of tepid milk Mix the dissolved yeast with the flour and finally add a pinch of salt and the milk.
■ 8 eggs 4.
■ 250 grams of melted
Separate the egg yolk from the egg white. Add the egg yolks to the dough (batter).
butter
5.
■ A pinch of salt
■ Vanilla essence Whisk up the egg whites and mix them with the butter through the dough (batter).
6.
To get an extra taste, add some vanilla essence to the dough and mix.
7.
Let it rise during 30 minutes.
8.
Heat the waffle iron fully, grease it with melted butter or a bit of oil.
9.
Put some dough on it with a spoon and bake the waffles golden brown.
10.
You can powder the waffles with powdered sugar or add some whipped cream, ice
cream or strawberries. If you’ve got some waffles left, put them into the freezer and
heat them later under the grill.
Orgasm
Czech Republic
by Jana Rohova
Ingredients:
Depending on the size of your baking tray, you can double the amount of every ingredient.
• 1 cup of wheat flour
(classical white) (1 cup
– 200-250 ml, depending on 1. Mix (purée) the pineapple (without the juice).
how big the baking tray is)
• 1 cup of whole wheat flour 2. Then simply mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
• 1 cup of sugar
3. You grease the baking tray and dust it with flower. You spread the mixture
• 1 cup of fine grated nuts
over it and bake at 180°C - top and bottom heating (160°C hot-air circulation)
(walnuts taste better than
until it is ready. I cannot say the exact time - it depends. Around 30 minutes. (If
hazelnuts)
you prick the cake with a toothpick, there should remain no dough on the tooth-
• 2 eggs
pick). Let the cake cool off.
• 2 teaspoons of baking
powder
• Canned pineapple (1 can)
Cream preparation:
Ingredients for
cream: 1. You mix everything and spread it evenly over the top of the cake.
• 400g Mascarpone 2. Then you sprinkle fine grated nuts over it (be generous:) and pour some drops
• 120g icing sugar (powder of melted chocolate on it (again be generous:).
sugar)
3. And there it is, the orgasm ;-) Help yourself. A dobrou chuť!!!
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
pudding powder (not really
necessary)
• 1 pack of vanilla sugar.
Goulash
Czech Republic
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Article 3
of 13 July 2008 List of ingredients (2 portions):
on the preparation of a Czech version of goulash 250 g beef (preferably shank), 250 g pork (rump or shoulder), 2 spoons of chopped smoked
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, bacon , 3 big onions, Lard or sunflower oil (approx. 100 g or ½ of 250 ml cup), Salt, 2 tea spoons
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Traineeships with the European Commission, of sweet paprika, ½ teaspoon of black pepper, ½ teaspoon of hot paprika, 2 teaspoons of cara-
Having regard to the requirements stated in the Journal Sub-Committee Regulation of 18 June way seeds , Water, ½ teaspoon of oregano, 2 spoons of ketchup or tomato sauce, 2 spoons of
2008, and in particularArticle 3 thereof , flour (approx.), Sugar
Whereas: Note: The quantitative amounts are more or less approximate, since they have been determined
(1) The March 2008 traineeship is running out, and the participants returning to their by an experience-based estimate. The policy maker in charge of this recommendation never
respective countries shall provide a written memory for their fellow colleagues. weighs or measures anything, but acts in accordance with sight and taste following the common
(2) The submitted contributions shall be published in the Official Journal of the Stagiaires estimate-based practice of her experienced cooking mentors.
of the European Commission. Article 4
(3) The articles to be provided by the stagiaires may take form of a recipe for a meal Serving measures:
which can be considered as country specific due to its origin or frequency of consumption. The dish is to be served with pasta, boiled potatoes or rice.Also edible with bread.Accompany
(4) Goulash (hereinafter referred to as “guláš”) is a meal of Hungarian origin, although with beer (preferably Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar or other available Czech beer).
theories exist that its appearance in Europe was related to Turkish influence. Guláš is widely Article 5
cooked in Central European member states and takes on different forms of state (liquid/solid), This Recommendation shall become applicable on the first day following that of its publication in
preparation and taste, depending on the region and the chef. In the Czech Republic, guláš is the Official Journal of the Stagiaires of the European Commission.
consumed very frequently and is considered as one of the basic products of local cuisine. It is one Article 6
of the most typical dishes to be offered in beer pubs. This recommendation is addressed to the European Commission stagiaires of the March 2008
(5) The subject of this recommendation is in accordance with the opinion of the Lunch session.
Sub-Committee.
HEREBY RECOMMENDS: Done at Luxembourg, DGT/LUX.C.CS.01 JMO C4/050, 13 July 2008

Article 1
Stagiaires may consider implementing the recipe for one of the Czech versions of guláš into their
national cuisines, although it should be noted that slightly different ingredients, as determined by For the Commission
country specific market offer, as well as no previous experience or no personal acquaintance with
the original product might lead to different results. Anna Bulířová
Article 2
Measures to be taken:
Chop onions into small pieces and sauté gently in lard or sunflower oil (lard is more taste efficient)
until they become soft without changing colour.Add diced meat and spice with salt, sweet paprika,
hot paprika, black pepper and caraway seeds.Add chopped bacon. Stir and stew until the meat
becomes very soft. Note: Meat should be stewed in its own gravy only with a small amount of
water, check the pot regularly and add water as necessary, but never cook the meat immersed in
water! When the meat is soft, add as much water as necessary to obtain a reasonable amount of
liquid sauce.Add ketchup or tomato sauce, and spice with a tinge of oregano. Use flour to thicken
the sauce – when pouring the flour, stir well the contents of the pot in order to prevent the forma-
tion of lumps. Simmer gently, allowing the sauce to thicken. Finally, taste the product and further
increase the amount of prescribed spices, if applicable.Adding sugar might be needed.

Parmigiana
Italy
by Manuela Fortunati
Ingredients: Preparation of Ragu’:
■3 aubergines 1. In a pot, fry the onion, the carrot, the celery and the garlic until they become
■ 300/400 grams of veal gilded.
or chicken or turkey
2. Add the ground beef. Then the tomatoes, the salt and the pepper. Finally, add
(slices of meat)
the white wine.
■ 1 mozzarella of 125
grams (cut it into 3. Let it boil until the tomatoes are cooked.
cubes)
■ 25 grams of butter Preparation of aubergines:
■ Parmigiano
4. Wash them and cut them round, put a pinch of salt.
For the Ragu’:
5. Let them a little bit in a strainer (the salt removes their bitter taste).
■1 small onion 6. Fry them in hot oil. (My mom makes a liquid batter with: 1 egg, flour, salt and
■ 1 carrot
mineral water, preferably cold. She dips the aubergines into this mix and then
■ 1celery
she fries them in the oil.)
■ 1/2 clove of garlic
■ 300 grams of minced Preparation of meat (veal, chicken or turkey):
beef and pork (if you
want) 7. To fry the meat, make another batter with 1 egg, salt and bread crumbs.
■ 2 tins (of 400
grams each) of peeled 8. Pass the meat in the batter and fry it in hot oil.
tomatoes
Preparation of Parmigiana:
■ salt
■ pepper
9. In a pan (or something for the oven) make layers of:
■ white wine (only a
Ragu’-aubergines-Parmigiano-Mozzarella
few drops)
Ragu’-meat-Parmigiano-Mozzarella
10. Place it in the oven and let it bake until the surface becomes gilded.
BUON APPETITO!!!!
TIRAMISU
Italy
by Manuela Fortunati
1.
■ 500 g of mascarpone Mix the egg yolks, sugar and the amaretto.
■ Boudoir biscuits 2.
■ Coffee
Add the mascarpone.
■ 1 tablespoon Amaretto
3.
■ 10 teaspoons sugar
■ 5 eggs yolks Beat the egg white, and carefully, add them to the mixture.
■ 3 egg whites 4.
■ Cocoa powder Moisten the biscuits slightly one by one.
5.
Superimpose the layers in turns (anyone you wish), for example, a layer of bis-
cuit, one of cream, one of biscuit, one of cream. Spread the surface with cocoa
powder.
6.
Put it in the refrigerator.
7.
Serve it quite chilled.
Kartoffelsalat
Germany
by Saskia Schipper
Ingredients for As Germans love potatoes I thought that my contribution would be a recipe to make potato salad or
vinegar version (10 as we call it in Germany “Kartoffelsalat”. Now there is no correct way of making it since so many
serves): variations exist in various region, but here are two variations.
• 10 medium potatoes well Before I begin, a little bit of history: traditionally you eat Kartoffelsalat accompanied with a
scrubbed Schnitzel. It is never missing at our beloved barbecues and of course many Germans have it at
• 1 large white onion Christmas with sausages. In general you can say that people in the south of Germany prefer potato
chopped salad with oil and vinegar while in the north they prepare it with mayonnaise and apples. Figure out
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar witch variation you prefer… Good luck and enjoy it!!!
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
Vinegar version:
• 4 slices bacon cooked and
1. Cook potatoes in water until tender.
chopped
• 3 tablespoons parsley 2. While hot remove skins and set potatoes aside until cool enough to handle
chopped comfortably. Slice into a large bowl.
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground 3. Simmer onion in a saucepan with vinegar and water until tender.
black pepper 4. Pour over potatoes and allow to stand until cold. Do not mix or disturb the
potatoes as they will crumble and become mushy.
Ingredients for
mayonnaise version 5. When potatoes are cool add oil, bacon, parsley, salt and pepper then toss
(8 serves): gently to blend flavours.
• 2 pounds potatoes, whole Mayonnaise version:

• 6 baby dill pickles,
1. Make sure onion, pickles and apple are chopped the same size.
chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped 2. Boil the potatoes with their skins on until tender, about 20-30 minutes.
• 1 medium granny smith
apples, chopped 3. Remove from pot and let rest until cool enough to handle but still warm, then
• 16 ounces mayonnaise peel and dice into preferred size.
• 6 tablespoons pickle juice 4. In a bowl combine all the ingredients except potatoes. Put potatoes into a big
• 1 tablespoon sugar bowl, pour “sauce” over them and stir together carefully (potatoes break apart
• 1/4 teaspoon salt easily while still warm).
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
5. Cover bowl and let rest in refrigerator for at least 2 hours (overnight is even
better).
6. Taste test and add more pickle juice, salt, pepper, sugar or mayonnaise if/as
needed.
Potato pancakes (Bramboráky)

Czech Republic
by Jana Rohova
From this amount you will make about 10 – 12 big round potato pancakes. In the Czech Republic they are eaten as a dish on
its own, but you can also serve them with sauerkraut and smoked pig meat or as a side dish with meat – in this case you make
smaller pancakes – about 8 cm in diameter. You can also add small cubes of bacon, ham or smoked meat into the potato mixture
before frying, if you like a meat variation of the potato pancakes.
■ 1 kg potatoes 1. You peel and grate the potatoes into a bigger bowl (It is a hell of work and not
■ 100 g wheat flour (or very amusing, and actually, it can be quite exhausting. Watch out your fingernails,
more) of course, if you are not using a food processor). You use a grater of the same
■ 1 egg size as if you grate cheese, or one level bigger.
■ Milk (a bit if necessary)
2. Then add all other ingredients and stir well. The mixture should be fluid, but
■ Garlic (5-7 cloves or
not too much (a bit thicker than the classical pancake “dough”). You actually do
even more, depending on if
not have to follow the amount of flour I have given; it can be less or more. If less
you like garlic. It should be
flower, you will probably not need milk because the potatoes let out some water
pressed)
if you grate them. If you put more flour, then you will need a bit of milk. You can
■ Salt (according to taste)
really improvise with the amounts of potatoes, flour and milk because what really
■ Pepper (not necessary,
matters is the seasoning – it gives the typical delicious taste. But there should
but in case you like, black)
definitely be more potatoes than flour there!
■ Marjoram (dry! in small
3. You take a frying pan, put some oil in it, heat it and fry a potato pancake one after
flakes (looks like dry
parsley) and enough, a each other (it takes quite a lot of time). They should be fried in enough oil, so you
handful or even more, you should add a bit of oil in the pan after every pancake. They are fried on both sides,
should taste it and smell it thick about 2 to 3 millimetres (generally one soup ladle of the mixture for one pan-
in the mixture) cake in the pan of 28 cm in diameter, you may need a spoon or something like that
■ Oil for frying
to spread the mixture over the pan, so you see it cannot be too fluid). You fry on one
side until it gets goldish brown and then the other side.
4. They taste best when eaten warm! And they are really yummy!
who’s who
in the EC traineeship
Here you can find the contact information and messages from
some departing trainees. Treasure the stage experience and keep
in touch!
Alberto
MSN: toraxic@hotmail.com
E-MAIL ADDRESS: toraxic@yahoo.com
FACEBOOK: Alberto Ferreira
MOTTO: Never have a motto. Life is too complex for that.
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Enjoy what you have and fight for what you
want. Don’t be an effect; be a cause.
Astrid
Anna
E-MAIL ADDRESS: anna.cz@post.cz
Aude
MSN: audefile@hotmail.com
FACEBOOK: Aude PIDANCET

MOTTO: Quand on veut, on peut! (When we want, we can.)
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Hope to see you later...
Chris
MSN: christopher_liverdos@msn.com
SKYPE: christopherliverdos
FACEBOOK: Christopher Liverdos
MOTTO: If it’s something I usually said while I was in Luxembourg it is “I hate this
weather!”, but if it’s a favourite quote I guess it’s “All the world ‘s a stage, and
all the men and women merely players. (extended version: They have their exits
and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts)”
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Hey guys! Thanks for making Luxembourg lively and interest-
ing. It’s amazing how in a short period of time you can make friendships that with a
little bit of effort could last forever. I hope we will all make that effort! Thanks for the
experience and especially the fun we had together! You made this stage worthwhile.
See you in sunny Cyprus! Φιλάκια... γεία σας!
Christina P.
E-MAIL ADDRESS: christinapretzsch@web.de
PHONE NUMBER: 0049-178-71-77-190
Cristina
E-MAIL ADDRESS: cristina_ganciulescu@yahoo.com
MSN: cristina_ganciulescu
MOTTO: There is more to life than increasing its speed. (Gandhi)
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Unforgettable experience, incredible people,
great friends...It’s hard to say goodbye.
Dalia
SKYPE: etylada
FACEBOOK: dalia ziukaite
MOTTO: Take everything life gives to you! Even sometimes it’s just
the rain he gives you!
FAREWELL MESSAGE: The world is small maybe we will meet some-
day!
Christine
E-MAIL ADDRESS: Christine@zaph.nl
MSN: ChristineDeLux
FACEBOOK: Christine Breur
MOTTO: Zo gaan die dingen (freely translated: that’s life…)
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Let’s keep in touch! ;-)
David
SKYPE: david.cerezo
FACEBOOK: David de la Calle-Cerezo
Egle
SKYPE: eeglute28
Eleni
E-MAIL: rantoy@hotmail.com
MOTTO: Do as many things as you can...
FAREWELL MESSAGE: I hope to see you all one day! Keep in touch
and good luck!!!
Greg
MSN: g.lesinski@hotmail.com
SKYPE: el.greg
FACEBOOK: Grzegorz Lesiński
MOTTO: Lux in tenebris lucet.
FAREWELL MESSAGE: It’s a small world. See you ‘round!
Hamish
E-MAIL ADDRESS: Hamish777@hotmail.com
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Make hay while the Sun shines. I do not know
where each one of you will end up one day, but as far as I am con-
cerned, I know you have the potential to be great in yourself and
accomplish the impossible.
Jakub
E-MAIL ADDRESS: jakub.vrana@centrum.cz
MOTTO: Muze byt jeste hur.
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Good luck everybody.
Jana
MSN: janca_rohova@hotmail.com
SKYPE: janca.rohova
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Good luck for your life, was nice to meet you
all, hope to see you again.
Kinga
E-MAIL ADDRESS: kinga.zuchowska@gmail.com
SKYPE: kinga_zuchowska
FACEBOOK: kinga zuchowska
MOTTO: “Why worry, there should be laughter after pain. There
should be sunshine after rain. These things have always been the
same. So why worry now?”
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it
happened :-)
Luísa
MSN/SKYPE: luisalaranjo
FACEBOOK: Luísa Laranjo
MOTTO: “Para ser grande, sê inteiro: nada teu exagera ou exclui.
Sê todo em cada coisa. Põe quanto és no mínimo que fazes. Assim
em cada lago a lua toda brilha porque alta vive!” (Ricardo Reis)
FAREWELL MESSAGE: I’ll miss you all, I am already missing!
Lina
E-MAIL ADDRESS: lina_n11@yahoo.gr
SKYPE: linakn11
MOBILE PHONE NUMBER: 00357-99098641
FACEBOOK: Lina neokleous
Manuela
E-MAIL ADDRESS: manu00@interfree.it
FACEBOOK: Manu Forti
MOTTO: La vita è come una scatola di cioccolatini: non sai mai
quello che ti capita (Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know
what you’ll get.)
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Good luck and I hope all your dreams will
come true.
Marianne
MSN: marianneollivier@hotmail.com
MOTTO: At the eve of your death, you forget what you did wrong
but you regret what you didn’t do.
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Don’t forget to keep in touch.
Martina
E-MAIL ADDRESS: m_bell@centrum.cz
MSN: herbert_von_krolock@hotmail.com
FACEBOOK: Martina Bell
MOTTO: Luck is my middle name. Mind you, my first name is Bad.
FAREWELL MESSAGE: It´s Luxembourg.
Nina
E-MAIL: nina.prunier@yahoo.fr
MSN/SKYPE: nina_mtb
FACEBOOK: Nina Prunier
FAREWELL MESSAGE: That was a great experience meeting you all,
thank you so much for making life in Lux so fun!
Nina
ICQ: Ninotschka
SKYPE: nyny1.
FACEBOOK: Nina Mrazova
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Thank you guys for the great time we had
together!
Pablo
MSN/SKYPE: pablocaude@hotmail.com
FACEBOOK: pablocaude
MOTTO: The truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth.
FAREWELL MESSAGE: The sun is always there! Even though it’s hard
to see in Luxembourg :).
Pawel
MSN: drkmiota@hotmail.com
GG NUMBER: 1848639
FACEBOOK: drkmiota
MOTTO: “This week we achieved unprecedented levels of unverifi-
able performance.” (Sentence that my boss has in his office, but
I strongly believe that greatly decribes what’s the traineeship in
Eurostat is like)
Saskia
FACEBOOK: Saskia Schipper
MOTTO: “Believing that Europe, reunited after bitter experiences,
intends to continue along the path of civilisation, progress and pros-
perity, for the good of all its inhabitants, including the weakest and
most deprived; that it wishes to remain a continent open to cul-
ture, learning and social progress; and that it wishes to deepen the
democratic and transparent nature of its public life, and to strive
for peace, justice and solidarity throughout the world....”
FAREWELL MESSAGE: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it
happened”. I will miss you all!!!
Sama
E-MAIL ADDRESS: samaaltaher@hotmail.com
FACEBOOK: Sama Altaher
FAREWELL MESSAGE: It was great meeting you all! Keep in touch!
Stamy
E-MAIL ADDRESS: stamatoula_p@hotmail.com
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Do your best and never give up. See you in
Greece.
Terhi
SKYPE: ptjoin’
MOTTO: Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you
are gonna get.
FAREWELL MESSAGE: I will miss this multicultural and multilingual
environment which I enjoyed a lot for the last five months.
Tomas
E-MAIL ADDRESS: tpospisil@zoznam.sk
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Good luck to everyone ;o)
Ulrika
MSN: ullis8@hotmail.com
FACEBOOK: Ulrika S
MOTTO: What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Thank you guys for making this Luxembourg
stay a very nice one! Maybe there will be a reunion in the future...?
Until then, see you on Facebook!
Vicky
FACEBOOK: Vicky Van Delsen
E-MAIL ADDRESS: v_vandelsen@hotmail.com
Wiola
FACEBOOK: Viola Bunia
MOTTO: Nikt nie mówił że będzie różowo! (Nobody said it will be
easy!)
FAREWELL MESSAGE: Enjoy your life! And hope to see you
someday:)
Yannis
E-MAIL ADDRESS: yannisal@yahoo.co.uk
FACEBOOK: Yannis Almpanoudis
MOTTO: “Working is a problem of the drinking class.” (Oscar
Wilde)
FAREWELL MESSAGE: See you all around!

European Commission Stagiaire Journal - 2008

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EC Stagiaires Journal

Luxembourg Mar-Jul 2008

Exotic Vacations • Caribbean Getaways • Tropical Paradises • Luxury Liners

Official Trips - Brussels 40

The EC Stagiares’ Journal Team

Some say that getting settled, knowing Luxembourg, etc. My

The first time I arrived in Luxembourg with my bags in

2 . What did you like about Lu xembourg?

2. From Luxembourg, I like the mix between nature and

2 . It’s best when it’s sunny. It’s a small city easy to

my translation traineeship in Luxembourg BY

lingua franca of the world today, so French

After taking a few French classes with poor Marianne (thank

UNDERSTANDING facts about

the treasure hunt

MauM auritius has a surface area of about 1865 km2

sea-beaten and mouth-watering named the island “Ile de France”.

defined as being of mixed origin,

unique to the island. gems of philately. They were not the

reply to her next e-mails in which she was trying to

my state of mind was getting worse. It was the morning of my departure

Christina 1) your first day: I was so nervous to go

english: “No badge - no entry.”

Colleague: “What is that…?!”

Yannis: “I wouldn´t like to be your head of unit.”

Advisor: “Umm… so… you are a fan of Nightwish?”

Secretary: “This is kind of bloody.”

realize that suddenly I was not coming alone.

9) coffee breaks: I know some people had them.

new people and languages around (both cannot be but positive).

Brussels and I had been left totally paper-free).

there are things

fashion and following their example, perhaps I could have insisted

“ I was at least lucky enough so as not to

“ We Do not remember days;

OPOCE, ECFIN, DGT

Liquid, The Viking, the Marx Bar, Parties, crazy nights,

TREN, EMPL, SANCO, Marianne Ollivier

“ We wander for distraction,

Paint the town

kitchen A truly international experience can not be

Cod with cream (bacalhau com natas)

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Article 3

of 13 July 2008 List of ingredients (2 portions):

2008, and in particularArticle 3 thereof , flour (approx.), Sugar

of the European Commission. Article 4

HEREBY RECOMMENDS: Done at Luxembourg, DGT/LUX.C.CS.01 JMO C4/050, 13 July 2008

the original product might lead to different results. Anna Bulířová

increase the amount of prescribed spices, if applicable.Adding sugar might be needed.

• 2 pounds potatoes, whole Mayonnaise version:

Potato pancakes (Bramboráky)

FACEBOOK: Aude PIDANCET

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