This is a brief moment from David Lowry's study abroad across the European Union. From May to August 2009, I travelled through Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.while taking classes and receiving briefings from prominent think tanks and political organizations - all with a good group of people and a lot of fun.

The purpose of the program was to provide in-depth courses in the inner workings of the European Union, problems or security facing multinational organizations, and the relations of the US with these organzations. The ordinary program lasted six weeks, covered 6 countries, and provided students with 9 credit hours. But a few of us stayed behind for an extra month in Brussels, Belgium and took an internship with the European Parliament of the European Union.

It doesn't get much more real than that.