No Need to Take a Break

I have already talked about my office and its work ethic. Me and my coworkers spent a lot of time drafting up documents and speeches for my very busy MEP. We were continually attending meetings, writing notes, and running around the parliament to complete our work.

My days were consistent in terms of breaks. Meetings were always placed in the same time slots. Typically from 9:30-12:30 in the morning and 3:30-6:30 in the afternoons. The time in between was for smaller delegation meetings and lunchtime.

Around noon I would typically get lunch with my supervisor Mr. Schneider. At first, I was nervous about our lunches together because I was afraid my novice understanding of the government compared to his would be taxing to him. I wasn't sure I could hold a conversation that would be interesting and prove that I was dedicated to my job.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed our lunches together. We spent our time going over any questions I had-which was always a lot- and it helped me catch up before each meeting and digest the information I received in the morning. We would often have casual conversations about our lives and differences in culture. It was a nice respite from trying to keep up with the hectic environment of the parliament.

After lunch, if there was no appointment we had to rush to, my supervisor and I would get coffee in the cafe by my office. We would continue our conversations there and observe our colleagues around us. That was pretty much my only break of the day, and it was honestly all I needed.

In reality, that is all the time we could spare. The parliament was a never-ending machine that we couldn't let falter. The four days a week, I worked in the parliament were barely enough. Nine to five a day four days a week seems like a lot of time, but for the government, that is practically nothing. Progress is slow, and everything requires a lot of thought and patience.

I never felt like I needed any more time to take a break. I think Mr. Schneider felt terrible for me sometimes because he knew what it was like to be a student abroad. He would sometimes encourage me to go home early or take a day off, but I kept assuring him that I enjoyed working. Even though I was just an intern with the least amount of responsibility in office, I knew my time was helpful.

The assistant and MEPs really don't have a break. On the weekends where they "go home," it usually means they are attending conferences in their home countries. Mr. Scholz’s schedule was full every single day. His weekends were not times for resting.

I know there are a lot of benefits to having more breaks and times for relaxation, but I don't think that really applies to the European Parliament. Those who work in the parliament have a duty to their countries and Europe to serve them to their best abilities. That means long weeks and short weekends. The constant grind of the government is what makes it productive because even when it moves nonstop, progress is slow. There is no other way to increase productivity.

Kendall Gilcrease