The Grass is Always Greener in Amsterdam

It's tempting to sum up Amsterdam in three simple words: pot, prostitution, and pancakes. The weed was legal and easily attainable (with varied menus and an abundance of coffeeshops) as was the Red Light District, filled with some hard-working, scantily clad women. And, of course the pancakes (sweet and savory) were scrumptious. The city truly opened my eyes to a highly progressive, accepting culture (and served as the ideal location to reunite with close friends from high school and celebrate Bennett’s 21^st birthday). With our convenient accommodations on Warmoesstraat (in the heart of the gay/S&M district), we were lucky enough to witness first hand the liberal mindset that this city embraces!

In between the sinning, we made room for some sightseeing including the Van Gogh Museum (impressive despite the fact that some of his most famous works were undergoing restoration), the Rijksmuseum, the floating tulip market, the Heineken Experience, and the Anne Frank House.

Although the tourist “attractions” were worth the visit, it was the subtle, quirky characteristics of Amsterdam that fascinated me the most. For example, the leaning houses (designed to avoid taxes on the width of the house and then aggravated by the swampy/silty foundations) were quite perplexing. The clean canals transported me right back to Venice. Instead of dodging cars when jaywalking, it was a bicycle, the city’s preferred mode of transportation, that I sought to avoid!

However, I’d have to say that best day of my semester abroad thus far had to have been Saturday April 10, 2010. Thirty minutes after boarding a train from Amsterdam Centraal Station to Den Haag Centraal, I landed in the arms of Tamara, my former au pair (and last of eight). Although I hadn’t seen her since the left the United States 13 years ago (when I was entering third grade), I couldn’t have felt more comfortable. I spent the entire day with her – meeting her beautiful blonde family, perusing through her six hefty scrapbooks of her year on Ballard Drive, visiting her childhood home, touring the Royal Delft pottery factory, sharing memories, and shedding tears. It was truly a trip down memory lane, and I feel so lucky to have maintained such a strong bond with such an incredible friend.

Although it was hard to say goodbye to Tamara and the Netherlands, I look forward to spending my dwindling remaining weeks in Madrid in the company of friends and… FAMILY!