Upon arriving in Amsterdam on July 3rd, I immediately recognized the city as a lively, bustling place! There were consistently people traveling through Amsterdam from all over the world, and it was so cool to meet so many from cultures different from my own! Our first two weeks of the program in the Netherlands was jam-packed with excursions and experiences every day. Here were some of my favorites:
- Museums and Tours!
- Our first several days getting adjusted to Amsterdam were spent visiting several different museums, like the Rijkes Museum, MOMA, Van Gogh, and the Rembrandt House! I saw a lot of artwork throughout my time here, both new and old, and I gained an appreciation for how historical pieces have been preserved over the years. Art truly is ever-evolving. Our canal cruise was beautiful and I absolutely loved getting to see the city from the water. We also did a group walking tour throughout Amsterdam and gained some insight into the culture and governmental structure of the country
- Trip to Leiden and the International School!
- Our group took a train over to Leiden and visited the International School of Leiden that has students enrolled from all over the world! While there, my CD 360 class was able to meet with Tineke Van Driel, a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has international experience and works at the school! I loved discussing similarities and differences in the professional requirements and practices of SLPs in the Netherlands versus the United States.
- Plastics Fishing!!!
- We had SO much fun competing against each other to clean up the canals! Our group spent a few hours with the group Plastic Whale that leads a boat clean-up initiative to recover waste and decrease environmental pollutants. Not to brag, but my boat did WIN for having the most waste collected! 🙂
- Trip to Zaanse Schaans!!!
- This may have been my favorite day of the entire trip! We spent a beautiful day in Zaanse Schaans that is rich in Dutch culture, windmills, cheese, and clogs! I loved getting to spend some time in the peaceful paths by the water and enjoyed some delicious Dutch pancakes!
- Visiting the Anne Frank House
- This was a surreal experience getting to physically walk through the building that the Frank family and others lived in hiding from the the Nazis in the 1940s. The walk through the house is audio-guided, so visitors can listen as they walk through each room and stairwell. Many parts were pulled directly from Anne’s diary, and I feel as though I have a new sense of appreciation for the stories she wrote and how bright, clever, and beautiful she truly was.
- Trip to the Hague
- On our last full day in the Netherlands, we went to The Hague and visited the Marithuis museum before heading to the beach for the afternoon! I put my feet in the North Sea and we enjoyed this beautiful part of the country!
- So many yummy restaurants and treats!
- On the weekends, free afternoons, and nighttime, we would explore the surrounding area for places to eat a meal or grab a snack. One of the best parts of Amsterdam is the blend of culture and ALL the different cuisine options that are so good! Some of my favorites were: Melly’s Stroopwaffels, Café BOKA, Bagels and Beans, SLA, dutch pancakes in Xaanse Schaans!
I learned SO much during these two weeks and will carry these memories with me for the rest of my life.
