This week I went to the Netherlands.
It was kind of a spur of the moment thing. I noticed that I wouldn't have class for a week so I started texting friends in other countries and asking if I could sleep on their couch for a few days. After a bit of decision making, it was decided that I would spend my week off in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where my friend Elisa lives and goes to school.
I love Rotterdam! I know that Amsterdam is the first place everyone thinks of whenever they think of the Netherlands, but for me, it'll always be Rotterdam. I'll admit that I knew next to nothing about the city when I arrived, but I loved it as soon as I stepped off the train. It seems to find a really nice mix between old European charm and modern styling, which can be said for most of the country, actually.
My days in Rotterdam were mostly just spend wandering around, hopping on the tram whenever I felt
like it and hopping off in the same fashion. I don't really know where I went, and I probably couldn't
get back to those spots if I tried, but it was still a lot of fun. It was nice to be able to explore like that, and I hope I have the opportunity to explore another city like that again soon.
My final day in the Netherlands was spent in, of course, Amsterdam. You can't visit the Netherlands without going to see Amsterdam, I think. It's like an unwritten rule. Amsterdam is
a really cool city, too. There's something for everyone, it seems. Sure, there's legal marijuana and the red light district, but there's also art and history, and pretty much everything anyone could ask of a city. Really, it's great. I love the Netherlands, and I love the Dutch.
So here are a few things I learned about the Dutch during my week in the country:
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| Elisa ♥ |
I love Rotterdam! I know that Amsterdam is the first place everyone thinks of whenever they think of the Netherlands, but for me, it'll always be Rotterdam. I'll admit that I knew next to nothing about the city when I arrived, but I loved it as soon as I stepped off the train. It seems to find a really nice mix between old European charm and modern styling, which can be said for most of the country, actually.
My days in Rotterdam were mostly just spend wandering around, hopping on the tram whenever I felt
like it and hopping off in the same fashion. I don't really know where I went, and I probably couldn't
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| I'm constantly surrounded by water. Pretty different in comparison to Texas! |
My final day in the Netherlands was spent in, of course, Amsterdam. You can't visit the Netherlands without going to see Amsterdam, I think. It's like an unwritten rule. Amsterdam is
a really cool city, too. There's something for everyone, it seems. Sure, there's legal marijuana and the red light district, but there's also art and history, and pretty much everything anyone could ask of a city. Really, it's great. I love the Netherlands, and I love the Dutch.
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| Everything was so aesthetically pleasing |
So here are a few things I learned about the Dutch during my week in the country:
- Questionable but delicious condiment choices. Apparently eating mayonnaise with your fries is a popular thing there. I'll admit that I was disgusted when I was served mayonnaise with my fries, but Elisa convinced me to try it, and I don't think I'll be able to go back now. Hot sauce with fries though? Yeah, still not with you on that one.
- Really good English??? Like, better English than we speak in the States. And the Dutch don't really seem to have their own accent, as odd as that sounds. Their accents sound more like British accents than any accent in Central Europe, though many Dutch people seem to have a bit of an American accent going on.
- Very, very, very Americanised. They have all of the shops and fast food restaurants we have. Solo cups are called American cups. Everyone loves KFC. It's very weird. But also kind of cool. In a weird way.
Vaarwel! (That's Dutch for goodbye!)
-Lee
