can’t talk, off to the netherlands
the first of many reflections about my weekly europe travels.
I’ve been busy, but this time for much more exciting reasons. I’m finally living my dream of studying abroad in Europe during my final semester of university. It’s exceeded my expectations of anything and everything—the learnings, the food, the people I’ve met in everyday interactions. And for that, I’m horribly behind in keeping up with my digital letters.
I planted my new home base in London, and I’m taking courses at the Accent Study Center in Bloomsbury. It’s an old-fashioned 4-story building with a welcoming faculty and in-house dog named Jasper who welcomed my cohort on the first day of orientation. British professors and communication specialists from across the city are brought in to teach seminars on media, culture, and politics; we even get to tour historical sites and museums as a part of our learning experience. And on the weekends, I set out on a journey to a new country.
Each week, I feel like I could write a mish-mash of jumbled thoughts about all I’m feeling, from the gut-punching nerves of navigating 4-hour airport lines to the breathtaking views over the waters. Over the next couple of months, I’m going to try to recollect and dedicate each letter to each weekend travel, starting first with the Netherlands.
The Alpaca Experience
A couple of my cohort friends and I decided to kick off our European travels in the Netherlands and find our way across some of its cities, namely Amsterdam. We booked our easyJet plane tickets, landed, and found ourselves greeted by alpacas and sheep at our weekend stay.
Yes, we booked an Airbnb on a farm.
Honestly, it was exhilarating—the idea of living communally with nature. The backyard leads to a vast land of farmland, stables, and in-ground trampolines that you can bounce on freely. As I prepared to venture out on the first day, I also discovered the refreshing tap water coming straight from the sink, a taste that felt almost like drinking from ice-cold rivers. I knew I was going to learn about systems and traditions that I never knew were possible, and I was so ready for it.
Look to Your Left and Right
I think that Amsterdam shocked me with its transportation; I heard so much about the power of walking cities, the way that it allows for accessibility and community-driven spaces that create a sense of connectedness.
But these bicyclists, oh my god, they scare me sometimes.
As I tried to walk across the roads, there were many, many times when I almost was hit by an incoming tsunami of bicyclists—some carrying groceries, produce, bags, and their own kids. I clearly looked like a tourist, my face in constant fear and anxiety every time I crossed the streets. But I got used to it and grew to love it, the way that the waters in the canals align perpendicular to the streets designed solely for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The architecture was stunning, and there are so many opportunities to walk into small crafts and art shops with locally designed apparel and prints. At one point, I walked the long hallways of a bookstore filled with texts and literature from across Europe, skimming the titles and wishing I could grab some tea and sit for hours in consumption.
Art, Design, and Many Colors
We need to discuss just how exciting European art is, and how much it leads to modernity and visual innovation. We conveniently arrived in Amsterdam when they were hosting art events across the city. We walked to an exhibit where graduate students hosted their thesis and art projects, a mixture of traditional canvas with light sculptures and video.
My favorite parts were the more local parts of the country, specifically Utrecht. Consider it a scaled-back version of Amsterdam, slightly suburban but still city-based and filled with hidden gems. I loved it so much that I even pondered the thought of moving there—like seriously, what if? What if I just picked up my bags and found my cottage-core room in the midst of the peace? It’s a thought that I haven’t shaken off since.
But the real showstopper is the Stedelijk Museum, which hosts contemporary art from around the world. Its focus delved into ideas of consumerism, sustainability, action, and movement. I even bought my favorite tote bag from there that I’ve since taken to many of my other European travels.
The Tastes of Holland
I can’t end this letter without a nod to some of the incredible dishes here. The Dutch’s main grocery chain is Albert Heijn, and it was lined up with some of the freshest and organic produce, from blended fruit smoothies to kneaded pasta dough.
Rotterdam had a food hall with small cultural vendors from across the world, and I took bites of Spanish paella, pastries, and Turkish cuisine. The gelato cones were creamy bites of light goodness, not too sweet and good for the soul. I indulged in small snacks, such as fried croquettes from a literal vending machine (it was life-changing, really) and Dutch fries with mayo. In Utrecht, I sipped on mint tea with a serving of crepe-like savory pancakes, and later in the day, took bites of buttery cheese.
Minus the most stressful airport experience of my life at Schiphol (the lines were horrendous, trust me), the weekend kicked off the beginning of many travels, and more to come. And I can’t wait to write about each and every single one of them.
