After flying from Burlington, VT to Washington, DC. Washington to Pittsburgh. And then Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, I finally boarded our groups red eye flight to Amsterdam at about 6pm on Saturday evening. The flight took nearly seven hours, and we arrived at about 8am local time in the Netherlands. Luckily for me, I had an isle seat, and the seat next to me was open. This certainly added to the comfort of the trip! After some customs struggles, baggage claim, a quick croissant breakfast, and a twenty minute bus ride we finally arrived at our hostel. We stored our luggage as check in was not yet available, and met our CIEE guides, Sophia and Dasha, for orientation. They covered everything we could possibly need to know for the trip, from the itinerary to emergency contact information. The whole presentation took about an hour, and was very helpful. We even practiced some common Dutch phrases, and considered our learning goals for the trip. From there we were given a tour of the neighborhood, and a poke bowl lunch in the park. By the time we were done eating, the hostel was ready to check us in. We found the rooms to be small but comfortable. They consist of two bunk beds equipped with drawers, a shower, a bathroom, and sink. It’s a bit crammed, but will do for the brief time we have here in Amsterdam. We had a few hours to ourselves, which were used to shower and take a much needed nap. Overnight flights normally don’t result in a great nights sleep, so getting some rest before dinner was crucial. At five o’clock we made the 15 minute walk to the restaurant for dinner. It was a nice little spot, decorated with a variety of plants. I ordered the steak and broccoli, which was a good selection. Dinner took about an hour, and now the rest of the evening is free for us to do what we want, so I’m looking forward to exploring the city. Tomorrow begins the heart of the trip, so get ready!