Today was the first day we arrived in Amsterdam. After a long eight-hour flight, we got on the bus and headed to our hostel, the Generator. We met up with CIAEE guides, and they took us on a beautiful tour of the surrounding areas, including local grocery stores, parks, and places to eat and visit. For lunch, we had a Poke bowl; it possibly could have been the best Poke bowl I have ever had. We then checked in to the hostel to rest, then headed to our first group dinner. Something that has surprised me so far is the number of bikes. There are so many bikes parked on the sidewalks. People ride their bikes; it seems like everywhere. People who ride their bikes even have their own bike lanes. It will be an adjustment to look out for the bike lane when crossing the street. I also noticed a lot of places were closed today because it was Sunday, which can be expected in the US. So far, I have learned about the Netherlands culture that, at least in Amsterdam, it is widespread not to drive and just ride your bike or walk. Canals also are in the middle of the street where people take their boats and go down. My favorite part of the day was walking through the park. I enjoyed looking at all the pretty trees, canals, and birds. The Netherlands also focuses on sustainability, which I am interested in learning more about and seeing how it could apply in the US. Finally, one of the significant things I noticed today was how we are in more of a local than a touristy area. This has caused us to stand out, not in the best ways. Especially since it is our first day and still adjusting at times, it has pushed me out of my comfort zone because many social norms here are different. I look forward to visiting the Anne Frank House tomorrow and seeing more touristy areas.