Our adventure began as any good one does, with lots of travel and even more excitement. A culmination of buses, trams, and planes delivered our group of twenty five first across the state and eventually across the Atlantic. At the conclusion of our lengthy international travel, we began with a welcome orientation led by tour guides Sophia and Dasha. Although the sleepiness was almost palpable among us, an eagerness to explore Amsterdam persisted as we gathered in the beautiful auditorium. The room had served as a lecture hall in our hostel’s past life as a university building. This evolution was memorialized through the room’s modern laboratory equipment chandelier and tiered wooden desks reminiscent of a one-room schoolhouse. 

As was appropriate for the academic ambiance, it was here that we were given an assignment. Each of us were prompted to explore what we would like to gain from these next two weeks in the Netherlands. First and foremost, of course, I am looking forward to discovering new and delicious food. At first glance this may seem surface level, but besides the deliciousness of it all, I think there are countless interesting cultural traditions and personal connections uncovered between one’s fork and plate. Continuing with the theme of connections, I am excited to get to know those within our group better and possibly meet some locals as we visit University of Amsterdam and further explore the city. From an academic and career advancement standpoint, I am eager to expand my understanding of sustainability within the context of engineering and how I may incorporate that knowledge into my future educational and occupational endeavors. Finally, I want to embrace whatever new experiences arise and make the most out of this incredible experience. 

After pondering and establishing these goals, we set off on an adventure which of course began with… you guessed it… food! A quick walk through the park conveniently located right outside our hostel’s doors brought us to Poke Perfect where we picked up salmon bowls before making our way back through the park. Our group found a spot alongside the fountain where we were able to enjoy our meal and witness a little piece of everyday life in Amsterdam. Of course many bikers lined the paths in addition to the occasional runner and those just sitting on benches and generally enjoying the beautiful weather. 

At the conclusion of lunch and leisure in the park we all embraced the long awaited post-travel nap and shower. Following that much needed rest, we enjoyed a group dinner before splitting off into our own small group explorations of choice. To get an even better feel for the everyday life in Amsterdam, Bell, Jack, and I made our way to a residential area where we explored a neighborhood, a grocery store, and even a local playground. Despite the vastness of the city, we noticed a general quietness around the streets and were greeted by the subtle smiles of bikers passing by everywhere we went.