I can’t believe that we have already been in the Netherlands for a week.  Time has raced by, and it feels like we have packed so much into such a small amount of time.  Today was academically relaxed on the surface, but there were plenty of lessons to be learned reading between the lines.  

We began the day traveling across the city to the largest vintage market in the Netherlands.  It was extraordinary.  Everytime I thought I had reached the end, there would be another line of shops.  We spent two hours scavenging the market, and I purchased a new shirt, as well as two new chains.  The business structure of a vintage market is an interesting one.  First of all, the idea of taking old items and reselling them at a low price point is a great way to help out low income people.  From a concept to consumer perspective, these markets are ways to restart a supply chain.  For example, the chain of a t-shirt at a very basic level is as follows: get cotton, make the shirt, sell the shirt to retailers, sell the shirt to customers.  Once that customer is done using the t-shirt, the supply chain naturally ends.  But vintage markets are ways to restart the second half of the supply chain.  Instead of just throwing out the shirt, the current owner can now act as the retailer and sell the shirt to a new customer.  This is a great way to save materials, and provide affordable items.  

After about two hours in the market, we made our way to a Mediterranean restaurant for an alumni meet and greet.  We were given a private room, and served drinks with appetizers.  There were about ten different alumni who were living in the Netherlands and came to chat with us.  It was a great experience, and I really enjoyed being able to interact with them.  One conversation I found particularly interesting was with an alumni who works for ASML, a large Dutch tech company.  ASML creates machines that allow other companies to make software chips.  This shows the depth of the supply chain, as there is a separate business for machines that make chips, than the business of actually making chips, which are then sold to companies who make consumer products.  The price of a single one of these machines is approximately 250 million euros, which is incredible.  I also had an enjoyable conversation with an alumni named Chris, who was eager to talk about his time at Pitt itself.

The event ended with a photo-op at 4pm, and then we were set free.  A group of us did some shopping on the way back to the generator, and now everyone is tired after a day filled with walking.  Tomorrow begins the last stretch of the trip!  And mom, if you’re reading this happy mothers day, I forgot to get you a gift but I love you.