We started off our day with a trip to VU, a college in Amsterdam. It was really interesting to see the similarities and differences between here and colleges back in the States. The first major difference that was brought to my attention was the cost of tuition. The cost of tuition for those who live in Europe is only €3000 and for those not in Europe is €15000. So much much less than in the States. Although I’m not necessarily considering attending this school, it was cool to see how different it was yet still very similar to the US. We even got the opportunity to speak to one of the students. She was a business major and told us a little bit about the business school which was really cool.
Our next stop was at Schiphol airport but not where you’d expect. We were touring the behind the scenes of the KLM maintenance and engineering buildings. This was such an amazing experience because we got the opportunity to learn about how airplanes are checked for safety, when the need maintenance, and how it happens. We even got to see an airplane being worked on in the hanger. This specific plane was being checked and tuned up but also the interior was being updated to meet company standards and expectations. These parts all relate to concept to consumer because we got to see what the engineers looked for defect wise in the plane. Then the next step is to conceptualize and figure out a way to fix it. Finally the fixed plane is back and ready for consumer use. We also learned about why tickets are so expensive. It all goes back to cost of good sold and profit. For example, KLM has 5000 employees most of which are highly trained in the field of aviation that are constantly working and checking to ensure the safest and most comfortable experience with the airline. Not only do these employees need to be compensated for their work but the costs associated with maintains airplanes are in the hundreds of millions. Once this is put into perspective, you can better understand the reasoning behind the pricing of the tickets.
The most astonishing part about this airport trip was the sheer size of the planes. I knew they were big but seeing them in a closed hanger and standing next to it was such a surreal experience. We even got to see the control room for an engine check and Donald, our tour guide, said when they test these huge engines you can feel the power vibrating all throughout your body and it’s the most impressive thing you will ever experience which is absolutely insane.
Finally, we finished off the day with a group dinner at a cultural center. We had salad, cous cous, and a vegetable chili-type dish. It was extremely delicious and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. What’s interesting about the place that we ate at is their business model. They rent out their space to people to raise money so that they can give back to the community and host free events. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.
