So today is day 3 here in Amsterdam and I am more in love with the city and experience than I ever cold have imagined. Even in my biggest best-case scenario fantasies, I did not dream it wold be this great. I have met many interesting people and am making a lot of friends. Currently, I have been spending a lot of time with some Canadian girls, a French girl, and some boys from the States. I have met and spent time with people from Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, France, Canada, the States, Lebanon, and many other places. It is very interesting to learn about all the different countries. I am the only person from Illinois and I have only met one other person from the midwest (Cleveland). Randomly, I met a boy from San Diego who was born in Cape Girardeau, MO and has family there. It was such a weird coincidence that he finally showed me his passport because I didn't believe him.
The thing that never ceases to amaze me is how nice, friendly, and laid-back the people in Amsterdam are. Everyone in my program is very friendly and open to meeting new people; most people came alone. Dutch it people are probably some of the nicest people I have ever met. They are beyond helpful; anyone in the street will give you directions and they never get frustrated when you ask a lot of questions. Oftentimes, if people notice you are struggling or overhear your conversation, they will volunteer to help you. I am already starting to learn my way around and catch on to the public transportation system. We walk everywhere and my legs and feet hurt terribly. I will have to adjust. There are cars here, but not many. Most people use public transportation, bikes, and walk. Cars move very slowly because they must yield to people and bikers. It is not unusual to see people waking down the middle of the street, moving over only when a car drives by.
After being told how expensive everything here is, I have been pleasantly surprised to find that is not the case. The food here is much better and fresher and you can buy a really great sandwich for about 3 Euro or $3.60. It is definitely cheaper than the States and the food is better quality. Also, I bought a bottle of wine for 3 Euro and my friends bought 24 Heinekken for 12 Euro. Some things are more expensive but mostly the cost is about the same. I carry my water bottle at all times and re-fill it so that I don't have to buy drinks and that helps save money as well.
One thing that is more expensive here is using the restroom. In most public places, you have to pay to use the restroom; usually about .5 Euro. Coffee shops and bars generally have free restrooms, but you have to purchase something to use them. Basically, every time we eat or get a drink we try to use the restroom but that's it. Needless to say, my mother would go broke quickly.
The last few days have been a complete blur. It is international student orientation and there are activities planned every minute. In the very few free hours we have, we generally are out and about walking because the activities are downtown and our school is about 30 minutes by two different trains. That doesn't include walking to stops and waiting so it can take up to an hour to get home. Therefore, if there is free time in the day, we have to stay downtown because there is not time to come back. This is the reason I have been away from my phone and computer and unable to contact anyone.
It is absolutely FREEZING here!! The temperature is around 1 degree C (32 F), but the city is surrounded by water and it is a very wet cold. The only time I have ever been this cold is in Chicago and even the kid from Brazil said the same thing. It is a bone-chilling cold that cuts through your clothes and it is very windy. My hair is constantly a tangled mess from the combination of not having a hair dryer, wearing a hat a scarf, and the wind. I am thinking about cutting it! Packing was very unimportant because the only thing you really need is a coat. Everyone is so bundled up all the time that it is impossible to tell what anyone is wearing or worry about if they wore it the day before. I have completely given up on looking good!! It is interesting to see how people from different places deal with the cold. One Canadian girl only brought a light jacket because she doesn't even wear a heavy coat in 30 degree weather, she is used to much colder. However, she bought a coat first thing and has been wearing it since; she is not used to the wet cold. The people from California didn't even own coats before this trip and they are constantly setting them down and forgetting about them. The kid from Mexico was so cold that we had to go inside to warm up because he couldn't handle the cold. Very interesting!
That's all for now. Me and some friends are cooking dinner together. I will write about food at some point because that's very interesting. Love you all!!
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