Amsterdam

I know it's been a while since I've last written, but I just came back from a study tour to Amsterdam with my class (Human Trafficking and Prostitution)! I was there for a full week and it was a great experience - I got to know a great group of people and got to explore a new city. Amsterdam is full of canals and picturesque bridges like this one...

We went to the Anne Frank house, which was so powerful to actually see in real life. It was hard to believe that she had stood in the same place that we were standing, had eaten in the kitchen we were looking at and had written her diary in the same place that we were reading parts of it in. We couldn't take pictures inside the museum, but here is me outside of it.

We also got to the Van Gogh museum, which again we couldn't take pictures in. Here is a copy that I found online though of my favorite painting from the exhibit. This photo doesn't do it justice at ALL - the texture was so rich and there were subtle hints of pink and flowers on it.

Our class spent a good amount of time exploring the red light district both during the day and at night. It was certainly a unique area, with window brothels mixed right next to restaurants, shops and churches. I have many stories from this part, but you'll have to ask me on your own..! Something I also loved was there was a ton of shopping, both high end and (finally!) cheap flea markets. There were beautiful tulips for sale everywhere, but apparently US customs won't let me bring back bulbs to plant in my garden next year.

I can't believe how much I missed Copenhagen while I was there. I loved the trip to Amsterdam, but am so happy to be back in the city where I actually understand the transportation system and know places to eat. Being away made me realize how much of the language I actually understood! Of course I got the obligatory picture in front of the "I AMsterdam" sculpture before I left - for those of you who haven't seen my profile picture on facebook yet here it is..

While I was in Amsterdam, my brother Michael graduated from high school! He gave a speech at graduation, which I was so sad to miss. Thankfully momma Fisch put a video of it up on facebook, and I watched it proudly as soon as I could. And in classic Michael style, I have 2 papers and a quiz due in the next 48 hours and haven't started on any of them. Time to do work..!