by benj2919 on 27 August 2010
Like the city felt sad we were leaving it, the weather was rainy – a light mist really – during the early morning hours of our last official day in Amsterdam. Accustomed to running in the rain, like any good Seattleite, I still took to the streets for one last final run before the final presentation ceremony!
Everyone gathered in the courtyard punctually at 9 a.m. However, as any day with important presentations scheduled, we had a run-in with Murphy’s Law. Waiting for the bus to take us to the VKS with a combination of nervousness and excitement, we neglected to flag down the bus driver. It sped right past us. Standing in the cloud of exhaust, everyone was a little dazed and confused, but as the expert travelers and navigators we have come to be during our stay here, we regrouped and started on foot to our destination. On the bright side, walking is a much more gezellig form of transportation than public buses.
After a combination of walking and hopping on an alternative bus, everyone arrived at the VKS with a spring in their step, alert, awake, and ready to present his or her research. Some final remarks of wisdom from our professors led right into the student research presentations. The next several hours were a grand academic and intellectual adventure through the city of Amsterdam. The journey began with a deep analysis of the Indische Buurt neighborhood, continued with a plunge into the inner workings of the Aya Sofya mosque, and then took a whirl through the streets of Amsterdam on a bicycle. We discovered that ferries can be gezellig. Although in the case of buses and trams – not so much. Next was a jaunt through the illicit, licit, and tolerated activities in Vondelpark, and finally, we were left with visions of urban screens playing in our heads.
A fantastic success everyone! Congrats! Celebrations began with a lively reception in the VKS lobby. A portion of the group carried them on at the brewery underneath the windmill just a short walk from the VKS. It was my first visit, and I would highly recommend it – a fine establishment. Although being in the company of good friends and having the burden of presentations, research, and deadlines alleviated contributed much more to the convivial atmosphere.
This evening, we held the final group dinner at a wonderful Iranian restaurant. Traveling to the restaurant, Clifford led one last procession through the streets of Amsterdam by bike. Once there we relaxed in a small inner courtyard as the food was being prepared. Dinner was fantastic, and soon it came time for some final words from Rob and Clifford. After which each of us had the honor of receiving a certificate of completion.
Rob put in words perfectly what I feel created the best experiences of this program: entrepreneurial learning opportunities. Getting out of your comfort zone, taking chances, and putting yourself in new situations helps us grow, keeps our minds sharp, and enriches life. Thanks to everyone for making this program a fantastic experience!
(P.S. More photos and videos are on their way when I’m at a decent internet connection back in civilization)
by benj2919 on 27 August 2010
Like the city felt sad we were leaving it, the weather was rainy – a light mist really – during the early morning hours of our last official day in Amsterdam. Accustomed to running in the rain, like any good Seattleite, I still took to the streets for one last final run before the final presentation ceremony!
Everyone gathered in the courtyard punctually at 9 a.m. However, as any day with important presentations scheduled, we had a run-in with Murphy’s Law. Waiting for the bus to take us to the VKS with a combination of nervousness and excitement, we neglected to flag down the bus driver. It sped right past us. Standing in the cloud of exhaust, everyone was a little dazed and confused, but as the expert travelers and navigators we have come to be during our stay here, we regrouped and started on foot to our destination. On the bright side, walking is a much more gezellig form of transportation than public buses.
After a combination of walking and hopping on an alternative bus, everyone arrived at the VKS with a spring in their step, alert, awake, and ready to present his or her research. Some final remarks of wisdom from our professors led right into the student research presentations. The next several hours were a grand academic and intellectual adventure through the city of Amsterdam. The journey began with a deep analysis of the Indische Buurt neighborhood, continued with a plunge into the inner workings of the Aya Sofya mosque, and then took a whirl through the streets of Amsterdam on a bicycle. We discovered that ferries can be gezellig. Although in the case of buses and trams – not so much. Next was a jaunt through the illicit, licit, and tolerated activities in Vondelpark, and finally, we were left with visions of urban screens playing in our heads.
A fantastic success everyone! Congrats! Celebrations began with a lively reception in the VKS lobby. A portion of the group carried them on at the brewery underneath the windmill just a short walk from the VKS. It was my first visit, and I would highly recommend it – a fine establishment. Although being in the company of good friends and having the burden of presentations, research, and deadlines alleviated contributed much more to the convivial atmosphere.
This evening, we held the final group dinner at a wonderful Iranian restaurant. Traveling to the restaurant, Clifford led one last procession through the streets of Amsterdam by bike. Once there we relaxed in a small inner courtyard as the food was being prepared. Dinner was fantastic, and soon it came time for some final words from Rob and Clifford. After which each of us had the honor of receiving a certificate of completion.
Rob put in words perfectly what I feel created the best experiences of this program: entrepreneurial learning opportunities. Getting out of your comfort zone, taking chances, and putting yourself in new situations helps us grow, keeps our minds sharp, and enriches life. Thanks to everyone for making this program a fantastic experience!
(P.S. More photos and videos are on their way when I’m at a decent internet connection back in civilization)
by dreinelt on 24 August 2010
I can’t believe it, but it has already been a week since I left Amsterdam with Andrew, and damn life is good. While I loved the city, the culture, the people, pretty much everything, the last week of the program …
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by racmccaf on 19 August 2010
The time has come, as I sit in my hotel room half-watching Dutch TV (Fraiser, ironically…) with my sister, to write a final post to wrap up this part of my trip.
The ending of the program came in a bittersweet fashion. Although I was becoming quite ready to finish up and say goodbye to my project, I had such a fantastic month, I’m sad to see it go. Highlights from the last week were: a day trip to Utrecht, home from which I (and two others) wore a stranger’s pants after an intimate encounter with the canal during a canoe/kayak trip, several trips to a restaurant/bar around the corner from the dorms near Artis where I have become friends with the bartender, a successful final presentation of my project, and the purchase of the craziest pants I’ve ever seen at a street market near the windmill brewery by VKS.
When my sister Amanda arrived on Tuesday morning it was raining, dreary, and everyone was packing and leaving. Failure to obtain a mattress from John almost spelled disaster in the form of Amanda and I having to squeeze onto my very small bed. However, Derek had left early and Ben was still around to let me into his room where I slept away my last night at the compound before literally being kicked out of my own room at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
The hotel I found here has proven to be a gem. It’s not far from the Albert by Waterlooplein and is spacious enough that there was room for Jenny and Greg to crash (and dump the entire contents of both their suitcases) on the floor and couch last night. The all-hours breakfast/coffee/cookie/bread/cheese/sausage/fruit bar downstairs might be the best part though. I led my sister on a bike tour yesterday and today that ended up being a heavy dose of nostalgia of having been lost on certain streets over the last month. “Oh I remember this is where John led us astray on the way to Leidseplein,” or “oh yes, Jenny and I were confused around here once or twice,” and “I dropped my map here on the way to Vondelpark on the first day with my bike and wanted to cry.” I managed to maneuver the city like an expert though, which has only caused a sickening feeling to form in the pit of my stomach that I have to leave soon. I find this an interesting realization to have because I think it encompasses part of what Jenny’s and my project was attempting to convey. I’m not sure if I became attached to Amsterdam in and of itself or if it was mostly because I associate it with the good time I had with this program. Either way, meandering the streets and eating dinner with my legs dangling over the canal tonight felt like home. Being able to recognize streets, shops, and cafes I’ve dined at is something special. There’s such comfort to be found in the familiar. It saddens me to think that bicycling over flat terrain, light as a feather thanks to my wonderful saddle bags, careening over dikes and canals with the click of my bell will not be something I can take home with me. I will miss that rickety omafiets. Now that Jenny and Greg have departed, I believe I am the last one left. But knowing Clifford is roaming around somewhere with Jasper in his bike basket is reassuring.
I sign off by offering the wiki link to my final project. Or might I suggest you Google my name and “gezellig” and see what you find a few links down. Thank you to everyone for a great month in a great city doing great things.
Amsterdam, I will be back.
by racmccaf on 19 August 2010
The time has come, as I sit in my hotel room half-watching Dutch TV (Fraiser, ironically…) with my sister, to write a final post to wrap up this part of my trip.
The ending of the program came in a bittersweet fashion. Although I was becoming quite ready to finish up and say goodbye to my project, I had such a fantastic month, I’m sad to see it go. Highlights from the last week were: a day trip to Utrecht, home from which I (and two others) wore a stranger’s pants after an intimate encounter with the canal during a canoe/kayak trip, several trips to a restaurant/bar around the corner from the dorms near Artis where I have become friends with the bartender, a successful final presentation of my project, and the purchase of the craziest pants I’ve ever seen at a street market near the windmill brewery by VKS.
When my sister Amanda arrived on Tuesday morning it was raining, dreary, and everyone was packing and leaving. Failure to obtain a mattress from John almost spelled disaster in the form of Amanda and I having to squeeze onto my very small bed. However, Derek had left early and Ben was still around to let me into his room where I slept away my last night at the compound before literally being kicked out of my own room at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
The hotel I found here has proven to be a gem. It’s not far from the Albert by Waterlooplein and is spacious enough that there was room for Jenny and Greg to crash (and dump the entire contents of both their suitcases) on the floor and couch last night. The all-hours breakfast/coffee/cookie/bread/cheese/sausage/fruit bar downstairs might be the best part though. I led my sister on a bike tour yesterday and today that ended up being a heavy dose of nostalgia of having been lost on certain streets over the last month. “Oh I remember this is where John led us astray on the way to Leidseplein,” or “oh yes, Jenny and I were confused around here once or twice,” and “I dropped my map here on the way to Vondelpark on the first day with my bike and wanted to cry.” I managed to maneuver the city like an expert though, which has only caused a sickening feeling to form in the pit of my stomach that I have to leave soon. I find this an interesting realization to have because I think it encompasses part of what Jenny’s and my project was attempting to convey. I’m not sure if I became attached to Amsterdam in and of itself or if it was mostly because I associate it with the good time I had with this program. Either way, meandering the streets and eating dinner with my legs dangling over the canal tonight felt like home. Being able to recognize streets, shops, and cafes I’ve dined at is something special. There’s such comfort to be found in the familiar. It saddens me to think that bicycling over flat terrain, light as a feather thanks to my wonderful saddle bags, careening over dikes and canals with the click of my bell will not be something I can take home with me. I will miss that rickety omafiets. Now that Jenny and Greg have departed, I believe I am the last one left. But knowing Clifford is roaming around somewhere with Jasper in his bike basket is reassuring.
I sign off by offering the wiki link to my final project. Or might I suggest you Google my name and “gezellig” and see what you find a few links down. Thank you to everyone for a great month in a great city doing great things.
Amsterdam, I will be back.
