Classes, canal walking, and more!

I've just finished my second week of classes, so now I know a bit more what they're all about. The classes I'm taking are Dutch Social Policy, Introduction to Conflict Studies, Environment and Sustainable Development, and Advanced Dutch Language (this last class is actually only starting next week). So far my favorite class is Dutch Social Policy - it talks about the evolution of all the different policies of the Netherlands on everything from drugs to prostitution to euthanasia. It's interesting to compare how different the policies are here compared to the US, to see what works and what doesn't. We also get to go on field trips to see the social policies in action and to hear about people who know about them first hand. For example this past week we went to a Smartshop (where a wide range of drugs, including mushrooms, are sold) and heard from two people that not only worked there, but are also involved in drug and addiction research. Their take was that instead of banning all drugs outright, there should be a policy of "harm reduction", that is making it so that people that want to take drugs can do so in a safe and well-informed manner. This is done by educating the people that come into Smartshops about different drugs, and providing safe places for people to take them, etc. Environment and Sustainable Development and Introduction to Conflict Studies are set up similarly in that I will have one two hour lecture per week, and one work group session with about 20 students where we'll discuss literature and do group activities. I feel a bit out of my element sometimes in these classes, since I have a neuroscience background and most of the students in these classes have more related majors. However, I am learning a lot, and it's interesting to hear the perspectives and knowledge of people from other areas. In Conflict Studies for example, we'll talk a fair amount about current world affairs, and it's nice to be able to understand some things that I hear in the news better.

It's warmed up now finally, although that does mean it's started raining. It's currently about 8 degrees Celsius (that's about 40 Fahrenheit - I'm trying to convert!). Besides the lack of rain though, there was one big bonus to the constant cold, and that was that the canals froze! Unfortunately, they just didn't freeze enough to do the elfstedentocht, which is where you can skate between 11 cities in one of the northern provinces along all the canals! Even so, there were plenty of canals frozen enough to walk on, and I even got to skate! (Not in Amsterdam though, in a small city outside). Skating is an important Dutch past time, and as soon as the canals are frozen enough, all the locals are out skating and even throwing parties on the canals.

 

Some canal walkers

  That's me!                     

 

View of the frozen canal from my room

Last weekend we went on a day trip with CIEE to a place called Zaanse Schanse, which is a town outside of Amsterdam with a lot of windmills. It used to be an industry hotspot, and it's been preserved as a museum town. It was really pretty, and some of the windmills are still used to make products - we got to see the inside of one that saws trees for lumber.

 We got to see how wooden shoes are made!

 Windmills

 Inside a windmill

 Zaanse Schanse is also where I got to skate on a canal!

That's all for now - tot ziens! (Until later!)

 

First week in Amsterdam!

It has been officially one week since I have been in Amsterdam and BOY HAS IT BEEN A WEEK. I feel like I've been here for a month already!! This will probably be one of my lengthier posts, since there's a lot to tell. And since I haven't taken too many pictures (sorry, everyone) it'll be pretty word laden, but I'll try to break it up (and keep it interesting!). Hopefully next week I'll have some more pictures that I can upload to show the city, where I'm living, etc.

I got here last Monday, at about 8 in the morning, Amsterdam time. I was able to sleep on the plane because I got two seats to myself (victory!) which was tremendously helpful for getting through the day. The first day was CIEE orientation, although nothing too intense since we were all tired, followed by a dinnertime canal cruise. It was the first chance I really had to see the city and I was overwhelmed by how beautiful it was. Everything looks like it could be on a postcard! The next day was more orientation, followed by a walking tour of the city. I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was so busy drinking it all in I kept forgetting to take my camera out. The next day (Wednesday) was even more orientation, but we did finally get to move into our dorms! I really like where I'm living a lot. I'm near a few of my classes so that's nice, and the set up is good too. It's a suite with 6 bedrooms, and then we share two bathrooms and a kitchen and living room. I'm living with five boys, which was a bit of a surprise at first, but they're all so nice and have made me feel at home, so I'm really looking forward to the rest of the semester! My room has a gorgeous view over a canal, so it's really fun when I wake up in the mornings to throw open the curtains. Thursday began yet another orientation, for the International Student Network. This orientation was less practical though, and a lot more getting to know the other international students. I lucked out and was put in a good orientation group - we all get along well and had really nice "coaches" (as the local UvA students who showed us around were called). There were lots of getting to know each other activities, and they threw us a couple of parties so that everyone would have a chance to get to know everyone else.

I started classes today, but I'll write more about those later when I've had all of them and know more what they'll be like. I will though make a one culture shock comment, and that is that it is VERY easy to get lost in Amsterdam. The streets aren't set up in blocks, like New York is for example, so if you take a wrong turn, you can end up getting very turned around, as I have already a few times. This might not be so bad if it weren't for the fact that it feels like only about half of the streets have signs on them, and when they do they're hidden away on the side of a building. I've started getting my bearings a bit by now though so hopefully in a week or two I'll be a pro at navigating the city!

I have even more to tell (about biking, food, etc.) but I'll save it for another time since this post is pretty long already. In sum, I love the city and the people so far, and I'm excited for the next four months! Pictures to come!