Days 36-39

So this week has been, once again, chock-full of studious learnings and other groovy-ness. Wednesday was a class day where I got to go to the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Dam Square for my Color class. We all followed our insane little Dutch professor, Marienne, like ducklings following the mama duck, on bikes on-by-one to the church/museum, where we studied stained-glass windows. Quite interesting for a bit, but not for four hours straight- that's stain glass overkill.
In my Dutch policy class we had a former prostitute come speak to our class. She refers to herself as a sex worker, and she was specifically an escort. We learned all about the different forms of prostitution/sex work in the Netherlands, which was quite fascinating. The woman specifically said that we were not allowed to mention her name, for discretion.

Nothing else too riveting happened class-wise this week. Since I don't have any groovy stories, I thought I'd share some FUN FACTS about Amsterdam, and some little quirks I've noticed since being here for over a month. I can't believe I've been living in this beautiful city for so long, yet also for such a short amount of time. Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever, and others it feels like I just got here.

FUN FACT: Everyone who rides bikes follows the bike traffic signals. They even have cool bike traffic lights.An example of bike traffic light, just for the bikers (fietsers) and bike lanes (fietspad).

FUN FACT: there are a lot of trams in Amsterdam. There are even more tram track lines, which are coincidentally the exact same width as a bike tire. You have to bike perpendicular to these darned lines, or else your bike will get stuck in the tracks and then BAM. you fall off your bike. Not so fun, and the Dutch people will make fun of you for it. Sort of have learned from personal experience...

FUN FACT: With every cup of coffee or tea that you order at any café or restaurant, you get a complimentary cookie on the side. Sometimes you'll get a nougat thing (quite yummy), or even a quarter-sized chocolate chip cookie. The best times are when you get a stroopwafel- YUM

FUN FACT: people with disabilities can share the "road" aka bike road, with the bikers. Instead of their motorized scooter things going between 3 and 5 mph, these bad boys out in good ol' Amsterdam go between 15 and 30 mph- pretty freaking fast! So they just cruise along and always are passing me. It makes me feel like a fool on my bike. oh well. I've even seen older people on them, presumably grandmothers or grandfathers, with little children- up to four of them- sitting on the scooter with grandpa while he whizzes down the street.

FUN FACT: On certain staircases they have little ramps for your bike so you can walk your bike down the stairs more easily. The Dutch think of everything.

FUN FACT: The Dutch eat their Doritos with salsa.

FUN FACT: they have cars that can literally fit in the bike lanes. Mainly for senior citizens. But they make Smart Cars look massive. THAT small.

FUN FACT: when the Dutch greet each other, it's typically with three kisses on the cheeks. One on the left cheek, then right cheek, then left cheek again.

FUN FACT: when people want to pass each other on bikes, or warn some stupid pedestrian to get out of the bike lane, people don't yell and scream. They just simply ring the bells on their bikes.


If I think of any more groovy FUN FACTS, I'll be sure to let you know.

Well, I must be off. It's another gorgeous (aka NOT rainy) day in A-Dam. Must go enjoy it!!

Tot ziens!