June 11 Brussels

Today was the second day in Brussels. The day stared early with orientation followed by a visit to the American Embassy.  At the embassy we had a very informative brief from a representative of the department of commerce. I learned much about the role of the commercial department and their relationships with American companies and foreign connections.  I also discovered that the foreign diplomat was a Bay area just like me. This inspired me in some odd way to wonder if I could take my Marketing career to the limits that she had.  Following this educational and enlightening experience I made my way back to the Hostel for a class meeting and then some catch up on some unfinished work. I decided I would wait until the next day to start hustling for my interviews. Luckily today I didn’t have to go searching for my dinner because dinner and entertainment were provided.  The night consisted of Spaghetti in a cup (with rigatoni noodles), our drink of choice, and a few rock bands on the side. I played a few games of spades learned a new card game named Moron and met a few new people from around the globe.  The night turned out pretty good. Eventually I made my way to bed to get ready for what tomorrow had to bring.  Goodnight world.

June 22 Amsterdam

Today was the last full day in Amsterdam and I was determined to make the best of it.  I made my way ot into the city with a few friends to catch some last minute sights. our first stop was the nemo museum which to our disappointment turned out to be a childrens museum but we made the best of it.  The next museum we stopped at was the Van Gogh Museum.  The art work was amazing and life story was tragic.  After this we went back out into the city to catch a few more sights and take a few more pictures.  The night ended play pool at a local bar with new friends.

June 23 Bye Bye Europe

My journey has finally come to a conclusion and I feel like I want to squeeze that last once of fun and excitement out but time is up. We got up bright and early to make our way to the airport. After I crossed security and my gate and couldn’t leave reality set in. The ten hour flight back to the U.S. was a breeze. I slept almost the whole flight. I landed back in Nashville to the home of the beautiful and was greeted by friends. The experience was one that I will never forget but there no place like home!

june 21 2012

Today was the sixth day in Holland and each day it has become more interesting. I made my way into the city with a friend to fish up my last interviews. I had noticed that there were many athletic stores in Amsterdam so I decided to find out what all the hype was about and I interview one. I chose Oasics because I was somewhat familiar with their products. I came to find that 25% of the Amsterdam population consider themselves to be runners and much of the city is populated very active occupants. In between me searching for a final interview I took in some more sight a bought a few souvenirs’ even came across a one man magic show. Tonight we were able to go on a boat tour of Amsterdam despite tyhe stormy weather.

June 19 Amsterdam

Today is day four in Amsterdam and I was back on my retail hunt. I made my way back down to the local mall to conduct my pre-schedule interview and snag a few more.  I was able to find my way to few interesting stores to include a cool Vintage store and a store than shared a name with and American cigarette company (Malboro Classics).  I was up to three conquered interviews.  I made my way back through the city to take in some sights. I even stopped for some Vietnamese food. Amsterdam was full of culture. After this I made my way back to the hostel for another  guest speaker.  The guest speaker was a interesting and inspiring media activist by the name of Zoe D’maro.  She was from Italy and moved to Amsterdam for media freedom.  She shared a video of some of the steps she had taken to end media take over in her country.  She also took her skills to Johannesburg in order to help the youth and criminal population. The night ended peacefully in my top bunk rack to prepare for the early trip to Rotterdam in the morning.

June 18 Amsterdam

Today the Amsterdam school week officially began and it was an eventful day indeed. The day started with the walking tour of Amsterdam. I didn’t want to make the same mistake as yesterday so I was right on time. Unfortunately one of my classmates wasn’t so I was forced to leave me tour guide and catch the tram with her to the central station.  When we arrived I couldn’t find my group anywhere but coincidently another group had just started and I jumped right in.  I had learned many facts about Amsterdam to include: the history of Rembrant and his artistic style, the east India Trading company and local shipping endeavors, and well as the red light district and the guidelines for the use of marijuana. Come to find out weed was technically not legal in the city it was just tolerated.  After the tour I made my way to the local shopping center to start my interview hunt. Once again I did not get an interview however, I was able to schedule and appointment. Immediately following this I rushed back to the hostel to get ready for the Nikki Minaj concert that night. We got as fly as possible and made our way down to the lobby where we stopped to take pictures. Next we stopped at the hostel bar to get the night started and hopped in our Mercedes Benz taxi cab to make our way to the Heinekin Music Theatre.  The line for the concert was wrapped around the outside of the building.  Upon entrance we eased our way as close to the stage as possible.  The rest of the night was filled with fun and entertainment. The night ended with a taxi ride back to the hostel among new friends.

June 16 Amsterdam

We woke up at the crack of dawn today to make our way to our final destination of Amsterdam.  Thankfully I had packed the night before so the morning was a breeze.  At the train station we loaded our bags on the train and took our seats however this train was a bit more skeptical in the last so we had to assign a few gear guards. The ride to Amsterdam went by relatively fast and I was thankful for this because it wasn’t the most comfortable.  As soon as we got to our hostel we hit the ground running. It was Saturday night and we knew this would be our only real weekend to see what Amsterdam was really about. I made my way to the pancake corner and off to H&M to pick out a outfit for the night.  By the time night rolled around I was ready to get my taste of the city and it seemed to be ready for our arrival. The streets were line with people. A banner reading after party hung over a long and vibrant ally way. We danced our way down the strip all night.  The night ended with one man one bike and three exhausted women riding down the Amsterdam streets with the wind in our hair. Until tomorrow…Peace and Blessings.

June 15 2012

Today was the last full day in Brussels and I wanted to get in some last minute sight seeing with my city pass. I got off to a late start after a late night and the weather was on my side but I jumped back out into the city with a few friends.  We made our way into the cathedral which seemed to very popular this day. The architecture was amazing and the stained glass windows took my breath away.  The church pews were filled people enjoying the scenery of trying to get the spiritually healing for the week.  Church stairs were filled with tourist trying to get there perfect pictures. Next we made our way to the money museum. Here we got a chance to see currency from all around the world. This exhibition didn’t seem as popular however, it was very informative.  As the day quickly started growing closer to the evening, we made our way via metro back to the local shopping center to satisfy our shopping fix. This time I went down the outside strip. There was and overwhelming selection of stores including four H&Ms on the same strip. I saw many familiar stores that I would see in the U.S. such as Forever21, Zara and Mango. I also saw many I would never see in the U.S. I satisfied my shopping needs and then made my way back to the hostel. The night ended with a movie while I packed for the journey to Amsterdam.

June 14 2012

Day five in Belgium and I made my way out into city to begin my retail hunt.  I walked down to the city center and began to scope. The first store I came across was a small tie sop in the middle of the city center. There was one sales associate sitting behind a large counter. I gave her my introduction and asked for and interview and she politely accepted. The rest of the day was just as success.  I successfully was able to complete my hunt for interviews within a few hours. Other stores than I was able to infiltrate were Superdry which originated in England.  The clothing had a Ambercrombie and Fitch feel with a Japanese twist and it was a lot higher priced than I expected. The second store was named Geox and originated in Italy. Here I met  a young Belgian Dancer who used to dance for Chris Brown. Even though her English was very broken she was very friendly and gave me her number and facebook to show me all the hot spots in Brussels.  The last store was Cora Kemperman where the atmosphere was much more low key yet inviting. I learned of all the steps they were taking as a business to help save the environment.  After leaving the city center I made my way back to the hostel to meet our guest speaker.  Upon arrival I found that the guest was lost and would be late. Eventually he found his was and we all gathered in the classroom where we learned about the ins and outs of the shipping industry.  Following the guest speaker we made our way back out into the city for a class dinning out and dessert.  We ended up eating at a Turkish restaurant where I enjoyed some delicious Turkish chicken pizza. For dessert I had a chocolate Mouse cake while I laughed and talked among my class mates. The night ended among friends in the hostel bar.

June 10 Paris

Today we left Paris to make our way to Brussels Belgium. I got up relatively early went downstairs for a taste of breakfast and then made my way straight to the laundry mat to wash my clothes. Going to the laundry mat made me realize how universal most actions are. I say this because all the washing directions were in French however the use of pictures and the use of context made my washing experience simple and successful. In the meantime I finished packing up my things and made my way back up the treacherous stairwell with my luggage. When we split into groups for departure I left with the first group. Apparently after a week in Paris we were much more adapted to the traveling experience. Luckily no one was lost this time and we all made it to the train station successfully.  When we bored the train I assisted getting everyone’s luggage getting packed away and then made my way to my seat. I was exhausted and we were on the fastest train in Europe so the ride would be nearly enough to catch up on sleep.  The train didn’t seem to be going as fast as I expected but I realized its speed wasn’t a myth because by the time I laid my head down we were in Brussels.  Entering Brussels was definitely a surprise coming from Paris.  The city seemed a bit more Urban and a little run down.  Despite this I was still interested in the change of scenery.  The hill from the Metro station was a bit rigorous but nothing like Paris and the stairs from Hell. The first gift Belgium had to offer were larger rooms with limited yet available internet. I was already relieved by this.  Little did I know there were more surprises to come. We were introduced with the challenge of playing a game that sinfully resembled the amazing race.  I was up for the challenge so I gathered my group and we made our way out into the new city. We put our brains and our athleticisms together to try and find every listed structure as fast as we could. The game was time consuming yet the thrill of new discoveries and of course winning the prize made it exhilarating. Unfortunately another group beat us to the punch. After this loss we made our way back into the streets of Brussels to find something to eat. I had a delicious Belgium waffle and chocolate ice cream for a starter and then we made our way to a small Turkish restaurant that I can’t remember the name of.  The night end with a long needed hot shower and deep sleep. Welcome to Brussels.

June 9 Paris

Today was the last Day in Paris. I made my way back into the city to try and catch a last minute glimpse of everything I could with a few friends. We decided to got to Notre Dame first. Getting off the metro and coming to the street level and seeing the church across the river was a mesmerizing experience and it was only the beginning. We got in a line that stretched back far enough that it almost reached the street. Surprisingly the lined moved relatively fast and we were inside the church in no time.  The inside was just as capturing as the outside. The stained glass windows decoratively lined the walls of the church.  The stone walls were so intricately carved and I stretched so high I almost broke my neck trying to see the top.  There was beautiful art work at every turn.  Next we made our way to Le Louvre.  Tough I had been here a few times before the architecture of the building was still so capturing to me. We stopped at the food court inside which was quite different than any American food court I had ever seen. They actually had real food options not fast food, aside from the awkwardly located Mcdonalds around the corner.   I paid almost 20 Euros for a food court meal; however, it was justified. After Le Louvre we walked down the Paris Streets and bought a few souvenirs.  From here we made our way further down town by the Opra House.  Looking at most of the structures of Paris, I was in disbelief that that they were constructed by human hands. I was like nothing I had ever seen in the states. From we here we made our last minute runs of retail therapy in Paris. From here we went to Le Crepage for another taste of their delicious cuisine. The night ended with long needed sleep for an early wake up and new adventure. Aui Voir Paris. Bounjour Brussels.

June 20 2012 Roterdam

Today we fun event filled day in Roterdam.  The day started pretty early and ended relatively late. We met at central station at 8am and took about a hour long train ride to the city.  I tried to sleep but it was more of a tease than a energy boost that I was hoping for.  After getting off the train we went straight to the bike shop to rent our transportation for the day.  Most of us including myself hadnt been on a bike in almost a decade but it came back naturally.  Manuvering through traffic on a bike was quite an experience.  The first even of the day was the Spido boat tour of the shipping port in Roterdam.  The port was the largest port in Europe and the third largest in the world. The next stop was a TV tower within the city.  I made it to the second highest level unfortunately my nerves didnt let me make it to the top. After the TV tower we road through a small neighbohood in the city to get something to eat.  I had a chicken pizza but it didnt taste like anything from the states.  I hadnt yet felt like I had enough of Roterdam so I decided to stay a little longer with Biff's class.  We went to see where the Mayflower left to go to America. We made a couple more stops to include a boating dock, a park with a petting zoo (where we fed about 20 Bambis), and finally a nice cafe with an exception view of the lake. It was the first time I had seen real sunshine in these last three weeks. It was Beautiful. After this we made our way back to central station in agonizing pain from the bike seats. I honestly dont know Europeans ride bikes all day. I didnt sleep on the hour ride back to the hostel so now I am ready to. Good night bloggers.

June 17 2012 Amsterdam

Today was the second day in Amsterdam. There wasn't to much activity to report today do to it being Sunday. I misses the walking tour but I will catch it tomorrow. The weathwr was beautiful though I can say that much. There were many people outside at the park. Ansterdam kind of reminds me if San Francisco very free spirited yet with a unique rythm. All in all, today was a day for catch up. Hopefully the rest of the week with a lot of story material.Peace love and happiness. Goodnight.

june 13 2012 Belgium

Today was the fourth day in Belgium and so far im still enjoying the relitively laid back atmosphere of the city. My day started off with a pre scheduled 10:30 am appointment with the store manager of a local retail store Calzedonia.  Upon my arrival at the store I was actually happily gretted by two interviewees. I recieved a lot of good information from them and found out that they actually originated in Italy.  The General manager had jsut flew in from the headquarters in Italy this morning to open a new store in Brussels.  Following this I had just enough time to make it back to the hostel in time to go to the chocolate factory. The chocolate factory was actually much more of an educational experience than I expected. The sample of hot chocolate was amazing and the demostrator was very informative and hospitable (This was an obvious difference from the French). After the chocolate factory I made my way back into the city to get some more interviews.  I was able to get one actual interview and schedule a few appointments. Before I left the central area I stopped at quick then made my way back to the hostel to catch up on some work.

June 12 2012-Belgium

Today was the third day in Belgium. Got a late start after a late night of excitement. I woke up with to minimal but appreciated internet access in my room. I attempted to catch up on a few things. Following this I got ready for our 2:00 meeting to attend the European Parliment. We took around a 25 minute walk to the Union building across meters of bumping coble stone. Upon our arrival we made our way in the builing through a relatively heavy crowd. We were directed to a small lecture room where we were enlightened with information about the European Union. The lecture was informative but admittedly a bit draining. Following this event I made my way to the local mall City 2 to try and get a few interviews from the some retail stores.  I was suprisingly able to get on the metro for free,  Unlike unlike anywhere I have ever experienced.  The metro let me right into the mall. I had some difficutly getting interviews before the mall closed nowever I was a ble to squeeze in an appointment. After the mall close me and a few Tncis friends ate at a delicious grill across the street (almost felt at home). After this I made my way back to the hostel to wind down the evening. Day three in Belgium.

June 7 2012

Here is my recap of yesterday in Paris.  The day started with an informative visit from a guest speaker Thomas. Following this I made my way back into the cit to get my final interview with  a local retialer. I met a friendly boutique owner who was more than willing to speak wit me. On the way back to the hostel I stopped at a market and got some fresh squeezed fruit juice and a dessert from a pastry shop next door. Later I walked around the city streets with a few other program members and got some vietnamese food. The night ended beautifully on the hill in front of Sacre Cquer.  

June 6 Paris

Day four in Paris. Every day has been an adventure but today was one of the best because I finally saw the effile tower at night. However this was the finale. I actually got up in time for breakfast. I made my way back into the city to get more interviews. People werent as friendly as before but I managed to get one friendly interview. Following this I made my way to the lovely Louis Vuitton. Next was the American Embassy where I received  a lot of valuable information. After the embassy I walked down town and finished the night on the effile tower.

June 5 2012

Day three was a day among locals. I got a late start from being up late. I managed to make it back to my prior arranged interview at pleats please(by izzy miyake) however the manger was unavailable. Despite this I was able to interview a well informed English speaking associate by the name of Samuel. He was eager to give me much information regarding the company. After I made my way to the mall to make a comparison of a retail store. I choose Zara. I ended that with a little personal shopping and dinner and a restaurant with a French impersonation of American food. The end.

June 4 2012

Day two in Paris French was more of an adventure. Breakfast was at 730am they served us crasaunts, bread, and cereal. Not much different than American continental style. 10am me and a fellow student took the metro to a strip mall to get down to business. I got a stronger grasp of the metro system.  My first encounter was an upscale boutique. I attempted to speak my newly learned French upon entering and asked if they spoke English and they did. I was able to get a business card to schedule an appointment with the owner of the company. The second encounter was a boutique by the name of The Queen. The owner again spoke English and allowed me to conduct a complete interview. She was very polite and seemed enthusiastic to inform me of the story behind her successful business.  After the interview we made our way back to the Hostel to meet up for the walking tour of Paris. I met up with a group and made our way to the tour (late). Luckily the group hadn’t let and we were able to catch the full tour. The tour gave me the taste of Paris I was quenching for. I saw everything from the Famous Lauve Museum to the Effle tower. This was what most of my day consisted of.

June 3 Paris

Today was the first day in Paris. The experience has been interesting. Our group was lost arriving to the hostel. I noticed an imediate cultural difference between the French and Americans. Not having a strong grasp on the language proved to be quite a burden. Some locals speak English and are moderately helpful.  The living facilities are very compact or us Americans are very large. The locals have a unique yet modern and sleak style of dress that caught my attention. Finding food oesnt seem to be a problem however the exchange rate definately is. I havent experienced much of the city today but tomorrow will kick off the real journey.