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 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 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 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.

Friday June 22nd: Last day in Amsterdam, Last day of the trip, and On to the Next Adventure!

Vincent Van Gogh is my homeboy!

Well here we are, the last day in Amsterdam. Today is our museum pass day and unlike everyone else I am not going to try and rush around and squeeze it all in. I'm looking forward to a casual start and the Van Gogh museum for as long as it takes. I really enjoy his work and seeing the exhibit in Paris made me anxious for this day. I spent several hours in the Van Gogh museum and took my time enjoying each painting. I don't know what it is about his work but I really enjoy it.

After I left the Van Gogh museum I picked up a sandwich and a drink and headed over to Vondelpark to take advantage of a nice break in the weather. After lunch I am headed into downtown Amsterdam to take advantage of my last day to take pictures and wander the streets. I'm hoping to meet up with some friends from the group and make Friday night plans with them.

As we wind down on this last day I am looking forward to going out one last time before leaving Europe. I have so many more adventures planned for this summer but this has been a great experience and I'm sorry to see it come to an end.

Thursday June 21st: Last Day of Class, Family dinner, and a Canal Tour.

Good Morning from Vondelpark Amsterdam.

It's the last day of class and everyone seems excited. When I got in last night everyone was tucked in front of their computers finishing up work and studying for exams. For me, most of my work lies ahead of me and I have a lot of writing to do. I've used this time to take pictures and enjoy some time alone wandering through the city. My morning was taken up by breakfast in Vondelpark and then a long walk around the whole city. With tomorrow being the last day I am trying to savor every moment I have today.

Several of us have eaten dinner together every night in Amsterdam and started to refer to it as family dinner. It's been nice to talk about the trip with the group and we have had a lot of laughs. We have decided to go out as a group after the canal tour and extend family dinner into the late hours of the night. The weather hasn't been great today however and we are expecting some rain during the canal tour.

It's been a while since the whole group of students has been together for one activity and other than the airport, this canal tour will probably be the last time we are all together. Seeing the city from the perspective of the canals is really cool and we got to hear about a lot of history from our captain. Although the weather wasn't the best it was still very cool. The family is on our way out for the second to last night in Amsterdam and I'm not ready for this to be over.

Wednesday June 20th: Missed Opportunities, Kuoni, and Club Med,

This morning I accidentally overslept and missed the group departure to Rotterdam. I've been in several other major port and shipping cities before but I was really disappointed that I missed out on Rotterdam. I didn't want to let one missed opportunity cause a chain reaction so I set out to land some very critical interviews.

I've gone round and round with Club Med and haven't been able to speak with the marketing manager until today. We finally spoke and she said that she could make some time for me this afternoon. In the meantime I have a scheduled interview on the outskirts of Amsterdam to meet Erik Split, the Senior Marketing Manager for Kuoni Travel. I'm very excited to conduct this interview because Kuoni is one of the largest travel companies in the world. Kuoni conducts psychological studies to determine what people really want at the most basic level and they try to build their marketing strategy up from there. The branding style they engage in is very pure and focuses on storytelling in order to draw a client into the destination. I thought it was interesting to learn how they piece all of this together and got a glimpse at the client database that manages all of this marketing mayhem.

After completing a successful interview with Kuoni I headed back to Amsterdam in order to get cleaned up in time for my interview with Club Med. My contact at Club Med was Joanne Gallagher, an Australian who studied in London and is the Marketing and Online Sales Manager for CLub Med in Amsterdam. She is truly an international experienced manager. She was young and had a very fresh approach to her job and the marketing techniques employed by Club Med. Although I knew the Club Med name I didn't know much about the company until I researched them for my interview. They are the original all-inclusive vacation company and they own their own resorts. Club Med tends to be in very exotic locations and packages are 4 and 5 star rated. Although out of my price range, they seem amazing.

Tuesday June 19th: Flora Holland, Guest Speaker Zoe, and an evening out with friends!

FLORA HOLLAND!

It's was an early morning in Amsterdam but one that proved to be well worth it. We went to Flora Holland and toured their enormous facility. We only saw 10% of the total space and it was roughly the size of 10 Walmart Superstores. Flora Holland is truly incredible. The logistics system is so flawlessly managed it seems as if the place is a living breathing organism. I've never seen so many flowers at one time. As a business student you study businesses that are successful at implementing supply chain management systems but to see how Flora Holland manages so many vendors, products, and customer orders was amazing. Each employee operates a small forklift which can pull behind it several carts of flowers which represent different orders. They pick up several shipments and pull them over to a computer where they can scan the cart and find out where it goes. As they take the carts to the designated area other employees break the orders down into groups for shipment and push them out of one warehouse and into another where they are packaged and shipped. As we walked on the catwalk above them they looked like ants working diligently to move food out and building materials in to the nest. I don't want to rant about how cool it is but if you're ever in Amsterdam you should definitely check out Flora Holland.

We arrived back at the hostel with just enough time to get cleaned up and have a small snack before our guest speaker Zoe took center stage to show us about independent film making. Zoe's presentation was very cool and laid back, a welcome change from our more formal speakers. She is a very young woman who is trying to make a difference through film and taking on some very big projects along the way. She was very inspiring and I think she motivated several students in our group to pursue their dreams no matter what because she was a living example of making things work in order to achieve those goals.

I went out with several new friends from the group tonight to enjoy some beer and the mid-week social scene. Amsterdam seems to be a very social city and no matter what night you go out there is always something going on. We walked through the Red Light District which is an experience all itself. It's amazing to see how casually the Dutch treat sex. It doesn't seem to phase anyone and regular bar life goes continues on the same streets as live sex shows. We walked past a lot of coffee shops on the way to the Red Light District and there is a strong aroma flooding out of them as you go by. It too is such a casual thing for the Dutch and I really enjoy the acceptance and tolerance they have towards other peoples beliefs and actions. This is only one reason why Amsterdam is such a cool city and I really wish we had more time in this city.