Day Nineteen Berlin Zoo

My last day in Europe.

            I cannot believe that this was our very last day abroad. I made sure to make the most out of it (after sleeping in) and went to the zoo with a close friend I had made throughout the trip. Once we had made it to one of the largest zoos in the world, we encountered a man dressed in overalls and traditional German clothing who winded a giant music box.  Every time someone came to tip him he would tip his hat in one exaggerated motion and shout “Danke!” (“thank you” in German) happily. His music made me even more excited for the zoo, and seeing how happy he was making other people cheerful only contributed to my glee. Next came the skeleton marionette, who I found to be just plain hilarious. As popular 60’s music played, a man made a puppet of a skeleton dance and sing with conviction, sometimes making it walk towards people in the line.

The first animal I saw was the alpaca, lounging about in the shade with the rest of the herd. Across from them was a machine that has the word “cheese” on it, so my friend and I both assumed it was a place for people to purchase cheese to feed to the animals. Makes sense, right? Of course, it was a photo booth, and my friend and I laughed about that for a long time. After seeing many animals that I have never even seen before, my friend and I managed to catch the orangutan feeding.All of the monkeys came to one side of the fenced enclosure and hung there, reaching their hands to the other side to beckon for food. After the orangutans we went to the nocturnal exhibit, encountering lions and leopards along the way.

The dark nocturnal animals area was underground and contained a vast expanse of desert foxes, moles, and, most notably, bats. Once we left the area and our eyes had adjusted, we ran into an enormous white bird that was just inches away from the gate separating it from the zoo visitors. It could easily jump the fence, but it used its three-foot-long beak instead to poke passersby. We spent the rest of the time at the zoo looking for the penguin exhibit which wasn’t easy to find. When we did find it, however, we were pleasantly surprised by the gleeful penguin enjoying the attention of its visitors. It was the only visible penguin in the exhibit, and people were able to touch it if the penguin got close enough. Whenever anyone did manage to pet it, the creature would tilt its head back and smile. It literally smiled. It was probably the cutest thing I had seen all day.

Once my friend and I felt as if we had seen enough animals (the zoo was so big that we couldn’t finish looking at everything) we headed to the Doc Martin store for her to look for a new pair of shoes. It was a really fun experience, and we went to the hostel for a break afterwards. After about two hours we both headed out to have dinner at the same burger place I had gone to the day before. Of course, I tried something new and enjoyed it in its entirety. The non-alcoholic Moskito and the Klassic burger were both divine. After dinner, it was time to get ready to leave at 3:30 the next morning. I went to bed for a few hours before waking up and heading on the bus to the Berlin Airport. I will never forget the experiences that I had here in Europe. I never thought that I’d grow so close with so many people in such a short amount of time, but I really am going to miss not only the marketing class, but everyone else, too. The trip abroad has helped me to grow as a person independently and academically, and I do not regret making the decision to take part in such a trip at all.

Day Eighteen Berlin Tower

Berlin is home to some of the best burgers ever.

            I slept in more this morning than I have during the entire three weeks in Europe. I had nothing planned until 20:00, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt. I went out for some authentic German burgers at a nearby restaurant and took my order: a fruit drink and burger with goat cheese and a special sweet sauce. The drink came with a gooseberry garnish and actually included ice! It was so refreshing (literally) to have received such a delicious treat. Next came the actual burger which was absolutely heavenly. After the burger, some mint tea that came with the order combo was delivered to the table. I left the restaurant and went to the hostel to work on my marketing research paper. It was only until the evening that I went out again.

I headed to the lobby to meet with the rest of the marketing group and make our way to the Berlin Tower. Once we arrived, our professor pointed out the lofty TK Maxx that stood before us. I’m not entirely sure why it could just be called TJ Maxx like how it is in the states, but I found it amusing nonetheless. We all headed to the tower and were escorted into a large elevator that separated our group into two. I exited and immediately found myself surrounded by huge windows which functioned to see the Berlin skyline. It was dusk, so the buildings looked especially beautiful in the dim lighting. Unlike the other towers I had visited in Europe, this one was indoors and also included a bar and restaurant. The group winded our way in a circle and went past tons of people to see the city from every angle that the tower allowed for us. Once we had finished looking around we went back down from the tower.

Our professor was kind enough to take the group to a nearby festival and try bratwurst for the first time (currywurst doesn’t count). Although I despise sausages, the dish was extremely delicious. My friend led me to a robotic dragon that supposedly spit flames (I was ecstatic about that), but by the time I had gotten to it the machine was not operational. It was bittersweet, spending my last evening of excursions with the group I had gotten to know so well. My friend and I explored the train station a bit before heading back to the hostel to get some sleep for the next day.

Day Seventeen Trip to HomeToGo

This week is going by so quickly!

            Today the marketing group took a company visit to a small company called HomeToGo. I joined the group after eating to walk to the company together and catch the train there. Once we arrived at the site, we all immediately noticed how much the building resembled a prison. It was colossal, with darkened bricks and very narrow windows. Despite the resemblance, the building was gorgeous. We were all ushered in and sat in a nicely decorated room.  The company floor was much more laid-back than the other companies we had previously visited, and I found it to be very comfortable. We were even handed gifts after the presentation!

            Once my head was filled with tons of information regarding the company, I went back to the hostel and ate lunch. I caught up on assignments for the rest of the day and ate dinner at the hostel. It was my first German meal and I enjoyed every morsel.

Day Sixteen Concentration Camp Visit

Shopping in Berlin!!

            Today was the day that I would finally have the privilege of visiting a concentration camp in memory of those who were killed during the Holocaust. The new area that we went to by train was fairly different from the other places we had previously visited in Berlin. This novel place was almost completely silent, made forlorn by the lingering clouds which threatened rain. Upon entering the actual site of the concentration camp, I studied my surroundings very carefully. There was a black pathway that leads to several different accounts of the period during the Holocaust. It was extremely saddening to read, and the atmosphere surrounding the area only accentuated the somber stories. After reading, I went to a large and open area that leads to three different places: A museum, a forested place, and a gate leading to an even more open stretch of land. I decided to go to the museum, which featured varied pieces of culture to paint a picture of the actions that occurred during the Holocaust. A few things I found to be the most noteworthy was the Nazi uniform featured in the front, as well as the striped uniform required for concentration camp prisoners to wear. After the exhibition, I sat down for some lunch with a friend. Afterwards my friend and I trekked into the forested area which was extremely serene, despite it being a memorial for the fallen. The feeling of the wooded area closely resembled that of fall. The place was chilling, but in such a peaceful manner that it was easy to appreciate each and every commemorative statue I passed.

After coming back to the entrance of the memorial area, I went to the gated pathway which opened up into a whole new place. As soon as I walked in, I knew that I had entered into what was once the main concentration camp. Land stretched far in front of me, supporting the long beige buildings that used to house countless innocent people. I went into one of the buildings and saw the basins used to clean themselves, as well as some urinals. Posted next to each viewing area was some information regarding the appliance. The guards would occasionally drown people in urinals or the bathing basins.

I left the building and walked around the wide expanse of land, enjoying the refreshing breeze that swept the flowers and overgrown grass. I came across a large statue with three figures on it. Although I did not have the audio tour to explain the significance of the monument, it seemed optimistic based off of the facial expressions of the people. I sat on a ledge across from it for a long time, chatting with my friend and thoroughly enjoying the weather that resembled my favorite season. After chatting, I went closer to the large statue of the three people and examined the small tokens left by visitors. Many of these tokens were rocks, but other people left sewn embroidery, two cent euros, and even handwritten notes. One of them expressed the person’s mourning for those who died during the Holocaust.

It was getting close to the time designated to leave the concentration camp, and my friend and I made our way to meet with the group to leave for our next destination: the mall! A completely different setting, I know, but I had wanted to go shopping in Berlin for a very long time. My friend and I skipped the hostel stop (after a quick nap along the way) to go to a notoriously inexpensive store popular among people my age: Primark. There was a large festival occurring in front of the three-story building, so there were also tons of people inside. My friend and I checked out without having to wait for very long at all, and we were surprised by how quickly time had passed while in the massive store. We had spent three hours there! Upon returning to the hostel, I realized how hungry I was and had pizza with some other friends at the same place I went to a few nights prior. This time though, I had pasta! I enjoyed the pizza more, but the pasta was still yummy. I went back to the hostel and went to bed.

Day Sixteen Trip to Reichstag

Adventuring around West side!

            I accidentally slept in a bit and did my best to make it to breakfast. After successfully eating some cereal, fruit, and coffee, I met up with my friend to run a few errands around the West side of Berlin. We took the tram and walked past the Lego Store, stopping to take a few pictures of a huge giraffe made entirely out of Legos. Afterwards we stopped by the Superdry Store where I purchased some underwear. After taking a small break at the hostel, I went to explore a new part of the city and took lots of pictures. I even tried Currywurst which had an amazing and unique flavor! My friend and I went back to the hostel to get ready to go to the Reichstag building with the whole group. I had no idea what to expect, only knowing that the place was an impressive governmental building. Our speaker was very helpful and kind, showing us through the immense and beautifully constructed building. We were told about the congress room, and how the seats within are a copyrighted color that can only be used for that purpose. We also learned about the gigantic eagle mounted in the congress room. It was created with the intent of looking friendly (despite its intimidating eyebrow) and inviting. We were led on to view Russian inscriptions on the sides of the building which I found to be quite fascinating. Next, we saw a fairly serene room solely dedicated to acknowledging several different religions.

After the last area of our tour was over, we made our way to the top of the building to begin our guided audio tour of a large and winding ramp, completely surrounded by windows and mirrors. As I observed the cityscape of Berlin, I listened intently to the rich history that went with it. After leaving the building and taking a few pictures with our passports, I headed to dinner at the Sony complex with a group of friends. I had sweet potato curry with a forest fruits smoothie! Everything was fabulous and completely refreshing. After dinner we all stopped to get gelatos which were also amazing. I was so exhausted after walking ten miles that I almost immediately went to sleep once we got back to the hostel.

Day Fifteen Deutsche Bahn Company Visit

Italian food in Germany?

            I woke up in time for breakfast where I was surprised to find a pleasant dining area large enough to fit everyone in our group comfortably. I was also pleased to see that they had a plentiful fruit salad available, to which I happily helped myself to. I was so used to drinking espresso every day, however, that their meager coffee had almost no effect on me. I had a very difficult time waking up. Nonetheless, I went with my marketing class and the accounting group to the company building Deutsche Bahn. While we were waiting to be allowed to enter, the accounting teacher gave a brief history of the Berlin Wall that separated the East and West side. There is still a small wall in front of the DB Building to give an idea of how it looked. It was completely covered in chewed gum and graffiti. The wall showed pictures of how the city looked before and after the wall was erected in different areas of Berlin. When the wall was taken down, there was much more nature and beauty than while the wall was still up.

When it was time to enter the DB building, we were each given a lanyard to identify ourselves. After being taken several stories up via elevator, the group entered a welcoming room complete with fruit drinks, sparkling water, tea, and coffee. Everything was set up so nicely that I was almost afraid to take anything! The head of marketing for DB, a train company (ironically the same one that we took the day before to get to Berlin), described the marketing sector of the company and how the business operated. I took a few pictures from the windows of the room and followed the professor to the Sony area behind the DB building. There was a cinema, IMAX Theater, several restaurants, and much more. Instead of eating there, I went for a walk with my friend and eventually came across a delicious looking Italian restaurant. Sure, it wasn’t German food but we had the whole rest of the week to have that, right? I ordered a five cheese pizza with lemonade and ate everything. Eating outside, it began to rain so we went inside to pay the check. Another friend came shortly to meet with us and we all walked back to the hostel under an umbrella. Later on in the day after a bit of relaxing, I came back out with my friend and a few new people to go grocery shopping. I purchased an adorable Hello Kitty bottle with an apple-peach drink inside. I also got some chocolates for my friends. I went to bed relatively early that night.

Day Fourteen First Day in Berlin

On the road again

            The entire group woke up extremely early in order to make it on our train to Berlin. After a very quick breakfast we made our way, packed luggage and all, to the tram where we would ride it to central station. We boarded the train once we purchased a small snack and got comfortable for the six hour ride. I was eventually lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of the train. Once I woke, I found that our train had come to a complete stop. Overcome with glee that we had finally gotten to Berlin, I looked around at my surroundings. It turned out that we had only traveled two hours from Amsterdam. The train was about to head back to where it came from since the storm had ruined its initial path. No one had known of this information, and the faculty struggled to contact other members of the TNCIS program in the U.S. to gather other options. German policemen came through the aisles at one point (we were in Germany, just very far from Berlin) to notify us that the train would be turning back soon. A person spoke overhead on the train loudspeaker. They said that the train would be leaving in exactly one minute, and that there is another train leaving from the same station that we were parked at for Berlin. Once we heard the ridiculously last minute news, the entire group scrambled off of the train at the speed of light.

 The train left immediately after everyone was off, and we all waited anxiously for the train to Berlin. I treated myself to a few German snacks from a vending machine nearby for less than a euro. One was spaghetti bubblegum, a gum that came in the shape of spaghetti. The other treat I got was chocolate wafers. Once the train came, I did my best to get to the front so I could manage to get a seat. Sadly, I only managed to get a space on the floor of the bicycle cart. That’s right, there’s a special area of the train only for bikes that people carry on with them. Before I sat down, however, the class was trying to help people get on the train when it started to move. About half of the group was still on the platform trying to board the train when it started moving, so it was completely terrifying. Luckily it stopped after a few seconds, but it still scared me quite a bit even if I was already on the train.

Surrounding by at least fifteen other people from the group, I sat on the floor next to the bikes (which took up a considerable amount of potential space for other students). There were two German women who spoke very little English, and kept complaining about how we shouldn’t be sitting on the floor there. They suggested over and over that we all leave the train and get on another cart. For fear of the train moving again and knowing that the faculty would be opposed to this idea, none of us moved. When the train finally started to move, I attempted to keep myself occupied since there was no way I could use a laptop to do any homework. Eventually, we came to a stop that lasted longer than the others. Someone said over the loudspeaker that the train would be going through maintenance, and they had no idea how long it would take. I took this time, already stripped of two layers of clothing, to get some fresh air outside. There was little to no air conditioning in the tight quarters and I really needed a break. Almost as soon as we got outside, people began to go back in, stating that the train had already been fixed and that it was ready to go.

Once the train had started moving and made a few stops, the German women, along with other passengers got off the train and took their bikes with them. This provided much more space for the students having the sit on the floor. Some actual seats even opened up for others. I moved to a real seat on the bike cart and eventually fell asleep. I woke up a few hours later, our train extremely close to our stop. When the time came, we all got off and kissed the ground. Not really, but I was so happy to be off the train and finally on the way to our new hostel in Berlin. The group took a dinner break for half an hour before we made the trek to the hostel. I was excited to find a Burger King at the train station, and downed a chicken sandwich and fries in about 30 seconds after waiting in line. I had to eat it quickly because by the time the food was ready, the 30 minute allotted time was already up. At about 20:00, we had made it to our hostel. I was overjoyed to find that I got my own bed which happened to also resemble a tower. I was also happy to see that we had much more space than before, as well as large windows for fresh air. Upon discovering all of the amenities our room had to offer, I immediately went to bed.

Day Thirteen Last Day in Amsterdam

The storm of the century!

The day started off leisurely, showering from the night before and doing laundry. The laundry station was fairly easy to use: I paid 7.50 euros to the receptionist and was handed two tokens in return. While the laundry was still being washed I had a late breakfast at the hostel with my friend since we had both slept in. The meal was literally called “Late Breakfast”. How convenient! The sustenance included scrambled eggs, tomatoes, toast and jam, orange juice, espresso, and BACON. My first plate of bacon in I can’t remember when. After eating I had planned to meet my friend who is local to the area for the very first time once the laundry was finished.

When the time finally came to meet her I was ecstatic! Everything went so well except for one thing: The weather. It was raining, freezing, and blustery. Nonetheless, we both went on with our scheduled plans for the day. We started our adventure by first going into a store that sells video game merchandise. It was comparable to the American store Hot Topic, so I found that to be quite interesting. Afterwards, we headed to a store where I purchased some Stroopwafels for my family and friends. Subsequently, we went to a gorgeous store filled with nature, plants and all! There were so many gorgeous dresses and pieces of jewelry that I’m not sure where to even begin! On the second floor there was a water fountain that loudly babbled as my friend purchased fortune cookies for herself and me.

We visited another store that sold mainly Anime and Japanese inspired items. Once I explored that shop, my friend and I stopped to get some bubble tea. I ordered the lemon flavor with pineapple jelly inside. I also purchased some hilarious gum packages for my sister. After a long chat and several pictures with my friend, we headed to the next store. By this point, the wind was pushing umbrellas inside-out, and we eventually had to throw the umbrella we had been using away. Trash cans were stuffed full of umbrellas along the way as people attempted to find shelter. We began to stop at as many places as we could just so that we could take a break from the intense wind and rain. Thank goodness I wore my rain jacket!

Several video game shops later, my friend and I walked into a gorgeous pinup style dress shop. There were models smiling and dancing in the windows to catchy old tunes.When the fun-filled day was over, we both headed to the hostel. Without an umbrella, both my friend and I quickly became soaked. We passed by stopped trams, roadblocks, ambulances, and even several fallen trees. One of the trees fell from its place in a cobblestone pathway and created a very prominent elevated area in the ground. Once my friend went home and I had dinner, I went to bed.

Day Twelve Cat Cafes and Clubs

Cat Cafes, Gallery Interviews, Clubs, oh my!

            Today was an extremely jam-packed day indeed! I slept in just a bit and went for pancakes with a few friends. I was feeling daring so I ordered a pancake pizza, complete with cheese, olives, and tomato sauce. Next on the list of things to do for the day was to go to my appointment for the Cat Café! Upon entering, my friend and I were told to sanitize our hands and not take any flash pictures or handle the cats. We sat at a small table and found ourselves instantly surrounded by seven cats of different colors and sizes. I approached one that was seemingly friendly and made an attempt to pet it, getting clawed at in reply. I suppose it was trying to take a nap. The others were much friendlier, but were quite evasive. This is understandable, considering all of the cats were rescued and are still very skittish. After consuming the small meal I had ordered, I hung around for a bit and examined my surroundings. All of the people around me only communicated through Dutch and I felt like quite an outsider. However, the waitresses did their best to accommodate my friend and I and I thought they were successful. Afterwards, I purchased two of the shirts they sold there: One for myself and the other for my sister.

            My friend and I took the tram back to the hostel and got dinner before our group riverboat cruise. The cruise itself went smoothly, but the ride did not. I chatted with a few new friends while we listened to the educational tour guide from the speakers above. However, we managed to bump into the sides of the canal several times, startling the group. Once the tour was over, I headed back to the hostel to prepare myself for my first real club experience. Although the venues were both talked up considerably, I wasn’t particularly impressed with either of them. The first was free, but played fairly old music. The second, Paradiso, was 17 euros to enter, and played ANCIENT music. Bob Marley and ACDC were the most notable of the tunes I heard. I am a huge fan of both groups, but not at a club. I went back to the hostel early to get some sleep.

Day Eleven Bicycling!

Biking in Rotterdam!

We all got on the train to Rotterdam and got comfortable for the hour long ride in 2nd class seating. I calmly admired the scenery as we passed out of bustling Amsterdam and into the tranquil country. Eventually, this lulled me to sleep. About five minutes later, we had arrived at our destination. We hastily made our way out of the train to the bike rental shop, made a quick pit stop (which cost .50 euro) and began our six hour long bike adventure. Almost immediately, I realized that my bike was way too tall for me, only allowing my feet to reach a few inches from the floor when straddling the bicycle. Even being an avid bike rider, I did not realize that this slight flaw would have a massive impact on my entire cycling experience in Rotterdam.

From start to finish, I struggled getting on and off my bicycle. This may not initially seem to pose any issues, but the bike lanes of Rotterdam also include bike lights which function very similarly to regular traffic lights. With this is mind, there was a lot of starting and stopping to be done. Our first stop was the Port of Rotterdam where we immediately (we almost missed it) boarded a large boat. The ship gave the group an informative tour of the Port, showing us various points of interest and importance. After the tour, we rode our bikes as a group to grab lunch. Our professor purchased us each lunch and a drink, allowing us to choose whatever we wanted from a wide range of interesting dishes. I chose paella, a popular Hispanic dish, along with some mashed potatoes and vegetables. There was also the option to purchase iced tea with or without bubbles, and I chose without the bubbles. After lunch, we took our bikes and headed to the Euromast, a large tower that provided a fantastic view of the city. Although it didn’t compare to the Eiffel Tower, it still was a blast to experience. Unlike the Eiffel Tower, however, I was able to travel to the top of the tower via a large elevator ride that rotated constantly. I got separated from the rest of the group due to the weight capacity of the elevator, and my friend decided to hang back with me until the next ride to the top. With glass windows surrounding the enclosing, I was able to experience the city from a bird’s eye view. Although I am slightly afraid of heights and the jerking of the ride made me a bit uncomfortable, I enjoyed the experience.

After the Euromast, we got on our bikes and rode to our next stop, going a bit quicker than we have been. There were two lanes of bike traffic at times, and I had the option to pass any slower cyclists. I tried to take advantage of this opportunity, and narrowly missed getting hit by a moped coming from the other direction. This endeavor moved me to the back of the group’s bike line. At one point I could not for the life of me get back onto my bike. In my struggle, I actually ran the bike into direct traffic and nearly got trampled several times by other cyclists and pedestrians. Even after this incident I still could not get back on the bike. I walked it across the street to prevent myself from creating more problems, and tried to get on after I had thoroughly embarrassed myself. I managed to get on, looked up, and could not see the group any longer. Absolutely terrified and slightly angry, I peddled as quickly as I could to catch up with everyone else. After what seemed like an eternity, I spotted my professor waiting for me with the rest of the group not far behind.

At the next stop, I was completely astounded by the beauty of my surroundings. I was surrounded by water, creating a beautiful canvas for a sunset. Ducks and other birds were enjoying the view as well, resting near the greenery by the water. We rode our bikes once more and ended up on a nature trail. This route was without any bike lights so I actually enjoyed the bike ride. We stopped to feed several interesting looking (and hungry) deer. There was a woman who allowed people to take the vegetables she provided and feed them to the animals. I gratefully took a piece of the strange green food and the deer happily consumed it. We rode back to the train station to give our bikes back to the rental place. By that point my legs were becoming slightly sore, and I was more than happy to revert back to walking.

            The train ride back was soothing, and a great break from the six hours of bike riding we had accumulated. When we arrived we were just in time for dinner. Afterwards, I and two friends explored the red light district. I was fairly shocked by the number of exposed women I encountered, and how open they were. Although I tried not to look, some of them looked extremely uncomfortable, while others were confident enough to gently entice the potential customers that walked by. Men spoke with them through the windows, while some windows were covered with red curtains. This indicated that the woman was “in service”. The atmosphere was nothing short of sketchy, complete with the scent of marijuana and black cats along the street corners. I did not hesitate to return back to the hostel and get some rest.

Day Ten Company Visit

More exploring!

             I woke up bright and early today in order to visit a company called Reed. After two shots of espresso, I was ready to go! On the way, we encountered several wild rabbits, to which I reacted excitedly. Upon entering the facility, we were greeted by a friendly receptionist who granted each person a lanyard for further access to the building. We were elevated to the fourteenth floor and listened intently at the guest speaker after being greeted with tea, coffee, waters, and cookies. She was immensely thorough and I learned quite a bit from her presentation. She took us to the other higher floors of the establishment after the presentation, and I was in awe over how modern the interior design was. Each floor had a completely different theme and color scheme to it, and everything was entirely up to date. One of the floors even smelled like flowers (but it may have just been the gigantic arrangement sitting in the window)! Since the floors are so high up, the people who work there have a fantastic view of the city.After a group picture, everyone headed out and went their separate ways to continue the day on their own time. I chose to give the Cat Café another go with one of my other friends. Appointment only. Figures. My friend and I went back to the hostel where I almost immediately made an appointment for the Cat Café. Third time’s the charm.

Day Nine Guest Speaker

An absolutely gorgeous day!

   Yesterday I dressed up for our guest speaker who came to class today. Before his presentation, I tried a popular Dutch dish called Bitterballen that was served with mustard. It had a distinctly fried exterior, with an almost gravy-like inside. It was very enjoyable. After the presentation, I went with my friend to try and find the Cat Café! The café is a place where domestic cats wander about a café while you eat or drink, and they are free to be pet and cuddled! We walked past plenty of gorgeous development areas and took in the scenery. The scent of flowers could be whiffed the entire time, and the flowers themselves were vibrant with health. Upon our arrival at the café, we saw one kitty curled up next to the window and knew instantly that the place was closed.

On the way back to the hostel, I hoped that I could return again before I leave for Berlin. We went to the small restaurant at the hostel where I ordered a Dutch pancake and apple juice. I was pleasantly surprised due to the sheer size of the plate I received upon my order. It was bigger than my head twice over! After pouring syrup and powdered sugar on it, I wholly demolished the pancake in minutes. Once the pancake was completely demolished, I was just in time for dinner! After walking about six miles, I had worked up quite the appetite. I ate beef, potatoes, vegetables, bread, and two different types of deserts! Extremely full, I made my way downstairs with my friends to watch one of them try a Dutch pancake for the first time. She was not a fan of it, and I went back to the room to catch up on some rest.

Day Eight Walking Tour

So much to see, so little time!

            Today was the highly anticipated Amsterdam walking tour! I had a breakfast consisting of jam and bread, cereal, and lots of orange juice at the hostel buffet. I even had an espresso! It was such a nice feeling knowing that I had the ability to consume a wide variety of foods, instead of being limited to so few. Our tour guide was more than hospitable, and he had a wealth of knowledge to offer. We made our way through the famous Red Light District and I could see a few of the sex workers through the windows. It wasn’t as shocking as I thought it would be, but it certainly was new to me. There were also many Coffee Shops and horrible scents that emanated from them. Just around the corner, however, there was a beautiful church with gorgeous scenery nearby. We walked towards a small tower where Rembrandt painted autopsies that were once performed there. Our tour guide said that people would get extremely creative when torturing others, cutting open their chest, breaking the rib cage, taking the heart, and throwing it in the person’s face.

            We stopped for a quick coffee break, and then the group took off once more. We ended up near the Anne Frank Museum. Nearby, there was a triangle inscribed in the floor which represented equality and freedom to be whoever you want to be. After the tour, my friends and I explored Amsterdam even further. We passed by several people dressed as Freddie Kruger and the Grim Reaper, as well as a group of children performing some type of meditation in the streets. My friend and I strayed from the group as it began to rain, and we stopped by H&M. Afterwards, we explored Vondelpark near our hostel and found that there were so many different types of birds that reside there! On the downside, it seemed that cyclists at the park are much more aggressive than they are on the regular streets. After ten miles of walking, I closed my eyes in my bed at the hostel and did not open them until the next morning.

Day Seven Hello Amsterdam!

First Day in Amsterdam!

Yesterday was the day that our group traveled from Paris to Amsterdam! It was a quickly paced morning, complete with everything from people scrambling to get their sheets to the lobby to people turning in their room key. After my final breakfast of warm milk and cereal, I followed the group to the Metro, which would then take us to the train station. As soon as I boarded the train, I was instantly impressed with how pleasant it was. The air conditioning was a godsend, considering how none of the facilities in Paris had them. As soon as we left the train, it was hectic from start to finish.We eventually were handed bus tickets and boarded a comfortable (air conditioned) bus. Once we left our stop, we went on foot to the hostel where I was pleasantly surprised. After spending a week without private restrooms, showers, balanced breakfasts and lunches, security, and a clean atmosphere, it was such a blessing to be able to stay at a place that had all of those things. After getting settled in and making my bed, I went to go have some dinner. I was greeted with a warm meatball dish with a savory sauce, along with soups, breads, salad, and even desert. Orientation was next, and it went by relatively quickly. We learned that Coffee Shops in Amsterdam are actually places to purchase marijuana, and cafes are where people go to buy coffee. We also learned that the sex workers in the Red Light District respond terribly if photos are taken of them. They have been known to squirt literal urine and feces from bottles at you if need be. They also get deeply offended if they are referred to as prostitutes. After an informative orientation, I went to do what I had been craving all day: sleep.

Day Six Final Day in Paris

Au Revoir!

We leave for Amsterdam tomorrow! I cannot believe how quickly this week has gone by. I spent the day doing menial tasks, such as packing or doing laundry.Once all the tasks were complete, my roommates and I all went to go eat a late lunch. I had the classic Madame Croquet sandwich which is a ham and cheese sandwich with an egg on top. A local Parisian let me know the proper way to eat the sandwich (with a fork and knife) and I dug in! Everything was delicious and hit the spot entirely. After a bit of last minute exploring around Paris, we all headed back to the hostel. After about three hours of slumber, I woke up and went to an absolutely lovely dinner with my friends at an Italian restaurant. Since the food was notably pricey, I ordered an appetizer which consisted of artichokes and fresh Parmesan cheese. My friend also allowed me to have a taste of her Gnocchi dish. Everything was beyond delicious, and I devoured everything happily.

 

Day Five Trip to The Eiffel Tower

It’s finally started to cool down!

Yesterday was probably the most eventful day I’ve had in Paris yet! I woke up and had an absolutely fantastic breakfast that consisted of a ham and cheese omelet, croissant, freshly squeezed orange juice, and coffee (which was actually an espresso for some reason) with my friend. While we were eating I noticed that one of the chefs had opened one of the cabinets in the bar from the INSIDE and walked out of it. My friend and I had a good laugh about that, especially once we saw him go back inside. The reason being is that in France, the kitchen is sometimes located in the basement of the establishment, which may or may not be in a cabinet! After breakfast, a group of friends and I went to go eat and shop! Once we got to the department store to witness my first ever fashion show, I sat down to observe the gorgeous models and their outfits. It was a completely unique experience, certainly one I will never forget!

 Afterwards, we all went to get food and smoothies before our scheduled boat tour. We passed underneath the famous Love Lock Bridge and observed fantastic views of the Eiffel Tower, as well as other gorgeous architecture. Once we finished the tour, our group took a visit to the Eiffel Tower. We were guided into a large lift that took us to the first level of the Tower. Although the first level may not sound very impressive, it allowed for a complete view of Paris from thousands of feet above ground. Many people were actually terrified to be at such a height. There was the option to go to the very top of the tower, but the line was too long and I went sightseeing with another friend instead. Afterwards, in an extremely sleep-deprived state, we all took the Metro back to the hostel. While waiting for the Metro, one of my friends spotted a mouse skittering around the benches. Although this event woke me up considerably, we all made it back to the hostel in order to have a restful sleep after a very long day.

Day Four Counterfeit Museum

The hottest day of the year…

From start to finish, today was one thing: excruciatingly HOT! As soon as I woke up, there was talk everywhere about how the weather would reach over 100 degrees. Luckily, we were all provided with water bottles to take with us to the Counterfeit Museum. On the way there we experienced our first burst of air conditioning since we arrived at the country! Surprisingly one of the Metros had very decent seating (for a Metro) as well as cold AC. It was extremely refreshing, especially when paired with the sweltering heat. At the Counterfeit Museum we learned about the differences between counterfeits, copies, and invention items. After that, we had the rest of the day to ourselves. One thing I’ve noticed while in Paris is that ice cubes are almost unheard of. One of my friends asked for a cup of ice once and the waiter was in complete shock. Luckily at the restaurant I went to today, there was ice placed in my tea. After a long and hot day it was exactly what I needed.

Day Three Exploring Paris

Another day, another fantastic experience!

Today was the day that the marketing program group would go together to The Marais Promenade Des Plantes! On the way there we observed a different setting than the previous districts we had visited. The roads were smaller and laced with cobblestone, stuck between two sets of narrow sidewalks. We ate at an Israeli restaurant where everyone tried Falafels, or fried hummus. Our professor was kind enough to not only purchase us the meal, but also a small bakery dessert to bring to a nearby park. Everyone chose something different, and I picked a lemon pie garnished with a sliced lemon. Since it was a sweltering day, we tried our best to sit in the shade with our deserts. Once we finished, we walked along The Marais Promenade Des Plantes and enjoyed the view as much as we could despite the intense heat. Eventually, however, we had to go back to the hostel since the warmth was so overwhelming. After doing a bit of marketing work, a few friends and I went to enjoy some wine, cheese, and bread at a local eatery. We all shared stories and truly had an amazing time.

Day 2 Bastille Day

Happy Bastille Day!! I’m so glad I could be here to celebrate such an incredible holiday!

Yesterday I woke up in time for a breakfast of bread, bread, and more bread (Not really, but there was still a lot of bread).The group went by foot to the American University in Paris to attend a brief academic orientation. Afterwards, I had lunch at the hostel and went with a group of friends to Notre Dame. No big deal, right? We were completely astounded when we took the stairs back up from the underground tunnel. The district where our hostel is located is completely different from the Notre Dame district. People from all walks of life crowded everywhere in order to witness the absolutely breathtaking architecture all around them. Stepping out from the dank Metro, we could see a large river flowing towards Notre Dame. To our left, we observed a large fountain that poured water that was stained a pink color. Once we arrived at Notre Dame, we all took note of the many people walking about the area. There was one woman who stood with her arms outstretched, brandishing a bandana across her eyes and a sign at her feet that read “I trust you. Do you trust me? Hug me.” I was extremely skeptical of this lady, especially after hearing about the famous pickpockets of France. However, after watching her give hugs to several complete strangers, I was convinced that she was completely harmless. I walked over to her and gave her a huge hug. After talking with a person who was filming the woman, our group learned that she is a singer who is trying to make a name for herself by creating a music video. It was refreshing to see someone simply giving hugs without any negative ulterior motives.We rushed excitedly to catch the remaining fireworks that were going off at the Eiffel Tower to commemorate Bastille Day. Unfortunately, we could not make it in time, but were still rewarded by the fantastic presence of the Tower itself.  We were completely flabbergasted by the excited and hectic atmosphere surrounding the Tower. That was truly an experience.

Day 1 Arrival at Paris

Bienvenue!

Yesterday I finally arrived in Paris, France. After months of preparation, it was time to start a new chapter of my life while abroad. I quickly made friends and anxiously awaited the plane to our connecting flight in Detroit. Once we arrived, my new friends and I had about six hours to kill before the next flight to Paris, so we explored the immense airport in our spare time. Once it was time to board the plane, we made our way back to our assigned gate, only to find out that our flight had been delayed for about an hour and a half due to maintenance. The Delta crew was kind enough to offer free snacks and beverages for the wait. During the plane ride, when it came about an hour after the original departure time, I managed to get only forty-five minutes of sleep. There is a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower on the way to our hostel, and I eagerly took photos of the landmark. We will be staying at this hostel for the entire week that we are in Paris. I decided to share a room with a few of the friends I had made at the airport, as well as a few new faces. We all instantly got along, and, after eating lunch at the hostel, made our way to a grocery store to do one of our district assignments. After a reluctant nap, my friends and I went to a nearby restaurant to experience our first taste of authentic French cuisine. My steak, potatoes, and salad were absolutely delicious. I would certainly not mind going back again. Once we returned to the hostel, everyone quickly showered and went to bed. We made sure we’d be completely ready for our next big day in Paris!