Hi again!
November is here, and my time here in Amsterdam is soon to end. I have learned and experienced so much in the months I have been here, and I have truly loved living in this amazing city.
When arriving in a new country completely alone without knowing anything about the place and not knowing anyone, you don’t really know what to expect. I hoped I would meet many nice people here from different cultures, but I would never have expected to find such good friendships here as I have found. I have made friends from all over the world, and it has been so nice to know some people here that I can explore the city with but also people to talk to. It has especially been nice to talk to my friends who are also exchange students, who can relate to my situation and who understand me when I’m frustrated about my studies or if I feel homesick. All the friendships I have made here mean a lot to me, and it is definitely going to hurt when I have to say goodbye to all of them. But I know that we will keep in touch.
Activities in Amsterdam
Life in Amsterdam never gets dull. There are so many opportunities and so much to do all the time. I have enjoyed going to all the markets here, and usually, there will be markets every weekend. My favorite markets are the Noordermarkt in the Jordaan area and Pure Markt, which switches locations, but I went to the one in Amstelpark. Lastly, I went to the market in IJ Hallen, which is the largest flea market of its kind in Europe. You could easily spend a whole day there.
Another thing the Amsterdammers really know how to do well is brunch. On the weekends, I love to go out for brunch with my friends, and I have a list of places I want to try out. My brunch recommendations so far are Factory Girl, Coffee and Coconuts, Omelegg, and Oeuf.
Amsterdam also has a lot of museums, and I haven’t even been to half of them yet. So far, I have only been to the Anne Frank Museum and the Rijksmuseum. I really enjoyed the Anne Frank Museum, and it was so fascinating to walk around the place and think about how Anne Frank and her family had to hide in the same rooms as I was walking in. I thought it was cool that many of the original items, such as the kitchen and bathroom, were kept. The Rijksmuseum was also an excellent experience, and the museum is so beautiful. However, it is such a huge museum, so you need a lot of time to get through it all. Next, I would love to visit “Fabrique des lumières,” which is a digital art center.
Another thing I enjoy doing here is going for walks. Amsterdam is so beautiful, and I love walking around, not knowing where to go, because I will always find new places I haven’t noticed before. However, I also enjoy going for walks in the parks. On the weekends, the parks a buzzing with people, and I love walking around with a nice cup of coffee and just observing the Amsterdammers enjoying their weekends.