You're probably tearing your hair out asking yourself the question, "What are they even learning?!??" Okay, calm down. Here's what we've learned thus far:
1) Always wear warm socks. Toes get cold, yo!
2) Little maps are insufficient (today we bought a REALLY big one. Can't wait to put that sucker to work).
3) Always leave ample time. The "30-minute bus" ranges from 20 minutes to one hour.
4) Dutch food is starchy. Dem Dutchies love 'tatoes.
5) Always wear walking shoes. (But make sure they fit over the thick socks).
6) Little kids make you dizzy. Lesson learned.
7) Pretend you're Dutch. Americans are silly (love y'all!!)
8) Mint tea's da bomb (which actually translates directly in to Dutch!)
9) The Dutch love Apple Pie even more than Americans do. Whoa.
10) Men use the women's bathroom. It's chill, just please flush next time.
Laughs aside, or maybe included, we've already learned and begun to learn profound lessons. The education system in the Netherlands is vastly different from ours at home; pro: the application process to universities is non competitive because the schools offer equal resources and opportunities; con: at 12 years old, students compete to enter vocational schools that will determine future professions. American and Dutch social services (including healthcare) also vary greatly. We met with a friend of Jesse's family, Yolant, who organizes around empowering homeless youth. In this conversation we learned that the US does not provide support, let alone empowerment, to the homeless, yet Dutch policies, in general, exist to serve the people if Holland. America's priorities - or, more accurately, the priorities of the government - are fundamentally different. Yolant and her partner, Monique, talked about how progress and profit are not one and the same. Societal advancement is measured qualitatively, not quantitatively. We've noticed that quirky, small businesses thrive - or, at the very least, have the right to stay open - and corporations do not rule the city.
We've absorbed this simply by walking and talking and, as Peter says, by "just saying 'hello'."
The "real" work starts tomorrow: Monday. We're meeting with the wonderful Stephanie to channel our overflowing ideas into a concrete project.
Amsterdam is still dreamy, picturesque, effervescent, and all the other words we thought of while sitting in a quaint cafe in a Diagon Alley-type straat (street, dummies); it wishes you were here, as do we.
(Oh yeah, did we mention that Jesse keeps falling down? Girl is always tripping all over the house. But it's fair, because Hannah's ankles are always failing her... in public. Kind of embarrassing. I think she needs crutches).
Love 'n' Winkel,
Jesse and Hannah
Great piece on US vs Holland. Look forward to more and to learn what the "commons" means to the Dutch. Thanks!
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