2 weeks to go: Reflections before arrival

Getting ready to depart for Amsterdam has made me think a lot about what this experience is going to entail. I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad last summer, and there are certain aspects of that experience that led me to want to study abroad again. Navigating new cities, trying new food, making cultural comparisons, and making new friends are all parts of studying abroad that had a huge impact on me and inspired me to come to Amsterdam. However, I also learned a lot about travel and what I don't want to replicate.  I tried my best to go with the flow and join others in pursuits they were in charge of rather than take charge myself. In addition, I did not do a lot of research on the cities I went to beforehand. I think having a deeper knowledge of what tourist sites are worth it/what to avoid, and having a context of the history of a city would make studying abroad a richer experience through and through. While my experience last summer was incredible, I want to take matters into my hands more this time and have no regrets.

I read Story's 'Prepare for Departure' book last year before I studied abroad with Dr. Crockett and Dr. Renegar. A year ago, I had never stepped foot outside of the United States and never travelled independently. Compared to that time, the current me is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of travel and uncomfortable experiences. I feel less anxious than before, because now I know what to expect of travel, and have triumphed in the face of travel roadblocks. In general though, I think my travel style and what I'm looking to get out of studying abroad is the same. One of my biggest interests is in cultural differences, and the endless ways we can make sense of the world around us. Thankfully, we are directly comparing the United States and The Netherlands this summer, so I will be required to continue to delve into these differences. Thankfully, writing blogs is also a required aspect of this class, but I am committing to take Story's advice and maintain a journal abroad. I have a great deal of photos to commemorate my previous travels, but the day-to-day details are somewhat fuzzy. I plan on writing at least a daily paragraph of what I saw, learned, and enjoyed each day so I can look back on my summer and remember in the most possible detail.

In terms of travel style, I am 100% a mix of the Sponge and the Crowdsourcer. The sponge appreciates culture and has the best time immersing themselves in the routine of a local. In Amsterdam, I am eager to eat Dutch food, converse with as many Dutch people as I can, and make sense of their country outside of being a tourist destination. I identify with the crowdsourcer, because I rely on people I know or things like tripadvisor and even asking locals what they recommend to steer where I visit. Some of my favorite restaurants in Ireland and Prague are places that were recommended to me by people who lived in the neighborhoods I stayed in. I think that using the crowdsourcer mentality can hopefully avoid tourist traps and gain a more authentic lens to view a city from.

All in all, I am beyond excited to travel to Amsterdam in just under two weeks and hope that my past study abroad experiences can help shape this summer into the best one possible!

(Pictured above: The Dough Bros, best pizza in Ireland that I would never have known about without asking locals!)

N= 610

I have acted with honesty and integrity in producing this work and am unaware of anyone who has not. Davis Warms