July 6-7 2022: Dutch Class, Stamppot, and a Canal Cruise

Authored By:

Helen Sharma

Hello everyone!

Helen here, updating the blog to share what we've all been up to the last two days. This trip so far has been jam packed with activities, classes, and long walks past the canals and tall, narrow houses that give Amsterdam its signature charm. The group is doing well--friendships are forming, they're engaged in their classes, and we're having a lot of fun along the way.

On Tuesday, we had class in the morning, and then enjoyed lunch at the cafeteria on campus. There are lots of options for food there, to make sure that everyone has something they can eat! Juniper wasn't feeling well, but she perked up after some soup and breadsticks and we walked together to meet up with the group. In the afternoon, we walked to Centraal Station to meet our boat and took a canal cruise of the city. Maggie led us in improv games on the boat and we ate copious snacks as we sailed under bridges and down sidestreets. We even recognized some places from our walking tour on Monday and are starting to get a feel for the city! After our boat tour we returned to the hostel for dinner, and then a few of us took a walk to get some ice cream. 

Wednesday morning we had QLA class followed by lunch at the cafeteria, and in the afternoon was Dutch class. We sped through some vocabulary and grammar basics, then tried our hands at creating conversations. Elliott and Kamaia volunteered to share their story--they were BOTH cheese farmers in it! Once we'd finished Dutch class, we went to a vintage market in the center of the city to look for souveniors. Grace bought cool lobster earrings from a stand at the back of the market.

For dinner, we learned how to make Stamppot, a traditional Dutch cuisine! We'd been walking for almost four hours by the time we ate, so the students were hungry, and most of them loved the potatoes and meatballs that we'd made together. Gabriel was happy to help chopping potatoes even though he doesn't like to cook! Ari and Anna shaped the meatballs, and Anaya, Madeline, and Aimee mashed the potatoes. We finished off the meal with mango popsicles and a short tram ride back to the hostel. 

The outfits on this trip are a particular focal point--our group loves vintage shopping, and there is a lot of great thrifting in Amsterdam! Finley rocked a purple dress from a vintage shop on Wednesday, and Maryam's fuzzy pink sweater inspired a "fit check". Kaine's teal eyeliner was a hit too!