Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Final Post
It's been a long journey since January 27th, when I left Hatfield, Mass on my way to Bradley Airport to board a plane bound for Amsterdam. I feel like I have grown a lot, matured immensely as a person, and learned invaluable lessons that can only be learned from an experience such as mine. I truly believe that Amsterdam is one of the greatest cities in the world (granted, I may not exactly have the qualifications to make that claim--I just don't see how a city could get much better). When I first made the decision to go to Amsterdam, I was unsure if I was making the right choice. Whether it was Amsterdam's reputation, the snickers I got from people when I told them that's where I was going, the notorious Amsterdam winter, or the cost of living in one of Europe's more expensive cities, there was a lot I was unsure of. But I took the plunge anyway. And as I sit here today in Hatfield writing this blog, I honestly can't imagine having made a better decision. I had the experience of a lifetime--an experience that I don't know how it could be topped. From the people I met and the friendships I've established to the city itself and the people of Holland, Amsterdam provided me with everything I ever hoped for out of my study abroad experience. And I just want to throw out a thank you to everyone who supported me in my decision to go and my time spend there. I really feel like I am a better person because of it.
Adjusting back to life at home has been interesting to say the least. It wasn't as much of a culture shock as I thought it may be. Home is home. Hatfield is unchanged, and my family and friends are just as I left them--and I am thankful for that. The hardest part has just been dealing with the feelings of missing the city of Amsterdam and the friends I left behind. Not too mention that two days after I left the World Cup started, and The Netherlands LOVES the World Cup. As much as I miss it all, it was time for me to come home. I spent 134 days in Europe. I could've been there another few weeks or even a month the way I felt when it came time to leave, but the time to go home had come-- and the $30 left in my bank account by the time I boarded the plane was also pretty good incentive. But, it's so nice to know that I have friends living in Europe that I can and WILL go back and visit throughout my life. And I will forever have a deep attachment to one of Europe's most amazing cities. Amsterdam will always hold a special place in my heart.
Now, as for what I was up to in Amsterdam since you last heard from me upon my return from Dublin. Queen's Day was absolutely insane. The entire city came out to party. DJs on every corner, vendors of all varieties every 10 feet, the endless sea of Orange, and thousands and thousands of ecstatic people everywhere you turned. Everyone just out to have an awesome time. I've never been to Mardis Gras in New Orleans but I guarantee Queen's Day is Mardis Gras times a million. On Queen's Night--the night before Queen's Day--we went to an underground techno rave on an island in the middle of nowhere underneath a bridge that connected North Amsterdam and Amsterdam Centrum. It was outrageously fun, despite Danny having a minor bike accident and fracturing his arm on the way. We partied for about 3 hours before taking a cab to the hospital. He made a full recovery, and had the cast off 3 weeks later. After going to sleep at 8 am Queen's Day morning, we awoke at noon, had a bite to eat and set out for city center to partake in the Queen's Day festivities. The day is more or less and endless blur of music, dancing, cold beer, the color orange, and pure joy. By far, one of the best days I ever had in Amsterdam--despite my closest friend being crippled by a broken arm.
During the following week came Remembrance Day and Liberation Day in Holland, all part of the anniversary of the end of WWII. There was a ceremony at Dam Square on Remembrance Day that our Dutch History class went to as a group. Now, in 2009 on Queen's Day someone tried to assassinate the Queen by running her over in a car. The attempt failed but something like 6 people died as a result. Since then Dutch people would always became a bit nervous when the Queen made public appearances. And that night in Dam Square those worries became apparent. During a two minute moment of silence being honored by a few thousand people in the square, some NUT JOB decided to scream out as loud as he could during the silence. Despite doing nothing but yelling, an unbelievable wave of panic came over the crowd. I'll let the video do the talking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX_L48lIhD8
I was in the far left corner and everyone just started running away from the center of the square--myself included. I was with my friend Jenny, and we had no idea what happened but we decided it would be best to hop on our bikes and get the hell out of there. We went back to Danny and Pucks room to watch their TV to see what exactly had happened. Honestly, I still don't really know, all I know is some wacko decided to scream out during the moment of silence and all hell broke lose as a result. Last I knew he was still in jail.
The next day was Liberation Day, and Cinco de Mayo. Liberation Day was like a mini Queen's Day, with people partying in the streets and DJs all over. I bought a bottle of tequila in honor of America's favorite Mexican holiday, and we went to our favorite abandoned dock on the Prinsengracht canal and spent the next few hours having some drinks and listening to live DJs. It was a great afternoon.
Beyond that, the end of the semester was steadily approaching and the amount of work I had to do was growing heavy on my conscience. But I managed to ignore it long enough to continue enjoying my final weeks to the fullest. The festivities included celebrating Jenny's 21st birthday in grand fashion, going to the BEAUTIFUL beaches on North Holland's West Coast in Bloemindale and Zaandvoort (twice!), discovering one of the coolest bars in Amsterdam--Pacific, co-hosting a massive party on the roof of our apartment building that got the cops called (no one got in trouble), and finally getting my ass to Europe's second most visited attraction--The Anne Frank House.
But that's not all. One of the best things I did all semester in Amsterdam was renting a small, electric boat with 5 of my friends, and cruising the canals of Amsterdam for 5 hours doing anything we wanted. It was an incredibly unique way to view the city rather than from the sidewalk. A boat, a few beers, good music, and good friends and we had ourselves an unforgettable Friday afternoon.
Another awesome day that involved a boat was the Sunday afternoon Puck invited me to go with her and Danny to her parents house in Almere, 20 minutes outside Amsterdam. They live on a lake and have a sweet boat. After a barbecue on their back deck, Danny, Puck, her brother, and myself took the boat out for a long ride on the lake and through the canals of Almere. That was really, really fun. Then the next day, Puck's parents took the three of us on a drive to Volendam and Marken. They are two little Dutch sea villages that attract massive amounts of tourists, for their unique locations and quaint Dutch ambiance. I had heard a lot about them from many different people so I was incredibly happy to have the opportunity to go there. I was so excited, I was even convinced into trying some really, really strange traditional Dutch seafood like deep fried minnows and cold eel sandwich. They were about as good as they sound, haha.
I literally waited until the last possible week to write two massive final papers--4000 words and 6000 words respectively. But, in traditional Keegan fashion, when I actually settle down and put my mind to it, I got them done in about 4 days of solid work, and I honestly believe they both came out very well. I finished the last one Thursday morning (the last Thursday I had in Amsterdam). To celebrate, now free of obligation, Danny and I spontaneously hopped on our bikes and without a destination began riding west. We ended up riding through the Sparnavoude (one of Holland's few large and gorgeous national forest preserves) and into a number of small Dutch towns like Spaarndam and Halfweg. We ended up in Haarlem, the capital of the North Holland Province, only a few kilometers from the beaches at Bloemindale and Zaandvoort. Haarlem is a very cool, Amsterdam-esque, small city with a lot of character. We hung around for a bit, before setting out for IKEA where Danny promised a delicious and cheap dinner. And it did not disappoint. Go figure, IKEA can make a tasty dinner.
That weekend we partied like it was the last weekend we would all spend together in Amsterdam--going out and having as much fun as humanly possible. Hopping from bar to bar and club to club, our group of friends had a blast together, enjoying every moment we had left. Monday night we had a huge "Last Supper" and spent the evening watching the sunset over a canal. Danny, Puck, Jenny, and myself tried to stay up all night since Jenny and I both had to be at the airport by 8 or 9 am. We didn't make it all night, but almost!
Monday morning was sad. Despite not having any plane to catch, Danny and Puck accompanied Jenny and I to the airport where we said our emotional goodbyes. I don't know when I will see them again, but I absolutely 100% WILL see them again. Sooner than I probably think, too! The plane ride home was uneventful, and finding my Dad waiting for me in baggage claim at Bradley Airport officially marked the end of my epic journey. And what a journey it was---truly the trip of a lifetime!!!
Until we meet again, Amsterdam...
Saying goodbye for now,
Keegan
Adjusting back to life at home has been interesting to say the least. It wasn't as much of a culture shock as I thought it may be. Home is home. Hatfield is unchanged, and my family and friends are just as I left them--and I am thankful for that. The hardest part has just been dealing with the feelings of missing the city of Amsterdam and the friends I left behind. Not too mention that two days after I left the World Cup started, and The Netherlands LOVES the World Cup. As much as I miss it all, it was time for me to come home. I spent 134 days in Europe. I could've been there another few weeks or even a month the way I felt when it came time to leave, but the time to go home had come-- and the $30 left in my bank account by the time I boarded the plane was also pretty good incentive. But, it's so nice to know that I have friends living in Europe that I can and WILL go back and visit throughout my life. And I will forever have a deep attachment to one of Europe's most amazing cities. Amsterdam will always hold a special place in my heart.
Now, as for what I was up to in Amsterdam since you last heard from me upon my return from Dublin. Queen's Day was absolutely insane. The entire city came out to party. DJs on every corner, vendors of all varieties every 10 feet, the endless sea of Orange, and thousands and thousands of ecstatic people everywhere you turned. Everyone just out to have an awesome time. I've never been to Mardis Gras in New Orleans but I guarantee Queen's Day is Mardis Gras times a million. On Queen's Night--the night before Queen's Day--we went to an underground techno rave on an island in the middle of nowhere underneath a bridge that connected North Amsterdam and Amsterdam Centrum. It was outrageously fun, despite Danny having a minor bike accident and fracturing his arm on the way. We partied for about 3 hours before taking a cab to the hospital. He made a full recovery, and had the cast off 3 weeks later. After going to sleep at 8 am Queen's Day morning, we awoke at noon, had a bite to eat and set out for city center to partake in the Queen's Day festivities. The day is more or less and endless blur of music, dancing, cold beer, the color orange, and pure joy. By far, one of the best days I ever had in Amsterdam--despite my closest friend being crippled by a broken arm.
During the following week came Remembrance Day and Liberation Day in Holland, all part of the anniversary of the end of WWII. There was a ceremony at Dam Square on Remembrance Day that our Dutch History class went to as a group. Now, in 2009 on Queen's Day someone tried to assassinate the Queen by running her over in a car. The attempt failed but something like 6 people died as a result. Since then Dutch people would always became a bit nervous when the Queen made public appearances. And that night in Dam Square those worries became apparent. During a two minute moment of silence being honored by a few thousand people in the square, some NUT JOB decided to scream out as loud as he could during the silence. Despite doing nothing but yelling, an unbelievable wave of panic came over the crowd. I'll let the video do the talking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX_L48lIhD8
I was in the far left corner and everyone just started running away from the center of the square--myself included. I was with my friend Jenny, and we had no idea what happened but we decided it would be best to hop on our bikes and get the hell out of there. We went back to Danny and Pucks room to watch their TV to see what exactly had happened. Honestly, I still don't really know, all I know is some wacko decided to scream out during the moment of silence and all hell broke lose as a result. Last I knew he was still in jail.
The next day was Liberation Day, and Cinco de Mayo. Liberation Day was like a mini Queen's Day, with people partying in the streets and DJs all over. I bought a bottle of tequila in honor of America's favorite Mexican holiday, and we went to our favorite abandoned dock on the Prinsengracht canal and spent the next few hours having some drinks and listening to live DJs. It was a great afternoon.
Beyond that, the end of the semester was steadily approaching and the amount of work I had to do was growing heavy on my conscience. But I managed to ignore it long enough to continue enjoying my final weeks to the fullest. The festivities included celebrating Jenny's 21st birthday in grand fashion, going to the BEAUTIFUL beaches on North Holland's West Coast in Bloemindale and Zaandvoort (twice!), discovering one of the coolest bars in Amsterdam--Pacific, co-hosting a massive party on the roof of our apartment building that got the cops called (no one got in trouble), and finally getting my ass to Europe's second most visited attraction--The Anne Frank House.
But that's not all. One of the best things I did all semester in Amsterdam was renting a small, electric boat with 5 of my friends, and cruising the canals of Amsterdam for 5 hours doing anything we wanted. It was an incredibly unique way to view the city rather than from the sidewalk. A boat, a few beers, good music, and good friends and we had ourselves an unforgettable Friday afternoon.
Another awesome day that involved a boat was the Sunday afternoon Puck invited me to go with her and Danny to her parents house in Almere, 20 minutes outside Amsterdam. They live on a lake and have a sweet boat. After a barbecue on their back deck, Danny, Puck, her brother, and myself took the boat out for a long ride on the lake and through the canals of Almere. That was really, really fun. Then the next day, Puck's parents took the three of us on a drive to Volendam and Marken. They are two little Dutch sea villages that attract massive amounts of tourists, for their unique locations and quaint Dutch ambiance. I had heard a lot about them from many different people so I was incredibly happy to have the opportunity to go there. I was so excited, I was even convinced into trying some really, really strange traditional Dutch seafood like deep fried minnows and cold eel sandwich. They were about as good as they sound, haha.
I literally waited until the last possible week to write two massive final papers--4000 words and 6000 words respectively. But, in traditional Keegan fashion, when I actually settle down and put my mind to it, I got them done in about 4 days of solid work, and I honestly believe they both came out very well. I finished the last one Thursday morning (the last Thursday I had in Amsterdam). To celebrate, now free of obligation, Danny and I spontaneously hopped on our bikes and without a destination began riding west. We ended up riding through the Sparnavoude (one of Holland's few large and gorgeous national forest preserves) and into a number of small Dutch towns like Spaarndam and Halfweg. We ended up in Haarlem, the capital of the North Holland Province, only a few kilometers from the beaches at Bloemindale and Zaandvoort. Haarlem is a very cool, Amsterdam-esque, small city with a lot of character. We hung around for a bit, before setting out for IKEA where Danny promised a delicious and cheap dinner. And it did not disappoint. Go figure, IKEA can make a tasty dinner.
That weekend we partied like it was the last weekend we would all spend together in Amsterdam--going out and having as much fun as humanly possible. Hopping from bar to bar and club to club, our group of friends had a blast together, enjoying every moment we had left. Monday night we had a huge "Last Supper" and spent the evening watching the sunset over a canal. Danny, Puck, Jenny, and myself tried to stay up all night since Jenny and I both had to be at the airport by 8 or 9 am. We didn't make it all night, but almost!
Monday morning was sad. Despite not having any plane to catch, Danny and Puck accompanied Jenny and I to the airport where we said our emotional goodbyes. I don't know when I will see them again, but I absolutely 100% WILL see them again. Sooner than I probably think, too! The plane ride home was uneventful, and finding my Dad waiting for me in baggage claim at Bradley Airport officially marked the end of my epic journey. And what a journey it was---truly the trip of a lifetime!!!
Until we meet again, Amsterdam...
Saying goodbye for now,
Keegan
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
I'M HOME
It's been way to long since you all heard from me, but I got home last night at about 7pm EST. It's nice to be home, though it's certainly a bit different than Amsterdam. There's definitely going to be a very interesting adjustment period for me as I acclimate myself back to the simple life in Hatfield, Mass.
I start work next Monday, but keep an eye out in the next few days, I am going to post a blog telling all my adventures of the last month and post a bunch of photos.
I WILL FOREVER LOVE AMSTERDAM
I start work next Monday, but keep an eye out in the next few days, I am going to post a blog telling all my adventures of the last month and post a bunch of photos.
I WILL FOREVER LOVE AMSTERDAM
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
4 weeks left...
where in the world did the past 15 weeks go? I've got exactly 4 weeks until I board a plane for America, its gonna be a hell of a month..
CHEERS
CHEERS
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