Amsterdam (Day Four)

Sunday morning Evan and I got up and out for one final day of exploring the Netherlands. We were very pleased when we looked out the window and saw that it wasn't raining (as it had been the day before), but unfortunately there was a wicked wind that made things quite chilly. We packed our suitcases and left them by the front desk, put things into my backpack for the day, and headed out the door for our walk to the train station. Ultimate destination: Zaanse Schans, a tiny Dutch town on the banks of the river Zaan (about 20 minutes by train outside the city center). It's known for its windmills, wooden clog museum, and picturesque green-roofed village houses. 

Reflecting as we watched the Dutch countryside fly by

We made it to our platform with plenty of time to spare and boarded the train. While we rode through the countryside we enjoyed coming up with the previous day's highlights and also decided to set some goals for the second part of the semester. The goals that I came up with were:
1. Slow it down. Time is flying by so I want to take steps to be mindful, appreciate the moment, and slow down the pace at which I live my day to day life here in Denmark.
2. Take advantage of every opportunity. I think I've been doing a good job of this one, but I want to continue to remind myself of what's important and to seize the opportunities that I have here. This means postponing homework to have long meals with my host family, taking a new route from the train station, inviting a new friend to coffee, etc.
3. Seek out ways to apply what I am learning in the classroom here to outside life and back home. DIS helps out a lot with this one. Our field studies/study tours have been hugely helpful in applying new knowledge to life outside the classroom, and I am continuing to find ways to relate what I learn in class to my own life (my past, present, and future).

Anyway, when our train pulled into the platform we found our way out of the station and looked for signs (which the visitors' website said would guide us through the town). Luckily, things were very clearly marked (it would have been difficult to miss it). In fact, along the way there were many different sources of information about Zaanse Schans.

Evan pulls a giant lever on this machine, producing a map! 

One of the many signs that we passed on the walk to the actual town.

The windiest and coldest part of the walk (which was only about 15 minutes and was very beautiful) was over the bridge that would take us to the actual town. We could see the windmills in the distance and admired the green-roofs, beautiful even against the grey sky.

I am one with the windmills (and completely bundled up)

A snapshot of a section of the houses

We stepped safely across the bridge and approached the brick-paved streets. Small canals ran through the backyards of the homes, and cute little bridges connected the pieces of land.

Houses on the waterfront

We then went to visit one of the three windmills that is still in operation and open to the public. Evan and I both thought that it was really cool that the people of the community had petitioned and raised money to reopen the mills, which were torn down and replaced with industrialization. Now there are 5 or 6 back up and running. 

We approached the first mill and wondered what it produced, but the moment that we opened the door and stepped inside, there was not even a question: we had entered a spice mill. It was warm and cozy (and a nice break from the wind), but the most wonderful part was the overwhelming sent of cinnamon and other spices. We watched the wheels turn around and around. 

You can see the spices that have been crushed by the giant wheels and the little arm that keeps the powder from falling 

View of the other windmills out the window

Next stop: the cheese museum (which was the thing Evan was most looking forward to)! We were really sure what to expect at a museum about cheese, but were very pleased with what we found. 

Evan is very excited about our cheese expedition! 

A window allowing you to look in on the cheese making process

That was all well and good, but the real fun was only about to begin... a HUGE cheese room with TONS of free samples!!

Evan begins with cheese sample #1

One of several counters with good-sized bites of cheese for our tasting pleasure 

In all, we sampled 19 different local, fresh cheeses (and went back for a second bite of a couple of them). We did also purchase some cookies and candy for our host families (a nice way to support the store given the amount of cheese we had eaten). 

The final stop of our Zaanse Schans excursion was to the clog making museum (which was what I was most excited for). Holland used to be famous for its wooden clogs and Zaanse Schans has a museum with demonstrations and clogs to try on. Again, we didn't really know what to expect....

Our front there were GIANT clogs to take pictures with! 

Inside, the museum began with a clog exhibit. Both Evan and I thought very much about our friend Cassidy when we saw these. We thought she would have gotten a big kick out of them and so I'm including quite a few pictures of my favorite clogs here for her. :-) 

Everyday clogs

Ice-fishing clogs

Clogs for your horse

Fancy clogs

Really weird clogs that I just thought were funky

clogs with hens for toes!

Wedding clogs! 

baby/toddler/children's clogs

We also learned quite a bit about the clog making process. Before the age of machines, it took roughly 3 hours to make a single pair of hand-crafted clogs. Now the process takes all of 5 minutes. Before the process looked like this (see the next two photos):

The upper part of each picture has the tools used to make the clogs, while the lower part shows how the shoes were actually formed along the way. Begin all the way at the far right with the two blocks of wood and then follow the progression leftwards 

Again, now continue here (again from right to left) to see how the process finishes. 

It was a LOT of work. 

We arrived just in time to see a demonstration of the way that clogs are made today.

Using machine #1

The crowd that gathered to watch the process and hear commentary from the tradesman 

Machine #2... it generated a LOT of sawdust

Clogs are worn "big." You wear giant socks and need to be able to put one finger of space between the back of the shoe and your heel (as he demonstrates here)

Very cool. After the demonstration, we continued around the corner and were hit by a wall of color:

SO MANY CLOGS!

They were hanging from every wall and from multiple levels of the ceiling!

We left the museum and decided it was time to head back to the train station, very happy to have made the journey. It was really neat to see a different side of Holland, to take a step back in time, and to be able to see so many interactive (and yummy) exhibits. Before I leave this part of my post, I'll share two additional photos (just because they're so gosh-darn-cute!):

In case you can't tell, there are 2 brown baby goats grazing in the bottom left hand part of this photo 

Here comes adult goat to join them! 

The rest of the afternoon went by in a whirlwind. We made a delicious lunch while waiting for the train (leftover bread and cheese from the farmer's market the day before) and toured around the center city for a little while too. Evan needed to find a souvenir for some of his family members and also wanted to try frites, the Dutch fresh fries that they slather with tasty sauces. We found success on both fronts (and also succeeded in buying insoles for my shoes to soothe my aching feet). 

Enjoying lunch on the train platform                                                 Evan's fries place

With fries in hand, we headed back to the hostel, making the trip across Museumplein one final time. We passed the iAMsterdam sign, climbed the steep, steep steps to the reception desk, collected our bags and went to the bus station. This time, we asked the driver to announce when we arrived at our destination (though we thought it would be obvious, we thought it was better to be safe than sorry). ;-)

After a little bit of confusion at the airport when trying to check in (the kiosk told us that it was too late to check in because our flight was already boarding although we were 2 hours early), we made it safely to our gate, unpacked our sandwiches, and waited for our flight. Just after 8:15pm we took off, leaving the city behind, and arrived in Copenhagen just after 9. 

In many ways, I was very sad that our adventure had come to an end, BUT it had been everything that I could have hoped it would be (and more): I explored a new city with awesome friends. I challenged myself to try new foods and tackle new experiences. I appreciated great art. I mastered another public transportation system. I lived in (and appreciated) the moment. I learned about (and experienced) history. I de-stressed and unwound. I laughed (a lot). I got lost and remarkably (mostly thanks to Evan) found my way again. I came to appreciate the culture and life in Holland, and even more in Denmark. I talked with Evan and Helen about applying all sorts of parts of our Positive Psych class to real life. I enjoyed the benefits of exploring without a concrete plan. I had tons of meaningful conversations. Our adventure ended up being one of the greatest learning experiences that I've had thus far (although I feel like I am literally constantly saying that). And even though it was truly fantastic, I was also happy to be heading home. 

I had missed my host family and my room and bed. I had missed the order/routine of the city. I had missed the familiar streets (and traffic laws!). I had loved my time in Amsterdam, and I was also excited to go home. I realized that it was possible to experience both things simultaneously.

Lars picked me up at the airport and as we drove home I wondered whether I'll be feeling ready to go home (to my US home) 2 months from now. I can't imagine ever being "ready" to leave my Danish life behind, but maybe by then I'll be feeling ready (but I kind of doubt it). BUT (in line with my goal to live in the moment and take it slow) I won't worry about that now. Instead, I'll appreciate each day for what it's worth and continue to document the things that are making my time here so special. 

Day Four Highlights:

Sara: Seeing the Dutch countryside; the feeling of the town (the past and present, the community, the architecture, the mini-canals); making the best of each situation (i.e. using difficulties on the train as time to plan)

Evan: The experience at the first windmill (the smell and the "technology"); the trip from town back to the hostel (realizing that I know my way around); the bus driver's humor