Went to Keukenhof to get the full tulip experience today :)

Clickable map of Leiden poems

When I came to Leiden and learned about all the awesome museums I quickly decided I needed to see all of them. However, after the most intense semester of my life it’s only in the last week that I have had the chance. This week has be a rough one ;) Thursday: The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities) What was interesting was the giant euphemism which was every description of how the artifacts found themselves in Leiden. “Art collectors” “discovered” the Egyptian artifacts which “ended up in the Netherlands.” I think they should replace every “art collector” with “thief” and the word “found” with “stole.” Just to shake things up. Friday: Museum Volkenkunde (National Museum of Ethnology) & ISN 50’s cocktail party When I arrived the woman at the front desk told me about their temporary exhibit called “Fetish Modernity.” In typical Dutch fashion she said, “I don’t understand it, but maybe you will.” To be honest, I didn’t. What I did understand was that it was sort of a meta-museum which critiqued the typical simplification of cultures through the exhibition of artifacts. It was a little extreme. For example, there was a video of Chinese break dancers to Pachelbel’s Canon with a video of a traditional African dance right next to it. If you can tell me what that says - please let me know. I think that the Ethnology Museum should talk to the Egyptian Museum and together they can find a happy medium. Saturday: I ate the entire market. I came home from the market with bread, goat cheese, pears, and corn. After a semester of going to the market and cooking it’s not that I can’t feed myself properly, it’s that I choose not to. Yesterday, I had appletaart and rotwurst. Today, I had fresh fries and a stroopwaffle. I’m starting to think my happiness is far too food dependent. At least I am currently very happy :) Sunday: I should probably go see tulips.. 5 days until Italy. Not that I’m counting. View high resolution

When I came to Leiden and learned about all the awesome museums I quickly decided I needed to see all of them. However, after the most intense semester of my life it’s only in the last week that I have had the chance. This week has be a rough one ;)

Thursday: The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities)

What was interesting was the giant euphemism which was every description of how the artifacts found themselves in Leiden. “Art collectors” “discovered” the Egyptian artifacts which “ended up in the Netherlands.” I think they should replace every “art collector” with “thief” and the word “found” with “stole.” Just to shake things up.

Friday: Museum Volkenkunde (National Museum of Ethnology) & ISN 50’s cocktail party

When I arrived the woman at the front desk told me about their temporary exhibit called “Fetish Modernity.” In typical Dutch fashion she said, “I don’t understand it, but maybe you will.” To be honest, I didn’t. What I did understand was that it was sort of a meta-museum which critiqued the typical simplification of cultures through the exhibition of artifacts. It was a little extreme. For example, there was a video of Chinese break dancers to Pachelbel’s Canon with a video of a traditional African dance right next to it. If you can tell me what that says - please let me know. I think that the Ethnology Museum should talk to the Egyptian Museum and together they can find a happy medium.

Saturday: I ate the entire market.

I came home from the market with bread, goat cheese, pears, and corn. After a semester of going to the market and cooking it’s not that I can’t feed myself properly, it’s that I choose not to. Yesterday, I had appletaart and rotwurst. Today, I had fresh fries and a stroopwaffle. I’m starting to think my happiness is far too food dependent. At least I am currently very happy :)

Sunday: I should probably go see tulips..

5 days until Italy. Not that I’m counting.

It’s funny that only now am I discovering some of the best things in Leiden. I suppose that’s what happens when I look up from my books. Yesterday, I discovered a place that sells stroopwaffle and apple tart icecream. Today, I found a cafe attached to the public library which seems to be the de facto town kindergarten. I can work, listen to classical music, and watch cute kids stumble around without being responsible for them. Did I mention that this place is at the foot of Leiden’s castle? Yeah, there’s a castle. Finally, not to brag but only to convince my parents that I am actually going to school this semester: I got extremely good feedback for the one paper I’ve written and our moot court exercise. Between all these flights it turns out I’ve learned something. View high resolution

It’s funny that only now am I discovering some of the best things in Leiden. I suppose that’s what happens when I look up from my books. Yesterday, I discovered a place that sells stroopwaffle and apple tart icecream. Today, I found a cafe attached to the public library which seems to be the de facto town kindergarten. I can work, listen to classical music, and watch cute kids stumble around without being responsible for them. Did I mention that this place is at the foot of Leiden’s castle? Yeah, there’s a castle. Finally, not to brag but only to convince my parents that I am actually going to school this semester: I got extremely good feedback for the one paper I’ve written and our moot court exercise. Between all these flights it turns out I’ve learned something.

Kitchen Struggles

I am convinced that this country has exclusively concentrated it’s failures into our kitchen. Literally, everything about the Netherlands is perfect until BAM you’re in the Kstraat kitchen and you might as well be in a 3rd world country. Refrigerator doors becoming detached, no ovens, a toaster with epilepsy and today? No power. That’s fine, it’s not like I like my meat fresh or anything. I suppose this is the price to pay for living in a perfect country.

This weekend Sarah and myself spent an awesome weekend in Oxford.

Friday morning we went punting! Punting is when you take a heavy awkward boat and a heavier more awkward metal poll and attempt to then maneuver yourself in a small stream. As you can see I was not dressed for punting and ended up entirely soaked. We worked our way in one direction until a kind samaritan on a bridge shouted that we were approaching a six foot drop. We decided that we should probably not find out for ourselves and headed in the other direction. After braving fallen trees, angry geese, and a low bridge we returned the boat (slightly battered, sorry Oxford).

Oxford Women’s was absolutely awesome. An all female debate tournament it sought to promote gender equality in debate. Recent events in the debate community have highlighted the need to ensure a more inclusive and equal environment. The best thing about the tournament was the friendly atmosphere which I believe resulted from that fact that the tournament existed to create a more welcoming community. I met a lot of intelligent and wonderful people. :) Unfortunately, Thomas Freedman (The Tipping Point, The World is Flat) was debating American foreign policy versus an AL-jezeerah journalist. I wasn’t able to see him speak despite the fact that it was taking place in the Chamber right next door. However, this was made a little better by the fact that I would be the one speaking in the Chamber the next day.

On Saturday we continued debating things. There was a great forum on women in debate where we were addressed by Laura Bates from the Everyday Sexism Project. She created a site where women could share everyday instances of sexism in a forum to compare and share:

http://www.everydaysexism.com/

Amazingly, Sarah and I broke to semifinals (on 10). After debating against the right to vote we then broke to finals. Which was even more amazing. The motion was: This House, as a feminist, would not join the military. I really enjoyed the ability to participate in what was really a great and insightful round. It was especially cool to be able to be able to debate in the Chamber. Sarah was 8th speaker and I was 2nd out of the 52 women participating.

Saturday night Sarah and I took a 1am bus to the airport where we then slept in a Costa Coffee for an hour before taking our 6am flight. I was back in Leiden by 9am where I then proceeded to do my much neglected homework. I finally slept at noon today. I woke up from my “2 hour nap” six hours later.

After an incredible weekend I’m now ready to crash before my moot court tomorrow on international criminal law which counts as basically our final for the entire semester.


I love this. Can I stay here forever?

Oxford

Off to Oxford for the weekend to debate at an all female debate tournament with the lovely Sarah. Pictures and stories to come :-)

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Verkeersopstopping
Dutch Word of the Day: “traffic jam”
Dear Parents, This is speculoos. A delicious cinnamony cookie. Which the Dutch have ingeniously made into spreadable form. It’s spreadable cookie. Long story short, I can put speculoos on my speculoos. If this exists in the US I may actually come home at some point. Love, Amelia View high resolution

Dear Parents,


This is speculoos. A delicious cinnamony cookie. Which the Dutch have ingeniously made into spreadable form. It’s spreadable cookie. Long story short, I can put speculoos on my speculoos. If this exists in the US I may actually come home at some point.

Love,

Amelia

Happy Liberation Day! Ok - I have a confession. I’m a day late. So Happy Day After Liberation Day! Yesterday, the Dutch celebrated their liberation from the Nazis by boating through the canals and sipping beer on barges. I celebrated by finishing a paper, buying a plane ticket to Italy, and going to the beach. (For the record the North Sea is REALLY cold - and this is from a New Englander). The beach helped me realize how adorably small this country is. I could see Rotterdam (the Netherland’s second biggest city) and The Hague from just one place. That’s like being able to see New York and Washington DC from Boston Harbor. So cute.Tonight we’re having an Indonesian dinner to say goodbye to the seniors on our program who are heading back early for graduation. Tuesday night debate. Wednesday night sushi. Thursday I leave for Oxford for the Women’s Open debate tournament! This week will be rough ;) View high resolution

Happy Liberation Day!

Ok - I have a confession. I’m a day late. So Happy Day After Liberation Day!

Yesterday, the Dutch celebrated their liberation from the Nazis by boating through the canals and sipping beer on barges. I celebrated by finishing a paper, buying a plane ticket to Italy, and going to the beach. (For the record the North Sea is REALLY cold - and this is from a New Englander). The beach helped me realize how adorably small this country is. I could see Rotterdam (the Netherland’s second biggest city) and The Hague from just one place. That’s like being able to see New York and Washington DC from Boston Harbor. So cute.

Tonight we’re having an Indonesian dinner to say goodbye to the seniors on our program who are heading back early for graduation. Tuesday night debate. Wednesday night sushi. Thursday I leave for Oxford for the Women’s Open debate tournament! This week will be rough ;)