Amsterdam Adventuring

Throughout my study abroad experience, I have been fortunate to have visited many new cities and sites. Out of all of my weekend travel experiences, this past weekend in Amsterdam was my favorite. Amsterdam has all the advantages of a big city, such as culture, nightlife, restaurants, and good transportation, all within a relatively small city. There is always something to see or do in Holland’s capital, and yet it still retains its traditional charm. I was able to discover art in the Rijksmuseum, cruise the city by canal, shop in the boutique areas like Jordaan neighborhood, sample Dutch cheeses in a cheese museum, and walk through the streets of the Red Light District. Everywhere I traveled, I was constantly learning new things and making long-lasting memories. Perhaps the most meaningful experience was at the Anne Frank House. I was able to walk through the exact place where Anne and her family hid for more than 2 years during World War II. One moment that was extremely powerful was stepping through the moveable bookcase, which concealed the entrance to the secret annex. To think that the Frank family had stepped through that same bookcase, to remain isolated behind it until the Nazis captured them, gave me goosebumps and butterflies in my stomach. To think that this museum tour would end in about an hour, and then I could exit the building and return to my daily life, but that was not the case for the Franks, as well many other Jews who came before me. This experience in Amsterdam was one I will always remember.