Wageningen Week 2 Sam

What did you do over the weekend? What did you find interesting? Why was it interesting?

We went into Amsterdam for the weekend and the city in itself is beyond interesting. Two uncommon things that are legal: marijuana and prostitution (but not on the streets at all, in windows and shops). However, I could not nearly expect the abundance it came in, it is all over most of the city. Many parts were very sad to see, especially the people living their lives through smoking marijuana all day or making money through starting prostitution at a legal age of 14. The city was an experience because it is nothing something you really believe exists in its entirety until you actually see it. However, the trip was very positive, there are many museums, we visited Van Gogh and the Anne Frank House and there were also canals throughout the entire city. Overall, the experience made me really recognize many realizations about cultures that exist differently from our own.

Now that you have been there nearly two weeks, how has your behavior changed in your day-to-day life? What changes have you had to make to adapt to your new environment?

I have made many changes in my day-to-day routine. I have been getting up and working a full, long day at the hatchery for the aquaculture department. They take 15 minute coffee breaks frequently and relaxed lunches. Yet I’m many times exhausted after working hard most of the day and a trip to the grocery store every few days has become habit since I can only carry limited amounts of food back at a time and there is limited space in the refrigerator. Other than that, trying to journal about everything I’ve experienced each night has helped me keep everyone from home up to date.

How have you changed the way you think or respond to eating, traveling around, your daily schedule, communicating with others?

From reading other’s blogs, I agree that the food is definitely much different! Meat is entirely different here, but fortunately I do not run into much of a problem because I do not each much meat at all. I have been able to make many of the dinners I made at my apartment throughout the year, so I don’t feel my eating habits have needed to shift much. It’s hard to try and make new things though, since all the directions are in Dutch! It’s also at times quite the guessing game when grocery shopping, yet fellow shoppers and workers are friendly if you ask.

Travel: I love that everyone bikes! I actually love my bike so much that I decided to get adventurous and take a nice ride out in the country last week. Yet leave it to me to get entirely lost and end up a good 10 miles outside of Wageningen. When I finally realized I was way lost, I asked a nice farmer who was outside which direction Wageningen was in, he looked shocked and said it was very far, I laughed knowing it was, yet he pointed me the right way. I eventually made it home about 3 hours later, good work out!

Communication: I have barely come across any language barrier in Wageningen, merely elderly people, accents have not been a problem with students from all over the world. Funny part, we met a British soccer team this past weekend in Amsterdam and they were by far the hardest to understand of everyone I’ve met! Go figure, we speak the same language and have a harder time communicating than with people who speak English as a second language. I found this funny, yet I wasn’t surprised, seeing as though I at times have a hard time understanding my family from England as well.

What types of questions should Dr. Hurley be asking you to help you record your thoughts, observations, reflections on your international experience?

I think questions pertaining to how our experiences working and at the University differ from those at home will help when reflecting back to develop a learning module next semester about this program. I know a constant theme I have been continually recognizing is animal welfare, mainly concerning the conditions respective countries keep their animals it. I feel as this might be an interesting comparison across several countries, because I have noticed extreme differences throughout my travels.

Are there any other observations or reflections or concerns that you would like to share?

I am really enjoying my time here so far. I especially love my work in the hatchery and I have been fortunate enough to help with research for two different government funded projects as well as start on my own today. It has been a remarkable experience thus far.