Each time I visit Europe, I try to gain a new perspective on how people view the world and how they fit into that perceived world. Berlin and the Netherlands have offered me another opportunity to fulfill this desire. I have been to Germany before, but the Berlin experience is much different, and it’s not just because the architecture of East Berlin is simplistic, symmetrical, and concrete. In general, the people’s attitudes are much more negative and focused on preserving the commoner’s way of life to the point that tourists feel mocked. I have never before witnessed a people who more collectively despise tourists because in other cities I have visited, the people are more willing to meet the visitor’s needs and comfort. However, viewing the history of Berlin, I can understand why the people act this way. During the time the Berlin Wall was set up, the people of East Berlin were forced to obey laws that rejected any activity of Western origin. Considering this, I can see why they hate the idea of tourism and why they want people to live comfortably and without groups of strangers taking pictures of their private lives. They do not want to feel like they are being watched after going through a period of extreme surveillance with the Stasis.
However, the Dutch people’s attitude was the complete opposite in comparison to that of the people of Berlin. To start, the Dutch are not too fond of following the rules word-by-word. For the sake of being agreeable, they are willing to make compromises between each other so that, in the end, everyone is happy. Another difference they have from the Berliners is that the Dutch love to talk to tourists and will even smother them with advice on where to go to have fun and relax. In my experience, the people from the Netherlands are not afraid to initiate conversation with visitors. What helps is that every single Dutch person learns how to speak English, and understanding the language so well allows them to make connections with Americans like us.
My favorite part of this trip was being able to rent a bicycle for a whole day to discover the city of Leiden and its beaches. I love riding a bike in Tucson, so before this trip, I had been riding almost every single day. However, riding in the Netherlands was a different and more satisfying experience because it was a personal way to discover the city’s architecture. Additionally, a few of us were able to ride bicycles to see the famous windmills in Kinderdijk. I love wandering through nature, so biking through lavender fields on bridges over gentle streams of water and watching cows leap with joy across the grass created a feeling of emotional serenity that I had not felt in a while. It is amazing to think that the Dutch do these types of activities on a regular basis.
I am grateful to have gone on this trip with great classmates and a wonderful professor. I hope to continue to see them during the school year because without them, this trip would not have had as many spontaneous and adventurous moments.
With much gratitude,
Alexis Cañez
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