Sunday, March 20, 2022

Amsterdam

I just returned from a week long Dutch (language) immersion class in Amsterdam.


I'd been very nervous to attend in the time leading up to it but luckily, it turned out to be all that I'd hoped. The class was limited to 8, with students coming from Spain, England, Columbia & the U.S. 
As an added bonus it was held in the heart of Amsterdam. 

Loved attending the class in one of the buildings behind the black ship.

It was seven hours a day for seven days, so very intense.
 The teacher was very passionate and playful about the language which made it a lot of fun.
 

He used stuffed animals as props and lots of jokes to help us remember. He taught us what Dutch people really say, not just what the formal Dutch language books go over.
 It was the ideal class for me.


I decided to rent a room nearby, to totally immerse myself, which was a real treat.
 Although we'd been to the city on many occasions before, 
staying there and feeling like a real local helped me to truly fall in love with it for the first time.

You can tell when a baby has just been born, as it's common to decorate the house with a stork.




It was so fun to discover little streets and to be there at night to see the city all lit up.




Han was able to join me for a couple nights at the beginning and then on my last night to celebrate, 
which made it extra special.



We had fun at the famous Noodermaarkt and I had the most beautiful yogurt/granola/fruit breakfast ever.


It was a beautiful week.
I learned soooo much, mijn hoofd is vol.
Ik ben heel blij met deze grote stap en dankbaar voor deze mooie week in Amsterdam!

The number of bikes parked at the train station here is mind blowing!

Alkmaar is a 43 minute train ride away from Amsterdam.


❤️