Sunday night I had my friend Krystian over for dinner - he's a non-MAIPR who we met in our Key Theories course. One of the things I've enjoyed in Amsterdam has been taking classes with students outside of our program. In addition to meeting a lot of other Dutch students, we had some other international students taking the course: Inga from Germany (whose room I'll be occupying here for a week in July while she's in Greece), and Krystian from Poland (who works for the Goethe Institute here in the city). Good connections all around! I'm envious of Krystian because he has a working knowledge of seven languages - isn't that unbelievable? That evening we made some pasta and then hit the city for some drinks.
On Monday, Bec and I went for one last photo session around the city. We're a good photo pair - we both revel in taking shots of unique, weird, and interesting things. We spent a good hour at the three level bike garage near Centraal Station taking photos, and then grabbed some lunch at the major department store in Dam Square. I had never been inside so I suggested we take a look - it's like a Dutch Holts. Very chic. I'm really happy to be taking the bus to London with Bec this evening. It means I have a fellow traveler to bitch to about how heavy my bags are, but more importantly, Bec and I arrived to the country on the ferry together so it's a nice little bookend to the past six months.
Tuesday I complete a bundle of errands around the city - returning this and that, purchasing stuff for the coming month, and biking around to some of my favorite spots. The evening was spent having a dinner meeting with the my internship partner at IGLYO who I am developing the exhibit with for the conference in July. It turns out that I'll be working on the road for the next month trying to compile a bunch of information in preparation for the launch of the website we've been developing. Luckily, this just means that I'll pull out my laptop during downtime and layovers to get some of the work done. I also found out on Tuesday night that I'll be giving a five minute speech on the opening night of the conference at a reception for 200 delegates and invited guests. The speech will describe the project we've been working on and officially launch the website. On one hand I'm nervous because (contrary to what you may believe) I never find public speaking easy, but on the other I'm honoured to have the opportunity to complete such an important task.
Yesterday was my last full day in Amsterdam (tear). Thankfully, I made the absolute most of it. I got up early and starting the cleaning tasks, but put down the duster and the mop to seize the day. I went to the Riksmuseum with my Museumkaart and leisurely walked through the collection of Dutch art and artifacts. Having lived in the city for six months and not yet made it to the famous museum, I felt it was time. Rembrandt's The Nightwatch was a pretty stunning piece, but I still prefer the Van Goghs. After that I joined Courtney and Inga for one last free afternoon of music at the Concertgebouw. There was a lovely string quartet who played four pieces from Ravel. After the concert we chilled in Museumplein with some delicious ice cream treats. That evening, Courtney and I shared a wonderful pub dinner after hopping from place to place to avoid paying 20 Euros a plate (Um, I'll have some bread and butter please?). It was nice to spent one more meal discussing the Amsterdam adventures with Courtney. We've become really good friends here in the city and our trip to Berlin was without a doubt one of the highlights. After dinner, we joined the assembled group at our regular haunt (Orlaam) for a few more rounds of drinks. We then ventured to a festival after party and then to Studio 80 for one final club night. Because the day was a collection of some of my favourite things to do in the city, it proved to be the perfect send off.
So, the moment of note this past week had to be the ticket and fine I received from the city of Amsterdam. It was not for biking without visible lights (which I've done in the evenings) or running a red light (which I've done only when things are free and clear), but rather for sitting on a patch of grass in a park. I kid you not. A friend and I were sharing a bottle of wine at the side of a canal when two bike cops - whose median age had to be 22 - informed us that unfortunately the grass we were sitting on wasn't meant for relaxing and that we'd have to pay a fine. After politely trying to REASON with them about the charge (with no signs, no high fence, and no need for such Draconian enforcements) the youthful face of the law informed us that unfortunately he needed to follow the rules. My favourite part of the whole incident is that as part of the paperwork he had to ask us "why" we committed the crime. I paused to try and repress the smart-ass comment that popped into my head, and pleaded ignorance to the law. Thankfully, he informed me that since I'm leaving in two days I won't receive the official notice of a fine by mail so I probably won't have to pay it. The absurdity of it makes it one of my favourite Amdam moments.
I sit here with my bags all packed ready to board the bus to London in four short hours en route back home to Canada! I look around the room and am reminded of incredible times spent here with Emily, Steve, Raffi, Bronwyn, Cynthia, and Michael. I'm glad that friends were able to see my life here. I'm going to try and complete my essay in London so I have no stress back home, but I'll also try to sneak in one more blog post about the top ten things I'll miss in Amsterdam. The city has stolen my heart - it has been an incredible six months.
Doc's Prescription of the Day: If you're enjoying a patch of park grass all your own, make sure you have the right to be trampling it. If not, you'll pay for it.
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