Adventure in Amsterdam - 08.07.2010

I have an intense love/hate relationship with Facebook. I've been using it frequently here in the Netherlands to stay in touch with those who don't have Skype. But it can get frustrating because it so impersonal. And all the information people can access about me is terrifying, even with privacy settings on high. Well, I have learned to ignore the negatives and appreciate the positives. One of which is the "social networking" aspect. Thanks to Facebook I was able to connect with another English speaking au pair in Amsterdam. I met her in the city on Saturday and I must say, it was so nice to actually be in the company of someone my age and in my "line of work".

She is from the UK so she isn't as far from home but we shared stories about watching the children and compared things we've noticed so far about Dutch culture. Then we went out into the rain, walked through the flea market at Waterloo Plein, and then stopped on the bridge by Rembranthuis to watch the Gay Pride parade moving slowly down the canal. Despite the weather there was a fair number of people out and those on the boats didn't seem to mind the wet too much. Most of them played loud music and danced with very few clothes on, probably chilled to the bone but clearly having a blast regardless.




Even though it was still early in the evening and we weren't particularly hungry we walked toward the city center to find a place to eat. Mostly we just wanted to get out of the rain. On one of the smaller streets just east of Rokin we found ourselves stuck in the midst of some Gay Pride street parties. No one likes being pushed between strangers, having their toes stepped on, and getting elbowed in the back but this is the one exception because everyone was happy and dancing and laughing. Clearly it was all about celebrating the love. I really like that a place can be so open and accepting as that. I really like Amsterdam.