“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Following Mark Twain's advice, I am studying abroad for the second semester of my junior year. I am going to the Netherlands, known for weed
and red lights (at least to the American student population). Given my
disinterest in both marijuana and prostitution, I am not ridiculously eager to
experience either of those two aspects of Dutch culture. I am, however,
insanely excited for the canals, windmills, tulip fields, and the sprinkles
that top breakfast bread. Oh, and the sex museum in Amsterdam. That seems
pretty cool too.
A quick PSA: For those who think weed is abundant, plentiful and (more
importantly) legal, let me clarify: Substances in the Netherlands are
classified into harddrugs and softdrugs. Cannabis is a softdrug – there is no
prosecution against users of softdrugs, but they remain illegal. And, despite very different drug policies in the US and the
Netherlands, marijuana use is largely the same. For young adolescents, rates of marijuana use are lower in
the Netherlands than in the US.
Anyhoo, I will do my best to regularly "blog"' but no guarantees. To
all of you who take the time to read it: I hope it’s enjoyable.
I love you all, and the next time you hear from me I'll be IN THE NETHERLANDS!!
I love you all, and the next time you hear from me I'll be IN THE NETHERLANDS!!
