The range of emotions that one can experience in a matter of hours in Amsterdam is astonishing. Just yesterday we were reminded of the horrors that occurred here during WWII, an event that made me question the condition of humans, the value of our lives. The Anne Frank house had a great impact; so often we forget that the people harmed in wars were real people with thoughts, dreams and emotions. It was completely sobering to have to acknowledge that a young girl documented with such detail and never lived to see the amazing impact her diary had on humanity. It was truly a sorrow I have never felt before, to feel the reality of the whole situation. It leaves one with a lot to contemplate.
On the other side of Amsterdam we have the thing that keeps us going; laughter. Our collaborative group effort of sleeping in and still feeling the need to accomplish something led our group to the "Heineken Experience." On our first day without a scheduled academic priority, we managed to make a great choice in activities. Yes, we became full-blown tourists and toured a brewery. It was a blast. Photo opps galore accompanied by free Heineken. After such a sobering day yesterday, being carefree and young suddenly became desirable. I can understand now how in a place with such an interesting history the people can be so multi-faceted with their lifestyle. There exists in Amsterdam a situation for any emotion to emerge, so one must adjust and let the time and place make a memorable impression.
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