I am spending the summer at UNESCO-IHE the Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. The school is located in Delft which is between Rotterdam and The Hague. It is a historic little city that can be explored by foot in about 10 minutes. The city is lined with quaint shops and canals. It is best known for its Delft Blue pottery, ties to Dutch royals or House of Orange (they are all buried in a church crypt here), and the famous artist Johannes Vermeer who lived and worked here. The main method of transportation is by bike. I have already decided that I am going to sketch a diagram of all the different bike riders I have seen. They include a bride and groom, parents with multiple children, and both very young and old riders. Rush hour looks extremely different here than at home!
My first week has mainly consisted of getting settled in, learning my way around, and meeting people in the office where I will be working this summer. I am staying right in the center of Delft which is really convenient for getting around and having all the amenities close by. I could get use to a 2 minute walk to the grocery store! The weather has been pretty chilly and I am beginning to wonder if I packed the right clothing. I thought this was summer! Most days have been in the 50s and 60s…brrrrrr. Everyone says that this is unusual for this time of the year and that they too are waiting for warmer weather. I guess I will have to wait and see.
Well that’s all for now. Until next time!
-Jennifer Smith