A Dutch Introspection

It's been exactly one month since I've ended my "Dutch Designs" exploration seminar. It still seems strange to wake up and not have a large breakfast served with slices of meat and tea on the side. Even more so, it feels completely different to no longer see my classmates on a daily basis. Regardless, life in America hasn't exactly been as exhilarating as it was back in the Netherlands.

What I found most insightful during my time abroad was the quality of discussion in the classroom. Taking courses back at the University of Washington isn't as engaging and hands-on as abroad. I miss the small lectures that Professor Trent Hill held in hotel lobbies, and I can never forget the bi-weekly visits to Erasmus University, where we interacted with esteemed scholars who were experts in their fields. Learning about the current interdisciplinary topics that span the library and information sciences has reaffirmed and reignited my passion for Informatics.

As weeks pass by in Seattle, I still reminisce about my immersion into the Dutch culture. Eating the same old college dorm food on a day-to-day basis simply cannot compare with getting lost in the richness of Dutch cuisine. The Dutch pay very close attention not only to the culinary arts but also to architectural aesthetics. Their intricate designs are everywhere through commonplace household items (like toilet bowls and light bulbs) and architectural constructs (the Erasmus Bridge and Rotterdam skyscrapers). Having lived in America for a month already, everything around me just seems so dull and boring.

I now view the Dutch world as a fusion between two different social hemispheres: the preservation of cultural heritage and the advancement of technological innovation. After living there for nearly four weeks, it becomes clear that these two hemispheres did not develop in isolation. Rather, these two hemispheres have intertwined through the progression of Dutch society, ultimately defining the lifestyle of its people. From Amsterdam to Rotterdam, Delft, and onwards, such a lifestyle has given me a new lens for which to continue my studies. Twenty years from now, when I become a driving force in the field of information science, I'll still recall my fond experiences abroad and use them to address and solve the global challenges that are at the intersection of people, information, and technology.

Watch my travels in the Netherlands online on YouTube.