Tolerance, Difference & Identity in Amsterdam
I took part in a month long early fall start program in the Netherlands studying Tolerance, Difference and Identity. Before my program started, I traveled for ten days on my own starting in Amsterdam, then to Paris, London and Liverpool. I returned to the Netherlands for three and a half weeks to explore ideas surrounding decolonization, intersectionality, and social equity both in Dutch and American cultures.
The coursework for my study abroad program was under the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) Department at the University of Washington. Similar to CEP, CHID is a diverse department that values learning intentionally through discussion, reflection, and individuality. This framework encourages you to challenge yourself intellectually. It forces you to think critically about your values and your perspectives while introducing you to new cultures and concepts, allowing you to expand your understanding of the world.
In addition to my coursework for my program, I was able to independently study many of my personal interests related to urban planning. Specifically, I spent all my free time observing and exploring the many parks, open public spaces, and bike lanes that Amsterdam has to offer. There was one day that I set out on my bike to complete a 20 mile loop connecting five different parks around the city. It was amazing to see a city that has successfully implemented an aesthetically pleasing, well designed and well maintained park system and transportation system.
The coursework for my study abroad program was under the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) Department at the University of Washington. Similar to CEP, CHID is a diverse department that values learning intentionally through discussion, reflection, and individuality. This framework encourages you to challenge yourself intellectually. It forces you to think critically about your values and your perspectives while introducing you to new cultures and concepts, allowing you to expand your understanding of the world.
In addition to my coursework for my program, I was able to independently study many of my personal interests related to urban planning. Specifically, I spent all my free time observing and exploring the many parks, open public spaces, and bike lanes that Amsterdam has to offer. There was one day that I set out on my bike to complete a 20 mile loop connecting five different parks around the city. It was amazing to see a city that has successfully implemented an aesthetically pleasing, well designed and well maintained park system and transportation system.