Arriving in Almere, Netherlands To Start Workaway Volunteer Project

I arrived in Almere (about 20 miles east of Amsterdam) 10 days ago to begin my Workaway volunteer project. I'll be here about 4 weeks helping at the community center (named Karibu) for refugees & also the multiple permiculture projects via my host's non-profit named 'Inspirati'.

My hosts are an amazing couple named Tom & Amal. Tom is Dutch and Amal is Gambian & German, and they have 2 daughters (Yasmin, 15 & Zara 8). Amal's passion for helping refugees is birthed from her own father being a German refugee.

I've always found people who dedicate their lives to helping others are the most selfless, and Tom & Amal are no different. They created Inspirati, 8 years ago in the Netherlands & recently sold their house to move onto the land in support of their permaculture (self-sustaining/eco-friendly living) project. It's cheaper to purchase just the land then add electricity, plumbing, etc. yourself so that's what they are in the process of doing. 

They are currently living in a 600 sqft house that volunteers built for them. Also on their property is a teepee, chicken coup, & 2 campers (I'm staying in one & a Syrian refugee named Madhat is staying in the other - he has been here for 2.5 yrs and Tom/Amal's right-hand for Inspirati). Yes you read that correctly - I'm living in a camper, next to a teepee, for the next month lol :) This is no frills, semi off-the-grid, the most basic of living situations - there is no address, closest bus stop is almost a mile away, no electricity, no running water, & everyone shares the detached shower and toilet (thankfully I stocked up on baby wipes because I'm not quite feelin' that shower - lol). I was drawn to this project for several reasons but the main reason is because of a show in the states on HGTV called 'Tiny House Living'. It's about people getting off the hampster wheel and deciding to declutter & take control of their lives by downsizing & living with less.

Tom/Amal also help refugees seeking asylum so they have dozens of refugees, that have fled their countries, around the city that are part of Inspiriati. My neighbor Madhat fled Syria over 2 years ago after the war and now part of the Inspirati program - his father and son were both killed in the war, and his wife of 15 yrs lives in Dubai, but is unable to leave because she's Palestinian. As you can imagine he and I are having enlightening conversations about the devastation of wars - especially since the US played a big part in the destruction of his country. Despite it all he has the most positive attitude and grateful for the opportunity to be part of Inspirati. He says he now considers the Netherlands his home.

Being here is reminding me of my grandmother who recently passed right before I left the states. She'd perfected 'keeping it simple' in spite of it all, and that's definitely resonating with me now at an elevated level :)

#EnjoyingTheJourney

I went to the Anne Frank house. I opted not to pay the touristy entrance fee to the museum, nor stand in the ridiculously long line in 13C/55F weather, but I did learn a few facts that surprised me... 

1. I didn't know that she was eventually captured and died in the concentration camps. She and her sister died of typhus in March 1945, just a few weeks before British troops liberated Bergen-Belsen on April 15, 1945.

2. She started rewriting her diary with the intention of publication (very ambitious to be so young).

3. Her father was the only surviving family member who discovered, after her death, that she wanted to have her diary published. So to honor her memory he made sure her diary was published.

4. Frank's original red plaid diary was only one of three in which she wrote her thoughts during the 25 months that she and her family hid from the Nazis in a concealed apartment in the building that is now the Anne Frank House.

5. The government originally wanted to demolish her home, but public protest preserved the now famous landmark. 

6. It is still unknown how she and her family were found - some still think a close friend betrayed them.

I can't even begin to imagine living in paranoid fear for over 2 years. Even though I try to keep a 'glass half full' perspective about life, I have to remind myself that educating myself about history is important so I can do my part in making sure it doesn't repeat itself. The motto at the Anne Frank house sums it up perfectly - "Never Forget".

#EnjoyingTheJourney

Amsterdam - Bikes, Bikes, Bikes...

Yes there really are a lot of bikes in Amsterdam, and I'm thoroughly enjoying that the Dutch are avid bike riders. Amsterdam is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world - there are more than 881,000 bicycles, 4x the number of cars. I've never riden a bike like this in the states.

I wish LA (and most major cities in the states) would take notes to promote more bike riding - I think it'll help with the insane traffic problem - not to mention help do away with our excessive dependance on foreign oil & ridiculous pipelines.

It's a brisk 12C/53F, with intermitent light rain, so it's tempting to stay inside but I'm making myself get out to make sure I take full advantage of being here for the first time :)

#EnjoyingTheJourney

Amsterdam - Red Light District

I'm still on the fence about my feelings about the Red Light District. I went during the day and again at night. For those that don't know prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. Prostitutes register with the government as a business and even have a union.

On one hand I'm glad that it's controlled and safer, instead of stigmatized like most countries, but on the other hand it makes me sad that a woman feels the need to sell her body this way & they're just standing in a window waiting for someone to 'buy' them. You're not allowed to take pictures of them, but trust me they are not 'skanky/trashy' like the stereotypical prostitutes you see standing on the corner in the states - these are beautiful women who I'm sure make a good living at what they do.

Even though I know sex sells, it bothers me that it's more lucrative to sell your body than to have a more honorable profession (ie. teacher, fireman, etc.) I've never met anyone who's always dreamed of being a prostitute. I asked my host if prostitutes are glamorized here because of the Red LIght District, and he said absolutely not - just like anywhere else no one wants their daughter to be a prostitute.

#EnjoyingTheJourney

Amsterdam - Van Gogh & Rembrandt

I'd completely forgotten that Van Gogh and Rembrandt were both Dutch until my host reminded me. Museums for both are next to each other, but of course have touristy entrance fees so I opted to go to Rembrandt's house instead. I only wanted to see Rembrandt's masterpiece 'The Night Watch' so it wasn't worth the entrance fee to me.

'The Night Watch' painting is famous for three things:
1. its colossal size (363 cm × 437 cm (11.91 ft × 14.34 ft)),
2. the dramatic use of light and shadow (tenebrism)
3. the perception of motion in what would have traditionally been a static military group portrait.

I was surprised that Rembrandt's house was so close to city center and accessible. He lived and worked in the house between 1639 and 1656, and lived there until he went bankrupt in 1656, when all his belongings went on auction. The auction list enabled the reconstructions of all his belongings which are also on display in the house.

Van Gogh musem is behind the touristy landmark 'I amsterdam' sign so of course I didn't want any part of that. I did learn a little about Van Gogh. Even though he was known for cutting off his ear, he didn't cut his entire ear off - only a small part of his left ear because he suffered from psychotic episodes and delusions which eventually led to his suicide.

He was also close friends with another genius painter, Gauguin, but their friendship ended after Van Gogh severed part of his own left ear.

The most shocking to me was that Van Gogh was unsuccessful during his lifetime, and was considered a madman and a failure. He became famous AFTER his suicide, and basically known as a misunderstood genius. He gained popularity in the early 20th century as parts of his painting style were incorporated by Expressionists. He attained widespread critical, commercial and popular success decades later, and is remembered as an important but tragic painter, whose troubled personality is typical of the tortured artist.

Van Gogh's most famous works are...

1. The Starry Night - Year: 1889

Although painted from memory, this masterpiece depicts the view outside Van Gogh’s sanitarium room window at Saint-Remy-de-Provence in France. It shows the artist’s interest in astronomy and a study made by the Griffith Park Observatory (in Los Angeles) demonstrated that Vincent represented the Moon, Venus, and several stars in the exact position they occupied that clear night. The painting is considered among the greatest works in western art and is definitely the most famous work of Vincent Van Gogh.

2. Sunflowers - Year: 1888

His series of paintings on ‘sunflowers’ rank among the most famous still life paintings ever created. The paintings are well known for depicting the natural beauty of the flowers and for their vibrant colors. This painting titled 'Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers' crushed the auction record for a painting when it was sold to a Japanese investor for almost $40 million in March 1987. The record was broken two years later by Van Gogh’s Irises.

3. Irises - Year: 1889

Among Van Gogh’s most celebrated works are his paintings and prints of Irises and this painting is the most famous among them. Vincent painted it in the year before his death and referred to as the “the lightning conductor for my illness” as he felt his work was his hope against becoming insane. In September 1987, Irises was sold for $53.9 million making it the most expensive painting ever sold. Its record stood for about two and a half years and as of today it ranks 15 in the list of most expensive paintings ever sold if you adjust for inflation.

#EnjoyingTheJourney

Amsterdam - Canals

One of the many beautiful canals in Amsterdam. There are more than 100 km of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals are Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht.

#EnjoyingTheJourney

Amsterdam - Selfie Action

This is my official first selfie ready for a day out in Amsterdam, with my new backpack, on a brisk 12C/53F day :) Even though I'm one of 'them' now with a selfie stick I'm getting use to having one.

It was only a 1 hour flight from Ireland so I've arrived at my new host's home. He has a beautiful modern apartment, garden terrace, and guest cottage (which he's letting me stay in).

Going to visit the canals, Anne Frank house, the Red Light District, & the Nine Streets. Since I'll be in Amsterdam a while I'm going to start posting more individual pics during my stay instead of waiting until the end to post an update :)