"... and so I became a prostitute with a dog."

On Wednesday my Dutch Social Policy class met at the Prostitution Information Center. It's a center for sex workers, tourists, and locals alike that would like any information on sex work- whether it be lifestyle, looking for work, or logistical aspects of sex work like figuring out ones taxes. We met the woman who founded the center which I really admire. She is a former prostitute who encourages more people to be educated on sex workers and is a huge advocate of gaining respect for sex workers across the world. She breaks down the stereotypes of sex work and sees it as purely self-employment. The center also performs workshops as guidance to sex workers. One of the biggest things this woman did was put up a statue of a strong independent sex worker in the Red Light District which has an inscription saying "Respect Sex Workers around the World." It's the only statue in the entire world that promotes sex workers. ANYWAYS, she was telling us how she became a prostitute and basically, she was 16 and very impulsive. She saw an ad for a German Shepherd and wanted it so bad. Her friend told her about a small brothel where she used to work so she decided to try it. She made enough for the dog on her first night and as she put it, "and so I became a prostitute with a dog!"

That night was Italian potluck night! We had tons of food, people made calzone, pasta, salad, appetizers, bruschetta, wine, and my course were brownies. So I'm mixing stuff in the brownies and I read on the box, a liter of water. I'm like sweet! I know what a liter looks like after being at oktoberfest so i put a liter in. It looks really runny so i looked again and it turns out i put the right amount of water... times ten! so i was like.. oh well, lets just put it in the oven and an hour later, it came out as chocolate pudding, sorta... it was the strangest texture and the most interesting flavor. Regardless, my group of friends are fatties so we almost finished the whole pan. I duno why I loved that night but it was fun. =)

The weekend was super fun. Saturday our study abroad program took an excursion to Gouda and Rotterdam. Gouda is of course where the cheese comes from and Rotterdam used to be the largest harbor in the world. We went to a cheese farm in Gouda where they they taught us how cheese was made and what goes into the entire process then my favorite part, cheese tasting! i bought a small wheel of gouda with herbs. We ate lunch at this traditional place in Gouda where they served soup and sandwiches which was pretty good. The coolest thing in Gouda was the little market they had in the middle of the square where they used to weigh the cheese. The market had food, clothing, and more! Typical market but.. I love typical markets. After Gouda we head to Rotterdam on bus and get on this Spido boat which takes you around the entire harbor with an automated tour. Really chill, not too eventful but it was relaxing. Then we go off to have drinks at Hotel new York. We got free wine, beer, coke, and orange juice but just for like an hour or so. I pumped down about 3 drinks for a good buzz on the bus. We get back to Amsterdam and we're all pretty buzzed so we continue to drink more.



CHEESE!!



Group Shot in Gouda



Rotterdam Bridge




Rotterdam cool modern Architecture

We get some cases of beer and wine and play beer pong and just drink. It continued on to be this Massive DANCE PARTY in Scott and Owen's room and everyone was having a spectacular time. It was weird cuz normally we're a very smokin and chillin group. We saw sides of people we never saw before. Our entire vibe turned 180 but it was still so awesome. That night was probably one of my most favorite nights in Amsterdam so far.