The Dutch Ghetto

At 8 am on Wednesday, I landed at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. An hour later I arrived at my new home in Niewendam, or North Amsterdam. The neighborhood looks like many outlying areas in Holland, stacked full with cheaply built, mildly depressing looking buildings. If I were to equivocate their presence to something in the states it would have to be project housing, such that you might find if you were to ride the subway one stop too far north in Manhatten. The buildings have the appearance of public housing, but not the 'sketchy' factor that they might in the states. When my flat-mate Kati informed me that we live in a ghetto area and that I should be careful, it took me a moment, and a chuckle, to know if she was being serious or not. If this is the worst the Netherlands has to offer, then the European nickname of 'Disneyland' is fairly accurate. Having come from Dallas I feel like I know what a bad neighborhood is. Lets take a drive south on Malcom X Blvd. and then we'll talk. That said it is very nice here. The Dutch are very helpful and accommodating. I think living in an apartment with 3 other non-Dutch people helps too.

On Thursday and Friday I ventured down to Phoenix where I will be working. My morning commute consists of :

1. A 10 minute walk to the bus
2. A 25 minute bus ride thttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifo Centraal
3. A 45 minute tram ride to Amstelveen
4. A 15 minute walk from the tram to the studio (which also includes a segment through a local park!)

Ya. I know. A 1.5 hour one-way commute will get old, but there is a lot to look at along the way as the tram goes through the heart of the city.

Well I need to get out to buy a bike.
I heard about this guy. Ya that says 'Bike Pirate' in Dutch.

Awesome.