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Today I am in the Honeymoon Phase of the Cultural Adjustment process. My excitement and planning leading up to this trip and experience has definitely played a part in this. We are finally here after I have spent months buying things, planning what to pack, and watching recommendations on TikTok.

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Today Carol talked about how the media headlines are filled with stories of Israel and Palestine, and remembering the people that passed from the tragic event on May 4th. Amsterdam is filled with much Jewish heritage, and so it is interesting to hear her explain the tensions and how the history of Amsterdam impacts the current events. It is also interesting to see how college campuses here are protesting just like some of the bigger ones in the US. It shows that this is an issue that affects people worldwide.

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Millions of people every year come to these gardens to view the 800 different kinds of flowers. Sitting on 79 acres, it allows people to walk, ride on a boat, climb a windmill, and eat delicious food all from different spots in the garden! Tulips have always been viewed as luxurious and special here. Before, only the richest could afford these flowers. Now, you can buy some from the gift shop that comes with certified papers!

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The part I have enjoyed from Dutch culture is the rich history and architecture. Seeing the old houses and buildings was my favorite part. I love all the details, and wish that we could bring that craftsmanship back. It is also interesting to see how old Amsterdam is compared to the United States. The only miscommunication that has happened is when I don’t understand what they are saying and vice versa. It is interesting to see how others live!

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French cuisine is iconic. It is one of those things that makes the city more unique and distinctive compared to others. Also the history behind it makes it so much more special. When you’re eating true French cuisine it is almost like you are trying parts of history. The French are able to capitalize off of food in TV shows, movies, and other forms of media and references.

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The French Monarchy made a lasting impact on France. Because of the power of the Monarchy, we get to see the Versailles, beautiful pieces of art, food that the Kings chefs brought over and soon became some of the biggest dishes in France. There is no longer a monarchy in France but the choices made in the 1700s still impact today. People still look to these paintings, dishes, and architecture and are inspired.

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France has a long history of protesting. We can go all the way back to the 1700s and see people disagreeing with the monarchy. We saw the auto building where a large protest took place and also the church where they fought for separation of state and church. I witnessed one protest which was outside of our hotel the second day. It was almost like a parade with drums and singing. It is clear everywhere that is a popular tourist attraction though with signs and flags.

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Transportation can say a lot about a city and their priorities. Getting to London from Paris I immediately felt safer. The subways were cleaner, brighter, and smelt better. The languages spoke also make an impact. I feel more comfortable here because I can actually understand the names of the stops on the lines. Compared to any other metro system, this is the cleanest by far. Because of that more people want to visit and more people feel safe to venture out farther and see and do more.
The piece that I took away from Omar is to work harder and stay informed. You don’t always need to know more than others, but you always need to be working hard and paying attention to recent events and happenings.

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Sports have a way of connecting people. Humans find a common interest with others when cheering for the same player and team. Competition which is such a large part of sports also bands people together even more. The desire for your team or player to win against another team or player creates communities and fandoms. Organizations are able to capitalize on these fandoms by selling merchandise and opportunities to meet players and view the stadium.

My recommendation to increase local tourism is to offer coupon books like we do in Brookings. People would be more willing to try something new and venture out if they had a coupon for it. This would be a great way for businesses to get their name out and meet new customers.

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I am a person easily influenced by set tourism. I am a naturally curious person so when I watch a movie or TV show I always want to live out their life and see what it is like. I can think back to movies that impacted me in a way that made we want to venture out and travel. They even had an impact on some of the careers I was considering. Set tourism also impacts the places of the city we want to see and that directly impacts the economy. One tiny scene being shot here can drastically change the environment of that space and economy forever. Our tour guide yesterday spoke about how shop owners are happy, but homeowners are not because house prices will decrease due to the tourists.

Tourism and marketing professionals need to look into how they can get their city referenced and used in media. You are able to visually show your town for an hour and a half without spending any money. Directors will make your town look the best it possibly can for the shoot, and once people connect with the show they are easily influenced to visit and spend money.

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The main thing I learned about British culture is how much they rely on history and the Royal Family. It stimulates so much of their economy and still shapes how London is perceived and built. They take into account landmarks and architecture and build things that are complimentary close by. They carry out traditions like drinking tea and the Royal Family still does the same things they used to like using horses and carriages.