After a lengthy 10-hour flight and whopping 9-hour time zone change, I finally touched down in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the bustling gateway to the Netherlands and the fourth largest in Europe by passenger traffic. Right off the plane, I was whisked away onto a near silent electric bus and shuttled to immigration.

As the bus zipped during the three-minute ride to passport control, I caught my first glimpse of the city consisting of bike paths, small roundabouts, and unique traffic calming measures I had seen only a handful of times back in the States. 

With a new stamp on my passport, I felt a rush of excitement. It was official--I had entered the Netherlands! With my suitcase in tow and a handful of euros in hand, I eagerly met with my group.

Our next destination was Delft, our new home for the next several weeks. 

When waiting for our train, we gathered and introduced ourselves. I finally had the pleasure to meet Amy and Justin, my fellow group members for the final design project, along with a handful of other delightful students.

After a few moments, we embarked on a picturesque ride through the charming landscapes of Holland. We passed through quaint towns and over meandering canals sandwiched between never-ending fields of green. The hour-long journey seemed to fly by, but as it neared noon, we arrived at the station, ready to start a new chapter.

Upon reaching the Delft station, we wasted no time in getting our bicycles. After a brief test ride, we settled on our new home on wheels. But there was a catch--these bikes boasted coaster brakes in contrast to familiar hand brakes. We embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and took the afternoon to adjust to the new controls.

After a break to freshen up and settle into our rooms, we embarked on our 22-mile ride.

Around 3pm, our group departed for Scheveningen, a charming seaside district of The Hague. Despite our sleepiness creeping in, we pedaled through the city and navigated through rush hour. 

BUT! Just before retiring for the night, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to explore the city and get some snacks for the room with my new friend Ben. 

While zipping around on our bikes, marveling at the sustainable infrastructure that prioritized bikes, trams, and buses, we stumbled upon a Jumbo, a popular Dutch supermarket, near the TU Delft campus.