I have stepped into an alternate universe where everyone is smoking weed, eating mushrooms, and doing prostitutes. HELLO AMSTERDAM!
I never realized how scandalous those Dutch really are.
I am actually really enjoying the atmosphere, way more then I thought I would. At first you're like, "woah, those are boobs and they are for sale," and then you're like, "look at all these creepy middle aged men looking at the boobs!" and finally you're like, "This is kinda neat."
In that order.
At first, it seems wrong and dirty but that's only at first glance. Then you realize, this is the culture here. Yes, the men staring in the window at the almost naked woman straddling the stool are still creepy. However, right next to these creepy men and pornographic images is a really cute little froyo place with a happy older couple eating ice cream outside enjoying the sun. Neither parties seem the least bit bothered by the other. It's a completely new dynamic.
What's also interesting is that they are trying to close off this whole red light district to tourists, which seems counter intuitive to me considering the fact that they are a huge source of revenue. But walking around, gawking at all the shops, I realize that I don't fit in. I am kind of ruining the vibe. (Not that that's stopping me, by any means.) But we are going to be among the last groups of students with this opportunity. So I am soaking it all in!
For the rest of the week, because we are here for my Human Trafficking and Prostitution class, we are attending various lectures and visiting non-profits to learn about the different aspects of prostitution here in Amsterdam. I am really interested to understand why they have taken such a different approach then most of the world.
Keep ya posted.
XO
K
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