AMSTERDAM
Hi friends! Back again with some life updates before I dive into all the details of my trip to Amsterdam!
While most of you are gearing up for pumpkin spice lattes and sweater weather, I’m over here still sweating it out in a bikini by 10 AM. It’s officially rainy season now, which means we’ve technically cooled down by a whopping 3 degrees. The silver lining? I get treated to gorgeous rainbows almost every day!
Quick update on my phone situation: it’s still acting up and not receiving iMessages, so for now, I’ll be sticking to WhatsApp. Fingers crossed I can snag a new phone in January when I visit Texas! That’s right—I’ll be home in January! I cannot wait to see all your beautiful faces!
As for diving, things are going amazing! So amazing, in fact, that I’ve signed on to stay through 2026! In August, I officially became an Assistant Instructor (as planned), and next week, I’ll be finishing up the Instructor course. Wish me luck—it’s a big step, and I’m super excited!
Alright, now let’s talk about Amsterdam—what a trip!
Unfortunately, Butters couldn’t join me on this adventure, but don’t worry—he was living his best life back home with my “adopted parents” and their three dogs. After a 9-hour flight, I was greeted at the airport by two of my absolute favorite people! If you know me, you already recognize Pitou. I got to stay with her in Amsterdam for most of the week, and let me tell you—her home is the coziest, most welcoming place, complete with her mom and their two cats.
The weather was freezing (a huge change for me), but luckily Pitou had a whole stash of jackets to keep me warm. We did all the classic Amsterdam things: sightseeing, riding the trams, attempted to ride bikes, trying new restaurants, attending her internship, taking a painting class, and even joining her soccer practice! We packed so much laughter, quality time, and “Hi, I’m Tristen” introductions into the week. I’m already counting down the days until she comes to Curaçao next year!
Oh, and don’t worry, I got to see Anna and Tristan too! They’ll always have a special place in my heart.
After a week of puffy jackets, beers, photos, attempting to speak Dutch, and endless walks, my two favorite people took me back to the airport. Cue the waterworks—I cried like a baby saying goodbye. Yes, I know I’ll see Pitou a month after that, but saying goodbye to people who’ve left such a positive mark on your life is hard.
Here are my official takeaways from the trip:
People in Holland REALLY know how to ride bikes. The bike lanes are intense, and I almost hit a car because I hadn’t ridden in forever—oops!
Rush hour traffic is a nightmare. Like, worse than Austin-level bad. You’d think everyone would just take the trams, but nope.
The Dutch are OBSESSED with fútbol. (Yeah, I can’t call it “soccer” anymore.)
I absolutely loved Amsterdam—even though it was freezing, it was nice to take a break from the tropical heat. It made me appreciate Curaçao even more. Stepping off the plane and seeing Butters, Saskia, and Jeroen waiting for me felt like the warmest welcome home. It’s true—home isn’t about the place; it’s about the people.
Amsterdam was unforgettable, but there’s truly no place like home.
I uploaded photos to the 2024 gallery section so go take a look before 2025 begins!
Thanks for reading :)
