A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Day 4: Trains, Trams and Travel

It’s our fourth day already! We packed up and left Etten-Leur early this morning and took the train eventually to Rotterdam (with many scenic stops in between!). 

Rotterdam Centraal Station

Our breakfast consisted of pre-packed sandwiches we assembled last night, courtesy of our Etten-Leur hosts Jan and Ietje. 

We arrived just before noon at Hogeschool UAS Rotterdam School of Nursing and met with Annemarie, a nurse and instructor at the school and Jan and Ietje’s daughter. 

School of Nursing at UAS Rotterdam

Annemarie and her colleagues gave us a quick tour of both the school and Rotterdam. This included ferry trips in the canal, and a beautiful view of an original Dutch windmill.


Canals of Rotterdam

Windmill!
Izzy, Franklin, Krisha and Laney on a ferry!

We also were able to practice our nursing skills through four separate stations. Station One tested your hand washing abilities with a UV light so you can see where you missed! Station Two was a simulation of old age, with heavy weights and movement restricting pads. Station Three taught us how to suit up and down for surgery, while Station Four taught us how to use machinery to lift a patient who may be immobile or unconscious.  We also watched a few short presentations from the school’s faculty before leaving for Utrecht. 

Carmen and her awesome caregiver Franklin!
Karina and Elijah dressing for their futures as healthcare professionals!
Sophia learning what it’s like to be elderly!

When we arrived at Bunk, the hostel we’re staying in, we quickly unpacked our belongings into our pods and stored our valuables in storage lockers. Instead of traditional beds, Bunk offers small sleeper pods with customizable lights and a shared bathroom. 

After unpacking, we met up with Alana and Tomas, two Dickinson alums studying in Utrecht. We ate dinner at a street food restaurant and got a quick tour of the town. Utrecht is a university town with more than 30,000 students and lots to do! A busy but fun day—here’s to more Utrecht adventures!

Bunk Hostel Utrecht

1 Comment

  1. Amish Mehta

    That’s simply awesome! To experience what elders go through in itself brings our compassion for them. Kudos! Enjoy the trip and the learnings that comes on the way. Keep rocking!

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