For most college students, a trip to Amsterdam immediately implies days packed with smoking weed, drinking Heineken, and the ladies of the Red-light district. For me, Amsterdam brings to mind near-death run-ins with the tram, feasts on a cheese farm in the country, and pedal boating through the canals. Since the day we met, Rachel and I have never had a problem amusing ourselves. It seems that no matter where we go, adventure finds us.

While in Amsterdam, our mutual love for new foods inspired us to take a trip to the countryside and visit the Dutch windmills, clog factories, and most importantly, the cheese farms. Unfortunately, our passion for Dutch culture didn’t include a good understanding of the language as well. After an hour on what was supposed to be a short train ride, it occurred to us that we were nowhere near our desired destination. We got off and soon learned we were riding an express train. After laughing at our Dutch translation skills, Rachel and I finally figured out how to correctly get to the countryside where we blissfully spent hours eating cheese and drinking wine. Later that day and back in the city, we figured we’d grab a beer and unwind from our crazy day. Things felt calmer until we left the bar and a torrential downpour began. Not in any mood to get soaked, we crammed ourselves into a phone booth to wait out the rain. While aware of how horribly awkward we looked, we somehow found ourselves smiling as we grabbed our cameras and documented the precious moment. Once the rain let up, we got out only to have a tram zip by and fly through a huge puddle leaving us soaked. It felt like we were in some terrible movie but instead of crying, all we could do was laugh.

The adventures I have shared with Rachel have helped shape me into the happy-go-lucky person I am today. Our combined charisma and positive attitude makes us the perfect traveling duo. We constantly find ourselves meeting new people and challenged by new adventures. Having recently graduated from college, I’ve been faced with the reality of living in the “real world,” and have come to realize how much better my life is when Rachel is an active part of it.