Sometimes, you need a change of scenery. You are sick and tired of seeing the same people, places and things, day after day. These restless times call for a vacation, to somewhere far away where you can forget all of your worries. You can escape the stress at school, have a break from that friend you’ve been fighting with, relieve yourself from the cold weather and the list goes on. When traveling, you think that you want to experience something completely different than the status quo. You think you want to abandon the old and welcome the new. However, when you get “there” to this new place on vacation, your thought process might prove to change.

Think of times when you’ve arrived at your vacation destination. You are driving around, and getting the lay of the land. Every time you see something familiar, you say “Look! They have a Panera here!” You get excited, because this familiarity is comforting. When traveling for an extended period of time, you miss those familiarities. They are reminders of home and security. Sometimes, it’s nice to walk into Chipotle and know exactly what to expect, instead of risking it on this new, unfamiliar Mexican restaurant. Sure, the Mexican restaurant will probably have better quality food, but it’s the risk that holds people back sometimes. While traveling in Madrid over spring break, my friends and I freaked out when we saw a Dunkin Donuts. We hadn’t had Dunkin in months! Sure, we could have found a quality cup of coffee somewhere on the streets of Madrid, but it was really nice to walk inside and know exactly what to order, even though we were in Spain.

Sometimes, we feel that we want to escape from the old and experience the new. However, when aspects of our everyday lives get on our nerves, we often forget that we love what we know. We really do love the comfort and familiarity of our hometowns, our favorite food restaurants, our favorite stores, etc. For example, when we go to college, we find a unique bond with people from our home states. All the Jersey kids find commonplace among their similar experiences and upbringings. I grew up in Rhode Island, and always get excited when I find another person who actually grew up there, too, since it is usually so rare. We find solace in people knowing and loving what we know and love. If you go to a brand new place, and you talk about Ben & Jerry’s, and no one knows what you’re talking about, you will feel slightly sad and alone. People find harmony in common ground and understanding.

I discovered this during my trip to Amsterdam. Oddly enough, I noticed a lot of familiarity, which made me connect with the city even more. Amsterdam is so unique in its own way. The buildings are crooked because they are built on soft, watery land. The architecture is quirky and admirable. The colors of the buildings make them all individual, but at the same time, they share some uniformity in that. The colors of the buildings reminded me of those in Providence, Rhode Island. The browns, maroons and other dark colors, along with the old style of architecture, made me think of Providence. The city is built on canals, which is so charming by both day and night. This reminded me of the river in Providence. In Rhode Island, there is a tradition called “Waterfire” where people in gondola boats skim over the river and light little fires on these supported structures to light up the city at night. This was a way to bring everyone together for some great nights and solid memories. The canals in Amsterdam similarly brought everyone together. By day, people drove boats and had picnics on the water. By night, the canals are lit up and are a beautiful sight to see. In the park near the “I Amsterdam” sign, there is a little body of water with beds of tulips supported by structures in the water, just as the fire was supported in Rhode Island for “Waterfire”. Amsterdam is also famous for everyone traveling by bike. The bike lanes are generally more crowded than the cars on the streets. I particularly loved biking around the city, especially since the spring weather was marvelous. This reminded me of the many bike rides I took at home while growing up in Barrington, Rhode Island. I would ride on the bike path along the water to Bristol, Rhode Island. In the same manner, I biked along the canals in Amsterdam, and it was wonderful.

I appreciate all of Amsterdam’s individual quirks and personality. I fell in love with the history of the Dutch culture, an appreciation for the the beauty of the tulips, the dedication to biking, the canals, the architecture and so much more. I could compare Amsterdam and Providence side by side, and easily differentiate the two. However, the subtle similarities and familiarity I felt during my time in Amsterdam made me appreciate it even more. I love traveling to new places and seeing new things. It’s important to expand your horizons, become more well rounded and to be more knowledgeable about the world beyond your own bubble. However, finding comfort in familiarity when you are traveling is special, and proves that your past will always be a foundation for your future.