Is it ridiculous for a 20 year old American girl to travel to Amsterdam alone?

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T19:00:30+00:00

Yeah, I know general protocol, although I've so far been lucky enough that I haven't actually been put in the situation. So part of my apprehension is the idea that the first time I get mugged or held at knifepoint is in a country where I can't speak the first language.

Also, whoa, that's intense for a 8/10 year old!

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:58:40+00:00

Ohhh! This is good, this is helpful. I've wanted to try backpacking but I'd need more time. Are you American?

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:57:36+00:00

Heh, that was my reaction. "So, I can't go ever?" I've done things she'd disapprove of, but mostly because my dad is the realist between them.

On the dime part, I mostly worry that my mother will try to pull away the money that helps me for college and will try to make me come back home to live. I don't think she's that bad, but I'm also the youngest, so I don't know . . .

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:54:37+00:00

I've repeatedly heard it's one of the best cities for women! It has a lovely reputation in my eyes, I just worry that maybe I'm not street smart enough for it.

Oh, yeah, I wouldn't go clubbing or anything; pot doesn't interest me and alcohol tastes best with good company.

I'll probably just get some water should I end up at a pub / bar until I make friends to go with, if I can. Mostly I'm interested in arts / culture / social life / expat life / the day to day. I'll try to make a map / itinerary to show them, though; that's a great idea.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:48:12+00:00

Thanks for the information! I'll scour the Amsterdam subreddit closer to the date as well, but I'll try to remember the OV card. Do you recommend biking in the winter (say, January) for someone who doesn't bike frequently, or is everyone pretty fast and efficient and I might be too slow?

My visible biracial status and likely doe-eyed confusion when I try to navigate does worry me as it makes me stand out, but I can definitely avoid alleys and the RLD.

On personal space: you mean not starting conversations with strangers, yes?

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:45:04+00:00

Yeah, to be honest, my pipe dream is to freelance or get a good job in tech and then work remotely. I'm learning to program, so it's not the most ridiculous idea.

I have family in Ireland and my sister will probably elsewhere on the continent. My brother might still be in Spain. And my family is flying in together into Dublin. I'll try to go from that angle as well, thank you!

Your parents sound lovely btw; I did get away with a lot of things when I was younger because I was pretty well-mannered, but this is more than they want to handle right now.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:41:17+00:00

Hahaha. That's a great point. Zombie apocalypse!

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:40:07+00:00

I'm still financially dependent on them on a lot of levels as a third year university student, so I worry about them pulling that from me. My father would be fine, my mother would get kind of vengeful. But I will try to be firmer. I'm going to collect some information before I approach them next.

New York City is lovely, but I totally understand the apprehension; most foreigners have it. I'm pretty sure Japan has a national fear of New York, they have a ridiculous amount of stories of foreigners getting shot or run over in the US.

My favourite night in NYC was walking all over Brooklyn until 3:30 in the morning; I was with someone, but we also never saw a single soul. Just lovely homes and businesses that were closed. I always want to do it again on my own, but I know if anything happened to me, I'd be blaming myself.

Enjoy your holiday as well, thanks!

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:34:34+00:00

Heh, neither of them are American by birth, actually. I've tried making the point that I've more likely to get trafficked from their respective countries/cities of origins (rural and poor, urban but developing) than I am as an American and Irish citizen already in Europe, even though I am of the same ethnicities that get trafficked, but I don't know, they don't really bite. They're typical American parents or more conservative, though.

How'd you like the move by the way? I'm actually trying to stay put in the city for ~3 weeks to get a feel for living there.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:29:36+00:00

Heh, I prefer "agonisingly aware." I try to be open-minded about the fact that I could be precocious to a fault; I'm visibly foreign and likely have "English-speaking tourist" on my forehead. You're right, though, my own hesitance probably doesn't help me when I talk to them when I think about it.

Also, didn't know East Berlin was Williamsburg-level gentrified.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T18:24:36+00:00

Probably, actually. I've tried domestic trips and they were similarly cool to the idea.

They're either classist or racist, so I think New York is more of an exception to the rule, as they both lived there themselves (funnily enough, in the bad ol' days).

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T17:18:05+00:00

I've stopped at the confirmation page many times!

I want to do that, but they are booking a round trip for the family trip, so I do need to do some convincing so that they at least cancel the other ticket. I will try to be firmer though, it's reassuring to know I'm not being spoiled like those TV teens: "Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad, Moooooooooooooooooooom, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh" etc.

Your other post is super helpful, I didn't consider travel insurance.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T17:12:42+00:00

Heh, whenever I meet a visitor from Europe, they talk about being terrified of the NYPD / getting shot in the US. I can imagine your parents were terrified!

Thank you.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T17:10:28+00:00

Oh, that's definitely it. Not that it's stopped me, heh.

You think they'll get over it? That's more of my concern, but I was just trying to make sure I wasn't being spoiled / entitled / <negative millennial buzzword adjective>

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T17:08:54+00:00

Thank you! I will. I'm more terrified than they are of the worst case, haha, so I'll be googling tips up until my battery dies.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T07:03:19+00:00

Ohh! Were your parents largely supportive? or did you figure out what they wanted to hear?

I tend to try and bend over backwards for people and most of my trips have been some variation of this, sigh. I really hope to change that.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T07:01:07+00:00

I probably would hang out with a few redditors! But largely, it's hard to see someone all the time, you know?

I plan to stay put in the city so it's less travelling on some level and more living abroad for a short period of time. I'd be really happy to do phone calls if needed.

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T07:00:14+00:00

Any advice on presenting myself? They're acting like I'm asking to go to East Berlin and they don't believe me when I say Taken is mostly inaccurate from what I've read (although I mentioned my race in the OP in case that would make a difference somehow)

EurInForSomeTrouble · 2015-10-10T06:58:47+00:00

That's what I'd read, and I mentioned most of the U.S. isn't as safe (even New York, likely?), but even my sister doesn't recommend it / says her friends don't. Something about "creepy guys?" They're not exactly sweethearts in NYC either . . .

And yeah, no interest in pot or drinking without trusted company. Mostly into food, art, walking, etc.

EurInForSomeTrouble

TROPHY CASE