Netherlands

Prior to my trip, I thought that the Dutch people were patient and hardworking because they fought against the water to create their own land.  I also had a picture of the Netherlands as a somehow conservative farmland with windmills and tulips.  Indeed, there are some peaceful villages in the Netherland, such as Kinderdijk.  On the other hand, the Netherlands' capital, Amsterdam is a busy city with a liberal attitude toward social and cultural problems, such as racial conflicts, prostitution, and drug usage.  Through the eyes of a foreigner, the Netherlands seemed odd but comfortable facing conflicting realities.