The first dutch girl I ever met in Amsterdam dropped her bike on me. I remember it well; I'm outside what was then the University computer lab, speaking with a spanish friend as I unlocked my bike. At that same moment, this cute redhead with a very unique and anti-stylish spring dress on, fumbled around with the lock on her bike, just behind me. Before I fully realized what was about to happen, a bike - her bike - comes crashing down onto my foot.

"Oooh Im so sorry", she shouts, coming over to look at my foot, "I was just listening to your conversation, are you from Spain.. I was just studying there."

A few days later I'm sitting across from this hilarious girl, notebook in hand, and a few Dutch language books she managed to round up for me. It's a thursday night and most students are talking it up and drinking the night away. Meanwhile me and Dutchgirl have decided to making this the first of many Dutch lessons, in the hope that one day I grow to become a real Dutch speaker.

Of course, things never work out exactly as you plan them. After only a few minutes of work, we would inevitably drift off into gossip and life talk. Becoming more like best friends than teacher-student. At the very least she made sure I got a healthy dose of a Dutch social life and plenty of new friends.

Later my Dutch tutor fulfilled a life's dream, and moved to Spain. After several years we finally met up again last week. Walking through Vondelpark, reminiscing about which cafés we attempted to have tutoring sessions in.. it was like no time had passed. The biggest difference: I now knew the city better than she did.. oh and the whole conversation was in Dutch, to her great pleasure.