Bike Signs and Doodles

Ok. As promised, I have some street signs to share -there's a caveat, though, and that caveat is I didn't like how the photos came together so I...tried to draw them instead. I mean, I did draw them; that is something I did do. But I made them really small without thinking about it, and not in a nice row, so I then had to take photos and clip each one. Also, I used my aquamarkers on paper that isn't designed for aquamarkers - not a big deal, because I'm actually quite fond of the scratchy marker texture it results in - and the only white I had is a regular pen brush...which the aquamarkers tried really hard to treat as water and bleed in response.

So, I'm sharing them still because they get the point across and are still of charmingly bad quality. But be kind to them: they're doing their best! I've captioned each one with its meaning, and described them in further detail in the alt text. This little collection is by no means comprehensive, and though I've included one example of two signs being used in conjunction with one another, please realize it's common to see even three or more signs used together to state a restriction and then add several exceptions or addenda to that restriction. Having so many signs certainly makes intention explicit, but when you're at full cycling speed those signs whip by quickly, and you have to just sort of hope you gathered the full meaning correctly. I'd say you should simply do what the locals are doing, but they are probably the greatest culprits of ignored laws in favor of short cuts. So...take their unspoken advice with a grain of salt.

There is a bike lane ("fietspad" available. Cyclists may choose to use it or the road.

Bikes must use the provided bike lane; not the road

One way street - this sign is often altered with additional signs that specify exceptions

Bike lane but cars can use "as a guest"

A yield sign. The traffic crossing ahead has right-of-way

Yield to pedestrians

No entry except for bicycles (an exception sign)

No entry (one way street going the opposite direction)

No entry going either direction

No bicycles allowed

Pedestrian-only path

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In addition to biking places and doodling street signs this week, I've been busy with classwork! We're moving into actually writing our academic paper in the next week, and I'm happy to report the subject matter I have to read in preparation has been really engaging. Last block required a great deal reading articles which felt like the eyeball and brain equivalent of wading through fetid swamp water. But though the papers are still academic and often lack luster this term, their focus my chosen degree makes them much more palatable - enjoyable, even, in their informative and persuasive natures. And, in the latter half of the course, we'll have an be learning about deaf culture, and I'm eager to meet the lecturer coming to teach.

Ironically, this week my language class covered traffic signs, a coincidence I truly did not foresee nor have any part in. In fact, I found t he actual classes on the topic challenging, because I don't know the meaning of most of them. We had to describe in NGT the signs physically as well as explain what they mean - and judge whether someone made the lawful decision given hypothetical situations with the traffic signs described. Poor little foreigner me was stuck knowing none but the bicycle-relevant ones. I don't intend on getting a driver's license here, but it'd probably be wise to read up on the driving laws just to know how drivers are supposed to behave outside of the city proper. And to avoid any future embarrassments in my sign language class...if we ever return to these exercises.

Around me, Amsterdam has been pulling out all the stops for the holiday season. Many of the main drags are done up with lights, both buildings and streets alike, and the festival of lights is just over a week away. Centraal Station has a massive display in the lobby for tourists to take photos with, and everywhere is even more brightly lit than usual. I admit, I love holiday lights and I love seeing cities doll up.

A photo at night of Damrak, the thoroughfare between Centraal Station and the Royal Palace downtown.

Damrak again but facing the other direction

I can't get enough of Amsterdam architecture

Next week is midterms week already, so I'll be taking tests instead of having class, and turning in a first draft for my academic paper. It's also Thanksgiving back in the States, and I've been invited to a dinner with some fellow American immigrants. I'm not particularly interested in celebrating Thanksgiving itself, but engaging in familiar traditions with other folks does sound comforting and a nice way to spend an evening. We're keeping it informal and are mostly using it as a chance to get together, and it should be a nice time! Fortunately I'll have completed all of my tests early in the week, so I'll be free to relax and not be running through vocab and theory while trying to socialize.

And as it is holiday season, here's a friendly reminder that I'm sending out little end of year/new year postcards, and would love to send you one! Reach out to me through the Contact page and I'll happily add you to my list.

That's all for this week! It feels both like I've been here for much longer than I have been, and like I've barely just arrived. The fast-paced school schedule doesn't help - it feels like I'm at least through a semester already - but at least with the coming of a new year, I'll be able to reset a little and face 2026 with a steadier gaze than before. The end of 2025 was one of the darkest times in my life, and I could hardly see through the fog of doubt and fear that clouded me, let alone consider what to do for the next 365 days. Perhaps one of these days I'll elaborate a little more on the journey that took me from that dark place to where I am. But for now, I thank you all again for sticking with me and checking in here. It it literally through the bonds I've formed that I was able to escape that dark place, and the importance of communities both in person and online can never be overstated, to me.

So thank you, again. Take care of yourselves and each other, and I'll see you in the next one.

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