Day 49

Today I met the staff of the hostel we were staying at in Amsterdam.  When we first found out it was a Christian Youth Hostel, we were a bit worried.  We aren't exactly saints but we figured it would be a safe place to stay.  I never would have thought we could enjoy it so much.  Upon arrival, we were greeted by several smiling faces, brightly colored walls, and believe it or not, a free mexican dinner.  We sat around the table with the staff passing food, eating, and talking about our travels.  The members were from Holland, The US, and Canada and Seth seemed to stick out as the ring-leader.  He was tall and gangly with high pitched voice and the faintest hint of a North Carolina accent.  After dinner he gave a quick speech/sermon that was actually not as invasive as I thought it would be.  The whole staff was that way in fact.  Laurie was an adorable 4 foot 10 middle school teacher who was volunteering for six months.  She sat with us every day and although her demeanor would seem "fake nice" at first glance, I could tell very soon after that she was genuinely interested in us, our lives, and our adventures.  Each morning was a great start to every day.  The hostel gathered over a free breakfast of the most incredible pancakes, french toast and eggs you can imagine from a volunteer kitchen.  We got our coffee, conversation and a comfortable feeling that could only have come from a welcoming group like that.  I just wish every place based on religion could be that welcoming to anyone no matter what their beliefs.  To me, that's what it's all about after all.