2011 WTI Video Application

For the longest time I would introduce myself to people by saying "Hi, I'm Dutch." Most would laugh and say "You don't look Dutch," or French or whatever other ethnic background they think I resemble. The truth is, I was named after my grandfather's WWII nickname. Here's a video to help clarify exactly who I am.

Dutch's Blog Posts

Landing in Argentina

Sunday, August 28th, 2011 at 2:16 pm

We landed in Buenos Aires, checked in, and looked for the first thing we could eat. Just so happened we found a Parilla, or steak house. Brigette and I are more than rusty with our Spanish, so we pointed to the menu and what came out was by far the best meal of the trip. [...]

Getting to Know Australia

Thursday, August 4th, 2011 at 10:24 am

Australia’s been rad and we had the chance to finish our trip in Cairns. “Cans” if you hear it from a local. We went to the Great Barrier Reef, barbecued on the esplanade, hung out with some koalas, fed some wallabies, and petted some kangaroos, heck, we even ate some kangaroo! We’ve been ramping it [...]

Getting Local in Australia!

Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 at 11:25 am

Setting foot in Brisbane we almost immediately get a proper Aussie welcome from Stewart at X Base Travel and Taz at the Down Under Bar. Thanks fellas. After a few drinks, Stewart grabbed us a map and sent us in the direction of some places in the city. So, Brigette and I hit the ground [...]

Currency Confusion in Cambodia

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 at 9:04 pm

I love pulling money from a foreign ATM.The bills are crisp, the designs are unique, and the colors are vibrant. So when we arrived in Bangkok we went to the ATM and received the Thai Baht. New country, new currency, new bills. Crossing the boarder into Cambodia, I was ready for a new batch of money. [...]

More Cultural Experiences in China

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 at 4:52 pm

We’ve been in China long enough to catch a glimpse of its way of life. Like Brigette mentioned, the first thing to learn is the Asian squat. We’ve got that mastered. But getting used to some of the other cultural differences has taken a bit of time, chopsticks aside. First off, people spit. Everywhere. In [...]

What To Do in Munich

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 at 10:45 am

Hopping off the train, we hit the streets of Munich. With an open itinerary, Brigette and I discussed what we’re going to do for the next few days. We thought the Deutsches Museum could give us a healthy dose of science and technology. Or perhaps a day trip to the Alps or maybe a visit [...]

Making Our Way Through Italy

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 at 9:24 am

Cruising through Tuscany, we pass lush green farmland that sprawls over rolling hills for as far as the eye can see. Cypress trees tower over the long rows of grapevines that line the country side like perfectly raked sand. As we pass through this picturesque landscape I get the realization that we’re finally in Italy. [...]

Taking in DFW

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 at 1:26 pm

YeeHaa! With orientation under our belts, we hit the streets of Dallas. Our first taste of adventure and culture consisted of honky tonks, baseball, and some good ole fashioned Texan hospitality. The main attraction was Dallas’ eclectic cuisine. Everything from all day brunch (Nick and Sam’s Grill), to family style mexican food (Mattito’s) kept our [...]