Searching for Sylvie Lee

Saturday, May 7

Amy is on her way to see Filip perform. The pieces will be by Bach, a favorite of hers, and she is excited to be going on what could turn into a date. Sylvie is always telling her to spend less of her energy on men, but Amy considers falling for guys a hobby. However, Filip has the potential to be more than a crush; he asked her out. Amy is also thrilled to be on her own in a foreign country. Her parents would never let her have such freedom, and she is surprised that Helena and Willem do not object to her taking the train to Amsterdam on her own. The ride takes her through beautiful countryside, and she thinks she understands why Sylvie loves the Netherlands so deeply.

Amy is proud of herself for navigating the public transit system and impressed with its cleanliness and efficiency, so different from the New York City subway. The performance is beautiful, and afterwards, Filip suggests they go to a nearby cafe. Impressed with her musical knowledge, Filip and tells her that she must be the “musical one” in her family. Though Amy is puzzled by this complement, she is too distracted to pay it enough attention.