Sunday, April 17, 2011
Netherlands Trip - Short Presentation
Photos 1 & 2 - Dutch to Michigan
In October, Dutch kids come to Michigan. They tour the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, attend a T.C. West football game, stay with American families and experience American culture first hand. They in turn teach us about Dutch culture.
Photo 3 - Americans to The Netherlands
In March, American students fly to The Netherlands. Our students stay with the family of the same Dutch student they hosted in Michigan in October.
Photos 4 & 5 - Teach Dutch about U.S.
While in the Netherlands, American students go to Ulenhofcollege and teach the Dutch students about the United States. American students serve as ambassadors for their school, city, state and country.
Photos 6 & 7 - Learn About Dutch Countryside
Photos 8 & 9 - Learn about Dutch Transportation & Leisure Activities
Photos 10 & 11 - Learn about Amsterdam & Dutch Art
Photos 12 & 13 - Learn about Dutch History - Castle Bergh
Photo 14 - Learn about Dutch Politics - The Hague & Dutch Parliament
Photos 15-21 - Friendships & Culture
For the rest of your life, you are unlikely to ever have a cultural opportunity like this again. Later in life you will have the opportunity to travel overseas. Later in life, you will have the opportunity to learn about the history or art of various countries. However, it is unlikely that you will ever again have the opportunity to live with a family from another country and truly learn first hand about their daily lives, their schools, their values and their culture. You will develop friendships that will last a lifetime and you will develop knowledge and wisdom that you can never gain from a textbook and that you will carry with you for the rest of your life.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Amsterdam - Monday
Dam Square & Canal Boat Tour
On our final day in The Netherlands we walked from our hostel to Dam Square in Amsterdam. There we saw protesters dressed in gorilla suits. They were protesting the fact that on government construction projects in the Netherlands, only 30% of the wood is from "sustainable" sources.
Mrs. Lamers then gave us a wonderful walking tour of Amsterdam. After exploring the city and eating dinner at the Stayokay hostel, we took a tram back up near Central Station and took a boat tour through the many canals of the city.
Tomorrow morning we leave the hostel at 6:30 a.m. to get on a 10:25 a.m. flight to return to Michigan.
Our hosts in the Netherlands have been wonderful. Many thanks to Mrs. Lamers and Mr. Hubbers for helping to coordinate this trip from the Dutch side. Also thanks to all of our amazing host families. Many tears were shed yesterday as students said goodbye to their host families. While students report looking forward to seeing their families back in Michigan, all say that they will really miss their new families in the Netherlands.
I will post a few more items and videos upon my return to Michigan. Thanks to all of you for following the blog. The students had a wonderful time and represented their school, city and country very well. See you all back in Michigan tomorrow.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Saturday Doetinchem & Sunday Amsterdam
Last Day with Families, VanGogh Museum, Anne Frank House
On Saturday, our last day in Doetinchem, the students were with their families.
On Sunday morning we met at the train station at 8:30 a.m. to say our goodbyes. A few of the Dutch students traveled with us to Amsterdam to prolong having to say goodbye.
In Amsterdam we visited the Vincent VanGogh museum and the Anne Frank House.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Friday Photos
Outdoor Museum & Final Chinese Banquet
In the morning, the Dutch and American students visited the Open Air Museum in Arnhem - a short train ride from Doetinchem. The open air museum is a Dutch version of Greenfield Village. There were old windmills,Dutch homes, and actors dressed up in period clothing - creating old wooden wheels, etc.
After taking a train back to Doetinchem in the late afternoon, we biked to Ulenhofcollege, where the students had their final dinner together as a whole group. Chinese/Indonesian food was brought in to the school.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday Photos
Class Presentations & Sports
In the morning, TC West students presented in front of Dutch classes at Ulenhofcollege about Traverse City and the life of teenagers in the U.S.
In the afternoon, Dutch and American students played sports together.
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