TC West & Ulenhofcollege Basketball Video

TC West & Ulenhofcollege Soccer Video

Outdoor Air Museum Raft Video

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.

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.

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.

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.