Mrs. Enriquez
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Amsterdam, Netherlands
On our last day in Amsterdam, we had the opportunity to do several amazing things. We were moved by the visit to the Anne Frank House. We were inspired by Van Gogh masterpieces and we enjoyed the beauty of Amsterdam on a Canal Cruise.
Despite the 1.5 hours that we had to wait in line to get into Anne Frank’s house, the experience was moving. Standing in the house, I tried to picture the 8 persons that lived in this small home. The struggles that they faced as they tried to make no sound, always keeping the curtains closed, along with rationing their food in order to stay alive. They were trapped in this place with the hope that one day, they could be viewed as people again. It is difficult to comprehend how so many people were put through so much suffering just because of their religious beliefs. It makes me wonder what went through the minds of the perpetrators and the bystanders. What was going on during that time that allowed so many people to let this happen? It makes me wonder if it can happen again. It made me think about how I treat the people around me. Do I treat all people the same or do I treat them differently based on preconceived ideas? Do I categorize people? Am I teaching my children to love and respect all humans?
The visit to the Van Gogh was inspiring. His artwork shows that he valued the simplicity of the peasant life. His use of color makes his work be vibrant and lively. He influenced many artists during his time and still today. I loved his paintings. I wanted to paint like he did, but since I don’t have his abilities, I purchased a coloring book. Maybe one day, I will have time to sit and color my Van Gogh coloring book.
We finished the day with a canal cruise. It was the perfect day for a canal cruise. The sun was out, the wind was gone and our legs were exhausted, we walked more than 11 miles the day before. We sat in the back of the boat where we could feel the warm sun rays on our face. The views were splendid. It was nice to see what others do on a Sunday afternoon in Amsterdam. We saw families on their boats, people sitting on the edge of the canal taking in the sun and the sights. It was a delight to see the architecture of the building, the different kinds of boats that were on the canals, the whipping trees filled with yellow blossoms, and the ducks and geese that were also enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I gave me time to take it all in.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Amsterdam, Netherlands
On our last day in Amsterdam, we had the opportunity to do several amazing things. We were moved by the visit to the Anne Frank House. We were inspired by Van Gogh masterpieces and we enjoyed the beauty of Amsterdam on a Canal Cruise.
Despite the 1.5 hours that we had to wait in line to get into Anne Frank’s house, the experience was moving. Standing in the house, I tried to picture the 8 persons that lived in this small home. The struggles that they faced as they tried to make no sound, always keeping the curtains closed, along with rationing their food in order to stay alive. They were trapped in this place with the hope that one day, they could be viewed as people again. It is difficult to comprehend how so many people were put through so much suffering just because of their religious beliefs. It makes me wonder what went through the minds of the perpetrators and the bystanders. What was going on during that time that allowed so many people to let this happen? It makes me wonder if it can happen again. It made me think about how I treat the people around me. Do I treat all people the same or do I treat them differently based on preconceived ideas? Do I categorize people? Am I teaching my children to love and respect all humans?
The visit to the Van Gogh was inspiring. His artwork shows that he valued the simplicity of the peasant life. His use of color makes his work be vibrant and lively. He influenced many artists during his time and still today. I loved his paintings. I wanted to paint like he did, but since I don’t have his abilities, I purchased a coloring book. Maybe one day, I will have time to sit and color my Van Gogh coloring book.
We finished the day with a canal cruise. It was the perfect day for a canal cruise. The sun was out, the wind was gone and our legs were exhausted, we walked more than 11 miles the day before. We sat in the back of the boat where we could feel the warm sun rays on our face. The views were splendid. It was nice to see what others do on a Sunday afternoon in Amsterdam. We saw families on their boats, people sitting on the edge of the canal taking in the sun and the sights. It was a delight to see the architecture of the building, the different kinds of boats that were on the canals, the whipping trees filled with yellow blossoms, and the ducks and geese that were also enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I gave me time to take it all in.
Saturday, April 2
Caroline May
Walking at 6 am in the morning to catch the tram, to get to the train station, to catch a train to get to Paris was very eventful. In a city like Amsterdam, you need to be aware of the zombies that are still out early in the morning. Two very interesting guys were stumbling their way to us as we were waiting for the tram. The guys started to speak in another language to us and then one of the guys started to hit and spit on the other one. The tram came and we got to the train station and we ate breakfast. We got onto the train and took a 3 hour ride to Paris. Riding through the different cities was a new experience because we got to see the different types of architecture in the buildings in the different towns.
While in the train, I thought about all the miraculous things that we would get to see in Paris. Eating a crepe was one of the things going through my head while thinking about Paris. Arriving to the city and getting off the train was very odd because waiting there were about 10 police.
Once we got out of the train station, we are walking to a church, the church's name is Sacre le Coeur. Walking through the sidewalks of Paris, was different then I thought. It wasn't like the movies, it wasn't glamourous, there was a lot of people trying to get money, or offering to give us stuff, it was kind of dirty but the actual city was very beautiful.
We got to the church it was big and beautiful. The view from the church was cool too. Going inside the church was very interesting, the way it was built was beautiful. The stained glass windows and the pillars was what stood out to me most. After the church, we walked to the Arc du Triomphe. That was really cool to see. Walking through Paris was really amazing to see because of the architecture and the history behind each building. We all also stopped for crepes, those were so good! We all got bananas and nutella. I walked on the bridge with all the locks and it was interesting to see how many locks were there. We actually got to walk on a lot of bridges, they were beautifully made with golds.
We got to see the Eiffel Tower it was even more spectacular to see in person than in a picture. After that we walked to the Notre Dame, that was such a beautiful building. We got to walk around and buy souvenirs. Seeing all the different types vendors trying to sell us stuff was amazing to see because we do not have people like that in Merced. When the police would come they would pack up as fast as they can and run away and slowly come back once the police leave. The police were also cool to see because they would ride around on horse. When we were done with that we went back on the train to go back to Amsterdam.
Caroline May
Walking at 6 am in the morning to catch the tram, to get to the train station, to catch a train to get to Paris was very eventful. In a city like Amsterdam, you need to be aware of the zombies that are still out early in the morning. Two very interesting guys were stumbling their way to us as we were waiting for the tram. The guys started to speak in another language to us and then one of the guys started to hit and spit on the other one. The tram came and we got to the train station and we ate breakfast. We got onto the train and took a 3 hour ride to Paris. Riding through the different cities was a new experience because we got to see the different types of architecture in the buildings in the different towns.
While in the train, I thought about all the miraculous things that we would get to see in Paris. Eating a crepe was one of the things going through my head while thinking about Paris. Arriving to the city and getting off the train was very odd because waiting there were about 10 police.
Once we got out of the train station, we are walking to a church, the church's name is Sacre le Coeur. Walking through the sidewalks of Paris, was different then I thought. It wasn't like the movies, it wasn't glamourous, there was a lot of people trying to get money, or offering to give us stuff, it was kind of dirty but the actual city was very beautiful.
We got to the church it was big and beautiful. The view from the church was cool too. Going inside the church was very interesting, the way it was built was beautiful. The stained glass windows and the pillars was what stood out to me most. After the church, we walked to the Arc du Triomphe. That was really cool to see. Walking through Paris was really amazing to see because of the architecture and the history behind each building. We all also stopped for crepes, those were so good! We all got bananas and nutella. I walked on the bridge with all the locks and it was interesting to see how many locks were there. We actually got to walk on a lot of bridges, they were beautifully made with golds.
We got to see the Eiffel Tower it was even more spectacular to see in person than in a picture. After that we walked to the Notre Dame, that was such a beautiful building. We got to walk around and buy souvenirs. Seeing all the different types vendors trying to sell us stuff was amazing to see because we do not have people like that in Merced. When the police would come they would pack up as fast as they can and run away and slowly come back once the police leave. The police were also cool to see because they would ride around on horse. When we were done with that we went back on the train to go back to Amsterdam.
Friday, April 1
Emily Bennett
So today was kind of emotional, today we left our Dutch partners and went to Paris. Although Amsterdam was a lot of fun I couldn't help but thinking how much more fun it would be with Mitzy. We went and saw the city, enjoyed extremely long walks, and got great hamburgers. While we were in Dordrecht we got to hang out with our partners in the city center and it was a lot of fun. Our partners went took us to a Dutch supermarket and got us all the things we need for our flight. We were all dreading the moment we had to say goodbye. As the time grew nearer we started walking to the train station, thinking of all the great memories we had. While we were walking up the stairs Spurlock tripped on her bag and fell we were all hugging your partners and crying so no one took a picture, but it was hilarious. As we walked into the gates to prepare for boarding our partners got so sad that they actually logged into the gate so they could come and watch us leave. We were all crying because they were waving from outside the train for us to leave while knowing that we would probably never see them again. The friendships and the memories we've made throughout this week have changed all of our lives in one way or another and I feel very grateful for this opportunity. While it was challenging, tiring, and stressful it was also one of the best out of country experiences I've had in my life. While that is only 18 years I know that this will be one of the best that I will have because I had it with friends and I got the opportunity to make new ones while being in an educational environment.
Thursday, March 31: Bryanna Ybarra
Today was a very interesting day. It all started off at 7:00 when I woke up like any other day here in Dordrecht but what made this day interesting was the fact that it was my last full day here in town and with my host family. Eva and I made our way to school. We meet with Emma and Madison. We biked through the jungle of car and bikes. Somehow we made it out alive. There we embarked a hectic morning, I don't know if it was because we realized that this was our last day in town, the videos, or both. But we all we’re on high stress mode. Spurlock calmed us down and we proceeded to work on our movies. After checking our movie and giving us the ok Eva, Emma, Madison, and I made our way to the supermarket where they began to pick out food for us. After we headed to Eva's for a quick pit stop. We ate and talked before heading over to helenia’s partners house for a small get together. We played this game which is similar to sorry and like monopoly showed the true side of some friends. It was getting very intense, it was every man for themselves as we began to fight for title of winner. Eva and I played for about three rounds before we had to go. It was time to meet Dexter, my other partner, family. I was very nervous, I didn't know what to expect and me being me I'm very bad at socializing thankfully Eva was going and she's very good at talking. Only his mom was there at the time. We began to talk and tried some Indonesian food as we waited for the others. Later that night we had our farewell dinner. The farewell dinner was nice, we all came together and bonded. It was nice, we got to see everyone's experience from California to here in Dordrecht all in a short amount of time. It was amazing to think that in just a short amount of time we bonded so close. I spent less than a week at Eva's house and I already feel as if I’ve known her for years. Her mom and dad are amazing. They made sure that I had everything I needed and more. Dexter’s family even though I only met them once and for maybe an hour felt like family too. It is cool to think that in the end I have two families that have welcomed me to their home and back. At the end of the day I realized that this will be my last full day in Dordrecht, my last bike ride, my last dinner, and the last time i’ll be sleeping on the air mattress that can't seem to hold in air. But they turned into sweet memories that will always be remembered and if you're ever in the area there's a place to stay.
Amber Vang
March 30, 2016
It is the fourth day since I’ve been in the Netherlands. It is the second day I will be going to school. The school is called Stedelijk Dalton Lyceum. The school is similar to El Capitán in a way, because it has more than one level. So yes, stairs are involved. On the first day of school, I recorded a vlog for my friends back home. They all said the school was very mind-blowing. The cafeteria looks very colorful, which is different than El Capitan’s cafeteria. Our cafeteria is black, white, and grey. Also, the entrance hallway of the school has the ground and poles painted. There is art hanging on the walls, which were done by students at the school. What really fascinated me was the bike racks. I’ve never seen so many bikes before! The bathrooms are very clean and full of luxury. I will admit I did not know which bathroom to go into, due to the signs on the bathroom doors. What I found super interesting was the pictures of El Capitan back in 2014 on the walls upstairs. I remember when the Dutch kids came when I was a freshman. Never would I have thought, I would be in the program.
Today, Annika remarkably woke me up at 6 am. I stayed in bed for about thirty minutes. Then I got up to wash my face, brush my teeth, get dressed, and head downstairs for breakfast. Once I got downstairs, I ate bread with nutella and milk. Swen and Kariann (Annika’s siblings) were getting ready to bike to school. After they left, Annika and I relaxed for a while before walking to the bus stop. Once we started walking to the bus stop, I felt like I was a plastic bag drifting through the wind. It’s about a ten minute walk, so I was blowing in the wind for about ten minutes. It was so bleak that I had my gloves covering my face when I was walking. It’s about a twenty-five bus ride to school. Then, we walked about five minutes to school from the bus stop.
The school day started with Geography, which is an eighty minute class. CRAZY, am I right?! In Geography, we looked at an atlas and tried to match the places on a paper. I met some very nice girls in that class. One of the girls looked like the main character in “Me before You.” I showed her the trailer of the movie and she laughed. Our next class was biology. In biology, we looked at skulls from a dog, cat, and humans. After that, we had a lunch break for about thirty minutes. Then, we went to English class. This class was by far my favorite part of the day. I sat with the sweetest girls ever. In the beginning, we played a game answering questions about ourselves. After the game, we read a few excerpts from Shakespeare. After, we had a packet to work on. But, the girls and I were just talking about California. The girls asked if I was a cheerleader, and I said I used to be one. Their faces lit up like candles, it was the cutest thing ever. It’s funny that they think cheerleading is the best thing ever, but not many people believe it’s a sport in the US. They also asked me about prom, so I showed them my prom dress. The girls were astounded, and my phone got passed around on one side of the room. I also showed them my promposal and they thought it was the sweetest thing ever. Lastly, we exchanged instagrams and snapchats. Making those friends was the highlight of my day.
March 30, 2016
It is the fourth day since I’ve been in the Netherlands. It is the second day I will be going to school. The school is called Stedelijk Dalton Lyceum. The school is similar to El Capitán in a way, because it has more than one level. So yes, stairs are involved. On the first day of school, I recorded a vlog for my friends back home. They all said the school was very mind-blowing. The cafeteria looks very colorful, which is different than El Capitan’s cafeteria. Our cafeteria is black, white, and grey. Also, the entrance hallway of the school has the ground and poles painted. There is art hanging on the walls, which were done by students at the school. What really fascinated me was the bike racks. I’ve never seen so many bikes before! The bathrooms are very clean and full of luxury. I will admit I did not know which bathroom to go into, due to the signs on the bathroom doors. What I found super interesting was the pictures of El Capitan back in 2014 on the walls upstairs. I remember when the Dutch kids came when I was a freshman. Never would I have thought, I would be in the program.
Today, Annika remarkably woke me up at 6 am. I stayed in bed for about thirty minutes. Then I got up to wash my face, brush my teeth, get dressed, and head downstairs for breakfast. Once I got downstairs, I ate bread with nutella and milk. Swen and Kariann (Annika’s siblings) were getting ready to bike to school. After they left, Annika and I relaxed for a while before walking to the bus stop. Once we started walking to the bus stop, I felt like I was a plastic bag drifting through the wind. It’s about a ten minute walk, so I was blowing in the wind for about ten minutes. It was so bleak that I had my gloves covering my face when I was walking. It’s about a twenty-five bus ride to school. Then, we walked about five minutes to school from the bus stop.
The school day started with Geography, which is an eighty minute class. CRAZY, am I right?! In Geography, we looked at an atlas and tried to match the places on a paper. I met some very nice girls in that class. One of the girls looked like the main character in “Me before You.” I showed her the trailer of the movie and she laughed. Our next class was biology. In biology, we looked at skulls from a dog, cat, and humans. After that, we had a lunch break for about thirty minutes. Then, we went to English class. This class was by far my favorite part of the day. I sat with the sweetest girls ever. In the beginning, we played a game answering questions about ourselves. After the game, we read a few excerpts from Shakespeare. After, we had a packet to work on. But, the girls and I were just talking about California. The girls asked if I was a cheerleader, and I said I used to be one. Their faces lit up like candles, it was the cutest thing ever. It’s funny that they think cheerleading is the best thing ever, but not many people believe it’s a sport in the US. They also asked me about prom, so I showed them my prom dress. The girls were astounded, and my phone got passed around on one side of the room. I also showed them my promposal and they thought it was the sweetest thing ever. Lastly, we exchanged instagrams and snapchats. Making those friends was the highlight of my day.
Madison Weed
Tuesday, March 29, 2015
Today, I was awoken around 7:15 by my alarm on my phone. I was thinking whether on not I should stay awake or fall back asleep. I decided to get up, I finished getting ready and went down two flights of stairs. I meet my host family in the kitchen. Mrs. Klaasse had a warm croissants freshly made for me. I had forgotten that I would have to ride my bike to school. Next thing, I know I hear Emma telling me that it is time to get our bikes. Around 7:50 am, Emma and I grabbed our bags and bikes and were off to school. She told me that it would be about a 15 minute bike ride;although we were waiting for Eva and Bryana for about 6 minutes in the cold. After they arrived at our meeting place, we hopped back on our bikes and were on our way. On our way to school I had to make big decisions like whether or not it is better to hit a car or to get hit by a car. Emma told me that it was just best to stay away from the cars. When we finally arrived at school I was so surprised when I say all of the different bikes that kids use to get to school. We then locked up our bikes and went into the room so see Mrs. Spurlock and the other students.
Once school has started, we were told to go and get a tour or Stedelijk Dalton Lyceum from our Dutch partners. Emma and I thought that it would be cool if we would partner up with Amber, Annika, Helaina, Liselot, Eva and Bryana to see their classes as well. We all went around the school and were invited to walk inside and observe the drama class. After we left the drama class, we went to the music class where Helaina was amazed by all of the instruments. You can tell she wanted to pick up the bass and play it. When the school started all the Americans and our Dutch partners stayed in the computer room and learned how to speak some words in Dutch. We had break after and had Stroopwafels. After we had 4 more classes but I feel like Latin was my favorite. In Latin class, the teacher was showing us pictures about a story about Icarus. Icarus is about a boy and his father that were farmers and the boy, Icarus, wants to make wings to fly away. Icarus made wings and his dad told him not to go too high or the wax keeping him feathers together would melt. He didn’t listen to his father and went too high and the wings melted and he fell to his death. We also learned that people in Dordrecht are called sheep heads because in the middle age people used to have to pay taxes on sheep ; so they tried to sneak in the sheep by dressing it up as a little boy. Of course, they got caught because the sheep started to make non human noises.
After school we all went to the city center to record videos in front of the popular places for the farewell videos we are showing on Thursday night. We rode our bikes all day today and all over town. After we were done with the videos, we had hot chocolate and cake or scones at coffeelicious with Joy, Emma, Eva, Bryana and Dexter. When Emma and I got home her mom made us spaghetti and we ate dinner as a family. Now, we are just hanging out in her room with Tim and playing music doing homework and talking. All I have to say is this is an amazing opportunity and I feel like I am hanging out with my best friend and having a sleepover.
Once school has started, we were told to go and get a tour or Stedelijk Dalton Lyceum from our Dutch partners. Emma and I thought that it would be cool if we would partner up with Amber, Annika, Helaina, Liselot, Eva and Bryana to see their classes as well. We all went around the school and were invited to walk inside and observe the drama class. After we left the drama class, we went to the music class where Helaina was amazed by all of the instruments. You can tell she wanted to pick up the bass and play it. When the school started all the Americans and our Dutch partners stayed in the computer room and learned how to speak some words in Dutch. We had break after and had Stroopwafels. After we had 4 more classes but I feel like Latin was my favorite. In Latin class, the teacher was showing us pictures about a story about Icarus. Icarus is about a boy and his father that were farmers and the boy, Icarus, wants to make wings to fly away. Icarus made wings and his dad told him not to go too high or the wax keeping him feathers together would melt. He didn’t listen to his father and went too high and the wings melted and he fell to his death. We also learned that people in Dordrecht are called sheep heads because in the middle age people used to have to pay taxes on sheep ; so they tried to sneak in the sheep by dressing it up as a little boy. Of course, they got caught because the sheep started to make non human noises.
After school we all went to the city center to record videos in front of the popular places for the farewell videos we are showing on Thursday night. We rode our bikes all day today and all over town. After we were done with the videos, we had hot chocolate and cake or scones at coffeelicious with Joy, Emma, Eva, Bryana and Dexter. When Emma and I got home her mom made us spaghetti and we ate dinner as a family. Now, we are just hanging out in her room with Tim and playing music doing homework and talking. All I have to say is this is an amazing opportunity and I feel like I am hanging out with my best friend and having a sleepover.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Taylor Conley
Run, run. That was the first thing I was thinking. The second, I hope that Mrs. Spurlock doesn't kill me for being late to baggage check- in. Thankfully, we made it. After getting our luggage checked, we all said our goodbyes to our families and went through our security check. Because we arrived at the airport early, getting through security was easy. When we all found each other and had a quick head count, we searched the airport for our gate number. Checking the time and making sure, we would make our connecting flight, Mrs. Enriquez told us that we had only an hour and a half until we needed to board our plane to Seattle. From Seattle, we were scheduled to fly to Amsterdam. So, we all got comfortable and waited out the pre-boarding period. The worst thing a traveler can hear is that their plane is delayed. After hearing the news, Mrs. Enriquez told us that we would not be able to make the connecting flight we had booked to Amsterdam. Slowly, we received information that the plane we were going to take was having mechanical problems. As the time to board came closer, the boarding time became shorter and shorter. Until it came to the point where we thought we might actually make our connecting flight. We finally got the okay to board our first flight. We only had a two hour flight but it was stressful the entire time. We wondering and hoping that we would make our connecting flight.
When we finally arrived at the airport, we ran as fast as we could to our connecting gate. As we were getting on the tram, to get to our next airplane, we all heard " I can't find it". Looking around I realized, Connor couldn't find his passport (sorry, Connor we have to). When the time finally came to catch our connecting flight, we prayed. We also sprinted up four flights of stairs to our boarding station. When the first of the runners arrived at the departing gate,we found out that our plane had departed without us! Big sigh. Sitting around trying to figure out what to do, Connor was trying to find his passport. While Mrs. Enriquez and Mrs. Spurlock were trying to find another flight to Amsterdam.
After a while Connor, Emily, and I all went back to the area where we first came off the plane. We retraced our steps to see if anyone had found his passport. We got to a certain spot in the airport, the underside a huge kiosk, it was there we found a very nice lady and Connor’s passport. As we began walking back to Mrs. Spurlock to tell her that we had found Connor's passport; we also found out that the next flight to Amsterdam was scheduled for the next day. So, we went to the Red Lion Inn, a hotel, and stayed the night. Delta airline paid for our hotel rooms because it was their fault that we missed our connecting flight. We only had two students to a room and I stayed with Caroline. It was fun. Metzli, Emily and myself got in the hot tub to try and relax after the stressful day. When I went back to my room, I was finally able to have a full night's sleep and be prepared for an extremely busy unexpected travel day.
Sunday, March 29, 2016
Metztli Enriquez
My lovely Sunday started off in an airplane, where I sat next to Caroline and watched movies for the 10 hour flight from Seattle to Amsterdam. The flight was pretty fun and felt very short due to the great movies Delta, the airline we used, offered. Caroline and I watched a lot of movies and hope to watch more together on our way home. Finally, around 9 AM, we arrived at the airport where a lot of people were running due to their very tight connecting flights. As a group, we went to pick up our luggage and after that I was able to meet Gina, who I've missed a lot. I also met her great parents who are very kind to welcome me into their home. Gina’s father drove us to their home which is beautiful with an artistic and lively touch. While there, we ate some food which was very new to me. I ate from a loaf of bread that was sliced in half with some butter, strawberries and chocolate sprinkles (hagelslag) which honestly was probably the best breakfast I had ever had in my entire life! After that, I had some time to just freshen up a little bit and then we very quickly drove to our first excursion. It was a popular place; a castle. As soon as I got into the car, I fell asleep and didn't want to wake up at all; it was horrible. I got out of the car, all drowsy, and was immediately woken up by the extremely violent wind and light rain drops. We took a very detailed tour of the castle.
Kasteel De Haar Utrecht, the castle I visited was enormous with extremely detailed ceilings and beautiful tapestries. After a while, I will be honest, I was falling asleep. We went and drank some hot chocolate inside of a little café which was actually a storage container that was converted into a small restaurant. Quickly after the warm hot chocolate, we went home and I took an amazing four hour nap which really helped me overcome my jet lag because I didn't sleep at all during the 10 hour flight! After my amazing nap, Gina woke me up so that I could meet her brother and his lovely girlfriend. They are probably the nicest people I have met yet. We had a great time as we ate ham, asparagus with some weird gray sauce, baked potatoes and some dinner rolls for our Easter dinner. My favorite part of the day was probably watching “Netherlands Idol” because I was able to watch horrible singers who thought they were great make fools of themselves. Gina’s family and I were having a great time watching the “Netherlands Idol” and then Gina's brother's girlfriend noticed she knew one of the contestants on the show. Before going to sleep, Gina and I went for a small walk which could of ended up deadly if it wasn't for Gina. She had to lead me out of the way of multiple speeding bicyclists and cars. I survived!!!
Overall, Gina’s family is pretty amazing and very welcoming. I appreciate everything they have done for me and all the love they have offered. It's only the first day with my family and I have enjoyed it a lot. Hopefully, the days to come will be even better.
Monday, March 30, 2016
Helaina Schisnewski
After a long flight yesterday, I was excited to see my host family and to see my partner, Liselot. As ECHS students were moving through the airport to get our suitcases, we saw all of the Dutch students and their parents through the windows. We walked out of the baggage hall with excitement and saw all of our families holding posters and greeting us with big hugs. It was such an honor to meet the De Kruif family. Right away Liselot’s sister, Annabel, gave me a big hug and introduced herself. Mrs. De Kruif also gave me a big hug and she offered to carry my suitcase for me. As we are leaving the airport Liselot and her sister told me that it was raining outside and that it would be smart to put on some socks, otherwise I would get wet and cold from the rain. After I put on my socks, we started walking to our car. I realized that their airport had more stores in it than the Merced Mall!!
On our way home from Amsterdam to Dordrecht, I took a little nap. I was so tired from the air flight that as soon as I got into the car I fell asleep. When we finally arrived at Liselot’s house it was an hour later. As we entered Liselot's home, I was welcomed by her father. We all went inside and had an Easter brunch. I ate a freshly made croissant with white cheese in it. I was the best croissant that I have ever had. After my brunch with my family, I was shown the room that I would be staying in. After I unpacked all of my clothes, I was told that I could take a nap. I took an hour nap and Liselot woke me up and told me that we were going to go on a bike ride. First, they tested me to make sure that I knew how to ride a bike. After I passed the test and proved that I could ride a bike, we were all on our way to see the windmills in Kinderdijk. They told me that on our way to see the mills we would have to take a waterbus.
When riding the waterbus, I was able to see a brief part of the whole city of Dordrecht. I honestly think that it was one of the prettiest places I have ever been! As we arrived at the mills, we went inside one of the mills that was made into a museum. We learned about how the millers and their families lived in the mills. As we were leaving the mills, we ran into the Van Es family. We waited for Breanna and Ava to come out from the mills so we could talk and hang out. When they came out, all of the parents insisted on taking pictures of all of us. It felt like we were in a photo shoot.
We then decided that we wanted to go home and sleep. Today, Liselot woke me up around 9:30 and told me that breakfast is almost ready. After I was completely finished getting ready, I went downstairs to have breakfast with my family. Once again , I decided I would like to have the croissant with some tea. After breakfast Mrs. De Kruif drove us to the central train station which we would take to Den Haag Centraal (The Hague Central Station).
From there we walked all around Den Hague. We were able to walk into the Binnenhof where we were able to take lots of pictures. We also took a group picture. Next, we went to the Noordeinde Palace, where the King works. Then we went to an art museum where we were able to see a panoramic painting by the famous painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag. The painting was 14 meters high (45 feet high) and 120 meters in circumference (393 feet in circumference). After seeing the painting, we decided to view the real Scheveningen. We went to the beach where Eva, Bryana, Madison, Emma, Annika, Amber, Liselot and I went to eat at the Big Bell. After we were finished eating , we ran to the beach to take a quick picture because we would be back in time to get on the tram to Den Haag. When we were there, we all went shopping at Primark. We were told to be back my 16:15(4:15). We got to the train station early so all the girls went to Starbuck's inside the station. I got the caramel Frappuccino. Next thing we know, we were late;so we had to run to the train. We all caught our breath when we were on the train back to the central station in Dordrecht. As we said our goodbyes, Liselot and I walked to her mom’s car and drove home. When we got home we all played a board game and ate dinner.
Overall, it was a wonderful day with lots of great memories.
Mrs.Spurlock
Friday, March 25,2016
As I write this blog entry, I am sitting at home readying myself for my annual spring break trip to Dordrecht, the Netherlands. On the television, CNN is broadcasting the violent scenes from the Brussels Airport bombings, and I am imagining fearful travelers and students abroad briskly canceling their flights, hotel rooms or changing their spring break travel plans to avoid Europe. Fear is a great weapon. However, the reality is, there is a greater chance of being struck by lightning than being attacked or even killed by a terrorist. According to the United States State Department, the number of Americans killed overseas as a result of a terrorist attacks from 2001-2016 is less than 400. The State Department has just issued a travel warning throughout Europe:
“The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to potential risks
of travel to and throughout Europe following several terrorist
attacks, including the March 22 attacks in Brussels claimed by
ISIL.Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout
Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants,
and transportation. This Travel Alert expires on June 20, 2016
U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or
using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings
and avoid crowded places. Exercise particular caution during religious
holidays and at large festivals or events."
Travelers (especially traveling teachers or students) should not ignore the travel warnings, or drastically change their travel plans. Irrational fears should not prevent individuals from traveling and studying abroad. For many years, I have traveled with students as part of my Dutch American Exchange Project. With my program, my students and I have traveled to Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, and even, Brussels. We have had many adventures. A lot of laughs and a few tense moments. I can vividly recall the interruption of a peaceful dawn in Barcelona, when I received a phone call from a parent telling me Osama bin Laden had been killed by the U.S. Navy Seals. In just a few hours, we were to be boarding a flight home. I remember speaking to the students and assuring them that everything would be okay. Reminding them to not be afraid. The reality is they were afraid and all I could do was model for them the positive behavior that I wanted them to possess.
Just the day before, they had finished their “big test”, I had walked them down to the Rambla and given them two hours alone as a group and their test was to find their way back to the hotel. We had been walking the route all weekend but there was something very important about them doing it alone. Fear is a very powerful weapon when you are not allowed to confront it and overcome it. As I had anticipated the students all made it back in record time, and the smiles of satisfaction on their faces were priceless. The “big test” has become a rite of passage for all my traveling students. That and being allowed to refer to me as “tspur” after successful completing the task. Over the years, I have learned many lessons from my students and one of those lessons is that the experimental act of traveling is one of the things that helps students grow and mature. It creates confidence and gives them power. I will never allow fear to be used as a weapon against my students or myself.
As my attention returns to the talking heads on CNN, I have the presence of mind to turn off the news. I think for a minute about the beautiful families in Brussels, America, Paris, and throughout the world that are forever changed by terrorist acts and then I realize I can let fear cripple my spirit or I can chose to accept fear for what it is and move past it.
Friday, March 25,2016
As I write this blog entry, I am sitting at home readying myself for my annual spring break trip to Dordrecht, the Netherlands. On the television, CNN is broadcasting the violent scenes from the Brussels Airport bombings, and I am imagining fearful travelers and students abroad briskly canceling their flights, hotel rooms or changing their spring break travel plans to avoid Europe. Fear is a great weapon. However, the reality is, there is a greater chance of being struck by lightning than being attacked or even killed by a terrorist. According to the United States State Department, the number of Americans killed overseas as a result of a terrorist attacks from 2001-2016 is less than 400. The State Department has just issued a travel warning throughout Europe:
“The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to potential risks
of travel to and throughout Europe following several terrorist
attacks, including the March 22 attacks in Brussels claimed by
ISIL.Terrorist groups continue to plan near-term attacks throughout
Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants,
and transportation. This Travel Alert expires on June 20, 2016
U.S. citizens should exercise vigilance when in public places or
using mass transportation. Be aware of immediate surroundings
and avoid crowded places. Exercise particular caution during religious
holidays and at large festivals or events."
Travelers (especially traveling teachers or students) should not ignore the travel warnings, or drastically change their travel plans. Irrational fears should not prevent individuals from traveling and studying abroad. For many years, I have traveled with students as part of my Dutch American Exchange Project. With my program, my students and I have traveled to Paris, Prague, Barcelona, Amsterdam, London, and even, Brussels. We have had many adventures. A lot of laughs and a few tense moments. I can vividly recall the interruption of a peaceful dawn in Barcelona, when I received a phone call from a parent telling me Osama bin Laden had been killed by the U.S. Navy Seals. In just a few hours, we were to be boarding a flight home. I remember speaking to the students and assuring them that everything would be okay. Reminding them to not be afraid. The reality is they were afraid and all I could do was model for them the positive behavior that I wanted them to possess.
Just the day before, they had finished their “big test”, I had walked them down to the Rambla and given them two hours alone as a group and their test was to find their way back to the hotel. We had been walking the route all weekend but there was something very important about them doing it alone. Fear is a very powerful weapon when you are not allowed to confront it and overcome it. As I had anticipated the students all made it back in record time, and the smiles of satisfaction on their faces were priceless. The “big test” has become a rite of passage for all my traveling students. That and being allowed to refer to me as “tspur” after successful completing the task. Over the years, I have learned many lessons from my students and one of those lessons is that the experimental act of traveling is one of the things that helps students grow and mature. It creates confidence and gives them power. I will never allow fear to be used as a weapon against my students or myself.
As my attention returns to the talking heads on CNN, I have the presence of mind to turn off the news. I think for a minute about the beautiful families in Brussels, America, Paris, and throughout the world that are forever changed by terrorist acts and then I realize I can let fear cripple my spirit or I can chose to accept fear for what it is and move past it.