Video Blog 2

For this assignment we were required to spend one hour by ourselves doing something that pushed us out of our comfort zone.  I didn't intentionally chose a competency to address when I set out on my adventure.  I had an idea of how I would think and feel, but wanted to see where this would lead me.  I was actually surprised at how uncomfortable and unsure I felt during the activity.  This wasn't in an overwhelming or fearful way, but enough that I was consciously aware of it.  The global competency that this addresses most closely is "undertaking unfamiliar tasks" but also helped me deal with change.

Day 10 - Maastricht, Netherlands

Today we visited the United World College Preschool and Primary School in Maastricht.  This is an international preschool and primary school that is run very, very differently than most of the public schools we have encountered so far.  The school we visited was the temporary location of this school because they are currently working on completing a brand new $25 million campus on a private island on the outskirts of the city.  The school has students from all over the country working and learning together.  The classes are all taught in English, but there are certain times during the day they are able to talk to other students in the school in their home language.  We were given a beautiful presentation by the two vice-principals of the school about their philosophy, their student demographics, and the way their school works.

I couldn't help but feel like it was a little bit of a sales pitch.  I think it was a combination of the powerful effect that the previous visit to St. Maarten's had on me, and the utopian atmosphere that was created at their school, but it seemed almost eery to me.  The learning community that had been created at UWC was unbelievable.  They had students from every nationality and race working together and teaching each other about unity and understanding.  I think that the biggest thing that sat uneasily with me was the fact that there was an incredibly rigorous application process to become a UCW student.  There is also a yearly tuition which, although low, has a sever impact on the kinds of families that are able to send their students there.  I think that I need more time to reflect on this school and structure.

After the school visit we headed home, had a quick class with David, and were released for the evening. I completed my "Hour by Myself" assignment, which you can see in my Video post.  I actually had a great time finishing the assignment, even though I was very skeptical of it at the beginning.  I met Alesia and Stef in town for dinner at a sandwich shop where we met a girl named Amy from Australia that was traveling for 8 months on our own.  We shared stories and suggestions about traveling and had a great time chatting on a super rainy day.  This was one of the first night I've actually been able to relax and enjoy travelling and move at my own pace, which was very much appreciated.  We have been going non-stop and the pace is definitely catching up to all of us.

Seeking Alternatives...

For my second inquiry assignment, I chose to look into the alternative education system in the Netherlands. At home, I have worked with non-traditional learners in several settings between my GED classes, after school activities, and through time in a placement at the Lansing Alternative High School. After our school visit today, I was left with a feeling of both familiarity and surprise. I was unaware that a school like the one we visited today even existed. I especially enjoyed hearing how the national policies have effected the life of this school and how it has changed the services they are able to provide. I saw some of the students that I work with at home in so many of the students at the school today. At the same time, the issues that these students were facing as international refugees is something I can’t even comprehend.

Something that I have really found the most interesting about schools in the Netherlands is the ability for schools to choose what type of system or philosophy dictates their school. In the United States, a public institution would never be able to chose different pedagogical styles. This is something that, once I observed it in these classrooms, seemed so obvious. It is a completely novel idea that students should be allowed to guide their studies, or that a school would be more healthy if everyone in it subscribed to the same teaching philosophy. For such a small country, the diversity within the education system is huge.

This topic was difficult to find research on because I think so much of the language and ways to explain schools are different. As far as I can tell, there are not alternative schools, like we know them in the United States, available to students as a ‘last chance’ option. According to the Department of Education, homeschooling is an option, but is widely met with opposition. I feel that this is because of the array of choices families already have in placing their students. In the US, a family can homeschool a child if they don’t agree with the public system, but in the Netherlands, they have more options to find a school that better fits their families lifestyle.

International schools, like the one we saw today at Sind-Maartens College High School, are another option that is considered ‘alternative’ in the Netherlands. These schools provide a space for students who come from many different countries, to learn about Dutch history, language, and culture. Most of the students, at least at the school we visited today, were there with the intention of becoming Dutch citizens.

In the following week I would like to explore this concept more. I would also like to take the chance to look more at the policy side of the changes that are being made in Netherlands schools. Several of the teachers have mentioned that the overall shift to the right has been detrimental to the education system. I would like to find out what these changes look like, and some of the ideas behind them.

Day 9 - Maastricht, Netherlands

We have stayed at more strange places on this trip than I could have imagined.  First the Botel, and now our hostel in Maastricht, which we are lovingly referring to as the "Ho-tospital" because it is an old hospital that has been repurposed into a youth hostel and student housing.  I love the idea of reusing infrastructure, and there is a lot that can be done creatively, but this is pushing it for even me.  The problem that we are all having with the Ho-tospital is that it still looks completely like a hospital: signage and furnishings included. Did I forget to mention the fact that the first floor is actually still a hospital?  So bizarre.  The fact that this creepy place is now our home for two weeks, coupled with the fact that our arrival was in the middle of the night yesterday - we all were a bit shaken.  In the light of day, it is not nearly as bad and we are all anxious to get settled somewhere semi-permanent.

This morning we visited a school called St Maarten's Preparatory College.  This is a high school level school specifically designed for refugees and asylum seekers that have come to the Netherlands because of war and violence in their home countries.  The majority of the population does not speak the same language, so a majority of the lessons are done in a combination of English and basic Dutch.  Many of the students are from Somalia and Afghanistan, but there are also kids from Eastern Europe and other countries in the Middle East, whose families have tried to come to the Netherlands for better job opportunities.  In order to become a Dutch national, one of the most important steps is to learn the Dutch language and culture.  As we spoke with teachers and the director of St. Maarten's, we learned that understanding Dutch or English was literally a life or death situation for many of the students.  

This was by far one of the most interesting and heart-wrenching things I have been a part of.  The director explained to us that the Dutch government spends very little time and money towards efforts of this kind.  Overall, 90% of children and young adults that attempt to seek asylum in the Netherlands will be sent back to their home country.  We had a short meeting with the director and then split into small groups and visited classrooms.  I had the opportunity to two to a group of four girls; two from Poland, one from Belarus, and one from Ukraine.  Through a complicated dance of 4 different languages, we managed to have a conversation about school and what they like to do.  They also helped teach me a few   words in Dutch.  Although they were shy at first, all four of the girls were incredibly friendly and were excited to practice their English with me.  

My heart goes out to all of the students I met today because of the challenges they are up against.  Although they are in much different situations, they reminded me so much of my students at Advent House.  I have never seen perseverance or dedication like in those classrooms - even when the odds are stacked so high not int their favor.  Even knowing that these students come from terrible backgrounds, there was still a sincere and excited atmosphere in all of the classrooms.  The students were friendly and treated each other incredibly well.  Ironically, I thought here was a lot more happiness at St. Maarten's than we saw in any of the other schools.  

Day 8 - Paris, France

 After getting not nearly enough sleep at Mr. Bed City (our hotel) we set out for another full day of site-seeing in the city.  The five of us from the day before decided to stick together since there were a few things we didn't get to.  We headed directly back to the Eiffel Tower.  Although it was my 4th trip there in 24 hours, I am still completely in awe of the structure.  It is much larger than I had ever expected and both beautiful and structural at the same time.  there is an incredibly amount of detail in the iron work all over.  We waited in line for a few minutes and then got in huge elevators to head to the top.  On the second tier, you switch to smaller elevators that take you all the way to the 'summit'.  It was a beautiful day and there was a clear view of the city in every direction, I've never seen anything like it.

After the Eiffel Tower, we headed back to the Catacombs.  We got in line and were told it woud be almost a two hour wait.  We decided to go in shifts to grab something to eat so we could picnic in line while we waited.  Alesia and I stumbled across an awesome street market where I bought baguettes, cheese, and chocolate cake for us all to share.  I even ordered everything in French - I was very excited!

The catacombs were interesting but I wouldn't put it in the top of my list of things to recommend.  It was a unique attraction, but looking at bones for an hour is kind of unsettling.  We met a really nice guy from Penn State while we waited in line who went through the tour with us.  He was traveling on his own and decided to tag along with us.  We all decided to go to Pere Lachaise, the oldest and largest cemetery in the city on our way back.  I guess this was our creepy day in Paris.

After (another) long walk up hill, we found the cemetery and headed directly for Jim Morrison's grave.  This is the most popular area in the cemetery and we wanted to be able to say we saw it.  The entire area was fenced off but visitors had tossed in flowers, notes, CDs, and even a bra.  It was bizarre to see but also very cool to visit someone so influential and timeless.  We got back to the hotel just in time, hopped on the bus, and started our 6 hour trek back into the Netherlands.  Au Revoir Paris!

Paris Metro!

Paris at Night

Here is a video of us sharing a bottle of wine at the Eiffel Tower. It was magical at night and there were tons of people out relaxing. The city is like a new world at night!

Day 7 - Paris

Our first full day in Paris!  Last night at dinner we planned out an itinerary for the day so that we would see all of the sights.  Stef was incredibly prepared and had all of the Metro stops marked out so we could get to places fastest.  We started our whirlwind tour of Paris at Notre Dame Cathedral.  Much like the Eiffel Tower, I think I was most surprised by the size of it.  I can't even comprehend building something so huge and intricate and skilled with no technology, hundreds of years ago.  After that, we went to the Bastille and then to the Arc d'Triomphe.  We had a picnic lunch at the base and then climbed the stairs all the way to the top.  Besides the Eiffel Tower, this view of the city and of the Champs Elysees is probably the most famous in Paris.  Much to my surprise, all 15 of us had managed to stay together, and enjoy ourselves, up until this point.


Next on our whirlwind tour was the Catacomb.  In the 1800's there was a huge shortage of burial space in the Paris cemeteries, so people were buried in mass graves in quarries that were underneath the city.  For whatever reason, I'm stil unsure of, the city decided to have the mass grave reopened and the bones reorganized to form patterns, rooms, and hallways throughout the quarries.  I was under the impression this was kind of a weird, off-the-beaten-path, type of thing to do, but when we got there the line was too long.  At this point we decided to split up for dinner.

Allison, Stef, Alesia, Mary, and I decided to do the fastest tour of the Louvre in history.  We basically ran in, saw the Mona Lisa, and then had to leave.  We took the Metro to the northern side of the city and headed up to Montmartre to find a place to eat.  This area is in the highest elevated place in the city and is home to the historically artistic and bohemian neighborhood.  After climbing lots of stairs, we made it to the top.  The Sacre-Coeur, which is the church in the center of the neighborhood is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.  It is bright white with a large dome and has huge wide steps leading up to the front.  We had dinner at a really cute cafe down the street, all of us had crepes and wine.  After dinner, we sat on the steps in front of the church and watched people sing and play music.  There were hundreds of people everywhere relaxing, talking, drinking, and smoking.  (The French smoke a lot of cigarettes).  We met a really nice guy, whose name we think was "Bobcat" from Morocco that was telling us about school and life in Paris.  It was by far my favorite thing in the city.  The atmosphere reminded me so much of being at outdoor concerts at DTE, except it was set on top of a hill with the best view of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

On our way home, we stopped and bought a bottle of wine and headed in the direction of the Eiffel Tower.  We wanted to go to the top at night to see how the whole city looked but we got there too late.  Instead, we sat on the lawn, shared a bottle of wine, gave our feet a break, and enjoyed some Parisian people-watching.

Day 6 - Paris, France

 Bonjour from Paris!!

Day 5 - Rotterdam, Netherlands

Today we visited de Catamaran, a community school in an urban area of Rotterdam.  This school had recently just moved into a brand new facility.  The space was beautiful and had everything you could imagine in a school.  The kindergarteners had castle play-scapes in their classrooms.  Every floor had two community computer centers at each end of the hallways.  There were colorful and hands on activity in every classroom.  Every class from 2nd to 8th grade had a smartboard.  It was pretty unbelievable for a primary school.  We met with the principal and had a really amazing chat about the community school atmosphere and system.  The highlight of the visit was when we were joined by 6 students from Group 8.  They had a conversation with us in English about what we liked to do, what they did in their free time, and what their plans were for the future.  They asked us questions about college and the United States.  It was so exciting to finally get a chance to speak with students about their school and education.

A few things I have noticed so far.  (1) I blend in much better here than I did in Turkey, which is both cool and strange.  I like not feeling like such a tourist and it is encouraging that I can fit in with life here more easily.  The bad part is is that I can only imagine how confused I look when people try to speak Dutch to me.  No one really even attempted that in Turkey.  (2) The Dutch are very straightforward.  We were running late to our school visit this morning because Rene was lost (yet again).  When we walked in and introduced ourselves the first thing the Principal said to us was, "Well, you are not early."  (3)  I love the way the Dutch say Michigan - it sounds a lot like "Mitch - again"  with a heavy T in the middle.

Nederlands Uitval

One of the things related to education that I have become very interested in is when and why students chose to drop out of school. In Lansing, I teach GED classes and work with students every day who have dropped out of school before graduating. For over a year I have spent time getting to know these students and trying to understand why traditional education did not work for them. Every single student has given me things to be aware of in my future classroom. The attention and dedication that they received (or more importantly, did not receive) from teachers directly influenced their choice to not complete high school.

One of the things I have noticed so far about school in the Netherlands is that it seems a lot more rigid. Students are essentially put into tracks and set into a career path from the time that the are 12 years old. I’m still undecided on whether or not this system is necessarily better or worse, but to me, this seems like it would be a very difficult system for students that find their motivation later than 12, don’t have the support at home to push themselves, or find themselves dealing with personal issues out of their control. I have worked with alternative learners in several different settings over the last few years and the common thing that I find among them is that it took a while for them to see the importance of education. The thing I want to find more out about is the drop-out rate in the Netherland schools. Also, what types of programs and options are available to students that do drop-out, but want to finish their education?

According to Nederlands Jeugd Instituut (The Netherlands Youth Institute) research on youth drop-out and unemployment. In 2009, the national drop-out rate for students aged 15-25 was 9%. This number is down from 15% in 2001. In comparison, the rates in the United States in 2008 and 2001 were 8% and 10.4%, respectively. The Netherlands government is concerned that this rate is so high and sees the importance of skilled and trained workers entering the job force. They set out a series of goals to help decrease the drop-out rate even more. These goals include:
            - Extra attention for a smooth transition from preparatory to intermediate vocational education
            - Better career orientation, academic study selection and guidance
            - More and better care in schools
attractive education, with sports and culture
             - More attention for preparatory vocational education students who learn best by doing
             - More tailored solutions to prevent school drop-out

Although these goals sound great, they leave some very important questions regarding actual implementation and practicality. The goals are more like guidelines than they are an actual plan to combat drop-outs and unemployment.

I spoke with Renee, our host in the Netherlands, about this matter as well. He said that there are programs available to students who chose to continue with their education after dropping out. Similar to programs in the United States, it is not the exact same as a high school diploma but is supposed to offer an equivalent level of education. He also mentioned that there are programs for parents who are less educated who chose to take additional classes in order to help their students with coursework.

I would like to explore these types of programs more in the coming weeks. I am fascinated by alternative education and non-traditional students. Everyone learns in many different ways, and I think it should be the goal of schools to find as many possibilities for students as they can. I would also like to know more about the priorities of the education policy makers - for instance, is drop-out prevention something they work hard to combat or are other things more important? I think learning more about the contrast between alternative programs in the US and the Netherlands would be an interesting avenue to investigate as well.

Global Competencies - Video Blog

Day 4 - Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Netherlands

Today was our last day in Amsterdam as a program.  Half of the group had a final school visit and the other half (my team) had a free morning in the city.  After breakfast, we all took the ferry back into the city and caught the tram to the Van Gogh museum.  We are all going to be public transportation professionals at the end of this trip.  The museum was beautiful and it was really interesting to see such iconic pictures first hand.  My favorite piece is his 'Sunflowers' installment.  In addition to Van Gogh's work, there were displays of his contemporaries and artist that influenced him over the years.  It is fascinating to know how all of these famous artists used to collaborate and hang out.

After lunch in the city and our museum visit, we headed back to (finally) say goodbye to the Botel.  We took a bus to the city of Rotterdam, checked into our hotel and had a wonderful dinner on the patio.  I am really liking the fact that people in Europe seem to enjoy and value their time a lot more than in the states, particularly at meal time.  Our dinner, which ended up being a huge four course feast, took about 3 and a half hours to complete.  I was especially happy because we happened to eat a a turkish restaurant, my study abroad worlds collided in the best meal of the trip so far.

The Hotel Bazar, where we are staying, is very interesting and eclectic.  They have food and decorations from all over the entire world.  Our room in particular looked like a southwestern pueblo.  Upstairs the girls had racy Spanish comics as wall paper and shrines to the virgin Mary.  Very strange but it was the best sleep we all gotten on the trip, we were just thankful to not be in a hotel that moved.  We have one full day in Rotterdam tomorrow and then on to Paris!

Day 3 - Amsterdam, Netherlands

We woke up early this morning for our second school visit to De Springstok, a local community school in the center of Amsterdam.  This school is in a neighborhood that is currently in transition.  The area had traditionally been home to lower income families but has recently seen a lot of artists, writers, and architects move into the area in attempts to revitalize it.  (It sounds very similar to what is happening in Grand Rapids and parts of Detroit.)  The population of the school was noticeably more diverse than the first school we visited, there are many more immigrant families in this section of the city.  A community school was not like anything I had seen before.  It was a combination between a traditional primary school (grades kindergarten to 8th group) and an active community center.  In addition to the normal school functions throughout the day, they offered daycare services, preschool, after school extracurriculars for students and neighborhood children that do not attend the school, Dutch language classes for parents, and computer classes for unemployed adults in the area.

The idea behind a community school is that it takes an entire village (neighborhood or community) to raise children.  They want their school to not only be a prominent part of their child's education, but also an important and visible part of everyday life in the community.  There were areas where parents could come and spend time and have a coffee in the center of the building so that they were surrounded by what was going on at school that day.  The philosophy at this particular school, which is not true of all community schools, is that students should become educated through "natural learning".  The way this was explained to us was that a student should learn by expanding the things they already know and are interested in, rather than just being told what they don't know yet.  They also made it very clear that although they adopted some of the same practices, Montessori education is a 'system' and Natural Learning is a 'concept'.  The director seemed slightly offended to be compared to the Montessori structure, even though they are very similar from observations.  I'm assuming there are some long standing rifts between these two educational structures.

We had lunch at a cafe that was the absolute epitome of a European bistro.  It was cozy and eclectic and the food was great.  After lunch, we went back to the Botel and had class for a few hours.  A couple of us had different sorts of plans for dinner so we went our separate ways.  I went to the Anne Frank House and Museum with Stef, Mary, and Alesia.  This was the house that the Frank family hid in for two years during the Nazi occupation of the area.  Otto Frank, Anne's Father, was the only survivor of the concentration campus of the eight people that lived int he house.  This was a really amazing thing to see in person.  The museum itself is very modest and understated but did a wonderful job in conveying the uneasiness and fear that the residents must have experienced.  It served as both a monument to all of the victims of the holocaust while still telling the story of only one girl. On our way out we each left a leaf on the digital Anne Frank Tree that serves as an ongoing and living tribute.  At night, we went out for a few drinks in the city to toast our last night in Amsterdam.  On to Rotterdam in the morning!

Day 2 - Amsterdam, Netherlands

This morning some of us got to go on our first school visit to a Montessori elementary school (students aged 4 - 12) in the city center.  At first I was disappointed that I didn't get to explore the city more but I really enjoyed our time there.  The liaison for the school was incredibly excited to have us and had just as many questions for us as we did for her.  I got to sit in on a Kindergarten class and they sang me "If You're Happy and You Know It" in English.  I'm really upset that I haven't been able to pick up any phrases in Dutch because I would have loved to talk to them.  A little boy named Peter told me a whole story and I would have loved to at least know what he was referring to.  We are in an extreme minority around here for only speaking one language.  We talked about the structure and intentions of Montessori schools and then got a tour of their classroom spaces.  It is funny how different the building looks from traditional American schools because there was still a very natural 'school' vibe.  The classrooms were all open to each other with a lot of common learning areas.  Every classroom had a designated reading corner with comfy chairs and pillows that students were allowed to use whenever they wanted.  There were also huge windows and skylights at every turn.  The building was designed intentionally so that you could see between almost all of the classrooms, so that no one class was isolated.  The Montessori philosophy is really fascinating.

After our visit we went out to lunch at a beautiful cafe down the street.  The weather today couldn't have been any more perfect for walking around all day.  We met for our first "class" and to go over our assignments for the week and then Renee took all of us on a canal tour of the city.  Even though we had walked around a lot by this afternoon and are becoming more and more familiar with the area, this was a really interesting way to see it.  There are canals, both natural and man-made, that run throughout the entire city.  There are also over 1,000 bridges.  This city really is unlike anywhere I have been before and I'm really excited to learn even more about it.  

Day 1 - Amsterdam, Netherlands

The plane trip was great and quick.  If I could always travel via direct flights, I would.  It was very surreal to fall asleep watching a movie (Country Strong was the best choice available) and wake up in a new country.  The Netherlands is beautiful so far but kind of overwhelming.  There is so much constantly going on, and there are people everywhere.  The weather was nice, sunny and about 60, but very windy.  We all met at the airport, and then took a train (and then a ferry, and then walked) to out hotel on the outside of the city.  Our host took us on a walking tour of the city and pointed out a few important landmarks so that we can find our way around the city.  He also showed us how to use all of the different types of public transportation so that we can get around easily.  One of my favorite things was the flower market along the water - it was so refreshing to finally see such beautiful colors after a bleak winter.

We got dinner at a great outdoor restaurant and listened to music and people-watched.  After dinner wandered around the city for a few more hours and then all met for a few Amstel's at the bar near our hotel.  Overall it was a great first day.  I was incredibly exhausted from traveling all night and I think I will enjoy having a fresh start to the day in the morning.

Here I Go!

I'm all packed, ready, and waiting at the airport for my flight.  My nerves have finally calmed down and I feel very excited.  For the next three weeks I will be visiting schools in The Netherlands, France, and Germany with a group of MSU students to learn more about the education structure in these countries.  I'm really looking forward to meeting some students and talking to them about their experiences in school.  I spend so much time in schools and thinking about education in the American school context, it will be very eye-opening to experience a model that is so different  More specifically, we will be examining technology integration and use in international classrooms.

 I'm am so excited about being able to travel again.  My first study abroad experience completely changed my life.  I grew as a person, learned how to be more independent, and had the chance to see so many things.  I've now had four years to reflect on that opportunity and grow up.  I can't think of a better way to book-end my college experience.  I studied abroad for the first time the summer after my freshman year.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into and was still unsure about what I wanted to do with my life.  Now that I have decided on a career that I am passionate about and am ready to start teaching, I think it will be a great chance to gather my thoughts and experience something new before starting on the next step of my life.

Practice Video Project