31.5.06
A Note from Kristen
Today was another gloomy day but we went as a group to the Dutch Voluntary Euthanasia Society, which is also called the Right to Die Society. We listened to the executive director talk about the law and policies of the Netherlands regarding euthanasia. He was extremely knowledgeable about the topic and is well-known around the world, so it was quite an experience to learn about and discuss the issue of euthanasia and the unique Dutch law regarding euthanasia with him. I learned a lot about the specific laws on euthanasia in the Netherlands; it was especially interesting to learn how Dutch culture is conducive to the euthanasia policy they have and why it works in the Netherlands but would be difficult to implement in other countries. This issue seems to be another example of how the unique Dutch emphasis on tolerance works to the benefit of citizens and allows them to be involved in important decisions regarding their lives, and in this case, deaths. Overall this afternoon's visit to the Dutch Right to Die Society turned out to be interesting and informative.
A Note from Sarah
Wednesday was another gray day with no sun; it was the perfect day to talk about euthanasia. I drank a lot of the free breakfast coffee knowing that the day would be a bit austere. Nonetheless, the city is beautiful and always a joy to walk around, regardless of the weather.
We arrived at the NVVE building where we were welcomed into a very nice office with butcher-block tables to sit around. We even had the luxury of water in a pitcher; I was truly impressed with the presentation. The people working for NVVE seem very sincere and organized. The speaker was very organized and effectively presented his position to our group. He gave me some much needed perspective on the issue; I had not given it much thought until now. The issue again draws back to pragmatism.
The only factor hindering my visit to NVVE was the warm room, which sent me into a heavy eyed state. According to the rest of the group I was not the only one! This city is very tiring... but you have to just drink another coffee and keep on ;)
We arrived at the NVVE building where we were welcomed into a very nice office with butcher-block tables to sit around. We even had the luxury of water in a pitcher; I was truly impressed with the presentation. The people working for NVVE seem very sincere and organized. The speaker was very organized and effectively presented his position to our group. He gave me some much needed perspective on the issue; I had not given it much thought until now. The issue again draws back to pragmatism.
The only factor hindering my visit to NVVE was the warm room, which sent me into a heavy eyed state. According to the rest of the group I was not the only one! This city is very tiring... but you have to just drink another coffee and keep on ;)
More on Bijlmermeer
I thought I’d take a moment this morning, since I have the time, and post a more lengthy note to our blog. It is, again, a dreary, damp morning. Yesterday, as you’ve seen, we visited the Bijlmer. During our roughly two hour walking tour it rained, got sunny, got windy, rained and was windy, got sunny, rained… you get the idea. I’m guessing it was right around 50 degrees. Yuck! But, Hans, our tour guide, was terrific.
It’s difficult to describe the Bijlmer in brief. Go here for more info! Though all of the renovations and new buildings won’t be complete for several years, it is now very much a revitalized community with residential, recreational, shopping, and business areas. The shopping areas contain many of the “regular” Dutch chains, but also places like the Palais de Fromage, an African fish and chicken shop, the Afro Beauty Centre, and services for those of Surinamese and Ghanaian descent, among others. I first visited the Bijlmer in 2002 and there have clearly been many positive changes since that time.
Originally, two of the goals of the area were to clearly separate residences from shopping, etc, and to have residences that were of mixed social classes. Of the many discoveries about social desires, one was that it really didn’t work to have everything so separated. In the renovation raised roads have been lowered, parking garages torn down, high rises renovated or razed… making the areas more seamlessly integrated.
One of the original goals, though, has been retained; to have housing for residents of a variety of social classes. As we stood at one grassy area, homes on the left – what we might describe as three story townhouses – were available for sale. Hans thought that they were currently selling for about 200,000 euro, or roughly US$250,000. This is cheap for the greater Amsterdam area, but expensive for the Bijlmer. But, on the other side was “social housing,” that is subsidized rental housing. You really couldn’t distinguish one from the other. Both were nice brick buildings in the simple, clean style of the Dutch.
I asked Hans how this seemed to work in the Netherlands, having one person pay so much and another in a similar home receive government subsidy. It seems to me that one of the challenges in the U.S., in the areas that have tried such housing, is that people aren’t too willing to pay for an expensive home only to have someone getting the same thing across the street for far less money and be of a very different (perceived) social class. His response was that it just isn’t an issue. There just isn’t a goal to have more than the next person and want to show it off. He did note that, of course those people exist - and they shop on the street behind our hotel – with its Cartier, Hugo Boss, Hilfiger, etc. – but it’s really not “the Dutch way.”
We also wandered through an open-air market with the biggest yams I’ve ever seen. Apparently they are shipped from Ghana to be sold at the market. The market, though small, had inexpensive clothing – many with “American” logos, fruit and vegetables, fabric, and even a traditional Dutch fish vendor, among other things.
As we walked, we also encountered a memorial. Some of you may remember a plane crash that occurred in the Netherlands in October, 2002. An El Al cargo plane went down, hitting one of the buildings. At least 43 people died, most of them residents of the apartments. We saw “the tree that has seen everything” and the flowers that people continue to leave in honor of those who died. There continues to be speculation as to what the plane really contained and assertions of a big cover-up.
All in all, even with the weather, it was a fascinating morning. I don’t know that the students realize it, but this is a place that has received worldwide attention for what they tried and continues to be the focus of attention for what they are trying to “fix.” At the least, our tour provided a glimpse of Amsterdam beyond the Museumplein and the Leidseplein! Hopefully, it also provoked some thought about our similarities and differences.
It’s difficult to describe the Bijlmer in brief. Go here for more info! Though all of the renovations and new buildings won’t be complete for several years, it is now very much a revitalized community with residential, recreational, shopping, and business areas. The shopping areas contain many of the “regular” Dutch chains, but also places like the Palais de Fromage, an African fish and chicken shop, the Afro Beauty Centre, and services for those of Surinamese and Ghanaian descent, among others. I first visited the Bijlmer in 2002 and there have clearly been many positive changes since that time.
Originally, two of the goals of the area were to clearly separate residences from shopping, etc, and to have residences that were of mixed social classes. Of the many discoveries about social desires, one was that it really didn’t work to have everything so separated. In the renovation raised roads have been lowered, parking garages torn down, high rises renovated or razed… making the areas more seamlessly integrated.
One of the original goals, though, has been retained; to have housing for residents of a variety of social classes. As we stood at one grassy area, homes on the left – what we might describe as three story townhouses – were available for sale. Hans thought that they were currently selling for about 200,000 euro, or roughly US$250,000. This is cheap for the greater Amsterdam area, but expensive for the Bijlmer. But, on the other side was “social housing,” that is subsidized rental housing. You really couldn’t distinguish one from the other. Both were nice brick buildings in the simple, clean style of the Dutch.
I asked Hans how this seemed to work in the Netherlands, having one person pay so much and another in a similar home receive government subsidy. It seems to me that one of the challenges in the U.S., in the areas that have tried such housing, is that people aren’t too willing to pay for an expensive home only to have someone getting the same thing across the street for far less money and be of a very different (perceived) social class. His response was that it just isn’t an issue. There just isn’t a goal to have more than the next person and want to show it off. He did note that, of course those people exist - and they shop on the street behind our hotel – with its Cartier, Hugo Boss, Hilfiger, etc. – but it’s really not “the Dutch way.”
We also wandered through an open-air market with the biggest yams I’ve ever seen. Apparently they are shipped from Ghana to be sold at the market. The market, though small, had inexpensive clothing – many with “American” logos, fruit and vegetables, fabric, and even a traditional Dutch fish vendor, among other things.
As we walked, we also encountered a memorial. Some of you may remember a plane crash that occurred in the Netherlands in October, 2002. An El Al cargo plane went down, hitting one of the buildings. At least 43 people died, most of them residents of the apartments. We saw “the tree that has seen everything” and the flowers that people continue to leave in honor of those who died. There continues to be speculation as to what the plane really contained and assertions of a big cover-up.
All in all, even with the weather, it was a fascinating morning. I don’t know that the students realize it, but this is a place that has received worldwide attention for what they tried and continues to be the focus of attention for what they are trying to “fix.” At the least, our tour provided a glimpse of Amsterdam beyond the Museumplein and the Leidseplein! Hopefully, it also provoked some thought about our similarities and differences.
30.5.06
Bijlmermeer
This is a mural on the end of the one of the Bijlmermeer high rises. Click on the photo twice and you should be able to read some of what is written there.
A Note from Brendan
Today we arose somewhere between 8am and 9am to go to a part of Amsterdam known as Bijlmermeer. To those in and around Amsterdam the Bijlmermeer is known as Amsterdam’s version of our "projects," the areas that are commonly filled with the city’s more impoverished minorities. Myself, along with a couple of my classmates, were planning to see structures similar to the Riverside Plaza high rises in South Minneapolis. Upon arrival we all discovered truly how different the Amsterdam version of "projects" are from our version (located in major cities across the U.S.)
Part of going to the area called Bijlmermeer was the transit experience. We used the Amsterdam subway system; the experience was similar to using the regular tram or bus... bumpy, crowded, but overall effective.
Later I chose to go to the Rijksmuseum. Originally I went with a couple of my classmates, but we soon after lost each other in the spacious caverns of the museum itself. I had a different idea of the Rijksmuseum in my imagination, probably due to the overall enormous appearance of the museum from the outside. But overall I enjoyed the vastness of the historical artifacts from different periods of time throughout the development and maturing of Amsterdam.
Part of going to the area called Bijlmermeer was the transit experience. We used the Amsterdam subway system; the experience was similar to using the regular tram or bus... bumpy, crowded, but overall effective.
Later I chose to go to the Rijksmuseum. Originally I went with a couple of my classmates, but we soon after lost each other in the spacious caverns of the museum itself. I had a different idea of the Rijksmuseum in my imagination, probably due to the overall enormous appearance of the museum from the outside. But overall I enjoyed the vastness of the historical artifacts from different periods of time throughout the development and maturing of Amsterdam.
A Note from Drake
Today, after a weekend of sleeping in, we had to be ready to leave at 9:00. Luckily we were able to take a tram and a subway to our destination today. We took the subway to the Bijlmer Station. By the way, this was my first time on a subway. I was waiting for Spiderman to fight Doctor Octopus or something else that was really exciting to happen. I was really let down. We had a tour of the Bijlmermeer, a huge housing development area. They try to integrate people of all races and social classes and they seem to be doing a pretty good job of it. After a video and a two hour walking tour we all went back to our hotel and got lunch. Later, I found a laundromat to wash all my dirty undies. So, now I have all clean undies and it feels great. Tomorrow’s program is in the afternoon so I think most of us are going to go out as a group tonight.
A Note from Morgan
On Monday I took the tram to the Red Light District to visit the Sakura Tattoo Parlor. I had been there the day before with a few people, and the woman working assured me that I would have no problems at all returning alone. I spent a good three hours visiting with the people working in the shop - Mara, who is originally from Canada and Andy, who was born in the UK but now lives in India while spending summers in Amsterdam. It was interesting to talk to people who are native to other countries but have chosen to live for extended periods in the Netherlands. As it turned out, Andy likes it for the climate while Mara married a Dutch man. Though she later got divorced she continues to live here because she loves the culture. While at the shop I also talked (sort of) with a friend of Andy's. I say sort of only for the reason that he was toothless and spoke with a thick accent... so I often guessed at what he was saying. Andy convinced me to attend the Amsterdam Tattoo Convention this coming weekend, where the owner of the Sakura will be tattooing, so I'm excited about that. I've never been to a convention in the states, so this will be a completely new experience for me.
29.5.06
A city is a city is a city...
A literal translation goes something like "nothing there in . . . nothing there out." You get the idea!
Soccer at the Concertgebouw
On Sunday morning these fellows were playing a bit of soccer on the field in between the Rijksmuseum and the Concertgebouw. The latter is the building you see behind them.
Rembrandt - 400? Moi?
This "banner" is displayed on the Rijksmuseum which is celebrating the artist's 400th birthday. There are many special events being held in recognition of "his 400th."
Hamline in Amsterdam
Here's a snapshot from last Thursday morning, as we ventured out from our hotel. Note the jackets and sweatshirts! Click on the photo to enlarge it.
A Note from Mary
This morning seemed slightly more cheerful than the other mornings... the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, it seemed as if nothing could go wrong. About half the group made it to breakfast today and made plans to go out into the city to finish research for the upcoming issue paper. We headed to the local public library only to find out it was closed until 1 pm, which meant we had 3 hours to kill. So we decided to go the distance to the Easy Everything Internet Cafe near Centraal Station. Once we got there we met up with some fellow classmates. Work was going smoothly for about half and hour until all power was suddenly lost in the building. No one showed up to explain, so we had no choice but to leave and find something else to do. We decided we were hungry and wanted spaghetti from the Hot & Cold shop. We found the nearest one only to realize they did not serve spaghetti. So we trekked on to the next Hot & Cold, only to be foiled again -- they don't serve spaghetti until after 5, and it was 2. So we settled for sandwiches. As a last ditch effort we went back to the library, it was after 1 after all, and were pleasantly surprised to find out they provided computers for free for up to half an hour. But... they weren't working today. Defeated, we headed back to the hotel to work the old fashioned way... writing by hand.
A Note from Alyssa
In the first few days, Amsterdam was rather intimidating. There are people walking, people on bikes, the trams and of course, the cars. I have found it imperative to pay very close attention to what is going on at all times. Today was the first day in which there was no rain, so I took advantage of this to walk around a bit and familiarize myself with parts of the city I have not yet seen. We traveled to the red light district to inquire about a tattoo. I was able to take the tram with out being intimated, which was a great feeling. Walking through the red light district I was not as frightened as I had been on the first day. I feel as though I am beginning to understand this city it is no longer so foreign to me. I can actually look at a map and understand where I am and where places on the map are. One thing I did find very frustrating today was the fact that many things were closed. It did make adventuring out a bit dull. I have learned so far that I must stop, or at least slow down, to appreciate everything here. Everything here does occur at a much slower rate than at home giving ample time to stop and reflect.
28.5.06
Question of the Day
Moms, dads, friends, significant others, classmates...
As I was using the PC in the lobby to update our blog, one of the members of the class walked in sporting his/her brand new tattoo. Any guesses as to who it might be?
As I was using the PC in the lobby to update our blog, one of the members of the class walked in sporting his/her brand new tattoo. Any guesses as to who it might be?
Word of the Day - Gedogen
From: http://www.geocities.com/stevenedw/gedogen.html
The Dutch verb gedogen is not really translatable, to English nor to any other language. The term is Dutch; the idea behind it is Dutch; and it only works in Holland. Gedogen, a verb, translates most closely to "tolerate." Tolerance is passive, though. Gedogen is active. Gedogen is an open-eyed tolerance, and a matter of governmental policy. If there is a social matter that will not allow a concrete solution, the Dutch will "gedogen" it. They will allow the exception to the rule — not by turning a blind eye to the violation of law, but by allowing the violation of law.
The examples of official tolerance that foreigners typically recognize concern prostitution and "soft drugs." The Dutch know that these are never going to go away. Everybody knows that. The Dutch acknowledge it officially. Eradication of the problem is not practical — and so, for the Dutch, it is not the goal. Indeed, the concept of "problem" is a matter subject to interpretation. Predisposed morality colors the debate about the "problem" of sex and drugs. Predisposed morality is a factor — there are many others. The act of "gedogen" acknowledges this.
[The author's] Dutch friend Kim gave me the best definition of "gedogen" that [he's] heard: "not legal, but not illegal."
The Dutch verb gedogen is not really translatable, to English nor to any other language. The term is Dutch; the idea behind it is Dutch; and it only works in Holland. Gedogen, a verb, translates most closely to "tolerate." Tolerance is passive, though. Gedogen is active. Gedogen is an open-eyed tolerance, and a matter of governmental policy. If there is a social matter that will not allow a concrete solution, the Dutch will "gedogen" it. They will allow the exception to the rule — not by turning a blind eye to the violation of law, but by allowing the violation of law.
The examples of official tolerance that foreigners typically recognize concern prostitution and "soft drugs." The Dutch know that these are never going to go away. Everybody knows that. The Dutch acknowledge it officially. Eradication of the problem is not practical — and so, for the Dutch, it is not the goal. Indeed, the concept of "problem" is a matter subject to interpretation. Predisposed morality colors the debate about the "problem" of sex and drugs. Predisposed morality is a factor — there are many others. The act of "gedogen" acknowledges this.
[The author's] Dutch friend Kim gave me the best definition of "gedogen" that [he's] heard: "not legal, but not illegal."
A Note from Kasey
Today has been quite a relaxing and low key day here in Amsterdam. Most of us decided to sleep in and when we went for breakfast we found out that apparently much of Amsterdam shuts down on Sundays. Many of the shops and restaurants that are not located in the central tourist area stay closed on Sundays. As we walked around today, it seemed that there were mostly just tourists out and about. This is probably because only the touristy (is that a word??) shops are the ones that stay open on Sundays. We also walked to the famous Hemp Hotel today, only to find one bartender/receptionist.. and not much else! I had expected to find at least some literature on hemp and what it can be used for. I was a little disappointed that we didn't see anything there, but I figured that maybe that area of the hotel was probably closed today.. like everything else! All in all, a quiet day!
A Note from Azure
The range of emotions that one can experience in a matter of hours in Amsterdam is astonishing. Just yesterday we were reminded of the horrors that occurred here during WWII, an event that made me question the condition of humans, the value of our lives. The Anne Frank house had a great impact; so often we forget that the people harmed in wars were real people with thoughts, dreams and emotions. It was completely sobering to have to acknowledge that a young girl documented with such detail and never lived to see the amazing impact her diary had on humanity. It was truly a sorrow I have never felt before, to feel the reality of the whole situation. It leaves one with a lot to contemplate.
On the other side of Amsterdam we have the thing that keeps us going; laughter. Our collaborative group effort of sleeping in and still feeling the need to accomplish something led our group to the "Heineken Experience." On our first day without a scheduled academic priority, we managed to make a great choice in activities. Yes, we became full-blown tourists and toured a brewery. It was a blast. Photo opps galore accompanied by free Heineken. After such a sobering day yesterday, being carefree and young suddenly became desirable. I can understand now how in a place with such an interesting history the people can be so multi-faceted with their lifestyle. There exists in Amsterdam a situation for any emotion to emerge, so one must adjust and let the time and place make a memorable impression.
On the other side of Amsterdam we have the thing that keeps us going; laughter. Our collaborative group effort of sleeping in and still feeling the need to accomplish something led our group to the "Heineken Experience." On our first day without a scheduled academic priority, we managed to make a great choice in activities. Yes, we became full-blown tourists and toured a brewery. It was a blast. Photo opps galore accompanied by free Heineken. After such a sobering day yesterday, being carefree and young suddenly became desirable. I can understand now how in a place with such an interesting history the people can be so multi-faceted with their lifestyle. There exists in Amsterdam a situation for any emotion to emerge, so one must adjust and let the time and place make a memorable impression.
27.5.06
A Note from Melissa
Judging by Tim's post it must have rained all day in Amsterdam. Glad we weren't here! My family and I got up early and took a tram to Centraal Station, the train to Den Helder, and a ferry to Texel. Once on the island of Texel we rented bikes and rode to Den Burg. Although I can't say that it was a beautiful day, weather wise, it didn't rain! There were a few sprinkles on our way back to the ferry around 5 pm, but other that that we really got lucky. It was overcast and windy, but comparatively dry!
On the train we passed thousands, seriously thousands, of sheep and lots of cows and horses. On Texel we saw more sheep and those terrific thatched roofs. We had lunch in Den Burg, strolled around a bit, and then rode to Ecomare where they have a seal sanctuary. We headed back to the ferry, made it with about 30 seconds to spare, and headed back to Amsterdam. Upon our arrival at Centraal Station it was, indeed, raining. Ugh!
One interesting note. When we went to the bike rental shop just next to the ferry we had to figure out what to do with the stroller since we couldn't take it with us and the rental shop might be closed before our return. Their answer was just to leave it next to the bike rack, which we did. The bikes also have locks, but they are the kind that prevent the bike from being ridden away, but not carried away. I knew that neither of these things were unreasonable, but I have to say I was very relieved when we returned and the stroller was still there!
Finally, a few students had planned to come with us, but I think we were just leaving too early. I highly recommend a trip to Texel to anyone visiting this part of the Netherlands. Perhaps some of the students will venture North later in our trip. It's worth the effort! Thanks for the tip, Barb and Emily!
On the train we passed thousands, seriously thousands, of sheep and lots of cows and horses. On Texel we saw more sheep and those terrific thatched roofs. We had lunch in Den Burg, strolled around a bit, and then rode to Ecomare where they have a seal sanctuary. We headed back to the ferry, made it with about 30 seconds to spare, and headed back to Amsterdam. Upon our arrival at Centraal Station it was, indeed, raining. Ugh!
One interesting note. When we went to the bike rental shop just next to the ferry we had to figure out what to do with the stroller since we couldn't take it with us and the rental shop might be closed before our return. Their answer was just to leave it next to the bike rack, which we did. The bikes also have locks, but they are the kind that prevent the bike from being ridden away, but not carried away. I knew that neither of these things were unreasonable, but I have to say I was very relieved when we returned and the stroller was still there!
Finally, a few students had planned to come with us, but I think we were just leaving too early. I highly recommend a trip to Texel to anyone visiting this part of the Netherlands. Perhaps some of the students will venture North later in our trip. It's worth the effort! Thanks for the tip, Barb and Emily!
A Note from Tim
Today it rained cats and dogs... and beer. The majority of our class attended the Heineken Experience to learn about Amsterdam's most famous beer. From the long line outside the brewery it was apparent that it was a very touristy activity. Although it felt cliche, I had such a fun time that I look forward to doing other typical tourist things! Unlike most places directed towards tourists, the Experience was pretty economical. It was just 10 euros (about $12) for a tour, a mediocre ride, three beers, and a souvenir bottle opener.
The Heineken Experience was also quite a bonding time for us as a group. We learned about the history of Heineken, we danced, we drank, and we played foosball. Don't worry mom and dad, it was educational also. I found it very interesting to learn about how beer is brewed, especially Heineken. Did you know that it's made with type A yeast? Anyway, to say the least, today was different than our previous days of city tours and museums.
The Heineken Experience was also quite a bonding time for us as a group. We learned about the history of Heineken, we danced, we drank, and we played foosball. Don't worry mom and dad, it was educational also. I found it very interesting to learn about how beer is brewed, especially Heineken. Did you know that it's made with type A yeast? Anyway, to say the least, today was different than our previous days of city tours and museums.
A Note from Kristen
The main activity for today, Friday, was visiting the Anne Frank House. We were planning on doing other activities as well but the weather put a dent in our plans. We met as a group and in the afternoon walked to the Anne Frank House. The experience of seeing the Anne Frank House proved to be worth the long wait to get into the museum. Visiting the museum was a good way to learn about Anne Frank and more generally about the lives of those who were victims of the Jewish persecution that occurred during WWII. The way the museum was set up made the experience seem more real.
The building has two main parts, the front part where Anne's father ran his business and the annex, where eight people were in hiding. The museum went through all the rooms of the building, which made it seem realistic. Throughout the rooms there were also excerpts from Anne Frank's diary, which has since been published as a highly influential book with a view into her experiences and feelings while in hiding. It was interesting to read the excerpts wihle walking through the museum, and it had a positive affect on my experience at the Anne Frank House.
After the Anne Frank House a number of us walked to the Pancake Bakery for a delicious dinner.
The building has two main parts, the front part where Anne's father ran his business and the annex, where eight people were in hiding. The museum went through all the rooms of the building, which made it seem realistic. Throughout the rooms there were also excerpts from Anne Frank's diary, which has since been published as a highly influential book with a view into her experiences and feelings while in hiding. It was interesting to read the excerpts wihle walking through the museum, and it had a positive affect on my experience at the Anne Frank House.
After the Anne Frank House a number of us walked to the Pancake Bakery for a delicious dinner.
A Note from Hallie
Today, Friday, the class ventured together to the Anne Frank House. Well, it was supposed to be together, but that can be a difficult task for a group of twelve students in a foreign country. Aside from a few people temporarily straying from the pack, we all made it there.
The Anne Frank House is such a popular exhibit that we had to wait outside in the on-again off-again rain for forty-five minutes on a Friday! But, I think everyone in the group would say the experience was well worth the wait. The house was comprised of two different sections, one part of the house is commonly called "The Annex" which is where eight people lived in hiding during the persecution of the Jews during WWII. The entrance to this part of the house hidden behind a removable bookcase.
The bookcase was still there today for us to go through on the tour of the house. The Annex consisted of two bedrooms, one bathroom, and one room that served as the living room, kictchen, and bedroom. Also, there was a very narrow staircase leading to an attic which is where Anne Frank would spend time when she wanted to be by herself, because she rarely had any time alone.
Overall, the visit was very interesting. I feel like it has given me a better understanding of Jewish and Dutch culture in the context of WWII. Actually being able to stand in the place these people hid gave me an insight to the situation I never could have obtanied from a classroom.
The Anne Frank House is such a popular exhibit that we had to wait outside in the on-again off-again rain for forty-five minutes on a Friday! But, I think everyone in the group would say the experience was well worth the wait. The house was comprised of two different sections, one part of the house is commonly called "The Annex" which is where eight people lived in hiding during the persecution of the Jews during WWII. The entrance to this part of the house hidden behind a removable bookcase.
The bookcase was still there today for us to go through on the tour of the house. The Annex consisted of two bedrooms, one bathroom, and one room that served as the living room, kictchen, and bedroom. Also, there was a very narrow staircase leading to an attic which is where Anne Frank would spend time when she wanted to be by herself, because she rarely had any time alone.
Overall, the visit was very interesting. I feel like it has given me a better understanding of Jewish and Dutch culture in the context of WWII. Actually being able to stand in the place these people hid gave me an insight to the situation I never could have obtanied from a classroom.
25.5.06
More from Melissa
I thought I'd post a quick note to those who, having noticed the title of the course, might be wondering, "Where's the law? Where's the social policy?" I've taken the approach of having us spend all of our time, save two days when we travel to Den Haag and Utrecht, in the city of Amsterdam. I prefer to avoid the If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium approach. And if you recognize that movie, well, let's just say you're probably not a university undergraduate!
I've opted for a different approach to cultural study/immersion. It's my goal that the students really get familiar with the city; that they will be able to find their way around on foot and, perhaps, become comfortable with the city transit system; that they may strike up conversations with a clerk they see more than once; that they may opt for the grocery store and notice some of the similarities and differences in foods, prices, packaging, etc.
Additionally, I think it imperative that we not ignore social history. When learning about the resistance movement, the students heard, again, about Dutch pillarization and its impact on society at various points in time. When visiting a cultural treasure like the Rijksmuseum, and seeing the funds being spent to maintain and improve it, I also think that we can learn
something about a people.
Of course, there are just some things that one must do when visiting Amsterdam, e.g., a canal tour. Even something as "touristy" as a canal tour offers important information, in my view, about things like, e.g., the social hierarchy. The types of homes and architecture from the different periods and where they are located on the old canal rings tell their own story.
Finally, I like to think I'm no fool and if we were to arrive- jet lagged and, perhaps, experiencing some culture shock - and jump right into the heart of it (i.e., sessions on housing, euthanasia,
prostitution, etc.), I don't know that anyone would remember much of it a week later. This way folks get their bearings, etc. and are, I think, in a better position to appreciate those talks next week.
This is all a way of explaining to those readers who might have wondered, "When are they going to get to the law and the policy stuff?" just what we're doing. In fact, next week we will visit the
Bijlmermeer housing area; meet with the executive director of the organization, Right to Die - Netherlands; hear from someone at the Prostitution Information Centre; and visit several open markets and talk about immigration issues.
BTW, the weather is still horrible. Rain, rain, rain. The only day in the 10 day forecast where rain isn't called for is next Wednesday. We'll see. Meanwhile, we'll keep slogging around!
Stay tuned if you can. Although I still don't have the technical kinks ironed out, I'll post what I can when I can. Thanks for visiting!
I've opted for a different approach to cultural study/immersion. It's my goal that the students really get familiar with the city; that they will be able to find their way around on foot and, perhaps, become comfortable with the city transit system; that they may strike up conversations with a clerk they see more than once; that they may opt for the grocery store and notice some of the similarities and differences in foods, prices, packaging, etc.
Additionally, I think it imperative that we not ignore social history. When learning about the resistance movement, the students heard, again, about Dutch pillarization and its impact on society at various points in time. When visiting a cultural treasure like the Rijksmuseum, and seeing the funds being spent to maintain and improve it, I also think that we can learn
something about a people.
Of course, there are just some things that one must do when visiting Amsterdam, e.g., a canal tour. Even something as "touristy" as a canal tour offers important information, in my view, about things like, e.g., the social hierarchy. The types of homes and architecture from the different periods and where they are located on the old canal rings tell their own story.
Finally, I like to think I'm no fool and if we were to arrive- jet lagged and, perhaps, experiencing some culture shock - and jump right into the heart of it (i.e., sessions on housing, euthanasia,
prostitution, etc.), I don't know that anyone would remember much of it a week later. This way folks get their bearings, etc. and are, I think, in a better position to appreciate those talks next week.
This is all a way of explaining to those readers who might have wondered, "When are they going to get to the law and the policy stuff?" just what we're doing. In fact, next week we will visit the
Bijlmermeer housing area; meet with the executive director of the organization, Right to Die - Netherlands; hear from someone at the Prostitution Information Centre; and visit several open markets and talk about immigration issues.
BTW, the weather is still horrible. Rain, rain, rain. The only day in the 10 day forecast where rain isn't called for is next Wednesday. We'll see. Meanwhile, we'll keep slogging around!
Stay tuned if you can. Although I still don't have the technical kinks ironed out, I'll post what I can when I can. Thanks for visiting!
A Note from Nick
Well, on our third day in Amsterdam we headed off as a group to take a boat tour of the canals and part of the harbor of Amsterdam. We saw a great deal of the city from the boat, most notably for me The House of Cats, a shelter for the stray animals that wander the city. I was also struck by the abundance of houses on the water. We found out that the water is flushed out of the canals five times a week as to bring in clean water, but it still looks pretty dirty. The only comparison I can think of offhand with the states is road construction, which may not be quite the same, but it made me realize there is a lot of heavy maintenance in maintaining the city and sanitation.
After getting off the boat a few of us wandered back to the hotel and visited the Van Gogh museum. Not knowing much about art, as in words I would use to describe what I saw without seeming pretentious and flaky, I must say I breezed through most of the exhibits, deciding that my personal favorite was 'Two Women Embracing'--perhaps because I prefer surrealist work like Dali.
I don't know what it is about museums full of paintings, but it seems I always end up having strange visions in my head of Angie Dickinson in "Dressed To Kill" or Jeanne Moreau from "Jules & Jim" making me think that something exciting or murderous could happen at any cinematic second that I stare at the still life of eggs, but instead I run into someone I graduated high school with.
Back to reality, we head to the Rijksmuseum and see all kinds of neat stuff and paintings that I don't remember, though there almost seemed to be an air of apology that "Girl With a Pearl Earring" was not part of their collection. Writing so soon after the expedition is overwhelming, and as to not dismiss the life work of any great artist, I stand down and realize that in the end I do not have the tools to critique or correctly analyze what I looked at.
The day is far from over, and as to what concludes my third day, I am not sure, and most likely, would not be able to post. Whatever it is, Amsterdam would be my residence of choice for the next decade. Coming back to the states will be difficult after being in such a progressive country.
After getting off the boat a few of us wandered back to the hotel and visited the Van Gogh museum. Not knowing much about art, as in words I would use to describe what I saw without seeming pretentious and flaky, I must say I breezed through most of the exhibits, deciding that my personal favorite was 'Two Women Embracing'--perhaps because I prefer surrealist work like Dali.
I don't know what it is about museums full of paintings, but it seems I always end up having strange visions in my head of Angie Dickinson in "Dressed To Kill" or Jeanne Moreau from "Jules & Jim" making me think that something exciting or murderous could happen at any cinematic second that I stare at the still life of eggs, but instead I run into someone I graduated high school with.
Back to reality, we head to the Rijksmuseum and see all kinds of neat stuff and paintings that I don't remember, though there almost seemed to be an air of apology that "Girl With a Pearl Earring" was not part of their collection. Writing so soon after the expedition is overwhelming, and as to not dismiss the life work of any great artist, I stand down and realize that in the end I do not have the tools to critique or correctly analyze what I looked at.
The day is far from over, and as to what concludes my third day, I am not sure, and most likely, would not be able to post. Whatever it is, Amsterdam would be my residence of choice for the next decade. Coming back to the states will be difficult after being in such a progressive country.
A Note from Sarah
Yesterday we visited the Dutch Resistance Museum. The Dutch resistance appears to be a source of pride in the culture here. We learned how the Dutch stood against the Nazis and how they have resisted other forms of oppression. I believe that the history of the Dutch gives them great pride in their culture. I notice this in my relations with the people. It seems to me that they are uninterested in conforming to the way Americans deal with people; they have to be this way in order to preserve their culture.
During the tour of the museum, we went outside to see all of the history in the neighborhood. The history is scattered in the form of plaques, certain buildings, and sculptures. I was interested in how they incorporated their history into the structures of their city. I am now keeping my eyes open for more of these as I tour the rest of the city!
During the tour of the museum, we went outside to see all of the history in the neighborhood. The history is scattered in the form of plaques, certain buildings, and sculptures. I was interested in how they incorporated their history into the structures of their city. I am now keeping my eyes open for more of these as I tour the rest of the city!
A Note from Melissa
We are having some technical difficulties - Mac, browser, compatibility, server... who knows! I will post and fix the formatting and links as able. Thanks for your patience!
This is actually from Wednesday night, 24.5.06:
As Drake said, this morning we took a bus tour of Amsterdam proper as well as a small area south of the city. Our first stop was at a windmill, the old fashioned kind, with a statue of Rembrandt and some grazing sheep nearby. We did, indeed, stop at a cheese farm where the owner of the family business also makes clogs. The morning was drizzly and cool, but fortunately during these stops it had, temporarily, cleared.
After a break for lunch we regrouped and walked about three miles to the Dutch Resistance Museum. I warned the students that we would walk a lot! I'm not sure if they believed me - they do now.The museum is located in the Plantage area of the city, an area that had a greater number of Jewish residents than others parts of the city. I won't try to recount everything we heard and saw, but it's worth noting that our guide's grandfather was a Jew married to a Catholic woman and, for that reason, was spared deportation. As our guide pointed out, he should have been forced to succumb to sterilization, but on two attempts he managed to avoid the procedure. And, thus, our guide's father was born in January 1945. There are many amazing stories from that era, but the one that "gets"me the most is this one.
The building where many Jews were held prior to deportation, the Hollandse Schouwburg, is across the street from a space that, at that time, became used as an annex for the children who were awaiting deportation. Running on that street, Plantage Middenlaan, was and is a tram. The story goes that the guards in front of the Hollandse Schouwburg couldn't see the children's building when the tram stopped. At various times children would be smuggled out and into the stopped trams to be whisked off to safe houses. This story can be found in detail that does it justice here.
If you find yourself in Amsterdam you are likely to hear about, and perhaps visit, the Anne Frank House. I strongly recommend a visit to both the Dutch Resistance Museum and Hollandse Schouwburg as well.
This evening we had our class "welcome dinner" at Haesje Claes on Spuistraat. The menu was salad, salmon with bernaise sauce, little roasted potatoes, beans, and apple pie. I also found it interesting that, in addition to the planned menu, they brought bowls of french fries to the table. All in all, I thought it was a delightful meal. French fries w/ mayo - how could it not be? When we left the skies were clear and we had a nice stroll back to the hotel. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a drier tomorrow!
This is actually from Wednesday night, 24.5.06:
As Drake said, this morning we took a bus tour of Amsterdam proper as well as a small area south of the city. Our first stop was at a windmill, the old fashioned kind, with a statue of Rembrandt and some grazing sheep nearby. We did, indeed, stop at a cheese farm where the owner of the family business also makes clogs. The morning was drizzly and cool, but fortunately during these stops it had, temporarily, cleared.
After a break for lunch we regrouped and walked about three miles to the Dutch Resistance Museum. I warned the students that we would walk a lot! I'm not sure if they believed me - they do now.The museum is located in the Plantage area of the city, an area that had a greater number of Jewish residents than others parts of the city. I won't try to recount everything we heard and saw, but it's worth noting that our guide's grandfather was a Jew married to a Catholic woman and, for that reason, was spared deportation. As our guide pointed out, he should have been forced to succumb to sterilization, but on two attempts he managed to avoid the procedure. And, thus, our guide's father was born in January 1945. There are many amazing stories from that era, but the one that "gets"me the most is this one.
The building where many Jews were held prior to deportation, the Hollandse Schouwburg, is across the street from a space that, at that time, became used as an annex for the children who were awaiting deportation. Running on that street, Plantage Middenlaan, was and is a tram. The story goes that the guards in front of the Hollandse Schouwburg couldn't see the children's building when the tram stopped. At various times children would be smuggled out and into the stopped trams to be whisked off to safe houses. This story can be found in detail that does it justice here.
If you find yourself in Amsterdam you are likely to hear about, and perhaps visit, the Anne Frank House. I strongly recommend a visit to both the Dutch Resistance Museum and Hollandse Schouwburg as well.
This evening we had our class "welcome dinner" at Haesje Claes on Spuistraat. The menu was salad, salmon with bernaise sauce, little roasted potatoes, beans, and apple pie. I also found it interesting that, in addition to the planned menu, they brought bowls of french fries to the table. All in all, I thought it was a delightful meal. French fries w/ mayo - how could it not be? When we left the skies were clear and we had a nice stroll back to the hotel. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a drier tomorrow!
24.5.06
A Note from Drake
Today we woke up bright and early and took a bus tour of Amsterdam. We stopped at a small cheese farm. There was a guy who made cheese... and clogs. He showed us how he does both of these things. Then we went to the Dutch Resistance Museum. It was very interesting, but really depressing. Our tour guide was very knowledgable as well as very passionate about the topic so our tour was very informative. After that Melissa, Kristen, and myself walked instead of taking a tram for 20 minutes through pouring rain back to our hotel. It is supposed to rain for the next four days. Ugh.
23.5.06
Hello from Amsterdam
We left Minneapolis a little around 10:30 am Monday morning. After a six hour layover at Chicago O'Hare we were on our way to Amsterdam. We arrived at about 9:15 this morning, Tuesday. The good news is that, unlike our 2003 trip, everyone's luggage arrived as well! We were met by the travel rep, Rita, and took a bus to our hotel, the Hotel Acro, in the heart of the Museum district. We are about a block from the Rijksmuseum.
Because it was so early our rooms were not yet ready. We were able to get one room and stashed all the luggage there. Around 11 am we left for our walking tour, the aim of which was to start getting everyone acclimated to the city and to keep everyone from going to sleep, thus setting themselves up for a week of late nights and sleepy days.
For those of you who know the city, we walked up through the Leidseplein, down Kalverstraat, up to Centraal Station, to Dam Square via the Red Light District, down Rokin and across Kalverstraat to the Spui area, and back over to the Bloemenmarkt. From there we split up so that the students could start to explore on their own.
The very good news is that the hotel has one PC in the lobby with Internet access and I'm able to access the Internet wirelessly from my room. Hopefully, once we all feel more "settled in" I'll be able to start posting notes from the students.
In the morning we will be taking a bus tour of the city including a stop at the clog and cheese factory. After that we will visit the Dutch Resistance Museum, followed by our welcome dinner at Haesje Claes.
This week is largely a week of learning the city via some "touristy" activities as well as learning a bit about World War II era , e.g., the resistance and the Holocaust. Please stay tuned!
Because it was so early our rooms were not yet ready. We were able to get one room and stashed all the luggage there. Around 11 am we left for our walking tour, the aim of which was to start getting everyone acclimated to the city and to keep everyone from going to sleep, thus setting themselves up for a week of late nights and sleepy days.
For those of you who know the city, we walked up through the Leidseplein, down Kalverstraat, up to Centraal Station, to Dam Square via the Red Light District, down Rokin and across Kalverstraat to the Spui area, and back over to the Bloemenmarkt. From there we split up so that the students could start to explore on their own.
The very good news is that the hotel has one PC in the lobby with Internet access and I'm able to access the Internet wirelessly from my room. Hopefully, once we all feel more "settled in" I'll be able to start posting notes from the students.
In the morning we will be taking a bus tour of the city including a stop at the clog and cheese factory. After that we will visit the Dutch Resistance Museum, followed by our welcome dinner at Haesje Claes.
This week is largely a week of learning the city via some "touristy" activities as well as learning a bit about World War II era , e.g., the resistance and the Holocaust. Please stay tuned!
19.5.06
72 Hours
Yes, in 72 hours we will be at O'Hare - on a really long layover - waiting for our flight to Amsterdam. Just thought I'd post something in case anyone who knows we're doing this takes a look. I just finished trying to make sure that I have all the reading materials, documentation, etc., that I'll need both for the course/trip and for the work I have to do while there. Tomorrow is Commencement here at Hamline; Sunday will be pretty much nothing except laundry and packing. We leave the house at 7:30 Monday morning. Let's hope for an uneventful trip over the big pond and I'll post a report from Amsterdam as soon as I am able.
We're staying at the Hotel Acro, not far from the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark. Check it out!
We're staying at the Hotel Acro, not far from the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark. Check it out!
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