Friday, April 13. 2007
3:29:13 PM

Friday was our business day. Although I missed staff circle, I still made it I time for the morning meeting. In the morning we had a panel of several guest speakers who each gave us their perspective on cultural diversity with regards to their fields of work. We had excellent round table discussions afterward following lunch. The afternoon was short for most people, but I volunteered to take the group of students to Bilthoven to the Blind institute to perform a BTS “Back Tracked Show: for the people there. I headed back by train and went directly home, the first time I’d been home in time for supper all week. We had Pasta bowties with ground beef and peppers and cheese with chocolate and coffee for dessert. It was good.


Celebrating the Naming of a new baby girl in the royal family with "Biscuits mit Mouches"
(Biscuits with Mice) which are candied seeds

The Panel
The BTS people

Utrecht Central
My Train
Everything is in Bloom!
Supper Time!
Hot Air Balloons out my Window

Thursday, April 12. 2007
1:48:36 PM

Thursday was another CI day. I once again missed my bus in and was late for the morning meetings, I look forward to hopefully not having to get up at 6am just to get there in time next week. I can’t say that I haven’t been feeling stressed but thats all I’m going to say about that. In the morning, I took another group of students to the old folks home in Zeist and got them setup for their CI there. I headed back to the office at the Hogeschool to perhaps do something helpful. While that didn’t happen, we did have sandwiches for lunch in one of the workshop rooms. In the afternoon, I went and sat in on the CI wrap up. It for the most part was enjoyed and most people had good feedback to give to us. I was planning to go straight home, but I ran into some staff and students at the trainstation who invited me to join them for supper. We ended up going to an Italian restaurant down by the canal named La Fontana. I had some spaghetti and it was pretty good. Peppe from Mexico and I got lost, my bad, getting back to the train station to get home. I didn’t eventually make it there until about 10 or so. It was a busy day for sure.

CI things to Start, Stop, or Continue
Peppe & I
Supper

Sending Postcards

Wednesday, April 11. 2007
1:48:36 PM
Wednesday was a pretty good day, logistically at least. I arrived at the train station just short of 8:45 am to meet any students that were arriving by train or bus and taking them to the Hogschool for morning meeting. Today, only one person showed up for my group but thats ok. We had morning meeting, made some announcements and I then took a group of students to the retirement home in Zeist as well as the promotions crew for Zeist by bus. I left the group at the retirement home where they spent the day interacting with the seniors, drinking tea and coffee, serving them some lunch, and building some furniture. Meanwhile, I went around Zeist with the Promotions crew, putting up posters, talking to people, as well as singing and dancing in the streets. We had some lunch at a café in the central square of the town; I had a pancake and some stroopwaffles I bought at the market across the street. That along with the cappuccino was quite satisfying. After we were all out of flyers, we went back to the home and hung out with the CI group for a while. We all headed back to the school where we had supper; mmm mashed potatoes and sausage or meatballs. After that, the cast watched the film, “What the Bleep” and the rest of the advanced team and I had a meeting about the day. We agreed that it went well. I then started the long journey home, taking a bus to the centraal station, catching a train to Houton, then catching the bus to Het Grass, then walking a distance home. It took well over an hour and a half but thats ok because I did make it there and thats the important part. It was all Good™

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Today went rather smoothly all things considered. I was up early in the morning in order to meet people at the Utrecht train station and take them to the Dom for morning meeting and the subsequent tours. I arrived to the station at around 7:45am and there were several students there ready to go. I gave them a brief tour as we walked to the Dom through the streets of Utrecht. Surprisingly, everyone made it to the meetings place and we had staff circle. Ever since yesterday I've been a part of the "staff circle" but I'll tell you, its really not all that great. We made our announcements to the staff and then we went to the Senatesaal room that I had booked last week. Needless to say everyone was impressed with the facility with its fancy chandeliers, wood paneling, and original artwork. After the morning meeting we split the group into two and started the tours. I took the first group on a tour of the Dom tower, which is the tallest church tower in all the Netherlands. Its nearly a vertacle kilometer at over 700 meters tall, all built by hand. The view from the very top was staggering (luckily there was a sturdy railing). We were also shown the large bells from the 16th century, some of which weighted thousands of kilograms. I'm sure you cold have fit a dozen or more people inside the largest one. After both groups had finished the tours, we went to a canal side restaurant called "Tantes Bistro", we had the two rooms which were essentially the cellar facing the canal below street level. We were served sandwiches, milk, water, and coffee or tea. It was all Good. After that we all went on the 1 hour long canal boat tour. Gaby and Vero almost missed it but thanks to our quick thinking Dutch tour guide, we got them their and we were on our way. Its really interesting to think that it really was the easiest way to get around by boat at one point. In the afternoon, we managed to get everyone onto the transit bus (the Correct Transit bus) and get them to the Hogeschool for some afternoon seminars. Everyone somehow managed to make their way home afterwards but myself and the rest of the advanced team remained in the office for quite some time afterward to evaluate how the day went. We also printed and cut more show flyers for the Promotions teams (on of which I am to be heading tomorrow). I didn't make it home till after 10pm when I got a chance to eat some lovely leftover seafood pasta salad, phone my girl, and get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be extra long as I have to be at the train station to meet students at 7:30, and we won't be finished until 9pm (and then I still have to get home). I wish I was back in Newfoundland, but I know I will be. Wednesday is 2 months until we're done. I know I probably shouldn't be thinking along these lines, but sometimes I just can't help thinking that way.

Senatesaal

In the Dom private chapel

Utrecht

The Big One - you don't wanna be around when they ring this.

The Key to the roof



loooooong way down



The bells are like a giant music box











Tante's Bistro





Boat Tour!















Swirls Ice Cream @ Utrecht Station