pws problems

PWS- Professional Writing Sample. In general terms: my teacher thesis. In personal terms: the ever growing word document that reminds me that I am not a full-fledged teacher yet and still have student work to do. Hence my slightly prolonged absence - a girl can only look at a computer screen so long. But I'm back now and here is my week in review: 

Monday, or: that guhhh sound

I take Dutch classes on Monday nights through the International Student Organization at Wageningen. It moves really quickly and it's taught by just some willing student, but it's better than nothing. I sat next to a Polish girl and we commiserated on the pronunciations, giggling at each others struggling attempts to spit out the proper sounds. 

Tuesday, or: not so lekker licorice 

the Dutch treats 

I have the most adorable V5IB class (11th graders by American school standards). During class on Monday we got slightly off topic and they were appalled to hear that I hadn't tried the traditional Dutch licorice. So, one of my sweet students came to class loaded down with licorice, French fry and special sauce flavored potato chips, miniature Dutch pancakes, and stroopwafles for me to try. They all gathered round to watch my face turn sour as I tried the black, salty horror that is Dutch licorice and then helped me eat the potato chips and leftover candies. 

I also learned that they're a bunch of little stalkers and think that they shouldn't let me calling them adorable go to their head and that they should go find their article for class on Monday. :) 

all the cute chefs 

Living with a host mother who is in the health and nutrition industry has quite drastically changed my eating habits. Probably for the better. But this college kid has been craving her "I live on my own and I'm lazy" staple snack/meal/three times a week meal: nachos. So, the best way to fix that craving AND Americanize some Dutchies? Nacho night. 

Shawna and I put our heads together, with Ester who spent some time in Mexico, divvied up the ingredients, and scheduled our fiesta for Tuesday night. I was charged with finding cheddar cheese because, well, we all know it's the dairy product closest to my heart. You can buy cheese at the local grocery store here, but I can't imagine why you would want to when you can go to a cheese shoppe. Walls, covered in every type and taste you can imagine. I went to the one in Wageningen, which I found out later is one of the top, award winning cheese shops in the area. 

I picked out an appropriate cheddar and as the owner rang me up, another patron proceeded to quiz me about my accent - where I was from, what was I doing here, etc. All pretty normal stuff for a foreigner. It wasn't until he wanted to tell me all of his high school grades that I had to put on my polite southerner face. Because what teacher wouldn't want to know a complete strangers marks?? Especially one that looked like he graduated maybe 30 years ago. 

I quickly paid the damage, excused myself from conversation, and hopped back on the bus. 

That night, to the shock and awe of the Dutchies, we piled tortilla chips high with chicken and cheese and refried beans, and spinach, and guacamole, and sour cream then feasted until we had to loosen our belts. 

Wednesday, or: using my superpower 

I'm helping teach an English class at the same place that I take my Dutch class. It's weird to teach English as a language. With literature, I can tell my students that something is correct or not correct because I have several years of academic study in that field under my belt. But with English language, I don't always have reasons or explanations for why something is correct or incorrect, it just is because I said so. Which is a weird way to think, but compared to my students, "because it's what I say" is significant enough since I'm a native speaker. It's very odd, but I do enjoy teaching the class. I team teach with a fellow American who hails from Chicago, so hearing a really familiar accent has been a treat. 

Thursday: 

I accompanied the T3 field trip to The Hague, which is the city that houses the Dutch Parliament. The kids got to go into the Second House of Parliament and had questions prepared for some members of local parties. There were three politicians and as the students asked questions, it was fun to watch them go back and forth over controversial subjects. Don't get me wrong, the whole thing was in Dutch so I didn't actually know what was going on, but I could tell from the tones that things were getting heated. We also visited the first house, the original from the 17th century complete with the gaudy decor of the golden age (when Holland was rolling in money from trans-European trade) which was really cool. American tourists don't normally get to go into the first house, so being able to go plop myself down on their green velvet chairs and gawk at the artwork was an especially cool experience. 

Coming up next: my big, fat, American breakfast and the Sheridans take Holland. Stay tuned!