dinsdag 17 maart 2009

A Dutch inside: from our Portugese partners.

A Dutch insight

It was quite obvious that our students were really excited about the prospective of meeting their Ducht friends and also very curious about the houses they were going to stay in and the food – food is always a big concern for the Portuguese people...
The welcoming party couldn’t have been more enthusiastic: our bus had just parked in front of the school when we saw all the Dutch students running out of the school, clapping their hands and shouting the names of their partners. It was really something!
The programme was rich in culture and fun – the Rijsksmuseum, Anne Frank’s house, De Hoge Veluwe National Park, the Kroller Moller Museum, the ice-skating, the painting activity (“Mondrianesque style”) - providing us with insights into another culture and society which we can't get from just travelling. Not even the rain and cold prevented us from enjoying the long bike rides - where better to let our feet find the pedals than in The Netherlands?
Spending a week in another country and with another family and experiencing some of their daily activities as a way of life was an unforgettable and irreplaceable experience for all our students. They have also gained greater awareness of their own culture by sharing some customs with their Dutch partners and family, who showed their openness to welcoming a young person into their home. Thanks to you all!
Karel, Inge and Margriet, thanks so much for your warm and generous hospitality and also for being such good friends.
Hope to see you again next year!

Lurdes and Fernanda

vrijdag 20 februari 2009

Messages for our Portuguese friends


That was really nice. Our two collegues (friends allready) seemed to enjoyed our attempts to give an inside in the dutch culture, and so did the all group. Erwtensoep is the best soup I ever had, one student said. Even the rain (typical Dutch) was no problem for you all.
Read some of the messages the Dutch students wrote.

The student exchange with Sobreda was a nice experience. Sobreda was very nice. After a month all the Portuguese students came back to the Netherlands. Communicating wasn’t as difficult as in Portugal, because we already knew the Portuguese students. We went to see all nice things in Holland. I think the ice-skating was the best, for us and for the Portuguese students. For most of the Portuguese students, it was the first time, though they were very good at it! We went out every evening. That was also very nice. After all, it was a very nice experience. Roy Wolters

Hello everybody. The week is over and I really liked this exchange. The week in Portugal and the week in Holland were fantastic. I really liked the groups, and I think that I’m going to miss them. In spite of my bad English was everything really fun. I learned a lot the exchange and didn’t want to miss this. It all was really nice. Xxxx Irene

The first thing i'd like to say, is that i like all the portugese group and also the dutch group of course. It has been an interesting and tiring week full of dutch culture and parties! Not everything was great but most of it was a lot of fun. I laughed very much this week, so that's a good sign. Many greets to everybody! I hope to see everybody again. Bye! Mattijs Claassen

What a week. I just can say one word about it: Awesome! We did a lot this week. We went to Amsterdam to shop, and to the Rijksmuseum. We went to eat at a restaurant, that was very cosy. I also liked Friday. All the Portuguese where tired because of the long trip, but they went out with us. We danced, and we made a lot of fun. I have really learned a lot about it, and I want to thank everybody for this week. I loved it. Also I hope that we will see each other one time. I miss u already :S Thank you, Greeting and kisses, Ioanna Vassiliou

Hello people, Thank you very much for the nice time! And I miss you! I hope you have a good trip to home! Kisses Nancy.

I think this exchange was very nice. the days were nice, but also long and exhaustive. I liked the dinners with the whole group, those were very nice. After al everybody is very tired, but it was a great time. Groetjes, Sophie

Since the exchange in Portugal, I really looked forward to the return visit. When the bus arrived, I was very happy to see everyone again. The activities during the week were nice, and so were the evenings. I think we all formed a close group, and everyone liked it to be part of the exchange. My Portuguese guest was very nice, and during the week, we have learned to know eachother very well. The inevitable farewell was hard for me, but I can look back on a very, very nice week and a great experience. Roy Verhoeven

I really liked this week! It was so nice to see all the people again and I was excited to show them The Netherlands. I like the Portugese group and I think the people are really funny. We had a great time in the evenings and I liked Amsterdam the most, but the Rijksmuseum was a little bit boring.. It was funny to see the reactions of the Portugese students when we walked trough Amsterdam. I want to say that I realllllllyyyy liked the people and I'm going to miss you all! Have a good lifeeeee. Kuskus. Maureen

Hello, I will say something about Rita.. Ehm.. I think she has a nice time here. Rita was soo sweet! I think that i will really miss her but it was a very very nice time with her. I think that she like al the things what we have do, but the museum’s a little bit boring. Well.. Rita thank you for everything xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Kisses for you! (K) Natasja

zondag 15 februari 2009

het menu in amsterdam


in the world bazar restaurant in amsterdam you can eat for only 10 euro's. this is the dutch menu card,
I put a link to the dutch and engelish version on the blog.
Make your choice now, and tell us tomorrow when we are in the bus. We have to discuss it with the manager in the morning.
thanks.

wereld bazar restaurant: http://www.bazaramsterdam.nl

we leave at 9.00 sharp. don't be late, take enough time for the trip to school on your bicycle!!

karel

Wouter in het ziekenhuis

Gisteren is Wouter naast de baan terecht tijdens het schaatsen. Zijn ouders zijn naar het stadion gekomen en hebben hem naar het ziekenhuis in Veghel gebracht, daar werkt de moeder van Wouter. Wouter's vader heeft mij toen naar Uden gebracht. Ik kwam tegelijk met jullie aan op het busstation.
Wouter is gisteren geopereerd aan een dubbele armbreuk. Er is een metalen pin in zijn arm gemaakt en zijn arm is gezet. Vanochtend komt de chirurg naar Wouter kijken om te beoordelen of hij vandaag naar huis kan. Of hij het programma verder mee kan doen bekijken we vandaag.
Fijn dat jullie gisteren samen naar huis zijn gereisd.

Karel,

Yesterdag our own Wouter has crashed during skating. He broke his arm on two places. He was operated on last night. Now he has some metal peaces in his arm. But Wouter is though and this afternoon he was allready seen on the hockey field.

dinsdag 10 februari 2009

Program in Uden

Exchange programm
Vrijdag 13
Februari
19.00u-
20.00u Arrival Portugese students, Vlaai/ thee/ fris in lokaal 215
20.30u Going home with your partner

Zaterdag 14
Februari
12.17u Departure at busstation Uden for ’s Hertogenbosch
13.04u Pettelaarseweg/ City centre walk: St. Jan
14.30u Going by bus to Sportion
15.00- Ice Skating
17.16u Departure bus for Uden
18.27u Arrival in Uden

Zondag 15
Februari Family day

Maandag 16
Februari
9.00u Going to Amsterdam by touring bus
11.00u Rijksmuseum. Look around with the help of your Dutch partner. Making exercises CKV with the help of Kijkwijzer. Two paintings. Groups of four.
12.30u Citywalk Amsterdam
14.20u Visiting Anne Frank house
15.20u Citywalk/ shopping
17.45u Having dinner at Wereld Eethuis Bazar
19.30u Departure with touring bus to Uden
21.30u Arrival at Udens College


Dinsdag 17
Februari
8.45u
9.30u Bring your bicycle. Guided tour Udens College with Dutch partners; groups of four .
9.35u Visiting your own class with exchange partner
10.45u Portugese students only: program Mondrian in Uden
Dutch students regular lessons
15.30u Free sports in gym
17.00u Meeting with Dutch students
19.00u Dinner at De Sirenes, restaurant Kerkstraat Uden

Woensdag
18 Februari
8.45u Departure from Udens College for Otterlo. (Veluwe)
Museum Kroller Moller, Museonder, Jachtslot St. Hubertus, park de Hoge Veluwe.
17.00u Back in Uden
Preparing diner (at home)
19.00u Family diner at school (verzorginglokaal)


Donderdag
19 februari
8.45u
10.25u Regular lesson Dutch students. Portugese students work on project.
10.45u Going city centre for last minute shopping.
12.00u Farewell

zondag 25 januari 2009

Living and learning. Reactions from students.

It was a very interesting experience at all levels. Not only I perfected my English but also met new students from my school. At the beginning there were some difficulties in communicating but, as days went by, they disappeared. A positive aspect of being a part of this exchange, that I wasn’t expecting, was the relationship between the Portuguese group. I never thought we would end up so close. On the other hand, a thing that disappointed me was the fact that the Portuguese group was always apart from the Dutch group. But, in spite of all that, during the week, the relationship between the both groups began to improve. In my opinion, the evening hang-outs helped to consolidate the relationship between everyone. I felt a little different between their education and ours because I found odd the fact that, after she went back, I didn’t received an e-mail of thanks.
In general it was a very good experience and I hope to repeat it next year.

Camila Nascimento


I realy liked this experience.
Learning about another culture, and meeting different people was good too.
For me, the positive points were: improving my English, socialising with other people and having a lot of fun.
The negative point, I just think that sometimes it was a little tiring.

Ana Cláudia


That week was so exciting for me, and for all students. I think all students loved that experience, because the Dutch people were fantastic with us, fun, cool.. etc :D The best thing was the fun with Dutch people, the games, the talks between us.The worse thing was the fatigue, because we had activities all day and we went out every evening, but it was so fun.Now, I have to wait for HOLLAND!

Márcia

During this week, the moments that I liked the most was Sintra and Lisbon. In the evening I really, really liked friday, Mastrobar was really cool! The moment that I didn't liked was the night we went to Knock Out. It was boring, and the persons that worked that weren't really nice :s But, dinner was really funny.
I LOVED THIS WEEK :D

Sara Filipa de Jesus

First of all I have to say I really like the exchange, and the girl with whom I was was very nice. About the negative aspects, I think it was only the tour in old Almada, because it was very tiring, Natasja told me that. Although she loved the Cristo Rei and the beach. On the positive side I think she liked all the places, because every night I asked her and she told me that she was loving the country. She liked Sintra a lot, Lisbon downtown , Almada Forum and all the places where we took them every evening. I think that is all.

Rita Semedo

The first part of the exchange Uden - Sobreda for me was a wonderful experience.I think the Dutch group is really nice with very funny people. It was also amazing to know the Portuguese group because I did not know any of the other students. I liked to meet the teachers a lot too; I think they had a great attitude with the students.I enjoyed living for a week with different person, with another culture.
I think I not only learned a lot culturally but also improved my English. I am very anxious for the second part of the exchange which I am sure will be great.
P.S. I liked the programme that the Portuguese teachers made, and I think there was no negative aspects.

Jefferson Oliveira

Looking back at week one, from our Portuges friends.

Exchange Sobreda-Uden - A rewarding experience
5th-11th January 2009


After several days of expectancy, our students finally met their Dutch partners on Monday 5th. Shyness and anxiety were the dominant feelings. At tea time students from the two countries were introduced by the Portuguese and Dutch teachers although the most outgoing had already ‘recognized’ their partners and started a conversation. The rest of them were really shy due probably to their lack of confidence in speaking English.
Day after day it was visible a closer relationship as they started to create friendship ties and mingle more spontaneously.
The second day was spent in Almada and Costa de Caparica. In spite of the freezing wind we walked through old Almada up to Cristo Rei and could enjoy the wonderful view from there. The afternoon was at the beach picnicking and playing human football. The sun was warm enough to make three crazy Dutch students dive in the cold wavy waters… Despite shivering, they bravely managed to take their first bath of the year!
On the third day we toured Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Guincho and Cascais. Everybody really enjoyed the visit to Quinta da Regaleira. The place is a wonderful combination of several artistic and architectonical styles, from Gothic to Manueline, with a Renaissance touch. Filled with so many magical nooks and details, time wasn’t enough to see everything properly. Before leaving, Portuguese and Dutch students were given quizzes about Portugal and the Netherlands. The Dutch won the contest as they got 13 right questions out of 20 while the “poor” Portuguese only managed to get 7 right ... at least they got to know a little bit more about the Netherlands so they “won” cultural knowledge! After having a light lunch we headed to Cabo da Roca, "where the land ends and the sea begins", as Camões, our Portuguese poet, once wrote. We pulled over for a little while to enjoy the view in the westernmost point of Europe’s mainland. In our way home we still stopped in Boca do Inferno to take some photos.
In the evening we went to a karaoke bar in Fonte da Telha where students and teachers had the chance to show their singing skills (or not!)… Anyway, it was really fun!
Thursday morning was spent in Lisbon. First old Lisbon: we visited St Jorge Castle and downtown. After some shopping there, our cultural tour continued in “modern” Lisbon. We paid a visit to some terrestrial and underwater creatures at Oceanário and had a late lunch at Vasco da Gama shopping centre. After an exhausting day (as we had to travel by public transports and walk a lot) students were still enthusiastic about going out in the evening.
Friday was a normal school day for the Portuguese students. The Dutch had to finish their reports on the exchange experience but had still time to attend some of their partners’ classes. Lunch was served at the students’ bar with sandwiches, pizzas and soft drinks. In the afternoon students had a “salsa” and “merengue” dancing lesson with teacher Joana Silvestre, where they learned and tried the basic steps – Mattijs, you’ve got talent! But the highlight of the day was the superb dinner at school: you cannot imagine the variety of marvelous home-made Portuguese delicacies the parents brought! As a big family, students, teachers and parents had a great time. Itwas really a unique moment. Portuguese parents: you rock!
On Saturday, after a day spent according to the families’ own programme, we had a relaxing farewel dinner at a restaurant, followed by a live music evening at a bar.
Sunday – departure day – hugs, kisses and tears at the airport but the same thought in everyone’s mind: it’s just a month and we will see each other again!
A final word for the Dutch teachers, Inge and Karel: thank you for your cooperation and good mood. It was great to work with you during this rewarding week!

The teachers

Fernanda Serra and Lurdes de Jesus