Week 2

The second week we were with the Newport Irvine Host Rotary and families.

I met my wonderful host family, Ed en Carol Smith.

Staying at the Smith’s house it was a gift every morning. When I crabbed my cereal and fruit this was my view:

On Tuesday we went to a bullying prevention presentation. In this presentation we find out that gangs are a big problem in California. Behind the beautiful hills, mountains and nature there is a sad and criminal live full of danger  struggle in good education because of the gang related activities. The community wants to help build programs teach teachers about early intervention. When we visited another Peace and Study program at the University of Irvine we had a wonderful workshop of early intervention in criminal activity and gangs. We visited a program that teaches teenagers how to make good music and express themselves. They believe in making music without a lot of talking. This is something the social workers in the Netherlands can learn from.

The educational system in the Netherlands is better then the educational system in The USA, but the different sports, activities in and around the schools and options for expression is something we are underestimating. Dutch people have to do normal because then they are already crazy enough, but you cab be normal with a little more options for expression.

In the same University we talked to a lot of interesting people (teachers and professors) about there ideas of creating a better world by taking small steps and inspire there students. One of the most interesting programs of the university of Irvine is the Olive Tree Initiative.; They are a diverse student faculty and community initiative promoting dialogue and understanding about conflict zones through experiential education. The students wanted to respond to tensions on the campus (The Israeli- Palestinian conflict) the students and the University were inspired to create a forum where they could discus and learn about their different perspectives and embark on a educational trip to the region (two week trip to Israel/ Palestine to meet politicians, religious authorities, activists, etc).

University of Irvine

In the middle of the week I met Lou (Louis van Loghum). Lou was born in Amsterdam and lives in California for 35 years with his wife Rosalie (Roosje). My host Ed had to work and asked Lou to take me to the activities in the program. Lou I amazing and I’m glad I met him. It didn’t take long for us to have a little discussion. I told Lou that we are teaching the American people to say The Netherlands instead of ‘Holland’. There are more provinces in The Netherlands. Lou is a real ‘Hollander’ so this was are first typical Dutch conversation. Lou told me what it is like for a Dutch person to live in California.

After a busy day we picked up Rosie and went to  a good restaurant for dinner. It was a wonderful experience.

Lou and Rosalie

On Friday we had our presentation on de Rotary District Conference. Our presentation went well and afterwards there was a party outside (hospitality night), there was drinking involved and we danced a lot, it was very nice. There were some host families from orange and other Rotarians we already met. We also met a lot of new Rotarians.

Short presentation at Thursday

Big presentation at the District Conference in our Dutch clothing

Bil (Laura's host before hospitality night)

dancing at the hospitality night

 At the end of the week we hd a boattour with a beautiful view. We could see some see lions in and around the harbor. These seelions are three times bigger then the dutch seelions and more agressive. If you have a seelion on youre boat you have a problem.

Beautiful view

After a nice dinner with my host family we went home and the next day they deliverd me at the Holiday Inn in Sen Clemente for a two day break (Sen Clemente looks like the Riviera).