rain brings flowers

Holland really does come to life in the spring. Here's just a sample of what you can find at the famous Keukenhof exhibit in Lisse (outside of Amsterdam).

victorious

Sorry to say sports fans, but no pictures to share of my Sharks in action. The weather was absolutely horrid and the only camera that would have worked in those conditions was an underwater camera. Not to worry, game on Tuesday against Amsterdam that I might be able to get some shots of.

As for our team, we did quite well against Antwerp. The first inning was rather rocky as the kids were playing together as a team for the first time and it took a bit to figure out how to play defense. We gave up a few in the top of the first but rallied in the bottom to take the lead. Our defense started to shine in the torrential rain and put up two scoreless innings while tacking on some more to buffer our lead. Time was called (one hour time limit) and both teams headed back into the dressing room to dry off and Antwerp headed back home.

Final score - not exactly sure. It turns out that Dutch umpires do things a little differently than in the US. I was asked what the score was after the game and shrugged my shoulders - "I dunno, didn't you keep track?" He replied with, "In Holland the home coach keeps track of the score." Nice to know this AFTER the game is over...

In any case, the score isn't important. The kids had fun (on both teams) and there were no injuries - that's what really matters. And besides, I'll keep track of the score when we play them in the tournament in early May.

Coach X

opening day

Well sports fans - today is the day. The softball teams take the field today in our first match of the VERY short season. We play the Griffons of Antwerp International School in our first game and half of our season. Like I said, we have a very short one - two games before the tournament. I'm sure my teams will do just fine. :)

I'll post some pictures tomorrow and tell ya how we did. Check back later sports fans and I'll give ya the insider scoop.

Coach Expat Nomad

hint hint

I'm still hoping that someone out there can help me with writing questions for my survey (see below entry). Help me out here!

need questions!

Good day my dear reader!

I was pondering something the other day, a note that a non-teaching friend of mine had about violence in the classroom. So I thought that I would find out just how teachers have been affected in the classroom by the violence that surrounds us. And then I also wondered about violence in any work place and how it affects a person who works there.

So I have decided to make a survey that will be done via the web that will allow people from all walks of life to chime in. What I am asking from you, my cherished reader, is this - what would be some questions that you would feel are appropriate to ask in such surveys?

Here are some ideas that I have already:
Teaching
- Have you ever been involved in breaking up a fight between students?
- Have you ever been assaulted by a student? If so, was there a weapon involved?
- Have you ever been verbally threatened by a student or parent?

Non-teaching
- Have you ever been assaulted by a peer at work? If so, was there a weapon involved?
- Have you ever been verbally threatened by a co-worker?
- Has there been an act of violence at your workplace? (I leave this question off the teaching questions simply because I know that there is not a single school out there that has not had a fight at it.)


Any other ideas? I am asking demograghic questions like time employed, age level taught (for teachers), education level (non-teachers), etc. What ever you can add would be greatly appreciated. If you send me your email address, I'll be sure to include you in the survey when it launches.

Thanks for any help you can give...

having it my way

I've been off the net for the last week due to a friend being here in R'dam for a visit. I enjoy being a tour guide and showing people my adopting country of the Netherlands. This is a good country to be in and with the exception of paying a large part of my salary to taxes, I think things are pretty darn good here.

Today I went back to Schipol airport and put my friend on a plane back to her native country of Lebanon. I actually love going to the airport. Its not because Schipol is such a cool place or that I enjoy taking the train to visit the locale - its because I get a chance to satisfy that urge I occasionally get for fast food, specifically Burger King. What can I say, I am a sucker for a Whoppper with cheese and while there are plenty of BKs in the Netherlands, I only go there when I am at the airport.

Why? Why not?!

So I am home and happy with my tummy filled with all kinds of empty calories that I will have to work off in some form. But that's for another day. A day that I care about those empty calories. Today I had it my way...

racially biased press?

Another tremendous act of violence in an American school. Why is this happening to our youth? Will this generation grow up reflecting back on their high school days as a time when they had to always be on alert for the "Trenchcoat Mafia" or "loners wearing black clothes"? I just wonder how long it is going to take some school district to start offering classes in "How To Avoid Being Shot in School" or "Ways to Disarm Your Psychotic Classmate(s)".

Columbine. Santee. Red Lake. There are others but we all know the pattern. Disgruntled kids get guns, shoot to get revenge, and then turn the gun on themselves. And then the media swarms all over the community and wants to know what happened, what went wrong.

Or do they?

I lived in the US for both Columbine and Santee and the press coverage was unbelievable. It was non-stop for days on end. Talking with kids, interviews with teachers, footage taken from afar. You couldn't escape the blitz of the aftermath.

But now I am living in Europe and the recent events at Red Lake are being treated much differently in the press. CNN International (based in Atlanta) has been sparse with its coverage and the rest of the European press seems to be somewhat on the same page. The great debate over Terri Schiavo and how to let her die takes huge precedent over the senseless slaughter of innocent Native American children. Since when????

And the Bush family is rallying around the Schiavo case (enter Jeb today) without much being said about this horrific act of violence. What a sad day indeed. Forgive me for sounding unsympathetic to the Schiavo family but Terri is going to die sooner or later - let her wish be granted and let her go. But shame on Congress and the Bush family for making this woman's plight such a priority instead of focusing on how to save the lives of people who aren't about to die - our youth.

What about the press? Why aren't they screaming more about this? Why is it that CNN made it the third story last night, behind the Schiavo case and the Arab countries meeting? Is the killing of Native American children not as devastating as the killing of white suburbanites?

As of last week I had seriously considered returning to the US to teach. Now, I don't think so. I used to think that the most dangerous job was a) working on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier or b) being a postal clerk. After the recent events in American public schools, I have come to appreciate that teaching is by far the most dangerous profession. Don't think so? Well, have you got the balls to fail someone if you think that they'll come after you with a semi-automatic weapon loaded with armor-piercing rounds?

If the Bush administration really wants to make its mark in history, I offer this advice. Scrap the current US public education system and start with something new. Something certainly isn't going right with what we've got and its only gonna get worse UNLESS something dramatic happens.

Better yet, here's a different idea - split the country. Maybe when the blue and red states officially become separate nations THEN a new education system will be put into place. But what do I know, I'm just some wacked-out expat complaining about the system instead of trying to fix it.

spring arrives!

Ahh, the joy of spring is in the air! The day was wonderfully sunny, the temp was invigorating (17 degrees) and a general feeling of peace was in the air today.

The vernal equinox. The day when the whole world gets 12 hours of sunshine. For two days a year, we are all equal in our daily dose of sunrays.

And I am glad to have spring here. I missed the change of seasons when I lived in the desert and living in Holland makes you appreciate spring when it does arrive. Temps started being too cold for me back in October and 6 months later, I am glad to feel the glowing sun on my face. Days like this do make me feel glad to be alive. I will miss days like this when I am dead.

But I don't think I'll even know it so I guess I won't miss them! ;)

In any case, what a wonderful day indeed. Me smiles!

proud invitation

A former student of mine sent me an invitation to her college graduation and it arrived here yesterday. It didn't seem like that long ago that I remember her walking the campus of YVHS and her graduation speech that she gave since she was the valedictorian.

But alas, four years have passed and this girl has become a woman. I know this because of where the graduation announcement came from - the United States Miitary Academy. That's my girl! A West Point graduate!

I was so proud when the invitation arrived. I showed it to all of my colleagues here at school and puffed my chest out when I spoke of her accomplishments while at the Point. She not only completed the rigorous training that goes into being a cadet but also continued her martial arts training as she became the captain of the fencing team.

N. has accomplished so much in such a short period of time. I am honored that she would invite me to her graduation from such a reknowned and prestigious institution. While I can't make it back to NY for the ceremonies, I'll be keeping that invitation posted high on my bulletin board to show to my current students what you can do if you put your mind to it.

Moments like this make teaching worth more than any paycheck can give...

st. patrick's day

Its the time of year when people from around the world claim to be of Irish ancestry and don the green, white, and orange. And yes, that includes this blogger.

I have come to find out that my family name is Irish and we have some Gaelic blood in us somewhere. How do I know? Let's just say that the O was dropped off the front of our name and I was fortunate enough to have someone explain that my last name means 'limestone' in Gaelic. Its nice to know that my family has been named for being a rock... Actually, I don't know how to really interpret that! :)

In any case, Happy St. Patrick's Day.

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.