Monday 27 March 2017

Saturday 18.3.2017, Travelling Day

Goodbye Gronigen, Goodbye Holland! It was nice to be Your guest and thank You Hosts!


Friday 17.3.2017, Day # five

Final meeting and homework to do


The last working day was the summary of the week. We decided what everyone shall do in the meantime in smaller groups till we all meet eachother again in Ireland next fall.


We were happy of what we had accomplished!
 So it was goodbye and see You in Ireland!!

Thursday 16 March 2017

Thursday 16.3.2017, Day # four

Sovel's day in Groningen

This day was dedicated to Sovel Vos who is a trainer in ROC Friese Poort -college in Emmeloord. She had planned several exercises for us e.g. how you become the owner of your life and work, doing puzzles in groups to find out what kind of worker you are, what is a victim and creator and many more...

These exercises made us think of our working methods and how we face other people, the lessons and exercises will continue in Ireland next November.....

In the afternoon we got a little time to do some shopping and wonder around the city of Gronigen. I headed to Epplejeck horse store, the biggest horse store I've ever seen!



 

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Wednesday 15.3.2017, Day # three

a

Brainstorming and prison



The day started  with Workshop in Alfa-college.
Again we worked in groups. Some students were also invited to work with us.
Our job was to find the most important
things from our output the day before yesterday (tons of yellow tags :))



 Discussions and compromises...

 ..and ready to make final choiches.

In the aftenoon we took the minibuses and drove up north to visit a Prison for immigrants.
The security officers told us about their work among prisoners who are about to be send to their home countries after they have served their time. They showed us the normal and segrecation cells. We didn't meet any prisoners because they could have been nasty, not towards us but afterwards to the officers.




Tuesday 14 March 2017

Tuesday 14.3.2017, Day # two

Dutch, sad stories and tulips



After breakfast we took the minibuses to Emmeloord. ROC Friese Poort college where we were taught the Dutch language. We were like the immigrants who came to a strange country with a strange language.

In the afternoon we met some of the refugees. A man from Syria told us his story: how he sold everything to get the money to be able to travel to Europe, how they were treated in Libya and how the boat sank and some of their friends drowned, and finally how nicely they where treated when they arrived to Italy.
He also told us how they are settled in Holland.

After the meeting it was time to look around. Our hosts had arragned us a little it of
cultural program and sightseeing in Emmeloord. First we were astonished how the city was built: they had dried a large area by making dykes around the city, actually we were a few meters below the sea surface!

Next stop was the tulip farm. The farmer showed us the steps of growing tulips. However there was this hairy girl who stole atleast my attention (among few other dog lovers): 


Photo by Anne Jennings






































All the Finns were delighted to see that the Dutch farmers rely on good quality: VALTRA Valmet tractor!

Monday 13 March 2017

Monday 13.3.2017, Day # one


Workshop begins


I woke up early. From my window I could see what the city looked like: lots of churches and the houses like old Hansa town buildings.

I met the others at breakfast. We were talking about the expectations of this week. Lots of things to do and to decide.

Our hosts had made us a very busy
schedule for this week. It began with visiting the Alfa-college Kardinge department.


This department was in the same building as Sportcentrum Kardinge which is not owned by the college. 
This sportcentrum was amazing! They have their own ice rink, dozens of squash and tennis courts, swimming bath and of course because we are in Holland, they have a speed skating hall. All these sport facilities are used by public and the students of Alfa-college.



 After the tour in the college it was time to begin the work. 











Hanneke Smid, Head external affairs and policy, told us about the school and the examinations they have.












The aim of this project is to create teaching / studying matrerials for security students about multiculturalism.
 
We formed groups to talk about the main issues.

Timo Paakkanen and Sovel Vos and..
..Alla Kukkonen and Jaana Räsänen in my group.












And finally the participants presented the materilal they all ready have used to teach multiculturalism.


Anne Jennings, Galway, Ireland, telling us about their methods.










Workshop I

Gronigen, Nederlands

12. - 17.3.2017


Sunday 12.3.2017,  The Travelling day

Not much to tell about. Flying from Helsinki to Amsterdam. I took the train from Schipol airport and changed the train  in Zwolle. Another change: this time to a bus in Hoogeveen.
So by bus to Gronigen and finally checking in to the City Hampshire Hotel, it was 19.30 o'clock, I was really tired!

Kartta Amsterdam, Alankomaat–Groningen, Alankomaat