I guess the high gas prices have prompted some US city officials to seriously consider making their cities more bicycle friendly. Portland Oregan is trying to replicate a bicycle rental progam similar to Paris (sorry Nederland). There was also a competition in NYC to see the fastest mode of travel to work, I guess to show people that it is a better way to commute to work. The bicycle was pitted against the subway and driving. Guess what? The bicycle prevailed.
Employers are even getting in on the action by incentivizing cycling to work (money, showering facilities). Wow, I guess $127 a barrel can light a fire under some feet...
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Final Farewell Party
It was wonderful to have in attendance, our host families and other rotatrians that made our stay in the Netherlands so special. The team had a great time catching up and sharing our experieces with everyone. It was nice to hear that we made a good impression while here, and that we are always welcomed back into your homes. I truly believe that we have made friends.
...and you all made me cry!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Farmer's golf
This was definately an interesting game, played amidst cows, sheep and ponies, and the things they leave behind :-) This as a great farewell party starter, we all had a wonderful time, maybe we can find a farm here in the US and recreate the experience. Congratulations team yellow (led by Deborah).
Thursday, May 22, 2008
It's Lonely at the Top
District 1600 governor Hans Meerburg is quite accomplished on the piano and accordian. After a great rendition of, 'It's lonely at the top", Kim and I were pulled into singing in French, much to the delight or maybe dismay of Deborah. It was a fun filled afternoon.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sex and Stuff
Similar to my previous blog about crime and punishment comes the topic of sex and stuff. Here in the Netherlands, there are very few teenage pregnancies (teenage being age 15-19). The rate is 8.7 per 1,000 inhabitants. You've probably already guessed where I'm going with this. The rate in the US? 79.8 per 1,000 inhabitants!!! That number really shocked me and I had to triple check it. It is correct though. The US has the highest teenage pregnancy rate of the developed world. As a result of this, we also have one of the highest rates of abortion. The US's rate is actually eight times higher than the NL with a rate of 27.5 to 4.2 (per 1,000). The STD rate in the US is also five times higher than in the NL. An interesting fact, surveys have shown that teens in the US and in the NL start having sex at about the same age.
I first started thinking about this when I was at someone's house here. When I asked where one of the kids was, I was told he had stayed at his girlfriend's house. "Really?" I responded "and you know about that? Do her parents know about it?" Of course, was the answer. The next week we visited a high school and I asked one of the teachers about teenage pregnancy. She said in all of her years as a teacher, she could remember only one girl who was pregnant. I asked if there was sex education in their classrooms and there is. It is similar to ours (I think) in that it is taught in health class. However, all options are covered and discussed openly. Students are told where and how to get contraceptives (btw, the NL has one of the highest contraception use among youth in the world). Abstinence is rarely discussed. It's been awhile since I had a health class so this could've changed since my class. Also, I was in the south which I think varies from other parts of the country and from larger cities. Anyway, the same week I was talking with another girl who also mentioned staying at her boyfriend's. Again I said, "Really? and your parents know?" She went on to tell me quite a bit about this topic and it was all completely foreign to me. Last year when I brought my then boyfriend home with me (I was 27), we had to sleep in different rooms. In fact, I think that I could be 60 and would still have to sleep in separate rooms if I brought a boyfriend to my parents' house (love you mom and dad). It seems that the families here are much more open about a lot of topics that many Americans are afraid to approach. Why? Well, I'm going to have to bring up religion again. Like I said previously, people in the NL aren't as religious. I don't think they see premarital sex as a sin or as a bad thing but as a natural occurrence. They are more open about it, teenagers understand it and how to protect and prepare themselves for it. Religious groups here have very little influence on public policy. Nudity in magazines or on television is not an uncommon thing here. This was also interesting. If the US had the teenage pregnancy rates that the Netherlands have, with our current population, we would have about 657,000 fewer teenage pregnancies and 215 fewer abortions and save $921 million in public costs a year!
I first started thinking about this when I was at someone's house here. When I asked where one of the kids was, I was told he had stayed at his girlfriend's house. "Really?" I responded "and you know about that? Do her parents know about it?" Of course, was the answer. The next week we visited a high school and I asked one of the teachers about teenage pregnancy. She said in all of her years as a teacher, she could remember only one girl who was pregnant. I asked if there was sex education in their classrooms and there is. It is similar to ours (I think) in that it is taught in health class. However, all options are covered and discussed openly. Students are told where and how to get contraceptives (btw, the NL has one of the highest contraception use among youth in the world). Abstinence is rarely discussed. It's been awhile since I had a health class so this could've changed since my class. Also, I was in the south which I think varies from other parts of the country and from larger cities. Anyway, the same week I was talking with another girl who also mentioned staying at her boyfriend's. Again I said, "Really? and your parents know?" She went on to tell me quite a bit about this topic and it was all completely foreign to me. Last year when I brought my then boyfriend home with me (I was 27), we had to sleep in different rooms. In fact, I think that I could be 60 and would still have to sleep in separate rooms if I brought a boyfriend to my parents' house (love you mom and dad). It seems that the families here are much more open about a lot of topics that many Americans are afraid to approach. Why? Well, I'm going to have to bring up religion again. Like I said previously, people in the NL aren't as religious. I don't think they see premarital sex as a sin or as a bad thing but as a natural occurrence. They are more open about it, teenagers understand it and how to protect and prepare themselves for it. Religious groups here have very little influence on public policy. Nudity in magazines or on television is not an uncommon thing here. This was also interesting. If the US had the teenage pregnancy rates that the Netherlands have, with our current population, we would have about 657,000 fewer teenage pregnancies and 215 fewer abortions and save $921 million in public costs a year!
And the Most Frequently Asked Questions Are...
Since we've almost been here a month now, we've been asked a lot of questions. Here are the top three questions we get asked the most:
1) Is it true that Americans only get about two weeks for vacation? (Generally the Dutch get about 5-6 weeks...which is awesome!)
2) Who is going to win the election?
3) Do all Americans eat a lot of fast food?
1) Is it true that Americans only get about two weeks for vacation? (Generally the Dutch get about 5-6 weeks...which is awesome!)
2) Who is going to win the election?
3) Do all Americans eat a lot of fast food?
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Anne Frank House
Today was my first trip to Amsterdam and my experience there was wonderful. We visited the Anne Frank house, the Van Gogh museum, enjoyed some fabulous food and walked around the city. I was very moved by the Anne Frank house. I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank when I was in middle school...probably around age 13 or 14. At that age, I somewhat understood what the Holocaust was, but not enough to fully appreciate the book and not enough to comprehend what happened to Anne and her family. My favorite class in college was a class on the Holocaust, through literature and film. Hearing and reading stories first hand from survivors was very powerful for me and it increased my interest in the Holocaust. I have visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC many times and I've read everything there is to read there. However, there is definitely something about being in a location where an event took place. For years, you have an imaginary image of what a place looks like and then that location comes alive. I didn't realize that when you visit the Anne Frank house, you can walk through the entire house. You can see how small the living quarters were and you can hear her words being read to you as you walk through her room. It is a strange feeling. For me, not just the house came to life, but the entire story. I don't just see things when I'm in a place like this, but I sense feelings too (but I'm kinda weird like that). Anyway, the story is amazing. I get cabin fever when I'm stuck in the house for two days. I cannot imagine living in that little section of the house for two years! What patience, endurance, hope, and faith the family must have had. It really is uncomprehendable. Anne Frank died just two months before liberation after having survived those two years in hiding. It is truly a sad story. On the way out of the museum, I bought a copy of the diary. I'm sure that when I read it this time, I will be reading it with a completely different perspective. If you have not already read the diary (shame on you), then I suggest you do so!
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