Portfolio File 5: Up to Date Events

1. Selection of Actual Events
-- Conflict in Afghanistan
-- Immigration: morocans and islamics (in particular)
-- Global Warming

2. Interview
Specific Event
1. What is your position on the conflicts in Afghanistan?
-- I think, as world citizens, we have a responsibility for what happens in the rest of the world. I think that it is important to be involved, but the problem with organizations like the UN aren't always conscious of exactly HOW to go about intervening. Foreign aid should be helping the local community. It has to fit with the local norms and values of the country for which they are helping. As military powers, we should create a safe environment, a safe home, for those living in such areas. Democracy doesn't work for everyone and we should accept that and not try to conform other countries to our way of governing our citizens because we think it works best.
2. Do you feel like these conflicts are relevent to the Netherlands?
-- Everything happening in the world is relevent to the Netherlands, especially when the Dutch are involved. Think about terrorism. A lot of terrorism starts in countries like Afghanistan because the teen population is supressed and they push for power. It is good for us to take action and get involved to prevent worse things from happening.
3. Tell a little bit about this issue.
-- I feel like the Dutch military is trying to opress the taliban members and understand the lifestyle of these peoples so that they may be of help. It really sucks when you hear that a Dutch soldier died in action. It makes me aware of the reality of what's going on abroad.

Broad Topic
1. What is your position when it comes to Immigration?
-- People are welcome to settle here. By all means, come...but the Netherlands is a little too open to immigration. The Netherlands is TOO easy going. I think we need to be more like America and make it more difficult for foreigners to obtain a citizenship.
-- I think immigration on itself is a possitive thing, but I also think it is important that if you decide to move to another country, you must integrate with the native Dutch, learn the Dutch language and law system and have respect for the Dutch culture. I think people have to respect the diversity here and the law system we have.
-- Well, I think the Islamic culture views us as hookers. The Islamic woman is everything and they are seeing us a very lose moralled people and you can sense this when you are going out and dancing at the discotec and the first man that will come to you is often an Islamic boy. When you refuse them, they become agressive. They do not understand our culture and often refuse to adapt to it. But that is in their nature because of their parents and their own cultural influences. The Netherlands is FREE. Islamic girls are not as free. Dutch girls are too free for Islamic girls, and that is where the stereotypes come in.
2. Do you feel that Immigration is a relevant event for Nederlanders?
-- Yes. The Netherlands, like America, has a lot of freedom, so in a sense it encourages immigration.
-- Of course. We have always been a country in which many immigrants come and many citizens go.
-- I think that it really has to do with culture. We do not have so much of a problem with the Chinese immigrants as much as with the Islamic immigrants. The Chinese still do not adapt to the Dutch culture, but they respect the Dutch more so than the most people.
3. Evaluate foreign Immigration.
-- We need to control immigration more. It's rediculous to have so many minorities and live in fear of being taken over. Our country needs to be predominantly Dutch.
-- If you want to summarize it in one word, I am possitive about it. I am not against it.
-- Stop it! It´s really enough! We have enough citizens and we lose our culture to them because they are populating the Netherlands more and more. I like being able to talk to them, but they really do not have to start conflict. Quit going extreme! When people step over the line--become agressive, fight, etc--get them back to their own country!

Just for Fun!!
1. How do you feel about the issue of global warming? (Is it practical?)
-- Well, we can't control it. The earth is going down. There is traffic everywhere. Be afraid.
-- I think it should motivate us to take good care of the environment, but its not something that I am worrying about. I do what I can do to limit the effects of global warming.
-- The whole worlds problem that started a long long time ago. We accelerate the progess.
2. Do you feel global warming is relevent to the Netherlands?
-- It's relevent to the world. So, yes it is also relevent to the Netherlands.
-- Of course. When the ice bergs melt, we're going to have a serious problem with water. Look where we're at now! Below the sea!
-- To the world. People who contribute to the effects of global warming.
3. Evaluate global warming.
-- It's unavoidable. It's not like we're going to stop using cars.
-- Its a common problem we must be aware of. It's a world problem. If the Dutch stopped driving, its not going to stop global warming. You have to get the world to change. It is important to work towards a change.
-- We can use lightbulbs that use less engergy, use the car less (or improve them), do not leave electronics on standby, etc. The government is going to have to work on focusing on environmentally safe transportation.

3. Judgement and Conclusions

a) Meestal alle mensen gezegt: "Ik vind immigratie goed wanneer ze onze cultuur respecteren. Ze zijn hier te gast en horen zich als gast te gedragen. We respecteren hun cultuur maar, ze zullen onze cultuur ook moeten respecteren. Ze moeten bijvoorbeeld niet komen met het is "ons cultuur" want, ze zijn in ons land. Zelf vind ik ander cultuur erg interessant over hoe het er in hun cultuur aangaat maar, zoals ik eerder heb verteld, ze zullen zich moeten aanpassen aan ons cultuur. Vooral het voorval van 9-11 heeft ons aan het denken gezet. We zijn er banger voor geworden. Doordat de Nederlandse regering heeft toegeven aan het "generaal pardon" zijn we nog banger geworden maar, we zijn erg nuchter en leggen ons er bij neer. Het is aan het Nederlandse volk wat we er mee doen."
b) Immigratie is belangrijk voor de nederlanders omdat veel buitenlanders komen naar nederland. Ze willen hier wonen, maar niet nederlands leren. Ze komen bijvoorbeld met het is "ons cultuur" want. Dat is niet goed hoor. Ze zijn in nederland, dus ze moeten nederlands cultuur respecteren. Als ze willen nederlanders worden, dan passen ze nederlands cultuur aan.
Over oorlog buitenland, het is depressief maar, nodig hebben. De eerste wereld landen moeten actie nemen. Het is ons verantwoordelijkheid.
c) Immigratie is ook een amerikaanse probleem. Mexicanen komen naar amerika elke dag. Amerika heeft nu heel veel wat mexicanen die daar zonder toestemming blijven. Verder, heeft amerika kleine gemeenschappen die van andere delen van de wereld leven. Die mensen ook passen niet van amerikaan cultuur aan. Soms wordt dit een probleem.

4. Your Mental Model
-- Immigration applies to both America and the Netherlands. I've noticed, though, that the Netherlands seems to be adapting some of our strict immigration policies, which could help solve the "issues" that go along with this specific event. We are so used to Mexicans crossing into our country that it's no longer news for us, nor does anybody seem to really care until it becomes a problem. As for military action in Afghanistan, the US military is also their, isn't it? We all suffer losses, and it does become personal when it is one of our own men. I feel like, because it is too much of a "foreign affair" to me, I do not have as much of an interst in the matters of war. I wish I could say that it hurts me to know that an American soldier died, but so many die every day, at it is, in a sense, a part of their job, to put themselves at risk of death...Man I feel so heartless in saying this, but having a soldier die doesn't have as much of an impact on my emotions as hearing of a school shooting in which various innocent students were shot and killled for no apparent reason. Deaths should be equally mourned, but for some odd reason, student deaths hit closer to home than the death of a soldier abroad. Global warming--I know its an issue, and I also know that I do not have the brains to discover a solution to the problem, so I sit back and wait for the cure so to speak. I find it amuzing how often the Dutch speak about global warming. The answer is always global warming!

5. Reflection of Studytrips and Excursions
-- see <http://nspice5.blogspot.com/>

6. Personal Plan of Development
-- Looking back at my PPD from the beginning of the year I know that I have committed to my goals. My first goal was to improve my Dutch conversational skills. Even though, to me, it seems like I haven't improved much, others around me constantly comment on my ability to understand Dutch and speak it when I know how to say what it is I want to say. Over the past four months, I forced myself to use the Dutch language whenever an opportunity knocked. For example, on the street, or in a store, and even on the trains, when I had a question, I asked it in Dutch, and if I did not understand their answer, I asked them to please, repeat it in English or speak a bit slower. I found that this method worked well for me. I even catch myself speaking in Dutch to my friends from America on occasion. Oh yeah, and I almost forgot. I've met many Dutch students and my Dutch cousins and every time I spend time with them, I try to go the whole time speaking only Dutch (of course, it doesn't always work because my Dutch vocabulary is very limited yet, but it forced me to participate in Dutch converstations.)
My second goal was to become closer to God. This is not an easy task. I found it very difficult to keep myself motivated in reading the bible, but I tried to at least read a chapter a day and pray before bed. It's not like I've experienced a spiritual revelation or anything, but I know that I have at least laid the foundation for having God be a part of my life. It just takes time and committment now. Change usually does not happen over night.
My third goal was to make relationships with Dutch students so that I could experience Dutch student-life before my study in Middelburg this coming fall. Again, I have succeeded. I have a number of Dutch "buddies" ;) that I spend time with and chat with online. Bienke, Janbart, Femmie, Merith, Mirjam, Mirjam, Enneke, and a couple of others. It's great to make new friends and to practice my Dutch conversational skills with them every chance that I get. English is not easy for everyone of these "buddies" so it's nice for them to have an American student interested in their language. We have a mutual agreement when it comes to language.
My fourth goal was to learn more about the Dutch identity and the American identity. This was definitely a challenge, mostly because it is not learned from a book. I found that it was crucial to immerse myself in the Dutch culture and to really be mindful of the people around me in order to grasp an idea of what made these people Dutch and what made ME American. Simply observing was not enough either. I had to debate with these Dutchfolk. I had to hang out with them, talk with them, laugh with them, etc. I had to learn them! I do not feel like I've developed a clear understanding of the Dutch identity and I feel like I have also broke down some stereotypes of the American identity and perhaps replaced them with new ones. However, I do know this: de Nederlander and the American will never be the same.
My final goal was to obtain a more accurate self-concept, personal identity. I've found my complexities to be confusing at times; having a difficult time understanding why I do the things that I do, why I value the things that I value, and why I have some of the convictions I have? Over the past four months, I've kept a personal journal, a personal self-reflection. I've taken note of things that happened in the past and compared them with things that were happening to me in the present. I've made connections and theories. I've developed a new philosophy pertaining only to myself, but I know it's true. My goal to find my identity is not complete, for I am not complete. I am still changing, but I know now, through all of my journalings, some of the reasons why I am the way that I am. I've also learned through my experiences and my committment to God, that I do not have to lose hope in my future because I am not as bad as I often claim to be. Even Godly men, men after God's own heart, had committed awful sins. Sins that I wouldn't dream of committing, but they were with God. They confessed these sins to God. I've found a comfort in my life: God. Without God, I would only dwell on the sins I have committed and I would rot in them. With God, I can know that I can be forgiven and I can LEARN from these heavy barrings that I CAN change and I will change through Him. Finding myself was more so finding my God. I had to stop living for myself everyday and start living for the one that GAVE ME LIFE! Knowing this, however, does not make it easy. It's a life-long stuggle. Sin will always seperate me from God, but I can fight! I can chose to commit to Him. I am His, not my own.

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