click!
We get to welcome our visitors to our IT workshop LAByrint (labyrinth), where they can practice handwriting on our large digital Prowise board, play Osmo Tangram (an app for primary school) and program with the cute Bee-bot robots for young children.
—
Posted as part of Six Word Saturday.
~
Life dresses
in many layers
as daughter
best friend
lover and
mother
but then
one by one
these sheets of life
are stripped away
until nothing’s left
but the bare core
the essence
the soul
flies
~
For Lia Daenen, co-worker and friend – Rest In Peace, sweetheart.
~
your heartbeat falters
taking you too far away
for us to follow
~
where ever you go
our love will accompany
your sweet and brave soul
~
hang on to our hands
we will hold you, in our heart
you’ll live on, always
~
Last Monday we received a message that Richard Verhoeven, one of our students, is very, very ill. Saturday he was found in cardiac arrest by his family. Ever since he has been in hospital, fighting for his life. Our academy is devastated, students and staff alike. This afternoon we received the horrible news that his parents and brother have to get ready to say goodbye.
A bright young man, only 19 years old. He is always ready with a smile, lending a hand where it is needed in a refreshing and spontaneous way. His enthusiasm inspires others on many occasions.
Richard, you are never far from my thoughts in these hours. Be strong, young friend. Be strong enough to stay, and brave enough to let go if that is what you must do. We are there with you and your family.
Marion
________________________________________________________________
Yesterday I stared into the eyes of a complete stranger. Non-stop, for ten seconds. No talking involved. It was interesting and weird. Afterwards I asked for his name, so he (Koen) was no stranger anymore 😉
It was a challenge during the annual Education Day of our university. The speaker told us that the average time married people look full into each other’s eyes is eight seconds a day. Only eight seconds?! Can anyone confirm that? I stare into V-man’s eyes much longer, but perhaps that is because we don’t live together.
On our way back to the academy, I saw this statue, with a fancy fair in the background. I jumped onto the bicycle path (yes, we have plenty of those in Holland), was almost run over by several vehicles, but managed to take this photo. The Fair Man.
Photos of the oriental party of our academy last Friday, as promised:
😀
Again you visited
sneaking in
and delivering the first blow
only to hit even harder
moments later
tattering the foundations
of our existence
—
You have done enough
for now, Death
take this departed soul
and keep him close
be gentle
—
‘Thank you’
for this reminder
of our mortality
the need
to make each day
precious and special
—
‘Thank you’
for showing the necessity
to tell our loved ones
once again
they are treasured
infinite, unconditionally
—
Thank you
and damn you
heartless and cruel
Death
—
Harsh master
have mercy
please
—
Gentle man who dances
with grace and concentration
Philosopher of pureness
at peace with universe
Tranquil wisdom
in quiet contemplation
Introspective eyes
a neverending reverse
Dear Jos,
Farewell. Thank you for being you!
In treasured friendship,
~Marion
During the first three weeks of April our academy, the teacher training college for primary education at Avans University of applied sciences in Breda, * gasps for air * is hosting
This intensive program teaches students from Belgium, Turkey, United Kingdom, Slovenia and Holland how to go about teaching English to Dutch elementary school children with a variety of cultural backgrounds by means of drama and music.
After nerve wrecking last minute interventions by professor Agnes Taks (the driving force behind the project) finally all visa were cleared and last Monday the participating foreign students of Moving Targets arrived at Schiphol Airport, safe and sound. Amongst other things, the group visited an elementary school to see what Dutch schools are about and had time to enjoy the beautiful city of Amsterdam.
Then yesterday at 9 AM the twenty five students walked into a classroom of Avans university in Breda. The room was brightly decorated with colorful flags. The whole group had spent the night at a house in the neighborhood of Breda, which was filled to the brim with rented bunk beds. Some of them look really tired, but everyone had a big smile and was eager to start with the program.
Agnes opened the meeting by telling a beautiful anecdote about Martin Luther King, and concluded with saying that there is only one race: people; that there is only one country: earth, and one language: love. It was great to see the impact of these words. Our dean Nicole van Son introduced herself and welcomed all to the Avans University, after which professor Muzaffer Yanik spoke a few words. Carla Nijlunsing (drama), Margriet Veenbrink (English) and Kitty van Gulick (music) were also present.
Like last year, I was asked (as bilingual writer) to recite my poems. In 2010 accompanied on piano by Kitty in a wonderful way, but yesterday it was only my voice and thirty pair of eyes. Plus an extra lens of the camera. Increasing the volume of my voice to the crescendo needed at the end of the first poem could pose a bit of a challenge, since my trachea decided to entertain me with an insistent tickling since last Sunday. Bad BAD trachea! Luckily a cup of licorice tea sweetened the coughing fits into temporary submission.
For this special occasion I chose:
After a brief intro, in which I led my audience along the road I had taken to end up writing in English, my poems were handed out on paper.Then I started with Where The Wind Sleeps, forcing myself to speak slowly. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins at an intense pace and my face was glowing. Everybody listened and absorbed my words in silence. When I finished, they spontaneously started applauding ooooh WOW that was so nice! The same with my second poem Spring oh Spring, you are not lost! *happy smile*. I ended by wishing the students great, joyful and instructive weeks and fell down on my chair again. Pfew. Icy cold shaky hands and the rest on fire haha. But it was exhilarating and fun to do.
Language uniting people from all over Europe! I will try to share photos and perhaps films of this wonderful program in the weeks to come.
Figments of a DuTchess 