It really is...TGIF!!!

Has it only been a week since I got back from the Philippines? Feels like I need another holiday! Suffering from jetlag and all, I started the Intensieve Taal Programma (Intensive Dutch language program) last Monday. The program director encouraged me to pursue this experimental program despite the fact that I was to miss two weeks of classes, i.e. 60 hours total! So one could just imagine that I am up to my neck just catching up with all the missed classes (this was despite my best effort to study during my vacation). By Tuesday, I was just ready to give up and consider joining the standard program of 15 hours/week, which will start in 2 weeks time. I felt that I would be killing myself to just catch up. But thanks (?) to my teacher and program director, they would not let me give up easily for fear that I may get bored with the 15 hour program (as what other people have experienced). For one the Intesieve Program allows the participants to finish the Integration requirement within 6 months time. In short, if I manage to stay in this program, I will be finishing up almost at the same time as those who started the regular program last September 2004. Secondly, the experimental program is being offered for free, at least for now, and this may not be the case in the future. The program was not called Intesieve for no reason. Unlike the standard classes, the class is limited to 12 (one participant has apparently dropped out) and follow a very rigid schedule from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Thursdays and 9:00-12 on Fridays. The week is always concluded by several tests. Furthermore, the only break we get everyday is an hour of self study (which is really not enough time to finish all the homeworks) and 15 minutes pauze (break). We also juggle between 6 different books on top of the computer exercises. There are two teachers who are assigned to us that are very hands on. There is a lot of emphasis on speaking and writing. Furthermore, we all start on the same level and such the pacing is really fast (which is a disadvantage for me given my absences). What is particularly interesting about this program is the one hour Taallunch, where a typical Dutch lunch (soup, bread, cheese, ham, salad, etc) is served for free from Monday-Thursdays. The idea is to make use of this time to converse in Dutch. For the first 15 minutes we are allowed to talk in whatever language we choose but then once lunch starts, it is strictly Dutch. So even asking someone to pass the bread or tea should be said in Dutch. Everyday, there are designated teachers (not limited to the Dutch language teachers) and current students from the College who would join and converse with us during lunch. Furthermore, there is also participation from the community where some volunteer retirees also join. Last Thursday for instance, one of the retirees brought maps of the different countries of our origin and made this as his topic of conversation. We also have a lot of speaking exercises such as when the whole class went to the train station and each of us had to approach at least 3 Dutch passengers to ask about their travel plans, this after only 2 weeks of classes. I like the speaking exercises and taallunch because it give us more confidence to express ourselves in Dutch, despite the mistakes. Now, hubby and I are allocating an hour a day (for a start) to speak Dutch to each other and I have managed to talk to my MIL over the phone in Dutch (well a very simple conversation). I must say that I am quite impressed with the efforts made by city council, the Newcomers Bureau and the college. I have heard about some disappointing experiences about the Integration Program within the Netherlands in general, but I am happy to see that such initiatives are being done to answer the different needs of the new immigrants. The experimental program is considered to be quite expensive for the council, but could be well worth it in the end if they manage to bring these new immigrants back to the workforce in no time. The facilities are also excellent--computers are mostly brand new and abundant, and the environment very conducive to learning. The teachers are very accessible and in fact the lead teacher made it a point to discuss my progress everyday so I could catch up. For sure, I could not say that support has not been offered to me. I must admit that I am a bit overwhelmed. Tired, jetlagged and feeling a bit sick, I have no idea if I have enough energy (and time) to catch up. Most of my classmates are also very young, competitve and just raring to go. I feel that I am not up to the rhythm yet, I feel that I am too slow. However, most of my classmates have been very helfpul and understanding about my uncertainties as they have experienced the same. Hubby also reminded me that I need more time to adjust, especially after a month long vacation and several months of being out of work and practically on leisure mode. I guess I can't be too hard on myself, huh. Likewise, I have to get used to the idea of studying from 9:00-4:30 pm and doing homeworks again. Afterall, even when I was taking my Master's degree, the schedule was not this rigid. My saving grace is, I have some time to catch up on some work because of the Oeteldonk Carnival, a very big celebration in this part of the Netherlands, and thus schools will be closed for a week. It has been a tiring week no doubt. However, it feels good to appreciate weekend again. It also feels good to be back on track, be busy as if having the usual working hours, meet new people and learn again. Since I moved here, even small things such as these, make me appreciate the simple joys in life. In a way, I am glad that my feeling for TGIF! is back, as I have not known the difference of a Monday or a Friday nor a Sunday during my first five months in the Netherlands. Somehow last Friday, i really savoured the quiet and relaxing dinner with my husband and the very first chance for me to put up my feet on the couch and think ahhhh weekend!