Basisonderwijs (Primary Education)

We arrived here in Holland from our vacation in Manila two weeks ago... Then our daughter went to school right away... The photo above show's her 1st day of school.

Here in Holland a child who turns 4 yrs. old could already enter in Groep 1 (or like Group 1) of the Basisoderwijs (Primary education) or what we usually call here as "basisschool". But 2 weeks before the child's 4th birthday she or he will have a chance to attend the Groep 1 class just to have the feeling already or sort of practice before their official 1st day of school.

Last year, our daughter does went to basisschool just to get used to Groep 1. It's amazing because she was not really so shy then. Infact, on the first day that i brought her to her class she whispered to me to go home already, haha! But on her official 1st day of school and that was two weeks ago,you can also see in the photo that she was sooo shy, her teacher had to even let het sit on her lap:)

Kerstfeest op school (Christmas party in school)

We have our Kerstfeest op school (Christmas party in school)... It's the first christmas party for me here in Holland... I'm really soooo happy!.... Way back in Manila, every christmas season I'm attendting to at least 3 christmas parties a year... At work, at the Parish church, then separate christmas party in the organization where I'm a member too.... Then sometimes there will be some invitation from christmas party of some friends, then there are christmas party for relatives which usually considered as family reunion.... Yes, December is always a busy month so much activities so many parties to go to... Last year, I'm kind a miss the christmas party, I thought there will be at least a christmas party at my husband's work but I just heard then that it's not common here to have company's christmas party....

I would like to thank Michael our classmate, for leading the organizing of christmas party... At first this was suppose to be only in our class, then we invited the students of our teacher from other class she have... Then our contact persons and volunteers from Stichting Welzijn Oldambt came as well to join the party... Anyone can bring food or drinks, so there were really so much food and drinks.... As for me, I was so busy then so I just prepared a fruit salad... We did have exhange gift too...

We have a sort of Recognition day too... We prepared a special kind of Certificate of appreciation for our mentors... Lineke, Lijla, Paul, Christine and Josefa.... Gefeliciteerd!

It was such a nice kerstfeest before our christmas vacation in school...

Gedicht (Poem)

Today we received from "Sinterklaas" in school a letter milk chocolate and gedicht (poem)... It's usual during gift giving on Sinterklaas to have a gift and poem with it... and the gedicht (poem) that we received is the one written below... it's in dutch so I think it's more for my dutch readers and for my classmates too...

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Lieve cursisten!

Een paar dagen geleden, ja donderdag vorige week
was het Sint die stiekem door het raam van het klaslokaal keek.
Hij zag jullie zitten en hard werken... zonder dat de "juf" erbij was!
Tjeeminee....... jullie zijn dus echt wel een heel bijzondere klas!
Goede, vlijtige studenten met culinaire kwaliteiten... en wat de eigenaardigheden zijn?
Dat vertelt de Sint jullie op rijm!

De grote ster der NT2
is MARGARITA.... nul fout in het dictee!
Dus binnenkort staat er bij jou misschien in de schuur een nieuwe fiets??
Jammer voor de anderen, want zij krijgen helemaal niets.
Maar ach, het is altijd feest,
vooral als MICHAEL geweest.,
Erg snel naar school vanuit Bellingwolde met zijn nieuwe auto
met de wens nu "Let it snow" !!!
Hij verzorgt ons met veel hartigs en zoet,
ook zijn prijsgunstige aardappelsalade Najarstijl viel erg goed!

DAVID zit nog niet zo lang in onze klas,
Maar aan zijn gewoontes te zien zou je denken dat hij een echte Nederlander was...
"Koffie? eeh... moet ik zelf betalen?,"
"Nou als het gratis is, ja dan wil ik het wel gaan halen." :)
MEHRAN is nu ook bij ons en is erg blij
want de tijd dat de lessen "rampzalig" waren, is nu voorbij
Jouw specialiteit uit Iran...
Een echte Iraanse kotelet die laat je niet staan!

KADER is in onze klas ook nog niet zo lang
En hij zeker niet bang.
Is de docent te laat?
Docent Kader zorgt ervoor dat de les gewoon doorgaat!
AMINA heeft het druk druk druk
en haar Marokkaanse sigaar met vis kan bij ons niet meer stuk.
Zelfs met haar baby (erg lief... maar wel veel werk) haalt ze alles met gemak
Het diploma "Staatsexamen" heeft ze al voor de helft op zak!

Kijk daar is onze TITHIRAT
Ze maakte voor ons "Lapkai".... wat is dat?
Zij wil graag in een koor zingen
Misschien als ze wat ouder is...? Ze heeft al zoveel andere dingen!
Laten we ORHAN niet vergeten.
Van zijn lekkere Turkse sigaar boregi hebben we erg veel gegeten.
Hij houdt echt niet van huisdieren,
Maar gelukkig wel van mensen , als ze maar niet klieren!

DIMITRI is er nu gelukkig ook weer bij
en we worden allemaal zo blij
van zijn lieve wensen:
"Prettige dag verder, groeten aan familie" voor alle mensen.
KONSTANTIN zien we op heel veel dagen...
Altijd vriendelijk en vol vragen.
Dat doet de goede Sint veel plezier
Daarom is er ook voor jou een cadeautje hier.

Onze "gouden" JOSEFA hebben we vandaag nog niet gezien
Komt ze maandag dan misschien?
Ze is de rots in de branding en de rechterhand van de docent
Altijd vriendelijk , vol vuur en zeer actief op elk moment!

Ach lieve studenten, jullie moeten weten
Dat de goede Sint jullie nooit zal vergeten.
Jullie maken de Sint gelukkig en blij :)
Dus......... is er een pakje voor jullie allemaal bij!

Veel liefs van Sint en Piet!

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We're really glad to receive the letter chocolate gift we received with the poem above... It's so special how Sinterklaas mentioned each one of us in it... The first four lines written in bold letters were meant for me, about having no wrong spelling in dictation that will give a chance for me to win a bicycle... (i hope)....

It's timing that I have my camera with me so I made some photos... In the photo above you'll see (from left to write) Dimitri, Tithirat, Lineke (our teacher, who probably wrote this poem, hehe), me, Michael, Orhan, Mehran and Kader.

"Dank je wel Sinterklaas en Piet"

Het Groot Dictee der NT2 (The Big Dictation of NT2)

Six years ago when Thieme Meulenhoff launched the first Het Groot Dictee der Nt2- Nederlands als tweede taal (The Big Dictation of NT2 (Dutch as 2nd language)... The dictation/spelling is annually given to all foreiner students here in Holland Nationwide... with four different levels: A1, A2, B1 and B2/C1... or simply level 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively...

Last October 30, we took the dictation and for me, I took the A2 because I'm now in Level 2 with my dutch language in school... Today, we received the result... I'm think I'm guided with angels during the dictation, I don't have any mistake... I didn't expect this, way back in Manila, my weakness in school were the spelling quizzes. I always failed with spelling quizes then... But today, it's true, my teacher gave me a copy of my paper and at first I'm a bit afraid then that maybe she made mistake in checking my paper, I was afraid that maybe I have a mistake and she doesn't noticed... but yeah, I guess that could really happen to me... :)

The Het Groot Dictee der Nt2 will give 1 bicycle per level as a prize, but of course I'm not the only one who have a perfect score in A2 level, so what the teacher will do is to submit my paper to the Thime Meulenhoff (the organizer), then they will do some lottery to get the name of the lucky winner of bicycles ( 1 bike per level) ... As for me, I will have that chance to win bicycle but I'm more than happy already to receive the souvenir mug (as shown in the photo)... that's a special prize a got from my teacher... Denk je wel Lineke!

My classmate Titirat from Thailand brought her camera that's why we have a chance to make some photos together with our classmates.... :)

NT2 Niveau 1 (A1) - Dutch as 2nd language Level 1

Today is the first day of school... Yes, I'm not yet done studying dutch language... With my status here in Holland, normally I'm required to take Inburgering Course and pass the Inburgering Exam before I could apply for Dutch passport...

But then I have another option and that is to take Staatsexamen NT2 course and pass the Staatsexamen exam... I choose Staatsexamen... Inburgering is much easier and more on studying culture, but with Staatexamen is to really study the dutch language till Level 4... It's a bit harder and higher level so if I will pass the exam (please pray for me) then I don't need to take Inburgering exam anymore... And with Staatsexamen I could go to school here to study another course or better maybe to refresh Accounting course, but if it would be hard then I have option to study Boekhouding (Bookeeping) here... I hope I could really do it so I could have a good job in the future...

By the way, the photo above was taken last March 2009 with my Verklaring (Testimonial) on NT2 Niveau 1 (A1) - (Dutch as 2nd Language Level 1). It's like a certificate and I'm really excited and proud that I'm done with Level 1, as of now I'm preparing to take exam for Level 2... :) Succes to me!

Powerpoint to Video

In 2004, the Infomation System Division of Tariff Commission where I'm working then gave special lessons on "How to make powerpoint presentation?" This is the first Power Point Presentation I made titled 'Bakit pa ba'... I used the song "Bakit pa ba?" by Jay R, then I put the lyrics in the animations then I put photos as well from the movie "The Passion of the Christ"... The song "Bakit pa ba?" was supposed to be like a love song but then if you'll listen to the lyrics you can really coordinate it with the photos from "The Passion of the Christ".

I've search in the internet on how can I convert the Power Point Presentation into Video, then I found the "Moyea PPT to Video" converter. Then I used it to convert "Bakit pa ba" powerpoint presentation into Video that's why "I'm sorry if it bothers you to see in the upper left side of the video the Moyea watermarks.... Still Thank you Moyea.

On this Lenten season, I thought maybe it's nice to convert it into video, so I could upload it into YouTube at the same time so I could put it here in my blog too.

Happy Easter to everyone!

MYMP "Make Your Mama Proud"

Last week, I received photos from Manila, the graduation day of my niece Red. I'm happy to see those photos.. When I saw the first photo, in which my sister-in-law walks with Red going to the stage... I remember one of my favorite acoustic bands way back in Philippines the MYMP... When I saw the first photo I saw the true meaning of MYMP which is "Make Your Mama Proud", see how happy my sister-in-law then while walking with Red? My sister in law named "Happy" is really happy then... I like that photo...

Red just graduated from Kinder school (Mother Sheperd Academy). She graduated with 2nd Honor and got the First Place award in Reading and Spelling bee contest last October 2008...

Congratulations! Red
Congrats too to your Papa and Mama too.

May God continue to bless you to be a bright girl for always...

I guess I could say it MYFP too - "Make Your Family Proud"... See the smile of my brother in the 4th photo?... for sure the whole family is proud of you Red, especially your Lolo's and Lola's as well... Keep up the good work!

Mini Playback show

We've attended the Mini Playback show in the school of Sharon and Nienke (daughters of Ron)... It's nice, kids did the lipsinging... Sharon as Amy Macdonald and lipsings "This is the life". And Nienke as Grabrielle Cilmi and lipsings "Sweet about me". I've enjoyed the night... I've enjoyed watching kids doing the lipsinging of their favorite singers...

Dora the Explorer

Last Christmas (2008), Mireille receives a gift from my family in Manila, it is Dora doll...

Since we came here last year February, I let her watch Dora the Explorer every now and then on TV which is in Dutch language. But sometimes I let her watch also Dora DVD but only in English language...

Last month, she don't have a chance to watch Dora because I just don't see the Dora DVD around here anymore and I always forgot to put the chanel in Nickelodeon everytime there's Dora...  Aside from the past few weeks, her favorite was Bambi -a young deer from Walt Disney.

Then last week, my daughter had a chance again to watch Dora DVD in (English)... Wow! I've observed how Dora film fits for viewing now with my daughter (who is now almost 2 years and 2 months old)... I've observed how she tried to answer Dora as interaction in watching her... For a week, my daughter was so fond of watching Dora. Before I turn-on the TV, she is requesting me already "Boots, Boots, Boots"... Aahhh yes, she mean `Boots` the monkey and best friend of Dora who is most of the time with her on most of her adventures... So yes, as for now, my daughter´s favorite was Boots than Dora, hehe! 

Anyway, I´ve heard from my brother that my niece named Red, who was fond of watching Dora too, is now 5 years old, she´s going to school already and she can really speak english with a slang accent... but the problem is it´s a bit difficult now for her to speak some Tagalog words... It´s nice Red can somehow understand and speak english in early age, but there´s a bit problem with tagalog language, which is main language in Philippines.... So now, I should make a decision in what language should my daughter watch Dora, in english or dutch? I think better for her to watch it in dutch, so she would not have problem with communcation here and she would not have a problem when she starts to go to school... because last night, I´ve heard her already, speaking some english language which for sure she learn from watching Dora in english language... 

For sure, she will still learn some english words from some english animated movies she sometimes watch here... And as of now, I´m trying to teach her some tagalog words as well, one word at a time...

Voorjaarsvakantie (Spring Vacation)

It's our Voorjaarsvakantie (Spring Vacation) this week, starting February 14 to 22. Just a week school vacation which is also known as "Spring Break"....

Docent (Teacher)

****
Lang zal zij leven
lang zal zij leven
lang zal zij leven
in de gloria
in de gloria
in de gloria
Hiep hiep hoera
hiep hiep hoera
hiep hiep hoera

***
Dag Marjan,

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!
Ik wens je een hele mooie dag.
Heel veel bedankt voor alles.

Groetjes,
Margaret

***
Marjan was my docent (teacher) in my Dutch Language course... She's really a good teacher for sure... It's sad because she had chosen to teach in another school (near by to where she lives). So just last November 25, she was no longer our teacher anymore. Still, i wish her success and I hope to see her again.
In the first photo you'll see Marjan our teacher, then on 2nd photo you'll see us together with my classmates in our group. Then on 3rd photo you'll see our classmate from other group (they are on higher lessons). By the way, those photos were taken last 11th of November, it was Joana's birthday then, the beautiful girl wearing white long sleeve. She's from Venenzuela, Belated Happy Birthday Joana.

Cursus Naaien (Study of Sewing)

I just started a Naaicursus (Sewing Course) and it would be every Monday. The lesson will be in dutch language but I'm really interested with sewing so I think then it would be easy then. My mother is a good dressmaker. Infact it's her job even before she get married with my father. So as early as on my teenager days, I have chance to help her with sewing when she is loaded with clothes to make, that's why somehow I know already the basic. Since our childhood she's the one who make our school uniforn, costume, gown, casual clothes and others. Also it's my mother who make my wedding gown... And I'm really proud of her....

By the way, on our first day in Naai (sew) lesson. I made already a little thing like a cellfone case... In the first photo, you'll see me with our mentor Kitty. Then on 2nd photo we are with my classmate also in school Amina... Mooi!

Herfstvakantie 2008 (Autumn vacation)

Herfst (Autumn) seaon is here. Here in Holland it starts on 22 September this year.

And now we have our Herfstvakantie (Autumn/Fall vacation) for this week. It's one of the official school vacations here in Holland and this year Herfstvakantie starts 18 to 26 October. But for me it's not really a holiday ha, because i have lots of "school assignment" to do and to study too. But for sure it would be a nice week vacation because I would have more time for my sweet daughter Mireille, for I don't need to leave her to a "Nanny" this week.

Fijne Vakantie! to other students like me....

NT2 (Nederlands als tweede taal)

NT2 means Nederlands als tweede taal (Dutch as second language). Since I started going to school i've been so unbelievable busy with dutch language. At first my schedule in the school are every Tuesday and Thursday. And now I have additional schedule, every Wednesday too. So it's not even easy for me to go online now always...

By the way, I just got a new pocketwoordenboek (dictionary), "NT2 - Nederlands as tweede taal" by Van Dale... with this dictionary, the definition of every word is in dutch, so everynow and then I still have to use my Dutch-English and English-Dutch dictionary, hehe!... But this NT2 dictionary is always recommended by our teachers for us to get used purely in dutch words... Also this book have free CD to listen for the right pronounciation as well... so I think this book would help me a lot with studying dutch. Good ha!

Fijn weekend!

Grade Card

Meet "Red" (Rosber Marie), she's the eldest daughter of my brother Jon... I just received a copy of her School's Grade Card (on it's 1st Periodic Rating) in email... Her highest rating is in Mathematics subject, my favorite subject.... I'm proud of her, Red is really a smart girl...
Congrats to Red and keep up the good work! Congrats also to Happy and Jon, i know that you're teaching her well that's why it's easy for her with her studies.

By the way, i've noticed in her Grade Card among Teacher's Remarks there is "HONEST TO HIMSELF AND TO OTHERS"... I remember the very firt time I've created my profile in MSN Messenger and Friendster profile too... in the question "Who I wan to meet?" I filled up... "SOMEONE TRUE TO HIMSELF AND TRUE TO OTHERS"... because that kind of person is then the true person you meet.....

Study Habit

I expected it already that once i started going to school, it would not be easy for me to write my blog as often as i want.... I usually write my blog in the evening. But now, evening is the only time for me to review my lessons in dutch language. Yes, that's my STUDY HABIT even before when I'm still studying in college... I can be easily distructed, with noise around that's why I prefer to study at night or at the middle of the night especially. And I need to give time to study dutch language for me to concentrate and to understand the dutch lessons. And to try to talk dutch now as well... They said, when you started studying dutch language you have to forget "for moment" the English language because there are conflicts with rules in grammar and spelling...
So next time my blog will be in dutch... Grapje! (Joke!) :)

Graduation of NFP Scholars

We went to the University of Groningen and attended the Graduation Ceremony of the Scholars of NFP (Netherlands Fellowship Programme).

There are 14 International Students from Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, China, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Tanzania, Yemen, Vietnam, Ghana and Philippines. Two of them are Filipinos namely Charlie Balinquit and Gizella Marie Herrera, they are both Government Employee of the Philippines. Charlie is working at DepEd (Dept. of Education) and Gizella Marie is working at NEDA (Nat'l Economic Dev't Authority). I've mentioned them already in my previous blog in Koffietijd. Charlie's course is Master of Science in Education while Gizella is MSc International Economics and Business. But it's only Charlie who had a chance to attend the ceremony because Gizella's flight going back to Manila is also today. Charlie became a good friend of Ron and I, that's why he invited us to attend his graduation...

Congratulations to 14 International Students for your graduation especially to Charlie and Gizella.

Eerste Dag (1st Day) in School

Today is my first day in school for my Dutch Language course. It's an easy day, we are 12 foreigner students in a class, most of them are on higher level already and been in Holland for years. We are just two newcomers and both of us just 6 months in Holland, me and Olga from Russia.... I mean higher level for my classmates because some already in Lesson 6, 8 and 12 of our CODE 1 textbook... While me, I'm just in Lesson 1... It's a bit strange for me how the class will study... I mean, our teacher divides us into 3 groups, like it would be a group study... Then we are divided according to the Lessons we have finished (mostly in self study) in CODE 1 textbook we have... I don't have so much time to ask how is it possible that most of my classmates know each other already, and most of them are on higher Lesson already... Because we have to speak dutch so I don't have the courage to ask the teacher right away for the things that I like to know about our class situation, hehe!

Anyway, we are 3 beginners in Group 1, then there's Group 2 start with Lesson 6 and most of my classmates in Group 3 already in Lesson 8... In our Group, I'm with Olga (Russian), although she's just 6 months here, she does went to school for 3 months here, so somehow she can speak in dutch already and Michael (American) is 7 years already here in Holland, but it's only now that he will learn dutch language...

Still, I feel I'm the only beginner in our class but no problem of course... Mooi! (Nice!)

My Dutch Language Class Schedule

I've got a letter from Noorderpoortcollege.

My class schedule:
Tuesday 11:30-14:15
Thursday 8:45-14:15

Classes will begin next week (for me on August 26).
I'm so excited!