I've come to discover that most of the people I meet here tend to think of me as being a lot younger than I actually am. Although I'm 30 years old now, people have said on many occasions that they thought I was in my early 20s (the youngest to date is 22 - thank you Joy!). While this is fabulous for my ego (!!!) I've begun to wonder what it is that makes this happen.
After thinking on it, I've decided it must be one of three reasons:
1. I actually look 22...just kidding
2. I'm not married and I live on my own which makes me appear younger to certain people (see earlier blogs for more details)
3. I don't know the language very well and I cannot articulate myself as well as I would like to (or sometimes at all). Thus, I often use simple words which can make me appear younger regardless of how I look.
In my opinion, I think the last possibility is the most probable. When someone learns that I cannot speak the language very well I receive different reactions including sympathy, annoyance or sometimes dismissal; for the most part however, people feel the need to try and help me. Being unable to speak the language very well, I constantly feel like a student of the language with everyone around me -regardless of age-being my teacher. It's an interesting position to find myself in. While I don't mind being a student (I've been one for over 10 years now) I wouldn't mind growing up a bit in the eyes of others. I can't wait until I can skilfully converse in meaningful ways. But hey, if I ever get too frustrated I should just remind myself that doing fieldwork is good for the appearance...at least that's what everyone's telling me!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Walking back from the grocery store the other day with Pdot and Miami, a comment was made concerning how nice and how much effort was put into certain parts of our neighbourhood. The specific area that was being referred to is located one or two blocks away from where I live. As you can see in the photograph here, lining the sidewalk in front or 5 or 6 houses is a row of potted plants, benches, flowers and knickknacks. If I remember correctly, it was Miami who said something to the effect of: "Really though! In other cities and in other neighbourhoods plants and nice pots like these would probably be smashed. But here everything is respected". Pdot concurred that there is a lot of respect in our neighbourhood for personal property. This 'respect' only seemed strange to us because of the preconceived notions about living in a big city like Rotterdam; a city that also boasts the most problem neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. My neighbourhood is not one of the supposed 'achterwijken' or bad neighbourhoods here in Rotterdam. It is instead categorised as ‘moderately positive’ however, I have been told that my own street (just two blocks away) is bordering on the moderate to moderately negative status. So what does this say about the process of categorising neighbourhoods along the spectrum of good to bad? There are certainly effects from having one’s neighbourhood categorised as problematic: one’s property value goes down, there is more policing in the area (this is debatably a good thing), and the neighbourhood undoubtedly receives a negative reputation, which can also affect how one might view the inhabitants of such an area (destroying personal property could be an example of asocial behaviour thought to be found in such areas). And while I don’t want to infer that a bunch of ‘intact potted plants’ lining one street should be taken to mean that our neighbourhood is free of all problems, I think it makes one think twice about the categorisation of neighbours as positive or negative spaces. For example: what standard is used to determine whether or not a neighbourhood is problematic? How many neighbours from that area were consulted? Can one standard be applied to all neighbourhoods throughout the Netherlands?
Whatever the case may be, (I intend to delve deeper into this question) the idea of problem neighbourhoods, the process of their categorisation, and the effects of this process, is something that should be taken seriously. For now, I will take examples such as these potted plants as signs of the importance of one's neighbourhood in everyday life and as a material connection one can make with their local surroundings. Besides all of this, these green areas are very nice to look at when you walk by! As Miami said, “Even the parking metres are gezellig (cozy)!” (see photography to the right). It might even make one feel better when they pay for park or if they get a parking ticket, how thoughtful...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Things that make you go....hmmmm
The evening before yesterday, I hopped back on the tram (I really must get my back tire fixed...yes, I have another flat...boo!) to the centre of town for a meeting with a new group called 'Welkom in Rotterdam'. This group is dedicated to bringing 'new' Rotterdamers in touch with 'old' Rotterdamers. In the latter category refers to "enthusiastic people who are already rooted in Rotterdam" (this statement and the following statements in this paragraph are taken from their website and translated by myself - so be warned, there is likely to be a margin of error in the translation!). Whereas 'new' Rotterdamers are local residents who have lived in Rotterdam for a short or long period of time and who want to get to know their city better and to practice Dutch. As the website states, 'new' Rotterdamers are often those people who are following an integration course. Welkom's services wishes to provide an opportunity to practice the Dutch language and to make newbies feel more at home in Rotterdam. The only stipulation is that all new Rotterdamers must have taken at least one semester language classes before attending any events so that new and old Rotterdamers can communicate with one another.
This beginners group is where I fit in. I showed up last night and probably had the worst level of Dutch in the entire group of Rotterdamers. Since I've moved here, I have been continually impressed by the diverse number of activities available to new inhabitants (or 'new' inhabitants that may have lived here for quite some time) in order to help them feel at home in their new city. As my Dutch teacher, we'll call her ‘Coach’, has told me, services for inburgering/welcoming has turned into a booming industry here in Rotterdam and elsewhere in the Netherlands.
As for last night, I walked in and was greeted by volunteers from the Welkom Rotterdam organisation. I was offered coffee, tea, and sandwiches and asked to take a seat wherever there was a yellow sheet of paper (to denote 'new' Rotterdammer; there were blue sheets for the 'old' Rotterdamers). Another newbie and I sat with two other oldies and chatted away. I listened more than spoke as I'm beginning (very slowly) to understand more of what is said and I continue to struggle with my sentence structures. We chatted until we were told the purpose of the evening was to find a partner who would take us around Rotterdam, 3 times in 3 months. We would meet that partner at a museum, coffee shop, or another place of our liking in Rotterdam to practice our Dutch and get to know our new city better. We were paired up with an oldie of our choice that we choose as a result of 4 minute 'interviews' with one another. I was impressed by the whole process and touched by the fact that there existed individuals who wanted to volunteer their time for us newbies. The oldies ranged in age, life histories, and ideologies, yet all agreed on the fact that making us new Rotterdamers feel at home, was an important activity.
The 'Welcome to Rotterdam' websites states that it's activities attempt to build bridges between different people and different cultures and so an event like this, while not linked with a neighbourhood, falls within my area of interest - of understanding how people of different backgrounds come together in Rotterdam. The question as to why any of us chose to participate is also very interesting for me. I chose to participate because this activity was intriguing from a research perspective but also because I wanted an opportunity to speak Dutch, meet new people and learn more about my city from 'an insider'. When I came across this group back in September 2009 (at the Seeds of Change Festival – see earlier blog) I was a bit put off by the fact that there were any requirements at all (i.e. having beginners Dutch) to take part in this service. Isn’t enthusiasm enough? But at the time, I hadn’t thought through all the specifics yet. I realise now that it is not the job of the oldies to teach newbies the Dutch language (although one improves through interaction alone) and that it would be very difficult to try and matches languages of partners if Dutch was not a requirement.
This activity brings the idea of integration to the forefront. It took me two days to get this post out because there were so many questions that have come to me as I try to understand the processes of integration...so instead of waiting another day (or two) I'll leave it here. What is integration? When is it applied and to whom? Who does it benefit? Who does it not benefit? How does it change? Are there processes in place that allow for 'checks and balances'? Things that make you go...Hmmmm.
This beginners group is where I fit in. I showed up last night and probably had the worst level of Dutch in the entire group of Rotterdamers. Since I've moved here, I have been continually impressed by the diverse number of activities available to new inhabitants (or 'new' inhabitants that may have lived here for quite some time) in order to help them feel at home in their new city. As my Dutch teacher, we'll call her ‘Coach’, has told me, services for inburgering/welcoming has turned into a booming industry here in Rotterdam and elsewhere in the Netherlands.
As for last night, I walked in and was greeted by volunteers from the Welkom Rotterdam organisation. I was offered coffee, tea, and sandwiches and asked to take a seat wherever there was a yellow sheet of paper (to denote 'new' Rotterdammer; there were blue sheets for the 'old' Rotterdamers). Another newbie and I sat with two other oldies and chatted away. I listened more than spoke as I'm beginning (very slowly) to understand more of what is said and I continue to struggle with my sentence structures. We chatted until we were told the purpose of the evening was to find a partner who would take us around Rotterdam, 3 times in 3 months. We would meet that partner at a museum, coffee shop, or another place of our liking in Rotterdam to practice our Dutch and get to know our new city better. We were paired up with an oldie of our choice that we choose as a result of 4 minute 'interviews' with one another. I was impressed by the whole process and touched by the fact that there existed individuals who wanted to volunteer their time for us newbies. The oldies ranged in age, life histories, and ideologies, yet all agreed on the fact that making us new Rotterdamers feel at home, was an important activity.
The 'Welcome to Rotterdam' websites states that it's activities attempt to build bridges between different people and different cultures and so an event like this, while not linked with a neighbourhood, falls within my area of interest - of understanding how people of different backgrounds come together in Rotterdam. The question as to why any of us chose to participate is also very interesting for me. I chose to participate because this activity was intriguing from a research perspective but also because I wanted an opportunity to speak Dutch, meet new people and learn more about my city from 'an insider'. When I came across this group back in September 2009 (at the Seeds of Change Festival – see earlier blog) I was a bit put off by the fact that there were any requirements at all (i.e. having beginners Dutch) to take part in this service. Isn’t enthusiasm enough? But at the time, I hadn’t thought through all the specifics yet. I realise now that it is not the job of the oldies to teach newbies the Dutch language (although one improves through interaction alone) and that it would be very difficult to try and matches languages of partners if Dutch was not a requirement.
This activity brings the idea of integration to the forefront. It took me two days to get this post out because there were so many questions that have come to me as I try to understand the processes of integration...so instead of waiting another day (or two) I'll leave it here. What is integration? When is it applied and to whom? Who does it benefit? Who does it not benefit? How does it change? Are there processes in place that allow for 'checks and balances'? Things that make you go...Hmmmm.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Researching en Route
I had a meeting at the Erasmus Universitiet today and decided to forgo cycling and take the tram instead. I hopped on the number 4 using my OV-chipkaart that is a pass for all transportation - metro/tram/bus - here in Rotterdam. I changed at the Weena stop to the number 7 tram which ends up at the university. As I boarded tram 7, I again checked in my pass and took an empty seat. Looking around, I could see that there weren't any tram cops (tram cops is the term I use for those people who walk up and down the tram checking riders' passes to ensure that they've paid). According to Pdot, these tram cops were instituted three or four years ago to stop people taking public transport for free (just hopping on and off without paying) and to lessen the occurrence of disturbances on the tram. This is interesting in itself as certain behaviours are expected in public transit spaces. What are they and who decided upon them? Anyway, back to the story, so I sat in my seat going over what I wanted to go over in my meeting when a plain-clothes man walked up to my seat, flashed a badge at me, and asked for my tram pass. This was the same man that I had seen not five minutes ago as I'd entered the tram. He was sitting on the box across from the doors that the tram cops usually sit on...aha! wait a minute! As I handed over my pass I asked if he spoke English, and then asked him if he were part of the stadswacht (city guards who usually walk the streets to ensure safety, etc. see earlier blog) and where his regular 'tram cop' uniform was? He replied that he works for the RET (Rotterdam Transit) and that the 'tram cops' were dressing in 'civilian clothes' today.
I'm not sure if this will become a common occurrence or if this was just a one-time thing but it left me with two feelings: 1. How ingenious! Yes, a bit of me is impressed by the creativity of the RET to foil the attempts of those not paying for public transit. I guess this is still a problem here in Rotterdam. 2. How shady! I also found this approach to policing the semi-public space of the tram to be over the top/too much. Shouldn't policing of the transit be done in a public manner? Is it really necessary to send in under-cover agents to catch people red-handed? I'm sure there are reasons for supporting and denying these actions. I guess I'm a bit of both right now although I’m left wondering how much further these under-cover measures will go? It can be a slippery slope, can't it?
I'm not sure if this will become a common occurrence or if this was just a one-time thing but it left me with two feelings: 1. How ingenious! Yes, a bit of me is impressed by the creativity of the RET to foil the attempts of those not paying for public transit. I guess this is still a problem here in Rotterdam. 2. How shady! I also found this approach to policing the semi-public space of the tram to be over the top/too much. Shouldn't policing of the transit be done in a public manner? Is it really necessary to send in under-cover agents to catch people red-handed? I'm sure there are reasons for supporting and denying these actions. I guess I'm a bit of both right now although I’m left wondering how much further these under-cover measures will go? It can be a slippery slope, can't it?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
On the Flip Side
In my blog I usually write about my positive experiences with my research or at least instructional experiences that I’ve had while living in the Netherlands. But this is a skewed and rather rose-coloured view of my life here since not all of my attempts at research are fruitful. This blog will be about an unsuccessful attempt at fieldwork - there are many more, trust me. Getting back into research this week one of the events on my to-do list was to attend a New Years party for the people living in Liskwartier (my neighbourhood) and Bergpolder (the bordering neighbourhood). I found out about this party through the neighbourhood newspaper and decided that I would go. This party began at 5pm and went until 8 so I intended to show up around 5.30 pm to be 'fashionably late' and make it home for a late dinner around 7.30. Having figured out where the party was located, I started off on foot and slipped and slided my way to the street. On the way I practiced some of the Dutch phrases that I thought I would use: "Hallo mijn naam is Jen en ik ben een onderzoeker uit Canada. Mijn onderzoek gaat over ‘hoe mensen in buurten komen samen in het dagelijks leven’." (Translation: hello, my name is Jennifer and I am a researcher from Canada. My research is about how people in neighbourhoods come together in everyday life).
Upon arriving, I walked down looking for the number but I couldn't find it. I walked north and south to see if the street continued which it did not. 'Think Jenn', I said to myself, 'it's got to be the biggest building on the block because they invited everyone out who lives in both neighbourhoods' and so I walked into my only option, the swimming pool. And there, tucked away behind the receptionist counter was in fact a small party! Mission accomplished, I had found it!
I walked up to join the group but right away found myself feeling a bit awkward and out of sorts. Although there were a lot of children playing, there were only a few adults and those adults who were there, were chatting in small groups of 2 or 3. Skirting the rambunctious children, I saw a man handing out what appeared to be a news letter. As he came around he skipped giving me one and so I followed him and asked if this was a letter about the New Years party? The only problem was (and this happens quite often) that he didn't understand me and deferred me to another woman standing beside him. She asked if I was looking for the New Years party and then proceeded to tell me (very quickly so I only caught half of what she was saying) that the majority of people were in another room listening to a presentation but that they would come back to the party after. I thanked her and went over to deliberate at the bar where there was a woman standing behind the counter looking a little less than enthused at the noise that the children were making.
I stood there not really knowing what to do next. Should I wait for the presentation to stop? The only problem was that I didn't know how long that would be. Did I know anyone there? Should I introduce myself to someone? I looked around to see if I recognised anyone from the activities that I've been volunteering for but I couldn't identify anyone. It must have taken me no longer than 30 seconds but it was then that I decided that I'd had enough and that I would go home, and so … I left.
It took me another 20 minutes to walk home that had more to do with the fact that it was treacherously icy terrain than the distance itself, and all the while, I was beating myself up for not making more of an effort to get out there! I did think about turning around and going back but then I thought how silly it might look if people from the presentation came out and I still did not recognise anyone. Although having more people in the room would allow me to blend in and mingle a little better, I guess I just wasn't up to finding out how long it would be for that group to join the party. So there you have it, it was a less than wonderful experience. I found out later that I would have known someone at the party since it was mentioned by one of the women I work/volunteer with during Friday bike lessons.
I’ve told myself that this experience has taught me to be a little more patient with my outings and I have promised myself to spend at least 10 minutes somewhere before I decide that I’ve had enough. Although this entry was about a less than thrilling account of my life here in the Netherlands, I think it shows that I have positive, negative, successful as well as unsuccessful experiences while living abroad. There’s always two sides to the coin, although I’m starting to think maybe there is still more sides to this yet!
Upon arriving, I walked down looking for the number but I couldn't find it. I walked north and south to see if the street continued which it did not. 'Think Jenn', I said to myself, 'it's got to be the biggest building on the block because they invited everyone out who lives in both neighbourhoods' and so I walked into my only option, the swimming pool. And there, tucked away behind the receptionist counter was in fact a small party! Mission accomplished, I had found it!
I walked up to join the group but right away found myself feeling a bit awkward and out of sorts. Although there were a lot of children playing, there were only a few adults and those adults who were there, were chatting in small groups of 2 or 3. Skirting the rambunctious children, I saw a man handing out what appeared to be a news letter. As he came around he skipped giving me one and so I followed him and asked if this was a letter about the New Years party? The only problem was (and this happens quite often) that he didn't understand me and deferred me to another woman standing beside him. She asked if I was looking for the New Years party and then proceeded to tell me (very quickly so I only caught half of what she was saying) that the majority of people were in another room listening to a presentation but that they would come back to the party after. I thanked her and went over to deliberate at the bar where there was a woman standing behind the counter looking a little less than enthused at the noise that the children were making.
I stood there not really knowing what to do next. Should I wait for the presentation to stop? The only problem was that I didn't know how long that would be. Did I know anyone there? Should I introduce myself to someone? I looked around to see if I recognised anyone from the activities that I've been volunteering for but I couldn't identify anyone. It must have taken me no longer than 30 seconds but it was then that I decided that I'd had enough and that I would go home, and so … I left.
It took me another 20 minutes to walk home that had more to do with the fact that it was treacherously icy terrain than the distance itself, and all the while, I was beating myself up for not making more of an effort to get out there! I did think about turning around and going back but then I thought how silly it might look if people from the presentation came out and I still did not recognise anyone. Although having more people in the room would allow me to blend in and mingle a little better, I guess I just wasn't up to finding out how long it would be for that group to join the party. So there you have it, it was a less than wonderful experience. I found out later that I would have known someone at the party since it was mentioned by one of the women I work/volunteer with during Friday bike lessons.
I’ve told myself that this experience has taught me to be a little more patient with my outings and I have promised myself to spend at least 10 minutes somewhere before I decide that I’ve had enough. Although this entry was about a less than thrilling account of my life here in the Netherlands, I think it shows that I have positive, negative, successful as well as unsuccessful experiences while living abroad. There’s always two sides to the coin, although I’m starting to think maybe there is still more sides to this yet!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Announcing the "Official" Ms. Long
Late last week I received a letter from the Bureau of Immigration and Integration stating that: at my convenience (during their open hours of course), I could collect my identity card! That's right! I am official allowed to camp out in the Nederlands until September 29th, 2010!
If you'll remember the last time (http://riotousrotterdam.blogspot.com/2009/10/proper-viewing.html) going to the Immigration office is not a lot of fun; yet, I had quite a different experience this time. I literally breezed through, first asking the reception for a ticket to ensure that I got to the correct counter on the first try. Walking over to the set of benches at the end, I saw to my utter disbelief that I was first in line to see the clerk. After about three or four minutes of waiting, she called me up, issued my card lickety-split, gave me a 'how-to' pamphlet in Dutch and English, and sent me on my way. The whole trip took me about 10 minutes.
My shiny new identification card is high-tech with textured photo imaging and if I might say, rather beautiful with all its colours - pinks, reds, greens, blues, and white. How does this card make me feel? Unfortunately, I feel no more at home (in the sense of belonging) than the day before because of the card's purpose. Until now I've been walking around the streets without the 'proper' identification according to police standards because they ask that I carry around my passport everyday, which I'm not willing to do (I loose things too easily). Thus now, if ever asked, I can whip out this official card which proves that I've been allowed to reside in the Nederlands.
Does it strike you odd that people might ask you for identification while walking down the street? When I was in Poland, QueenB also mentioned that she walked around with her passport (her Polish one) in case she was ever asked. As far as I know, this is not something that Canadians are requested to do. In fact, if we get pulled over whilst driving by the police, we have up to 24 hours to produce our licence! Hence, I can only guess that requests for identification are a European phenomenon. During the 4 months that I've been here, I have never once been asked to show my identification. Alas, this is not the case with everyone living here.
In Rotterdam (I'm not sure if this occurs elsewhere in the Nederlands), there are such things called 'preventative searches' conducted by the police. What this entails is that those individuals selected by the authorities "at random" (although there is a feeling that only young males who appear to be of 'foreign' background are targeted, I even think that there is a lawsuit currently pending) are frisked and their identification checked. If I have not already mentioned-these searches, to my knowledge, are conducted for the purpose of locating concealed weapons, drugs, etc to PREVENT future crimes. I know people who have been subjected to these searches and I was left with the feeling that those who had been searched felt violated to varying degrees (from greatly influenced to feelings of indifference). I find the fact that these searches are done in public, on a street corner, to be quite...how can you say it without offending anyone…f*#!ing invasive (pardon me). The idea of security is something that I will continue to pursue in the future.
I recognise that I might not have been asked for my identification to date because of where I live and where I frequent. However it could also be contingent on the fact that I am a white, educated, Canadian, female. My immigration experience in addition to these preventative searches have made me question the use of, and the need to carry, these identification cards. More information is needed from both perspectives of this situation: those who are asked for their id and those who request it.
If you'll remember the last time (http://riotousrotterdam.blogspot.com/2009/10/proper-viewing.html) going to the Immigration office is not a lot of fun; yet, I had quite a different experience this time. I literally breezed through, first asking the reception for a ticket to ensure that I got to the correct counter on the first try. Walking over to the set of benches at the end, I saw to my utter disbelief that I was first in line to see the clerk. After about three or four minutes of waiting, she called me up, issued my card lickety-split, gave me a 'how-to' pamphlet in Dutch and English, and sent me on my way. The whole trip took me about 10 minutes.
My shiny new identification card is high-tech with textured photo imaging and if I might say, rather beautiful with all its colours - pinks, reds, greens, blues, and white. How does this card make me feel? Unfortunately, I feel no more at home (in the sense of belonging) than the day before because of the card's purpose. Until now I've been walking around the streets without the 'proper' identification according to police standards because they ask that I carry around my passport everyday, which I'm not willing to do (I loose things too easily). Thus now, if ever asked, I can whip out this official card which proves that I've been allowed to reside in the Nederlands.
Does it strike you odd that people might ask you for identification while walking down the street? When I was in Poland, QueenB also mentioned that she walked around with her passport (her Polish one) in case she was ever asked. As far as I know, this is not something that Canadians are requested to do. In fact, if we get pulled over whilst driving by the police, we have up to 24 hours to produce our licence! Hence, I can only guess that requests for identification are a European phenomenon. During the 4 months that I've been here, I have never once been asked to show my identification. Alas, this is not the case with everyone living here.
In Rotterdam (I'm not sure if this occurs elsewhere in the Nederlands), there are such things called 'preventative searches' conducted by the police. What this entails is that those individuals selected by the authorities "at random" (although there is a feeling that only young males who appear to be of 'foreign' background are targeted, I even think that there is a lawsuit currently pending) are frisked and their identification checked. If I have not already mentioned-these searches, to my knowledge, are conducted for the purpose of locating concealed weapons, drugs, etc to PREVENT future crimes. I know people who have been subjected to these searches and I was left with the feeling that those who had been searched felt violated to varying degrees (from greatly influenced to feelings of indifference). I find the fact that these searches are done in public, on a street corner, to be quite...how can you say it without offending anyone…f*#!ing invasive (pardon me). The idea of security is something that I will continue to pursue in the future.
I recognise that I might not have been asked for my identification to date because of where I live and where I frequent. However it could also be contingent on the fact that I am a white, educated, Canadian, female. My immigration experience in addition to these preventative searches have made me question the use of, and the need to carry, these identification cards. More information is needed from both perspectives of this situation: those who are asked for their id and those who request it.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Jumping Back on the Wagon!
Whoa Boy! It's been a bustling three weeks and I'm well rested and eager to resume my work here in Ro'dam. I've spent the last week in England visiting Horsham, Brighton, and London where Luke and I (and then just I) toured such places as the Brighton Pavilion, Aquarium, and the Floundry Pub on Floundry Street in the North Lanes of Brighton (great pub and even better company - I highly recommend it to any and all visitors!). We drove to Stonehenge (in Barbara Bender's honour of course) and we took a special trip around Parliament in London. We trotted along a Jack the Ripper walk around London's East End and spent an afternoon at the Natural History Museum to see their permanent collection as well as their annual Wildlife Photography contest, which was most impressive! We watched the semi-finals matches in the Ladbrokes.com World Championship Darts tournament where I dutifully cheered for the Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld or 'Barney' who will most likely meet 13 time world Champion Chipmunk Taylor in the finals (I’ll be watching Tats!), and I joined the 10 million other English viewers watch the last Dr. Who episode (with this particular Dr. Who) on the tele. Cescarina treated us both to a long walk in Hampstead Heath and I also spent hours walking in Richmond Park (this park features herds of deer roaming amongst the herds of visitors) on New Years day. While I did feel a bit guilty about being so far away from my research, I thoroughly enjoyed my time and mollified myself by picking up opinions concerning my research and at times similar discussions around my main themes from a United Kingdom context.
Immigration and integration are very important topics in the United Kingdom as in the Nederlands at this point in time; the importance of these topics has grown over the last 35 years. From my latest personal experience, London proved to be comfortable in its diversity and welcoming yet I could still make out murmurings of malcontent concerning the ever-increasing levels of immigration in addition to sadness held by many of my friends over the ever-present racism that seemed to follow it. The idea of migration and the possibility of climate refugees in the coming years seem to have many worried at the current begrudging approach to these migrants and the role they played in society, which also helped me to understand the usefulness of a project such as my own.
I also felt security was an important theme. This I noticed during my walk in East London. As we learned about the gruesome details of the Jack the Ripper case, Luke and I noticed all the cameras set up on buildings where we were taking this tour. Throughout the 19th Century, London’s East End became synonymous with poverty, overcrowding, disease and criminality. It was the borough of choice for many generations of migrants and while thought of by many as a harbinger of all things indecent, the radicalism in this area contributed to the formation of the Labour party through the unions there and the eventual enfranchisement of women (thank you Wikipedia). Yet Luke and I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of security measures taken in this area by business person and home owner alike. Over the last decades this area has become a hot spot for gentrification projects and many young elites are now buying up refurbished properties and slowly changing the status of the area (in predominantly economic manner) and so in this way security can be seen as a feature of a renewal project in terms of protecting one’s investments or maybe as a way to begin edging unwanted people or behaviours out. The idea of security was further emphasised by the recent and highly publicized bombing attempt of a plane flying into the United States (from Amsterdam) on Christmas day. Another event, the attempt on the life of the Danish cartoonist who became famous for his vilifying cartoon of the Islamic Prophet, has also been widely reported on and so, security remained a prominent feature in my trip as well.
As all of these threads come together, I think it high time that I jump back on the band-wagon of research and get back to the grind. That, and because my mother told me that I had had fun and it was time to get back down to business.
Immigration and integration are very important topics in the United Kingdom as in the Nederlands at this point in time; the importance of these topics has grown over the last 35 years. From my latest personal experience, London proved to be comfortable in its diversity and welcoming yet I could still make out murmurings of malcontent concerning the ever-increasing levels of immigration in addition to sadness held by many of my friends over the ever-present racism that seemed to follow it. The idea of migration and the possibility of climate refugees in the coming years seem to have many worried at the current begrudging approach to these migrants and the role they played in society, which also helped me to understand the usefulness of a project such as my own.
I also felt security was an important theme. This I noticed during my walk in East London. As we learned about the gruesome details of the Jack the Ripper case, Luke and I noticed all the cameras set up on buildings where we were taking this tour. Throughout the 19th Century, London’s East End became synonymous with poverty, overcrowding, disease and criminality. It was the borough of choice for many generations of migrants and while thought of by many as a harbinger of all things indecent, the radicalism in this area contributed to the formation of the Labour party through the unions there and the eventual enfranchisement of women (thank you Wikipedia). Yet Luke and I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of security measures taken in this area by business person and home owner alike. Over the last decades this area has become a hot spot for gentrification projects and many young elites are now buying up refurbished properties and slowly changing the status of the area (in predominantly economic manner) and so in this way security can be seen as a feature of a renewal project in terms of protecting one’s investments or maybe as a way to begin edging unwanted people or behaviours out. The idea of security was further emphasised by the recent and highly publicized bombing attempt of a plane flying into the United States (from Amsterdam) on Christmas day. Another event, the attempt on the life of the Danish cartoonist who became famous for his vilifying cartoon of the Islamic Prophet, has also been widely reported on and so, security remained a prominent feature in my trip as well.
As all of these threads come together, I think it high time that I jump back on the band-wagon of research and get back to the grind. That, and because my mother told me that I had had fun and it was time to get back down to business.
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