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.