September 18, 2000
Hey Mr. V,
I just wanted you to know, we miss you here at Brunswick High School.
Your first few days in Amsterdam and your visits to the museums sounded
incredible. I was wondering if you've gotten to visit any schools,
yet. If so, what are the main differences between the schools overseas
and here at BHS?
Did it take you long to get used to the food overseas?
Sincerely,
Stephen
Hello, Stephen, and thanks for the kind words.
I've been fortunate to visit several schools so far, and as soon as the
logs are posted, you'll be able to learn about them. For now, I can
mention a few things.
One thing that is immediately obvious is the difference in
architecture. All of the schools I've seen so far have been in old
buildings.
Some of the buildings date back to the previous century. It's quite
fascinating to visit contemporary classrooms in a building that may have
sections dating back to 1860!
As for the students, so far I've found them to be not much
different from Americans! They may speak a different language, but
they're
concerned with the same aspects of daily life. They do seem to be more
serious
about their education, though. I do know, that
the school systems I've visited want to provide a strong education, so
the
students are bright enough to be accepted into the leading American
universities.
As for getting used to the food, I'd say it took about 2 minutes!!
I love to eat, and I'm indulging myself trying local foods everywhere I
go. I've eaten everything from raw herring sandwiches to fruits I
didn't
recognize! Suffice it to say, the physical exercise of sailing
the boat is necessary after we've been in port a few days!
Best regards,
Your Teacher Aboard,
Lee Vogtman
