Thursday, July 27, 2006

Almost

I am (almost) on my way to the Netherlands! I am so fortunate for this opportunity; many in my family have never travelled outside the U.S., except for periods of military service. This is part of my life goal to be more globally aware and educated and to challenge myself by "stepping out" of my comfort zone. I really haven't learned much Dutch, but hope to absorb some while I'm there. Here is a glimpse of my schedule:

Tuesday, August 1
9:30-12:00 Lecture on Pragmatic Tolerance:
Geert de Vries
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Walking through the city center to the Amsterdam Historical Museum
(guided tour)
14:30 free time for research

Wednesday, August 2
Morning is free time
14:00-17:00 Paul Wouters, VKS Introduction and Tour, “e-research methodology”
19:00 Group Dinner with guest (TBA)

Thursday, August 3
9:30-12:00 Lecture on EU policy: expanding the borders: Ries Rowaan
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Leave for Brussels
15:00 Free time
19:00 Dinner with Brussels Program students

Friday, August 4
11:00-16:30 Tour European Parliament
11:30-16:30 Tour EU and Lectures
17:00 Dinner with EU Representative (TBA)
21:00 Depart Brussels

Saturday, August 5 (weekend to explore and research)

14:00 Gay Pride Parade

Sunday, August 6
Gay Pride Weekend in Amsterdam

Week 2
Monday, August 7
Morning is free time
14:00-17:00 Paul Wouters, “Web Archiving”

Tuesday, August 8
9:30-12:00 Lecture on sex work as an example of pragmatic tolerance: Jan Visser
13:00-15:00 Visit to Prostitution Resource Center
15:00-on Freetime

Wednesday, August 9
9:30-11:30 Paul Wouters and colleagues lecture on “The Role of Academic Conferences
in Scholarly Communication”. Richard Rogers, UvA Communications Faculty
11:30-19:00 Free time
19:00 Group dinner

Thursday, August 10
9:30-- 12:00 Lecture on islam and migration by Atef Hamdi
12:00-15:00 By public transport leaving for a visit to the mosque including lunch
Evening is free

Friday, August 11-Sunday, August 13
Free three-day weekend to explore and research!

Week 3

Monday, August 14
9:30-12:00 Possible Excursion to “Cave” (virtual reality lab)
Afternoon is free time

Tuesday, August 15
9:30-12:00 Lecture on youth culture: Simone de Bruin
12:00 Lunch
13:00 trip to the Bijlmer with Leon Deben
16:30 back in city center

Wednesday, August 16
a.m. ---VLS: Anne Beaulieu-Virtual Ethnography. Individual Group Meetings with instructors Julie, Clifford and Paul (approx. 1 hour per group. Times are TBA).

19:00 Group Dinner with guest lecture on culture and arts of the Netherlands

Thursday, August 17
9:30-12:00 Lecture on Drug Policies in the Netherlands: Jan huib Blans
12:00 Lunch
13:30—on Free time


Friday, August 18
9:30-13:30 KNSM-eiland visit
13:30- on Free time

Saturday, August 19
Train to Utrecht (leave in a.m.). Biking in Utrecht and around countryside. Optional overnight stay.

Sunday, August 20
Free day/prepare for Lausanne trip and conference

Monday, August 21
Free time to prepare for Lausanne. Practice presentations (UW/VKS will provide comments)

Tuesday, August 22
7:00 a.m. Leave for airport. Amsterdam to Geneva
08:30 depart for Geneva (flight 956) 10:00 Arrive Geneva
11:00 Train to Lausanne (takes 45 minutes)

12:30 (approx) Check in to Hostel. Relax and free time to explore.

Wednesday, August 23 (please attend minimum of two sessions on two different days of the three day conference) .
10:45-12:30 Conference welcome, University of Lausanne
12:30-13:30 Group picnic lunch
13:45-17:00 Free time at conference to visit sessions

Thursday, August 24
8:00 a.m. Conference sessions begin

Friday, August 25
8:30 a.m. Conference sessions begin

Saturday, August 26
8:30 Presentation: “Paradox and Progress” 8:30-10:15 a.m.
15:30 Conference ends
19:00 Final Group Dinner/Program wrap-up

Sunday, August 27
Easyjet Flight Geneva to Amsterdamflight 957; dep. Sun 27 Aug 19:10arr. Sun 27 Aug 20:45 (8:45 p.m.)