Today, I found a piece of Dutch East India Company heritage at the bridge which joins Sloten to...
After two weeks of Job Swap a legacy has formed. I discover that a lot of old words and...
Lots of smoke come from the roof. Any moment now the flames could go through the roof...
Skype works. We just skyped with the kids in New York.
The first questions posed to us were...
Last week I visited two schools in Manhattan: PS 89 and Central Park East II. Both schools had...
Bad joke or reality? Michael, what do you think? What do the kids at your school...
We're back in Mokum (nickname for Amsterdam). I'm in the eight grade, with teacher Helma...
Dutch performer Ellen ten Damme steals the show performing in an incredibly sexy prince...
Recognition, and a very pretty...
Yes it’s true. I shook hands with princess Maxima (the wife of the Dutch crown-prince). I...
This morning it rained in New York. I went to Harlem with the underground. No, no need...
The first school day after the summer break. A new school year, a new class and a new...
It was great fun crossing the island by bike with Michael, to visit all playgrounds. I didn’t get...
Are the words eekhoorn (squirrel) and acorn related? I haven't been able to answer that question...
I took the watertaxi over the Hudson to New Jersey today. From the Hudson, you can only see...
Got up at 5:20 AM with the whole family to say goodbye. A great start of the...
The children are very excited about my trip to New York. Everyone wants to come along in the...
I love to be on the water. Floating with my rowing boat in Waterland, north of Amsterdam;...
Talked to Michael on the phone for the first time. That was nice. New York is coming close...
October 13, 2009 20:43
Slowly but steadily, the old apartment blocks are disappearing. Nieuwendam North is being demolished.

This morning again a couple of houses had disappeared. The neighborhood is under reconstruction.

The kids from the neigborhood rhythmically livened up the ceremonial opening of the new school building. The first new school in the neighorhood, the Ms Bekkerschool has now officially been opened.

This winter, the Amstelmeerschool will have to move to another temporary location, Parnassia. Our school buildings will also be demolished, only for a brilliant, new building to rise again on the same location, with a fantastic new schoolyard.
De Job Swap is een project van de Stichting Henry Hudson 400 in samenwerking met BKB en wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door NY400. De wildcard actie wordt georganiseerd met Het Parool en AM New York.
Michael Parrish
35 years old from New York
Third grade teacher at PS 89 on Manhattan, New York
October 17, 2009 23:20
I literally stopped by bicycle when I saw this. It is a three story bicycle rack!

The Job Swap is an initiative of the Henry Hudson 400 Foundation and BKB, in cooperation with the NY400. The Wildcard contest is organized together with newspapers Het Parool (Amsterdam) and AM New York (New York).
Today I visited the Dr. Rijk Kramerschool, located in the heart of Amsterdam. I had...
Tonight I had my first Indonesian meal. I had something called a rice table. It was about 12...
The bicycle parking lot next to the ferry has thousands of...
It was wonderful to be at the Amstelmeerschool. As I rode my bicycle up to the building...
Amsterdam is an amazingly beautiful city. Alex and his wife met me at the airport when I arrived...
I managed to take videos of children in my class. I am now trying to find a way to...
Today I went down to South Street Seaport to get a glimpse of the Half Moon. I was hoping...
One of the first questions this morning was, “Is Alex here today?” To this I explained that Alex...
Today was the first day of school. There was a buzz of excitement in the air as the children...
The day before the first day of school is so special. I am happy that Alex was there to...
Today I went into P.S. 89 and began to unpack the classroom. This is the first...
Over the past week or two, Alex and I have been able to talk on the telephone. It...
Last week I had a chance to go to the Museum of the City of New York. Practically...