Open for Dialogue

Terry and I pose with our team in front of the magnificent Austrian Parliament Building

One of my responsibilities at NJC is selecting and coaching the NESDA team. Last year I worked alongside Dan Martin, but with his departure from the school in June, I became the lead teacher, although I was ably assisted this fall by Terry Reynolds. The New European Speech, Debate and Acting Association celebrates the spoken word in a unique speech arts competition that takes place twice during the school year. We had tryouts early in the semester in acting and debate, whittling down fourteen talented prospects to the requisite number of ten. Then we got together twice weekly to prepare the students in five events.

Terry and the team pose upon arrival in Vienna

Happily for us, the competition was hosted by the American School of Vienna. Although we would not start our performances until Friday, we travelled after school on Wednesday. That allowed us a full day to visit this magnificent city. Lyn, our school's travel planner, suggested we start by taking in the Spanish Riding School's morning exercises. Then, it would be up to me to conduct a tour of the city. No problem, I thought, I had visited Vienna in May and (sort of) knew my way around.

Horses and riders at the Spanish Riding School

The weather on Thursday was ideal, and thanks to a very helpful hotel concierge, we found our way to central Vienna with ease. Although they lacked the pageantry of the show, the morning exercises were interesting. Clearly the Lippizan horses are impressive to look at and very well trained, but after an hour and half of watching them go through their manoeuvres, we were eager to get outside and explore the city.

Our group outside the Imperial Palace

Our walk took us by most of Vienna's "must see" sites. I really enjoyed being the guide, and only got us lost once.

Vienna's opera house

The group and I pose at the Hapsburg Gate in the Imperial Palace

One of the highlights of the day was a spontaneous game of frisbee, thanks to Terry's foresight. He pulled one out of his knapsack and within a few minutes, he and the students were burning off energy on the Heldenplatz (the Hero's Square). What a wonderful thing to do on a December afternoon!

Frisbee game in front of the statue of Archduke Charles.

Another bonus of the day were the many Christmas markets we encountered along our route. These pleased and delighted us all, and were the source of many gifts, and delicious street food and drink over the weekend. The largest of these was the one in front of the Rathaus, which we walked through very quickly since we knew that our hosts had organized a visit there the next morning.

Emma and Jennie enjoyed shopping at the Christmas Village at Maria-Theresien Platz

The Viennese Christmas Market in front of the Rathaus

The last stop of our tour was the iconic Café Central, where notable Viennese inhabitants like Trotsky and Freud had once gathered with friends. On my advice, many of us sampled the famous local cake there, the Sachertorte.

Inside Café Central

Amazingly, we found a space for twelve at the Café Central.

Our Thursday evening was spent at dinner near our hotel and then the students prepared for the big show the next day. They were very committed to excellence!!

For thespians, the focus of this competition is serious drama. To that end, our acting teams chose three strong pieces. In Madeleine Martin's "Something Happened Here", Jennie and Emma brought to life the aftermath of the rape of a teenager whose timid friend struggles to advise her.

Jennie and Emma put on their game faces.

In another two woman piece, Sasha embodied a well-meaning social worker confronted by Laura as a desperate mother who has lost custody of her son in a scene from "Final Placement" by Ara Watson.

Laura gets in Sasha's face in "Final Placement"

In "The Sniper" by Anthony David and Elaine Romero, Grace played an ambitious Moroccan journalist who is in a complicated relationship with Kieran's conflicted Israeli sniper.

Clearly Grace wants this relationship more than Kieran

You will notice that all acting pairs were attired in "theatre blacks". The competition forbids props and costumes, so that the performances themselves are the entire basis for judging.

Alana and Taylor looking professional

Meanwhile, our two debate teams worked together to prepare their arguments on the following resolution:" The pharmaceutical industry creates more problems than solutions." The rules of the competition are such that teams must defend both the affirmative and the negative sides of the resolution, so they must do extensive research, and make copious notes.

Brianna and Graham hide their competitive nature under smiles

Only one of our debaters had experience in the field before the competition, so there was a steep learning curve of debate rules and etiquette as well. The ability to think on one's feet is required too, since all teams must participate in an impromptu debate during the competition.

Brianna and Graham: ready to go!

Beyond these team events, all of our students took part in individual competitions too: Alana, Taylor, Kieran, Graham and Jennie tried their hand at impromptu speaking, where, given a topic, they had 90 seconds to organize a short speech; Grace, Brianna and Emma read very funny pieces in the oral interpretation event; and Graham, Emma and Laura all wrote and delivered speeches.

Eight teammates support the debaters in the quarter-finals.

By the afternoon of the Saturday, quarter and semi-finalists were announced. Imagine our delight when we discovered that our students' numbers appeared on every list!! All our actors and all our oral interpreters were included. In impromptu speaking, both Kieran and Jennie advanced, and in original oratory, Emma and Laura did the same. Brianna and Graham were our only debate team to move on but Taylor and Alana also did well in the competition, winning two of their three debates and placing in a four way tie for 6th. A scoring tie-breaker left them out of the quarter-finals, however.

A toast from some of the coaches.

Terry and I beaming at the coaches' dinner

By Saturday evening at the coaches dinner, Terry and I had lots to celebrate. Our students had secured themselves a spot in every final–and we were guaranteed a medal in debate as there were only two teams left. Emma, impressively, would compete on Sunday morning in all three events she had entered.

Winners: Jennie, Brianna, Graham and Laura

By the end of the competition, we came away with a gold in debate, and silvers in impromptu speaking and original oratory. With their articulately expressed and thoughtful arguments, Brianna and Graham impressed the crowd, also winning the audience's choice award. Jennie's positivity and warmth shone through as she spoke about "Fortune Favouring the Brave", thus securing her a silver in impromptu speaking while Laura also placed second in original oratory with her passionate and moving speech about her brother's experiences as a sufferer of Tourette's syndrome.

The best team!!

Truly, the entire group was part of this success. From the moment we selected them, we knew we had a strong team. Their solidarity as a team made our time with them in Vienna an absolute pleasure. They could not have supported each other more! Terry and I left the city as extremely proud teachers and coaches. And the students made new friends from all over Europe. After all, the theme of the competition was "Open for Dialogue" and there certainly was lots of that.

London Calling

These elves greeted me outside of Hanley's Toy store in London. I felt just as happy as they were.

When I learned that NJC would not be organizing a theatre excursion to London this year, undaunted, I planned my own trip. One of the things I miss most about Toronto (besides the people, of course) is live theatre, so this weekend escape was like a tonic for me.

My hotel was in this townhouse in the Bayswater area of the city. Great neighbourhood.

I was able to get away early on Friday (you may remember that I have a plum timetable that frees me up at about noon), and make my way to Geneva for my EasyJet flight north. Due to the time difference, I was in London less than an hour later. I had to ask for help several times to figure out how to get to my hotel by Express train and tube, but I did it! 

The Aldwych Theatre is one of the many gems in the West End.

Shortly afterwards, I found my way to the theatre district for my first show of the weekend: Beautiful–the Carole King Musical. I grew up with her music and had heard good things about the this play. I was not disappointed; in fact, I loved every minute. 

Arriving at Burlington House.

The next day, my only full one in the city, was a busy one. While planning this trip, I did my best to lure friends in England to join me in London for part of the weekend. I am very grateful that some made the effort to meet me. 

Janet and Tom at the gate of Burlington House

Janet and Tom came in from Canterbury Saturday morning. They had suggested we meet at The Royal Academy of Arts at Burlington House in order to view the Jean-Etienne Liotard exhibit. I had never heard of this artist or this gallery, but I was intrigued. I soon discovered that he was a Swiss who worked primarily in watercolours. He made his reputation in portrait painting, and deservedly so, as he was brilliant. The fine detail of his works is most impressive.

Liotard self-portrait

It took about an hour to see the exhibition, and then afterwards, the three of us enjoyed lunch in the Royal Academy's restaurant. Our visit was short, but lovely.

The John Guilgud Theatre

Shortly after 2:00, I met Woburn grad, Emily, at the John Guilgud Theatre to see my second production of the weekend, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This was a very creative and intriguing production of a book that we both had enjoyed. 

Emily in a bookstare

The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting some of London's bookstores and shops with Emily. I very much enjoyed being in an English speaking country, where I could read the latest titles and understand them! The London bookstores are beautiful too, with lots of wood and creative displays everywhere. 

Fortnum and Mason display

Because it was the Christmas season, we had to check out Fortnum and Masons. I was very tempted to buy something–anything–there, but the line-ups were too long, so I resisted.

Fortnum and Mason Window

Eventually, Emily and I made our way to the Soho area in search of a place to eat. We chose an Italian place that advertised itself as a vermouth bar; afterwards, we strolled through the illuminated streets towards the tube station that would take us to our respective destinations. I very much enjoyed my six hours with Emily. It was very sweet of her to make the time to see me.

Selfie in Soho

Carnaby Street was particularly festive

On Sunday morning, I woke up to an absolutely beautiful day. With several hours free before I had to check in at the airport, I decided to go for a walk in my neighbourhood. I headed south ten minutes and found myself in Kensington Gardens. I had not visited this spot for over thirty years.

A fowl feeder in front of the Serpentine

Preening ducks

As my photos can attest, the sky was blue, the water of the Serpentine was shimmering, and the ducks, geese and swans were in a very good mood, as they received a lot of attention that morning. 

Formal Garden

Statue of Victoria in front of Kensington Palace

I walked toward Kensington Palace, once the residence of Princess Diana, and by the Orangery, now a restaurant. A new feature of the area is the Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Playground, a delightful space only open to little ones and accompanying adults. Needless to say, I did not get in, but I was able to take a photo through rhe fence.

The Orangery

Pirate ship in the playground.

After a delicious Lebanese lunch on Bayswater, I picked up my bags and headed to the airport for my return flight. My time in London was much too short. What a fabulous city it is!!

Mr. and Mrs. B in Belgium

One of the Bruges canals

Canal at night

As I mentioned in the last post, we spent four nights in beautiful Bruges, Belgium. After solemn excursions to WWI battle sites, Bruges was a welcome change of pace. It is a city designed for tourists, with beautiful architecture, delicious food, and wonderful shopping. I was eager to share it with Bob, who had not travelled with me last year.

Several students lined up to climb the Belfry featured in the movie, In Bruges.

My favourite building in Market Square

When we first arrived in the city at about 2:30, we explored its heart on foot. We had only about an hour before we were booked into the Historium, where we learned about Bruges' past as a centre for trade. With so little time, many of us made a bee-line for a local specialty: Belgian waffles.

Georgia, Grace and Maddie sample waffles

Aaron and I indulged in the same treat.

Not my favourite museum, the best thing about the Historium is the view we got from its terrace over the main square, and the chance to strike some silly poses.

Ellis, Chloe and Charlotte in front of the Historium

The view from the terrace

Brandon, Dan, Malcolm and Will strike poses.

Of course, first time visitor Bob found the city inspirational and took lots and lots of pictures, as I had done the year before. I particularly liked his focus on the ornate details of the buildings.

Gold sculptures on the facade of the Basilica of the Holy Blood

The facade of the City Hall

As the light of the day faded, we first watched a beautiful sunset before the lights were turned on and the city was illuminated again; then, even the swans posed for us. Nearby, half of our group ate at Nieuw Walnutje, one of the many dining choices in this city.

Sunset

The swans under the floodlights

Our restaurant

Two days later, we had a full day in the city. This time we explored it by boat and by Segway. Understandably, the route on the canals was identical to the one we had followed last year, but I was pleased to take a different path on my Segway–and I was much less nervous this time around.

All aboard for the boat tour.

View from the boat

Segwaying together

We saw the old city wall on our Segway tour.

Our tours over, Bob and I separated for the afternoon. While I took in the shops, he explored the city on foot and saw several areas I had never seen. He passed by several godshuizen, once almshouses for poor widows of the town. These have been lovingly preserved and are still used as social housing.

Godshuizen

Bruges windmill

He also found a windmill, one of the four remaining in the city. And, as he often does, he found beauty in a simple street or building.

Bruges street scene

Every corner of Bruges is lovely

On the final day of our trip to Belgium, we stopped for a few hours in Brussels, a city that both Bob and I had visited in June. This time, though, we were given new insights into the place thanks to our local guide.

Recently restored buildings in la Grande Place

City Hall façade in la Grande Place

We met her at “la Grande Place”, the magnificent square in the middle of the old city. Since my last time there, restoration of several buildings had been completed, so that we could finally appreciate their beauty.

Art deco plaque honouring former mayor of the city Karel Buls 

The Pissing Boy

On our walking tour, we passed by many sights we had not noticed in previous stops in Brussels. The famous “Pissing Boy” statue is quite tiny, but the charm of it is obvious. Nearby, the façades of buildings are painted with figures from comic books, most notably Tintin, Belgium’s most famous character.

Tintin and Captain Archibald Haddock

The 14th century wall of Brussels still stands in contrast to colourful banners nearby highlighting its current place as the headquarters of Nato and other international organizations.

Ancient Brussels

Modern Brussels

As we headed to the rise above the older part of  town, we learned about Belgium’s most famous monarch and his wife, through the equestrian statue of King Albert looking down toward the likeness of his wife, Queen Elisabeth.

King Albert

Queen Elisabeth

Further along our route, the art nouveau Old England building, reminiscent of Gaudi's architecture, stands as a sort of thank you to the British for repelling Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo.

Looking up in Belgium

Old England Building

As we arrived at the royal palace, we were greeted by an honour guard. They were not there just for us, apparently. There were rumours about some ambassadors in town as well.

Honour guard

Walking through the Royal Gardens 

During our 90 minute walk, the weather got better and better, so that by the time we walked through the royal gardens, we no longer needed our coats.

La Gallerie de la Reine

On our final stop of the tour, we entered the Gallerie de la Reine, a stunning indoor shopping space. There, Bob and I grabbed lunch before heading to where our bus was waiting for us next to the Cathedral. We had time to look inside this magnificent edifice before we headed to the airport and home to Neuchâtel.

The Cathedral - and our bus.