Tweet01-07-2011 om 10:06 by Sueli Brodin

I've been thinking a lot about my children's future lately, probably because my son Tim is about to complete his eight years of primary school. I still remember his first day at school as if it was yesterday. Tim was very happy to be in the same class as his best friend.



The two of them have grown into fine young teenagers and are still inseparable. They will even go to the same secondary school after the summer holiday.



They both look ready for the next stage in their life. By the time they finish secondary school, they will both be 18 years old and the year will be 2018.



That's the year when Maastricht and the surrounding Meuse-Rhine Euroregion are hoping to become European Capital of Culture. Ambitious projects to be included in the bid book were presented last month to the public. I tried to visualise myself and my family in 2018, only six years from now, living in a region fully exploiting the advantages of its cross-border position, with a good and efficient transportation infrastructure and stronger ties between neighbouring countries in all possible areas.



My imagination was challenged into thinking even further into the future when I attended a discussion evening for expats and "internationals" organised by the city of Maastricht. We were asked to share our views about "what the city should be like in 2030", in terms of facilities and services in the fields of housing, business, education, culture, sports, tourism etc



The question however is: will I still live in Maastricht in 2030? The future is a topic I often talk about with my friends at the International Women's Club of South Limburg. Some of us already know they will be leaving the city in a few months or a few years from now, and for others, like myself, the options are open, because we often have other homes elsewhere in the world. What may keep us here though, is if our children settle down in this region. This is what an Irish friend was telling me at our recent Summer Party. She and her Dutch husband had planned to retire in Ireland but have changed their mind because they want to stay closer to their grown-up children.



Earlier this month, my children's school organised study trips to Maastricht University, the Court of Justice and the Limburg Symphony Orchestra.



I was among the group of parents who volunteered to accompany the children to Maastricht and I enjoyed the experience very much.



I hope that these initiatives will continue to be supported in the years to come, even in these times of budget cuts in all sectors, including in education and culture. Even if our children may still be too young to realise it yet, this valuable exposure to what the region can offer them may influence some of the choices they will make in the future.



It moves me to look at my children and their friends as they grow up, full of life and joy and energy, walking ahead with so much confidence.



They may not be aware of it yet, but we know that they own the future.

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