Tweet04-12-2009 om 11:46 by Sueli Brodin

The children of the United World College Maastricht Preschool stole the show at the opening last week of the new International Service Desk at the Maastricht Town Hall.



They came in just after Mayor Gerd Leers’ welcome speech, looking so tiny and lovely in their white UWC T-shirts and wearing a headband adorned with colourful world flags. The 16 toddlers came from 13 different countries: Israel, Australia, England, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Moldova, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, USA and the Netherlands. It is worth noting that the four Dutch children in the group had been born and lived abroad. The Preschool is part of the newly established international United World College in Maastricht, which now already counts over 500 students representing 40 nationalities.



Under the proud eyes of their teachers and parents, the children formed a line facing the large audience of – mainly Dutch - officials and company representatives and started singing the two tunes they had been taught especially for the event: one in English and one in Dutch. They performed the English song first and sang it twice, somewhat shyly at first and a bit louder the second time. This struck me as being quite symbolic of the expat experience, in the way that it demonstrated that it takes time and courage to feel comfortable in a new environment. Their sweet little voices put a smile on everyone’s faces and the lyrics of the English song perfectly fitted the moment:
The more we get together, together, together
the more we get together, the happier we'll be
‘Cause your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends
The more we get together the happier we'll be.

Looking at them, I was reminded of my own school year back in 1970 at the British nursery in Islamabad, Pakistan. This is where I first learned to speak English and was taught my first nursery rhymes. I used to love singing “Incy Wincy Spider” and “Mary had a little lamb” and play “London Bridge is falling down” with my schoolmates.


British Nursery, Islamabad, Pakistan 1970

In fact, I still play this game even nowadays at my children’s birthday parties. It is always a big success and Dutch children don’t have any trouble at all to learn the song that goes with it.



The key message of the official speeches that were pronounced that afternoon by Maastricht Mayor Gerd Leers, Provincial executive Odile Wolfs, Brainport Development director Elies Lemkes-Straver, Maastricht Region Branding director Wim Ortjens and Liof director Jerome Verhagen, was that “the future of the Maastricht Region is international” and that “it is the task and responsibility of regional authorities to welcome and facilitate the settling down of foreign knowledge workers in this beautiful area of the Netherlands.”



Provincial executive Odile Wolfs highlighted the fact that in spite of the region’s “natural beauty” and “solid international assets” – a trilingual cross-border region, close to several important European capitals, including the European capital Brussels – future forecasts all seem to indicate that its population is rapidly aging and decreasing. Pointing at the UWC toddlers, Brainport Development director Elies Lemkes-Straver said: “These children represent our future. We would like these children to stay and grow up in our region and ultimately open their businesses here… because let’s be honest, that’s what it is all about.”



As if to show that they were aware of these expectations… or to demonstrate an exemplary interest in Dutch culture, the children performed their second song in Dutch and conquered the audience again with their perfect rendition of “Zwarte Piet, wiedewiedewiet”.
Zwarte Piet, wiedewiedewiet
Ik hoor je wel, maar ik zie je niet.

(Black Pete, wiedewiedewiet
I can hear you, but I can't see you.)

These were children who are being raised bilingually, maybe trilingually. It is even possible that some of them speak better English and Dutch than their parents.

I enjoyed witnessing the scene when Mayor Leers offered them a small gift on behalf of “Zwarte Piet”. In what could pass for stereotypical Dutch thriftiness, he approached the toddlers with a basket full of sweets and raising his index finger, he told them in English: “You may all take one”. To which the children all screamed in delight: “Dankje wel!”… in Dutch.



I thought at that moment that even if not all those children would end up staying in this region, some of them might still remember that afternoon at the Maastricht Town Hall many years ahead from now. Perhaps a little voice will then whisper a Dutch song in their ears, slightly deformed by time: “Zwarte Piet, ik zie je niet, maar ik hoor je wel…” – “Black Pete, I can’t see you, but I do hear you…”

Photo credits: United World College Maastricht Primary School

Video clips: UWCM Preschool children sing at the Maastricht Town Hall (5 min); UWCM Preschool children receive presents (54 s)

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