31-10 Morning came and we went to yoga, for me it was a bit too enhanced, but they tolerated me and helped me all the same. Lots of stretching and balancing, so I realy felt like I had done a good job. Diane, though she might not agree, had a good session according to me and we spoke to some of the other students as well (especially on “Fault in our Stars” and the connection to the Netherlands. The farmer’s market gave me a good idea that the Americans are also worried about the food problems that we encounter in the Netherlands. Afterwards we decided to go and see the house that Thomas Hart Benton lived in, in Kansas City (although he was originally from Missouri) and we made a good choice there: I loved the early work he did as an art student and the house was a real example of the period. I loved the home and we had good guides, who were very knowledgeable about everything we asked. But, all things end eventually, so when we got home I packed my bags, took a shower, had a last lunch at Diane’s and then she took me to the airport. We met Elsbeth and her hosts there and after lots of hugging, crying and promising to see each other next year, we were checked in and had a very good trip home to the Netherlands, where Elsbeth and I parted and I was met by the grandkids, their parents and my hubby. 

30-10 The day that there was a general meeting for the workers of RPDC (Regional Professional Development Centre) of the Kansas Missouri University; goals for the next period had to be determined and of course, anything that was going well had to be stabilised. We had a very relevant presentation about making sure that the quality of the work is anchored into the everyday activities, but even more important: that the quality is measurable and therefore can be monitored. I was able to have a good view of the tools that can be used to make sure that a group of co-workers set their goals and make sure they are attainable and properly chosen.

After the pot-luck lunch (lovely!) and a session where everybody talked about the book they had chosen to read and the wrapping up of the session, we went to celebrate one of Diane’s colleagues birthday and then: the rest of the day was open to us again (half past four, by then). We had a very nice piece of bread and lovely coffee at Diane’s favourite bakery and we chatted about everything we had done in the past ánd the past weeks. We decided to go and see another movie in our favourite movie theater, but helas, they were not showing the movie we wanted to see. We raced across town to get to the next cinema and there we saw the movie “Meet the Patels”, a comedy about finding a spouse for a brother, one of a very large Patel family from Ghujarat, really nice and relaxing. Coming home we were not very hungry so we just shared some bread and tea, and took to bed, deciding that yoga was first in the morning. 

29-10 was the day that we had to give our presentation to the administrators and teachers of JCCC, but before that I had a relatively easy time because I could get up the moment I wanted and do anything I wanted to, untill 11 o’clock. Diane went to coach a teacher in the ESL-trajectory from 6:30 to 10:00 and came by the house to pick me up. I filled my time blogging, resizing pictures and generally being lazy for a bit. When it was time to go, I was ready to tackle anything again. The culinary department prepared lunch for Elsbeth, Dr. Tom Patterson, Diane and me, and we went there in high spirits! The food was nice, but being a chef Diane had some comments to make, which she did only later in the day, so as not to make people feel uncomfortable. During lunch we talked about a lot of different things. The most prominent one was that Dr. Patterson asked us if we feel that American kids should be made more aware of the rest of the world, at least more than they are now. In general, the school children are being taught about American history, where at many moments in time a link to abroad is clearly visible. Yet the feeling is mostly that the outsiders are important when they come to the States and not when they stay in their own country. As Dr. Patterson has travelled extensively around the world, he regards knowledge from abroad as highly important, and we agreed. Although, seeing the size of the States and the miles that  Americans have to travel going from one state to another, you might understand that they don’t need “abroad”.

The presentation was planned in a large room, and it was filled to the max, because many students from the international department came to see and talk to us. The talk went well, but of course I could have used more time (sic). Elsbeth’ talk went well too, and the listeners had many questions to ask. It was not dfficult to extend our stay for some time, therefore! We had a quiet talk with Janice, Diane, Elsbeth and me, and after that we were free to do as we pleased.

Diane had some ideas in mind about places that she wanted to show me during the weekend, when they actually swept us off to the prairie. So now we were finally free, we went to Lidya’s, the nicest place in town to have a Cosmopolitan (the drinks in “Sex in the City”), which I never had before, but I actually liked it. Lidya’s is one of the three restaurants of chef Lidya, and she loves art; in this restaurant there are three chandeliers made by Dale Chihuly! Handblown glass balloons with a type of tail, that was attached to the structure. Very many colours from the glass, a nice building, very neatly displayed bottles of wine, a fire place, good food and good company make a very nice end to the official part of the visit indeed!

Then the next surprise was revealed: the silent movie Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, from 1920, was shown. The venue was the Kaufman Opera House and what a venue that is! Picture don’t match the grandeur of the place. Three years old, everybody is reminded of the Sydney Opera House when they get to see it, it is a splendid addition to Kansas City, especially since it is on the hilltop, there is a magnificent view of the city. The organist Dorothy Papadakos played the music live, while we viewed the movie. What a surprise and what a very good way of showing old movies to the audience! I loved it, and so did Diane. In general, the complete audience loved the movie. Because of Halloween, some people in the audience were dressed accordingly, and through the noise of the clapping a couple was chosen to become winners and receive a ticket for one of the next concerts.