[font=verdana, arial][font=verdana, arial][font=verdana, arial]The interview in a nutshell, from BRMB, posted by joris
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The interview is within the context of he work for the Commission PaVEM (Participation of women from ethnic minorities) the princess is member of.[/font][font=verdana, arial]The focus is on the importance of mastering the Dutch language in order to participate in Dutch society.[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]Máxima makes a passionate impression according to the interviewer (Jan-Kees Emmer).
At the ministry where the interview takes place she serves coffee herself. Also other commission member Paul Rosenmöller takes part in the conversation.[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]Princess and Rosenmöller explain what the commission has achieved so far after two years.[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]M: 'it's not us who make the difference, but all those women who want to share'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]'two years is of course not such a long period to have impact in all fields. So we rather quickly decided to focus on a couple of issues: language, work and social dialogue. Together with Paul Rosenmöller I started focusing on this language issue, for in my case this was the most obvious.'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial](On learning Dutch)
'That wasn't always easy. There were moments that I thought that I never would learn it. At first I felt very insecure also. You join the laughter a bit when jokes are made which you actually do not understand. You follow conversations but only half. Altogether not easy and you suddenly have this feeling to be an outsider.'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]'I still make a little mistake now and then but I laugh at it.'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]Rosenmöller: 'Despite the differences in background the princess had always this 'click' with women who had problems acquiring the language.'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]M: 'Together we laughed so much sometimes about the unpronounceable sounds which Dutch knows. For instance I used to say 'joef' [yoof] instead of 'juf' [jöf]. Also the 'w' is very difficult [for a Spanish speaking person]. I once talked about 'verven' [to paint] of volunteers, when I really meant 'werven' [to recrute]'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]It's difficult to have all the many women learn Dutch (240,000 women)
M: 'but we have the idea that it will be succesful' 'f.i. by teaching language at home. For women who are not allowed to leave their home told so by their husband or who simply do not dare. They are visited by a growing number if volunteers'.[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]'Customising' and 'dual project' are words the princess uses with ease.[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]M: 'Customising is obvious and by dual project we mean that language is learned in combination with a professional education or some other concrete activity. So if the woman has young children she will be taught first how to be assertive at e.g. a health centre.'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]The princess stresses that it is 'a DO commission' (not just a commission for a commission's sake) 'Is this Dutch?'[/font]
[font=verdana, arial]'I must say it gets more and more difficult to concentrate. The baby is going to play a bigger role.'[/font]
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