Friends in a Cold Climate: Schiedam-3

During Rein’s time at the HBS (Higher Burgerschool), Rein was quite social thanks to his father's involvement in clubs like the Tafelronde and Lionsclub in Schiedam, which organized activities for children. Their strong Catholic background, attending church weekly at Liduina church, greatly influenced Rein. The Schiedamse Lawn Tennisvereniging (SLV) was exclusively for Catholics, with no Protestants or others allowed to join. The discussion of the emerging ‘counterculture’ within the Catholic context was almost non-existent and not accepted. Rein’s biggest act of rebellion was not to attend church every Sunday. During this period of anti-sectarianism, there was also an increase in interaction with other cities and peoples. This led his parents and Rein to gradually become more open to new ideas. During his time at school, he participated in the Schiedam youth exchange program, for which he was asked to organize activities. The hosting of participants could easily take place at home because his parents encouraged him to interact with foreigners. Participants in a youth exchange would just come for a two-week visit in Schiedam, and they had to get to know the people, and had to learn their language for a month at home were only English and German was spoken. Overall, it went very well. However, Rein’s grandfather was killed by the Germans. And his family lived with the grandmother in the grandparenmtal house, as was quite common at the time. The grandmother actually didn't want them to associate with the Germans or have them come to their house. Rein’s mother, in particular, pushed for it. The Netherlands is a very small country surrounded by large countries like France, Germany, and England. The entire trade was with these countries. he doesn’t see a youth exchange as the expression of a European ideal, but rather as a way for cultures to get to know each other better. The European aspect for Rein was primarily the need to learn languages. During the exchange programme, Rein doesn't recall discussing serious European politics, but they did talk about bringing together people who had fought in wars years ago to create a more peaceful environment. This was easier for the English than for the Germans. Early exposure to various people at different levels allowd him to navigate social situations. As a boy of fifteen, Rein talked with mayors, with company directors. He could ask questions and communicate effectively, and that has stayed with him my whole life. The ease with which you learn to communicate, looking back on youth exchanges, is incredibly helpful, according to Rein.在莱恩就读于HBS（Higher Burgerschool，高等市民学校）期间，得益于父亲参与斯希丹的塔菲尔龙德俱乐部（Tafelronde）与狮子俱乐部（Lions Club）的相关事务——这两家俱乐部会为儿童组织各类活动，莱恩的社交生活十分活跃。莱恩一家拥有深厚的天主教背景，每周都会前往利杜伊纳教堂（Liduina church）做礼拜，这对莱恩产生了深远影响。彼时斯希丹网球俱乐部（Schiedamse Lawn Tennisvereniging，SLV）仅对天主教徒开放，新教徒及其他群体均不得加入。 天主教语境下初现的“反主流文化”几乎无人提及，也不被接纳。莱恩最具反抗性的举动，便是不再每周日前往教堂做礼拜。在这一反宗派主义思潮盛行的时期，与其他城市及群体的互动也日渐增多，这使得莱恩及其父母逐渐对新思想持更为开放的态度。 在校期间，莱恩参与了斯希丹青年交流计划，并受委托组织相关活动。由于父母鼓励他与外国人交流，接待交流参与者的活动完全可以在自家开展。 青年交流项目的参与者会前往斯希丹进行为期两周的访问，他们需在此期间了解当地人文，同时需提前在家学习为期一个月的语言——当时交流所用的语言仅为英语与德语。整体而言，交流活动开展得十分顺利。然而，莱恩的祖父惨遭德军杀害。当时许多家庭都与祖父母同住，莱恩一家也不例外，搬入了祖父母的宅邸。但祖母实际上并不希望他们与德国人往来，或是让德国人登门造访，而莱恩的母亲则极力主张参与交流计划。 荷兰是一个国土面积狭小的国家，周边环绕着法国、德国与英国等大国，当时荷兰的所有贸易均与这些国家展开。在莱恩看来，青年交流并非欧洲理想的具象表达，而是促进不同文化相互了解的途径。对莱恩而言，青年交流的欧洲属性主要体现在语言学习的需求上。在交流项目期间，莱恩不记得曾讨论过严肃的欧洲政治议题，但他们确实谈及过召集多年前曾参战的人们共聚一堂，以营造更为和平的环境。这一点对英国人而言比德国人更容易做到。 早年接触不同阶层的各类人群，让莱恩能够熟练应对各类社交场合。在15岁那年，莱恩便能够与市长、企业董事从容交谈。他可以自如地提出问题并进行有效沟通，这项能力伴随了他的一生。莱恩回顾道，青年交流带来的轻松沟通能力，对他而言裨益无穷。