Denice Gravenstijn Vliet
Literature, Science, and the Arts
The New Faculty-Led Education Abroad Program Grant played a key role in bringing DUTCH 304: Beyond Dutch to life. It allowed me to design a meaningful two-week study abroad experience in Suriname that connects classroom learning of Surinamese Dutch with direct engagement in the country’s multicultural, multilingual, and postcolonial context. With the grant’s support, we were able to develop partnerships with institutions such as Anton de Kom University, the National Archives of Suriname, Kinderuniversiteit Suriname, and the Elisabeth Samson House. It also helped make possible important site visits to Paramaribo, Indigenous communities in the Carolina area (Jodensavanne), Maroon communities in the Village Jaw Jaw (District Sipaliwini), local markets such as Saoenah Market, Kwatta Market, and Orchideeën Market, as well as plantation and heritage sites including Frederiksdorp, Clevia Park, and more. Overall, the grant transformed the course froman idea into a rich, community-engaged program that helps students explore Suriname’s colonial history, decolonization, language, identity, and cultural diversity in meaningful, firsthand ways. This grant truly made a dream into a reality. Bringing theory into practice outside the classroom means a great deal – not only to me as a Surinamese Dutch instructor from Suriname teaching in our Dutch Program, butmost importantly to the students and to Suriname as the host country, where local partners can see the value of collaboration with the University of Michigan.
