The Talent Show

As is the tradition in UWCiM our second years put on a variety show for us firsties.

Basically, it was hysterical and we love our second years lots and lots. They made our night. We all arrived at a local theatre where we took our seats and waited for the show to begin. It featured the Kamate dance, Backstreet Boys, Lady Gaga and many other creative songs. We were treated to an awesome dance routine from Selmir and Anna, many awesome adaptations of well known songs and funny sketches. The second years decided to imitate a few first years!! It was a really great night. So thank you second years!

"Oh What is this IB"

"The humans are dead"

Kamate

Thank you

There are several different ways to say thank you. You can say it in different languages, with gestures, with different words but at the end of the day does it really matter how you say it?

We are taught from a young age to mind our manners and to say please and thank you. So it is something truly engrained within us. It is something we never forget. But can these simple words be enough. Two words, that is all they are; and they are the same for every situation.

I've been thinking recently about what I am thankful for. The Americans celebrate thanksgiving giving those two words a day of their own but why is it only one day. They can mean so much and show the true gratitude of a person. I think it is easy for me to quickly rattle of things that I am thankful for but once I really think about it, it comes down to the major things that have shaped me. That sounds selfish and rather corny but oh well.

So what am I thankful for?
Firstly, my wonderful parents. They were there through thick and thin, supporting me in everything. Without them I couldn't have got to where I am today and where I will go in the future. It is down to them that I am the person to them and I could never thank them enough.
Secondly, to friends and family I am grateful. For those who have stood me year after year, put up with me and shown me laughter. Again I could not be who I am without them.
Thirdly, I am thankful for my experiences. Good or bad they have allowed me learn something new. Without these experiences I would have no good memories to bring me joy or bad memories to make me sad. It is only through these experiences that I have grown and will continue to grow.
Finally, I am thankful for where I am now. That I am in Mostar, that I have found people all over the world, that I can travel, that I am doing something worthwhile. I feel torn between places and people but it's worth every second.

So, what more can I say but thank you. Truly and utterly, thank you.

Ich bin nach Deutschland gereist ...

This week was the second Bajram break so I went with my friend to stay at her house. The first day was a long day of travelling. A bus to Split, then on to the plane then another few hours from the airport to her house in a car. Greeted parents and quickly hit the hay.

The next day we had toast for breakfast something you cannot get in Mostar, it felt like a luxury. Afterwards we went to Castle Frankenstein which was cool especially our descent home down the mountain along a mountain bike trail. When we finally reached the house we made pizza and relaxed in the evening with a Macdonalds, another item foreign to Mostar. It's amazing that not being able to get something even if you didn't particularly like it makes you crave it!

On the third day we travelled into Darmstadt down town, on a tram!! We did a bit of sight seeing, visiting a beautiful Russian chapel and seeing a lot of Jugendstil style architecture. I tried some traditional German pastries which were very yummy. We then went back to the house and watched a film (in german). We attempted to make a gingerbread house.... without ginger bread. We met another old friend and had a nice meal.

We then went to Mainz, a very pretty city. Again more sight seeing and a little bit of shopping. Home and too bed. The nest day we headed back in to Darmstadt down town, went sight seeing, shopped, met some old friends and then back to the house.

All the time we were there we tried some really good food, a lot of it traditional and all of it very tasty!!

On the sixth day we went to Frankfurt. Again more sight seeing and shopping and another friend to meet. Then we went to the zoo, it wasn't too bad but still a zoo is a cruel place. Home, eat, watch some German films and sleep.

The final day before we left we went to my friend's old school to give a presentation about UWC. Afterwards we went ice skating and in the evening went to see the new Harry Potter. It was all in german with no subtitles so I had to concentrate a lot to keep up!

The next day we travelled back to Mostar. Slightly stressful as our plane was late and we thought we would miss out taxis but luckily they waited and everything was fine. It was nice to arrive back in Mostar!!

Really loved the trip, learnt a lot about Germany and improved my German.

The Dom

Cathedral

The Russian Chapel

The Treacherous Mountain Bike Trail!

Castle Frankenstein

Gingerbread House.....the attempt

Frankfurt

Turning Seventeen

On Sunday I turned 17 but what made it even more memorable was the fact that it was the first time I had not spent my birthday with family and friends at home. Instead I spent my birthday in a strange city and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I had a brilliant day. Playing rugby in the morning, eating lots of nice deserts and hanging out with friends. In the evening I was blindfolded and taken down to the canteen, which was decorated with balloons and filled with people, where my friends had thrown a surprise party. I had an awesome cake, my own personalised party hat and some presents. My presents had been confiscated and saved until this party so I was finally able to open them! But one of the best things was a video from most of the students in the college. All wishing me happy birthday and with many very funny bloopers. It was amazing and it was a moment that makes you realise how welcomed you really are. Thank you everyone for everything. The night was spent procrastinating and having a laugh :D

2 Months

It's really amazing to think that I have been in Mostar for 2 months. It feels like I know the place so well, but it also feels like I only left home last week. It's not a holiday any more! You keep so busy with work, travel and every other thing under the sun that you don't really have time to think about time. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, it is to incredible. I have learnt more here in 2 months than I would have any where else. I have met some brilliant people and befriended the best of them. My life has changed so much in just 2 short months. 2 months in comparison is nothing, could be classed as insignificant but not these 2 months. I think I am rambling on and on in my own contemplative thoughts so I will go and do some more work.

Project Week ...

So I have had a couple of projects in the last week.

First, was "project", a young kitten. So the story is that a few students found a very young kitten when walking to the rugby field, they decided to bring it back to the residence. The kitten, known as "project", was harboured in a suitcase. But the main problem was that the kitten had an eye infection. I seemed to have the most experience so became residence vet. Over the couple of days I was around there was a big improvement in the kittens condition but then I had to leave for project week. I came back to find out that whilst I was away that the kitten escaped from the suitcase and is found by the house mum who throws it out. So hopefully someone else has found "project" and is taking care of him.

Me and "Project"

Project



And the second project was a project week in Srebrenica. On Monday Detmer, Becky, Samia and Me, as well as our supervisor Laila set off for Srebrenica. After 9 hours on a bus we reached the town. It was not what we expected at all! We spent the day relaxing and eating and seeing a little bit of down town. Our hosts were some lovely old ladies who spoke no English so communication was ... interesting but we learnt some more words! Super, dobro, da da da, ne ne ne, chai, hvala, molim were particularly useful!We spent Tuesday we met a youth worker and then we spoke to a teacher of a university faculty. It was amazing to see the views of people today about something that happened only 15 years ago!

The next day we went to the memorial centre. It was shocking, truly horrible. You could see rows and rows of names on a marble wall that went on and on. There were rows and rows of white pillars marking graves of those found. Our guide had lost his twin brother and father, it made everything so personal. He told us his story and the general story of the war. We saw a photo gallery and visited the Dutch base. Inside the armament factory was 2 black boxes. One contained personal items and stories of victims and the other a documentary. It was difficult to watch with dry eyes!! The rest of the day we remained catatonic! It was too hard to just continue with a normal day.

On Thursday we went to the municipality and spoke to the head of education. After speaking to several authorities we noticed a trend developing, the government needs to change! We then had a 10 hour bus trip back to Mostar today!

Even though some parts of the trip was hard but it was truly important to make us realise a lot about some things in this country and about the events at Srebrenica! But we also had a lot of fun and we got a lot closer as friends! It was a great, beneficial and worth while project!


The Graves

Making the Most of it ...

A piece of advice I was given before I came here was to embrace the opportunity and make every second count. I really think I am trying to achieve this.

This week has been pretty hectic. I have had school during the week apart from Friday when I went on a physics field trip to a power plant on the Neretva. Then I helped out with the Flea Market which was raising money for the refugee camp. Congratulations go to all involved as we raised a nice sum of money for the camp.

Saturday I visited the refugee camp for the first time. I was preparing myself for the worst, I expected to be treated with coldness and to face destroyed people. I am so glad I was wrong! The people were welcoming and kind, they are so resilient. Their homes were run down and all of the facilities were poor. To begin with there weren't many people around and as a non-native speaker I was going to work mainly with the kids as there isn't so much of a language barrier. Me and Maja found to young girls, they were very shy. After a long time we managed to get them to draw and play, a truly amazing feeling. As time wore on more people arrived and the camp seemed to come to life. I ended up juggling for a little crowd, playing football and being chased around by kids with water balloons. It was very fun but so tiring! Time flew by and it was time to return to Mostar. The kids are waiting for our return... with more water bombs so I'm told!

Then on Sunday I went on a hike, the first of the year. It was a very tiring climb but well worth it. It took us 4 hours to reach our final viewing point. It was breathtaking, truly breathtaking! We spent a while at the top before descending the mountain. We sang silly songs, pretended to be Indians charging down the mountain and decided to see how many UWCers you can fit in a tree. It was an awesome day that left us all very tired but very happy.

Survivors ...

How many UWCers in one tree?? 13 and counting ...

View ... WOW

At the Top :)

Water Bomb!!

Attack!

The Camp