Leadership

On Saturday, I attended a training session about being a leader and the skills required. It was twinned together with a moderator meeting in which we discussed the problems in the school that we have to address. In the previous term we saw very little happening, our voices rang out unheard. Hopefully, this term will be very different. More initiatives have been created and a more committed attitude adopted. We all want to see change. As part of this workshop, led by a second year, I learnt a lot of things that we often just regard as common knowledge and disregard.

This morning I held a speech as one of the candidates for the new student representative, I don't have high hopes but it was worth the experience. I'm beginning to feel slightly more confident and putting together more projects on my own. Something, I don't think, I would of even attempted previously. There is so much potential in UWCiM but so far it has been dormant. Soon I hope to see it unleashed!

The Netherlands

This week I left home for the second time and ventured into the flattest place in the world! I arrived on Monday, flying from Bristol to Schriphol where I met my friend. We took the train back to his place in Den Haag, then went for a little tour around the city on the most common mode of transport in the Netherlands, bikes! It was a very pretty city. We got some sleep and the next day headed into Amsterdam where we wandered about, visiting Anne Frank's house and lots of other main tourist spots. In the afternoon I headed up to Friesland to meet my second friend!

After a good nights sleep in the tiny village of Nij Beets, we went out to the town of Sneek, which has a beautiful water gate and is also very typical of old Dutch towns. We spent a lot of time inside due to miserable weather. The next day we went to a nearby city of Drachten, where my friend used to go to school. We visited his school and his grandparents, who were very lovely even though we couldn't speak due to them knowing no English and me not being able to speak any Dutch. They gave me some Stroopwaffles which are delicious. Again a day of miserable weather. We spent the next day in Nij Beets having a little walk around and then doing a lot of studying in preparation for going back to UWCiM. On Saturday we ventured out to the city of Groningen, a beautiful city full of students. We visited the university and many other astounding buildings. Again, miserable weather. Then, before I knew it, we were heading back to Mostar.

My time in the Netherlands was really nice. I got to see bikes, canals, tulips, clogs and windmills but also a lot more. All of a sudden I'm back in my other home and its still maintaining a resounding atmosphere! And the weather is much better here :)


Sneek

Nij Beets

Amsterdam

Ready, Set, Go!

I've been home around 3 weeks and today I leave, again! It went so quickly, with the snow, christmas, new years all passing by in a flash. It is strange being home but at the same time completely natural, I think I have found myself in the in-between state of staying and leaving. But friends and family have been incredible and I really am going to miss them, as I have also missed by college friends! So here I go off to the Netherlands and then on to Mostar. Adios yet again :)

Christmas Crackers and Confusion

After a week of being home, with things to do and people to see, I'm caught up on my sleep and enjoying myself. However, some things not quite right. I love seeing family and friends, even though I worried about things being awkward between us, it has been natural as ever. It is really great but I have this growing unease at being back. I have been warned by several different people that it is hard to come back and of course I didn't really believe them but now I think I am beginning to understand. Its not easy coming back and even harder staying. I love these people dearly and whole heartedly but I find myself torn between my new life and my past. It is a strange state of being! Life is complicated, that is a fact. At the beginning of this journey I made a promise to myself to learn something new each and everyday. At the moment it feels like I'm learning a lot more!

Christmas has passed by, I've seen friends and family and now what? I feel like I'm waiting for a train that will inevitably come to whisk me away, maybe its delayed by the snow!
Ok, enough philosophical pondering!

End of Term One

So here we are, almost four months later, and soon I will be heading home. On Wednesday night we had our Winter Gala, a ball/dance or whatever you want to call it. It marked the end of this term and it was so nice to see everyone dressed up and looking beautiful. It was a lovely night with performances from the Ballroom dancers and the school band. But the Gala means that soon it is time to go home, or at least to our other homes.

It still hasn't sunk in that I will be coming back to Britain in just a few short days, I've been gone so long now and it will strange to come back to a place that I left knowing that very little else has changed. But, seriously, I can't wait to get back and see friends and family, to see my pets and go riding again, to visit the places I used to go. At the moment I am in a state of trepidation with the fear of a cancelled flight hanging in the air. Fingers crossed it will be ok.

So term one is over and it has been incredible.The biggest thing in my life so far and I hope its changed me for the better. I have learnt so much and done things I had only dreamed about. It has provided me with so many opportunities. So again, a huge thank you for everyone who has helped me get here and to the people I have found here.

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.