Cesar Almeida, Grade 12
UWC Maastricht
From many perspectives, our UWC Maastricht Experience spins around our closeness to the city of Maastricht. Albeit living here for almost two years now, I have yet to discover all the opportunities that this small, vibrant Dutch city offers. Tripoint with Belgium and Germany, Maastricht is the capital city of the southern province of Limburg. Home to 120,000 inhabitants, Maastricht welcomes us students with emblems like the most beautiful bookshop in the world, to remarkable universities like the University of Maastricht. Arguably the oldest city in the Netherlands, its medieval history is as interesting as its contemporary role in the building of the European Union.
Founded 10 years ago, United World College Maastricht has kept a tight relationship with the city. As an institution, our school is recognized as a hotspot for education and internationalism. Our collaboration with other projects, initiatives, and institutions around the city enriches our community from us as individuals, to us as a school.
Virtually everything appears to be a bike ride away from us. Starting from CAS experiences, students in school do CAS service in more than 80 different organizations around the city, from aiding animal shelters to volunteering in museums. School trips to companies, cinemas, museums are also a part of our curriculum. Free lectures offered by the University of Maastricht are 20 minutes away. Educational experiences become a matter of wearing a suitable jacket for the infamous Dutch weather, getting hold of a pair of bike lights, and pedaling with your peers to wherever the city waits for you.
Leisure. If there is something UWCers agree on it is the occasional feeling of overwhelmingness that such an environment provokes. It is then when the space beyond our surrounding moat becomes a breath of fresh air. Days out with the sole purpose of eating a waffle, grabbing a coffee or just chilling in a park are instants that Maastricht gifts us here. And here between us, students, Maastricht’s nightlife is also something to talk about. It is hard to explain how short-lived friendships with other international students from the University have brought me anecdotes and quite interesting memories if I may say. From a residential perspective, having a city and day students who we can spend the weekends with is a great way to bond with families and get that home-made taste that we so often miss as students abroad.
I think I speak on behalf of a significant portion of the residential community when I say that my knowledge about Holland, I mean, the Netherlands, was quite limited before coming here. I knew Amsterdam was a thing, but apart from that, the happenings in this small country remained a mystery to me. Cultural shocks are synonymous with Maastricht. It is undeniable that living in the city has given us, residents, the opportunity to live Dutch culture to a great extent. Although declaring Maastricht as Dutch is still up to discussion according to our orange (Dutch) peers. Carnival, the Christmas Market, and so many other events enrich our understanding of Dutch culture and traditions. Even just cycling to the city at 15:15 after a school day feels like an expedition into the lifestyle of our beloved Dutch neighbors.
All in all, even if our campus may seem small or bounded, Maastricht is, without a doubt, limitless. At the end of the day, once you are done with the everyday struggles of:
“Can I borrow your bike?”
“I don’t have bike lights”
“I don’t have a lock”
“Why don’t we walk?”
“We have to race back for check-in!”
The city and its wonders are a bike ride away.
Founded 10 years ago, United World College Maastricht has kept a tight relationship with the city. As an institution, our school is recognized as a hotspot for education and internationalism. Our collaboration with other projects, initiatives, and institutions around the city enriches our community from us as individuals, to us as a school.
Virtually everything appears to be a bike ride away from us. Starting from CAS experiences, students in school do CAS service in more than 80 different organizations around the city, from aiding animal shelters to volunteering in museums. School trips to companies, cinemas, museums are also a part of our curriculum. Free lectures offered by the University of Maastricht are 20 minutes away. Educational experiences become a matter of wearing a suitable jacket for the infamous Dutch weather, getting hold of a pair of bike lights, and pedaling with your peers to wherever the city waits for you.
Leisure. If there is something UWCers agree on it is the occasional feeling of overwhelmingness that such an environment provokes. It is then when the space beyond our surrounding moat becomes a breath of fresh air. Days out with the sole purpose of eating a waffle, grabbing a coffee or just chilling in a park are instants that Maastricht gifts us here. And here between us, students, Maastricht’s nightlife is also something to talk about. It is hard to explain how short-lived friendships with other international students from the University have brought me anecdotes and quite interesting memories if I may say. From a residential perspective, having a city and day students who we can spend the weekends with is a great way to bond with families and get that home-made taste that we so often miss as students abroad.
I think I speak on behalf of a significant portion of the residential community when I say that my knowledge about Holland, I mean, the Netherlands, was quite limited before coming here. I knew Amsterdam was a thing, but apart from that, the happenings in this small country remained a mystery to me. Cultural shocks are synonymous with Maastricht. It is undeniable that living in the city has given us, residents, the opportunity to live Dutch culture to a great extent. Although declaring Maastricht as Dutch is still up to discussion according to our orange (Dutch) peers. Carnival, the Christmas Market, and so many other events enrich our understanding of Dutch culture and traditions. Even just cycling to the city at 15:15 after a school day feels like an expedition into the lifestyle of our beloved Dutch neighbors.
All in all, even if our campus may seem small or bounded, Maastricht is, without a doubt, limitless. At the end of the day, once you are done with the everyday struggles of:
“Can I borrow your bike?”
“I don’t have bike lights”
“I don’t have a lock”
“Why don’t we walk?”
“We have to race back for check-in!”
The city and its wonders are a bike ride away.
www.unitedworldwide.co