María Fernanda Vacca, Grade 12
UWC-USA
The air sightly danced with the flags in front of the Castle. The sun, being jealous as it is, bathed and kissed everybody else who wore their national costume at the Welcome Ceremony. The view held a cultural and community meaning. Everybody smiled as they discovered new cultures and new parts of themselves that maybe they didn’t know they had.
I explored for the first time some parts of campus that I had never seen before. It was my first major event at UWC after quarantining for a while, and I could finally interact with people and step into the real “UWC experience”. Little did I know that it would be an incredible moment to begin an intense but exceptional journey.
Then, when it was time to take pictures, I saw them: my Latin family. The emotions that I felt at that moment compared only to being at home. That familiarity can only be described with verses from Latinoamérica by Calle 13 - the song that the Latin family would dance to later at the Cultural Showcase.
“You cannot buy the wind / You cannot buy the sun / You cannot buy the rain / You cannot buy the heat.”
I used to live incredibly close to the sea. New Mexican beautiful scenery surrounds the Montezuma Castle, but the Peruvian coast owns my appreciation for the environment and is usually the muse of my homesickness. Latin America holds pride in its peculiar biodiversity - that, sadly, we can’t find at school, or possibly anywhere else, even with all the money in the world. Being away, you learn to appreciate your country’s naturalistic mise-en-scene.
“You cannot buy the clouds / You cannot buy the colors.”
During the ceremony, I heard reflections on the South African flag. After hearing its meaning and importance, I was deeply grateful to see my second-year countrymate display the colors of our flag. Luckily, I also got to hold onto what they mean: red, for passion for our community, and white, for peace. The rest of the Latin American flags were likewise multicolored – just like the other Latinos’ souls that were reflected in their hugs, laughter, and smiles. You might buy pieces of fabric that remind you of home, but the comprehension and honor of representing and loving your nation marked my appreciation for UWC.
“You cannot buy my happiness / You cannot buy my agonies.”
After almost a year, I am sure that UWC gives me memories painted with tones and shades of internationality and cultural appreciation. Nevertheless, the Castle on the hill gave me something more important: friends. These people are the main reason for incredible moments of laughter, but also tears. Before departing, as part of a tradition, the second years give their classmates and ‘firsties’ their signed flags with farewell messages - and vice-versa. Dark markers’ ink, detailed and powerful coats of arms, carefully designed stripes, and even small letters. All of these particular aspects share something with the memories and flags I have received at UWC: they are colorful.
I explored for the first time some parts of campus that I had never seen before. It was my first major event at UWC after quarantining for a while, and I could finally interact with people and step into the real “UWC experience”. Little did I know that it would be an incredible moment to begin an intense but exceptional journey.
Then, when it was time to take pictures, I saw them: my Latin family. The emotions that I felt at that moment compared only to being at home. That familiarity can only be described with verses from Latinoamérica by Calle 13 - the song that the Latin family would dance to later at the Cultural Showcase.
“You cannot buy the wind / You cannot buy the sun / You cannot buy the rain / You cannot buy the heat.”
I used to live incredibly close to the sea. New Mexican beautiful scenery surrounds the Montezuma Castle, but the Peruvian coast owns my appreciation for the environment and is usually the muse of my homesickness. Latin America holds pride in its peculiar biodiversity - that, sadly, we can’t find at school, or possibly anywhere else, even with all the money in the world. Being away, you learn to appreciate your country’s naturalistic mise-en-scene.
“You cannot buy the clouds / You cannot buy the colors.”
During the ceremony, I heard reflections on the South African flag. After hearing its meaning and importance, I was deeply grateful to see my second-year countrymate display the colors of our flag. Luckily, I also got to hold onto what they mean: red, for passion for our community, and white, for peace. The rest of the Latin American flags were likewise multicolored – just like the other Latinos’ souls that were reflected in their hugs, laughter, and smiles. You might buy pieces of fabric that remind you of home, but the comprehension and honor of representing and loving your nation marked my appreciation for UWC.
“You cannot buy my happiness / You cannot buy my agonies.”
After almost a year, I am sure that UWC gives me memories painted with tones and shades of internationality and cultural appreciation. Nevertheless, the Castle on the hill gave me something more important: friends. These people are the main reason for incredible moments of laughter, but also tears. Before departing, as part of a tradition, the second years give their classmates and ‘firsties’ their signed flags with farewell messages - and vice-versa. Dark markers’ ink, detailed and powerful coats of arms, carefully designed stripes, and even small letters. All of these particular aspects share something with the memories and flags I have received at UWC: they are colorful.
www.unitedworldwide.co