Giovanni Díaz-Infante Posadas, Grade 11
UWC Costa Rica
Dear Oliver,
You have been miles away from me for the past four months, and in a couple of weeks, you will be traveling even farther away. I knew something like this was bound to happen someday as soon as we met, but I was not prepared for it. I think I never truly was, but remembering that we could have had more time together saddens me; an extra reason for hating our early departures from campus this year. I don’t know if and when I’ll see you again, but there are many things that I wish I’d had the time to say to you, so I decided to write you a letter; I’ve always been better at writing than talking.
When we met a year and a half ago, I had no idea of how close we would become or how much you would impact what I now consider the most intense experience of my life yet. It started as a bunch of “hey’s” and “how are you’s” exchanged over text from an impatient and naive zero year and his soon to be second year on the other side of the world, so I didn’t give it much importance. You were my first “what’s your name and where are you from”, but technically, we were still strangers, and you were part of something that was yet to come, why bother about that?
Nevertheless, as time went on and my departure from home became more tangible, we grew closer together. Your texts turned into calls, your voice became familiar, and your name took on a new meaning. By July, you were no longer a European stranger overseas; you were the promise of a friend in a place filled with new beginnings. You helped me pack seventeen years of my life in three suitcases, you answered each and every one of my weirdest questions, and you comforted me whenever I second-guessed myself.
I arrived at school on the last train of the day after flying for 14 hours, and you were the first person I met on campus. It was weird, I didn’t know how to react, and you noticed, but you simply smiled and said: “Hi, I’m Oliver. Nice to meet you”. Then, you proceed to help me with my suitcases and tour me around my new home. Those first weeks are some of my fondest memories from this year, with walks to the city, biking trips to the countryside, and movie nights; you showed me what UWC was for you and gave me the freedom to explore what I wanted UWC to be for me. Eventually, we became closer than most friends and began to share many of our experiences; in hindsight, that’s when you became one of my most important friends. I cannot talk about my first year in Maastricht without mentioning you, all the good and the bad.
We shared laughter, we shared late nights, we shared friends, we shared the musical, we shared a conference…
I learned a lot from you during that time, but at some point, we also realized that we were heading towards different paths, and we could not ignore that. It was a difficult transition for me, I’m not going to lie, but after things settled down, I really enjoyed rediscovering your friendship.
That’s when we got the news that the school would go on lockdown. After that, it was a matter of weeks before we said goodbye and hugged one last time.
I guess it’s ironic, maybe even poetic, to think that we will be an ocean away once again, but this time I’ll be here, and you’ll be there. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck, and I can’t wait to tell you all about next year. I’m excited.
Dear Oliver, thanks for being there.
You have been miles away from me for the past four months, and in a couple of weeks, you will be traveling even farther away. I knew something like this was bound to happen someday as soon as we met, but I was not prepared for it. I think I never truly was, but remembering that we could have had more time together saddens me; an extra reason for hating our early departures from campus this year. I don’t know if and when I’ll see you again, but there are many things that I wish I’d had the time to say to you, so I decided to write you a letter; I’ve always been better at writing than talking.
When we met a year and a half ago, I had no idea of how close we would become or how much you would impact what I now consider the most intense experience of my life yet. It started as a bunch of “hey’s” and “how are you’s” exchanged over text from an impatient and naive zero year and his soon to be second year on the other side of the world, so I didn’t give it much importance. You were my first “what’s your name and where are you from”, but technically, we were still strangers, and you were part of something that was yet to come, why bother about that?
Nevertheless, as time went on and my departure from home became more tangible, we grew closer together. Your texts turned into calls, your voice became familiar, and your name took on a new meaning. By July, you were no longer a European stranger overseas; you were the promise of a friend in a place filled with new beginnings. You helped me pack seventeen years of my life in three suitcases, you answered each and every one of my weirdest questions, and you comforted me whenever I second-guessed myself.
I arrived at school on the last train of the day after flying for 14 hours, and you were the first person I met on campus. It was weird, I didn’t know how to react, and you noticed, but you simply smiled and said: “Hi, I’m Oliver. Nice to meet you”. Then, you proceed to help me with my suitcases and tour me around my new home. Those first weeks are some of my fondest memories from this year, with walks to the city, biking trips to the countryside, and movie nights; you showed me what UWC was for you and gave me the freedom to explore what I wanted UWC to be for me. Eventually, we became closer than most friends and began to share many of our experiences; in hindsight, that’s when you became one of my most important friends. I cannot talk about my first year in Maastricht without mentioning you, all the good and the bad.
We shared laughter, we shared late nights, we shared friends, we shared the musical, we shared a conference…
I learned a lot from you during that time, but at some point, we also realized that we were heading towards different paths, and we could not ignore that. It was a difficult transition for me, I’m not going to lie, but after things settled down, I really enjoyed rediscovering your friendship.
That’s when we got the news that the school would go on lockdown. After that, it was a matter of weeks before we said goodbye and hugged one last time.
I guess it’s ironic, maybe even poetic, to think that we will be an ocean away once again, but this time I’ll be here, and you’ll be there. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck, and I can’t wait to tell you all about next year. I’m excited.
Dear Oliver, thanks for being there.
Till we meet again, Gio.
www.unitedworldwide.co