Georgia Skapoulli, Grade 11
UWC Mostar
UWC is so much more than just academics- this journey is made up of various extracurricular activities, challenging hikes, once-in-a-lifetime trips, special events and, of course, the UWC community with people from all different backgrounds. As expected, the pandemic influenced this year’s UWC journey in all kinds of ways; some people arrived late into the academic year, residential lockdowns were enforced, and, unfortunately, many annual events were cancelled. As disappointing as it was, it was for the UWC Mostar community’s best interest and the wider community of Mostar. Arranging huge events, like UWC Day and Winter Gala, would only increase the risk of Covid-19 spreading and putting both the students and staff in danger. However, this didn’t mean this year was boring and monotonous. Instead, it encouraged the school community to get creative and come up with alternatives for these events. Isn’t UWC all about being a leader and taking matters into our own hands after all? Well, one pandemic isn’t enough to ruin the UWC spirit.
One of the best events, if not the best, that took place during the Autumn term, was the event organized for Halloween. Truthfully, the students were disappointed initially once the school announced that a Halloween party couldn’t take place. Little did they know, the school wouldn’t just leave it to that. The staff had the unique idea of turning the Velic building (one of UWC Mostar’s buildings) into a haunted house. Therefore, Velic was turned into an abandoned laboratory inhabited by flesh-hungry zombies for one night with student volunteers' help. Inspired by the current pandemic, this laboratory was where the Covid-19 vaccine had been developed, at the cost of some researchers getting infected and turning into these zombies. The mission was simple- the visitors had to find three keys to get to the vaccine without getting captured by the students disguised as zombies. What made this event so special was how well organized it was- from the scary decorations to the zombies’ amazing acting. Naturally, all Covid-19 measures were followed; students went in groups of a maximum of four people, and everyone had to wear a mask inside. A pumpkin carving took place outside the building for the groups waiting outside, and candy was offered to everyone; you can’t have Halloween without candy. Despite all these restrictions, it was an incredibly fun and scary experience. It was evident that the staff and the students had put a lot of their effort and creativity into making this year’s Halloween memorable.
The canoeing trip that took place during UWC induction week also must be placed amongst the top three events of the year so far. Not only was it a great opportunity for students to bond by facing a challenge together, but it was also a completely new experience for most students. Students got to test their capabilities and stamina by rowing for three hours in one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most scenic rivers. Teamwork was also a key factor as each canoe held two people- students learnt how to coordinate the canoe together but also take turns when either one of them needed a break. Again, Covid-19 restrictions had to be followed, so all students were taken in three groups according to the three residences (Musala, Susac and Mejdan). It was a rather laid-back trip as students could go at their own pace, as long as they weren’t too far behind, and there was a much-needed break in the middle too, where we could take a breath and appreciate all the nature. The competitive spirit was also present between some canoes- where students challenged each other to see who would reach that waterfall or a tree first, but, in most cases, it just ended with a lot of splashing at each other. In the end, we all felt a huge satisfaction with ourselves for finishing a rather challenging trip that required a lot of upper body strength; it was a great opportunity to exercise while seeing what Bosnia and Herzegovina had to offer.
Last but not least, an event which is listed in the top three so far is the pomegranate picking in Blagaj, a village just outside Mostar. As you guessed already, a group of volunteering students went there to pick pomegranates. This was a volunteering event for a pomegranate farm at Blagaj, where the students spent their morning. However, it wasn’t just picking these fruits- there was also the task of cleaning them up and selecting which ones were ripe enough to be picked. The staff there were kind enough to take the students to see the Serbian eagle, which they had taken under their care after they found it injured. It was interesting to learn about this eagle and how they managed to help it heal- from its daily treatment to the way it’s fed. Furthermore, students got to get to know each other better through the conversations that accompanied their pomegranate tasks and, every now and then, taste the juicy pomegranates. We had to make sure they were ripe enough, after all! By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted, but it was worth it. As a treat for all the hard work, the students got to make their own pizzas, using the stone oven there and enjoy them under the shade of the trees. They were also awarded cookies and chocolates, which only lasted for a couple of minutes. Another notable feature of this event was the picturesque landscapes of Blagaj, the infamous waterfalls and the surrounding mountains which tower over the village.
These three events were merely a small part of the whole UWC experience so far. However, their well-organized execution and all the fun that came with them made them into the memorable highlights of the academic year they are. Without these events, the UWC journey would have been rather disappointing and monotonous, with all these difficulties and restrictions arising due to the pandemic. This is why getting creative and productive is an absolute necessity during these tough times. Yes, students do want these events to have fun and relax from their academics, but it is so much more than that. Attending a UWC isn’t that easy during the Covid-19 outbreak; it means not visiting family and home as often and spending days isolated alone in a room. Homesickness kicks in more often than ever, and the fear of missing out also grows greater as the pandemic drags on. These events are therefore needed to uplift the spirits of the students and distract them from all the negativity looming in during these times because, as mentioned before, the UWC spirit isn’t one to die out just like that.
One of the best events, if not the best, that took place during the Autumn term, was the event organized for Halloween. Truthfully, the students were disappointed initially once the school announced that a Halloween party couldn’t take place. Little did they know, the school wouldn’t just leave it to that. The staff had the unique idea of turning the Velic building (one of UWC Mostar’s buildings) into a haunted house. Therefore, Velic was turned into an abandoned laboratory inhabited by flesh-hungry zombies for one night with student volunteers' help. Inspired by the current pandemic, this laboratory was where the Covid-19 vaccine had been developed, at the cost of some researchers getting infected and turning into these zombies. The mission was simple- the visitors had to find three keys to get to the vaccine without getting captured by the students disguised as zombies. What made this event so special was how well organized it was- from the scary decorations to the zombies’ amazing acting. Naturally, all Covid-19 measures were followed; students went in groups of a maximum of four people, and everyone had to wear a mask inside. A pumpkin carving took place outside the building for the groups waiting outside, and candy was offered to everyone; you can’t have Halloween without candy. Despite all these restrictions, it was an incredibly fun and scary experience. It was evident that the staff and the students had put a lot of their effort and creativity into making this year’s Halloween memorable.
The canoeing trip that took place during UWC induction week also must be placed amongst the top three events of the year so far. Not only was it a great opportunity for students to bond by facing a challenge together, but it was also a completely new experience for most students. Students got to test their capabilities and stamina by rowing for three hours in one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most scenic rivers. Teamwork was also a key factor as each canoe held two people- students learnt how to coordinate the canoe together but also take turns when either one of them needed a break. Again, Covid-19 restrictions had to be followed, so all students were taken in three groups according to the three residences (Musala, Susac and Mejdan). It was a rather laid-back trip as students could go at their own pace, as long as they weren’t too far behind, and there was a much-needed break in the middle too, where we could take a breath and appreciate all the nature. The competitive spirit was also present between some canoes- where students challenged each other to see who would reach that waterfall or a tree first, but, in most cases, it just ended with a lot of splashing at each other. In the end, we all felt a huge satisfaction with ourselves for finishing a rather challenging trip that required a lot of upper body strength; it was a great opportunity to exercise while seeing what Bosnia and Herzegovina had to offer.
Last but not least, an event which is listed in the top three so far is the pomegranate picking in Blagaj, a village just outside Mostar. As you guessed already, a group of volunteering students went there to pick pomegranates. This was a volunteering event for a pomegranate farm at Blagaj, where the students spent their morning. However, it wasn’t just picking these fruits- there was also the task of cleaning them up and selecting which ones were ripe enough to be picked. The staff there were kind enough to take the students to see the Serbian eagle, which they had taken under their care after they found it injured. It was interesting to learn about this eagle and how they managed to help it heal- from its daily treatment to the way it’s fed. Furthermore, students got to get to know each other better through the conversations that accompanied their pomegranate tasks and, every now and then, taste the juicy pomegranates. We had to make sure they were ripe enough, after all! By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted, but it was worth it. As a treat for all the hard work, the students got to make their own pizzas, using the stone oven there and enjoy them under the shade of the trees. They were also awarded cookies and chocolates, which only lasted for a couple of minutes. Another notable feature of this event was the picturesque landscapes of Blagaj, the infamous waterfalls and the surrounding mountains which tower over the village.
These three events were merely a small part of the whole UWC experience so far. However, their well-organized execution and all the fun that came with them made them into the memorable highlights of the academic year they are. Without these events, the UWC journey would have been rather disappointing and monotonous, with all these difficulties and restrictions arising due to the pandemic. This is why getting creative and productive is an absolute necessity during these tough times. Yes, students do want these events to have fun and relax from their academics, but it is so much more than that. Attending a UWC isn’t that easy during the Covid-19 outbreak; it means not visiting family and home as often and spending days isolated alone in a room. Homesickness kicks in more often than ever, and the fear of missing out also grows greater as the pandemic drags on. These events are therefore needed to uplift the spirits of the students and distract them from all the negativity looming in during these times because, as mentioned before, the UWC spirit isn’t one to die out just like that.
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