Jad Bitar, Grade 11
UWC Maastricht
Five years ago, my brother was accepted to attend UWC Pearson College in Victoria, Canada. I still remember the excitement and happiness that was on his face as he read out the email of acceptance to the family. While at Pearson, I noticed the impact that it was having on him and his life whenever we Skyped or Facetimed. He would always share exciting adventures or new ideas he was being exposed to, which seemed really exciting. Inspired by all that we have heard about UWC, both my sister and I applied and ended up getting accepted to United World College Maastricht.
Upon arriving at UWCM, I was able to experience all that my brother had talked about: students from all over the world living and learning together in one place. I believe that what makes UWC special is the very people that make up this community. One of the things I appreciate the most about UWCM is my ability to share my experiences while learning from others’ simultaneously in a safe environment where different cultures are celebrated. Sharing your personal space with four roommates from different nationalities does not come without challenges of adjustment. However, the experience is extremely rewarding as you get closer with your roommates and form a sense of community. Through this, I was able to learn about their beliefs, cultures and perspectives. Certainly, my UWC experience enabled me to expand my horizon and develop myself. Being exposed to such a diverse community had a huge impact on me and helped me to develop different perspectives on certain topics after hearing stories from people where those topics affected their own local communities.
Beyond that, I believe that what makes UWCM unique from other UWC colleges is the special bond to the local Maastricht community. One of the first things that we had to do upon arriving at the College was to get a bike since that was the main way of transportation. The city, located at a close distance from the college, is where many of our CAS experiences take place. Living in Maastricht forms an important aspect of my UWC experience, giving me full exposure to Dutch culture. Even in the typical Maastricht rainy and cloudy days that are known to all students, we are left with unforgettable memories. Dutch people describe Maastricht as “gezellig”; its meaning could differ based on the context. In Dutch, it means cosy or sociable, but there is not a direct, literal translation for this word. Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands; thus, it is rich in history and culture.
One of the popular events that I attended while in Maastricht was Carnaval. Carnaval is the biggest national festival in the city where everyone dresses up in different traditional costumes with a lot of great cultural foods. My peers and I enjoy experiencing the Dutch culture and talking about the different festivals and celebrations we have in our own countries.
Even the simplest events in UWCM - such as a movie night - can quickly turn into a political discussion on different topics that lasts until 3 in the morning. The passion and knowledge many students bring to the community are one of the many things I appreciate about UWCM.
UWCM is the unique place it is because of the people who live in and attend it. Everyone lives together as a family under one roof, which we call home. I am grateful for the UWC experience for allowing me to envision what an ideal world might look like and learn about different nations and cultures in a safe and supportive environment.
Upon arriving at UWCM, I was able to experience all that my brother had talked about: students from all over the world living and learning together in one place. I believe that what makes UWC special is the very people that make up this community. One of the things I appreciate the most about UWCM is my ability to share my experiences while learning from others’ simultaneously in a safe environment where different cultures are celebrated. Sharing your personal space with four roommates from different nationalities does not come without challenges of adjustment. However, the experience is extremely rewarding as you get closer with your roommates and form a sense of community. Through this, I was able to learn about their beliefs, cultures and perspectives. Certainly, my UWC experience enabled me to expand my horizon and develop myself. Being exposed to such a diverse community had a huge impact on me and helped me to develop different perspectives on certain topics after hearing stories from people where those topics affected their own local communities.
Beyond that, I believe that what makes UWCM unique from other UWC colleges is the special bond to the local Maastricht community. One of the first things that we had to do upon arriving at the College was to get a bike since that was the main way of transportation. The city, located at a close distance from the college, is where many of our CAS experiences take place. Living in Maastricht forms an important aspect of my UWC experience, giving me full exposure to Dutch culture. Even in the typical Maastricht rainy and cloudy days that are known to all students, we are left with unforgettable memories. Dutch people describe Maastricht as “gezellig”; its meaning could differ based on the context. In Dutch, it means cosy or sociable, but there is not a direct, literal translation for this word. Maastricht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands; thus, it is rich in history and culture.
One of the popular events that I attended while in Maastricht was Carnaval. Carnaval is the biggest national festival in the city where everyone dresses up in different traditional costumes with a lot of great cultural foods. My peers and I enjoy experiencing the Dutch culture and talking about the different festivals and celebrations we have in our own countries.
Even the simplest events in UWCM - such as a movie night - can quickly turn into a political discussion on different topics that lasts until 3 in the morning. The passion and knowledge many students bring to the community are one of the many things I appreciate about UWCM.
UWCM is the unique place it is because of the people who live in and attend it. Everyone lives together as a family under one roof, which we call home. I am grateful for the UWC experience for allowing me to envision what an ideal world might look like and learn about different nations and cultures in a safe and supportive environment.
www.unitedworldwide.co