Raymond Liu Ao, Grade 11
UWC-USA
The lights were off. The spotlight was set. The performers were ready. As I introduced the opening act, an angelic voice suddenly filled the vast auditorium. Singing “I wish yourself a merry little Christmas,” Fiona Li (China/Korea) approached the sparkly stage with grace and poise, touching the audience’s soul.
A moment of unity, peace, and spectacle, the Christmas Café and Potluck moved me in many ways. The performances symbolized resilience. Despite living in pandemic times, performers from all around the world came together to celebrate a holiday that honours giving. From Vietnam to El Salvador to Turkey, talented artists joined as a community to deliver heartfelt acts.
And do not get me started on the food. I savoured and tasted food from each region. From Taiwanese Tea Eggs to Colombian Arepas, I had an eye-opening, mouth-watering culinary experience to Finnish desserts. The Christmas potluck was a testament to this school’s diversity, allowing me to appreciate different cultures’ typical foods.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many UWCers were unable to return home during winter break, making the Christmas Cafe especially meaningful for many of us. It is easy to feel lost, to feel a lack of a sense of home and place in UWC, yet meaningful events like these remind each and every one of us that the UWC community will remain strong and united as long as we have each other. Despite the homesickness and
A moment of unity, peace, and spectacle, the Christmas Café and Potluck moved me in many ways. The performances symbolized resilience. Despite living in pandemic times, performers from all around the world came together to celebrate a holiday that honours giving. From Vietnam to El Salvador to Turkey, talented artists joined as a community to deliver heartfelt acts.
And do not get me started on the food. I savoured and tasted food from each region. From Taiwanese Tea Eggs to Colombian Arepas, I had an eye-opening, mouth-watering culinary experience to Finnish desserts. The Christmas potluck was a testament to this school’s diversity, allowing me to appreciate different cultures’ typical foods.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many UWCers were unable to return home during winter break, making the Christmas Cafe especially meaningful for many of us. It is easy to feel lost, to feel a lack of a sense of home and place in UWC, yet meaningful events like these remind each and every one of us that the UWC community will remain strong and united as long as we have each other. Despite the homesickness and
Guest Writer - UWC-USA |
nostalgia of being apart from home during this holiday season, our community pulled through together. If I am completely honest, I have felt lost at UWC. But it is the UWC-USA community that has made me realize that my own dormitory, the campus trails, the cafeteria, the castle; this new place I am at… this is my new home. Without the people, I would not have had conversations until 4AM in my dormitory. Without the people, I would not have the craziest adventures on the campus trails. Without the people, I would not have felt the vibrating energy once I stepped into the cafeteria. Without the people, I would not have had the most intellectually challenging discussions in my classes in the castle.
I will dearly hold my memories of The Christmas Cafe and Potluck as a symbol of why I came here. A symbol of what this community means to me. A symbol of the magic of this school. |
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