Toms Gelpers, Grade 11
UWC Mahindra
Here I am again. It’s Monday. My English class is starting in a few minutes.
Something feels different. On the way to class, I don’t bump into anyone in the cafeteria. I don’t carry my backpack around campus, nor do I walk into the dark classroom anymore. Quite the opposite. It’s a late afternoon here in Riga, the sun is shining outside, and I am in my room, sitting by the desk with a mug by my side. I don’t even have to run for my class. Back on campus, I sometimes literally got a day’s worth of exercise running from my room to classes during the day. Now, when I barge in the virtual classroom a few minutes early, all I get is a message that says: “Please wait for the host to start this meeting.”
My teacher starts class at 3 PM sharp. Not even a minute late. As she shares her screen with us, her browser is not filled with 25 open tabs anymore. She is very cheerful, enthusiastic and always has something on her mind to tell us. She says a friendly “hi” to each one of us joining. As I see my classmates joining the class, all I see is just rows of muted participants with name labels.
Sometimes, when the teacher asks a question, it almost feels like watching Dora The Explorer: she asks a question, waits for an answer for some awkward 10 seconds, and then goes on to answer the question herself. It’s not always a “dead” classroom though; an unusual thing happens when we have a session for the whole school. There is an unwritten rule: When you ask the students if they can hear you, you risk getting flooded with 240 messages saying “yes” every time. People still ask. Believe me, some of the messages even get stuck on the way and come in late. It’s surprising how, despite the distance, time differences, harsh weather and a bad internet connection, we are still together as a class.
We don’t see each other that much anymore. As we enter a session, to save bandwidth, we sometimes hear reminders saying to “remember to turn off all cameras.”
We do exchange messages at times. Whispering with friends during classes turned to texts. Sometimes I am on two calls at the same time, and that is much more complicated than it sounds. Sometimes I’m alone on the call before class, and one of my classmates does a total jump scare on me by joining the call. Sometimes we stay on the call after class to casually chat about life and just fool around. Our snack time conversations with chai and banana muffins evolved from the cafeteria tables to virtual calls, and as a result of this, I no longer need to worry if there is a spot by the table. Many things that made MUWCI the cosy place it was for me keep on going strong, and deep inside my heart I am so happy that people hold dear the memories of those times and make sure to keep the spirit going.
Sometimes I spend so much time alone on assignments and other schoolwork that I actually realize how much I miss proper human interaction. Everything happens online now. I still remember teachers in third grade, saying how we should spend no more than one hour by the screen. Now, that’s even less than an online class.
Can one properly disconnect from the restless online world in these times? I feel like the challenge is still there, and I want to accomplish that someday.
When it rains outside, I sometimes go for a short bike ride to the coast. Sometimes I take pictures, but mostly I leave my phone at home. With my fifth written submission in this week, it all just feels a little robotic and monotonous by now, and sometimes I just want to run away.
I don’t really remember the date anymore. Is it still March? April? Is it May already? By now, days come and go, and I haven’t even properly realized I’ve been home for two months and a half already. Everything feels like yesterday, be it me stepping off the plane in Riga, running through the pouring rain to my bus stop, sitting with another firstie on the floor of Mumbai airport waiting for our check-in desks to open, even that last plate of rice with dal. It’s all just a blur, and it might stay that way, and I don’t really know if I will return to campus anytime soon. But, for now, it’s something new for everyone.
For now, there’s a chance to enjoy the time we have, to appreciate what we have and make use of the opportunities we have. After all, it’s only up to us. It’s up to us to hear and listen not only to others but also ourselves.
At MUWCI, we like to call ourselves resilient and open to challenges. You can verify that by asking us in the chat next time we have a college-wide meeting, and I’m sure you’ll get at least 240 messages saying “yes”.
Nonetheless, when it comes to challenges, even a single “yes” from yourself goes a long way.
Something feels different. On the way to class, I don’t bump into anyone in the cafeteria. I don’t carry my backpack around campus, nor do I walk into the dark classroom anymore. Quite the opposite. It’s a late afternoon here in Riga, the sun is shining outside, and I am in my room, sitting by the desk with a mug by my side. I don’t even have to run for my class. Back on campus, I sometimes literally got a day’s worth of exercise running from my room to classes during the day. Now, when I barge in the virtual classroom a few minutes early, all I get is a message that says: “Please wait for the host to start this meeting.”
My teacher starts class at 3 PM sharp. Not even a minute late. As she shares her screen with us, her browser is not filled with 25 open tabs anymore. She is very cheerful, enthusiastic and always has something on her mind to tell us. She says a friendly “hi” to each one of us joining. As I see my classmates joining the class, all I see is just rows of muted participants with name labels.
Sometimes, when the teacher asks a question, it almost feels like watching Dora The Explorer: she asks a question, waits for an answer for some awkward 10 seconds, and then goes on to answer the question herself. It’s not always a “dead” classroom though; an unusual thing happens when we have a session for the whole school. There is an unwritten rule: When you ask the students if they can hear you, you risk getting flooded with 240 messages saying “yes” every time. People still ask. Believe me, some of the messages even get stuck on the way and come in late. It’s surprising how, despite the distance, time differences, harsh weather and a bad internet connection, we are still together as a class.
We don’t see each other that much anymore. As we enter a session, to save bandwidth, we sometimes hear reminders saying to “remember to turn off all cameras.”
We do exchange messages at times. Whispering with friends during classes turned to texts. Sometimes I am on two calls at the same time, and that is much more complicated than it sounds. Sometimes I’m alone on the call before class, and one of my classmates does a total jump scare on me by joining the call. Sometimes we stay on the call after class to casually chat about life and just fool around. Our snack time conversations with chai and banana muffins evolved from the cafeteria tables to virtual calls, and as a result of this, I no longer need to worry if there is a spot by the table. Many things that made MUWCI the cosy place it was for me keep on going strong, and deep inside my heart I am so happy that people hold dear the memories of those times and make sure to keep the spirit going.
Sometimes I spend so much time alone on assignments and other schoolwork that I actually realize how much I miss proper human interaction. Everything happens online now. I still remember teachers in third grade, saying how we should spend no more than one hour by the screen. Now, that’s even less than an online class.
Can one properly disconnect from the restless online world in these times? I feel like the challenge is still there, and I want to accomplish that someday.
When it rains outside, I sometimes go for a short bike ride to the coast. Sometimes I take pictures, but mostly I leave my phone at home. With my fifth written submission in this week, it all just feels a little robotic and monotonous by now, and sometimes I just want to run away.
I don’t really remember the date anymore. Is it still March? April? Is it May already? By now, days come and go, and I haven’t even properly realized I’ve been home for two months and a half already. Everything feels like yesterday, be it me stepping off the plane in Riga, running through the pouring rain to my bus stop, sitting with another firstie on the floor of Mumbai airport waiting for our check-in desks to open, even that last plate of rice with dal. It’s all just a blur, and it might stay that way, and I don’t really know if I will return to campus anytime soon. But, for now, it’s something new for everyone.
For now, there’s a chance to enjoy the time we have, to appreciate what we have and make use of the opportunities we have. After all, it’s only up to us. It’s up to us to hear and listen not only to others but also ourselves.
At MUWCI, we like to call ourselves resilient and open to challenges. You can verify that by asking us in the chat next time we have a college-wide meeting, and I’m sure you’ll get at least 240 messages saying “yes”.
Nonetheless, when it comes to challenges, even a single “yes” from yourself goes a long way.
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