Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Do we take our human rights for granted?

Read this article written by two UWC students in Hong Kong, writing about this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner from mainland China, an advocate for human rights, who may not even be able to accept his prize, because he is detained and his rights have been revoked.

http://interuwcmag.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/liu-xiaobo-wins-2010-nobel-peace-prize/#comment-1092

Monday, November 22, 2010

Can you see the beauty every day?

I hope this inspires you to see the beauty each day as you live life fully.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html

Joshua Bell - World Renowned Violinist, playing on a street corner.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Between Portland and Mostar, Building Bridges, Climbing Mountains :)

An article about me was just recently published in the SW Community Connection, a local Portland Newspaper.
Check it out :)
http://www.swcommconnection.com/features/story.php?story_id=128569163805286400


Southwest student in melting pot of culture, education

Former Wilson High School student on two-year IB exchange

(news photo)
SUBMITTED PHOTO / HILARY JOHNSON
Johnson, a former Wilson High School student, looks over Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, her home during a two-year International Baccalaureate exchange through United World Colleges.

A world apart, together
HILLSDALE — While most others her age are still navigating the waters of American high school life, Hilary Johnson, a senior and former Wilson High School student, has already spent a year abroad in Bosnia-Herzegovina and is beginning a second through her participation in a two-year International Baccalaureate (IB) exchange program.
“I originally heard about the United World Colleges program through my uncle, who was an admissions counselor trying to recruit UWC students,” Johnson said.
Further research piqued her interest even more.
The United World Colleges program was founded in 1962 by German educationalist Kurt Hahn and since then has established 13 campuses worldwide, from Swaziland to Singapore, Norway to New Mexico.
According to its website, almost 40,000 students have participated in the colleges’ two-year IB track, which is meant to “deliver a challenging and transformative educational experience to a diverse cross section of students, inspiring them to create a more peaceful and sustainable future.”
Queen Noor of Jordan acts as president of UWC, and Nelson Mandela holds the title of honorary president.
Each year, only 50 U.S. students are selected for the program through a process that involved what Johnson called an extensive written application” as well as a day-long interview for finalist candidates.
UWC’s Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, campus opened in 2006 and houses 154 students between the ages of 16 and 18.
“They consciously place students of diverse backgrounds together as roommates,” Alice Johnson, Hilary’s mother, said. “Hilary’s roommates included an Israeli and two Bosnians, one of Muslim background and the other Serbian.”
Johnson said the majority of her schoolmates come from Eastern Europe, but Western Europe, Asia and Africa are also represented.
There are five other American students in her program from Alaska, Ohio, Michigan and Vermont.
UWC employs teachers from around the globe as well. Johnson said her economics teacher is Welsh and her biology teacher comes from Africa.
“The same classes are taken both years of the program to give a great depth to and comprehension of the subject material,” Johnson said.
Usually, students take three standard-level courses and three higher-level ones. Johnson is taking four higher-level classes, which require a greater number of classroom and work hours, and two from the standard tier.
This year, her course load includes a mix of physics, economics, English, French, chemistry and mathematics.
Johnson said that, although her classes are taught and her exams administered in English, a basic knowledge of the Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian languages spoken around Mostar is essential for day-to-day interactions.

After school

Aside from the diversity created in UWC’s school environment, Johnson said the city of Mostar itself is also full of contrasts.
“I live on the Muslim, Bosniak side of the city,” she said. “So many mornings I wake up to the combined sound of roosters crowing and the call to prayer.”
Moreover, as the city was a center of fighting during the 1992-96 Bosnian War, it is still in a process of physical repair.
“You see gleaming new buildings but not far away bullet-ridden, bombed-out structures since they are still recovering from the … war,” Alice Johnson said.
In fact, UWC’s Mostar campus is focused on demonstrating how members of different ethnic groups can cooperate in this post-war period.
“The biggest adjustment (for me) was recognizing and becoming comfortable with the cultural differences and expectations,” Johnson said.
She said Bosnian culture places a high value on hospitality and respect for elders but that there is “not much support for underprivileged groups such as orphans and the mentally and physically disabled.”
Through UWC and independently, Johnson has traveled throughout Europe during her fall and spring breaks as well as for college-sponsored programs such as debate tournaments in Stuttgart, Germany, and educational development programs in Kosovo.
Johnson visited UWC’s campus in Italy during a Spring Break trip and spent time at its Victoria, B.C., campus this summer.
When students aren’t traveling, she said they also have opportunities to share their own culture with their schoolmates in Mostar.
“Every year, we have four cultural weeks representing regions of the world: Asian and African; Balkan and Eastern European; Western European; and American,” she said.
“During the week students organize dances, cultural movies, food tasting or events specific to their culture.”
These weeks are capped off with a meal served to the student body by these “ambassadors,” who dress in traditional attire and present a show.
Johnson said her experience abroad has allowed her to learn more about American culture as well.
“My appreciation for Portland, the beautiful city of roses, and the entire Pacific Northwest, which I call my ‘bio region,’ is much greater because of my time abroad,” she said.
Both she and her mother recommended the program for both its challenging curriculum and the experience living abroad provides.
For more information about United World Colleges, visit www.uwc.org

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Dan Brige Za Okolis

                Did you know that it takes 10 to 12 years for a cigarette butt to decompose?  10 to 20 years for a plastic bag?  200 to 500 years for a beer can? Never for Styrofoam.
On Saturday, October 23rd, the United World College in Mostar hosted its second annual Community Care Day (Dan Brige Za Okolis).  The aims of this coordinated effort, led by the Environmental Council were to physically clean up several central locations throughout Mostar, to raise community awareness regarding environmental issues, and finally, to unite people from all over the city towards a common goal.
It was a clear and beautiful day, the plan was to clean three locations throughout Mostar – Spanish Square and around our school, Susac Stairs, leading to our residence, and the Partisan’s Memorial, which used to be an imposing tribute to the people, but has declined into a local hang-out for drunks and druggies, covered in litter.  It was a big task to take on in only one day – and many hands were needed.
In Spanish Square we were joined by students from Gymnasia as well as a near-by Economics School.  Surprisingly, when a group arrived at Susac Stairs they were already clean!  Thanks to a political student group, who then proceeded to join UWC students in cleaning the stairs opposite the stadium.  We could have been very proud of just these accomplishments – but the work continued. 
The Partisan’s Memorial posed a daunting challenge, and upon arrival people were stunned by the quantity of garbage covering the white stone monument, and filling a pool which was once upon a time a symbolic fountain.  Dani, a second year from Spain said, “It was too dirty to be real.” 
Sara, an American first year commented, “The coolest part for me was to see how the community outside of our school came together to work with us.  After the day finished I felt really tired, but very content, and proud of the work we did.”
“For me, it was really pleasing to see the results, to compare before and after and see that we actually made a big difference,” said Lusia, a Belarusian first year.
Our work was very visible, not only the change in the surrounding, but the piles of garbage bags waiting to be taken away.  The garbage bag statistics include 25 bags from Spanish Square, 40 from the stairs, and a whopping 130 from the Partisan’s Memorial!
Even though so much work was done, and great progress was made – there is still much to do, if we want to make the Partisan’s Memorial trash free – a goal for the future.  “Taking into consideration the number of people that were present, we did a great job and made a difference,” said Marina.  She went on to explain her disappointment in the people who created this huge mess, as well as the many people who did not take the responsibility to clean it.
Summarizing many feelings, Mirwais, a third year Austrian-Afghani student, bluntly stated, “Shit happens, but you can change it.”  Our goal was to change it.
Another continuing initiative is implementing a joint recycling program between UWCiM and the two gymnasia curricula.  As well as cleaning, students painted and prepared recycling bins to distribute throughout the school.  This was also the beginning of an environmental awareness advertising campaign - distributing informational posters around the city.
On behalf of the Environmental Council we want to profoundly thank all the people who came, and strive to make this city a clean safe environment.  We especially want to thank teacher advisor Jasminka, and everyone who made the day logistically possible.  You are my heroes.
“I’m excited about what we can do next time.  With more people we can make even more progress, and continue making this city and this world a better place,” said Maggie, another American first year.
A message to citizens of Mostar, and of the Earth – this is all of our responsibilities, take each opportunity to take pride in the place you live, and keep it clean.

Written by Hilary Johnson
Edited by Maggie Bursch

Monday, September 27, 2010

Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership

How can you be the change that you wish to see in the world?  To do so, whether you want to be a political activist or a doctor, an engineer or a mom, an artist or an architect you must become a leader.  The next question you may ask is who is a leader?  Are they the people that stand up on the podium and make the speeches?  Are they the most intelligent, qualified people?  Or can they be the people working behind the scenes to run an organization, or the professionals who fulfill their responsibilities each day?  What type of leader do you want to be?       
                “The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership is designed to strengthen the role that young people play as future community and world leaders.”  Utilizing a framework comprised of discussions, presentations, guest speakers, workshops, and interactive leadership training, 100 students from all around the work came together for three weeks, with the backdrop of the beautiful campus of UWC Pearson on Canada’s west coast, the land of big trees, salmon, bears, mountains, and the Pacific Ocean.   Broadened perspectives revolve around themes of “ecological sustainability, social justice, and international understanding.”
                Skill development is focused on “project planning and coordination, ecological education in a temperate rainforest setting, information on local and international social justice issues, indigenous ideas and traditions, public speaking and awareness-raising techniques, people management skills (group management, conflict resolution, mediation), cross-cultural and diversity training, personal reflection and self-awareness exploration, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making, goal-setting, and ethics-based action.”  Forming these skills as part of life require confidence, the information and skills necessary, and the opportunity to practice.  The intentional community at PSYL seeks to develop a space where student leaders are nurtured, to create the impetus to enact change, in themselves, and in others.
                Facilitating, was a unique role, as part of a tight knit group of fifteen UWC students and several past participants – forming a bridge between the participants and educator coordinators, both teaching and learning.  A comparison would be the UWC experience without IB, and as a result of this experience I have become more of who I seek to be.
                From consensus based community meetings every morning, to Carpe Diem “seize the day”, Spirit Spot, to just chillin’ in the Fridge (the student common room) each day was stimulating and innovative.  You were never falling asleep in “classes,” because your classroom might be in the middle of the forest, or out on the bay in a canoe, just as easily as in an amphitheater.  Daily session topics include: power and privilege, conflict transformation, self-awareness and leadership, sustainability 101, gender dialogue, and ecological wisdom.  Throughout, the importance of ceremony, music and creativity were highlighted.       
                Each participant developed an action plan, detailing how they want to be a leader in their community back home, whether it is in Canada, Brazil, or even here in Mostar.  My hope is that we are all leaders in building a community here at UWCiM, focused on peace and conflict transformation, through education.
 “I have a dream….”  Fill in the blank, and then make it come true.

Fluss. Agape.  Real. Kai.  Pura Vida.

If you wish to apply for a position as a facilitator, or simply want to learn more about the program feel free to ask me, or go to www.psyl.org.

Adventure Crew: Rafting Trip

Rain pounding down on our heads, the boats, the river.  Everybody stroking in time.
“Everywhere we go!  (echo)
People stop and ask us.
Who we are, and where do we come from.
So, we tell them!  UWC in Mostar!
MIGHTY MIGHTY MOSTAR!”  The chant rang out of the mouths of the twenty paddlers.
We are the ADVENTURE CREW!
Created this year to incorporate hiking, biking, rafting, and skiing, the adventure crew embarked upon a rafting trip on the upper Neretva, as the first official adventure of the year, although just living in Mostar is an adventure in of itself.  Plans for the rest of the year include hikes to classic favorites like Diva Grabavica, and Veliki Vran, as well as some new routes, and overnight camping. 
Faces were apprehensive as the group gathered in Spanish Square in the morning for the bus ride to Konjic, to transfer to another van to go to the house of our rafting guides.  The ominous dark rain clouds did not bode well for our expedition, or so we thought.  Upon arrival at “base camp”, we were graciously welcomed as guests, with a hospitality that was incredibly generous throughout the entire day.  The laughter began as we dressed in sexy wetsuits and booties, comparing our newly discovered muscles.       
The crew was divided into five boats, five people per boat, with one guide.  Our only instruction was, “don’t fall in love with the skipper.”  On the van ride to the head of the run the guy (what is his name)  told us some history and folklore of the region – about the Neretva river as a woman, and the mountain Prenj as the obstinate and unpredictable man.
Stalling for time, to wait for the rain to cease, we ate a freshly grilled fish meal and plums, which we gathered from the trees.  Finally, the expedition started, with no let-up of the torrential rain, but we carried the boats to the riverside, suited up in wetsuits, helmets, and goofy raincoats.  And we were off!
The landscape was incredible, as the boats took us down the Upper Neretva, surrounded by soaring canyon walls, cloaked with greenery, and the river dimpled by the raindrops.  Each boat crew quickly developed its own sense of pride, and competition for the cherished first spot.  Code words were created, like cevapi, for a surprise attack on another boat.  Cheering, laughing, and stroking with our whole bodies, we sailed downriver, straight into the heart of the storm.
We all survived the thunder and lightning, the drop-off rapids, the fierce competition, and the belly aching laughter – and were welcomed back to the “base camp” once again for a huge traditional meal, warm dry clothing, and swapping stories.  Simply put, it was an epic day for those who chose to come out and accept the challenge of adventure! 
G. K. Chesterton said, “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.  I challenge you to look for the adventure.
Over an out, Hilary Johnson reporting live from Adventure Crew Central.          

Friday, August 6, 2010

The Invitation

The InvitationBy Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.
I want to know what you ache for,
And if you dare to dream of meeting
Your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are.
I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool
For love, for your dream,
For the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.
I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow,
If you have been opened by life's betrayals,
Or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain,
Mine or your own,
Without moving
To hide it or fade it or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy,
Mine or your own,
If you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes
Without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic,
or to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.
I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself,
If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul.
I want to know if you can be faithless and therefore be trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty
Even when it is not pretty every day,
And if you can source your life
From its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure,
Yours and mine,
And still stand on the edge of a lake and shout to the silver of the full moon,
"Yes!"
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have.
I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair,
Weary and bruised to the bone,
And do what needs to be done for the children.
It doesn't interest me who you are, how you came to be here.
I want to know if you will stand
In the center of the fire with me
And not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.
I want to know what sustains you
From the inside
When all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone
With yourself,
And if you truly like the company you keep
In the empty moments.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Praan

Bhulbona ar shohojete
Shei praan e mon uthbe mete
Mrittu majhe dhaka ache
je ontohin praan
Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
Shei shurete jagbo ami
(Repeat 2X)
Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
dao more shei gaan
Shei jhor jeno shoi anonde
Chittobinar taare
Shotto-shundu dosh digonto
Nachao je jhonkare!
Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
Shei shurete jagbo ami
(Repeat 3X)
Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
Shei shurete jagbo ami
Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
dao more shei gaan
Stream of Life [English translation of Praan]
The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day
runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth
in numberless blades of grass
and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth
and of death, in ebb and in flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

(Search, "Where the Hell is Matt video on youtube to hear the song)

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

YOU'RE INVITED!

Save the Date:  Tuesday the 13th of July
Time: 5:30 PM
Where: Mercy Corp Headquarters
            28 SW First Ave

I'm going to be giving a presentation about my experiences going to the United World College in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The description of this year is INDESCRIBABLY GLORIOUS.  Come to see why :)

Friday, June 25, 2010

Water, is it really a free good?

Here in Portland, we are lucky to access abundant water supplies, that is drinkable straight from the tap.  But increasingly around the world water supplies are being exploited, depleting either the quantity and/or quality of water sources.  Recently, the UN posted a statistic stating By 2025, 1 800 million people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world population could be under stress conditions.  Source: FAO
There is a website which approximately calculates your household's daily water usage - and the results will surprise you.  We see our actual physical water usage - but there is a new concept called "virtual water usage" and this has the largest impact.  This is calculated by our daily consumption of products which need water during production such as foods, electronics, and energy.


http://www.h2oconserve.org/?page_id=503    Take the quiz and discover for yourself how much you consume, and find some tips for conserving water - because even if you live in Portland, water is still a limited resource, and we do not want our own tragedy of the commons.


As an end note though, I am proud of my cities efforts - currently I wake up every morning to the sound of heavy machinery drilling and digging, and beeping down the street as they tear up the antiquated water mains and replace them, to prevent leakage - as part of a water conservation initiative in the city.


For those of you who are really interested, there is a book called "Blue Covenant" about the emerging water scarcity worldwide - which also evaluates the anthropological causes.


As always, Cheers and more to come,


Hilary


P.S.  I'm excited to be going on a great three day adventure with my Mom and Dad this weekend.  We're going to climb South Sister in Southern Oregon and spend some time on the hot rock at Smith Rock as well.  

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

If time flies, where does the time fly to?

Today is the second official day of summer, but I've already been out of school for almost a month.  While it feels as if I saw all those wonderful people only yesterday, it also feels like ages - because I know how much happens in just one day for us, so multiply that by 30.

Where do I begin to tell the stories?  Hopefully, I will be posting more often now, catching you up on all the adventures.

But, today is a significant day, because I just finished my FIRST GUITAR LESSON!
I've been talking about starting to play the guitar for a long time, and I always admire the people who can just sit down and play a couple of songs or just start improving.  Especially my younger sister Serena, she's awesome now, and a composer.  She even wrote me a song for my birthday :)  She taught me the chords to one of her first songs "The Amazing Race" so that is my next task to tackle.  Today I learned how to play "Collide" by Howie Day, and "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol.

I'm hoping to add quite a few more to my repertoire by the end of the summer.  I have fond memories of some of the first weekends in Mostar, spent listening to guitar and singing on Andy, Amer, and Mustafa's balcony in Susac - bundled up in blankets, under the stars in the evenings.  I have to give a shout out to Andy, thanking him for donating his guitar to us first years.

Hulda, I cannot wait until the next time I see you, because we can finally jam out on the guitars and ukuleles with worship music :)

This morning I enjoyed a video conference with some students from Scotland through Mercy Corp and the Global Citizen Corp - they taught us a lesson about the Millennium Development Goals, and a current initiative for Education throughout the world, using the World Cup.

This evening, there is a presentation about Bosnia, by a guy who lived in Sarajevo and was an aid worker during the conflict years.  I'm really interested in what he has to say.  I'm also excited because they invited me to do a short presentation about UWCiM's efforts in Bosnia regarding integration of the education system on Thursday!

Lots of thinkings swirling around!  Where's it going to lead, who knows.

Until the Next Adventure, Cheers,

Hilary

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Aren't you supposed to play for fun?

This is a message that we just received from our administration:


Dear students,
 
There will be a football match tomorrow between the two opponent clubs of this town. As you are probably aware the supporters of these two clubs are known for their violent behaviour which puts this match in a group of  high-risk ones. You are advised to go to the residences tomorrow after the lessons and not to spend too much time outside during and especially after the game.
 
Kind regards.

We'll see what happens, and who wins.  Updates to come.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Kiva

Kiva is a non-profit organization that gives small micro-finance loans to impoverished people all around the world.  They believe that by connecting people, and encouraging people to become entrepreneurs through small, low interest loans they are allowing people to better their lives.

   

Check it out!

The Declaration

The Declaration of a Student Conference Regarding Educational Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina
                On the 10th of February 2010 a conference was held in the United World College in Mostar with students from ten different schools, representing a diversity of ethnic groups, view points, and opinions.  The diversity provided a rich source of perceptions and views among the student representatives on the topic  of educational reform.  The assembly expressed frustration with the current state of affairs.  We are aware of the complexity of the current situation, and we acknowledge the difficulties of bringing about change.  But it is necessary to bring about change now.  There are both internal and external factors driving the imperative for change.  Certain common themes emerged and priorities could be identified for potential reform. The following recommendations are made as a result of the discussion between the participants and represent these common concerns.
                Our recommendations are made under six headings which represent our major concerns.  The collaboration of recommendations concern curriculum issues, pedagogy, resources, personal and social development, school and community relationships, and continuing school opportunities. 
These recommendations are based on a holistic approach to the educational system.  There needs to be a centralized ministry of education to create efficiency and effectiveness.  Each student needs to have equal opportunity and access to education – this can only be achieved if there is one system, equipped with sufficient resources, and maintaining a high level of professional teaching. 
 Curriculum Issues (Teaching and Learning)
Within the curriculum students said that the main problems are the number of subjects, the schedule, and the subject material.  The current curriculum requires students to take more than ten subjects, and up to fifteen or sixteen.  It is impossible for students to focus and engage in this amount of subjects in a timely manner.  The range of subjects on one hand does give students broader knowledge, but restricts the depth of education.  Secondly, lengthy school days also detract from the efficiency and effectiveness of classes.  A combination of less, but longer classes, but an altogether shorter schedule per day would allow students to profit and gain more from their education.   
Education should be multi-dimensional, and utilize a range of teaching styles, methods, and materials.  Students expressed frustration with boredom in classes, because they simply copy notes from the board and do not interact or discuss the material that they are learning.
The second major concern, while discussing the integration of schools, is the practical aspect of respecting the three national languages Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian.  Students suggested several solutions.  In the first model students would attend all classes together, except for their primary language.  The main question is, which language would textbooks be written in?  Brcko District serves as one example – they choose textbooks, disregarding language, based on the quality of the information.  A second suggestion is to print the same textbook in the three different languages, so that students could all study together simultaneously in their own languages. 
Offering religious and ethical studies is a comprehensive part of education, but it should not be compulsory.  Also, a range of religions and moral philosophies should be explored.  If students wish to pursue personal religious studies this can be done through a religious institution or other means of education, other than the public school system.  Exposure to other religions and cultures will allow students to develop a broader world-view and greater perception of their surroundings.
Pedagogy (Teachers)
Teachers have a huge responsibility, to educate and guide their students as they grow and mature.  It is not solely to inform students about a particular subject, but also to challenge students to become informed, respectful, and conscious citizens.  Although, their first responsibility is to educate students and challenge students to learn themselves.  Teachers have the time and ability to influence student’s way of thinking and learning, and their life maturation. We believe they are one of the most important components of every education system.
A good teacher is responsible and respected, they should enjoy teaching and interacting with students.  They should be qualified to teach their subject, and challenge their students.  Student evaluations should be used to evaluate teacher performance to improve the system.  Teachers are needed, yet receive one of the lowest salaries – which can only discourage them to do their job the best way possible. Teachers have a lot of power and they are forming the next generations. Education is in their hands; therefore they should be well prepared and focused. Teacher improvement seminars should be compulsory. Teacher should identify problematic issues such as politics and treat it with caution yet allow students express their different opinions.
Resources
A lack of funding, and inefficient spending detracts from the education system.  It is essential to provide quality resources like textbooks, laboratory equipment, IT labs and training, and basic school supplies.  Due to instable curriculums students said that textbooks were changed frequently – which leads to a waste of monetary resources as well as paper.  Students proposed the formation of a single national system of education to provide the structure necessary to equip all students and schools with proper resources to facilitate learning. 
Personal and Social Development - Personal Development as part of Education
We identified four common goals concerning education, which unite students.  Firstly, students attend school to be prepared for further education or work.  Secondly, they want to develop personally, become more mature, and contribute to society.  Thirdly, they want to form relationships with other students, and interact.  Finally, they want to form and maintain individual and group identities.  The creation of a unified system of education would augment these goals.
Right now, many students do not feel that they are sufficiently prepared to attend university, or begin working.  It is essential to create a system of secondary education that meets these needs.  The formation of relationships would broaden by bringing together students from all ethnicities to study together.  Lastly, identities would not be damaged or weakened by integrating the education system – instead the converse would occur, by recognizing and accepting differences, people would be able to explore and solidify their identities.                       
School and Communities -Relationships with formal education system with the community
                We defined community as local, regional, national, and international.  Within local communities schools act as a center point and place for the community to gather and interact.  They can organize events for the community, and bring together families because the students are interacting.  Communication among parents, teachers, and students encourages cooperation and understanding within a community.  Regionally and nationally schools act as a common ground, something which all people within society experience.  Therefore, a divided education system will only cause further division within society, and prevent the formation of links towards cooperation.
 Continuing education -Post school – Universities, Employment
                The purpose of education is to prepare students for their futures, whether it is to continue higher education into university, to pursue a career or job, or to simply be part of society it is necessary to develop a strong base of knowledge and skills.  Many students said that they do not feel prepared for the future and are not satisfied with the opportunities available to them. 
The first suggestion that was strongly supported was fostering the development of internships, or work experiences between students and local businesses.  Giving high school students the opportunity to practice skills that they learn in school and to sample different types of work helps them to feel more confident and make decisions about what they want to do in the future.
The second suggestion that the students proposed and agreed upon was that there needs to be a national system of requirements or testing to graduate from high school.  This was discussed in further depth in a conference in Banja Luka at the same time.  The students agreed that it would be easier to pursue further education internationally if they received a respected diploma.                
All the students here today commit to be a part of and support this change.  You can rely on the students to be a fundamental base, motivated to make this change occur.  It is necessary for authorities to take responsibility to make the changes outlined above.  Representatives are elected to listen to the citizens that they represent.  This declaration is what these students representing many different backgrounds want for the betterment of their education.  
In conclusion, this society is seeking to move forward, and a holistic approach to education is the means to develop the young citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.  These students, as representatives, stated that they want change to be made and that they are willing to work together to make it happen.  We as a group are committed to partnering and sharing in a continuing commitment to change, and the students want to take this conversation further.  We acknowledge the difficulties of reforming the education system and making these changes, but it is necessary to start this change now.   
We, the students of this conference, are united in our commitment to work with authorities to bring about such change and educational reform for the betterment of this nation, these peoples, and the students of future generations.   
  

Educational Reform Conference in BiH - By Students for Students

           On the 10th of February 2010, our school hosted a student conference about Education Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Eighty students from ten different schools gathered to discuss the necessity of change in the current system.  Forty students from outside UWC came to share their opinions, experiences, and concrete suggestions.  The students came to the conclusion that change is mandatory – now.  A declaration was written to assert the student voices.   The initial idea to host the conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina was incepted at a social issues conference in Kosovo in December.  We conducted a research project polling local students about their satisfaction with the current system based on a diversity of educational backgrounds.  At the conference we presented our research and heard many other presentations and conclusions.  There was significant interest in our investigation, but we did not think that there was enough time provided for further discussion, evaluation, analysis, and the proposal of tangible solutions. 
                The recommendations outlined in the declaration are made under six headings which represent the major concerns.  The collaboration of recommendations concern curriculum issues, pedagogy, resources, personal and social development, school and community relationships, and continuing school opportunities. 
These recommendations are based on a holistic approach to the educational system.  There needs to be a centralized ministry of education to create efficiency and effectiveness.  Each student needs to have equal opportunity and access to education – this can only be achieved if there is one system, equipped with sufficient resources, and maintaining a high level of professional teaching.
Two distinguished guests presented and facilitated the writing of the declaration.  We were honored by the presence of Professor Jeff Thompson and Doctor Mary Hayden from the University of Bath in the UK.  At the beginning, they briefly presented their own research study about the impact of the United World College in Mostar on integration in the local community and student mentalities.  Then several students shared personal reflections on their experiences, and an article written in 2004 by the OSCE.  We presented our research from Kosovo, and asked a lot of questions to begin the discussion sessions.  Students were divided into smaller moderator groups in order to enable dialogue.  Each group was led by two moderators, one international and one local.  Moderators noted important points, which became the basis of the areas of recommendation in the declaration.       
         Concerning the logistics of the conference, students were split into discussion groups which were led by facilitators, and notes of the discussions were kept.  A brief outline of questions to direct the conversations was constructed, but it was created as an open environment for students to talk about a very relevant topic, without feeling pressure based on ethnicity, or identity.

The central questions we felt were:
What do we want as students?  
Are you satisfied with the current system?
                                With the teaching, books, subjects?
            Do you feel that your school is giving you an adequate education for your future?                   
What’s stopping you from getting what you want?  What’s wrong?
How can you fix this?
What does integration mean to you?
                Each person will have an individual understanding of integration.  By discussing the definition of the word it will avoid conflicts based on different definitions.
What will people gain through integration?
What are people afraid of losing through integration? (emphasize that it is a common fear)
                Are these fears justified?
UWCiM is an example that you will not lose your identity by integrated education – students actually claim that they feel more confident in their identity by explaining it and understanding it from an outside perspective. 
Why hasn’t integration happened yet? Lack of political / common will.  

“Education should not be political, it should be a neutral learning atmosphere, creating critical, mature individuals.”
How will having an integrated system facilitate fulfilling wants and needs?

We were pleased with the results of the conference, but it is only the beginning of a long process.  We are firm in our belief that students need to be united in their commitment to work with authorities to bring about educational reform for the betterment of this nation, these peoples, and the students of future generations.  It is the responsibility of students, both local and international to continue to push for change, and demand excellent education.
We would like to sincerely thank the United World College in Mostar, our headmaster Paul Regan, our teacher coordinator Ljubica Bajo, Professor Jeff Thompson and Doctor Mary Hayden, the student moderators, Meri Musa for coordinating press coverage, and all the participants that made this event possible.
     We encourage all students to continue to “be the change that you wish to see in the world.”  Mahatma Gandhi

18 Things I Am Thankful For on my 18th Birthday

1. My Family
2. Being at UWCiM
3. Adventures (spontaneous and fulfilled dreams)
4. Being given a back massage right now :)
5. My roommates, my close friends, and my inner circle
6. An absolutely amazing childhood (so many wonderful memories, along the roller coaster)
7. The talents I have been given and developed
8. Sunshine and the smell right before it rains
9. The love that surrounds me (which I take for granted)
10. The journey I have taken thus far & the road ahead
11. My little man (ask me the story)
12. Complexities in life, because challenges make you grow
13. God
14. Listening to the Birthday song in Chinese, German, Hebrew, Dutch, Local and English
15. Mountains, Rivers, spring-time, & flowers
16. Jumping pictures
17. Shaked's camel loves me.
18. For the color blue.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

English Professors

Just sit and imagine for a moment a classic British English professor.  He studied in Cambridge, he wears a tweed jacket, a cap on his balding head, a popped collar, or a turtle neck sweater.  He's a bit on the shorter side, and sometimes seems to be off in his own world.  He refuses to teach novels because they are too boring, but prefers poetry, and true stories.
He is a gentleman by creed, but has a dry sense of humor.  He went to boarding school since the age of nine, and always has to have the window open to prevent the classroom air from getting stuffy.  He points out our errors, and is quite delighted when we understand his analysis of a single line of poetry.

This is my English professor.

(Photo: English class outside, studying "This is a Man", on the stairs of Velic, our languages, humanities, and office building.)

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

If you are bored...

Write a song for somebody you love.
Make new clothes
Loesje Work shop
Stumble Upon

First Years


Dear all

I am writing to you with the good news that, following a teleconference with Executive Committee members today, I have been unconditionally authorised to enrol a fifth generation. It is envisaged right now that the generation will be a small one, but if funds materialise later,  we can enlarge the numbers.

But the important thing is that we have continuity and the college remains intact.

Clearly there is much work ahead and long term stability and reform must now be the next goals . But sometimes small steps can be all that is needed and we got one today.

Many thanks to all students and staff for their solidarity, proving once again that we have a strong sense of family preservation!

Another important decision was also made today. This was the confirmation of Valentina Mindolevic as the next Headteacher of UWCiM, effective from 1 July. I wish her every success and know she will do a great job in the challenging time ahead.

Best regards.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The fear of not having first years is one of the worst that a student of UWC can experience.  It threatens the very process of growing up and becoming responsible, it represents a discontinuation of the school, of the ideals, of the goals, dreams, and projects that we work for as students.  When we heard the news that we would be receiving first years, everybody was running around Musala hugging and congratulating others, people were smiling, laughing, yelling.  I ran up to  our room and swept Shaked up into a huge hug, we were just laughing and yelling for several minutes, not willing to let go.  The fever has caught and spread throughout the school, it is a contagious disease, the planning and dreams for the new individuals who will one day look up at the impressive stripped facade of this gymnasia and know in their hearts that it will become a home for the next two years, and the foundation of their identities for the entirety of their lives.  

To future first years:
Any first years who might be reading this, sometime soon or in the future.  YOU are the future of our school.  I feel a very big responsibility to introduce you, and mentor you, and most of all challenge you to grow.  We all cannot wait to meet you, you mean the world to us.

Take advantage of every moment this summer.  Live life to the fullest.  Do the things that you enjoy the most.  Spend quality time with you family, and your closest friends.  Leave time to be spontaneous.  Live in the moment, the future will come.  The meaning of life is the journey in search of the meaning - so never stop looking.  The only battle that you lose is the one that you stop fighting for.  Try to find your balance in life, and I wish you peace, love, and harmony.  Although you will never always have these things be joyful throughout your trials in life, because through them you will grow the most, and find the strength within yourself to carry on.  All you need to do is stand up one more time than you fall down :)  
We send you love from your new family in Mostar.  Let the adventures continue.

Look what I'm Excited For :)

http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150576/mount-jefferson-oregon-.html

Monday, March 29, 2010

"How to Tell a True War Story"

How do you generalize?
War is hell, but that’s not the half of it, because war is also mystery and terror and
adventure and courage and discovery and holiness and pity and despair and longing and love.
War is nasty; war is fun. War is thrilling; war is drudgery. War makes you a man; war makes you
dead.
The truths are contradictory. It can be argued, for instance, that war is grotesque. But in
truth war is also beauty. For all its horror, you can’t help but gape at the awful majesty of combat.
You stare out at tracer rounds unwinding through the dark like brilliant red ribbons. You crouch
in ambush as a cool, impassive moon rises over the nighttime paddies. You admire the fluid
symmetries of troops on the move, the harmonies of sound and shape and proportion, the great
sheets of metal-fire streaming down from a gunship, the illumination rounds, the white
phosphorous, the purply black glow of napalm, the rocket’s red glare. It’s not pretty, exactly. It’s
astonishing. It fills the eye. It commands you. You hate it, yes, but your eyes do not. Like a killer
forest fire, like cancer under a microscope, any battle or bombing raid or artillery barrage has the
aesthetic purity of absolute moral indifference—a powerful, implacable beauty—and a true war
story will tell the truth about this, though the truth is ugly.
To generalize about war is like generalizing about peace. Almost everything is true.
Almost nothing is true. At its core, perhaps, war is just another name for death, and yet any
soldier will tell you, if he tells the truth, that proximity to death brings with it a corresponding
proximity to life. After a fire fight, there is always the immense pleasure of aliveness. The trees
are alive. The grass, the soil—everything. All around you things are purely living, and you
among them, and the aliveness makes you tremble. You feel an intense, out-of-the-skin
awareness of your living self—your truest self, the human being you want to be and then become
by the force of wanting it. In the midst of evil you want to be a good man. You want decency.
You want justice and courtesy and human concord, things you never knew you wanted. There is a
kind of largeness to it; a kind of godliness. Though it’s odd, you’re never more alive than when
you’re almost dead. You recognize what’s valuable. Freshly, as if for the first time, you love
what’s best in yourself and in the world, all that might be lost. At the hour of dusk you sit at your
foxhole and look out on a wide river turning pinkish red, and at the mountains beyond, and
although in the morning you must cross the river and go into the mountains and do terrible things
and maybe die, even so, you find yourself studying the fine colors on the river, you feel wonder
and awe at the setting of the sun, and you are filled with a hard, aching love for how the world
could be and always should be, but now is not.

Think about this, I just wrote an essay about contrast in this piece for English Class - you cannot appreciate light without darkness, nor love without solitude.  

P.S.
Mom, Dad, and Serena thank you so very much for all the birthday gifts!  I received the final two packages today, the one with the DVD and the clothes, granola, and so many other random things :)  I especially appreciated the lilacs from outside my window, I can imagine them in bloom, and their scent accompanies many beautiful memories at home.  

Palm Sunday

                Arms outstretched, the wind at my back, standing on the edge of the outcropping, the sunset sinking in glowing splendor, as the moon rises over the opposite horizon, shining silvery white in the midnight black sky, only the brightest stars barely visible, yet there hangs Orion’s belt.  The lights of Mostar begin to flicker on, and streets are outlined by the pinpricks of light.  The school stands like a stripped fortress in the middle, Susac’s blue roof off on black hill, the futbal stadium, the park, the old bank, the train station off on the other side, and the turquoise Neretva flowing beneath the bridges.  This is Mostar, this is my home.
                I walked to the cross with Mirwais this evening, quite spontaneously, which made it even more of an adventure.  As soon as I arrived home from MUN he yelled out the window, “Hilary we’re going to the cross” and I couldn’t argue with that.  We spend so much time looking up at the cross each day, yet the moments are rare to reverse the situation and stare down at the city.  Each time I try to memorize the winding river, the buildings, and communist bloc apartment buildings, and the streets as they intersect networking across the town. 
                The feeling as we walked up there, and then stood gazing out at the city in the foreground and the mountains surrounding the basin, the smell of the wind and the occasional faint aroma of flowers, combined reminded me of so many places and times throughout life.  It was as if all my wonderful memories like this, a combination of walking, wind, and sunset were compounded upon each other and the smiles on our faces could not go away.
          Flinging my arms wide, the wind almost swept me off my feet, and I couldn't help but sing praise.
Songs of the Night:
Shaked’s playing “Hey Juliet” right now J
Fireflies
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
Wonderwall – Oasis
Sweet Home Alabama
(the last three performed by Schirin, Misha, and Dino with the school band at Coco Loco)

                After walking down in the dark, talking the whole way of course, we went to Coco Loco where the school band was performing.  The music was wonderful, the trio Schirin (Austria) Misha (Russia) and Dino (BiH) performed an amazing selection of music, and everybody was singing along, clapping, dancing, all of us swaying with our arms wrapped around each other.  Smiling faces of many friends, Shaked, Anita, Dorontine, Verena, Simone, Mirwais, Nicolai, Anja, Masha, Yuli, Dani and so many others.  It was the best party, quality fun, and a wonderful atmosphere.  Encore!       
               
                This morning the final general assembly debates, resolution voting, and closing ceremony for the MostMUN conference occurred.  MUN is an abbreviate for Model United Nations, an international program that simulates United Nation delegate meetings.  Since Friday, over sixty students from UWCiM and schools throughout BiH, Turkey, and the UK, have been debating resolutions within four separate councils as representatives of countries from all over the world.  I was in the Historical Council (not actually existent in the UN) as a representative of the Russian Federation and the USSR (depending on the date.)  We discussed two situations and created several  interesting resolutions:
                Insitutionalized Racism in South Africa under the system of Apartheid
                The Situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1993 
As well as in the other councils:
                Security Council
                                Piracy Off of Somalia’s Coast
                                Regulations on a Nuclear Free World  and the creation of  Nuclear Free Zone in the US
                Environmental Council
                                Protection of the Global Climate for Present and Future Generations
                                Global Plan to Solve the Issue of Water Shortages
                Human Rights Council
                                Combating Defamation of Religion
                                Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Speech in China                

On Friday evening our school hosted the annual traditional Global Vision contest.  Here in Europe there is a competition similar to American Idol called Euro Vision – where delegates, one from each European country, compete for the title of the best singer throughout Europe.  Our school modified the concept a bit, to include candidates from all around the world.
Representing the country of Austria I performed a medley from the Sound of Music with Leah, Isa Belle, Shaked, Schirin, Rikka, Laura, Michelle, and Ardi.  We had a lot of fun putting together the choreography, and singing along to all the classic songs – “Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens, A few of my favorite things, Yodel-le-yodel-loo, I am 16 going on 17, Do-Ray-Mi, the hills are alive with the sound of music, and finally So long farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, good night.”  I was the part of Gretel (of course) and it was really fun.  Some other acts included Amitai, Selmir, and Miran representing Sweden who won, Clement singing “My African Queen”, Mirwais, Nicolai, and Niv doing a medley of music ending with “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and wishing all of us first years good luck with the upcoming months of hard work doing IAs, EEs, and ToK.  To translate from IB language – IAs are Internal Assessments, EEs are Extended Essays, and ToK is theory of Knowledge presentations and essays.  Whoo sounds like a lot of fun right? J
These next few months are going to be filled with a lot of hard work, many decisions and opportunities are riding on the results of my predicted grades and the quickly approaching exams and SATs.  But I’m ready, work hard, play hard.  I just need to hone my focus, but still enjoy balance and all the friends and new family that I am lucky to have here.  One of Shaked’s crazy metaphors really applies: when hiking on a trail it is necessary to look down quite a bit so that you don’t trip, and so that you follow the right path, but it is also good to look towards the horizon, towards your goal, because the mountain is waiting looming ahead.  And if your shoe gets untied, or life throws you a challenge, stop and take the time to tie it, so it doesn’t trip you up in the future.
Now, we have two more days of school, then Shaked and I are leaving for Easter Break!  It’s a SURPRISE!  And we are incredibly excited!
And, maybe something semi-important to add, I turned 18 years old last Wednesday, the 24th of March, 2010.  I am a legal adult – wow.  But that is a whole other blog entry.  For my birthday I collected advice from everybody for the next years of my life, and it resulted in some interesting and pleasant results.

A shout out to all those Portlanders finishing up their Spring Breaks and heading back to school, I send my love to you!

Good Night!