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)

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 :)

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.  

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

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.

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 10^th 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 10^th 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.

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.)

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

"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 24^th 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!          

Balkan Sunflowers - The End of the Week

     Wow, it has been an amazing and full week, with a little flavor of life here in Kosovo, lots of children and laughter, pounding nails, eating delicious, food, cooking, communicating (or trying to) in five or more different languages, learning a lot about the work being done here, and learning more about myself.  I would say that I feel privileged to work with Andy, Dorontine, Amer, and Dani from UWCiM, Martin, a student teacher from Germany, and all the people at Fushekosovo.  We were especially honored my Mohamet and his family by hosting us, accepting us into their home, feeding us, and allowing us to work alongside them in the center.
     This evening was a wonderful way to wrap up the week - our team took the initiative to cook dinner for our family, after a long days work.  Martin bought some ingredients - but we were not quite sure how everything would turn out.  The menu was spiced baked chicken a la Andy (with some guidance), pasta salad (American and German style) prepared by Martin, Amer, and myself, appetizers by Dorontine and I, and chocolate chip cookies by your very own.  There were thirteen people total, all crowded around two small tables on couches and stools.  It was cozy and nice, and Dorontine and I dominated the kitchen and took responsibility for all the cleaning - since they haven't allowed us to do anything all week out of pure hospitality.  I'm really proud.
     Before we returned home the staff at the center hosted a party for us with some snacks, drinks, nice music and taught us one traditional group dance.  They are all very sweet people, and I enjoyed working with them this week - even though the language barrier restricted some communication smiles, translations, and simply working together is its own language.  After the party everybody came to inaugurate the shed that we built (which is basically finished).

Now we will sleep, in the morning Amer's father will come to pick us up and drive us back to Rozaje, from where we will take a cab back to Sarajevo then catch the evening train back home to Mostar, retracing our path from last Sunday.  I'll write more and post just a few of the many photos later!  Safe journeys to everybody returning to Mostar!

Balkan Sunflowers

   Each year at all the UWC schools students participate in project weeks, where we are given a week off of school to arrange a project doing social service, investigating historical events, analyzing economic situations, doing sports activities, discovering cultures, and many other creative ideas.
    This year I chose to go to the new country of Kosovo to work in a school as part of a program named  Balkan Sunflowers.  The learning center that we will be working at is located just outside of the capital Prishtina.  Our group is seven members strong including Andy Hemphill (USA), Benedikt Gottwald (Deutschland), Dorontine Berishaj and Amer Bralic (Montenegro), Dani Ramajo Falcon (Spain) and our mentor Martin from Germany.
   This grassroots organization was first created in 1999 during the Kosovar war to aid refugees and Roma people.  There are two major projects, the Learning Centers Network and Great Films that Change Our World.  Their three primary areas of focus are the community, human dignity, and children and youth.
     While we are there we will be living with host families and working at a learning center during the day.  We will be leading workshops for the kids at the learning center between the ages of 5 to 18.  We organized science demonstrations, musical workshops, environmental education, artwork, geography, sports, and other ways of interacting with the kids.  Also, during the day we will help to cook and serve hot meals for the children, and we will be working on several building projects for the school.
    Some other students from our school are doing amazing trips as well - a group of people left last night for Istanbul to research religious minorities, two groups are going to Wien (Vienna) to research Balkan immigrants there, and to experience the culture.  There are also people going to Slovenia, Belgrade, Croatia and Sarajevo.  I'm really proud of all the student initiative that made these projects into reality.    

Pruture Day

Edelweiss

I had a lovely evening today.  First, we had the Balkan Cultural dinner, which was a great array of presentations and delicious food.  The students were representing Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia.  We had a very talented folk singer sing some local songs, watched a traditional dance, and of course ate delicious food.  With a stomach satisfied with baklava, and many deserts and meat dishes.  Shaked and I made our way back to Musala after a short stop in Old Man's Cafe and Coco Loco.  It was a long day, we woke up early to greet two exchange students who arrived from UWC Adriatic this morning by bus.  Allie from Canada, and Emilian from Poland are switching spots with two of our students, Ardi from Kosovo and Kristina from BiH for a week.  During the afternoon I worked planning culture week events, making videos, and a moderator meeting about Pruture (Present Future) Day on the stage.

When Shaked and I finally arrived back in Musala we curled up with a bunch of lovely ladies and watched The Sound of Music.  It was the perfect movie to cheer us up, and make us smile.  Thank you to Leah, Isabelle, Michelle, Laura, Schirin, Shaked, Rikka, and Verena for the nice time together.

I dedicate the song "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" to Shaked, because she won't be sixteen for much longer, and I am turning 18 soon!  And of course my two favorite songs are...well, I really do love all of them, but "My Favorite Things" and "Edelweiss".

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever

Edelweiss, Edelweiss Bless my homeland forever.


Climb ev'ry mountain
Search high and low
Follow ev'ry by-way
Every path you know

Climb ev'ry mountain
Ford ev'ry stream
Follow ev'ry rainbow
'Till you find your dream

A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Everyday of your life
For as long as you live


I have some really soothing memories of my Dad playing this song on the guitar in the living room mixed in with John Denver some evenings as I was falling asleep.  Those nights I would definitely fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Good Night to all of you around the world.  May you remember your favorite things in the good times and bad, and cherish all that you have around you.

Diva Grabavica

Breathe in.  Breathe out.  Breathe in.  Breath out.  The wind roaring and rushing through the mountains, and rustling the leaves on the ground, the barren trees leave the slopes exposed.  It is a beautiful and quiet place, the only human noises come from the tramping of five pairs of boots, the breathing from our mouths as we zig-zag up the trail, and I can feel my heartbeat pounding in my temples and my chest.

First signs of spring!

Fears

I was on a website called stumble, and this is what randomly showed up:

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1wMufs/www.phobiaguide.com/

There are a lot of fears in the world, each of us are afraid of different things, but the key is to acknowledge your fears, and overcome them.  By doing so we become greater people, and we can live our lives to the fullest - without being controlled by fear.

I have quoted Eleanor Roosevelt many times, "Do one thing that scares you every day."
What do you fear?  Why do you fear?  How will you overcome your fear?

Ahhhhhhh, Sigh of Happiness and a Beautiful Sunshine Day :)

     First, I write to you from a wonderful place, simple, yet wonderful.  I am lying on my stomach on a wooden stage in the middle of Spanish Square right next to my huge orange and yellow striped school.  It is a glowing sunny day, after about a week of dreary clouds and rain.  I can feel the warmth of the sun soaking into the left side of my face, and the coolness of the shadow in my right.  A barely noticeable breeze is flowing, everything is a live, people are laughing, talking, moving, and resting and enjoying this beautiful day, the 25th of February.
     I just finished TOK lessons for the day, and the whole class was sitting or laying in a circle, as we talked about the comparisons between art and life.  ToK is Theory of Knowledge, and a part of every IB course - it brings together all of our subjects, and demands that you critically analyze your assumptions - and validate your opinions.  For me, it embodies the yearning that I have now to think about my beliefs, my assumptions, things that I previously assumed were common knowledge and thoughtfully examine them, and change them when I find it necessary.
     The first quote was, "Life is a work of art."  And then we moved on to asing who is the artist, do we start with a blank canvas or do we utilize  things we are given to create the outwork ourselves.  Everywhere around this place we can see people "living" = going about their every day lives.  Do they think about the idea that their lives could be art.  We cherish and revere art in so many ways - some types of art are sacred, others are provocative.  Which is your life?  Do we treat life like art?  What is the purpose of art?  What is the purpose of life?  A friend told me a couple days ago that I always ask ten questions when I am asked one.  Most of the people close to me know that I love questions - but more so I love answers, because they open up a whole new understanding, and a whole new set of questions.

   The beginning of spring has always been a memorable and special time for me, it is the beginning of lacrosse, of the last push before summer.  It is a new beginning, but it is also a summing up of all the hard work during the winter.  It is a time to dream, and fulfill those dreams.  Ahh, I am a dreamer, a romanticist, but a person who I hope is known to make those dreams come true, for myself, and also for others.
     This city is beautiful and broken at the same time, divided, yet united against the juxtaposition of the landscape.  I'm staring at a ruined building, only the chimneys and craggy scraps of wall left standing above a pile of rubble, but behind the pieces in the distance stand the mountains, capped with snow, some in the shadow but the tops glistening in the purity of the whiteness.  It is beautiful, I love the mountains - I love the outdoors, the full breath of pure air brings me peace.  Now, it is time for English class, we are analyzing poetry at the moment.
    I hope that you enjoy a few of my musings - and I send my love to you all!