Schooling Life
The
essays below was written by Karen when she was young! Credits go to The
International Fan Club for getting hold of this! They did the typing...
not me. I hereby thank them. Anyway, I think Karen really is quite good
in her languages (at least better than mind!) Below is Karen's write-up
in the United World College. There is also a French article but I doubt
many of our fans can read but nevertheless, if you want to read it, click
here! Karen is really awesome!
The picture is still vivid my mind. On the 28th July, 10 am , the telephone rang. I picked up the receiver and the gentleman on the other end informed me that I had been award a scholarship for two years to study at the United World College of the Adriatic in Triestle, Italy. It is impossible to put into words the thrill and exhilaration that overwhelmed me. In fact, I still cannot quite believe that here I am , writing this article in my room in an old wing of the Castle of Duino, mesmerized by the purple sunset on the Adriatic Sea.
What is even more amazing is that I am nearly halfway through the second term of my first year. Come May and we will be bidding farewell to our Second Years. Come September and we will be returning as Second Years to greet a whole new batch of First Years. From then on it will be a never-ending series of Extended Essays, Guided Courseworks, National Evenings, disco parties, Long Weekend, project Week, Trials and the final, impending International Baccalaureate Examinations.
With that, our two years at the College will come to a close. Everyone of us will pursue his own path, taking off to different places. it will not be surprising to discover that never again perhaps will you meet with your best friend from Lebanon or your room-mate from Guatemala. Without your Knowing it, some of your life's greatest acquaintances mat be developed in this short period of two years, because here in this College, we learn not only to be independent but more importantly, to be able to live with people from different cultures and societies. The College offers us an all-round education of academic studies, physical and aesthetic activities and social services, but on top of all this, what is also presented to us is the opportunity to learn about people from other part of the world.
"INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING IS THE NAME OF THE GAME"
I have indeed broadened my horizons so much after coming to the College. You get first-hand information on what happens in the Middle East by speaking with an Arab, you realise for the first time that the Danes, Norwegians and Swedes can communicate with their own languages, you see the amazed look on your friends' faces when you perform your Chinese instrument, you learn how to ski, how to say 'I love you' in fifty different languages or so, how to make real Italian pasta and coffee....To sum up, life in the Adriatic College( or in any UWC, I presume) is GREAT!!! It is hard work though, but at the end of the day, you will realise that you have just made one of life's best and wisest decisions by submitting your application from for a scholarship to the United World Colleges.
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