Due to the upcoming IB exams, the second years have finished with their respective services.
For my service, this means that the first years take over and run the sessions.
Yesterday I had my first one.
Together with Anna (Wales) and Donald (Sierra Leone) I organised and lead a session of 'indoor Olympics'.
The group we were working with was from Castle school in Wales and comprised of 11 students with a range of learning disabilities.
We split them into three groups (France, Italy and Germany) and participated in all sorts of Olympic games: jousting was with hug foam arrows, caber-tossing (which is not actually an Olympic sport) was with cushions, discus with Frisbees, along with all sorts of relays.
We had planned a fair amount of activities, however after meeting the group we realised that some of the activities would not work as we planned. So we had to make up many of the games on the spot.
For each event they won, we put a sticker by their name and at the end of the evening we had an medal ceremony where everyone got a medal made of old CDs.
Success!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Canadians strike again... with a little love
At 6:30 this morning I woke up to Katherine (my Canadian second year from North Delta) voice in my ear.
'waaaake uuuuup'
I squinted up at her as my brain tried to comprehened what was going on.
Had I over slept?
What time was it?
Where was I?
My brain was a little slow.
After a few seconds I remembered:
I was in my bed at AC and it was the last week of codes.
'Get up' whispered Katherine.
I, rather zombie-like, sat up and grudgingly slid out from my warm covers.
'Grab a coat and some shoes'
I did as I was told and was promptly blind-folded.
For the next twenty minutes I was lead all over campus: my eyes covered and my hands spread out in front of me in an attempt to walk into as few solid objects as possible.
Katherine guided me to two other houses where she picked up more Canadian first years and eventually we all congregated (and yes Katie, we congregated... not conjugated) with the rest of our national group on main drive (at least I am pretty sure it was main drive.)
After being led in a long line in circles we were ushered into Sunley house and into the day room.
Here they let us take off our blindfolds, and lo and behold, there was breakfast waiting for us!
Our second years had been up early in the morning to make it all ready. There were pancakes and maple syrup (two necessities for a proper Canadian breakfast), fruit salad, juice and yogurt.
It was delicious!
We talked and ate and listened to some Arrogant worms.
It was a wonderful morning.
Thank you to my Canadian Second years!
'waaaake uuuuup'
I squinted up at her as my brain tried to comprehened what was going on.
Had I over slept?
What time was it?
Where was I?
My brain was a little slow.
After a few seconds I remembered:
I was in my bed at AC and it was the last week of codes.
'Get up' whispered Katherine.
I, rather zombie-like, sat up and grudgingly slid out from my warm covers.
'Grab a coat and some shoes'
I did as I was told and was promptly blind-folded.
For the next twenty minutes I was lead all over campus: my eyes covered and my hands spread out in front of me in an attempt to walk into as few solid objects as possible.
Katherine guided me to two other houses where she picked up more Canadian first years and eventually we all congregated (and yes Katie, we congregated... not conjugated) with the rest of our national group on main drive (at least I am pretty sure it was main drive.)
After being led in a long line in circles we were ushered into Sunley house and into the day room.
Here they let us take off our blindfolds, and lo and behold, there was breakfast waiting for us!
Our second years had been up early in the morning to make it all ready. There were pancakes and maple syrup (two necessities for a proper Canadian breakfast), fruit salad, juice and yogurt.
It was delicious!
We talked and ate and listened to some Arrogant worms.
It was a wonderful morning.
Thank you to my Canadian Second years!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Canadians have struck
At approximately 9:30 last night my prank-free streak died.On returning to my room from the day room, I met one of my Canadian second years (Danielle - from Alberta) who greeted me with a large grin:
"You are a good Canadian first year, aren't you?" she inquired.
And of course I am.
Which explains why this morning I left my house wearing the outfit she had so loving left with last night:
A cowboy hat, Canada tattoos on my face, a plaid shirt and chaps. proper chaps.
She is from Alberta. Need I say more?
I was given orders to wear said outfit all until after meals.
As well I was given this small speech to read in the dining hall at my choice of meal :
"A little something about our national animal:
We are the beaver! We're furry and we're free - yes we are the beaver, we got two big front teeth. Ya we are the beaver. We can chew through small trees. You might think a rodent is a pretty lame choice for a national animal but don't you listen to that voice. For all those birds and predators, take from the land, but the beaver, always gives a dam!"
I preformed it at breakfast to thunderous applause.
And while I may look silly today I am not the only one.
To be honest I have relatively nice second years.
Some second years made their first years jump into the outdoor pool.
And some people have been woken up in the middle of the night.
Other people have returned to their dorms to find that the entire contents of their corners have been swapped with someone in a different dorm.
So oddly enough, thank you second years. Thank you ver much.
Monday, April 19, 2010
End of Codes
This week is the last week of Codes for the second year.
The last week of high school education.
The last week of classes being called codes.
The last week of AC education.
The last week of learning new things from the IB syllabus.
The last week of sitting in these classrooms.
The last week of a 12 year (on average) educational milestone.
The last week of sitting in front of these teachers and doing as they are told.
The last week of codes.
And in celebration they pull pranks on the first year (and no, I can't explain the logic behind this to you because I don't understand it myself).
The pranks are preformed either by your second year roommates or by your national second years.
Some examples of past occurrences: stealing all of our clothes, locking our drawers/closets, waking us up in the middle of the night, stealing our beds (and leaving them in the day room), forcing us to wear outrageous outfits, hanging our clothes from the trees etc.
I am lucky because my second year doom mates are very nice and promised that they would be nice to me.... but I am not so sure out my fellow Canadians.
Wish me luck!
The last week of high school education.
The last week of classes being called codes.
The last week of AC education.
The last week of learning new things from the IB syllabus.
The last week of sitting in these classrooms.
The last week of a 12 year (on average) educational milestone.
The last week of sitting in front of these teachers and doing as they are told.
The last week of codes.
And in celebration they pull pranks on the first year (and no, I can't explain the logic behind this to you because I don't understand it myself).
The pranks are preformed either by your second year roommates or by your national second years.
Some examples of past occurrences: stealing all of our clothes, locking our drawers/closets, waking us up in the middle of the night, stealing our beds (and leaving them in the day room), forcing us to wear outrageous outfits, hanging our clothes from the trees etc.
I am lucky because my second year doom mates are very nice and promised that they would be nice to me.... but I am not so sure out my fellow Canadians.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Tanzania Summer Project - support needed
This summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Tanzania.
For the past four years my school has been engaged in a long-term partnership with the Hananasif orphanage Center (HOCET). HOCET is a non-profit, development-oriented organization serving orphaned and underprivileged children in the city and surrounding the city of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. HOCET has both a city and a rural branch. The latter (known as the Shamba) is where I will be spending the majority of the three week visit.
The Shamba is on a large area of rural land several hours drive south of Dar-es-Salaam. The Tanzanian Government gave HOCET this land for their cause. Currently, a group of dedicated individuals led by Miss Caroline G. Yambesi is in the process of developing it. This land remains in its early stages of development and both teachers and students alike must cope with the most basic of living conditions. During our last visit many of the children were three to a bed, highlighting the need for more dormitories. There is no kitchen to cook the children’s food in, and there is a major lack of nutrition at the school. The children do not have adequate school supplies.
I along with 5 other students from the United World College of the Atlantic, 3 students from the United World College in Costa Rica, 1 student from Armand Hammer United World College in the US, 3 from the Mostar UWC in Bosnia and 1 from the Singapore UWC will come together to serve the Hananasif Orphanage by:
1. Building a kitchen for the children to cook in
2. Paint the dormitory that was built in 2009
3. Teaching the students Sciences and Languages
4. Encouraging and helping with the sustainable development of the Orphanage
5. Continuing the long-standing partnership with the Orphanage
However, in order to be able to carry out this exciting project we need some help and support.
Below is a rough outline of where the money raised will go, and how it will be used.
The general costs are split up approximately as follows:
Building materials
£2,500
General school supplies to bring (books, stationary, basic sports equipment etc.)
£200
Food (at Shamba) 1 month
£100
TOTAL
£2,800
Any contributions are greatly appreciated, not only by me and my group members, but by the children in the orphanage as well.
We will be recording all aspects of the project through filming, photography and written work so that you can see our progress.
In the past this site has been used:
http://www.tanzania-atlanticcollege.blogspot.com/
and we plan to add to it as our journey unfolds.
On behalf of Tanzania Summer Project 2009
Jessica Stewart
[note: if you wish to donate money to help with this project, cheques can be made to my mother (Susan Stewart) and the money will then be sent to me - this is the easiest way to deal with currency change etc. Thank you!!]
For the past four years my school has been engaged in a long-term partnership with the Hananasif orphanage Center (HOCET). HOCET is a non-profit, development-oriented organization serving orphaned and underprivileged children in the city and surrounding the city of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. HOCET has both a city and a rural branch. The latter (known as the Shamba) is where I will be spending the majority of the three week visit.
The Shamba is on a large area of rural land several hours drive south of Dar-es-Salaam. The Tanzanian Government gave HOCET this land for their cause. Currently, a group of dedicated individuals led by Miss Caroline G. Yambesi is in the process of developing it. This land remains in its early stages of development and both teachers and students alike must cope with the most basic of living conditions. During our last visit many of the children were three to a bed, highlighting the need for more dormitories. There is no kitchen to cook the children’s food in, and there is a major lack of nutrition at the school. The children do not have adequate school supplies.
I along with 5 other students from the United World College of the Atlantic, 3 students from the United World College in Costa Rica, 1 student from Armand Hammer United World College in the US, 3 from the Mostar UWC in Bosnia and 1 from the Singapore UWC will come together to serve the Hananasif Orphanage by:
1. Building a kitchen for the children to cook in
2. Paint the dormitory that was built in 2009
3. Teaching the students Sciences and Languages
4. Encouraging and helping with the sustainable development of the Orphanage
5. Continuing the long-standing partnership with the Orphanage
However, in order to be able to carry out this exciting project we need some help and support.
Below is a rough outline of where the money raised will go, and how it will be used.
The general costs are split up approximately as follows:
Building materials
£2,500
General school supplies to bring (books, stationary, basic sports equipment etc.)
£200
Food (at Shamba) 1 month
£100
TOTAL
£2,800
Any contributions are greatly appreciated, not only by me and my group members, but by the children in the orphanage as well.
We will be recording all aspects of the project through filming, photography and written work so that you can see our progress.
In the past this site has been used:
http://www.tanzania-atlanticcollege.blogspot.com/
and we plan to add to it as our journey unfolds.
On behalf of Tanzania Summer Project 2009
Jessica Stewart
[note: if you wish to donate money to help with this project, cheques can be made to my mother (Susan Stewart) and the money will then be sent to me - this is the easiest way to deal with currency change etc. Thank you!!]
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Atlantic College Blues
First off, my laptop is broken which means that I cannot take any photos off of my camera to share with you which is a shame because I want to prove to you all that it actually can be sunny in Wales! For the past three days we have had glorious sun shine. As a result people have poured out of their houses to work outside. Shorts and sunglasses have been dusted off, and a few people have even managed to get a sun burn.
On another note, the intern teachers from the Netherlands who have have been here for the past three months are leaving tomorrow, which is very sad.
They both attend the church on campus where I also go, and so today after the service we all went to the home of one of the members of the congregation to eat lunch together and say goodbye. And as we had a theme of goodbyes, Bob (who's house we were at) wrote a song and sang it with the interns to also say goodbye to the second years (which is a bit early but he will not be here when they actually leave).
The words are as follows:
I woke up this morning, the blues all around my bed
I woke up this morning,m the blues all around my bed.
I went into breakfast, those blues were in my bread...
Chorus:
I've got the blues, the Atlantic College blues;
I've got the blues, the Atlantic College blue...
'Cos I'm going away now and that's gotta be bad news.
So it's goodbye to Dani, goodbye to Kash and Bubo
Farewell Mensimah, be careful how you go
You're leaving AC soon and everyone you know...
chorus
Goodbye to Neil, Nick Lush and Tristian
Goodbye to Lodewijk, to ken and all the gang
Goodbye to all my teachers, I love 'em to a man...
Chorus
No more sleepless nights, no EE to write tonight
No assignments to finish before the dawn's new light,
No double codes now to give me such a fright...
chorus
No more early classes with just my pyjamas to wear,
No furred up tongue and scruffy unbrushed hair;
I'll get up at mid-day and my momma won't care...
Chorus
But Atlantic College, you surely changed my life;
I'm pretty sure you've identified my future wife!
But I'll go into the world now bringing peace instead of strife...
Chorus
You taught me what it means to accept my fellow men (and girls)
I'm speaking every language, I think it's nine or ten -
These friends will stay within me, until we all meet up again...
Chorus
Goodbye to Whitaker, Gwynedd, Tice and P.K.,
Goodbye to Sunley, Morgannwg, and Powys OK
We had a lot of fun there and we'll be back again some day!
chorus
On another note, the intern teachers from the Netherlands who have have been here for the past three months are leaving tomorrow, which is very sad.
They both attend the church on campus where I also go, and so today after the service we all went to the home of one of the members of the congregation to eat lunch together and say goodbye. And as we had a theme of goodbyes, Bob (who's house we were at) wrote a song and sang it with the interns to also say goodbye to the second years (which is a bit early but he will not be here when they actually leave).
The words are as follows:
I woke up this morning, the blues all around my bed
I woke up this morning,m the blues all around my bed.
I went into breakfast, those blues were in my bread...
Chorus:
I've got the blues, the Atlantic College blues;
I've got the blues, the Atlantic College blue...
'Cos I'm going away now and that's gotta be bad news.
So it's goodbye to Dani, goodbye to Kash and Bubo
Farewell Mensimah, be careful how you go
You're leaving AC soon and everyone you know...
chorus
Goodbye to Neil, Nick Lush and Tristian
Goodbye to Lodewijk, to ken and all the gang
Goodbye to all my teachers, I love 'em to a man...
Chorus
No more sleepless nights, no EE to write tonight
No assignments to finish before the dawn's new light,
No double codes now to give me such a fright...
chorus
No more early classes with just my pyjamas to wear,
No furred up tongue and scruffy unbrushed hair;
I'll get up at mid-day and my momma won't care...
Chorus
But Atlantic College, you surely changed my life;
I'm pretty sure you've identified my future wife!
But I'll go into the world now bringing peace instead of strife...
Chorus
You taught me what it means to accept my fellow men (and girls)
I'm speaking every language, I think it's nine or ten -
These friends will stay within me, until we all meet up again...
Chorus
Goodbye to Whitaker, Gwynedd, Tice and P.K.,
Goodbye to Sunley, Morgannwg, and Powys OK
We had a lot of fun there and we'll be back again some day!
chorus
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Dublin
Over the long weekend I, being the lucky girl I am, went to stay with my daddy who is working in Dublin.
It was really wonderful to take a bit of a breather from school and hang out in Ireland with my dad.
I have wanted to go to Ireland for a long time, and loved it (although to be honest it looks a lot like Wales, with less sheep).
However even though I was in a strange city I still felt at home because Ireland is now has Tim Horton's (which actually horrified me more than comforted me)
I chilled with Oscar Wilde
Who said my favourite quote
Along with a few other good ones
I was visited by a little chick and some flowers on Easter (not to mention some chocolate all the way from Canada which tasted amazing after 40 days without chocolate [for lent])
We visited a street market which was full of the most random things, including a canucks jersey that I noticed out of the corner of my eye (I thought the colours looked familiar)
Unfortunately, while the Irish have many great traits, spelling is not one of them
But in their defence they have really beautiful bridges. Very Harry Potter-esque
On Saturday we went up to Belfast which was really interesting and saw all of the graffiti from 'the Troubles'
And they have a big Ferris Wheel by their city hall that looks an awful lot like the London eye
And although Belfast is a much nicer place now than it was a few years ago, they still are fans of the barbed wire
The stereo in the car wasn't very helpful in boosting my self esteem
In Dublin we listened to some street performers and I felt like I was in the film 'Once'.
And we saw some bubbles.
We wandered the shopping streets and I tried on a few dresses.
Here is some graffiti that we found.
It was really wonderful to take a bit of a breather from school and hang out in Ireland with my dad.
I have wanted to go to Ireland for a long time, and loved it (although to be honest it looks a lot like Wales, with less sheep).
However even though I was in a strange city I still felt at home because Ireland is now has Tim Horton's (which actually horrified me more than comforted me)
I chilled with Oscar Wilde
Who said my favourite quote
Along with a few other good ones
I was visited by a little chick and some flowers on Easter (not to mention some chocolate all the way from Canada which tasted amazing after 40 days without chocolate [for lent])
We visited a street market which was full of the most random things, including a canucks jersey that I noticed out of the corner of my eye (I thought the colours looked familiar)
Unfortunately, while the Irish have many great traits, spelling is not one of them
But in their defence they have really beautiful bridges. Very Harry Potter-esque
On Saturday we went up to Belfast which was really interesting and saw all of the graffiti from 'the Troubles'
And they have a big Ferris Wheel by their city hall that looks an awful lot like the London eye
And although Belfast is a much nicer place now than it was a few years ago, they still are fans of the barbed wire
The stereo in the car wasn't very helpful in boosting my self esteem
In Dublin we listened to some street performers and I felt like I was in the film 'Once'.
And we saw some bubbles.
We wandered the shopping streets and I tried on a few dresses.
Here is some graffiti that we found. It says:
'No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted'
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