UWC AC

Hello everyone!

The next two years of my life I'll be spending at Atlantic College the United World College in Wales. I'm guessing that in the next two years I'll be having quite a busy lifestyle, so instead of constantly writing emails to everyone with more or less the same things written in them or group emails I decided to start this blog. I think that this should be more convenient than mail or email but I can't promise that it won't fall behind sometimes. But I promise to do my best to keep it up to date!

Atlantic College is located on the Bristol Channel in a 12th century castle. The nearest town is called Llantwit Major. It's about 5 minutes away from the school.

There are about 330 students from over 80 different countries at AC. There are 7 houses on campus which which each accommodate around 48 students. I'll be sharing a room with 3 more people, two second years and one more first year. I guess for someone coming from WK that will be something to get used to since we had our own rooms (although they were small). But in the end I think it will be an excellent experience living with 3 people form different nationalities in one room.

For those of you who don't know much about the United World Colleges (and for those who may not find much interest in paying attention during assembly at WK :p), so far there are 12 United World Colleges around the world. UWC was founded in 1962 and originated in the ideas of German educationalist Kurt Hahn. The first UWC was Atlantic College in Wales. At the UWC schools there is a a strong emphasis on community service and they have a wide variety of cultural and outdoor activities.

The mission statement of UWC is:

"Through international education, shared experience and community service, United World Colleges enable young people to become responsible citizens, politically and environmentally aware, and committed to the ideals of peace and justice, understanding and cooperation through action and personal example."

It's basically July now and I have another two months to go and then a completely new phase of my life will begin with many new experiences and new friendships. In two weeks I'll be on my way to Germany from where I'll travel to Wales in September. Many hard goodbyes are still coming my way in this short time I've got left in a place I've called my home for the past eight years. Then it's off to Germany and a whole new adventure in September.

Stay tuned for more...

Miriam