The Beginning of the End...

Hey all,
My mind has been tormented for the last few days with the conflicting and contradictory feelings of excitement to go home but regret for leaving. I officially completed my IB last Thursday though I still have my 7th, unofficial subject (music) left tomorrow morning. So tomorrow afternoon, I will be completely finished with the menace which has haunted me for the last two years.... the evil of exam based education.
Tradition for students finishing the IB with a music exam dictates that after one's final exam, the student is to exit the exam hall, jump up and down happily, float dreamily over to the music department where one is to interpretive dance to the the strains of Stravinsky's piece "Rite of Spring" before racing each other down to the outdoor (very cold!) pool to launch our tired, exam-exhausted bodies into the freezing waters. All in celebration.
So... think of me, Stravinsky, and the outdoor pool tomorrow afternoon!
And then, just to make the day that much cooler, Dad comes at 4pm. He's already in the UK right now... in Bath. Knowing he's so close makes me so excited!
AC always has been so much about high high's and low low's. And now is no exception. I'm getting pretty sick of living with some people and even more sick of the tiny little dorms we've been crammed into. But at the same time, I'm leaving a life behind. After Saturday I'll no longer find myself smiling in the rare sunshine as I walk down Main Drive peering into open dayroom windows for familiar faces. No longer will I wait hungrily in a queue outside a Hogwarts style dining hall for my plate of "something on a bed of rice". No more will I gaze out across the silvery Bristol Channel at the coast of England far away. There will be no more philosophical debates with dear friends at 3am while sitting on dirty couches sipping our 7th cups of tea. And no more will I walk the halls of the castle... not just any castle... but my Castle by the Sea.
On Saturday night, I will drive away from this amazing place... my eyes red and my hands shaking... my arms sore from tight hugs and my voice hoarse from a constant repetition of "never let go!"...
But it's not an end persay. It's a beginning. One thing I've learned more than anything else while surviving the experience which is a UWC, is that this world is smaller than any of us could ever believe. We came here as different countries, different attitudes, exciting new foods and accents... But now we leave as people. Human beings drawn closer by the bonds of friendship and love than any of us could ever have believed possible.
And because of these unbreakable ties, I know that it's not the end. I will see these people again. They will come to visit me in my home in the Land of Enchantment, I will go to see them in their lives around the world. I will going to university with or very near to many of them. And of course, Facebook is just a computer click away.
Two years was perfect. Any shorter and I'd hate to leave, but any longer and I'm not sure many would have survived. I've come, I've learned to love far deeper than ever before, and now I leave with a great respect for every single person I've lived with here. I will see them again. No doubt about it.
And as for Atlantic College...? 2018... my 10 year reunion. Where will everyone be?
I hope to see many of you soon after my return to American soil.
Much love and respect... always,
Malia

Dartmouth... here I come!

Just out:

Final Decision for my University Education = DARTMOUTH.

I'm heading to an Ivy League....

It's ranked 11th in America (by US News report)

It's really nice to finally know where I'll be heading next year. Last night I was nearly in tears with frustration. Lewis and Clark or Dartmouth... Dartmouth or Lewis and Clark.

Finally, with the help of a better financial package, I chose Dartmouth.

Cons: East Coast, intense acedemics, more competitive, cold winters, more conservative (not too much though I hear), Seen the movie Animal House?... it was based on the Dartmouth Frat scene... exagerated, of course ;)
Pros: Ivy League (just for novelty's sake), good study abroad, D-plan (interesting four term schedule), Varsity Equestrian Team, Skiway 5 min away (even if it is east coast skiing), bigger campus = more opportunities, closer to all my UWC friends at uni's in the east (Brown, etc)

At the moment I'm heading toward majoring in Government with a focus of International Relations and Latin America in particular.

Should be a very interesting four years.

Just need a few months off first; IB recovery period ;)

Picture: Harlem (Peru), Me, and Marie (Switzerland) on the Last day of Classes... after absolutely no sleep and a night of showing our first years how much we love them. (see last year's entry of what was done for me!)

More good news: I just finished my Political Thought exam. More than three hours of Liberalism, Marxism, Anarchism, and Conservatism. My hand is still cramped. Paper one was reallllllyyy bad but paper two was marvelous. Hopefully it evens out... :)

Five more exams to go; English, Math, Spanish, E-systems, Music.

The day I finish my music exam... the 22nd of May.... Dad is coming to visit for almost a week! Yay! And I have to say goodbye to AC forever... but let's not think about that. ...

Love you all and glad to be coming back to lovely America to see everyone one in less than a month. Until then, wish me luck on my exams! Ah!

xx

Malia

A week to go...

Hey Everyone,

Just checkin in with the ol' blog. Sunday morning here... all's pretty quiet but the sun is out! Whoo hoo! Starting to maybe feel like spring around here. I got up early today and went for a run... felt good to have the sun on my neck.

Yesterday I worked all morning (revising maths... exams in a couple weeks!) but spent all afternoon playing. My house, Dyfed, linked up with another house, Tice and made a fun day of it. We started out playing camp games like Wrestling Game and Planets (See below posts for descriptions and pictures) and followed that by a house vs. house water balloon fight and quite a lot of dunkings into the outdoor pool. I got thrown in a grand total of three times... and believe me, that water is cold. Anyone who normally goes in it, even during the summer, goes in with wet suits. Not me, I screamed my lungs out and swam very quickly to the side. Good times though... I now sport a bruised nose and arms covered in bruises from our afternoon's games. I feel... hardcore?

After the games we all cooked or heated up something for the potluck. I made pasta and a rosewater cake. We had a ton of food.... yummm.... and with full stomaches we sat down to watch the movie "House of Flying Daggers". I may have fallen asleep except the whole movie people kept taking the piss of the whole film. Such a social atmosphere even while watching a movie.

The whole time I sat there I kept flashing suddenly on how much I'd recently missed this part of AC. Looking around at people I've come to know as well as my own family, I suddenly physically shake at the thought of leaving. Then quickly tell myself not to think about it.

Lately things have been getting boring. Nothing's changed about how much I love this place... it's just every day is an intense repetition of the same actions and duties. I feel ready for a change.

Speaking of change... an update on the university front... no decision made yet... waiting for financial aid offices to reply to the letter I've written them asking them please for more money so I can attend their university. We'll see... It's still all up in the air. I'm so sick of waiting.... waiting... waiting...

Anyway, lots and lots and lots of love from the green welsh hills (which are actually currently quite yellow and white with flowers!) ... hope everyone is doing well and (on a really happy note) I'll see quite a lot of you in about six weeks... not too long now!

Many hugs,
Malia

The Lighthouse... Where I ran this morning... about a 35 minute run. Beautiful.

University Offers

Hello All.

Again I find myself beginning a new blog with the apology it didn't come sooner and also that it doesn't contain more.

First off... the big news... keeping the nerves high and emotions wild here... University Decisions!

I have been accepted to Lewis and Clark in Portland, OR since December so that's old news. Next to hear from was Stanford with a rejection... no real surprise there; out of about eight people here only one got in and he's beyond incredible. Same day I found out I've been accepted by University of Colorado in Boulder and am on the waiting list at Middlebury. And last night I recieved my congrats letter from Dartmouth asking me to join them next year.

So in total that's... 3.5 acceptances and 1 rejection.

I now have to wait for financial aid and then make a very difficult decision between an Ivy League-Dartmouth, what has been my top choice-Lewis and Clark, and one which will offer more freedom than any of the others-CU Boulder.

How am I ever going to decide? Ah! ... wait for finacial aid then we'll see.

Next (a little belatedly... sorry) here's some more pictures from Mom and Krista's visit to the lovely green country.

The AC Musical 2008.

Krista and I beneath the castle which is my home.

Krista and I in Glastonbury... where King Arthur was supposedly buried. Anyone read 'Mists of Avalon'? They say this may have been the location of the Isle of Avalon.

Krista and I at the Roman Baths in Bath.

Anyway... I am now eagerly awaiting more news from my Universities and enjoying the sudden good luck with the weather we've had lately.

Hope all is wonderful and Spring-timey with all of you.

Lots of Love,

Malia

"Three Malias"

Hey Everyone,

So as I type this to you my mom and Krista sit next to me in the currently quiet computer lab at Atlantic College in Wales.

Picture: In my dorm (can't see my bed on the right)

So far it's all been amazing. They arrived at around 11am on Saturday, watched the musical I wrote, directed and performed in that night, went to bed jet lagged... and so began their week here in lovely Wales. One of the first things we all did was trudge through the wet drizzly rain to the playing fields on campus to stand in the rain and watch a rugby game between students. Unfortunately, because we didn't understand hardly anything going on and because we ended up getting so wet and cold, we didn't stay too long. But I told them here was their genuine welsh experience; rain and rugby... all we're missing was the pint.

Some of the first of my friends I introduced to mom and krista while sitting in the Harry Potter dining hall here looked at all of us then smiled saying... "It's like three Malias!" Apparently it's quite obvious we are all family... :)

The musical went really well and although it was so much work I nearly keeled over in exhaust, it was more than worth it. We have pictures to post but can't get them yet... keep checking though...

Sunday we all met up with Signe (from Norway)'s mother and went out for genuine bangers and mashers with Rahel (germany), Harlem (Peru), and Marie-Flo (Switzerland). One of the items on the menu at the pub, "The Plough and Harrow", was Welsh Faggots. So what are faggots? We had no idea... fish? maggots? sausages?.... when we finally asked, they described it as 'a meatball of all the parts of the animal left over' ... yum? It actually wasn't too bad. But we stuck with the broccali and stilton soup. :)

Last night... Monday, we picked up my link brother and fellow peer listner and headed over to my link family's house for a meal. Their big friendly dog entertained us and mom and krista got to meet my family away from home... (and the food was really good!)

This afternoon we went to the famous Elaine's tearoom in Llantwit Major (a great favorite amoung students) and shared tea, hot chocolate, scones and welsh cakes.

Tonight we're going to be heading over to the Arts Centre for my service session (running bar) and to watch the movie on tonight: Queen Elizabeth. How appropriate considering the Tudor castle room we're renting in the castle... (pictures coming soon)

On Thursday we head over to Bath for a couple nights to relax and sightsee some nearby areas.

We'll try to post more pictures as they come in... (plus more on my climbing trip coming...)

Sending all of our Welshy love,
3/4 of the Reeves

Ps. Wales is the international rugby champion as of Saturday... needless to say the pubs were packed.

SPAIN

Hi Everyone,

I'm back in Wales sitting here like it was all a dream. I can't believe that yesterday morning I was climbing a crag in south spain in a tank top and shorts looking out over the Mediterranean. What a week! I really didn't want to come back. I could have spent three more weeks there doing exactly the same thing everday: wake up, eat breakfast while watching a climbing movie, a quick trip to the supermarket for bread for lunch, climbing by 10:00am, quick break for lunch, leave crag at 5:00pm, back to the hostel, make dinner, eat, play a quick board game or two, then sleep. Every day. It was beautiful.

Can you see me? Kinda tiny at the top... I'm leading here which, contrary to top roping is just a little more dangerous and scary... and fun!

There were seven of us; three girls, three boys, and Simon. Simon was our 'staff' member but really he was like a big brother. The whole group worked together really well and even after a week of being together for a week, we'd yet to get tired of it. The hostel we stayed at was called The Orange House and caters primarly to climbers. So we were completely surrounded by the climbing atmosphere 24 hours a day. The website to this great place is http://www.theorangehouse.net/ and I highly reccommend it if you want some really amazing climbing. Also just check out the pictures and get some idea of how beautiful the area is.

The weather was really good. We had a couple extrememly warm days where we were all wearing practically nothing under our harnesses (lots of sunscreen though we still all got quite a nice tan) and then there were some days when the clouds came in or the wind blew a bit and things cooled off quite a lot. But even with the jackets it was dry and beautiful.

Nice weather huh? ... this was justwaiting around in the sun for people to climb up to a particularly beautiful crag called Toix.

My birthday was Thursday and again, like last year in Vienna, I had the most incredible time. It was really just another day but it was another day climbing in Spain! When I reached the top of my first climb that morning, my belayer wouldn't let me down until they'd all sang a round of Happy Birthday and that night we had balloons and a nice meal and cake with too much whip cream... it was all really memorable.

The climbing itself was amazing. We all started on quite easy climbs seeing as most of us had never been climbing outdoors before and had only done climbing in indoor climbing gyms. It's a much different and much better expereince! And by the end of the week we'd all pushed our levels and were climbing much higher rankings. It was really nice to see the improvement. I was a bit sore after the first couple days but after that it all felt really good.

I've fallen in love with the sport and hope to continue in the future. There's apparently a lot of oppertunity around Taos even if you don't have all your own expensive equipment. So we'll see!

Me belaying... kinda. This was a tricky traverse we did which started with a climb up and out of a cave. I'm holiding a support rope though the actual belaying is being done from above.

I'll put more pictures up later because they are all on the other's cameras. So keep checking in!
xx

More Pictures

This is my yearbook photo... senior photo.. whatever you want to call it. And yes, I am standing in a puddle.

This was a reject yearbook photo.

Dressed up for Signe's birthday. This was actually in August but I'm using it for our Year Poster so I thought I'd post it on here too.

My dorm. From left: Viveka (India), Aqeela (Malaysia), Miriam (England), me.

We ate Malaysian Prawn flavoured porridge (it was pretty good actually) and English Apple dessert thing (you can see it in front there) ... yum!

I'm in the middle of Mock Exams now... for practice they tell us. But really I think they're supposed to scare us into studying for the actual exams in April and May. I don't mind them too much because I'm expecting to do badly... no pressure! ;)

I had English yesterday and have Environmental systems now.... whoo hoo! But tomorrow and the next day I have completely off so I'll get some free time. At least it's been sunny lately!

Hope everyone's doing well,

Malia

Some sun and a lot of rain

Hey everyone-

I hope everyone is doing well. I'm plugging through a steady stream of work. It's gotta end sometime... the list of coursework isn't infinite as much as it seems like it is right now. Starting Monday I have mock exams for a week and half then it's off to Spain! Yay! I went climbing at a huge climbing gym yesterday. Other than that I've been climbing a lot too just along the bottom of our small wall here... gotta get in shape for a week of climbing soon!

Ooohh I can't wait.

Until then, here's some pictures;

Peer Listener Yearbook photos. The caption? "All Ears - 24/7"

Hey Everyone.
I’m such a bad blogger this term. It’s not that there hasn’t been things to tell you… it’s more like I have no time left in my life anymore for anything except what absolutely must be done. Ugh. Keeps me on my toes though.

Let’s see, what have you missed?

Right now there is AC Model United Nations going on. It’s intense and everyone takes it very seriously. People walking around all dressed up formal and representing different countries on different councils. It’s like a little UN here in Wales. We even have terrorists who keep kidnapping delegates. I’m personally not involved officially. However… I put in my own little sneaky bit early this morning as a member of MCD… Model Civil Disobedience. We wrote with chalk on all the sidewalks things like NO WAR and PEACE… this was because during the ‘talks’ yesterday, it happened that the US and China declared war on Iran. Seems there are some massive problems going on economically and about human rights :) So I spent my time protesting these going ons…. A mock protest for a mock war started at a mock UN conference. Kinda ironic no?

Picture: Dyfed girls after playing music in our makeshift band at a wedding on campus. Our reward: two bottles of very cheap wine. Yummmm.... ??

Hmmm…. I head to Spain in about three weeks… definitely looking forward to that. Bought myself climbing shoes and have been practicing on our climbing wall here… great workout!

The weather’s been horrible. Oh well… we find things to do. Yesterday we made banana bread. It was AMAZING! Mmmm… can’t wait for some good food during project week.

Anyway… it’s great to hear from all of you and hope everything is perfectly peachy on yonder side of the Atlantic!

Great big wet and windy Welsh hugs,
Malia

A few words for a lot of stuff

Hey everyone!
I'm so sorry it has been so incredibly long since I've updated you on my doings! My only excuse is that I was busy... I know, I know so cliche but it's the truth.

So much has happened but I'll try to fill you in with the things that come to mind now which are probably all the important points anyway.

At the beginning of November, I woke up early not for classes but rather to board, along with the other 150 second years, a coach to London.

London Trip is a four day vaction for us poor, stressed second years that
the school pays for to get us off campus while the first years get certified in First Aid.

(Picture Above: Rahel looking at a mummy in the British Museum... we also saw a mumified bird and mumified fish... we decided those Egyptians just got a little obsessed with mummifying things...)

Because most of us have been to London before and have all seen the main touristy spots like Tower of London and the London Bridge, we went other places instead. And when I say 'other places' I mean half the time we didn't know where the hell we were and the other half of the time we were hanging over an Underground map trying to figure out which train to catch to take us to a certain museum fastest.

(Picutre Above: Me in the London Underground... "Mind the gap, Mind the gap")

I really learned to love London during my time there. Perhaps it was because I had no responsiblities... what a concept!
Well, almost no responsibilities... a couple weeks before, I'd been asked, along with about 13 others, to help with a "thing" the school was organizing. I don't even know what to call it but the first night we were all in London, our little group piled into taxis which took us to the London Royal Society.
(Picture Above: We had good weather except here... oh the bloody London rain!)

All of us students had been chosen for a particular reason; we had the student council president, the girl who started the idea of Globe Lounge, etc. Five of us were also chosen to give small speeches about a certain topic. I was asked to talk about what a Peer Listener is and what it was like to be one, another girl talked about the Save the Children program, a german guys talked about INK, our studen newspaper, and two other boys who are refugees (one from Palestine and one from Congo) talked about how they came to be at AC.

(Picture Above: Us students at the Royal Society with our new principal Neil.)

We were all asked to dress nicely as this was a 'swish' affair. And indeed it was. The Royal Society is an ancient guild-type organization which caters to furthering the sciences. Our affair happened in a small room in the old building that was just bursting with carvings and gilt. It was amazing really. When the guests started arriving, our job was to mingle. Most of the people there were very wealthy potential sponsors for our school... and we were in the spotlight.

All in all, I found it a very strange experience. My speech went really well... I've never really had a problem in front of crowds and talking to people was interesting. However, I left with a funny feeling. I guess I was wondering "How could I have possibly shown these people how amazing AC really is... how could I have communicated this in such an environment." AC is certainly not fancy wine, well dressed people, and canopays... but I guess that's what brings the money in.

After London Week, I had an intensive Theatre Arts week. A Polish physical theatre company came and worked with us for three hours a day in preparation for a short performance that weekend. It was time consuming and exhausting (mentally and physically) but I have never enjoyed myself more. If I was ever to really go into theatre as a profession, this was the sort of theatre I'd do. Moving (not dancing) and singing ancient Greek songs and chants, we pulled together an amazing fifteen minute performance which I'll never forget.

(Picture Above: Me and my second year girls from Dyfed House at our Christmas party... gees, I love these girls.)

The end of the term came creeping in at a pace that left all of us past the point of exhaustion. The Christmas party was a more than welcome distraction and a chance to take off my dirty tee-shirt and hoodie and acutally look nice for a change. And finally, it was time to go home. My last trip home before that final one next May.

(Picture Above: A bunch of kids from my house at xmas dinner in the dining hall with the traditional paper crowns Brits always pull out of xmas crackers... I'm squished in at the back)

I've now been home for about three and half weeks and it's been wonderful. I've been skiing, seeing all my friends who are now at University and eating all the wonderful food I can get my hands on (which has, unfortunatly also resulted in me gaining five of the 15 pounds I'd lost by running every day this term... oh well... it was worth it :) ).

I leave this Tuesday 8th for my final five month term. There are a couple things to really look forward to though. Most espcially is the week long project week I'll be taking in March (over my birthday). I'm going to spend a week in Spain on the Mediteranean coast rock climbing everyday.... sounds perfect, no?

All of my university stuff is in and much of my holiday homework is complete. I applyed early action to Lewis and Clark College in Portland and heard back a couple weeks ago that I've been accepted... and what's more, I've already been given a $10,000 merit scholarship. It's nice to know that someone wants me already! Plus it's one of my top choices so I'm quite content. It is non binding though so I'm going to wait to hear from my other applications before deciding where I'll be next year for sure.

Alright... I'm off to Yoga soon so I'd better call it good. Hope I'll be able to keep you all updated more often this next term.

Much Love from the Reeves' house in Taos.... (kinda catchy huh?)

xx Malia

An Update

Seeing as I've ignored you all since Long Weekend, I'll try to give you one of my quick bullet point updates:
- LOTS of work.
- I turned in my Common application! ah! Hitting SUBMIT was just a little nerve wrecking...
- Monthly grades today... best yet! yay! 38 total for those of you who know the IB grading scheme. That's out of 42.
- Working on my TOK presentation: it's basically a 40 minute presentation to your class that counts toward your IB. My topic is 'Is it ethical to contact isolated tribes in the Amazon?'
- I'm going to London on Wednesday for three days! It's going to be so nice... it's a subsidized trip by the college to give us a break. On Wednesday night I've been asked, along with only about 5 other students to give a small presentation and talk to some high class ex-students and other potential sponsors at the Royal Society. They're calling it a very 'swish' affair.
On Thursday night I'm going with nine other friends to see the musical Cabaret. Can't wait!
- Almost finished my Musical Investigation on the comparison of a Christian Hymn and a Taos Pueblo Round Dance Song. Interesting but time consuming... can't wait for it to be done.
- Finished my E-systems and Maths coursework... full marks! yay! that's some percentage of my IB out of the way...
- Have a VERY extensive Theatre Arts workshop all of next week. Every afternoon from 2-5. We're working with 2 professional companies called Earthform and Chorea to put on a final performance with them for the public Sunday after next.
- A bunch of my second years came back this last weekend including my dorm mate Rebecca. It was so nice to see them all again but it was wierd to have such a flashback of last year. It's hard to believe right now we'll ever be as close to our first years as we became to our second years... but I think we will in time.

Okay, I've gotta run to a meeting now... hope everyone is doing well at home! I come home in a month!!!! Can't Wait... I need a break; some green chili and sking and I'll soon be right as rain (or should I say snow).

Miss you all, Malia

Berlin

Hey Everyone!

Checking back with you after a lovely and relaxing weekend in Germany! Now as I sit, back in Wales, in the computer lab, busy and stressful people around me, I can hardly believe I was in Berlin less than two days ago.

We left Thursday afternoon to a rather stressful start: we missed our taxi so we missed our train and had to take a later one. Therefore, the whole trip to Bristol Airport was in nervous dread that we might miss our plane. But, as soon as we got there, literally running into the Departures terminal, what was the case but that our flight was delayed! Very ironic but we would have just barely made it otherwise... with the delay we were able to relax much more.

(Rahel's home... their flat was on the third floor.)

Rahel's close friends picked us up from the airport with flowers and sparklers. They were both so lovely but I couldn't help but think what American airport officials would think of sparklers just outside an airport like that.

When we finally got to Rahel's flat, we were greeted by the warm coziness of a home. I can't believe how much I've missed that. Dorms are really not the same. We had amazing quiche and chatted to her parents until almost midnight. I also got to finally meet her little sister, Elsa who is only one and half years old and adorable.

(Rahel's mom, Katja and Elsa)

Friday morning we slept until noon. And it was pure bliss... we ate a good German breakfast of thick bread with jams and cheese until 2pm. And finally we began our day at 3pm. Shopping and a tiny bit of sightseeing dominated the rest of the day. That evening we went out to a Shisha bar with some of her friends.

Rahel's neighborhood... typical East Berlin?

Saturday was another late start. Then, walking down the street a bit from Rahel's flat, we spent the next three hours in a hair salon waiting as Rahel got her hair cut. But it wasn't a normal salon... there were some very interesting people in there with some very interesting hair cuts and I guess I got to see a bit of Berlin culture... That night was more culture and unique sightseeing as we walked for three hours around the main parts of Berlin to the see the light show currently set up on all the major buildings. Such a great way to see the city!

(Bits of the light show... TV tower of Berlin lit up above me)

On Sunday morning we went out with a bunch of Rahel's neighbors and family across the street for brunch.... 'brunching' they called it. Then I went to a basketball game... yep, a full blown professional German basketball game. It was pretty cool though. Rahel's mom made the costume for the mascot performing at half time so she had free tickets and took me with her while Rahel got some alone time at home.

And finally on Monday we had a rather full day. Waking up relatively early, we went to Rahel's old school to see her friends and attempt to get her transcript which doesn't actually exist in German schools. For the rest of the day we biked around the city doing odd errands here and there... optician, music store, stationary, bakery. Finally, in the afternoon, we picked up Elsa from daycare and went home. Our last evening at home was relaxing and easy with one last good meal (all bought from the little corner store on Rahel's block... I'll never get over how easy it is to shop in European cities... it's all just a two minute walk away! Crazy!) And so, with our bags slightly heavier than before (due to the massive amounts of German food Rahel brought back!) we boarded the city tram to take us back to the airport.

(Rahel and Elsa at the Bakery... I love European bakeries!)

But... not home free yet, we managed to miss the correct connection and... again... almost missed our flight. Back in Bristol, we caught the taxi we'd booked and slept throught the last hour journey home. Finally arriving back at school at midnight on Monday night I felt exhausted but refreshed as well... ready for the last part of term.

(Ritter Sport. Typical German chocolate. I can't believe how many flavors they have!)

What a wonderul trip! I'm so happy I got to see a bit of Europe. But more, I'm glad I got to see Rahel's life. I found in incredible how different our lifestyles are and yet here at AC we are closer than you can believe. Just goes to show... guess that's what a UWC's for, huh?

xx Malia

The Dutch Prince and BERLIN

Hey everyone!


So a quick update with some very exciting news....


Basically in four days, I'll be in Berlin! Yep, a last minute decision that I need time away from the school and a want to take advantage of my being Europe has resulted in a quick visit to Berlin, Germany with Rahel. I'll be leaving on Thursday afternoon and get back late Monday night. Short but Sweet! Can't wait!!!


Last Thursday was an exciting day as well. Not only did my long-anticipated parcel finally arrive (it took a whopping 18 days... but the apple my dad so lovingly put in was still good!) but I also got to meet the Prince of the Netherlands. I was asked to give a short presentation on what I do as a Peer Listener and then got to sit and talk with the whole envoy afterwards. The Dutch Prince is actually an AC graduate from about 20 years ago so he comes often... still... something to brag about, right?

A promotional picture we took last week... I'm holding the American flag... can you find it?

You can see the the American flag better here... on the left side. it's being waved so it's only half there... but I am holding it!

Otherwise, it's work work work... finished my EE. FINALLY. Not that it's lessened my load. blah. Oh well. I feel a bit like the workload is tearing me apart from why I actually came to a UWC which is unfortunate. Luckily though, I've been told it's only really for this term and after Christmas break it gets much better. I hope so! Until then, guess I'll have to enjoy my quick jaunt over to Germany, huh? ;)

I should be working...

All people can say around here these days is "I should be working..." and if they are working their saying "How is it physically possible to finish all the work I have to do by tomorrow?" We're all struggling through it valiantly though and still somehow finding time to talk (occasionally) to first years though they're settling in really well now.
My weekend was very productive! Yay! Though I think I must have been infected with studyitus by this time... it's unhealthy to spend this much time working...
What I Completed This Weekend:
-1500 word English Commentary on Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway
-Math worksheet on the derivatives of logarithms
-Review of Edmund Burke's conservative writings
-Read William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and Experience" and "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
-12 page Environmental Systems practical on soil moisture in a woodland ecosystem
-Review of my Extended Essay (4000 words ah!) and began work on second draft
-Read a play and and an essay for Theatre Arts
And I got up early both mornings to go for a 30 minute run. Whew.

What I Still Need To Do:
-Finish my Extended Essay
-Write the final draft of my Individual Project (3,500 words)
-VERY extensive maths portfolio project
-Study for SATII's on Saturday
-E-systems questions on systems diagrams
-Musical Investigation needs to be written
-Research and plan my Theory of Knowledge presenation (needs to be abou 40 minutes long)
-ETC ETC ETC

Anyway, there's my life right now. Not very exciting but hella busy.
Oh, there's good stuff too... I'm not entirely workatic. Yesterday at my link family's was wonderful with good food and horses. Globe Lounge both Friday and Saturday was a giant success and made me very happy. And perhaps the most exciting bit of news: I'll be recieving a package from home in a couple days!!! Yay! Cookies, a new water bottle, and more goodies... can't wait!

Otherwise missing the simplicity of home and longing for those autumn colors...
Malia

Sorry!

So very very much to say and so very very little time. I'm so sorry I haven't updated you all in a long time but hopefully I'll find time soon!
Very breifly:
-First years came about three weeks ago so they're settling in okay. My dormmates are absolutely lovely. Miriam from the UK is very quiet but loves nature (yay!) and Aqeela from Malaysia is teaching me loads about the Muslim faith (I even fasted a couple days with her for Ramadan) and making me happy with her upper personality.

My dormmate Aqeela from Malaysia.

-Induction went really well but I was very glad for it to be over too. Two weeks without classes were welcome but I was so busy with the first years I didn't get much work done. I was also at Camp for four days, sleeping in a tent and walking 11 miles along the coast one day. It was the same place we went last year but it was so different to be back there as a second year. I enjoyed it though I was quite ill and lost my voice completely which made campfire songs really really frustrating.

As tradtion dictates, we made a poster for our first years before they came... this year our theme was food.

Dyfed dayroom full of people and merrymaking. Damn first years don't have work yet and suck us busy second years into their lovely chatter far too easily.

-Work is killing me... I have more work than is physically possible to complete in the time they give us. So basically I just keep on building up deadlines gone and hoping they won't notice I haven't turned in this piece of work or that one. I think they know how much we have to do though so they kinda let it slide.
-Globe Lounge opened here last night. An amazing initiative I've been working on... it's basically a really nice space for people to come chill on weekends and drink tea... maybe take part in a debate or discussion or meditate. The atmosphere was beautiful last night!
-On Thursday I was in London to watch the Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. It was amazing and well worth the ten hours of driving it took to get there becuase of the crazy traffic we got stuck in.
-Tomorrow I go to my link families for relaxation and a good meal... can't wait!
-We're seven and half weeks into the term with ten and half left... time flies even as it drags annoyingly. Really looking forward to coming home soon though... even if it's just to see people and sleep a little! ... and ski! yay!

Chalk welcomes from around the world for the day the first years arrived... outside Dyfed.

Second Year posters... mines on the left and is green. They just help the first years get to know us. And the map has pins in it for where everyone's from if you can see them.

Dyfed House in the First Year show we put on for our firsties

Missing you and that lovely green chili that's roasting at home. mmmm...

Malia

Planets

I've had such a crazy weeked! The last weekend in August period (the first years come in two days!!) and people wanted to make the most of it. And we have... it's left me with bruises up and down my arms and a very happy, very exhausted feeling inside. The exhausted feeling would be from staying up until 4am the last two nights. On Friday night I actually ended up falling asleep in the showers in the girls' bathroom in Dyfed after a sort of shower room slumber party... this might sound really really wierd but it was actually very nice. And last night I ate dinner around a lovely little campfire, sang songs in several different languages, and then danced like crazy for the next 3 hours before staying up talking until very early in the morning.
The bruises come from a game called Planets. We oraginzed this school wide and about 55 people showed up... Basically, we split into groups where you then make a tight circle, holding onto each other as tight as possible. Then, the announcer shouts something like "Dyfed attack Tice!" and my house would have to run over to the other team and try to viciously rip them apart.

The goal is to get a person away from their teammates: as soon as they are not holding onto anyone else, they belong to your team and would join the Dyfed team. It is so much fun but is rather violent as well. The dark spots lining my upper arms are evidence of that. My battle scars.
We then played the wrestling game. Another kinda violent game, it works that everyone splits into pairs then sit in a big circle with one person in the pair sitting behind the other. The announcer calls names of people sitting in front and they have to try to get away and touch the announcer. The person sitting behind them has to try to stop them from getting there. It becomes a giant wrestling match where several shirts were torn and more bruises recieved. But I think I got more sore from laughing at how ridiculous people looking rolling all over the ground like that.
Finally, several torn, bruised hours later and very hot in the sun, we all randomly decided to jump in the outdoor pool with our clothes on. It was refreshing and I'm sure we beat the world record for most nationalities in the same pool!
Anyway, today and tommorrow are my recovery days and then Tuesday its full time first years! Life at AC; crazy as always. Gotta love it!

Where'd August Go?

Gees! I can't believe it's already the first of september! How can August period have gone so quickly!

Service Weekend in Bristol...

I've gotten so close to a lot of new people in my year and in eleven days our little period of seclusion will end... but only for a really exciting new beginning! Our first years arrive on Sept. 11th! Viv (my coyear dormmate from India) and I will be welcoming into our dorm (which will now be on the sunny side of the house... yay!) two new little firsties!


One of my first years is from Malaysia. She wears the hijab (headscarf) and seems very very nice. The other is a Brit from North England I think. She also seems wonderful in emails...


I've been so busy I'm tearing my hair out with exhaustion. Partially my own fault since I've been running a lot which makes me feel really healthy but does tire me out a lot. Today I finished my Extended Essay rough draft! A whopping 16 pages, 5, 400 word bit on Catholic and Pueblo religion... ah. the relief. Now I can at least forget about it for a week or so!... maybe.


Weather's been really good... can't complain there! Yesterday I woke up early and a couple of us ran to Llantwit, ate a really nice breakfast at Elaine's Tearoom and then ran back. What a good way to start a free day!

Arts Centre Service and the Coffee bar...

Last night an American coyear and I sat several people down and made them watch A Princess Bride which we find hilarious. But... I guess the American humour isn't for everyone! They had no idea why we were laughing half the time... ah well. I enjoyed it anyway.


Anyway... just chillen out on a Saturday afternoon... feel like I deserve a break from work after the marathon I typed for my EE this morning...

The Sabbath dinner at Interfaith conference... we are all wearing our national costumes (note the cowboy hat ;) )



xx. Love you all. xx.


Malia

Classes, Tours, and Universities

Hey Everyone,
It's a lovely semi-sunny evening here in Wales and I've finally found some time to update you all! We've been here now just under two weeks but, of course working on AC time, it feels like it's been years! We came back from summer break and jumped into the Interfaith Conference which was organized by our World Religions teacher. I found it amazingly interesting. There was some major hot debate surrounding Scientology though... the campus was seething after some of the seminars given by the Scientology representative. But AC can seeth easily. Bring any debatable issue to the college and your bound to be hit on every side with questions and scepticism that makes your head ring. I guess you get used to it when you live here but several of the guests left saying they had been asked questions they had no idea how to answer. That's AC for you; so many strong people with strong points of view and the intellect to back those views we all end up not knowing what to believe... suddenly you find yourself defending an argument you've never realized you believed in.
Anyway, a week ago codes (classes) started in full swing. August period is supposed to be about service (and it is with four hours of community service a day) but we also attend classes from 8am to 1pm. The schedule is really wierd for though... until the first years arrive on September 11th. Sometimes I have the same class three times in one day and some weeks I go without having a certian class for the whole week! I guess it keeps you on your toes...
A quick rundown of my courses:

English A1 Higher Level: Although I feel that coming to the UK to study english (ironically enough) stepped me down a level or two from what I'd be doing the US. One thing is that they just write differently over here. In the US there's a lot of emphasis on essay writing while here its all about what they call commentaries which are supposed to be easier but I can't seem to get the hang of. We've read a variety of pieces like "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, "Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood, "Miss Julie" by Stindberg, and "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf. We wrote one World Lit (mine was on the author's attitude toward women in Sophocles' "Antigone" and Strindberg's "Miss Julie) and have one more to write.

Spanish B Higher Level: This is my hardest class. We speak nonstop Spanish and although I think I've improved a lot since coming, I still struggle to understand anything at all! Hopefully I'll be going to Spain for a week in March which would help emmensly!

Theatre Arts Higher Level: Unlike most Drama classes, this class is not about production at all. It's all about learning acting techniques. The skills I learn in T'arts can be applied to any aspect of life because they're about learning who I am and how I can transmit the correct message when I'm in front of one person or a whole audience. It's A LOT of work though... I'm now in the middle of researching for a several thousand word essay on Lighting Design. Ah!

Maths Standard Level: I never thought math would be my easy subject. But because I took part of Calculus at Taos High, I've just spent the last year reviewing everything I already knew. Cake!

Environmental Systems Standard Level: Another easy one. It's all common sense but it is still a lot of work just cause we do a lot of practicals. One subject I get continual 7's in for every monthly grade! Yay!

Music Standard Level: Difficult but I love it. As my 7th subject, Music is all about having fun. The theory I'm learning should help improve my piano playing... or at least help me understand what I'm playing. Plus I've come to enjoy so many more types of music! I'm a bit frustrated with the Musical Investigation I'm writing right now though. I'm comparing a Christian Choir piece with a Native American powow song. Interesting right? It is but I'm not sure what to write about... it'll come... patience.

Political Thought Standard Level: I love this class. We spend every code talking about great political thinkers and comparing their views to all different realms of today's world. Right now we're reading Edmond Burke's famous conservative novel... it's all about tradition and slow-change, etc. I'll be writing a 1,500 word Internal assassment for that class soon... not sure what about yet though. I need an interesting current affair... any ideas?

Theory of Knowledge: As a required course a lot of people don't really take it too incredibly seriously but its really interesting if you try and stay awake. It's all about asking yourself "Why do I know what I know?" I guess its like philosophy in a lot of ways. I have a ToK presentation coming soon... I think I'm going to do it on the ethical questions involved in making contact with native tribes in the Amazon.

That's it for classes but I also have the Extended Essay to do. This 4,000 word monster is due in October and must be perfect although it counts for less points on the IB than my maths portfolio. I'm writing my essay on "The Roman-Catholic Influences on Native American Pueblo Religion." I've written my outline and it's already 3,500 words! I think I'm going to have to learn the fine art of editing...

Hmmmm... other than classes and service, I'm busy trying to organize this year's musical (which I think... I hope... will be Alice in Wonderland) and applying to universities. I started filling out the common app... dum dum dum....

My universities thus far are (not nesessarly in this order): Stanford, Middlebury, Lewis and Clark College, and UC Boulder. I have one more choice open (we're only allowed to apply to five) but I'm leaving it open because we have many guest speakers coming to talk about their schools in the next couple months and, who knows? maybe I'll fall in love with one!

Okay, I think I'll try to spend the rest of the night working on... something. ... I've become quite good at prioritising! Not due tomorrow... don't need to do it! Haha, no it's cause there's always something due tomorrow. (Guess I'll go read for politics on that note!)

Maybe pictures later? I hope!
Malia

Quick Update

I'm back! ... but I'm hungry and it's dinner time! So I'll try to give the full tale of my wonderful return soon! And pictures if I can. Busier, more tired, and happier than ever... more to come.
Love you all, Malia

The Next Phase about to Start...

To all my devoted readers, friends, and family who continue to check in hope I have posted something new...

I am now in the North East US looking at universities but will be heading back on a flight much shorter than that from New Mexico to Heathrow airport Terminal 3 to be picked up by the school coach. I can't wait to see everyone and I'm really looking forward to being a second year. We have all of August to just appreciate our year then in September our first years arrive, scared and wary of the new school they'll come to love. It'll be my job as peer listener to herd my little group of first years around to all of their induction activities and hopefully provide comfort. I'm looking forward to it. The other night I had a dream that all my firsties were only five years old when they arrived. It was more of a nightmare actually! I figured nothing can be worse than that... ;)
Hope to keep you all updated this year like I did last year. The workload will increase I know but this might provide a well earned reprieve from the monotony of school work. Please feel free to ask questions to help me write about what you want to hear and also leave me little comments! I love to hear from home!

Much Love,
Malia

PS. Again, If you want to learn more about what I did this summer please check www.travelblog.org/bloggers/taos/

Jordan Blog

Hey Everyone!
So I leave for Jordan in less than 24 hours. I have another blog going for this lovely trip... check out www.travelblog.org/bloggers/taos/ ...
Much Love,
Malia

Ten Days

I leave here in ten days! I can't believe the year has gone so quickly! I officially finished classes last Friday and now have six exams to study for. Tomorrow is music which should be pretty easy, then its Political Thought, Maths, English, Environmental Systems, and Spanish. So many people are stressed out but they've told us over and over that these exams don't even really count toward anything... they're just practice. I feel like every other line I speak these days is "you'll do fine" or "you're not going to fail." Oh well, I'm not stressed much at all myself, it's just a matter of not letting others get to me.

Last Thursday my theatre arts class put on a clowning show for the school. It went really well and was very funny.

Our class... note the red noses which are the world's smallest and most effective mask. I'm third from the left.One scene I did. I was drowning and the "lifeguards" had to save me. They ended up getting pulled in as well.

My solo scene consisted of me in a ridiculous big jacket pulling random items out of my pockets including my yo-yo.

It was all fun!

Can't wait to see you all soon!!!!!

Slowing down

With less than a month left everyone here is starting to wind down. Last night was creepily quiet even though it was a Friday and there normally would have been loud and energized activity everywhere. I think everyone is feeling a mixture of extreme tiredness (the type no length of sleep can really cure), solemn seriousness at the oncoming exams, and as much anxiety for the term to be over as sadness at the thought of leaving. People talk a lot lately about the cruel side of this place. They pull us together from every culture and background into one small campus, force us to become the best of friends, give us experiences that allow us to build unbreakable relationships... then tear us apart throwing us out all over the world. It's not at all the same as seniors leaving Taos High back home. There you know you'll always see these people during the summer or at somepoint in the next year or two. Here people you see every day for two years may never be seen again, ever. The world is too big just as here it is too small.

Pranks, zero years, and universities!

Wow so much has gone in the last couple days I don't know where to start.
Second years here went to their last class yesterday... from now on it's study and exams! wow. And what better way to celebrate than to haze and torture the first years who still have four weeks of classes to go? Thursday night and Friday morning were full of paranoia, terror, and suspision as the campus boiled in practical jokes. First my duvet was stolen by my American second year, that night I was taken into a room with all the other first year girls in my house and our lovely second years (knowing most of what was coming was going to nasty) shared bottles of champange and many hugs... several tears were shed at the thought of it almost being the end of term! They then followed by drawing all over our faces with permanent marker "I love Dorm 12" stretched across my forehead among other things. I finally got to sleep at about 2:30am only to be woken up half an hour later by 8 Americans storming into my room, blowing a loud horn into my ear, pulling me out of bed and carrying me down the hall and into the shower where I was dumped under the cold shower. I must have looked very attractive sitting there half asleep in my pyjamas with permanent marker running down my face!
After that I went back to sleep but only for two hours until I was again woken up. This time it was a soft touch on my arm and a "wake up, dress warmly, and come outside... i'll be waiting for you." I was resigned to the fact that they were going to get me again... nothing I could do about it right? Fight back and it only comes worse. So I went. I was blind folded and led around the campus ducking under what I know must have been imaginary branches until I had no idea where I was. Finally, I heard voices ahead of me and then a "quick, get the water ready" wincing I flinched back but the water didn't come. Instead they took my blindfold off and before me was a beautiful little hut I didn't know existed on campus and a lovely breakfast waiting. Apparently this secret society I had been initiated into was one in which, every year, the group of second years chosen the year before chooses the first years they deem "most influencial to the college and most globally concerned". There were about 8 of us... quite an honor! And that was my eventful night!
Other than that, I've been busy finding out about my zero years from the US and looking at Universities. The Uni front is just scary and a bit over whelming. I'm allowed to apply to five american Uni's here. UNM is on there as a safety, and my challenging option at the moment is Stanford. Other than that I'm mostly looking at West Coast colleges. Pamona maybe. My other three options are open still. Research is needed.
The Americans who will be attending here next year have been decided and I'm just starting to contact them. It's VERY exctiting! I'm pretty sure there's a guy from Austin and a guy from Colorado Springs... that's TWO region mates for me!! Yay! This year I was the only one from the Southwest! We'll see... they haven't been confirmed yet but they are accepted.
Only four weeks of classes and a week of exams left I think. Scary! I'm almost a Second Year!!

Good News

Last night I found out that I've been voted/interviewed in as our peer listener in our house for next year. Basically it means I'll be a confedetial advisor/comforter for any student who needs help with anything at all. I'm quite honored to have been chosen and its good cause it means I'll work with our first years a lot so I'll really get to know them! Got to run now... finding out monthly grades... ah!

Long Weekend... and now the final long haul!

Quick Note:
Long weekend comes to an end now this Monday night as I frantically try to finish my Environmental systems Practical that's due tomorrow along with my math worksheet and my English World Literature paper... two of which already count toward my final IB score! Ah! Way to leave it to the last minute, right? I try to justify this by telling myself that I work better under pressure which may be at least partially true!
I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at my link family's house. On friday we went into Cardiff and went shopping then we went home and washed and pampared the horses. On Saturday we slept in then set up several jumps in their field and jumped the horses for about an hour.... so much fun! I miss horses here! That night I made them all fajitas (the only thing I could find ingredients for that was remotely New mexican) and laughed at them watching me in awe as I smothered mine in red enchilada sauce and green chilli I had brought from home. "How hot is this for you on a scale from 1 - 10?" they asked me. "About a 5 or 6" I said. "What!? This is, like, a 12 for me!" they replied as they gulped down the water. I just laughed and enjoyed my wonderful food that actually had taste for once.
On Easter Sunday we slept in again (wonderful!), and then went on an easter egg hunt. I haven't done one of those in a long time! It was fun and I ended up eating far too much chocolate! We followed that by a big Easter lunch with the whole family (including their grandmother and the three dogs under the table) and then back to college I came. Tomorrow its back to classes. Whew. I hardly feel rested... will I ever though? I seem unable to stop!

Happy Easter Everyone!
Malia

10k Pictures

Pictures from last Sunday... running the 10K race. My time was 59 minutes. I'm pretty sure I was in the top twenty girls from the college. This picture is at about 2 K.

Reaching the finish line... 10K.