1st month in Dilijan!

I just randomly checked our common blog of the page, and saw that Victoria and I hadn't written any blog updates yet. That is now due to change!

I have been here now a month and a day. A very turbulent month with many exciting events. Let me start with most importantly, the official opening of UWC Dilijan is in less than three weeks time! According to our principal, Johnny, there will be none less than a thousand visitors to the school on that day, including all the founders of the school as well as both the Serbian and the Armenian President. We've been told the school will be completely finished by that time, but I think we wanna see that before we'll believe it. There has though been a lot of expansions to the school in this month:

When we all first arrived on the 18th of August, there was only a small dorm building ready for us with small rooms. We had all meals in plastic boxes, because the kitchens were still under construction. We couldn't walk around college, because it was still one big construction site. We could only do laundry by hand, because the washing machines were still on there way.

I have also married an Australian girl.

Then as the first thing, the Academic Building opened its door for the first time. The kitchen of the cafeteria was ready, and instead of small plastic boxes we now have a full-fetch buffet with very delicious Armenian as well as international food. As the next thing, the third floor of our dorms open, meaning suddenly we had double the space.

Then two major changes took place. Hard to decide which one was most important...Firstly we were allowed to leave our little microcosmos to go out exploring in the neighbouring village of Dilijan as well as two Unesco World Heritage 9th century monasteries, secondly we received 5 washing machines. I'll attach a picture of my Hungarian friend doing laundry with a machine for the first time at this place - He looks quite happy ;)

About now two weeks ago our fitness centre was ready for use, and our indoor swimming pool should also be quite on the way. So now we actually only lack moving into our future rooms of four people instead of six, before this college is fully as the architect once thought of it.

We started our first school semester two weeks ago, and are now getting into the daily routine of school. Since we are the very first year of UWC Dilijan, we have started all the CAS-activities ourselves. We have now structured a CAS-schedule, and CAS starts this monday. I have a very nuanced schedule of dance, MUN, TED, french, outdoor activities, fitness, theatre in a week. At least that what my plan is to attend in a week, but I may want to cut that down, when I get more pressured on time.

That was a general introduction to the last month here in Armenia. More specific stories will come soon!

Until next time, до свидания

Carl