Great Expectations

This was an article that I did for the UWC Magazine
http://interuwcmag.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/great-expectations/

 I live in a bubble. Granted, it’s a brilliant bubble on an amazing island. I could not imagine a better upbringing than of living in the Cayman Islands – where the beach is never more than five minutes away and you cannot go to the supermarket without seeing a familiar face. The idea of ‘broadening my horizons’ has always appealed to me and after the UWC presentation at my school I was completely infatuated. Explaining to friends the ‘Why’ factor of wanting to leave this bubble was not an easy feat; I didn’t try to start with as I simply assumed my application was a long shot with nothing lost in trying. When my acceptance was confirmed I actually dropped my phone. My friends were so proud and bear hugged me. My teachers (mostly English) have warned me incessantly about the sheep…my tutor went as far as to ‘BAAA’ at me every time I passed him in the hall. My mum, well she’s still looking for a loop-hole so I won’t have to leave the nest two-years before expected.

I may have three months to go, but my journey has already begun – cyberly. Meeting my co-years on Facebook and talking to two wonderful girls from Cameroon and Monte Carlo already is fantastic. My bubble is about to pop into something far greater than my comfortable, familiar life on my small Island home. I’m ready for challenges and to learn more about the world, to push the boundaries and work together in making that ‘difference’ that everyone seems to talk about mysteriously. I wouldn’t say I’m ignorant or unaware, just never been given the opportunity to experience things myself as I’m positive I will at UWC of the Atlantic.

The idea of a bubble is an interesting one…we’re all going to be sharing dorms, classes, food… blowing our own bubbles, popping others and chasing the best until they’ve risen higher than possible to stop.

not long now!

Hello!
I figure it's about time I start updating this blog, hopefully once a week for the next two years while I'm at AC (in my head I'm already compromising for busy months, 'twice a month doesn't sound so bad really...') - well we shall see!

Last weekend we had a fabulous Blue jack night by the CIUWC to raise money for our scholarships - all three students are so fortunate to be on full scholarships with most of the funds being paid for by Deutsche Bank and Maples and Calder. I met the closest thing I'll have to a country-mate for the first time then, Hailee Robinson. Though she's at UWC USA there hasn't been a Caymanian attending Atlantic College in a few years so Hailee was able to give me some tips and get me pumped! If there are are least a dozen people in my year with such personality and friendliness like Hailee's then I am going to be having a great next two years, hands down.

I leave for England in three weeks and will be at school in four weeks.Spending a week with my grandparents and my dad in Cornwall to adjust to the time difference and pick up certain things that just really aren't available in a Florida mall (wellies, what are you on about? :|)  I still have a few things to do before I leave home such as make my poster, iron my name on countless items of clothing and a couple touristy Cayman things that I haven't done in several years but recently have had an urge to do (go to the turtle farm, watch the sunset on the beach...).

Saying bye to friends isn't easy, living on an island where it's been the same group of friends since I was twelve, some for years before that is a crazy thing to think of leaving, even if it's not permanent but I'm a  kid...'four months?! what! that's basically a dozen years we're talking here'. You get those moments where time is speeding up too fast - the hourglass is pouring quicksand instead of grains suddenly and there is the fleeting thought of 'was this the right decision?' going through your head... but then of course it is! The friends that matter will always be that for me, no matter if we grow older or move away.

 Of course there isn't much more to say than this, the real pounding-of-the-keys will happen when I'm in school.

Love, Abi