Hello! Writing another post (I have a list of 8 I need to write…) is always on the back of my mind, but I always manage to find something else I need to do first. In light of moving to online classes until Apr. 20, I’ve got a bit more time on my hands and a desire to share everything that has happened over the past few weeks.
(I actually set this aside for a few more days after writing those two sentences and this encouraged me to get this done)
Evidently, the world is in the grip of Covid-19, and countries around the world are closing schools, asking people to work from home, and going into some form of lockdown. Recently, Europe has been called the epicentre of the pandemic, and Germany and Italy have been especially hard-hit so it has been a stressful and uncertain time for many.
I believe almost all of the 18 UWCs around the world have stopped classes and many have closed their boarding section, asking first years or all of their students to leave. In many cases, it was not the decision of the school as authorities asked them to close. Robert Bosch College stopped classes last Tues., Mar. 17, and thus far our boarding section is still open. Students are allowed to return home with no consequences on their standing in the school, and approximately 30 have done so.
I need to deeply thank our administration – especially our Rektor, Laurence – for their transparency and tireless efforts to update us on the decisions of authorities and new responses and changes in the school. All of the staff on campus have stepped up to take on new roles and more responsibility while simultaneously comforting us as our friends leave months earlier than expected, travel becomes more and more difficult, and our movement becomes more restricted. Two Fridays ago, on Mar. 13, we were informed that we would only be allowed to walk or run along a section of the Dreisam, the river beside our school, or in the Black Forest behind our school, provided that we acted rationally and kept a safe distance away from others. On Friday, Mar. 20, when Freiburg went into “lockdown”, our administration also thought it was prudent to ask us to remain on campus for the next two weeks.
I have to admit I am a bit sad about the prospect of not being able to walk or run in nature, but I understand why the decision to keep us on campus was taken, and there have been many laudable efforts to bring us what we need, including off-campus staff buying supplies to sell in a “Campus Kiosk” run by students.
One positive thing to come out of this experience is being able to connect with each other more and enjoy the outdoors together. The past week, we had incredible warm and sunny weather and students organized activities such as an orchestra concert and candlelight ceremony for the students leaving as well as spontaneous volleyball, badminton, basketball and cricket games. Since we didn’t have school from Tuesday until Friday and CAS activities were not running, we had more freedom to chat with each other. One afternoon, I passed by a first year that I haven’t talked to much, and she asked me to run with her. I was a bit unsure but thought why not join her, and we had a wonderful conversation, enjoyed the sun and scenery and got some really good exercise!
first lizard of the year 
Stay healthy and happy wherever you may be 🙂
Until next time!
all that jazz 