Finding Home at UWC Costa Rica

FINDING HOME

at!

UWC COSTA RICA

Dear Community, Residential Life at UWCCR is a place where we support each other, understand each other, and share our lives with almost 65 different cultures. We create a supportive environment, and doing so allows us to build a home.

This supportive environment is created by programs and initiatives developed by students and staff. The community unites with a clear mission: to very intentionally build a home away from home. Throughout their time at UWCCR, Residential Life marks students’ hearts with great experiences, deep friendships, important lessons, and unconditional support that unites us as humans, beyond our nationality or skin color.

In every challenge and activity, we breathe the mission of our schools: “Making education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”

This is exactly what happens. We have our trials—sometimes we realize we are not being as sustainable as we should, or sometimes we realize the challenge of not falling into stereotypes and prejudice. It is in these challenging moments of learning that our mission is fulfilled. It’s not easy, and that’s why building a home as a support network is so important at UWCCR. Here, we leave our comfort zones. There are new smells, new food, new ideas, new values, new languages, new perspectives—and yet, like magic, we come together. We value each other. We become one big family, one big home.

Today, with all of the unfortunate events throughout the world, we are very privileged to live in a home where the differences are what unite us and make us better.

Here we can breathe hope. Our graduates and students become our inspiration and give us the certainty that it is possible to make a change, that is possible to find a home-- not in spite of our differences but because of them.

Saludos, Leila Mata Residential Life Director

TABLE OF CONTENTS Residential Life …………………………………………………....

Res Life—According to RAs ………………………………….

“When did you first feel at home at UWCCR?”……..

Host Family Program ……………………………………………

Support by the Numbers ………………………………………

3 5 14 16 21

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RESIDENCIAL LIFE LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER “I learn something new everyday: a word, a custom, a tradition, a different way to express what we feel and think, or a different way of viewing the world.

The ties that I form daily make it possible for me to keep my spirit young and to be prepared for getting to know and working with different people.”

-Marianela Ramírez, Psychologist, Residence Coordinator, and Host Family Program Coordinator

Community living is central to the UWC movement—learning to live with peers from around the world with different backgrounds and points of view is a unique way to gain insight into different cultures and perspectives. The Residential Life program at UWCCR uses an experiential learning approach to seek to empower students as agents of change. Students learn and live together, creating a community built on diversity.

UWCCR has eight residences named after different destinations in Costa Rica (Cabo Blanco, Cahuita, El Coco, Flamingo, Hermosa, Montezuma, Mal País, and Tortuguero). Each residence is single-sex, and has eight dorm rooms housing up to three students. There is a maximum of 24 students per residence. The students are assigned to their houses to best represent the diversity on campus in an intentional effort to create a learning process based on experience and reflection.

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RESIDENCIAL LIFE LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER “I noticed myself accidentally calling the campus ‘home’ after the first month. This was after I had hung up fairy lights in my room, eaten gallo pinto for the seventh time, no longer have to ask for directions to the classrooms, and recognized the yellow birds flying around everywhere as ‘Yellow Kiskadees.’”

—Nina Negi (Germany/Class of 2017)

To help foster personal and community growth as well as intercultural understanding, the College provides many support systems to encourage communication, interaction, and well-being within the residential community (to see a list of supportive roles, see “Support by the Numbers” on page 21). “The priority is emotional support,” said Leila Mata, Residential Director, because students do not have their families here to give them support that they would otherwise be receiving from them.

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM

The Mental Health Program’s work is based on education and prevention. It focuses its attention on the physical, emotional, and psychological health of students.

Throughout the year, the Mental Health Program supports and educates students in a number of ways. At the beginning of the year, each first year student meets with a psychologist to make them feel at home and aware of the different support units on campus. They also sponsor dessert nights throughout the year to discuss areas such as time management, alcohol, self-care, corporal image, and sexual health.

The Mental Health Program organizes several events to help students with the major transitions during their time at UWCCR. In August, Orientation activities are designed to give students an introduction to UWCCR and help them feel at home on campus and with their community. In October, they hold the First Year Camp, a very intentional camp to help first year students transition from the ‘honeymoon’ stage to settling into life on campus. At the end of the year, they hold several “Farewell activities” that are designed to help second year students say goodbye to their home at UWCCR, begin the transition of first years into second years, and reflect upon the year past and the future ahead.

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RESIDENCIAL LIFE (according to RAs!)!

The Residence Assistant (RA) program at UWCCR began four years ago, after students from UWC-USA visited campus during their service week. The RA program had been implemented in other UWCs with success and positive feedback, and after ideas were shared with the UWC-USA visitors, the RA program was implemented.

Today, the RAs are the “heartbeat of campus”—leaders within their living group that support students in any way they can. The RAs form a bridge between students and their Residence Coordinators (RCs), while often working in collaboration with both. They are able to form a unique support role due to their position as both a peer and a leader to students.

Each residence has two RAs, who were elected at the end of their first year to serve their second year as RAs. RAs are trained in First Aid, emergency procedures, peer listening, and emotional support to promote the physical and emotional well-being of students.

Over the next few pages, see what the RAs have to say about what makes their residences home!

The RA family (missing Diego González)

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

EL COCO

by Ariane Lonmon (Germany) & Selin Yılmaz (Turkey) El Coco, the purple residence, has 24 members. 23 live in the residence, and our lovely RC Natalie lives in front of us. She has been like a mother and an older sister to us and created such a positive atmosphere where we all feel like we’re at home. Being a little far makes our residence such a calm place where anyone can come hang out! Our most distinctive characteristic is that we are a very chill residence. We avoid a lot of drama by focusing on much better things like cooking, bonding, and having lots of fun! El Coco girls have the luck of being really supportive towards each other, which creates a sense of family. Despite being different, we all get along really well.

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

CABO BLANCO

by Diego González (Mexico) Last summer, it was announced that Cabo Blanco was going to start being a male residence, and they were asking for three second years that wanted to move to Cabo Blanco. I didn’t think twice, and I emailed them back explaining the reasons why I wanted to move to Cabo Blanco. The first reason was that I knew there were going to be a lot of firsties, so I would be able to help them adapt in the sometimes hard transition. The second one was the opportunity to create our own identity from zero, which was very exciting. The third and probably the most important one was the amount of people who were going to live there. I thought that could be an awesome opportunity to form a close-knit family.

Although my expectations were high, what I can say about living in Cabo Blanco is even better. Nancy, our RC, is great, and it is interesting to be the only residence in which the RC is not the same gender as the people in the residence. Our diversity is not only in our nationalities, but also in terms of our experiences. One of our most recent members, André, comes from another UWC and it’s interesting to be with someone who has a completely different prior experience than us. Sena and Arshnoor came very late due to visa issues, and we, as a residence, try to make them feel welcomed through celebrating their arrival and many other activities. Cabo Blanco has a fascinating diversity and a very welcoming spirit which happily receives everyone.

Definitely what I find the most amazing about Cabo Blanco is the “closeknit family” sense that I mentioned before—we are only ten people– nine students, and Nancy, who is deeply involved in our residence and who we always count as a member of our residence. Whenever we have a residence meeting, I get excited because it’s a time when we all get together and talk.

Amazingly, everyone gets to talk in every residence meeting, which is different from other residences. In Cabo Blanco, everyone is listened to and respected. Every single opinion is valuable and significant. This is an ideal environment in which everyone feels free to share their ideas without fear of being judged.

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

HERMOSA

by Ailen Gomez (Paraguay) & Elizabeth Wakefield (Costa Rica) Hermosa, true to its name, is a beautiful residence. Its red and yellow colors reflect the incredible warmth of the people in it. There are always people relaxing on the couches or studying at the dining room table. The room combinations have been excellent, and all the Hermosas share a unique bond that extends outside the residence.

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

CAHUITA

by Laura Botero (Colombia) & Helena Carter-Huffman (Canada) We love Cahuita! It becomes home, and that’s part of why we wanted to be RAs—we wanted to make our amazing little community even better! If you’re having a bad day, just need someone to talk to, or want to watch a movie, there is always someone around. This group of girls is incredibly diverse, inspiring, and supportive. Everyone is a role model for each other and it shows in everything that goes on at the residence. Our residence meetings are home to some of the funniest moments we have ever experienced on campus, but that’s top secret Cahuita stuff. All in all, the sense of acceptance within our community is very strong. It starts from the moment you see the sign welcoming all nationalities and cultures outside, and goes into every single room. Go Cahuita! Go go Cahuita!

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

TORTUGUERO

by Noam Agmon (Israel) & Diego Moreno (Guatemala) Tortuguero is the best residence because there is a sense of brotherhood. In Tortuguero, we take care of each other in any sense and that is why we are so happy to be part of this residence. We share, whether that is a cup of tea or the most personal stories. This school could be overwhelming at times, and the residence is a space where we can all come together to talk, share, or just chill. We think that Tortuguero is the best residence because we genuinely enjoy each others’ company and will always have each others’ backs.

Tortuguero is more than our house, it is our HOME.

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

MAL PAÍS

by Braulio Covarrubias (Mexico) & Miguel Haro (Spain) Even though we are all different people with extremely different perspectives, we are aware of it and we have learned to get along with each other, creating strong bonds inside the residence. We are known as the residence that organizes events for the community; for example, the annual acoustic concert, and the annual traffic light party. They are great opportunities to come together as a group and create new bonds and enjoy friendships.

In the residence outings, we all manage to have fun and enjoy ourselves with everyone. Also, we take advantage of the outings to hang out with people from the residence that we appreciate but don’t spend much time with on a daily basis.

Whenever we miss home, we always come to Mal País, where we can always find someone to talk to that will listen to us and make us feel better. Because in the end, we are family here, we are SOCIOS.

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

FLAMINGO

by Aune Nuyttens (Finland) & Paloma Tejero (Spain)

We arrived to UWCCR on a warm night in August. After a bus ride from the airport to our evergreen campus and a hundred hugs from second years (who were at that point complete strangers), we got to what would become our new home: Flamingo. Those little rooms, that common room always full of people, that kitchen with its extremely colorful stripes… They’ve witnessed some of our best memories here.

Late night conversations, improvised dance parties, cooking experiments, and so many other things to recall have occurred thanks to being in this amazing residence. Flamingo holds some of the tightest friendships on campus. It might not be as cozy as Hermosa or as clean as Cabo Blanco, but it’s definitely special and unique—as special and unique as our fellow Flaminguettas. They are the number one reason why we love Flamingo. We try to do our best to help them with anything they need and to keep up the Flamingo spirit!

After a year, we can say Flamingo is home for us. A home full of joy and wonderful people.

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RES LIFE

(according to RAs!)!

MONTEZUMA

by Pablo Sandomingo (Spain) & Frederico Wettstein (Argentina)

What makes Montezuma different is that it is a home rather than a house. A house is a building, and anyone can live in a house.

However, what makes Montezuma home are the people that live here.

Here, you can feel the warmth of the people within our differences, and always on a framework of respect and tolerance. All the members of the residence contribute in one way or another to make this residence their home. From playing music and burning incense sticks to cooking regional food or decorating the residence in many particular ways. In this framework of tolerance and respect, we all understand that our freedom ends when the others’ starts. With this simple principle we made a home out of a residence and a family out of roommates and residence mates. Finally, one of the most remarkable things about Montezuma is that the people living in the residence create the environment and not the other way around. Unlike other male residences, we are not a “brotherhood” or “socios”—the residence doesn’t impose a philosophy, we create it every year with the people that come to the residence.

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“In the beginning of October, it started to really feel like home.

Before First Year Camp I felt comfortable, but after I felt the most at home.”

—Sara (Bermuda/2017)

“En el campamento de primeros años.

Cuando compartimos nuestras experiencia y apoyo. “ —María (El Salvador/2016)

“It’s not something that I feel I could recognize at the time, it’s not something that I stopped to acknowledge. But as the strange variety of teens slowly started to feel less like a school and more like a community, a family, I started referring to this place as ‘Home.’ You don’t really notice it feeling like home until you leave—be for a 20 minute trip to Palí, with a permission, or with a suitcase. I figured out when someone asked me, “Where are you going?” and the answer I gave without thinking was, ‘Home.’”

—Ruben (United Kingdom/2016)

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“Desde la primeras semanas me sentí como en casa. El recibimiento fue genial por todas las personas en el campus. Recuerdo cuando estaba entrando al campus y algunos chicos estaban en la cancha de fútbol y cuando me vieron todos corrieron a saludarme y ayudarme con las maletas. Sin duda fue un gran acto de recibimiento.”

—Marcos (Costa Rica/2017)

“I think the first time you feel at home is when you leave, whether for First Year Camp, a weekend away, or December break, and all you want to do is come back. For me, it was probably only really true after December.”

—Pablo (Spain/2016)

“When I came back from our introduction camp Roblealto. I felt really homesick there, but when I came back to Hermosa, it disappeared. “ —Yoni (Netherlands/2017)

“I first felt at home at UWCCR when I joined the IB1 Sistemas turtle field trip to the Pacific Coast last year. It was wonderful to be able to get to know students outside of my office as well as get a chance to explore the beauty of Costa Rica.”

—Pandie (Academic Director)

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HOST FAMILY PROGRAM SHARING HOME

The Host Family Program allows students from around the world to connect with and become members of Costa Rican families and foreign families living in Costa Rica. The program seeks to foster an enriching cultural exchange between students and host families.

Together, they share and achieve a better understanding of each others’ traditions and values, while simultaneously establishing a support system for the student during their time at UWC Costa Rica.

“In the short period of time that we have gotten to share with Daiana, we already feel like she is part of the FuentesRamírez family… We just love being able to provide a home far away from her home country.”

--Priscilla Ramírez Host Family of Daiana Dragomir (Romania/Class of 2017)

ARIANNA GAETANI (Wales/Class of 2017) Host Family: Lucy Toner & Wilson Arced

“My first meeting with my host family couldn’t have gone better. They picked me up Saturday morning in their family car. I had forgotten how nice even a car journey can be, and the atmosphere was so happy as with listened to Latino music. On the way, we passed an animal rescue center, and decided to go and visit. It was very interesting and gave me an insight to the local Costa Rican wildlife and the threats it faces. After this, we went to a nice restaurant to eat. We then went to their home in Palmares, where I got a tour of their lovely house and the town plaza. After a long, wonderful day, it was time to return home. I can’t wait to see them all again soon.”

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HOST FAMILY PROGRAM The program aims to assign every student interested in participating to a host family. Currently, there are 50 host families, and as program interest grows that number is expected to increase.

Host families are chosen based on their interest to form a part of students’ support networks. Over time, family members play important roles in the emotional support of the student by welcoming students into their homes and giving students meaningful relationships off campus.

CHRISTIAN GUEVARA & YORLENI PRADO

Host Students: Jasmyn Renfoe (Bermuda/Class of 2016) Azucena López (Costa Rica/Class of 2015) “Jasmyn es muy abierta y está siempre sonriente. Creemos que será muy linda la experiencia en cuanto al idioma y a compartir culturas. Creemos que ella podrá mejorar mucho su español y nos permitirá aprender inglés. Nuestro interés es entablar una bonita amistad y además de apoyarla hasta donde ella lo permita durante su estadía. Además conocimos un gran amigo de ella. Su nombre es Ruthvin. Hace unos días fuimos a patinar todos juntos. Fue muy vacilón ya que compartimos, reímos y hasta nos caímos en los patines.

Creemos que en la vida hay épocas como en el patinaje, donde se comparte, se ríe y lo más bonito es cuidar al que cae y levantarlo.

Para mi cumpleaños recibimos una muestra de amor a nuestra familia, ya que Jasmyn mi hizo una carta de feliz cumpleaños. La verdad no me lo esperaba, pero me gusto ver que UWC tiene estudiantes de una gran calidad humana y con un gran corazón. En realidad aunque seamos un matrimonio con casi tres años de tomar la mejor decisión de la vida, aún seguimos aprendiendo de grandes jóvenes con propósito.”

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HOST FAMILY PROGRAM PRISCILLA RAMÍREZ

Host Student: Daiana Dragomir “When my friend, Meg Bowman-Hicks, first invited me to participate in the UWC Host Family Program, I was not sure at the time.

After attending the meeting, I thought that it could be a great experience for my family. My doubts did not arise from not wanting to accommodate a foreign student in my family—in truth, I never thought a teenager would want to put up with my two hyper bundles of joy, Mateo (age 9) and Luciana (age 4). Although they are wonderful kids, they can take a toll on anyone’s physical and mental energy.

I think God heard my worries and sent us a beautiful angel. In the short period of time that we have gotten to share with Daiana, we already feel like she is part of the Fuentes-Ramírez family. We are impressed by how responsible and mature she is for her age. We just love being able to provide a home far away from her home country. We hope that Daiana enjoys the time she spends with us as much as we do.”

“Students are able to relieve stress by spending time off campus with adults who care about them,” says Marianela Ramírez, Host Family Program Coordinator, Psychologist, and Residence Coordinator, “They get emotional support from their families and feel a part of them.”

This relationship is also supportive for the host families—once families become part of the program, they become valued members of the UWCCR community and are welcome to participate in College events.

Each student is matched with a host family based on shared interests.

The College coordinates the first meeting, after which students and families are free to coordinate their own activities.

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HOST FAMILY PROGRAM ANDREA ROJAS (Guatemala/Class of 2016) Host Family: Patty Pérez & Ramón Gonzáles

“Ahora que me encuentro en mi segundo año dentro UWC Costa Rica, tengo la fortuna de compartir mi experiencia con una familia anfitriona.

Durante unos días la familia Gonzáles Pérez me recibió con mucha alegría en su domicilio, desde el instante en que llegué, me sentí en casa, no sólo por la cálida bienvenida y la exquisita comida hogareña preparada con mucho aprecio, sino por la disposición y aprecio de todos los miembros de la familia hacia mí. Dicha convivencia formó parte de mi crecimiento como persona, tanto por compartir con otras personas como tener un respiro de las arduas y densas ocupaciones que exigen mis estudios y sentir el apoyo de una familia que me apoye y ayude cuando lo necesito. Espero compartir más experiencias con junto a ellos, quienes me han demostrado soporte incondicional y le han dado a mi estadía en este país, una pincelada única y amena.”

PATTY PÉREZ & RAMÓN GONZÁLES

Host Student: Andrea Rojas

“Este año hemos tenido el privilegio de participar en el programa de Familias Anfitrionas de UWC. Nos convertimos en la familia anfitriona de Andrea. Mi esposo y yo junto con nuestros cuatro hijos hemos compartido ratos muy lindos con Andrea donde nos ha enseñado sobre su cultura y también sobre su experiencia UWC. Ha sido muy enriquecedor para la familia entera y estamos agradecidos de tener esta oportunidad.

Por otro lado, pensamos que para Andrea ha sido valioso tener una familia anfitriona ya que pasa mucho tiempo lejos de su propia familia. Ella ha podido salir del campus, cambiar de ambiente, y ha sentido el calor de hogar que se extraña al estar lejos.”

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HOST FAMILY PROGRAM Students are able to participate in both daily and special family events, such as going on day-trips, cooking traditional meals from each others’ countries, or simply talking on the phone once a week. Students have the option to obtain permission from the College to visit with their families overnight, allowing them to spend time at the home or go on weekend trips to see the country.

Ramírez hopes that in the future each student at UWCCR will be able to have a host family. “We are working to create more opportunities for students to connect with families,” she says, “It not only helps our students but also helps our community grow.”

Interested in becoming a host family?

Please contact Marianela at marianela.ramirez@uwccostarica.org or at 2282- 5609 (Ext. 120 or 148)

Thank you for your support!

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© Blake Ashby

SUPPORT

BY THE NUMBERS 1 RESIDENTIAL DIRECTOR: The Residential Director, Leila Mata, supports and

guides all aspects of the Residential Life program. She seeks to provide a home-like environment for students in which they will feel a sense of belonging and where they will feel appreciated, respected, and valued as individuals.

8 RESIDENCE COORDINATORS: Staff members who support the students

throughout the school year in community life and with their emotional needs. Each Residence Coordinator is in charge of one residence and holds a weekly meeting with its members.

15 RESIDENCE ASSISTANTS: Students that act as leaders within their living group. RAs are trained in First Aid, emergency procedures, peer listening, and emotional support to promote the physical and emotional well-being of students.

18 TUTORS: Staff members who are responsible for providing support and

guidance to a group of students. Tutors advocate for students within the College, help them through disciplinary processes, help them set goals, and hold them accountable to those goals.

3 PSYCHOLOGISTS: Professionals who assess and support the emotional needs of students. They counsel the students when necessary or refer them to external professionals depending on needs. The Psychologists work on the prevention of issues they have determined as priorities for the community.

1 NURSE: The nurse provides necessary and proper support in physical health. Her

job is focused on prevention and intervention. She decides when it is necessary to consult the doctor.

2 DOCTORS: The doctors provide medical assistance to staff and students when

necessary. They are on campus for two hours four days a week, and are on call 24/7. Dr. Sara is a general practitioner, and Dr. Pablo is an oncologist.

1 EMERGENCY & NIGHT COORDINATOR: Staff member who serves as an immediate first line of response to emergencies occurring on campus while most of 21 the staff is off-duty. Additionally supports students in several aspects of student life.