Maria Sandum och Anders Pihl

Maria Sandum and Anders Pihl's daughter Eira attended Li Po Chun United World College in Hong Kong between 2014-16. 

Safety

We have never been worried about safety at the school. The concern would be more about the environment around the school if you don't know the area. But we did a lot of reading beforehand and we have visited Hong Kong before with our daughter, so we didn't feel worried. Of course, it can be a big adjustment, especially if you don't come from a big city and have never been to a big city in Asia before. But the school is well-organized and during the school year we have also been in contact with Eira's tutors - it feels like they are on top of things.

The education

We have not had contact with IB (International Baccalaureate) before. At LPC, the academic level is significantly higher than at a Swedish high school. LPC is at the top of all IB schools in terms of performance, so the pace is fast and the demands on the students are high. Sometimes it has been tough and Eira has called home and talked to us, but she has grown from the experience and become incredibly good. Some of the teachers can be quite harsh, which as a Swede can be unusual, but students from Hong Kong and China probably don't think about it as much.

At the same time, it is great to learn more about the Chinese way of reasoning, it is difficult to learn it in any other way. But it is good if you are prepared for the fact that the requirements are much higher than at a Swedish high school. At the same time, Eira has acquired the academic way of formulating and constructing a text at a much more advanced level than we have seen before in upper secondary school, so it will probably be easier for her to study further than for a normal upper secondary school student in Sweden.

The social aspect

The students get close to each other. They are all in the same situation - sometimes they are homesick or very busy at school. At the same time, they do many fun and interesting things outside of school. They become like a family. We also notice this when Eira comes home and is in close contact with her UWC friends. They snapchat and send messages regularly.

The school is also very generous with project trips abroad. Eira has traveled to China and Cambodia, and next she is going to Thailand. We notice that she has a different world view and a global circle of friends that has led her to see things in a way she probably wouldn't have discovered at home.

Free time

Leisure activities are enriching. For example, she is part of a group working against trafficking in Cambodia. The group visits various rehabilitation centers for children and girls who have been sex slaves in brothels. Before going there, the students prepare themselves carefully. Eira was very impressed by the visits. They have given her a perspective on how different realities people can live in.

There are also many activities at the school. For example, Eira plays tennis. And together at the school, the students organize Cultural Evenings with themes from the different continents that take up a lot of preparation time and lead to a lot of enjoyment.

To conclude

Vi tycker det är häftigt att hon har fått möjligheten att gå på UWC. Även om det är tufft och krävande så ser vi hur mycket det berikar henne och hur mycket hon utvecklats. UWC har öppnat hennes ögon och hon har fått ett bredare perspektiv än vad hon hade fått på ett gymnasium i Sverige. Även om hon hade gått på ett internationellt gymnasium i Stockholm hade hon troligen aldrig kunnat få det här perspektivet. På UWC kommer världen närmare och Eira har fått en global kontaktyta som säkerligen också kan hjälpa till att radera ut några rädslor och fördomar. Fortsatta studier utomlands tycks också blivit ett uppenbart alternativ för henne tack vare UWC.

Men UWC har även berikat oss som föräldrar. När vi Skypear och Eira berättar om sin vardag får vi uppleva saker genom henne. Så vi lever med, lite vid sidan om.

We think it's great that she has been given the opportunity to attend UWC. Even though it is tough and demanding, we see how much it enriches her and how much she has developed. UWC has opened her eyes and she has gained a broader perspective than she would have had at a high school in Sweden. Even if she had gone to an international high school in Stockholm, she would probably never have been able to get this perspective. At UWC, the world comes closer and Eira has gained a global connection that can certainly help erase some fears and prejudices. University studies abroad also seem to have become an obvious option for her thanks to UWC.

But UWC has also enriched us as parents. When we Skype and Eira talks about her everyday life, we get to experience things through her. So we live with her, a little bit on the side.