A frosty, fiery, sleepy-head.

Blinks but an hour or two; and then,

A Blood-red orange, sets again.

– From Winter Time by Robert Louis Stevenson

With most of the boys away to Disneyland Paris this weekend, the house was very quiet.

Our boys enjoyed some basketball on Saturday morning…

And a lovely trip to the Montreux Christmas market on Sunday!

Quique and Firdavs with the glorious mountains in the background, and view over the Montreux shoreline that Deep Purple sang about in “Smoke on the Water”

Mr. Victor and Ms. Tania enjoying the Montreux market!

Some of the many food and crafts stalls for people to enjoy

This evening we had our Awards night!

There were three awards to be handed out:

The Boarding Life Awards, given to our boys that represent what it means to be a boarder here in CDL, which includes being passionate, responsible, kind and athletic.

Very deservedly, Sam, Eduardo and Alex won the awards for Concha.

The Activities Awards, given to our boys that are the most active, during the week and especially during the weekends! When they show up, they show up enthusiastic and ready to give it their all. These awards were given to Joao, Tim and Fanbo!

The Academic Award, given to the highest GPA in their entire grade, and with a 4.19 Sam blew the competition out of the water!

We are all very proud of our boys and what a wonderful way to celebrate their achievements!

And for those that were super close to getting them, don’t worry!

There’s always next semester 😉

This evening we enjoyed some lovely food from Portugal!

Let’s state facts: the last two days have been quite hectic at the Concha Boarding House! 😵‍💫

The kids had lots of energy to face another school week packed with adventures and anecdotes and also to study. Some of them had summative tests coming up and, as it should, they were really committed because they wanted to get good grades.

However, not everything was studying. The kids got the opportunity to get involved in a conversation about an important topic that is crucial for their wellbeing: online safety. Mr Manu and Mr Tarun taught them the basics to ensure they use their social media appropriately, raising awareness of the risks and dangers they may encounter. They asked questions and got answers that will be very useful for upcoming cyber-experiences. In Concha, the kids’ safety is our top priority! 💪🏻

Gianni, Adrian, Firdavs and Zhengtai were really focused on their studying! 🧐

Sam and Rodri practising for their upcoming piano test 🎹

Mr Tarun and Mr Manu explaining essential concepts to the kids! 🤔

Today, our boarders embarked on a delightful adventure to the Cailler Chocolate Factory in Broc, Switzerland. This immersive journey offered the perfect blend of education and indulgence, providing a deeper understanding of Swiss chocolate’s rich heritage.

From the moment they arrived, students were captivated by the irresistible aroma of cocoa. Guided through interactive exhibits, they explored the fascinating history of Cailler, Switzerland’s oldest chocolate brand, and traced the story of chocolate from cacao bean to the exquisite treats we savor.

The experience reached its peak as students watched master chocolatiers craft chocolate creations with precision and artistry. The cherry on top? Tasting an array of Cailler’s premium chocolates—an unforgettable moment of sweetness.

This trip not only satisfied their taste buds but also inspired a newfound appreciation for Swiss craftsmanship. A truly delicious day for both the mind and the palate!

Climbing Club is always a hit with our young boarders. This weekend many of our Concha boys joined the club. After the warm up, we worked on basic techniques like keeping arms straight, body positioning and footwork.

This sport really drives the boys determiation, problem solving skills, strength and resilience. Every time they complete a boulder problem it’s giving them necessary life skills that young ones need. Today it was finding the way to push through and do a difficult climb that took many attempts, however, in day to day life they may need to study harder for a subject they are struggling with or prepare for a challenging test. If they can apply the motivation and mental strength they used in the climbing gym to these everyday experiences, they are destined for success!

Firdavs made it to the TOP!

João, focused and in the zone.

Sharing techniques about how to solve the boulder problem.

Fanbo’s turn to show us how it’s done.

Let’s see what we can learn from João’s skills.

Tim’s going to give it his best try now!

Smooth moves from Rodrigo, almost dancing on the wall!

Double success and double victory hang from Firdavs and Rodrigo – Well Done!

A great day of climbing for Rodrigo, he really pushed himself to the next level!

The kitchen in Concha is getting lots of use lately and while at the beginning of the year our boys were not very experienced chefs, they are now making delicious meals for themselves and their friends. Fanyang made perfect egg noodles with pork, vegetables and a spicy sauce.

We have quite a few good cooks in the house and it might be time to put together our own Master Chef cooking competion, I’m sure the judges would be impressed.

Chef Fanyang and two lucky customers

Wednesday evenings at Concha offer a valuable opportunity for our house to gather and share thoughts on topics that matter most to us. This week’s agenda was filled with pressing issues, requiring the full focus and collaboration of everyone in attendance.

Beyond the discussions, Wednesdays also hold a special place in the CDL boarding community as the night of international dinners. This week, we delighted our taste buds with the rich and flavourful cuisine of the Philippines, adding a delicious highlight to our evening.

Today is special in our house as our very own Eduardo celebrates his 15th birthday. Happy Birthday Eduardo ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Que tengas un día lleno de alegría, amor, y muchas bendiciones.

Thanks for bringing us all together on your birthday, Eduardo!

As every weekend, our Concha boys had early wake-ups to go to the activities they had signed up for. Some of them chose cooking, others went for sports and others even decided to stay in to complete unfinished homework. They love Saturdays as it is normally something different each weekend, either activities in CDL or some nice new place to discover outside.

After an energetic lunch at the Léman Cafeteria, most of the boys went to downtown Geneva, to do some shopping, walk around and have a delicious snack with their friends out of campus. Most of the time, they come back with unforgettable memories and anecdotes to tell us, which we are eager to hear 😊

Edu and João with Scarlett from Portena cooking together! 🧑‍🍳

Daniel and our favourite brothers, Fanbo and Fanyang, also joined today’s cooking lesson!

Hit it hard, Jiarui! 🎾

We can tell Firdavs was really focused 🎾

We know you are going to reach the peak, Samwise! 🧗‍♂️

Say “hi” to the camera, Matthew! 👋🏻

Gotcha, Emir! 😆

Look at this crew having fun in Geneva! 🇨🇭

Sam having a fancy tea in Geneva (We can also see Rodri 👀)

Our favourite francophone duo playing some video games together 🎮