Thursdays in our house are always busy, but this one felt especially rich.

In the afternoon, Vale headed over to Terray to lend a hand to the younger girls with their homework. It was wonderful to see her step into that supportive role, offering encouragement and guidance where it was needed most.

Meanwhile, Ayla, Aurora, and I rolled up our sleeves in the kitchen. Together, we baked a batch of decadent gluten-free brownies to share during our house meeting later that evening. The sweet smell drifting through the halls set the perfect tone of warmth and anticipation.

Emma and LJ, on the other hand, were preparing something even more impactful. They crafted a thoughtful and well-researched presentation on the dangers of drugs and smoking. When it came time to share, their work shone. The presentation wasn’t just informative, it was personal, powerful, and opened the door to genuine discussion.

What struck me most was how open the girls were during the meeting. They spoke honestly about their struggles and experiences, showing courage and trust in one another. The conversations that followed were real, meaningful, and left everyone feeling a little more connected and supported.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

First things first, a big Happy Birthday to Paria! 🥳 Her birthday was yesterday, but we celebrated together tonight with a delicious cake. It was a lovely way to wrap up the weekend.

The girls kept busy with lots of activities. Valentina put her chef’s hat on and joined the cooking activity, while Emma and Maria tried out bodyshaping. Gergana took on the climbing wall with great energy.

On top of that, Emma, Maria, and Valentina gave some of their time to community service this weekend. They baked treats and spent some time with the younger girls’ boarding house, and also helped clean up our community by picking up trash. We love seeing that kind of spirit!

To end the weekend, we had our very first house competition! There was cornhole, tug of war, the three-legged race and lots of laughs. Everyone put in so much effort and in the end we finished in second place, which is a great start to the year.

All in all, a weekend full of celebrations, teamwork, and community spirit.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

This week in the house we struck a great balance between enjoying the moment and preparing for the future. Emma, Valentina, and I rolled up our sleeves in the kitchen and made a Dubai chocolate cheesecake completely from scratch. It was rich, indulgent, and the perfect reward for a busy week.

Our house meeting was equally rich in substance. Valentina and Paria prepared and delivered an engaging presentation on budgeting. They explained why it’s important to track spending, how to set priorities, and even shared some of their own strategies. The discussion was lively, with lots of questions and real-life examples, and it really highlighted how relevant these skills are, especially for our Grade 12s as they begin to think about life beyond boarding.

Our vision this year is to shape our house meetings into more than just updates and announcements. We want them to be a space where the girls can learn valuable life skills, grow in confidence, and prepare for independence. Whether it’s through budgeting, learning to cook, or simply practicing how to support one another, every little step helps.

As we often say, our house is more than just a place to live, it’s a space to grow. And if growth happens alongside a slice of homemade cheesecake, then we know we’re doing something right.

The weekend was full of energy, laughter, and a little adventure for everyone in the house. Ayla and Aurora spent some time on the tennis courts working on their swings. Meanwhile, Maria, Emma, and Paria joined a bodyshaping session, keeping active and having fun together. Over on the water, Gergana embraced a thrilling adventure on the banana boat, bringing excitement and plenty of laughs. From courts to the gym to the waves, everyone found a way to make the weekend active, fun, and memorable.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

The new school year is off to a wonderful start! It has been lovely to see the mix of excitement, curiosity, and laughter that comes with a fresh beginning.

Monday marked the official first day of school. The girls settled into their new classes, began establishing routines, and shared the excitement and the nerves that come with the start of a new academic year.

On Tuesday, we came together for the first boarding assembly, a chance to set the tone for the year ahead. In the evening, we celebrated Swiss Night, enjoying a delicious dinner of traditional Swiss food. Sharing a meal together felt like the perfect way to celebrate our host country and start building community.

Wednesday brought some creativity to the kitchen as Paria, Aurora, and I prepared homemade ice cream sandwiches. We made the ice cream completely from scratch, which was a little messy but a great team effort and an enjoyable hands-on activity.

Today we had a goal setting meeting. Together, we set meaningful goals for the year, both as individuals and as a community. To finish, we finally got to enjoy the ice cream sandwiches, which tasted even better after all the effort that went into making them.

It’s only the beginning, but we’re already creating memories, traditions, and connections that will carry us through the year.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Tonight we had our very first house meeting of the year, and it felt so good to have everyone back together again. The room was full of chatter, laughter, and that mix of excitement and nerves that always comes with the start of a new term.

We also got to welcome Maria, our new housemate. The best part of these first days is seeing how quickly the house comes alive again — from catching up on summer stories to planning what’s ahead. If tonight was anything to go by, it’s going to be a year full of fun, support, and lots of memories together.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Today we had our Leavers Assembly to say goodbye to our graduating students. The event started with Marusya and a few other students singing together to kick things off and it was a great way to set the mood.

After that, each student received their yearbook, a folder full of memories from their time here, and a small gift bag.

Once the assembly wrapped up, we all headed over to the Leavers Cocktail, where students and staff relaxed, caught up, and took lots of pictures. It was a nice chance to hang out and celebrate everything the students have achieved.

We then had the Alumni Cocktail after which Mia and Aloisio came to visit the girls. It was great for current students to see them again and hear how things are going after leaving school.

All in all, it was a meaningful day full of good memories and some bittersweet moments. We’re proud of all our leavers and wish them the best for what’s next.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Tonight was our last dinner in the house with just us, and honestly, it meant more than we expected.

We had burgers and chocolate donuts and leaned into an easy American-themed dinner. But it wasn’t really about the food. It was about slowing down and having that one last moment together before the year wraps up.

Most nights, we’re surrounded by noise — the cafeteria, the boarders, the usual rush. But tonight, the house was quiet. It was just us, sitting down, talking, laughing, being fully present with each other.

There was something really comforting about it. We’ve spent so much time in this house, living side by side, but tonight felt like a small celebration of that — of the everyday moments, the support, the shared space that somehow turned into home.

It was simple, but it was ours. And that made it feel pretty special.

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande

Vale turned 17 on Thursday and kicked off the celebrations with a special trip to Zurich with her parents. Today, she wrapped up the celebrations with a cozy dinner surrounded by her closest friends. It was a relaxed, joyful evening full of laughter, good food, and great company — exactly the way a birthday should be.

What a weekend! With International Week in full swing at CDL, the energy on campus was high, and the spirit of celebration, culture, and community was everywhere.

Friday kicked things off strong with the vibrant Brazilian stand run by Vale and her friends. They brought the flavor of Brazil to life with delicious brigadeiros and refreshing drinks that were a huge hit sweet, rich, and absolutely irresistible! Vale somehow also found time to organise, play and referee the Middle School vs. High School volleyball tournament, she was everywhere at once and pulled it off like a pro.

Back in the boarding house, Emma and Étoile helped me whip up a cheesecake, and wow… it was gone in minutes. Safe to say it was a hit. Definitely one to make again soon!

We also jumped into the May Fitness Challenge, which added a fun and slightly competitive twist to the weekend. Étoile absolutely smashed the mountain climbers with 129 in one minute which is super impressive. And then Vale and Marusya took on the patty cake challenge, managing 30 uninterrupted claps in a minute. Sounds easy, but it’s trickier than it looks!

And today, Sofiia got moving with a solid tennis session, a perfect way to wrap things up and get those steps in before the new week starts.

All in all, it was a weekend full of laughter, movement, teamwork, and (lots of) sugar. Can’t wait for the next one!

Lots of Love,

Aida & Yewande