by Federico VILLARREAL RUSSEK

Today we had a pretty cool activity downstairs in Olympus. Everyone made a big circle, and Mr. Gordon stood upstairs on the balcony calling out different questions like, “Who has a brother?” “Who’s the youngest in their family?” and other fun ones. If your answer was yes, you stepped into the middle of the circle. When I went in, I fist bumped into the other people who had the same answer. It was fun to see how many people shared the same things as me.
Every time Mr. Gordon asked a new question, a lot of people would move to the middle. It was interesting to look around and realise how many of us had something in common. People were smiling and laughing as they saw who else was joining them.
This reminded me of Respect Week, which we’re celebrating right now. Our house has almost 18 different nationalities, which means we all come from different places, speak different languages, and have our own traditions. Sometimes it can feel like we are all very different, but activities like this show that we share a lot too, like family experiences, sports we enjoy, or things we like to do.
Respect Week is all about noticing and appreciating both our differences and what we have in common. Standing in that circle made me realise that we are all connected in some way. Even if we come from different countries, we can still find things that bring us together.
It was a simple activity, but it made me feel like we’re part of one big community. That’s exactly what Respect Week is about respecting each other and celebrating the things that unite us.

@thatboardingvibe Respect Week at CDL #thatboardingvibe #cdl #collegeduleman #respect #friendships ♬ Golden Brown x Love Story – Apollogirl

This week’s International Dinner took us to Belgium, with everyone enjoying the country’s famous mussels and frites. It was a new taste experience for some, while others went back for second helpings.

The evening felt extra special as our own Pierre from Olympus, who is from Belgium, was able to share in a tradition from home. He was all smiles tucking into the dishes and proudly telling others about the food.

Moments like these remind us how lucky we are to have such a diverse community, where students can both discover new cultures and celebrate their own.

@thatboardingvibe International Dinner! #thatboardingvibe #belgium #mussels #boardinglife #schoolfood ♬ Belgium One Love – David Cretta & Jacky Mercury

On Tuesday this week, with many students away on the overnight Discovery Days, those who stayed behind enjoyed a quieter evening together in the boarding house. Dinner was delivered to our door, with kebabs providing a relaxed and tasty meal. The smaller group made for easy conversation, giving everyone the chance to connect as house members and enjoy a more intimate atmosphere.

Afterwards, the evening continued with games of pool, chess, and table football. It was a simple but meaningful way to spend time together, turning an ordinary night into one filled with laughter, friendly competition, and the comfort of good company.

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This week our International Dinner took us to Italy, with a food truck serving fresh pizza straight from the oven. The boys enjoyed a variety of toppings, from the classics to some more adventurous choices, and the atmosphere was lively with everyone gathered together to share a slice (or two).

These evenings are always a highlight, giving us the chance to celebrate different cultures through food and to enjoy time together as a community. Italy certainly brought the flavour this week – and we’re already looking forward to seeing which country is next on the menu.

@thatboardingvibe Another amazing International Dinner – Italian this week! #thatboardingvibe #boardinglife #italianfood #pizzatruck ♬ Che La Luna – Louis Prima

Our First Weekend of the School Year

This past weekend marked the first of the new school year, and it was wonderful to see Olympus students diving straight into everything on offer. From wakeboarding and kayaking on the lake, to cooking, tennis, horse riding, climbing, art club, basketball, and even karaoke, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Some chose a more active route, with handball, running, body shaping, pilates, golf, and stretching sessions. Others found a calmer pace in gardening, chess, or simply enjoying time with friends around the house. A highlight for many was the boat trip across Lake Geneva to the medieval town of Yvoire, a perfect chance to soak in the scenery and explore a little piece of history together.

It is through weekends like this, filled with both adventure and quieter moments, that friendships take root and grow. Whether on the water, in the kitchen, on the court, or sharing a laugh in the common room, these are the moments that shape the Olympus family.

Here’s to many more weekends ahead, full of memories waiting to be made.