Xiao hua Issue 9 by Xiao Hua

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Xiao Hua

FEBRUARY 2014 ISSUE 9 XIAO HUA

HAPPENINGS 簡報 SCHOOL YARD 校園 15 PROJECT WEEK 16

VOICES 心聲

CONTENTS X.H 校話 MASTHEAD 報頭 6 EDITORIAL BOARD 編輯委員會 7 EDITOR’S LETTER: JOHNSON PAK 10 EDITOR’S LETTER: SUNWOO NAM 11 XIAO HUA ANNOUNCEMENTS 12 CONTACT US 13

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CIS STUDENT COUNCIL UPDATE 19 PERSONAL PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS 20 SYRIA THROUGH EYES OF A YEAR 7 22 CHARITY… TAKE A STAND! 24 在學校玩電子遊戲 26 ADVISORY 與 HOMEROOM 28 TEDX AT CIS 29 漢基杭州有感 30 融入中國 32 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF: AN AVERAGE HZ STUDENT 34 莫干山歷險 36 LINUX 38

WHAT’S COOL 流行文化 DEAR DR LINGERS 40 香港的另一面 41 DIARY OF A TEACHER: MR COOK 42 MOVIE REVIEW: 風聲－觀後感 44 BOOK REVIEW: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN SAMURAI 45 HOW KOREA REVOLUTIONIZED POP CULTURE 46

FEATURES 專題文章 RUNNING TO STOP THE TRAFFIK 48 PARALLELS BETWEEN JUNE FOURTH AND THE EGYPTIAN CRACKDOWN 52 CIS REDEVELOPMENT 56 IB 或 DSE: 如何選擇？60 獨生子女，還是兄弟姐妹？62 INTERNET ACTIVISM 64 THREE CIS POLICIES THAT SHOULD BE CHANGED 68 POSITIVE EDUCATION AT CIS 72 GRADE CULTURE VS INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY AT CIS 76

EDITORIAL 觀點 FALL OF AN APPLE 80

HONG KONG’S DEMOCRACY 82 HOUSING IN HONG KONG 84 蘋果手機與小米手機 86 THERE ARE NO “BLURRED LINES” 88 THE EVOLUTION OF INTERNET VERNACULAR 90 PRISM: HAS THE US GOVERNMENT CROSSED THE LINE? 92 THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION: HYPERLOOP 94

SPORTS 體育 THE KUKRI SPORTS UNIFORM STORE 96 CIS DRAGON DANCE TEAM 98 SPORTS FIGURES: HOW DO THEY INFLUENCE ATHLETIC MINDSETS AT CIS? 99

CREATIVE 創意下不停的一場大雨 103 FORGET ME NOT 104 FENNEC FOX 105 我屬於哪兒 106

ALUMNI CORNER 校友

108

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Xiao Hua FEBRUARY 2014 ISSUE 9 XIAO HUA

FACULTY ADVISOR 指導教師 Georgina Martignago EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 主編 Johnson Pak & Sunwoo Nam MANAGING EDITOR & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 設計副總監 Chloe Mok & Bernetta Li NEWS EDITOR 新聞編輯 Jackie Wu FEATURES EDITOR 專題文章編輯 Vera Lummis & Medha Goyal CHINESE DIRECTOR 中文編輯 Michelle Li & Justine Chen SPORTS EDITOR 體育編輯 Nicholas Sung & Konrad Lee HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY 攝影主任 Jessica Eu & Natasha Chak & Claudia Ng & Andrew Koo BUSINESS & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR 財務及傳訊總監 Rachel Chan & Maegan Yeung NEWS EDITOR 新聞編輯 Jackie Wu Reporters 記者

Nicole Choi, Crystal Lau, Victoria Ngai, Cordelia Lam, Cuthbert Chow, Medha Goyal, Annette Kim, Shannon Hu, Miyeon Kim, Raghav Goyal, Cameron Sung, Scarlet Au, Zayna Mansuri, Hannah Jones, Daphne Yung, Zachary Yu, Adrienne Zhang, Isabella Boyne, Angus Lam, Christy Lau, Joshua Hung, Evelyn Choi, Sophie Kang, Ryan Lee, Richard Ding, Mikaela Choo, Brian Lee. FEATURES EDITOR 專題文章編輯 Vera Lummis & Medha Goyal Reporters 記者

Cordelia Lam, Hana Davis, Yoonah Han, Susan Maginn, Aspen Wang, Kendra Cui, Oliver Hsu, Megan Foo, Wen Yee Chan, Sophie Kang. CHINESE DIRECTOR 中文編輯 Michelle Li & Justine Chen Reporters 記者

Ingrid Tsang, Nicole Li, Eric Tse, Caitlin Yeung, Maegan Yeung, Simon Lam, Jessica Chan, Natalie Chak, Adrienne Chen, Mona Shi, Christy Leung, Jing Yi Shan, Victoria Ngai, Ryan Tse. SPORTS EDITOR 體育編輯 Nicholas Sung & Konrad Lee Reporters 記者

Michael Cheng, Ethelia Lung, Nicholas Tse.

HANG ZHOU EDITORS 杭州編輯 Catherine Wang & Kenny Jeong & Hannah Hui Reporters 記者 & Photographers 攝影師

Catherine Wang, Hannah Hui, Crystal Leung, Joe Littler, Catherine Wang, Serena Hildebrandt MANAGING EDITOR & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 設計副總監 Chloe Mok & Bernetta Li Illutrators and Designers 設計師

Trisha Wong, Letitia Ho, Hana Davis, Nicole Li, Nicole Wang, Candice Lincon, Kelly Luy, Kelly Chu, Michelle Wu, Audrey Hioe. HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY 攝影主任 Jessica Eu & Natasha Chak & Claudia Ng & Andrew Koo Photographers 攝影師

Miriam Finnemore, Emma Kent, Britta Lam, Nicole Choi, Elena Eu, Mathew Chow, Joanne Pang, Scarlet Au BUSINESS & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR 財務及傳訊總監Maegan Yeung & Rachel Chan

Medha Goyal, Stephanie Leung, Candice Lincon, Benjamin Oh, Yumi Tang, Shannan Liu, Rachel Cheung, Justin Lok, Francisca Lam, Eric Yang, Eliza Gilchrist, Cindy Wang, Christopher Cheung, Bonnie Lee, Angela Stanton. PRODUCTION & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER 行政主任 Cynthia So & Stephanie Leung

Xiao Hua is a registered student organization of the Chinese International School. The magazine published indepedently by students of the Chinese International School, 1 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill, North Point, Hong Kong, Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Xiao Hua magazine. The magazine is published termly. There is no subscription rate to Xiao Hua- the publication is free of charge to all members of the Chinese International School community. For enquiries, please contact the Xiao Hua Communications Department at cis.xiaohua@gmail.com. Xiao Hua is not responsible for loss, damage or any other injury to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork, or any unsolicited materials. Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork, or other materials for consideration should not send orginals, unless specifically requested to do so by Xiao Hua in writing. Manuscripts, photographs, and other materials submitted must be accompanied by a self addressed overnight delivery return envelope, postage prepaid. The paper used for this publication is a recyclable and renewable product. It has been produced using wood sourced from sustainably managed forests and elemental or total chlorine- free bleached pulp. The producing mills have third party certified management systems in place. This magazine can be recycled either through your curbside collection, or at a local recycling point. Log onto www.recyclenow.com and enter your postcode to find your nearest sites.

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EDITORIAL BOARD FEBRUARY 2014 ISSUE 9 XIAO HUA

NEWS EDITOR JACKIE WU

The News Department has grown with every issue of Xiao Hua, and this issue we welcome the largest group of dedicated and talented writers to the department. From pop culture to politics to issues at CIS, this issue is packed with a mélange of though-provoking articles. Thank you to the writers and department leaders for all their hard work - to the Year 13s, goodbye and good luck, to the new ed board members, welcome to the team. Happy reading CIS!

SENIOR FEATURES EDITOR

FEATURES EDITOR MEDHA GOYAL

It has been a long way since my first days at Xiao Hua as a timid year seven student, when I idolized my editors, and cowered before older writers. I have always been eager to contribute to Xiao Hua just as much as they have, and now that I am in a leadership position, I hope that I finally can!

VERA LUMMIS

This is my last issue as the Features Editor for Xiao Hua, and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time writing and editing for the magazine. The Features writers are a dedicated group of students. Their articles in this issue reflect a level of social awareness and understanding that I think the CIS readership will find meaningful. I hope you will enjoy reading them as much as I have.

RACHEL CHAN (SENIOR)

Xiao Hua has been a very important part of my school life and this experience has taught me so many valuable lessons. It has truly been my honour to have worked with such a talented and hardworking team of people, issue after issue, in making this magazine happen. All the best to the new Ed Board and happy reading, CIS!

MAEGAN YEUNG

BUSINESS DIRECTORS

Working in the business department, I have noticed the drive and dedication of my fellow business associates fueled by the gloriously passionate Business and Communications Director, Rachel Chan. For the upcoming issues, I’m ecstatic to fill in her big shoes and collaborate with other like-minded individuals in the new Ed-Board. I’m certain that the collective staff of Xiao Hua will do a tremendous job in producing a high quality publication, and all I can say is, Xiao Hua will undoubtedly be worth your time, and worth your money – happy reading everyone!

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ADMINISTRATION MANAGER CYNTHIA SO (SENIOR)

校話能夠有今天的成就，全靠同學們的參與和支持! 謝謝大家多年以來那麼捧場，我希望大家會喜歡本期的校話以及陸續出爐的！最後我想鼓勵新加入校話的同學們：努力加油!

SENIOR CHINESE EDITOR MICHELLE LI

很榮幸能夠與這麽有才有識的同學們一起創造這期的校話。今年雖然是最後一次當中文編輯，但這幾年在校話的時光必定是我中學最美好的回憶之一。希新加入校話的同學們也能分享我的樂趣，帶著寶貴的經驗，繼續努力！

CHINESE EDITOR JUSTINE CHEN As Chinese editor, it has been an extremely rewarding and enjoyable first year. Having the privilege to work alongside such a talented and lively group of people has been a great pleasure. I have had the opportunity to not only recognize the passion within the Chinese writers in the CIS community, but also develop as a leader myself. I look forward to the many years ahead!

SPORTS EDITORS NICHOLAS SUNG (SENIOR)

During my final year at CIS I have dedicated myself to fully appreciating the school’s sporting values, and to admire the achievements, potential and fine spirit within the athletic community. As Sports Editor I have witnessed how diversity and energy is what makes Phoenix sports distinct. Working together with Konrad and an innovative team of sports journalists, we are excited to present you this issue’s Sports Section: a multidimensional illustration of sporting uniqueness at CIS. Wishing Xiao Hua continued success in the future!

KONRAD LEE

Working alongside Nick as Sports Editor, I’ve been able to learn so much more about the magazine and how we contribute to the CIS Community. Through this issue, I’ve seen how passionate and committed our school is towards sports and athletics. Hopefully in further issues we can keep on showcasing our school pride and our exemplary athletes. Go Phoenix!

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(from left to right)

HEAD OF PHOTOGRAPHY

CLAUDIA NG

I will always remember XiaoHua as an integral part of my high school life. I have learned so much from this talented group during my time at CIS. All the best to the new Ed Board and I hope you all like this issue. Enjoy reading, CIS!

ANDREW KOO

Having the guidance of both Natasha and Claudia throughout this process has been of great value to me. Not only has my role in Xiao Hua allowed me to

become acquaintances with people that I would have otherwise not known, but through the help of my predecessors, I have also learnt a lot about leadership, and the responsibilities that come with such a role. I have had a wonderful time in the photography department so far, and I thoroughly look forward to the days to come!

NATASHA CHAK

This will be the last XiaoHua issue I’ll ever be part of and it has been an honor working with the talented Ed-Board

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

CHLOE MOK (SENIOR)

To be able to work with such a talented and dedicated group of people has been both a pleasure and an honor. Even though this will be the last time I work with the XH team, Xiao Hua will always be a part of my CIS life. The insightful writers, creative designers, talented photographers and business staff are what makes Xiao Hua succeed both locally and internationally, year after year. I’m confident that there will

be many more amazing issues to come enjoy reading, CIS!

BERNETTA LI I’ve been in the layout department for 2 years and I’ve only recently had the privilege of joining the magazine’s artistic directorial team. We have worked long and hard for this issue, and I look forward to the many years ahead with this group of talented people. I hope you guys love this issue as much as I do! Enjoy CIS!

and all the fellow staff members. I wish XiaoHua all the best as the year 13s graduate. Happy reading CIS!

JESSICA EU

Even as an apprehensive year seven student, I had always been amazed by the sheer magnitude that was Xiao Hua. Now, as a member of the Ed Board, I am still blown away by the wholehearted dedication each of my peers has towards creating the best issue possible. I wish all the best to the graduating year thirteens and hope everyone enjoys this issue!

ADMINISTRATION MANAGER STEPHANIE LEUNG Even though I’ve only recently had the pleasure of joining the Xiao Hua editorial board, I would like to say a big thank you to all of the contributors for their hard work on this issue. I look forward to working with everyone, and I hope you enjoy this issue CIS!

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EDITOR’S LETTER

hough it has already been many months into the academic year, I am still in disbelief that it is my last year at CIS, and that this is my final chance to contribute to Xiao Hua. This student magazine has come a very long way since its inauguration and has continued its mission of providing a valuable platform for students and teachers to share their stories, opinions and experiences, bringing the CIS community together. On behalf of the outgoing Editorial Board team, I want to thank all our readers for their support and all our student staff members for their dedication and contributions. It is definitely the people who make up this high-quality magazine. Challenges never seem to be as scary and intimidating in hindsight. I can still vividly remember my initial struggles with managing this magazine. When I assumed this leadership position three years ago, I had no talent or any past experience whatsoever in journalism and publication. Long term planning and delegation were foreign concepts to me. Yet, I continued forward with uncertainty, learning little by little as I gained experience from taking one step at a time. Human beings are equipped with an extraordinary ability to learn and adapt, but these skills can only develop if you challenge yourselves. Here at CIS and in this magazine, we foster a supportive spirit and celebrate our students’ astounding achievements and the challenges we have overcome as a community. But ultimately, the purpose of sharing these exciting accomplishments is to inspire everyone else to do the same: to find their passions/ interests and strive to improve. Taking this final privilege to share my reflection upon my experiences as Editor-in-Chief of this magazine, I challenge you, the readers, to challenge yourselves today. Whether it may be spending just 20 more minutes to perfect your science essay, or volunteering yourself to a charity organization every week, or creating a cocurricular activity at school to share your passion with other likeminded CIS students, these are the challenges and breakthroughs that are worthwhile, unforgettable, and will make you grow. These are the memories you want to create and will remember at your final high school graduation ceremony. Trust me… this minute may feel like forever, but a few years will pass by before

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you know it. Venture out your bubble, be proactive, take the initiative, and be excellent! Once again, I want to take this final opportunity to thank everyone who has worked to make Xiao Hua possible in these past three years. I want to express my immense gratitude to the Editorial Board members and their dedication to this student magazine. Our term has officially come to an end, but I know that Xiao Hua is in capable hands of Sunwoo, the new Editor-in-Chief, and her new Editorial Board team and I wish them all the best with the magazine. I’m confident that Xiao Hua will continue to grow, improve, and carry on its mission of connecting the CIS community! Thank you so much Xiao Hua! Johnson Pak Editor-in-Chief

ost people will have encountered a famous restaurant, bursting with people, ardent to get in and experience its distinctive taste people have marveled about. For me, Xiao Hua has always been that ‘restaurant’. I have not only been thrilled to taste all the wonderful cuisines under the name of Xiao Hua, but have also been eager to contribute and be part of the creative procedure to produce delectable dishes for the CIS community. Starting out as a diffident student lost between floods of old writers and developing into an editor, reveling in the creative articles presented before me, I have grown both together as a writer and a person as Xiao Hua altered its cover page. I cannot possibly express how grateful and honored I am to now hold the key to unveil the future of Xiao Hua. In the past few years, Xiao Hua has prospered profoundly, continuing the legacy of being one of the largest student groups at CIS. This, of course, would not have been possible without our Editorial board – Johnson Pak, Vera Lummis, Michelle Li, Rachel Chan, Chloe Mok, Claudia Ng, Natasha Chak, Nicholas Sung and Cynthia So. With their passion, diligence and hard work, they managed to lead 120 members and create issues that are much admired and respected. As they leave and pass on their roles, I would like to express my gratitude for all the times they spent, arduously working and devoting their effort into the growth of this school magazine. In return, our new Editorial board members will aspire to do our best in assuming the roles of the previous editors and hopefully continuing to stimulate school spirit by celebrating students’ talent and achievements. It can’t be denied that Xiao Hua, as a collective group of enthusiastic, talented staff members, has always strived to creatively capture different aspects of school life and bring the students, teachers, parents and alumni together through uniquely compiled ideas. Every issue has gracefully engraved and encapsulated the times that have passed, moments that are forgotten and memories people dearly hold onto. Though sometimes the magazine may have seemed incomplete and imperfect with displays of mistakes and lack of professional abilities in certain areas, it has reflected creative freedom, honest opinions and most importantly students’ development and growth into blooming writers, photographers, designers and administrators. Being new to this experi-

EDITOR’S LETTER

ence, our new Editorial board members and I may have to cudgel our brains to maintain this unique feature and continue to construct the roads that have been carved before us. With our fervor and desire to lead Xiao Hua magazine, however, we will endeavor to produce our very own secret recipe that best showcases and exhibits the voices and talent of CIS community. I hope you like this issue as much as I do. Enjoy reading! Sunwoo Nam Incoming Editor-in-Chief

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Xiao Hua Awards

Announcements Congratulations

to our 120 student team for being named Crown Award finalists by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. The Crown Award is the CSPA’s highest honor for overall excellence. This includes print and online stu dent magazines, newspapers, and yearbooks. Xiao Hua is guaranteed to win either a Gold or Silver Crown Award at the CSPA’s March 2013 convention in New York. The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) was founded in 1925. The Crown Awards is an international competition that aims to recognize exceptional work by student journalists in print and online media. The CSPA is overseen by the Colum bia University School of Journalism. To view the announcement online, please visit the CSPA’s website at: http://cspa.columbia.edu/recepient-lists/2014- awards-student-work-crown-awards-scholastic- recipients-0

Xiao Hua

also received All American Honors and a Gold Medal, the highest ratings from the National Scholastic Press Association and the Columbia Scholastic Press Assocation critique programs respectively for its 2010 -2013 issues. For more information and details, please email cis. xiaohua@gmail.com

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CONTACT US LET’S HEAR FROM YOU! COMMENTS (EVERYONE!): Tell us what you think of Xiao Hua or any of our articles! We’d love your feedback. Please send comments to: comments.cisxiaohua@gmail.com CONTRIBUTE: Please submit articles, artwork, short stories, photos or anything that fits our content profiles to cis.xiaohua@gmail.com SUBJECT: ‘Attention:Administrator.’ Make sure you put your name and class. JOIN US: If you want to join our staff, please contact us at cis.xiaohua@gmail.com

ADVERTISING Xiao Hua is a unique high school publication in Hong Kong, being bilingual in Chinese and English. Featuring full colour graphics, it is also the only regular publication covering all aspects of CIS community life. Published twice a year, the magazine provides detailed coverage of school news, sports and arts. Features on student accomplishments, community news and cultural interests round out the editorial package. With a readership of over 3000 including students, parents, teachers and alumni, Xiao Hua is distributed to a finely targetted audience. Xiao Hua is not just another school publication. It embodies Hong Kong’s unique blend of Chinese and Western culture, as well as the best Chinese and English student work the school as to offer. It offers advertisers access to an affluent community with a wide range of interests. Business & Communications Department Room 1904, Chinese International School, 1 Hau Yuen Oath, Braemar Hill, North Point, Hong Kong. Tel: 6478 0234 Fax: 2838 9596 ISSUE 9

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HAPPENINGS

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HAPPENINGS

SCHOOL YARD

校園

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PROJECT

WEEK

VOICES

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CIS student council update. VOICES

Written By: Nicole Choi

Layout By: Hana Davis

s the halfway point of the 2014 Student Council’s leadership nears, what better way to celebrate it than to deliver an update from the leaders themselves! Xiao Hua took the liberty of having a chat with your Student Council - read on to learn more about what sets this year’s SC apart, what they’ve accomplished, their goals for the months ahead and more.

CIS has seen over the years. The two other campaign ideas we proposed were a Sushi Bar and Gym Credits. The Sushi Bar has proven to be difficult, but we are currently liaising with Chartwells to get this to you soon. We’ve also been in contact with the PE department, and are in the process of trying to establish this gym credits system. The plan is to allow younger years to earn credits so that they can use the fitness room with a buddy!

1. What is your overall concept as the 2013-2014 Student Council? What sets you apart from previous SC groups? It is difficult to define one particular concept behind our student council, given the scope of the role the SC plays at CIS. The multifaceted nature of ‘student government’, in the broadest sense of the word, requires an effective SC to set different goals for the addressing of different issues at CIS. Regarding student life, in the recreational sense, we aim to continue the traditions of courtyard concerts and school dances, but also to really emphasize and celebrate the many talents of the CIS community. One thing that you could say sets us apart from past SC groups is our main focuses and concerns revolving around celebrating student talents and achievements.

3. Are there any major events planned before winter break? Firstly, we are definitely continuing the CIS tradition of hosting a Christmas dance and Christmas deliveries. However, we want to take this to the next level by having a special Funtastic Friday for Christmas! Get excited! We also have a huge surprise coming up, which we hope to launch in the days leading up to Christmas - it is something that CIS has been in need of and promised for a long long time!

2. What do you propose for the year, specifically regarding what you proposed in your election speech? One of our main campaign ideas was to improve student life at CIS, and we have seen this begin to happen with our past two Funtastic Fridays (the courtyard concert in October and the Halloween Dress Up and Scavenger Hunt in November). This stemmed from a want to find a way for students to showcase their talents. In regards to Courtyard Concerts, we proposed to encourage a diverse range of performances, as opposed to typical vocal performances that

4. How is the new SC rep system working? Is it better and why? The new SC rep system is a huge improvement, and has made it much easier for us to communicate and work effectively with different year groups. All of the reps are hard working and diligent, and have been turning up to all the meetings full of ideas and energy! 5. Do you have anything else you’d like to pass on to the CIS community? As this year’s SC, we’d really like to establish strong relationships with students at school. We are sad that we don’t get to the student body more, so honestly, if you have any questions or just want to stop and have lunch with us, please feel free to do so! You can contact us at our email is <studentcouncil@student.cis.edu.hk> - send an email if you need any help, have any ideas or just want to talk!

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VOICES

WRITERS: CRYSTAL LAU, VICTORIA NGAI PHOTOGRAPHY: MIRIAM FINNEMORE LAYOUT: NICOLE LI

PERSONAL PROJECT

HIGHLIGHTS

ou’ve always heard from your parents and teachers on how important your education is to you, but you’ve never quite believed it. But as a member of society, the most important starting point in life is our education. As Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This is why at CIS there is a student run charity called “Education for All” that aims to increase the quality of education around the world. Many fundraisers go into supporting EFA, and there are some completely original and creative ones, including a recent charity dance showcase hosted by Sammie Haggard right at our school called Echappé, which coincidentally was also her Personal Project. We had the privilege of going to Echappé and seeing the dances first hand. After comfortably seated in the CIS Auditorium, we were presented with a magical showcase of dance talents that each told their very own story. Blinded by grand jetés and seemingly impossible moves, it took the night away. Genres included jazz, hip hop, latin, lyri-

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cal hip hop, and of course, the ever popular contemporary. It was obvious from the perfection in all the performances that the dancers had put a lot of effort and time into this showcase. We also chose to interview a few audience members about what they thought of Echappé. A year 9 student said that she “thought it was very enjoyable and that it was a great show of artistic talents” and she “really liked the variety of the different dances.” Our French teacher at CIS Mrs. Grier was also at the event. She told us: “I was mesmerised by the show, immersed in the sounds and moves of the dancers. Each

and every one of the performers connected with the audience - I felt their sincerity and energy, filled with emotions. Each choreography had a message, a meaning that only their dance could convey. I learnt a lot more about my students and their passions. The show was a huge success. Thanks to all performers, organisers and contributors. Echappé must go on!” We spoke with Sammie Haggard, who came up with this brilliant fundraising idea on what inspired her to base her Personal Project on helping to raise funds for Education for All.

he has been dancing since she was 5 and she readily took on hosting a dance showcase, due to her not wanting to choreograph a dance for somebody else. Her choice of Education for All as a charity was purely coincidental as some of her friends were part of it, and she wouldn’t need to search far and wide for a charity in need of help. Education for All is right now aiming to help a place in China called Zigen with any problems they are facing. They’re trying hard to reinforce education and help find solutions to healthcare problems that have arisen. Miao Lan Village in Zigen is benefitting from Education for All, as they are one of the poorest places in the nation and desperately need help with a lot of environmental and economical issues. Education for All is trying to raise funds which will help with tuition assistance, meal subsidies at schools and is also trying to recruit competent teachers for the children there. It is very rewarding to see members of our CIS community reaching out, doing whatever they can and helping others in need. In the end, it all comes down to the fact that anyone can help in any way, they just need to find their motivation and drive to do so. Sammie’s case has been a great example to show us that even using a Personal Project at school, we can do our part to make a difference. We may not feel it, but for those who are less fortunate than us, one dance showcase can be life-changing. It is “A year to making our world a better place”, so why not take any chance to help the rest of the society?

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VOICES

syria syria {THROUGH THE EYES OF A YEAR SEVEN} [ W: ZACHARY YU, L: NICOLE LI ] It all started on the 15 of March in 2011, around the time when Arab Spring was sweeping through many parts of the Middle East. In the small town of Deraa in Syria, 15 kids were spraying anti-government graffiti on the wall. They were arrested and tortured for it. News soon spread about the incident and many people went to protest and demanded the children’s release.However the situation turned dreadful when soldiers came out and opened fire on the crowd, killing unarmed civilians. These actions sent a shockwave through the people of Syria. The brutal actions unleashed a groundswell of unhappiness with President Assad’s dictatorial regime and all that was wrong with it – charges of nepotism, cronyism, and regular infringements on human rights. Encouraged by the Arab Spring that had brought down dictators elsewhere in the Middle East, the Syrian opposition demanded that President Assad step down, but their protesting brought on harsh and brutal retaliation from the government. The people of Syria then decided to take up arms, to fight for the ideals of hurriya (political freedom), adala ijtima’iyya (social justice) and

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karama (dignity). That started a full-scale war between the rebels and the government. The death count and refugees started to increase dramatically, spurring comparisons with the atrocities in Bosnia and Rwanda in the 1990s. The U.N began to discuss intervention. The U.N. (United Nations) Security Council (made up of 5 permanent members namely, China, Russia, U.S., U.K., and France) began to debate over the issues surrounding intervention: What type of intervention? Military or humanitarian aid? But they all agreed on one important principle: Use of chemical warfare would not be tolerated. The US was particularly vocal on this point. In August 2013 a chemical weapon was used on civilians. This caused an uproar in the international community and attracted global condemnation. The Security Council immediately convened a meeting to determine the course of action. Unfortunately, the Security Council members were unable to come to a consensus on intervention despite the horrific use of chemical weapons. They were divided on two central issues: Who are you helping? And should you

VOICES interfere in a country’s domestic affairs? If action had been taken earlier at the onset of the uprising, the choice would have been straightforward. Help would have gone to the protesters who were just grassroots citizens who wanted more democracy and fairness. However no one helped them. The United Nations stood by and watched as innocent civilians were massacred on the very streets that they knew so well a few years ago. Although the West was reluctant to intervene, help came from other less desirable sources such as the Jihadists, Hezbollah of Iran and even Al Qaeda. The rebels became increasingly Islamist with different agendas. Sectarian violence has broken out between the different rebel groups. This presents a harder case for the international community to help the rebels’ cause as no one really knows who will take over as government when the Assad regime fell. The second issue arises from a fundamental disagreement between the groups that make up the Security Council. The United States, United Kingdom and France opposing Russia and China. So far proposals to arm the rebels have met resistance from Russia and China. Memories of the Iraq war are still fresh. The war was seen as the Western powers, namely, the US, exercising imperial hegemony on Iraq in the name of liberty. The more recent intervention in Libya with the intention to remove its dictator Qaddafi sparked fears that this would set another global precedent of allowing foreign intervention in a country’s domestic affairs. Should there be civil unrest in either Russia or China in the future, it would give the international community basis to intervene

in their country, potentially with the ultimate consequence of overthrowing the government. The U.N’s inaction has been very costly to the people of Syria. To date, about 100,000 have been killed, two million people have been made refugees and four million people are homeless. The suffering is immense. Homes have been destroyed and families destroyed. Education is discontinued. Sitting in our safe and comfortable chair reading this article, we may wonder what this war has to do with us. While Syria is only a country of 22 million people, the Syrian war can have the potential to cause the politics in the Middle East to become instable if the war drags on. The millions of angry refugees pouring into neighboring countries could cause an unstable population. It provides a perfect ground for terrorist organizations to recruit members. We could face a future of more terrorist attacks, making the world a more dangerous place. The scale of the refugee problem will also strain resources in host countries such as Turkey and Jordan, which could cause political problems for their governments. These are more moderate regimes in an increasingly Islamist Middle East, which the West cannot afford to lose. More importantly, in the face of such human suffering and tragedy, it is our responsibility to respond and help. Humanitarian companies in the Middle East are overwhelmed by the scale of the Syrian problem, whether it be in areas of medicine, food or education. By raising awareness of the problem and donating to these humanitarian organizations, we can make a difference.

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CHARITY... TAKE A STAND W: CUTHBERT CHOW// MEDHA GOYAL

t CIS we are all passionate about charity! We all want to be good samaritans who play our part in the global community, lending a hand to those disadvantaged and in dire need! Or so it seems... There appear two consistent problems with the charity culture at our school. Firstly, potential donors are too disengaged to make any meaningful contributions. Secondly members of charity groups are uncommitted to their cause. Let us scrutinize the first problem. From a young age, everyone tells us that there are many in need. Newspapers inform us of crushing poverty in Africa or natural disasters in Asia. Most importantly, they enforce the idea that, in our position of privilege, we are the ones who need to help. But despite all this, we eventually become inured against the constant pressure to give. We distance ourselves from global issues. We lose emotional connection with stories of the needy. We give on occasion, but it is to fulfill an obligation rather than espouse the cause. Here begins a worrying disconnect between charities and their donors. What causes disconnect? Ms. Safaya, our head of local and global engagement, took issue with what “[she] noticed in the first few years [at

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CIS]”. There was too much charity work. “There would sometimes be three events happening on the same day,” she says. Our sixth floor at the break was packed with bake sales, the cafeteria at lunch with innumerable pizza sales, and the third floor basketball court would constantly host a charity event or two. Our school may have passion, but it is misdirected. Instead of being eager for thoughtful service we put our energy into setting up charity upon new charity in a frenzy. Even students themselves find all these charities overwhelming. When asked what percentage of the school’s charities he thought he knew about, one student declined, saying he “doesn’t even know how many charities there actually are, so [he] can’t really give a percentage.” To minimize the number of charities, Ms. Safaya has restricted charity events to only Tuesday and Friday. Now people can actually take the time to soak it in. “There are always charities demanding money,” Ms. Safaya adds, “which leads to donor apathy.” She thinks “the best kind of fundraiser is “the kind that has the goal of the mission in mind at its heart.” This is why it is not enough to just cut the number of fundraisers. Ms. Safaya demands they be relevant to the cause. This

means no more bake sales. So if a student group is working with a specific organisation, they should try to “link up the fundraiser to the ideas of the organisation so that people participate with a much clearer idea of what the mission is.” They should have people literally walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Ms. Safaya has even designated Monday for awareness raising campaigns. By informing a large audience about a cause, charities will receive money without having to demand anything, and with enthusiastic donors too. But the problem is not just donor apathy, but also lack of commitment on part of those who join charities and help organize events. Let us take a look at the other side of the table. It is a week before school starts and you’re on Moongate, scrolling through what seems to be an endless list CCAs you could join. You recall your head of year saying something about needing ‘hours’ next year. It’s part of a system to get students to help out in their immediate community and at local charities. That means you had better sign up for some charity activities. You find a charity group at school with a pronounceable looking name, and after ensuring that you need only attend meetings once a week, and help out occasionally with charity events, you click on it and sign up. Many of us at CIS believe what Ms. Safaya, put nicely into words: At CIS “there is the pressure of wanting to do a lot.” Students don’t the purpose of the organization they have signed up for, let alone sign up because they have a genuine passion in that area. Many also sign up for the hours, with older students requiring a certain amount of time dedicated to service and community activities. Or they sign up to boost their report card. CIS has nurtured an army of overachievers. Packing as many activities into one day is considered the norm. As a result, students feel pressured towards joining as many CCAs as they can, and since it is impossible to commit enough to or even know enough about five charity groups simultaneously, the charity culture at CIS has been in rapid decline. We see that on both sides of the table, having too much is the problem. As Sheena Iyengar, a social psychologist at Stanford, explains in The Art of Choosing, choice

is in fact not as freeing as one may think. It is debilitating. Lyengar once offered a group of volunteers 7 different kinds of soda. But instead of empowering them, it made it difficult to decide what to drink. In fact one participant even commented that there weren’t seven choices, but only one. Each person ended up choosing a soda at random. Charities at our school may resemble this situation. With so much information to take in, we pick a charity to donate to at random, like with fizzy drinks. And sometimes making the choice is so strenuous that if we did not really feel the desire to donate money in the first place, we do not even stop to make a decision, we instead just walk away. As we have seen, our generally overachieving nature has diminished the depth at which we push forward new charities, and we’ve all become desensitised as a result of the ceaseless barrage of new and different charitable causes. To regain our connection with the true meaning of charity, we need to find ways to better involve ourselves, and to bring that contribution to a more personal, and thus more meaningful, level. A great organization that encapsulates this is Kiva - a microlending service which allows donors to lend small amounts to entrepreneurs in third world countries. The donor can actually choose the actual person their money goes to, and the website gives a description of each person’s goal. The best part is that after the recipient of your money has made an investment, furthered their business, and made some returns, you actually get your money back to reinvest in someone else! You need not worry about losing because, as the website puts it, your gift keeps giving. So in the coming years at CIS, let’s put our charitable passion to better use! All who intend to give and donate should look into different causes first, and see why they really want help a particular NGO. The philanthropic individuals who host fundraisers and lead charity groups should continue doing so, but remember to “keep the goal of the mission in mind at the heart.” By doing these things, both the recipients of our benevolence and the quality of our giving becomes far greater and more meaningful.

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在學校玩電

腦現在已經成為我們生活中不可缺少的工具，它為我們帶來許多便利。兩年前，學校給每個學生配備了一部蘋果電腦，希望幫助我們學習，提高學習樂趣，同時用一個品牌便於學校統一管理。每天學生們帶著自己的電腦上學。每人一部電腦，是學生認真學、老師樂於教的動力。老師上課時利用電腦教學，生動吸引，提高了教學效果。而學生隨時可以用電腦找資料，迅速完成作業，同時也可以節省紙張，節省能源，保護環境。總體來說，學校這一安排，得到了老師和學生的普遍讚揚。但是最近一段時間，特別令大家關注的是有些學生在學校課間休息時玩電子遊戲的話題。針對這個話題，我們進行了一些採訪調查，發現有幾種不同觀點，各有各的理由。有些同學認為既然是課間休息，就是讓學生們做自己願意做的任何事情。能在學校和同學一起玩電子遊戲，互相交流，比一個人在家玩更熱鬧刺激。不會玩時可以及時請教，那也是一種學習知識的方法。而電子遊戲中有圖像、音響和故事情節，刺激又開心，玩電腦遊戲使緊張學習的疲勞消失了，精神很快恢復。有一部分同學認為課間休息時，應該禁止使用電腦，他們認為應利用

電子遊戲

陳倚荺/

林啟鴻

這段時間，多和朋友交談，培養社交生活的能力。他們說，既然是休息時間，就應該讓自己休息，尤其是我們處於生長期，再看電腦，眼睛非常疲勞，不利於健康，很多同學說近視加深了，他們建議回家做完功課後，可以玩一會兒。部份同學雖然也不同意在課間休息時玩電子遊戲，

大

“每天學生們帶著自己的電腦上學。每人一部電腦，是學生認真學、

老師樂於教的動力。”

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認為玩遊戲是浪費時間，但是他們認為課間休息時也不可以禁止用電腦，應該可以利用電腦做功課。如果課間休息時間完全禁止使用電腦，對這些抓緊時間，不玩遊戲的學生不公平。同學們說應該可以用電腦做一些和學習有關的事，完成功課或做研究。

VOICES

在

我們的採訪中，發現大多數同學反對在學校裡玩電子遊戲。中午休息時，圖書館裡學生很多，有些同學因為太期待玩遊戲，一下課就直接跑到圖書館，打開電腦開始玩，有時連飯都不吃。他們有時有些吵鬧，打擾了在圖書館做功課和看書的同學。玩遊戲時，不可避免地入迷，下午上課時無法收心，有時還在想著遊戲中的情節，嚴重影響學習。總而言之，雖然有一部分人認為可以在學校玩電子遊戲；但是大部分人認為在校時不應用電腦做一些跟學業無關的事情。這說明電腦不僅給我們帶來的很多益處，但也會帶來一些問題。不同的觀點，反映學生不同的學習態度。通過我們收集的意見和調查，希望學校老師，對「一人一電腦」的管理做一些適當調整，充分發揮出電腦作為學習工具的優點，盡量避免帶來問題，甚至產生荒廢學業的遺憾。

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VOICES

Advisory 與

homeroom

Article written by Jessica Chan. Layout design by Nicole Li.

今年，不少學生都期待一個新學年的到來，因為新的一年有新的作息時間。今年的時間與往年相比有許多的變化。最明顯的就是學生們沒有了‘homeroom’。‘Homeroom’ 本來是用來讓老師們點名，讓同學們放鬆，跟朋友談天，或完成功課的時間。但是這個學期，學校介紹了： ‘advisory’，以此代替了’homeroom’ 。‘Advisory’ 安排在第三堂課，跟 ‘homeroom’ 比較，每一班的‘advisory’會有更少的學生。去年，Mr Alexander 發出一個電郵，講述‘advisory’ 的好處。這些優點包括：增加歸屬感，創造一個沒有壓力的環境，對學生的學習有幫助。到底學生們對這個改變有什麼想法呢？對有些同學來講，‘advisory’ 是個好的轉變。因為每一個班裡只有十二個學生，學生與學生之間容易溝通。一位十一年級的女同學說：“我認為‘advisory’是個好的變化，因為現在有較少的同學，我能夠很容易地發表我的意見。”另外一位學生承認了因為‘advisory’人數較少，她在‘advisory’中願意跟別的同學說話，沒那麼害羞，不怕交多點新朋友。同學還發覺跟老師之間的關係有很大的改善。每一個‘advisory’的老師也能夠真正地去指導每一位學生。除了建立了學生與老師以及學生與學生之間的關係，有些同學還認為因為‘advisory’是在

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一天的中間時段，能減少學生的壓力。一位男同學說：“之前，每天‘homeroom’完了以後，我們要不停地去上課，溫習.......沒有時間去跟朋友交流。”可是現在 ‘advisory’ 能夠給我們提供時間去放鬆。有些‘advisory’ 會利用這個時間去沈思，有些 ‘advisory’會玩遊戲，有些會讓同學帶食物去與大家分享，在一起像一個大家庭一起吃 ‘飯’，增加歸屬感。但是，另一些同學覺得 ‘advisory’ 有它的缺陷。一位同學覺得‘advisory’ 沒有用，很浪費時間,抱怨在 ‘advisory’ 裡什麼都不做，覺得很悶。還有，因為學校要求在‘advisory’ 中有一對一的老師與學生的時間。有些同學認為這個要求很不合理，因為這些一對一的交談會佔用其他人的時間。還有些同學說了他們不喜歡‘advisory’ 的原因是因為人少。 ‘我有一位好朋友，之前，我們每個‘homeroom’ 都會談天說地，令我們之間的關係變得很好，可是今年被放在不同的 ‘advisory’ 之後，我發現我跟她的友誼變得越來越弱了。真可惜！”。我自己認為如果我們要讓‘advisory’ 變成一件很成功，很有效的事情，我們不僅要保持一個開放的態度，而且要記得‘advisory’ 是個新的變化，學校一定期望我們提供意見，使‘advisory’ 變得更好。

VOICES

AT CIS TED

talks are inspirational speeches on a wide spectrum of subjects such as art, science, technology among others. TED talks are delivered to spread worthwhile ideas. TED is a non-profit foundation whose motto is: Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out in 1984 as a conference to bring people from three different Industries: Technology, Entertainment and Design, that is where the name TED came from. Since then TED has been expanding by including various subject areas such as Art, Science, Math, Music, History and many more. In addition there are different types of TED conferences which include: TEDx a n independently organized TED conference that is global and TED ed which is more focused on education than talks on any other subject. In TED ed you are allowed to make your own lessons and questions for videos. Anyone who has a unique idea worth spreading is allowed can give a TED talk. Remember, anyone can give a TED talk, even you! Two types of people can present on the TED stage. Either people with incredible talent or normal people who have amazing stories to share can give a TED talk. Everyone has interesting stories to share, but we have too many experiences that it is hard to choose one that will grip the audience. You need to pick an idea or experience and then expand on them until you can tell your story with all the important details. When brainstorming ideas don’t tell yourself “What is the most interesting story that I can tell?” instead you should ask yourself about any great lessons or morals you have experienced and share with a community. Once you have picked a story you would like to share, dwell deeper and replay the most important events of the story. Focus your attention to the parts that will connect with the audience. You can captivate your audience by adding facts and visual features. Some include: photos, videos, props, using your hands to describe something etc. All these are

the basics to delivering a very motivational and awe inspiring TED talk. To tip it all off practice is important. Even if you have many interesting stories and features, if you forget parts of your talk, it will ruin the effect of an excellent story that can captivate your audience. So to deliver a good TED talk, be a good story teller. Written by: Miyeon Kim & Raghav Goyal

HEADBOY RUSSELL RUSSEL SALAZAR SPEAKING AT TEDX YOUTH @CIS ISSUE 9

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VOICES

漢基杭州有感施笑妍

眾

所周知，經過多年籌備的漢基國際學校杭州學習中心終於在今年暑假建成，8月30日迎接到了第一批學生的入住。正如總監潘和平所說：“漢基的辦校宗旨一向注重中英文雙語教學” ，因此這次通過杭州學習中心的建成能夠有機會“長時期深度融入當地的語言環境, 進行內容充實的實質性對話與交流, 確實意義非凡。” 學習中心建於杭州綠城育華學校校區之中，教學樓及宿舍的建築風格也與育華相似，從硬件條件上來看貌似是很好的融入了當地的環境。但是，原來育華學生很喜歡的大籃球場、操場邊上的池塘、以及宿舍旁邊的涼亭卻都因為漢基杭州的工程被迫拆除。據了解，許多育華學生因此覺得自己的校舍變得全是建築物，不好看了，再加上施工過程帶來的不便，育華的一部分學生在漢基杭州正式開幕前便已經懷著抵觸的心理。從育華學校貼吧及跟個別學生的採訪中來看，某些學生還是把這種心態持續到了現在。隨著漢基樓的建

成以及室內照片的曝光，他們發現自己的住宿條件與漢基學生差的太多，難免心裡不平衡，不自覺地與漢基學生產生距離感，更是開玩笑地將漢基學生稱為“ 高貴冷豔的土豪”。玩笑歸玩笑，但依舊足以讓我們思考，漢基學生身上是否存在著某種與生俱來的優越感？在被部分當地學生歸為“永遠只能仰慕的存在” 之後，是否能夠敞開心扉與育華學生成為朋友？在學校購買了PROXY、提供了專屬的優良住宿條件之後，是否願意真正地融入到當地的環境之中？其實這種疑問想必許多人在第一次聽說漢基要在杭州建學習中心都有過：“雖說學校建在杭州，但同學還是香港的那批同學，互相習慣說著英語，那樣還能夠融入當地的語言環境嗎？學生的中文語言能力是否可以得到提高？” 校方想必也是已經考慮到了這方面的問題，為漢基學生安排了許多能夠更加接近當地文化的活動。除了正常課程中的中文課之外，漢基與綠城育華中學的學生共同參與課外活動、社區服務項目、當地實習、個

“在學校購買了 PROXY、提供了專屬的優良住宿條件之後，是否願意真正地融入到當地的環境之中?”

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VOICES 人興趣培養，更能通過日常的體育活動增加與育華學生交流的機會，提高漢語溝通水平。除此之外，漢基還會時不時地安排一些其他的特殊活動。例如與育華學生一起慶祝中秋，放飛孔明燈，或者入住富有民俗特色的後塢生活度假村，通過體驗教育的方式，讓孩子們進一步了解並融入本土文化。此可見，這次建立杭州學習中心的確是校方在深思熟慮後做的決定。校方有花心思讓漢基學生多跟育華的同學交流溝通，也有下功夫使漢基孩子們能夠更全面地融入到當地文化之中。我相信，通過校方及學生們的共同努力，本項目能夠達到其預期的目的，成功提高漢基學生的中文水平和對中國文化的了解。

由

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融入中國能

梁語桁

夠成為漢基杭州的先鋒之一，我心感榮幸。與漢基國際學校攜手合作的是位於西湖區的綠城育華學校。為了令漢基學生更深入的接觸中國文化，我校成立獨一無二的漢基杭州計劃。其目的是要我們在歷史，文化濃厚的杭州裡，培養我們對中國歷史的了解，加強我們的中文能力及鍛鍊我們的獨立性。生活在綠城，自然常常跟當地的學生接觸。與他們交流的時候，我們都是用普通話跟他們溝通。在了解綠城學生生活的同時，也使我們有機會運用普通話，一舉兩得。除了偶然在路上碰到他們，可向他們打招呼以外，我們星期一的下午，會參加本校舉辦的課外活動，與綠城學生一起上課；這些課外活動包括：跆拳道、日語、戲劇、雕刻等等，種類包羅萬有，各有精彩。這些活動都是透過普通話進行，相信過了一年以後，同學們的中文能力皆能與日俱增。每週，我們都會到達杭州的一小角落，探索該地區的人土風情。最近幾次的JUMP！活動，綠城學生都有參加。他們會跟著一個小組到處發掘該區的歷史和特色，與我們合作完成一些特定的“任務”。這

ISSUE 9

XIAO HUA

VOICES 些“任務”包括：跟市場裡的人議價、訪問當地居民（關於杭州的歷史）和拍一張特定的照片（用毛筆寫自己的名字）等。通過這些活動，我們不但對杭州和綠城學生產生更深厚的認識，還可以獲得與本地居民溝通的良機。這都是漢基杭州特色之一。另一個特色就是－社會服務。所有的學生都要到杭州，甚至浙江省，進行不同的社會服務。每週一次，時間長達兩小時，同學們會到杭州第一人民醫院或兒童醫院，協助護士、醫生，進行不同的工作。除了醫院，我們也可以選擇教一些在基層生活的小孩踢足球，蠻有意思的。雖然要作一個半小時的車才到達桐廬，但教完他們之後，看到一個個天真的面孔發出燦爛的笑容，我也開心。由於大部份的人都聽不懂英文，我們也只好說普通話。說得多了，自然慢慢習慣說普通話了。自從參加這些活動以後，我們說普通話的信心大大提高，也加深理解中國的文化。我們已經逐漸融入中國了。

ISSUE 9

XIAO HUA

VOICES

: f o t e iL f den e u t h S t Z n i H y e a g D a r A ve A n A 6:00

Wake up to the sound of your alarm (or someone else’s alarm). Curse and fall back to sleep.

6:35

Actually get out of bed before your Coach Mentor or Head of House has to drag you out.

7:00

Leave to the cafeteria for breakfast. Today’s going to be a good day – they have Coco puffs. You talk with your friends and complain about homework for a while before returning to the dorm and trying to finish the homework that you were complaining about (that annoying essay).

7:53

Run to class, which starts in two minutes. If you have a slightly more relaxed teacher, you can afford to walk. If you have a strict teacher, sprint. Make sure that you use your card for

ISSUE 9

XIAO HUA

the gates to get out of the dorm or else the guards won’t be happy.

7:55

Made it. Now the party starts.

10:00

Run back to the dorms for a welldeserved break. Snack and chat with your friends. If you’re up for it, go down to the games room and play some Ping Pong. Or just go do your laundry. Don’t forget to bring the detergent.

10:31

Run to class, which was supposed to start a minute ago but you forgot because you were caught up with something (chatting/Ping Pong/trying to find an empty washing machine). If you have a slightly more relaxed teacher, prepare your best excuse. If you have a strict teacher, brace yourself; most strict teachers are completely immune to excuses by the third week of term.

PM 12:35

Lunch time! If you have community service, grab a packed lunch and run to the gates. If you don’t and can afford to relax, go to the cafeteria and try a bit of everything. This includes: Rice, spinach, some kind of pork braised in soy sauce, and soup. Keep chatting to your friends about life and homework (“Almost done with English! Take that, Romeo and Juliet!”).