Voices Magazine 4 by Concordian International School by Concordian International School

Concordian International School

Concordian Art Magazine

Issue 4 June 2021

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oices Magazine elevates and amplifies our community’s creative expressions and showcases our thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Our theme is Mindfulness for this fourth edition of Voices.

With the entire globe battling Covid-19, the infamous and highly-infectious respiratory disease, there are times when the world may seem confusing and unfriendly. Too often, we find ourselves wondering whether the stickiness we feel in our throats when we cough is from Covid-related pulmonary fibrosis, from the PM 2.5 particles in the air, or from lack of sleep. Uncertainty and anxiety has become a norm in these anomalous times, and so it is more crucial than ever to stop, take a breath, and focus on mindfulness. Voices Magazine acknowledges everyone in the community and opens our hearts to each of your experiences. With the help of technology and art, we can connect to one another and bring our attention to accept the present moment, for ourselves and for others.

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Kathleen Baertschy

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Jonas Grade 12

Daniel Grade 12

Lisa Grade 12

Chin Grade 12

Sybert Grade 12

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Soomi Grade 12

Tonhom Grade 12

Daniel Grade 12

his painting is a representation of war, and memorial to the death of young soldiers during WWI. The red poppies are most commonly used for the memorial of the death caused by war, while the white poppies represent the desire for peace. However, the combination of red and white flowers also means war in the language of flowers. Otto Dix uses a dark tone in shadows and background to contrast with the subjects. I used black as the main color for the background, enhancing the contrast of the poppies.

Daniel Grade 12 5

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his painting is a reference and criticism to US’s WWII posters for war bonds, it makes the audience feel symptoms for Dutch girls in the picture and buy more war bonds, so the US army can “relief” them. However, many historians believe that the reason why US joined and fought the European war was mainly that 75% of the US’s foreign market was in Europe, and after the German occupied many European countries, thenmarket became highly unstable. So the US joined the war only to save their economy.

Sybert Grade 12

often find myself overwhelmed by the amount of media I need to consume in order to facilitate any interaction with my peers. Using Jack Kirby’s pseudo-technological designs and the recurring imagery of masks, Cage portrays modern media’s impact on repressing the self. Our generation was raised to be reliant on shared popular culture. Media informs us on how to live, on the expectations we should have, on how to be — the mask we adopt and adapt become our own cages.

Sybert Grade 12

deas in memetic study propagate like spores or tubes. Using the muted complementaries and composition of James Jean’s The Black Parade work, I aimed to showcase the overcrowdedness and resulting decay of a mind overrun by too many ideas. With a continuous stream of stimuli the modern age provides, hyperactivity far exceeds the mental capacity a persona can mask. Though we may wish to show another face, the fatalism that lies beneath grows beyond it.

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Sybert Grade 12

Keekwang Grade 12

painting that depicts mountain scenery, one that is fantasized and aims to achieve an awe effect on the audience. The painting’s composition is influenced by Caspar David Friedrich’s mountainscape and painted using Monet’s Water Lily pad color scheme. The view from afar the mountain looks lonely and quiet, void of any man-made structure, it is the epitome of nature. For what can man create to match even the slightest which nature offers, a mockery to humans who believe that nature is obsolete. Keekwang Grade 12

Keekwang Grade 12

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painting that depicts an artificial lake within proximity to a sidewalk. In Buddhism, a fully bloomed lotus symbolizes enlightenment. Humans are born in a state of confusion; often depicted in the manuscripts as being under muddy water, the act of rising above the muddy water is an astounding achievement for a select few. For those who have surpassed the water tension are beyond birth, grievance, and death. The delicate balance between the three is shown in the growth stages of a lotus.

Keekwang Grade 12

he ruby represents the nobility and passion embedded in the passing of the ring from one generation. Holding not only value due to the gem, the materialistic side itself but it also holds the value to the owner’s heart. The painting attempts to communicate that nobility and love does not only hold significance externally (material) but also significance internally (within one’s mind). This piece is inspired by Tokuriki Tomikichiro’s Cherry blossom and Japanese landscapes.

Lisa Grade 12

his piece is influenced by Francis Bacon and the concept of existentialism, a movement that suggests that the existence of life has no meaning. The concept is displayed through the composition of the gem where the darkness is framed by the naturally beautiful gem. Regardless of its beauty, our eye is immediately drawn to the negative space, which suggests that the person has chosen to let negativity dominate them.

Lisa Grade 12

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Lisa Grade 12

Pao Pao Grade 12

n a busy operating city, the most pleasant time for workers would be after work. Similar to students, the moment after walking out of the exam room, the feeling is just inexpressible cheerful, restful… This work was inspired by a Chinese poem. It combines the poet’s pleasant mood after encountering amnesty with the magnificent scenery of rivers and mountains and the smooth lightness of sailing along the river. Which depicts a similar phenomenon of the modern city.

Pao Pao Grade 12

hen people are on the brink of death or their final moment, everything seems to slow down. Most importantly, their vision becomes blurry, and these feelings turn out to be deeply comforting as well. This work was influenced by Edward Munch’s most emotionallyloaded landscapes, evoking loneliness in the face of death.

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Pao Pao Grade 12

Soomi Grade 12

nspired by Dice Tsutsumi and Robert Kondo’s painting style. “Window” depicts a girl who is intrigued yet scared of the outside world. This painting represents my many fears; meeting people, being in a new environment, taking steps to achieve my goals. Although I am interested and curious in many things, my fear inhibits them from pursuing them fully.

Soomi Grade 12

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I Soomi Grade 12

Soomi Grade 12

nspired by the Thai idiom “frog in the coconut”, meaning, because the frog is closed off from the world in a small space, the frog believes that that small enclosure is the entire world. This communicates my current emotions graduating from highschool.However instead of the frog being in the coconut, the frog is outside as I am now graduating; leaving the coconut.

Tonhom Grade 12

hese two pieces shed light on the conditions of Thailand’s medical community, illustrated through the use of symbolism, all of which derived from my personal experiences.

Tonhom Grade 12

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Tonhom Grade 12

y work explores beyond the barriers of the skin into the beauty of human anatomy.

Chin Grade 12

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Chin Grade 12

he metal gate photo was taken in Chinatown. The piece is a piece sketched by 2B pencil that is inspired by Michael Wolf’s Architecture of Density due to close-up patterns and details of the metal gate. The metal gate indicates the danger of depression or anxiety, how people lock themselves up from the outside world due to feeling uneasy or a lack of interest in anything else.

Jonas Grade 12

ow Far Can We Go?

Jonas Grade 12

The picture I took from Ekamai BTS station of cars on the Sukhumvit road. The piece is based on acrylic paint on rusted metal while inspired by Jules de Balincourt - People Who Play and The People Who Pay with the focus on details and close-up views of buildings. The use of rusted metal implies the industrialization in Thailand from 19701990. The Cars symbolize modern society while the cars run on the roads that were built in the past to show development and how far we’ve come, which made me wonder… How far can we go?

Jonas Grade 12

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Jonas Grade 12

Pink Grade 10

Prem Grade 10

Pruw Grade 10

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Leung,Grade 10

Pun Pun Grade 10

Prim Grade 11

Pun Pun Grade 10

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Pun Pun Grade 10

Oh Sir, Mr. Reporter Poj, G8 “Oh sir, Mr. Reporter, we must go! And leave this place today. For it is hell in my mind, even when they dare not say.”

“But why? My friend? This is your home too, Where and how would you go? To who, out of the blue?”

“Oh sir, Mr. Reporter, we must go! We have no other choice. The guns are too loud and too satanian No one listens to our voice.”

How could it be that heaven and hell Are standing right in front of me? So I must don this mask and pack this bag. “This place smells of black rotting blood. Don’t you smell and see?”

“But are you sure my friend? You are at no fault to others, But they are wrong for you. Your people should not leave, your people will persevere together”

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With no other choice, she boarded that blue boat which is a cattle car as the ground shattered and shouted. to abandon the scars. But the smugglers and the receivers, Are as rosy red as satan. The boat capsized, After she was branded and banned. So she perished into the ocean, and her mask and bag washed on the suffering shore. So I asked, “what will I do to stop this- the cry of such roar?”

记忆中的那棵树 The Tree Within My Memory Nicky, G11

With every passage of time, childhood becomes increasingly distanced. I stood at the school’s 时间不断的流逝，童年渐渐地远去。我站在校 courtyard, gazing at the big tree. 园中，凝视着那颗大树。 I still clearly remember my first day attending school. 我还清清楚楚地记得第一天上学时的画面，父 My parents were holding my little hand, and as we 母牵着我的小手，路过校园中的一棵小树时，我 passed by a small sapling in the courtyard, I curiously 好奇地问：“为什么这棵树比其他的矮呢？”我 asked, “why is this tree shorter than all the others?” 的父亲并没有回答我的问题，他只瞥了我一眼， My father didn’t answer, he just glanced at me and 然后笑了。 then smiled. Entering the classroom, I met a lot of my classmates. I remember my first day learning the Chinese language, learning about symbols referring to “water, land, fire, up, down” and a few other basic characters. When the teacher explained the character, “木”, symbolizing “tree,” I could not resist 岁月如梭，日复一日，我从小学教室换到了 thinking about the petite tree I passed by that 中学教室。直到如今，我即将到新的校园学习。 morning. 我回想到第一天上学的小树，慢慢的被大自然滋养，变成了大树，坚挺地站立着。我回想起那时 Time passed, day after day, I relocated from the 候矮矮的我，如今身高以及知识都增长了。 elementary corridor to the primary corridor, then to the secondary corridor. But today, I will be 现在我将离开这个校园了，离开这珍珠般美 moving on --going to a new corridor in a new place to 好、珍贵的童年，那一幕幕的画面像镜头一样闪 continue my education. I think back to the small, wavy 过，一切都使我忍禁不住流下了一滴滴的眼泪。 sapling on my first day of school: nourished by nature, 我抬起头，摸着它的树根，悠悠地说：“再见， it slowly grew into a big tree, now standing firmly and 很高兴认识你。” proudly in the courtyard. I think back to my short and innocent self on my first day of school: nurtured by education and nutrition, my physique and world awareness continuously grew. 走到了教室，我见到了许多的同学，记得第一天的中文课，我只认出 “水、土、火、上、下” 等一些简单的字。当老师解释 “木” 这个字时，那时我忍不住的想起早上路过的那颗矮矮的树。

Eventually, I raised my head, touched its rough bark, and said, “Goodbye, it was nice to know you.”

Great Grade 10

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I will soon leave this school campus, as well as leave my beautiful, innocent and precious childhood behind. As I walked through the courtyard one final time bound for the front gate, a montage of memories from my childhood flashed before my eyes. I stood next to the sturdy tree as my tears rolled off my face and into the ground, where the roots of the tree rested.

记忆中外婆的田边小屋 Nostalgic Grandma’s Field Side Cabin 作者：陈熙, Fiona Chen, G11

走到家门看到外公坐在外面的藤椅上一边扇着蒲扇一边骄傲地炫耀年轻时的他当兵的时候有多么英勇，多么帅，多么值得人们尊敬。“甲奔毆” 暑假笺如期而至，树上的知了热闹起来了。回外婆那宏亮的聲音叫我們进家里吃飯。到台湾，父亲悠闲地在田野边开着车，窗户摇下的那刹那，一阵熟悉的味道扑鼻而来，“啊，对了，就是这熟悉的感觉。闻着炒菜的油耗我记得了。原来是稻田的味道”。看到一旁的黄味，听着外婆的闽南语，坐在藤椅上。色金龟车，这一不经意的回头，我好像穿越了，我看到了从前那条弯曲的农家小径一旁的小屋。外婆从厨房里端出一道道油亮油亮的饭菜。想那是外婆的田边小屋。余光不经意地飘到斜对面起外婆做的菜实在让我口水直流。油亮亮的炒青的黄色房子，那是从前我和陌生邻居小孩第一次菜，粒粒分明又圆润饱满的米粒，有鱼有肉，说话的时候。虽然长大了，我对他的记忆逐渐模还有香浓可口的汤。吃完了之后大家各自收拾碗糊，琢磨不定。但我永远不会忘了那个面庞黝黑筷，躺坐在沙发上。爱搞怪的他。也永远不会忘记我们坐在田边帮外婆摘五颜六色的野花，相互扮起鬼脸，七手八脚 “甘无甲罢。” 这是我外婆最可爱的一点。把攀上一棵被太阳晒到变得温热的树。累的时候悬你的肚子喂撑得不得了，还生怕你吃不饱。坐在一旁的水沟上，看着从山上流下来清晰的水里一闪一闪发光游来游去的小鱼，把刚刚摘的野 “甲罢阿，金贺甲。” 不得不说，我的闽南花丢下去，看着野花顺着水漂流到我们看不到的语还真烂。但 “吃饱了，很好吃” 对我而言是地方。小菜一碟。想想要是在泰国的话，应该只有煮饭的阿姨会叫我吃饭了吧。猛然惊醒。我从两岁在泰国长大，至今，竟从未感到这 “归属感”。原来这就是为什么我会那只是随着时间的推移，我终是拜别了那段岁月么思念那短暂的幸福和温暖。静好的时光。我带着激动再次回到了这个老地方。这里就像是一幅会动的、有温度的照片。走到这里就像走入我的夏日童年。刚一落地一种期待、久违的感动和好玩的激动漫延在这片温热的田上与我产生了一种用言语无可形容的共鸣。但渐渐地，时间变得更少，笑容好像又少了点。这一路上的风景慢慢地冷却了那种曾经的炙热；这是哪？我记忆中的一切都不一样了，虽说是故乡，但却是冰冷的、陌生的、空虚的。

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曾经记忆中清晰可感触到的田和野花，也终于成为我心中的老地方。绿油油的田园，响亮的蝉鸣，被烤熟的马路。而现在反而变成了一块光秃秃的地。想来也可笑，以前身在福中不知福，却又渴望童话故事般的幸福。现在也一样，只不过欲望变得更大，内心变得空虚、凄凉，我似乎发现了，原来曾经最熟悉的地方，最终会成为陌生的新地方。我想这就是人生吧。相片也是有褪色的时候。老地方，新地方，我为你无奈、悲哀。

我不知不觉地看向那间曾经的黄色小屋。那已经不是黄色的小房子了。外婆说，那家人搬到另 ummer came as scheduled, the lively crickets chirped 外一个城市了。原来那曾经的“黄色哥哥”已经 on the tree. Coming back to Taiwan, my father 要上大学了。而我，独自站在那条小路，左看右 drove along the fields. The moment you roll down the 看。只剩下夕阳的尾巴，还有我跟路灯照出来的 window, a sudden breeze of the nostalgic scent 影子。 pierces right through the gaps. “Oh , I remember! It’s the smell of the paddy field!” I see a yellow beetle 我的心变得冰冷，好像被挖空。 car in the corner of my eyes, this split second, I felt like I travelled back in time. I saw the gnarled road 走回家的路上，我目不转睛地看着那片田。看 beside a small cabin- my Grandma’s cabin. I couldn’t 的不是田，而是曾经拥有的回忆。快到家时，我 help but look towards a yellow house right across the 远远就能从有光亮的家里闻到外婆做的拿手菜。 street, where I met my first childhood friend. It was

my first time talking to this boy. Although time has gone by way faster than I’ve ever imagined, and as my intangible childhood memory of mine subtly fades as the time passes, I will never forget that tan goofy face of his. I’ll never forget the moment where we sat beside the field, chatting, laughing, and removing the overgrown weeds for my grandma. Sometimes, we even find ourselves some flowers within the muddy grass. We mess around, climb on warm tree branches in the afternoon, and rest on the edge of the stream, watching the crystal like water running down the mountains. Within that glittering water, there’s tiny river fish swimming along the current, and we throw the flowers in the stream to watch it float away from us, far, faraway, until it disappears.

extremely loud voice of my grandmothers called us for dinner.

Unexpectedly, I realized, how can I feel more ‘belonged’ than Thailand? I moved to Thailand when I was two. Perhaps the consist epiphany after another, perhaps because this is where I belonged, perhaps that is the reason why I cherish this brief happiness.

“Gam U Jia Pa” (‘are you full?’ in Taiwanese) is the cutest feature of my grandmother. She will feed you until your stomach is about to explode, and she still fears you’re not eating enough. Which I will always reply with “Jia Pa A, Jin He Jia ‘’ (I’m full, It’s very good). I’ll have to admit, my Taiwanese is so freaking bad. But “I’m full, it’s delicious” is a piece of cake. Imagine if I am back in Thailand, I think the only person who calls me for meals may be my maid.

I packed excitement along with me. This feels like a photograph filled with warmth and movements. Walking along the gnarled road is like walking into my childhood portal. The long lost happiness spread across mother nature formed a bond with me, the ineffable harmony between me and this piece of land. Yet, smiles seem to disappear more gradually, time also goes by gradually. The view along the paddy field cooled down the passion I used to have. Where are we? This isn’t the same place I remember in my childhood. The hollow shell of the so-called ‘hometown’ is filled with loneliness, bitterness, and foreignness.

That’s right, that’s the nostalgic feeling. Smelling the rancid odor from stir fries, listening to my grandparents chatting in Taiwanese as they sit on the rattan chair. Grandmother serves out shiny dishes one by one. Just thinking about it makes me salivate, the shiny stir fried vegetable, The grains of rice are distinct, round and plump, there’s fish and meat, and awesome soup that my grandmother always makes. After we finished our dishes, we brought out plates and utensils to the kitchen, then laid on the sofa.

As the time passed, I must say goodbye to this wonderful dream.

The crystal clear memories I had, the tangible paddy fields and wildflowers, ends up being my ‘old place’. The green field, the loud crickets, the burning hot roads-no longer exists. Thinking back, it is quite pathetic, I used to be in such a happy place, yet, I seek for a fairy tale. It’s still the same, but my desire has grown bigger, and my heart remains more hollow and cold. But I seem to have realized that, no matter what happens, the place that you used to know so well, as I looked at that yellow house; it’s no longer yellow. you fly out of the nest, it will end up being a very wellGrandma told me that family had moved intown. That known foreign place for you. ‘boy’ is going to college. And here I am, standing all alone, on the same gnarled road. Looking around, Maybe this is life. Photograph fades. To old places, there is nothing but leftover sunset, street lights, and new places, I feel sorrow for you. the casted shadow of me by the street lights. My heart aches, as if it’s being hollowed out. 19 19

Fiona Grade 11

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On the way walking home, I can’t help myself but to look at the paddy. Then I realized, it’s not the paddy field I’m looking at, it’s the memory I had. As I was walking closer to the cabin, I smelled the special dish my grandmother always cooked for us. I arrived home, seeing my grandfather sitting on his rattan chair with a fan, proudly bragging about how handsome and heroic he was when he was in the military. “Jia Bueng O” (‘time to eat!’ in Taiwanese) the thick and

The Secrets of an Undying Piece

Manta Grade 9

Khaojao, G10

enry Wadsworth once said “Music is a universal language of mankind”. All cultures throughout the world have some form of music. Music can be used to express emotions and ideas that words cannot. To understand the music, one must analyse these 7 elements: rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, dynamics, tone colour / timbre, and form. Below is an analysis of the famous piece called Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major from the baroque era.

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The baroque era was an era of music from the 1600 to 1750. The baroque era came after the renaissance era. It was during the baroque era where string ensembles became extremely popular. The word “Baroque” is derived from the Portugese word “Barocco” meaning oddly-shaped pearls. To the Portugese, this type of music is weird; there is an extensive use of ornaments, over-exaggerated use of crescendos and decrescendos, and a huge focus of the music is on producing polyphonic lines of melody.

Rhythm:

Pachelbel’s Canon is in 4/4 time signature. There are no complex rhythms; no triplets, no syncopations, etc. The cello and harpsichord plays the constant 8 notes in half notes throughout the whole piece, the lute plays the constant 8 chords in half notes throughout the whole piece, and the 3 violins stack variations upon variations on top of one another, meaning the rhythm doesn’t stay constant. The tempo for this performance is around 112 bpm.

Melody:

Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major clearly states that it is in the key signature of D ionian major, although there are some occasional cases of D mixolydian major. Yes, it is in D major, however the baroque tuning system – A = 415 Hz – is different from the present tuning system – A = 440 Hz. This is why the pitch from this performance seems to be lowered from “normal standards” by a semitone. The canon form makes the melody different in every repetition of the piece, since every variation is different from each other. There is no one motif, although you can argue that the bassline played with the cello is the motif, since all other lines of melody are built on top of it. This piece is from the baroque era after all, so there is a constant shift of main melody: from first violin to second to third and back to first.

Harmony:

This piece uses basso continuo, meaning that the bass sections (cello and harpsichord) repeats the same lines over and over throughout the piece. There are 8 chords within the loop. The lute continues to play the chords with triads only – no 7, no 9, etc. Counterpoint is also used so polyphonic melodies are intertwined and create harmony.

Texture:

As mentioned before, this piece contains polyphonic melodies. All 3 lines of violin have different melodies, rhythms, etc. but all are intertwined to create harmony. Polyphony is different from homophony from the fact that polyphonic melodies have different melodies and rhythm, while homophonic melodies have different melodies but the same rhythm.

Dynamics:

As this piece is from the baroque era there are a lot of shifting dynamics. In this piece there is a strong correlation between the dynamics and the pitch of the note. The higher the pitch, the louder the note; the lower the pitch, the softer the note. Also, the main melody plays louder than the rest of the parts, making it more obvious for the audience to hear the main melody, since the main melody would stand out the most.

Tone Colour / Timbre:

This element of music explores the concept of how the sound of the instruments contribute to creating a mood. This composition was originally composed for 3 violins, 1 violoncello, 1 harpsichord, and 1 lute. This extensive use of only string instruments allow for the piece to be played with a light mood with deep meaning. String instruments are often associated with a sentimental feeling, which is why this piece can be so expressive. String instruments are also quite versatile, and just by adjusting the tempo and dynamics, you can turn a bright and happy piece into a dark and moody piece.

Form:

This composition follows a form of music called canon form. This form of music is when there is a repeated set of chords and the melody is built on top of the repetition. Also, canon forms use counterpoint to allow for the different lines of melody to run smoothly and harmoniously. Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major is a composition with simple melodies yet deep meaning. How you want to interpret the meaning is up to you. This piece is popular among weddings, funerals, advertisements, talent shows, and pretty much everything. Maybe it’s because of this piece’s versatility that it became one of the most famous pieces ever, or perhaps it’s just because everyone knows the piece that it can be connected with from anywhere. Who knows?

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Sugar Plums Palita, G8 I am left hanging— dangling. Stretching arms beyond, into the menace Waiting to reach the sweet. Blooming slowly, the petals fall, Existence is a great virtue. Bogged down, lifting my eyes to touch. Delicately as I grasp for light, Yet tainted as I see. Dangling. I came for a passing visit. Our eyes— still, have to soar upon the treetops of the round plum tree. Kaigetsudō Dohan, “Courtesan Playing with a Cat” (1715), The Art Institute of Chicago

Author Note:

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My poem “Sugar Plums” is an ekphrasis poem inspired by Kaigetsudō Dohan’s “Courtesan Playing with a Cat.” It is named “Sugar Plums” to symbolize limitations of existence and life caused by the selfishness of others; the plum symbolizing reality and one’s true self, and the sugar-coatings as ungenerosity. Reflective aspects I point out in this art piece are existing forms of life; a human, an animal (cat), and a non-living thing. I did so as to relate them to the concept of the birth of existence. I have interpreted the artpiece’s stillness, and it’s dull and drab color as pure reality, and decided to integrate this to my concept of existence by bringing life and empathizing to the perspective of the lady’s cloth in the picture. In all, my poem expresses the many cycles of life using inanimate objects; to stillness, and to nothing.

It all falls down Great, G10 All the years that are cosy, All turned to things unlovely, Like melting drops of candy, Now only a memory. Sing rings around the rosies, Repeat the tune for mommy, And shout it out most humbly, A pocket full of posies, Those days were smooth and friendly, The world was lively with sounds, The sky was free from lightning! Down go the beats so gently, Tunes lost, never to be found, There is new wind of singing…

Great, G10

Red and black smoke, Star flag on the moon, Four, three, two... Mission comes true.

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Mighty Star Mission

reaped. She lets go of her phantom opponents and walks forward. I work to emulate her resolve in letting go of regrets. My only regret now is that I didn’t start sooner! Wandy: I feel like I balanced my social life and 1. Describe your IB experience in 1 sentence. school life well. I kept up with grades and school Sanjana: An unforgettable experience. work. There were times where I wish I studied Sybert: Brain bigger but hurts — ow. harder for a test. Wandy: What am I supposed to do? Au: I regret not buying a fridge for the lounge. Au: It’s highschool, Dark Souls™ edition. Green: I do not feel regretful for sleeping in the Green: Senior year grade not Stonks. lounge. Robin: Do we have free block? Robin: I regret not using the fitness room more. Soomi: Pure burn out and exhaustion. Soomi: Although it’s been very tiring and Andra: 先苦后甜 (similar to: no pain, no gain) stressful, it is worth it. I learned so much. Andra: With the given time, I’ve done the best 2. What were your initial thoughts before IB DP I could with no regrets. I wish I had the chance as a sophomore? to learn more English Literature, even though Sanjana: I would barely pass TOK. I find it more challenging than Language and Sybert: How shall I get the most impact from the Literature. least amount of work? Wandy: 4 HLs can’t be THAT hard. 4. What’s a worry or concern that kept you up at Au: How hard can IB be...... night? Tips on how to deal with this for people Green: I can handle 2 science HLs and Math AA experiencing similar worries? HL:)))) Sanjana: In Grade 11, because of tests or Robin: I am allowed to have free time. assignments, nothing greater than that. That Soomi: Can’t be that bad lol. transitioned into university applications and IAs Andra: It’s only 6 subjects. We take 9-10 subjects in Grade 12. in MYP. Surely I’ll have time to do other things. Sybert: At night, I was never concerned with falling asleep, for I knew that though I wasn’t the 3. What is something that you regret doing/not sharpest, smartest or bravest, I was among family doing? Why? and peers. I was kept up at night if I forgot there Sanjana: I believe I balanced both my school life was a deadline the next day, was cramming, or and social life well. I wouldn’t get this experience I was caught up in a game, movie, or book. (For anywhere else. It has changed my perspective, an immediate yet brief respite, spin a cow in your personality, and my mindset for the better. head as fast as you can.) Busy yourself so much Sybert: Have you seen “The Legend of during the day that by night the fear, anxiety, and Korra”? The protagonist realizes that though she pressure is overpowered by your tiredness, you defeated all her foes in spectacular animated will sleep easier. For most, exercise helps with fight scenes, she still fights them over and over this. For sentient piles of goo like myself, crankagain in her mind. After severe trauma, she comes ing out journal pages or doing line-art is mentally to grips, making peace with her actions, the tiring enough to feel the embrace of good ‘ol utilitarian good and the personal consequences Hypnos.

Being a DP Senior

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Pun Pun Grade 10

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Wandy: I used to worry about failing Chemistry HL, specifically my IA. I cried in my sleep and woke up in tears because I failed my Chem IA (in a dream). Don’t worry. Reach out to friends and teachers for help, use scholarly articles from the libguide, do past papers from ibdocuments.com. Au: Sleep? lmao Green: Robin Robin: Green Soomi: Not passing the IB. Just keep going : ) Andra: Math has been (and still is) one of my weaker subjects. I didn’t really have a choice, however, going into Physics meant I needed HL. What you’re interested in doesn’t always mean you’re good at it, which was my case. Many times poor marks made me contemplate my university major selection: was I good enough or cut out for this major? Don’t forget: the IB is a rigorous course; the syllabus (especially for HL content) is not a walk in the park. Work hard. Seek guidance from teachers; they’re here for you! Practice with past papers. Your worries are valid, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel; prepare with a lot of time and effort. It does pay off in the end.

5. What should students beginning the DP be aware of? Sanjana: To think that the IB is hard. It is BELIEVED that the IB is notoriously challenging, it won’t be if you manage your time. Repeatedly saying it is hard will make it hard. Think of it as manageable. Take advice from seniors (you can reach out to us anytime!), plan, browse IB advice websites and videos, learn the tips and tricks to do well. Sybert: I took the path of least resistance, choosing subjects I knew I could keep interest and excel in. However, don’t lock yourself in your comfort zone. Assess the options, select based on your interests, but try spicier options as well — Spanish, French, ITGS, Literature, ESS, Theater. Wandy: Taking 4 higher level classes (or taking 2 higher levels in the sciences) is something to give a second thought to, it is very demanding and time consuming. It is also a fun challenge requiring willpower. Au: Just do the work lmao. Green: Don’t complain too much to the teacher, just do it. -Nike, im lovin it, The kernal Robin: Don’t stress too much about your first semester. Cut yourself some slack. The education system is flawed. But also, you can’t postpone every single assessment. The point of school isn’t getting 7s in everything. Soomi: Don’t panic too much! Andra: Don’t make too many commitments/ overwhelm yourself! I can’t stress this enough. I thought only having to take six subjects (compared to 9-10 in the MYP) meant that I’d have plenty of time for extracurriculars/clubs. That isn’t the case. Being wholeheartedly committed to a few is much better than half-committing to many. Give yourself time to adjust to the DP programme in your first semester.

6. What’s the first thing you think of when you think of ‘school’? Sanjana: Free blocks. Sybert: Chess. Wandy: Sodexo’s Coconuts. Au: How should I fake my death today? Robin: Abond Green: is it 3 free blocks in the morning yet so I wake at 10am? Is it 3 free block in the afternoon so I can go home? Soomi: head empty. Andra: *mind goes blank -- too sleep deprived to think* 7. Is there anything you learned from DP that will stay with you for the rest of your life? Sanjana: To cherish the moment, good or bad. Sybert: Own and become the mask you wear. Wandy: Live, laugh, love. Au: It’s just high school, relax fam. Robin: I’m not going to have any more friends than the ones here. Green: If Arthur can play apex a day before the mocks so can you. Soomi: The limits of how long I can stay awake. Andra: If you can do the IB, you can do (almost) anything!!

8. How did you know what you wanted to pursue? What were responses from people around you, and how did that affect you? Sanjana: I always knew I would be doing something in STEM as I’ve been better at maths and science since I was younger. It is perhaps ‘stereotypical’, haha, but I’m planning to major in engineering, more specifically chemical engineering. I did get positive responses from people around me, but no matter what they thought, I would still choose to go into this field, as I am so interested in sustainability and the idea of making things more efficient and long-lasting. Sybert: Going for a bachelor’s degree in Communication or Communication Technology, seeing that what’s taught there is applicable in nearly every conceivable aspect of societal needs, especially in the modern age. I know the stigma of it being an “easy-major”, but it allows for a myriad of opportunities that not only adheres to my work-ethic but will serve my goals in life. Wandy: I plan to pursue either Cognitive Science (or Neuroscience). Cog Sci is a versatile major because it’s an interdisciplinary subject that allows me to study philosophy, computer science and even linguistics. The people around me are very supportive! Friends and family helped me with college essays.

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Keekwang Grade 12

Au: Do what makes you happy. Step out of your comfort zone. Everyone else can have their own opinion. But in the end, it’s your life, your choice. You only live once. Green: The classes you enjoy and earning good grades in them. Robin: What’s something that you can spend hours and hours doing, alone, by yourself, without seeing another soul? For me, it’s food. My peers found it odd, but I can’t imagine myself doing anything else. Soomi: I knew I wanted to do animation very early. It was really difficult convincing the people around me that I took that goal seriously. What I learned, however, is you need to trust yourself on your own decisions because they’re yours, not anyone else’s. Andra: I didn’t realise how fascinating Physics was until Grade 9 (Thank you, Mr. Markus!!). It is captivating to learn concepts and laws governing reality, in the quantum world or the vast cosmos. I would have thought I’d have no issue with wanting to major in physics, especially since it’s a STEM major. I was wrong. Family and friends worried about career options. That didn’t deter me. Even though I may not immediately find a job in my field of interest, I know that I have more options later. I believe that if you’re passionate about something, put your mind to it and work, things will fall into place. Afterall, you should be majoring in a subject that you’re interested in!

Meaning of life? Life is full of achieving goals, but also enjoying the journey and the adventure. I have many goals and I am confident and optimistic that I will achieve them. I know what my purpose is, I want to do good. For myself, my family, and others. A few minutes before I die, I want to be proud of myself for the journey. Sybert: Call it contrived, selfish, lazy, I just want to do good, make a living, make a family, and live and leave in peace. I’ll leave scouring the edges of the universe, reversing entropy, and finding and/ or killing God to the more capable among us. Wandy: Being happy: doing the things I love and being around good people. Au: I haven’t found it yet. I want to live my life according to my codes and morals, meeting new people, going to new places, enjoying everything through the journey. Green: Nothing. We all die anyways. So have fun. You choose what you do, just go with the flow of time and focus on the present. Robin: We’re put here without instructions, without purpose, it’s hard to imagine a point to get up in the morning. But the same argument can be made for why you shouldn’t get up in the morning. The universe didn’t give you a purpose when you were born on Earth. So I’m choosing my own purpose. It’s a secret tho I’m not telling. You should choose your own too.

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9. Do you struggle with trying to find meaning in your life? What does the phrase ‘meaning of life’ mean to you? Sanjana: I haven’t (yet) struggled with the meaning of life. I don’t go by the saying ‘we all die anyways’, so ‘we can do whatever we want.’ I am very organized and mindful of the things I do, and I believe that we all get a chance to experience all aspects of life. However, there is a certain time and age when we can experience those. So, instead of ‘doing whatever I want whenever I want to’, I wait for the right time to come.

Pun Pun Grade 10

Soomi: I think it’s important to keep going, keep learning things, and keep trying to better yourself. There’s endless amounts of inspiration. Things you can learn and discover, I think life is neat. It can be difficult getting caught up with the little things in life, but in the grand scheme of things, you live and you die. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Andra: Welcome to the modernity worldview, folks. I guess it’s normal to struggle with shaping “meaning” in this meaningless universe. I think my “meaning in life” is to be happy… but what does that really mean anyway? I’m still on my quest to define this, but perhaps, it doesn’t need defining. If there’s one thing I’m sure about, it’s that I want to contribute positively to something, be it clean energy development to mitigate the effects of climate change or something as miniscule as helping a stranger out.

11. As a senior about to graduate, what advice would you tell “sophomore-year” you? Sanjana: Do things other than study. Sybert: The changes will fry you inside out like a small sparrow being struck by lightning. Study up! Wandy: Don’t let Senioritis stop you Au: It’s just highschool. Relax and enjoy the ride. Real bumpy ride though. Robin: Appreciate those who you won’t see after graduation. Green: If I can do it, wake at 3pm and watch anime till 7pm, so can you. Soomi: Goodluck lol. Andra: Sleep while you can, please.

10. What is something you could not have passed the IB without? Sanjana: My parents and ibdocuments.com Sybert: Parents’ support, friends as an emotional wall to rebound off of, trusty Batman pencil case (that I still lose from time to time). Wandy: P’ Kik (bless her soul, iykyk) Au: Video games. Green: MOMO paradise. Man the emotional relief after every stressful week is MOMO with friends. Friends too. Shoutout to the boys. Robin: My boys, love u abond <3 Soomi: My family. Truly :’ ) . They make my day everyday. Andra: My mum, supportive teachers, and close friends.

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Ice Grade 10

Success is in the Balance Sanjana, G12

veryone knows that one of the hardest battles we have to fight in the IB curriculum is time management. These skills are crucial to become a successful IB graduate. As a senior IB learner, here are my time management tips to help you survive IB. Despite following these, I still had many moments, especially during my senior year, where the work felt overwhelming. I wanted to sleep all day and do nothing. I still managed, however, to pass through those low points and I believe all of you can too! Here are time management tips to help you improve your IB experience...

1. Planning is the key

You’ve probably heard this advice in various Youtube videos, articles, or websites which talk about time management, and yet, I mention it again. Because it is SO important. If you have never made a timetable or a schedule for a day–start now. You can find a multitude of schedule makers, daily planners, and monthly planners. Choose what suits you. I choose a daily planner, list all the activities I have for the day: assignments, exercise, school clubs, watching TV and more. I suggest you do the same. However, do not add time slots for each task as I found it to be quite demotivating. For example, I would write ‘4.30 pm- 5.30 pm: Finish Physics Homework’ but then I would take 2 hours to actually complete it (IB Physics students can relate right? Haha :D ) That would just ruin my schedule, I wouldn’t feel like doing anything later.

2. Start early When you start the IB course, you will be shown an overview of the curriculum for each of your subjects. There are also resources online for subject syllabus, and other requirements such as the IA, EE, etc.. (Perhaps read these during grade 10 summer break). Since you know what you will learn about beforehand, start thinking about the big assignments. I’m not talking about studying the subject content before covered in class, but the selection of topics for your IA and EE. You don’t have to wait for your teachers to introduce to you what the IA is all about and the criteria.. You can do that before! This way, you can start discussing your ideas with your teachers and begin writing your subject IAs. This depends on each subject, but let’s say that your teacher told the class that you will be starting the IA process in January of your junior year, you can start working on selecting the topics and going through all the necessary information during your Christmas break, and in January, you can already start writing it! If it’s the science IAs I’m sure you can write the introduction, hypothesis, variables, and the method. Once you’re done with these, you only have to wait for the instructions to start conducting the experiment. This way, while others are still selecting their topics, you have written a few sections, freeing time

Simply list the tasks to accomplish and do them at your own pace, while being REALISTIC. The best plus about this is the satisfaction you get when you finish the things you planned. I can assure you, you’ll feel great about yourself and you’ll be much more confident in terms of handling great amounts of workload and pressure.

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Beam Grade 10

Another major tip. I mean it when I say this- Finish your EE over the summer. Seriously. Get it done. But this means that you have to have a confirmed topic and have already discussed it with your supervisor from January to May of your junior year. It seems like a lot of work, but all this hard work will pay off in the end! Trust me, during November of our senior year, we had our TOK essay, EE, some subject IAs due AS WELL AS our semester exams. We were burned out.. God knows how we passed that phase. But this is why I’m telling you this. If you finish your EE, then you have one less thing to worry about. Follow my advice, you will thank me in your senior year.

“To be prepared is half the victory.” –Miguel De Cervantes

3. Use your holidays wisely

Yes, I know that the IB is tiring and it feels amazing to have a break, relax and enjoy. For the first few days, you can enjoy it, but eventually, you have to start to get things done. Firstly, you have to get your goals figured out. For instance, I had to take the SAT Subject Tests for three subjects in August of my senior year, my goal for the summer was to prepare for the tests. Similarly, you have to prioritize your goals. It could be finishing your EE, working on IAs, or practicing subjects you struggle with the most. Holidays, at least for me, are super important, they give you ample time to get work done. I hate leaving things to the last minute so I feel glad when I finish things earlier. You can watch your Netflix shows, go out with friends, play video games for as long as you want, but you have to come to a realization when you feel you’re relaxing a little bit too much and start to be productive. For this, the best way is to make a timetable– back to my first point.

4. Take a break from social media

You might think of this as more of a general life advice and you’re probably like ‘okay I’ve already seen this a thousand times. I know how much social media to use every day. I have a screen limit for my apps…’ If you do, that’s great! An hour or two of social media is more than enough for a day. But when your screen time is four hours or more each day; something is wrong .

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Pun Pun Grade 10

Sometimes we don’t realize that social media has become an addiction. People may hold different opinions on this matter, but my advice for you, something which I didn’t agree with earlier but eventually did; QUIT social media. Not for the entire two years, but at least for a period of time in which you think doing this is important. To be honest, I was ADDICTED to Instagram during grades 9 and 10. My parents first told me to limit social media; I didn’t listen, and they strictly told me not to use it for 2 months, to begin. I thought ‘How bad could it be? ’ It was SO challenging. Every time I looked at my phone and swiped to Instagram, it wasn’t there. Not only did it help save time, but it also kept me from getting distracted. Before, while studying, I saw stories of people having fun, I became unhappy for a few minutes. When I was studying, I thought,

‘why am I at home working when everyone is literally outside and living their best lives?’ It’s basically a feeling of insecurity. I’m so glad I don’t get that feeling anymore, because I know my goals. I know that this will pay off in the end, I know that my time to enjoy will also come. You may not believe it, but I didn’t open the Instagram app from January 2020 to August 2020. Did I lose anything? Nope. Nothing feels different. I did not miss out on anything. When I logged into my account at the end of August, I was so excited to see so many messages, tags, and more. After checking all of them, I didn’t feel any different, surprisingly. I thought, ‘wait, that’s it?’. Since then, I don’t give social media much importance. I occasionally open it, to see university posts and photos I’ve been tagged in. When you think of something as ‘unnecessary,’ you will find yourself not even bothering about it. If you do not want to completely delete social media, at least have a limit on how much time you will spend on it each day. Guys, it’s just 2 years. They will go by so fast. Spend time with your real-life friends, make strong bonds with them, forget all the short-term happiness you get when you reach a certain amount of followers

Tiro Grade 10

and likes. Focus on the long-term goals. Don’t have regrets later. If you get rejected from any university ecause you were one point short, that is the feeling of regret. You would think ‘Ugh, I wish I studied a little harder’. You can watch all of those movies, all of those K-dramas, play all those video games all day once the IB is over. No one will stop you then.

5. Sleep more

I know, I know, I know. There are a million memes about IB kids and sleep, haha. But in my personal experience, I used to stay up late until 1-2 am and wake up at around 7 am during grades 9 and 10. But for some reason, I couldn’t do that in the IB. I don’t even know why. Most of my friends also felt the same way. It was probably because the IB exhausts you. But my point is that, try your best to get 6-7 hours of sleep otherwise it will be so difficult to function in class. . void procrastinating, something which IB students always do, and make sure you get enough sleep.

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These are all the pieces of advice I have. You will soon start to handle IB with ease if you’re able to follow them. You got this! Good luck!

Kimi Grade 9

Planning on applying to UK universities? Andra, G12

START EARLY Have a preferred major? Make sure you’re taking the right courses at the correct level. Always check the entry requirements before applying to that university. Starting your research in Grade 10 is advisable. A. For the new math curriculum, many math, engineering, and science programmes do not accept Math AI SL. a. Some engineering, math, and physics majors require Math AA HL only, while others accept both Math AI HL and Math AA HL. B. For those who are interested in Oxbridge, it may be a good idea to look over their admissions test in the summer of Grade 11. a. Go over the topics list first and start learning unfamiliar content ASAP. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are stuck on a question. These problems are tricky, as they should be. b. For more information, check out tips and advice from YouTubers who got into Oxbridge.

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C. Start drafting your UCAS personal statement in the summer **UCAS: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service -- (where you submit a single application for UK institutions) a. Think about possible activities, competitions, and projects worth mentioning in your personal statement. b. Remember, the UK cares more about your academic achievements; 80% of your personal statement should be related to your major, and 20% can be about your extracurriculars. i. E.g. If you’re planning to major in mathematics, you can include activities/ competitions such as the UKMT awards, Pan Asia mathematics competition, Math IA, Math EE, etc.

Ping Ping Grade 9

Do things pertaining to your major For example: Do your EE (extended essay) in a subject related to your major, join competitions, start a club, tutor, read books, attend summer programmes (may not be feasible due to COVID-19), join online courses; the list is endless. UK universities want to see your commitment to your subject; they want to know that you have a feel of what your major is all about. Therefore, these activities/competitions will be useful to include in your UCAS personal statement.

Work hard until the very last IB exam.

UK universities are conditional offers, meaning that if your final IB grades don’t meet the offer requirements, you may lose your place at the university.

Tuition fees

The UK is known to be quite limited in offering scholarships. Be sure you’ve done the research for estimated tuition fees, accommodation fees, and living costs. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: andra.lye7@gmail.com I would like to thank Dr. Tresa, editing countless essay drafts and advising me on university options and planning, Ms. Baertschy for giving advice on how to polish my personal statement and scholarship essays, and Mr. Markus and Mr. Gowri for helping me with preparations for the physics aptitude test.

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Ming Grade 9

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Prae Grade 11

Tiro Grade 10

Jenny Grade 10

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Momae, Chin, Punpun, Tiro Grade 10-12

fractured Kimi, G9 a siren blares on the bedside table the pain of reality, so unstable i glance at the glass a fractured reflection. they said oh you’re just sixteen but she was my nicotine with every kiss she sucked me dry her sweet little games all but a lie oil slick and those names that stick they think they’re cool in their clique i’m done, i’m hurt, if only they knew what’s under my shirt

Mother’s Hands Jiho Park, G8 Leaving for work he seldom feels amiss Carrying his rifle, he shouts “I’m off!” Mommy swiftly bids adieu with a kiss Hurriedly dad gently makes a blastoff Soap suds seize the air with its fancy smell Being naked, a towel wraps my waist She wipes the dirt from me as I repel Rubbing was painful, drawings were erased Laying my foot as straight as the striped dress Mother’s cleansed hands tortured my mucky foot With her tiger-like mindset, I was stressed Scratches stopped, buckets were loaded with soot VOICE MAGAZINE - ISSUE 4

Harsher the strict hands move, tougher they teach Endearingly, she honorably preached Mary Cassatt, “The Child’s Bath” (1893), The Art Institute of Chicago

奶奶的绣花枕头 Poj 李光春,G8 清明节快到了，爸爸驾车带着妈妈、弟弟和我去祭拜奶奶。我们先去华欣奶奶的老房子住一晚，第二天去班布里的墓地给奶奶扫墓。爸爸开了三个多小时的车，我们来到了奶奶的老房子。那是一幢木质结构的房子，有两层楼，并有木质的楼梯。四周有矮矮的围墙，房子后面的花园里有一口水井。院子里种了很多树和花，有芭蕉树、木瓜树、芒果树，石榴花、茉莉花等等。远处是一望无边的菠萝地。当年奶奶跟爷爷结婚后就一直生活在这里。奶奶去世后，爷爷身体不好，就来到曼谷治病。现在大伯一家人住在这所房子里。我们每年清明扫墓的时候才回老房子来住几天。在老房子里有一间屋子是专门为奶奶保存的。除了做清洁外，平时都不怎么打开。一直以来我都很好奇，屋子里面到底放的是什么呢？

战争还没结束，广东一带又遭遇了百年罕见的大旱灾。那时土地龟裂，颗粒无收，连草根树皮都被吃光了，到处是一片凄凉悲惨的情景！日本投降后第二年，干旱仍在持续。这时中泰往来开通了。一天，奶奶的爸爸对她说：“孩子，我们家乡连年战乱，现在又连续干旱，人们无法活下去了！你跟亲戚们一起坐船去泰国吧。那里是一方福地，在那里你有饭吃，有水喝，你也不会有危险了！我们在泰国也有亲戚，她会照顾你，帮你找工作的。” 听了爸爸的话，奶奶哭起来，对爸爸说：“不！爸爸，我不去！我要你跟我一起去！”爸爸回答说：“孩子，你听爸爸的话，我老了，哪儿也不去，我要在这儿陪着你的妈妈。但你还很年轻，应该有一个美好的生活！过几天你一定要跟亲戚们上船去！”奶奶伤心地抱了抱爸爸，无奈地走进自己的房间去收拾东西。太爷爷把太奶奶给她准备的，以后结婚用的绣花枕头和席子交给了她，让她带在身边。上船那天，太爷爷送奶奶去到码头。奶奶看到港口停靠着一排排的红头船。有好几百人在排队上船。奶奶上船后不久，船就出发了。奶奶一手把绣花枕头紧紧地抱在怀里，一手拼命地跟爸爸挥手告别。奶奶的眼泪打湿了绣花枕头。

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这天，爸爸拉着我的手来到这个房间。我看见屋子里的墙上挂着奶奶的遗像，地上铺着一床凉席，上面放着一对绣花枕头。那枕头已经很旧了，上面还有着斑斑痕迹，但依然可见枕头上绣着粉红色的荷花和绿色的荷叶，一对鸳鸯在荷花间戏水。枕头边还镶着美丽的花边。那席子是用竹子编织的，也已陈旧。我疑惑地问爸爸：“为什么房间的地上有枕头和席子呢？” 爸爸沉吟了一下对我说：“孩子，这枕头和席子是你奶奶从中国带来的。枕头是太奶奶留给她的，上面的荷花和鸳鸯还是你太奶奶亲手绣的呢，寓意是希望奶奶今后婚姻幸福美满。它们伴随着你奶奶几十年了，上面有奶奶的泪痕，也有奶奶的汗迹，它记录着你奶奶一生的酸甜苦辣，这是我们家的传家宝啊! ” 爸爸对我说：“孩子，你已经长大了，我把你奶奶的故事讲给你听吧。”

爸爸说，我的奶奶出生于广东。她的爸爸是一位商人，家庭富裕。奶奶从小就过着幸福安宁的生活。可是奶奶十二岁那年，日本侵略中国。那时，天上飞机轰鸣，地上火光冲天，人们天天躲避轰炸，生活在水深火热之中！有一天，是太奶奶的生日，太奶奶在一间屋子里祈祷。突然，听到天上一阵飞机的轰鸣声，还来不及躲避，炸弹就从天上掉下来。”轰隆！”一声巨响，太奶奶的那间屋子立刻爆发出了滚滚浓烟和熊熊火焰。当人们从外面冲进去，把太奶奶从燃烧着火焰的房间里救出来时，太奶奶已经去世了。

经过了十多天海上的颠簸，船终于到达了泰国。在船上，奶奶看到码头上人山人海，他们都在那里等着接人。泰国的亲戚接到奶奶后，她让奶奶暂时住在家里的一个小房间里，还帮奶奶在咖啡店找了一份工作。奶奶把她的席子铺在地上，并轻轻地把那对绣花枕头放上去，从此开始了异国他乡的打拼人生。奶奶第二天就开始了在咖啡店的工作。初到泰国，人地生疏，生活不习惯，尤其是语言不通，连要吃什么，要去哪儿都不会说，奶奶的生活和工作遇到很大的困难！那时，奶奶就像是在大海中漂浮的一叶小舟，感到非常的茫然无助，特别是对亲人的思念，更是使奶奶夜不能寐！每天晚上奶奶都抱着太奶奶留给她的绣花枕头伤心地哭泣: “爸爸妈妈，你们在哪儿啊？女儿好想你们啊！” 泪水湿透了绣花枕头。咖啡店的经理是一位年轻善良的泰国人，他非常同情奶奶的境遇。不仅在工作上尽力帮助奶奶，而且还用心地教奶奶学泰文。后来，那个泰国年轻人成了奶奶的先生，也就是我的爷爷。

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爷爷奶奶结婚后，他们回到了爷爷的华欣老家。奶奶为了不忘记妈妈，她把从中国带来的枕和席也带在了身边。爷爷的老家盛产菠萝。那儿有很多的菠萝园，也还有很多的荒地，爷爷奶奶在荒地上建起了这所木屋。他们还从市场买回了一大堆菠萝根，开始种植菠萝。爷爷奶奶每天早上鸡还没叫就起床去开辟荒地，中午烈日当空，当他们看不到自己的影子了，才吃午餐，晚上他们看到天空出现了星星才回家休息。奶奶的脸被晒得黝黑，手上也磨出了水泡。有一次，奶奶中暑晕倒在菠萝地里。醒来后，爷爷捧着奶奶的手，心疼地对奶奶说:”你就不要出来种菠萝了，在家里休息吧！”可奶奶却摇摇头，深情地对爷爷说:”不！种菠萝虽然辛苦，但是跟你在一起再苦再累心也甜！我要跟你一起用双手创造幸福的生活！” 爷爷只好给

奶奶擦去脸上的汗水和泥土，让奶奶跟他继续在地里劳作。奶奶在中国的时候，除了绣绣花，读读书，从来没有干过什么活。跟爷爷结婚回到乡下后，不仅每天披星戴月跟爷爷一起开荒种菠萝，而且有了孩子以后，还要在家洗衣做饭，照顾一家人的生活。奶奶为爷爷一共生养了十个孩子！奶奶不但学会了做酸酸辣辣的泰国菜，而且还学会了做香甜可口的泰国甜点。奶奶从十指不沾阳春水的富家小姐变成了地地道道的泰国乡下媳妇！这其中的酸甜苦辣真是一言难尽！在那些日子里，每当遇到什么困难，奶奶就会抱着绣花枕头，默默地跟它述说。这样，奶奶就仿佛是在抱着她的妈妈，就仿佛能感受到来自妈妈的安慰和力量！几年后，爷爷奶奶开辟了好多的荒地，种了好多的菠萝，他们辛勤的汗水终于结出了丰硕的果实！在丰收的季节里，爷爷奶奶望着一片片绿绿的菠萝地，看着一筐筐黄黄的菠萝，脸上洋溢着幸福甜蜜的笑容！因为奶奶家有经商的传统，爷爷奶奶就开动脑筋，他们把这些菠萝卖给菠萝加工厂，并当起了收购菠萝的商人。后来他们又创建了自己的菠萝加工厂。现在是爸爸的兄弟姐妹在管理。奶奶过上了幸福的生活，可是奶奶一刻也没忘记她的爸爸妈妈。晚上奶奶常常做梦，梦见遥远的中国家乡和她亲爱的的爸爸妈妈。奶奶一直想回老家去祭拜她的爸爸妈妈，可是因为种种原因，这个愿望一直没有实现。听了奶奶的故事，我感慨万千！我对爸爸说：“原来奶奶还有这样一段悲伤的历史啊！战争和灾害使奶奶失去了亲人，漂泊异国他乡；来到泰国后，奶奶遇到了泰国的爷爷，实现了太奶奶遗愿，有了自己的家，过上了幸福美满的生活。泰国真是一方福地，中泰真是血脉相连，一家亲啊！”爸爸微笑地看着我，赞许地点点头。

第二天，爸爸驾车带我们去给奶奶扫墓。奶奶的墓座落在班布里的墓地。奶奶的墓背靠一座小山，周围树木郁郁葱葱，十分安静。我们先给奶奶打扫墓地，然后点上香烛，献上鲜花和祭品。我看着墓碑上奶奶慈祥的脸，脑海里回想着奶奶的故事，突然间，我觉得自己长大了。我在奶奶的墓前跪下，双手合十地对奶奶说: “奶奶您安息吧！我要好好地保存您的枕和席，接过您的传家宝;我要替您回中国老家去祭拜太爷爷、太奶奶，实现您未了的心愿！” 我们在奶奶的老房子小住了几日。几天后的一个早晨，天还没亮，我们就驱车回家。车一路飞驰，我一路浮想连篇......太阳从东方升起来了，金色的阳光洒满了大地！

ing Ming festival was fast approaching as my family journeyed southwards to pay our respects to my grandparents. After three hours of endless driving, we finally arrived at my Grandma’s small wooden two-story house. It was surrounded by low-lying walls and a lush small garden, which hosted an extensive range of flora such as banana, papaya, and mango trees, jasmine, and pomegranate flowers which surrounded a grey brick well. Although my uncle still lives here, the house wasn’t frequented much other than during the annual tomb-sweeping festival family gatherings.

Grandma was born in Guangdong. Her family conducted business and lived comfortably but when Grandma was twelve years old, Japan invaded China. Then, the planes roared in the sky, the ground was set ablaze, people evaded the bombing every day, living in dire straits! It was Grandma’s birthday, and Grandma’s mom was praying in a room. Suddenly, she heard the roar of airplanes passing through the sky. “Boom!” Thick smoke and raging flames erupted from the room. When people heard the sound of the blast, Grandma and the neighbors rushed into the burning room and pulled Great-Grandma from the burning room, but it was too late. The bomb had already ignited the room and killed her. That was just the start. The area had just encountered the most severe drought of that century. The land cracked into fractured pieces, grains were not harvested, and even the roots and bark were eaten up. The scene was desolate and sadness was ripe! The drought continued in the second year after the war. Luckily, Chinese-Thai relations were now more open making it easier to travel between the two countries. One day, her father said to her, “my child, our hometown has been in sickening chaos for years, from wars to droughts we’ve seen it all! You should go to Thailand by boat and meet your relative there who will take care of you and help you find a job. You will be safe and fed there, for the land is fertile and the people are welcoming. “ “No! Dad, No! I want you to go with me!” Grandma cried upon hearing what he said. “My daughter, listen to what I say. I am old and I am not going anywhere anymore. I want to stay with your mother at her resting place here. But you are still very young and have a long way to

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Grandma’s old room was still left largely untouched. I have always wondered what was inside. Today, my Dad took me inside the room where there hung a black and white photo of Grandma on the wall,a bamboo mat, and an old pillow with a distinct embroidery pattern of lotuses and mandarin ducks. I asked my dad suspiciously, “what are the pillow and bamboo mat doing here?”. He explained that they were taken by Grandma on her journey from China, and represented a happy marriage. Both heirlooms had been with her for decades; a tangible record

of her ups and downs. Dad continued by telling me the story of Grandma’s life:

go. In a few days, you must get on to the boat and leave at once. You will meet your relative once you get off the boat. I’ve already made the arrangements.”, he replied.

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lost helpless boat floating in the sea when she first arrived. She missed her family back home which often kept her awake at night. Every night, Grandma held the embroidered pillow that her mother left her and cried.

Grandma hugged her Dad sadly and went into her room helplessly to pack her things. Before “Mom and Dad, where are you? Your daughleaving, Great-Grandpa gave her the embroi- ter misses you so much!”, she said, flooding the dered pillows and mats that Great-Grandma had pillow with a waterfall of tears. previously prepared for her as a wedding present for her to take with her. The manager of the coffee shop was a young and kind Thai, who sympathized with Grandma’s On the day of Grandma’s departure, Great- situation very much. Not only did he try her Grandpa accompanied her to the pier. Grandma best to help Grandma at work, but also taught saw rows of red-headed Chinese Junks docked her Thai. Later, the young Thai man became at the port. There were several hundred people Grandma’s husband and my grandfather. lining up to board the boat. As the boat departed, Grandma held the embroidered pillow tightly in After my grandparents got married, they her arms with one hand and waved goodbye to returned to my grandfather’s hometown in her father desperately with the other as her tears Prachuap Khiri Khan. To remember her mother, wetted the embroidered pillow. Grandma brought the pillows and the mat she had brought from China with her. Grandpa’s After ten days of turbulent waves resulting in a hometown was (and is still) known for most dreadful crossing, the ship finally arrived in excellent pineapples. Therefore, they bought some Thailand. Looking from the boat, Grandma saw pineapple roots from the market and began to the crowds on the dock all eagerly waiting to pick grow them on a bare piece of land, and constructup their loved ones. ed a small wooden house nearby. My grandparents got up early every morning before the As planned, Grandma’s relative was there to chickens crowed to start farming early. Only at welcome and take care of her. The relative let noon, when they can’t see their shadows, will Grandma temporarily live in a small room at they stop for lunch, and only when they can see her home and helped her find a job at a nearby stars in the night sky will they go home to rest. coffee shop. Grandma spread her mat on the ground and gently put the embroidered pillows Once, Grandma fainted in the fields from on it in the room, ready to start a hard life in a heatstroke. After waking up, Grandpa held foreign country. Grandma’s hand and said distressingly, “there’s no need for you to come and help on the fields Grandma started working in the coffee shop today. Just rest at home!” the next day. She was rather unfamiliar with the environment, especially the language barrier. “No! I’m fine. No matter how hard they work, She once said that she didn’t even know what to as long as I do it with you I am happy”, Grandma eat or where to go. Grandma encountered great said affectionately to Grandpa and left the house difficulties in her life and work! She was a small to continue the work down on the fields.

When Grandma was in China she never did anything except embroidering and reading, but after marrying my grandfather and returning to the countryside, she not only helped Grandpa on the fields but also took care of their ten children. Whenever there was any difficulty, Grandma would hold the pillow and talk to it silently. This way, Grandma felt like she was holding her mother, feeling the comfort and strength! A few years later, their hard work finally paid off! During harvest season, my grandparents happily looked at the green and yellow pineapple fields while baskets of them were being carted away with sweet smiles on their faces! Soon, they also ventured into more business opportunities. Grandma lived a happy life, but she never forgot her parents. She often dreams of the distant Chinese village and her dear parents, and always wanted to go back to her hometown to see her family again. Sadly, this dream has not been realized. I said to Dad, “Grandma has such a sad history! Wars and disasters caused her to lose her loved ones and forced her into a foreign country. After coming to Thailand, she met the love of her life and lived a fulfilling life. China and Thailand are so very connected after all.” Dad looked at me with a smile, nodding approvingly. On the following day, we went to sweep Grandma’s grave. She was laid to rest in a cemetery in Bamburi, surrounded by lush trees and hills; it was very quiet. We cleaned the grave for her, lighted incense candles, and offered flowers. I pictured Grandma’s kind face on the tombstone and thought of her story. “Grandma, rest in peace! I will ensure that your story and dream are not lost”, I said to her. We drove home a few days later before dawn. As the car sped down the highway, I can’t help but think about Grandma’s story as the sun rose and illuminated the world around me.

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Prae Grade 11

When skies are blue Khim, G10 As she faded, so did my pound, jaded, without a sound. The arched arc who was my ark, heated my vessels, igniting a spark. I was nestled. Orpheus shall I be to dive down the deep abyss, bring back the soul I miss. Only then will we be in bliss, or will we end up with a salty kiss?

Expired Khim, G10 She weeps with waking eyes, looking through their dead black years, Concealing her convoluted cries, sheltering my ingénue ears. Vibrations on the wood fulfilled my childhood. Though misty, their shadows were my tree.

Manta Grade 9

Lucid memories tormenting her reverie. Once a treasury, now an accessory.

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Khim, G10 Seiche devours ancient rocks. Hollow wrecks left stranded. Crabs saunter through. Anna Grade 10

Till death we part Freya, G11 Sat near the window, looking past And asked myself what really lasted. This waste I see was truly bland This hard earned chance shall not be surpassed , This thing I saw was not the last. By what I say, I mean that guy Who seems to have forgotten his past, I sighed He sleeps in nights with guilt, he cries Well just you see, it’s just a lie. A start of revenge that will burn your heart, This experience will pierce through light and day. Till death we part; well, not today.

Freya Grade 11

An attempt to evoke both a dynamic rhythm and emulate the figurines of a pair of lovers. This is achieved by the use of blue and purple pigment and soft brushstrokes displayed in the calm night sky. Freya Grade 11

The deep void when one looks up into the night Inspired by Lina Viktor’s “Iron and Gold”, Viktor’s concept sky reflects loneliness and entropy. It prompts the of the unleashment of powerful association within one. existential question as to why one would wish to My intention was to exemplify the cycle of human life and live, to embrace and give affection, however that how one’s choices lead to one path to another. question needs only oneself to answer.

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The face symbolises the nobility of one’s mind while influenced by our surroundings, the black hole. This depicts the increased array of paths and turmoil we go through, and how it develops into the so-called “cycle of life”.

Manta Grade 9

Anna Grade 10

Tiro Grade 10

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Kimi Grade 9

Pun Pun Grade 10

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Tiro Grade 10

The Good Earth AMM: During the pandemic, we don’t want to go anywhere for the sake of our lives, therefore online activities entertain us at the moment. Sometimes, however, I feel exhausted after too much screen time studying. Playing with my dogs does help. When it is not too hot outside, I take my camera with me and snap photos of what I notice. Just looking at beautiful nature soothes my eyes! MOMAE: People say that nature can heal you, can it? My pupils burn as I sit in front of my screen during online learning for 6 hours straight. I am, however, able to cool down my eyes by gazing at the greens planted outside.

Amm

Tia: Psithurism and abendrot are the natural beauty of nature! Spending time in nature has always been important, but now it is essential to cope with the pandemic and relieve stress. Each nature activity leads to significant improvements in mood, reduces anger and aggression, and provides recovery from mental fatigue. Picnicking, growing seeds, and running in the park are some simple nature activities to do during the pandemic. Louis: The phenomenon of Nature Quirks: Within the surrounding world and the terrestrial life we embrace, there is a sense of balance between happiness, stress, fear, and sorrow. It is undeniable that people try to escape the negative feelings. The past year has been a stressful time, exams, coursework, and internal feelings may have gravitated us away from our conscious wellbeing. Yet, there is always a bright side, an antidote which is resoundingly our Mother Nature. VOICE MAGAZINE - ISSUE 4

Pennt: Nature is elusive and surreal, In daydreaming, I watch captivating pink clouds slide over the pastel blue sky. Visiting the beach helps me escape from reality and cope with my stress, I am mindful of the calming waves crashing against the shore along with the breathtaking marine life surrounding me. Barefoot, walking on the warm, sun-drenched sand lifts my spirit up as the warmth grows within me.

Momae

Louis

Pennt

Tia

We are all surrounded by nature, whether it be your pet dog, little birds chirping at 4am, or when you look up to the sky and see the white clouds. I love watching sunset and sunrise because it is the sign of the end of one tiring day and the beginning of something new. In fact, what I look forward to when watching the sunset is how the sky color changes from day to day. Sometimes it is pink/blue or yellow/ orange, it all looks like a painting which calms me down.

Sun

Bam Bam

Amy

Leia

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Nae Nae

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Kimi Grade 9

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Lisa Grade 12

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Keekwang Grade 12

PRISM My Rainbow Identity PRISM Club Presidents Ang-Ang & Kamlai, G11 I could not see myself on TV, Nor have I been taught For sure I think There is something wrong with me I switched out my clothes, Can’t seem to switch out my mind, I switched out my clothes, Hiding the truth within my closet

Jenny Grade 10

“Coming Out” Abond Yeh, G11 I wander the streets as a husk They said, ”Conform! You must!” Gazes pierce I Around I only sighs A family I don’t belong A body I cannot rest upon, How must I live, A society that doesn’t perceive.

Now I am free There’s no need to flee I have found my own Where I can call it my home

I do not care if we must love in hell, Forgive me father for I have sinned. But it seems there is nothing I can do For I am born this way I am a ‘she’, and so is she And there is nothing wrong And nothing peculiar And this has made me strong Throughout history, We could not show our true affection, Throughout history, All we faced was rejection, Love is love Greet me the same as you do to others Be it gay or straight or queer or trans The way I choose my pronouns, my labels Quiet now, for this is my time to speak.

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A man I have known in the past Has been gone at long last A chain on my soul The world wishes to control

I pushed and pushed. More and more until I lost my strength I finally peaked through The doors finally shut again.

Creators Club

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Kyla and Dear Grade 9

Creators Club

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Tiro Grade 10

Split Brain Khaojao, G10

hat is mindfulness? According to Oxford dictionary, mindfulness is the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. I am conscious, in the state of awareness, where everything is absolute, and where this written piece is solely being written from the genesis of my mindfulness perspective. ----------If you’ve been surfing through the land of Youtube at 2 a.m. frequently (because that’s when the Youtube algorithm feeds you videos you never knew you needed), then at some point you may have come across the term “split-brain patients”. Or if not, then that is unfortunate, as you have missed out on something very interesting. Not to worry, though, because that’s exactly what I’m here for.

Pun Pun Grade 10

Apparently, cutting the brain in half – or more specifically, cutting the bridge between the two hemispheres – was a way to cure epilepsy during the mid 20th century. The patients of these procedures were called split-brain patients. However, these patients started showing weird symptoms such as not being able to coordinate both sides of the body, suddenly becoming simultaneously ambidextrous, and not being able to say out loud what is in their left hand while being blindfolded. There are also instances where left and right arms disagree on what object to pick up and the patient not being able to verbally explain why the left arm is doing what it is doing. As most people know, the left hemisphere is in charge of language (speech), logic, and the right side of the body, while the right hemisphere is in charge of creativity, emotions, and the left side of the body. Because communication between both hemispheres of the brain are cut, it would make sense the symptoms mentioned above would persist.

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So, here’s my question: regarding what you perceive as “consciousness”, are you actually in control of your body? If you are in control of the body, then why do split-brain patients have trouble explaining why their arms are moving almost as if they are separate beings? Are you sure your consciousness isn’t just sitting in the back of the brain and watching the action unfold while being tricked into thinking that you’re in control of the body?

A Memoir of Handprints and

Cave Paintings Prim, G11

f you’ve ever been, ever taught, ever observed, or ever had a child, then you will likely be familiar with hand-paintings. They were probably the first kind of art I ever made, and that my younger sister made. I remember the first time she came back with her hand-painting of a disfigured blue horse with yarn hair and googly eyes, and her glee as she thrusted the painting for me to admire. Later, when we painted at home, I remember helping her trace her tiny fingers onto a piece of paper. As she dipped her hand into a glob of hastily mixed orange-brown acrylic paint and slapped it onto the pencil lining, I remember her expression of absolute shock and amazement as she lifted her hand from the paper, at her own semipermanent record of herself.

mythical creatures. They show weapons, such as traps and arrows. There is only one human figure depicted in the cave: a bird-headed man with an erect phallus; perhaps a shaman. Experts later established these paintings were legitimate, and about 15,000 17,000 years old.

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The youngest of the four friends, 14 year old Marsel, was so moved upon seeing the paintings that he persuaded his parents to allow him and his other friend to camp outside the cave to protect it, which they did for over a year. The site was named the Lascaux Grotto. After WWII, the French government took over protection of the site and opened it for the public to see in 1948. Pablo Picasso visited the cave that year and was deeply impressed, reportedly shaking his head and remarking to his tour guide as he emerged out of the cave, “En quinze mille ans, nous Looking at our little hands from our early artworks n’avons rien inventé.” (“In fifteen-thousand years, we fills my heart with a strange, soul-splitting joy. Similar have invented nothing.”) feelings come when I read old school assignments, when I read my old journal entries that I stopped The reasons for Lascaux’s Grotto’s existence, and all updating after two weeks, or when I look at old its other mysteries remain unknown. Why did they photos of my loved ones. They make my heart paint so many more animals, instead of humans? Why twinge as if I had poured a sixteenth of a teaspoon didn’t they paint reindeers, which according to bone of salt on it, and remind me of the sad, happy, and remains seem to be their primary source of food, inevitable fact that each of us will grow up, grow but instead painted so many horses? Why are there away, and eventually, both up and away from one certain parts of the cave like the ceiling, that are another into our own lives. It is the same complicated impossible to reach and would have required some relationship, that same meaning I project onto our kind of ladder, completely filled with paintings, while sloppy handprints, that is the same relationship that other more accessible areas remain bare? What was art and its admirers have. It was why I was crying the purpose of these paintings? Was it spiritual? about cave paintings the other day. “Here are all our sacred animals.” Was it practical? “Here are the animals that you can hunt, and the In 1940, Marcel Revidat and his three friends ones that can kill you.” Was it just decor? “Hello MTV, were walking his dog, Robot, in the countryside of welcome to my cavern.” Montignac, France when the dog ran off to chase a rabbit and disappeared into a hole. Robot eventually Aside from all the paintings, there are 1500 abstract returned, rabbit-less, to the boys, but the next day shapes and symbols that still remain undecipherRevidat and his friends decided to go and explore the able, most of which are made in the process known hole. They followed Robot back into the hole, into a as Finger Fluting, which is sort of like drawing on narrow cave opening, and stumbled upon a cave with those Rainbow Scratchpads sold at school book fairs. its walls covered in paintings. Cave paintings. The Then there are the negative hand stencils, which walls had some 600 paintings and drawings and 1,500 interest me the most. They are created similarly to engravings, depicting numerous animals in great the way children make hand-paintings, but instead of detail, including horses, red deer, bison, bovines, pressing their hands in dollops of acrylic paint, and felines, alongside some extinct animals, such as they would press their hand on the wall and blow the wooly rhinoceros, and some that appear to be pigments onto it, coloring the uncovered area around

(Lascaux II)

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them. It strikes me as quite fascinating, that all our paleolithic ancestors from all over the world, who couldn’t have been in contact with another, made the same artwork as we do now: with fingers spread wide, hands dipped in pulverized mineral pigments or 40 baht acrylic (take your pick), and imprinting them. These handprints have been found from France to Finland, from Argentina to Australia, and from Burma to Borneo. The memories of our ancestors, through handprint recordings, have been found all over the world. Some interpretations of the paintings theorize that cave paintings were used as hunting magic, to help increase prey. Some theorize that the paintings were made by shamans, who would retreat into the cave, enter some kind of trance, and paint their visions onto the walls. Another theory hypothesizes that the paintings and other artifacts (in particular the paintings depicting powerful beasts and risky

hunting scenes, and sculptures of extremely voluptuous ladies), were made by adolescent men. Even eons apart, teenagers will still be teenagers. I’ve only found a couple of theories as to why there are so many handprints. They could have been used for coming-of-age ceremonies, similarly to a Bar Mitzvah or Christian baptization. Maybe there was a hand-fetish cult 40,000 years ago. It could also be that hands are just situated really conveniently at the end of our wrists, and that we happen to have two of them. But to me, and to many others, I think handprints mean something else, something unrelated to hunting, to paleolithic limb-fixations, or to shamans. Like the little handprints on our hospital birth-certificates, I think the handprints serve to say “Hey, I was here, and I won’t be here forever. Please don’t forget me.” If I take off my glasses and let my eyes go hazy, it almost seems as if the handprints are actual hands reaching out to grab me. They remind

me of badly designed Slasher-Horror movie posters. They remind me of my sister. And most of all, they remind me of Humanity’s determination to survive, to create, and to persevere.

all the lookalike rocks, and you will know that this isn’t the cave itself, but a shadow of it. You will know that this is a memory that we cannot return to; that there are handprints on the wall, but no hands. To quote Earl Deveraux from the film Cloudy with a Chance of There are more left hand handprints than there are Meatballs 2, “It’s enough to make a grown man cry.” rights. There are also many hands that are missing It was certainly enough for me to. one, two or even three fingers, which likely came from frostbite-related amputations, or an accident. Extra facts I couldn’t put into this There are large handprints of adults, and, albeit much Cave paintings often refer to parietal art, but there less, smaller ones from children. This, coupled with are still some modern cave paintings that have been the knowledge that 25% of women would have died created recently. In the early 1920s, anthropologist in childbirth, and 50% of children die before the age Igor N. H. Evans visited Malaysian caves and found of five, makes my heart clench. Life back then was that their tribes (the Negritos in particular) were still short, dangerous, and difficult. And yet, in the midst producing cave paintings and had added depictions of all the hunting and foraging our ancestors had of modern objects, like automobiles. to do, and all of the other dangers that surrounded them, people still made time to create art, as if they Citations had to. As if art wasn’t optional. 1. Alvarez, Stephen. “‘In 15,000 Years We Have Invented Nothing!’ - the Photo Society.” ThephotosoThe Lascaux Grotto was closed after a few years in ciety.org, www.thephotosociety.org/in-15000-yearsthe public. Breathing visitors had caused mysterious we-have-invented-nothing/&sa=D&source=edito mold growth on the paintings, and the lights were rs&ust=1620796738346000&usg=AOvVaw1DV9I fading the pigments. The French government issued gfaoI13kzJ72Wr-lT. Accessed 12 May 2021. artists and archeologists to create a 1:1 replica of the Lascaux Grotto, named the Lascaux II, where it now 2. Cavendish, Richard. “Discovery of the Lascaux Cave receives over ten-thousands visitors a year. Paintings | History Today.” Www.historytoday.com, 9

You cannot visit the Lascaux itself but you can visit the Lascaux II, 800 meters away from the original cave. Tickets are 12 euros for adults, 9 if you are a child, and if you are a small child (under the age of five), free. You can admire the nearly identical handprints, the replicated hand-painted animals, and

Sept. 2015, www.historytoday.com/archive/monthspast/discovery-lascaux-cave-paintings&sa=D&sourc e=editors&ust=1620796738346000&usg=AOvVaw3 _v-VqEhZmDYODPEpCtJD8. Accessed 12 May 2021. 3. Kiely, Alexandria. “The Origin of the World’s Art: Prehistoric Cave Painting.” HeadStuff, 7 May 2014, www.headstuff.org/culture/history/origin-worldsart-prehistoric-cave-painting/&sa=D&source=editors & u s t = 1 6 2 0 7 9 6 7 3 8 3 4 6 0 0 0 & u s g = A O v Va w 1 ANEryXGR2P3eGMUmYmpPK. Accessed 12 May 2021. 4. Lascaux II. Lascaux II, www.lascaux-ii.fr/en. Accessed 12 May 2021. Photograph of the Lascaux II. 5. “Why Were Cave Paintings Made?” Reference.com, 14 Apr. 2020, www.reference.com/history/werecave-paintings-made-bed6f99bc939d68&sa=D&sou rce=editors&ust=1620796738346000&usg=AOvVaw 2PFkvhNEYGeDLw1tnLUOy7. Accessed 12 May 2021. 6.Wikipedia. “Cave Painting.” Wikipedia, 7 May 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_painting&sa=D& source=editors&ust=1620796738346000&usg=AO vVaw1rM0ewr6H0z3lBJlTYLopR. Accessed 12 May 2021.

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While I sometimes may be overly pessimistic and tend to assume the worst in most things, this story of humans, of the Lascaux Grotto, and of making a fake Lascaux Grotto makes me feel a bit more hopeful for humanity. I feel overwhelmingly hopeful when I remember the four boys and their funky dog discovering a cave filled with parietal art so beautiful they decided to protect it, and when people discovered that visiting the Lascaux Grotto was causing it to deteriorate, all agreed to stop going in order to preserve it. What I feel, what Picasso felt, and what the two boys who camped outside the cave for a year felt are the same. While we may be of different race, age, genders, backgrounds, imprinting parts of yourself and leaving a mark onto the world is the very core part of the human experience. It sums up what most of us want out of life: to know that someone remembered you, and that you mattered.

Untitled Wandy, G12

pale, lifeless body laying on the toilet seat. Its head slumped against the sink. The sound of my mother’s shrieking scream pierced through the silence. The man on the toilet seat was my father.

resilience pushed me to seek opportunities to uncover the scientific mechanisms of the human mind, such as through an internship with the head radiologist at Bangkok Hospital where I ventured into the use of imaging techniques and attended meetings where doctors debated perplexing medical procedures or learning how to use high-performance liquid chromatography machines and technical computer programs to yield successful lab results at a pharmaceutical company. My new-found knowledge of the complexity of the human brain and scientific methodologies became a way for me to empathize and comprehend my father’s situation.

I am still unable to fully recall how my father’s depression led to a stress-induced ulcer; I was numb and hopeless. But, what I can briefly remember was conducting CPR on my father. My adrenaline took a hold of me, I alternated between chest compressions and rescue breaths. Endorphins rushed through my body as my dad opened his eyes and gasped for air. I saved my father. I feel blessed that my father has been getting better, but there are others like him fighting the same I have grown accustomed to rushing to the mental battle. I have learned to sympathize and emergency room at dawn, anxiously waiting in understand the difficulties they face. I am comthe hospital, and witnessing my father’s health pelled to explore the unconventional, yet innovative deteriorate. But, it gets harder every time. The treatments of depression (like mindfulness as a difficulties and immense stress faced within his cognitive behavioral therapy). I am ready for new job caused him to be diagnosed with depression. challenges, and I am eager to encounter new I remember sleepless nights where I would check on paradigms to broaden my worldviews. my father. This led me to ponder on the causes of depression and ways I can help.

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To this day, I remind myself to cherish every moment I have with my family. Whether it’s our weekend outings to my father’s favorite cafe or a 10-minute car ride to school. I urge to forget petty arguments, reduce my snarky remarks and treasure the present. I felt defeated when my dad was in the ICU and I had no control. I confided in my mother who tried to tell me it would be fine, but the unpredictable future filled me with fear. I decided to harness my stress and divert it into researching the causes of his depression: like scrolling through the unreliable WebMD or reading scholarly journal articles on groundbreaking treatments of depression. The curiosity I had seemed to feed off of the connection that was uncovered between human biology and my father’s episodes of depression. I began to focus on STEM-based classes to further explore the biological implications of human behavior. From what started as constant feelings of unease, my curiosity in the scientific world flourished; I discovered my delectation in the STEM fields. My

Chin Grade 12

Trip to the Land of Fish and Chips Amm, G11

makes your taste buds dance in glee. And you are not a true chocolate lover if you don’t lick it off of your ll I knew about Great Britain before I went there fingers. It’s the last food I would ask for before heading was that it’s not a very big country, but it’s a to the heavens. famous yet powerful country. England has world-class universities, delicious food and desserts, and most I walked and walked and walked in the city of London. importantly, traditional culture that represents the I visited the British Museum where they shot “Night at expectations of sophisticated people. Even the world’s the Museum” I visited the London Eye, visited Big Ben top Chef, Gordon Ramsay, is from England. Although, that is still under renovation. After walking the entire as we say, don’t judge a book by its cover- never judge day under the hot summer sun, I finally got on the train a country by its Google Images and Youtube videos. back to Cambridge. It was tiring but an unforgettable Coming out of Heathrow airport, you are met with wet, experience. My friend asked me, “How’s Buckingham cold weather and even colder faces. It’s almost a crime Palace? Did you like it?”. I was confused. I thought we to even say “Hello” to strangers in London. I went there didn’t visit Buckingham Palace. She told me that we on an English camp for a month and my expectations did go to Buckingham Palace and also the Royal Park. were very high, thanks to all the hype about “Great” I unlocked my phone and searched for Buckingham Britain. Palace. I realized that the building that looks like a government building we visited, was actually the My expetations were not met either by the people or by palace. Why didn’t I take a picture of it, why did I take its food. The thing that makes London a great city is its so many pictures of the big fountain in front of the people, most of whom are immigrants who bring great palace? WHY? Once I arrived at my host family’s house, cultural diversity. It was almost 10 pm when I arrived I found out that the chocolate I bought from the shop at my host family’s house in Cambridge, but it looked this morning (which I kept in my backpack for the whole more like 5 pm. I didn’t expect to see the summer sky day), had melted and turned into a warm milk chocolate so bright in the evening (in my home country, the sun soup. starts to set and the sky starts to darken around 6 pm). Most houses in Cambridge are brick houses, they look I used to think that my school’s food in Bangkok didn’t quite nice and peaceful, only from the outside though. taste that nice. But after 3 days and 3 meals later in My host showed me around the house, it was pretty my summer school in the UK ( the rest of the meals at cozy and comfortable. my host’s house were good), I started to understand how ‘tasteless’ English food is and why the English can’t The next morning, the weather unexpectedly rose stop praising the Thai food. I guarantee that it’s terribly from 10-ish to almost 35 degrees Celsius, and the hot good. The lunch meal set which they call “hot lunch” summer wind blew right onto my face (yes, they do is actually as hot as the polar ice caps. The cold potato have summer in England). I was going to visit London salad that doesn’t even taste like potato, the giant cold that day, and I was very excited and looked forward to meatball that is as big as a tennis ball, the vegetable seeing the Big Ben, the London Eye, and the London lasagna that tastes like … (it’s indescribable). The only Bridge that was in one of my nursery rhymes. Well, I dish that tasted quite good was the fish and chips that think I was just lucky to have bright and beautiful the school makes every Friday. Deep-fried fish in batter, weather that day. I walked along the streets near Kings served with soft, pale potato wedges they call chips, all Cross station, there I saw a chocolate shop and the sitting on a piece of wax paper. pieces looked mouthwateringly tasty. I remembered that my aunt bought chocolate from this shop, and Overall, my trip was an eye-opener in many ways. I loved them. As soon as I went in, the seller came to The first thing that I understood is that even though me and let me try some of their new products, one of it’s called “Great” Britain, it’s not that great (there’s which was the Caramel Pecan Chocolate. I instantly fell too much hype about the UK in my country). in love. There is something about chocolate that most Secondly, I’ve decided to never complain about the hot people can’t resist. First of all, the shiny and smooth weather in Thailand because after visiting London, I have to touch texture gets your eyes gleaming. Next is the understood that the weather in Thailand is nothing irresistible smell that teleports you straight to the less than a blessing and that’s the reason so many rainforests where it comes from. Then comes the westerners come for a holiday in Thailand. Lastly, the moment of utter bliss when you put a large melting country is called ‘the land of fish and chips’ for a reason. chunk of this treat from heaven in your mouth which

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Jay Jay Grade 9

The Meeting Amidst the Pouring Rain Ang-Ang, G11

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t wasn’t the sound of pouring rain or the flash of lighting that struck the barn house nearby that woke Iris up, but rather the smell of petrichor seeping into the windowsill she left opened last night (like she always does). Iris bathed in her last day of serendipity as the rain poured and the thunder struck with anger. She knew that this was her denouement, but unlike the other days she spent in this forlorn house, and unlike her failing body, her soul was rejuvenated. Iris took a deep breath, felt the sharp pain in her left chest and winced. Tilting her head upwards, a sudden embrace of nostalgia embraced her as she took in the last sight of her bedroom; the peeling mildew stained wallpaper, the wooden floorboard that creaked every time her wheeled walker got stuck in its tiny chipped holes, the plain white ceiling that her husband once adorned with glow-inthe-dark plastic stars for their long-forgotten son, and the bookshelf in the corner, now dusty and piled with paper works she no longer cared for. As the grandfather clock struck nine, a low grumble echoed the house as the gongs moved. On

this particular day, instead of going to her kitchen and preparing a warm cup of English Breakfast tea, her instincts edged her to sit outside as if someone were to meet her. Someone. Someone from her long distant memory. Another sharp pain sensation in her chest. This time, a powerful heartburn as the image of her son creeped into her mind. How long has it been? Was the last time he came and visited when she fainted? Or was it when he had to sign her insurances as she lay unconscious in the hospital? Iris could care less to try and recall those distant memories as she was aware that her dementia slowly crept in and stuck its claws in parts of her brain, ripping and sucking away her most precious recollections of her son. Iris sat down on her rocking chair in her front porch as the clouds continued to weep and the sky continued to wail. Perhaps today was another one of those days where Iris’s hopes were once again let down, as after hours of sitting in that rocking chair, he still didn’t show up. As Iris slowly got up from her rocking chair, she heard the whirr of a distant car engine. She turned around. Could it be him? he tried to piece the puzzles in her memory, her nails digging

into her walker as her grip tightened, followed by another heartburn. “Good afternoon, mother”, a low raspy voice echoed behind Iris. The voice sounded too similar to her husband’s. As Iris turned around, the spitting image of her husband stood in front of her; those warm brown eyes, a crooked nose, thin lips, and tidy brown hair. “Henry, is that you?”, Iris asked the man with a tall thin frame in front of her with her quivering voice. “No mother, this isn’t Henry, this is your son.” “Son? I have a son?” Iris tried to piece together her memories and all she could recall was the sound of a baby’s coo and cry as she held a small boy in her arms, smiling at him while Henry smiled at her. Another sharp pain pierced her chest. This time, the image of her and a little older boy with warm brown eyes lay side by side in that bed of hers showed up. The young boy was smiling and pointing up at those glow-in-the-dark plastic stars. The man in front of her smiled and said, “Mother, I came here to meet you and pick you up. All is well now; you no longer need to worry about anything. It is time for you to let go.” Iris’s heart

burned again and this time, the image of her holding a dead body emerged. That dead body looked exactly alike to that of the man in front of her. She saw herself weep and scream as the dead body of the man with brown eyes lay cold in her arms. “Mother, it’s time for you to let go.” Tears trickled down Iris’s wrinkled face as she hobbled towards her son. “Let’s go meet dad, shall we? Let’s go meet your Henry.” The man said smiling warmly, and extended his hand to her.. As Iris took the man’s hand, she soon realized that this was her denouement, that the meeting that she so longed for in the past year, and the longing for someone she had forgotten, was her son. As she held her son’s hand for the first time since the last time when she wept on his tombstone, her woebegone façade soon disappeared. As she held her son’s warm hands, the sky cleared and the clouds smiled. Iris soon met Henry, and they lay down in a grass of green pasture as all three of them gazed at the stars above (this time real ones, no longer the glow-in-the-dark plastic stars).

Breathe Jade, G11 I closed my eyes and imagine, how it would be like to be out of procrastination, and realized this was a form of negativity, And stepped up and took a big sigh. “I must do it for me!” there I said, and there I close my eyes and imagine, and took on what is my responsibility.

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Mon Grade 9

Chinese New Year Creatures Pun Pun Grade 10

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a dot, a line, a seed, a plant

A project by Katarina Rašić and Teresa Paiva

lant and human systems have more in common than what we might understand at first glance. On close examination, it is their integration with natural cycles and flow of creation and growth. If we are willing to observe, plants can teach us about resilience, patience, flow, paced growth, synergy, stillness, and mutual support. Considering the current state of the world, we are in pressing need of these tenets in our day-to-day lives. Also, knowledge about the increase in alpha wave activity on humans while interacting with plants. And how that can aid healing and increase a sense of tranquility, oneness, pace, and tune in to other forms of life. This entices Rašić and Paiva to put forward the urgency for every one of us to become-plant.

The project delves into the dynamics of the relationship between both plant and human life in an urban environment. It searches to raise awareness about local ecologies while inviting participants and viewers to rethink their urban spaces. Considering the relationship between human and non-human entities and their inherent rites and processes of transformation and growth.

a dot, a line, a seed, a plant as a workshop aimed at fostering a shift towards holistic living and our interaction with one another. And the built and natural environment, the latter of which we often fail to recognize ourselves as just a part of the whole. Bringing the participants together to make art and explore liminal states of being, inspired by the a dot, a line, a seed, a plant initiated as a collabora- local flora considering both its physical and healing tive project between Rašić and Paiva in the summer properties. of 2019 in Belgrade, Serbia. The project developed as a series of art workshops with a local communi- The exhibition at Buró57 comprises a series of new ty in Belgrade involving gardening and collage and collage pieces, for Rašić and Paiva, it is an iteration culminating in a performance intervention in the of the initial Belgrade project. The collage pieces public space. are composed of recently developed visual research in Thailand’s flora and photo documentation of the Belgrade performance. In which the human silhouettes are extracted and replaced with visual textures of plants. The result is uncanny and dream-like images that entice us to decipher them. By emptying the body of its immediate formal identifications, the silhouettes merge and become trees, shrubs, and floral beings.

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In addition, the exhibition comprises video documentation of the performance, as well as a participatory zine created in the workshops with the local community in Belgrade. And an installation piece involving samples of some of Thailand’s native plants and seeds. Rašić and Paiva are searching to reflect on the nature of Buró57. As a contained indoor space thus, contemplating the exhibition as an exploration of spaces and growth within them.

Teresa Paiva

www.cityclubmk.org/artists/teresa-paiva/ Teresa Paiva is a Portugal born artist currently based in London, UK. She incorporates participation as a method to illustrate multiple interpretations of our current cultural realities. She works with sculpture, photography, video, print, drawing, and often invites viewers to collect with her discarded, found material that can be transformed into abstract and minimalist artifacts. Her assembled sculptures address experiences of memory, contingency, and states of change and flux.

Katarina Rašić

http://www.katarinarasic.com/

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Katarina Rašić is a Serbian artist for whom traveling is at the center of her practice. Spending over five years working and living in India. A year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and currently living in Bangkok, Thailand. Her paintings and performances stem from personal experiences. In which her body becomes an introspective tool to unearth notions of home, belonging, and identity. For Rašić, these themes are deeply rooted in our collective memories. Through traveling and experiencing unknown places for her, Rašić is challenging her art practice by finding inspiration in different cultures to that of her own.

Clare Grade 7

Kurtis Grade 7

Nam Petch Grade 7

Grand Grade 7

Keen Grade 7

Zoe Grade 7

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Pepe Grade 7

Sheen Grade 7

TJ Grade 7

OLD SCHOOL Jamie Martindale Author’s note: My father, James H. Martindale, actually was on Guam when this happened, and told me about it vividly, many years later. I’ve thought about it often, especially this last year when my dad passed away, so I decided to blend it with a science fiction theme and my love for education to make a short story about the event from a different perspective, looking back from further in the future. —————————————————— “Welcome to Throwback Day, students! Pick up your paper & pencils here on the way in, and get ready to start.” Mr.Terry stood smiling at the front of the room by the chalkboard, with his name and the date written neatly on the dark green slate behind him - 12 May 1950, precisely 100 years ago. The class of 20 students shuffled in with awkward bumps and hesitations, clearly not accustomed to this kind of instruction in their usual routine. Wendy & Kim headed for prized seats in the front row, chatting quietly on the way. “I just love Throwback Days! I wish we had them more than once a year during Spirit Week,” said Wendy. “I know! I can’t believe that bunch of hype boys think this stuff is shad.” Kim answered, whispering the slang words so Mr. Terry wouldn’t hear, knowing street terms were frowned upon at school. The teacher ushered the last few stragglers into seats, demonstrating to several of them how to hold the pencils, and showing which way to orient the paper for those who had forgotten. Then he began, “Please keep your implants turned off for the duration of the lesson, otherwise it is a wasted experience. Feeling the ways we used to learn is a vital way we generate appreciation for our modern system, and you know from your interlessons how important gratitude is for optimal health.”

“You’re close, Robbo. Most research back then found retention rates averaging around 20% by one year later, which seems to be why almost all of their testing was short-term, measuring recall from just the past few weeks, which they would call a ‘unit test.’ Sometimes they tried to store & recall a whole semester, but that was seen as very challenging whereas you all have vastly better memory systems today due to axon scans & ACH pulses. They just didn’t have more efficient learning technology back then. But remember, if that’s all you had ever seen while growing up, you probably wouldn’t have any idea how much better it could be. It would seem normal to you. Now, if you’re ready, let’s experience it - get your pencils ready to write, but don’t try to write down a lot, just some highlights.” “Mr.Terry?” - Angel was piping up from the back “What’s the nub on the other end of this pen-thing for, again?” “Oh, right. That’s an eraser. If you change your mind about something you wrote down, you can rub that over the words and it cleans them off of the paper. Well, mostly. Sometimes it smudges more than erases, but you can try it and see what you think. It’s a good part of the experience.” Mr. Terry shifted toward the chalkboard and began sketching an outline of his teaching. “Since you’ve all had full interlessons on the major events of this era, we’re going to focus on a seemingly minor event that actually captures a fascinating essence of that time. After World War 2, you learned about a few Japanese soldiers in the Philippines & Indonesia who hid in the jungle and didn’t surrender for more than 20 years after the war had ended. But I checked, and that interlesson doesn’t mention that there were a whole series of ‘holdout fighters’ who gradually gave up, a little at a time, every few years, from 1945-1974.”

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Several students were already shifting uncomfortably in their seats, and the creaking & scraping sounds were distracting. Mr. Terry noticed, and addressed it right away: “Someone always asks, so I will remind you all about the parameters - yes, they really did used to sit in non-ergonomic chairs like this, and listen to education externally without direct neurotransfer. And, yes, students really did have to devise their own memory enhancements without chemoelectrical tracing. It was called ‘taking notes,’ and students at all but the lowest levels would sit as you are now, and make guesses about which words were most important, trying to predict how many to write down to get best results in strengthening their neural networks for later recall.”

“The inefficiency of that is just staggering, Mr.Terry” one boy from just behind Kim blurted out, “I mean, the loss of content must have approached 90% in every one-hour session, right?”

There were murmurs of surprise & interest around the room, mixed with people whispering to each other about which bits of that sentence they were going to write down. Mr. Terry paused to let the commotion fade, then continued. “Think about what this implies about the war, and how it was waged, and how much the world changed when it ended….” He paused for emotional effect, but also to allow students time for processing. That would come more slowly with all the implants turned off. Mr.Terry resumed: “Let’s hear from a first-hand witness, an American sailor at the Navy base on Guam, who saw the first peaceful surrender of holdouts - 2 Japanese men who didn’t have to be captured or threatened or negotiated with; they simply walked into what they saw as enemy camp and asked for help. They were exhausted, and starving after living on snails & insects & a few plants in a cave for 5 years. They thought they might be tortured for information, beaten out of revenge, or simply killed. Yet they were drained enough to risk that for a chance at something better. Here is what the American sailor wrote in his diary about seeing those men on that day.”

Wendy responded, “Why didn’t all the soldiers in hiding come out around that time? I don’t think I’d wait 5 years living on snails!” “Well, you’re not a trained soldier, but good point nonetheless, Wendy. How long do you think the rest of you could hold out, living in a cave, afraid more days than not? I agree with Wendy - 5 years seems like an incredibly long time. But what must they have been told about their enemy to keep them so afraid? And why do some of us resist longer than others? For the matter, why do some wars end in forgiveness & rebuilding of relations, while others end with hatred still remaining on both sides?” Mr. Terry paused again, to let the questions simmer in their mental cookers. Then he closed his little lesson with a final question of his own, bringing it all together. “Within that relatively short period of time, while the people hiding in caves were holding on to their old way of thinking, their old grudges & fears, the rest of the world was moving on. Ordinary Americans & Japanese were becoming allies again, the nations of the world were forming a council for worldwide cooperation, levels of violence around the globe were falling more than ever before in history. Yet these men were stuck in their cave missing out, hurting only themselves. When they finally came out into the light, the people they had expected to hate them just said ‘Wow - so there you are - welcome to the world!’ … my question for you is to simply ask, in what areas of your life are you still stuck in a cave? And when are you going to come out?”

“We’re all there lining up for chow, like usual, and the MP’s bring in these two tiny guys, so skinny and scared-looking we didn’t know what to think. We just stood back and let them go get some food. Later, they took ‘em away for a hot shower and a medical exam. The story started to get around that they were Japs from the war, and they had been living on the island for years, waiting for backup & thinking we Kim leaned over to Wendy and whispered, “Niiiiice. I were still looking for them. Nobody had an idea they can’t wait to integrate this one, once we get to turn were there, and it’s not really that big of an island!” the implants back on at the end of today.” Mr.Terry looked up from the original source material he was reading, and scanned the faces of the students. He was pleased to see that most had stopped writing, and were simply imagining what it must have been like at that moment. Jed had a confused expression, so Mr. Terry asked what he was pondering.

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“I know they didn’t have implants then, so nobody could scan for them or push out a call message or anything, but why didn’t the Japanese government have records about where the soldiers were deployed? Didn’t they have a plan for contacting them with the next set of orders?” Mr.Terry smiled, happy that Jed was starting to see the deeper issues involved. Maybe others would follow. He probed further with the whole group. “Those are smart questions. What other questions do you have, all of you?”

Wendy added back, “Oh, yeah. That’s the stuff that never comes through as strongly in an interlesson. They can give you all the facts in the world, but the feelings and big questions - you gotta process those yourself, off interlink. I’m glad all those students in the old schools at least got that part right.” Tonhom Grade 12

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Tia Grade 11

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Art Fighting For Nature

he Alphabet Love artworks are printed onto the clothing collection A-Z Love. These art prints are designed by PYP student Thee to raise funds for Thailand’s elephants, and help protect this beautiful species from threats such as poaching and environmental destruction. Profit from these artworks go towards supporting elephants via the Save Elephant Foundation (มูลนิธิ อนุรักษ์ช้างและสิ่งแวดล้อม) in Chiang Mai!

taken out of context. Even so, he resented his classmate’s popularity and his tendency to call Henry names like Internerd and Handroid. What Henry did know was that the photo’s ambiguity of content and meaning could be weaponized. In fact, it already had. Henry read the Instagram comment chain like it mattered - each gibe registered with a static burst. His fingers began to caper upon the keyboard, writing out Pervy Petey on the prowl, then gliding from accusation to emoji. A single pregnant tear rolled down the cheek of one to be lapped up by the laughing tongue of the next. After clicking Send, Henry chuckled and briefly imitated one of the emojis by closing his smiling eyes while making the thumbs up gesture on either side of his chin. He turned suddenly but was met only by his dim shadow on the bed. He glanced at the rest of the desk, lingering on the unopened Biology textbook lying by his barren notebook and pencil stub. Earlier, Henry had doodled a gangly scientist holding a ray gun. He looked back at the screen to see if anyone had laughed at his comment but paused when he heard a subdued knock.

Manta Grade 9

Innocent until proven Viral Luke Fiander

Henry’s hands rested on the keyboard as he examined the image; it offered the possibility of retribution. He did not know what was on the cover of that magazine, or whether the young man’s shoulder-look and facial expression were simply

He scrunched his pillow, seeking comfort. He scratched his leg with his foot and sighed. By the door, Henry’s once white socks idled beside the hamper. His jeans sat quietly on top, ready for the day. The sleeping laptop rested on the desk, promising a dopamine surge. Henry’s eyes remained open, reflecting the glow of the laptop’s charge light. Unseen, the young man still looked over his shoulder.

Anna Grade 10

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he photo showed a slender young man with a magazine in his hand. The magazine was rolled up so the cover revealed only a hint of flesh and long blonde hair over the azure surface of a swimming pool. What could be seen was the young man caught mid-stride, face looking over his shoulder, scrutinizing whatever was out of frame. The red brick wall behind him was clean except for a life-sized Banksyesque stencil of a cross-legged young girl holding a Nintendo controller, cord snaking around her ankle then torso, before connecting to her ponytail. The young man’s book bag hung adrift from his other shoulder. Amidst his visible consternation, the young man hadn’t noticed the greying crossing guard approaching him, checkered neon SCHOOL ZONE suspended at his side.

“Come in!” Henry announced, louder than necessary. His mother opened the door a crack. “You know you have first block tomorrow, Henry.” The sliver of hallway light was enough to make Henry squint as he agreed to shut the laptop and go to bed. His mother watched him slam the lid then drift to his feet, before shutting the door. Henry had not yet looked away from the desk, but the taunting Biology book pushed him to the unmade bed. With giddy thoughts on tomorrow, Henry wriggled under the covers.

BJ Grade 6D

Maya Grade 6C

Reena Grade 6D

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Reena Grade 6D

Peach Grade 6I

Dear Mother Gorya, G6 Dear mother, It has been more than a decade Since you gave birth to your little girl You taught me more than you should have You have me your mind and heart You loved me deeply. As a three-year-old girl I couldn’t understand you You were never disappointed in me I’ll still remember your words “It’s okay, try again.” Now, twelve years old, Grade 6 I understood now Why you have me your all You have me you knowledge more than I needed Because you were my mother My only mother You were the medicine to my insecurities You encouraged me on things other parents didn’t Even though, you have less knowledge than other parents You still gave me everything You still brought me to places unlike other parents. I’ll always be your little girl Asking for you to tuck me in bed Asking for you to hug me everyday You were like shelter in my eyes Protecting me from rain And keeping me warm.

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Love you forever, Gorya

Soomi Grade 12

Aries (MAR 21 - APR 19) › For those preparing for exams during Sep 6 - Oct 22, your hard work will pay off. › Love may just fall into place. Don’t confuse what comes easily for being boring. Advice: Do not leave the room without fully closing the door.

Taurus (APR 20 - MAY 20) › This year will require a greater amount of maturity and patience. › Avoid lavish spending. This is not the year. Advice: Seek the blessings of elders in the family before going for an exam, or visit a temple

Advice: Touch your pen on the forehead every morning before using it.

Cancer (JUN 21 - JUL 22) › January and August are favorable months for exams. › Keep an eye on the wellbeing of loved ones, especially your parents. Advice: Remember to put your needs first.

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Leo (JUL 23 - AUG 22) › Sept 15-20 are auspicious times for Leos. › Focus on existing friendships, instead of searching for new ones. Advice: Lucky things will come in 9.

Virgo (AUG 23 - SEP 22) › The moon’s north node in Gemini sits high in the zone of career development › You will be challenged to the max, so be prepared. Advice: Gift a book to your teachers.

Gemini (MAY 21 - JUN 20) › This is a good year for your academics. › You’ll be the best this year at your physical and mental health.

S O R

Libra (SEP 23 - OCT 22) › Your romantic and creative world will develop and improve. › Careful of who you welcome into your circle. Advice: Feed wheat dough balls to cows and caress them thrice on their back. You will gain exceptional results in your studies. Scorpio (OCT 23 - NOV 21) › You will build many secure connections with new people. › There is a stronger ability to bounce back from problems. Advice: Take a walk in the sun.

E OP

Sagittarius (NOV 22 - DEC 21) › You will experience a stronger desire to reach others through out ideas › Be wary of the advice of elders. Advice: Be patient with love. Small understandings may blow out of proportion.

Capricorn (DEC 22 - JAN 19) › Focus on improving oneself. › Valuables and personal possessions will increase. Advice: A spacey friend may call you today.

Aquarius (JAN 20 - FEB 18) › This is the time to take risks. › Don’t slack off, and you will be well rewarded. Advice: Feed fresh, green fodder to cows.

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Pisces (FEB 19 - MAR 20) › There may be the sense that you are not living life as happily as others. › Take care with your appearance, and clean up the house in the mornings. Advice: Knock on doors before touching their handles.

MJ Grade 11

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MJ Grade 11

Voices Magazine Website ‘Collaboration with Computer Science Club’ Pun Pun, Grade 11

SCAN ME!

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MJ Grade 11

Farewell Letters Dear Mighty Dragons, It has been my joy and honor to spend the last 2 years with you. You have pushed through some of the hardest times our generations have ever faced with such grace and patience. I could never have imagined what would come with my time here, but I am incredibly grateful to have spent these times with you. Watching my friends and fellow teachers going above and beyond to keep classes engaging and meaningful online and on campus taught me so much. Seeing students adapting and persevering to keep their learning alive and growing made me so proud of you all. However, when I reflect over my time here what I most recall is the laughter, fun times, cookies, victories, and hard won progress.

Dear Students, More than a decade spent for my career here in Thailand will now be concluded. I will always be proud to say that I spent six years of it in one of the most prestigious schools in this country, the Concordian International School of Bangkok. Letting go of this career has had me thinking countless times. I wish I could stay longer, but when this pandemic happened, my heart pushed me to spend the rest of my life with my family back home.

My six years of service here feels like ten years. I have plenty of stories of first time experiences and lessons and skill enhancement opportunities. My heart was filled with joy during those times when I was given the independence and chances to practice my skills in arts and crafts. I have explored different techniques I never encountered before. I also learned while supporting my lead teacher and the students. Using the techniques practiced with students, I was inspired to create and paint an extra-large tree I will always cherish the friendships we forged in our and giant coral reefs made from paper maches for PYP department and getting to know and work with such musical play. I had also experienced sewing a gown, painting a caring educators across campus. I will never forget the giant book and many more. unique and kind students that I had the pleasure to learn alongside. Special shout out to my Share Care Love crew! Working in a multicultural environment had helped me You exemplify what it means to demonstrate compassion develop my confidence and broadened my perspectives both as a person and an educator. My connection to MYP and empathy through serving the community. students had also developed. Students love art and they Dragons, I wish you all the best that this world has to offer. are all creative if well supported and given the independI hope you find your passions and they fill your life with ence to do so. The head of the visual arts department was adventure and purpose. I cannot wait to see how far and supportive and good company. wide you all soar. I will always be grateful to my Concordian family as you became part of my journey for six years. To the owner and Love always, the administration, thank you for giving me the chance Ms. Michelle to work in such a well-managed school. My footsteps of _____ experience in this lovely school will be forever treasured. It feels like I am going back home with extra baggage of Dear Students, skills, lessons and hope. During my time at Concordian, I have been blown away Sincere Florife Ruelan Bagaboyboy by your level of enthusiasm and skill in Visual Arts. MYP Visual Art Teaching Assistant However, more than your artistic spirit, your kindness and warmth of character are what made my time with you so enjoyable.

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My farewell advice is to give 100% but be mindful, but remember that it’s not a race but an enjoyable journey. Take care of your body, your soul, and your family. Work on deepening your self-awareness and don’t tire of growing in patience and empathy. It has been a privilege to work with you, and as I say goodbye, please know I will always be cheering for you and celebrating with you in your future achievements. All the best, Mr David _________

Manta Grade 9

Coach Ms. Kathleen Baertschy Assistant Coach Mr. Luke Fiander Art Advisor Mr. David Glazier Graphic Designer and Editor Ms. Wanlapha (Prinz) Sa-ardwong President Yanagrich (MJ) Meekhanthong - G11 Vice President and Creative Director Fiona Chen - G11 Vice President Maymani (Prim) Adhiphandhuamphai - G11 Editing Team Supervisor Maymani (Prim) Adhiphandhuamphai Apitchaya (Amm) Yongsanguanchai Andra Lye Huei Hsia Kiartbordee (Ken) Charoenpojvajana Thanachote (Louis) Thungwongsathong Tanjunta (Nae-Nae) Wattanapongwanich Panisara (Prae M.) Moudsong Sanjana Gowri Shankar Sybert De Los Santos Patcharamon (Wandy) Kongmebhol Design Team

Cover Team Chotchanit (Jenny) Lohachitpitaks Chuntaput (Tiro) Ruayjirawat Warutch (Pun-Pun) Ingwattanapoka

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Supervisor & Leader Yanagrich (MJ) Meekhanthong Supervisor & Leader Fiona Chen Team Leader Kanlaekan (Leia) Lertlerphunt Team Leader Sushanard (Shana) Kunsuwan Hyunchang (Esther) Chun Jade Seyen Chotchanit (Jenny) Lohachitpitaks Warutch (Pun-Pun) Ingwattanapoka Titiporn (Tia) Chuichay Chuntaput (Tiro) Ruayjirawat

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WWW.CONCORDIAN.AC.TH Tel. +(662) 034-9000, Fax.+(662) 034-9001 E-mail: enquiries@concordian.ac.th 918 Moo 8, Bangkaew, Bangplee, Samutprakan Thailand 10540