YRC 25

Issue 25 / SGD 7.50

Bright Sparks Locals who Inspire YRC Investigates Children with Multicultural Backgrounds

ISSN: 2010- 1376

Parents Ask, Teens Answer Dealing With Others CORE 101 Multiculturalism in Singapore 2 Featured Stories To Help You Write Better

Ashvin Sivakumar Our Featured Author of the Month

“Diversity is key.”

Scan here to know more about YRC!

Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers

YRC TEAM Managing Editor/Publisher Catherine Khoo Assistant Editor Raymond Reynolds Tan Designer

Lim Soo Yong Editorial Assistant Natalya Thangamany Editorial Advisory Board

Catherine Khoo, Vijay Chandran, Noel Chia Contributors

Samantha Chin, Jericho Pao, Brian Lee Illustrators

Adeline Lim, Natalya Thangamany Eden Nelle YAC Core Contributors

Kenrick Lam, Lee Tat Wei, Theresa Ellsworth, Ron Yap, Ee Chonghui, Woon Kaiqin, Athena Tan, Fiona Tan, Ambriesh Karthik For advertising and sales enquiries

6336 8985 Education Subscription Agent

ILoveReading.SG 9007 8361 Emit Asia 6372 0330 Email: info@youngreaderclub.sg Website: www.youngreaderclub.sg All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Call 6336-8985 for back issues.

Printed in Singapore

by Stamford Press Cover and additional photos by

Jericho Pao

is published by Experiences & Experiments Books Pte Ltd 261 Waterloo Street #03-08 Waterloo Centre Singapore 180261

When we started the YRC, there was a burning desire to push children’s literature into an epoch where children themselves could build a library of commendable works for their own enjoyment. During its infant years, the magazine saw one transition after another – there were changes in the editorial team, in the editorial content, in design, in approach.

Twenty-four issues later, the YRC has become one of Singapore’s premier children’s magazines that cater to the call for improved reading materials for kids all over the region, highlighted by writing from under-18s for under-18s. This being its 25th issue, the YRC team welcomes you to an even more fun-filled, thought-provoking issue that further underlines our mission of building the next generation of thinkers and writers.

Although we make each issue special, this one gets extraspecial attention because of two things: one, it underlines how multicultural backgrounds and environments have affected the way we live today in more seamless integrations; and two, the issue focuses on how the magazine has evolved over the years, from a kid’s magazine to a children’s literary publication used in Singapore schools and libraries.

Meet Ashvin Sivakumar on Featured Author and discover how his South Asian culture melds perfectly with his prowess of Mandarin and Singaporean culture. While you’re at it, catch the Featured Stories, and read through how people of varied backgrounds can actually work together.

YRC Investigates looks at children who grew up in multicultural backgrounds while Editor’s Picks looks at fusion food and their motivation to have multicultural backgrounds.

Other articles like CORE 101 and Bright Sparks look at the impact of global citizenship and how cultures and lifestyles are slowly merging together.

In all, an exciting issue to read through and through to discover how smaller our backyards have become in terms of community and global cultures.

Happy Reading!

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SPOT light 41 Editor’s

Picks

Featured S t o r i e s

YRC Investigates 23

features 8

Featured Author: Ashvin Sivakumar Multicultural inside and out, Ashvin Sivakumar blew the judges away in the 2012 Young Author Awards for his Greek mythology-inspired action packed story. Discover how his being South Asian coupled with linguistic prowess in Mandarin helps him stand out!

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CHASING THE ELEMENTS by Ashwini Sridhar In dancing and dying flames, the story switches between Amber, the feisty stealer with a frozen heart, and Karis, the lonely, sarcastic and generally grumpy dragon. Karis meets an old enemy, and Amber picks up and continues Karis’ fight. She saves her friends, and is given a purpose: To find four youths.

Read through the winning story of YAA 2012/13, which is also the longest story submitted for her batch.

28 Professions

Do you dream of travelling the world, and making a profession out of eat? Join YRC as we take a closer

look at the life of a travel blogger.

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Reel Talk Films shine a light on life and help us better understand our world. In our brand new column, we explore movies that touch on multicultural issues.

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He Said, She Said Two teens from each side of the spectrum share their thoughts about being teens and being aware of important issues in this breakthrough column on YRC!

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Email From... Japan Three high school students from Japan take us through a typical day of student life, and give us a glimpse into what it’s like.

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Editor’s Picks: Fusion Restaurants Singapore is a gourmet paradise where flavours, cultures and traditions mix and match. In this issue, the editor chooses three fusion-inspired restaurants in Singapore that truly are a class on their own.

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A TWISTED TALE by Sheryl Ewe Set in a kingdom called Bright City with only beautiful citizens, comes a tale of a pitiful young girl Nevaeh, born ugly. One day, a famished beggar arrives & insults Nevaeh for her lack of beauty. Upset, she ventures out to find her fortune. A cruel Queen demands her to search for a beauty potion for she is about to get remarried soon with a young Prince. Will she ever find true happiness? Read on to find out!

CORE 101

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Professions

33 Reel Talk

national education

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YRC Investigates Children with Multicultural Backgrounds The way we grow up is based on two things: our parents and our environment. For children of multicultural and multiracial backgrounds, environment is more than just what meets the eye. Meet three children who grew up in multicultural/multiracial families and discover the uniqueness of their lives.

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Bright Sparks In this issue, we feature two local talents who have used their gifts to inspire people all over the country.

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Parents Ask, Teens Answer Are you an introvert? Do you find it difficult to engage in social activities with other people? In this issue of YRC, our experts talk about integration, and how teens can build lasting social relationships with people who differ from their own ideals, values and upbringing.

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The YRC is more than just a magazine. It’s a useful tool for learning better E n g l i s h

comprehension and writing for both primary and secondary students. Tap these useful

guide questions for your next group discussion in class or at the student study area, which

are coupled with resource sheets available for schools and parents!

inspirations CORE 101: Teens’ Voice and Points of Views The world is getting smaller, and cultures are melding together. Are there still cultural boundaries that exist?

Are we ready to become global citizens? Have we set enough parameters–local or otherwise–to do so?

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Double-edged Multiculturalism by Lee Tat Wei, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

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How to Preserve Diversity in Singapore by Athena Tan, Xinmin Secondary School

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Becoming More Than One

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Embracing Singapore’s Diversity by Ambriesh Karthik, Anglo Chinese School (Barker Road)

by Ee Chonghui, National Junior College

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

YRC Magazine recognises the talents of our regular co nt r i b u to r s a n d writers. For article, illustration and photo contributions, please contact the Editor at info@ youngreaderclub.sg or call 6336.8985.

Adeline Lim Educator / Illustrator What Adeline did for this issue: Featured Stories Illustrations Ad e l i n e L i m i s a n illustrator, designer and visual artists educator who is currently residing in Singapore.

Experienced in both physical and digital mediums, Adeline has worked as a layout artist for magazines, as well as covered a broad range of illustrated work in ink, watercolour paints and digital collage for children’s stories.

Athena Tan Student, Xinmin Secondary School What Athena did for this issue: CORE 101 A multi-cultural young contributor whose global exploits have brought her from the United States and back Singapore, Athena is a bubbly fashion blogger who is never afraid to show her serious side.

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Ee Chonghui Student, National Junior College What Chonghui d i d fo r t h i s i s s u e : CORE 101 Herself a merit winner in the Young Author Awards when she was still in primary school, Chonghui is now currently contributing to YRC magazine and pursuing her studies at the National Junior College.

Brian Lee Jun Wei Student, Nanyang Technological University What Brian did for this issue: YRC Investigates Shifting from BioMed to English Literature was not a difficult decision for Brian. His love for the written word, coupled with the passion to write, fuels his desire to one day become a published author.

Theresa Ellsworth Student, Occidental College What Theresa did for this issue: He Said, She Said Even before winning a merit prize in the 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 Yo u n g Author Awards, Theresa has shared her writing dexterity to YRC in snippets of contributions that underline her love for writing and her dream of becoming a published author in the future.

Lee Tat Wei Student, Anglo-Chinese School Independent What Tat Wei did for this issue: CORE 101 A senior member of the YAC Core, Tat Wei wrote his first book of 27,000 words when he was 11. Now in secondary school, Tat Wei is a football goalie at school, but is just as hard-hitting as a contributor for the magazine.

Fiona Tan Student, Singapore Chinese Girls School What Fiona did for this issue: CORE 101 As a merit awardee in the Young Author Awards, Fiona wrote her first story under the Young Author Scheme when she was in Primary 5. Now in SCGS, she writes feisty commentary for the magazine.

Ron Yap YAC Core Member, Zhong Hua Secondary School Wh a t R o n d i d fo r this issue: He Said, S h e S a i d / Pa re nt s Ask, Teens Answer As a budding writer, Ron started his stint with the Young Author Scheme, becoming a merit prize winner in the Young Author Awards. Now at 16, Ron aspires to be a travelling author, in pursuit of his ultimate inspiration to write his bestseller.

Ruth Kan Content Strategist, (Youth) Focus on the Family What Ruth did for this i s s u e : Pa re n t s A s k , Teens Answer As the Youth Specialist w i t h Fo c u s o n t h e Family Singapore, Ruth has been involved in the development of No Apologies and I t ’s U n Co m p l i c a te d programme, and has been interviewed by the media on relationships and sexuality issues. A vibrant and passionate individual, she also regularly speaks to young people and have inspired more than four thousand students from secondary and tertiary institutions in the past six years.

At YRC Magazine, we ensure that stories are kept at their most original form, yet there are times that content is abridged to suit the magazine’s readership.

Stories featured in YRC Magazine are abridged as necessary, to fit page constraints. The YRC is a literary magazine that conforms to the reading palate of 10-16 year olds.

Once a story is featured in the magazine, it is at the discretion of the editor to copyedit articles to a certain extent, to suit the target audience.

The views and opinions of the contributors do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of YRC magazine and its staff.

YRC Magazine has identified the following error in the p re v i o u s YR C 2 4 i s s u e concerning Zjayanhi Bte Johan Kang’s interview and hereby rectifies it: * Zjayanhi’s cat is named Helmi, not Monty

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Nur Syafirah, 11 Yuhua Primary School I like the Young Reader Club magazines because it has a lot of content and many topics. I loved the story “Wandering Souls” from a few issues back, because it’s very fun. One thing that I dislike is that it can be difficult and tiring to read the articles sometimes. There can be many words sometimes and the words can be very small. But the magazine is still fun and interesting.

Nur Al Hakim, 11 Yuhua Primary School This magazine is very interesting and also has a lot of good stories that inspire kids like us. You could perhaps improve it by including comic strips that feature cartoon characters like Disney characters or the Looney Toons. When kids see fun things they will also love the magazine.

Tools of the Trade (ToTT) and Young Readers’ Club jointly present an innovative cooking class for aspiring young chefs on 20 June 2014! Watch science topics (from the Primary 6 Science syllabus) come to life as you learn how to prepare simple dishes through this hands-on cooking class, led by a well-known chef. For more information on the class, go to www.

ToTTstore.com.

Editor: Awesome comments, k iddos! You all get a copy of the Aliens & Angels Anthology for s e n d i n g i n yo u r c o m m e n t s. Yo u may claim your gif ts at the YR C O ffice, 261 Water loo Street #030 8 Wa t e r l o o C e n t r e , S i n g a p o r e 180261. Please call 6336-8985 and look for the Circulations Manager.

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Writing compositions was a way for me to express my feelings and intentions.

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PROFILE

Ashwini Sridhar, 17 Global Indian International School Magic & Fantasy

“Ashwini Sridhar is an almost normal seventeen-year-old. She goes to school, studies, goes home, studies some more, like nearly everyone else. In the space between this, though, magic happens.

She dreams and draws, writes poems and prose. Anything to keep thinking. She’s a voracious reader- Her best was twenty-six books in an otherwise unmemorable week.

Ashwini loves books, and firmly believes that there are very few things that can beat reading. Her idea of a hot date is a free evening and a good book. In all honesty, Ashwini has always wanted to write about herself in third person without sounding insane.”

Chasing the Elements 1st Prize, Young Author Awards 2012/13

One The dragon’s emerald eyes glared at the darkness. At the coldness. At the emptiness.

He glared at the loneliness.

It had been long since he had given up counting the years of his imprisonment. The loneliness of his eternal cell had once driven him mad. He remembered as he took a deep rumbling breath. Fury re-ignited in his great heart and anger burned in his mind.

But, as he continued searching his past, he remembered how the loneliness had driven even the madness away. The memories tired him. He burned the memories with a jet of flames. The fire mirrored endlessly on his pure white scales. The dragon smiled, his yellowed teeth peeking out. At least the fire would do something to the cold.

I ran, my bare feet slapping the dirty, hard pavement. I doubt I would have no-

Illustrations by Adeline Lim

ticed if a shard pierced my feet. Years of running had made my feet as hard as rock. I held the bread in my hand delicately. It was food. It was worth so much more than gold.

You can’t eat gold.

In these lean times, gold is useless.

Only food matters. And for those who can’t afford food, that’s where I come in. Steal from the rich, give to the hungry. That’s a pretty catchy motto. I think I’ll keep it. Oh right, back to the running.

I turned sharply into a road that wasn’t there and then I exited into a street that never was. I saw my destination fast approaching. The church that shouldn’t have existed. In times like this, it was a mirage.

Something that should vanish the moment you blinked. But it just stood there, defying all that was accepted as reality by just being there.

When I say church, I don’t mean to call it pretty. It was an old, tattered establishment. I’m sure that, once upon a time, it was an awe-inspiring monument, an hon-

Disclaimer: Due to the length of the story, YRC is featuring only the opening chapter of the story. Catch the full e-book on Google Books and the Janus e-bookstore.

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STORY TRIVIA

Dystopias in Young Adult Literature

Many books and movies feature dystopias – societies in which people lead fearful and dehumanized lives. Ashwini’s story takes place in such a world. These dystopias are usually set in the future, and they depict life in a society which has survived a great catastrophe.

Dystopias have been a staple in literature and film for many years now, and they are often used to draw attention to real-world issues regarding society, environment, politics, ethics, religion, science and technology. Many of these dystopias feature a harsh and cruel government body – one which often uses violence to enforce its rule over citizens who are poor and often struggling to make a living.

Famous depictions of dystopias in literature include George Orwell’s 1984, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451; in film, one of the most famous depictions of dystopias is in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. Life in these societies are often characterized by violence, brutality, terror, and feature scenarios wherein characters are forced to find, and struggle for, their humanity.

While dystopias are commonplace in science fiction books and movies, they have, in recent years, been all the rage in young adult (YA) novels and films. One of the most famous examples, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy, is set in a dystopian universe, Panem, wherein the majority of citizens are divided 22

into twelve districts. Each district has its own unique qualities, but all of them have abysmal living conditions.

People struggle to fill their stomachs on a daily basis. Yet, the wealthiest people in Panem live in the Capitol, an opulent city which houses the government.

The government in The Hunger Games lords over the twelve districts mercilessly; it seldom thinks twice about using violence to quell riots and to keep citizens in line. Worst of their atrocities is the implementation of the annual Hunger Games, a gory ritual in which twenty four teenagers, two from each of the twelve districts, battling it out in a gladiatorial arena till only one of them is

left standing. Teens are forced to kill other teens in order to survive.

Despite – or perhaps because of – the violence, The Hunger Games trilogy has been a resounding success. Do the books remind teenagers of the harsh realities of teenage life – a time when it’s easy for one to feel alone and at odds with the world? Or could the injustices in the books remind readers of real-world injustices? Whatever it is, these dystopias do reflect certain anxieties that all humans have.

...Understanding how the world works

By Natalya Thangamany With reports from Brian Lee

NATIONAL EDUCATION

YRC Investigates

Full article on www.youngreaderclub.sg

Children from Multiracial / Multicultural Backgrounds When you live in a multiracial country such as Singapore, you meet a variety of people. Some may have descended from the earliest residents of Singapore, while others are born of two different cultures.

Today, the number of mixed-culture children in Singapore have increased, the notion of ‘four main races’ seemingly reduced to just a line in textbooks. In this issue, YRC looks at children who come from multicultural backgrounds and takes a peek at how their lives are both similar and different from yours.

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Best of Both Worlds

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NATIONAL EDUCATION SIDE BAR

Spencer Toh

Spencer Toh, who has just turned 11 years old, hails from a Chinese-Indian heritage; his father is a Chinese and his mother, an Indian. He thus sees himself as a ‘Chindian’, a term used today to describe someone from a ChineseIndian lineage.

Coming from a mixed heritage is something he is proud of. “I feel lucky to be a child of mixed race because not many children are of mixed race,” He shares in an email interview. “I like it (being of mixed race) because I enjoy the best of two cultures; Chinese and Indian.”

Spencer’s family members are also more open to other cultures as a result. “Actually my dad is more Indian than my mum because both he and I enjoy watching Tamil movies with my maternal Grandma!” he adds cheekily.

At home and amongst his loved ones, Spencer gets to experience both sides of his bi-racial heritage.

“I really enjoy having both Chinese and Indian food at home because my mum can cook both. We often use our fingers to eat when we have Indian meals and chopsticks when having Chinese. We also sometimes use fork and spoon!” he shared. “I especially look forward to Chinese New Year as I receive lots of red packets and meet my cousins from my father’s side of the family.”

Spencer also shared with us that at weddings, he and his family will don “ethnic Indian costumes’. Not only that, due to their Catholic faith, they do not celebrate Indian festivals unlike his Indian-Hindu peers.

However, being of mixed race does have its own share of challenges, but Spencer does not let them get to him.

“When I tell my friends that I am a ‘Chindian’, they tend to make fun of me because I am different,” he shared.

“However, I do not let it affect me as I know that they are jealous.”

While not keen to find out more about his heritage currently, Spencer considers tracing his roots when he is older. “It would be quite interesting to see how they (his family’s roots) are different.”

Spencer enjoys the perks that come with being in a multi-racial society. “We have always lived in Singapore and totally enjoy the multiculturalism, especially when we get public holidays during every ethnic festival.”

He also likes how being in a multi-racial society encourages people from different backgrounds to understand one another and thus co-exist. “I think it is good as people of different cultures learn to be more tolerant as well as learn to appreciate the cultural differences so as to live together harmoniously,” he said. “Such a blend of cultures creates a rich, unique multicultural society.”

Spencer is keen to share his bi-racial background with others and encourages them to do the same, to keep multiculturalism alive in Singapore. “I can always talk about my heritage with pride and share my rich experiences with them,” he ends off eagerly.

Professions

By Brian Lee

...Understanding how the world works

A

From Silk Road to Myanmar S

PI

RA

NTSG

ng, See Wee He er Travel Blogg A

S

at Elliot Beach a Chennai, Indi

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PI

RANTSG

Ever wanted to start your own blog? Blogs have been around the internet ever since the early 1990s, in the form of forums, websites and a little later on, online diaries. Within a decade, online tools such as LiveJournal and Blogger came about, and a decade after that today, there are more than 150 million blogs floating in the ocean that is the internet. In recent years, it has become a business in its own right and blogging a profession.

While both extremes possess some element of truth to them, neither of them is true, especially where blogging is concerned. This much we can learn from Mr See Wee Heng, the blogger behind AspirantSG– a popular travel blog which has recently achieved 400,000 page views in a single month. Despite holding a full-time job, Wee Heng still found the time to write about a diverse number of topics, with his main focus being his (prolific) travels, food, lifestyle and the social media. Why is prolific in brackets?

The blog began with no concrete direction in mind until he met his mentor in a social media course he took. He began writing about his travels out of passion, as he wanted to get readers to aspire about exploring new destinations and experiencing new cultures and way of life. By putting down his experiences in a blog, he was also recalling the memories of his adventures and connecting with fellow travellers so that they could share experiences and plan

Reel Talk Hollywood is largely dominated by actors, writers and directors who are white/ Caucasian, and most of its output reflects this. In recent years, however, movie casts are gradually growing more diverse. Just look at the recent blockbuster Captain America: The Winter Soldier, in which one of the main characters is an AfricanAmerican. In the movie, Singaporean actor Ng Chin Han also plays a small role. How awesome is that?

A more racially diverse cast is something to celebrate, sure, as are films that deal with culturally diverse issues, or issues that concern people who are straddling different cultures. So, in this article, we will look at two films that explore those ideas, and dig out whatever pearls of wisdom we can find from them.

Crash

Released in 2004, Crash is a film that follows the perspective of multiple characters, unlike the standard Hollywood movie that usually zooms in on one main (white male) character.

The movie jumps between the stories of different people living in Los Angeles over a two-day period: a black detective with a strained relationship with his mother; his criminal younger brother who’s in a gang that is into human trafficking; a white state prosecutor and his spoilt, bratty wife; an idealistic young cop who is revolted by his racist police buddy; an African American movie director and his wife who must deal with the racist officer; a Persian-immigrant man who is paranoid and wary of others; and a hard-working Hispanic locksmith who is a family man.

The film grossed nearly a hundred million dollars at the box office. It also went on to 32

win a Best Picture prize at the 2006 Academy Awards. What really makes the movie great is its empathetic, unjudgmental view of its characters. The film takes an impartial stand on the issue of racism. Rather than outright blaming anyone, the film shows how people who are racist are often also often the subject of some form of discrimination or unfair treatment themselves. The main idea in the film is that injustice and hatred is something that sets off a chain reaction of more injustice and hatred.

The movie touches on the need for empathy, open-mindedness, and it manages to open eyes as to the situation of racism in America.

Dangerous Minds

Dangerous Minds is a 1995 American drama

He Said, She Said The Voices of Teens Today...

The world has become more connected and, as a result, more globalized.

As it becomes easier to communicate and connect with other cultures, the world has started to feel like it is shrinking.

Cultural boundaries come in many shapes and forms. These include differences in religion, language barriers a n d e t h n i c i t y.

Sometimes people of different religions do not associate with each other, and this can result in a physical and geographical separation of people, like in the case of India and Pakistan.

With a language barrier, people who cannot speak the same language lack the ability to communicate with each other. Without communication, an exchange of cultures is difficult, if not impossible. A last boundary, ethnicity, refers to the different races that populate the entire planet.

that ties every human being to each other. The question, then, becomes whether cultures will get diluted in a globalized world.

Traditions often prevent a person from exploring the opportunities that the world offers. For example, someone whose family has been in one country for centuries is expected to continue that tradition. But whether we realize it or not, we are already global citizens. Televisions and communication through the Internet opened up a connection

In all, cultural boundaries may still exist but they exist in an overlapping kind of way.

There are distinctions, but they often get lost because of the melding of so many different cultures. However, this change, in my opinion, does not mean that cultural traditions are lost forever.

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As a child from many different cultures, I have experienced Chinese, Indonesian and American traditions, all of which I treasure as a part of who I am and where I am from.

I live in the U.S.A, but I still see Singapore as my home. As I’ve begun experiencing life on my own, I can see clearly how hard it is to meld the culture I come from with the culture I am in right now. The fact that I grew up in Singapore with such a strong sense of local culture, however, acts as the parameter that keeps me from losing everything I learned before leaving. Yet find I have less trouble embracing this change than a person normally would, because I come from a family of mixed cultures.

CORE 101... Points of View

By Lee Tat Wei Anglo-Chinese School Independent

Double-edged

Multiculturalism

T h e a d v e n t o f g l o b a l i z a t i o n h a s u s h e r e d i n a n e w, unprecedented age of interconnectivity and delocalization of cultures. No longer are race, language and religion confined to a geographical region. With the melting pot of cultures throughout the world, is it safe to say then that we Singaporeans are ready to be global citizens – unburdened by stereotyping and accepting of all cultures?

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Email from...

Japan

In this series, we continue to look at schools, and the education s y s t e m , o f o t h e r c o u n t r i e s. Fo r this issue, we ask three Japanese h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s w h a t i t ’s like to grow up in the Land of the Rising Sun, and what a typical day in school entails.

Name: Idesaka Tomoyuki Age: 15 School: Iwaoka Junior High School Hobbies & Interests: playing basketball, reading books, cooking and baking

Hello, I am a junior high school student in Japan. I will introduce you to Japanese junior high schools. A junior high school has three grades. One school year has three semesters.

The summer vacation is the longest, and it lasts more than a month. The first day of the school year is in early April.

There are many different classes in Japanese schools. We take part in Japanese 38

cultural activities, for example, judo and calligraphy, and we enjoy the classes. Are there any club activities in your school?

There are many club activities in the Japanese schools. Many students have club activities after school every day. They practice very hard.

We speak in a very polite manner to teachers and seniors in our club activities. The club activities make school life very enjoyable.

The time we look forward to is lunchtime.

In Japan, I bring a lunch box (bento) from home. I always bring rice balls (onigiri) and Japanese omelet (tamagoyaki). It’s so enjoyable to talk and eat with friends.

There are also many kinds of events in the Japanese schools, many of which are very interesting. The events we look forward to are sports day and culture festival. Sports day has many games such as relay race, three-legged race, obstacle course and tug-of-war. We try to win points for our team. Everyone does their best to win championship. The final sports event in my school is class long rope skipping.

The champion class this year jumped more

Photos and Text by Jericho Pao

F E AT U R E S

Editor’s Picks

MIXING, MATCHING, ENJOYING Wi t h Y R C ’s fo c u s o n m u l t i c u l t u r a l i s m fo r t h i s i s s u e, t h e m a g a z i n e v i s i t s t h r e e restaurants that represent the fusion of cultures in gastronomic propor tions, with the hope of redefining the already diverse Singaporean eating experience.

A country’s culture, they say, is best defined by the type of signature dishes that they prepare for visiting guests. But with largely multicultural Singapore, one simply enjoys a gastronomic sojourn that redefines how much of a melting pot of cultures and traditions the island-nation has become throughout the years. YRC takes a look at three restaurants that have taken this one step further, with the successful attempt of introducing a plethora of palatable treats for the foodie in all of us.

Pork Bone Tea

Pidgin warmth

Chef Aldrin PIDGIN KITCHEN & BAR 7 Dempsey Hill #01-04 Nestled in the quiet steep of Dempsey Hill that has built its reputation for being one of the prime makan destinations in Singapore with its diverse offering of food finds, Pidgin is a quaint restive space that welcomes guests with much warmth and toned class.

Opened in August 2013 by husband-andwife tandem restaurateur Adrian Ling and Cleo Chiang-Ling, the name ‘Pidgin’ was taken from an Old English term that referred to a shared language of two different cultures.

Quite noticeable is the restaurant’s affinity for reduction and deconstruction for several of

its key dishes, as in the case of their version of the Milo Dinosaur which features a thick and chewy chocolate brownie and ice cream on the side, but more particularly the PorkBone-Tea, literally the English translation of the much-loved bak kut teh.

The deconstructed version features several key components that akin itself to the traditional dish, but apparently, the similarity ends there. Unlike in the soup-based dish where the pork is boiled in its broth, the pork ribs are placed in airtight bags and cooked at accurately controlled temperatures (a process called sous-vide) for more than 16 hours, keeping the meat juicy. Afterwards, the meat is smoked over apple wood, before being grilled Issue 25

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PETER DRAW CHARITY ARTIST AGE: 30 USES HIS PASSION FOR ART TO INSPIRE CHILDREN

Born Peter Zhuo, Peter Draw’s childhood ambition was to be an artist. However, when he was six years old, he was rejected from an art workshop due to being unable to afford the fees.

Luckily for him, his grandfather egged him to believe in himself and follow his dreams.

When his grandfather passed away when Draw was 16 years old, he resolved to pursue art.

But Draw went beyond just putting his art down on paper. Growing up, Draw always hoped to meet an artist who could better the lives of other children through his drawings, and he resolved to be that artist even if he never meets someone like that. He has since used

his art to both wow people and support those in need, and he mentions that his dream is to touch the lives of those who feel unloved and uncared for. His drawings have…well, drawn attention from 20 countries, including here in Singapore.

He broke the Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Caricature Drawing in 2007 (he drew a gigantic caricature of movie star Jackie Chan) and for teaching the World’s Largest Art Lesson in 2010.

Not only that, he uses art to reach out to children and engage them in the joy of drawing, from students to the disabled to disaster survivors. He has worked with children and charity projects in various countries like Japan, South Africa and Thailand, and held fund-raising exhibitions, using drawing as an outreach.

Due to his work with children, Draw was awarded the Junior Chamber International’s Outstanding Young Persons of Singapore in 2008 for his altruistic contributions. Numerous children, dubbing themselves ‘Little Draws’, have been inspired by Draw to use their art to touch other people’s lives.

Currently working for a mobile app company and serving the school advisory committee for his alma mater Ang Mo Kio Primary School, Draw still dedicates his time and craft to use art as a medium to reach out to and inspire children from many walks of life.

You can find out more about Peter Draw at http:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / peterdraw.

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Parents Ask, Teens Answer ...Linking teens and parents together

Every individual is different and some children are born with a predisposition to be less outgoing than others. How can we teach our teens to be more open to others? YR C seeks the advice of our experts to find out!

M d m Ta n f r o m B u k i t G o m b a k asks: My teen is an only child and has always been an introvert and elusive, to a point that he finds it difficult to commune with other teens of his age, as well as those w h o s e u p b r i n g i n g a n d c u l t u re s are different from his. He is quite the loner, and I am afraid that he might not be able to adjust once he enters the polytechnic in a few years. What can I do to help him adapt?

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Samantha Chin, Content Manager Focus on the Family Being an only child, he also has not had the opportunity to grow up and interact with brothers and sisters. Shy children tend to be cautious, anxious and reticent about tackling things that are new or unfamiliar. Parents need to be careful not to reinforce this avoidant behavior, either by giving in to their child’s fears or by criticizing his shyness and harming his self-esteem.

Raising shy children is a delicate art that requires discernment, sensitivity, and balance.

If you have a more assertive, confident personality than your son, it may be particularly difficult for you to understand him. In that case, the first step is to discover his perspective.

One of the best ways to help an introverted child is to show him that you love him unconditionally. Let him know that he doesn’t have to perform in certain ways to be acceptable to you. When he seems paralyzed by his bashfulness, respond with encouragement – a disapproving comment

Sheryl Ewe, 16 United World College, Atlantic College, UK Magic & Fantasy

All my life I’ve been moving around to various countries like Oman, Russia, UK, and due to this international influence, I am able to extract my experiences and transfer them to my writing. Instead of living solely in two different worlds, a bridge now binds them together. With this discovery of a correlation, a compatibility that allows the mythical faun to meet the forest deer, my writing has become more life-like and believable. The book Twisted Tale is about the tremendous drive of society and how it is challenging to maintain one’s morals especially with mounting pressures – however, the eventual outcome is undoubtedly self-discovery and happiness.

A Twisted Tale Written when 15 years old in American British Academy, Muscat Oman

One Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a prosperous kingdom called Bright City. This kingdom was no ordinary kingdom, for every citizen born from Bright City was beautiful and charming. With large eyes and long eyelashes, every child had healthy locks of hair from the day they were born. Many were even mistaken for divine goddesses and mighty gods that lived in the high heavens.

Well, nearly every child? There was one girl. Her name was Nevaeh. She was no ordinary girl. For this young little girl did not belong to Bright City at all.

Her mother and father had been yearning to have a child for years. Try and wish with all their might, they

Illustrations by Adeline Lim

never got what they hoped for. Finally, on a rich summer’s evening, they did.

However, during her pregnancy, Nevaeh’s mother fell down a flight of stairs. Instead of a miscarriage, her fall has caused a misfortune. Or as Nevaeh’s mum used to call it, another twist in a miracle: Her daughter was born ugly.

Nevaeh had an off-centered nose that looked like someone had punched it, and mousy hair that was constantly tangled as if it were a cuckoo bird’s nest. Sometimes even, when she stood next to an upside down mop, people could tell no difference between the mop and her scraggy hair. Whilst the citizens of Bright City were slender and tall, Nevaeh was stubby with round baby cheeks that never faded. Her eyes however, were a rich sapphire blue

Disclaimer: Due to the length of the story, YRC is featuring only the opening chapter of the story. Catch the full e-book on Google Books and the Janus e-bookstore.

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F E AT U R E S

PROFILE

The fashion and entertainment industry have always been key players in influencing body image, presenting ideas of how people should look and what sort of body is ideal for them.

People with thin slender frames are celebrated while those on the bulkier side are often ridiculed.

This has often resulted in people resorting to drastic measures, such as extreme starvation or excess food regurgitation, to get a skinny form. Also, in some Asian countries, it is a common thing to see teenagers, most still schooling, go for plastic surgery to obtain attractive facial features like a sharp nose and double eyelids. Sometimes, they go for more than one cosmetic procedure.

However, in the past several years, society is slowly widening its definition of beauty. On one of the seasons of the hit TV series ‘America’s Next Top Model’, Whitney Thompson became the first model not of the conventional body-frame model to clinch the champion position, proving that it is talent, not size, which matters. Actress Jennifer Lawrence is celebrated for her talent and personality, as well as her refusal to bow to body stereotypes.

Some countries and cultures have radical views on what beauty is, notions of beauty that diverges greatly from the ideal that the media usually sells us.

For example, in some Middle Eastern and African countries, the appeal of a woman comes from how fat she is, rather than the mainstream notion of how thin she is. This is because in these countries, obesity was a sign that the woman was well fed and prosperous. This was to the extent that there were ‘wife-fattening’ farms where prospective brides are forcefed to become fat enough for their husbands and exercise was forbidden.

However, that view is slowly dwindling due to the rise of health risks and obesity-related medical problems, as well as human rights outcries against such brutal treatment.

Although there are extreme ends to the beauty spectrum still existent today, most people agree that in the end, it is what’s inside that really counts. So, what is beautiful to you?

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By Ee Chong Hui, National Junior College

CORE 101... Points of View

Becoming More than

ne

The word multicultural is defined in the dic tionar y as the doc trine that several different cultures (rather than one national culture) can coexist peacefully and equitably in a single countr y. As the years pass, m a n y o f u s c a n’ t h e l p b u t n o t i c e t h at we a re b e gi n n i n g to b ro a d e n our circle of cultural knowledge.

We fe e l i n t r i g u e d b y t h e wo n d e r s t h a t d i f fe re n t wo r l d c u l t u re s h ave to offer.

There are just so many cultures to the extent that it is unknown how many there are in today’s world. Every year, new cultures are created from a diversity of old ones merging together. And as so many changes take place around us, Singapore is slowly progressing towards not only being a multiracial country 62

but also a multicultural one.

Many still remember the fateful day Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading post. On 29 January 1819, the small island town of Singapore caught the attention of merchants and migrants from the various countries of South East Asia due to its favorable geographical position and commercial success. And by the end of the 19th century, Singapore had been named one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Asia, the Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Eurasians being the major ethnic groups in the country.

Statistics have shown that the ethnic Chinese form 74.2 percent of the Singaporean population, with the country’s original inhabitants, the Malays, making up 13.3 percent. The Indians comprising of 9.2

Our Mission is building bridges for the nex t generation of thinkers and writers.

Come help us bring

everyone

there.

The Blood Flower

by Hannah Koong

For a vampire to live in the Human World is no easy feat. To avoid suspicion, Hana enters the Academy of Demon Slaying but becomes an enemy to ever y student! Join Hana and K u ro, h e r b e s t f r i e n d, a s t h e y b a t t l e e v i l fo rce s t h at wa nt to co n q u e r t h e wo r l d i n this action-packed thriller!

The Wolf Princess

by Hana van de Wiel

T h e D e a d Wo o d s w e r e o n t h e b o r d e r o f Beldonia and the Unknown. Giselle is a t h re e -ye a r- o l d i n n o ce nt gi r l w h o s e f a m i l y gets assassinated. She is then taken in by a pack of wolves. When her adopted wolf father is poisoned, Giselle is determined to find the antidote. But to find the ingredients to the antidote she must ask the wolf witch for help. Will she be able to save her adopted father?

PLUS OUR NOT-TO-BE-MISSED COLUMNS AND DEPARTMENTS: * National Education * YRC Investigates * CORE 101 * Email From * Inspirations * He Said, She Said * Professions * Editor’s Picks Get to k now more about YRC Magazine! Visit www.youngreaderclub.sg for subscriptions, contributions and more!