YRC 28

Issue 28 / SGD 7.50

ISSN: 2010- 1376

YRC Investigates

The Importance of Holidays and Holidays You Probably Have Not Heard Of

Dig Deep!

Awesome Activities For Those On A Budget

2 Featured Stories

To Help You Write Better

Editor’s Picks Great Gifts For The Holiday Season

Want to Have A Vacation?

Here are Some Places You Should Definitely Visit!

Julianna Blas Our Featured Author of the Month

“I wanted to share with my readers the warmth I felt while I wrote the story.”

Scan here to know more about YRC!

T Festhe Issuive e

Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers

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YRC Magazine has more than just stories to share.

E-BOOKS. WORKSHEETS. E-MAGAZINES. BLOGS & MORE!

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Vol 8. 2011 /

YRC Online provides blogs and reviews by young authors about issues and topics that concern the youth of today, while giving opportunities to maximise the YRC experience through e-books, worksheets for students and teachers, and e-magazines!

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SGD 7.50 ISSN: 2010- 1376

Breaking Boundaries: Cambodia

2 teachers and 1 village with a dream

YRC Investigates:

Singapore’s Lost History

Discovering memories & more

Health Matters

Celebrating World Milk Day 2011

Fierce Facts

Cool things about pizza

3 Fascinating Tales You Can’t Resist

Jennifer Yip, Maybank 2007 YAA Awardee Our Featured Author of the Month

Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers3 VOL. 8 2011

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 Family Life Advisor

Samantha Chin 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, Wong Ziling Nur Eva Alisha Md Hisham

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

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

This year, like most others, has whizzed by in the blink of an eye. Remember that New Year’s resolution you made just a few months back? Remember how you kept telling yourself, I’ve still got time, I’ll get started on it next month? Well, you now have two months left to get started on whatever resolutions you had earlier set out to accomplish. So stop procrastinating and start working towards your goals now!

Even as we march into the final leg of the year, though, we at the Young Reader Club don’t want to sound like scolds, ordering you to work harder when many of you have toiled day and night to ace your recent examinations. While we learn to take stock of the year and consider what improvements we can make in our own lives, we also want to wind down and learn to enjoy the successes and friendships we have had over the year. If anything, really, we want to get you into the celebratory mood – you guys deserve a great, awesome break.

This issue is aptly named the Festive Issue, because the end of the year is all about festivities. Christmas remains one of the most prominent holidays during December, but regardless of religious beliefs, December is a time of thanksgiving and celebrations (and travelling!) for most.

In Editor’s Picks, we suss out great gifts to get for your friends. If you have generous parents, perhaps you could also try coaxing them into gifting you with some of our recommendations.

Since many of you are poor students, we have compiled a list of wickedly fun activities that you can do on a budget. Yes, it’s possible to have fun while saving money! We were once poor students ourselves, so we want to show you that if you exhibit some creativity, and possess curiosity, Singapore is basically your oyster, even if your wallet is perpetually empty.

In YRC Investigates, we explore some lesser-known holidays all over the world. While we have our own holidays unique to Singapore, such as our National Day holiday, there are all sorts of interesting, quirky festive occasions celebrated by people of different nationalities. Be sure to check that out.

Bring out the party poppers, because the holidays are here!

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31 Professions

YRC Investigates 20

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Spotlight

features 6 Featured Author: Julianna A. Blas

For this month’s column, we speak to fourteen-year-old Julianna A. Blas, whose moving, mature story

Waiting For Arthur clinched her the first runner-up prize at this year’s Young Author Awards. Seldom do

we meet someone with a passion for books that is as deep as hers; her enthusiasm for reading and writing

is infectious. She shares with us about why she loves writing, as well as some thoughts on the festive season.

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THE HAUNTED KAMPONG by Rachel Han Lucy and Craven are a pair of siblings who live in a seemingly peaceful kampong. Unbeknownst to them, the land their kampong was built on used to be a graveyard, and as such stories of hauntings around the kampong are often spread by the kids. One day, they find themselves actually coming face to face with a sinister force in the kampong. Will our heroes prevail?

26 Want to Beat Holiday Boredom? Here Are 6 Great Activities for Students On a Budget

This issue’s Dig Deep! column sees our regular contributors Lee Tat Wei and Wong Ziling uncovering the

best and most engaging activities for all you students to participate in. And all these activities won’t burn

a hole in your pocket! Read on to find out how you can keep your holidays exciting while staying on a budget.

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Spotlight: Real Food, Guiltless Pleasures We paid a visit to Real Food, a vegan restaurant that takes great pains to prepare their food naturally, without using artificial preservatives or processed ingredients. We also sit down to speak to Real Food’s founder, Mr Choi Jee Yang, who shares with us why he’s skeptical about the health-foods industry and why “organic” food isn’t always better.

31 Professions

Vivien Goh, who goes by the handle Sweetheart the Clown, is one of the most prominent party entertainers

in Singapore. When Vivien first harboured the idea to become a clown, she faced great parental

objection, but nonetheless marched on to pursue her dreams despite a lack of support. Some twenty years

later, she now owns her own entertainment company. Read to find out about her inspiring story of

success, as well as her thoughts on clowning.

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He Said, She Said The holiday season is a time of rest and recovery, a time of reconnecting with friends and family. It is also a time of giving. And because it is a time of giving, stores all over the country are launching special Christmas sales in order to lure patrons to purchase products. We ask two of our writers whether they think the holiday season is becoming too commercialized.

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Editor’s Picks: Great Gifts for the Holiday Season The holiday season is a time of giving to loved ones, but what do we buy for them? We offer recommendations on gift choices for various different kinds of hobbyists in this article.

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Want to Have A Vacation? Here Are Some Great Places to Have One The year-end festive season is a great time to take a vacation. Here are some great places to take a trip to. We offer suggestions for all sorts of people: the adrenaline junkie, the sightseer, the adventure lover, and more.

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Spotlight

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Reel Talk

Y RC 6 Featured Author

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FORGOTTEN CRIME by Valery Tan Haley seems to be a regular kid just like everyone, but her past conceals a deep, dark secret. Will she be able to come to terms with her past?

national education 20 YRC Investigates The Importance of Holidays and Holidays You Probably Have Not Heard Of

We all love holidays – what’s to hate about taking a break from school and work? – but do we truly

understand the importance of holidays? While we often merely think of holidays as rest-days, they actually

h ave a s p e c i a l s i gn i f i c a n ce to t h e m . I n t h i s i s s u e’s co l u m n , we i nve s t i g a te s o m e

quirky holidays celebrated around the world and the meaning they hold to people who celebrate them.

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Parents Ask, Teens Answer A concerned parents notes that her son is going through a minor rebellious streak, and she is worried he will misbehave himself during the holidays, as she and her spouse are working and can’t keep an eye on him. Read on to find out what advice we have for her.

66 Resources

The YRC is more than just a magazine. It’s a useful tool for learning better English 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 44 Reel Talk

Films entertain. They make us laugh, and cry, and cheer. They also shine a light on life and help us better

understand our world. Our contributor Ee Chonghui looks at Marvel’s recent blockbuster Captain America:

The Winter Soldier (which was recently released on DVD), and shares with us why the film rocks her socks off.

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Walking Through Rain In this column, we will be looking at the lives of people with different struggles from ours. For this issue, we speak to Kai, who is diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He and his mother share how they cope with his condition, and how under certain circumstances his condition can even be a great blessing.

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Aha! Moments by Catherine Khoo Veteran author and publisher Catherine Khoo dispenses practical and useful writing advice. At 55, YRC’s Publisher, Catherine Khoo, has endured hard knocks and disappointments as she developed her career in media and communications. Her book, Love! Live Dangerously! And Have Fun! is a tell-it-all. Without doubt a page-turner, we will be excerpting the second chapter from her memoir. May you be inspired.

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 raymond@ januseducation.sg or call 6336.8985.

Adeline Lim Educator / Illustrator

Ambriesh Karthik Student, ACS Barker

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.

A b u d d i n g w r i te r, Ambriesh has written short stories and articles for various publications, including YRC. He is now studying at ACS Barker and aspires to become a pediatrician.

Wong Ziling S t u d e n t , N a ny a n g Girls’ High School Athena Tan Student, Xinmin Secondary School A spunky 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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A winner of the merit prize in the Young Author Awards when she was 11, Ziling?s aspiration to be an a u t h o r h a s grow n every time she fills a page with words. She is now pursuing her studies in Nanyang Girls High School and she hopes to study advanced literature in the future.

Theresa Ellsworth Student, Occidental College

Ron Yap Student, Victoria Junior College

Ee Chonghui Student, National Junior College

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.

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.

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.

Lee Tat Wei Student, Anglo-Chinese School Independent

Jezreel Castro Student, Ngee Ann Polytechnic

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.

A merit prize winner f r o m t h e Yo u n g Author Scheme, Jez is a musician-songwriter who helps out in the YAC library sessions in the east.

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.

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Featured Author ...Young writers of today

JULIANNA BLAS

By Natalya Thangamany Photos Š Julianna Blas

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PROFILE

Rachel Han, 14 Magic & Fantasy

Writing allows me to express my thoughts, gets my creative juices flowing and relieves me from my worries and stress. Writing gives me the joy to enter into another world with new characters and the freedom to decide what happens next and construct different endings to the story. Writing is a good form of relaxation and is fun.

The Haunted Kampong Illustrations by Adeline Lim

Lucy, Craven and Ah Lim Lucy was a typical and average 10-yearold girl. She was pretty smart for a girl who did not have any real education. She was also small in size and cute-looking, but was terrifying when she was angry, just like hot and spicy chili padi.

Her brother, Craven, was an 18-yearold boy and was really smart, like his sister. He was also very caring. He was not rough like his sister at all; in fact, he was actually quite shy for a boy his age and especially compared to his sister, who was probably the loudest chatterbox in the whole kampong village, including the little, pesky children who ran around annoying old folks.

Both siblings were orphans, abandoned by their parents at birth, and they were looked-down upon, compared to their other relatives.

Their kind but old next-door neighbour,

Ah Lim, was 60 years old. He usually protected Lucy and Craven from danger or mischief, which they got into a lot with the other children in the kampong village; the kids told rumours about the little, run-down and smelly kampong they lived in. He had found the children on the steps of the empty kampong house, next to his, where Lucy and Craven now live in together.

Ah Lim usually felt lonely by himself since his wife passed away suddenly of a heart attack, causing him great sorrow and heartache, so Lucy and Craven would usually visit him whenever they had time to cheer him up. Only few were his friends, as he looked mean and grumpy almost always, unless you tried to make his day.

Ah Lim was not a mean man, but not a very cheerful person either. He could tell a good joke every once in a while. He was a good listener though, and as long as you didn’t make him angry or sad by reminding him of his wife, he was the nicest man you

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

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STORY TRIVIA Singapore may be a tiny island, but we certainly have our fair share of urban legends, and most of these are tales of haunted places in Singapore.

Now, it is of course impossible to ascertain whether a place is haunted – even a person’s experience with the supernatural cannot be taken at face value, because some people lie to either get attention or scare people.

Even the Singapore Paranormal Investigators (SPI), an educational organization founded to study, research and investigate paranormal phenomena using scientific means, has still not been able to gather any solid evidence of ghosts or supernatural beings.

Regardless, this has not stopped people from spreading tales of hauntings from generation to generation, some of which have been adapted into short stories and television programmes.

The Old Changi Hospital is an abandoned building that has become the source of many a horror story. It is perhaps the favourite place in Singapore for daring thrill-seeking young people – some have snuck into the building at night and reported of their ghostly experiences. Built in 1035 as a British military hospital, it was occupied by the Japanese forces during World War II, and was officially closed in 1997, when patients were moved to the present Changi General Hospital.

According to The Smart Local, a Singapore lifestyle and current affairs site, screams and shadows could even be seen at heard at some of the wards, which were rumoured to be used as torture chambers by the Japanese.

Those rumours probably stem from the fact that the hospital was used as a medical facility to treat prisoners-of-war detained at the nearby Changi military base. The building remains empty to this day, despite attempts by the Singapore Land Authority to invite private investments to develop the hospital.

The building was also the subject of a 2010 local film called Haunted Changi.

Another place that is rumoured to be haunted is Tekong, the tiny offshore island which houses the training facilities for young recruits serving their national service. Almost anyone who has undergone training there can tell you about the horror stories that have been passed down from their commanders.

Well, personally we think it’s better to take these stories with a pinch of salt – just don’t throw caution into the wind and start hanging out at these places at night!

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By Natalya Thangamany

Why We Need Holidays When I was informed by my editor that the topic for this installment of YRC Investigates was ‘ The Impor tance of Holidays’, the first thought that sprang to mind was a dismissive ‘is this worth writing about?’ Because, to me at least, the reason we need holidays seems obvious enough: We all need long, restful breaks from our stressful lives so as to not lose our minds over the responsibilities we have to fulfill every day. Of course, there was a nagging thought at the back of my mind that insisted there was more to holidays than meets the eye, that there was a special significance to these holidays. And after taking a survey of the public holidays in Singapore, I realized these celebrated occasions all reflect our myriad cultures.

When I G oogled ‘impor tance of holidays’, what popped up were several articles pertaining to ‘tradition’ and ‘family’.

Take a look at our holidays, such as National Day, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas. These holidays are not just opportunities to take a break from our daily labour, but also a time to appreciate and engage with our cultures and traditions.

Plus, holidays give us a precious chance to do some catching up with our family and friends, especially if our usual schedules do not allow us to spend much time with them.

Holidays provide the perfect opportunity for an entire family to have a meal together and also to reignite the bond between

siblings and parents through casual, open conversation.

And above all, holidays are for us to kick back and enjoy ourselves. Yes, holidays are, like I mentioned before, for us to escape our daily stresses for a while. Whether we use the day, or week, or month off to take a vacation overseas, or to catch up on your reading, or maybe even just to get more sleep, holidays provide us the opportunity to unwind.

You have a chance to spend time doing things for yourself, like writing a new story or cleaning out your room or getting around to doing activities you had put off for a long while. But holidays are not just for the self – they are also great occasions to do things together with our loved ones and form

You may have heard of Thanksgiving from American dramas and may have seen the many mentions of it on social media.

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Dig Deep!

How to Beat Holiday Boredom:

By Wong Ziling and Lee Tat Wei

Activities to Do For Students On a Budget

At long last, the school holidays are finally upon us. The two-months-long break will provide ample time to indulge in any activity you fancy, but not everyone will use the time as productively. Will you spend the holidays eating, sleeping, and mindlessly surfing the net (rinse and repeat), watching the precious year-end season fade by in a blink of an eye? Or would you rather expand your horizons and try out new things you have never done before?

Most students harbour the idea that in order to enjoy the holidays, one needs to have a lot of money. Fortunately, that couldn’t further from the truth. With a little creativity and imagination, and with a healthy dose of curiosity, you can partake in a wide spectrum of activities that will leave you feeling enriched and fulfilled, even if your pockets are not deep.

So for this issue, we at YRC present you with five activities you can do on a budget, so you can make this holiday unique and enriching without burning a hole in your pocket.

Singapore is full of wonderfully decorated cafes that serve great coffee and food, and that are great for both solitary visits and group hangouts.

However, not all of them are easy to find.

While commercial outlets like Starbucks are ubiquitous, smaller independent cafes are hidden in HDB estates and secluded alleys. These cafes are determined to remain a hidden gem, but that’s the best part of cafe hopping – the discovery! Start out at some quiet estate and you may find yourself in a cool cafe soon enough.

Some of our recommendations: Penny University, nestled along East Coast Road, with great coffee and ambience, and Assembly Coffee, which serves amazing salted caramel waffles. But remember, the point of cafe hopping is the exploration - the process of travelling from place to place alone or with people – so don’t stuff yourself silly on your first stop. Happy hopping!

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Spotlight By: Raymond Tan

The holiday season is a time of merry-making, and merry-making i s n’t co m p l e te w i t h o u t gre at food. There are few better ways of spending time with loved ones than having hear ty conversation over a sumptuous meal. But amidst a l l t h e fe a s t i n g, i t ’s e a s y to g o overboard and binge on unhealthy food – there’s so much yummy stuff out there that’s basically junk for the body.

No wonder many people usually end up either putting on weight, or getting sick, during the last few weeks of the year.

How is it possible to have the best of both worlds – to have food that is both tasty and healthy?

Enter Real Food, a multi-outlet restaurant chain that serves food that is free from processed ingredients, artificial preservatives and transfat. Real Food also serves food that is free from meat – in other words, it is vegan-friendly.

We had the pleasure of visiting the place and speaking to its founder, Mr. Choi Jee Yang, who prefers to go simply by Jee Yang.

Jee Yang is forthcoming and honest about his views on the health foods industry, as well as Real Food’s humble origins. The restaurant started out simply, from a bunch of friends who enjoyed preparing their own healthy food. It eventually took off, and now has three outlets located around Singapore.

Even though Real Food has carved out a reputation as an organic restaurant with great-

tasting food, Jee Yang eschews the term “organic restaurant”, saying that while his staff tries as far as possible to source for organic produce, not all their ingredients are organic. “What’s more important is how the crops are grown, rather than whether they are ‘organic’ or not,” Jee Yang says. “Organic ingredients are not necessarily better.”

Jee Yang is also wary of many eateries that abuse the increasing health-consciousness of the masses. “People are gullible and easily impressionable. They want to eat healthy but they do not know how to read labels and easily buy into claims of ‘organic’ products, even though some of these ‘organic’ products are rubbish” he says, before mentioning that many brands use the ‘organic’ label as a selling point for their products even though that may not be necessarily true.“ There is a Issue 28

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Professions

...Understanding how the world works

By Natalya Thangamany Photos © Vivien Goh and Raymond Tan F E AT U R E S

Y RC

Have you ever had a party clown come over to entertain you and your friends?

If you do, then you probably have great memories of a particular party or event, and probably remember those goofy entertainers putting a smile on your face.

But not many people realize how hard these people work to make your party a fun-filled success. To many people, clowning is just about making people smile (or cringe, depending on your perspective), wearing colourful costumes, and doing fantastic tricks. But as our guest for this issue proves, clowning is not just an art; it is a lifestyle and a moral service.

How many of you have met Sweetheart the Clown and her adorable feathered companion Baby Pinky? Recognized by her twin ponytails and cyan-pink spandex tutu, Vivien Goh, aka Sweetheart the Clown, is one of the most prolific and prominent party entertainers/clowns in Singapore. I even had the pleasure of witnessing her ply her trade twice at two different birthday parties I attended.

Well, we at YRC sat down with Ms Vivien Goh, stripped of the costumes and makeup of her clown persona, for an interview. But guess what we found out? Vivien, who turns

37 this year, does not just portray her iconic ‘Sweetheart the Clown’ persona – she IS Sweetheart the Clown, inside and out. You get the feeling that Sweetheart the clown isn’t some elaborate charade she puts on, but an extension of her warm personality.

Vivien is bubbly, energetic and endlessly positive, and as we sat down to interview her at a spacious cafe called ‘Joe & Dough’ at Kallang Leisure Park, those traits also started rubbing off on us. People always say that misery loves company, but we realize that’s the case for positivity and optimism as well.

And that positivity and can-do attitude have certainly worked wonders for Vivien.

Having made her foray into the entertainment field at the tender age of 17, Vivien now runs her own company with like-minded performers with the goal to bring fun, joy and laughter everywhere they go.

LIFE AS AN ART Vivien’s life has always been filled with the arts, even as a teenager. She divulged that other than entertaining, she writes poetry, skits and scripts.

Vivien started out doing little mime performances during her junior college days.

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

Everybody loves holidays. Whether it is Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, or Christmas, holidays are a chance to take a break from school and work. Holidays are also opportunities to celebrate and connect with loved ones. Yet, some people simply equate holidays with sales, shopping and presents. Has the holiday season become too commercialized?

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Loving is giving. While some of the best gifts in life cannot be bought, sometimes a well-chosen gift can brighten up a person’s day and bring him immense joy.

But what exactly should you get for your loved ones (or even yourself)? There is a mindboggling amount of possibilities when it comes to gift choices, and it is no easy task trying to figure out what gifts to get for all your friends and relatives. Rest easy we at YRC are here to help you.

If you’re a parent agonizing over what presents to get for your loved ones, or a student thinking of using your hard-earned savings to get yourself a gift, here’s a nifty guide to offer you some recommendations.

FOR THE

Movie Buff Fe s t i v a l Pa s s e s fo r t h e S i n g a p o re International Film Festival The Singapore International Film Festival returns this year after a three-year absence. This year, the Singapore International Film Festival is in its 25th edition, and promises an endless selection of films for even the most voracious moviegoer, who will surely be spoilt for choice. But more than having a wide selection of films, the Singapore International Film Festival also remains committed to showcasing local movies and highlighting local talent – every single person who attends a screening of a local film is indirectly supporting a local film director.

There are so many Singapore films – stories of Singaporean people – that get buried under a pile of Hollywood blockbusters every year, so this festival is both a great opportunity to get to know more about people in Singapore, as well as satisfy your hunger for movies.

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Spotlight

By: Raymond Tan

Want to Go On A

Here Are Some Great Travel Destinations Travelling around the world gives us great experiences and memories that sometimes last a lifetime. People love travelling because there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to it. Whether it is travelling with your friends on a school trip, or going on family vacation, or even just embarking solo on a backpacking trip around the region – there are always ways of travelling that will suit even the most disparate of personalities.

Sometimes travelling is simply a way of getting away from the stresses of life. Even if you’re having your holidays, being in proximity of your project mates or work friends can raise your stress levels. Going overseas helps us to put aside our worries for a while and just enjoy ourselves.

A n d s i n c e ‘ t i s t h e s e a s o n t o b e j o l l y, g o a h e a d .

Travel and be merry!

We have compiled a list of great places to visit. If you are a parent, consider bringing your children to these places. If you’re still a student, ask your parents to bring you to one of our recommended locales in the near future, or failing which, save up and travel there when you are older.

ALLI GATO R

Avoriaz, France

For the Adventure Lovers

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France hosts the Tour de France, the biggest cycling tournament in the world. It is also home to one of the best tourist destinations for cycling enthusiasts.

One of a number of resorts in the Portes du Soleil region of the French Alps, Avoriaz is basically a playground for the adventure lover. Man-made bike trails and alpine tracks meander around this place, making it a hit among avid mountain bikers. There are more than 650km of trails in Portes du Soleil, for all sorts of biking enthusiasts, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. At the end of June a mountain biking festival held in the area usually sees 4000 bikers descend on the region for a 75km race that is mostly downhill.

Y RC

Reel Talk

By Ee Chong Hui

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the second Captain America movie after Captain America: The First Avenger, is so much more than just your run- ofthe-mill superhero blockbuster. It is an entertaining, action-packed spy thriller that follows up from the aftermath of Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers. The Captain America sequel contains many plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat, as well as some very relevant ideas that ties in to our ongoing debate over national security and personal freedom.

The film starts out with Steve Rogers (C h r i s E v a n s ) , a k a C a p t a i n A m e r i c a , struggling to adjust to life in the 21 st century after frozen in ice for over sixty years. He devotes his time to doing special ops missions for intelligence agency S.H.I.E.L.D, but starts questioning who and what he is fighting for when Project Insight, a new global initiative shrouded in secrecy, does not live up to Roger ’s moral standards. He is joined

by Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and newcomer Sam Wilson ak a Falcon (Anthony Mack ie).

Together, they embark on what could be the deadliest mission ever, digging into S.H.I.E.L.D’s history while on the run from 44

evil organisation HYDRA. Every scene is well-structured and serves to spice up the mystery unfolding.

Evans once again proves that for a man who has sworn to the lifelong mission of defending the innocent, goodness can still exist in a world jaded by cynicism.

Scarlett Johansson reprises her role of Black Widow, the perfect foil for America’s first super soldier, her shades-of-grey worldview a stark contrast to Captain America’s black-and-white sense of good and evil. Johansson does not disappoint with her famous Widow’s back-flipping high kicks and sassy quips.

Anthony Mackie’s charismatic Falcon, a former infantry soldier who specializes in flying using a pair of robotic wings, brings comic relief to the serious notes of the show and he has excellent onscreen chemistry with Chris Evans – their scenes together are brimming with repartee and goofing. But the standout performance goes to The Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan. This villain is one of the most formidable foes our heroes have ever faced, he with his near-indestructible mechanical arm, as well as strength and speed that rival Captain America’s. But physically defeating his enemies is but only half of Steve Rogers’ battle, for he

Y RC

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

Concerned Parent asks: “My kid is now thirteen, in secondar y one, and seems to be having a bit of a rebellious streak.

Both my husband and I are worried that our teenage child will misbehave during the holidays, as we are both working and c a n’t watc h ove r him. What do we do about this?”

Ee Chonghui, Senior YAC Contributor: “How can I ensure my teenage child behaves himself while I’m at work?”

This is a common question worried parents never fail to ask one another whenever the school holidays approaches.

Even more common are most parents’ answers, ranging from the stereotypical “let’s call my child every few hours to check on him!” to others like asking a caretaker to watch over him. Some parents who are desperate to keep tabs on their child even go so far as to use tracking apps or even – get this – CCTV/mini cameras to monitor their children and ensure they do not sneak out. Seriously? Is this some sort of twisted spying game?

No doubt, every parent wants the best for their child, and when a child starts 46

to become more independent, or even rebellious, parents start to become more concerned. Methods of ensuring their teenage kids do not misbehave also grow more drastic (and ridiculous). But what most parents don’t realise is that they are barking up the wrong tree.

The first thing parents have to change is their mind-sets. Being a teenager does not necessarily mean he or she would misbehave without any supervision. They have to bear in mind their children are not little kids anymore.

That means they are more mature and know how to differentiate right from wrong. But my child has always been playful since young and I don’t believe he can turn into an angel overnight, some parents argue. Ah, but that is what they think. Have they ever given the child a chance to prove himself? Hold back the presumptions and one might be

Valery Tan, 16 School of Science and Technology Singapore Mystery & Adventure

I am a sixteen-year-old avid reader and dancer who enjoys listening to all kinds of music and have an extremely unhealthy obsession with coffee. I wrote Forgotten Crime when I was still in the beginner stages of writing two years ago. I enjoy people-watching, especially when I’m alone, as observing human actions and emotions help me develop and create my characters’ unique personalities that play an important part in my fictional world.

Forgotten Crime Illustrations by Adeline Lim

Chapter 1 If only they knew the number of times I have tried to kill myself, they would not have sent me out in this heavy storm to get the ridiculous party necessities for my brother’s fifth birthday party.

“Get an umbrella!” my mother shouted from the house.

I ignored her, and continued walking out of the house. I kept my head down, not wanting to have my eyes burning with the salt of the rain water the whole walk to the mall.

I stopped in my tracks. That was actually a good idea, just the way to kill myself in the rain while my eyes burned. I could start running blindly and knock myself out as well. I snickered at my rather unusual choice of passing out.

Nobody said that every death had to be peaceful. Or so I thought.

I tilted my head upwards, making sure to open my eyes wide. I saw the little rain droplets tumble down from the heavy black clouds above. I saw the way the droplets fell from the sky, just like the way I used to somersault my way into the swimming pool when I was my brother’s age. But that time of innocence was long gone, replaced by my time of growing up, the time where the guilt of his death still gnawed at my insides, making me sick for the first few weeks I had been home.

The rain droplets continued falling in a peculiar fashion, completely missing my eyes. I frowned. This was completely insane. I blinked, and the stormy little rain drops were replaced with a plain black fabric with metal wires stuck onto it.

I tilted my head back down as my neck started to go sore, and faced someone I totally did not recognise.

“Hello Haley.”

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

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F E AT U R E S

PROFILE

Unsolved Crimes and Crimes Solved Years After the Police Gave Up

In Valery Tan’s story, there was an unspecified crime hinted at that the protagonist committed.

Th e c r i m e h a s b e e n forgotten and the protagonist has gone back to her usual life. Hers seems to be an unintentional crime, and she expresses remorse for it.

In the real world, however, there are real crimes – murders, thefts – that have gone unsolved. It’s unfortunate when that happens, but the good news is that some as-of-yet unsolved crimes get solved years down the road.

One of the most famous unsolved mysteries in Singapore involve the disappearance of two ordinary primary school boys, Toh Hong Huat and Keh Chin Ann, in 1986. The two were good friends with each other, and were last seen near their school in their afternoon, and disappeared without a trace.

Their books and bags were found under a tree, but no one had a clue where they disappeared to.

This case was called the McDonald’s Boys by the press, because people from McDonalds were so affected by the news of their disappearance that they put up a huge monetary reward for those who had information about their whereabouts.

Despite the large monetary award, as well as a police search that extended to the neighbouring countries, the boys were never

found. Their case is so well known that it has been documented in local television programmes.

Fortunately, there have been cases in which crimes have been solved years – decades, even – after police had already given up on them. One famous case is the murder of Martha Jean Lambert, which was solved after 25 years. On November 27, 1985, 12-year-old Martha Jean Lambert went missing near her home in Florida, and was never seen again.

The case was reopened 25 years later by two detectives, who decided to take a closer look at the dead girl’s brother, David Lambert, who is two years older than Martha.

After some 20 hours of questioning, the shocking truth came to light.

On that fateful night in 1985, Martha and her brother went to play among the rubble of a school, which had been abandoned for years. David had given money to Martha to go the store, and she asked him for more. When he declined, she punched him. Frustration and anger mounting at his sister’s unreasonableness, David pushed his sister, who fell backwards and landed on a protruding spike. David then panicked and buried his sister’s body in a shallow grave.

Panicking, he buried the body in a shallow grave and kept the secret for over two decades.

We should be thankful for such talented and hardworking detectives!

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Y RC

Walking Through Rain

By Natalya Thangamany

Kai, 11

60

Aha! Moments

By Catherine Khoo

[ Edit or’s Note: At 55 , YRC’s Publis her, Cather ine Kh oo, has endur ed hard k nocks and disapp ointme nts as sh e for ged her car eer in the media indust ry.

Her bo ok, Lo v e!

Live Da ngerous ly!

And Ha ve Fun ! is a tel l-it-a ll.

The ins piratio nal book i s used in her wo rkshop s to exhort everyo ne to live life we ll.

Here’s Chapte r 3of he r book .]

k o o l u o y t a h w t o n It’s , e e s u o y t a h w ’s t i at, that matters.

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I N S P I R AT I O N S

Y RC

Whew! What an eventful year 2014 was for us, and we trust – and hope – that it was the same for you as well.

Regardless of how the year treated you, let’s not dwell on it for too long. If 2014 was good to you, rejoice and give thanks; if it was a harsh year, then let us work towards a better 2015. Now that the new year has come, let us march forward with hope and optimism, and may this issue of YRC lift your spirits and fill you with joy.

Detective Addison and the Smuggler’s Murder

by Caleb Loh What happens when Dexter Earles, a smuggler and the rival of Gerald Butler, is murdered and Mr. Fred Jones is accused? Can they find the real culprit, the real killer and the real mastermind?

Waiting for Arthur

by Juliana A. Blas Two f r i e n d s, s e p a rate d by wa r, continue to survive in a world at war, and realize that there is more to life than its miseries.

Will they come out intact from the war? Will they be separated for life?

Can their friendship endure through the war?

P LU S O U R N OT-TO - B E - M I S S E D CO LU M N S AND DEPARTMENTS: YRC I nvestigates * Featured Author * Reel Talk * Inspirations * He Said, She Said * Professions * Editor’s Picks Get to know more about YRC Magazine! Visit www. youngreaderclub.sg for subscriptions, contributions and more!