Goga times 2

Issue 1/ 2013

English Student Magazine

GOGA TIMES ISSN 2284 – 8177

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.”

-Albert Einstein

The Team

Editor’s Note Sir Francis Bacon once said “Knowledge is power”, so here we are with our second issue of “Goga Times”. We want to give you the opportunity to get informed about what is new or worth knowing. You have the power of choosing what to attend, watch, read and listen to.

ISSN 2284 – 8177

A group of brave students have decided to join this team and give you a piece of their minds. They want to share with all of you theirs likes, dislikes and also to impress you with their creativity.

We hope you will enjoy this issue and that it will inspire you enough to decide to write your own thoughts in our next issue.

Sandra Bogorin

Colegiul National Octavian Goga Managerial Team Head Teacher Laura Dumitru Deputy Head Teachers Gabriela Orășteanu Achim Stoian

Contents:

Goga News 4. The Gala of the Awesome

by Stefania Maria Crişan 8. Freshmen‟s Ball –A Blazing Performance Encrypted in the News

by Silviana Slavu

Leisure Time 28. What to Watch by Ştefan Bernhardt-Radu , Sandra Bogorin, Bianca Bundache, Ana-Maria Fleacă, Iuliana Hanea, Diana Hăprean, Maria Hodorogea, Diana Merlan, Laura Muntean, Ştefana Stoica 34. What to Read

International Projects 10. Go GREEN – A Comenius Project

by Iris Rusu 14. Plato Project 2012 – a Story to Remember

by Raluca Marinciu 16. The Dutch Experience

by Mara Iliescu-Dărămuş and Bianca Bundache

by Roxana Boica , Cătălina Ghera, Daria Roşca, Iris Rusu, Silviana Slavu 37. What to Listen to

by Raluca Galamaz, Cătălina Ghera, Ioana Fechete, Denisa Laicauf, Maria Topîrcean 39. Where to Hang Out

by Raluca Marinciu, Dani Popa 40. What to Play

by Cristian Bobanga, Laura Brădăţanu, Alexandru Joandrea, Alexandru Moga

Good to Know 18. Volunteering in Goga

by Diana Andreea Merlan 21. Recycling Workshop by Ştefana Stoica 22. Speak Out! Scream or shout

by Diana Hăprean 24. Studying Abroad – Something New, Something Exciting

by Ana Maria Crişca 26. Way of Living

by Cătălina Ghera 27. Building a World – an essay

by Silviana Slavu

42. What to Attend

by Daria Cojan, Ariadna Fulea, Coleta Giupană, Cătălina Stanislav 44. What to Do Online

by Denisa Avram, Ramona Sitea 45. Pause for Poetry by Ştefan Bernhardt-Radu, Alina Damian, Iris Rusu 46. Quiz Yourself

by Silviana Slavu 50. Catch Words Puzzle 51. Comics

by Melinda Alexandra Stanciu, Anca Isaicu

ISSUE 1/2013

GOGA NEWS The Gala of the Awesome

It started with a dream. The dream to change the view people had of our generation. What‟s the easiest way to do this? By promoting the talents, ambitions and gifts of those who have them.

With the help of ManifestoFilmClubs, an informal educational project, ING Bank and WEDU, CSE CNOG created the Students‟ Gala, which hopes to fulfil this dream.

Split into categories, the Gala awards the merits of the young contestants with a diploma for the second and third place and a prize of 200 lei for the first place.

The Student of the Year category was won by Ionuț Milea, a former student of the 12th grade, for the activities undertaken during his last studying year in the National College “Octavian Goga”.

Three students have made themselves noticed in the next category, the Volunteer of the Year. The winner of the first place is Bianca Drotleff, followed by Ramona Mîrț, second place, and by Ioana Șofîlcă, third place.

Bianca Drotleff, X D

Ramona Mîrț, X F

Ioana Șofîlcă, X E

In the third category, Sports, the first place was taken home by Andreea Cosman, for her results in chess competitions, the second place was won by Paul Șurtea, for his participation in dance competitions, and the third place was won by Rîcu Gabriel, for being a great judo fighter.

Andreea Cosman, IX D

Paul Șurtea, XI F

Rîcu Gabriel, XI E

In Science, the winners are Diana Fălămaș, first place, Denisa Vladu, second place, and Mirabela Frățilă, third place, for their results in math, chemistry, physics, and all the other subjects that revolve around numbers.

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Diana Fălămaș, X E

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Denisa Vladu, X E

Mirabela Frățilă, IX F

The Philological and Social Sciences domain is owned, at this Gala, by three students, very interested in the subjects of letters, books and people. They are Coleta Giupana, first place, Ștefan Armaș, second place, and David Morariu, third place.

Coleta Giupana, X B

Ștefan Armaș, XI D

David Morariu, IX D

And last but not least, Arts, the most diverse range of human activities, was focused on poetry and music this time. The prizes went to Ana Pircă, first place, Cătălin Tăvală, second place, and Bianca Oltean.

Ana Maria Pircă, X E

Cătălin Tăvală, X F

Bianca Oltean, XII F

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The team who organised the Gala, led by the vicepresident of CJE Sibiu, Dariana Nistor, Iulian Biriș, Teodora Pătru and Ioana Șofîlcă, a group of very dedicated students, under the loving care of prof.

Paula Ciucur, made it all possible with the help of the ManifestoFilmClubs, where the team mentioned before won the first place, consisting in a prize of 1000 euros.

“There are wonderful students, who deserve to be appreciated and respected for the work they do every day. They are people whose example should be followed, because they show ambition and dedication.”

– Dariana Nistor.

Ana Maria Pircă, Arts section: 

What is your opinion about this Gala?

“I feel like the Gala perfectly reflected the spirit of our high-school, being a very fancy event.” 

Do you think that awarding the performances of these students may have an impact on how they are viewed?

“I guess it does. Indirectly, though. The awarding of a student for his/her performance helps him gain self-asteem. That way, because he is more confident, people start seeing him in a different light. A better one. “ 

What guided you towards Arts?

“Well, in my opinion, everyone has a certain spark, something that makes him/her special. In my case, Arts are my strength, from music to esthetics. That‟s what I am good at.”

Coleta Giupana, winner of the Philological and Social Sciences domain: 

Tell me, what do you think about the awarding of the students’ performances?

“This has stimulated students to aim higher, in order to change what other people feel about them.” 

In your opinion, did this event change something about the view on young people?

“Most definitely. The amount of publicity this event has had must have changed some opinions about us, youngsters.”

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Diana Fălămaș, Science: 

What do you think about the Gala as an event?

“I think that CȘE organised a great action for students. They‟ve received the opportunity to make themselves known and to prove that they can be the best in certain domains.“ 

According to you, what is the outcome of this event?

“I think it is a very encouraging thing for students. I hope that there will be more Galas, maybe other high-schools from other counties will implement this project and the result will be the awarding of other great students every year, therefore changing the way our generation is regarded.”

Ionuț Milea, the Student of the Year: “The Gala was a welcome event in the environment of our high-school, only because it proved what can be done through involvement, hard work and a good plan (when it comes to organising the Gala). I doubt there was one guest who was dissatisfied with the aspect of this event, and the professionalism of those who worked for it is responsible for this.

Regarding the awarding of the students‟ performances, I feel that none of the winners applied because of the award. Still, praise from the people around us can help not only in valuing some successes, but can also motivate. When value is promoted, the influence of the positive examples starts to exist in a community, and society today is in dire need of a waning of bad examples in order to evolve. And so, because evolution means not only good results, the idea of enhancing the involvement in today‟s society comes to help demonstrate that sometimes dedication and the will to help, not only talent and diplomas matter. I cannot express enough my thanks toward Dariana, Iulian, Georgiana and Ms. Paula Ciucur for planning, organising, and transforming this event in a pleasant memory for everyone, in a way of awarding and motivating, and probably in a CNOG tradition.”

There you have it. The Gala of the dedicated, ambitious and talented students from our high-school.

Turning this Gala into a tradition will eventually mean the awarding of more capable students from the entire county of Sibiu. It‟s all as Salvador Dalí once said: “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings”.

Ştefania Maria Crişan, XI B

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GOGA NEWS Freshmen‟s Ball

A Blazing Performance Encrypted in the News

The end of each fall brings the ''baptism'' of the new students from every highschool. The young recruits must reveal their talents together with their general knowledge in front of all their mates and friends. This year the “Octavian Goga” National College rocked the stage with their rookies performance on 23 November at the Unions Culture Hall. It was a show which impressed the audience and earned a lot of applause, especially due to the special guest who set the audience on ''fire''.

A Team 'till the End The organisers were the senior students who worked hard to create the impressive show which the audience witnessed that night. They were guided by Andra Tischer, the Romanian language teacher, who gave them instructions and the necessary help with those ''things'' which grab people's attention. The decisions about the event structure were taken together with the rookies, as David Nonu, the freshman who came in third, says. He also specified that the relationship between them was based on trust and respect. The show was hosted by Laurentiu Herciu and Alexandru Meder who not only introduced the rookies, but also entertained the audience. The organisers and participants worked as a team from the beginning to the end to ensure the success of the event.

After consulting every class representative, they all decided to invite a singer to give the audience a special moment, something new. The special guest was Paula Seling, the internationally recognised singer who honored the show with her amazing voice. She sang some of her sensitive songs like ''I promise'', ''Inseparable'', and the most widely known '' Playing with fire'', during which the audience stood up and danced. Paula Seling was also the person who read out the names of the winners at the end of the show.

7 on 7 War ''Beauty is a matter of fact''.

While among the audience curiosity reigned, the stage turned into a battlefield after the rookies‟ entry. Each team presentation was a video which illustrated a news item from a list of news read out by the hosts.

Because this year‟s theme was ''News Report'', the audience felt as if they were in front of a TV and watched the latest news. The videos were very different, but they all had the same ending: an image of the two competitors entering the event hall.

The challenges the freshmen were faced with surprised the audience through their diversity, for example the dance task consisted in the participants performing one of 7 dance styles among which were Latino, disco, oriental.

The classical ''Q&A'' challenge brought some smiles on the spectators‟ faces, due to the funny answers.

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According to Ruxandra Virca, who came in third, the competition was tight, and her opinion is ''it doesn't matter how you look, what matters the most is what's inside''. The challenges were alternated with the performances prepared by the seniors, while the emotions of the young teenagers were growing. Two dance teams- folk vs street dance - presented the gap between generations in dance moves competition, while two gifted student girls, Andreea Baba and Bianca Oltean from XII F, enchanted the atmosphere with their musical performances.

All in all, the event was a great success, so we can congratulate the team of oraganisers together with the winners of the titles Miss & Mister – Ana Nicolae and Paul Rotar .

The runners up were Alexandra Pângulescu and Alex Moga who came in second and Ruxandra Virca and David Nonu, who came in third.

CNOG was the last high school from Sibiu to organize its freshmen‟s ball, but the performance was highly appreciated by many students from Sibiu. The organisers claim that ''This is an achievement that can't be denied ! ''. According to the rookies, it was a great experience and they don't regret anything. The show supported not only by The Student Council, but also by sponsors such as TV Sibiu, Onyx, TeaSpot, Hermine, Mod, Kangoo Jumps, Avon, Ramada who made this event possible.

Silviana Slavu, XB

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INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

ISSUE 1/2013

Are you environmentally aware? Do you know enough about the way we hurt the environment and about the ways in which we can stop doing that? If the answer to the questions above is a clear YES, then maybe you will not be interested in the project our school has been developing for the past year, together with other European partners. But if you think there are still things you can learn and do, then maybe the Comenius project G.R.E.E.N. (Go RE-Educate Earth Now) could help open up your eyes, educate you to be more environmentally friendly and motivate you to adopt and promote a „green behaviour‟.

It all started with an idea put forth by the project coordinators, the Turks from Iskenderun, which was welcomed by 5 European partners from Romania, Spain, Italy Hungary and Germany. We all rallied our forces to go green and do our bit in order to make this planet a better place to live in.

The topics that the project will cover throughout the two years (2012-2014) are varied and interesting: environment pollution, recycling, non-polluting technologies, habitat issues (species extinction, food chain) and global warming. All the people interested in such issues can find loads of information on the project site www.futuregreeners.com, in the school Green Desk Point on the 1st floor, but they can also „friend‟ us on facebook COMENIUSGOGA/facebook.com and join our community of fighters for a greener world.

The first school the Romanian students visited as part of the project was Instituto Aeronautico from Gallarate, Italy, in March 2013, where the first topic was discussed: pollution. All the participants from all schools prepared presentations on the problem of pollution in their country, which allowed them to then compare the respective situations. They made interviews with ordinary people who highlighted their position concerning pollution and the solutions they thought of. Questionnaires were also made and answered by the students, their families and people they knew and whose attention needed to be drawn to this serious problem. The mobility did not involve only study; the students got to visit great places such as the amazing city of Milano, the peaceful Como Lake and the surroundings of Gallarate.

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In order to prepare the second topic, the Comenius team organized a Conference on Recycling, with specialists from the Environment Agency making presentations on the possibilities for selective collection of waste in Sibiu. The participants also learnt how to compress plastic bottles to reduce the amount of waste thrown away. A group of students paid a visit to ECOSAL Medias, a selective collection centre built using European funds, where they learnt which materials are recyclable and how recycling is actually done.

When they tried their hand at recycling, the students did it in a more artistic way, by attending a workshop on creative recycling and then organizing such workshops for the other students from the school. They made all sorts of objects, from bracelets and jewelry boxes to sprinklers and robots. The best works of art were awarded diplomas in recognition of the students‟ talent and involvement.

The second school the Comenius team visited was The Petofi Evangelic College from Aszod, Hungary in May 2013. The participants made their presentations on recycling strategies from their respective countries and exhibited the objects they had created from recyclable materials. Most of the students stayed with the host families, and thus they got to know more about the Hungarian culture, traditions and lifestyle, but they also attended classes in school, had sports activities together with the participants from all the countries involved and went on interesting trips. The scientific part of the project was covered by visits to a Selective Recycling Company in Gödöllő, the Mátrai Erőmü Zrt., Energy Complex, as well as to the Geopark from Ipolytarnóc. But the students and teachers also visited the Zoo from Budapest, together with many I mportant sights from the capital of Hungary and the Royal Palace from Gödöllő.

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“This project was a positive experience for me and I can say that somehow it influenced my way of thinking about recycling and about doing something for this planet which has so many things to give to us.

I appreciated that we visited factories and companies related to the project, action which demonstrated that we didn‟t go there just to have fun. Of course I enjoyed the most the part when we went visiting different places which highlighted the difference between Romania and Hungary in areas such as religion. The hosts were really friendly and they explained to us what every place where we went meant. The thing that I didn‟t quite like was the part when we had so little free time in Budapest. It‟s not like we went there every day and we didn‟t have time to go to every place where we wanted to go. All in all, it was a great experience where I made a lot of friends with whom I keep in touch and I had a lot of fun. I don‟t regret I joined this project. “ (Ştefana Stoica)

The Comenius project will continue with a reunion organized in Sibiu in September 2013, when we will receive the visit of all our partners and touch upon the topic of global warming and climate change. The last two visits will be in Germany and Turkey, so if you have been convinced by the benefits of getting involved in the project, there‟s still time to do so. It‟s never too late to join the fight for a cleaner place to live in.

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Iris Rusu, Ruxandra Virca, IX B

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Plato Project 2012 – a Story to Remember

Plato project is an international project which brings together students and teachers from seven different schools from Romania, Germany, Denmark and Ukraine. Every year around 80 participants meet in one of the cities where the schools are located to share ideas, work together and have fun. In November 2012 our school was the organizer of the project reunion, a responsibility we shared with ,,Gheorghe Lazăr” National College and ,,Art Highschool‟‟.

As in Sibiu 2012 was the year we celebrated the Baroque period, the project theme was in accordance with the city‟s festivities: “Theatre from the Medieval to the Baroque‟‟. It was an opportunity for all the participants, guest and hosts alike to rediscover the spirit of the baroque era and not only, and to perform roles in plays of their choice, thus expressing their drama skills and performing in front of enthusiastic audiences.

Students from Denmark, Germany and Ukraine were hosted by students from Sibiu and they were shown our city and also went to a trip to a medieval city: Sighisoara. Together they attended workshops (creating traditional Ukrainian dolls, traditional Renaissance and Baroque dancing, improvisation with masks, circus and many others).The workshops were organized by each of the schools and every student had the possibility to be taught by a foreign teacher.

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All the activities were presented to the public on 16 November at, Radu Stanca Theatre, an event that enchanted the audience of more than 400 spectators: students, their families, teachers, members of the local community). Every participating school prepared a play to perform during the final day and the name of our play was “The Game of Love and Chance”, originally written by Pierre de Marivaux and rearranged by Ms.Cioran. The Germans from Munchen found inspiration in the work of William Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night‟s Dream), while other schools presented original plays, but using the conventions of the Commedia dell‟ Arte. Some special moments were the puppet show presented by the Ukrainians and the circus performances put on stage by the Germans from Landshut.

Oleg Bukliv , a student from Ukraine who participated in the project, stated: ,,It was a very interesting project and I really like Romania. The Romanian students are very funny and friendly. I would like to participate again. The performance was a blast and we were very happy to have been a part of it.‟‟ Halynka Duda, another Ukranian student , said : “I have made many friends and met people with the same interests as me ! Sibiu is a nice town and I really hope I will come back one day! The show was just splendid and we all did our best! “ The Plato project will still continue in our school, so if you want a new experience, a new story to tell, you can join us.

Raluca Marinciu, XB, Plato your life.

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INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS

The Dutch Experience If you have not had the chance to visit the land of tulips, windmills, cheese and wooden clogs, then joining the exchange with Deventer, Holland might be the thing to do during the next school year. Here‟s a brief presentation of our experience on this project, so you can get a peek into what you could be experiencing if you want to make Dutch friends and see a beautiful part of Europe.

The school exchange with Etty Hillesum Lyceum from Deventer was organized this year, too, with us, Romanian students visiting Deventer in March and the Dutch students coming to Sibiu in May. As 2013 is the “European Year of the Citizen”, this year‟s project topic was “The European Citizen in Photos”. Throughout the exchange we took photos of ordinary people and used them to create video stories that would illustrate and promote human rights and fight discrimination.

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The first part of the exchange was our opportunity to experience Holland and some other places worth visiting on the way, while during the second part, we welcomed the Dutch students and teachers into our homes and showed them what we have to offer in and around Sibiu. Our first stop on our way to Deventer was Prague, a lovely city. Even though the weather was bad and it was very cold outside we still had a good time visiting the city. The next morning, we packed and headed for Deventer. We arrived there late in the evening and even though it was dark and we couldn't see much outside we were still fascinated that the people there don't have curtains and you could see everything in the houses trough the big windows. After meeting our partners we all went home to have a good sleep.

The next days were amazing.

We went to their school, which is huge and very different from ours.

On the first day we went to school and visited it and later that day we went on a city tour with one of the teachers from Etty Hillesum Lyceum and saw the highlights of the city. For the next days we had varied activities, such as a boat trip in Giethoorn, visiting a patch of land reclaimed from under

water in Schokland, visiting the harbor of Urk as well as the "Kroller Muller Museum", where we saw a lot of paintings and sculptures from famous artists, among whom Vincent van Gogh, Mondrian and our very own Constantin Brâncuşi.

One of the best days of the exchange was when we visited Amsterdam, which is a lovely city with strange, tall and narrow houses that lean each in other direction. We got to see great places such as the "Hermitage Museum" and the film museum called "The Eye". A canal trip through Amsterdam was the cherry on top for us.

“Netherlands is very different from Romania and I loved that.

The people are nice, but a bit more serious than the Romanian people.” (Mara).

On our trip back, we made stops in Vienna and Budapest before we finally got home. This was a great opportunity for us to enjoy two of the most famous capital cities of Europe and to see what the Austrians and the Hungarians are proud of. We took a trip back in time at the Schonbrunn Museum and visited Budapest by night, which offered truly spectacular views.

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We could hardly wait to see our Dutch friends again, so when they visited us in May we were ready to make their trip to Romania unforgettable. We have beautiful places to show to them, which the Dutch had no chance of seeing in their own country. We were all delighted to see together the wonders of nature such as Peştera Muierii (The Woman‟s Cave) and the salt mine from Praid, but also the beautiful monastery of Cozia and the Medieval citadel of Sighişoara. On the last day of our friends‟ visit we were happy to show everybody in our school what we had worked on: our videos presented the story of a cute boy looking for his dreamgirl across Europe, the human rights that are respected in both Holland and Romania as well as other aspects of social life we share.

The whole experience can best be summed up by one of our schoolmate‟s words: if I could do it again, I would definitely not think about it twice. It was definitely worth it, so if you have the chance to attend next year, grab the opportunity!

Mara Iliescu- Dărămuş, Bianca Bundache, IX B

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ISSUE 1/2013 Volunteering - in Goga Did you know that there are many students in Goga that are part of a volunteering community? I asked some of them to give me more information about their projects and this is what I found:

What does O.T.S. mean and when did it start?

Teodora Şpan: O.T.S. (Youth Organization in Sibiu) is an association formed mostly of „Octavian Goga” National College students and it aims to promote the national values of the Romanian people in the context of the contact with the new European culture. The organization was founded 2 years ago by students from „O.Goga” College.

What are its purposes?

Teodora Şpan: The Youth Organization in Sibiu aims to define the Romanian identity by motivating young people to assume the cultural values expressed in literature, philosophy,medicine, psychology, music, to promotes solidarity and tolerance among youngsters by supporting and organizing volunteering activities.

What kind of activities are organised?

Teodora Şpan: The Association’s activities can be devided into 3 categories: educational, cultural and social, such as: organizing conferences, debates on current topics, school competitions, forming a Book Club , establishing partnerships between schools and creating projects. Here can be also included school trips and hiking trips. We organise the Christmas carols concert every year, we attend the Camps of Romanian Culture and Civilization twice a year- one during the Christmas holiday and another one in the summer holiday. The organisation also edits brochures to inform the young people about the cultural activities we are promoting. We have a lot of volunteering activities, some of which are carried out in the framework of the partership with different Centres for the persons with disabilities and asylums. Some other volunteer actions are: Let’s do it, Goga – a green activity consisting in planting activities in Păltiniș, promoting healthy eating habits to students, supporting the Anti tobbaco Campaign.

What does OTS mean to you?

Teodora Şpan: Well, to me O.T.S. means an environment in which I can not only develop my knowledge and make new friends, but I also find it as the best way in which I can make a contribution to the society and make it better. I find it really important for young people to take part in this kind of activities because they really represent the future. If we want a better future then we – the youngsters- should invest more time in our development by assuming our national values: faith, selflessness, determination and the will to gain knowledge. For me the activities organized by O.T.S. will surely be one of my best memories from 18 high school!

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What does The Red Cross mean and when did it start?

Nicoleta Stanciu: The Red Cross is a non-governmental organization meant to provide humanitarian assistance in case of disasters and to come in aid of vulnerable people. It has seven fundamental principles: humanity, accuracy, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, universality. It was founded in 1859 during the battle of Solferino, when the Swiss Henry Dunant drew the attention of the world to the need to establish support companies and to promote an international agreement on helping the hurt people and persons who attend to them. Thus was formed the Red Cross, the symbol being similar to the one on the flag of Switzerland.

What are its purposes?

Nicoleta Stanciu: The purpose of the Romanian Red Cross is to assist vulnerable people in situations of disaster and crisis.

Through its programs and activities for the benefit of society, it contributes to preventing and relieving suffering and/or discrimination, it protects the health and life of people, it promotes respect for human dignity, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, sex, religion, age, political affiliation or social policy.

What kind of activities are organised?

Nicoleta Stanciu: We have activities such as first aid courses, care of the elderly at home, demonstrations, distributions of food or clothing through orphanages and in homes for the elderly or to people in poor villages.

What does Red Cross mean to you?

Nicoleta Stanciu: For me Red Cross is like a second family. I found myself here and participate to the various volunteer activities to show the people that we care about, to help the ones in need, so we can be together. It is an important step for humanity and I think that more and more people should get involved and change the way we live.

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I have also been a volunteer in a missionary project in Ireland. And it was like this: For 10 days I was a leader of the kids’ club, a volunteer in a foundation for poor people and a part of a great team formed by 11 Romanians and 14 Irish persons. There were so many interesting activities like: games, stories, craft and music with children aged 3 to 12, preparing and giving food to the persons that don’t have a home or the opportunity to enjoy a cooked meal, offering free tea, coffee and cookies in the centre of Cork, and exchange of experience.

This activity was organised by the church I go to, and all the work we did during the kids club was all about stories from the Bible, learning versers and having fun at the same time.

I learned a lot about team work, responsibility – having to be responsible for my group of kids- I felt what it is like to be away from home and to live with other people, speaking English all the time and what it means to help other people. It was amazing to look in the eyes of the people we helped and see the gratitude and the joy that we brought them.

Volunteering in Ireland meant the opening of my eyes to see that there are so many persons in need, not only in my country, but all around the world, and realising that I can do something about it. I am more aware of the problems of poor people and of what it means to work with kids. I liked it very much and I hope I will repeat this experience.

Diana Andreea Merlan, XA

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Creative recycling On Saturday, May 11, we put our imagination to work, in order to create beautiful decorations from recycled objects. The event took place at Pizzeria Izi Dâ€&#x;oro from Sibiu, which was a comfortable place to work in because of the fresh air and umbrellas which protected us from the sun.

The staff was very friendly and they provided us with all the materials we needed, giving us advice, opinions and help when we asked for it. They also answered all our questions, helping us create the most beautiful decorations by offering us some ideas of what we can do. They never let us work alone, they were always checking what we were doing and when we wanted to start doing another decoration they showed us how to do it first and then they let us be creative.

We worked in a calm, relaxed atmosphere, using music for inspiration. Our group had a lot of fun and we became children again when we had to deal with the colors and the glue from our hands.

We decorated bottles and we made pompons from rope, enjoying the results together. The lemonade and the juice helped us make it through that hot day. From four-year old children to adults, all the participants joined hands to do something for nature.

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ISSUE 1/2013 Speak Out! Scream or shout.

Nervous students, proud teachers, hard-working volunteers and excited spectators. All waiting for the same thing: The Speak Out Competition, whose national level took place this time in Sibiu.

On 12 April 2013, the National Level of the Speak Out Competition took place at Gong Theatre in Sibiu.

The most talented students from 12 different counties performed their monologues in front of a lot of people who came to the Gong Theatre to support them. The members of the jury, teachers and actors of the theatre, were objective and awarded prizes to the participants who had the best performances.

The children did their best, proving to everyone that they are really imaginative and by starting from a simple quote, “What I had , I spent. What I saved , I lost. What I gave , I have.”, they can create an amazing show. Some of the participants used their skills in music, playing the guitar or singing. Also, many contestants impersonated different characters from cartoons, especially the negative ones, to create a story.

“I decided to impersonate Cruella De Vil because it‟s a popular character and I think it will have a lot of impact on the spectators. My English teacher helped me write my monologue and I hope people will enjoy my performance.” said one of the participants, before the competition started.

People who came to the Gong theatre expected to see a great show and they weren‟t disappointed.

Everyone knew it was going to be a difficult decision when it came to choosing the winners. The judges confirmed it when they took longer than they should have trying to make a decision.

“All the contestants had beautiful and original performances, every one of them was special in their own way. It was really hard to choose from among so many talented students” said one of the members of the jury.

The students didn‟t go home after the show. The hosts organized a treasure hunt in the center of Sibiu, and then a festive dinner, where everybody had a lot of fun, and the volunteers were given diplomas for their hard work. All the people involved agreed that it was a beautiful experience and they would like to do it over again the next year.

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Diana Hﾄパrean, XB 23

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Something new, something exciting Beginning a new stage of my life in the UK has been the best and the most exciting experience I ever had.

When I left home I knew that everything would change, but not exactly in what way; maybe the idea of “new” was one of my motivations when deciding to go somewhere different, so I picked the University of Salford.

At first it was overwhelming. Being alone there was terrifying and at that point, home seemed to be better than paradise. However, the thing that helped me the most was living in university halls –experience which I strongly recommend to any first year student. Meeting people the same age as me, who were going through the same thing as I was had a major impact on how I got used to everything.

Not only did I make new friends, but we also managed to make a warm and homey environment for ourselves. Maybe I was just lucky, but I got to live with some great British people who master sarcasm, are very kind and friendly and almost never forget about their tea and biscuits at around 5 o‟clock. Even though the stereotype says that they are polite, but cold, the people I met are loving, but very relaxed, which by some might be mistaken for indifference. They have a different perspective on life and focus a lot more on experiences. For them, knowledge is something that helps them have a better life, but what they do in their free time defines them as persons.

Academically, I also encountered a different system. I found myself in a relaxed environment with friendly lecturers who are always happy to help. We are considered responsible adults and we are never pushed into doing something we don‟t feel comfortable with. This may sometimes lead to some not getting their work done, but it is all part of being a grownup and knowing how to look after yourself.

We are encouraged to develop both our social and intellectual activities throughout problem based learning or essays. We are part of an organised system with many different ways of getting help, such as counsellors, lecturers or personal tutors. Also we get a lot of access to different means of information. I always found the book or the article I was looking for and there is always an available computer in the library in case I need it.

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ISSUE 1/2013 I believe that the decision to study psychology abroad was one of the best I‟ve ever made. This will not only represent an advantage in my future career, because of the well structured education I get, but also it helped me develop into a mature, adaptable and relaxed person, due to the people I‟ve met and the situations I have encountered.

Being in the UK is an amazing opportunity and everyone who has the chance to have it should take full advantage of it!

Ana Crișca 25

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GOOD TO KNOW

Way of of living living Way

Do you know what you should do? Laugh! Laugh because you dropped toothpaste on your T-shirt in the morning; laugh because you missed the bus.

You should admire. You don‟t laugh at your bad luck every morning, do you? So, admire yourself for the jovial attitude before. Then admire all the people that come along in the bus stop. Some of them are late, some are too punctual; some of them will smile, some will never even notice you. Just admire! You have no idea how many people have admired you so far. Attention, subtlety is required. Insistent gazes are forbidden. Keep only what you like.

Hug! Put all your feelings, all good thoughts, all the love in a hug.

Listen. Eavesdrop! You‟ll se that every day you find out new things. Some people will surprise you by what they say. Of course, others will surprise you in a bad way, being narrow-minded. Again, keep only what you like.

Read. Read what you want, when you feel like it; not when you have to. School required books alone will not initiate you, as claimed.

Move. Run. Your body will love you for that. Or dance. Do you know the feeling of fatigue caused by dancing? It's because your heart dances inside. The heart of your heart dances in your heart. And so on. So basically, you will never dance on your own. There will always be a thousand hearts dancing inside you. Your body is a club.

That explains everything.

Paint. Color up your walls, curtains, skin, time. Monotony is monotonous. Don't be afraid of change. True people smile to colored ones.

Eat. Don‟t fool around with all the possible diets. Feed yourself. Your body must resist all situations in you make it face. You have the right to eat chocolate. Just as you have the right to move. Always keep the balance.

Express yourself. Write, tell, call. Don‟t forget to speak your mind. Say what you feel without getting embarrassed of your opinion. Trust in yourself.

Love. Love with all thousand hearts. You have no idea how many people love you secretly, so let yourself loved.

Explore. Don't be afraid of the unknown. When you discover new songs, new books, new people, the feeling is unique.

Go to concerts.

Sing!

Block out gossip. People will analyze your tastes, clothes, facts, life very often. But they will always remain at this stage, while you will evolve.

Play roles. But don‟t forget to come back to your character in the end.

Be thankful for having what you have, be thankful for being alive.

Dream.

Be receptive to new things.

Take risks.

Learn. Learn to laugh, admire, hug, listen, read, paint, eat, speak, love, explore, sing, play, thank, dream -more often.

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Cătălina Ghera, XB

GOGA TIMES

ISSUE 1/2013

Building a World

The project „Kanoory Kingdom‟ was on the way and in the top secret laboratory from Europe a huge restlessness was settling in among the workers. They were running from one side of the room to the other carrying sketches, plans, papers and all kinds of substances and equipment. I, the project initiator, was in panic, because at this point, my dream was about to crumble to pieces!

The sand from the hour glass hanging around my neck was getting blue and started to drain through that little hole. Crying, I raised my head gently and looked at my poor laboratory assistants. They were pale and exhausted. The computer alarm sound was so annoying that I panicked and in a reckless gesture I broke my hour glass. All the sand fell in a toxic mixture which was boiling and when I looked at the container I could see a little a particle, pretty much like a cell, and something struck me.

After gathering all my workers, we decided to add some chemicals from volcanic lava and pour the mixture in the Mediterranean Sea. Immediately, a dust cloud rose from the water surface and sooner than we expected a new island arose.

We felt great excitement seeing that our endeavor had paid off. Now that we had the land we could build our perfect culture puzzle kingdom. To the east will be the men‟s territory, great warriors like the Romans and strong like the Russians -„spicy‟- while to the west, dances like Flamenco, Bolero or food like lasagna and French fries will reign. In the north the intellectuals will feel like home; great novelists like James Joyce or Rudyard Kipling will be having tea while writing or teaching their pupils to spread their extensive knowledge about art. In the south the bussinesspeople will take care of the country’s economy and the heart of the land will be the perfume industry from the Grasse region. Here will be the most beautiful and fashionable women, just like the French ones. Warriors, Femininity, Power and Care! This is the country I have been dreaming of!

Silviana Slavu, X B

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LEISURE TIME

What to watch Movies promises him his freedom in return for a favour: he needs Django to help him track three white slave -overseers with whom he has business. Django proves himself an able assistant and a brilliant gunfighter and Schultz is electrified to learn that Django is married to a woman (Kerry Washington) whose German owners taught her the German language and named her Brünnhilde, which her subsequent ignorant purchasers mishear as "Broomhilda". She was spitefully sold off separately because she, like Django, was always running away. Now she has been branded on the face as a punishFoxx plays Django, a slave who is ment and forced to work as a being led across Texas in a chain "comfort" girl. gang, when his master meets Dr King Schultz, a German played by Moved by her association with Waltz. Claiming to be a travelling Germany, Schultz vows to help dentist, Schultz is driving a bizarre Django find Broomhilda and wagon with a huge model of a wreak terrible vengeance on the molar on top. He buys Django and people who mistreated her, a quest Django Unchained There is one thing I can say about this movie: it`s Tarantino. And it goes without saying that every Tarantino movie finds its place on the blockbusters list around the world and is really welcomed by the public. Like every Tarantino film, such as Pulp Fiction or Inglorious Bastards, Django Unchained follows the same twisted, hilarious, thrilling and dramatic plot. Besides the ingenious storyline, the casting is remarkable too, as the movie stars Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.

October Baby October Baby is a drama story about a 19-year old girl that discovers that her entire life is a lie.

The film‟s directors are Andrew Erwin and Jon Erwin and the cast includes Rachel Hendrix as Hannah, the main character, Jonson Burkey as Jonson, her best friend from childhood and John Schneider as Jacob, her father.

The action begins in a theatre room, where Hannah plays on stage. During the play she faints

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because of some health problems.

Soon after, she goes to get some tests and discovers that she has epilepsy. Because she doesn‟t smoke, drink or take drugs, their parents tell her that her problems are genetic and that she was adopted after she survived an abortion. As a result of this news she leaves with Jonson and some friends to meet her biological mother. On this journey, Jonson falls in love with Hannah.

which brings them into contact with the Candieland plantation, ruled by Candie, played by DiCaprio with satanic politesse and bad teeth. But Django must swallow his pride and pretend to be that most hated of things, a fighter-trainer and the white man's tame plaything.

Django is, undoubtedly, a long film, at two hours and 45 minutes, so it takes a lot of patience to watch. But it`s totally worth it.

And not only because Tarantino`s got its signature on it, and this implies bloodbaths, nudity, profanity and strong language, but because of the impressive acting, the thrilling action, the beauty of the set and, of course, the historical information.

Iuliana Hanea, XI B

nah and Jonson spend some time together.

The actors give moving and believable performances, and the directing is excellent. October Baby is well worth seeing. It is very touching and it puts you face to face with the issue of abortion.

Don‟t miss it!

The film is full of emotional Laura Muntean, XA moments, especially when Han-

GOGA TIMES

ISSUE 1/2013 Soul Surfer

Soul Surfer, directed by Sean McNamara was released on 8 April 2011. It had one win, the Satellite Award for Best Original Score, and 10 nominations. This movie the biography of Bethany Hamilton, a teenager surfer who lost her left arm in a shark attack.

AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid show us the life of this girl and her family, how she overcomes her fears and doubts about her ability to surf again.

Through the church, she has the chance to visit the affected zone by the tsunami of 2004. Seeing how hard the life of those people is, she realizes that her pain doesn‟t compare with the pain of those who suffer because of the natural calamity and she decides to dedicate her life to helping others. Being morally supported by her parents, Cheri and Tom Hamilton, she learns to have faith in God and in herself and to surf again.

Bethany Hamilton is a great surfer, she goes to national competitions with her best friend Alana Blanchard and she dreams of becoming a champion at this sport.

After being attacked by a shark, she loses her arm in order to remain alive. Bethany thinks that her future is compromised and she will never be able to surf again, to be a champion, she doesn‟t see a sense of her life anymore.

AnnaSophia Robb did a remarkable job, playing the part of a girl living a such a difficult pain.

Sonya Balmores, as Malina Birch, had a great performance, being the opponent of Bethany, treating her as an equal in the competition.

The movie soundtrack is composed of songs like The Sound Of Sunshine by Michael Franti & Spearhead, This Is The Life by Two Door Cinema Club, Like A

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Review

Star by Britt Nicole and the list can continue with beautiful tracks that give the perfect atmosphere for an action/drama movie.

I strongly recommend “Soul Surfer” for everyone to see because it‟s a lesson of life. It‟s a proof that every challenge can be overcome and nobody should be discouraged by the pain or by the suffering, because God always has a plan for us, He knows why some events occur in our lives and we only have to follow His path and to give the best of us in every single moment of our lives.

they call “the island of misfit toys”.

The film presents how the three friends survive through high school and their relationships. Charlie gets better after he meets them, but when his friends leave college he starts to see sequences from his childhood again and ends up in hospital.

The drama film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, directed by Stephen Chbosky and starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller was released on September 21,2012. The film is based on the book with the same name written The actors give an outstanding perby Stephen Chbosky. formance during the whole movie The story is about a high school by bringing the characters to life freshman, Charlie (Logan Lerman), and making you feel like they are whose best friend committed sui- real persons, who actually go cide and who tries to fit in. He be- through those events. The soundcomes friends with two seniors: track was perfectly chosen for the Sam(Emma Watson) and her step movie with songs from The Smiths, brother Patrick(Ezra Miller), who the main character‟s favorite band, accept him in their group, which and David Bowie‟s “Heroes” as

Diana-Andreea Merlan, X A

“the tunnel song”, the tune that makes them feel infinite. The movie won 14 prizes until now at different film festivals and awards.

This is the perfect movie for a teenager or a young person, but I think it will be liked by adults too, because of the very good storyline.

The movie as a whole was very good done and I would recommend it to everyone.

Bianca Bundache, IX B

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LEISURE TIME Tv Series amazing soundtrack. Currently, it‟s one of the most popular and most watched TV shows.

starts and ends with a monologue that gives life lessons. Also, the action of the show is very complex and it makes you want to see This TV show follows the every- more and look forward to the next day life of the doctors from Seattle episode.

Grace Hospital. The main characters: Meredith Grey (who puts the I highly recommend Grey‟s AnatGrey in Grey‟s Anatomy), Derek omy. It describes a lot of medical Shepherd, Alex Karev and Christi- cases, but the real purpose of this na Yang live their first experienc- show is to depict the relationships es in medicine, evolving until they between the characters, their reacGrey‟s Anatomy Grey‟s Anatomy is a show which become great surgeons. They re- tions in extreme situations and to has all that a show needs to be the veal to us the problems they face make us realize that we can overbest: a captivating story which at work, but also the problems come anything if we fight together becomes more and more interest- they have in their personal life. and help each other. ing from one episode to another, Diana Hăprean, XB great actors, humor, drama, love What I like the most about this TV stories and, last but not least, an series is the fact that every episode Raiders of the Lost Past: Himmler and The Holy Grail Raiders of the lost Past: Himmler and The Holy Grail, is an exciting documentary that tells about the search for The Holy Grail, the legendary cup which is said to have granted immortal life to those who had it in their possession. The well-presented scenes in it show how the Nazis hunted down the cup and the different challenges that history put ahead of them.

The documentary mainly starts by presenting Otto Rahn, a dedicated treasure hunter, determined to find The Holy Grail, who is called to a secret meeting in Berlin to meet the most fanatical person from the Nazi regime, Heinrich Himmler. He is asked that which he wants the most, to find The Holy Grail for the SS chief.

Himmler's obsession to find the cup was due to the fact that he wanted to restore the Arthurian Legend, but in the black, Nazi

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method. To accomplish this goal, Rahn is sent all over Europe in search for the cup, but as he had joined Himmler, it is all in vain.

Having let down the SS chief, Rahn eventually commits suicide and the search for the Grail seems to reach its end. Himmler, though, does not give up and the search mendous mentality and truths of for the relic reaches Spain which the people who participated in this proves to be a great opportunity unbelievable hunt. for the Nazis to find the relic.

Once more, the series Raiders of This episode of Raiders of the the Lost Past manages to uncover Lost Past does indeed hold the the skeleton of another fascinating eyes of the viewer glued to the story in the past of humankind. I, bright screen of the TV. The for one, enjoyed what the docuglamorous-presented scenes of the mentary had to offer and, as a repast encourage the spectator to sult, I whole-heartedly recomstay and learn what the fanatic mend this episode, especially to orders of Himmler had as out- all those who enjoy history in all come. What is more, the mysteri- its essence, but also to the others ous background of the Nazi de- that don't think much of it. No picts exactly how motivated they matter the preference, this docuwere to find probably the greatest mentary has what it takes to make artifact of the world. Also, to give you dump boredom and let yourthe documentary a sharp touch of self see the marvelous. trust, the experts comment on difŞtefan Bernhardt-Radu, XB ferent subjects, such as the tre-

GOGA TIMES

Downton Abbey ~a BBC masterpiece~ In the ticking sound of a telegraph, back in 1912 the story of Downton Abbey begins.

ISSUE 1/2013 ants, must now give all their fortune to a stranger, a middle class lawyer to that and to his mother.Matthew Crawley, the lawyer, and his mother, Isobel Crawley are given a cottage near the estate and forced to adapt to a life of leisure and wealth, which is new to them.Still, there is one way to avoid losing the fortune and the estate: Mary, the eldest daughter must somehow marry Matthew.A strong influence over the estate, protective of her family, wise and sly, Violet Crawley is the Countess of Grantham, a projection of the “old world”, having sometimes difficulty accepting change.Maggie Smith plays the role remarkably, having a touch of genius (winning 2 consecutive Emmys for the role), with a stunning mimicry and ingenious lines.

part of the big Downton Abbey family.

And because every story has its place…

Downton Abbey- Highclere Castle Here, the pictures are worth a thousand words

While watching this series, you It is the day after the Titanic sank, enter the fascinating world of the the day when the two heirs of the 20th century, full of life and enerDownton Abbey estate were lost. gy, ready to face the changes.

(The story follows the life of the Steam trains, old fashioned cars, aristocratic Crawley family and dresses, etiquette, hopes, wars, teltheir servants after the post- Edephones seen as torture and elecwardian era, with major events in tricity seen as a monster, all this history changing their lives ( the naïve world engulfs for us. And sinking of Titanic, the starting of Complex, strong and vivid charac- while the story develops, the charFirst World War, the Spanish Flu, ters, the servants of Downton Ab- acters will create a bond between the formation of the Irish Republic bey are the ones keeping the you and them, and even the meanand the life between the wars) house. Some good, some wise, est character may make you appresome honest, some mean or just ciate him.

The Crawley family, an extended looking for glory, their stories are Ana Maria Fleacă, XI F one, with strong bonds between as big and meaningful as their the ones upstairs, the aristocrats, masters‟. Some childish, some in and the ones downstairs, the servlove, some too bossy, they are all

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The Mentalist “The Mentalist” is an extraordinary TV series. The main character is Patrick Jane, who is played

by Simon Baker, a very talented actor. He won Australia's prestigious Logie award for Most Popular New Talent. The series presents the story of a man who completely changed his life after his wife and daughter had been murdered.

Patrick Jane used to be a crook, because he made people think that he was a mentalist and he caould communicate with their dead loved ones in exchange for a huge fee. After his wife and daughter had been killed, he joined The California Bureau of Investigation

to help them catch the serial killer Red John. Patrick is a unique character because he has an unprecedented sense of observation.

He can tell your personal story only by looking at you to.

In every episode is presented a new crime scenario that is solved

by Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon‟s team (Kimbal Cho, Wayne Rigsby and Grace Van Pelt).

The killer is always spectacularly revealed by Patrick, as most of the times not even his team know who the murderer is. He is well known for his unconventional ways of dealing with tense situations and he has got a reputation for manipulating people to confess their murders. I really think that he is

however, the peace is broken and chaos arises. Suddenly, everyGame of Thrones is a TV show, one‟s secrets are revealed, and based on the series of books “A hatred, deceit and violence take Song of Ice and Fire” by George over. The long-lasting tranquility R.R. Martin. The story is set in a is gone and everyone is struggling fantasy world, called Westeros to protect their own region, honor, where each season lasts for years. family and interests.

The world is divided in seven regions, each ruled by one of the A dynamic, mind-blowing and seven great Houses – Stark, Lan- breath-taking story about power, nister, Tully, Aryn, Targaryen, about love and friendship, about Tyrell and Martell. The seven morale and lies, Game of Thrones Houses are at constant war for is the kind of show that keeps you power and each House wants to to the edge of your seat. It‟s not take over Westeros. just the storyline that takes your breath away, but also the overThe story starts at the end of an whelmingly beautiful scenery and incredibly long summer, a period the actors – each of them perfectly of peace and prosperity. When the casted for their role.

Hand of the King is murdered,

the salt and the pepper of this TV series.

I highly recommend you watch “The Mentalist”. I believe you will love it because it is a really well done combination between a comedy, a psychological series and a detective one.

Sandra Bogorin, XA

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I strongly recommend this show because of its realistic, flesh-andblood characters that you cannot just hate or love – characters that will make your blood boil, characters that you will not be able to get out of your head. They make you feel their pain and happiness, and feel like a part of the story. Ştefana Stoica, XB

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Supernatural The ellder brother Dean is the natural leader of the two. On the surface, he seems preoccupied with drinking beer, blasting music, hitting on women, polishing his 1963 Chevy Impala, etc. He feels responsible for Sam‟s safety.

Sam, on the other hand, is the rebel. After “abandoning” his family to pursue a normal career, his subsequent relationship with Dean is marked by tension. Dean, loyal to his father, cannot understand Sam‟s disapproving of the hunting life. But there‟s another side of Sam‟s character: the night when the Winchesters‟ mother was killed, Sam was infected with “demon blood” which pushes him to the dark side. His struggle against the inevitable destiny plays a major role in his relationships with both Dean and the monsters they are fighting with.

I don‟t know if any of you thought of a really deep meaning under the initial description of this TV series: two brothers travel around the U.S. to fight monsters.

My expectations were very low after reading that but after watching the 1st episode I changed my opinion, especially because of the big scary creatures.

It soon becomes more than “Supernatural” but the story is pretty simple. Two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, are reunited when their father disappears and a “yellow-eyed demon” murders Sam‟s girlfriend. Sam previously gave up the family business, hunting demons, in favor of law school. The first and second seasons spin around Sam and Dean‟s quest to find the yelloweyed demon, the same creature that killed their mother and their father. Along the way, they fight This is where “Supernatural” lots of creatures, from ghosts to starts getting into theological terwendigos to werewolves. ritory: Dean is pulled out from

hell by an angel, Castiel, and Lucifer is unleashed.The big question: is this a show you should watch? If you don‟t like violence and have a problem with seeing blood - fake blood of course-, then don‟t. Other ways, it has a very complex and catchy story that keeps you plugged in. The importance of family always takes center stage. Sam and Dean aren‟t perfect, but they‟re willing to die for each other. Also, I can say that I‟ve thought more about my faith since I started watching the show.

Maria Hodorogea, XB

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What to read

Jane Eyre, by Charlote Bronte Eyre is a book about a fascinating story of a poor orphan girl growing up to be real woman, with a lot of experience. This love morning book has certainly touched a lot of hearts with its fantastic plot that focuses on the problems that people have to face up in every moment.

convinces her aunt to let her go to school. After she finishes it, Jane takes a job where she has to take care of a girl and teach her. In the end, the plot has an unexpected twist when Jane falls in love with Edward Rochester, the father of the girl she took care of.

This book is a spectacular one because of the gripping way of narSet in England, the story begins rating and because of the outwhen the main character, Jane, standing descriptions of charachad to live with her aunt and cous- ters and sceneries from England. ins because her parents had died Also, the narrator makes the unand they were the only family derstanding of the story very easy members that she had left. The because of the narrative elements tale becomes tragic when her aunt which help the readers imagine ignores Jane and punishes her for the whole story correctly. everything she tries to do, so Jane Losing It (2002)

I definitely recommend this book to be add to your „personal library‟ because “Jane Eyre” will really fascinate you when you will change your manner of seeing the problems that happen to you and because this book is certainly on top of my list I hope it will be on top of yours after reading it!

Roxana Boica, XA

by Jane Asher

Genre(s) : Romance and psychology A man who has everything, a girl who has nothing, and a woman who has to fight to keep what′s hers. Everyone has something to lose.

Charlie Thornton is happily married to Judy, with three grown-up children and a successful career as a barrister. So how on earth does he become drawn into a relationship with Stacey, a very fat and unhappy young girl who works on the checkout of his local supermarket?

Stacey Salton needs to lose half her bodyweight. Until then she can′t begin to live, and she′ll do anything, and use anyone, to succeed. This situation entails unpredictable consequences of extreme gravity, even challenging the plausible. But the author's style is of remarkable psychological precision, so the drama of the characters, their difficulties, obsessions and unexplainable decisions seem to be taken from the real life.

“An intense emotional drama” - Telegraph “A writer who conveys real emotional power” Daily Express “Asher has a gift for suspense” Sunday Times Cătălina Ghera, XB

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Ten Little Niggers ,,Ten little niggers” written by Agatha Christie‟ was published in 1939.

It is said that ”it is Christie‟s bestselling novel with 100 million sales to date, making it the world‟s best-selling mystery ever, and one of the best-selling books of all time”.

The action is about ten people that are invited to a gorgeous mansion on nigger island off the coast of Devon. Each one of these people has something to hide.

They arrive full of hope on a nice summer evening…but soon everything becomes a series of extraordinary events: the island is bathed in sinister light and the panic starts to conquer people‟s hearts one by one…no one skips

Poetry as We (don’t) Know It

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it.

Each of the ten guests has been responsible for at least one death, also each of them had in their room a framed copy of the original ,,Ten little niggers” rhyme which details how each of them will die. The guests realise that the person committing the murders has to be one of them. On the dining room table are ten figurines and as a guest dies, so the number of figurines is reduced and that scares them a lot. They can‟t escape because of the weather so they have no chance to survive. The novel is very cleverly written, it can‟t take you more than two days to read it because it‟s full of mystery so you can‟t stop reading it.

his feelings in a very unique way.

It is obvious that his relationship with the text is free and untense.

His poetry shows a mature, but still a little bit naive version of love, some poems even expressing despair because he feels he can’t control anything around him.

The book I would like to recommend is „Taxa pe viciu” by Dan Herciu. It is a poetry book, published in 2009. Dan Herciu won two prizes for this book: The Niram Art Prize For Poetry and Reflexos Prize in Madrid in 2010.

Also, this book has been traslated I was surprised from the first into Spanish and Portuguese. lines because the book seems to Dan Herciu manages to express be monotonous and suprising at The Long Walk (1979) a novel by Stephen King Genre(s) : Science fiction-Horror In the near future, where America has become a police state, one hundred boys are selected to enter an annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. The game is simple- maintain a steady walking pace of four miles per hour without stopping…

If you smoke it is better to refrain when participating in The Long Walk. Do not wear shoes; nothing that causes abrasions. You must wear white sport socks. Don‟t carry food on you beside the concentrate-proteins given. No liquids, just a bottle of water. Any additional weight can tire you out faster. You can talk to any of the competitors, if you don‟t leave the road and slow down. Remember that you must be the last per-

Even though this book was far from my choices of novels, it was still enjoyable to try to pick up finer details. You will not know who is the murder until the last two or three pages.

If you are looking for a can‟tleave-this-book-till-I-finish-it, Ten little niggers is the best choice!

Daria Roşca, IX B

the same time. He has a one-of-akind style, because his poems are meant to tell the truth directly and honestly, even if some people may find this disturbing.

So, if you are looking for a nice way of spending a Sunday afternoon, I recommend this poetry book, one of the best I have read so far.

Iris Rusu, IX B son standing. Do not slow down below the speed of four mph. If so, that means a warning. Whatever happens, do not stop to help another competitor, or block one in any way, or else you will get a warning.

And be careful: with the fourth warning, you'll get your ticket.

Cătălina Ghera, XB

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curred a false trial. It is suggested that the justice system is hermetic „‟The Trial‟‟ by Franz Kafka is a and the injustices that are commitbook which describes the true law ted and hided by the system. that governs the totalitarian society. It can be said that here is ex- The human condition is indeed a posed a philosophical point of topical issue in his novels, but view regarding human rights be- here the beginning is uncertain cause the relation between de- and the ending ambiguous for an fendant and justice is highlighted unsuspecting reader. The susby the psychological evolution of pense of the story keeps the reader the person charged outlined dur- breathless from the beginning to ing the novel. Kafka truly is a lit- the end, especially when the narrator is confused about his characerary master. ter‟s fate. The final line of the deThe narrative is trivial: a man in fendant : „Like a dog!‟ illustrates his 30s named Joseph K., a bank the absurdity of the human death clerk, wakes up in a morning and which takes into consideration founds out that he is arrested neither failure nor achievements. without reason. He loses all his rights as a citizen and then he It can be said that this novel reppasses through a series of un- resents the author‟s personal trial pleasant events while confronting with the world where he is acpeople from the unskilled lawyer cused by society and himself. to the justice officials placed in a From childhood he was a dreamer dusty and dark attic, where oc- and this feature of the novel of Franz Kafka‟s The Trial

to be true is that she's falling deeply and helplessly in love with Evermore , by Alison Noel, is an Damen. inspiring story that takes place in New York , USA. It is New York The drama-filled story is gripping Times‟ bestseller and it is the first from beginning to end. It is full of book in Alison Noel‟s extraordi- mystery , because Damen‟s nature nary series. This wonderfully writ- isn‟t exactly revealed in this book. ten book is worth reading and it It makes you wonder from the will leave a good impression on very beginning who or what he is.

All this time Ever is trying to deal you even from the first page. with her powers and with all the The book relates how , after a hor- things that have changed once she rible accident, a sixteen-year-old met Damen. The book makes you girl named Ever Bloom can see want to know more about Ever‟s people's auras, hear their thoughts, powers, about Damen and what and know someone's entire life exactly they‟re going to be called story by touching them. But then upon to do. things change when she meets Damen Auguste. He's the only one I highly recommend Evermore. It who can silence the noise and ran- is beautifully written, in a mysteridom energy in her head. As Ever ous way captivating you till the is drawn deeper into his enticing end. It makes you feel like you are world of secrets and mystery, she's there, like you are that person left with more questions than an- who‟s experiencing all those swers. The only thing she knows amazing and scary things. Also,

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irrational events is rooted somewhere in his childish

thoughts..

I would recommend this book because it offers a very different perspective on life and in my mind this is a book that is worth the time. Franz Kafka is indeed a writer who knows how to approach such an issue so as not to bore the reader.

Silviana Slavu, XB

Evermore , by Alison Noel

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the cover, the two stark red tulips against that field of purple, claims the attention the first time you lay your eyes on it. Even if you try to ignore it, you end up wanting to read it.

Anca Maria Isaicu, XB

GOGA TIMES

What to listen to

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Ed Sheeran : Plus "Plus"(+) ,by Ed Sheeran is a recent CD.It was released in 2011 and it is a big succes.There are twelve tracks and all the songs "speak" about love and life.

The tittle "Plus" suggests that there is always something to do or to learn in life. For example, "The Parting Glass" tells us about a group of friends who will always remain together, no matter what happens. We learn the importance of friendship from this song. The other songs are about the first

love, equality and relations between people. They are included in the "indie folk" genre of music, with a soft and romantic tune and voice.

The message of the whole album is of love and harmony. I think it's a brilliant CD, because it makes us feel happy and released, it gives us hope and shows us that life is beautiful. Song titles like "Give Me Love", "Wake Me Up ", "Lego House" make us think of the deeper meaning of our feelings and future. I consider the lyrics of the

songs sensitive and full of phantasy as in the line: "It's to cold outside for angels to fly".

I definitely recommend that you add this CD to your collection.

You won't regret it !

Raluca Galamaz, XB

20 YEARS OF NUCLEAR BLAST20 YEARS OF NUCLEAR BLAST is an epic compilation of 4 CDs by the most famous bands from this genre. There are 5 hours of music, 70 songs and more than 28 bands like: NIGHTWISH, DIMMU BORGIR, IN FLAMES, ANTHRAX, HAMMERFALL, EDGUY, HELLOWEEN and more others.

The first CD includes heavy metal bands: DIMMU BORGIR, IMMORTAL, HPOCRISY, BENEDICTION, GOREFST, KATAKYLSM and their powerful lyrics, rowdy guitars and strong voices. The second CD is special

for its way of presenting new, unknown bands, in a brilliant combination with old established rockmetal bands, the most representative being IN FLAMES. The last but one features melodic metal bands like HAMMERFALL, SONATA ARTICA, HELLOWEEN and more which are famous for their love story songs, lyrics about immortality and optimistic view of life. The last CD impresses with the melodic gothic sounds of the most emotional songs from HIGHTWISH and EPICA. This album comes out on the market with a special event because NUCLEAR BLAST is the most

famous label in Europe.

They deal with a magazine called NUCLEAR BLAST with information about metal in every European country. They also have T-shirts and others products with their label. This type of album is what every true mentalist has to have because it contains almost every popular band from Europe.

I highly recommend 20 YEARS OF NUCLEAR BLAST. It is a dream come true for true Nuclear Blast. Denisa Laicauf, XB

The Truth About Love The Truth About Love, by Pink, is an amazing album which is by far one of her best. There are thirteen tracks to enjoy, each one better than the last. The album will come in at least two different deluxe editions - one on Target, with four exclusive bonus tracks, the other on iTunes with two of its own extra cuts.The CDâ€&#x;s lead single, Blow me (One Last Kiss), is an uptempo, pop rock and dance-pop song, a narrative that finds the singer contemplating the end of her tumultuous

10-year relationship with motocross star Carey. The second single, Try, a rock ballad, became an instant hit, charting within the top 10 in fourteen countries. The song is about taking risks with love, no matter the consequences. Just Give Me a Reason was released as the third single in January 2013 and it became the most successful song from the album. The song is a pop ballad written by Pink and Nate Ruess (who also features in the song) and produced by Jeff Bhasker. True Love is a midtempo track that veers between ballad

and pure pop ditty. The chorus of this track will get stuck in your head for days.Once again, Pink fascinates audiences from all over the world with her powerful voice and catchy tunes. This album is a lyrical masterpiece. I definitely recommend that you add this album to your collection. It is a must!

Ioana Fechete, XB

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RE:BLUE by CN.BLUE After a 10-month long hiatus from the music industry, CN.BLUE is finally back with their long awaited 4th mini album, "RE:BLUE". This powerful comeback is not relevant only for the fans, but also for the members who took this great opportunity to re-define themselves as a band and delight us with their brand new colorful sound. Overall, there are 6 incredibly addictive tracks which tell their own love story.

Whether you're happily in love or heartbroken, it's hard not to relate to them.

The title track of the mini album, "I'm sorry" provides a great start by telling the story of a heartbroken man who vents his anger through music. The emotionally strong vocals of Jung YongHwa

Steve Vai – The Story of Light Steve Vai‟ latest album was released on the 14th of August 2012, via Favored Nations, also owned by him. This is his 8th studio album, but if you count EPs, live albums and concerts releases, then there will be 18 albums all together. Steve Vai‟ last studio album, Real Illusion: Reflections was released back in 2005. The story of light has 12 tracks and clocks in at 58 minutes in total length.

ISSUE 1/2013 and the meaningful lyrics accompanied by the electric guitar and a solid bassline are impossible to dislike. "More than you" is a more relaxing and ballad-like song compared to the title track, but it's by no means less exciting. It's easy to listen to and the arrangement matches the concept of the song beautifully. "Coffee shop" is an upbeat and rhythmic song which brings a dose of "happiness" to the album by relating various situations you might come across in a coffee shop. With a catchy tune, this track has, without a doubt, gained its rightful place in my playlist. Telling the story of a man who learned to let go of his loved one by becoming aware of his childishness, "LaLaLa" might well be my favorite track of the mini album given the powerful message which is flawlessly transmitted

Once again, CN.BLUE hasn't failed to disappoint me and will definitely remain one of my favorite rock bands. I heavily recommend this CD for it has all the elements that make it worth listening to. I can proudly guarantee that you'll have their songs stuck in your mind for the rest of the day.

Maria Topîrcean, XB

the first song Gravity storm, which is the deepest, but you will gradually get the calming mood transmitted by the chilling sounds of strings pinched with such passion.

As the album is an instrumental one, there are lyrics on it included in three songs only: John the revelator, The moon and I and No more Amsterdam. Steve‟s voice is not the best, indeed, so he doesn‟t focuses too much on it, although he has several vocal released alThe guitar sounds amazing as albums. ways and you will not be disappointed with Steve Vai‟ work. The By far, my favorite songs on this 14 inspiring songs are an abun- album are Weeping china doll and dance of melody having put in Velorum, but every song has its more bass and percussion and charm and crates a unique emosome harp and wooden flute. You tion. This is a great album to liswill not get this impression from ten to while driving on a cloudy

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through both the sorrowful lyrics and instrumental part.

day or sitting back in your bed. By the end of the album I was deeply in love with The story of light as it created the effect of a journey from the start to the end. I highly recommend The story of light not just to the rock music listeners but also to people of all ages who want to try some good quality music by one of the most popular guitarists for many years.

Cătălina Ghera, XB

GOGA TIMES

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Where to hang out

Hanging...

Yummy Yang You can enjoy a Chinese meal at the Yummy Yang restaurant which is situated in the center of Sibiu.I went there toghether with my friends and we all liked it.

The food is very good and the menu provides many options. Also you can order an special offer, which is cheap and advantageous. By paying only 25 lei you can eat as much as you want from the buffet. They have a large variety of drinks, starting with soft drinks, coffee and even alcohol. The music is very beautiful, usually traditional Chinese music, which makes you relaxed and pleased. The furniture is well chosen and it gives you a feeling of confidence and comfort. The staff are really nice, always smiling and energetic.

I really recommend this restaurant , which can be suitable for every age and occupation. The food served here is also very healthy and tasty, which can be considered a plus.I just love Yummy Yang restaurant.

Raluca Marinciu, XB

Oldies Pub Music for everybodyOldies pub is absolutely the best place to go in Sibiu if you are looking for good quality music and want to relax after a stressful week in a pleasant ambience. The pub is located in the heart of the city, 13 Nicolae Balcescu St, within walking reach of the Big Square, making it accessible for anyone.

This place blends vintage hits with nowadays music in a breathtaking surrounding decorated in an old times manner, making it the perfect place for all kinds of people to gather round. Unlike other locations, Oldies knows how to completely satisfy all its clients that have specific tastes with the help of the well-trained staff, who provides exceptional service during the whole night.

In a survey made in 2012 it was voted as the most enjoyable and remarkable pub in the region of Transylvania with more than 10.000 favorable reviews. Every Wednesday, the pub hosts a spectacular karaoke night and twice a month it has the great pleasure to introduce us to famous artists from all over the world, invited to perform in a magnificent atmosphere.

All in all, I strongly recommend this location for everyone that is in a pursue of having an unforgettable time in a mixture of music genres, this place being worth your visit.

Dani Popa, XB

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LEISURE TIME

What to play

Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion is one of the most played role-playing games ever.

Launched on March 20, 2006 , this game changed the whole video games game play with its huge, lavishly detailed world. Bethesda Software spent a lot of time creating this awesome game. In 2006, they thought the game would not be successful because of the other games developed in the same year. They were wrong; the game deserves its place among the others. Oblivion not only delivers everything that earned the Elder Scrolls series the devoted loyalty of a huge following of fans, but also significantly improves on the weaknesses of its 2002 predecessor, Morrowind.

the game play very dynamic. The action of the game starts by allowing the player to customize his character, which is much recommended for RPG games. The game quickly introduces you to all different aspects of play, successfully engaging you rather than overwhelming you. The fantasy world is so big that it takes you almost half a day to explore it.

The course of the game is like a circle, it is almost impossible to fail to accomplish your goal; if you manage to understand the basics of the game it will be very easy for you to become one with the outstanding world of Oblivion.

Call of duty: Black Ops 2 Black Ops 2 is a shooting game which is the sequel to Black Ops.You might believe it to be more the same, but some improvements made Black Ops 2 look better. The game is taking place in the future, the year 2025.

The campaign manages to tell a story which makes sense because it is what happened after the first game. It also contains some new vehicles, fire-fight, vehicles crushes and player‟s choice. During the game, in some past cutscenes, you play with the characters from the first game and

from the future segments you will play with a new character.

The multiplayer mode can take you into the epic fire combat action.The multiplayer mode in Black Ops 2 is very different from the multiplayer mode in Black Ops because it includes a „‟Kill confirmed‟‟ which is completely new in the Black Ops series. It also helps you become better if you had never played Call of Duty. The zombie mode is like an adventure mode. You have to find mysterious clues in order to survive and that‟s up to you and your team. If you get the DLC content

Toward the end, the game does a clever job of recommending a character class to you based on This is a rare and remarkable how you've been playing. For exachievement - a huge, openample, if you've gone toe to toe ended, complex, detailed rolewith every creature seen, hacking playing game that's fun to play. them up with an axe, you might The best feature of the game is the make a good barbarian. But the 3d construction of the characters; game‟s numerous character claswell organized characters make ses are not as interesting as the

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ability to create your own class.

You get stronger in this game by practicing and improving your primary skills, not by killing stuff and earning generic experience points. You must be careful because the magic world is full of brutal creatures waiting for you to be enticed.

This game is worth playing. It will touch your heart if you are a RPG lover. The price is good, but the game play is better. Do not miss it; it is a unique opportunity to test the second most well made game

by Bethesda Software.

Cristian Bobanga, XB

with „‟Nuketown 2025 map‟‟ you will be able to play on the most famous map in zombie mode, which is amazing.

I would definitely recommend Black Ops 2 if you love shooting games because it‟s about the future wars and it‟s a very emotional game.

Alexandru Moga, IX B

GOGA TIMES

Assassin‟s Creed Revelations Assassin‟s Creed Revelations is an action-adventure video game which was developed and published by Ubisoft and released in 15 November 2011. The game unfolds the story of Desmond Miles an assassin who, with the help of a machinery named Animus, lives the life of his ancestor, Ezio Auditore, in order to find the truth about 21 December 2012 and save the world from the Templars who want to conquer it. It‟s the forth installment in the Assassin‟s Creed series.

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tair‟s Library. The story seems very confusing for someone who didn‟t play the other Assassin‟s Creed games but a cinematic in the beginning of the game explains the story very well and it will integrate the player into the 16 century, when the action takes place. As the game is a third person, you will play Ezio, and will be given all sorts of missions to complete in a certain way.

The game play of the game is the same as in the other assassin‟s creed games, for it is easy to win a battle if you press the buttons that The story of the game is fascinat- the game tells you to. It also has a ing, Ezio, the main character, trav- new and better multiplayer plot els from Italy to Constantinopole which gives the player inforin order to find the 5 Masyaf keys mation about the Templars the which will open the doors to Al- more they play. The player is able sible to win. JI am just saying that to play this game you need Need for Speed Undercover is one really good skills, otherwise you of the best „need for speed‟ games couldn't possibly win a race. because it has very realistic graphics and more races than oth- You can also play this game on ers. The game was released on 18 all the platforms. The cars are November 2008. realistic and if you have enough money in the game, you can buy The game, from the start, is pretty every car you want .The best cars fun, exciting, and so on, but later, in this game are :Lamborghini, when you have got through half of Bugatti and Bmw X6 . the gameplay, everything gets harder, some races are just impos- In conclusion this game is very

to enjoy the game on platform Play Station 3, Xbox 360, or on a PC the experience lived being wonderful on whichever platform the player chooses.

I definitely recommend this video game to you, because it is a wonderful piece of art that will change the way you see history and history classes from being boring to fascinating. This game is a must play!

Laura Brădăţanu, XA

Acction Undercover

interesting and exciting and I‟ll recommend it to everybody who likes the action and adventure.

Alexandru Joandrea, IX B

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What to attend

Elegance and style Sibiu, the fashion capital for two days For two days, Sibiu was the fashion capital, in May 31 and 1st of June. „Fashion Days” is one of the most important fashion festivals in Romania which takes place every year. This year, this event was organised by Nicolle Stănese Cioltea and it took place in Piaţa Mare.

In this two days of event, people could see renowned designer collections and professional models, but also they could see the creations of young and talented designers from the Design University of Sibiu. In each afternoon the event began at 6 pm

and it ended late in the night when the special guests held concerts.

Important names like Doina Levinţa, Rita Mureşan, Mircea Bărbulescu, Cosmina Englizian, Ana Radu, Ştefan Muscă, Elena Perseil, Mihaela Drafta, George Hojbotă şi Lena Criveanu presented theirt fabulous creations and special guests like Corina and Dj Moshu maintained a great atmosphere at the end of each night in front of about 1000 people.

Despite the bad weather, this event was successful, the atmosphere was great and the spectators, about 1000 people, felt extraordinary. At the appearance of each designer on the large stage

they applauded and they were very enthusiastic. The spectators could sing alongside their favorite singers as well during the concerts.

Therefore, this event deserves all the prise and I nlook forwards to seeing other such events in Sibiu.

Daria Cojan, XA

reading session took place on the following day, when the special guest, Sega (Octavian Segărceanu), presented his book, „‟Namaste‟‟, which is based on his travel experience in Nepal.

Other activities were the prize ceremony of the writing contest „‟I create, therefore I exist‟‟ and a concert of the local bands „‟I‟m the Trip‟‟ and „‟For Jacks‟‟.

I really enjoyed attending the „‟Books for Culture‟‟ Festival and I particularly enjoyed the enjoyaI am looking forward to the seble overall atmosphere of the fescond edition. In my opinion, the The first activity took place on tival and the relaxed attitude of festival managed to promote the 15th of May and it consisted in the participants. The location reading as a vital activity in the a book exchange in an informal, where most of the activities were development of every young peropen atmosphere, where the par- held, the Humanitas Bookstore, son. Coleta Giupană, XB ticipants engaged in discussions was a good choice, due to the about their favourite books. A pleasant, intimate ambience.

Books for Culture „‟Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body‟‟ and every book is a cultural journey meant to expand one‟s horizons. This is the idea behind the „‟Books for Culture‟‟ Festival, which took place in Sibiu, on 15-18 May. The festival was organised by the Student School Council and aimed at changing the negative perception that young people have of books.

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“Vama Veche” is one of the best known bands from Romania. In 28th of May 2013 the town hall from Sibiu organized a concert for students and for all other people. The concert took place in “Piata Mica”from Sibiu.

The concert began with the song “I am only eighteen”, which was dedicated to students. “Perfect” was sung twice: once at the beginning and once at the end of the concert. This is one of the most known and loved songs of this band. Another popular song is “This summer I want to fall in love” and it was sung by all the

people who were there for the concert.

The atmosphere was really amazing: all people singing together as the songs really touched their heart. A very emotional and unexpected moment was then when the band said “Good bye” and after two or three minutes they came back on stage and they sang other four melodies.

This concert was a very beautiful experience for me and I recommend you participate more at concerts because it is a way to meet with your friends and feel good. I especially recommend

The Roxette concert Summer of 2012

Bon Jovi and Scorpions being two of my favourite bands at the time, and Smokie being a band whose songs I grew up with. I went to the Roxette concert because I was offered the opportunity to go and I said, why not? I was sure the stadium would be filled with middle-aged ladies slow dancing with their husbands on “Listen to your heart”, or misunderstood teenage girls, waving a lighter up in the air with a mellow smile on their naive faces while “Spending my time” or “It must have been love” is playing.

But it wasn‟t like that, really. Of course, yes, people slow danced, but when hits like “Joyride”, “How do you do”, “Sleeping in my car” or “The look” were played, I could feel almost the exact same energy I felt at the other concerts.

My previous experiences with concerts – which are not many, by the way – can be easily summarized in people chanting band names or artist names, guitar sounds echoing all over the stadium, people singing almost all in the same key, going crazy, bustling from a place to another, spilling drinks on each other, the adrenaline of seeing one of your favourite bands live, knowing that everyone around you is just as ecstatic as you.

Quite frankly, I wasn‟t expecting much from the last summer‟s Roxette concert, having been to the Bon Jovi concert in the summer of 2011 and the Scorpions and Smokie concerts in the fall of 2011, concerts that completely sent me in a fever of excitement,

seeing “Vama Veche” in concert, as it is one of the most original bands of Romania.

Ariadna Fulea, XA

To conclude with, Marie and Per and the other members of the band, were as full of beans as they were back in the day, and they were able to create an amazing atmosphere. I left the Cluj Arena stadium with a smile on my face, and with the same shaky -around-the-ankles-and-knees feeling I get every time an event like this ends.

Cătălina Stanislav, XI B

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„Tumblr’ing There’s a site that keeps on gaining more and more popularity, these days. I am talking about: www.tumblr.com.

While many users describe it as “an addiction without rehab”, Tumblr is actually a microblogging platform and social networking website. Why is it so addictive? Mainly because you can gather pictures, text posts or videos related to all your interests (from bands, to fashion, movies, art, photography, cool facts and many others) in just one place, and that is your beloved dashboard. Basically the tumblr experience includes sharing all the things you like or find interesting by posting them on

your blog, and in the same time giving others the chance to reblog that content on their own blogs.

The majority of users are teenagers, and young people so you can meet people that share your passions in no time. The layout of the site and organization of the buttons changes pretty often, but that’s just what makes the site so amazing. The main buttons you will be using are “reblog” and “follow”(for following other blogs), buttons which are clearly displayed, and easy to use. You can customize your blog as much as you like, since you can choose from a large variety of themes, provided by tumblr or by users who design neat and unique

Linkedin or businessmen‟s facebook is a well known social network among people who are interested in their future career or in news about their working area. It can be accessed since 2003 and lately it has become very popular among teenagers. I recently checked this network, but it was not as I expected.

made; there request to know about your studies, name and an e-mail address and then you can click to access your account.

Creating an account should be the easiest part, but in this case when you register, there request information regarding your professional experience or volunteering. It is normal to be asked for your working abilities if you would like to join a network which is aimed at people from the business domain, but in the case of youngsters it is inappropriate to bring this into question. Besides these aspects, the registering is really easy to be

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After logging in, there appears a simple, sober wall, and in the right corner there are some steps which help the user build his/hers profile. Some refer to joining some groups, some to checking on three companies and having their updates regularly posted on your wall and some to connecting to people from the same activity area. At first sight it is advantageous, but if we think of the nowadays teenagers who are uncertain about their career, all this information could be stressing and confusing – after finding more, they may realize that the chosen career does not fit

themes. It is as updated as you can get since the bloggers post new things every day, especially with the help of the queued post option, which keeps your blog updated even when you are away.

I got into tumblr in March this year and have been addicted ever since. If you are looking for a way of sharing the things you like, have a good laugh or discovering everyday tricks to make your life easier, not just wasting time on the internet this is the place for you. However, beware! Once you log in there’s no way out, you will be trapped inside the virtual wonderland that tumblr is!

Denisa Avram, IX B

their working skills or they do not have the necessary qualifications to work in that specific area -.

This can have negative repercussions on these teens.

To conclude, this social network is designed for people who have already made a choice and I would not recommend it the teenagers who have not made a decision about their career or are insecure about their professional skills.

Ramona Sitea, XB

LEISURE TIME

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Pause for Poetry

Disbelief In the widened world I seek Until I reach the mistful peak And cling to that which may hold For back and forth I‟ve always rolled.

Slowly, I am drown in disbelief And thus I fall, a shameful thief So I catch an unexpected fall To see myself as lost and small.

In hate I heed but broken glass The clash of clouds on shiny brass A scream of pain inside my chest And vengeful thoughts I thereby nest.

“What am I?” a whisper asks A dawn on a thousand dusks– Or a covered spark in the dark Yet a shade that flies as a lark.

Solitude is where I find my sole rest There where I can do my relentless best And drop the piece that manages to fold In the tiny world which may be cold. Ştefan Bernhardt-Radu, XB

Let us remember Lips and scent and Let us hold hands laughter Separately Kiss the lips we have Count the fingers we kissed before had used for counting Try to see what we faces have accomplished Judge souls by look, Let go of what we not persons held on to Crash stone hearts Fall into immortality.

Melt ice hearts Hold on to each other Alina Damian, IXB with our feet They‟re stronger Kick with our arms Weaker weapons Reach out blindly for each other Eyes, too precious things to spare Immortality

Let us forget what we have forgotten

Poplar leaves

Self-esteem

Kiss my fear on my right eyelid there, above the eyelashes, where my thoughts are drowning in promises nibbled by doubt.

face to face with yourself you suddenly dropped down on your knees and somehow you forgave yourself, for now you‟ve finally got to meet the real you.

The house with a poplar-leafed roof is ablaze in the rain.

The smoke is fleeing Like clouds blinded by light.

Iris Rusu, IX B

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Quiz Career hunting

1. How much time do you spend thinking of a future career ? a) a lot b) some

b) to have a happy family & a steady income c) to have money for a good way of living 6. Which do you consider to be more important: a) money, success

c) not really interested

b) job satisfaction 2. If you have to choose between being a freelancc) can‟t decide er or having a boss, what would you choose?

7.How many hours / day do you consider a pera) freelancer son should work ? b) employee a) 8-10 h c) can‟t decide b) 6 – 8 h 3. How much money do you consider an employc) 4 -6 h ee should earn to have a decent way of living ?

8. In your opinion sleep is : a) more than 1000 € b) between 300-1000 €

a) a waste of time

c) between 150 – 300 €

b) mind‟s recreation

4. How would you define the words „Life Vision‟?

c) a natural state

a) the ability to create and apply your thoughts in order to build your own career b) the ability to see your work & your achievements in the nearer future

a) definitely yes

c) simply, my dreams for the future

c) no

5. Why, in your mind, is it important to have a career? a) to be someone in this society, not to worry about money

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9. Do you agree with this quote : " Career and Life Vision is essential for you to find job satisfaction and success" ?

b) not really

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Results interpretation Mostly a – Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it. ( Buddha ) A person who is indeed interested in being someone in life. Having plans for the future is a good way to start thinking of a career, but don‟t be too harsh with yourself in this job „‟ hunting‟‟ because you might make wrong decisions. You have to think well about the work you are going to do for at least 30 years. A career means professionalism in the chosen domain, so be careful, and don‟t think only of the financial aspects because having a successful career means being a professional.

Mostly b – Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a purpose. (Helen Keller) Is it true that there are values more important than a career, but having one is a plus in nowadays society.

Having a family, a good way of living represents the ideal and a person should try to work in order to have these. Here it can be said that we have a person who knows and respects his/her values in life, is a balanced person who is pretty sure that can have everything : a good career – money and a nice family.

Good luck !

Mostly c - "The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them.( George Bernard Shaw) There are so many possibilities, sometimes it can be overwhelming and you don‟t know where to begin.

Finding your career wisdom can mean discovering your own passions, strengths and values, and finding (or creating) work that encompasses these key areas. Search, look, have faith and be proud of yourself to find a job which can offer you the deserved satisfactions.

47

LEISURE TIME

ISSUE 1/2013

Recycling - Past & Present

1. In your opinion what does recycling mean and a) a way of life are you interested in finding more about this prob) a good action cess which can save our planet? a).Recycling means transformation and I would c) a necessity to survive like to know more about it.

6. Which do you consider to be the most difficult b) Recycling is prevention of the environment de- waste to recycle? struction and I am open to new information a) Household c) I consider it is the reduction of energy usage b) Industrial waste and I think I am well informed about this issue. c) Biodegradable waste 2. Which types of materials do you consider to be 7. Do you consider that recycling is well promoted recycled more nowadays? by the political system - do they encouraged peoa) Biodegradable waste ple to recycle? b) glass, paper & plastic

a) Yes

c) metal & electronics

b) No

3. Back in time, which waste do you think people c) They can do better recycled more?

8. When do you think people started to recycle? a) Household a) in 400. B.C. b) Wood & glass b) in the 17th century c) Electronic equipment c) in the pre-industrial period 4. During the world wars people were encouraged to recycle! Which materials do you think they re- 9. Recycling is a widespread method but few of us understand and know about its benefits. In your cycled & why? mind, which are these benefits? a) metals and cans for guns a) economical and environmental b) nylon & rubber for the rainy season b) political & social - employment , new jobs c) textiles c) natural - it prevents the destruction of natural 5. During the economic depression what was recy- habitats cling considered to be ?

48

GOGA TIMES

ISSUE 1/2013

Results interpretation

Mostly a – A person who really has something to say! Recycling is an issue which frequently generates a great deal of heated debate, with supporters maintaining that this process is vital to protect the nature whilst some people ignore the environmental problems and show their lack of concern about them. We need more people who would like to do something in order to protect our nature so you can be one of them! Start now.

Mostly b – Really impressive! Recycling together with its benefits on the environmental are issues that need to be discussed and you seem the person who wants to take an initiative regarding this. Have the courage to tell everybody your opinion about a green and healthy world.

Mostly c- History is a hard topic, but you did very well! It seems that this subject, recycling, is not so ignored as some people say. You are on the right track to becoming a convincing environmentally friendly person. Share your thoughts with your friends, maybe they will join you. Have fun!

Silviana Slavu, XB

49

GOGA TIMES

ISSUE 1/2013

Catch Words Puzzle

Down 1. A warm ___ (7) 2. It never ___ but it pours (5) 3. ___ the show (6) 4. ___ and flowed (5) 5. The ___ of time (5) 7. Bob's your ___ (5) 9. Variation on a ___ (5) 13. The patience of a ___ (5) 15. The father of the ___ (5) 16. ___ and lightning (7) 17. ___ or foe? (6) 18. Bride and ___ (5) 19. The Ides of ___ (5) 21. ___ and bounds (5)

50

Across 1. For better or ___ (5) 3. Roll up your ___ (7) 6. Act in haste, repent at ___ (7) 8. ___ Rouge (5) 10. Cul de ___ (3) 11. Snakes and ___ (7) 12. ___ said than done (6) 14. The ___ of the exercise (6) 18. A ___ of hope (7) 20. It is an __ wind that blows nobody any good (3) 22. ___ space (5) 23. Ireland, the ___ Isle (7) 24. Evenly ___ (7) 25. Older and ___ (5)

http://www.puzzlechoice.com/cw/Catch10x.html

GOGA TIMES

ISSUE 1/2013

Comics

51

LEISURE TIME

ISSUE 1/2013

Catch Words Puzzle Solution

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