Volume IV; Issue 3
March 2011
King’s Academy, Manja - Madaba, Jordan
Students Perform And he goes home with the Gold! Miller’s “The Crucible” How a Senior saved the O’Rourke marriage
The King’s theater is taken back to the Salem Witch Trials By DIVIJ MEHRA ‘12
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As soon as Mr. Tristan Chirico arrived on campus this fall, his presence was felt. Last semester, Mr. Chirico directed a group of talented actors to perform The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Set in the late 17th century, The Crucible’s plotline is centered on Salem town’s paranoia with witchcraft. The protagonist John Proctor (portrayed by Ali Shajrawi 11’) is forced into trial when his wife Elizabeth (Gulia Walid ’12) is accussed of witchcraft. The intensity heightens due to Judge Danforth’s (Adel Nesheiwat ’11) heated interrogation. Further into the play Proctor is faced with a dilemma. He must either save his wife by falsely confessing to witchcraft, or he must retain his honor by hanging for opposing the false allegations. The characters were portrayed by a variety of actors. Some were enormously experienced in acting, but others were new to theater altogether. When Abdullah Khalayleh, a veteran actor, was asked how all of this worked out, he replied “It all just became so much easier because everyone got along well, and the chemistry was great. To tell you the truth, I looked forward to rehearsal everyday” Ali Shajrawi appreciated the experience he had with The Crucible being his first play, and said he would “definitely do it again.” The performance could not have been possible were it not for the endeavors of the entire cast and crew. They rehearsed relentlessly every evening and over quite a few weekends. But see CRUCIBLE on page 2 Reverend Hale, played by Thaer Sheikh Al-Theeb ‘11 (bottom left) trying to determine what has befallen Salem (Haneen Moslem ‘13) in the school’s performance of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”
Science Department. Further questioning determined that it was his wedding ring, and it was misplaced while he was playing rugby in the area. The students were going through every possible area to find this precious ring among the sea of grass. “It’s almost impossible for one, or even two people to look through this whole area,” says Rumz Madanat ’12, “but with twenty-five or so students, it’s bound to be a lot easier.” As time whisked by and the ring still didn’t show itself, rumors ROBERT BAHOU ’11 began to circulate that Ms. Jackie Muhannad Abdeen ‘11 with Mr. Devon’s prized possession - his wedding O’Rourke would punish him dearly if he didn’t find the item in quesgrass. “I’ve never seen such dedi- tion. By JOOHO SHIN ‘12 NEWS SUB-EDITOR Eventually, even metal detectors cation; not even my athletes work It was a sight that might have this hard during practice,” states an were used, courtesy of Mr. Mazen and the Science Department. The caught the eyes of quite a bit of anonymous coach. Research revealed that the ob- irregular beeps of the machine people: groups of students on their knees in front of Meissa South, ject in question was a small ring, were heard all around Meissa for staring intensely at the ground as apparently misplaced by Mr. Desee RING on page 2 they worked their way through the von O’Rourke, a member of the
Thursday Morning Trash Pickup Every Thursday morning, a group of students and faculty go around campus to clean up litter By HENRY REYNOLDS ‘12 CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The wind howled - whipping through the Meissa breezeway as if in a race to get to the other side. Mr. Devon O’Rourke approached, so I left the warmth of my dorm. “Looks like it is going to be a lonely morning”, Mr. Devon murmured. A few minutes later, we marched down the hill towards the greenhouses. We already knew our mission for the morning. Mr. Devon had said our only task for that half hour was to bring a wheel from down at the far end of campus to the side of the health center. It could be perfect for a swing or simply to jump on for the
COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS
playground we are building. The task seemed effortless, but turned out to be the opposite. In the midst of some weeds I noticed a hefty black circle. It had brown wires encircling the rim like miniature snakes seeking to escape. One side was frosted to the point it looked silver while the other remained jet black. We started ascending a long hill, rolling the wheel along with us. The invention of the wheel helped a great deal, but this was above waist height and must have weighed at least one hundred kilograms. My fingers grew slightly see THURSDAYS on page 2
Table of Contents Pages 2 NEWS
Page 3 OPINION
Page 4 HEALTH Pages 5-6 LIFE
Fire Procedures The Mosque Controversy Aren’t Short Days Supposed to be Short? We Need to Recycle Paper More Often The Student Union Exposed! What is Cardio? The Importance of Endurance Warming UpTips Student Senate Kicks Off Mr. Darcy, the Campus Cat Teachers of the Issue Updates from the Class of 2010
Page 7 FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Page 8 FUN PAGE Pages 9-11 OUTTAKE
Page 12 SPORTS
Interview with Laura Currie Acertijos! The Jasmine Revolution Chinese at King’s Recipe: Bocconcini di Pollo al Limone Horoscopes Games and Riddles
If You Could Change One Thing about King’s... You Know You’re at King’s When... Senior Jackets: What Do They Mean? Dead2Red 2011 Boxing Our New Court
ROBERT BAHOU ’11
The group leaves early every Thursday at 6:30 am, but there’s always more to pick up.
Page 2
NEWS
The Rexonian
CRUCIBLE
continued from Page 1 few know that the King’s theater group was confronted with a shortage of time. Nevertheless, the King’s Academy theater group managed to successfully stage a performance within a mere 8 weeks. When Thaer Al-Sheikh Theeb was asked how the group coped with the shortage of time, he said “We never thought we would make it in time, but we worked endlessly. By the end of it, everyone was determined to show off their work.”
The energy was reciprocated by the audience, who were very receptive of the performance. “We were told that it was two hours long, but there was never a dull moment and time just flew by” said Hunter Bell. The Crucible was performed over three consecutive days and according to Mr. Tristan “the performance just got better each time.” Also involved in the performance was the King’s Academy choir who enlightened the performance with their sonorous melodies. At the end of it all, King’s Academy had the pleasure to be the audience for a truly memorable theatrical performance.
MR. MAZEN JARRAR
Senior boys cooperate with the help of a metal detector in search of Mr. Devon’s ring.
RING
continued from Page 1 some time, as students had some fun with the machine. Even so, the elusive ring remained, unfound. When Mr. Devon had all but given up hope, it was finally found in front of the boy’s dorm, Nihal. According to reports, soon upon hearing the news, Mr. Devon promptly burst into Mr. Bowman’s twelfth grade calculus classroom, exhilarated that his ring was found by Muhannad Abdeen ‘11. Muhannad happened to see the ring sitting next to Nihal weeks after it was lost. Students in the particular class commented that he looked joyous and relieved. According to the Office of Student Life, it was the first time the metal detector was used (unsuccessfully) to look for an object, and the first time students participated in a ‘relocating’ activity in King’s Academy.
THURSDAYS
continued from Page 1 numb with the biting cold of the wires on the wheel. We eventually made it to a trench, and reached our destination. The spool for the cables strewn about campus lay to the left of the tire. It will be perfect for any use – and was much easier to get than the black Michelin tire. Mansoor, Mr. Devon and I had rolled it down from near the parking lot. Now we looked approvingly at our accomplishments, knowing eventually we would build a playground. We meandered over to the dining hall to wash the mud off our hands. The best part of waking up
ROBERT BAHOU ‘11
Hashem Al-Abed ‘11 and other members of the senior class putting up a class banner on the clock tower.
these mornings was the views, and the feeling of accomplishment. We noted that all the buildings look inward on campus – but as we stride about campus we see the beauty of Madaba. The nearby dunes are covered in a magnificent green. We find remarkable spots on campus every Thursday which I would never have seen had I only focused on school. Just like with other community service, doing the work makes you feel better because you know others will enjoy the fruits of your labor. When I come back to a reunion or to visit in a decade or two, I will be able to point to the playground and know I helped build. Every Thursday, I get to look forward to that moment, which is just as good.
Executive Editor Managing Editor News sub- Editor Opinion sub- Editor Foreign Language sub- Editor Life sub- Editor Fun Page sub- Editor Sports sub- Editor Faculty Advisor
ROBERT BAHOU ‘11 IMAN ABU ALIA ‘11 JOOHO SHIN ‘12 MOUNIR ENNENBACH ‘12 OMAR HALAWA ‘12 SEEMA SAMAWI ‘11 REEM AL HADDADIN ‘11 ZACK SAMAWI ‘11 MR. BOWMAN DICKSON
Mohammad Abu Alia ‘13 goes up for a layup in a close Junior Varsity game against ABS.
ROBERT BAHOU ‘11
OPINION
March 2011
The Ground Zero Mosque Controversy
Page 3
Aren’t Short Days Supposed to be SHORT?
The complexities surrounding the Mosque being built near the site of 9/11, “Ground Zero” cans”. We are protecting justice by not allowing this STAFF WRITER to sting the families who have died. “The building Many of you have probably read in the news- of this mosque actually helps what most people, papers or heard on TV, the hotly debated issue of and Americans, stand for: freedom, equality, and whether or not a “mosque” should be built “near” justice for all”, as Sheryll Thomas, the mother of Ground Zero”. I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, Nick Thomas who died during 9/11, commented this isn’t the media’s version. This is the Lion’s ver- on how the building of the interfaith center would sion. As Dorothy said in “The Wizard of Oz” the help her son rest in peace knowing he lost his life Lion is the one with the courage- the courage to tell protecting this justice. Some refer to this as the the facts from the mere distortions. This article is “victory mosque”, as the “Arabs” have gained vicmeant to give the real facts of the story. So let’s lay tory by putting their mark “in front of ” Ground some facts down first. Firstly, it’s not a “mosque”, Zero. Yes, it’s a victory for the interfaith center and it’s an interfaith center where people can come to citizens by showing how we do not tolerate injuslearn about Arab people and the religion Islam. tice and can strain the wrong people from the right ones. Even the Mayor of And the “mosque” part of the tall, interfaith center is Do we ever consider that not NYC, Mayor Bloomberg, is pro-continuing buildonly a small section of the only white Americans were ing of this interfaith building on the top. SecondBloomberg’s ly, it’s not even near Ground lost that day, but people from center. Zero, its 4 blocks away in ethnic backgrounds as well? support springs from his belief that this is what the distance. If you stand at makes people so strong, Ground Zero you cannot see the center without going out of your way to walk so great, to be able to realize that America is a land in and out of the winding pathways. And while a of immigrants. Do we ever consider that not only church stands right in front of Ground Zero, its white Americans were lost that day, but people offensive to “Americans”, as the media puts it, to from ethnic backgrounds as well? Like Tala Hamhave an interfaith center placed there. It’s actually dani who lost her son on 9/11, or Asa’ad Mustafa offensive to Arabs and the real Americans, which who aided in the recovery efforts at Ground Zero. I’d like to point out is a good majority. So this ar- Opponents might say that this would compromise ticle is discussing the facts of whether or not an our commitment to fighting terror with freedom, interfaith center should be built 4 blocks away from but allowing the interfaith center to be built is keepthe Ground Zero. It’s helping people not to asso- ing to the freedom of individuals. History repeats ciate a group of extreme Arabs with the normal, itself. First it was Catholics during Kennedy’s time. tolerant Arabs. It’s defining Arabs with the defini- Now it’s Arabs having their rights questioned. But tion they deserved to be known by. We assume the this isn’t majority opinion. Like the Heartstrong media’s coverage of this reflects most Americans’ Church that welcomed the Memphis Islamic Censentiments on this issue. Like the firefighter, Tim ter in Tennesse, it’s stories like these that are real Brown, who survived 9/11, but lost most of his justice. That’s real America. It’s not about whether friends, was lobbying against the building of the or not an interfaith center should be built, it’s about interfaith center. But the controversy against the how we treat one another. As of January 20, 2011 project that the media is keeping in the news is one “the court denied request to block NYC mosque that offends “most New Yorkers and most Ameri- construction.” Now THAT’s justice.
By FARAH KILANI ’13 & BARAKAT ELSAQA ‘13 STAFF WRITERS
By REEMA LATEEF ‘12
“
”
“Short” according to King’s Academy is a school schedule that starts at 12:30 pm and ends at 6:00pm. In fact; our day doesn’t really end whether we’re boarders or day students; not to mention co-curriculars in the afternoon and uninterrupted classes running for 30 minutes… Someone please explain to us how this is “short”. So we basically wake up later than usual, tricked into feeling it’s a holiday, and then are snapped back to reality. The truth is it’s a “short day”, just as tough as any other day, only with a tighter schedule. Last year, for those of you who don’t know, short days were on Thursdays and were much more convenient because the day was actually short. School ended by noon and no one had to rush to get ready for co-curriculars in ten minutes. The school claims that that system was changed due to absences, those who skipped the day would regard it as unimportant. Switching short days to Sundays has also caused trouble for many parents. It has been very inconvenient for many of us to arrange a ride to the bus pick up locations or to school. Our parents are at work during the time we need to be dropped off at the buses. (Please note that not every student in King’s Academy has a driver). This is not an article of complaint, we are presenting an opinion about flaws that many students have noticed, hoping our proposed solution will be heard and taken into consideration. So here it goes; if you’re planning on leaving Sundays as short days, then at least cancel co-curriculars due to the lack of time to relax and change our attire. We have thought of every solution possible, and if this seems inconvenient, an alternate possibility would be to start the day earlier; for example class begins at 10am and ends at 2pm, which gives us time to relax and socialize, as well as allowing us time to arrive to co-curriculars on time. In the end it is all in the hands of those in charge, we’re delivering a message that’s been an issue for the students for a while now. It’s one of those little things about the school that we would love to improve, “a tipping point” as Ms. Julianne would say. We really do not get the point behind a short day – if it’s aiming to drain the life out of us, let’s give it a round of applause.
More than One Million Sheets of Paper?! We should recycle paper more often in an effort to save the environment By THAER SHEIKH AL-THEEB ‘11 CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A couple of weeks ago, I asked one of my peers if he believed in global warming. The student answered me that he did. When I questioned why, he easily said: “Can you not feel how hot it is outside!” You might be laughing at this – I certainly did- but it is nevertheless true. Many of you might say that we cannot feel the effects of global warming this way. Aye, but we certainly can feel them in many different ways. Indeed, our entire existence on Earth, the ability of our Earth to support life in the future, has become so dependent on the environmental changes of our world of which we humans are the reason behind. I often bring the issue of global warming and the threat we continue to impose on our environment up in my discussions
with peers. I like to see myself as an environmentalist. I often get the question of “what can I do to stop such a global thing?” That I will answer. However, before I attempt to answer this question, let me first present an assumption. I am assuming that the majority of us believe in the importance of trees. If you are one of those who do not, let it be known that trees produce Oxygen, clean the soil, fight soil erosion, control noise pollution, absorb carbon dioxide, and for those capitalists around us they increase the value of a property by 15% or more. Unfortunately, however, trees around the world are not sustained. One of the big-
gest issues concerning that is paper usage. A recent study has found that 35% of the mass of our trash consists of paper. In reality, paper fills up about 30 to 40% of American landfill space. Americans use more than 50 million tons of paper every year which means a consumption of 850 million trees per year. Indeed, only a fifth of the world’s old-growth trees are undamaged. Before you judge Americans too hastily, let’s look at a population of approximately 450 people who printed 1,103,445 sheets of paper in a single year. Yes, that is right; more than one million sheets of paper. That is taking into account the fact that these statistics come only from one printer on camous, that is the faculty printer of Mr. Nidal. Without a successful recycling cam-
RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER!
paign on campus, we should also take into account that we are not only wasting paper and ink. We should question where all of this trash goes. It is not only trees we are damaging, but we are also contributing to pollution. The first of our five guiding principles at King’s Academy is respect. As a word, respect has all kinds of meaning and connotations attached to it. What concerns me most is respect for one’s self, and for one’s environment. Self-respect cannot be generated unless we act ethically. I cannot understand how we can respect ourselves without acting ethically. Part of ethicality is to make sure we have a positive impact on our environment. As a school that celebrates responsibility and respect for one’s self and environment, action should be taken soon to reduce the amount of paper usage on campus and to establish a successful recycling campaign.
HEALTH
Page 4
The Student Union EXPOSED What’s in that food you are eating and how much does it cost? By MAYA DAMIRJI ’11 STAFF WRITER
The student union is the essence of our life in King’s. We make our way there every free period, every break, and even after classes end. However, what we don’t pay attention to, affects us the most. Have you ever considered how many calories are consumed by the typical ‘doritos and crème cheese sandwich”? I didn’t think
so. A minimum of 590 calories goes into that sandwich. And people tend to consume around 2-3 a day, along with lunch; along with other snacks they end up buying from the Student Union. Also, people always tend to complain about how much they spend, not knowing what they spend it on! To the right is a table showing the price and calorie content of the most popular items at the Student Union.
Question Time: What is “Cardio?” By SEEMA SAMAWI LIFE SUB-EDITOR
Cardio comes from the Greek word “kardia” meaning heart. Now you may wonder how this is related to exercise, but it is very simple: cardio strengthens and builds muscles primarily associated with the respiratory system and your heart; in other words, it strengthens your heart. A stronger heart means that your heart will tire less often – truly a great thing to have. This effect also decreases risk of heart disease and heart attack. There are also various benefits to this type of exercise such as decreased risk of diabetes, depression and other related effects. Thus you can see that cardio is really good for you. Cardio is exercise performed for an extended period of time, sprinting for 2 minutes is not cardio exercise. The most common type of cardio exercise is middle distance running. This also happens to be the most practical cardio exercise as you can do it from the comfort of your neighborhood or in the gym on the treadmill. Ideally, for proper cardio exercise, you should run at a speed of at least 8-10 km/hr. (5- 6.5 mi/hr.) Other great cardio exercises include hula-hooping, dancing, swimming and many more…
ITEM
PRICE (JOD)
CALORIES
Maltesers
0.65
184
Doritos
0.30
240
M&M’s
0.55
235.5
Turkey
1.75
310
Kinder Bueno
0.70
257
Lays
1.95
150 (for 12 pieces)
Twix
0.55
143
Kinder (4 Bars)
0.70
257
Skittles
1.00
403
Croissant
0.75
280
Rice Krispies
1.00
150
Galaxy Caramel
0.50
232.3
Mcvities (chocolate)
1.75
84 (per buiscuit)
Twizzlers
1.20
180
“Cremi Cheese Ka3k’
1.00
350
Galaxy Ripple
0.60
190
The Importance of Endurance By SEEMA SAMAWI’11 LIFE SUB-EDITOR
Endurance, how many times have you heard that word? I hear it a lot, but what does it actually mean? The dictionary defines it as “the power or ability to bear or to last”. Though to be honest who doesn’t have the power to last? Everyone has the power to last to a certain extent yet it is more about how often we exercise that power. Most people give up after a while because they find physical exertion to be exhausting for them. Endurance training is very important because if you do not possess sufficient endurance; you will not be able to train effectively. Endurance training is tough and exhausting both mentally and physically. You need to have strong willpower and perseverance. It only gets easer as you progress. The danger is pushing yourself too far so, it is imperative that you know your limits because you can risk injuring yourself. Generally speaking, the best way to know your limits is to see how long it takes your body to recover after significant exertion. You need to work in gradual stages so start by running 10 minutes at an average pace, between 9 and 10km/hr. if you’re on a treadmill, and keep increasing your run time until you find that it takes
you more than 7 minutes for your breath and pulse to slow down and return to a normal rate. Once you find your limit you need to work to push it further a little bit. This is achieved by daily exercise. If you find your limit is 10 minutes, then you should try running 11 minutes at the same speed. The idea is to slowly tack on time, you might find that you’ll need to run at a slower speed to run for longer periods of time. That’s alright as long as once you are comfortable running for that period of time, you start increasing the speed to that of your normal speed. At the end of the day it’s all about your willpower to excel. Once you have the physical capability, you would have also mastered the mental issue. It does take a lot to keep going when you’re tired but you know that the longer you go, the better it will be. Wonder why? It’s called endorphins and adrenaline rush. The longer you go, although initially it feels terrible, the better it will feel in a bit and then you’ll be at the stage where you’re “running on air”. And the best bit is that you’ll feel amazing at the end when you finally do finish your workout for the day, you always feel bad if you know you could have pushed yourself harder, so just push yourself and don’t regret! Of course, if you’re feeling ill, you should stop immediately because
Before Hitting the Gym... The importance of warming up before you work out By SEEMA SAMAWI’11 LIFE SUB-EDTIOR
Fitness is like an elastic band. When you’ve warmed up, you can push your limits and perform better. Warming up is a very important part of your workout but don’t forget to cool down! The cool down is equally as important! If you leave an elastic band out in the snow for a couple of days and attempt to stretch it, it won’t stretch as far and not only that, it will most
The Rexonian
probably snap! If you then place that same rubber band in a bowl of hot water for a couple of days, (constantly ensuring the water is hot), and attempt to stretch it, it will stretch further than it would at room temperature. Not only that but it will also take longer to snap. Your muscles function in much the same way. While you are warmed up, you can push yourself further because you are not “cold” meaning that you are not stiff. This, in turn, decreases
risks of injury. If you are warmed up, your muscles can contract and relax more effectively. This also means that you are more flexible which consequently reduces the risks of your muscles “snapping” or being “pulled” meaning that you decrease your risk of injury. Thus it is very important to warm up as it directly affects your performance. Though just as important it is to warm up, we know it is equally important to cool down as
you know that there’s something wrong there, your body is sending you messages that you are not ready for this exercise just yet, so either stop or take a break depending on how bad you feel. So how do you keep yourself from giving in mentally? It’s actually quite simple, first of all you want to be chilling with your iPod because music always makes it easier and more enjoyable. Try to pick something that has a good beat to run to because then you can run in time to the song which really helps. Then you need a goal that you’re working to. I always tell myself that after I run 25minutes I will treat myself to an energy bar. The trick is to keep healthy treats for yourself that you will reward yourself with only if you complete the full workout. Also, just think of how great you’ll feel when you’re finished so that should be more than enough a reason to keep yourself going. At the end of the day you’re doing this for yourself, be it to keep fit or to lose weight and either ways it’s a great thing because you are reaping all the benefits. So next time you feel like giving up, play your “savior song” and keep running. That will really help you out and you know that once the endorphins and adrenaline kicks in you’ll be on top. It’s winning situation just for you!
previously stated! Cooling down allows your body to properly recover from the strenuous exercises you have just performed. Think of it this way; is it healthy to crash your computer? No, and when you just stop exercising without cooling down, you are basically crashing your system NOT HEALTHY AT ALL!!! By suddenly stopping, and crashing your system, you are damaging your body. Lactic acid builds up in your muscles while exercising, (that’s why you feel pain if you go for too long). Now lactic acid is broken down by oxygen which is the reason you “pant” after strenuous
exercises. If you just crash, you are not allowing for sufficient oxygen to enter your lungs and breakdown the lactic acid. Why? Because when you crash you usually sit huddled on the ground or on a chair. This decreases the volume available for your lungs to expand and thus decreases the volume of air that can be drawn in in one breath. Cooling down helps your body to slowly return to its normal heart rate – usually 70 beats per minute, this is achieved a lot slower by stopping because although you are decreasing the load on your engine, you are not doing it correctly see FITNESS on page 6
LIFE
March 2011
Democracy in the Classroom The first Student Senate hits the ground running
By RAKAN SAWALHA ‘14 STAFF WRITER
The first Student Senate has been assembled! Elected by fellow students according to grade, they are expected to keep the promises they made in their speeches which were presented to their peers. Those promises include improving life at King’s in general and also meeting the students’ needs. The deal was four students per class would be part of the senate; one student would be selected from each of the following categories, male & female boarder and male & female day student. Each nominee had to write a speech dictating why they wanted to be part of the senate, what they would contribute to the KA community and what changes they would make. After several rounds of voting, four nominees from each class were democratically elected to be part of the senate. As Miss. Tourkan is in charge of senate, meetings have been arranged and goals have already been planned out! We interviewed them to see what goals each one of them has in mind. Most of the representatives want to achieve unity be-
tween the four classes and improve the community in King’s Academy. “I want to change history” Khalook said. “I also want to make positive energy more common among the class and make students want to come to school, I want to unite the class as well.” Yasmine AbuZeid agreed with Khalook , “I want to make history and make a difference for the better!” Other senators wanted to gain trust of their peers and want to help fellow students as much as they can. “I want to gain the trust of my classmates and help them achieve their goals.” Sarah explained. “I want to do what is expected of me as a senator, I also want to gain the trust and favor of my classmates.” Amer said. “My goal is to make this school a better place in terms of boarding life, making more people want to become boarders. Also in the terms of academic life, make learning more fun!” Daunia told us. The senate is excited to help the school! They hope to solve any issues that arise. They requst if you have one, that you speak to a member of the senate and/or Miss Tourkan.
AND THE REPRESENTATIVES ARE... Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors
Day Students Boarding Students Sarah Ibzea Adel Al-Qawasmi Rakan Sawalha Larissa Abu-Al’14 ’14 ’14 Ghanam ’14 Aya Abu-Osbeh Amer Al- Hadid Hamza Al-Serhan Jin Suel Jun ’13 ’13 ’13 ’13 Yasmine Abuzeid Khalook Al-Yassin Mohammad AlNoor Masannat ’12 ’12 Sawaf ’12 ’12 Yasmine Lukatah Faris Jayousi Burhan Aldroubi Dunia AlRabadi ’11 ’11 ’11 ’11
Mr.Darcy, a Cat for the Big Leagues Move over Lion! The real feline mascot of campus is Mr. Darcy By SEEMA SAMAWI ‘11 LIFE SUB-EDITOR
Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy what a devilish little creature you are! To clarify, we are not talking about Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, we’re talking about the little, or rather big, fat, orange cat that can be seen roaming campus at all times. Where ever you go, he is watching you! Mr. Darcy belonged to Ms. Tiffany ROBERT BAHOU ‘11
but when she left the school, Mr. Darcy was left at King’s to roam the campus for eternity. Campus is pretty large when you consider that Mr. Darcy has the luxury of roaming in the both the male and female dorms as well as the grassy patches outside including the dining hall. Fee Fi Fo Fum I am the cat suffering boredom! Yes Mr. Darcy is a very powerful animal who doesn’t realize that sometimes people want to live in a dorm where an orange beast isn’t trying to get some TLC. Why do you feel the need to take showers with us Mr. Darcy? You need to stop being such a peeping tom – whatever happened to privacy? And seriously, do you have to slip under the bathroom stall when we really need our privacy? Long gone are the days of pleasant breakfasts, Mr. Darcy sneaks into the dining hall and waits under the table to pounce and eat your food. Mr. Darcy’s unwelcomed presence in the dorms has led to girls chasing him out of the dorm in bathrobes while screaming like maniacs – quite a spectacle to watch. Many firmly believe that Mr. Darcy is the devil in disguise, and to be honest, if you look into his eyes you would
believe that. His large glassy eyes shine fiery red orange when you look at them at the right angle – very demonic. Like all devils, he loves the ladies! Mr. Darcy just might be the biggest flirt on campus and he prefers a more complex race – the human race. So boys watch out, soon you’re going to be losing your girlfriends to a feline. It appears that Mr. Darcy is trying to beat the lion at his game. His appearances are more frequent than the school mascot who is currently heaped in some room, and is definitely more social than him. Mr. Darcy probably feels a bit neglected and forgotten as a child feels when there is a new baby. I am sure that he is jealous of the lion that came out of nowhere and stole all the attention. Mr. Darcy is screaming every time he meows – “I am the real mascot here! Move over lion! Stop raining on my parade!” With all of Mr. Darcy’s ghastly gestures, mannerisms and sneaky pursuits he is still a prominent creature because there always has to be one creature that everyone loathes. I think he probably wants a bit more TLC and just wants to feel loved. So next time he crashes in your room or dorm, chase him out nicely.
Page 5
TEACHERS of the issue: MR. JOHN MR. MICHAEL
&
By SEEMA SAMAWI ’11 LIFE SUB-EDITOR
Our teachers always give up their free time to help us and make sure we are doing fine, but when do we give them any recognition? Sadly we rarely give them any. Last year, gratitude’s for teachers were recited almost every school meeting but this year we have yet to hear one. So now it is time to recognize two of our most helpful teachers by popular vote. The two teachers selected as our teachers of the issue couldn’t be more different from each other. One comes from the Middle East and the other from the U.S.A. While one is very talkative and is known by all, the other is quiet yet very insightful. Thus without further ado, your two teachers of the issue are Mr. John Leistler and Mr. Michael Kussaim. Mr. John Leistler Mr. John is best known for his passion, excitement and enthusiasm for teaching. “Mr. John very upbeat in class. He’s really cool, I really enjoy his classes,” comments Hana Mufti ’11. It is very clear that Mr. John is a well loved and admired member of the King’s community who is a mentor to many. His talents do not end in the classroom, being multitalented; he is also a man of theater. His play last year, Twelve Angry Jurors, drew in a large crowd with many praising the play as being interesting and brilliantly performed as a piece of drama; none can dispute that Mr. John knows how to pick a winning cast that has good chemistry on stage. Mr. John has the ability to constantly smile which makes him a very friendly person to be around. His affability and charisma makes him a pleasure to be around, especially in classes. Being so passionate about his work, all thoroughly enjoy his classes; Mr. John feels the essence of the lesson and emanates it through his lecture. Mr. John is truly one of many awesome teachers here at King’s. Mr. Michael Kussaim Mr. Michael is not very outspoken in the King’s community but those who have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to take his classes speak highly of him. Although it is a known fact that his classes move rapidly and are very detailed, his students all know that that no matter how fast the material is covered, they can always get any extra help they need. Mr. Michael always makes time to help students in need, and it does not stop at biology or chemistry class, he helps students with many aspects of their lives. He never hesitates in giving insightful advice to those who seek it. Moreover, Mr. Michael is really a private person, but behind that he hides a great sense of humor for those who are able to grasp it. He also enjoys knowing the stusee TEACHERS on page 6
LIFE
Page 6
The Rexonian
A Message Home from the Alumni By YASAMIN TAYLOR’11 & NATASHA JUMEAN ‘11 STAFF WRITERS
As Seniors, we walk into the university application process blind. No matter how many university guides we read or how many representatives we speak to, we never fully know what we’re getting ourselves into. Our dream university might look better on paper than it is in reality, so how can we be sure that we’ve chosen a suitable place to spend the next three to four years nurturing our futures? And once we’ve made sure of the place how do prepare to tackle the obstacles we will face going into the next chapter of our lives? To get a feel for how university life will be five former students wrote about their personal experiences on starting university.
OMAR ABU KHADRA
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT, LEBANON
FAWAZ HOURANI
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, CALIFORNIA, USA “Okay, you can say: I’m enjoying university a lot, and college life is not very different than what I imagined it to be, despite being very different to the lifestyle I was leading in Jordan. What’s really cool is that you get to pick whichever classes you want, and this helps you decide what you truly enjoy. There is more free time in college, but also a lot of work. Free time for me is usually spent playing tennis with the team, which is a big thing in the US (being a varsity athlete). The social scene is great and you get to meet a lot of people and go out a lot, but that does not change the fact that eventually you miss family and friends back home a lot.”
“University is not what they tell you it is… gone are the days of a hundred kids in class and meeting with your teacher one on one. This reminds me of Kings, because in Kings we live on campus and interact with staff and faculty. There is never a dull moment as you are studying, doing activities or exploring your new found freedom. The hype that is true is that it is the experience you will never forget and the one you will always want to go back to.”
RAYA ZU’BY
SHIRINE SHOMAN
TAMARA JUMEAN
Being in college is one of the hardest and best experiences a person goes through. The minute I started college I realized how different life is going to be, it’s a time where I have to gain my own independence, and make my own decisions unlike high school. Furthermore, college for me has been hard academically and getting used to everything but fun in trying new things and meeting new people. In my opinion, college is what you make of it and that’s why the minute I got into Syracuse I decided to have the best four years of my life, and so far it’s been great.
Royal Holloway has a diverse community, it focuses on the communications of different nationalities, it also believes that these nationalities will learn from each other, through different cultures. The dorm life contributes to relationship of others.. University also acknowledges our responsibility towards becoming more diligent students. Moreover university does not only help u learn new material, but it also helps you focus on the reality and significant things in life, it helps you grow in a more suitable atmosphere and lifestyle.
Starting university was hard, especially since I depended on a lot of people that can no longer help me while being here. I had to find ways to do it myself with very little help from anyone. When I was in kings I had my teachers come after me asking for missing work or to make sure I attended class. In university there is no one over your head making sure you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing. It’s very easy to skip class but I have learnt since no one is going to make sure I’m doing the right thing, I have to be responsible and make the right choices. Being here has helped me grow in so many ways.. I am a more responsible person and I don’t depend on others the way I use to, I am more independent. I also learnt how to balance my time between work and friends, so I can succeed in life and also enjoy University.
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK, USA
TEACHERS
continued from Page 5 dent body, and he was extremely disappointed to have his dorm section empty this year. Mr. Michael was brave enough to take on a small group of us for AP Biology last year and I was lucky enough to have him as my teacher.
ROYAL HOLLOWAY, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Although the course is tough, he was successful in enabling every one of his students to rise to the occasion, and still manage a class packed with jokes. Instead of giving students free periods once the AP exam finished, Mr. Michael continued to give us lessons full of fun educational games and interesting facts about biology and life in general. The class played
Biology Jeopardy in which each column of questions was themed or titled after a member of our class. Although he appears serious to those who do not know him, he is definitely intuitive and helps anyone with a grin on his face. Mr. Michael is truly a unique teacher here at King’s and none can dispute his valuable contributions to King’s.
LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO, USA
FITNESS
continued from Page 4 which is damaging. Your heart is more likely to “skip beats” if you crash. Thus cooling down is key to maintaining fitness and reducing risks of injuries. So the next time you work out be sure to stretch both before and after working out. And if you’ve just been running, cool down by gradually decreasing your pace to a slow walk, it really helps you out!
March 2011
¡ЯEЖØÑİÄИ!
Entrevista con Laura Currie
ACERTIJOS
By OMAR HALAWA ’12
By SENOR CARLOS ABELLANOSA
FOREIGN LANGUAGE SUB-EDITOR
Hola Laura ¿Cuantos años viviste en Colombia antes de trasladarse a los Estados Unidos? En Colombia viví casi seis años en la capital, Bogotá. ¿Porque decidiste venir a Jordania y a King’s Academy en particular? Cuando me mudé a los estados unidos viví once años en Washington DC y allí atendí un internado donde conocí a Thaer, y a Suhaib, que son estudiantes en King’s Academy. Con ellos, tuve conversaciones acerca de la política Colombia y la de el Medio Oriente. El nacimiento de un interés por lo región. Y entonces decidí venir a King’s. ¿Cuáles son las diferencias culturales entre aquí y Colombia? Bueno, la cultura de hospitalidad es muy central en ambos países, es decir, a casi todas las personas, se les trata como miembros de familia. También, en Jordania como en Colombia hay gran respeto para los ancianos. En términos de diferencias la cultura colombiana es muy rumbera; no existe la juventud Colombia sin fiestas grandes, frecuentas, y con alcohol. La cultural política es muy diferente. En Colombia tenemos un presidente que es elegido demócratamente. El tratamiento de la mujer es muy diferente en Colombia que aquí. Y, ¿Cómo has adaptado a estas diferencias culturales? He aprendido que la mejor manera de entend-
SPANISH CORRESPONDENT
¡UN PREMIO MUY ESPECIAL! Respuesta a estos acertijos y gana un premio del Rexonian. La primera persona, de edad 14 a 18, que manda las respuestas correctas por correo-electrónico a omarhalawa12@kingsacademy.edu.jo, gana el premio.
By JOOHO SHIN ’12
You have a Chinese program in King’s Academy?” many outsiders ask me, astonished. It has been one of the things that set King’s Academy apart from other schools in Jordan, the inclusion of a Chinese speaking program. Since the opening of King’s Academy, the Chinese language department has been a critical part of our curriculum. In the first year, there were a grand number of 8 students taking Introduction to Chinese as one of their courses. Now, in the year 2011, there are numerous classes that are full, and three different learning levels of Chinese. Why has the Chinese language garnered so much interest and popularity in King’s Academy? Various students had different answers to these questions. For those who remember, Mohammad Foda ’10, one of the graduating seniors last year, commented, “Chinese is increasingly becoming more and more important, as China emerges as a rising power in the world. We are equipping ourselves with some basic language skills so that we can better adapt to such changes. Of course, we are nowhere near the level of speaking or writing fluently, but I believe it’s the first step that matters.” Although not many people would be at the level where they would read and understand this article, there have been hopeful signs. As I walk through Chinese classes, I see students enthusiastically participating in class and practicing their Chinese skills one way or another. The future is bright for King’s Academy’s Chinese program, and I hope to see even more
1. ¿Cómo se puede llevar agua en un colador? 2. ¿En qué sitio está el jueves antes que el miércoles? 3. Es un gran señorón, tiene verde sombrero y pantalón marrón. 4. Grande como un ratón,guarda la casa como un león.
COURTESY OF LAURA CURRIE ‘11
er otras culturas es a través de la educación. Es decir, uno no puede ajustar a costumbres diferentes antes de haberse esforzado uno de entender la perspectiva de aquella cultura. Donde vaya en Amman, es importante hablar con los locales y preguntarles acerca de sus tradiciones, etc. ¿Tienes algunos consejos a los jordanos que quieren visitar Colombia en el futuro? A los jordanos interesados de viajar en Colombia, les recomendaría tomar clases de salsa y aprender cuanto puedan acerca la geografía del país. Los Colombianos somos muy amigables y nos gusta la gente que se expone a todo tipo de experiencias. Vas a terminar el Instituto este año, ¿Qué son tus planes para el futuro? Desde que cumplí los once años he querido seguir las huellas del Che Guevara y recorrer por Suramérica en moto bicicleta.
The Chinese Language Program: A Bright Future at King’s CHINESE LANGUAGE CORRESPONDENT
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progress and evolution from the department of languages!
La révolution du Jasmin By ISSA ASFOUR ’12 FRENCH LANGUAGE CORRESPONDENT
Le vendredi matin du 14 janvier, une foule tunisienne est venue de tout le pays pour se manifester et demander de Ben Ali de dégager et de quitter sa position comme président du pays. Selon l‘écrivain Ben Brik beaucoup de raisons ont obligé les tunisiens de faire la révolution. Il a déclaré que les tunisiens sont venus d’une prison sans barreaux. Pendant la période de dictature de Bin Ali, la Tunisie a souffert de la désertification politique totale. Tout le monde a souffert de la corruption des alliés de Bin Ali. Au 14 janvier 2011 le peuple tunisien a décidé d’arrêter sa souffrance et de faire un coup d’Etat.
Tout le monde est venu de tout le pays, médecins, écrivains, avocats, enseignants, journalistes, chômeurs, lycéens, fonctionnaires, vendeurs à la sauvette, ouvriers, paysans, petites bonnes de Jendouba. Tout le monde a demandé mettre fin à l’inégalité. A 17:00 du même jour, la nouvelle tombe comme un pic : “BEN ALI S’EST ENFUI !” Selon la constitution tunisienne, le Premier ministre, Mohamed Ghannouchi, s’autoproclame président par intérim. Bin Ali s’est enfui et a pris Djedda comme exile après le refus de France et du Malta de l’accueillir. Et c’était la fin d’un horrible dictateur chassé par son peuple vaillant et c’est cette l’histoire qui va rappeler les tunisiens plus tard de leur honnête histoire de résistance.
王的学校- 汉语课 外人会问我：“在王的学校有汉语课 吗？真得吗？怎么可能这样？” 王的 学校是一个很特别的学校；这个学校 以外，在约旦没有提供汉语的学校。 从王的学校开门的时候有汉语课。 学 校第一年的2007年，王的学校的汉语课 有八个人在第一水平。2011年的现在， 王的学校有许多的汉语班， 和三个水 平。 为什么王的学校的汉语班有这么多的 声望呢？ 各种各样的学生给我许多的 回答。上年毕业的班中有一个学生叫 Mohammad Foda给我这个回答。“现 代的世界里， 汉语越来越重要， 因为 中国越来越重要。如果我们要成功在 世界里， 我们应该准备装备自己的 汉语水平。 当然 ，我们不能流利的谈 话，或写得好；但是我觉得第一步最 重要！” 今日， 我常常的过去王的学校的汉语 班。每一次过去的时候，我看热心的 学生们， 智能的先生一起学汉语。 在 学校里，我看过好多的学生与朋友联 系联系汉语。每次看到这样的现场的 时候， 我感到乐观，感到希望。 王的学校汉语棵的未来明亮的。我希 望我们的学生会联系联系汉语，为了 汉语棵的真话和进展。
Bocconcini di pollo al limone By GIULIA ABDEL LATIF ’12 ITALIAN LANGUAGE CORRESPONDENT
Ingredienti: petto di pollo, burro, olio, succo di un limone. Dado vegetale, foglie di alloro, farina Occorrente: un tegame antiaderente abbastanza largo per non far sovrapporre i bocconcini. Procedimento: tagliare a bocconcini di circa due cm di lato i petti di pollo; infarinarli e metterli a rosolare nel tegame dove hai già fatto scaldare un po’ di burro e poco olio e tre foglie di alloro. Girarli affinché siano rosolati su tutti i lati Mettere nel tegame il dado (se preferite sale e pepe) Quando i bocconcini sono praticamente GIULIA ABDEL LATIF ‘12 cotti Aggiungere il succo di limone e far evaporare squotendo il tegame affinché’ non si attacchino al fondo. Sono buonissimi se accompagnati con purea di patate, patate al forno, oppure piselli saltati in padella con un po’ di cipolla. Con funghi trifolati o zucchine trifolate, che si possono preparare facendo scaldare un trito di aglio olio e prezzemolo all’interno di un tegame dove poi verserete i funghetti o le zucchine che farete cuocere a fuoco vivace aggiungendo sale e pepe oppure un dado vegetale.
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FUN PAGE
HOROSCOPES
CANCER Note from the stars: Divergent ideas don’t always have to lead to conflict, as you will learn soon. It may be that two groups split apart at work and go their own ways, or that you and your best-friend agree to disagree. Note from the universe: All that you must do, you have done already.
GEMINI Note from the stars: You’ll steal the spotlight today with your natural charisma and take-charge attitude. An ego can lead to great success on the work front, getting you noticed in the hallways, but might embarrass your significant other when jealousy puts you at odds with a third party. Note from the universe: It’s not hard. Time and space are your playground in the universe, not the Harvard of the universe.
by Tamara Nassar ’13, Photos by Robert Bahou ’11
VIRGO Note from the stars: The more effort you put into something, the more reward you will get out of it. Note from the universe: Give.
LEO Note from the stars: Living life by the seat of your pants is very attractive these days -- be spontaneous! Note from the universe: Do you realize that you have never heard anything, from anyone, that you did not want to hear? Pretty tricky of you.
SAGITTARIUS Note from the stars: Right now you can listen to your instinct -- but it isn’t wise to act upon it. Note from the universe: To find the shortest path to any dream, work with ideas, not facts. Dwell upon the end result, not the hows. And rely upon the universe, not yourself.
CAPRICORN Note from the stars: All work and no play is no fun, so seek a balance between these two forces. Note from the universe: Persistence is not about knocking on one door... until the dang thing finally opens. It’s about knocking on all of them.
PISCES Note from the stars: Suddenly, confusing coincidences make sense -now you know what you need to do. Note from the universe: OK. OK. I confess. No matter what you’re after in life, getting what you want always boils down to at least a little bit of divine intervention. But then, I’m talking about yours, not mine. Bada-boom, I’m the Universe.
Use the numbers 1 through 9 to complete the equations. Each number is only used once. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation. Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction
AQUARIUS Note from the stars: Even if your best friend is in tears, you’re somewhat distracted by personal issues. There’s a bright side, though -- you should dream up an elegant solution by the end of the day. Note from the universe: Training your mind, is what it all boils down to. All of it. All things. Everything. “To do.”
RIDDLES
Try to fill in the missing numbers.
MAZE
NUMBERS
LIBRA Note from the stars: You are getting just the right kind of attention from just the right kinds of people these days, so make the most of it! Whether you want a date, a new job or a new friend, you can get what you need. Note from the universe: It’s okay to love material things; matter is pure spirit, only more so.
SCORPIO Note from the stars: In the next few days you will be very quick on the uptake -- your brain is sharper than ever. Note from the universe: Can you feel your heart beating? It’s beating in threes today. Go on, right now, feel it. It’s saying “I love you”, and it really does.
TAURUS Note from the stars: Sure, it’s tempting to be aloof around your family. What do they know? But, take the next few days to connect with a family member. You are in a fabulous mood, and besides, you may even want your family as friends one day. Note from the universe: Never trust appearances.
ِARIES Note from the stars: If you’ve felt like a tightrope walker lately, take a deep breath and let the tension melt away. You’ll settle into real balance, with both feet firmly on the ground. Note from the universe: There’s nothing you can ask for that won’t set the entire universe in motion. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
The Rexonian
There was a tragic plane crash. Every single person died. But six lived. How is this possible? I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost everybody. What walks all day on its head? It’s been around for millions of years, but it’s no more than a month old. What is it? What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in a thousand years?
March 2011
OUTTAKE
If you could change one Johnny Khoury ‘11: School pride. Basil Jayousi ‘12: Co-curricular should be optional. Rawan Saraireh ‘11: Less work from teachers.
Compiled by Hanadi Sabek ‘11
thing at King’s... What would it be?
Ms. Julianne Puente: Fix the attendance issues.
Thaer Sheikh Al-Theeb ‘11: Curfew.
Ismail Al-Tamimi ‘11: Teachers should be more flexible with students.
Yasmin Lukatah ‘11: School spirit.
Khaled Ashour ‘14: Shorten the day.
Hisham Jazzar ‘12: Freedom on weekends.
Hamdi Alaudin ‘11: Open sub-way on campus.
Yasamin Taylor ‘11: Make co-curriculars optional. Rafat Nesheiwat ‘13: Sophomores should sit where seniors sit. Malik Jabori ‘11: More freedom. Maya Damirji ‘11: No study hall. Farah Atari ‘12: The fact that we arrive home late. Mr. Majid Nasser Eddin: For the students to be more disciplined and responsible and to become the leaders of this community. Mr. Dustin Mans: Change the student union into a coffee shop.
Ghayda El-Tayeh ‘11: More variety of food. Mrs. Reem Abu Rahmeh: A market at King’s.
Iman Abu-Alia ‘11: Shorten school days
Sally Shaban ‘11: Extended curfew for Full Boarders.
Barakat Elsaqa ‘13: Half days (short days) should end earlier.
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Hamza Naghawi ‘12: No check-in, late curfew.
Leen Hajjar ‘11: Shorten school days.
Ms. Lina Awadallah: Change employees. Khalook Al-Yassin ‘12: More bonding with classes.
Nadine Gildeh ‘12: Open a restaurant. Izzat Mukattash ‘11: Make the gym bigger. Reed Ghandour ‘11: Students should be treated with more freedom, more like adults. Hamzeh Shouman ‘13: Shorten the day. Rana Abu-Laban ‘11: More freedom on weekends with leaving campus.
Faisal Akkawi ‘11: Fewer requirements for graduation. Zack Samawi ‘11: More independence “rather than tuck them in bed at 11:00”. Also seniors and juniors should have more privileges than sophomores and freshman. Mr. Mazen Jarrar: Load of work and courses.
Mrs. Sheena Nabholz: The length of the school day, even if it was adding a block schedule.
Sami Sawalha ‘12: No declamations.
Layla Al-Naif ‘11: Food in the dining hall.
Emil Kort ‘12: Shorten school day.
Mr. Bowman Dickson: Make it all boarding
Dana Mehyar ‘12: Day students should return home earlier.
Rashed Al-Qudah ‘11: Start school at 9:00 a.m.
You know you’re at King’s Academy when…
You wake up to the smell of the farms in the morning. You sprint to breakfast, ready for battle at the two most wanted things in school: the sandwich pressers.
The only class you run to is AP Economics with Mr. Barry. World War III occurs in the Student Union as soon as break starts.
by Rawan Saraireh ‘11 and Sally Shaban ‘11
You forget which courses are AP and which ones aren’t (Mr. Bowman cough cough). Mo Hassan is the leader of a Bedouin tribe at age 17. You expect a gourmet meal according to KANet’s lunch menu… but it turns out to be chicken and rice… AGAIN. At one point you have had three numbers on your speed dial: Ziad, Chili ways, and the nurse. You finish classes at around midnight and have 30 seconds to get back to your dorm, change, and make it to co-curricular on time.
The insanity of the Kaziyeh.
ROBERT BAHOU ‘11
You try to leave for the weekend and Public Safety calls the President just to make sure.
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OUTTAKE
The Rexonian
March 2011
OUTTAKE
Page 11
Compiled by and photos by Robert Bahou ‘11
SPORTS
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ROBERT BAHOU ’11
The Rexonian
Dead2Red, Then Back to Dead “Run, stretch, eat, relay again,” the life of the Lions Dead2Red team in March 2011 By SUHAYB AL-JAWHARI ’11 & REEMA LATEEF ‘12 STAFF WRITERS
Mr. Win, doing some warm up exercises with Ali El Jundi ‘12.
Boxing at King’s An Insight into the boxing trend By RAFAT NESHEIWAT ’13 STAFF WRITER
Ever since it became an official co-curricular in King’s Academy during the second term, Boxing boomed and eventually turned into a very popular after-school activity which runs three days a week from 4:45 to 6:00 PM, with around sixty students heavily engaged in the sport. The hosts of this activity are the husband and wife pair Algebra Two teacher Mr. Win Ford and History teacher Mrs. Jennie Ford. All students are welcome to participate in the activity whether they have years of experience or are complete beginners. Many students participating in boxing claim that it is not easy to do. “We assumed some would try out for a few days and then give up, but they worked a lot harder than we expected and remained in the team. It was quite surprising,” said Mrs. Jennie. But in the long run most that signed up for boxing stuck with it. “Boxing is hard work, tough love, but with a big reward – personal excellence,” said Dave Ernyey ’13. The couple has had some help getting the activity off the ground. The hosts noted that they appreciate Mr. Devon O’Rourke, a Chemistry 201 teacher, for his help in shaping up the boxing team. “He has been helping out in cardio and team support. We couldn’t have done it without him,” said Mr. Win and Mrs. Jennie. Plenty of credit was given to Mr. Devon O’Rourke for his help in the co-curricular. “[Mr. Devon] is an amazing guy, absolutely amazing.” Later this year and next year, Mr. Win and Mrs. Jennie plan on getting supplies and equipment for the team, including boxing helmets and gloves. “Later this year we plan on selecting an advanced smaller group of students who are working hard and remaining strong, and getting them good equipment to continue boxing, so hopefully we can actually participate in new boxing clubs inside Amman,” said Mr. Win. ROBERT BAHOU ’11
Dead2Red, a name, that when heard, many people begin to get goose bumps and start trembling from its awesome power. Well maybe that’s an exaggeration. But I’m not exaggerating when I say that the Dead2Red race is an exhaustive race that requires a great amount of endurance and stamina. The Dead2Red is a 242-kilometer marathon starting from the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, to Jordan’s only way to the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea. Both King’s Academy teams consisted of 10 runners, each relaying after every run. Some chose to run 200, 500, or how every many meters they felt like running during their turn. Some even had to run more than 500 meters during their turn, in the dark, with a handy flashlight, while the bus waited on the side of the road for some team members to answer the call to nature. King’s Academy has been participating for three years and is still going. If you plan to participate in this race, you need to know that it’s not easy. If you think you can run 15 kilometers non-stop, participating in this race still might not be in your favor. Not only is it physically exhausting, but also mentally exhausting. Students are training almost 6 weeks prior to the race preparing for a tiring experience. The body’s need for sleep and rest overcomes one while he or she is in the bus waiting for their turn to run their part. “I was tying my shoes because they got a bit loose, next thing I know someone’s waking me up, telling me that I have been sleeping for 10 minutes!” Mansoor Ghoto ’11 stated. One can really learn the art of cat napping while on the Dead2Red, attempting to salvage 5 minutes of sleep here and there in between relays. Your body will hate you after the race, because after the race, you will need, not want, need at least 2 days of sleep and rest. And boy did the students get a rest after their race this year, as they all passed out in the luxurious Tala Bay in Aqaba. “We all settled inside our rooms and began chatting with each other, checking our emails, and watching TV. I stepped outside for a bit, and when I came
back inside all life had been sucked out of the place! Everyone- all together- had just passed out on the sofas, floors, beds, anything really they could lay there heads down on!” as Anvisha Azmat ’12 expressed. The first King’s Academy Dead2Red team consisted of 10 juniors and sophomores, the same amount of students that participated this year. Many of them were not really comfortable with each other, but after the race, they became best of friends. Many believed it would be a test of endurance and stamina, but later realized that it was a journey that led to cohesive teamwork and camaraderie. After all, after being with someone for nearly 15 hours, sharing food, sweat, and jokes you really get to know a person- even if you don’t want to. And the students who participated in Dead2Red learned to cope with others just because there are more important things to gain then to worry about how much sweat, not water, is soaking your clothes. “I mean my teammates were really supportive, even when they were completely exhausted they kept on cheering each other on to keep doing great” as Joseph Younis ’12 enthusiastically expressed. Ghayth Sandouka, who participated in the Dead2Red two years ago also said, “It was hard, but I do not, at all, regret doing it because it was a great experience and I made great friends while doing something so crazy like running 200 kilometers!” . It also creates self-satisfaction and confidence to be able to pursue more challenging goals whether it was physical or mentally. Anvisha Azmat ’12 said, “it was a wonderful race that taught us endurance but also how to work within a group” You get to see the great country of Jordan and its dry, yet beautiful landscapes throughout the times of the day, as runners continued through the race even during the dead of the night, continually shoving off sleep and exhaustion with no hesitation. As they say, in the long run your hard work pays off. And literally after a very long 242 km run, all the running, both awake and sleepy running, paid off as both King’s Academy teams came in 4th and 5th place out of 39 teams. If you think you are up to the challenge, then don’t miss this opportunity to run and feel as if you are on top of the world.
The Dead2Red co-curricular preparing for the big race.
ROBERT BAHOU ’11
Finally, a New Gym Floor! By ZACK SAMAWI ’11 SPORTS SUB-EDITOR
This past Christmas break, during the holidays, a new gym was built to replace our old one. As many of you know, our old gym was extremely slippery and many people were hurt as a result. It was hard to play on the court and players had a hard time maneuvering while playing. Now, though, things have
changed. Our new, blue, and larger court fixes many of the problems that we had with the old court. The floor has much more traction and the gym helps serve the purpose of hosting other teams on campus as well. Coach Iyad, an athletic coordinator at the school, mentioned that “The new court is bigger and players will be able to play more effectively.” On that note, others have mentioned that the court allows
them to play better and get more of a workout due to the fact that the court is slightly bigger than the last one. This indirectly provides more running space for people and gives them more space to play sports with others. Finally, in short, the new court has essentially filled in the purposes that the old court failed to provide; let’s hope that it continues to effectively serve our needs.