I S S U E 1 4
M O V E M E N T
C
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Student Editors Celine Tae Jinn Park June Song Shunto Shigetomi Writers June-seo Chung Kyung Joon Jang Rachel Cho Adrienne Yoon Bella Ha Claire Oh Dain Ahn Gabriella Kim Chloe Moon Sunghee Kim Andrew Jung Yeonsoo Chae Jeewoo Park Jessica Jung Daniel Yoo
E
W I S Daniel Song Linus Kim Eunice Lee Yeonsoo Chae Wonseo Cho Junho Ha Jeesun Jeong Peter Kim Chelsea Park Yejoon Yun Justin Cho Jeasung Lee
T Guest Contributors Cion Choi Daeun Allie Lee Yuna Jung Tina Kang Yeasung Lee Serina Chandaria, NLCS London
Junior Writers Justin Kim Alice Jung Lua Cho Elysia Bae Sarah Yoo Hyeyun Song Sunny Baek Bonnie Hyun
Cover photograph: Junhee Kim, Year 10, Jeoji / Designed by Diane Da-Eun Lee, Year 12, Halla
Art and Photography Editor Jane Lee Stundent Designers
Staff Mr Raymond Maher Mr Angel Lozano Mr Ben Brown
Diane Da-Eun Lee Daniel Son Illustrators Tom Lee Hanseong Woo
•3•
Changes which new students of NLCS Jeju have undergone Brian Ha, Year 9, Sarah
This year, many new students came to NLCS Jeju, from many different countries, many different cities, many different cultures, and many different schools. Some of them may have come from private schools all around the world and there may be some students from state run schools. Not regarding where they are from, all of them have moved to a new school and they might have had to undergone some big changes. Let us tell you some of the big changes which some new students of NLCS Jeju experienced.
•4•
Q.Why did you want to come to NLCS Jeju? Hum... Actually there are many reasons why I came to this wonderful school. There are some private reasons but mainly, my parents and I wanted a different education style from Korean state schools. I personally think Korean education style is just a cramming method of teaching which would be beneficial just for “tests”, but not for our lives. Therefore, I wanted to come to NLCS Jeju and learn things that can be beneficial for my life. Q.What was the biggest change you experienced when you came to NLCS Jeju? There were many different changes I have experienced when I came to NLCS Jeju. Our living places, food and education. But my biggest change of all was being independent. Living in a dormitory and doing all my tasks on my own. Compared to the life I had lived before, I learnt how to be independent, completing tasks without any other person’s help. I think this was the biggest change I’ve undergone when I came to NLCS Jeju. Q.What was the best change you have experienced in NLCS Jeju? The best change I experienced was the way of our education. When I was in the Korean state school the way of the learning was just teaching things just for our tests and we just took notes for our tests. The way to get a good score on the exam was just memorizing whole work without any thinking. However, as I came to the school NLCS Jeju, the way of education changed. We still need to take notes for lessons, but there are more opportunities to think our own thinking and we can approach the lesson topic creatively ourselves. Q.What is the biggest difference between NLCS Jeju and state school in the standpoint of the education? As I said before, the biggest difference between NLCS Jeju and the state schools from the standpoint of the education was that NLCS Jeju’s education made me approach the topic more creatively and not just blindly listening to teacher’s lesson and memorizing what I was told in the lesson.
•5•
INVESTIGATES SONITAS Yeonsoo Chae, Year 8
•6•
The biggest society in NLCS Jeju, a society that performs and whose members play instruments in concerts, a musical society with bands... Many students would remember a society ‘Sonitas’ like this. Sonitas is one of the biggest school societies, operated by 15 students. The actual meaning of the Sonitas is from the musical term ‘sonata’ and in the dictionary, sonata means “an instrumental musical composition typically of three or four movements in contrasting forms and keys.” You can find many students and staff are actually involved in Sonitas all around NLCS Jeju. Minsoo Yoon, the performance plan maker, described Sonitas as "a group of people that discuss and plan school events in a very 'musical way.'” Sonitas mainly organises concerts and musicrelated events that are held in the school. Usually, Sonitas’ members assemble ideas and make those ideas become a reallife performance. However, Sonitas is not just for the 'music geeks' and students who are talented in playing instruments. In the interview, Bryan Hwang mentioned that "Sonitas is a place where people can pursue their music and connect with other musicians in school even if she or he doesn’t take any music classes.” He emphasized that everyone in the school has the opportunity to become involved. If you are interested, you can find Janice Kim in Year 12 or ask Mr.Thorrington in the music department. All of the students in NLCS are looking forward to the arts week performances and we believe Sonitas will finish the event in harmony.
•7•
Donghyeon Seo and the Old Rock Band Jeewoo Park Year 8 Jeoji
Have you ever seen the big black and white picture of six guys holding guitars, bass and drumsticks and looking fairly vacant on the roof? It is a picture of the old rock band, “Vintage”. They are not attending the school anymore however, almost every North Londoner could tell that they were the bright stars of our school about two years ago. Donghyeon and his band mates all played different types of instruments. The band performed different shades of rock, from grunge rock songs such as ‘Song 2’ to more popish songs like ‘This Love’. They played some azure acoustic and blues for unplugged nights. The band once accompanied Jesus Christ Superstar, a whole school production. Donghyeon said that it was an entirely new genre for him. Occasionally he sang weird songs that no one wanted to sing. “Gay Bar” by Electric Six was one of them. In the band, there were great characters. The brooding guy on the left is Chanwoo Bang, the vocalist, and the “Sunglasses”, the bright looking guy on the right is Minjoon Kim, the drummer, who has been joined by Minsung Kim, another vocalist and guitarist at Berklee College of Music in New York; Brian Baek, the dapper bassist. Plus, there was a keyboard player, Soonyong Cha. About two months before a show, they had to choose songs to perform. They
•8•
chose a few songs from the list that they think would fit. Then they jammed along. They found the general stuff like chord progressions and get them stuck in their heads. They picked the best ones to practice and looked for ways to arrange the songs to their taste. Donghyeon explained, “our opinions often did clash it was pretty rare to agree on a song straight away since we all had different tastes in music. But you can’t just do whatever you want to in a band, right? Performing as a band isn’t like singing with a karaoke machine. It’s a team project that requires creative input and effort from every single member. Without it, rock nights would feel dry and boring both for the performers and the audience!” The first performance that the band attempted was NLCS Jeju’s first ever Band Night. When Donghyeon was getting ready for the performance on the day, he discovered that he actually yawned a lot, his palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy. He was nervous. During the show, the tempo overall was so much faster than they were used to from practice, probably because they were so nervous, and Donghyeon tried his best to appear a “super cool dude”. Donghyeon was thinking of “You know, tonightI’marock’ nrollstarish cool vibe?”, however he was all awkward, all fingers and thumbs, biting his lips during the show. He also made mistakes at the show. “I remember stepping on Minsung’s guitar cable and messing his part up just a bit, but other than that, it was one of the best moments of my school life”.
•9•
Luckily, the band got much better. “Whatever. That was my first show. Once I got used to performing, I stopped getting supernervous before the performances. No yawning, no cold fingers, just the fun!” Six shows later, he doesn’t get nervous at all. Vintage had many personnel changes, Steven Seo, Ted Cho, Minsoo Yoon, Jaehoon Kim, and Brian Hwang all joined the band. The name also changed: from Vintage to Vinsqueez and currently known as Minsoo and the Oppas. But as Donghyeon says, “Come on, we were only 15-17 years old and calling ourselves to be ‘Vintage’ didn’t make any sense.” Donghyeon Seo, he didn’t only work with his band members. Sometimes, he tried to write his own songs. “I occasionally send some of them to my girlfriend. Meh… Let’s not talk about that anymore.” “Take for an example Minsung. He’s a true genius. He would just pick up a random instrument and start playing stuff. I’m not sure if I still have the video but when he used to live in Jeoji, Minsung used to sing, beatbox, and play the guitar while playing football at the same time. Anyway, that’s what talent can help you become.” Donghyeon and his band members are now part of the old North Londoners. “Matt the drummer and Micky the genius are both at Berklee, Brian the bassist is in Pohang and our star Chanwoo is taking up his role as a soldier very soon. And I’m here doing my gap year. It is physically impossible to meet up for practices anymore, and we are taking different paths of our lives now. But we promised that we’ll come back and perform during Arts week, so you may see us in school in June.(Wink)”, Donghyeon said. Donghyeon muses, “I wish I challenged myself more with unfamiliar genres like death metal or reggae. Too bad that I already graduated! I did supervise Friday’s cocurricular rock band this year as a gap student at NLCS Jeju. I didn’t really play any instruments there, but I helped them practice and put the songs together. It was definitely something new for me! I really hope that they keep performing throughout their school life!” Perhaps someday, we will all have an ONL reunion, and reform the Old Vintage, they might still be as cutting edge as JYP!
• 10 •
Below are the photos from the first ever band night at NLCS Jeju. All photos were taken by Mr. Taylor.
“Our band photo that we took be-
“Me freaking out before the perfor-
“Brian Baek playing the bass
fore the show. It was still January,
mance. I was borrowing Matt’s
with Matt Kim in the background.
and I still don’t understand why I
guitar only for the show, and this
We were all nervous at that time,
was only wearing a Tshirt. Maybe I
was the first time ever I was using
and as a result, the tempo of our
thought it would bring up my swag
that guitar. It felt so awkward with
songs was much faster than how
level.”
the different frets and wood, and I
we used to practice.”
got so worried about pressing the wrong power chords.”
“Chanwoo on the mic next to Minsung. That’s me at the back. I can say with confidence that Chanwoo was THE STAR of NLCS Jeju at the time.”
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Blank Space of NLCS Jeju Written by David Yun Year 8 Sarah, Andrew Jung Year 8 Noro
Fellow students, have you ever had a conversation? Between the hollow space of Geomun and Mulchat, lies the medical centre and 500 square meters of land. The grass area currently contains of no purpose, except for the use in certain Physical Education Lessons. Is the school actually using this space efficiently? Let us notify how we can use the space more efficiently with the assistance of how the student body wants this area to be used as. We did a survey, the results are below. First of all, we asked their year group, so that we can identify which year group proposes what facility will be the most beneficial, and improve their school lives. Next, we requested what facility they prefer the most, which was our main purpose. The survey was sent to the whole student body, by email.
The result were as follows: • Store 13.3% • Socialising area 12.2% • No Need 8.2% • Sports area 51% • Others 15.3%
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138 students have added a response to our survey. The survey required students to specify what facility they want the grass area to contain. As we can see above, the sporting area was the most common answer that the students gave. It was 51%. Store and Socialising area were second and third. Some thought that there was no need for any more facilities, but it was only 8.2%. This clearly shows how students want new facilities in the school. In more detail, a tennis court in the school was the most common answer. It holds 37% of the whole survey. Christopher Lee from Year 8 stated, “I think that we should get a tennis court because our tennis squad has to go on a one hour bus trip to Halim court and one hour back so we actually only get around one hour of practice time. However, if we got a tennis court, like BHA and KIS, we would be able to get the full three hour practice time to be able to win all KISAC competitions.”
Year 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 answers to our survey. Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11
Year 12
Year 13
First Choice
Store
Tennis Court
No Need
Social Area
Tennis Court
No Need
Track Area
Second Choice
Tennis Court
Track Field
Tennis Court
Store
Social Area
Social Area
No Need
As we can see above, middle school students (year 7, 8, and 9 ), mostly wanted a new sports area, especially the tennis court. The upper year groups (year 10, 11, 12, 13 ), mostly wanted a new socialising area. Being specific they wanted a cafe fas the most common choice. This shows how different the opinions are for different year groups.
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The Evolution of MovementChanges of the concept of ‘movement’ over time Adrienne Yoon, Year 9, Sarah house
The definition of the word ‘movement’ was and still is ‘an act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed’. However, the concept of the term ‘movement’ have changed quite a lot over time as the world evolved and the people became more and more intelligent. Okay, so let’s start from when first human beings, the australopithecus, appeared on Earth. In the beginning, when people started using tools made of rocks, the stone age, the only definition of the word movement although proper language wouldn’t have been around at that time was ‘the act of changing physical location or position’. It was simply just one of the 7 characteristics of living things. Very straightforward, very easy. They just moved from one place to another, looking for food and shelter. They hunted animals for meat, ate the roots of plants and picked fruits from trees. When there was nothing left for them to eat in that region, they had to migrate to where there was plenty of things to eat. This was
repeated for a long time. Then, the idea of farming emerged, and it brought drastic changes in the ways of living for the people at that time. People did not have to move or scavenge for food to eat since farming provided food for people all year along. It was then when people started to ascribe themselves status according to the surplus food each person had. The larger overstock people had, the higher class they placed themselves in. Then people started to covet other people’s properties and theft, fights and even wars started to break out; people were starting to become greedy and selfish. Who would have known, that this would be the first spark of the big change in the concept of the term “movement”? It was the 18th century when people started to look at things differently. Many things changed as the world developed rapidly. As people had enough food and didn’t have to migrate, they started to look for ways to gain more profit. Machines, which were much
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quicker, much more accurate, much cheaper to operate and therefore much more efficient than people, started replacing human labour in factories. A movement, better known as the industrial revolution, has taken place. According to Adam Smith, a British philosopher, the society is driven by an invisible hand, the selfishness of individuals. What this means is that the society often develops and benefits from actions of individuals driven by selfish motives, which was not intended for the whole society to begin with. This was the next step in the “movement” of human history. So, there is enough food for everyone and work is more efficient than it ever was. What would be next? Some proactive people started to question the society and wondered if social minorities had their rights as humans. There were and still are countless numbers of human rights movements, such as the women’s suffrage movement and the LGBT movement. It hasn’t been long since women, back then, a gender minority, were treated
in the same way men were. Everybody knows that women were considered ‘inferior’ to men, and that the only expectation of a woman was to be a good housewife and a mother. It’s really quite obvious that women weren’t allowed to vote, since there weren’t many rights women could exercise as members of the society. The women’s suffrage movement began in 1848 when the first women’s rights convention was held in New York. Since then, women started to enlighten the society to gain suffrage for the next 50 years. Due to their efforts, ost of the women around the world have the rights to vote and also have gained equal rights as men. However, there were those who still did not have the rights they were entitled to as humans: the sexuality minorities. The first movement towards LGBT rights started relatively recently in the late 19th century. The first big change was made in the 20th century, when the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the diagnostics manual
of mental illnesses. Nowadays, some countries allow same sex marriages as a result of the constant LGBT movements. Now that people have enough food, can make profit efficiently and have their rights guaranteed, movement nowadays are targeted towards the wellbeing of humans. In 2010, Michelle Obama, the first lady of the United States of America, made a movement to bring some changes in the schools of America. Schools in the US used to serve fast foods such as burgers for Children, and Michelle Obama thought children needed a healthier diet. So she decided to change some of the food policies in schools to provide the children with better food. It did fail because nobody really liked it apart from her, but she did try at least! Moreover, it is no longer only the wellbeing of humans that people are concerned about; animal welfare and the preservation of the environment also take a huge part of today’s movements. It was in the 1970s when there were signs
• 15 •
of people starting to initiate movements for animal rights. Their aim was to improve the quality of life of animals and the treatment they were getting, because animals were considered an important part of the society. There have been many animal rights movements, and as a result, there has been a huge change in the attitude of people towards animals. More and more people consider animals as beings to be respected. Well, it seems as if everything that can be done is already done, but the world will go on and will keep developing. Just have a quick think; what new definition of the word “movement” will be added decades and centuries later? That is, if the world hasn’t come to its end by then. It is time that people think of the human history and actually take actions to make it better.
LIFE
OR DEATH GABRIELLA KIM
Year 10 MULCHAT
The state in between life and death: this is the perfect description of the people who are currently frozen in giant refrigerators in Cryonics Institutions. People from all over the world are now more than willing to pay huge sums for their bodies to become frozen with liquid nitrogen; after patients are officially declared as physically dead by a professional doctor, they are transferred as quickly as possible to a nearby Cryonics Institution. These people are seeking for a second life, a second chance, a brand new start far away in the future. Those who live a time-limited
life, especially those with cancer and other incurable diseases, can decide whether or not to become preserved in gigantic tanks in the hope that they will be restored back to full health after they wake up. As some scientists suggest, cryonics could be the clue and the key to curing those who face death at a very young age. However, this procedure is not only regarded with anticipation and positivity, but is also thought of with skepticism. According to some experts, this method is probably not practical, and it might not even
• 16 •
be possible. However, cryonics is still a clear example of a movement that has happened and developed s u c c e s s f u l l y i n o u r g e n e ra t i o n ; in the past, if one was physically dead, that was it. The existence of an afterlife has been suggested by some religions, but no one thought that a person would be able to live another life as a human being. The idea of death has become a lot less fearsome. Death is not the end of everything; in fact, it could even become the starting point of another life.
Despite the potential limitations, many have chosen to bravely take the risk of placing their bodies in giant refrigerators after death; for example, many celebrities are frozen away, waiting patiently for a successful recovery. These people have boldly d e c i d e d t o b e t o n a b ra n d n ew practice the practicality of which has not been proved. The consequences of cryonics are currently undiscovered - the owners of the bodies which are currently being used for experiments would have strongly believed that cr yonics was the right decision to make. Dr. James Bedford is an example; as a psychology professor at the State University of California, he was the first ever human being to become preserved. It was entirely his decision to send his body off into a tank full of liquid nitrogen, and he even left money for a steel capsule as well as liquid nitrogen in his will. Another example is Ted Williams, and the circumstances surrounding the freezing of his body are quite well-known; his son, John-Henry Williams, was adamant that his father had wanted to be frozen, but his will had revealed that he had wanted to become cremated. As a result, JohnHenry Williams was taken to court by his half-sister, and a ‘family pact’ signed on a napkin saved him in the end… Then, has Cryonics brought about a change in our lives? Without a doubt, it has. In the foreseeable future, if Cryonics is proven to be successful, i t w i l l h ave m u c h s t ro n g e r a n d positive impacts. For us in the 21st century, bringing people back to life from death is a case that has never happened in the history of mankind so far. However, when those who were considered to be dead suddenly appear on the doorsteps of the homes they used to live in, the tide would have turned; there would obviously
be a const ant and skyrocketing rise in the number of dead bodies being frozen all around the world. Living again would be something very natural, and nothing unusual. Conversations on the streets would no longer involve elements of death. No one would wonder about what would happen to their children and their loved ones after they die. Why? Because they will come back from death in the future to their friends and family. People may begin to talk about what they are planning to do in their second life, or perhaps about how they just can’t wait until they are sent into the liquid nitrogen refrigerators to obtain a second chance. Cryonics has two opposing sides to it: some argue that it will never work, and others firmly state that cryonics will definitely be the beacon of hope for those who desperately wish for another life. If cryonics becomes a common practice, no one will fear death anymore, and they would no longer think of death as a serious matter. A definite and clear change in people’s conception of death will be visible as reincarnation becomes readily available for everyone. Now, it’s your turn to decide: would you do it? It was entirely his decision to send his body off into a tank full of liquid nitrogen, and he even left money for a steel capsule as well as liquid nitrogen in his will. Another example is Ted Williams, and the circumstances surrounding the freezing of his body are quite well-known; his son, JohnHenry Williams, was adamant that his father had wanted to be frozen, but his will had revealed that he had wanted to become cremated. As a result, John-Henry Williams was taken to court by his half-sister, and a ‘family pact’ signed on a napkin saved him in the end…
• 17 •
Then, has Cryonics brought about a change in our lives? Without a doubt, it has. In the foreseeable future, if Cryonics is proven to be successful, i t w i l l h ave m u c h s t ro n g e r a n d positive impacts. For us in the 21st century, bringing people back to life from death is a case that has never happened in the history of mankind so far. However, when those who were considered to be dead suddenly appear on the doorsteps of the homes they used to live in, the tide would have turned; there would obviously be a const ant and skyrocketing rise in the number of dead bodies being frozen all around the world. Living again would be something very natural, and nothing unusual. Conversations on the streets would no longer involve elements of death. No one would wonder about what would happen to their children and their loved ones after they die. Why? Because they will come back from death in the future to their friends and family. People may begin to talk about what they are planning to do in their second life, or perhaps about how they just can’t wait until they are sent into the liquid nitrogen refrigerators to obtain a second chance. Cryonics has two opposing sides to it: some argue that it will never work, and others firmly state that cryonics will definitely be the beacon of hope for those who desperately wish for another life. If cryonics becomes a common practice, no one will fear death anymore, and they would no longer think of death as a serious matter. A definite and clear change in people’s conception of death will be visible as reincarnation becomes readily available for everyone. Now, it’s your turn to decide: would you do it?
guilty pleasure:
Sugar claire oh y10 sarah
“We are red light, flashing, sirens, alarms...we are beyond red. The demand for childrens in hospitals are absolutely overwhelming…” says a dentist in Jamie Oliver’s show ‘Sugar Rush’. For the first time in history, there are more people obese than underweight and the concerns over diabetes is becoming a national issue as the number of children with type two diabetes is skyrocketing. Sugar is undoubtedly becoming a worldwide concern, without mentioning the fact that it is the No. 1 cause for the obesity epidemic. Why does sugar matter? This question can surely be answered by the title of Dr. John Yedkin’s renowned book “Pure, White, Deadly”, which deals with the threats of sugar. With staggering implications that type-2 diabete s have the potential to cause obesity, 13 percent of the global population is classified as clinically obese. Yet the statistics continue to worsen. In countries like Mexico, Coca-cola has become the pandemic of the country, where people even feed a newborn baby with coca-cola. The epidemic is not any different in Korea, but Korea’s battlefield against sugar is different from other countries, as it has to battle with the positive media attention towards this threatening substance. At the heart of this controversy stands Baek Jong Won, a food researcher who is renowned for his entertaining cooking programmes such as ‘My Little
Television’, which introduces easyto-follow recipes. The show gained popularity through a photoshopped image of ‘sugar falls’ created using one of the scenes from Baek’s show; of him pouring sugar into his dish. Un fo r t u n a t e l y, t h e re c i p e s yo u n g mothers follow nowadays imitate the special, sugary recipe of ‘Mr. Baek’. And what follows this odd phenomenon are numerous reviews praising his recipes. Moreover, sugar has worked its way up to a ‘magical ingredient’ from a dietary fat. When people try to search the recipe for Doenjang soup, we find two significantly different recipes - Baek’s recipe and other recipes. And guess which one is more popular nowadays. Before Baek’s ‘sugar rush’, sugar never h a s b e e n i n t ro d u c e d a s t h e m a i n ingredient for home foods, which was considered to be healthy. But now, it is common to find young mothers recognizing sugar as a necessary, or even, a required ingredient. Looking at the popularity, intimacy, and influence, the media portrayal of Baek and Jamie Oliver, the ‘star’ chef of UK, is undoubtedly similar. Both chefs gained their popularity and success through home-like, intime food. Baek’s recipes are easy to follow and afford, which explains the success of his show ‘Home food Mr. Baek(집 밥 백선생)’. Supermarkets pull various ingredients from his show at the very front of the cahier after ‘Home food Mr. Baek’ is broadcasted. His easy-to-follow
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recipes are easy to explain, and easy to understand, which is why so many people in Korea are still so passionate about his shows. Jamie Oliver is not any different. He uses ingredients that are affordable and easy to find, and cooks in a loose manner, using no measuring cups nor a cooking balance, similar to Baek using So-ju cups or paper cups to measure ingredients. The familiar Cockney dialect - which was used by the old London working class - of Oliver and Baek’s Chung-chung dialect is also a noticeable similarity. Using their entertaining manners, Oliver and Baek gained huge popularity amongst the public. However, there is a crucial difference between the two individuals - sugar. Baek is also widely known for his nickname ‘sugarboy’. As this name possibly suggests, it is easy to find Baek pouring in lumps of sugar in nearly every dish he makes. What this suggests is the stark difference of manners that these two very similar individuals approach. For Baek, food is simply a tasty thing, but for Oliver, it appears like he is valuing health and the thinking and philosophy behind the food, rather than simply focusing on the taste of the food. Baek is popularly known as the ‘Midas’s touch’ of food companies, as he has been constantly succeeding
in launching various food brands such as ‘Sae-ma-eul restaurant(새마을 식 당)’, ‘Bbaek-dabang(빽다방)’, or ‘Hong Kong Banjum(홍 콩 반점)’, and more. Moreover, the catchphrase inscribed in the homepage of TheBornKorea, Baek’s company which organizes all these brands, is ‘Baek-Jong-Won’s business story(백종원의 장사 이야기). The stark difference of the philosophy behind Baek and Oliver’s foods are m o re e v i d e n t i n t h i s l i n e - a s we immediately notice the story behind Baek’s popularity - as he undoubtedly values ‘business’ in front of ‘food’. After all, it appears to me that Baek was just a businessman- who fortunately succeeded by choosing to advertise through ‘cheap, affordable home foods’. Fortunately, not all media trends around the world is similar to that of Korea. Claiming that the element of health is more important than savour, Jamie Oliver is continuing his crusade against sugar through various ways such as the recent Channel 4 documentary ‘Sugar Rush’. Right from the opening minutes, we see 5-years-old Mario having his rotten teeth extracted and screaming in pain, with Oliver standing awkwardly beside, nearly in tears. Following that scene, we move on to a podiatry clinic, looking at close-up pictures of leg amputation whilst listening to the stories of people with type-2 diabetes who have had their feet amputated. All details and shots in the documentary is shocking but real, pulling the audience
out to face the cold, stark truth of sugar in the food industry. Then the show leads on to introducing Oliver’s campaign against this epidemic; calling 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in the UK. ‘Sugar needs to go on the naughty step,’ he says, and he is ready for the change. Look at him ‘taxing’ drinks in his own restaurants and persuading other restaurant chains to join in his shows. Looking at his past footsteps, Oliver is nearly a ‘food revolutionary’ in his industry, with his blog wholly dedicated for the fight against sugar. The main banner of the blog shows a big, bold sign informing and warning people of the threats of sugar, and also answers some questions about sugar and tips for reducing sugar. In other words, his campaign, evidently shown from his home page, is proactive and therefore is distinctively different from the identity Baek is trying to portray through his home page. “I know i’m going to get a bashing,” he says, but he takes on this issue passionately. “Not in a smug way - I feel totally righteous… I’m doing it as a father and because every person that I have met realises we’re aligned in the same catastrophe.” However, Oliver is no hero nor Baek a villain of this story. From the beginning, the path they chose were very different. It would be too much if we, as part of the public, expected Baek to act for an ideal cause. Baek, as a businessman before a chef, entertained us enough
• 19 •
by providing cheap, affordable and delicious food. There is no reason for us to criticise Baek. However, the problem sits with is his popularity. If Baek is one of those typical lineup of star chefs, the story will be different, however, with his unrivaled popularity, and his shows focusing on home foods - different from many other chefs such as Choi Hyun Seok showing embellished, delicate dishes - Baek’s foods infiltrate into the daily lives of the audience. In other words, as the popularity of Baek and his shows increases, more and more people end up using more sugar in their home foods. And learning from the threats of sugar, this is evokes and exacerbates a very serious problem in our society, deterring the war against sugar. O n t h e s u r f a c e , m o s t fo o d s w i t h high sugar contents look cheap and and cost-effective to the customers. However, at the end of the long fight we are going through, these fried, cooked, and roasted sweets will cost us our most valuable asset; health. Yes, we can glance over this crisis for now with these sugarcoated words, but it is certain that we still need someone to keep reminding us of the dangers of sugar - someone like Jamie Oliver - and to take the bullet and protect us from the war against sugar.
Neither Hero Nor Villain None of this was supposed to happen. I never meant for any of this; the bloodshed, death and chaos. I was just a hungry girl desperate to survive. Yes, I took one step into the wrong road. Does that give you the right to blame me? I'm not saying that I should have done it. I know I shouldn't have. Even so, wouldn't you have done the same? I saw my brother and my parents starving. I watched them as they slowly slipped away, right before my eyes. I guess I could have been the hero. I could have been the girl who saves her family from starvation and even death. But no, I could never be the hero. You must know that I never meant for everyone to die like this. On one hand, it seems like I caused all this, and in some ways it's true, but does that make me a villain? Am I evil? No. I don’t believe that. All I did was save myself from this swamp that I was slowly sinking into. For once you won't be told about the perfect hero who did nothing wrong and swooped in to save everyone. You won't be meeting the celebrity everyone loves, has loved and always will love. No. You're stuck with me. I’m the girl who just made an honest mistake. But even so, I’m still the girl who everyone calls the villain.
Bella Kim, Year 8, Mulchat
I’ll tell you about my story. Though I wish I could change it, like the way you would erase a wrong letter on a piece of paper. It all started a few weeks ago when I was hanging out with Robin. He was one of my closest friends, and he had helped my family and I when we couldn't get anything to eat. It was very rare in our community for one person to help another, due to the fact that everyone here had a hard time sustaining themselves. Robin was never a downer, even in the darkest moments. He was always cheerful and chatty, if not mischievous. In our spare time, we would meet up in our secret place. Then we would sometimes pick an apple or two, go swimming in the lake, go hiking, or even just sit and talk. I would tell my parents all about this, all of this, except for one thing. I would never tell my parents, or anyone, about this experience. It was when Robin and I had gone to stand right in front of the Wall. Everyone knew where the Wall was. The Wall was there to separate our land from the 'evil' people on the other side. It was widely known on our side of the Wall that those on the other side were barely surviving. Not only that, they killed newborns because they could not afford to spare more food. It was
• 20 •
nothing compared to how we lived. We weren't supposed to go near it, and why would we? Even so, when I saw it, instead of making me cower away in fear, it drew me in closer. There were red, orange, and yellow leaves everywhere. Most of the trees were bare but it wasn’t exactly ugly. It seemed.... natural. The blue sky behind made the bare trees and the colorful leaves stand out more. The Wall was made of slightly reddish brown bricks but it was partly covered with green vines and moss. There was a harmony between nature and the old, yet strong Wall that I couldn't really put my finger on. At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about the other side of the Wall, just what was right in front of me. I closed my eyes, letting myself to be absorbed into the quiet silence and when I opened them, I was standing right in front of the Wall. From behind, I heard loud, yet clumsy shuffling noises, that made me jump and instantly turn around. I saw that it was Robin and let out a sigh of relief. He was trying to catch up with me. Before I could stop myself, I laughed. "Come on, slowpoke! We haven't got all day," I called. I knew I should keep my voice down for we'd be in big trouble if we were caught. There were always a few people patrolling the land near the Wall, but there seemed to be none in sight. Robin eventually caught up to me,
and I had to shush him, just in case. "Wow...," he said, under his breath. His eyes traveled up, looking at the Wall in awe. I was just about to say something to him but at that moment, we heard footsteps. Robin and I looked at each other. When our eyes met, we realized the sound was coming from neither one of us. Unconsciously, I sucked in a breath. The person seemed to be getting closer, and closer as their footsteps got louder and louder. I shut my eyes tight and I could feel that the person was just in front of me. ---------------------------------------------My eyes were burning. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t see anything. I had my hand over my nose and mouth to keep the smoke from suffocating me. I felt like I was drowning except there was no water. I could hear a distant screaming and a yell for help. I didn’t like this helplessness. I knew I had to get out or I would end up dead. So with all my might, I starting running, trying to find an exit. After what felt like hours inside the burning house, I made it out. I gasped for clean air. Eventually, I felt better and I started to look around. The place that had once been our village, the place we once called our home, was now burning, who knows how many, people in there. There were several people like me around. Some
• 21 •
coughing, some crying, or yelling for their loved ones, others looking at the place we once called home but no longer could. Not a lot had made it out, maybe thirty or forty people. Though none of us said it out loud, we knew one thing; we could no longer stay nor survive here. We needed to find a new place to live. ----------------------------------------------------
“Where are you,” I asked. I had actually figured out where the voice was coming from, though it was slightly hard to believe. Since there was nobody in front of us or anywhere we could see. This could only mean that the sound was coming from... behind the Wall. “Turn around,” the unknown person said as Robin and I turned.
Suddenly, the sound of the footsteps stopped. I could barely make out sounds of whispering but I didn’t dare open my eyes.
“Look at the wall carefully. If you do, you’ll find a chink in the wall big enough for you to climb through. I’m on the other side.”
“I – is anyone there,” a small voice asked.
I didn’t react and just stood there. We had come here knowing we might get in trouble but would we really cross the line that could change us from innocent, mischievous children to criminals? As always, I turned to Robin, half expecting him to be shaking his head no but I was wrong. On the other hand, his grin seemed to reach his ears.
That was definitely not what I had in mind. I don’t really know what I was expecting but I knew it wasn’t this. The voice didn’t really sound like an adult. It sounded more like a little girl. “Hello?” The small voice tinkered again. I opened my eyes and quietly poked Robin. He had closed his eyes too but now he has opened them. Should I answer? I mouthed to him. Robin seemed to hesitate for a second but nodded at me. “Yes.” Maybe it was because I was nervous, but my voice sounded very squeaky.
“Let’s find it, Dove,” he half whispered and half pleaded. “It’ll be our biggest adventure yet! Don’t you remember a few years ago when you told me it was your wish to see the other side of the wall? It’s your chance. It’s our chance.” He wasn’t wrong. I had told him that, maybe not necessarily in those words. I always wondered if the people on the other side of the wall really lived in a world more poor than us.
• 22 •
How poor? If they are and we knew that, why weren’t we helping them? Why is there a wall between us? Of course I knew what all the adults told us kids about. If there was no wall, we would be living like them. None of us would be alive. But doesn’t that make us selfish? I couldn’t say that out loud but I had thought of it all along. Maybe it was my chance to help them! ‘But what if all the adults were right,’ a part of me thought. What if the adults were right and going to the other side would...... Kill all of us? Destroy our village? Was I willing to take this risk? “Fine,” I whispered to him as he grinned more. My sense of adventure couldn’t be beaten. “But you’re going to owe me, big time.” Robin quietly chuckled and started to search for the chink in the wall as I went down on my knees and did the same. I could hear Robin humming under his breath as he kept searching. I rolled my eyes and my hands started to roam over the Wall. While I was concentrated on my own search, I felt Robin tapping on my shoulder. “I think I found it,” he told me.
enough, there was a hole big enough for us to go through on the ground. I took a deep breath and looked up at Robin. “Shall we?” We grinned at each other and I started to crawl through the hole first, bracing myself for whatever was on the other side of the wall. ---------------------------------------------------Had it been a week now? I had lost track of time as I longed for proper food and water as well as shelter. The other survivors and I had started our search for a new land, a better one that we could live in. Some nights were fine but those nights were when the wind and the cold was bearable. Most of the time it was so cold some would wear all the clothes they had. Others would huddle together, trying to stay warm, even though it didn’t really work. We survived every day like this. In the day, we would be walking and occasionally stop for breaks or to find food. Every day was hard work but I knew why all of us kept going. We all hoped that all of this would be worth it. We desperately hung onto faith, hoping to find a new home where our lives would be easier and better. ----------------------------------------------------
I followed his lead and crouched down to where he stopped. Sure
• 23 •
June-Seo Chung Year 8 Mulchat
Yours, Harriet Harriet was a gangly 17 year old orphan who was walking slowly with two large baskets of old vegetables and fruits in her arms. She was heading back to her run down orphanage where she was forced to stay in by the caretakers and social workers when it turned out that her mother was alcoholic and unfit to take care of Harriet. It had been 5 years since that fateful day when she was 12 and was placed in the drab red brick building. Crying in her faded yellow sundress, she had been clinging to her mother’s dirty dress that had the scent of alcohol permanently embedded in it. She sobbed saying that she didn’t care if she was a bad mother, she just wanted to be with her. Before her mother could say anything, Harriet had been roughly carried away by Mrs.Goodman, the orphanage manager. She then received 10 spankings on her poor bum to serve as a reminder that only naughty children cry and cling onto their mothers. Ever since then Harriet had lived with troublesome little kids that have been taken away from their mothers. She had to endure the constant screaming and crying, the fits and tantrums, the petty fights over toys for 5 years up until this very day when Harriet was told to go shopping for the orphanage. Lost in thought, Harriet stepped onto the icy stone paved street and was about to cross the road when she was woken out of her daydreams by a penetrating shriek of tires as a bright pink ice-cream truck raced towards her. In shock, all the poor girl could do was watch it’s spinning tires, wailing closer and closer until it crashed into her and left nothing but blankness.
• 24 •
January 16th, 1945 Dear Mrs.Goodman, Well, here I am! In the hospital with a broken leg, fractured knee and sprained wrist. Not to mention the pain I experience every single day that can only be softened by the taste of chocolate. But I guess I shouldn’t complain too much. I should be thankful that I still have the ability to talk! That way I can dictate my own words to Nurse Rose, who’s been so kind to me. That explains the neat handwriting. I was woken up a few hours ago by Dr. Brown, a nice man with kind eyes. The only thing that bothers me is that he always seems so tired. I feel awfully bad for him. Imagine having to take care of so many injured and complaining children! That’s another thing to add on my long list of “Why I Will Never Become a Doctor”: Reason 5674, I cannot stand children. Funny how much injuries you can get from a runaway ice-cream truck, huh? It is quite embarrassing to have been hurt by a massive truck skidding on ice, that being an icecream truck. If I had gotten wounded in a battle I wouldn’t mind it at all, seeing that I had done what I could do to protect my country and whatnot, but an ice-cream truck! Really, it’s like I haven’t got any dignity at all. I also HATE the fact that I need to stay in this children’s wing of the hospital for a year. A year! In a year, I would have graduated a class in school with top grades and a reputation for a straight-A student, and I would have been able to get a house of my own as a 18 year old no longer allowed in the orphanage. I would have bought a house with fancy furniture and shiny banisters, with no kids to take care of. No, I would live in freedom and happiness, a life where nothing would stop me from doing anything….. but that was the future of my past. I guess this is my future now: spending an entire year in a sagging mattress. Another thing that really bothers me is how I was placed in the children’s wing. How can one place a 17 year old, perfectly capable of taking care of herself, in a children’s wing? Nurse Rosie has just scolded me for complaining too much to you. Have I? I’m sorry. I suppose it’s simply because I’m up to my knees with problems right now. Well, seeing that the main reason for your request for letters was because you want a monthly report on how I am doing in the hospital, I would say I’m doing fine. Although I still sometimes experience unbearable pain from time to time, and although I’m incredibly annoyed at this world where they place young adults of 17 years old into a children’s wing in the hospital, I’m doing okay. Until next month then, Mrs. Goodman! Yours, Harriet
• 25 •
March 7th, 1945 Dear Mrs. Goodman, Hooray! I’m so glad I can finally write again. Not that I have anything against dear Rosie writing for me, but it is nice to have my wrist back. It wasn’t that hard really. Dr.Brown had warned me not to use my wrist, but being the rebel I am, I started slowly flexing my stiff wrist up and down, just to try and make it a bit more flexible. Well, that quickly resulted in me having to take painkillers again for the unbearable throbs, but on the brighter side, I somehow managed to ‘loosen up’ the stiff muscles, letting my wrist heal quicker! Thank goodness for movement and my impatience! I think what really helps me get through these long, boring days is the thought of the day that I’ll finally be able to move again, and be able to run out of this hospital building, head held up high, triumphant. The day where I look at life in the face, and laugh smugly. That day is still far from today, but that doesn’t stop me from hoping and dreaming. And those small hopes and dreams is what keeps me going through all this. Well, until next week Mrs. Goodman. Yours, Harriet.
• 26 •
June 21st, 1945 Dear Mrs. Goodman, Today was a great day for me - I managed to lose the cast on my right knee! It turned out that what seemed like a fracture was no more than some scratching of the bone. Nothing else. That’s great news, seeing that I don’t have something almost impossibly heavy weighing me down on my right leg now! There’s another piece of news- I’m pretty sure Dr.Brown and Rosie have a thing for each other. I mean, it’s clear to see! Their voices both soften and expressions lighten when talking to each other and they always seem to be enjoying each other’s company. I do hope something works out between them. Gahh I’m so bored in this hospital ward, the days passing by with nothing to do. I’m just really looking forward to the day I can cartwheel my way out of this dreadful place. Now if I can just get my left leg fixed…. Yours, Harriet.
• 27 •
August 2nd, 1945 Mrs. Goodman, Well, people say that life has it’s ups and downs, and mine has certainly plummeted down to the very bottom. It turns out that I, Harriet Manners, will never be able to walk again. I will forever have to live my life in a wheelchair. No more cartwheels for me. It turns out it was quite foolish of me to actually believe that I would be able to walk again in no time. Dr. Brown came back with an x-ray of my legs and a grave expression on his face, and that told me everything. It’s the end of an era for me, Mrs. Goodman. My legs will forever be too weak to support my body. Dr. Brown did say that if I wanted I could stay for a year longer so that they can help me walk again. Or I could simply get out of this hospital ward in a wheelchair, with no power in my legs. Should I choose to lose my ability to move? Or should I stay here with the small flicker of hope that I could walk again? How do I make this decision? Moving is such a big part of my life, dancing and running everyday. How can I let go of something that’s an inseparable part of me?
• 28 •
August 26th, 1945 Dearest Mrs. Goodman, When Dr Brown and Rosie walked into the room I sighed, expecting them to prod and poke at me, asking whether I had made up my mind yet. But when I turned my wheelchair around, I realized they were holding hands, and that their faces were lit up like a Christmas tree. It was then when they announced their happy news- they were getting married! At first I was a bit surprised and taken aback, but then I realized how perfect they really were for each other. After all, what’s more perfect than the serious Dr Brown and the gentle caring Rosie? I must say, their beaming faces as they showed me their dainty little engagement rings did tear me up a bit. Though I managed to blink away the blurriness in my eyes, and shock them with my own little surprise: I stood up. Yes, I, Harriet Manners, a girl in a wheelchair with basically no chance of ever walking again, stood up. Laughing, my arms shaking a bit from the strain of the weight of my body on them as I lifted myself up, I proceeded to take the smallest, slowest step ever towards the couple. This certainly made the smirking Doctor and Nurse immediately drop their smug looks, and they half laughed, half shouted in delight. Their shouts of happiness fueled my weak legs, and in no time I was running faster than I have ever run in my entire life, sprinting into their open arms. Then of course they just had to break to me that they were adopting me, nearly making me collapse in a heap of happy tears. Yes Mrs. Goodman, you heard me right: I’VE BEEN ADOPTED! And get this - I can walk again! Well, kind of. It’s more of the stumbling steps that little toddlers do when they’re learning to walk for the very first time. But those weak, trembling steps are still better than nothing, and Dr.Brown and Rosie promised I’d get better in no time. I can’t wait till I can dance again. Isn’t it wonderful how everything fit together? It’s like we were each a small, lost piece in a huge jigsaw puzzle and by some crazy coincidence we had met and happened to match up perfectly. Oh, I’m so happy for Dr. Brown and Rosie. Those two were simply meant to be. And as for them adopting me, well, I am and will ever be grateful for them for taking me in. I also just wanted to remind you that yes, life brings you down. It does to every one of us, at some point in our lives. I think my accident was mine. But if we take it the right way and treat it well, it can blossom into something so much more, and who knows? Miracles like what happened between Rosie and Dr. Brown might happen! Miracles do happen, Mrs Goodman, and if this whole wacky experience taught me anything, it’s that. You may laugh and scorn all you want, but I’m going to stick to what I say about miracles- they happen, just as long as we’re brave enough to make something happen before something happens to you. Without further ado I am now signing off as forever yours, Harriet
• 29 •
Junior Islander
• 31 •
Justin Kim, Year 6
A 21st Century M I
f someone said ‘movement’, you would immediately think about moving a part of your body. However, there are many different types of movements other
than physical movement. There have been many movements around the world, for example, a revolution. However, some, including the topic of this article, is about freedom movements.
S
o, starting with the topic, suffragettes were a group of women who protested for women’s votes. It started in 1897, when Millicent Fawcett founded
the National Union of Women’s Suffrage (NUWSS). Suffrage means the right to vote, which was what women wanted back in the 19th and 20th centuries. She believed in peaceful protests because she thought that violence wouldn’t persuade men to let women vote.
• 32 •
y Movement H
owever, the Pankhursts and the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) used violent and militant ways to get women’s votes. Their activities would include:
hunger strikes, breaking windows in prominent buildings, and setting fire to churches and empty houses at night. These women were often caught and were sent to jail, but as mentioned before, they then refused to eat. Because of this, the government responded by a cat and mouse act. They would leave the suffragette alone until her health got very poor and would let her go free. If she died out of the prison, there would be no embarrassment or criticism to the government, and if they recovered, they would be in no health to support the suffragettes.
T
he NUWSS thought that the effects of the WSPU was in fact causing harm to women’s freedom of vote, as it was alienating the members of parliament who were
debating to give women’s votes, and turning the public to oppose their cause. Fortunately for the suffragettes, World War 1 occurred, meaning that women had to do the work of their husbands or sons, and support the government for the war effort. Because of this, the ‘Representation of the people act’ was passed by the Parliament.
• 33 •
Allow Phones In School?
What do you think about allowing phones in school?
Alice Jung, Lua Cho, Year 5
• 34 •
This century is a mobile century. Most people, even kids, are carrying phones nowadays. It now a situation where if they don’t have phones with them, they have trouble concentrating on other things. This is a big problem for students because this is a time for students to worry about their future. Now, what is the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear the word, ‘school’? Mostly, you will think that it is a place for students to learn and fill their head with knowledge, meanwhile they are learning how to make new friends as well. However, in a place for learning and experiencing, do you think that they should be allowed to play with their phones? Most importantly, it is felt that due to the mobile phone, that facetoface communication is disappearing. This is a situation that happens a lot. At break times, students have stopped talking with their friends. Instead of communicating and playing outside, getting fresh air, they have started to play with their phones. It is not bad for students to sometimes play with their phones. In fact, it is helpful for students to get rid of stress if they just play for 10 minutes. However, for students, it is hard to control their mind. Furthermore, in the future, when they get a job and they start independent social interaction, they can make it difficult to communicate with other people because in their school days, they spend most of their hours looking at their phones. They can’t control themselves even though they know that they should stop. This leads students getting poisoned to phones and games. Most importantly, mobile phones can be bad for our health. This is a problem happening to lots of kids. Most of the kids are actually not letting their phones out of their hands. If they use it at a distance , it won’t make them unhealthy. However, the problem is that nobody does that. They don’t use their phones at the distance that they are supposed to. This leads kids to getting bad eyesight. You know that your eyes are very important part of your body? However, if students keep playing with phones at a close distance, it will make their eyesight deteriorate rapidly. Furthermore, it can damage your neck. Looking at your phone requires you to bring your neck down. There can be an issue about necks, such as a person’s neck can curve and become painful for them. More than that, phones also include electromagnetic waves. An electromagnetic wave usually comes from electronics. Did you know that electromagnetic waves can affect your life? There is some belief that electromagnetic waves can lead to cancer, however with phones only being used a lot recently, the scientific proof will probably be a few years if not decades down the line. In conclusion, just by using phones, it can affect your health and your future as well. By this evidence, you would have clearly understood why phones shouldn’t be allowed in school and that school isn’t a place to play with your phones. It is a place for the students to learn social life, not a place to play with their phones. Therefore, we believe that it is clear that schools should not allow phones.
• 35 •
Amazing Abilities Within Yo by Elysia Bae, 7GL, Noro
There are times in life when your body senses things first, before your brain even realises what’s going on. Sometimes called the ‘sixth sense’, or a ‘gut feeling’, you can find yourself doing things instinctively to protect yourself from unknown dangers or to tell you what’s right or wrong. Some people don’t believe that this is a special ability amongst ourselves, but for now, let’s jump into the world of intuitions and senses. What is intuition, you might ask? Intuition is when you have an odd feeling that something isn’t right, or a whisper from your head saying “Don’t do that!” before doing something bad, like eating a cookie from the cookie jar. “I just had that feeling. To get away from the house. When we came back, the house was gone. Completely destroyed from the tornado.” stated Terimy Miller. She had just saved her 3 sons and herself from a deadly storm. She didn’t have to necessarily leave the house, but she felt as if staying inside the house was too much of a risk. Fortunately, because the mother acted quickly, the family was safe. If it hadn’t been for her gutfeelings, they might have been injured or worse. It was a split second, when she made the decision. If she didn’t make up her mind and denied her intuitions warning her, the results may have been disastrous. Your brain doesn’t always tell you the things the way it is. When your brain seeks information, it processes everything through. While doing this, the brain will cancel out the unimportant facts and you are only left with the facts that you want to believe or you are willing to know. However, since your subconsciousness stores all this information, it sends a signal that perks up your senses when you are in danger. The body will be more careful and will be alerted even at the slightest movement. If your instincts tell you something, it would be a good idea to pay attention. Most people can feel their energy boosted up or drained out, whenever they are near
• 36 •
in Yourself
a certain person. This may mean something. When you feel tired or weak when you are around a person, the person’s body is taking more energy than giving out energy. Ronald A. Alexander, a psychologist, said that a person didn’t want to get in a taxi because he felt something was wrong with it, and later on saw that the driver was arrested, in a train station, because of a robbery. Your gut feelings could save your lives. First impressions are related to the intuitions as well. Early humans had to determine if the person they met was an enemy or a friend. The people who did survive compared to the people who didn’t. These are now called our “first impressions’ and that 10 seconds of interaction changes how people think of you. But of course, these are not always true, and when you get to know the person better, you discover more about them. Your gut-feelings and intuitions might not be correct all the time, but it could be a great idea to listen to what your body has to say sometimes. People survived a long time on just following their hearts and/or gut. Maybe today, you will decide to do what your instincts tell you to do, and let your rational mind relax for a bit.
• 37 •
In 2116, Please Tell Me How You Live By Sarah Yoo 7GN Geomun
According to the predictions made in the film ‘Back to the Future’, by October 21st 2015,people would be flying around in the air with hover boards and driving cars on air highways. Plus, children would have selflacing shoes on their feet for their safety. Apparently, if we turn our attention to the sky, or to our feet, we can notice that those predictions didn’t come true even in 2016. On the other hand, there were also things the film crew got right, like videoglasses and personal drones. While lately, the development of Artificial intelligence, lists of jobs that would disappear in 10 ~100 years and global warming is still being an issue, there have been a lot of scientists and organisations predicting how human life would change in a century. A few months ago, Samsung predicted the lifestyle of people a century ahead via ‘Samsung SmartThings Future Living Report’ written by a group of futurologists, space scientists, urbanists, futurist architects and academics to paint images in our minds of the future, some of which still looks like science fiction films to us now. They included a range of new ideas in their report, considering the current environmental, geographical conditions as well as the technological development; for example, they forecasted that in 100 years time, people would be living in skyscrapers just like now, but construct them much higher than the buildings we call skyscrapers in 2016, which would look like dwarves compared to the ‘Super Scrapers’. Also, by 2116, people would build skyscrapers upside down, and call them ‘Earthscrapers’ which would go down at least 25 storeys deep underground, instead of going up towards the sky. The current increase in number of super basements in London supports this idea. Due to growing population, the idea that people would be living underwater, suspended in a giant transparent bubble, is also very popular among scientists.
• 38 •
Interestingly, there is a theory that in the future, people wouldn’t even need any vehicles not even hover boards or flying cars because they would be able to move their entire house with a giant drone. No more homesickness, no more car sickness ; pretty amazing, right? Additionally, with 3D printers, people would be able to print out five star meals on their dishes. In 2116, it is likely that patients would no longer visit hospitals but instead,
use their own robots with
artificial intelligence which
would scan them
everyday and prescribe
medicines if they
needed any. Or maybe people
wouldn’t even
need to move
anywhere else!
With 3 dimen-
sional
holograms (which
would allow
people to experi-
ence sight,
sound and smell)
people would
work at home,
communicating
with other people
online and go on
imaginary yet vivid
trips around the
world anywhere or even
beyond, like to the
moon for example! Or, people wouldn’t need
any hologram trips to
the moon because they
are already living on it.
With increasing population,
60% of 2000 English
adults agreed that in a
century, humans would
be colonising the space,
like space travel or space
habitats, according to Sam-
sung SmartThings Future
Living Report. Just like the film “Back to the Future”, the predictions made right now might be seen as total nonsense for 2116. However, as the life expectancy of all of us is increasing rapidly, it is likely that some of you might see all these new, fascinating ideas come to life with your own eyes! Therefore, if you do, please tell me how many predictions made in this articles were true.
• 39 •
Development of the artificial intelligence Alison Song(Hyeyun)7GN
• 40 •
Do you know Sedol Lee? As you may know, he is a famous top player in the world. However, when he played Go with Alpago, he lost. How frustrating is it? Alpago is an artificial intelligence that is made by Google DeepMind. People believed Go is a difficult game, that artificial intelligence winning against people is much more difficult compared to other games such as chess. Unlikely, Alpago had won the 4 games out of 5 games, therefore this theme had been issued to all over the world. Nowadays people are interested in artificial intelligence after the game of Go between a human and a robot and artificial intelligence is developing more and more. The first time that people made an actual robot was in 1937. The robot was called Elecktro, was made in the U.S.A. and was approximately 2 meters tall and weighed 120 kilograms. It could walk by human commands, speak almost 700 words, smoke, pop a balloon, and move it’s arms and head. It was the first robot that came out in 1939 in New York World fair. This was the start of early artificial intelligence. However, this artificial intelligence started developing faster, therefore people sometimes feel afraid about robots that are made today. In theory, artificial intelligence can’t win against a person, on the other hand, it won the Go game which made professional people think deeply about the potential of A.I. It formed a possibility to make A.I. as similar as humans. This could be advantageous for people, however it could cause a problems. Have you ever thought about the problem that artificial intelligence could cause? Because they are made by humans, a lot of people think it will never cause a problem. When we teach some of the basic things to artificial intelligence, they will study themselves and know even more detailed than humans. It might have feelings even though people didn’t teach it anything about it, like they always learn by themselves. Thus, when robots know that they are controlled by people and can’t do what they want to do, they will feel furious about humans, there will be the point when artificial intelligence could dominate humans and humans could become slaves to the for robots, like in such doomsday movies like ‘The Terminator’ or ‘The Matrix’. Artificial intelligence can have natural language processing which could translate automatically and can have communication with different people. There are lots of things that artificial intelligence could do that is even more accurate and advanced than the technology of the humans. However, though artificial intelligence has developed quickly, people should also hold firm and slow down the development in perhaps preservation of their own uniqueness and human right.
• 41 •
By Sunny Baek,7GN
“Punk”, “Emo”, “Goth”, these are all labels we use. Punks have piercings and weird hair, emos are depressed and suicidal and goths wear black clothing and makeup. This is a very stereotypical view of those youth movements. And like most stereotypes, it is not entirely true. Punk, emo and goth are all actually subdivisions of rock music. Punk originated from Australia, the UK and the US. It had political meaning to it and punks often deliberately wore spike bands, studded clothing, leather jackets, and offensive tshirts as a way of rebelling against mainstream organisations and authorities. It was formed by people who thought that rock music had become too tame, too soft and to whom “rock and roll meant this wild and rebellious music.” They rejected political idealism and Californian hippieism. There are few punks nowadays who actually pierce their body, shave and shape their hair into mohawks and dye their hair into bright colours. However as Maclean says, being punk is “a refusal to believe that this is the way it’s going to be” and therefore, many people believe that the punk spirit will never die.
• 42 •
Emo music originated from 1980’s hardcore rock movement in Washington, US, where it was called “emotional hardcore” or “emocore”. Emo music had expressional lyrics, and would often be about their feelings; nostalgia, bitterness, sorrow, desperation. Emo music was a shift from the hardcore rock of before: if before there was extroverted rage and anger and bitterness, emo music was more about the internal turmoil. It was less about politics, and more often about emotions and feelings. They used melodic guitars and softer sounds. Now the definition of emo has changed slightly and means a type of guitar based music that was further developed from emocore rock music. Or, it can also mean fans of the music, or people who dress as if they are emo music fans. Goth music started in the early 1980s in England. It uses dark, harsh sounds, and has somewhat disturbing lyrics. They were influenced by 19th century Gothic novels and horror films. Gothic fashion has a very wide range, with Renaissance, Medieval and Victorian influences. Very often, it would be worn with black makeup that gives them a ghostly, ghoulish look. In Germany, there is an annual Gothic festival where over a hundred bands play. People dress up in costumes related to death and the dead, or wear intricate Victorian or Medieval dress. Punk, Emo, and Goth aren’t the only youth movements in the world; there are many other subcultures that not many people know about. However, a lot of people in these subcultures are attacked, physically and verbally, just because they like to listen to a certain type of music, or choose to dress in a certain way. This is not fair and should not be happening. These subcultures should be celebrated and we should keep an open mind about all of them.
• 43 •
Bonnie Hyun, Year 7
Slow Food Movement?
• 44 •
Do you like hamburgers? Do you like pizzas?
The international Slow Food movement was
Most people will reply the same: ‘Yes!’. I asked
officially founded in Paris and the Slow Food
30 people, and only 22% liked slow food and
Manifesto was signed. The First Slow Food
78% liked fast food. That’s about three
International Congress was held in Venice.
times the number of people who liked slow
The first ‘Osterie d’Italia’ guide was published,
food. Now I want to ask a question the other
marking the founding of Slow Food Editore. It
way around. Do you like broccoli salads? Do
was also created in Germany and Switzerland.
you like potatostews?
And in 2003, The ESEDRA (Environmentally
Well, some people might say yes, but very
Sustainable SocioEconomic Development
few will. We call this food, “Slow Food”.
of Rural Areas) project was launched to map the food biodiversity of the Balkans. AsiO
What is “Slow Food”? It’s the opposite of fast
Gusto, an event uniting the Slow Food net-
food. The food that is produced or prepared
work across Asia and Oceania, is held for the
in accordance with local culinary traditions,
first time in Namyangju, South Korea. Petrini
typically using highquality locally sourced
receives highest UN Environmental Awards
ingredients. For example, in Korea, one of
(Champions of the Earth).The Slow Food Cam-
the main slow food is Kimchi. Kimchi is made
paign is showing disagreement with a food
in the Korean traditional way, and because it
cooked quickly, fast food and also persuading
have lots of lactobacillus and no artificial
people to have healthier slow foods.
seasoning, we don’t have trouble with digesting it. So it is very healthy and helpful to our
Then what do they do for the Slow Food
body. But nowadays, most people prefer to
movement? Firstly, they save endangered
eat Fast Food, because it is tasty and quicker
foods and traditions through their biodiversity
to eat. Yes, they are very tasty, because of the
project. They teach the pleasure of food and
artificial seasonings and monosodium glu-
how to make good, clean and fair choices
tamate (MSG). Yes, we can eat very quickly,
through food and taste education. Also they
which will cause several problems for diges-
do the celebrations of the gastronomic tradi-
tion. Slow Foods are being forgotten.
tions of Europe and Asia, artisanal cheese and fish, and meetings of our worldwide networks
The Slow Food campaign begun in 1986. Slow
in international events. Additionally, from
Food is created in Italy after a demonstration
animal welfare to land grabbing they address
on the intended site of a McDonald’s at the
themes that they care about. Lastly, they
Spanish Steps in Rome. People were con-
connect people passionate about changing
cerned that there will be no more traditional
the food system through their international
food restaurants, or slow food restaurants.
network.
The End of Junior Islander • 45 •
WHITE LIES Quick summary: In Korean history one man’s white lie made their smallest empire into the biggest. How could this happen? _____________________________________________________________ __ Andrew Jung, Year 8 Noro _____________________________________________________________ __ Lies. What do you think when someone says a “lie”? Lies are often considered a bad thing, People only lie when they are in trouble as a result of their selfishness. Beside a quote on lying. It describes a lie as a really bad thing because, though the truth can cause temporary trouble and hurt, a lie can make us feel guilty forever. However, do not misconceive my thoughts. A White Lie is something that is quite different from other types of lies. As the picture emphasizes, a white lie is a lie that usually has no consequences. This might just be a thought, but basically a white lie is not as harmful and devastating a lie as a “Black” lie. When do we actually use white lies? White lies happen when we lie to protect not only ourselves but the “crimes” of others.. Thus, a white lie, is a ‘good’ lie. A white lie is a lie that hides other’s misfortune. For example, someone wore a swimming tracksuit to school and you tell your friend you like it. However, deep in your mind you are disgusted with the lurid green tracksuit your friend wore. Though you may think you are sparing her feelings, this may come to cause more harm in the future if she were to find out you lied. Sometimes it is better to tell the truth instead of telling a White Lie. White Lies can be negative in other various ways too. For example, if you try to hide your friend’s kleptomaniac tendencies just because you like him, that is not the right thing to do. If we tell a white lie to hide his light fingers, we might be destroying the rest of his future, which could end up with him in jail. By not telling him the truth he might justify
• 46 •
himself, which will lead him to repeat his acquisitive actions. This example emphasizes that whether you lie for a good or bad reason; lies are still lies and it is not a good choice to make. A lie, in one sense, is like a body with two faces. It can be both helpful but also lead to the worst of situations. About 2000 years ago the Shilla dynasty was in a hard situation because of the Bakjae dynasty continuously attacking them. Shilla soldiers were very weak and Kim Yu Shin, the general of Shilla, had to go to the GoGuRyeo dynasty in order to get some help for their soldiers. The GoGuRyeo made a treaty that they will have to get some of Shila dynasties’ land if they wished to get the help of the GoGuRyeo soldiers. Kim declined to do agree and the king made him go into a prison. kim finally told a lie that he would give his territory in return for the soldiers and finished the treaty. Shila was saved by Kim’s wise lie. Kim told a “white” lie. What are you going to do? What do you think? Do you think a white lie is sometimes useful? Or do you think the opposite? You decide. Just remember, sometimes White Lies are delusional.
• 47 •
Movement – Fueling Passion and Controversy
Chelsea Park Y11 (’18) Mulchat
“I’ve got the power!”
areas of our lives, including both
soul of a young teenager living
Would you believe that a group
public and personal, that is, if you
in contemporary Korea. Through
of passionate middleaged people
are willing to stretch your imagina-
my research, I learned that Mozart
doing aerobics shook a 39story
tion.
composed this piece to illustrate his estranged and disaffected
skyscraper to such an intensity that forced people to evacuate
Music – from Mozart to Cage
relationship with his father, who
the building for two days? Well,
While the experts define “move-
incidentally attended the first per-
that’s exactly what happened 5
ment” as a principal division or
formance unbeknownst to his son.
years ago in Seoul, Korea when
section of a sonata, symphony, or
Ever since this revelation, listen-
a group of people doing Tae Bo,
the like, whose “major structural
ing to this music has never been
which is a mixture of aerobics and
unit is perceived as the result of
the same, as I am compelled to
Taekwondo, caused the top floors
the coincidence of relatively large
dig deeper into its tonal message
to feel the tremors while listening
numbers of structural phenom-
that continues to dig even deeper
to Snap’s “The Power,” a huge hit
ena”, I choose to define it simply
into my psyche and move me to a
from 1990 (many of us at one point
by alluding to one of my alltime
world of ineffable bliss.
or another probably have heard
favorite Mozart’s Piano Concerto
of its famous refrain “I’ve got the
No. 20 in D minor. Although this
I must add, however, that move-
power!”). According to the six pro-
music was written way back in
ment in the musical sense cannot
fessors from the architectural in-
1785, it somehow manages to
possibly be complete without
stitute and vibration measurement
transcend all cultural and tem-
exploring the extreme end of its
experts, the tremor was believed
poral barriers by captivating and
artistic spectrum – 4′33″. 4’33” is
to have caused by mechanical
“moving” listeners of all ages, as
a threemovement composition by
resonance, but the story does not
the first movement starts off in
American experimental composer
end here. As incredibly shocking
the dark tonic key of D minor with
John Cage, and, for those unfamil-
and controversial (not to mention
the strings restlessly but quietly
iar with this piece, you are not go-
equally hilarious) such an event
building up to a full forte. I wanted
ing to believe what I’m about to tell
may appear to the readers, I be-
to know how a mere mortal could
you. The score actually instructs
lieve that the principle behind such
compose such a timeless mas-
the performer(s) not to play their
a phenomenon has a far reaching
terpiece. Better yet, I wanted to
instrument(s) during the entire
effect beyond that of engineering.
know what could possibly moti-
duration of the piece throughout
In fact, I believe we can find and
vate someone to create such a
the three movements! This is not a
witness such uncontrollable power
moving work that, through the
typo. Yes, the piece purports to
of energy or “movement” in all
ages, could move the heart and
consist of the sounds of the en-
• 48 •
vironment that the listeners hear
ment (not to mention the structural
tion, “a schism from the Roman
while it is performed for the entire
ones) any different from those of a
Catholic Church initiated by Martin
4 minutes and 33 seconds and
political one?
Luther and continued by other
hence the title 4’33”! That’s like
early Protestant Reformers in 16th
turning in a doctoral dissertation
Religion and Politics – Chaos and
century Europe”… absolutely! As
with blank pages! Now, what would
Order
per the American Revolution, “dur-
possess someone to compose
I do not claim to be an expert in
ing which colonists in the Thirteen
such music, that is, if you can call
the areas of politics and religion,
American Colonies rejected the
it such? Interestingly enough, a
and I certainly do not wish to en-
British monarchy and aristocracy,
simple research on the Internet
gage in a fully drawnout academic
overthrew the authority of Great
has led me to the finding that 4′33″
discourse on these topics not only
Britain and founded the United
became, for Cage, “the epitome of
because “I know how much I do
States of America”… most cer-
his idea that any sounds may con-
not know the more I get to know”
tainly! As per the current political
stitute music”, and that “it was also
on such sensitive social issues,
climate in both Europe and North
a reflection of the influence of Zen
but also because I care about the
America, in which the influx of mi-
Buddhism, which Cage studied
growth, let alone the survival, of
grants, notably those of the Muslim
since the late 1940s.” To make mat-
our readership – I dare not depress
background, have sparked and
ters even more interesting, Cage
nor bore any of our dear readers to
continues to inflame antiimmigrant
stated, on numerous occasions,
death. Having said that, I do wish,
and nationalistic sentiments … you
“4′33” was, in his opinion, his most
however, to go over briefly several
better believe it!
important work.” It is no wonder
historical and current events to
that pundits have described 4′33″
help highlight how social move-
Hindsight – Almost 20/20
as Cage’s “most famous and con-
ments have impacted and contin-
While we have heard that “hind-
troversial creation”.
ue to impact our lives for the better
sight is always 20/20”, I believe
or worse, depending on which side
it is never easy to pinpoint the
And it is at this point that led me to
of the fence you are on. Being a
real cause, let alone predict an
a simple revelation – a movement,
Korean myself, I can’t help but to
outcome, especially of any social
at its core, is fundamentally and
start off with what is perhaps the
movement with absolute certainty
necessarily passionate and contro-
most famous political movement
and accuracy. That said, however,
versial. Differently put, as contro-
of our country’s history – the March
I believe few things still remain
versial as 4’33” was (and probably
1st Movement. This movement was
certain – movements are driven by
still is) to both the conservative
“one of the earliest public displays
passion; movements, both orches-
and liberal listeners alike, who’s to
of Korean resistance during the
trated and grassroots, will inflame
say that Mozart’s nowbeloved D
rule of Korea by Japan, and the
controversy and will impact the
minor didn’t garner the same kind
name refers to an event that oc-
lives of many in the generations
of adulation and scrutiny when it
curred on March 1, 1919.” Was this
that follow; and movements may
debuted over two hundred years
movement controversial? With
not be able to bring down a nation,
ago? Which brings me to another
over 2 million Korean participants
but, if choreographed to a catchy
point – how are the social ramifica-
in over 1,500 demonstrations and
tune, can possibly bring down a
tions of a seemingly benign and
countless deaths… emphatically
skyscraper.
innocuous compositional move-
yes! As per the Protestant Reforma-
All in all, it’s definitely everywhere.
• 49 •
International Social Movements by Serina Chandaria, Year 12 NLCS London The international sphere has grown substan-
However the movement of money and bonds
tially and rapidly over the last 50 years, lead-
is not the only type of movement that has
ing to an increasingly globalised world. We
international reverberations. The rise of Glo-
can define the process of globalisation as the
balisation has lead to a further reach of social
increasing interconnection and integration
movements, but arguably social movements
between countries and businesses to form
have been having an international effect for a
global systems. Globalisation is often seen as
long time.
a good thing with increased international cooperation and trade in both goods and ideas
Social movements are group actions that
bolstering world stability; however there are
usually focus of resolving one specific issue
drawbacks. One obvious example of this was
in an increasingly digitalised, interconnected,
the 2008 financial crisis or ‘credit crunch’.
world social movements are often a key
This chain reaction of economic downturns
driving force for change. But can it have an
and evaporation of financial liquidity led to
effect on international affairs and politics?
national recessions in many countries such as
The most common type of social movement
the UK, Korea and the USA. Additionally, there
takes the form of human rights advocacy.
was arguable more severe knock on effects for
The proliferation and efficacy of these types
developing countries like those in subSaharan
of movements have been heightened by the
Africa. Nevertheless, there were some posi-
ability to disseminate thoughts and issues
tive effects of the crisis the seat of economic
widely as well as being able to openly criticise
power shifted. The BRICs Brazil, Russia, India
actions (in some countries at least) via the
and China, benefitted in many ways (and also
Internet. However due to the transient nature
suffered) and since then we have seen a great
of the Internet, it could be argued that social
deal of positive economic development, par-
movements lose their power as they become
ticularly in Asia.
diluted as they evolve on the Internet. An example of this was the ‘#IWillDriveMyCarJune15’
• 50 •
to criticise and eventually lead to the lifting of
workplace such as the Ford plant women’s
the religious ban on women driving in Saudi
strike in Dagenham. The main argument of the
Arabia. This social movement generated a lot
second wave of feminism is that of social and
of publicity but, while it did see many women
economic equality. Through various activ-
take part, the hashtag was also used to make
ist movements sexuality, reproductive rights
jokes at the expense of women and did not
and social equality became key themes in the
have any real, tangible effect. In this way we
second wave of feminism. It aimed to expose
can see that the stability of social movements
and erode the oppressive patriarchal social
is often tenuous and difficult to maintain.
structure of the time. These issues also helped to shed light on other disparities such as
The main focus of this article is on feminism
capitalism, normative heterosexuality and the
as a social movement and its subsequent
female role. Additionally, sex and gender were
effect on international affairs. Feminism is
differentiated into a biological definition and
often split into four ‘waves’ that occurred on a
a social construct (varies according to culture
chronological scale.
and personal view).
The first wave of feminism signified the amal-
The Third wave of feminism began in 1990
gamation of a united selfconscious political
after the perceived ‘failure’ of the second
movement Feminism. It came about in the late
wave;the mark of this change was arguably‘
19th and early 20th centuries due the emer-
Anita Hill’ which sparked discussions of un-
gence of a more urban and liberal society. The
equal gender and racial representation in poli-
main goal of the first wave feminist movement
tics. Postmodernist thinking (radical thinking,
was to open up opportunities in the civic
critical interpretations) and postcolonialism
sphere for women to exercise the same rights
largely influenced the third wave. Third wave
as men with a particular focus of female suf-
feminism was also propagated through ezines
frage.
the advent of the Internet made generating content, having discussions and disseminat-
The second wave of feminism began in the
ing view easier and more effective. This wave
1960’s and continued up until the 1990’s. The
of feminism discussed heteronormativity,
movement arguably began in the US with
how race played a role in gender perception,
the publishing of ‘The Feminine Mystique’
female ownership of her body and sexual-
in 1963 by Betty Friedan and the protests at
ity. Many of the ideas portrayed by the third
the Miss America pageant in 19689 and in
wave feminism were the taking back of items
the UK the Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the Sex
that typically denoted patriarchal control and
Discrimination Act in 1975 was catalysed by
sexualisation of the woman lipstick, for
protests for equal pay and treatment in the
• 51 •
example, and turning them into symbols of
that, like all the other movements, will con-
female agency and a personal definition of
tinue to evolve, grow and change. Fourth
female beauty. The third wave eschewed the
wave feminism encourages a more open and
victimised portrayal of female oppression and
wellinformed discussion of preciously typi-
instead took a stronger stance of selfempow-
cally academic subjects regarding feminism
erment in order to subvert sexist culture. For
(perhaps due to the increased availability of
example ‘derogatory terms’ were appropriated
information) such as societal abuse, objectifi-
into words of merit and power. Another key
cation, stereotyping and rape (marital, college
feature of thirdwave feminism was the lack of
campuses, in conflict).
‘us vs them’ creating a unification between the genders and the idea of equal rights for
What was once considered the topics of ‘ex-
both genders; in fact even the word ‘feminist’
treme feminism’ are now becoming widely
was not often used as it was deemed ‘limit-
discussed. Another important facet of fourth
ing and exclusionary’. The largely dynamic
wave feminism is the idea of how society is
ways of thinking and the shunning of typical
gendered and genders. It therefore not only
categories such as gender and race made
calls for the empowerment of women but total
third wave feminism multicultural, global and
gender equity. Feminism has become a part
extremely effective.
of a larger discourse on oppression (racism, classism, ableism) leading to the wider usage
The supposed public lull in feminist activ-
of the term ‘kyriarchy’ and the theory of inter-
ism from around the end of the second wave
sectionality.
was that in actuality feminism had found its locus in the academic world with more and
However this linear scale of feminism is
more universities around the world includ-
clearly defined through a ‘Western’ (i.e. Ameri-
ing degrees in women’s studies. However in
can and Eurocentric) perspective. Feminism in
fourth wave feminism seems to be moving
South Korea does not necessarily follow this
back into public discourse perhaps expedited
linear scale. Women’s suffrage was included in
by a mediacentric modern society. With the
Article 11 of the national constitution in 1948
widespread use of media as well as the ability
as well as laws about political, economic and
to take a more global view on the world as
social discrimination. This change can be re-
well as feminism we are now beginning to see
lated to the first and second waves of Western
more widespread activism against oppression,
feminism. The women’s rights movement in
both at the grassroots as well as in govern-
Korea really began in earnest in the 80’s it had
ance and global organisations. Fourthwave
previously emulated Western feminist ideals
feminism is an extremely current movement
but from the 1980’s onwards there was an in-
• 52 •
creased focus of eschewing Western feminism
in the inclusive and sustainable development
in order to develop a South Korean brand of
of an interconnected world. International af-
feminism. This coincided with the minjung un-
fairs as well as change on a national level can
dong or mass people’s movement. Currently,
be influenced by the content and efforts of
Korean feminism is split into two rough camps
social movements and the people who drive
groups that are focussed on women’s rights,
them forward. The success of feminism as a
under the umbrella term of human rights,
movement, as well as subgroups of the femi-
and those who specifically focus on women’s
nist movement, proves the power that lies in
rights. The main issue to be faced is chang-
the hands of the people to drive international
ing the cultural norms and expectations of
change and improvement.
South Korea in order to expand the opportunities and status of women. Through the work of schools such as NLCS and NLCS Jeju that work to create and support powerful women, as well as creating an inclusive culture for all genders, the empowerment of women can improve worldwide. The feminist movement both on a national and global scale has had huge impacts on international policy and the global socioeconomic climate. Both the Millennium Development Goals and the new Sustainable Development Goals focus on inclusivity and the growth of the emancipation of women. It is recognised in many, if not all, global institutions that the empowerment of women through education and employment has significant impacts on the development of a country in terms of infant/child mortality, population, economic progress and political stability. To conclude, social movements and the change they inspire are enormously important
• 53 •
# h a s h t a g
t h e
m o v e m e n t
d a i n
a hn
Y10
Social media: websites and other online means of communication that are used by large groups of people to share information and to develop social and professional contacts. (according to dictionary.com) H u m a n i t y ’s e a r l i e s t m e t h o d s o f communication used written correspondence, or letters, delivered by a horse and its rider, and this primitive form of postal service has developed over the centuries. It is still being used, though the number of people doing so has diminished significantly. After the letters came telegrams, which were sent at a far speedier pace, though messages had to be shorter in length. During the final decade of the nineteenth century, two major developments in communication were made: the radio and the telephone. It was a means of communication that took place instantaneously. The twentieth century marked the rapid change and development in
g eomu n technology, from supercomputers that were first introduced in the 1940s, to primitive forms of email and up to the first recognisable social media website named Six Degrees in 1997. It was one of the first to take the format of the social networking sites we know today - uploading profiles and ‘friending’ other users. After the introduction and popularity of blogging in 1999, such social media gained rapid prevalence, and with the dawn of the new century, social media as we know it - MySpace, LinkedIn, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter was born, with sites such as Tumblr or Pinterest increasing in reputation to satisfy more specific social networking needs. Social media is both a toy and tool for the modern man. The reason why we cannot call social media a mere fad is because it is being utilised for things beyond simply sharing one’s life with others and socialising. Social networking is a mean of inexpensive marketing and advertising, and it also provides a great
• 54 •
way to hold online meetings, which means that man can make far effective use of their time; a necessity in the busy world we live in today. In addition to this, social media has lately added to its list of functions what we now call hashtag activism, or hashtag movements. The definition of hashtag activism is simple; taking action to affect social change with the use of hashtags, which is the symbol ‘#’, used to help SNS users find specific content online. It takes the form of spreading the word about certain issues all over the Internet. Referred to as ‘slacktivism’ or ‘clicktivism’ by critics, digital activism is disparaged because for some it is seen as narcissist and lazy, making people feel good about merely clicking a few buttons on the Internet. However, I believe that hashtag activism is more than insignificant clicks and retweets because it helps engage more people and it brings about actual impacts. Social media has the ability to give
the voicele ss a voice. It has the potential to make visible the invisible and give people the opportunity to have a presence in social movements. Information travels quickly and swiftly on social networking sites, which is useful in educating people from pretty much all over the world in all sorts of social issues. This is made easier by the fact that social media is designed to be easy to use. Surely enough, some people do struggle with the first week or two on a new form of social media, but you can be sure that adding a few hashtags to your tweets becomes of second nature within a short period of time. This gives the underrepresented people the voice and presence in society needed to make the changes that may be crucial for them. A major example of this can be seen in #IStandWithPP, which was a movement on mainly Twitter but also other social networking sites. #IStandWithPP stood against the Susan G. Komen Foundation cutting almost 700,000 dollars from the funding of Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides women with a number of reproductive health services, including abortion. The result of this movement was the Komen Foundation restoring the funding and issuing an apology. If social media had not been such a powerful tool, a great number of women may have found it more difficult to access the healthcare that they require. In this way, hashtag activism can provide the underrepresented with the chance to voice their opinions, make them be heard, and help lead great changes. The popular claim is that hashtag activism, or ‘clicktivism’ as some people like to call it, does not actually work. However, I must disagree with this, for there is no doubt that trending issues on social media does in fact bring about important impacts. For the sake of explanation, I have decided to divide my idea of an ‘impact’ into mainly money raising and consciousness. An infamous example of a hashtag movement that raised funds no end is indisputably the Ice Bucket Challenge. Even if you have never literally dumped an icy bucket of water over yourself, nor donated money to the cause, you must have at least
heard of this movement. When the Ice Bucket Challenge season came around, the hashtag went viral, and videos of people talking about the Challenge were all over my Facebook feed. It is perfectly true that not everyone donates, and many cease after completing the icy dare. However, the 3,500 percent increase in donation is a fact that cannot be ignored. The ‘awareness’ that hashtag activism raises has a lot more examples to draw from. When the goal for the society is to change a policy, or spur on government action, raising awareness and consciousness is crucial in sparking off action. #BringBackOurGirls, a hashtag that trended in May 2014, triggered a US search for kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls just a week after the hashtags reached their peak. From examples such as these, and many more, it can be seen that hashtag activism is more than just a few flicks of people’s fingers on a smartphone screen; it is something that has the potential to bring about tangible change. with the first week or two on a new form of social media, but you can be sure that adding a few hashtags to your tweets becomes of second nature within a short period of time. This gives the underrepresented people the voice and presence in society needed to make the changes that may be crucial for them. A major example of this can be seen in #IStandWithPP, which was a movement on mainly Twitter but also other social networking sites. #IStandWithPP stood against the Susan G. Komen Foundation cutting almost 700,000 dollars from the funding of Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides women with a number of reproductive health services, including abortion. The result of this movement was the Komen Foundation restoring the funding and issuing an apology. If social media had not been such a powerful tool, a great number of women may have found it more difficult to access the healthcare that they require. In this way, hashtag activism can provide the underrepresented with the chance to voice their opinions, make them be heard, and help lead great changes. The popular claim is that hashtag activism, or ‘clicktivism’ as some people
• 55 •
like to call it, does not actually work. However, I must disagree with this, for there is no doubt that trending issues on social media does in fact bring about important impacts. For the sake of explanation, I have decided to divide my idea of an ‘impact’ into mainly money raising and consciousness. An infamous example of a hashtag movement that raised funds no end is indisputably the Ice Bucket Challenge. Even if you have never literally dumped an icy bucket of water over yourself, nor donated money to the cause, you must have at least heard of this movement. When the Ice Bucket Challenge season came around, the hashtag went viral, and videos of people talking about the Challenge were all over my Facebook feed. It is perfectly true that not everyone donates, and many cease after completing the icy dare. However, the 3,500 percent increase in donation is a fact that cannot be ignored. The ‘awareness’ that hashtag activism raises has a lot more examples to draw from. When the goal for the society is to change a policy, or spur on government action, raising awareness and consciousness is crucial in sparking off action. #BringBackOurGirls, a hashtag that trended in May 2014, triggered a US search for kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls just a week after the hashtags reached their peak. From examples such as these, and many more, it can be seen that hashtag activism is more than just a few flicks of people’s fingers on a smartphone screen; it is something that has the potential to bring about tangible change. In conclusion, I advocate hashtag activism and believe that it should be encouraged to go on. However, the problem with hastag activism is that most hashtags become a fad; a trend that eventually slips away. Social media has been seen to forget that a case has not been resolved, and moves onto the newest happenings. If measures can be taken to improve these complication, I am convinced that hashtag activism will take on greater power and mature into a dynamic tool that we can all use to bring about an improved world.
T H E T R U M P TORNADO R AC H E L C H O Y E A R 10 J E O J I
America is a country of immigrants: it began with the people who got t h e m s e l ve s i n t o a re c k l e s s 4 9 1 2 miles journey to the New World, all vehemently following the American dream, the hope of a better tomorrow where their freedom, justice, and prosperity were to be secured. This is what America was built upon, and has always stood for. However, the year 2016 sees none other than Mr Donald Trump running for the presidency of the US, proposing that “The American Dream is dead, but I am going to make it bigger and better and stronger than ever before.” and that “We are going to make America great again.” by rejecting refugees and closing borders. Despite his bold and often offensive moves, Mr Trump is gaining more and more support, just like an indestructible tornado. Now that he has become the Republican nominee, it seems that we must ask the following questions: what is in the eye of the ‘Trump Tornado’, and would Mr Trump ever really ‘make America great again’? Well, to be honest it doesn’t even seem right to discuss whether Trump would make ‘America great again’. When the current President Obama announced that he is planning to accept 20,000 refugees from Syria, Mr Trump didn’t miss his chance and addressed the audience at Keene High School saying, “I hear we want to take in 200,000 Syrians, and they could be - listen, they could be ISIS.” He later on described the Syrian refugees as a “200,000 - man army”, and said that they will
be sent back home if he becomes President. This seems nonsensical considering that Syrian refugees are the victims of the Syrian civil war, which means that they are the victims of ISIS’s brutal actions. 250,000 Syrian civilians have been killed with the uprise of extremist group such as ISIS, and more than 12 million have been uprooted which is more than half of the country’s population. It seems that Trump is at the center of white ethnocentrism indoctrinating Americans that all Muslims are potential terrorists, when in fact 94% of terrorist attacks carried out in the United States from 1980 to 2005 have been the acts of non-Muslims, and only about 0.00006625% of the Muslim population are known to hold ‘extreme’ beliefs. Trump’s unpredictable claims and pledges continue, as he proposes to get rid of the Environmental Protection Agency and Obamacare, and use that money to strengthen the military so that it’s “so big and strong and so great” that “nobody’s going to mess with us”, even though the U.S. already has the most powerful defense system in the world according to Business Insider, spending $612 billion on defence. Trump also wants to get rid of the regulatory walls between the states for health insurance and make the plans national rather than regional, monopolising the health insurance system. He even said that relatives of the terrorists should be killed and that all Muslims should be temporarily banned from migrating to America.
• 56 •
Tr u m p ’s c a m p a i g n m a y b e unpredictable and but has precedent. The core of his ideas, the eye of the Trump Tornado, may be compared with Nazi fascist ideology centred a r o u n d r a c i a l s u p r e m a c y. N a z i Germany was a fascist, totalitarian state, and if no one stops Trump, America may come to resemble it,a bit like when they had McCarthyism. A totalitarian regime starts when a charismatic leader takes complete control over political, social, and cultural matters, which is what Hitler succeeded in doing, and Trump seems to be currently working on. Looking at some of the promises that Trump has made, it seems clear that Trump wants totalitarianism in America; he wants some part of the Internet banned, and plans to track down Syrian refugees to create a database of every individual, completely disregarding the human rights such policies will violate. Trump’s emphasis of national security is alarming Americans with a highly dubious threat of Muslim terrorists. He is using the terror to mobilise shortsighted Americans to support him. This seems to be very similar to Hitler’s diverting the minds of the public from more important affairs to focus on hatred stemming from fear, leading the public towards inhumanity. Trump’s audacity and pride might make him look charismatic, but one must reflect on the true nature of his campaign and be alarmed, which the majority of the Republican party members has been proved incapable of doing.
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is it time to say goodbye to 'my car era'? uber says 'yes.' Daniel yoo year 10 geomun
Uber Technologies Inc., based in San Francisco, California, is an American multinational online transportation network company. In a nutshell, it is a taxi service making millions of dollars with no cars. Only seven years after its foundation, the company’s value is over $51bn higher than that of Xiaomi’s ($46bn), the world’s fifth largest smartphone maker, and $3bn ahead from 4 times the company value of SpaceX, a leading company manufacturing reusable spaceships for the space industry. UBER’s total revenue during 2015 was a shocking $5.6bn ($1.5bn in net revenue, $4.1bn in cash & cash equivalents). On a snowy Paris evening in 2008, Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp had some difficulties hailing a cab. And there, the concept of this ex t ra o rd i n a r y s t a r t u p o f ‘w h e re lifestyle meets logistics’ started to show its bud. Both Garrett and Travis were experienced businessmen. Garrett co-founded the discovery engine, ‘Stum b l eup o n’ , i n 2002 while he was in graduate school. S t u m b l e u p o n re c o m m e n d s we b contents to users and allows them to discover and rate web pages, photos and videos that are in their interests. The business was successful, it was sold to eBay on May 2007 with a transaction value of $75m dollars and grew to over 25m registered users. Like Garrett, Travis was also a web company entrepreneur. He co-founded the peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing company ‘Red Swoosh’. His company was also noticeably successful and was sold to Akamai Technologies in 2007 for $18.7m. Those two young minds were able to gerner two hundred thousand dollars for seed funding in 2009. The year after that, UBER raised $1.25m
in additional funding, which now undoubtedly becomes one of the most successful startups in the world. A l t h o u g h p a s s e n g e r s a fe t y wa s questioned during the initial stages of development due to the continuing m u rd e r a n d ra p e c a s e s by u b e r drivers, UBER’s spurt did not stop. It actually increased passenger credit by changing their policy and ensuring customers that UBER was hiring authorised drivers only. Now, the influence of UBER is so massive that according to the Fortune magazine, after 2013 when UBER started its fulltime services, the cases of passengers using ordinary taxis in Los Angeles has trickled down to 6m from 8.4m rides. Additionally, Los Angeles Times stated that every city in the United States was embroiled in an all-out battle with UBER, claiming that taxi industries in San Francisco lost up to 65% of their original passengers. UBER is constantly expanding, both vertically and horizontally. One of UBER’s renowned attributes is that it is personalized and has an immensely broad applicability to a variety of different uses. UBER taxi services are available in 407 cities worldwide, with different types of personalized services in each country. If you are to use UBER, you can use four different types of UBER taxis (uberPOP, uberTAXI, uberBLACK, uberX), two different sizes of vehicles (uberXL, UberVAN), and different people for cheaper prices (uberPOOL). You can even use UBER for both business trips and food delivery (UberEATS). In Korea, there are even mothers using uberBLACK to send their children to school. The word ‘UBER’ is now a verb meaning ‘to call an UBER taxi’. UBER is, without a doubt, becoming vogue in transportation.
• 57 •
So how was this possible? How could a company without the physical means of production have reached this far? In the traditional perspective of business, this does not make any sense. A baker needs a stove, a lumberjack needs an axe, and a farmer needs a hoe. But that explains why UBER is a total game changer in the transportation industry. UBER owns drivers instead of cars, which makes UBER free from spending to manage the cars and can provide a better experience with reasonable prices for the passengers. Drivers are originally car owners, who serve passengers when they have enough time. This implies that UBER is using a win-win strategy to make a profit for themselve s. Drivers can use their time more productively, while passengers can decide from when to meet to where to meet. Furthermore, since UBER provides passengers with driver information, drivers are forced to keep good ratings from their passengers to continue their activity, thus compelling the drivers to be the politest of any other cab services in the world. People love to own things. Possessing something is thought to be a sign of wealth, and many people believe that the more they have, the happier they become. For Korea, the goal of the average office workers in the 1970’s was to own a house. In the 1980’s, the ‘my car’ era was introduced. However, now it seems that people are following the old Chinese saying, ‘Gong-su-re-gong-su-geo: C ame with nothing, return with nothing]’. Peoples’ consuming trend of mid2010s is ‘sharing’. They are sharing houses, baby products, books, clothes, and even cars. And in the eye of the storm, there is UBER.
The Truck Driver
Yeasung Lee Year 10 Noro Illustrated By Hanseong Woo, Year 8, Geomun My front steps were never bright. I would rush down the steps, stream down the street into the darkness before the sun greets us, showers us with the warmth of its golden rays. After an exhausting, lengthy day, I would shuffle up the street to drag my heavy body up the stairs. The sun would be long gone to welcome me back home. I would claw up the stairs.
• 58 •
I was a truck driver. I would have
been lucky if I was just that, but my life was way more complicated than just driving. “4.7” would be the number that would define my job. Just when I arrive at the station would the sky start to light up with a fierce red blurring. To make even a slightly bigger number than 4.7, I would burn my arms down by moving the endless pile of boxes into my truck. It’s when a heavy one randomly rolls onto my arms that my whole body would shiver, soaked up with droplets of sweat that accumulated. When all the boxes, approximately 126, are all on the truck, the countdown would start. 10 hours to the deadline, 13 boxes to deliver in an hour, meaning 4.7 minutes to deliver one. It has been long since I spent time with my dear wife and loving children, well, not that I would meet them tonight. She would comfort me from time to time while I lie on my wife’s lap, as she brushes my hair with her delicate fingers. Her beautiful smile and sparkling eyes would reflect my very own. My children used to be young and overjoyed every moment I saw them. My children would always be full of laughter. No matter what I did, no matter how I did it, I was their role model just for who I was; their father. They were my driving force. I was afraid to lose the happiness from any of those who I loved so deeply. The failure took away what I lived for. My children have grown to be taller than myself, away doing incredible work out there in the city. They were so well off by themselves, I never heard of them since they graduated university. Although I wanted to learn about their wellbeing, my phone would never ring, and my phone would be void of their numbers. My wife left me without giving me the chance to share with her everything that I wanted to. I even failed to send her away with a beautiful smile. Her grin was solemn, lonely, bleak as the grey clouds that wailed on her departure. Her eyes sparkled, not by joy, but tears.
To save a single second, I would jump off the truck within 20 seconds of my arrival. The thirty second wait for the elevator was wasteful. Panting up the stairs, my body helplessly swayed from left to right, up and down as my vision blurred with sweat pouring into my eyes. My flimsy legs still marched forward firm, but painfully while my arms quivered from the utter weight of the boxes. The response to the effort was often hurtful and unbearable. Impolite words of ignorance, rejections to receive the delivery, words of suspicion and restraining from opening their doors. Sometimes people’s hands would race out from the door, snatch the parcel and disappear with the slam of the door. All of them were nothing compared to a failed delivery, where no one was there to receive the parcel. Obstinate situations where I was lost in what to do, the helpless situation wasting my precious time that was ticking endlessly, 4.7 minutes for one delivery. A small box was light, barely containing anything that earned me the same amount of money as a large box with books or rice packages: KW550(approximately US$0.5). One delivery was worth a single lollipop at the nearby convenience store. It was as low as it could get. In fact, the pay continuously dropped because of meaningless competitions between parcel service companies. The pay has dropped by 30% in the last 12 years, when ironically the price of public goods were rising. Parcels needing delivery stacked up in bigger piles every year, where more parcels had to be delivered in the same timeframe as we had to before the economic decline.
“One day delivery”, “Bullet delivery”, “Kind delivery” The voices of all the people demanding a fast and kind delivery couldn’t happen with the responses they usually gave us. A “4.7 minute life”; many people like me suffer to fit a delivery every 4.7 minutes. We need better treatment and working conditions. We have a job that people need. We bring comfort and work with efficiency for the convenience of the masses, but we aren’t rewarded for the arduous life we endure daily. I lost everything I love to be a truck driver, a parcel deliverer is the path I chose to keep myself alive. Doing what people needed was supposed to enlighten me, fill me with pride and joy. But why am I so sore and hurt? If there is no such joy to the only thing that I cling to, I no longer have the meaning to live. I had to end it here.
• 59 •
School Bus Shunto Shigetomi Year 10 Noro
“I’m going mom!” “Careful honey. Don’t forget your lunch!” I waited. No one was around. Upon leaving the porch, the morning drowsiness struck me like a nice slap on the face. Then a spur of sunlight blinded me. Painful, I quickly guarded my eyes with my hand, creating a shade to bring back the darkness I craved for so much. I wondered: why is it that we always, everyday, have to wake up at seven in the morning? Why not eight, or nine? Honk. On the way to school, we were driving down the city’s main highway, viewing the eternal grey stretching out into the brilliant ember of the morning. It was like a polaroid image. Having been surrounded by drowsy cars, I was constrained to listen a furious succession of honks rippling across the road. There was absolutely no sign of advancement. It felt to me like hours, the red light, seemingly resisting every powerful strike of the monumental clock tower over there, just beside the playground entrance. And apart from the aggravating yet unending moans was the engine’s rumble, violently shaking the window and disrupting my miserable struggle for sleep, a ceaseless sequence of vibrations. It was then, with a nauseous sensation that I noticed the emptiness of this bus. The rubbery surface of the seat blared with each and every movement, with the sheets out of place and detached from the chair. As the bus started to manoeuvre its way out of this impasse, the sheet slipped out of the cover to throw me out of order. After the unsuccessful dismount, I easily worked my way out of the entanglement and took a glimpse of the seats up front.
• 60 •
Nobody. The air conditioner above each seat appeared to be malfunctioning, exhuming, not cold air to ease the heat, but warm air that surged and swelled. Parched, I grabbed my water bottle out of my backpack and took a large sip. Tepid. The bus was now running with sobriety, no rumbeling, no rattling, but an effortless, distasteful trip through the boulevard towards our school. Just before arriving, I noticed a pink object protruding from the bottom of the seat two rows ahead. After a few seconds of observation, I struck my head with an absurd realisation: it was gum. White with age, its repulsive exposure disgusted me. Stuck on it were debris from different sources: pencil leads, strands of hoary hair, even fingernails. Although I couldn’t bother, I imagined a colony of different gum types with an entire variety of colours, like Polka dots. Maybe I was overthinking it, but it really did send shivers down my spine.
Eew. In a blink of an eye, there I was, entering the main entrance. As a hoard of buses shuffled along the sideway, I couldn’t stop staring. My eyes were stagnant, unmoving. Moving. A spur caught my eye, dragged it, and there I arrived. The main gate felt gargantuan, almost daunting, from the, you know, morning drowsiness. The bus stopped. The door in front of me folded open, with the motor spewing pressurised air out of the blast hole. Stampeding out the door, I looked out for the bus driver, waving at us with a large, disconsolate smile. “Have a nice day kiddos”
• 61 •
Seoul Subway Line 3
Daniel Song Year 9 Geomun
• 62 •
3
It’s the subway again. It’s the same every morning. The only difference being that today, I don’t know where I’m going. Definitely not my company, though, because I was “advised” to “spend some more time with your family” and “take this opportunity to refresh myself” just yesterday. I didn’t think it was me. I knew the economy wasn’t in great shape and I knew there were other husbands and fathers who also pretend to go to work after being fired just to keep their families’ spirit up. I even have some friends like me. But I just didn’t think it was me. There’s no way the majority party - the so-called wallet-saviors, economy-wizards, bourgeois-helpers - is getting my vote in the upcoming elections. Gloomy. I slowly stroll across the station, which is, as always, boisterous. People in black and grey suits were chattering away on their phones; the aloof tiles of the walls were unusually blue. I take my round-edged transit card out of my black leather wallet, which I expect to be rather skinny until I get a decent job. I go down the stairs, walk up to one of the metal turnstiles and tag my card. The number 1,250 pops up on the small screen besides the turnstile, and I suddenly realise that it wasn’t a small amount of money slipping out of my card anymore. As I walk to the platform for Line 3, with dull orange shapes and lines of different sizes everywhere, I decide to kill time by waiting on the train until it arrives at its very last stop. It seemed to me like that was the most enjoyable thing I could do at the time. I arrive at the platform, but the train wasn’t there yet. There weren’t too many people waiting for the train. I started to wonder why. The train starts to move. There was a man and a woman, both young and in green hoodies and washed jeans, trying to talk to people so passionately. They would pick one person at a time to talk to, or, rather, unilaterally deliver information to, as they slowly move down the train. As they gradually came closer to my seat, I started to become curious. What in the world are they talking about? The couple finally arrives, and the man asks, “Do you believe in god?” Enraged, I suddeny bursted out in anger. How unoccupied can they be to be promoting some stupid pseudo-religion to a fired man in the subway on a Tuesday morning? I cut the man short, and before listening to one more word of his, I say, “Oh, do I believe in god? Is that what you’re asking? Well, no, sir, I’m afraid not. And you know why? I don’t believe in god because if there is some kind of god in this jolly world, he would probably care about somebody like me. No? Would the god you believe in give the slightest help and blessing to a man like me who worked for his company for fifteen full years like a loyal horse and just fire him? If that’s what you’re trying to say, and if that’s the stupid god you’re about to persuade and convince me to believe in, I say, I refuse!” The train becomes dead quiet as soon as I finish my stuttering my last word. Just about everyone in it is looking at either the couple or me. Embarrassed, the couple hurries out the train at the next station. By the time the train went through seven, or eight stations after that, I compose myself again. The people in the train don’t seem to be looking at me anymore, because most of them left after my scolding at the couple. It feels like I am “one of them,” as opposed to “the special one.” I’m relieved. At that very moment, the familiar ringtone for the transfer station reverberates into my ears. The train stops, the doors slide open, and hundreds of people flood in, trying desperately to occupy themselves with a good seat inside the train. In that crowd, I find an old man in his fifties or sixties, wearing an outdated set of clothes and an antique yellowish beret, carrying a small metal handbarrow. I whisper to myself, uh, again?
• 63 •
A Story Linus Kim Year 10 Jeoji
A man stood waiting.
It had a slide door on it.
For what, he did not know.
Not like what he expected,
It was quiet around him
The door was stuck.
Then he heard a voice.
Hard.
“Please step back.”
So he tried again. And again. And again.
He spoke to himself, “Where am I?”.
Then with a pop, it did slide. To the side.
Then came the noise.
He opened up to a new car. Exciting.
A rushing sound.
But...
He saw a train. Grey and long. Tall.
“Something was different”.
As he muttered something to himself,
But what was it?
His legs walked into the open doors
It was the people.
Into the grey, long and tall train.
There were people.
Not much was in the train.
Interesting, it was.
Almost empty.
None like what he saw before.
Only a few seats, no windows.
It was good to feel alive.
“Awkward”, thought the man.
Obvious. Natural.
Or spoke the man.
That was what he believed, anyway.
It did not matter.
Just one thing,
He was alone after all.
Was different.
Who cared?
The man noticed.
“Well I care.”, insisted the man.
All of them.
He wandered about.
Yes, all of them.
Nothing special,
What about them?
Nothing interesting.
They walked backwards.
Of course it had to be.
Simple as that. They walked backwards.
But the man wandered more.
The man had no problem with that.
Then he came to a dead end,
They were all he had.
Only that it was not a dead end.
What choice does he have?
• 64 •
So he walked backwards himself.
But turns out,
It was difficult,
He could not fit!
But he will eventually become better.
And the wall in front of him now,
Time passed.
Was plain. With no doors for him to open.
A lot. Wait, did it?
So what else can he do?
No. Yes. Good.
But to take the other door at the side.
But he didn’t get better.
Yeah. Why not?
He fell,
He walked up to it.
He collapsed,
Tried to push it open
And finally, gave up.
Was it going to be hard?
People stared.
Just like the other doors were?
“What was the problem with walking properly?”
Maybe.
Apparently, it was a problem.
No. It was not.
The man had enough.
It slid. Easy.
He did not like this.
But he knew. This door meant something different.
So he moved on.
He could not see anything past it.
Next car.
He felt scared.
Hope. Faith.
Dark.
Will he finally find something he could do?
Cold.
Perhaps, just by chance, maybe,
Still, he was tired.
The people there walked forward.
Of opening doors? Yes.
Yay! That pleased him.
But mainly of people.
But as he looked closer into it,
He was even more scared of “them” than the dark.
He noticed.
So he gathered up the courage and took the step.
Just like before.
That was the story.
The people were speaking.
The man opened his eyes.
Only in a different language.
He was somewhere else.
He tried,
Where?
Yes he did!
Why, of course he is mid air.
Very. Very. Very.
Where else could he be?
But no. This wasn’t the place.
He took the step you know?
No.
He is falling.
Move
He has, I guess like..
No.
Two seconds left? Or three?
Pass.
So, just note that.
He walked.
It kills people.
Passed doors.
It does, I mean pointing at people.
Tried everything.
Just because they are different.
Carried on with hope.
Good bye...
• 65 •
The Movement of Social Structure:
Ageing Society Nowadays, people live longer and healthier lives; the increasing life expectancy represents a new trend, which is potentially very dangerous: an “ageing society.” While global ageing represents a triumph of medical, social, and economic advances, it also represents difficult challenges. Population ageing strains social insurance and pension systems, and changes existing models of political support. Furthermore, it affects economic growth, trade, migration, and politics on a global scale. Over the past few decades, there has been a decline in fertility rates combined with an increasing life expectancy worldwide. Since the very beginning of human history, the number of children outnumbered the number of elders. However, for the first time in history, people aged 65 and older will outnumber people under 5 years old. This trend is recognised all around the globe and today, around 500 million people are aged 65 or more, accounting for up to 8% of the world’s total population. Our generation is experiencing an unprecedentedly rapid ageing of society. A significant cause of population aging is low birth rate, which is the result of the following factors: individualism, elevated status of women, financial burden, and structural changes in society. Individualism is the idea of pursuing an independent and self-reliant lifestyle and, for some people, it means being single, or, for others, ‘DINK’. DINK stands for ‘Double (or dual) Income No Kids’, which refers to couples who wish to have no kids. DINK couples prefer to spend what they earn for themselves and enjoy living as a family of two; it is obvious that they contribute to the lowering of national birthrate. Another key factor that contributes to an ageing society is the elevated status of women. In the past, even until the 20th century, women had equal opportunities as men in neither education nor work. However, today, as the traditional gender roles have been much diluted, a great proportion of women are capable of living their lives independently, free of social and circumstantial restrains. Another significant factor that hinders couples from
Kyung Joon Jang, Year 11
having babies is the burden of high living costs. Whilst the government spends about 15.5% of its total budget on education, it costs an astonishing amount of 262 million won to bring up a child until graduation from university in South Korea, according to a report by Kim Seung-kwon, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. The report, which is based on a survey of a total of 9,705 households with children, argues that the heavy burden of child rearing is a major cause for Korea’s low birth rates. As the child grows, so does the cost. This can be seen through the following statistics. It costs 24.66 million won to raise a child in the first three years after birth and 29.376 million won for the next three years. Some 63 million won is then needed during the six-year elementary school period, 35.352 million won for the threeyear middle school period, 41.544 million won for the three-year high school period, and 68.112 million won for four years at college. That is up 4,260,000 won or almost 2%, from the year before. The costs were calculated without taking additional and unpredicted expenses into account such as leave or absence from school, added preparation for the college entrance exam, or overseas language training. All in all, if you add up all the costs that you need in order to raise a child it becomes, without doubt, an enormous sum of money. Moreover, the change in the industrial basis of the country can also be regarded as a cause of low birth rates. South Korea had always been an agrarian society, even until the first half of the 20th century, where individual families cultivated their own fields and ran their own farms. Since children of the household were often employed to assist in the works in the family farm, it was common for families to have as many children as possible; as cruel as it may sound, one additional child meant one additional worker. However, society has since been industrialised, and most families do not need a large household; naturally, the traditional custom of having as many babies as possible has faded into the past.
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Some governments have already started to plan for an ageing society, but lots have not yet begun. However, it is vital for us to plan for the future since, without preparation, a rapidly ageing society will lead to devastating consequences. A method to tackle the shortage of workers and pension pressure is to raise the retirement age. Businesses can play a role in encouraging older workers to continue working, and they can in turn benefit from such workers’ experience and reliability. Allowing flexible schedules, offering ongoing training in new skills, providing wellness programmes, and re-allocating physically demanding tasks to younger workers are measures that can help retain the older demographic of the workforce.
the lines of the system they have in Chile. People taking an interest in where their money goes generally provides the necessary oversight on keeping pensions on track. Global ageing could trigger a crisis that engulfs the world’s economy. This crisis may alter democracy and economic decision making itself. By making the right choices, the current generation should demonstrate that they genuinely care about the future, that they understand this one and only opportunity for young and old nations to work together, and that they value the price of democracy.
In terms of personal solutions, the best method to avoid the negative impacts of the ageing of society is to save one’s earnings. One of the most important theories of saving is the life-cycle model (LCM), which proposes that people borrow when young, save when middle-aged, and spend savings when old. The private sector of the economy will account for a larger share of the nation’s saving in the future. Maintaining private saving in the face of potentially increased public dissaving will be critical for continuing future economic prosperity. While changing demographics may increase private saving, the government should also create appropriate incentives for private saving. Unfortunately private saving reduces current consumption; what might be good for the individual is not necessarily good for the economy. Government can force savings on an economy by taxing the citizens more than the government spends. The funds raised need to be put to good use providing a return. The private pension industry could be encouraged not to take exorbitant risks with money and pensions could be made more transparent. People do not invest enough in their pension because they can’t afford to or because they don’t trust the pension industry. Government could take over the role of pension provider completely but let individuals choose how their pension money is invested, along Illustrated By Tom Lee, Year 8, Jeoji
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An Interview with Chris Chi, an IB Art Student
Who started this project? Meand Kelly Kyeong Min Kim, my fellow artist friend.
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Jessica Jeong Year 9 Sarah
What inspired you to do this project? I was lucky to find an inspiring artist inside the school; Ms Sonmez. If you go inside her classroom, you can see lots of photographs of recycling artworks produced by her students from her last school. I was attracted by the bohemian feel the recycling artworks had- I felt it was so liberating because it requires nothing but one’s creativity.
Have you got any idea of how it will turn out in the end? It would be great if you could outline the steps in planning and the overall result you expect.
What are the boundaries between artwork and rubbish? And how can a ‘rubbish’ be an art? If you name it as “art”, anything can be an art. There is a famous saying that “Understanding art is like having a sense of humour - if you don’t have one, no amount of explanation is going to make you laugh.” ( Michael Craig-Martin) Everyone has their personal definition of what art is, just like individuals have their own humour code. You can make any object an artwork if it has its own story. Great artworks throughout history have elements which challenge people’s perceptions and definitions of art through experimental artworks, sometimes even through live performances (like the ‘Sleeping Exhibition’ in the Tate Museum)! Moreover, Art depends on the eye of the beholder. The viewer might interpret the artwork completely differently from the artist’s intention.
We’ve ordered 2 heat guns to melt plastics (such as plastic bottles, plastic bags…) So I guess using the heat guns would be the highlight of this workshop because this is the first time where we try to use it in our school. Thus, we have decided our overall theme as “Liquify”. After I introduce some of the artists to inspire the students, we will start to create a contemporary art piece using the recycled materials as a whole group. The students will be working in the Green Gallery where the piece will be exhibited after the workshop. This is because the size of the artwork will be huge at the end, and it will be very difficult to move it through the lift if we work in a classroom. The workshop will require some ability to handle heavy tools such as screwdrivers, electric saws, hammers, and the heat guns. Plus, we will have a small celebration party after the workshop has finished- hard works will be rewarded!
How many people are you thinking of inviting to project? Any students from year 8 to 12 are welcome to join the workshop. We especially welcome those who: 1. needs to liberate their hands from oil paints and the pungent smell of the turpentine. 2. have the creativity and interest in art, yet are not confident with their technical skills. 3. have the passion for art and are willing to create something extraordinary. 4. needs somewhere to release their stress from their exams. We hope to see many of you join this exciting project and become a part of a vibrant artistic community!
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NeuroscienceBrainy Science! Sarah House Year 10 Sunghee Kim
Along with Artificial Intelligence, such as Alphago, the area of Neuroscience is also becoming a hot issue these days. Neuroscience is the research of how brains work. It deals with the structure or function of the nervous system and brain. There are lots of nerves and cells that work in our brains, and some which are very vital for our lives. For example, the memory cells are cells that help us remember things, even tiny issues that happened to us. More and more scientists are carrying on doing their research on neuroscience, and they found out lots of different facts about the different cells and nerves that exist in our brains. Some of the main research and their results are listed below.
Synchronised Brain Waves Help Integrate Memories The human brain can integrate information from different kinds of memories and can induce indirect relationships. This function of the brain is very important since, without them, we can’t be called as “humans”. This critical function is composed of the brain waves or theta oscillations. The brain is organised by the waves that come into the brain, and out of the brain. Theta, a type of a brainwave, is very fast and is also very important for memory. Neuroscientists conducted a study in which they combined these two observations together and proved that theta oscillations are very important for memory integration. Your Brain Has a Unique Blueprint that You Can Be Identified By New research shows that a person’s response to certain things reveals a lot about them. In Binghamton University, researchers recorded the brain activity of 50 volunteers who looked at a series of 500 images. Each volunteer had a different brain reaction, even when they were looking at the same image. These brainwaves can be used for security systems, to verify one’s identity. In fact, they have higher security than fingerprints. Fingerprints can be stolen, and a new one cannot be made. On the other hand, brain-
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waves are cancelable. This can hugely help places which require high security, for example, the AirForce. Neuroscience Explains Why Dieters Rarely Lose Weight A new study found out why dieters cannot lose their weight so easily. According to the research, the chance of an obese person attaining normal body weight is 1/210 for men and 1/124 for women. This rate actually becomes smaller when the person is more obese. This suggests that the current weight management programs on dieting are actually not effective in reducing weight. The brain uses metabolic suppression, keeping the body within a certain weight range. The range is different from person to person and is determined by genes and life experience. When one’s weight becomes lower than the range, one’s body burns fewer calories and produces more hungerinducing hormones. This brain response is one of the major reasons why dieters have such a hard time losing weight. The research also shows that people can rather gain weight than lose weight when people are on a diet. As people restrict the calories in their diet, the brain produces stress hormones, which sends signals to the fat cells to increase the amount of abdominal fat, which can be very harmful by not only making people fat but also by causing different kinds of heart diseases.
We are still only just starting to understand how our brain, arguably the most important organ in humans, works. It is yet an area of mystery and unknowns, but that’s what makes it all the more attractive. Understanding how our brain works may bring us closer to the question humans held since the ancient timesWho are we?
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Winners of the Standard Chartered Bank Essay Competition
Learn about money before you pay $20,000 to major in French poetry CION CHOI, Year 10 Geomun As mentioned in the news frequently, high school graduates who struggle with college debts are increasing in number every year, but nothing seems to change. According to an article from Time, college seniors who graduated with student loans in 2010 owed an average of $25,250, which was a significant 5% increase from the previous year. Those debt-carrying graduates also faced a tough jobs market, as unemployment for college graduates hovered at 9.1%. This means that the students are facing a “record-high debt in the age of record-high unemployment.” College graduates, who should be following their passion and exploring the business world, are being ankle-bound because of debts. Why is this the case and what can we do to change it? The main reason why college graduates suffer from high debts is because they are not able to weigh how much money to invest. After all, college is an investment in yourself and, like any other investment, it is important to spend the appropriate amount of money for the anticipated return and, to increase your return, you need to be able to earn money. However, many students have a fear of certain financial tools – some students even say that they will never own a credit card. Therefore, schools need to teach them how to make informed and responsible choices by understanding some basic financial tools, hence high school students need financial education. Financial education can be divided into two large categories: economics (a study of how people
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use resources, discussing issues related to recessions and wealth), and financial literacy (personal finance areas like insurance, saving and tax planning, as well as basic knowledge of financial concepts like compound interest and the mechanics of a credit card). Both areas need to be taught in high school to ensure that students are fully prepared to move onto university and further gain employment in the harsh business world. First of all, having financial literacy can help the students immensely because finance is an essential part of life that everyone should understand to function effectively in their everyday routine. For example, understanding about the mechanics of a credit card is very important, since no one can carry hundreds of five-dollar bills in their bag every time they spend a big amount of money at once. It is an advancement people have made to make trading easier, and to be prepared to adapt to that system in high school would be a huge advantage. Instead of waiting until university to learn about these essential concepts, learning about it in high school can make students feel more confident and comfortable when they move into the real world. Secondly, financial education can also teach students how to earn money itself, by informing them about investments and stocks. For students who are not able to spend lots of time doing part-time jobs, investment in stocks can help them afford their college enrollment fees, this being many high school students’ primary concern. For example, by learning about concepts like ETF funds or speculating, students will be able to make responsible decisions independently, to earn money through stocks with a relatively low risk of failing. Also, these investment
skills can help them in the future, especially with long-term investments to prepare for after retirement. Furthermore, not only is financial literacy important, but learning the subject economics can also increase the chance of employment for students because many occupational sectors in the future will depend on students’ knowledge about money and finance. For instance, at the corporate headquarters of an electronics company, an analyst tracks sales, costs and profits at their stores. If sales have increased, she investigates whether more people are buying laptops compared to phones, or if the average sale is higher, or if costs are down due to importing cheap material. Her research will impact marketing decisions. She does this regionally, as well as comparing her chain’s numbers with national economic data. This is the reason why companies’ employers always seek people with a deep understanding in economics. Therefore, to learn about economics in high school opens opportunities for employment, even if one does not choose to major in economics in college. One way or another, financial education is the key to earning and managing money. Finance is so deeply integrated in our daily life that we almost cannot function without knowing about it inside out. Financial education can open job opportunities in various employment sectors in the future and, most importantly, help students to manage their own money independently. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to learn about how to manage your own money before spending it on learning any other subjects. After all, knowing how to use a credit card is incredibly important.
Bibliography lnvestopedia (2016) Financial Literacy. [Online] Available from: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-literacy.asp [Accessed 28 April 2016] Forbes (2015) Career advice for economics majors. [Online] Available from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2015/04/29/career-advice-for-economicsmajors/#5dad794c570b [Accessed 28 April 2016] Time (2016) College Graduates Face Record-High Debt In the Age of Record-High Unemployment. [Online] Available from: http://business.time.com/2011/11/04/college-graduates-face-record-highdebt-in-the-age-ofrecord-high-unemployment/ [Accessed 28 April 2016] Edutopia (2011) Financial Literacy for High School Students. [Online] Available from: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/financia-literacy-high-school-students-brian-page [Accessed 28 April2016]
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Winners of the Standard Chartered Bank Essay Competition
The Newest Silver Bullet or the Bullet of Nightmare?
: Microfinance’s tragic failure by Daeun Allie Lee Year 10 Jeoji
Microfinance is being named the ‘newest silver bullet’ to reduce poverty in developing countries enabling the poor to establish incomegenerating activities, according to Garmeen bank founder and microfinance pioneer Yunus. However, Yunus’ microfinance model is based on a mistake: proving microfinance is no solution to developing countries’ problems such as unemployment and poverty. The mistake lies in Yunus’ failure of recognition that the problem in poor communities is not a shortage of supply of needed goods or services, but the consuming power to obtain these items. According to the idea of microfinance, individuals establish an ‘income generating activity’, by generating profit with the sale of goods where the capital is financed through small loans. Because the supply of new sellers does not form its own demand, microfinance only helps the creation of unwanted local suppliers of goods and services and does not provide any further source of income to buy the surplus. Hence, new microenterprises formed by microfinance in developing countries, and also lately in developed countries, fails to attract new clients, but takes away consumers already supplied by others. Greece, for example, along with several developing countries, had more than half of its existing and new microenterprises close due to insufficient local demand from this reason. Moreover, cramming new microenterprises into povertydriven communities provokes hypercompetition, leading to cheaper prices, widening the gap between the middleclass consumers and the poor, and a reduction in profits and wages: it does not reduce, if not worsens, poverty. Hence, informal microenterprises created by microfinance demonstrate a very high failure rate all over the world, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina which placed low in World Bank’s Doing Business Index despite the mass input of microfinance. These combinations of factors contribute to why microfinance used to form microenterprises fails to create any net additional income or employment. And with few opportunities in the market, the fact that poor individuals increasingly get involved in microfinance just to support their consumption spending than to create an income generating activity, as the World Bank Group’s global financial development report suggests, is predictable. This might solve a household crisis in short term, but, the long term consequences mean microfinance evolves into ‘a bullet of nightmare’. For instance, the black poor majority in South Africa after 1994 were encouraged to get involved in informal microenterprise activities supported by microfinance. However, the poorest black rural communities and towns in the region were already well supplied with goods and services: very little space in the market was available for any more. As a result,
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selfemployment income decreased by 11% per year, from 1997 to 2003, intensifying poverty in poor communities in South Africa. As a result, many individuals started to take out loans with microfinance to take care of things immediately, for things like water, food or to repay old loans. Eventually only 6% of the 50 billion in the microfinance industry in Africa was lent to microenterprises and the rest was consumer personal loans. These loans, along with the interest, couldn’t be covered by the current income of the borrowers and was unable to be repaid: loans having been used to avert the problems of immediate survival, not to accumulate more earnings. The final result? Pressurized banks, a lifeless housing market, and ‘an endless borrowing cycle’ of individuals in debt: all now severely threaten the stability of South Africa. Yet Africa has the most self employment ventures per capita and informal microenterprises in the world. Developing continents, like Africa, are increasingly using their limited domestic financial resources in informal microenterprises, massively generated by microfinance. This hinders developing countries’ establishment of longer, sustainable development. Formal and ‘minimum efficient scale’ businesses are often regarded as one of the most powerful influences behind productivity growth, whereas informal microenterprises contribute much less. By channeling limited financial resources into inefficient microenterprises, the resources are diverted from more productive enterprise activities: holding back the region from its maximum development. Moreover, by inflating the informal sector with the expense of formal business, microfinance has weakened the most productive: they are being pressurized by competitors in the informal sector that have lower costs because they are informal. This problem exists globally: the emphasis on self employment and microenterprises has been critical for India, where the average firm size is onetenth size of other firms in developing countries. With decreased productivity, wages only fall: 97% of the working poor in India are yet to earn enough to escape from poverty. Jobra in Bangladesh is the iconic village where Yunus first introduced his microfinance model. Today, it remains as underdeveloped as it did in the 1970s. Although individual stories thrive to advertise the socalled positive effects of microfinance, it is clear that it did not have visible positive progress in the village or around the world. Yunus promised mankind the alleviation of long rooted problems such like poverty in developing countries. Instead, massive input of microfinance, undermining the local economy, only brought a significant problem of overindebtness: and is therefore, no solution for the developing countries.
Bibliography http://nextbillion.net/nexthoughtmonday12014thetragicfailureofmicrocredit/ http://www.socialeurope.eu/2012/05/creatingjobsinrecessionhitcommunitiesineuropewhymicrocreditwillnothelp/ http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTFR/Resources/BosniaFeb07Klapperetal.pdf http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2103831,00.html https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/16238/9780821399859.pdf?sequence=4 http://www.gprg.org/pubs/workingpapers/pdfs/gprgwps010.pdf http://www.mondaq.com/x/274240/Microfinance+And+Poverty+Alleviation+In+South+Africa http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/20120807debttrapsthesilentkillersofthesasvulnerable#.Utmc92Qo4zU http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/microfinance_misses_its_mark/ http://www.businessinsider.com/hundredsofsuicidesinindialinkedtomicrofinanceorganizations20122
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Mind Full or Mindful? WONSEO CHO Y11 MULCHAT
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In the rush, especially when you try to finish your tasks or revise your subjects, you might find yourself losing your awareness with the present, missing out your current moments or feeling as if you live to die. You do your work robotically without any great awareness of consciousness. Mindfulness is the skill of being fully present and fully aware, promoting awareness - processing information and aware from moment-to-moment. You’re just aware of what is, plain and simple. Mindfulness isn’t just thinking positively. Affirmation is to deliberately remove negative thoughts, a way of controlling the mind in a positive behavior mindset and forcing oneself t o t h i n k i n a d i f fe re n t way. T h i s method could be beneficial, however it may eventually lead to a state of disappointment or anxiety when old persisting thoughts return. Modern researches say mindfulness could be revised by meditation —
improved by training attention and being fully aware in order to bring m e n t a l p ro c e s s e s u n d e r g re a t e r voluntary control, resulting in enhanced mental development and precise capacities such as calmness, lucidity and concentration. Meditation could decrease rumination via disengagement from perseverative cognitive activities and enhances attentional capacities through gains in working memory. Overall, mindfulness gives you an awareness with the present moment and gifts the operator with a connection to the real world, followed by benefits such as decreased rumination via disengagement, enhanced mental development. On the other hand, mind full makes you absent from the richness of life, worrying about what has happened in our lives and how it will be. When your mind awareness, desire, and intention has come, you are already mastering the skill of paying attention and being mindful.
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Nepal:
Before and After the Earthquake Year 10 Yuna Jung, Tina Kang, Yeasung Lee
Thanks to our school providing us with an outstanding range of cocurricular activities and trips, we were lucky enough to visit Nepal twice in the last two years. Embracing the world famous Himalayan mountain range and Mt. Everest, often called ‘The Top of the World’, Nepal is a dream destination for many tourists and, especially, hikers. Nepal has a great diversity of people from different religious, cultural and ethnical backgrounds. Despite many differences, the people are likewise kind, caring and, most of all, always smiling. We are grateful to have visited this beautiful country with the most affable people twice and especially because the two experiences were both with a purpose of service. Both trips achieved our goals successfully and we gained so much from them, but the experiences were even more contrasting due to the tragic 2015 earthquake that happened between the two trips.
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2015 was the year we first visited Nepal. Twenty
chance to visit some homes of the children and
students and four Korean teachers headed to
talk to people about their lifestyle and a little bit
Kathmandu, met amazing people from Moun-
of history. We didn’t want to leave the village as
tainchild, wandered around Kathmandu and its
we were entranced by the mesmerizing view of
UNESCO world heritage sites and got ready for
mountains and the group of adorable children
the journey to the mountains. Our final destina-
looking at us but we had to pack up and go. We
tion was Gatlang village, Langtang district after an
trekked down the mountain for two hours as we
eighthour bus ride. The Nepal team was divided
left the village, and had a great opportunity to
into four teams: music, art, sports and medical.
look up at the sky and feel the nature. Some fan-
We arranged some different activities such as
tastic photos, such as the Himalayan range from
washing hands, facepainting, playing football
the airplane and the view of Kathmandu, were
that would be meaningful to the children and for
taken and every single second spent with the
us. Since it was the first time for us to run classes
children up at the Gatlang village will be for ever
for children, the plan didn’t work as we expected
unforgettable.
and we had some issues while doing the activities. A lot of time was spent for replanning the
Due to last year’s earthquake, our Nepal team
schedules, arranging and splitting the children
was not able to go to the mountain village school
into different groups and improvising activities so
and instead had to go to a school in Kathmandu
that they wouldn’t get exhausted. We also had a
called the ‘Futurestar English Secondary School’.
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We expected to see traces of the earthquake such as lots of damaged buildings and people asking for help. However, the situation in Nepal was somehow different to what we expected. People were smiling brightly as usual and approached us first which made us feel more than welcome, helping us a lot to settle in quickly. Like last year, our team was divided into four groups: Medical, Art, Music and Sports. Along with the experiences and wellprepared activities that we had last year, our classes were conducted flexibly. The students were engaged and full of enthusiasm. When we entered the classroom, the students shouted the greeting ‘Namaste!’ and waved their hands energetically. Students greeted us as if we were celebrities and appreciated everything we did. Not only did we teach the students, but we also drew hopeful murals on the walls and cleared out the debris where a playground used to be, and made
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a basketball court for students to play with the money we raised at NLCS Jeju. Children looked for us and called our names during break and after school. They loved taking selfies with us and asked us to memorize their names. Right then, we realized that no matter what cultural differences there may be, we were similar in so many ways. Every single second spent in the school with the students was memorable and meaningful. The three of us had various advantages having gone on the trip before and after the earthquake. We experienced different service environments up at a mountainous village and an urban district. We were also able to overlook the difference of Nepal after the tragic earthquake. However we were surprised to find how there were not that much of a difference. Despite some physical damage and the long queues for traded goods, the people remained the same. Seeing them just as optimistic, welcoming and caring as before, we learnt a meaningful message. Feeling ashamed of being so pessimistic and swaying through extreme emotions after minor problems, we wanted to learn to become like the Nepali people. The two Nepal trips were more than worthwhile and have become an everlasting memory for all of us that taught us countless lessons we will keep with us throughout our lives.
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FOBISIA Golf Tournament
Peter Kim, Year 8, Noro
The Fobisia championships, held annually by
to our gate with little time to spare. Boarding
British schools in Asia, ranges from choral fes-
the plane filled us with excitement at the pros-
tivals to football. We have a report on the Golf
pect of missing out an entire week’s school as
Tournament from Peter Kim, Year 8 Noro, who
we set off on the journey. After several movies,
participated for the second time.
five glasses of Ginger Ale and an aching back we noticed that we had arrived in Malaysia with
While the prospect of an eight hour flight
a bit of a bump. We picked up our golf bags
ahead of you is not a comforting one, we were
and boarded the coach taking us directly to the
filled with pride to be representing NLCS Jeju.
hotel and bed.
Arriving at incheon airport, after a short flight from Jeju to Gimpo, and several minutes in the
The following day I woke up to a terrible fever.
queue, we passed airport security and headed
Thankfully this was the day of the practice
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round, which meant that I didn’t have to admit
tel rooms exhausted and bedraggled, to wash
my ineptitude in failing to complete a round
the sweat off our weary limbs.
of golf after coming all this way. This, being a practice round, the participants were allowed
The final round of golf for me was a time for
to choose their partners for the day. Naturally,
redemption, as I was far from satisfied with
the team opted to play their first round of golf
the previous day’s performance, despite the
with each other, specifically in year groups. To
fact that it was the best that I had done in any
be fair, the practice rounds didn’t go too well
competitive golf event so far. Determined to
for me or my teammates, however it did give
play a better round, I set off for the golf course
us a good idea of the overall course. I missed
with my fellow team members. Unlike the previ-
several of the holes, in an attempt to alleviate
ous day, we were not greeted by bad news but
my malady, without apparent success.
rather good, as, to our delight, we learned that Dowon was able to join us after several doses of
The morning of the first day of the official tour-
tylenol worked their magic upon him. See tyle-
nament, we were greeted by misfortune. Dowon
nol does do some good for people! The round
had fallen sick. Being unable to continue, he
sure did feel better for me but my score for the
was forced to throw in the towel and unfortu-
day was 98 once again, exactly the same as the
nately give up the chance to participate in this
day before. It was a similar story for the rest of
competition. We had seen, the previous day,
the team, with most of us having only minimal
the handicaps of our opponents, and thus had a
alterations in our scores. After our round of golf
rough idea of the challenge we were up against.
we went to have some lunch with the rest of the
The level of excitement in the air was tangible,
contestants where awards were given out. With
drumming away like the unrelenting movement
our energy replenished by the wonderful food
of a piston engine. And, after a briefing from
served at the nineteenth hole, we retired to our
the organisers, we headed to our carts for the
hotel rooms once again with the instructions to
game. The game, went fairly well for me consid-
dress up. Suitably sartorially attired, we all ap-
ering that I was playing with golfers with scores
peared in the lobby with weariness nowhere to
that averaged out 83 ~ 86. On that note, it was
be found. We headed down towards the Grand
evident that all of us, considering the level of
Ballroom where the rest of the awards were
play our opponents were used to achieving,
given out. Brian Choi finished in 60th place,
did a fairly good job. I scored 98 that day, Brian
Jason and I at 64 and 63 respectively, Ben Ko
Choi 100, Jason Moon carded 96, making him
in 71st place, while Suin Kim, Kang Ji Yun, and
the top player of the day from NLCS, Ben Ko
Minji Cho finished at positions 76, 77, and 84.
scored 101, Jiyun Kang 111, Minji Cho returned
We then headed immediately for our flights and
127, and Suin Kim carded a cool 109 (she usually
boarded successfully, and without delay. Eight
scores a lot better, averaging out in the late
hours flight time later we arrived at Jeju island
80’s to early 90’s, only she was playing with the
and settled down for lunch at a restaurant dis-
top three players of the competition as we later
cussing what went well and what didn’t during
found out). After delivering our scorecards to
the competition.
the appropriate authorities we retired to our ho-
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COMPUTER SCIENCE TRIP
CHLOE MOON Y10 JEOJI Computer Science Trip 2016 was the first trip for computer science department during the Easter holiday for ten days. We visited Silicon Valley, located in San Francisco, California.
THE SCHEDULE 29 Mar 2016: Stanford University Stanford University was sizable enough that students of Stanford University used to ride a bike around the campus. Red roof placed on top of every building in the university showed how the school has kept its tradition and symbol. There were many well-known places such as Hoover tower, Memorial Church, and Cantor Arts Center. Pine caterpillars that were hanging on the tree remained in my mind the most. 30 Mar 2016: NASA Ames Research Centre and Computer History Museum Contrary to what I thought, NASA Ames Research Centre included an insufficient amount of information about space and spacecraft! Students were disappointed by the display, but they bought a lot of souvenirs, which had a logo of NASA and space illustrations. Computer History Museum was full of facts about computer science, especially history of a computer, and its real models from the past. Although to be frank it was a little bit boring, it was surely a very educational tour. 31 Mar 2016: Berkeley University Tour In contrast to Stanford University, the building itself was modern and the colour was cement-grey. There are long-standing libraries and museums in the campus. We visited the school in the midst of school election campaign, so we could really feel the enthusiasm and vitality of the student body.
01 Apr 2016: Cisco Head Office Tour One of the staff in Cisco gave us a presentation about the role of Cisco in our everyday lives. We received two marvellous gifts: Cisco backpack, and a globe pen. We observed high-tech machines that allowed better performances of the personnel. 02 Apr 2016: California Academy of Sciences California Academy of Sciences is a scientific and educational institution that enables visitors to explore different climates and meet animals that live in certain areas. We also watched an Imax movie about space and the chair was surprisingly comfortable and relaxing. 03 Apr 2016: Alcatraz Island Tour Alcatraz is a notorious island that was once known as an inescapable prison during 1933 to 1963. We took the ship at San Francisco Bay. The tour was directed by an audio recorded by previous inmates and prison officers. Their voices were vivid and we could picture the life in the prison easily. The most memorable story was about three inmates who attempted to escape, whose corpses were never found. People think that they have died in the sea while swimming, eaten by sharks or ripped into parts by the harsh waves. 04 Apr 2016: Tech Museum The museum had many entertaining games that allow young children to learn the basics of computer science. We used our own barcode on our tickets to record our activities that we have completed. 05 Apr 2016: Muir Woods and Beach Muir Woods National Park contain world’s tallest tree, the Red Wood, that cannot be seen in other places in the world. We have walked for over an hour in the forest and even met Korean tourists, too. By lunch time, we ate our packed lunch while enjoying the beautiful view of the beach.
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THE INTERVIEW Sarah Hyun-Jin Kim, Y10 Q. What was your favourite place? Why? A. Union Square was my favourite place. It was a square in which two department stores and other many famous brands were located. So I could shop anything that I wanted. For example, I bought pretty shoes, cheesecake, nice shirt, and so on. Q. What was the event that you didn't like? A. I didn't like the walk in the forest because I don’t like exercising and I had to walk for more than one hour. It was so exhausting. Q. What have you learnt about computer science after visiting these computer science-related museums and companies? A. From Intel, I could learn the history of the computer chips. It was really interesting to know that according to the Moore's Law, the memory of a chip doubles every eighteen months! Q. Do you want to work in companies that handle computer in the future? A. I really want to work in the companies like Cisco, where it has high-tech facilities and nice foods. Q. Rate your satisfaction from 1 to 10 and tell us the reason. Can you suggest what can be improved? A. 7, because I like the places that I’ve visited but it would have been much better if the schedule was more carefully planned. I really anticipated our visit to the amusement park and yet we didn’t because the park was closed on that day. Kay In-Kyung Nam, Y10 Q. What was your favourite place? Why? A. My favourite place was the Cisco company because the way they presented their company as well as the features of the
building were very attractive. Also, the tour was very high-tech and a rare experience to have. Q. What was the event that you didn't like? A. I didn't like the fact that we didn't get to go to the amusement park. All of us were expecting a lot of enjoyment from this but the fact that we didn't have the opportunity to go was very depressing. It was not related to Computer Science but was certainly something that we looked forward to. Q. What have you learnt about computer science after visiting these computer science-related museums and companies? A. I learned that there is actually a lot more than what I know. Silicon Valley not only had famous companies such as Apple and Google but also many small scale companies as well as ventures. It really opened my perspective to the opportunities that I could get out from this. Q. Do you want to work in companies that handle computer in the future? A. Of course. I would be honoured to be able to work with many people interested in computer science from all over the world. Q. Rate your satisfaction from 1 to 10 and tell us the reason. Can you suggest what can be improved? A. 8. The whole trip was very relaxing and enjoyable. However, the amount of time that was lost in between events were worth a lot and I wish there was more of a fixed and busy schedule so that we could get the most out of the trip. The trip was overall entertaining and educational. The schedule not only includes a lot of beneficial sites for academic aspects, but also famous tourist attractions, such as Golden Gate bridge, and Alcatraz Island. Staffs in our school were amiable and they have guided us thoroughly although they were also unfamiliar with the region.
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To NLCS From The People We Will Miss Written by the staff leaving in conversation with Justin Cho and Yeasung Lee
“How lucky I am to have known someone who it is so hard to say goodbye to.” “It takes a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye.” It is finally the end of another whole year with the long summer holidays waiting ahead. Exhausted and urgent for some rest, the countdown towards the summer break has begun. However, despite the sense of accomplishment and the thrilling anticipation, melancholy co-exists as, when we come back from the rich and joyful holiday, some will no longer be here as before. Here are some messages from those people we will miss:
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Dr.Dean
The Kindest Teacher in the Chemistry Department and Jeoji’s dear AHM The best thing about this school is the people, especially the students. They are absolutely lovely and the classes that I teach will probably know that I like them. I love the Korean culture and particularly enjoy Korean food. As a package, being here has been very nice. I’ll miss the children so much. A particularly fond memory is the diversity. I have never taught in a school where they separate the boys and girls before and I like it. I especially like teaching the year 10 girls separately from the year 10 boys. It is a different dynamic. The girls are really fun and, with the girls, we joke together. However with the boys, I joke at them and they like it very much. They respond well. It is still joking, but it is a different classroom. Then Year 12 joke together and it is lovely. The message that I want to leave to the students is just to keep doing what you are doing. I think you all have a good balance, attitude and sense of fun. Just be yourselves. I am going to be based in New Zealand since my husband has got a job teaching there and I am going to do an international relief work. I love travelling, so I will go into schools around the world for short periods. I think it is a way to travel and meet lots of people.
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Ms. Mingham
The Strict but Most Caring English Teacher and Sarah’s Motherly HM
Q: What do you think you will miss most about this school? I have recently been thinking about this question a lot after someone asked me if I was going to miss the place. In a way, the simple answer to that is ‘no’. Places are just that. Places are places. But will I miss the people? Yes, very much! It is some members of staff, but also students as well. There are some for whom I have become very fond of them and a very small part of me regrets that I am leaving because I wonder what is going to happen to them, once I leave and I am no longer there for them. When you are here, you become a part of their world view for a while, but once you leave the school, you are just a distant memory. There are people that I will miss very much. Individuals, and sometimes classes. If you are lucky in the 4 or 5 years of teaching in a school, you will have one or occasionally two classes where it gels. It just comes together and that combination of people just seems to work and the whole becomes more than some of its parts. Then it creates its own feelings and becomes a very special experience. As a teacher, you treasure that. Last year and the year before, I had those classes and they are very special. They will stay with me for a very long time until they have long long forgotten me.
Q: Do you have any particularly fond memories? Rather than fond memories, I have very interesting ones. I know, remember and am very fond of my naughty Year 9s when I first came to this school. I lived on the 3rd floor of Mulchat right in the middle of these Year 9 students. And now, I see them walking around the school, pretending to be in Year 12. How did that happen? How can those people possibly be in Year 12 now? To have seen them grow, develop and become the almost adults that many of them are becoming, it is both amusing and sometimes shocking. I used to find them after lights out often reading or talking and now they are the Big Six, which is such a big change. So earlier on, I have some very fond memories. All of those revolve around the people here and it is the people that make this school. It is nothing else but the people who come here and what they put into it.
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Q: A message for the people at NLCS: You will be given so many messages from very many people and sometimes, you just have to ignore them all. You have to find your own way and what is right for you. However, don’t make assumptions. Even when you are about to go to university, don’t think a certain thing is what you are going to do and be. Things change massively and that’s good. Let it change. Sometimes things evolve in ways we couldn’t imagine. We find skills, strengths or interests in ourselves that as teenagers or even through our twenties, we never knew. When you do follow an interest, be open. Don’t shut off any other possibilities, because you will be amazed at what is out there.
Q: What are your future plans? Leading on from my message, even if I make plans, it doesn’t mean it is going to work out that way. Plans always have to be flexible. My first thing is to go back to England and France and re-establish contact with my family and especially my grandchildren that I miss terribly. The youngest one hardly knows me and I have only met him twice. I feel I have missed out on part of his growing up. That is a big reason for going back to Europe. I don’t want to be just a name that he doesn’t really know. After that, I am not totally sure. Even coming to NLCS was just for five months for Mrs.Waterson’s maternity leave and that was almost 4 years ago! In those years, I have visited places I have never imagined of visiting, but I have also discovered that there are a lot more places that I want to visit. So travelling would be my next plan. I would like to come back to NLCS, just to see how people are and that would be interesting. Officially, I am retiring, but in reality, I cannot imagine not working and teaching and being a housemistress. This is my 19th year being a housemistress, which is a crazy long time. But I have gained so much from doing it; to still be involved with young people and able to share their hopes, ambitions, thoughts and plans. Now that I no longer have deadlines and I can do things whenever I want, it is going to be bizarre to get used to.
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Mr. McAdams
Head of the Computer Science Department and Loved Noro Girls Tutor I have loved the students most at this school. It is rewarding to see people with no knowledge of the subject develop and progress and then start to do really exciting things. However it is not just the teaching, but also the relationship with the Noro Girls. I do feel a very strong bond with them. Even the Year 12s and 13s that were in Noro initially, when I see them, they say ‘hi’ and we chat. Its really nice! It is the same with the cocurricular as well. I have relationships with students I have never taught. So for athletics, people like Chloe Sung and Sam Ha, whom I have never taught, I have a very close relationship because I helped them with athletics for three years. Head and shoulders, above everything else, it is just the students. Fortunately, I will get to see some of you because I will still be living in the same house and eating in ‘Lamtaetae’. From that perspective, it is great. For the IB computer science students, if there is a concept that you do not understand and I happen to be in ‘Lamtaetae’, feel free to ask me and I am happy to explain it. I am still an IB examiner, so I will be able to help you. So I am moving on, but I am still here and I am hoping to develop the relationship between the schools more closely. I came here to build a subject and in terms of the free choices that you get for the last two years, computer science has always been a popular option. I really had a mission to encourage more girls into the subject, because I don’t want them to be disadvantaged. There are more opportunities for jobs, a great and wellpaid career in computer science more than in any other subject. I feel like I have established the subject and it will be an IB subject next year so I accomplished what I set out to do. I don’t feel like I am leaving here unfinished. It is now just a new challenge for me in terms of career options. I get to oversee a lot more. I especially love the IB profile, because I agree with the theories incorporated into the IB learner profile. This school is not just an English curriculum school which makes it great. The attraction to come to this school was that it was an IB school. It is just a great school. I just feel like the opportunities to develop my career are greater at Branksome at the moment. But I am genuinely sad. I am glad that I am not totally gone.
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Miss Eley
The Happiest Physics Teacher and an Amazing Noro Girls AHM I will miss the students the most, but also the swimming pool. I think there are certain students that have been quite inspiring for me in their work ethic and how they live their life trying to do as much as they can. So there are lots I will miss. There are quite a lot of fond memories, but I think some of the fondest memories of being here are the house competitions. Even though they are the most hard work, the preparation and the final nights for the singing competitions, drama, art, sports day and running are all the most memorable. Just remember that this is a preparation for your life. Although we work very, very hard, wherever else you go, you are probably never going to work this hard again. You will all be like a super student when you go to university. Good luck and please keep in touch and tell me what you are doing. I am leaving, then getting married and then we are going to go travelling possibly at some point, South America and North America and try to sail to different places. It is all unknown at the moment but going and having an adventure for a year. Then I will go find a year somewhere else.
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Ms. Lu
The strict but most hardworking teacher and loved Noro Girls Tutor I will miss my students the most. I think all my students in my Mandarin class are going to be missed. I won’t really miss the food here though... My fondest memory here would be getting first place in the summer fete. It was fun. I also would not forget how I had to communicate in body language here in Jeju. It was very difficult, but it is unforgettable. I guess I worked too much. I would also miss my desk. My students are the hardest working students in my entire teaching career. I hope they will be very successful and get into the university they want to go to. I will see you somewhere in this world someday. To my tutees, please be nice to your next tutor and make them feel welcome. I want you to make them feel like home so that they aren’t isolated. I want you to work as a team, getting along with everybody in the form. I am planning to go to Germany. I want to go because the people there are more sincere and since I like sincere people very much. I could live anywhere, but I have lived in Freiburg.
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NLCS JEJU SOCIETIES Korean Literature society Chair: Eojin Jang, Alisha An Secretary: Julian Who, Nicholas Park P.O.: Michael Whatever Meeting Venue: Mr. Lim’s classroom Meeting Time: Tuesday 1:10 (Packed lunches provided) Contact: shan17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr, ejjang17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: We are collecting poems, diaries, and short novels from yr1012 students in order to make a magazine. Committee members are organizing editors and designers. Also, we are arranging sessions for GCSE Korean language students, introducing the structure they have to use for their exams. Able front society Chair: Jamie Park Secretary: Lindsay Lee P.O: Jimmy Moon Meeting venue: SF 119 Meeting time: Monday 1:45 Contact: jmpark17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: We try to solve various global agendum from the perspective of different subject specialists. Instead of merely talking or discussing about topics, we implement action. History society Chair: Jamie Park and Mike Hong Secretary: Elizabeth Chang P.O: Kay Nam, Lauren Han Meeting venue: GS 21 Meeting time: Tuesday 1:45 Contact: jmpark17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr, thhong17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: We try to look at history from different perspectives. Many claim history be the record of the victors; we want to broaden our view to reach the “objective truth”. We are planning to publish a magazine at the end of this academic year! Mandarin society Chair: Jamie Park Secretary: Ashley Park P.O: in transition Meeting venue: Mr. Liu’s room Meeting time: Wednesday 1:40 Aim/ Explanation: We try to explore various customs and practices of China. Eventually, we aim to compare and contrast the Korean and Chinese cultural activities but this will take a very long time.
Amnesty Society Chair: Cion Choi Secretary: Sunghee Kim PO: Juhee Kim Meeting venue: SF25 Meeting time: Friday 1:10 Contact email: cochoi19@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/explanation: The Amnesty society aims to discuss human rights issues around the world and at home in South Korea. We also take part in petitions for ‘Amnesty International’, or set up campaigns of our own to raise awareness of the issue. Biology Chemistry and Medicine Society Chair(s): Ji In Joanna Song, Junwon Jun Yang (Yr.12) Secretary: Seo Hee Ahn, Jiyoon Julie Kim P.O.: Sam Ha, Sam Seo, Lindsay Lee Contact: jisong17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr or jwyang17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Meeting Venue: SF 316 Meeting Time: 1:40 Second Half of Lunch Aim/Explanation: Biology, chemistry and medicine, modern age technology have led to discovering unprecedented amount of extensive knowledge of science. This has led to extended life expectancy as well as convenience in that longer life. The study of Biology has lead to the study of Chemistry understanding of biological activities within organisms at a molecular level of understanding. Medicine is also based on chemistry and biolog. In our society we investigate complex relationships between these three subjects and the idea that without any of these subjects, others will not exist. In each meeting, our society delve into the individual subjects and chairs conduct a variety of activities that improve the knowledge of students. Music Society (aka Sonitas) Chair(s): Janice Kim (Y12), Minsu Yoon (Y12), John Yang (Y12) (There are in total three chairs who work in rotation on a termly basis so that there are two chairs at one given time, they share a piano stool between them). Secretary: John Yang (Y12) (When not being Chair) P.O.: Ted Cho (Y12) Contact: jwkim17@pupils.nlcs jeju.kr or cyyang17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Meeting Time: Thursday break time Meeting Venue: Music Office or Britten Room Aim/explanation: In an ever growing organization named Sonitas, we provide a platform in which any student with a passion in music can
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express themselves in a musical way regardless of their level of proficiency. We strive to find the hidden talents around the school and give them the spotlight they deserve. Ig Nobel Society Chair: Junhyuk Bryan Hwang, Euntack Ted Cho Secretary: in transition, but looking for a prize. PO: Sehong Kim Meeting Venue: Mr. Stevens’ room Meeting Time: Friday 1:30 but subject to change. Depends on how we read a chronometer. Contact email: jhhwang17@pupils. nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: We investigate ‘fun’ and useless science. It was inspired by the ig nobel award which is an award given to people who successfully investigated useless, crazy yet scientifically profound subject matter. By researching these fun topics, we aim at using science in unthinkable ways and inspire others through it. ThrillUS Drama society The Boss: Lina Kim, June Song, Tom Kim, Jinn Park. (Takes four to share the spotlight come and be thrilled by the fights!) Contact: jhokim17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: Creativity! Meeting venue: Drama Studio 1 Meeting time: 1:10 Thur Engineering Society Chair: Junhyuk Bryan Hwang Secretary: Seungwon Harry Rha PO: Daesun Ahn Venue: Ms. Singleton’s room Meeting Time: Monday lunchtime Contact email: jhhwang17@pupils. nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Investigation: The engineering society aims at investigating and learn the science behind engineering. While physics is a major course offered at this school, not many students are granted the opportunity to learn about the world of engineering. By making machines such as Sterling engines and by experimenting the machines are put to practical use, the engineering society will inspire students to a new world of physics. Devisers (Advertising Society) Chair: Junhyuk Bryan Hwang Secretary: Subin Sandy Hong PO: Jongwon Lee Venue: Art Department
Meeting Time : Wednesday breaktime Contact email: jhhwang17@pupils. nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Investigation: Devisers is famous in nlcs jeju for creating logos, posters and advertisements for other societies and events around the school. In our society, the members will come together to discuss advertising techniques, designing techniques and ways to improve artwork using digital media. Robotics Society Chair: Changhun Park Secretary: Ted Kim P.O : JiYeon Park Meeting Venue: GS311 Meeting Time: Thursday 1:10 Contact email: chpark17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: We learn how to use EV3 mindstorms and make a robot each term. We are also preparing for World Olympiad this year. We choose one robot we are going to make every term. Then we learn how each material functions and how to program it. Koreanology Society Chair: Yvette Kim PO: Youngin Seo Secretary: Kibum Baek Meeting Venue: BS111 Meeting Time: Friday 1:40 Contact: jekim17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: Koreanology is the study of Korean culture, language, people, geography, and history. We aim to cover all areas of Koreanology and inform the NLCS community (particularly to the nonKoreans) further about Korea. Conservation Society Chair: Minjoo Jeong, Yvette Kim Sec.: June Song, Minsu Kang P.O.: Ted Kim, Janice Huh Contacts: mjjeong17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr & jekim17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Meeting time: Thursdays 1:40pm Meeting Venue: Mrs. Fowler’s Class Aim: Conservation society is a brand new society that has launched in 2015, a combination of Geography society and Ecology society. One of the main aims of the society is to deal with global, regional and local issues related to conservation and to raise awareness of various topics including coral conservation and global warming. The other main aim is enjoy
ourselves! Really, the society members are composed of a small group of students who are passionate and deeply interested in either geography, ecology or biology. ISO Photography Society Chair: Dayna Shin Secretary: Hojun Lee PO: Jini So Aim/explanation: Our primary objectives are: • enrich the quality of arts in the school • revive the local community by social contributions through the medium of photography • encourage photography, share and amass knowledge and skills required to undertake photography, • provide a service for the community we are living in, that is accessible and comfortable, by integrating the notion of service into creativity and the arts. Meeting venue: Art department Meeting time: Friday 11:25 Contact email: dishin18@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr DAT Society (Design for Appropriate Technology) Chair: Jimmy Park, Younghoo Jun Secretary: Billy Han PO: Steve Sung Aim/explanation: • We are a society, focused on helping people in need around the world • Activities include: Group Study desgin Cooperation with EWB (Engineers Without Borders) and SEWB (Scientists and Engineers Without Borders) Participate in conferences held by SEWB Networking with students around the world Our ultimate goal putting our plans into action by joining professors to go to less developed countries and help them by providing them with technologies. Designing models could also be an option if we decide not to go with them. Meeting venue: Mr McAdams’s room (Boy school 2nd floor computer room) Meeting time: Friday 1:40 Contact email: jmpark18@pupils.nlcsjeju. kr, yhjun19@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Startup Society Chair: Bush Moon!!! Secretary: Jaemin Jeon Publicity Officer: Jaemin Jeon
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Meeting venue: G311 Meeting time: Anytime the members want to have a meeting (but we usually meet on Tuesday 13:15). Aim/Explanation: Startup Society is for heroic entrepreneurs in NLCS Jeju. They should not only have willingness but also capabilities to develop, organize and manage their venture companies along with any of the risks in order to make profits and change the world in their own unique ways. Contact email: yjmoon18@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Physics Society Chair : Younghoo Jun Secretary : Celine Tae Publicity Officer : Bryan Hwang Aim: Physics Society aims to provide its members with academic experiences that cannot be achieved through school classes. Therefore, the society provides various activities to members, including Weekly Physics, experiments and others. http://physocnlcsjeju.wix.com/physocnlcsjeju Fashion and Design Society Chair: Hannah Cho, Subin Park PO: Minha Kim Secretary: Kelly Kim Meeting venue: Art Department, Mrs. Collison’s classroom Meeting time: Thursday 1:40 Contact email: hjeecho17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr sbpark17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: Our society aims to provide opportunities that let students explore different expressions of art and creativity through different activities for those who are interested in design and fashion. This year we are planning to open a fashion show during arts week. We specifically focus on fashion and collaborate with students through various activities such as DIY. Forensic Science Society Chair: Chloe Hyun Jee Sung Secretary: Kyungjoon Jang, Hailey Cho PO: Jongwon Lee Meeting venue: Miss Singleton’s classroom Meeting time: Friday 1:10 Contact email: hjsung17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: 1. Make the subjects ‘forensic science’ and ‘criminology’ subjects that should be approached with a serious manner. 2. At the same time, make the subjects as
accessible as possible. 3. Simulate the lectures of criminology and forensic science by following the curricula of university courses and textbooks. 4. Understand the mechanisms of methods used in crime scene investigations through a series of experiments and activities. The World Scholars Society Chair: Rachel Cho Secretary: Sarah Kim (yr 10 Jeoji) Publicity Officer: Janice Huh Meeting venue : Mrs. Nesbit’s classroom Meeting time : Thursday 1 : 40 Contact email : ybcho19@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: The reason we established this society is to give students the opportunity to get a chance to learn how to study independently on subjects that they might not study in their own time. We discuss the topics introduced by The World Scholar’s Cup, and encourage students to enjoy learning and to have a more critical mind through debating and preparing for The World Scholar’s Cup. The Scribers Chair: Nikki Dayon Lee (Year 10 Jeoji) & Hannah Heewon Seo (Year 10 Jeoji) P.O: Allie Daeun Lee (Year 10 Jeoji) Secretary: Sarah Heejin Son (Year 10 Mulchat) Meeting venue: Ms. Sweeney’s classroom (GS) Meeting time: Friday 1:10 Contact email: hwseo19@pupils.nlcsjeju. kr dylee19@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: Our society aims to make picture books for young children. During the process our members express their talents in many areas, writing, drawing and editing. We donate these books to places around us in need, such as orphanages and public schools. We also donate our talents and imagination also actively in areas around us: for example, we are planning to open book art session with Year 5 this arts week. Japanese Society Chair: Jiyeon Park, Changhun Park P.O: Jinn Chun Secretary: Gayoon Park Meeting venue: SF220 Meeting time: Tuesday 1:10 Contact email: jypark17@pupils.nlcsjeju. kr, chpark17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr jypark17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: We learn Japanese words, including
Hiragana and Kanji. We also experience interesting japanese culture such as Origami, and Kagome. We sometimes learn by watc jyphing Anime. Animal rights Society Chair: Deborah Lee, Yvette Kim P.O.: Gahyun Kim, Yijung Kim Secretary: Taerang Lee, Dayeon Lee Meeting Venue : SF 24 Meeting Time: Monday 1:10 Contact email: jwlee17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr jekim@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: Understand and Raise awareness about animal rights issues in our local community. Fund raising and donating money to animal rights campaign groups and homeless animal shelters. Regular visits to a local animal shelter in Jeju city/ Seoul Unlimited (Dance Society) Chair: Minha Kim, Julie Jun P.O.: Kate Lim, Seungeun Kim Secretary: Tatiana Ermolenko, Gia Chung Meeting Venue : Halla Square Meeting Time: Wednesday 1:10 (once a half term) Contact email: mhkim17@pupils.nlcsjeju. kr, mjjun17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: Dance society is opened to any students who have passion and interest in dancing. We provide various opportunities for students who wish to perform and show their talents; unlimited night and a wide range of workshops from contemporary to Kpop dances. Philosophia Chair: Celine Tae Secretary: Subin Hwang PO: Jiyeon Park Contact: hytae17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/Explanation: In Philosophia, we aim to answer unanswered questions about the most obvious: What is morality? How do we define beauty? What is the meaning of life? Meeting venue: SF25 Meeting Time: Monday 1:10 Finance Society Chair: Julie Jun and Minki Park Secretary: Lina Kim PO: Mark Koo, Tony Son and Emily Kim Venue/Meeting time: SF313, Monday 1:40 Contact: mjjun17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr mkpark17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim/ Explanation: We, as members of finance society, aim to learn how
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investment and management work. For instance, we once held a stock market competition using the Investopedia programme; members are allowed to invest their money in any companies they want for a week. As a result of this competition, members became more aware of how the stock market works and how they should spend their money wisely. Not only this, but finance society is preparing various activities next year. Please feel free to contact us! International Relations Society Chair: Taehwa (Mike) Hong (thhong17@ pupils.nlcsjeju.kr) Secretary: Minki Park PO: Mike Yoon, Junwon Yang Venue/Meeting time: GS213, Friday 1:40 Aim/Explanation: From the war in Syria to the evolving relationship between China and Russia, we investigate current affairs and international politics through lecture and discussion. We go further than just the headlines on BBC and CNNwe use expert articles from magazines and organizations such as Foreign Affairs and International Crisis Group. Our society creates political scenarios that promotes critical and logical thinking that would eventually develop students into global leaders. Society Website: http://taehwahong.wix. com/ipsoc#!weeklylectures/c6ip Economics/Business management society Chair: Jungwoo Tony Choi Secretary: Seungwon Harry Rha PO: Kibum Baek Meeting venue: SF23 Meeting time: 1:40 Wednesday Contact: jwchoi17@pupils.nlcsjeju.kr Aim: To profoundly investigate andrevise areas in Economics and Business. Collaborate with others to expand knowledge and to apply in real life. Lastly, provide junior students with a taste of the subjects.
NLCS Jeju
San 1-6 Gueok-lee Daejung-Eup Seogwipo City 699-931 // Korea
Enquiries
+82 64 793 8004 Admissions@nlcsjeju.kr www.nlcsjeju.co.kr