Taipei American School | 800 Chung Shan North Road, Section 6, Taipei, Taiwan | blueandgoldonline.org | VOLUME XXIII, ISS. 01 | October 11, 2016
The Tech Cube: redesigning our future
Blueprints: A visualization of the Tech Cube shows the building fitting in comfortably with the rest of campus. [MR. PANTA]
By Shereen Lee TAS has just unveiled plans for its groundbreaking new campus project: a five-floor building for the school’s technology and design programs. Dubbed the “Tech Cube”, this new building aims to give students the opportunity to expand their explorations in STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. “We needed to construct a space where students can work together and grow by trial and error,” says school superintendent Dr. Hennessy. “Kids get so much more out of their education when they have room to make mistakes. The Tech Cube is going to [make] space for that.” Administrators hope that the Tech Cube’s futuristic design will inspire students to embrace the “arts” aspect of TAS’s STEAM initiative. “By planning the building in such a way, we’re making a statement. We’re saying that we want to be known for our innovative design,” says high school principal Dr. Hartzell. “We need projects at TAS to be both
practical and iconic.” The unique features that will shape our Tech Cube range from the stunning to the whimsical. While designers envision futuristic glass walls for the building’s top three floors, they also plan to build a slide for lower school students, in lieu of a staircase. “I like the playfulness of these elements,” says lower school technology and design director Ms. Asavavatana. “It appeals to the age group, and draws out the nature of STEAM.” The project, the latest in a string of renovations and additions to the school, is TAS’s largest undertaking since the addition of the Upper School Science and Technology building, or D-Block, in 2012. According to Dr. Hennessy, both the administration and the school board are aiming to “demonstrate support and commitment for all fields, academic and otherwise” with this project. “We’ve already made so much space for our students to excel in every other area: debate, arts, theater,” she says.
“We’ve made a stage for our dancers, but now we need a place for our scientists to ‘perform’. And perform, they will. The building will accommodate students at every grade level, allocating the first two floors for the lower and middle school, and upper three floors for the upper school. Architects plan for the Tech Cube to be nestled in between the Lower and Upper Fields and connected via Skybridge to A-block. It will contain a combination of labs, classrooms, and open testing grounds tailored to the needs of every program. The extra breathing room is also a much needed addition to the science programs at TAS. Participation in robotics and computer programs has shot up in the past few years, with space quickly running out for science classrooms. The TAS robotics program has grown exponentially since its founding: this past year saw the school’s robotics teams in cities all over the world, from the several states in the US to Germany. This student interest in technology
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programs often starts as early as lower school, when students are first introduced to the engineering process through elective classes and after-school activities. “We begin integrating basic knowledge with self-designed projects by grade four,” says digital literacy coordinator Ms. Rainbow. Because of this, high school students are wellprepared for challenging courses in STEAM when they reach the ninth grade. “Our students are going into high school with more background, interest, and skill than ever before,” Dr. Hartzell says. “TAS is really emerging as a leader in STEAM, simply because it’s a school with many talented individuals in the area. It’s what sets us apart from so many others in the world.” In a world that is constantly growing through technological innovation, this newfound interest in engineering holds incredible potential for students. And as Dr. Hennessy remarks, “I may not have a science degree, but I know is that this initiative is important for our students. I know it’s the future.”
Know all about NOVA By Amanda Huang
Returning for a second year, NOVA, an entirely student created and run event, was a huge success. As a class project last year, students wanted to create a positive social impact at school by giving all TAS students an opportunity to bring their ideas to life. In just three short days, 21 teams of students researched, designed, prototyped, and pitched their projects and ideas. Even though students were unable to come to campus on the day of the typhoon, NOVA student leaders implemented an online system for each team to create and submit a video pitch. The winning team for the Social Impact Track is Music for Bandipur. Bandipur, a rural village in Nepal, is a destitute area where students are unable to reach their full potential because they lack the resources to do so. Music for Bandipur strives to give international students an opportunity to teach Bandipur children music through an online mentorship program or travel to Bandipur to teach music in person. The winning team for the High Tech Track is Scriba. The Scriba is designed to help students focus better in class by providing a system that will help transcribe notes and lectures. Voice to document transcription technology gives Scriba the ability to record and even recognize speakers through video and audio and then transcribe whatever was spoken. Lastly, the winning team for the General Track is AvoTo. Their idea is to aid TAS students in creating a better academic path for themselves based on the student’s interests. Through a website and informational sessions, students will be better equipped to select classes they wish to take for the next academic year. Around the same time as NOVA weekend, the EARCOS teachers’ workshop was also going on. Teachers from East Asia participated in some workshops as well as observed the event as a way of learning about it. Mr. Ives says, “The EARCOS workshop is focused on innovation, social entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship so a lot of schools are increasingly trying to find ways to create opportunities for students to learn about innovation and social entrepreneurship.” Beyond supporting the entrepreneurial spirit, NOVA also provides an opportunity for students to work collaboratively on creative projects. Jeremiah says, “Students learn not to give up on an idea at the first sign of difficulty, but instead to think creatively to address an issue. ”
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
High hopes, high expectations By Anya Lai IASAS Volleyball will be hosted at TAS this year from October 19 to 22. This is the first time TAS has hosted it in 7 years, right on the heels of TAS Boys Volleyball 2015 gold win. Boys Varsity Volleyball head coach, Mr. Tobey, says, “the home team is always a dangerous team…as long as [they] play loose and relaxed... and [make] the most noise and have fun they should play very well.” Phoebe Kao (12), captain of the girl’s varsity team, believes that “whoever has the momentum will win the game.” According to Phoebe, having the home crowd supporting them will “help [the team] keep [their] energy up and hopefully shift the momentum to our side.” According to the coaches, being in the home court makes the team strong because it keeps the players concentrated. Often when TAS teams travel to another school they are distracted by other students and new experiences around them, so Phoebe says, “hopefully [home court will] allow us to just focus on our game and not get distracted by unfamiliar things.” Home court is not just a benefit for the team, but for the school as well. Girls’ varsity head coach, Peter Kimball says, “I hope that [their] play inspires younger students to see how much fun it is to play on a team so they
Tigers attack: Mone Sera (12) digs the ball .
[JUSTIN YANG]
Crowd watches tentatively: Andrew Hu (12) spikes the ball. [JUSTIN YANG]
will get involved in our developmental sports program.” The teams, however, still have obstacles to face: this year’s teams are very different than last year, as the boys have 9 new players and the girls have 5. According to Coach Kimball, the influx of “new players means this year’s team needs to spend more time learning their rotations and plays.” However, he does not think this will get in the way. As long as they trust each other, are confident, and “really believe that it can [be] accomplished,” then they may have a good chance of winning gold. The captains of the boys and girls varsity teams also mentioned that the players have to be in a strong and stable mindset in order to play well. Phoebe says, “we also have to make sure our team is emotionally and mentally okay.” The boy’s captain Jack Tobey (12) says, “when times are tough, you are expected to pull the team spirit up.” Both captains agree that chemistry plays a big part in the team’s success and as more games and practices go by, they will be more in sync. The coaches and captains hope that many students show up to support the Tigers during IASAS because as Jack Tobey says, “the mores fans [there are]…the better we play.”
The good, the bad, and the painful By Julian Lee
Almost a year ago to this day, TAS’s Leon Yim (Class of 2016) won the 5km race at IASAS Cross Country by an astonishing seventeen seconds. Leon has since flown off to college, as have other accomplished TAS runners like Kristina Koh (Class of 2016), TAS girls’ highest finisher in 2015. This year, IASAS XC will be hosted at TAS from October 20-22 for the first time since 2008, with 35 visiting runners from 5 other schools. But with the loss of so many leaders from last year, new faces will need to step up. 2015 co-MVP April Chu (12) has taken on the mantle of leadership for the girls’ XC team, and she is eagerly awaiting the chance to take on the IASAS competition one last
time. She says, “Having the Pi twins as co-captains makes me more excited than pressured for home IASAS.” She identifies the well-roundedness of the team as one of their main strengths this year, pointing out how the girls’ team is filled with athletes who “can sprint up hills, run forever, or outsprint everyone in the last 400 [meters].” Boys’ XC captains Ryan Wang (12) and Garett Huang (11) hope to fill the massive shoes left behind by Leon Yim, whom Garett calls “one of the greatest to ever run in a TAS uniform.” They have welcomed a slew of new additions such as Timothy Fuh (11), and Garett notes that every XC runner, from the most experienced senior to the newest freshman, is “extremely fit, passionate, and
Ready, set go: TAS Boys set off on their September 3rd race. [ALLISON LIN]
hardworking.” Both the Boys’ and Girls’ cross country teams have been training all summer in 30+ degree
It hurts more than your crush rejecting you, and that’s what makes us XC boys strong.
heat to prepare for the upcoming IASAS event. During the summer, the girls ran about 50 kilometers per week, and co-captains Victoria and Patricia Pi (12) even flew to Kenya
for a training camp. They described it as “absolutely amazing,” noting how they became “more motivated to run when [they] saw runners from all over the world train together at any time of day.” Garett also ran over 50 kilometers per week, equivalent to going from TAS to Taipei 101 and back—twice. However, XC training emphasizes both quantity and intensity. Every sport uses a specific dreaded workout to ensure that they have the grit and toughness to compete: drills like basketball’s 17s or girls’ soccer’s 7-minute mile have gained cult-like status. The Cross team’s equivalent to this is the VO2 max, the mere mention of which makes seasoned runners tremble in their spikes and beg their coaches for mercy. Thomas
Chen (11) views it as a rite of passing, declaring that “You are not a true part of the XC family until you do the VO2. It hurts more than your crush rejecting you, and that’s what makes us Cross Country boys strong.” Seventeen days remain until the starting gun of IASAS Cross Country 2016. Both Garett and April concur that “our biggest advantage this year will be having the home crowd to cheer us on as we race.” Come and support the Tiger Cross Country runners, as they seek reward for months of muscle aches more painful than a broken heart! IASAS Cross Country 2016 will take place at Taipei American School from October 20-22, 2016. The 5km race will be held on October 21, and the 3km time trial on October 22.
Team spirit: TAS Girls cross country pose with Coach Anderson in bright neon attire. [APRIL CHU]
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
New classes for the new year By Cherice Tsai and Melissa Cho
HONORS PSYCHOLOGICAL LITERATURE
Honors Psychological Literature: Students in the class show their active nature by posing for a candid shot. [MELISSA CHO]
Ms. Winton, both psychological literature and world literature teacher, taught this class in her previous school for about 20 years. Curious as to how TAS students would respond to this class, she teamed up with Ms. Lin to teach the class this year. When the class was officially introduced in last spring semester’s course catalogue, an astonishing amount of students signed up. Now, the course has five sections of classes over the course of the AB schedule. Choosing the course material was something both Ms. Lin and Ms.
Winton wrestled with. Ms. Winton stated that they picked texts that were the most “evocative,” spoke well with each other, and would “elicit responses and invite kids to engage with each other.” Both Ms. Lin and Ms. Winton hope students do not have a sense of closure when they finish reading an assigned book. Instead, they hope students develop a deeper sense of curiosity. The class becomes a success when students leave wanting more. A typical day in class includes thorough discussion on the characters. Not only do the discussions deal with
word choice, tone, and diction, but the discussions also offer students an unique way to evaluate characters. Students should tap into the characters’ mindsets and push beyond simple labels when characterizing characters they wouldn’t normally see. In order to excel in this class, students cannot stay passive. “This is a course that doesn’t work if you sit on the sidelines,” says Ms. Winton. Instead, both teachers encourage students to be open, to be curious, and to “embrace the gray.”
VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY This class provides students an opportunity to disrupt the way that information is taught and learned. With virtual and augmented reality you are transported to an entirely different environment within mere seconds. Consumers can “Google an experience.” With this new frontier, “the world of discovery and exploration is at your fingertips.” Moreover, Mr. Badgley, the virtual and augmented reality teacher tells us about the applicability
that virtual and augmented reality could potentially bring. “Imagine interviewing with a representative for your school of choice and you pull out a Google Cardboard and your smart device and lead the interviewer through your typical day at TAS. That experience would bring your resume and transcript to life in ways that words on paper simply cannot.” Mr. Badgley credits the formation of this class to “student interest.” He says, “We stand on the shoulder
sof four giants, one of whom is still with us and is the TA of the class.” The “four giants” Mr. Badgley refers to are the four brilliant individuals who made this class a reality: alumni Alex Chen, Magnus Hsu, Shine Chang, and current senior and TA of the class, Harrison In. “The students from last year,” Mr. Badgley says, “were instrumental in opening the doors to the possibilities,” and “creating the excitement around this course.” Drawing in air: Bethany Lai (11) doodling in the air while her drawing shows up on the computer using VR technology. [CHERICE TSAI]
ASTRONOMY
Infrared: The Astronomy class poses for a picture using an infrared camera. [MS. VINOD]
In just her second year of teaching at TAS, Ms. Vinod has created a class that is not offered in most schools: Astronomy. Because Ms. Vinod majored in Astronomy, a huge part of the class curriculum is extracted from her college astronomy class. Her goal in the class is to encourage students to be more aware of the complexity of the universe we live in. She thinks this class is valuable because there is
no other class like it in TAS or in any other school. Also, the class allows students to appreciate the nature of earth’s motion and universe’s vast sense of scale. Ms. Vinod hopes that at the end of the day, students do not perceive the class as something that deals with just math or physics. Instead, she hopes students can view science as an important means to understand the universe, and
to realize that astronomy is about “satiating the curiosity that we have about our world.” Although most of the time she teaches both Algebra 1 and 2, it’s indubitable that Ms. Vinod has a strong passion for astronomy. If you’re curious about the nature of how the universe works, be sure to sign up for Ms. Vinod’s astronomy class next year!
HISTORY OF THE MINORITIES The History of the Minorities course focuses not only on historical events but also on current events and their impact on minority groups. Groups that are studied include: women, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and the LGBTQ community. In the course, students are encouraged to analyze how stereotypes held against individuals of these minority groups are perceived and to consider how these individuals are portrayed in
media, on TV, and in advertisements. Indians and Bollywood. John Cho photoshopped into movie posters. The MAC Tribe collection (and cultural appropriation of the Native American culture). These are examples of things we see and talk about daily, but never truly analyze in an intellectual fashion. Ms. Sakamoto, one of the teachers for this class, is excited that the “open structure” of this course allows students to “discuss modern day implications” and “concentrat[e] on [ideas and kinds
of learning] they can’t do in a survey course.” “The format of the class sets it apart [from other classes],” says Dr. Soublet, another History of Minority teacher. “In class, students “target essential questions [and heavily engage in] seminar discussions.” The class endorses genuine thought underlying ideas or images we are exposed to but may not ponder on. “It’s good to have context and to study bigger issues,” says Dr. Soublet, and that is what this class attempts to offer.
Ponder on: The History of the Minorities class tackles current events and their effects. [CHERICE TSAI]
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MOVEMENT
It’s electric: Vincent Chen (12), Jesse Kao (12), Emily Chen (12), and Annie Yu (12) measure their jaw muscles’ electrical activity. [ROSALYN WANG]
How are we built? How do we move? How do we stay healthy and fit? This new semester course sheds light on the form and function of the body and how it moves by encompassing concepts in kinesiology, exercise science, and physical therapy. Typical activities done in the class include dissections and experiments. Ms. Chen, AP and honors biology teacher, reveals that this class has been “in the works” for quite some time. She says, “Exercise
physiology has gradually become a strong personal interest of mine since graduate school.” Ms. Chen says she “noticed a change in the attitudes of our students, particularly after the construction of [the] phenomenal Tiger Center. This facility increased student interest in maintaining fitness, strength, and a healthy balanced lifestyle.” However, she also realized that students were “consuming pre-workout drinks without knowing what they were
designed for.” Because of this observation, she thought that “a class such as this would help inform their decision making.” Ms. Chen enjoys how her class does not the follow the traditional AP/IB fast-paced curriculum. Not having to worry about preparing for a lengthy 3 hour exam at the end of the year, students have the privilege of learning detailed components and functions of our own bodies.
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Laziness is NOT an excuse! By Andrew Lin We are all at some point in our lives, guilty of being lazy. Sometimes it is even acceptable to be lazy—as long as you feel it is okay to be lazy. But laziness is often condemned by our teachers, parents and elder figures, and for good reason. Instead of taking a look at acceptable laziness, it is much better to see the negatives of unacceptable laziness and how it could impact your life on a much bigger scale. “Laziness is not doing something when you know you should and there is nothing stopping you from doing it, except for simply your choice not to do it,” says Mr. Montgomery, Upper School English teacher. When students feel lazy, they often delay doing school work and do something else completely unrelated. “Procrastination is not always laziness,” Mr. Montgomery says, “laziness can certainly play a role in procrastination.” Or, arguably worse, they still do the work but because of their lack of motivation, their effort and quality drops significantly. As long as we finish the work, it’s okay right? Wrong. Ask yourself: What do you gain from doing your work if all you did by “finishing it”
was copying most, if not all, of the answers from friends or websites online? Yes, you get a completion grade for your homework but you learn nothing from it. You do not get enough practice and you will not be prepared to face assessments. You will struggle and you will still have to relearn and practice the material to prepare for exams. It simply is not worth neglecting your work. It is completely fine to take breaks from work every now and then, but it is unacceptable to put off work because you don’t feel like doing it. Lazy students also can be seen as a burden during group work. “If you’re perceived to be lazy then that could affect people’s opinions of you or expectations of you or what they rely on you for,” Mr. Montgomery says. Group work emphasizes cooperation between individuals to finish a project and if a student is lazy and not pulling their part of the weight, it not only drags the whole group down but it also gives a negative impression of the lazy student. And here is the chief problem: this forces other group members to do more work than they should and if the group succeeds in their project or presentation, the lazy student gets the exact same grade as
the students who worked harder. It is unacceptable that a lazy student’s lack of care is transferred over as burden to other students. It gives a terrible impression to your group mates and you will have a reputation as a lazy student. On a much broader scale, laziness reflects your school work and reflects yourself. Every effort and quality you put into something will always be noticed by teachers, advisors and student peers. Here is an extreme example: A hard worker who puts in every ounce of effort in their work will be noticed. They will receive great feedback and that encourages them to continue doing what they have been doing. As the hard worker moves into college, a good work ethic is needed to survive the first few years and as they transition into adult life, they will need every bit of effort to get a job. The hard worker will be more likely to find success in the future. On the opposite end is the super lazy student who spends most of his time putting off his work until the last minute. The rushed effort put into the work will never be as good as that of someone who is willing to spend more time to make a quality
Pokemon Go isn’t the enemy: human nature is
The hidden pitfalls: Laziness may have unintended consequences. [ANDREW LIN]
piece of work.The lazy student will not get the same treatment as the hard worker and as they progress through high school and into college, and from college into adult life, their lackluster effort will hamper them considerably. Just think of the hard worker and the lazy student as sitting on opposite spectrums of a scale. It is not confined to just two types of people, there is middleground between the two spectrums. It is possible that a person can be hard working and lazy at the same time: someone who lives exactly at the midpoint of the scale and chooses to work hard sometimes and do nothing sometimes. There can be a person who is lazy for most
Warning! Hazardous Pokemon Ahead!
By Shereen Lee With Pokemon Go’s immense and sudden popularity, crowds of naysayers have risen up to battle it. Newspapers and Facebook feeds alike have been cluttered with reports of armed robberies at PokeStops and conspiracy theories about government data collection. Admittedly, the sudden wave of players has overloaded even the best servers in the world, leaving Pokemon Go seeming disorganized at best and dangerous at worst. But it isn’t all gloom and doom: Pokemon Go also has enormous potential for growth beyond the gaming sphere. A company value of $18 billion, combined with the support of 21 million users, could allow game developer Niantic to push the boundaries of augmented and virtual reality. Pokemon Go also encourages individuals to explore new aspects of their environment —sometimes for the first time in their lives. According to reports from Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal, and more, monuments around the world have seen spikes in attendance of up to 60 or 70%. More people have begun to visit and donate to national parks because of the abundance of Pokemon there. In doing so, they not only improve their personal health, but also revitalize underfunded and neglected public spaces. Some historical monuments, explains a National Public Radio article, need up to $12 million to maintain, and encouraging families to visit is the first step to boosting funding.
of the time but works hard for one or two specific school subjects. There can be a person who works hard for most subjects but also shows a lazy side to a certain subject. Keep in mind that people can move up and down the scale just like if a hard worker suddenly becomes lazy for a small period of time or if a lazy person becomes a much harder worker later; this is something that is not fixed permanently. It is always possible to change your lazy habits. Just because you are lazy now does not mean you will forever be lazy. Laziness is a human habit that can be overcome—but the only person who has the power to do so is you.
By Andrew Lin Even if some pundits claim that these games are destroying personal relationships, change is no excuse to refuse technological innovation. Social norms constantly shift based on the developments occurring around them, and people have the responsibility to use technology wisely. Similarly, the accidents happening “because of Pokemon Go” are not really happening because of Pokemon Go. They are happening because of people—people who are willing to break the law in order to catch small, digital animals on their iPhones. The Pokemon Go stampede in Beitou on August 22nd this year, for example, was the result of people prioritizing Pokemon over traffic rules. The game did not create an uglier side to human nature: it only revealed it. And that is arguably a good thing. If scientists and legislators can use the Pokemon phenomenon to analyze what makes people willing to trespass on private private property for the sake of a Pikachu, our legal systems can be modified to fit human inclinations. This would not just solve the game’s problems; it could also e-Raticate traffic problems entirely. While Niantic—and the world—still has a long way to go before Pokemon Go is safe, the game has the potential to improve our lives. So don’t be a Snorlax: get off your couch and go catch ‘em all!
Is Isolation Inevitable: Humans have debated this question for centuries. [XKCD.COM]
Trying to catch ‘em all on the streets? A Snorlax unexpectedly pops up next to you and the next thing you know, a massive human stampede tramples you and sends you to the hospital for a few broken bones. Trying to catch ‘em all while walking across the roads? A speeding car slams into you, sending you flying 20 feet before you land with a broken leg. Oh what tremendous fun! Niantic’s Pokemon Go app (available for iPhone and Android) was extremely well received by the public, with over 100 million downloads within the first month of its release. Its realworld location program was creative but above all, Pokemon Go finally gave everyone a chance to do something that they had always dreamed of doing: catching Pokemon in real life. As the popularity of Pokemon Go soared in the coming months however, so did the question of public safety: what are the hazards of playing Pokemon Go? The first thing that comes to my mind has to be the potential for accidents. A common saying that our parents or grandparents have directed at us when we were small children was: “Don’t play on the streets!” Pokemon Go players are susceptible to getting hit by speeding cars, walking into obstacles like street lights, or entering dangerous construction areas if they are not conscious of their surroundings. The potential consequences range from minor scratches to death itself, which is something all of us would like to avoid. Just search Pokemon Go accidents on Google and you will see a collection of incidents connected to Pokemon Go. Playing Pokemon Go, while being oblivious to one’s surrounding area, can harbor disastrous results. Another potential problem that has appeared for Pokemon Go players is the threat of confrontations with others—be it an ambush by thieves or an argument for trespassing. While the number of cases of robbery using Pokemon Go is rare, it has happened over summer. Several robbers in Missouri used the “lure” item, an
item which attracts more wild Pokemons to a Pokestop, in the game to draw victims into the Pokestop area. Although the number of cases is small, it is still a problem that has yet to find a proper solution. Trespassing has also become an issue during the last few months as people have complained about strangers trespassing on private property in an attempt to catch pokemon. The issue of trespassing reached its peak when several lawsuits were filed against the makers of Pokemon Go on the grounds that: “[Nintendo has] shown a flagrant disregard for the foreseeable consequences of populating the real world with virtual Pokemon without seeking the permission of property owners.” Pokemon Go offers no protection against external threats and the only logical way to help yourself is by remaining vigil and aware at all times. These are not the only problems with the game, but they are arguably the biggest issues currently at hand. There is no doubt that Pokemon Go is a creative and fun game, and Niantic has done a fantastic job luring people into playing this game. However, given the assortment of problems that have risen since the game’s release, it seems that Nintendo did not adequately think about the possible downfalls of the game’s augmented reality mechanics. Sometimes, it just isn’t worth it to play Pokemon Go.
Snorlax: One of the 151 Pokemon you can catch in Pokemon Go. [POKEMON.COM]
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Trump will NOT make America great again! By Barron Tsai Donald Trump is a racist, arrogant bigot who should not be the President of the United States. As a public figure, he has acted inappropriately towards multiple parties. To start, Trump ignored an invitation to speak at the National Association for Advancement of Colored People’s annual convention earlier this year before finally declining it. Speaking at the NAACP is a tradition that all presidential candidates take part in. It almost seems like he knows that he will not be able to get through to them. A study by the University of New Orleans reveals that David Duke, a white supremacist who formerly served as Grand Wizard of the Klu Klux Klan, has more popularity with African Americans than Trump does. The survey’s results show that Donald Trump has a lower approval rating among blacks in Georgia than David Duke. In addition, John O’Donnell, a former Trump executive, alleges in his 1991 book Trumped! that Trump once said, “Laziness is a trait in blacks.” Trump seems to corroborate his remarks, saying in a 1997 Playboy interview that “the stuff O’Donnell wrote about me is probably true.” He does not even care enough to apologize for or deny his comments. So while Trump may be trying to appeal to African Americans now, it is clear that at heart, he harbors racist views towards them. Trump does not just discriminate against the African American population; he has also repeatedly targeted Latinos in America. Trump has said that he wants to build a wall on the AmericanMexican border, and make Mexico pay for it. He once tweeted, “People say my wall idea is crazy. China built a wall, and guess how many Mexicans they have.”
Putting America in a hairy situation: Media coverage of Trump’s inappropriate remarks blankets the country. [ANGRY ARAB NEWS SERVICE]
While I realize that this is an attempt at humor, it does highlight his stupid logic. He is talking about a wall that would span, give or take, 1900 miles. And of course, no president has the ability to turn to an allied country and force them to pay for something. That is not how diplomacy works. Mexican president Peña Nieto did not stand for Trump’s ridiculous comments. “At the start of my conversation with Donald Trump, I made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall,” he tweeted after meeting with Trump in August. Good job offending an entire country before you have even been elected, Trump! And then there is the Khan family fiasco. At the Democratic National
Convention this year, the Muslim Khan family, whose son was slain serving in the US armed forces and posthumously awarded the Gold Star medal, spoke out against Trump. Under Trump’s proposed immigration laws, the Khan family would have been forbidden from entering the United States at all. Khizr Khan challenged Trump, asking him if he had read the US Constitution. Trump’s response? He claimed that the Khans did not have a right to say that about him — which they do, according to the First Amendment of the US Constitution. In addition, he also claimed that Ghazala Khan, Khizr’s wife, did not speak because of Muslim racial sexism. Contrast that with former president George W. Bush’s
response to a woman who said similar things about him: “...listen, I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan. She feels strongly... about her position...she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America.” This is nowhere near Trump’s response. Instead of respecting the family’s loss and right to free speech, he decided to go on the offensive. Finally, Trump’s Vice Presidential nominee, Mike Pence, recently said, “I don’t think name-calling has any place in public life.” This is ridiculous, considering that he is running alongside Donald Trump. Ironically, at almost the same time Mike Pence tweeted that, Donald Trump was tweeting about “Crooked Hillary.” According to the
New York Times, Trump has already insulted 258 people, places, and things on Twitter. It is absurd how Donald Trump has no concept of political correctness. Even before being elected, he has already slandered Angela Merkel, a Saudi Arabian prince, and the nations of Britain, Iran, and Mexico. I just love how he is ruining America’s relationship with various major nations even before setting foot in the Oval Office. And make no mistake, even if he is not elected, these blemishes will not go away overnight. He is tarnishing political ties simply by being nominated and having the support of a large sector of the American voting population.
President Tsai Ing-Wen creates history by accepting the past By Catherine Lin
Cat-astrophe waiting to happen: Above, Tsai Ing-Wen with her cat Think Think. [TSAI ING-WEN/FACEBOOK, WALL STREET JOURNAL]
Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-Wen has many firsts attached to her name: first female president, first unmarried president, first president to have never held an elected executive post, and first president with an Aboriginal heritage. But Tsai is not just shattering glass ceilings because of who she is; she is also creating firsts because of what she is doing. Tsai says, “I was not considered a kid that would be successful in my career.” As the youngest daughter, she was always expected to take care of her father. But from the time she was a university student, she “wanted to have a revolutionary life,” studying law at American and British institutions to achieve her goal. Now she can claim success in leading a life of trailblazing, and is poised to revolutionize the lives of other disadvantaged people. In August, she became the first Taiwanese president to formally apologize to the island’s Aborigines. She recognized that colonists from the
Dutch to the Chinese marginalized and exploited indigenous people, expressing the need to write history from the perspective of the dominated. She has also promised to create an Aboriginal historical justice and transitional justice committee, to establish an Aboriginal legal services center, and to expand self-rule. Tsai’s embrace of her tribal heritage signals increasing Aboriginal integration into modern Taiwanese society accompanying the rise of a distinct Taiwanese national identity. But the new popularity of Aboriginal culture is a double-edged sword, exposing it to appropriation. Just this February, a major Taiwanese film contained a scene in which actors imitate the Tao language by speaking gibberish for comic effect. Meanwhile, Aboriginal children lose touch with their culture. According to the BBC, only 35% of Aboriginals can speak their tribal language. Younger Aboriginals are discouraged from continuing their traditions due
to discrimination under Taiwanese law. Recently, an Aboriginal man was arrested for killing a deer and a goat despite hunting being part of his tribe’s way of life.
I was not considered a kid that would be successful in my career. A few words cannot possibly erase the full weight of history, but apologizing for past wrongs is a good first step in the path towards social justice. As Tsai Ing-Wen says in her apology speech, “To treat the pain of other ethnic peoples as an unavoidable part of human development is the first mindset that we, standing here today, resolve to change and overturn.”
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Colin Kaepernick: kneeling for change By Daniel Wang Athletes are models, inspirations, and idols. Because of this, their lives are under a microscope. Wherever they go, whatever they do, and whatever they say will be critiqued in some form or fashion by the billions of people around the world. Athletes have the capability and the platform to spark a movement with their voice or actions. Many have spoken on the “Black Lives Matter” movement, but few are acting upon it. Colin Kaepernick is a Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. On August 26th, 2016, Kaepernick shocked the world when he decided to take a seat during the habitual pre-game national anthem. He decided to take a seat at a time when athletes honor and acknowledge their country and the liberties granted to them. In an interview with NFL.com, Kaepernick said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses Black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Initially, Kaepernick’s protest was met with major backlash and discontent. Donald Trump told him to “find a country that works better for him,” former and current NFL players used the “all lives matter” argument, and the Santa Clara police union threatened to stop providing security for 49ers games. On September 1st, 2016, Kaepernick shifted to taking a knee during the national anthem. Now, support for Kaepernick is growing. Others are also showing support: The US soccer star Megan Rapinoe took a knee, reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry applauded him for taking a stand,
Kneeling protest: Colin Kaepernick (right) takes a knee during the American national anthem before playing the Los Angeles Rams.
and on 9/11, entire NFL teams planned protests during the national anthem. Veterans are supporting his cause by hashtagging #VeteransForKaepernick on Twitter. President Barack Obama implicitly supported Kaepernick by stating that the 49er is only “exercising his constitutional right.” Not only is Kaepernick supported by the aforementioned celebrities, but he is also gaining widespread support
from his fans. According to USA Today, his jersey is now the #1 sold jersey in the NFL, and rightfully so. He is the one athlete that is actually making a difference in the “Black Lives Matter” movement and frankly, it’s a joke that people are considering his act disrespectful to their country and the flag. Yes, the flag is a symbol to the American people, but these Americans have succumbed to hypernationalism
and fail to see and fix the racial inequality that exists. There are those who think that there is a better way to advocate for racial equality but here’s the thing: athletes have spoken out on this issue and after a few days, their words are forgotten. With their influence, athletes should be able to alter and change society for the better and Kaepernick has done just that. Whether liked or disliked, his actions
[GETTY IMAGES]
helped sparked a worldwide debate and discussion on racial equality, and the protest itself, which will last a very long time. America is flawed, and athletes are rightfully joining his demonstration and many more will. It is about time people are addressing that fact and by simply sitting down, Kaepernick has finally revamped the conversation for change.
Drug abuse prevention or abuse of power? By Catherine Lin Teenagers often long for more freedom: the freedom to stay out late, to abandon a musical instrument, or to go out with friends. But freedom can also mean the freedom to hurt yourself and others. Freedom can mean the freedom to fall without a safety net. As students, we frequently accept the restriction of our freedom and pass the burden of decision-making to trusted authorities, whether these are the government, our parents or the school. Drug use is one case where we need our freedom to be restricted - for the safety of ourselves and others. TAS uses a combination of random and reasonable suspicion drugs testing. All students are subject to random drugs testing unless their parents have signed a waiver, and individual students, even those with a waiver, can be tested at the Administration’s discretion. Reasonable suspicion testing means that students with a waiver are not above drug use rules. Since the people tested are chosen randomly, being tested carries no shame or implication of guilt, and discrimination is avoided. Furthermore, random drug testing serves a reminder to the student body that drug use is not acceptable in the TAS community, whether this happens
on or off campus. It is a useful deterrent for those who are tempted to use harmful drugs. If drug testing is random, even the most careful students have a chance of being caught. We need drug testing to enforce school rules, and we need these rules to keep our school a safe place. Selling, buying, and using drugs are all capital offenses in Taiwan, and although most only get several years in jail, TAS should do its part to protect our health and our lives. Whatever disciplinary action the school takes, it certainly is not as severe as death or imprisonment.
Percentage of teens that take drugs in the United States
Types of drugs that teens that take in the United States
By Kelly Phil When you hear about someone getting drug tested, or a particular group of people, it usually doesn’t give off a positive message. In the world we live in, drugs have become a symbol for corruption. People that take them have become a disruption to the population, something dangerous that must be reformed or removed. This perception gives the administrators of drug tests great power. Who the tests are imposed on could completely alter the way society views those people, but the results could have even greater consequences. In Florida, a new law was imposed in 2011 that forced applicants for welfare to partake in a drug test. Numerous studies concluding that the number of drug users in welfare applicants compared to the rest of the population had no discernable difference. And yet, these people were forced to take a drug test in order to receive welfare. In fact, most pro-drug testing Drug statistics: Percentage of teens that take drugs (far left) and the different types of drugs that teens use (left). [NATIONAL INSTITUDE ON DRUG ABUSE]
movements focus exclusively on welfare recipients, almost as if the preconceived notion that drug usage is higher amongst disadvantaged populations were the sole reason in administering the test. Sure, we need drug tests in schools, but we also need to be aware of the ways in which drug tests are used to further strengthen stereotypes elsewhere. How far away are we really from using drug testing as an exclusionary mechanism? A similar policy that was enforced in Florida could be imposed on students in disadvantaged areas. These policies are not for the good of the children, but for reassuring the public that these ‘troubled youth’ are being dealt with accordingly. The problem starts when people start to perform drug tests on people as a way to reaffirm the preconceived notion that these people are dangerous and need to be tested. It’s virtually impossible to do something, even innocently, without the public twisting it into something they want to see, until of course, that twisted perception becomes a reality.
kelly p
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Welcome new teachers!
Dr. Kemper
kelly phil
By Carolyn Wang
Mrs. Lin What has been the proudest moment of your life? I am proud to be a teacher because I love to help students improve their language skills and inspire students to achieve challenging goals. What is your favorite quote? Only if you find peace within yourself will you find true connection with others.
What were your first few jobs? An US environment protection agent, a water utility, a post doctorate associate, and a Korean high school teacher. What is your weirdest habit? I am obsessively organized. I feel the need to tidy things up every second.
Mr. Gursky What are your favorite pasttimes? I love cooking, and I make a really good spinach souffle!
Mrs. Lay
What is your favorite sound? In Taiwan, it is definitely the garbage trucks, but besides that it’s laughter.
What is your favorite sound? The winds of Hawaii; the trees being blown in the hills of Hawaii, my home.
What is your favorite quote? The pleasure of what we enjoy is lost by wanting more.
What is your favorite quote? If you can meet with triumph and disaster and greet those two imposters just the same. This is on the entrance of Wimbledon’s center court and it is really beautiful.
Mr. Matlock What are your favorite pastimes? I love to watch movies and TV shows. I enjoy playing basketball. I love to travel. One of my passions is to come up with activities that make make come alive for my students. Advice? The means justify the ends because how you get there is the worthier part. Always remember to be the author of your life.
Mrs. Abernathy Where were you before TAS? I taught at TAS prior to having kids. Now that I raised my kids to a school age, I’m happy to be back and teaching What has been the proudest moment of your life? There have been two such moments: the births of my daughters Kaela and Erin
Mrs. Hardy What has been the proudest moment of your life? Leaving the United States to help the Asian culture improve healthcare on athletes. From there, I have been able to teach simple techniques that are not taught here that can benefit athletes, improve performance, and create a safer participation for sports.
Mr. Neill What has been the proudest moment of your life? I am the proudest of becoming a father. I have an adorable daughter in kindergarten. What were your first few jobs? I worked at a pickle factory and it taught me that there are two jobs in the world: those where you shower before work and those where you shower after work. I prefer showering before work.
Mr. Lee What has been the proudest moment of your life? I chaired the first Asian Educators Alliance Conference on the East Coast where 200 school educatiors gathered to talk about AP identities (Asian and Pacific Islander) and raise awareness for them. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? The most important thing in life is having choices.
Mr. Benson What has been the proudest moment of your life? I considered skipping university altogether because I was worried about the financial security of my family. I received a Questbridge scholarship and getting it allowed me to get a college education. The reason I am proud isn’t because I got money, rather it was just because it was a load off my family.
Mrs. Anichowzki What is one hard choice you had to make in your life? I had to make a choice between arts and math. For math I had to take many graduate classes in order to secure my degree.
Mrs. Yuan How did you realize your passion for English? During my sophmore year of University, I accidentally signed up for a poetry class and I really enjoyed it. From there, I have transitioned into a English teacher. Advice? Here’s some advice: have different jobs, it gives you experiences and lessons about life which humbles you.
Mr. Chuang How did you realize teaching would be the job for you? When I was in college, I did guest teaching at TAS during breaks. A poetry reading in the Black Box Theater gave me the pleasure of sharing some of my work. From these things, it has lead me to seek teaching.
Mr. Fan What were your first few jobs? A kitchen hand, a cashier at Burger King, cold larder chef, a waiter, a business development manager, and now a PE teacher at TAS. What is your favorite quote? I am.
Mrs. Sheu What is your favorite quote? It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop (Confucius) What do you want your tombstone to say? In life every ending is just a new beginning
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
A glimpse into the past with Mr. Arnold By Barron Tsai
Then: 1982 - Richard Arnold of the upper school Social Studies Department and Orphanage club since 1970 [TAS ALUMNI OFFICE]
Now: Mr. Arnold teaches AP US History. [JULIAN LEE]
Mr. Richard Arnold has been at TAS for 46 years. He arrived for a one-year sabbatical in 1970, a contentious year for the United States. Citizens elected President Richard Nixon on his promise to end the Vietnam War, but while the war in Vietnam was winding down, US Army troops invaded eastern Cambodia, exacerbating the conflict. On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard shot and killed antiwar protesters at Kent State University in Ohio, leading to nationwide protests across 450 college campuses. Mr. Arnold was well aware of this unrest. “I was involved in helping black people get their rights,” he said, “and I was getting pretty radical.” Thus, he decided to spend a year abroad. The funny thing is, actually, his second choice was TAS — he wanted to go to Japan. However, halfway through his first year at TAS, he knew he wanted to stay. He considered TAS a utopia – even in the midst of the harsh martial law in Taiwan. “It was a tremendously heterogeneous campus, because there were U.S. Military students here,” he said, “...because the Vietnam War was going on.” Mr. Arnold also liked working here because he likes the idea of different cultures blending. For many years, he taught the “Journey Into Asian Cultures” class. Mr. Arnold took students of the class, a mix of 10 different cultures, on field trips around Taiwan that gave the students opportunities to bond. His class was very popular. After spending some time with Mr.
Arnold, it became clear that students at Union, asking if precedents existed TAS today would express amazement for such a case. The court eventually at the wide variety of classes available ruled that the boy could play. In an years ago. “The classes were really ironic twist, the coach promptly quit exciting... we had Handwrought on hearing the verdict, and the baseball Jewelry and Jewelry Casting, we had season was over before it started. Small Engines, we had a variety of There was a far harsher world home-making classes... we had fashion outside of TAS. Taiwan was a highly shows, because the students in the conservative society and the military home economics had to make clothes,” was still very much in charge. Out of says Mr. Arnold. Students also found school dances were strictly forbidden the class on shorthand very useful. then; quite a change from today. According to Mr. Arnold, Mrs. According to Mr. Arnold, Taiwanese Brotherton, a home economics teacher, local schools at the time required girls’ used to hold panel discussions on topics hair to be cut to ear length - people saw such as biracial English-speaking marriages, which The classes Asian girls with were relevant to long hair as bar were really people’s lives then. girls. Those are T h e exciting... we but a few of the government did curricular changes had Handwrought Jewelry not just regulate that previous TAS students while a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s and Jewelry Casting, we in school; they have made. also censored had Small Engines, we Mr. Arnold also the mail. In notes that student had a variety of homeparticular, they activities have making classes... we had did not allow any changed a lot in mention of Mao the past 47 years. fashion shows, because Zedong. Mr. Taipei American Arnold recalls the students in the home that his mother School used to have a student court economics once tried to send that heard cases him a coffee table involving students had to make book with some and teachers. One clothes. beautiful pictures of particular case Mainland China. has stuck by Mr. Officials at the Arnold all those years. Towards the end Taiwan Defense Command informed of the 1970s, a boy with long hair made him that they would not release the the baseball team. “The coach said, ‘You package to him. “They said it was dirty can’t be on the team if you have long pictures. And so I said, ‘What?’ and hair,’” Mr. Arnold recalls. The court they said ‘Playboy.’ ...I said, who sent wrote the American Civil Liberties it to me?... It was my mother, and so I
said, ‘I don’t think my mother sent me Playboy pictures,’” he says. The officials were going to throw it away, but Mr. Arnold, refused to give in, responding “you have to send the book back to America - since it’s not deliverable!” Mr. Arnold admits that he “was really nasty” to the officials. He knew the post office was a mile away, and so, instead of taking a cab, he decided to force the soldier accompanying him to walk with him. Once at the post office, Mr. Arnold flatly refused to fill out any papers, saying, “The sender’s not me, you didn’t give [the book] to me!” The book eventually did make it’s way back to the US, though to this day, it remains a mystery exactly what happened. Despite the rather harsh rules in place, Mr. Arnold loved how warm and friendly Taiwanese people were, and still gives back as the sponsor of Orphanage Club. He has been its sponsor since its inception, and continues to believe strongly in its mission. Mr. Arnold was teaching when TAS implemented the AP, and later the IB program. He believes that a focus on grades has infringed on students’ love of learning. However, he stresses that TAS has always produced successful students across a wide variety of career fields. That makes him very happy, and is perhaps why he has been here so long. For more about Mr. Arnold, feel free to peruse Richard Vuylsteke’s Ties that Bind, an oral history of Taipei American School, available for purchase in the Tiger Shop.
Behind the scenes: Steve Tsao, TAS Athletic Facility Supervisor By Audrey Kong “Do you have money? How much money are you carrying? How much money do you have saved in your bank?” These are the inquires that Steve Tsao used to face from immigration and custom inspectors – until his Myanmar passport expired. Mr. Steve Tsao, TAS Athletic Facility supervisor, was born in Yangon, Myanmar, and lived there till he graduated high school. From Myanmar, he moved to Hong Kong and then to Taiwan. Tsao stated that the changing policies such as land nationalization, is what brought him to Taiwan. Prior to his job at TAS, Tsao worked at a foreign company in Taiwan, where he did mechanics and repaired huge industrial engines. His friend introduced him to a career at TAS and since then, Tsao has been in TAS for 29 years. He spent 2 years as a security guard, 12 years as a swimming pool technician, and 15 years in the Athletics Department, where he is now. Tsao’s currently works in the Athletics Department is as an Athletic facility supervisor. His job includes setting up equipment in the Upper School Gym, Middle School Gym, Lower School Gym, Upper Field, Lower Field, Indoor Tennis Court and the Outdoor Tennis court. Without
Tsao and his assistants, there would not be any JV and Varsity games. There probably would not be IASAS either. On a typical day, Tsao wakes up at around 5:30 am and gets to TAS at 7 am. He lives very far, in Banqiao, and commutes by motorcycle. Throughout the day, Tsao sets up equipment according to the schedule – whether it be for the different PE units or the different sport seasons – and leaves school depending on the schedule as well. When varsity teams have their late games, Tsao and his assistants have to stay after, take the equipment down, and check for safety. To spectators, the late games end at around 7:30 pm. To Tsao, his assistants, and many others who work behind the scenes, those late games end at around 8 pm. Then he commutes back to Banqiao and reaches home at around 9 pm. During breaks when there is no schedule, Tsao “hangs out with his homies from Burma [Myanmar],” exercises, and watches TV. His favorite sports to watch include gymnastics, boxing, and soccer. He also enjoys swimming, climbing mountains, and reading in his spare time. Besides his “homies” coming to visit him in Taiwan, Tsao visits Myanmar once in a while as well. Most of his family now live in Taiwan, where his two daughters are married.
Tsao believes Myanmar and Taiwan have very similar cultures. In both Myanmar and Taiwan, the majority of people are Buddhists, which is his family’s religion. However, despite similar religions, he explains the difference in Burmese and Taiwanese cuisine. Burmese cuisine is more sour and spicy than Taiwanese food. Tsao’s favorite Burmese dish is fish and coconut noodles, whereas his favorite Taiwanese food is beef noodle soup. Besides cultural similarities and cuisine differences, Tsao’s upbringing in Myanmar influenced more than just his preference for food. He is able to speak Burmese, Taiwanese, Mandarin, English, and a little Hindi. Tsao was able to pick up a bit of Hindi as he was born in an Indian town in Yangon, Myanmar. However, Tsao’s Burmese identity ceased when his Myanmar passport expired. He seems to only express relief and exclaims that his Taiwan passport is better than his old, tattered, Myanmar one. Tsao clarified that whenever he travelled, he was always inquired about money: customs inspectors automatically assume all Burmese people lack money. In addition to unnecessary interrogating questions based on financial (and racist) assumptions, Tsao also dislikes people who borrow his equipment but never return it. Yet,
he still continues to lend students his equipment. For the upcoming Season 1 IASAS Volleyball and Cross Country, Tsao hopes that safety will come first for any sport. The championship is never as important as safety and safety is the main point. To all the athletes
and aspiring athletes out there, with his 29 years of experience, Steve Tsao advises to “keep going” and “work hard”, for “the more practice, the more perfect. But, safety (and returning his equipment) still comes first.
Mr. Tsao: TAS Athletic Facility supervisor [AUDREY KONG]
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Writing without walls: TAS bloggers By Cherice Tsai
ANNE HUANG
anneclarence.wixsite.com/anneclarencebookblog
[CHERICE TSAI]
Anne Huang (9) is not just a typical bookworm. She’s recently started blogging as a way to record and spread her love of books. Initially, “I wanted to write reviews on Amazon,” she says, “because I always look at Amazon reviews myself.” But she realized that her posts on Amazon would quickly be pushed down by the numerous posts that others make so she decided to start a blog instead. “I started blogging for myself because I often feel like there’s no one to share with,” she says. “Through blogging, I’ve learned about web-
design. I’ve learned that writing reviews is not as easy as it looks but as I get more practice, I hope I’ll become more organized with my ideas in my reviews.” In Anne’s blog posts, she primarily writes about her favorite books or interviews authors. “I love Greek and ancient mythology but my all time favorite genres are fantasy and fantasy romance,” she says. She explains that books have always been an integral part of her life. “Back when I was in kindergarten, people always judged me for my Chinese accent. I was friendless, so I
turned...to books,” she says. When she first started learning English, her mom would encourage her to read “pounds” of books every week. She remembers that she first truly gained interest in books when she was introduced to the Percy Jackson’s series in Mrs. Tenebrini’s class in the 5th grade. She recalls “laughing in class like a maniac because [she] thought [the books were] so funny.” “I love books so much that my greatest fear is losing this passion for reading. It’s like a phobia because reading is my main source of happiness,” Anne says.
“Lowkey rad but high key radical,” is how Vanessa Tsao (10) introduces herself on the homepage of her blog, where she writes her opinions on social issues and current events. “I want to bring to light things that people don’t talk about in daily life,” she says. She first started unofficially blogging through her private blog several years back. “It was a way for me to write down my thoughts and feelings casually. Writing on a blog has helped me calm down whenever I’ve felt upset but couldn’t tell anyone about it,” she says. Before moving to TAS, Vanessa lived in Singapore, where it was a trend at her school to make fashion or personal blogs. She found that she was
much more interested in discussing social issues, so she started this blog as a way of “formulat[ing] [her] opinions where people can read it” and for stress relief. She enjoys blogging because she finds writing not only fun but also a “productive hobby and something [she feels she] can be proud of.” “I suppose [blog posts] feel like pieces of work I can truly be proud of, pieces that I created without any obligation to school work,” she says. As someone who doesn’t like to speak, Vanessa finds that she can express her opinions well through writing. “Whenever I get the choice, I always choose writing over speaking, and I think it’s amazing that the
pen can influence people and bring attention to something that you care about,” she says. “Through blogging, I’ve learned a lot about myself and how I think… [although] blogging [is] tougher than I expected it to be...I still love blogging [because] it’s so rewarding.”
Christine Lin (10) posts a number of book reviews on her blog: A Reader In Progress. “Not a lot of my friends want to discuss books at school,” she says, so writing allows her to share her opinions with an awesome community of bloggers. “When I blog, I get to obsess over books without judgment,” she says. One of her favorite aspects of blogging is finding others who share a similar passion for books. When there are fellow bloggers who read and comment on her thoughts, she “feel[s] happy because it’s really fun to see that people actually care.” “It’s nice to know that only people strongly
interested in the content of my blogs read my writing,” she says. In her free time, Christine also loves to look at book reviews on Goodreads or browse through videos by Booktubers (Youtubers who review books). Her favorite Booktuber is “polandbananasBOOKs”, who she believes skillfully incorporates comedy into her videos. “The Verdict section of The Blue and Gold also serves as an inspiration for my blog posts,” she says. Ultimately, Christine says that she loves that “getting [her] thoughts in writing gives [her] a casual way to record [her] life.” “I think more people should blog!” she says.
VANESSA TSAO deathtothenorm.wordpress.com
[CHERICE TSAI]
The Sahara Desert: Photo from Vanessa’s post about her visit [VANESSA TSAO]
CHRISTINE LIN readerinprogress.wordpress.com
[CHERICE TSAI]
Heir of Fire: A book that Christine has reviewed on her blog [GOOGLE IMAGES]
Not all learning takes place in the classroom. Because we believe everyone has something to share, The Blue & Gold interviewed various groups around TAS for life advice. Check out what the lower schoolers, high schoolers, teachers, and staff have to say!
By Amanda Huang Children naturally look towards people who are older, wiser, and more experienced to get advice or encouragement. Most people grow up listening to their parents reiterate warnings and proverbs that either family members or famous figures said during their lifetimes. All this can be motivational and helpful but what words of wisdom do the lower and middle schoolers have to offer? When asked what was the most important thing he’s learned so far in life, Jasper (4) simply said “To have fun.” An elementary skill, yet one that many Upper School students are unable to master in the face of piling stress. Staying positive and being able to just let loose and have fun can help alleviate some of the stress that comes with high school. The more mischievous kids were also quick to give their life lessons on
rebellion and consequences. Nathan (2) and Destiny (6) strongly recommend that you should “never lie to your mom.”
There is no such thing as perfect... It’s a make-believe thing to try and get you to do better. Next, the fifth grade girls shared their biggest life lessons, all of which were pretty cheesy but, nonetheless,
genuine. Josie (5) said, “I have learned that there is no such thing as perfect. I was reading a book and this girl was trying to reach perfection but she couldn’t. Her mom told her there’s no such thing as perfection. It’s a make-believe thing to try and get you to do better.” These girls were also extremely adamant about being brave. Snow (5) said, “You’ve got to stand up to people.” Her friend, Maya (5), said, “The only thing to fear is fear itself. I was scared of things that I shouldn’t have been scared of.” Kindness was also a big topic, especially for Mia (3). She said, “Just because you don’t like someone, you shouldn’t be mean to them because sometimes they’re really sad.” Chaeyeon (7) added that we should all be ready to “forgive and forget.” When a group of second grade boys were asked what life lessons they’ve learned, they were quick to offer plenty
of fart-centric responses. These boys warn against farting both in your home or in the classroom and judging by their enthusiasm, it’s vital that you follow this rule. Ever ything they said was something we’ve probably all heard of before but it’s nice to be reminded of all the things we can keep in mind. Sometimes, the most valuable words come from those we least expect it from.
Mia (3) [ARIEL CHEN]
By Christine Lin If you ask high school students at TAS what are some life lessons they have learned in the fourteen-plus years they have been on earth, they will most likely respond with one of two things: sleep earlier and don’t procrastinate. TAS is a school plagued with students that are always too tired, too hungry, or too busy--and not much else. Luckily, some seniors at TAS have learned a few other pieces of wisdom
Don’t care about failing... Just suck it up and move forward. after over three years of high school. For those who find themselves hating school already, Charissa Chiu (12), says, “Make the most of what you have now. In my freshman year, I spent my first semester looking forward to winter break and my second semester looking forward to summer break. But I realized that if I kept thinking about the future and how badly I wanted it, I would never be satisfied. Just live in the present and enjoy the process.” For those who encounter disappointment, Rachel Lee (12) says, “Don’t care about failing. If you don’t get the position you want in MUN or the role you want in the production,
just suck it up and move forward.” Darryl Loke (12), says “experience is everything.” When he and Jeremiah Hsu (12) agreed to direct the class video in freshman year, he knew nothing about videography or editing software. He says, “All we had was a simple camera and a semi-broken gimble that I barely knew how to control. But after day after day of constant shooting and directing, we won first place for class video. Filming videos in later years was a piece of cake because of how much we went through during our first project.” Thomas Hall (12) advises other students to set goals for themselves, but not expectations. He finds that placing high expectations on oneself can be damaging and emotionally unhealthy. He says, “Throughout my life, I’ve been constantly setting myself up for failure because I had such a lofty idea of success. Then, when I did succeed, I didn’t feel accomplished because I thought what I had done was not something to be proud of, but something that was expected of me. Having no expectations has made me a happier person and now I can enjoy the little accomplishments of everyday life.” In the end, it is okay if you get a bad grade on a test, don’t get accepted into a position you applied for, or feel stressed and overwhelmed by school, extracurriculars, and relationships. Tatiana Feuerhahn (12) says, “I always tell myself that a bad day is not a bad life”.
By Andrew Lin Teachers are here to guide, help, and place students on the right track for success. All teachers can teach students something valuable, even if it is not something related to academics. Ms. Chiang, an English teacher at TAS, says, “I’ve learned that we only have ourselves to depend on in the face of negativity. Inevitably, we all experience hurtful and stressful situations, and to overcome these we’ll have to learn to radiate positivity. People who are engaged, selfless, and completely radiant are the kind of people who will have the willpower to find light in the darkest places.” Ms. Lin, another English teacher, has a similar approach to the world. She says, “Laugh and laugh often. Getting in at least one good laugh a day means I’m doing something right: I’m either surrounding myself with the right people, pursuing my passions, approaching life with just the right amount of seriousness, or all of the above.” As a long time teacher at TAS, Mr. Arnold has plenty of stories. He says, “In 1987, I was diagnosed with a brain problem and I had to receive surgery. When you’re faced with that kind of thing, you realize that if you survive, it’ll be a miracle. I realized that life is very tenuous and we should be happy and appreciate every single day.” Mr. Barrus, Upper School photography teacher, says, “People, myself included, often overcomplicate their personal, social, and professional situations causing unnecessary stress,
miscommunication, and anxiety. In my experience, the no-frills approach is always better, so I try to remind myself each day to keep it simple, stupid.” Associate principal Mr. VandenBoom says, “The first lesson I learned is that it’s possible to change your opinion about somebody else. First impressions aren’t always long lasting truths.” When Mr. VandenBoom was in graduate school, he had a professor who he thought was “one of the worst teachers [he’d] ever seen”. However, when Mr. VandenBoom took one of the professor’s classes later on, he felt it was “one of the best classes [he’d] ever had in [his] life.” He says, “I was amazed. I learned that you have to be open to change. Don’t have one opinion of somebody and think that’s never going to change.” Mr. Vandenboom also learned the importance of family. When he was a freshmen in college, his mother told him she was an alcoholic and had been going through an alcoholism program while he was at school. “It hit me by surprise. Prior to this, I didn’t have a close relationship with my mother,” says Mr. VandenBoom. “But that was the beginning of a wonderfully close relationship. I learned about the need to understand, forgive, and maintain the family bond that can sometimes be fragile.” Remember that teachers are here to give us support. All teachers have stories to tell and many of them contain life lessons that will be valuable in the future.
By Julian Lee Our TAS support staff, such as the guards and janitors, have a special perspective on the blend of Eastern and Western cultures that is TAS. Although they spend their working day in the TAS bubble and watch us for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, they a r e
Mr. VandenBoom [AMANDA HUANG]
undeniably local Taiwanese at heart. They observe us constantly, and from their unique point of view, they have accumulated a wealth of invaluable advice for us. When our own students are asked to describe the TAS student body, words that pop up include “Asian” and “test-taking machines”, but also “rich” and disturbingly, “spoiled”. However, Ming-Der Huang, TAS Security Supervisor, seems to disagree with this stereotype. “TAS students are more joyful, but also more disciplined than local students.” he said. This was more than a little surprising, given that neat, saluting lines of students with the same haircut is one of the first images that pops to mind when one hears “local school” and one of the last when one hears “TAS”. When asked to elaborate on this unexpected statement, though, Mr. Huang explained that TAS discipline is “different from military discipline; [we] seem to understand the difference between right and wrong, and respect authority more.” His words must be music to the ears of Dr. Long, Dr. Hartzell, and TAS’s character educators. While TAS students often underestimate the effect that their actions have on others, Mr. Huang shows the influence of his six years here, as he repeatedly replies in excellent English even when asked questions in Mandarin. TAS students continue to impact
Mr. Ming-Der Huang [AMANDA HUANG]
Mr. Huang and his fellow guards throughout the school day; he gets to school early to greet students as they arrive, and says with a smile that “when TAS students say hi to me at the front gate, that makes me feel very happy to do my job.”
As I struggled to translate her Chinese description of how it felt to be thanked by the students, her colleague standing by rescued me, proudly spelling out ‘W-A-R-M!’ Our hardworking custodians, too, love the appreciation of students. One anonymous janitor noted how TAS students often say “謝謝” to her as she goes through the workday. As I struggled to translate her Chinese description of how it felt to be thanked by the students, her colleague standing by rescued me, proudly spelling out “W-A-R-M!” Another custodian agreed wholeheartedly, saying in English “it…makes us feel very sweet-heart.” A simple word of thanks to those who gives us our clean environment
takes only a moment and often seems insignificant, but as these custodians can confirm, that moment of gratitude is the best part of their workday. On the other hand, while students’ thanks make the janitors’ hard work much easier, there are some student actions that make their lives much harder. One experienced custodian recounted for me the story of a senior prank some years ago, when the graduating class enlisted a group of the most ripped, gym-rat seniors to steal the Thinker statue from the lobby and drag it right smack into the middle of D-Block. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, the seniors found themselves unable to lift the statue. So they just left it there. And the Thinker stayed in D-Block until that night, the aging custodians came and lugged the hefty Thinker back. In this case and many others, our support staff put in an immense amount of work to ensure our comfort and convenience. In return, we must ease their workload by taking responsibility for our actions and cleaning up after ourselves, as we pledge to in the Honor Code, which we all sign. Finally, I asked Mr. Huang to leave us with a life lesson, some words of wisdom. He thought for a while, and then answered slowly: “At TAS, every student is innocent and naïve compared to the outside world…it’s not bad to be innocent, but on the outside you must be careful who you trust.”
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
“The Addams Family”: a macabre Halloween surprise By Shereen Lee
Lengthy Saturday rehearsals: The cast of “The Addams Family” works hard in rehearsals. [SHEREEN LEE]
While most parents in our world bemoan teenage rebellion, the parents of the Addams Family, Gomez (Fred Chien [12]) and Morticia (Stefanie Mayer [12]) have a completely different problem: why is their daughter Wednesday not acting like her normal, psychopathic self? Following the lives of Wednesday Addams (Olivia Houston [10]) and Lucas Beineke (Samir Mahtani [10]) as they defy their upbringings, students will present The Addams Family musical from October 26 to 29 in the auditorium. The production is a musical, which will be a unique experience for many of the cast members who specialize in theater. From singing, to dancing, to acting, the performers will have to learn to juggle it all. Not to mention the intrinsic difficulties of acting in a comedy: “It’s definitely the hardest genre to act out,” says director and drama teacher Mr. Edwards. “The actors need to learn how to present humor in a way that’s appealing to the audience, and that’s hard.” They also have a very short time frame to work with, and a lengthy script to learn. “We’ve definitely been challenged, with basically
nonstop rehearsals,” says Olivia Houston. “But it’s been interesting and challenging to get to know my character.” The Addams Family will not only stretch the technical limits of actors, but the mindsets of the audience, as well. Mr. Edwards hopes that it will also inspire thought. Addams Family contains more depth than expected at first glance. “We’ve had a long trend of showing productions with a real message in them,” says Mr. Edwards. “But Addams Family is different from many of the more serious ones we’ve put out. It’s a comedy, but it’s also about love and accepting our differences. It makes you think.” Reese McMillan (12), who will be playing the deranged Uncle Fester, says, “It’s different from other plays we’ve shown before because it looks so different and shocking at first. But when you take a second look at it, Addams Family has a lot of universal themes we’ve seen in other books and plays before.” “This is going to be really great,” says Samir Mahtani. “I think the audience will really enjoy it.” Living, dead, or undecided, all will enjoy this show. Watch out for ticket sales under the skybridge, beginning the first week of October!
Dance exchange: not your “typical” workout By Melissa Cho On September 16th, a group of selected dancers departed for Manila to participate in the annual dance exchange. The next day, they were on stage dancing 12 hours nonstop. Liam Chai (12), one of the 10 dancers representing TAS, says that the dance exchange is “an opportunity for the IASAS schools to come together and to share [their] passion for dance.” In the dance exchange, each school sends 10 well-qualified dancers to represent their school at Manila. Another dancer, Emily Chen (12), says that the purpose of the dance exchange is to “expose [dancers] to different dance genres and styles of artists and choreographers.” During this event, participants have the opportunity to attend workshops, meet guest artists, and experience a variety of dance genres. There were six classes on Saturday, and dance genres included hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, creative movement, zumba, and modern ballet. One of the workshops was taught by the rehearsal director of the New York City Alvin Ailey Dance company. The dance exchange differs from IASAS dance in that there is no final piece put together and performed by each school. “There is no focus on the show, which is nice,” says IB dance teacher, Ms. Lagerquist. “There is less pressure and dancers can just dance.” But do not be fooled. Dance exchange is not easy-going at all. Participants of the dance exchange agree that it was an extremely energy draining experience. “We didn’t really have time to do anything [outside of
the dance exchange] because the event started right when we arrived at [the International School of Manila],” says Nicole Hsu (12). In fact, dancers were already slightly fatigued before their arival in Manila. On Friday, September 16th, the dancers met at school at 5 in the morning. Then, they embarked on a 2 hour plane trip, landing in Manila at around 12 pm. After a 1 hour and 15 minute car ride, the dancers finally arrived at ISM at around 1:20 pm. Once they arrived at ISM, dancers immediately jumped right into their first two workshops. They watched a showcase performed by a Manila-based dance company called Air Dance. The dance company taught a workshop on aerial silks, a type of dance where dancers perform several acrobatic skills while hanging from a long piece of fabric. Most of the dancers agreed that the aerial silks workshop was one of the most memorable parts of the dance exchange. “We have never experienced anything like that [before],” says Annie Yu (12). Ms. Lagerquist was delighted that the dancers had the opportunity to “become more versatile”. “We got to see dance from multiple perspectives,” says Liam. “A lot of the schools are limited in contemporary dance or hip hop, and the dance exchange really lets us explore different aspects of dance with individuals from different schools.” “We can’t wait to travel again together if we have the chance to,” says Wenny Chou (12). The process was tiresome but rewarding, and many of the dancers can’t wait for more challenging opportunities like this to come.
Mighty squad: After a long car ride, TAS dancers finally arrive at ISM. [CHEYENNE KA-EN TANG]
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Dear Hollywood:
Please Stop with the Unnecessary Sequels By Catherine Lin & Kelly Phil “I watched Batman v. Superman on the plane and I was half-asleep the entire time. Not sure if that's just because I was on a plane or because the movie was actually terrible,” says David Wang (10). “Superheroes are of the previous generation,” says Shuhei Omi (11). Selene Kung (10) says, “I don’t watch superhero movies. Just not really interested anymore.” These are common student responses, if they watched any movies at all this summer. Combined with the lackluster performance of big-budget blockbusters like Batman v. Superman, Suicide Squad, and Fantastic Four, this might be a sign that 2016 is the year superhero fatigue has finally set in. Sequels from other genres are also doing poorly. This year, there was Alice through the Looking Glass, Now You See Me 2, Snow White and the Huntsman: Winter's War, and that is only scratching the surface. All of these received abysmal
critic and audience responses on Rotten Tomatoes, with only one scraping a ‘certified fresh’ audience rating with 60%. Sure, big blockbusters are risky bets costing up to hundreds of millions of dollars, and sequels are a good way to guarantee ticket sales. This is not to say that all summer superhero spectacles are terrible but who really needed another “Ninja Turtles” remake? Amidst all the lack of enthusiasm for sequels, Finding Dory stands out as the one exception. It has a 94% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and currently holds the title for highest earnings in the United States. Its brilliant box office performance may be because it “brings back memories,” as Chris Chang (10) says, and, it is “not just a generic superhero movie”, says David Wang (10) The same cannot be said of many movies in the Young Adult genre. The success of Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 began an onslaught of two-part YA adaptions, from Mockingjay to Allegiant. However, the Twilight franchise shows why this strategy should be avoided. Part 1 of Twilight: Breaking Dawn was all exposition, a result of devoting a whole movie to 1/3 of the book. Part 2 wasn’t much better. The long build-up only leads to an anti-climactic final battle scene. Mockingjay was not an improvement. Like Breaking Dawn Part 1, the movie inched along at a snail’s pace because it was filled with exposition. There were too many superfluous characters to develop the main characters well, proving that splitting movies might make money, but it certainly does not make art. Instead of laboring in sequel after sequel, beloved characters deserve a dignified retirement. Until studios figure that out, we have the second acts of Wolverine and King Kong to look forward to — or not — in 2017. Vennage Infographic [KELLY PHIL]
Board the Train to thrills By Grace Cho
Train to Busan, a South Korean blockbuster zombie thriller film directed by Yeon Sang-ho, has been receiving great attention in the Cannes Film Festival 2016, where more people attended the film’s midnight opening than any other midnight screening in Cannes history. It features great actors, namely Gong yoo, Kim Soo-Ahn, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-Seok, Sohee, and Choi Woo-Shik. To briefly introduce these actors, Gong yoo, Jung Yu-Mi, and Ma Dong-Seok have been acting for many years and are acknowledged some of the best actors in Korea. Kim SooAhn, at only 9 years old , has given the audience a great performance as a main character with a professional attitude. Sohee, appearing for the first time as an actress, proves that singing is not her only talent. Choi
Woo-Shik, who debuted 5 years ago as a supporting role, appears asa Sohee’s partner in the film. The two show great maturity and strong acting. “QUICKLY! RUN!” Train to Busan is a somewhat traditional zombie horror-thriller that follows terrified passengers in KTX, a train with the final destination of Busan, fighting their way through the countrywide unidentified viral outbreak. Through every person’s struggle to survive, a variety of personalities are illustrated by the intimidating situation they are in. There is great tension during the movie, with the sound effects being the main attraction. The technique of presenting great surprise after a moment of silence is used a lot in this film. You may have reluctance to watch“zombie movies” because it can be too predictable and obvious.
Surprisingly, the actors totally flipped my clumsy opinion about the film. The cast’s superb acting skills left me crying non-stop. It is ironic because this zombie movie reminds me as a thriller and scary film, but instead, it illustrated poignant emotion from the half of the movie. Throughout every scenes, each character displayed unique personalities. For example, there is a selfish men Yong Suk, acted by Ui-Seong Kim, who only cares about his own survival. Also, an engine driver acted by Seok-Yong Jeong who held the responsibility of making sure every passenger survives. Overall, the repetition of many zombies can lead to boredom. However, throughout the movie, many valuable messages struck my head strongly that I can’t get rid of it. It plays with the genre and has superb acting albeit with a somewhat predictable plot.
Nerve pulls at a few nerves By Christine Lin, Anya Lai & Carolyn Wang Nerve features Venus Delmonico (Emma Roberts), a timid high school girl from Staten Island who lives in the shadows of daredevil friend Sid. She wants to prove that she is not just a boring student with an obsession over her unrequited crush, J.P. In this near-future world, Venus finds herself surrounded by the phenomenon of virtual reality online truth or dare game called Nerve. The game consists of two kinds of people: players and watchers. Players do dares for money, while the watchers come up with the challenges and watch the players perform. As Venus is finally pressured into playing the game, she finds herself teamed with another player, Ian (Dave Franco). As they continue the game in presentday New York City, Venus realizes that Nerve is not just a thrilling game that players play out of boredom. The challenges becomes more and more intense as the stunts in the dares increase in danger, some even becoming deadly. For Venus, she discovers not only a new, perhaps darker, side of herself but also how manipulative internet users can be.
Christine’s Review:
Going into the movie with mediocre expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it was. Right from the beginning, audiences are captured by the bright color scheme and mesmerizing soundtrack. Each dare had everyone
in the theatre gasping (my favorites being ladder scene with Syd and the blind motorcycle ride through NYC). Although the meet-cute in this movie was cliche, Emma Roberts and Dave Franco’s good looks and chemistry made up for the typical Young Adult romance. On the other hand, Vee’s character development was a little hard to fathom. It is unrealistic that a shy girl who could not even say hi to her crush can run half-naked through a department store with a stranger. Nevertheless, Nerve is a great movie to watch for a cute romance and fastpaced ride!
Anya & Carolyn’s Review:
For science-fiction and fantasy genre lovers, Nerve catches their attention immediately. The thrilling, drama, romance packed trailer hyped up the movie; however, it was all downhill from there. The characters change too fast especially since this movie only takes place over the course of one day. Not only that, the resolution goes too far and it resolves too easily. However, the idea of a cyber game taking over a person’s information and bank account conveys ideas of internet safety which was a lesson the movie successfully taught. The romance between, the stranger, Ian and Vee is undoubtedly cute, but at some points it becomes too cliche.
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Simply DiVino
Risotto Porcini e Tartufo is an mush-
room risotto dish. The texture is al dente, which means “to the tooth” and implies that the food is cooked so it is still firm when bitten. The wide variety of mushrooms in the dish, including the Italian-native Porcini mushroom, gives the dish an earthy flavor and produces a sour and somewhat tangy taste. The sour taste, which is common in many Italian mushroom dishes, comes from the dried porcini that Chef Enrico grinds into powder to further bring out the mushroom flavors.
By Grace Cho, Christine Lin, and Anya Lai Walking into the cozy atmosphere of the newly opened restaurant, DiVino, the aroma of Italian food fills your senses and puts one thought into your mind: “this food is going to be good.” DiVino is an Italian restaurant that serves homemade food and wine. Opening DiVino was a life goal of Chef Enrico Duim Negrini. Ever since he was a kid, Chef Enrico wanted to be a chef. He strived to achieve this
Opening DiVino was a life goal of Chef Enrico Duim Negrini. goal and did not let anything change his mind, whether it was the divorce of his parents or moving to Taipei, a city that has a completely different culture from his hometown in Italy. Since his father, who was passionate about the culinary arts, also lived in another city and owned a restaurant, he says, “[As a child], I would connect with my father because he also likes to cook… maybe I wanted to impress him.” The determination to impress his father led him to become the head chef of the Cirque du Soleil VIP section, work at Michelin-star restaurants, and work at La Piola, another Italian restaurant in Taipei. When Chef Enrico finally found the opportunity to open his own restaurant, “everybody, including [his] mother’s
side of the family, was happy because they knew [this] was [his] dream.” Having been a chef for 7 to 8 years, Chef Enrico never gave up on himself. He says that “[he] had some issues here with the neighbors but [he] just [takes his] time and [tries] to talk with them.” He says, “Time will bring you answers.” As a dedicated chef, Chef Enrico says, “I built everything in the restaurant… like this table… and the back wall which is made of wine boxes.” The restaurant has a modern feel but remains cozy as there aren’t many seats. This is because Chef Enrico wants to be able to talk to the customers easily. Although there are many good restaurants around the area, which attracts many tourists, Enrico doesn’t consider other Italian restaurants as competition. He says he is “much more beautiful” than all the other chefs. Chef Enrico is also glad that his restaurant and others benefit the area as he believes, “good restaurants create beautiful neighborhoods.” When asked about the name of the restaurant and where it comes from, Chef Enrico says “the name Divino literally means ‘divine from god,’ but in Italian ‘Di Vino’ also means ‘from wine’.” This pun not only says that the restaurant’s food is divine, but also exemplifies Chef Enrico’s main goal for his restaurant: to give Taiwanese people a taste of Italian culture and spread the culture of drinking wine not to get drunk, but to be paired with food. Overall, Divino is undoubtedly a restaurant worth trying when you are downtown. Not only can you enjoy good food, but you can also chat with Chef Enrico: we promise he has a good sense of humor!
Rating: 5/5 Affettati Divini is a cold cut platter
which includes prosciutto, salami, tuna casserole, and capicola. As Chef Enrico is not allowed to bring this meat into Taiwan from other countries, he makes his own salami. He says, “We put on salt on the meat which reduces the water and causes it to become really hard. Then we hang it for 6 months until it is ready.” Although the process takes a long time, Chef Enrico is dedicated and passionate about his work.
Rating: 5/5 Pappardelle Pork Gatorio is an Italian
shredded pork pasta dish. Chef Enrico says, “Pappardelle is the thickest Italian pasta there is. This dish is my favorite.” Braising the pork for a long time makes it incredibly tender. We all undoubtedly loved the perfectly cooked al dente texture of the pasta and the tenderness of the pork. The sweetness of the tomato also compliments the mildly spicy peperoncino (Italian pepper that is usually put in pizza) used in the dish. This dish is a must try!
Rating: 5/5 A taste of Italy in Taipei: DiVino opened in September. Check out its Facebook page for more information and reservations. [CHRISTINE LIN]
Frank Ocean’s stunning return By Amanda Huang If one were to sum up 28-year old R&B sensation Frank Ocean in one word, it would be “unpredictable.” After a four-year hiatus, Frank Ocean finally dropped his longanticipated, second studio album Blonde. With its avant-garde simplicity, Blonde is much more abstract than Channel Orange, his first studio album. Fans are, simply put, loving it. Blonde holds the title for the third largest album debut of 2016, sitting behind only Drake’s Views and Beyonce’s Lemonade. Ocean had been alluding towards potential release dates and album names for months but none of them actually went through. And what’s the deal with the spelling of the album? The album cover shows Blond while iTunes displays Blonde. After a few days passed and Ocean’s team still did nothing to fix this disparity, the dual spelling can be assumed to be intentional. Later, Ocean confirmed this by sending out a tweet where he referred to the album as Blonde. It is rumoured that the dual spelling of the word can be a subtle reference towards his sexuality—something he delves into in many of the tracks off this album. Although Ocean never officially came out as bisexual or gay, he
has confirmed to being in relationships with men in the past. In fact, much of this album deals with past experiences
With its avantgarde simplicity, Blonde is much more abstract than Channel Orange. with relationships, love, and adolescence. The entire album explores Ocean’s past with love and youth as well as small bumps along the road. “Solo” is a mesmerizing track, where we meet Ocean single again. The lyrics hit hard as he delves into being unsatisfied with many aspects of his life but pushing himself to keep rolling on solo. “Good Guy” gives us just over a minute of him reminiscing about a guy he met in a New York gay bar, with shaky organ chords being played in the background. Ocean uses fragmented lyrics in many of the songs and the instrumentals are meticulously constructed. It’s clear that this time around, Ocean wants to shine using the intense raw feelings behind his vocals.
In fact, according to The Guardian, more than half of the seventeen tracks are devoid of any true percussion at all. Blonde not only brings us a range of musical styles, it also brings an unbelievable range of featured artists. The only instantly recognizable feature, however, is André 3000 in “Solo (Reprise)” on the piano. A children’s gospel choir shows up at the end of “Pretty Sweet” and its feature surprisingly matches the mood of the track. French producer SebastiAn makes an appearance in “Facebook Story”, delivering a monologue about social media. Beyoncé makes a small appearance in “Pink + White”, providing outro vocals that complement Ocean’s. In addition to this, Kendrick Lamar, Amber Coffman, Johnny Greenwood from Radiohead, and James Blake all lend their voices to Blonde as well. The plethora of emotions Frank Ocean brings to the table with Blonde is beyond impressive and fans are more than happy with the final product. Although “Facebook Story” and “Be Yourself ” somewhat distracts from the flow of the album, there is little to be unsatisfied with. Blonde is topping music charts globally, and rightfully so, as Ocean has once again topped expectations.
A long anticipated production: rumors of a second studio album release began in July 2015. [FRANK OCEAN]
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
Harry Potter and the Cursed Conclusion By Charlotte Lee
This article contains spoilers. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was long-awaited and fell far from expectations, disappointing many loyal and hardcore Harry Potter fans. Contrary to popular belief, The Cursed Child is not written by only JK Rowling herself. The influence of her co-authors, Jack Thorne and Jack Tiffany, perhaps, contributes to the changed writing style. Set around twenty years ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Albus Severus Potter, Harry’s second child, lives the story of the moody, disappointing son who time-travels, messes with the future of the entire wizarding world, and spends the whole book trying to fix his mistake. The story is not only riddled with major plot holes but is also a pain to read due to formatting. In truth, The Cursed Child is barely a book, let alone comparable to the original series. It is a script filled with five word stage directions and drab dialogue. Yes, it was meant to be script for a play and not a book– but the genre choice in itself simply insinuates laziness. For example, Harry’s speech is accompanied by incomplete sentences like “with sensitivity” and “discombobulated.” The fact that the writers constantly trim ideas and phrases down to the bare minimum results in a unfulfilling reading experience. The quality of writing is nowhere near as descriptive and detailed as it used to be. The
conversations are broken into lines. and if you’re lucky, they’re described by a single adjective in parentheses. Reading the cringe-worthy and cheesy exchanges between Albus, Scorpius, Harry, Ron, Ginny and
Not only is that not believable (Scorpius being a Malfoy and Albus being portrayed as he is), hearing these two boys verbally confirm their closeness as often as what seems like every 10 pages is just not the way to show they are best
Potter turns parent: Harry hasn’t quite figured out how to parent.
Hermione was slightly uncomfortable. Albus and Scorpius frequently express unnecessary appreciation for their friendship, very awkwardly saying “You’re better. You’re my best friend.”
rather than 7 books. There is also a huge intelligence gap between the new wizarding generation and the last one - the fact that Albus thought it was a good idea to travel decades back in time out of teenage angst is slightly off
[© WARNER BROS]
friends. Most of the interesting facets of all the character personalities have almost been completely eradicated, resulting in characters that seem like they could be described in one word
at best. The kids have not inherited the traits of their parents (who made adventures look fun). Instead, Albus sounds like a spoiled and complaining child, which is no pleasure to read.
FALL in love with reading again By Christine Lin
Empire of Storms By Sarah J. Mass
The Midnight Star By Marie Lu
Release date: September 9, 2016
Release date: October 11, 2016
This book is the highly anticipated fifth installment to the popular Throne of Glass series written by the New York Times best-selling author Sarah J. Maas. In the kingdom of Erilea, where magic mysteriously vanished ten years ago, notorious slave-assassin Celaena Sardothien is recruited by the prince Adarlan to compete in a contest to win the chance to be the king’s personal assassin. The series takes many twists and turns as readers continue with Celaena on her epic adventures. Lovers of Game of Thrones would enjoy this high-fantasy novel, which is filled with action, drama, and romance. If you have not heard of this series, you will not be disappointed by the rich world-building and beautiful writing.
The exciting finale to the New York Times best-selling Young Elites Trilogy follows the anti-hero protagonist Adelina Amouteru down her path of darkness. The first book of the trilogy, The Young Elites, starts with Adelina having survived the blood fever, but left with white hair and one eye as a side-effect of the disease, making her an abomination. For all her life, her father scrutinizes her as being the destroyer of the family’s reputation, molding her into a girl of irreversible bitterness. As Adelina goes down a path of revenge for those who have wronged her, she is determined to be the one in control. It is her turn to hurt. In the Renaissanceinspired setting with an X-Men-like cast, fans of Marie Lu, author of the Legend Trilogy, would be in for a surprise.
The Girl on the Train By Paula Hawkins
Heartless By Marissa Meyer
Book Release Date: January 13, 2015 Movie Release Date: October 7, 2016
Release Date: November 8, 2016
The popular mystery novel by Paula Hawkins will soon be adapted into a movie. It is best if you go into the book or movie without knowing what is really about. Many would describe the story as a creepier version of Gone Girl, another psychological thriller book that became a movie in 2014. The Girl on the Train comes to theatres with a formidable cast of actors including Emily Blunt from Edge of Tomorrow, Rebecca Ferguson from Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, and Luke Evans from Dracula: Untold.
The author of the popular Lunar Chronicles series, Marissa Meyers, takes on a new fairy-tale retelling. This time, it is the story of the infamous Queen of Hearts. Prior to becoming the most dreaded woman in Wonderland, Catherine was just another girl who wanted to fall in love and live life on her own terms. However, her parents, the King and Queen, have other plans for her future. Be prepared for a brilliant world of magic, monsters, madness and romance! Please scan the book covers with Aurasma for more content.
Instead of wishing Hogwarts is a reality, the new book makes me think that being born a “muggle” is a blessing. The plot holes suggest that Rowling’s co-authors did not do their homework and wrote this book based on a couple of popular words they’ve heard about the Harry Potter movies. A lot of the writing disregards character –like the possibility of Cedric being a death eater or Voldemort being a father. The book is not irredeemably terrible but it is extremely bittersweet. After years of immensely grand success for the Harry Potter franchise , reading this book is disappointing because it held high expectations and a large potential. A poor ending to an amazing story, the only upside to The Cursed Child is that it provides new reading material for the bored fans. The vast world of connecting theories, magical symbolism and well-thought-out plot has produced an “it’s okay” kind of book. When comparing the last few pages of The Deathly Hallows to this story, the original epilogue (however short) has more insight and character than the entire script of The Cursed Child. The reason this book does not reach expectations is because it does not stay true to the original series. To readers looking to start Harry Potter for the first time: do not read The Cursed Child! It is not an accurate representation of the original writings. To the majority of Harry Potter fans: you have probably already read it and I’m almost sure you are, to some extent,
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the blue & gold october 11, 2016
College campuses: a look inside your dream school By Julian Lee, Daniel Wang & Charlotte Lee The process of getting into college is long and stressful; at TAS, some students’ lives are oriented towards making it into the Ivy League from freshman year onwards. It’s easy to find reviews and average SAT scores for these high profile schools, but this review focuses instead on the atmospheric vibe of the university. These ratings reflect our impression of being on and around the campus, not the respective schools’ academic merit or ability to advance your future career.
Columbia University is located in the Upper Manhattan area of New York City. Because of its location in one of the most expensive cities in the world, Columbia’s campus, at 32 acres, is only twice the size of TAS and one-twentieth the size of Princeton. The initial vibe is somewhat depressing; despite its grand neo-classical architecture and massive white pillars, Columbia feels cramped and crowded. While the residence areas of other universities include spacious halls surrounding beautiful lawns and courtyards, Columbia housing uses brownstones and apartments. On the bright side, the Big Apple is right at your fingertips in Columbia, earning it a perfect rating for Surrounding Attractions.
Harvard University, the shining dream school of every TAS student, is located in the busy urban setting of Cambridge, Massachusetts. An intriguing mishmash of storied libraries and modern glass structures are scattered over a 210-acre campus. Unfortunately, bustling Boston streets intersect the grounds, so even as I walked through the historic red brick dorms , honking cars detracted from the Harvard atmosphere. The renowned Harvard Yard must be a wonderful place for relaxation during the school year, but was overrun by tourists during my visit. On the bright side, Boston attractions like Fenway Park and Boston Common are only a bike ride down the Charles River away.
Tufts University is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is situated in a residential area, surrounded by houses, giving it a comfortable suburban feel. Something that really caught my attention was a story by my campusguide. She said that the president of the school would be very involved in school life. He worked out, went sledding, and attended dormitory gatherings along with the students. This really shows the relaxed and united atmosphere of the university. Also, for those who love watching to music performances, Tufts’ pride and joy is their A-Cappella group which recorded songs for Glee!. Tufts is also a subway ride away from Boston’s major attractions and job opportunities.
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Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, is officially listed as an urban campus, but Providence is only one-sixteenth the size of Taipei. However, that’s not to say that the city has nothing to offer; it struck me as somewhat of a middle ground between the frantic atmosphere of Columbia and the suburban tranquility of Princeton. Campus life is full of opportunities. There are countless clubs to satisfy any extracurricular interest, from learning about the LGBT community to sitting around watching The Office while eating pizza. Brown students were truly some of the most enthusiastic and outgoing students I have ever seen. The campus itself is welcoming; it feels cozy because each mini-community, called a “unit”, is tight-knit. These “units” have crazy yearly competitions like watermelon smashing, and begin close relationships.
Princeton University seems as if it has been pulled straight from 1920s Great Britain and dropped into 2016 smack in the middle of nowhere, also known as New Jersey. Unlike urban schools, the Princeton grounds are almost completely self-contained, bounded by beautiful ornate gates. Once you step inside, a massive, breathtaking campus unfolds, with narrow paths winding through quaint buildings and the immaculate Prospect Gardens. Strolling through the idyllic lawns provides a sense of peace that is seldom found elsewhere; in such a tranquil place, it would be impossible not to learn. On the flip side, Princeton is an hour’s train ride away from New York, the nearest major city. In order to create its peaceful environment, the university had to be virtually isolated from the outside world, but the tradeoff is that there’s very little to do nearby. Campus Rating:
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MAP: SCRIBBLE MAPS PHOTOS: NBC, YMUN, HUFFINGTON POST, CPNL GEORGETOWN, SOCIALIST STUDIES, COLUMBIA.EDU, TUFTS.EDU
Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution in the United States, is located in the District of Columbia. On the outside, the buildings perfectly fit into that description but behind these medieval-styled buildings, Georgetown has a large campus filled with renovated and modern structures. The university is in one of the safer suburban areas of DC, which also has one of the oldest and popular shopping areas within a 10 minute drive (search “Georgetown Cupcakes” on Google). The overall feel was very welcoming and homely. There are different restaurants that are great for socializing and cafeterias that have areas for studying. If students do not live on campus, many live in the many nearby apartments and houses which contributes to this sense of a community. The one flaw that I saw about Georgetown’s location is the massive and inevitable traffic due to the bridge at the front of the school being the fastest route between Maryland and Virginia. However, D.C. has numerous resources to your college experience as it contains the White House, Smithsonian (Museums), infinite government buildings and historical sites. Campus Rating:
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Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut, is adorned by ornate arches and sophisticated stone fountains. Similar to Providence, New Haven is a small-to-medium sized city, convenient but not too busy. Unfortunately, according to Law Street Media, New Haven is the second most dangerous city in the United States, but the area surrounding the university seems relatively peaceful and safe. In my few hours spent at Yale, I got the impression through small but significant details that this was a place where the people had personality. For example, Yale hosts annual Christmas dinners for freshmen that are lavishly decorated and themed; one year they had a Harry Potter themed Yule Ball! On the academic side, Yale is richly endowed with facilities like the Sterling Memorial Library, pictured to the left, which was originally designed as a cathedral and has the reverent atmosphere of one. As I walked through the hallowed quads and listened to the wind rustle through the trees, I understood why Yale admission is so coveted all over the world.
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