The Blue & Gold: Volume XXIII, Issue 4

ELECTED

Taipei American School | 800 Chung Shan North Road, Section 6, Taipei, Taiwan | blueandgoldonline.org | VOLUME XXIII, ISS. 04 | March 23, 2017

Meet your new StuGov squad

The mic is hot: The future members of StuGov enthralled the audience through a series of persuasive and mic dropping performances. [CHARLOTTE LEE]

By Charlotte Lee The annual student government election results were released as of March 16, and the selected officers are as follows: Natalie Chang (9), Nicole Chang (11), Daniel Wang (11), Andy Xu (9), and Kevin Yu (11). The StuGov has an election policy that requires at least two underclassmen to be selected each year, regardless of their vote count.

This was because StuGov believes that continuation of leadership is important for its organization to thrive in the future. However, it is unclear whether or not this policy will continue.

According to Dr. Long, Dean of Students and StuGov Sponsor, the ideal officer is not only responsible, mature and reliable, but also should have a good sense of humor. A StuGov officer would have to be organized and take initiative to do work: “I do not micro manage StuGov, I don’t hold their hands to get them to do things.”

Although academic performance does not matter, credibility does—voting for someone with a bad reputation amongst

facebook.com/

TASBlueandGold

the administration and teachers would not be the best choice of representation.

Dr. Long says, “[StuGov Officers] can’t be rebels! They are the voice of the students to the administration.” Most importantly, a StuGov officer should “legitimately love the student body, which means they take time to get to know people that aren’t in their friend group.”

On March 14, each prospective officer presented the student body of returning high schoolers with a one minute speech pitching their candidacy.

This year’s speeches were brimming with pop culture references in the hope of connecting with the audience— dabbing, rapping and flexing included.

However, a couple of speeches were kept simple and on the formal end of the spectrum.

When asked “what’s the best thing about TAS?” the candidates responded with one of two kinds of answers: the variety of available opportunities, or the diverse, accepting student community.

Tingjen Hsieh (9), answered with the

latter: “The best thing about TAS is unquestionably the people. The people here are so diverse and so embracing in their own way.” Jonathan Huang (11), Daniel Wang (11), Nicole Chang (11) and Andrew Xu (9), on the other hand, phrased in their own fashion that TAS is best for the array of opportunities that it presents to the students no matter what area they wish to focus in. Kevin Yu (11), more specifically, said that to him, the best thing about TAS is that “people have the freedom to express their ideas and do whatever they want without major scrutiny... and also NOVA.” Every single candidate for StuGov officer was previously a ClassGov member. Several of them mentioned that they joined StuGov in hopes of creating even bigger change—change that could not be taken if their audience was narrowed down to only their own class. Andrew Xu (9) reasoned that “success is defined as the number of people you help,” so naturally, he wished to be a part of StuGov. Kevin

instagram.com/

tasjournalism

Yu (11) joked that he didn’t want to be “Julian [Lee]’s slave” in ClassGov anymore.

Although each of the candidates may seem very similar on the surface, they do have significant differences.

Jonathan Huang (11) is both a rugby player and a dancer—and when asked to choose his preference, he insisted that it was not possible. Natalie Chang (9) has a new interest in film and photography and exclaimed that “anything artsy is cool.” Her favorite movies are those that inflict strong emotions, like Interstellar, The Theory of Everything, Whiplash, or Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl to name a few.

Tingjen Hsieh (9), perhaps one of the quirkier candidates, claims she really loves Oreos, so much that if she could travel back in time, she “would go back to 1995, and ask Mr. Porcello [the inventor of Oreos] to rename ‘Double Stuffed Oreos’ ‘Regular Oreos’ and call the Regular Oreos ‘Diet Oreos’.”

A significant amount of the candidates also highlighted their

youtube.com/

BlueandGoldOnline

love for learning. Nicole Chang (11) greatly enjoys her AP Psychology class. stating that “I feel like what we learn makes me view behaviors of people in a different way, in the sense that so many things could be impacting those behaviors—things that people don’t even know.” Similarly, Daniel Wang (11) said that his favorite class is IBHL English because they discuss books that have a lot to do with psychology and the class gives him an opportunity to read books he would not have chosen to read before. Andrew Xu (9) says he really likes AP World History—he has a passion for the subject and has fun with the students in his class.

Next year’s StuGov officers are responsible for all sorts of activities, from organizing Frolic to deciding the location of soap dispensers at school.

Field day, Spirit Week, ping pong tables in the courtyard: all of these are the works of the Student Government and its leaders. Although the year is coming to an end, the officers have already begun their responsibilities.

email us at

blueandgold@tas.tw

2

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

FLEDGLING PAPERS TAKE FLIGHT

Student researchers recieve recognition for their groundbreaking work in science and history.

Angel Huang showcases innovative study

By Shereen Lee

[SHEREEN LEE]

While other students attended classes or traveled the world, Andrew Lin (12) spent most of his summer in his bedroom. But he was not sleeping in. He was revising his AP US History paper, which is now forthcoming in the Concord Review. The Review, a prestigious history journal, publishes fewer than ten articles by high school students per issue.

Andrew’s paper is influenced by his childhood, spent watching his father’s stockpile of World War II DVDs. “My dad is a big history geek,” he says. “Growing up with the DVDs around the house inspired my deep interest in the subject.”

Like the movies in his father’s collection, the paper follows the journeys of individual soldiers.

However, unlike the films, though, his paper follows a predominantly African-American unit, the 761st Tank Battalion. “My research paper covers their training days in Louisiana and Texas all the way through World War II, where they served in the front lines with the U.S. 3rd Army,” says Andrew. “It goes into depth about their life in the military while they were still living under segregation.”

Andrew’s paper details the discrimination the unit experienced both leading up to and during the war. “Despite the heroism of AfricanAmerican troops in every major conflict some politicians forgot their past successes, and opposed allowing them to fight on the front lines,” he says. “The 761st Tank Battalion

definitely proved those politicians wrong, becoming one of the most decorated armored units of World War II.” Andrew notes that minorities are often sidelined in historical narratives even today, and hopes his paper will make the pantheon of world war heroes more inclusive. “History is often written by the victors,” says Andrew. “AfricanAmericans may have been on the winning side during World War II, but they hadn’t won. On the home front, they were still fighting the battle for civil rights.”

History is often written by victors.

African-Americans may have been on the winning side during World War II, but they hadn’t won.

He chose to spotlight the 761st Tank Battalion over other units because of his passion for unearthing the lesser-known aspects of history. “When you think of minorities that fought for the U.S. in World War II, the two units that come

As a lower school student, Angel Huang (12) caught a disease that was going around her class. While she contracted few symptoms, her friends only deteriorated: some close childhood companions later experienced paralysis, or even death.

“The doctors all called our sickness by the same name—the enterovirus— but our symptoms were so different,” she said. So when she began her first biology research project in tenth grade, she immediately thought back to everything left unexplained in elementary school. “Over the course of my research,” says Angel, “I realized this is what I want to do for life.”

Angel has alway enjoyed interacting with scientific principles. “I fell in love with science because doing hands-on things are what helps me learn the best,” Angel says. After she transferred into Taipei American School from local school in her sixth grade, she received new opportunities to explore science in a way she had never done before. “Some of my favorite memories from middle school are from science class, especially the fairs and the experiments,” she says.

She took her work to the next level through volunteering at hospitals, shadowing doctors, and doing research.

“At one point, I became very interested in emergency care and asked to complete the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), even though medical background is usually required,” says Angel. “Funnily enough, I passed the exam as the highest scorer in my class!” to mind are the Tuskegee Airmen and the Navajo Code Talkers. Aside from that, other units consisting of minorities usually don’t generate a buzz,” he says.

The relative obscurity of the battalion made research exceptionally hard. “My biggest difficulty writing this paper was definitely the lack of resources early on. I couldn’t find anyone from the 761st who was still alive today, so I had to resort to online reading,” he says.

Over the summer, he delved into primary source documents for different perspectives on the Battalion. Andrew says, “After reading four books on the topic, I found an account of a white officer who was part of the 761st during the war, which helped me get a stronger and clearer picture of what was going on.”

Andrew is particularly grateful for all of Mr. Arnold’s help reading through numerous drafts and offering invaluable research advice. “Without a shadow of a doubt, Mr. Arnold gave me the biggest boost during this whole process,” says Andrew. “I honestly can’t imagine what would’ve happened without him.”

With this paper, Andrew has come a long way from the ten-year old self who whiled away hours watching war films. “Growing up, I was fascinated by World War II, especially by the battles and technology. Now, I’m interested in telling soldiers’ stories,” he says. “The 761st Tank Battalion contributed to the war effort and endured some of the most challenging conditions, even while facing discrimination. They deserve to be featured more prominently.”

Now, her high achievement in science and medicine has paid off: Angel’s most recent project on the effect of folates on the spread of breast cancer has already seen success. Angel was a top participant out of 250 finalists from 20 nations at the Taiwan International Science Fair (TISF), receiving third place in the Health and Medical Sciences division.

Over the course of my research, I realized that this is what I want to do for life.

TISF has granted her the opportunity to participate in the Intel Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), one of the world’s top research competitions. ISEF, which will take place this year in Los Angeles from May 14-19, will gather over a thousand of the world’s top scientists to present their research and compete for cash prizes, fellowship opportunities, and more.

Before ISEF, however, Angel

will have to prepare even more to undergo the scrutiny of judges at the fair, often professors with extensive experience in their fields. Currently, she is working with mentors from TISF to improve her data and create posters for her presentation at the fair. “There are lots of intense training sessions before Intel because I will be representing Taiwan,” she says. “I almost cried during the first training session because they kept roasting me. After the first day, my poster was completely empty, because the professors took everything out!” The TISF mentors’ tough-love approach has paid off for young Taiwanese scientists: the nation has a strong track record for sending out outstanding individuals to the fair. Last year alone, eight participants from Taiwan took home category prizes at ISEF for their research projects.

Angel hopes that this project will ultimately find a home in an international science journal, kickstarting her career in research.

“I don’t know exactly what I want to do in the future, but I love science and would love to do this as a job,” says Angel. “I’m sure that college will change many of my perspectives, so I look forward to exploring the field more.” She will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology next fall, where she anticipates majoring in biomedical engineering.

Andrew Lin writes history for overlooked heroes

By Catherine Lin

[SHEREEN LEE]

3

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

Groundbreaking into the future

By Daniel Wang On March 2nd, the Tech Cube groundbreaking ceremony initiated the construction of the new Taipei American School STEAM building between the Lower and Upper Fields.

Faculty and student representatives from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were all in attendance, as were TAS board members. Special guests such as lead donor R. Wong and other major donors also attended along with Tech Cube architects and developers (KHL Architects, Parsons Brinkerhoff, and I-Cheng Corporation). The ceremony was headlined by speeches from Chairman of the Board Tina Koo, and Superintendent Dr. Hennessy.

“One of the jobs of the board is to look to the future,” said Mrs. Koo, as she opened the ceremony. After the construction of the Upper School D-Block in 2012, TAS saw a new state of the art scientific research and robotics floor. However, within a few months, the administration identified a new issue: space. “We seemed to outgrow that facility partly due to the demand of the children and the students taking more courses in those areas...and also of all the burgeoning clubs, and the research, and all the programs that have been driven from those facilities,” says Mrs. Koo. As a result, the administration traveled around the world looking at the facilities of different universities in hopes of inspiring the design for TAS’s very own Tech Cube. “I made a

The next generation: Mr. Panta, Mrs. Koo, Dr. Wong, and Dr. Hennessy officially break ground for the Tech Cube.

[DANIEL WANG]

visit to MIT about three or four years ago...and I saw what could happen in a particular kind of tech center...I could see the excitement,” says Dr. Hennessy.

When it comes to the execution of the vision of the administration, there

Taiwan’s first bird flu death

[CNBC.COM]

By Coco Lee Flu season just got a lot worse.

On February 28, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), announced Taiwan’s first human fatality from the H7N9 flu. The fatality was a 69 year old businessman who was on a business trip in China. After coming back from China on January 25, the victim sought out medical attention and was soon hospitalized after being confirmed with the virus.

In spite of antiviral treatment, the flu strain within the patient developed resistance to the drugs.

After a 27 day hospitalization, the victim passed away. “Although the medical team at the hospital’s intensive care unit and infection specialists tried their best to treat the patient, he unfortunately died of multiple organ failure,” says CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo.

The major cause of H7N9 outbreak is from eating infected poultry. Most H7N9 patients have developed symptoms such as respiratory illness, mainly pneumonia, and a high fatality rate of 40 percent. “Antiviral drug resistance developed during [the victim’s] treatment, as well as serious pneumonia and increased oxygen demand, which are known risk factors associated with H7N9 avian influenza deaths,” says Philip Lo. Even though the concern for H7N9 is currently low, Influenza Risk Assessment Tool (IRAT) has rated H7N9 to have the highest potential to cause a pandemic and pose a great threat to public health.

Thus the CDC urges people to avoid contact with birds, maintain proper hygiene, avoid eating raw poultry or eggs and wear a mask.

is a Tech Cube task force made of members of the TAS community and board members. Mrs. Koo says “the group meets every month to review progress and since the administration has a very detailed plan, we also work

with building consultants to make sure the contractors are on target.”

The building itself will be something that TAS has never seen before. Simon Kao, Principal Architect of KHL Architects says,

“each of TAS’s buildings have had different features in their three stages.

The first building was an all purpose building that fit the generation, the Upper School was more shaded and entered an environmental stage, and now the Tech Cube will be lighter in weight. Since the building is situated in the middle of the school, the first floor will have a high ceiling and open space so that both the Upper Field and the track in the lower field will feel connected. I don’t want the school to feel like it is cut in half by the Tech Cube.” While the building will have many exciting new features, the challenges that Mr. Kao has to face makes it the hardest building that he has created at TAS. “The structure is going to be a pretty hard challenge because we will be using a curtain wall with diamond-shaped windows while the connecting of the bridges will be difficult as well. I think the building will be harder to construct than the Upper School.”

The Tech Cube is scheduled to open for student use in September of 2018. Mrs. Koo says that “our students will now have the best resources to be prepared to adapt and succeed anyway in the rapidly changing world.” However, Dr. Hennessy believes that the impact of the Tech Cube will extend beyond TAS and possibly even Taiwan itself.

“It will be the best in Asia...we will be helping the schools from around Asia to join in what is an essential next step for 21st century education.”

A home run for TAS athletics

By Shereen Lee In the upcoming season, TAS will join other member schools in IASAS fast-pitch softball and baseball after over 33 years of playing slow-pitch softball.

This year, TAS did not participate in the new IASAS event; the Athletics Department cited safety concerns for the delay. “There were many logistical changes to be made,” says varsity and JV baseball coach Mr. Thornberg. “One extra year just provided our players with an opportunity to get faster, stronger, and to work on technique.”

Mr. Thornberg, who has coached high school baseball for nearly 20 years, is excited for the season and what it might bring for players. “For TAS athletes, IASAS is really more than just a sporting event,” he says. “It is about building sportsmanship, and a special community within our conference of schools...they drive programs to excel.”

Paul Chang, a TAS alumnus who played in the slow-pitch softball program, is now a pitcher on the University of Chicago’s baseball team.

“I wish I had the opportunity to play baseball in high school to better prepare myself for collegiate sports,” he says.

“So I’m glad that younger athletes get this opportunity.”

Current students also eagerly anticipate the next season. “I’ve always loved baseball, so I’m glad I get to play it in the future,” says current freshman Joseph Lin (9).

The new versions of the game are much more fast-paced, with different skill sets required: when pitches no longer sail in a slow arc at the batter, a wild pitch could result in a strike to the head or the body. To succeed in baseball and fast-pitch softball, prospective players at IASAS must do more to understand the game. “My

A swing and a miss: The last softball team to go to IASAS. [MR.THORNBERG]

advice would be to play a lot on the off season whether that be doing SST, nonTAS teams, or just playing with friends on the weekends,” says current varsity athlete Paul Imbrogulio (12). “One season isn’t enough to really develop the skills needed, so players should spend as much time as possible getting to know the game.”

No matter where TAS competes for baseball and softball, the members of the team hope to see success at next year’s IASAS games. “I’m excited to watch the new team members compete next year, and I think they’ll do well,” says Imbrogulio.

Mr. Thornberg hopes to continue fostering a love for the sport. “The older I get, the more I appreciate the subtle things that make the game great,” he says. “My favorite part of coaching is teaching these subtleties to my players so they can learn to love the game, too.”

4

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

TAS IPPF: Team Panama

MEET TAS ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE

Tracy K. Smith

By Barron Tsai

In April this year, Taipei American School will have the honor of hosting prominent poet Tracy K. Smith. Here are 4 things you should know about her!

TAS’ IPPF team: Paul Imbrogulio (12), Katie Fong (12), Jeremiah Hsu (12), Alan Tsai (12), Cherice Tsai (12), and Aaron Gould (12) [not pictured] advance to the Sweet Sixteen round and hope to qualify for the Elite 8. [DR.NELSON]

By Audrey Kong Starting early in the school year, TAS’ International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) team wrote and submitted their qualification essay, in which they could choose either to affirm or oppose an official resolution.

The team, composed of Aaron Gould (12), Alan Tsai (12), Cherice Tsai (12), Jeremiah Hsu (12), Katie Fong (12), Paul Imbrogulio (12), qualified and was selected to enter the “Round of 64,” where teams are paired up and debate against each other. The TAS IPPF team won in both the rounds of 64 and 32 and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Currently the team is waiting for results for entering the “Elite 8.”

The teams that make it to the “Elite 8” get to travel to New York, New York to compete in a spoken debate on the same issues.

According to senior team member, Cherice Tsai, “each debate consists of four papers: Affirmative Constructive, Negative Constructive, Affirmative Rebuttal, Negative Rebuttal.” Each Constructive essay is approximately 2800 words and the rebuttal essays are written in a similar process. When the Affirmative finishes their essay, it is sent to the Negative so that they can write their rebuttal essay. There is one week between each of the competition essays; in total, each round of debate takes approximately a month.

This year’s topic is about the refugee crisis: Resolved: The obligation to provide safe haven for refugees should outweigh a government’s right

to control its borders. Cherice explains that “the debate is centered around which, between border control and obligation to provide safe haven, takes precedence given considerations for national security, global welfare, ethics, international law, and social, economic and political interests of countries.”

Collaborating on an essay can be “a little messy with six people all working on one document at once,” comments Paul Imbrogulio (12), “but since we have been doing this for three years, we are normally good at dividing workloads so they overlap less.” The TAS team generally assigns three to four writers to work on different arguments. responsible Chief ofOne Staff:person ReinceisPriebus for editing and fixing grammar, another Reince Priebus is the chairman of one two people are in charge of fact the to Republican National Convention checking research. of the (RNC). and Priebus helped One reorganize struggles in writing one through collaborative the Republican party the essay is maintaining one single voice “Growth and Opportunity Project”, throughout.

“Even though everyone a project report that aimed at has different tones direction and styles acquiring a better for when the writing, wethe always come back together future of Republican party, and towards the opening end to make sureparty our team advocated up the to has a single [in the essay] before women andvoice the LGBTQ community it’s submitted,” says Paul.

“Dr. Nelson while abandoning anti-immigration isstances. also hugely helpful Priebus hasin the alsoprocess: workedhe tirelessly offers us feedback for each under the National Association forof the we write,” Cherice. theessays Advancement of adds Colored People.

“The lion’s share of the work lies in getting our point across within [the word limit of 2800],” says Katie Fong (12). Paul reveals that their essay’s first draft is usually around 5000 words or more. “Sometimes cutting down our arguments is harder than actually writing them in the first place,”

remarks Paul. “Word economizing and being concise” is always difficult when writing,” states Cherice. Katie agrees and adds that “trying to hit a word limit when you already feel like there is nothing more to be cut is like chopping off a limb.”

Katie elaborates that while she does not “look forward to editing [the] essay once a first draft [is] made, she does look forward to their work sessions that “are basically just alternating blocks of silent, frenzied typing and short bursts of joking around.” Paul concurs, “I look forward to hanging with Dr. Nelson and my teammates, [arguing] over which cuisine is the best or just talk[ing] aboutofexistential questions”.

Secretary Health: Tom Price “For ourserved rebuttal Tom Price as a essays, memberweof back the check our opponent’s sources.

U.S. House of Representatives and We as check that theof other side’s Budget source the chairman the House actually support what they claim those Committee.

Price, a major opponent sources do. A lot of the we find of Obamacare, hastimes, criticized that the other conclude Obamacare forside’s givingsources the government intooopposition to their they much control overcase, the or health use but with place carequotes system. from Price issources also aligned them out and of context to misconstrue an pro-life an opponent of sameauthor’s argument.

We point out these sex marriage.

Many Republicans, inconsistencies our essays, take including NewtinGingrich and and Speaker advantage of this argue in Trump’s favor of Paul Ryan, haveto praised our side,” of says Cherice. selection Price, calling Price a leader their strong argumentative in Despite health care solutions. skills, “our weakness would have to be spelling words like trafficking [or] using fake words like thalassic,” states Paul. Katie rebuts that “thalassic is a word. Stop roasting me for using fancy words. They make our essays sound smarter and this is literally just how I talk.”

Tracy K.Smith: The renowned poet smiles while reading a book.

[ROLEXMENTORPROTEGE]

1. SHE’S A PULIZER PRIZE WINNER

Ms. Smith won a Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for her third poetry collection, Life on Mars. This book is highly personal to her, as it an elegy that deals with matters of grief and religious faith after her father’s death in 2008.

Ms. Smith has also won the Cave Canem Prize for Best First Book By An African-American Poet, the James Laughlin Award, and Essence’s Literary Award. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard and a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Columbia.

2. HER FAMILY IS GALACTIC

Ms. Smith’s father worked on the Hubble Space Telescope for NASA, one of the largest, most versatile, and most well-known space telescopes.

This served as a huge inspiration for Ms. Smith in writing Life on Mars.

According to Dan Chiasson at the New Yorker, “Smith cannot think about Secretary Energy:thinking Rick Perry Directorwhich, of Environmental her fatherof without in galactic dimensions, paradoxically, Rick Perry served as the Governor Protection Agnecy: Scott minimize him: drawn to that scale, individual lives (even his) canPruitt seem of puny, Texas,andand was a presidential Scott Pruitt was the Attorney private traumas (even hers) inconsequential.” candidate during the 2012 election General of Oklahoma. Prior to cycle. Perry has described himself as his selection, Pruitt served in the 3. SHE’S A MULTI-GENRE WRITERState legislature and as a fiscal conservative and has opposed Oklahoma Although Ms. Smithtax.has written poetry in 2015, she creating a state income Perry is an threethe head collections; of the Republican Attorneys published Ordinary Light, a memoir written in prose.

AccordingPruitt to Smith, opponent of the LGBTQ community, General Association. is an birthwarming of her daughter perspective into opponent the feelingsofofthe a the global skeptic, gave and her a a new open and staunch her ownofmother, which helped this elegy to her motherr.

As tofor supporter the death penalty.

He her is write EPA, condemning the agency she chose to 2012 do it in prose, she states, “I realized thattheir if I wanted to getand stillwhy famous for his presidential overextending powers something new where out of that to shiftPruitt languages.” campaign gaffe he material vowed I needed regulations. is also a climate to abolish three departments but change skeptic and has filed several forgot one of the departments’ name: lawsuits against climate regulations set 4. SHE’S INTERESTED ironically, the Department of Energy. IN ASIA by the Obama administration.

Mr. Montgomery, Upper School English teacher, was a student of Ms. Smith’s. He says that “[Ms. Smith] has worked with Chinese poetry before and has a genuine interest in Asia.” Furthermore, he says that TAS students will enjoy her visit, as “[he doesn’t] think she’s here to lecture… she’s very interested in connecting with students” and it will be a “rare opportunity to talk about the creative process and what it means.” He also hopes her science themed poetry will spark an interest in literature in students who are more science and math oriented.

5

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

College is a scam

It’s a sad story, howbow dah

By Carolyn Wang

An international phenomenon: 70% of UK students expect to never pay off their loans. [BLOOMBERG]

By Amanda Huang & Charlotte Lee For many of us with the privilege of attending a private school, college is less of choice and more of a default. The majority of high school students spend years building up the perfect college application, always keeping the future in mind. Students often overlook the possibility that there are alternatives to college which lighten the burden a college education usually brings.

TAS has almost a 100% rate of matriculation to college; those who are not included in this percentage are usually doing mandatory military service prior to enrollment at a college.

However, as a school, we are starting to see more interest in programs unlike the traditional four-year undergraduate route that most students take. Colleges like Northeastern, Babson, NYU, and Yale now all offer unconventional programs that offer students a different kind of college experience, whether it be more immersive and hands-on or more career-oriented.

There are several reasons why college is a scam. First, college brings a massive amount of student debt. Second, the college you end up attending may not always align with your educational needs. Finally, desirable employment is very possible without a college degree.

According to Bloomberg, in 2016, student debt in America rose to 1.31 trillion, and had been increasing for 18 consecutive years. On average, a student at a public college will have acquired debt worth 25,550 USD; for private colleges, 32,300 USD. Mr. Neill reasons that “many students spend great amounts of money that they do not have through student loans in order to obtain an undergraduate degree that should be the launchpad to the next phase of their education; however, instead, they are mired by these loans in a way that can impede their ability to be continuous, lifelong learners. In the end, they overpay for an undergraduate

degree that stifles their ability to pursue additional education, such as a master’s degree, which is essential in many areas of the economy.”

Aside from the cost, several students who make the choice not to go to college because it is not the form of education they seek. Oliver F. (11) says that since “technology, in every respect, is moving far too quickly for education institutions to predict what career choices might be available for students after graduating,” he has seriously considered not going to college. He asserts that he would rather have real world experience in working, possibly straight out of high school, than spend his years in a traditional college, memorizing terms and writing papers.

Employment is most likely the biggest issue college graduates want to tackle, having spent the greater portion of a decade trying to build up a pretty college application and then a pretty job application. Nevertheless, some companies are beginning to recognize

that what a person appears as on paper is not an accurate representation of how they would perform in jobs, and that it doesn’t matter where you went to college. Celebrated for their very unique interviewing process, Google claims that they do not necessarily consider going to an Ivy League school as an achievement, and that they have found other employees who have performed just as well as Ivy League graduates.

Ernst & Young, a UK accounting firm, declared in 2015 that it would stop requiring employees to have a college degree because it found no correlation between academic success and performance. Instead, they provide job candidates with tests that sample the work they would perform if they were to be hired. Companies are all searching for job candidates that fit the description they are looking for, whether it be the ability to perform the job, personality, or fit to the job environment all of which is not necessarily determined by a college degree.

A sports renaissance begins at TAS

By Daniel Wang The sports renaissance has begun.

On the night of the 2015 Sports Banquet, Mr. Mueller, Director of Health, PE and Sports, made a declaration that few had expected: he stated that Taipei American School’s athletics program would experience a “sports renaissance.” When asked to recall his impression of that night, Victor Chang (11) says, “Although he seemed like he meant all business, I admittedly had some doubts in my head.”

TAS is traditionally the underdog when it comes to IASAS sports. Alex Dong (11) says, “I think we’re in the middle of the pack. We’re not always the worst, but we’re not always the best.”

The mere existence of #WhyNotUs, a hashtag created by the boys’ basketball team after they won the gold medal at home in 2015, is a reminder that the school is not generally considered one of the favorites to win in IASAS. Other than its known dominance in girls badminton with thirteen consecutive championships, TAS is the dark horse for most other sports. However, it is time for students to change that mindset.

This program reform did not immediately bear fruit. In 201516, the year after Mr. Mueller’s bold declaration, TAS mustered a paltry eight IASAS medals, a drop from the ten medals compiled the year before.

However, after the first two seasons

of this school year alone, TAS has already collected an impressive seven medals. With girls badminton aiming for their fourteenth straight gold medal, both golf teams looking for repeat championships, and the track and field teams with a strong chance of placing after their combined PreIASAS gold medal win, the school looks likely to smash last year’s medal total.

This year, sports teams have risen dramatically across the board in IASAS standings. Boys’ cross country and girls’ volleyball, soccer, and touch rugby all boosted their positions from 2015-16, with particular improvement shown by the girls cross country and basketball teams, who both went from fourth place to IASAS championships. Meanwhile, the boys volleyball team won a repeat championship at home, and both boys rugby and basketball teams won bronze medals for the second consecutive year.

The development in TAS athletics is evident, but it is important to recognize the major changes in the athletics program to allow for this growth. Since Mr. Mueller’s arrival in mid-2014, he has reinvigorated the athletics program with a new attitude and programs.

“We specifically designed the athletics program to positively impact student athletes by creating offerings that would foster a competitive environment,” says Mr. Mueller. The Middle School Competitive teams, introduced in

Visualize the renaissance: In the first two seasons this year, TAS has won more gold medals than it has in the past two years combined. [DANIEL WANG]

2013, provide this type of environment for younger TAS students—competing for spots on these selective teams prepares them for Upper School and IASAS competition. Athletics Director Ms. Kawamoto adds, “This would not be able to happen without the resources that we have. We are now able to provide our teams with more competitive opportunities to include participating in a full spectrum of IASAS exchanges.

Providing our teams with a variety of competitive experiences helps.”

Although it appears as though the school’s improvement has only started this year, Mr. Mueller believes that its foundations were already laid back in 2015. “The commitment

and hard work of our students and coaches paved the way for the recent successes in our athletic program.

Resource allocation from our Board, Superintendent, and enthusiastic parent community will continue to be essential for sustained growth and development.” says Mr. Mueller.

The athletics directors are confident that TAS’s success will continue. “Interest and participation in sports change with each class. It is all cyclical, but with the foundation of our competitive programs [beginning in the MS] and the continued focus on effort and energy from our students, we are poised to maximize our progress.” says Ms. Kawamoto.

Cash her on Dr. Phil’s episode, “I Want To Give Up My Car-Stealing, KnifeWielding, Twerking 13-YearOld Daughter Who Tried To Frame Me For A Crime.”

Problematic teen and internet celebrity Danielle Bregoli is most commonly recognized as the “Cash me ousside” girl who challenged the audience members to catch her outside and get taught a lesson during her appearance on the show.

Since then, Bregoli has received a tremendous amount of attention, both good and bad.

Now the inspiration behind memes, remixes, t-shirts, and a Bitmoji, Bregoli’s catchy phrase “cash me ousside” is applicable to numerous situations. Trying to roast someone? Cash me ousside. Awkward interaction with a friend? Cash me ousside.

Actually want to meet someone outside? Cash me ousside.

Although the slogan and meme is amusing, this new wave of attention around Bregoli sheds light onto the plight of being born into a broken family. Bregoli dropped out of school in 7th grade; her parents divorced after her birth; and Bregoli’s mother, her caretaker, is a breast cancer patient.

Bregoli’s mother, Barbara, was awarded with “sole parental decision-making responsibility,” while her father, Peskowitz, was only granted visitation rights.

However, when her mom moved to New York following the divorce, the distance made it virtually impossible for Peskowitz to visit Danielle. Bregoli, only 13 years old, has a lack of parental support, and must even continue to support her mother been acting as the sole support while she goes through her second battle with cancer. Clearly, Bregoli is the victim of a dire situation. The trauma she has witnessed has translated into a troubled and dangerous lifestyle Behind the humor lies a darker truth: many single-parent children who feel abandoned.

As Andrea Wijaya (12) says, “Just seeing the way she acts on TV like it’s not a big deal, is sad.” Seeing her appreciate all the attention for her negative actions is truly thought provoking. Others need to reach out to children like this and offer them support. When we laugh at her actions, we belittle and normalize her behavior. It could perpetuate her already reckless behavior and make the situation worse. “Other teenagers may be influenced by her and follow her footsteps,” says Moka Sera (12). Although the joke is worth the LOLS, by continually letting her behavior slide, we are mindlessly approving her behavior.

6

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

What I wish I knew before starting the college process

University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom: This university is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. [UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW]

By Benjamin Kao (12) At this point last year, I was just starting the college application process: trawling through the various university webpages, going through different application systems, and generally feeling lost. Looking back now, there are a few things that I wish I knew before this process started.

The first thing that I learned in the past year is that rankings are not everything! Global rankings systems and domestic rankings systems are a flawed measure of the value of an university and the education that you will receive. Most rankings systems that include research quality as a metric are more geared towards postgraduate applications, not undergraduate applications. Different ranking systems place emphasis on various parameters that may not reflect your preferences.

Reputation is a vague concept that is usually based on few facts. There is

no significant difference between an university that is ranked number 10 and another university that is ranked number 20. I am not saying that you should not be aiming high to go to the institution of your dreams. In fact, I am saying the opposite. If the “prestigious university” has the educational culture and support that fits your style, then by all means apply to that university.

However, do not be so fixated on one choice that you forget all other choices.

Research your other choices as much as you research your first choice and make sure that you would be happy in your second or third choice university as well.

This process is extremely unpredictable and there are no guarantees that you will be admitted into your first-choice university. In short, reputation should not be a deciding factor in your choice of universities and your other choices should be as exciting as your first choice.

What do you want out of your

university experience? This is a question that you need to continuously ask yourself throughout this process. What do you think is important? What is your preferred learning style? Would you rather be in a university where you attend large lectures or would you rather be in a university that has mostly small seminar classes? If it is the latter, then perhaps applying to liberal arts colleges like Williams College in the U.S. and universities like Oxford and Cambridge in the U.K. may be a better alternative to applying to big state universities like those in the University of California system and the Ivies. Just because you have not heard of a university before does not mean that it is bad. As you continue the college search process, keep an open mind to what universities you want to add into or take away from your list. The university that fits you the most might not be one that is mainstream or ranked within the top

100 in a given ranking system. When universities visit our school, it would be a good idea to listen to what they have to say. Besides, listening to universities talk about their institution can help you decide what you want and don’t want.

What opportunities does each university have to offer and how would these opportunities help you achieve your personal and professional goals?

Look at the study abroad programs, career service, academic support, contact hours, pastoral support, student societies, placement years, industrial links and co-op programs in the universities that you want to apply to not as an afterthought but as the important basis of which university you want to apply to. Don’t let other people take control of your future and make sure that the university that you want to attend has everything you need to help you achieve your personal aspirations.

If you can, visit the universities that

you want to apply to or have applied to. Listening to personal experiences from people you know and online forums are all helpful but nothing beats experiencing the university yourself.

Look around the university campus and have lunch in the campus because when you make your choice, you will be living in that university for a few years. You have to make sure that you will enjoy studying and living around that university or you might bear the consequence of having to transfer after 1 or 2 years and going through this long and arduous process again.

The last point that I would like to make is that it is okay for you to not know what you want to do in life!

You do not have to go to university in the exact year you graduate from high school! Instead, you can take a gap year in order to think more about choices you want to make in life. Even after you have matriculated in the university of your dreams, your interests could drastically change over the following years. It is perfectly fine for you to do something later on in your lives that is completely irrelevant to your major in college. So think about university as a learning experience rather than a stepping stone in life to get to a certain career.

Take control of this process! Your college counselors, parents, and peers are here to support you but it is your life.

Do not let other people define how you want to live your life or where you want to go. If you are confident that you are making the right decision throughout this process after a lot of research, it is perfectly fine to say to the people who are here to support you that you think that the decision you have made is the best for your life. Be true to yourself!

Respect other people’s advice but do not allow them to make decisions for you.

I hope this article has helped in some way and I wish you all good luck in making these important decisions that will have a significant impact on your lives!

YA spinoffs: more quantity than quality

By Julian Lee Percy Jackson. The Hunger Games.

Harry Potter. Divergent. For the past 10 years, these prominent young adult series have captivated the minds and hearts of youths across the world. But lately, an alarming trend has arisen among famous YA authors: after the success of the initial series that makes their name, they continue to exploit the same ideas, coming up with sequels, prequels, and even accompanying graphic novels. This would be a reader’s dream come true if the spinoffs were composed with as much passion and effort as the originals, but sadly, this is rarely the case. Instead, devoted fans are forced to trudge through poorly written stories that ultimately disappoint.

Sequels like J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child frequently reuse plotlines and revive old characters, making for a predictable read. Riordan’s later series are no better—he simply changes the name of the mythological entity who rises from the dead and threatens to destroy the world. Austin Huang (11) says, “he uses the same format for every single one of his

stories...he’s trying to milk a dead cow.”

When new ideas are introduced, they are either implausible or uninteresting.

One case in point is The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, a painfully tedious 178-page companion novella stretched out by Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight novels, just to explore the backstory of a minor character.

The authors’ motivation for constantly returning to the same settings and storylines is obvious. As Natalie Hon (11) says, “it sells.” Dr. Owen Lipsett, a TAS English teacher, expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “If they find a formula that works, they want to stick with it.” All the authors have to do is simply mention the names of Harry Potter, Tris Prior, Clary Fairchild, or Percy Jackson in a new book, and chances are it will become an instant bestseller, regardless of how shoddy the writing is. Take for instance The Cursed Child, which sold 2 million copies in its first two days despite poor reviews from websites like Goodreads.

True, some of these authors had economic motives for trying to maximize profits—after all, writing is

a difficult profession. Dr. Lipsett notes that “everyone, particularly those who create art, likes to think of themselves as doing what they do because they’re passionate about it... however, at the end of the day, they have bills to pay like the rest of us.” Indeed, J.K. Rowling described her economic struggles in a 2013 interview with the Daily Mail, saying that she once was “as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.” But now, Rowling’s total wealth is estimated

by Business Insider at just under USD$ 1 billion; Riordan is no slouch either, checking in with a net worth of USD$ 21 million, according to Forbes.

Since clearly most successful YA authors have more money than they can spend, they should consider the consequences of their actions. Rather than enriching the stories of the original novels, low-quality spinoffs add unrealistic and unnecessary elements to the beautiful fictional universes the authors spent so much time constructing. Natalie says of The Cursed Child, “I prefer to think that [it] is not associated with Harry Potter. To me,

The chief offenders: Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase series and Stephenie Meyer’s companion to Eclipse are mind-numbingly dull. [RIORDAN WIKI, STEPHENIE MEYER UK]

the series ended with the seventh book.”

It is time for Riordan, Rowling, and company to say their farewells to their beloved universes, and allow their

fictional heroes to ride off into the sunset.

Perhaps by pursuing new ventures, they will create a new generation of heroes for a new generation of readers.

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

Meet the leaders of TASMUN VIII

By Shereen Lee As Co-Secretaries General, Niralee Shah (11) and Ryan Sun (11) are responsible for this year’s Taipei American School Model United Nations (TASMUN) conference. But before they reached their posts at the top of the program, they started their MUN journey like hundreds of others before them: with Oreos.

Middle school practice rooms are always full of snacks, luring seventh and eighth grade students into MUN. But even as the chips and animal crackers disappeared from high school classrooms, Niralee and Ryan continued to enjoy debate. “We came for the food, and stayed for community,” says Niralee.

Over 300 students from Taiwan and abroad will represent the 193 UN member states at the TASMUN conference, now in its eighth year. The Secretariat, an elite team of student administrators, works with Niralee Turning words into action: Ryan Sun (11) and Niralee Shah (11), co-Secretaries General of TASMUN VIII, foster the next and Ryan to make the conference generation of leaders. [JUSTIN YANG] smoother for participants. In addition time we’re able to add a new element and around the world. “In spite of the become a leader of the TAS club Girl to handling conference logistics, they to TASMUN, that’s a pretty great fact that you’re involving yourself in Up, which holds meetings and seminars use their experience creatively to add accomplishment,” says Niralee. “I’m the same activity, you can never predict about women’s rights. In August, she, to the conference. This year, the team excited to see how it turns out.” what each individual experience will be with fellow MUN participants Janice has developed a Historical Committee, Niralee and Ryan themselves are like,” says Niralee.

Yang (11) and Kavya Nayak (11), where delegates will travel back to 2001 seasoned delegates: both of them have Inspired by debating human rights attended a summit for women’s rights and respond to the 9/11 attacks. “Any attended over 10 conferences on-island issues in MUN, Niralee has gone on to in Washington, D.C. There, she heard

Lina Chen: finding joy in figurines

By Catherine Lin Avid anime collector Lina Chen (9) owned her first anime figurine before she liked or even watched anime. “My sister really liked anime because she grew up in Japan, and she gave me a couple,” says Lina. But it was many years before Lina began to appreciate their value.

As a young child, Lina embraced an American identity. “When I came to TAS from Japan, I hated Japanese because no one here spoke it, so I thought it was weird,” she says. “Instead, I grew up in American culture and spoke English.”

As a result, her passion for collecting only began in eighth grade on a trip to Japan for her sister’s graduation. “She took me on a huge anime shopping spree at this place called Akihabara in Tokyo,” she says. “They sell everything you can think of.”

Lina recommends that newly animeaddicted students try going to anime conventions. “The best part is definitely

seeing how many other people are just as or more obsessed than you are, so you know you’re not the only crazy one!” she says.

However, aspiring collectors should be forewarned that the hobby may hurt their wallets. “They’re quite expensive and hard to find,” explains Lina. “I go on specific trips in Japan to buy limited edition figurines.”

Another difficulty Lina has experienced is simply not having enough time. “In middle school, my friends and I would talk about anime during study period and watch it during lunch,” she says. “Now, I barely have the time to buy the figurines or watch anime anymore.”

For Lina, anime collection is a way to spend time with friends and family.

She says, “It’s fun to scavenge for these figurines with my friends or my sister.”

But the best part of collecting? “The pure satisfaction of owning things,” she says.

Animated about anime: Lina Chen (9) and her collection of anime figurines.

7

speeches by women like Rosie Rios, the treasurer of the United States. “MUN has influenced and educated me so much about world issues today,” says Niralee. “It’s led me to areas I never thought I would be so deeply involved in.”

Ryan cites interaction with others as his favorite aspect of MUN. “I personally love talking a lot, and I know of no better activity than MUN that gives me a perfect platform to hold extensive, loud, and unique conversations with different individuals without getting into trouble,” he says.

Three years after his beginnings as a TASMUN delegate, Ryan still spends his Mondays at TASMUN debates, mentoring middle and upper school students in every room. “Mentoring is an incredibly important aspect of the MUN community at TAS,” he says. “As we get older, it’s even more important to remember that many of us got here through the support of the MUN community as middle school students.”

“In the end, I hope that MUN is an educational experience for our delegates,” says Niralee. “This year’s conference will truly be a success when delegates are able to walk away and turn their words into action, like TASMUN V did for me three years ago.”

[ALEXANDER LIN]

Evan McFarlane: the unknown pleasures of vinyl

By Catherine Lin Evan McFarlane (11) was on vacation outside of San Francisco when he found his favorite record, “Unknown Pleasures,” by Joy Division. He says, “I stopped at a record store that was sort of in the middle of nowhere. I asked the clerk if they had any records from the band [Joy Division], and he pointed out a used records aisle.”

Evan first began collecting four years ago, long before that memorable vacation. “One of my friends had a record player, so I bought one of my own,” he says. Since then, his collection has grown to 34 records. “Generally vinyl sounds better than digital music, and older vinyls are the best,” says Evan.

According to Buzzfeed, the apparently superiority of vinyl, which many attribute to the “warmth” of its sound, is due to the inaccuracy of vinyl in comparison to digital music. The precision of digital music can make it sound cold and clinical.

Although downloading music is more convenient, Evan and other collectors treasure records for their own appeal. Evan says, “It is satisfying to have a physical copy of my favorite albums rather than just having them on my phone.”

Collecting records is also a great way to find new music. “Part of the fun is finding stuff you’ve never even heard of,” says Evan. “Most of the time I just

visit record stores and browse.”

For students interested in beginning their own vinyl collections, he says, “Recently collecting has gotten much easier since vinyl is becoming more and more popular.”

Evan’s recommended vinyl stores: Joy Audio (No. 6, Lane 75, Section 2, Zhonghua Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, 100) Vinyl Decision (No. 6, Lane 38, Chongde Street, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 110) White Wabbit Records (No. 1-1, Lane 21, Pucheng Street, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106)

Committed collector: Evan McFarlane (11) displays his collection of vinyl. [EVAN MCFARLANE]

8

kelly p

hil

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

IASAS 3rd Season Preview

By Andrew Lin and Grace Cho

Sprinting to victory

As 3rd Season IASAS approaches, the Track and Field teams begin to gear up for another shot at bringing back gold. IASAS Track and Field was

hosted at home last year; this year, International School of Bangkok (ISB) will host IASAS from April 6 to April 8. Last year, the TAS Boys Track and

Field team finished 2nd overall behind Singapore American School (SAS) while the TAS Girls Track and Field team finished 5th overall.

The Track and Field teams hope that, despite losing 12 seniors from last year, the team’s fresh batch of recruits and a summer of training are more than enough to push them onto the path to gold. Captain Jeffrey Yu (12) believes that this year’s new recruits can fill in the shoes left behind by the previous seniors: “We lost 9 from the guys’ team and 3 from the girls’ team. This year, we went around the school incentivising students to join Track and Field and we got around 100 runners, throwers and jumpers this year.” In addition to having more recruits, team veterans are also mentoring the younger players.

The girls badminton team is off to a great start. As they bond and work out together, the teamwork is unstoppable. Captains Florence Su (12) and Katherine Tseng (12) work efficiently every day to handle workouts and practice games.

Ms. Tung, who is the coach of the girl’s badminton team, helps the team with her experience: “because it is an individual sport, and we all have really solid boundaries, we work together as community and a family. We are all working on our own thing, and help each other side by side, which builds strong bonds within the team.

One thing I emphasize constantly is to not take things personally. Be competitive. If someone beats you, or you beat another person, it’s nothing personal. It’s not because you are better than them or worse than them, and it doesn’t say anything about who you

are as a person.”

A strong team may be the key to winning it all this year. “People may think that badminton is an individual sport, but having the team improves the skills more because we encourage each other,” says captain Katherine Tseng (12). The strong bond and teamwork of the team illuminates the derpiness of the badminton team as they have a Snapchat group.

Coach Tung says the proudest aspect about the girls’ badminton team is “the way the girls are open to suggestions and eager to improve. They are very diligent and hardworking all the time. I feel a lot of appreciation for my girls.” With strong encouragement from Coach Tung, the girls’ badminton IASAS team is looking to sweep the gold.

It was only two years ago when the boys badminton team fell to the

International School of Kuala Lumpur team in the IASAS badminton finals by the slightest of margins. But after placing 5th overall last year, the team is hoping to turn it around and return to the mountaintop this year.

Led by captains Nathan Kuo (12) and Jonathan Chou (12), the team believes that they will be just as competitive, tenacious and tough as the TAS badminton boys have been known for many years now. “Given the success boys team has enjoyed historically, there is always that motivation and pressure to return boys badminton to its former glory,” says Nathan.

The team hopes that the strong bonds formed between the team members will help propel them come IASAS, especially in an individual sport such as badminton. “We are playing it like a team sport: watching

and supporting our teammates when they [play], picking each other up and [veteran players] giving advice to the younger players,” says Nathan. Great

players organize dinners regularly on Saturdays after team practices in the Shipai driving range to form a closer bond. Mr. Parenteau encourages the golf players to “go out and use everything they have learned from the practices they have been doing. Golf is a game of nerves, so try not to get too nervous. Go have some fun.”

It is not only the boys’ golf teams with such a formidable team, but also the girl’s golf team. “We have a young team, but we may surprise the other IASAS schools if we can perform at our talent level and be consistent.” says Dr. Iverson, coach of girls’ golf. In order to go for a 3-peat, the team practices a lot. “Golf is all about the mental and strategies. Because the season is short, we don’t try to change our techniques much. We try to enforce having positive attitude and not to have negative vibe,” says the captains,

Stephnie Lin (12) and Chansie Yang (11).

The team is more confident despite losing the previous seniors and replacing them with newcomers.

Stephnie says, “I don’t have special feelings right now but the day of IASAS, I will definitely cry because IASAS is a big part of my high school life and the most important event.

So without it, I’m probably going to cry. I really like our team and I’ll miss everyone. It’s almost like family.” Just by what she said, it is obvious that the feelings and adoration between teammates are extremely close.

Furthermore, the captains likes the diversity in their team. “Even though it sounds kind of bizarre, but somehow we are very close to each other,” says Stephnie and Chansie. With this uniqueness the varsity golf team has, Stephnie and Chansie encourages the

Clearing obstacles: TAS athletes jump past hurdles during the track and field pre-IASAS. [JUSTIN YANG]

this season we are doing a lot more drills for form and acceleration than we did last season. [It] helps all of us get up to top speed faster and use our energy more efficiently.” 4-year IASAS captain April Chu (12) adds, “Coach Anderson is really positive this year about the girls’ track team, looking at how well the girls’ XC team did this year. He’s been making sure we are as fit as we were during XC.” A new challenge the team now faces is the task of winning on another school’s turf. Despite this challenge, most players on the team are more than eager to travel. “I’ve heard a lot of people say ISB is the best school to go to for IASAS and I can’t wait to see it,” says Kate, while Jeffrey says that “[he’s] excited for the ISB golf carts and food.”

team chemistry is something that the boys hope to take advantage of when they play in IASAS and it can very well be the X-factor for this year’s team.

The dynasty continues

Teamwork makes the dream work: TAS badminton boys huddle up together during a game. [JUSTIN YANG]

Going for the hole-in-one

Big swing: Ryan Kao (10) swings his golf club. [ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT]

Golf training begins for many TAS students in middle school, well before they enter high school. The varsity boy’s golf team, coached by Mr. Parenteau, comprises hardworking students. As they practice in the golf facility and Shipai driving range, Mr.

“The more experienced athletes are constantly supporting the newcomers by offering advice and encouraging them to add to the competitive spirit between TAS athletes,” says captain Andrew Hu (12).

While the track and field team lost several members, it has not set back the players. IASAS Track and Field is revitalized with new members, while returning players from last year use their experience to guide the team.

The teams are confident, ready and determined to make a huge run in IASAS. With IASAS looming, the Track and Field teams are ramping up the intensity of practices after school.

When asked how the coaches this year are preparing them for IASAS, captain Kate Weddle (12) says, “In general,

Parenteau says, “just coming out and see how students practice and how seriously they take with these practices and how much effort they put into the game really impresses me and I feel proud to have this team.”

Captain Kevin Tung (12) and other

rest of the IASAS players: “believe in the work you put in [because] we worked very hard this season and during the offseason too. It will pay off and hopefully we will have our third gold.”

Coach Iverson, is excited about golf ’s prospects and encourages all students to root for this year’s team.

“TAS golf teams deserve to be at the top of IASAS given the interest and dedication to work by the students who try out each year. Several good players could not make the varsity IASAS team this year, and this is testament to how our competitive level has improved.”

IASAS Track and Field, Badminton and Golf 2017 will be held from April 6-8, 2017. Make sure you stream our athletes through the official IASAS website as they compete for gold!

ON THE MOVE: EXPLORING TAIPEI’S TAMSUI-XINYI LINE

Yuanshan: an artistic foodie’s paradise

By Julian Lee The area surrounding Yuanshan MRT station is culturally vibrant, with the expansive Taipei Expo Park and the Fine Arts Museum immediately outside the stop. As passengers exit, they are greeted by a lively night market-style area, dotted with arcade games and snack carts. Adjacent to this stands the weekly Taipei Expo Farmer’s Market. Some farmers at the market drive up from the south of Taiwan at dawn, according to Yunlin County vendor Tsai Cai-Xing, and bring newly harvested cabbages and beans by the truckload.

Just a few steps past the farmers’ market is MAJI MAJI, a vast complex totally devoted to eating. Its main feature is a covered food court offering a diverse variety of worldwide cuisine

for under 200 NTD. Some highlights are Quantum Tacos, a Mexican chorizo and taco stall, and BIGBANG, a Korean spicy rice cake stand. However, MAJI MAJI also includes traditional stores like Maji Food & Deli, an international deli which plays soft jazz as patrons browse a selection of imported products from countries as far off as Poland and Italy.

The alleys and small streets around the station have their fair share of interesting shops as well. Particularly noteworthy is the Future Factory, an intriguing cafe boasting delicious handmade cakes and self-ground coffee.

According to an employee named Miki, the owner’s fascination with factories led to the cafe’s quirky name and decor, which includes metal furniture and vintage filament lightbulbs.

TAOYUAN AIRPORT LINE

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new line!

By Melissa Cho The newly opened Taoyuan Airport MRT line offered free rides to passengers from February 16 to March 5. On February 26, I met a female volunteer at the Purple Line; she remarked that on February 19, over 90,000 metro-goers eagerly queued in line in hopes of boarding the train. I was still interviewing the volunteer, but in the midst of all the chaos, she was engulfed by the huge mob of people.

The train operated between 7:40 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the trial

period. The two week trial period was chaotic; passengers squeezed together like a school of sardines.

Liberty Times reported that about 53,000 people rode the express line on the first day.

Getting to the purple line is tricky. I first rode the MRT from Zhongshan Station to Taipei Main Station for a quick five minutes.

After getting off Taipei Main Station, I speed-walked for about five minutes, following a series of oversized purple arrows pointing towards the Taoyuan Airport line (if

you walk pass a Muslim prayer room, you’re going in the right direction).

Due to the immense amount of visitors the Taoyuan Airport line received, passengers waited in line for over an hour before they could even get inside the station to board the train (time to brush off those waiting skills from Din Tai Fung).

Some of them failed to board the train because the train had already stopped operating for the day. Take it from me, I think it’s best to wait until the hype train (literally) for this newly opened line simmers down.

ZHONGHE-XINLU LINE

Ooh Cha Cha: veganism with variety at Guting

By Christine Lin (10) A sunny day in this supposed “winter” in Taipei was ideal for an adventure. After an hour of wandering along the Zhonghe-Xinlu MRT Line, I came to Guting station’s second exit, where I noticed a modest vegan cafe hidden in an alley between Nanchang Road and Roosevelt Road: Ooh Cha Cha. The small cafe adds a pop of warmth to an otherwise dull surrounding of gray cement and apartment buildings.

The white-walled interior with hints of wood and green provides the perfect background for quiet studying and lounging. Ordering a mushroom bowl, a hummus salad, a smoothie, and a piece of strawberry lemonade cake, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed my meal. Ooh Cha Cha creates guilt-free yet delicious dishes, just as satisfying as a steak dinner.

The cafe makes its own sauces,

spread, and patties with fresh ingredients from local markets and farms. Wanting to educate the public about healthy eating, co-owner Spencer Hudson notes the importance of a balanced intake of nutrition: “Some companies try to [provide vegan options] but they sacrifice health for this goal. You can’t just make everything out of soybean.”

To take nutrition education outside of the cafe, Hudson also says, “We’re working on an education program now and we are really hoping that we can convince some businesses and schools to switch over to vegan eating for just once a day.”

The dishes I ordered were not only delicious but reassuring; eating from a trustworthy source gave me a sense of security. Meat lovers and die-hard vegans alike should give the plant-based meals here a try. Ooh Cha Cha wows with its diverse options of nutritional food and friendly staff.

MRT

For this assignment, 6 Blue & Gold journalists tackled Taipei’s MRT network by exiting at a random stop on a line. Each wandered the local area in hopes of finding something new and noteworthy.

WENHU LINE

Restaurant Page: hidden gem at Dazhi

By Anya Lai Walking in the pouring rain on tired feet, I wandered around the streets outside Dazhi MRT Station. Not far from Exit 3, I came across a bright sign with the words Restaurant Page.

The restaurant had white-framed windows and a blue door. Walking in, I found that the blue and white walls, electric bass jazz music, and open kitchen gave the establishment a cozy feeling.

Restaurant Page is a multi-cultural cuisine restaurant; a typical dish contains local Taiwanese food, such as grilled squid or seafood, as well as Italian risotto and pasta. Some dishes on the menu include Taiwanesegrilled shrimp spaghetti and parmesan calamari pesto risotto. The Matsuzaka

pork Caesar salad stood out because of its tender pork and the perfect amount of dressing— every ingredient complimented one another.

When I got home, I searched up the restaurant online and discovered that it has also been featured on one of Taipei’s most famous magazines, Business Weekly, even though it has been open for less than a year.

Restaurant Page may be hard to find as it is in a middle of an old neighborhood and is not located on the main street. However, it is not far from Dazhi MRT station, and a simple use of Google Maps can get you there.

Restaurant Page is the perfect place for family and friends, and the welldecorated interior is great for aesthetic Instagram pictures!

BANNAN LINE

Liang Liang Hao: small shop, big find

By Carolyn Wang I hardly ever leave the Tamsui-Xinyi line. However, for this adventure, I ventured onto the blue line to Zhongxiao Fuxing station. When I got off the train, the overwhelming crowds of people pushed me to the third exit.

As the sun began to set, the buildings lit up with neon flashing signs and hungry customers flocked to the restaurants like mosquitoes to light. The surrounding restaurants were similar to the ones found in Tianmu. Getting nowhere, I walked into an Apple store and asked for help. A worker told me, “Go to Liang Liang Hao, just cross the street and continue until a 7-11 and turn left.”

Empty and small but clean and bright, I walked in to Liang Liang Hao, which sells sandwiches that are made

into hot pockets.

All of the sandwiches feature egg and cheese and the egg can be runny or cooked. I ordered a peanut butter, cheese, ham, and egg sandwich.

The sweet, nutty peanut butter was smothered between the savory ham and cheesy egg, creating a unique flavor that was both sweet and savory. For the pesto mushroom sandwich, the pesto was fragrant but not overpowering.

The soft mushrooms went well with the egg and the cheese, which melted in my mouth. The small cafe has more than 10 types of sandwiches and also offers fresh juice and drinks.

The clean, comforting atmosphere makes Liang Liang Hao a nice place to visit with friends. Despite a modest exterior, this small shop is definitely a diamond in the rough.

SONGSHAN-XINDIAN LINE

Zhongshan: leisure and learning at MOCA

By Cherice Tsai Located just a five minute walk from the Zhongshan MRT station is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). MOCA exhibits new artworks every 4-6 months and displays art with various historical, modern, and futuristic themes.

Currently one of the exhibits on display is “Rosa’s Wound”, which is an attempt by eight artists (Chen Chiehjen, Tetsugo Hyakutake, Belit sağ, Fx Harsono, Kiri Dalena, Dinh Q. Lê, Sun Xun, Huang Wenhai) to express different national perspectives through which individuals can consider Asian history and suffering as a result of war. Another current exhibition, “The Tempted Dream Walker” by artist Lu Jyun-Han, features colorful patterns and figures painted onto the inside of

a van. Lu seeks to express his intense fascination for art and an artists’ dream-like artistic process through his work. The medium of his artwork allows viewers to walk inside the van and quite literally experience a visible manifestation of Lu’s imagination.

According to Helen Lee, a volunteer at MOCA, there are approximately 500 visitors to the art museum every Saturday and Sunday. She says that she finds joy in helping out at MOCA on weekends because it is a source of stress relief. She says, “My job as an engineer entails very different kinds of work, so art provides some form of relaxation.” For TAS students, a visit to an art museum could be beneficial in just the same way. A wonderful place to visit over a weekend, MOCA is easily accessible by MRT.

11

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

Where are our seniors going to coll—senior trip?

By Melissa Cho

Croatia: beautiful, medieval, exotic Coming to the conclusion that Croatia was the desired location took a lengthy amount of time for Josephine Hu (12) and Avery Mann (12). Both seniors had been itching to explore Europe, but there were certain limits to where they could go. “We wanted to go to Western Europe,” says Avery, “but it was too expensive.” Places like France and England were too pricey and Avery had already travelled to Italy before. After brainstorming, Avery brought up two options: Croatia and Portugal. “I wanted to go to Portugal, but Josephine was really adamant about going to Croatia. She is never adamant about anything,” says Avery.

A compromise was reached and the two of them eventually decided on Croatia. Harris Chen (12), Jonathan Wu (12), and Andrew Hu (12), upon hearing their pitch, eventually decided to join Avery and Josephine on their trip.

It will take a grueling 20 hours for

the group to fly to the other side of the planet. They will be staying in Croatia for about two weeks. They started planning in January, and have already bought their plane tickets and booked most of their hotel accommodations.

For Avery, one of the prime reasons she wants to travel to Croatia is because HBO’s hit series, Game of Thrones, was filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Josephine felt drawn towards Croatia’s national parks and beaches. She is also extremely excited about going to The Museum of Broken Relationships, a museum in Zagreb, Croatia, that exhibits personal objects left over from former lovers.

The entire group is ecstatic about trying Croatian cuisine—hello infinite amounts of pasta, seafood, and awardwinning cheeses! They have agreed on incorporating exercise during their trip. Burning calories consumed from mounds of Croatian food every day is a must. They plan on hiking at the

Plitvice Lakes National Park.

The group is not intimidated by travelling without family or a large group of peers. “[Josephine and I] have gone backpacking with each other before [at the Appalachian Trail],” Avery says. “We had supervisors, but still, I think [we’ve] got this.” Josephine has also been on previous IASAS trips, so she does not find the task of travelling independently daunting.

The language barrier in Croatia will pose a slight threat to the group.

However, the group is not stumped by this challenge. “There is a lot of foreign tourism there,” Avery says.

“We are going to have to learn a few Croatian words, but I think we should be fine.” Jonathan also says, “We have the [polyglot] Andrew Hu. He speaks English, Mandarin, Japanese, Spanish, and a bit of Arabic, so we will probably force him to learn some Croatian words.”

Amy Lin (12), Brendan Wong (12), Serena Yiin (12), Huiru Huang (12), Benita Wu (12), Jeffrey Yu (12), Alvin Wang (12), and Jason Wang (12) instantly bonded at the idea of going to Japan for their senior trip.

“We agreed upon this location via a survey Benita created,” Serena says.

The survey contained information pertaining to travel budget, potential locations, and activities that the group wanted to do. In the end, the group voted on travelling to Kyoto and Tokyo for seven days.

With the two locations agreed upon, the group separated into two sub-groups, and each sub-group

conducted research on either Kyoto or Tokyo. “I would say [we are] a good 80% done,” Jeffrey says. “[We] just need to tighten up small details.”

The group has already bought their plane tickets and are currently looking into Airbnb, an online marketplace where people can either rent or offer to rent lodging. “Since we will be living in an airbnb, the beds are concentrated in one area,” Serena says. “I’m afraid Jason will snore.”

Serena is particularly excited about travelling to Tokyo. “Tokyo is one of Asia’s largest cities—a center renowned for its culture,

food, shopping, technology, and much more,” she says. “Despite having lived in Taipei for almost ten years, I have never been to Tokyo!

I’m definitely excited to go there.”

Not to mention, she has already been preparing herself by watching YouTube videos of Japanese phrases for vegans.

The entire group connects with each other on Japanese food. “I’m really excited for the sushi, matcha desserts, and mochi,” Benita says. Be expecting some green tea kit kats and mochi desserts from them when they return from their trip.

change: not just in environment, but also in lifestyle. However, that does not seem to faze Gerald.

“What I’m looking forward to the most is the adventure that comes with the military and getting fit. It’s also a good change of pace from studying all day [in school],” says Gerald. At the same time, he understands that life in the military will also be strict and highly regulated: “It is more structured than TAS because it’s the military! If [the rules say] to sleep at 10, then you have to sleep at 10! If you make too much noise, then you’re going to go down into pushups or go for a run.”

Not only that, when it comes to handling a gun, it can be tiring for soldiers to keep watch of their rifles. “[I] have to take care of [the gun] at all costs; treat her like your wife, that’s what they say. They call it a marriage because she is your new wife and so you [should] protect her,” says Gerald.

Gerald hopes that by going to the military, he will learn skills that will aid him in the future: “[I want to] learn new life skills like how to live alone, how to manage your own laundry, and [other] practical skills,” he says. ”It is good practice and will help us in the future.” For Gerald, the military is more than just

a compulsory service, it is a way for him to learn more on how to survive once he begins his own life.

Pearl of the Adriatic: Paved with limestone, the city of Dubrovnik faces the South of Croatia. [SAMANTHA T. PHOTOGRAPHY]

Japan: eccentric, sushi, kawaii

Kiyomizu Dera: The iconic Buddhist temple in Kyoto faces Mount Fuji. [JAPAN MAGAZINE]

Unconventional post-high school lives

By Andrew Lin

Gerald Foo: Military Life

Jumping into the unknown: A smiling Gerald Foo (12) is ready for army life.

There was no choice, all 18year old male Singaporean citizens must abide by the National Service Amendment: Senior Gerald Foo (12) is just one of the many Singaporeans that will undergo compulsory military service over the next 2 years.

Singapore instituted the National Service Act in 1967 to build an army capable of defending itself against foreign and domestic threats.

Anticipating that military life in Singapore will be extremely different compared that of a student’s life, Gerald is bracing for a dramatic

What I’m looking forward to the most is the adventure that comes with the military and getting fit. It’s also a good change of place.

It looks like college and employment plans will be on hold for two years: Gerald will begin his military endeavors once this school year ends. “I’m going to college [once my service ends],” says Gerald. Or he might just stay in the military and go full-time commando to perform gung-ho stunts like parachuting down, firing his rifle and yelling singlish (Singaporean english) at the enemy.

Kendrick Hew: The Big Screen

Filmmaking guru: Kendrick Hew (12) smiles in the film room.

Kendrick Hew (12) never thought about pursuing filmmaking as a career until he took a photography class at his father’s request. There, he discovered his passion for moving images. Now in his senior year, Kendrick, a seasoned filmmaker, will soon be departing for college. However, instead of attending the usual 4-year university, he will embark on a much more unconventional path.

“I’m going to Vancouver Film School, a one-year film specific school,” says Kendrick. “I’ll be enrolling in their film production course so I’ll be spending one whole year [studying] the aspect of filmmaking.” Once students finish a year at the film school, students will be on

their own.

The school specializes in filmmaking and hands-on production though it also offers other courses such as digital design and animation. Kendrick hopes to learn about professional filmmaking and focus his attention solely on filmmaking. He wants to go to a specialty school for a shorter amount of time: “I don’t have the financial aid to support [myself ] in pursuing 4 years of college so I wanted to get a similar education [at a smaller price].

I want to [pursue] film so [I’m putting] all my focus on it,” says Kendrick.

Upon finishing VFS, Kendrick hopes to have enough connections within the film industry to find a job in Los Angeles, the city dubbed the filmmaking capital of the world. Should his initial plan backfire, Kendrick will return to Taiwan and work at his father’s company as a media coordinator. After getting work experience in Taiwan, his eventual goal is to move back to the West Coast, where he hopes to find a job in the film industry.

Regardless of what happens next, he is looking forward to attending the film school in August. “I’m really looking forward to making new friends and learning how to use all the latest gadgets and working with different people,” says Kendrick.

12

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

Spring arts events: the show must go on

By Cherice Tsai After a busy year of memorable projects, the Taipei American School artistic community is still going strong, with a full slate of spring events headlined by The 39 Steps and the ILA Fashion Show.

Drama students Melissa Cho (12), Reese McMillan (12), Kevin Li (12), Fred Chien (12), Winnie Chiang (12), Brendan Wickberg (11), and Hannah Smith (10) are adopting a whole new challenge, working with Mr. Edwards on a play titled The 39 Steps. A unique project, The 39 Steps features four actors playing 139 characters on stage.

It is a parody of a 1935 film by Alfred Hitchcock and was written by Patrick Barlow in 2005. “[This play] is different from other dramatic performances... mainly because of its cast number.

Unlike the fall production, the 39 steps cast members have to block their movement on stage and direct the show,“ Winnie Chiang, stage manager of The 39 Steps, says.

“It is a cheeseball spy story about a pseudo-James-Bond-ish character and his adventure to save Great Britain,” says Kevin, who is excited to play twelve different characters speaking in four different accents. Melissa is similarly enthusiastic about the different accents she will speak in this play. “I had to watch a bunch of videos of German Youtubers... so I hope to bring my German character justice,” she says.

The purpose of this hour-long production “[is not to] hit deep with its storyline,” Kevin describes, but rather as Melissa adds, to entertain the audience with its “fun blend of melodrama, crime, and comedy.” Because there is only a small amount of time to incorporate 139 characters, there are rapid changes in scenes, in set, and of course, in character. It is for this reason that the production is tough to carry out not

Hat switching: Reese McMillan (12), Fred Chien (12), Melissa Cho (12), Kevin Li (12), Brendan Wickberg (11), Winnie Chiang (12), and Hannah Smith (10) prepare for the lightning fast character changes in The 39 Steps. [CHERICE TSAI]

only dramatically, but also technically.

“When a scene change takes place, all of us frantically run around the Black Box, move and change the set, and put on a different costume for our character change…it is crazy both on and off set,” Melissa says. And although this play was written for a proscenium stage, where the audience is only watching on one side, Mr. Edwards wanted to push students, encouraging them to perform in the black box instead. This means the four actors have to make deliberate choices in their acting to account for

the fact that the audience watches from three sides.

These factors give the play a distinct quality: it yields opportunity for audience imagination. Melissa says, “since cues are so fast, we cannot afford bringing in and out loads of furniture on stage. Most of our set consists of black boxes and we assemble them into different configurations to create different sets. We create a bed, a dining room, and a train scene all out of boxes. That is the magic of The 39 Steps. A simple set can entertain the

audience,” says Melissa.

Do not forget to catch a preview show of the The 39 Steps during A3 on March 24, and watch out for the performance in early April!

Visual artists who are part of the I Love Art (ILA) club are also hosting the annual ILA Fashion Show in April.

The Blue and Gold interviewed some members of ILA, who shared their experiences designing and preparing for this year’s fashion show.

Designing can be a tedious process of measuring, calculating, positioning

and sewing. But for Sharon Chang (11), co-president of ILA, designing is rewarding. “Through designing, I can create an outfit with each and every stitch tailored to fit [a certain] style,” she says. Yichin Tsai (11) similarly finds designing difficult but hugely rewarding: “I usually sketch about thirty rough drafts before I finally settle on a few final designs...but I love the feeling of seeing my design actualized on the runway.”

Alhough designers agree that the creative process is grueling, they each draw inspiration from different places.

Sharon says, “This year, my designs are inspired by the Taiwanese culture [I’ve grown] up in.” As for Yichin, she usually looks through Instagram for ideas. “My designs this year...incorporate aspects of street-style and beachwear into something..more formal,” she says.

Yasmin Lin (9), on the other hand, has an army-inspired collection this year.

“It is based off of greens, camouflage ,and mesh...the designs have...a bold look due to the color scheme and my fabric [choice],” she says. “What’s great about fashion design is that designs can be inspired from anywhere and have no limits.”

Members of the ILA find that the club is not only a place for self-expression but also wonderful community. Even though students may fear that they don’t design well or that they do not fit the qualifications to be a model, Sharon believes students should not feel there are conditions that must be met to be a part of ILA. “Anyone can be a designer or model. Anyone can join and find their place,” she says.

As a creative endeavor, there are few constraints when it comes to putting together a fashion piece.

Don’t miss the ILA fashion show where TAS designers will be showcasing their fashion designs on April 28!

Browse Boven: one-of-a-kind magazine library

By Amanda Huang Tucked in an unassuming Dongchu alley, Boven is a stylishly furnished underground magazine library. With magazines covering an entire spectrum of subjects, ranging from design, art, fashion, to architecture and lifestyle, Boven most certainly will have something you are looking for.

At Boven, you can either sit at the long tables, lit by white fluorescent light, and enjoy a more conventional library experience, or lounge on homey, comfortable couches in a separate area that resembles a living room. To ensure maximum comfort, visitors are asked to change into slippers upon entry and admission to the library is capped at 20 people. The price of entry is 300 NT for one day and 1000 NT for annual membership.

This magazine library officially opened in 2015, but Boven has actually been around for much longer.

Eleven years ago, Boven was a fourstory project: B1 sold records, 1F sold clothes, 2F sold coffee, and 3F was a lounge. Because the concept was unpopular at the time, and the location inconvenient, this project closed down after two years. Over the past ten years, however, Boven’s founders continued

to collect magazines and plan out their vision for today’s version of the store.

The three founders of Boven, Spencer Chou, Ken Peng, and Shawn Hsu, have curated around 25,000 magazines over the years, with around 400 coming in every month. Boven is currently collaborating with other spaces and creating “mini-magazine libraries” across Taiwan. Already, there are cafes and hotels across the country with “mini Bovens”, including Good Cho’s in Tianmu. The team’s goals for 2017 are to find over 100 spaces to collaborate with and to share their collection with all of Taiwan; there are already approximately 17,000 books in the main library and about 8,000 books interspersed among the “mini Bovens”.

The founders believe that “print publications create a value far bigger than the price on the cover.” It is with this idea that they anticipate Boven to not only be a magazine library, but also a shared resource platform. “We await all kinds of interesting things to sprout from here and hope the precious interactions between people and paper will once again find worth,” they say.

Spencer Chou aims to promote the value of print publication and

is responsible for picking out the magazines present in the library, most of which are foreign language magazines. Ken Peng, known as “The Book Speaker” travels and spreads the story of Boven, acting as a public relations agent for the library.

They say, “The scent, temperature, and thickness of print; the text, images, illustrations, and layouts of the content. The moment you stand before the shelf selecting, reaching out and flipping through, your perspective of the world has started to change bit by bit. The weather, space, sceneries have begun a chemical reaction with you, and all this is unfounded in digital content.”

Most of the members of the library are creative minds engaged in work involving media and design. This explains why the library has such a huge collection of books on design, architecture, fashion and more. They have more mainstream magazines like Vogue and The Monocle, but they also have an abundance of more obscure magazines in the same categories. If you are interested in design, fashion, and visual aesthetics in general, this is definitely a place you should come check out.

Underground magazine library: Boven strives to preserve interactions between people and print publications. [AMANDA HUANG]

13

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

New technological innovations of 2017

By Audrey Kong

For people who lose things

[KICKSTARTER PROJECTS]

The GearEye tracker uses RFID stickers that users can stick onto personal items. It was initially designed for professional photographers on outdoor camera shoots.

GearEye enables better management of equipment so that valuable equipment is not lost. However, if you are a person that constantly loses personal belongings such as wallets, phones, or ID cards, GearEye would

For people who need to concentrate probably help.

The item uses minimal, inexpensive, RFID GearTags that are basically stickers one can put on personal items. The tags are not battery powered and can last as long as the item can. The tags connect to one’s phone and tells the user exactly where each item is.

GearEye tracker will be available for purchase in July 2017.

For swimmers

[FACTRIVER.COM]

As people spend more and more time with their electronic devices, specifically, smartphones, it is ironic that technology has been developed to divert our attention from the technology that plays an increasingly dominant role in our lives.

Though still in its prototype stage, DistractaGone is a rectangular box that can hold up to four phones.

The lock box, controlled by a timer, will only unlock

when the time is up. Besides DistractaGone, there are other phone timer boxes out there with the same aim, offering a solution to smartphone distraction.

Some restaurants have incorporated such timer boxes so that upon ordering, all phones are placed in a box that is attached to the table and cannot be retrieved until after the meal. Smartphone isolation is better than human isolation.

For people who need to print things on the go

[KINGII]

The Kingii Wearable is an inflatable bracelet that was invented by Tom Agapiades who had a friend that died from drowning. The Kingii is a bracelet in which the wearer can tug when they get into trouble in the water. The lever triggers a CO2 cartridge in the bracelet which causes the bracelet to inflate, lifting the person to the surface of the water. While the Kingii

Wearable provides additional buoyancy, Agapiades suggests that Kingii should only be worn by people 16 years and older that are experienced swimmers because it cannot completely eliminate the risk of drowning. The inflatable bracelet that could potentially save a person in an emergency situation whether that situation is severe cramps or an allergic reaction.

While almost everything nowadays has gone mobile, smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc, printing still becomes an issue at schools, offices, and any other place. The Pocket Printer, started by students at the Jerusalem college of Technology, is a mini printer that can be taken anywhere. It is 10.2

centimeters in diameter, 7.5 centimeters in height and only weighs 350 grams.

This mini mobile printer can connect to any device via WiFi, which means that the user can print directly from smartphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs. Furthermore, the Pocket Printer can print on any size of paper.

[ZUTA LABS]

Taiwan International Festival of Arts: for the culturally inclined

[TIFA.NPAC-NTCH.ORG]

By Barron Tsai

THEATER

To all the artists and art-lovers out there: rejoice! The Taiwan International Festival of Fine Arts, an annual series of performances, is in town and there are still plenty of performances left to check out. If you are a fan of theater, dance, or music performances stop by the festival to check them out. The National Theater, National Performing Arts Center, and National Concert Hall are all located within walking distance of MRT Chiang-Kai-Shek Memorial Hall station (Exit 5). Tickets are on sale right now. You can buy a complete set, or tickets for only the specific events you want to see.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mar. 24-26 19:30; Mar. 27 14:30) (Age 6+) This show is put on by the Contemporary Legend Theatre, a company that specializes in blending traditional Peking Opera with western classics. They are experienced with adapting the works of Shakespeare, and the classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream is their latest work. The play, in brief, is about couples who are subject to the tricks of Puck, servant of the King of Fairies. Performed in English with both English and Chinese subtitles, this eastern spin on a classic romantic comedy is sure to delight.

Needles and Opium (April 15-16 19:30; April 17 14:30) (Age 14+) This show is about addiction and loneliness in an unknown land. Parisian Jean Cocteau is in New York in 1949 for the debut of his new film. American jazz legend Miles Davis is in Paris. Cocteau is addicted to opium; Davis is addicted to heroin. In a Parisian hotel forty years later, a lonely Quebecois struggles to forget his former lover. His journey to rid himself of his addiction to his lover echoes Davis’s and Cocteau’s journey forty years earlier. “[The] production... puts us under a spell and leads us into the light,” concludes the program.

DANCE

MUSIC

Sounds, Body, Memories (Mar. 25-26 19:30; Mar. 26-27 14:30) “If sounds are lost in memories, will we lose attachment and feelings too?” asks the program for “Sounds, Body, Memories.” The sounds we hear in our lives depict the constant state of movement we are in. This production aims to capture and express those sounds through the use of movement. The sounds travel on and on, outside the theater, just as our lives continue on.

Amira Medunjanin Concert (April 1-2: 19:30) This concert features a trio of musicians performing a mixture of music from different Balkan countries/ The act headlines Bosnian singer Amira Medjunnan, who, according to the program, has a voice “as smooth as silk” but also “as solid as rock,” thereby giving her the ability to “interpret the strength of fearless emotions.”

Her concert intends to showcase the spirit of the Balkan peoples, while simultaneously featuring an infusion of contemporary music, such as jazz.

She is bringing a new dimension to traditional Balkan spirit.

14

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

2017: the year of girl power

By Amanda Huang

2016 was a breakout year for many artists, including Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Migos, and Chance the Rapper. Post Malone, J.Cole, and Childish Gambino ended the year strong with three exceptional albums. While we can still anticipate seeing some of these artists come back with new music this year, for now, it’s looking like 2017 will be the year for women in music.

[HYPEBAE]

[SFGATE]

[MUSICFESTIVALWIZARD]

[WENNERMEDIA]

[WENNERMEDIA]

Kehlani kicked off the year with a phenomenal debut album Sweet, Sexy, Savage. After her Grammy-nominated mixtape You Should Be Here, Kehlani had a lot to prove with this first album and she definitely did not disappoint.

True to the name of her album, she explores the diverse emotions a woman can experience and shows us both the vulnerable and fierce sides of her. Songs like “Personal,” “Keep On,” “Everything is Yours,” and “Do U Dirty” give us a raw take on the nature of relationships, love, lust, and breakups. “Piece of Mind” and “Advice” are also very self-reflective and talk about looking at the same relationships with a new perspective.

HAIM, a female pop rock band consisting of three sisters from Los Angeles, confirmed they will be releasing their new album this summer.

Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim are known for playing writing and helping to produce almost all of their content.

It’s been 3 years since HAIM’s debut LP Days Are Gone was released and fans have been waiting for a follow-up for four years. While on the road in 2016, they released two songs, “Give Me Just A Little of Your Love” and “Nothing’s Wrong,” giving us a glimpse of what to expect for their upcoming album. In addition, we can expect to hear some of Prince’s musical influence in this album as well. According to NME, Este Haim said, “Prince’s passing was really hard, he was integral to me.”

Charli XCX, best known for her single “Boom Clap” off the soundtrack album of The Fault in Our Stars, announced that her third official studio album is set to be released in May. According to Rolling Stone, she said, “One of my favorite hobbies is partying, and I realized that I never actually made a party album.”

She also told i-D that “it’s going to be the most pop thing, and the most electronic thing I’ve ever done.” While fans patiently await this next album, they can listen to the mixtape she dropped earlier this month, Number 1 Angel. The mixtape features exciting new artists like MØ and Starrah. Charli XCX’s music is not as consistently good as some of these other artists but hopefully her album will be as good as her latest mixtape.

Lorde, one of the youngest Grammy winners ever, is dropping perhaps one of the most anticipated records of the year this Spring. She released “Green Light” and “Liability” early this month and she has been hinting at her record for months. According to USA Today, she has said that the lyrics are “the best [she’s] written in [her] life” and the two songs that she has released already hold true to this statement. On Twitter she has hinted that her new music shares similar themes to Kehlani’s debut album. “There’s something about the falls and lifts of meticulous pop, moments designed for you to feel what you need to, that’s more important than ever. You’re probably guessing what kind of record I’ve made based on these tweets.”

Following her acclaimed 2014 debut Aquarius, Tinashe, R&B artist known for producing most of her music in her home studio, released a project called Nightride last fall. She also announced that fans can anticipate seeing her second Joyride drop this year. According to Rolling Stone, the singer says, “I see [Nightride and Joyride] as two things that are equally the same. I think you can be a combination of things, and that’s what makes people human and complex. They are equally me. I don’t like to be limited to one particular thing so I want to represent that duality and that sense of boundlessness in my art.” Hopefully, with these words, we can look forward to seeing a different, perhaps more vulnerable, side of Tinashe.

Boredom-chasing books for spring break

By Anya Lai

[WAYFINDER]

Imagine being trapped in a silo, 144 stories within the Earth’s crust. Imagine being told all your life that the Earth’s toxic atmosphere on the surface will kill you. Wool by Hugh Howey, the first book of the Silo series, tells the story of an enigmatic, engineering genius named Juliette Nichols who finds herself in a web of deceit after being punished to the outside. The Hunger Games meets Lost in this dystopian, sci-fi adventure book that deals with survival and manipulation. In the Wool universe, one’s status depends on whether one lives in the high, middle, or lower levels and the community is

By Christine Lin (10)

[GBSHORTCAKE]

Feel free to judge this book by its cover. The colorful packaging compliments the quirky and lighthearted mood of Sophie Kinsella’s debut Young Adult novel, which focuses on a 14-year-old girl named Audrey Turner. After developing an anxiety disorder in middle school, Audrey has refused to leave her home and is only comfortable interacting with her family members. Whenever a situation gets too stressful, she puts on her dark sunglasses to protect herself. Her loud and rather crazy family, which includes a video gameobsessed older brother, anti-video

full of rules and regulations.

The story beings with the sheriff of the silo, Holston, who decides to go out of the silo after his wife was punished to the outside. His decision to go outside triggers a series of events that reshape the entire silo community. Holston’s banishment makes Juliette, the story’s heroine, the new sheriff; this change sparks many more problems since the head of IT (the most powerful section of the silo), Bernard, will do anything for that spot. As Juliette begins to unearth information about the silo’s past, she grows more and more suspicious of the leaders of the silo.

As a sci-fi lover, I highly recommend

Wool will take you on a frightening yet fascinating adventure. this book because its intense, dystopian plot grabs your attention immediately.

All the characters in this book have unique personalities and you will begin to connect with the characters on an emotional level. As a reader who knows what is on the outside, it also makes you

feel like a god-like character, however at the same time not knowing what will happen. As the story progresses, more secrets are uncovered which gets the reader even more excited and curious.

After reading this book, all I wanted to do was to buy the rest of the series, and that’s what I did.

So, for all the sci-fi and fantasy readers out there, this book will suit you perfectly. Wool will take you on a frightening yet fascinating adventure.

Put down whatever you are reading now and start this incredible journey that will keep you reading late into the night for its never-ending twists and turns.

game mother, clueless father and naive baby brother, can be quite irritating, but they are always there to aid her along with her therapist Dr. Sarah.

When Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming buddy, she starts going out of her comfort zone. With his constant encouragement, she is able to talk through her fears and go on spontaneous outings in a way she has never been able to before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery improves, a sweet romance sparks.

However, readers need to understand that Finding Audrey is not purely a romance novel. In fact, that aspect of the book does not appear

Kinsella employs her signature snark to tell an honest story about a teenage girl...

until almost half-way through the story. Kinsella, the bestselling author of the Shopaholic series, employs her signature humor and snark to tell an honest story about a teenage girl coping with severe anxiety. She not only tackles mental illness in a subtle and realistic way, but bases the romance on support and respect instead of drama and impulsive passion. This book also does well to incorporate the power of unconditional love in a family.

Creative, hilarious, and touching, Finding Audrey is perfect to read on a Sunday afternoon in bed or anytime you want a good laugh.

15

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

Commune A7: food trucks debut in Taipei

By Christine Lin (12)

In the heart of the Xinyi district, surrounded by towering skyscrapers and multi-level malls, sits a prime picnic location, complete with fake grass, paper lanterns, and fairy lights.

Commune A7, an outdoor courtyard that contains over 10 unique food trucks, is situated in downtown Taipei, near ATT4Fun and Shinkong Mitsukoshi. Similar to a traditional food court (but located outdoors), there is a variety of restaurants, food stands, and cafes to choose from, as well as Western and Japanese cuisine.

From chili nachos to lobster rolls, visitors can craft their ideal picnic lunch before settling at one of the low wooden tables in the center of the courtyard. Each food stand also has its own seating area, and some cafes have tables indoors.

When I visited Commune A7 on Sunday afternoon, the place was packed with families and groups of friends, and there was an exceptionally long line for I Love Bow, which sells Hong Kong-style egg waffles. Other noteworthy food trucks include The Lobster Bar, Grandpa Tea, and Selfish Burger, whose food is known for being “too good to share.” Selfish Burger’s menu includes the classic burger, smoky and spicy burger, and blue cheese burger, as well as more unique flavors like apple and cinnamon chicken, peanut butter, and fig. As I waited for my peanut butter burger, I was able to watch the

An urban picnic: In the center of the courtyard, visitors can enjoy their food while sitting outdoors. [CHRISTINE LIN (12)]

Too good to share: Selfish Burger’s peanut butter burger set comes with a side of fries. [CHRISTINE LIN (12)]

chefs craft each order through a large glass window. The patties were seared on a grill until they were crispy on the outside but pink and tender on the inside, each slice of cheese was melted with a handheld blowtorch, and the burgers were meticulously assembled before being wrapped in wax paper.

Although Selfish Burger is just a small stand, its food easily surpasses restaurant quality. Just one bite of the peanut butter burger satisfied all my cravings: buried underneath the juicy patty, crispy bacon, and melted cheese, was a subtle hint of peanut butter that perfectly complemented the flavor of the meat. The side of fries included both regular and sweet potato fries, each lightly seasoned and cooked until crunchy.

If burgers do not interest you, you can slurp ramen at Shiang Shiang Oden, grab a sandwich at Uranium cafe, or try Spanish cuisine at PS Tapas. Commune A7 is a great option for lunch or dinner as there is a wide selection of high - quality, delicious food readily available. I would definitely recommend visiting on a day with good weather as the sunshine and light breeze made eating outdoors a refreshing change from crowding in a Mitsukoshi basement.

Just don’t expect cheap prices when you visit–a single burger at Selfish Burger costs around 230 NT (getting the set adds an extra 70 NT) and drinks from Grandpa Tea average around 75 NT.

Iron Fist: not so iron-clad

A tale as old as time

Iron Fist: A dynamic new show coming to Netflix in March. [COMICBOOK.COM]

Inner beauty: Beauty and the Beast features Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. [DISNEY]

By Kelly Phil Superheroes are not just for the big screen anymore. From The Arrow to Daredevil, the heroes of childhood past have moved from blockbuster films to our late-night binge-watching sessions. Among these new superhero shows seeking success is Iron Fist, a Netflix show which released on March 17th. Unless you avidly keep up with the Marvel universe, chances are you’ve never heard of Iron Fist.

In terms of the storyline, Iron Fist is about Danny Rand, the male protagonist who loses his billionaire parents in a plane crash when he is young and goes on to learn martial arts for the next decade of his life.

When he finally returns to society, he tries to take back the company his parents left him from the corrupt white businessmen by learning a “special set of skills” that makes his fist glow up and become the “iron fist”.

For a viewer who is not an avid comic book fan, Iron Fist would be a

hard show to watch and take in. It is very easy for an audience that hasn’t had exposure to the storyline to find the series cliche. I was surprised at the various parallels drawn to Batman and Iron Man, amongst others, that also portrayed a rich head of a company becoming a vigilante. This inconvenience, however, can be made up for by committed fans who come back to the show because they can look past this cliche. Both The Flash and The Arrow shared similar issues in that neither were particularly popular with the non-comic book reading community.

There seems to be a certain fascination the producers of Marvel and its comic book writers seem to have for rich white men. From Dr. Strange, to Iron Man, and now Iron Fist, Marvel has always favored those that live in extravagance to get these superhuman abilities. Honestly, many parallels can be drawn between the Iron Fist’s protagonist, Danny Rand, and Iron Man’s Tony Stark.

Both characters lost their parents in adolescence, inherited their father’s fortunes, and now operates as a great vigilante that fights for justice. It is not that these characters are not popular with fans, it is just that sometimes a change of pace is needed.

This is why shows like The Flash and Daredevil are so good: they provide the audience with characters that aren’t an open book. The main characters of these shows have deeper backstories and personalities. While it is quite easy for the audience to figure out why the former-richwhite-guy suddenly wants to fight for justice, it is often better for us to look at the average college student and see them fight for the greater good.

Because of this evident cliche in Iron Fist, it was very hard for me to take the first episode of the show seriously. It just felt like a copy of Batman with fancier CGI effects. If this trend continues, it is hard to see any future shows that Marvel releases to be beyond mediocre.

By Grace Cho Beauty and the Beast was brought to life by Bill Condon, the director of the film. He has tried several new concepts in this movie. Initially, I expected the move to be like Maleficent. However, unlike what I expected, this movie is a musical. The music, which was added in later, lengthened the movie from 84 minutes to 130 minutes. Although the fantastic sound effects made the movie more rich and lively, some parts of the movie may end up boring the audience.

If you do not prefer musical movies, then Beauty and the Beast is not for you.

Not only are there musical effects, but the actors truly embodied the characters they played. The computer graphics used in the Beast’s appearance were so realistic it seemed as if Dan Stevens, who plays the Beast, had magically transformed into the creature.

Beauty and the Beast posits many messages to its audience in this new adaptation. Emma Watson’s performance transformed Belle into a stronger and more fearless woman. She

dresses and acts like a tomboy, which is pretty uncommon in the 1750s, reflecting true female power. Emma Watson’s portrayal of the character as a strong and independent woman was inspiring and gave the movie a strong feminist message.

However, the film’s inclusion of homosexual characters has generated controversy since its release. Beauty and the Beast is the first Disney movie to feature homosexual characters, such as LeFou and other ensemble characters.

Countries such as Russia and some Muslim-majority countries want Disney to delete the scenes that contain homosexuality, but the company refuses to do so.

After watching this movie, I found out that although some places in the world may still be conservative, most of the world is becoming more open to accepting to the LGBTQ community.

Ultimately, Bill Condon did a great job in reimagining and transforming the movie even though there were minor disappointments.

16

the blue & gold march 23, 2017

IB art show: Head in the Clouds

By Catherine Lin and Coco Lee

The Blue & Gold interviewed three IB artists about their art-making process. Their work is currently on display in the MPR, under the spiral staircase, and outside the auditorium as part of the IB exhibition.

Justin Chen (12): Budding artist

Sprout acrylic on canvas

Felicity Lin (12): Art as a second language

Lights at Home mixed media

Crystal Tang (12): Doodler at heart

Runway digital painting

The concept for a pair of Justin Chen’s (12) paintings first came to his mind as he walked home and looked up at the sunset, Jay Chou lyrics about sparrows and crows playing in his earbuds. “I used dark ink for the birds to contrast with the watercolor skies,” he says about the paintings, named ‘七里香’ and ‘夜曲’ after the songs that inspired them. “‘七 里香’ is a light-hearted love song, while ‘夜曲’ is quite dark, so the paintings are meant to represent how I see the world differently when I am in different moods.”

With a founding member of a Taiwanese oil painting association for a great-grandfather, an architect for a father, and an art school student for a cousin, Justin has been surrounded by art for all his life. “A few of my great-grandfather’s art were passed down to my family, so we still have a few of his pieces around the house,” he says. “Because of my family’s background, I spent my childhood visiting art museums and exhibitions, but I only started seriously studying it in sixth grade, when I started taking oil painting classes.”

For the upcoming IB art exhibition, Justin will showcase oil, acrylic, and watercolor pieces that examine the subjectivity that underlies human experience. “My work is divided into two different themes: my inner feelings and my perception of the world around me,” he says.

One of the paintings he will display, called “Sprout,” depicts colored light radiating from the center of the black canvas like a flower. “It represents someone who exploded into my life and helped me realize who I am by bringing light to me,” he says. “The green symbolizes renewal, the blue serenity, and the white purity.”

The personal aspect of “Sprout” is typical of Justin’s collection, which revolves around emotion, self-expression, and authenticity. “I realized that my art feels empty and superficial if I try to force meaning into it,” says Justin. “I want my work to be genuine, and being genuine comes from having a strong purpose beyond wanting to make money or meet a deadline.”

When Felicity Lin (12) arrived at Taipei American School in fifth grade, art helped her transcend language barriers and find a voice in the community. “English was my second language, so it was hard for me to express myself,” she says. “But art is a language everyone can understand, a way for people living in totally different worlds to connect with each other.”

As an IB art student, Felicity continues to use art to bridge cultural divides, as well as to explore her own background. Her lantern installation piece “Lights at Home” takes inspiration from her Taiwanese and Hawaiian heritage. Felicity says, “I drew from Polynesian art to make the patterns on the lanterns, and went to Jiufen to know what Taiwanese lanterns are like, creating a dark but cozy space where viewers can experience my perspective of being part of two different cultures.”

For her piece her piece “Daily

Reminders,” which consists of Japanese characters in neon lights, Felicity spent time researching how Japanese culture impacts Taiwan. “Even though I didn’t make the neon lights by myself, it’s really worthwhile to bring another culture outside of my heritage into an artwork.”

As an installation artist, Felicity faces challenges that traditional artists do not. “You’re not working in a 2D space. You’re in a 3D space where people can see every single detail as they walk into your piece,” she explains. “For ‘Lights at Home,’ it took a lot of experimenting to work with a new medium and get the right effect.”

Although she is not pursuing art in college, her art background will certainly be useful in her chosen field of communication. “With art, people are able to communicate their message creatively through colors, shapes, and different mediums,” she says. “I wanted to choose a path that combines this creativity with business.”

Before she was an IB art student, Crystal Tang (12) was a daydreamer doodling all over her class notes.

Today, her short attention span continues to influence her artwork.

“I work really fast because I am easily distracted,” she says. “Unless I’m feeling extremely uninspired, I never work on something for more than a couple days to a week.” This means she often has difficulty finishing her art. “I often hit the limit of wanting to work on a piece when it is about 70% done,” she says.

At the IB art exhibition this March, Crystal will showcase mostly portraits, done on Photoshop, watercolor, or charcoal. “I usually draw digitally on Photoshop. I just use my Yoga laptop, the stylus that comes with it and open a blank canvas on Photoshop.” Out of all her work, Crystal is proudest of her piece “Ballerina Animation.” “It stands out from my other pieces because I spent a good deal of my [last] spring

break trying to figure out how 2D animation works,” she says.

Crystal often prefers to draw on Photoshop for its convenience. She says, “It is like drawing with regular pen and paper, just without the mess, the extra materials, the fear of wasting paper, and the bonus of a ‘ctrl Z’ button!”

Crystal usually gets her ideas by seeing artworks that are available around her. “Inspiration could come from my from Instagram photos, animated films, or from classmates,” she explains. “Having other artists at your table really helps. Their ideas inspire your ideas and their art makes you excited to make your own.”

When asked what she loved most about art, Crystal replied, “The fun!”

She remains a doodler at heart: her drawing process is both intuitive and free-form. “I don’t give much thought to how the piece should turn out,” she says. “Everything starts with a doodle, and then I end up with what I have.”