May 2010
Transcription
May 2010
“Kate Moss” “KateMoss” By Angela, By Angela,ISB ISB References: About Unit-E http://gravelandgold.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/5.jpg http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/01/30/san-franciscos-mission-bristles-at-american-apparel-bid-for-retail-space/ University Interview http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenccwu/3268823344/sizes/o/in/set-72157594428623071/ Juggling with University Offers: http://www.thelibertyvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/the-graduate.jpg http://www.hma.co.nz/images/Choic-es.JPG Eye Candy http://www chloemcgregor.blogspot.com/ http://stardustandsequins.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/44539639ar3.jpg http://www.fashiontoast.com/ http://www.thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ Taylor Momsen http://clubs.pathfinder.gr/Taylor_momsen_/1389139?forum=79180&read=68 Into the Deep http://www.vegawang.com/collection.asp Student’s Opinion http://siteresources.worldbank.org/NEWS/Images/china-gansu.jpg Water in Our Food http://solanacompost.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/mpj043727600001.jpg https://www.abceeds.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/bright_red_tomato_and_cross_section02.jpg http://joyful-gardener.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/watermelon.jpg http://annarborgrocerydelivery.com/shop/images/BreadWhite.jpg http://www.readbreathe.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/gearkoronespring09_clip_fix.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/webel/135799006/sizes/l/ www.newway-corp.com/admin/upimages//TOS006.jpg Food Coverpage http://www.foodnetworkfans.com/forum/attachments/bobby-flay/164d1210883589-photos-food-networkkohls-launch-bobby-flay-branded-kitchenware-33299-hi-plancha.jpg Julie & Julia http://www.flickr.com/photos/santos/279794517/sizes/o/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/3689426574/ http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/finaleapproved%20dessert.JPG http://www.moroccosrestaurant.com/gallery/community/briwatts-dessert-xl.jpg http://www.zastavki.com/pictures/1024x768/2009/Food_Cakes_and_loaf_The_dish_with_pie_011846_.jpg Bruschetta with Tomatoes and Basil http://nzeats.today.com/files/2009/03/capri-bruschetta-resize.jpg http://delishfood.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/img_5424.jpg May 2010 Issue 1 Editor-In-Chief Amelia Zhang Ernest Li Column Editors Academics Helen Leung Fashion: Jalynne Gao Food: Elizabeth Wu Music: Dan Zhang Service: Amelia Zhang Student’s Opinion: Helen Leung Writers Amy Wan Andrew Li Clara Leung Elizabeth Wu Fernando Segré Helen Leung Ji Hye Yeom Keith Kwek May Tsai Pauline You Table of Contents Service About Unit-E Service Opportunities Academics Gap Year Applying through YouTube University Interview University Offers 6 9 Advertisement Team 10 Format and Design 14 16 19 Kevin Mao Amelia Zhang Amy Wan Ernest Li Matilda Lee Service 4 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Fashion Spring/Summer Trend Review “Into The Deep” Fashion Blogging 28 29 31 Music Pg.16 Operation Bojinka 32 The Pretty Reckless 34 Student’s Opinion Trapped In the System 36 War. What is it to us? Water In Our Food 38 41 Food Julie & Julia Recipie of the Month 45 Pg.34 Pg.32 47 Pictorial Pg.10 Green Global Issues Day 48 Earth Day 49 BEIMUN 50 Scholar’s Cup 51 Art Exhibition 52 United Prom 53 Service Our Inspiration: 826 Valencia It started off just as an idea- 8 years ago, inspired by the educators around him, Dave Eggers along with a group of writer and educator friends decided to give back to the schools through their talents and hence started 826 Valencia. “The original idea was that, clearly, there is a need to support students,” says Leigh Lehman, 826 Valencia’s executive director, “Dave and Ninive had lots of talented friends with time on their hands. They wanted to bridge those two worlds.” 826 Valencia started off simply as an after school free tutoring center, in the mornings the writers would work on their articles, novels…However at when 2:00 school finishes, the place transformed, children started pouring in and the volunteers set aside their work and started their one to one tutoring. However what makes it so unique and thriving is that 826 Valencia operates with immense youthful and creative energy, it “combines learning and fun, it is a place where many a young person realizes, perhaps for the first time, that writing can be exciting.” 826 Valencia staff attributes their success to that they “believe the proof is in the pudding, 826 6 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 programs almost always end with a finished product, such as a newspaper, a book, or a film. This teaching model, known as projectbased learning, encourages students to collaborate and to make creative decisions, and gives them ownership over the learning process. Working toward a goal, our students are inspired to revise until their work is perfect. They leave with new skills and a newfound passion for writing. And then they come back. Each 826 chapter is a warm, welcoming place where students can get things done. Maybe they’ll produce a chapter book. Maybe they’ll make a movie, or polish a college-application essay. We offer all of our services for free serving families who could not otherwise afford the level of personalized instruction their children receive from 826.” How We Operate Unit-E is divided into three different sectors, a magazine sector, finance sector and service sector; we are entirely dependent on advertising. Every month the magazine sector writes and formats articles about fashion, music, food, student’s opinions, academics and service. They are the people in charge of whipping out this creative compilation of ideas and talent. The finance sector than solicits advertisements to make the publishing of this magazine possible, the extra profit generated from the advertising will go 100% to the financing of our service program. Finally the service section, carries out our projects to make the whole organization meaningful. Service Our Aims As a group of 15-18 year old teens, in the similar spirit of 826 Valencia we wish to combine our creative talents and give back to the society we live in. Our magazine not only is a melting pot of creativity, innovation, talent, and skill of international students, but it is also a platform we wish to establish to reach into the local community and empower their children and youth to develop a passion for writing and equip them with tools of expression. Simply put, we wish to achieve this through generating a profit from the magazine which will go 100% towards establishing a program similar to 826 Valencia, for children in our local community who need access to quality education. Our Current Project Our current project is building a library in HuBei province SongZi city BaBao village (湖北省松滋市八宝县). In a similar fashion to Valencia, we wish to provide the children/youth a friendly and welcoming space where the children/youth can get necessary help for their homework, as well as participate in extracurricular activities, or simply to read books. We wish to raise 35,000 RMB before July 11th 2010, as we will be organizing a free two week long summer camp program whilst building the library, we plan to finish renovating it before September of 2010, so that we can provide homework support to the children/ youth. The summer program will consist of volunteers (contact Unit-E service to sign up).teaching children English MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 7 Service speaking, writing skills, and the creative arts. The summer program is particularly important as we wish the local children to feel ownership over the library, as well as associate it with fun and creativity, by doing so d finish their homework. Through implementing these programs, we wish to provide with them a platform to train themselves as life long learners as well as a broaden their perspective of the world. By equipping them with tools of expression they will no longer be afraid to aspire to achieve greater things. Amelia Zhang(BWYA) & Ernest Li (BWYA) Want to be a Unit-E Writer? Interested in joining the unit-e team? Feel like you have the talent to contribute in any of the service, magazine, finance section? Think you have an outstanding article your dying to get published? Email us at [email protected]! Positions for reporting, writing, photography, marketing, formatting, organizing…all are open! 8 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Service Service Opportunities The Unit-E Magazine is organizing service opportunities monthly for all readers to participate! As this is the first issue of our magazine, we will only be organizing one event- a trip to the Ren Ai Orphanage. Ren Ai Orphanage is situated in Ma Quan Ying Village, holding around 40 children. Trips to Ren Ai will be organized monthly (possibly bi-monthly in the future), we welcome all readers to participate, and encourage those who join us on the trips to make commitment to future ones, as we wish to provide a sense of stability for the children, and create lasting bonds with them. Time: May 18th (Sunday), from 2:00-4:00 p.m Location:XiangJiang North Rd, MaQuan Village RenAi Orphanage, ChaoYang District (朝阳区香江北路马泉营村仁爱孤儿院) Transportation: There will be a bus leaving from Wang Jing Plaza(望京大厦) at 1:30pm, and will return by 4:30. The round trip fee will be 15 RMB. Participants: 20 volunteers (ages 15+) If you have more questions, or would like to sign up, please contact us through [email protected]. MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 9 Academics Academics Gap Year... So Far Until now, my gap year from Stanford has been everything but extraordinary. I spent the first few months as a volunteer in Sichuan for QianQiu Reading Group, several more in Guangzhou as an auditing student at a local university, and now back in Beijing. Yet through these successive ordinary events, I have not only had the chance to volunteer in Sichuan, but have also grown in both spirit and character in ways unimaginable to me before the year began. 10 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Events leading to the decision The notion of taking a gap year arose during the summer preceding my senior year, when I volunteered in Sichuan on two short trips. I had little time to interact with the locals so I wished to return for an extended period of time. Another reason is that I felt unprepared to spread Chinese culture to my future classmates at Stanford. While the IB equipped me in numerous ways, I had only read a few Chinese classics, Academics but my time in five provinces, whether long or short, has allowed me to take in some of the most breathtaking yet secretive sceneries in China. While most people know of Jiuzhaigou(九寨沟), few have heard of Songpinggou(松坪沟) in What I‘ve learned the northwest of Mao County. Arriving From what I know, over 25 there takes four hours from the county admitted students at Stanford last town along precipitous cliffs to reveal year decided to take a gap year. Some green rivers, ancient forests, and a lake that turns red when are dedicating sun comes out. It their entire one of the best things of the will transfer you into year to one the year is that it allows you an idyllic painting. thing, like to make mistakes and learn Another would be volunteering, the Virgin Spring(处 from them on your own interning, 女泉)in Heyang (合 or traveling, 阳),where ancient springs are enclosed by while others are doing a combination reeds and hidden right beside the Yellow of all of them at the same time, like River. This is where the famous scenes of me. The following are some of my “Guanju” (《关雎》) of The Book of Songs took place. I can savor these scenes for gains so far. months. and had yet to experience Southern China’s culture firsthand. Along with the encouragement of my parents and teachers, the decision was set. “ ” Deeper Sense of Gratitude It is a cliché to say: “we are fortunate,” but such a feeling was imbued in me in Sichuan. The kids I interacted with in the isolated villages not only craved books, which I got sick of at times, but longed for a peaceful academic environment, one without disasters. Unfortunately, even now, aftershocks are disrupting their lives. They would do anything to have the most basic things to us: an unbroken family, a safe shelter, and a school to attend. While we were building five libraries there, they were teaching us a lesson about determination and resolve. After hearing their stories, my appreciation was translated into motivation: motivation to study, to overcome obstacles, and to help those in need. A Feast for the Eyes I have yet to travel for travel’s sake, Cultural Experiences Having lived in Beijing for most of my life, I was surprised at the distinctions in culture among different regions. For example, in Chengdu, the people there seemed substantially more relaxed than us in the North. Many of them were content with a simple lifestyle. In Guangzhou however, the business mentality and atmosphere took me by surprise. This may be because Guangzhou has been a leading Chinese port for several centuries, exposing it to foreign cultures and ideas. The restaurants and shops were comparatively more professional than similar ones in Beijing, and the students I spoke to highly valued entrepreneurship. I read such descriptions in books but in no way did they communicate to me the details of these differences. A Mature Perspective My perspective has changed MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 11 Academics for many things, one of which is attending university. Having had time to listen in on classes and interact with Chinese students for months, what is clear is that the primary factor deciding my future is the efforts I put in. Stanford will only provide me with a higher platform, but it is up to me to reach higher. This wake- 12 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 up call has helped me to avoid the traps of contentment, driving me to challenge myself further. The truth is, taking a gap year is a luxury, one that some may never have in their lives. The ‘opportunity cost’ is whigh enough to get the planner’s attention to think through it prudently. Planning a perfect gap year is not easy, there are several decisions I would take back had I the chance to go back in time. But one of the best things of the year is that it allows you to make mistakes and learn from them on your own. So if you would like to do some meaningful things and give yourself a rest, give it some serious thought. It will definitely change you, for life. Andrew Li, BWYA Graduate Academics Considering GAP YEAR? Maybe you are considering taking a gap year. It so, taking some time to consider the following questions will assist you in organizing your options. What is the purpose of your gap year? It could be volunteering to build schools, working in an internship, researching the causes of draughts, travelling around the world, or any combination of the above. Think about “In what areas do I want to improve in?” of “How do you want to change communities?” Who do you want to spend the year with? This is a weird question that should get you thinking.It is asking, “Do you want time to delve into your own interests? Or developing valuable relationships? Or develop a particular social skill like teamwork?” Once you can answer these questions, writing a priority list will help you in determining the ime allocated to each event. Once you get approval from your guardians, you are ready to go. Andrew Li, BWYA MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 13 Academics YouTube Taking Over University Applications? Students applying for a US university are being encouraged to submit one-minute video applications via free video-sharing site YouTube Not only do students have to contend with written applications for university, they now have to show off their flair for short films. The admissions officers at Tufts University, near Boston, have adopted the videosharing site YouTube as an additional tool in selecting this year’s entrants. They range from musical performances to staged dramas, but the video that has attracted the most attention so far is Amelia Downs’ mathsinspired dance. With over 50,000 YouTube views so far, the playground-based dance is definitely at the more surreal end of the applications. Out of 15,000 applications so far, over 1,000 videos have been submitted as an optional part of the process. Undergraduate Admissions Office Lee Coffin believes it’s just another way for universities to get to know applicants: “At heart, this is all about a conversation between a kid and an admissions officer” 14 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 he told the New York Times. “You see their floppy hair and their messy bedrooms, and you get a sense of who they are. We have a lot of information about applicants, but the videos let them share their voice.” Joe Crowther (Courtesy of Metro UK) Academics MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 15 Academics University Interview Featuring: University of British Columbia A perfect university should be one that makes you feel at home, one that allows you to discover knowledge, passions and talents that you never knew you had. But how do you know? Browsing through websites and brochures can help you get a general idea of the university, but you only start to discover its true spirit when you talk to people and ask questions. This guide is the first step in learning more. It also digs deeper for insider tips with a UBC Senior Recruiter, as well as a current student. We hope this will inspire you to seek further, and in the many featured universities to come in the College section, to eventually find your perfect match. UBC Advisor & Recruiter Sven Clarke UBC Advisor & Recruiter Out of all the choices, why should students choose UBC? There are few places in the world which offer a bigger experience than UBC – it’s where you can find a world class education in an internationally diverse academic community, combined with virtually unlimited academic and individual opportunities, and with a choice of unique campus settings. 16 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 What does UBC look for in applicants? Any insider tips? First, get good grades. It is important to do well in your high school classes – not just for university studies, but also for your own future. Second, we want to learn how you’ve used opportunities outside your classroom – including volunteering or demonstrating leadership skills. Broaden your experiences, make your own stamp – because this is what UBC is all about! Can you briefly explain the scholarship programs applicable to international students in Beijing? Students entering UBC with particularly strong grades are automatically considered for a President’s Entrance scholarship. This is a small amount ($500), but carries prestige for a first-year student. Major financial Academics awards are available to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential and financial need. If you think you might be a candidate, speak to your school counsellor. Some Canadian government scholarships, though limited, are also offered. International students can also work in Canada during their studies, although it won’t be enough to completely pay for tuition and living costs. Many students work on-campus, or apply for a work permit to work off campus. Once you graduate, you’re eligible to live and work in Canada for up to three years. Are there any special benefits or credits for IB students? UBC accepts students from a vast range of international curricula who do very well at UBC. Because of the strength of the IB curriculum, IB students are among the most successful students at UBC, and many IB courses are considered for advanced university credit (exemption from some first-years courses). We also offer advanced credit for AP, A levels and other curricula as well. MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 17 Academics UBC Student Profile Marie Shin 19 Years Old UBC Student Sauder School of Business Bachelor of Commerce Pleased with her life, seeking for opportunities to make her life even more interesting Why we’re proud of her She got into UBC with several scholarships, and was one of the 5% among 7,000 applicants who were granted direct entry into Sauder School of Business. Student Involvement She’s an intern writer for the Vancouver Korean Press and the program director for UBC’s Korean Students’ Radiocast. Picking courses Students with the highest grade gets to pick their majors first, so study hard! Popular majors include Accounting, Finance, and Marketing. UBC Insider and Survival Tips 1. Sign up for clubs! They’ll not only help you adjust yourself from academic studies, but also to make new friends. 2. Attend as many events as you can. You’ll make new friends and meet people from upper grades that may help you out with your school life. 18 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 3. Sign up for Peer Programs and be a mentee! 4. If you live in the dorm, get to know your Residence Advisor (RA). They’ll guide you with your dorm life. Why Vancouver rocks It’s quiet and the weather is nice. The sun doesn’t go down till 10pm! Why Vancouver does not rock: The city is currently in debt due to the Winter Olympics. A 7% of Harmonized Sales Tax(HST) will be placed on all goods and services starting from July 2010. Why UBC is life-changing In high school, students worry about grades, exams, and getting into a university. But when you’re in university, it’s the last stop before entering the “real world”. It really gets you thinking about life – your identity, potential, future... You can draw a realistic plan for the future and begin thinking like an “adult”. Helen Leung, YCIS Academics Juggling with university offers I envy those who know exactly what they want to study in university. Chemical engineering, aerodynamic engineering, computer science, professional accountancy, linguistic… How did everyone suddenly decide which field to specialize in? How did they gain the sufficient knowledge to know that their chosen field is their passion, or will be their passion for the many years to come? Instead, I’m the sort of person that wants to “keep my options open.” In reality, I am uncertain about what I want to study, and therefore, I played “safe” by applying to universities in three different continents. I applied for Business and Economics in the UK, Law in Hong Kong, and a general Arts/Social Sciences degree in Canada. When I first entered Year 13 (grade 12), I knew that applying to the universities is the first step. I patiently navigated hundreds of university websites, weighed the different courses, emailed universities asking questions, crafted college essays, and ensured that I applied according to the dream-match-safe schools formula… Once the applications were sent, I would feel a sense of achievement, knowing that I have tried my best in presenting all my accomplishments in the general applications. Little did I know, the process of applying for universities has only just begun. The waiting was nerve-racking. Ever since I started applying to universities, I formulated a new daily routine – check my e-mail or log onto various sites to track my application progress. For weeks, words like “pending” and “application submitted” disappointed me. News of “XYZ getting into XYZ university” became more and more frequent, and while I congratulated them sincerely, I became more anxious. My friends always told me that my offers would come…and when they finally did, I jumped for joy! It was the feeling of seeing your own teammate scores the first soccer goal, but of course even better. Even though the success of MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 19 Academics the application might be a joint effort with my university guidance counselor, with my various teachers who wrote recommendation letters, or a part-effort with my best friend who stayed up late to edit my college essay- at that moment, it felt like I was on top of the world! My investments for the past seventeen years have finally paid off, and the sense of achievement was tremendous. But after a while, I discovered yet another problem. Having enjoyed growing up in an international school in Beijing, I hope to continue my studies in an international community. Although all universities claim to have a very vibrant and dynamic international environment with students coming from all over the world, it is difficult to truly experience their community simply by reviewing university brochures and videos of happy faces and praising comments. The problem with having too many options. The campus community is also associated with each particular country’s lifestyle. Do I want to explore a new country such as the UK or Canada, or do I want to return home to Hong Kong? As a third-culture kid in Beijing, I fear that I will struggle to adapt to both the western culture abroad, and the Asian Cantonese culture in Hong Kong. Choosing which universities to apply to is stressful, but the “real deal” comes after. I could apply for a university but not accept their offer, but if I do accept the offer, then that would be it! That would be my pathway for the next three or four years. It would influence my career, and possibly my entire life! I want to make the correct decision by weighing numerous crucial factors, but I have to admit that I see myself, and much of my friends, falling into the trap by over-emphasizing on factors such as world rankings. Take costs as an example, I have received an admission scholarship of $7000 from the University of Toronto, but how significant would this be in persuading me to study in Canada when the tuition fee is approximately $24,000? On the other hand, the tuition fee to study in Hong Kong is only $ 5,500 for me as a HK citizen (approximately $13,000 for international students). This means that a 3 or 4 year bachelor degree in Hong Kong will equate to only one year in Canada, excluding living costs. Surely, I must take costs into account - especially when I will suffer from the living guilt that the money will come straight out of my parent’s pocket. 20 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Ultimately, it also comes down to what I would like to study. While North American Academics universities offer flexibility with Arts and Social Sciences degree, UK and Hong Kong programmes allow me to jump start into a more specialized route. The latter may be more attractive to some, especially amongst Asian students, who tend to have the mindset and pressure of narrowing their studies to a profession that will lead them towards a more promising career. Of course, to eventually accept a university offer also means that we must satisfy the conditions that universities set along with the offer. I am able to enjoy the luxury of an “unconditional” offer in North America simply by maintaining my current standing in school. However, I must meet the conditions and achieve a certain mark for my IB Diploma before my conditional offers are secured in the UK or Hong Kong. There is really no purpose to consider studying law in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) if I cannot meet the requirement of receiving 40 points for my IB diploma. Meanwhile, I might just as well focus on my current studies! This may be my excuse to delay my decision making, but choosing the right university is a huge deal. I will have to wish myself luck for the coming few months, and find comfort in knowing that perhaps I am not the only teenager going through the struggle of dealing with so many university options. One thing I do know - regardless of which university people attend, they always claim their own university as the best anyway! Clara Leung, YCIS MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 21 Service FASHION Fashion two takes on fashion blogging Whether you have been stalking fashion blogs for a while now, or are new to the world of fashion blogging, here are two amazing blogs that just about anyone can enjoy. 24 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Fashion Toast Fashion Toast [www.fashiontoast. com] is a personal style fashion blog created by Rumi Neely. Neely takes readers on a break from the avant-garde fashion on the runways and displays her laid back Southern Californian style. Fashion Toast features Neely’s day-today style, with the occasional mixture of photos from magazines and the internet that she finds inspirational. From sky rocketing platforms to hippie headbands, Neely always delightfully surprises the readers with unexpected combination of clothing. The popularity of Fashion Toast helped Neely gain invitations to numerous important fashion events such as the New York Fashion Week. In addition, she has been featured in numerous photo shoots for fashion magazines and clothing Fashion labels, just recently she was featured in the exclusive RVCA campaign for the Fall 2009 Lookbook. Not surprisingly Neely also owns a store on ebay where she auctions off one of a kind vintage clothing that she has hunted down in vintage stores (see www.stores.ebay.com/ treasurechestvintage for more) MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 25 Fashion The Sartorialist The Sartorialist [www. thesartorialist.blogspot.com] is a street fashion photography blog created by Scott Schumann, a photographer who first started taking photographs of those on the street of New York City. Schuman‘s photographs capture not only fashion, but inspiration. The blog 26 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Fashion features fashion and people from all around the world; from those right in the center of the fashion industry, to random passer-bys that makes people do a double-take… in a good way. Schuman describes his philosophy as trying to echo how fashion designers look at what they saw in the street, he says”I thought I could shoot people on the street the way designers looked at people, and get and give inspiration to lots of people in the process. My only strategy when I began The Sartorialist was to try and shoot style in a way that I knew most designers hunted for inspiration.” After skimming through these blogs only once, I became addicted and found myself book-marking the webpages and clicking on the links at least once a day. Though Neely and Schuman are on the two opposite poles of fashion, their distinct perspectives never fails to inspire me, and fuel my passion for fashion. Amy Wan, BWYA MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 27 Fashion 2010 Spring/Summer Trend Review For all us fashion gurus, this season’s trends has been an outrageous mixture of extremities, from the bold geometric prints of Versace, to Donna Karan’s minimalist draping… the designers have combined the best of two worlds, and supersized our playground for mixing and matching. In this article Pauline You will give us a tour on three of the hottest trends of this season. SOFT & CLEAN This spring, color and texture is where soft and clean should be found. To give a calm and at-east feel, layer and drape with materials such as cashmere, jersey and silk that flow along your curves and give you that feeling of spring like never before. It’ll bring an attractive yet feminine effect to your look this season. PRINTS & PATTERN Welcome digital design and technology on clothes. The most famous designers in the world now bring out patterns that were once unthinkable in the past. Hand painted, stamped, silk-screened, and covered with tribal motifs materials are in for the spring to bring a bold and confident statement. MILITARY & SAFARI To look exotic yet sophisticated, the military look is in. Bringing on the secure side of a women, dressing in a more global and hobo look with a sharp edginess has taken off this spring. The structured jackets and uniform-influenced dressing was seen in many of the runways of this season. Pauline You, IAB 28 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Fashion “Into The Deep” Two parallel stars tattooed on each arm and a crisp cropped bob matched with a subtle jersey dressBeijing based designer Vega has a strong sense of personality and a fierce sense of style. Through hard work, raw talent, and a passion for fashion, the LiaoNing designer has attended the most prestigious Central Saint Martins(CSM) College of Art and Design. Furthermore she has presented her depute collection ‘Into the Deep’ at the CSM College Press Show, worked with the fashion legend Alexander McQueen and was even offered a position in Hussein Chalayan. Wang’s future in the UK seemed promising, and held exciting opportunities. However unlike most Chinese students from CSM, Wang decided to move back to China after graduation to pursuit her lifelong dream- owning her own fashion house. “China needs me, it’s a fresh market that’s full of potential” Vega says; but most importantly, China is her home. Not so long ago, she founded the brand SFORZANDO (located in Xia men); and by now, she has already presented her 2nd collection 09-10 A/W, poetically named “Loneliness Stays Forever”. Vega has no interest in fashion magazines and refuses to conform to commercialized fashion; she feels that her designs should reflect who she really is. A lot of Wang’s garments are inspired by the color black, with her signature style of structured and detailed tailoring. Her sophisticated style and sense of taste has not only attracted countless teenage girls in Beijing, but has also MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 29 Fashion gained the attention from famous celebrities. Without doubt, Vega is moving closer and closer to success. As most people know, the fashion industry is a pressurized and selective industry. Using Heidi Klum’s words, “one day you’re in, and the next day you’re out”. Yet understanding this, Vega is still unwilling to surrender to her dreams- her two tattoos symbolizing happiness and stability motivate her and provides her with constant passion for design in the face of hardship. There is no doubt that with her determination, hitting Bryant Park will just be the matter of time. Jalynne Gao, YCIS 30 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 MUSIC Operation Bojinka 32 34 Little J Music n o i t a Oper nKa Boji Music is often said to be a universal conduit for communication, and indeed it has proved itself so, over and over again. Music in China has been of no exception. Beijing’s music scene has been developing rapidly, with bands springing up all over the city and new pioneer sounds emerging from the fusion of west with east. In international schools around Beijing, this phenomenon has been no different. The recent Rev Fest charity concert event, which embeds a battleo f the-bands-type competition, showcased the musical talents of nine international school bands. All of the bands gave stellar performances, and the event was a massive success, with over 400 students from a wide range of schools in attendance. However, there had to be a winner, and in this 32 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 case, it was Operation Bojinka of the International School of Beijing that stood out as the top guns of the night. Operation Bojinka fuses rock and hard rock with a shot of grunge and an extra shimmering twist, featuring Ryan McCloskey on vocals, Wesley Kwok and Cullen Chen on guitar, Zachary Kwok on bass, and Dan Zhang behind the drums. The members’ diverse musical Music backgrounds, ranging from acoustic to electro to thrash metal, come together to form an amalgam of topnotch skill, blazing yet intricate performance, and strong musicality that projects in both their covers as well as their original works. With the help of the Global Student Organization - Beijing, Operation Bojinka has been steadily climbing the ranks in the local scene. The band has enjoyed strong support from both the local and the foreign audience, taking first place in the recent Rev Fest charity band competition and earning a recording deal at BTV’s studio in the process, while also playing shows at various well-known local venues including Yugong Yishan and MAO Livehouse. GSA co-founder Aki Wan describes Operation Bojinka’s hybrid sound as “new and fresh”, bringing a unique blend of styles to the Beijing stage. More of Operation Bojinka can be found at www.wix.com/operationbojinka/ home (english interface) or www. myspace.cn/operationbojinka (chinese interface). Show information will be available on both sites. For booking/information: 13501343130 (Dan) Dan Zhang, ISB The band is confident that their perspecrive on music and dedication to their tasks will lead them well on the path towards musical success. MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 33 Music An Insight Into Taylor Momsen’s Band “The Pretty Reckless” Taylor Momsen. You may be quick to judge that her last name is odd, and link it to someone’s “mom” (cue the “your mom” jokes here); yet, this girl who plays Jenny Humphrey, the humble girl turned upper-east-sider on CW’s Gossip Girl is a blazing light just waiting to be discovered. She may not be the queen of all music just yet, but she certainly is moving up along the path. In television, little “J”, as many Gossip Girl watchers might know her as an inspired fashion designer, with her own edgy look of counterculture and grunge- 34 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Music esque attire and defined eye makeup. But what most people don’t know about her is her band! Yes, she has a band, and the music is not just a self-feature – The Pretty Reckless are the real deal, with Taylor in the lead and three other guys in support who provide an exceptionally nice backdrop for Momsen. Dressed in lacy outfits, combat-ready boots and wearing a gold necklace or two, with her hair moving in sync to the beat of the music, this girl is no regular blonde. She may only be sixteen, but her amazingly mature voice in a slightly psychedelic, h e av y- m e t a l - m e e t s hardcore ensemble makes the experience as epic as it can get. The most important element, the music, is far from the usual punky rebellious-girl drivel that floods the channels nowadays. The rapid mix of powerful chords form a strong complement to her strong vocal performance, which provides a unique touch to their blend of heavier music styles. And at the risk of giving Momsen a bit more credit than she deserves, her writing style for The Pretty Reckless is pretty amazing, especially in contrast to the TV personality that we all know. Make Me Wanna Die, one of her initial demos, opens with a fuzzy instrumental before progressing to a steady kick beat under symphonic metal string synths and heavy guitar chords that are reminiscent of Rammstein; a final transformation into a slower, heavy alternative blend that features Taylor’s dark vocals forms the rest of this interesting gem. The Pretty Reckless defies the stereotypes placed upon Taylor, partially due to gender and partially due to her role in popular TV. The strong contrast between her two identities causes some to shrink away, terming the music as unnatural and out of their comfort zone. As unusual as it may be, Taylor’s sound is undeniably mature and her songwriting is definitely strong. The girl still has a long way to go to make it in the music industry, but she has a confident attitude that projects in all her music. The Pretty Reckless have a wicked, cherry-red hardcore sound that is developing strongly – definitely worth keeping an eye on. The Pretty Reckless will be playing the Vans Warped tour this summer, along numerous other groups including well-known mainstream rock band We The Kings and punk group Sum 41. Elizabeth Wu, BWYA MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 35 STUDENT’S Student’s Opinion OPINION Trapped in the System the true story of a migrant children’s education “Is this a school?” remarked the dumbfounded students as we entered a migrant school. Confronted with the reality of its brutal condition, I too found myself tongue-tied. Even today, the vivid scenes play back in my mind– dilapidated buildings, reeking smells, packed classrooms, the innocent children… With such a thought-provoking experience, I was compelled to untangle the intractable plights that these migrant children are in. Since the 1980s, the “floating population” of migrant workers in China left the rural areas and flocked into numerous cities, such as Beijing, in search of a better life. Approximately 140 36 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 million rural migrant workers are now working in cities, where their average incomes are more than three times those of the countryside. It is undeniable that these migrant workers have made great contributions to the China’s rapid economic growth. However, Chinese migrant parents continue to struggle in dealing with their children’s dire problems because of the current education and welfare system. The hukou (户口 household registration) system and the existing discrimination against them are “insoluble” problems that pose threats on the fates of more than 70 million children. The hukou system was initially Student’s Opinion designed to help authorities track individuals in the planned economy in the 1950s, the hukou system restricted residents to the area where they were born in, or are inherited from where their parents hold the hukou. Although migrant workers possess temporary permits, they do not enjoy the same access to healthcare, education and other social services as the urban hukou holders. Moreover, students are restricted to take GaoKao (college exam) in where their hukou are. This means students are confined to study in certain areas, usually places with little access to a high quality education. Some claim that universities admit certain percentages of students from each region, reserving far more positions for urban houkou students than rural hukou students. Due to the existence of numerous restrictions, many migrant workers have decided to leave their children in the countryside. Unfortunately, studies show that children who lack parental care from early stages usually demonstrate poorer academic performances and present more behavioral problems. It is shuddering to think how much these children crave their parents’ love and security. Furthermore, it is highly likely that the relationship with their parents will disintegrate, consequential of years of separation, which is indeed a depressing tragedy. The 19 million children who move to the cities with their parents are equally disadvantaged. Local students are entitled to a state education, whilst children from other regions need to go through a considerably more rigorous process to be admitted to a public school, exerting great financial pressure e.g. ‘illicit donations’, on the migrant families. Migrant children also suffer from prejudice and alienation from local students as they bear regional accents and dress differently. These migrant children’s h e a r t- re n d i n g plight strongly suggest that there must be a hukou reform and guaranteed welfare for migrant workers and their children. In accordance to the authorities’ lack of action, the chances of change appear to be slim in the near future. As global citizens, is it right for us to neglect their predicament? This is a question we all must ponder. Ji Hye Yeom, YCIS MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 37 Student’s Opinion WAR. “A feeling of disgust and selfhatred clotted darkly in my throat...one of my worst recollections.” These were the words of a soldier, commenting on the first time that he had taken a life. Death and destruction are commonly associated with the term ‘warfare’. War is not pretty, and it often leaves many veterans traumatised and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), unable to cope with normal life again. The casualties of war surpass body counts as it can also break a soldiers’ morale and wrinkle a country’s spirit. In a battle to prove whichever side is best, someone will always end up hurt. For better or for worse, however, we find that warfare serves as a defining marker for mankind. Not only does modern warfare produce more bloodshed than ever before, but with inventions like Nuclear Missiles, land mines and radars, warfare is slowly becoming mechanised. In all areas of combat, researchers have found a notion of “moral distance” to exist. What is it to us? Because of a soldier’s conscience or guilt, it is difficult for a soldier to face and slay his enemy in close quarter combat, but it becomes increasingly easier and less demanding to do so from a further distance. Take a gunner for instance; all he had to do was press a button, and the dehumanised blips on his screen, “In a battle to prove whichever side is best, someone will always end up hurt.” representing his enemies, would fall like cards. “It’s like something on T.V. / I don’t see people” is what an Israeli war gunner would claim upon his job. As humans ourselves, war mechanisations are making us become “less-human than human”. Don’t we deserve to feel guilty at taking a life, no matter whose it is? Is it not only human to feel a deep sense of emotion upon depriving another fellow being of life, friend or foe? Warfare has shown to us that we too, are quickly turning into the machines we so rely upon. Yet the army is simply more than a killing machine. For many, it is a place to turn to in times of loneliness, a place that they can provide for and belong to. Anthony Swofford, a US soldier says “I joined the Marine Corps in part to impose domestic structure upon my life, to find a 38 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Student’s Opinion home.” According to psychologists Paul Shaw and Yuma Wong, there is an urge known as the “identification mechanism” that all humans experience. This is when individuals are compelled to find a group they can belong to, and then find a reason for being there. In this context, the army can be a perfect solution for some individuals in society. It gives people a common uniform, a common language and a common albeit unlikely “War may not be beneficial to mankind, but it is an essential part of us in trying to define ourselves.” goal. To ‘Defend, Protect and Kill’. The military connects people, and often, the simple ability of being able to revel in the commonness that one has between himself and a fellow countryman is enough to bond people together. In the face of a common enemy, soldiers band together as one. No longer only acting for themselves, but for their comrades too. There is a sense of belonging and friendship that they might not be able to obtain anywhere else. Israeli military psychologist Ben Shalit found that, while asking war veterans what scared them most about war, he received responses which placed emphasis on “letting others down”. To these veterans, it seemed that they were less afraid of losing their own lives than letting the lives of their comrades go to waste. “Wars are not MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 39 Student’s Opinion started to make new friends and family. But they do make strangers become brothers.” Over the grand scheme of history, man’s capacity for warfare does not seem to wear thin, and it is difficult to justify whether wars are detrimental or beneficial to mankind. No one can turn a blind eye towards the countless number of deaths and loss warfare has brought upon our race, yet neither can one deny the almost complete sense of unity and belonging, with renewed identity, that the army bestows upon a country and its people. The army may be a country’s instrument for warfare, but it is also the country’s symbol of pride and integrity. Ultimately, it seems that a line from the movie “The Matrix” can sum up the 40 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 essence of such arguments. “As a species, human beings define their reality through suffering and misery.” War itself is the pinnacle of large scale human suffering. Yet why do we fight? Through suffering and bloodshed, each side believes that what they fight for is right, is just, and is true. This is what propels them on. War demands change. It is said that the victors in wars always go on to write history and shape the future. Wars are fought almost every day of every year. What then, are we defined by, if not for the shedding of sweat, tears, and unfortunately, blood? War may not be beneficial to mankind, but it is an essential part of us in trying to define ourselves. Keith Kwek, YCIS Student’s Opinion Water In Our Food “About 48,000 gallons are needed to produce the typical American Thanksgiving dinner for eight people.” You probably didn’t know this- To bring that steak and salad to that table, 14,000 gallons of water were needed. Interesting? A closer look to the things we eat Doesn’t it feel great to wake up in the mornings, open the fridge, grab some milk and cereals, maybe a fruit or two and start the day full of energy? Or… if you are not a morning person, will you honestly decline a well-done steak with fries or a full on salad if you are on the veggies side? And who will deny a romantic Italian dinner of pasta lit with candlelight? All of this sure sounds like good meals on an everyday-based diet for an average persona and special occasions. Now… there is something we all are overlooking whenever we taste the fine tomato sauce in the ravioli, or the mouthwatering beef meatloaf with a side Caesar salad. Have you ever put some thought on what it takes for your meals to get to your table? More precisely, have you ever thought how much it takes to grow every part of your meal? We are living in a world that soon will have a water shortage, and we can see this happening in many places around the globe. One of the biggest problems is also that most of the world’s food ends up in the big cities. MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 41 Student’s Opinion Tomatoes We all love tomatoes either in salads, or burgers. But little did you know that to grow a pound of tomato, 3 gallons of water are needed. Your average Water Bottle Isn’t it ironic? But you average 1.5 liters water bottle, needs 1.85 gallons of water to make the plastic bottle. We kinda live in a crazy world. Think about it next time you have bottle in your hands. So if this bottle needs that much to make a 1.5 L bottle, imagine what it takes to make the 5 galllon bottle you find in any kitchen! Watermelon Watermelons are delicious, and that’s a fact. To grow one pound of it it takes no less than 100 gallons of water. 42 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Student’s Opinion Latte It takes 53 gallons of water to bring one Latte to your hands. You don’t believe me? Ok, so that sugar, doesn’t that have to be grown as cane first? And the coffee beans. Hm. And then there’s that plastic lid, which has to be created and distributed over hundreds of miles. And doesn’t the plastic require a pretty vast amount of water and oil to produce? Come to think of it, there’s the sleeve and the cup itself too. Rice You can see rice everywhere. You can ask for rice in any restaurant and they’ll bring you a plate, specially in Asian countries. But to grow one pound of rice, farmers use 35 gallons of water. Loaf of Bread The loaf of bread that you find in your kitchen counter to make cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches use up 150 gallons of water. The equivalent of a small kid backyard swimming pool. Fernando Segré, CIS MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 43 FOOD Julie & Julia Bruschetta 45 47 Food Julie & Julia Satisfying your taste and mind Little known movie to regular adolescents of our age Julie & Julia, is the true story of office worker Julia Powell in the beginning of our 21st century, looking for a little bit of spice in her life. What she did find in the back of her head was her old likeness for cooking. Julia Child the woman who introduced traditional French cuisine to Americans sparked her mind. Now, you may want to know about food, as this is the food section, wait up because this is not just a movie, it’s a movie about food. And it isn’t only about regular darn food that regular people named Julia make. It is about the recipes, food, and the life of Julia Child, a woman who could enjoy food and most importantly the finer aspects in life. Following Julie’s project in our modern day her blog “the Julie/Julia project”, the movie shows two time era’s, Julie’s time, and Julia Child’s 1940’s Paris. As Julie moves into a new apartment with her husband, her new marriage life dulls her to the point where cooking whisks her away, because she wants to do something big in her life, not just liv- ing in a two story apartment in Queen’s New York, and transitioning from her dull cubicle job to home. Now I’m not saying that our lives is anything like Julie’s, I only think that if our day to day planned school life is ever boring us in anyway, than the secret to unlocking that boredom is within a brainwave away. Cooking! Mastering the Art of French Cooking a legendary cook book written by Child (while living in Paris with her diplomat husband) and two other French collaborators published in 1970, gave great insight to Americans on the fine, dine, and shine, of French cooking, so as to introduce delicious French meals such as fillet of sole, apple tarte tatin, bruschetta, beef bourguignonne, artichokes with hollandaise sauce, chocolate soufflé, and butter poached lobster as a popular staple in the American. Julia’s life in France led her to experience new things, and to prove to herself in an era when male chefs dominated kitchens and cooking schools that she was a cook fit for making intricate French cuisine. Yet, to Julia her recipes for regular Americans had to be simple, precise, and ultimately lavishing. MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 45 Food Although it is about the recipes, we should not forget it is the enriched French markets with flavor and rustic feel that attracted Julia in the first place. The vegetables, poultry, and picturesque backdrop of France inspired her to take her first steps as a cook. Now Julie (the bored office worker), spent her whole days on the “the Julie/Julia project”, the project solely dedicated to making each recipe in Child’s book within the span of a year, in the blog she would blog about the process of making each recipe, and how each platter of food would make her squeal in delight or torment in anger if the recipe worked or failed for her. Julie also blogged about her life and connected hers to Julia’s in terms of marriage, love, and none other than the magnificent feelings cooking can bring. Two stories set in two different eras, intertwine by the love for cooking these two women shared. As our lives increasingly move towards a faster pace, the stories of Julie and Julia, remind us to sometimes slow down, and enjoy the finer things in life. Elizabeth Wu, BWYA 46 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Food Bruschetta with Tomatoes and Basil Ingredients: 1 loaf 1 clove 1/4 pound 2 tbsp 2 tbsp 1/4 tsp 1/8 tsp Italian bread garlic, cut in half ripe plum tomatoes (seeded and cut into 1/4-inch pieces) thinly sliced fresh basil leaves extra-virgin olive oil salt ground black pepper 1 2 Preheat oven to 350°F. Meanwhile, slice bread diagonally into scant 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place bread slices on 2 cookie sheets. Toast bread on 2 oven racks for 15 minutes, until crusty and dry(turning slices over once and rotating cookie sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through). Transfer bread to wire racks to cool slightly. When bread is cool enough to handle, rub 1 side of each slice with cut side of garlic. Discard garlic. 3 4 In small bowl, gently toss tomatoes, basil, oil, salt, and pepper until combined. To serve, spoon 1 heaping tablespoon tomato mixture on garlicrubbed side of each toast slice. Rough chop a handful of parsley and mix through. Finally, sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. This dish is complimented well by garlic bread. Recipe courtesy of www.delish.com MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 47 Pictorial Green Global Issues Day A series of activities including performances, seminars, and ‘Slave Auctions’. The seminar had into three themes: Cultural Diversity, Human Rights, and Conflict. Students attended ‘fish-ball’ seminars where heated discussions challenged complex issues of the world today. In the end, the most exciting “Slave Auction” was held. This activity raised the awareness of the severity and ruthlessness of slave-trafficking. 48 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 May Tsai, YCIS Pictorial Earth Day On April 22nd, Beijing World Youth Academy(BWYA) hosted their annual Earth Day Art Fiesta. A wide variety of activities were organized and held at the event, including face painting, interactive presentations, as well as a large canvas painting where all participating students contributed by finger painting all over it. MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 49 Pictorial Beijing Model United Nations (BEIMUN) The annual Model United Nations conference founded and organized by the International School of Beijing (ISB) was held at the crowne plaza. Students representing United Nation delegates from all over the world has come to Beijing to debate on resolutions to major world issues. 50 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Pictorial Scholar’s Cup The Scholar’s Cup China Regional was at the British School of Beijing. Based on this year’s theme of “A World Divided”, students examine the Scholar’s Cup curriculum under areas of Arts, Literature, History, Science, Economics and Psychology of War. Scholars form teams of three competed in both individual and team events. Such events included debate, essay writing, scholar’s challenge (individual multiple choice questions) and scholar’s bowl (where teams compete against each other in a hall, answering the questions presented on the screen under a certain time limit). MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 51 Pictorial Art Exhibition As their High School life draws to an end, IB seniors around the world held their final art exhibition. On April 23rd, without exception ISB seniors did too. Students displayed collections of their artwork over the past two years, many of them explored numerous mediums such as sculpting, oils, sketching, photography… 52 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010 Pictorial United Prom United Prom organized by the Global Students Association of Beijing, was held on April 10th at China Space in 798. Featuring special guest singer Ryan McCloskey (ISB), exotic dancers, and a live DJ, no doubt it was a night to remember. MAY2010 [UNIT-E] | 53 Pictorial 54 | [UNIT-E] MAY2010