Tuesday 22 November 2016

Short+Sweet: Slaves and Santa?

Shoko Tezuka
 Do you like theater? Do you like competition? Then Short+Sweet is for you, as it is filled with a variety of plays and awards. This year, Short+Sweet consisted of 11 plays, hosted at Penang Pac, over four nights, November 16-19. It encouraged people in Penang to perform in or watch theater performances. Dalat presented a play titled, "The Runaway Slave: A Christmas Story." Its script was written by Mr. Sasse a couple years ago, though it wasn’t Christmas themed. Because he really liked it, he decided to re-write it as a holiday play for this year's RLT Players.

Three classmates, Kimberly Horton (12), Lilian Li (12), and Aaron Chand (12), represented Dalat in this play. They worked hard alongside Mr. Sassee for this performance and were able to give all they had to the audience. The slave role was acted by Lilian, the lady by Kimberly, and the sheriff by Aaron.

After the competition, our actors voiced what they disliked and liked about Short+Sweet. Both Lilian and Kimberly said they enjoyed getting to know a lot of aspiring actors outside the Dalat community, and they also liked meeting a lot of new people in the audience. What they disliked was how stressful it was. It is a challenging competition because it goes on continuously for four days. They had to stay up late into the night and ended up not getting home until nearly midnight. But they both agree that all that fun overruled the stress and exhaustion that they had felt.

Mr. Sasse said, “Short+Sweet is a great venue for young actors to work with experienced actors. There’s no age limit, which is great. Unfortunately, it also makes the content sometimes not appropriate for younger people, which is too bad.”

When asked what was challenging about the performance, Kimberly said switching props was tough because there was only one minute of transition time. She also had to sit on a shaky rocking chair, and she was scared it might tip over during the performance. Lilian replied that it was challenging to cry and make the audience feel sad.

To be expected, Dalat won a few awards. The Newcomers Award was won by Kimberly Horton, and the Festival Director's Award was won by Mr. Sasse.

When asked how he felt after getting the award Mr. Sasse said, “I was honored to win the Festival Director's Award. It shows me that they recognized the quality show that we worked so hard on. It means a lot.”

 And when asked the same question, Kimberly said, “I was surprised; I did not expect that!”

Mr. Sasse said with faith, “I was so proud of Kimberly. She gave a fantastic performance.
I predicted she would win and she did.”

The group went beyond their abilities, improving each performance, even after that had a fantastic start on their first play. All in all, it was a great night, with Mr. Sasse saying he had no regrets.

If you missed Short+Sweet, “The Runaway Slave,” along with other skits, will be performed by the RLT Players at the Tales of Wonder II on December 1-3 at Penang Pac. If you haven’t already purchased tickets, you can go ticketpro.com.my.   

Monday 21 November 2016

To Ask or Not To Ask

Yeorin Yun
With Christmas Banquet rolling around the corner, many askings took place on Monday, November 21st. According to Andrew Kim (12), the StuCo president, the purpose of having CB is to “have a formal gathering and fun before the start of winter break.” Like Andrew puts the meaning of CB, there is no doubt that our Dalat students truly enjoy CB. Moreover, there’s so much more to the meaning of CB than just having kids dress up for the night.

Given the privilege to ask a date in any shape or form, some took on the idea with an endearing mind, while others took on the idea of asking as a dreadful thought. Despite the ambiguity of how students would reflect on this idea of asking, I personally believe that CB helps the young student population to take a lesson or two from this. CB mildly exposes the students to the sophisticated acts of mannerism. In other words, they are learning to adopt a doctrine of courtesy and learn the social etiquette norm of this world. With these aspects, the students can truly mature and grow to become ‘ladies and gentlemen’.    

That aside, all the askings had a varying range of quirkiness to them. Some opted to settle for simplicity while others asked with creative ideas. The latter was seen in Andrew Kim’s asking on Friday, November 18, where he boldly asked Lillian Li (12) to CB by reciting an original sonnet—while on stage in front of the whole HS student body; he was speaking at chapel about “not losing hope” subsequent to breaking his leg at the ACSC volleyball tournament. He also proceeded to encourage the girls to ‘man up’ and ask the boys to CB.

This became true on the following Monday of November 21st. With Darby Kendrick’s (12) sense of great humor, she asked Jonathan Lafferty (12) out to CB by giving him a candy called Laffy Taffy—a short and sweet pun about one of his nicknames. Kylie Toh (12) asked Keito Watanabe (12) out by arranging sushi into the shape of the letters CB. The list of senior girls creatively asking senior boys continues: Justina Cryder (12) asked Sam Huang (12), Aster H'ng (12) asked Emmett Balzer (12), and so on. After this eventful Monday, many others are awaiting their chance to ask or to be asked by someone.

The CB asking week surely leaves many in excitement. Anticipation is undoubtedly high among the students. CB isn’t just about the night. It’s also inclusive of the exciting week of asking, in which students can display an extravagant showcase with, again, a tinge of quirkiness in their ways of asking.

Saturday Service Shenanigans

En Qi Saw

Every school year, students in Dalat International School are required to complete ten hours of service hours within the course of twelve months in order to graduate. More often than not, high schoolers tend to view this obligation as a burden and a chore. Throughout my high school years, however, service projects have always been fun, exciting days where I get to serve the community and spend quality time with my friends simultaneously.

This Saturday, 19 November, students who signed up for a service project in a local school, S.K.T.T, gathered on campus at eight o’clock in the morning. After loading the truck with props and materials needed for later, we (twenty-four Dalat students in total) made our way to the local school with a hint of anticipation.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted with the happy faces of the local students who were aged between seven and eleven years old. As much as they were excited to see us, they were very polite and were very well-mannered. They sat down patiently and quietly, waiting for us to unload the truck and to set up a ‘mini carnival’ for them. We prepared eight stations of games for the locals, and every three high schoolers were assigned to a station.

As we were busy preparing for the carnival, Mrs. Pagee and Ms. Chan distributed a plastic bag to each local student. The bags were to be used to keep collected coupons from the game stations. The coupons could then be exchanged for different prizes at the prize station, managed and taken care of by Zachary Kok (11) and David Chinn (11).

Finally, the carnival started, and the local students went from station to station, trying out different games. One of the most popular games that morning was the ‘sponge toss’ station, where each player had three attempts to throw a sponge to a high schooler who sat behind a cut-opened board for his face to fit in. Xu An Lim (10) was the first “victim” of this game, followed by Jerald Lim (12) and Woo Young Chung (12).

The carnival ended around ten o’clock in the morning. The local students ran to the prize station, excited to see what they could make use of their coupons with. As the students were occupied with counting their coupons, Felicia Teoh Chyi (12), Ms. Chan, and I set up drinks and snacks. We ended the day with some refreshments for the exhausted children.

After the event, Ning Kang Chia (12), Woo Young Chung, Jerald Lim (12), Darian Yeap (12), Keito Watanabe (12), Felicia Teoh, Amanda Low (10), and I made our way to McDonald’s to satisfy our hunger. Gathered around a long table, we were all thankful it was a meaningful and productive morning. As Low said before she chowed down her scrumptious meal, “It was refreshing to be able to go out and have fun with kids instead of staying home.”


IASAS Exchange: Heart Over Height

Sam Huang

After six hours of traveling in a van on Friday, November 18th, the Dalat boys’ basketball team arrived in ISKL for three basketball games, with hopes that each one would further prepare them for the biggest home tournament of the year in February: the ACSC tournament.

The Dalat boys started off their first game in ISKL against the Alamis club team, a local adult basketball club. Despite being outsized, the boys were ready to play; however, as soon as the game started, the boys dropped to a ten-point deficit. Their defense wasn’t rotating fast enough, their offense wasn’t running smoothly, and their coach, Chuck Arnold, was not happy. Soon enough, the team found themselves in a mess, being down 35-48 with only a quarter left to catch-up. Before the starters went back onto the court to play the last quarter, Coach Arnold shouted to his players in a huddle, “Come on guys. Winning and losing is a choice. Now, what do you choose? If you want it, go out there and take it.” His inspirational words relit the fire within the boys. They ended up scoring 28 points in the quarter and almost had the game under their belts, but they couldn’t secure a rebound in the final seconds of the game to close the point gap between the teams. The game ended as a loss for the boys, but they didn’t let the lost prove them weak. To them, they fell—but they fell forward and didn’t stay on the ground for long.

On the very next morning, the Dalat boys went up against Jakarta International School (JIS). Again, the Dalat boys were outsized, but they didn’t lose hope. Throughout the game, the two teams were pretty much evenly matched. The Dalat boys were still struggling with running their offense and defense correctly, but they still managed to find a way to keep the scores close. Towards the end of the game, the Dalat boys started to play like they’ve been playing in practice and proved to be the better team by winning the close game 58-55.

They went on to take another game from ISKL. This time the boys played fantastic offense and impenetrable defense to blow out the ISKL boys in a 64-30 win. Felix Tobias (11) and Daniel Kang (10) were raining shots from three feet beyond the three-point line, while Wei Sing Goh (12) was dominating from within. After watching the game film on the way back to Penang, which their manager Dominic Fitzgerald (12) took, Wei Sing Goh expressed, “I felt good about that ISKL game because I finally played my role on the team.”

The Dalat boys ended up placing first among the four teams that gathered to play quality basketball at ISKL. Although no medals were received this time, each one of our Dalat boys knew that their hard work paid off, but also that they need to work even harder in order to make sure the medal is gold when they do receive one in future tournaments.

Tuesday 15 November 2016

D.A.B. it Out at the 2016 Christmas Banque

Andrew Kim

Will the Student Council’s optimism for D.A.B. be met with terrific success or absolute failure? StuCo (save the vice president) waits with optimistic anticipation.

Dalat International School has looked down on dancing for too long! With an attempt to oust the taboo known as “dancing” at Christmas Banquet, the Student Council plans to encourage the student body to participate in the first ever choreographed dance and lip-syncing competition called D.A.B. (Dalat Air Band).

How would the Student Council convince the conservatives of Dalat to dress up and dance all silly? They’d dance in front of the entire high school to set an example, and they’d use money as an incentive.

With a cash prize of RM 200 (what!? StuCo giving out money?!) and a priceless trophy, StuCo dares to bribe the high school to a dance off. But that won’t be enough.

To show that anyone can dance just as “anyone can cook” (Ratatouille), the Student Council planned a dance to show at chapel on the 11th of November. Working on the dance for six hours, they danced until they bled. Woo Young Chung, with a toe bleeding, continued to urge his team to practice, saying “Come on guys, one more time.”

Thankfully, the blood and sweat paid off. Leaving the stage satisfied, the mesmerized crowd began talking about D.A.B. One from the audience, Mersades Zimmer, said, “They [StuCo] did well. Teddy will probably do it.” And Mr. Zimmer is not alone.

Others have formed groups, including an immediate sign up from dance-loving seniors. Even the staff has signed up, with Mr. Brewster allegedly dabbing!

StuCo wants to revamp Christmas Banquet. StuCo wants to rebel against the dancing taboo. StuCo wants to build a community. StuCo would even give out money for this change. But they can’t do anything without you.

As Keito Watanabe, Vice President of StuCo wishes, “We need more people DABBING, yea?”


96 Year Old Mary Ward showing the world that Anyone Can Dab
Photo Credit: Charlotte Stories

Bonds

Jerome Ramirez

In a fit to print a picture of ‘the Doctor,’ Jonathan Lafferty (12) directed the mouse frantically back and forth on the computer screen. With a sigh of relief, he heard the printer come to life. Just in time, Bena Mauger (12) joined him. Together, they scrambled out the door, excited to meet their eighth-grade buddies.

On a warm and humid Saturday morning (November 12th), seniors and their eighth-grade buddies, bonded through a series of fun activities that challenged groups to cooperate, persevere, and fill their hungry stomachs.

Craning their necks for a bite, students strived to beat their partners at devouring the doughnut the fastest. Win or lose, not one person left the room with a growling belly. Next up, partners (consisting of one eighth-grader and at least one senior) gathered up the courage to play a round of apple bobbing. After mustering up enough willpower, heads plunged into the unexplainable “murky” water left behind from previous trials. Some rose victoriously from the water with an apple lodged between their jaws, and some came up with a mixed face of confusion, as well as disgust. On the bright side, all who participated received soaked “mops” for hair. Speaking of luck, brave individuals donned blindfolds then grabbed slices of fruit or vegetables (each skewered through with toothpicks). From then on, faces either cringed at the strong pang of freshly-cut onions or rejoiced at the welcome, sweet, and familiar taste of apples.

Unfortunately enough, the festivities reached an end. As a last hurrah, the two grades flocked to the Student Center. Sponsors and seniors distributed sweets such as brownies, more doughnuts, and a variety of soda. It’s safe to say that the camaraderie during, and overall lighthearted of, the event solidified acquaintances into lifelong relationships.

Avast! Ye Be for Pirates Only!

Tim Sasse

‘Twas the evening of November 12, 2016. Aaron Chand (12) decided to uphold the tradition of a junior and a senior organizing a gala. The tradition was started by Jonathan Chandra, a graduate of Dalat, two years ago. A gala is a social occasion with special entertainment, similar to the Christmas Banquet. This year, Chand and Melynn Kendrick (11) organized a pirate-themed gala for their small group of friends.

As I walked in, I was confronted by a peculiar looking man who stole my hand and vigorously shook it. "Ahoy, Matey. Welcome to the Gala," said Captain Jack, also known as Aaron Chand. Right then, I was assigned a seat and a new identity. I was surrounded by my friend’s familiar faces, yet I could not identify anyone. To my right was seated Miss. Jane Bennett, Susan Oh (12), across from me was Captain Davy Jones, David Unruh (12), and to my left was Captain Blackbeard, Melynn Kendrick.

Once everyone was seated, the host and the hostess, Captain Jack and Captain Blackbeard, proudly presented the beverages. Out of the blue, Captain Jack grabbed my back and shot me with the cork of a “rum bottle”, which was actually non-alcoholic grape juice. I was quite shocked and disgusted by this action. After everything was settled, Captain Jack stood up from his chair and announced that dinner was being catered by McDonald's. Everybody laughed and cheered. However, after a few minutes of navigating on the “compass,” trying to order multiple times, Captain Jack declared that McDonald's delivery was unavailable. All the guests started to panic. Sensing that everybody’s face turned gloomy, Captain Blackbeard and Captain Jack decided to row there themselves. And so, they set off on a journey, leaving all the guests behind.

The malnourished guests were left with no choice but to play Apples to Apples and eat Sweet Tarts. Surprisingly, games and candies helped the time go faster. Meanwhile, the two captains took an Uber car to the mighty land of Tesco. Wearing their finest evening attire, they felt out of place. At McDonald's, they found themselves short twenty doubloons (ringgit)! Awkwardly, the two captains had to request the Tesco King (worker) to remove two packets of chicken nuggets. Finally, they returned to the pirate cove, but they realized that they ran out of money and could not pay the Uber driver. And so the hostess' boss, Mrs. Kendrick, had to quickly rescue them from being hung (not paying).After an hour and half hours of game and candies, our two hosts came marching in. Thankful for their hard work, all the guests cheered and thanked them.

The meal was quickly disposed of by hungry savages. Everyone walked the plank to the outdoor balcony to retire their stomachs. The night was diminishing and slowly people started to leave. The remaining pirate dwellers abandoned ship and the night had ended.

Tuesday 8 November 2016

A Satire: Dalat Student “tired,” “busy.”

Penang, Malaysia—According to local reports, a Dalat student was spotted with dark circles under his eyes and messy hair on Wednesday, the 2nd of November. Upon being asked how he was, he replied “tired” and “busy” with a lethargic tone. Somehow, the student couldn’t find the time to do his homework, apply for colleges, attend mandatory X-blocks, practice for his sport’s team, eat regularly, spend time with friends, and get eight hours of sleep.

Pushing for a higher G.P.A. meant longer study sessions after school for the student, and he had to sacrifice some sleep, culminating in an overwhelming sense of busyness, stress, and anxiety. It is rumored that school officials will open an investigation to evaluate whether this is simply an isolated case or whether it’s a widespread epidemic. An unnamed teacher “fear[s] the worst.” School administration will deal with the issue according to their findings. “If this is indeed an isolated case, no intervention will be needed,” an expert assured The Scribble. “If busyness does affect many students, administration may need to institute mandatory stress-management X-blocks, and perhaps even require students to attend obligatory ‘Fun days’ on Saturday to help reduce stress. That will surely resolve the issue.”

If you suspect that you may be affected by busyness, or fear that a loved one may be suffering, some common symptoms include: tiredness from lack of sleep, general depression, unshakable feelings of angst, dark circles under eyes, a lack of relaxation time, and the inability to focus or concentrate. Don’t worry, though, stress is only “the basic cause of 60% of all human illness and disease,” and it increases the risk of heart disease by only 40%, the risk of heart attack by only 25%, and the risk of stroke by only 50% (stress.org). Don’t stress it; it’s no big deal. 

"Tears falling onto the soil"

Aaron Chand
International schools all across the world have an abundance of one thing: international students. And those international students all bring their own cultures, heritage, and stories to their school communities. For me, Aaron Chand (12), that special culture, heritage, and story is none other than India—the land of chaos, beauty, and simplicity. It is a place that will always have a special spot in my heart.

It was in August of 2016 when I approached my family and asked for them to let me go one last time to this extraordinary nation before I graduate. They agreed, and I had never been more ready to return. I had not returned home for at least three years, and my cousins who I remembered to be mere toddlers had practically grown up. My job on this trip was fairly simple: take pictures and spend time ministering/encouraging the church leaders in that area.

In 2012, Forefront Mission began construction on a school that could facilitate grades K-12. Construction was long and tedious but finally, in October 2016, the school finished construction, found staff, and enrolled students. During my visit, we attended the school's inauguration ceremony; by ‘we’, I mean my father, our four main funders for the school, and myself. High and tall tents were set-up on the school grounds and hundreds of people, both Hindu and Christian, came to see what God had built in their region. This is a region that Christians were not allowed to enter four years prior. Celebration was in the air as people laughed, danced, and conversed. I was instantly welcomed by the warm hands of family and friends, who I had not seen for years. We all happily ate and talked about our lives. We all knew that God had great things in store for this school and how it would grow and grow until it fulfilled all the educational needs for that village.

We spent two more days in that village before our friends from America had to return home. We said goodbye as they went to the airport, and my dad and I journeyed on to Dehradun where my grandma and uncles live. They were in preparation for my cousin's wedding. As we drove 8 hours to Dehradun, we passed many armed soldiers and security checkpoints because tensions between India and Pakistan are extremely high right now. We arrived that night at my eldest uncle’s house. Instantly, my four-foot grandmother came to hug me; however, I followed the customs of Indian families and reached down to touch the feet of all of the elders of the house before hugging them. Overjoyed, my grandmother led me into the house and instantly presented me and my father with chai. We talked and caught up about everything that had happened to us over the past three years. I was instantly reminded of the simple lifestyle they live, without the internet or no real connection to the outside world. However, I can’t say it wasn’t refreshing as I was definitely glad to be around conversation where the topic of choice wasn't Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The next day I was overwhelmed by tons of people coming to say ‘hello’ to me and my dad. Throughout the day, I heard, “Hello, Aaron! Do you remember me? I am your aunt's, brother's, daughter's, husband's cousin!” I would simply nod politely and say, “Ahhh yes, I do recognize your face!” In honesty, I hadn't the foggiest recollection who they were. The day flew by fast and was filled with laughter and joy as we all prepared for the eve of Diwali. That night, fireworks, curry, and the love of a family filled the air as we all enjoyed the little reunion.

Nevertheless, that little reunion had to come to an end and it was time to go home. We prepared to say our goodbyes. I saved my grandma for last because I knew that would be the hardest of them all. When finally the time came and I said goodbye, she instantly broke down crying for neither of us knew if we would ever see each other again, as her health has declined over the years. I could feel my heart cracking, and I begged God to work in her heart and help her experience the love of Jesus, as she has not yet fully accepted him as her Savior. I quickly said a prayer over her, and I and turned to get in the car which would take us to the airport. While driving away, I turned my head back to see her on her knees, tears falling onto the soil below. I felt my heart break knowing that that was possibly the last time I would ever see Grandma.  

It was a good trip full of joy, sadness, and love, and I know that I will forever look back on it with a smile on my face. The pictures I took will forever remind me of the great things God did within me and others during this amazing trip. I hope that, in the future, I can do more with missions and more with helping the community around me. Learning more about my culture and heritage really changed my perspective on things and showed me that I have a deep appreciation for cultures. I pray that I can share that culture with Dalat; I mean, after all, it is an international school.



Lord of the Flies or the Eagle Games?

Christy Chow
Armed with long sticks and donning streaks of paint, a pack of teenagers wandered around aimlessly to find their next destination. They crossed a raging river while hissing at another pack trying to do the same. They slipped in the mud as they fought others for a chicken, forming temporary alliances with one pack against the others. They emerged from the woods with smudged paint and wild looks in their eyes. No, this is not a scene from the Lord of the Flies. This is a scene from Dalat’s first annual Eagle Games.

The Eagle Games are a new experiment for Dalat’s high schoolers, replacing the long-standing tradition of Track & Field Day. Throughout the years, middle school and high school students have had the pleasure of enjoying the athleticism and competition that Track & Field Day provided. It was a day of running, throwing, jumping, and sweating. It was, however, also a day of a lot of sitting around and waiting for the next event to happen. Many students expressed disinterest and didn’t feel as if it catered to all of Dalat’s population. So the Eagle Games were created to remedy this problem.

The Eagle Games resemble Track & Field Day in many ways - there are still four team colors - red, blue, green, and yellow. Both have elements of athleticism and competitiveness. But the Eagle Games has its own special twist. Each color represents a team - Blaze, Wave, Quake, and Bolt respectively - with subgroups of six students within smaller teams, each led by a senior captain. Also, only the high school students are invited to participate in this day. This switch effectively makes each team much smaller and closer-knit. Instead of each student choosing a couple of events for the day, all 8 of the activities are mandatory. These activities ranged from absolute silliness (throwing a rubber chicken around) to a difficult obstacle course (a minuscule Spartan Race).

Even though many of the events required getting wet, dirty, and sweaty, smiles remained from beginning to end. Few grumbles were heard even when the sky opened up and poured down the heavy rain typical of Penang.

Overall, the Eagle Games created a day where students could get outside and just have fun with one another in nature. Though many will miss Track & Field Day, many will also look forward to the new tradition of the Eagle Games. After all, new friendships developed, leadership skills cultivated, and a lot of laughter was had. The Eagle Games provided a time to destress and forget about homework, tests, and, for the seniors, college applications.

As Joseph Hsu, one of the senior leaders on the Blaze team put it, “The Eagle Games was a great substitute for Track & Field Day because it catered to both athletic and non-athletic students. Everyone could engage in the various activities and make new friends no matter which grade they were in.”

Value within the Session

Darian Yeap
Another tiring Wednesday swung by, and the students gathered in the school chapel for an assembly. The topic was on the innovative idea, presented by Principal Brewster and StuCo, known as the Eagle Games. The assembly ended and the emotions amongst the students were greatly mixed. Students remained skeptical towards the upcoming event which replaced the worn-out event known as Track and Field.

But after the Eagle Games had concluded, Rainbow Chan (11) said, “Teamwork is more important than winning.” Are these the words of a noble sportsman? Or could these be the words of a humble loser?

On Friday, November 4th, I was satisfied with my team and set out to our first station. Our first activity was an obstacle course. My team and I did an excellent job and completed the course first. But, apparently, a minor error in the information given by the teachers actually led to a second place finish and a quick apology. As noble and as sportsmanlike as we were, we left the station with minimal salt levels.

We then proceeded to the second station where we had to throw balls from one side of the pool to another. With tremendous luck, we faced a rather cunning team who did not follow the rules yet were awarded first for their effort, or effort beyond necessity.

For the remaining activities (scootering, Captain Ball with a rubber chicken, towel volleyball, tire “river crossing”, and human checkers) my team and I had our fair share of victories and defeats. Up till our final event, tug of war. On our first round, our opponent won effortlessly, and we were crushed. On our second round, David Chinn (11) and I decided to both enter the hoop at the end of our side of the rope. We both had our backs facing the rest of the team, and as soon as the whistle went, so did the two of us. We attempted to dash in the opposite direction, and it worked...for literally one second. Then we were abruptly tugged, and our backs were used to wax the dirt. 

I had my fair share of discussions with Christy Chow (12) and Kimberly Horton (12). Christy shared, “As one of the seniors in my subgroup, I learned how to lead and how to stay organized while trying to get around from activity to activity. But most importantly, I learned how to have fun and just enjoy the moment while participating in the event.” Kim followed by stating, “I felt like the event showed us that we could work together and have fun even with those we didn't know very well. It was so much fun getting to know people and working with them for the day.”

The Eagle Games has concluded and the victor was Quake. Just as Rainbow said, "I learned to believe that winning isn’t as crucial. Two common themes were found from my classmates: fun and teamwork. If these themes were the initial values [the creators] had in mind, then they’ve done a fantastic job. For at the end of the day, I truly had fun." 

Wednesday 2 November 2016

Driven Dalat Debates

Sam Hofer
           
America was both awestruck with wonder and horror at three consecutive events—the presidential debates. Trump and Hillary exchanged verbal blows repeatedly, sometimes even talking about relevant issues. What I took from those debates was mainly just the amount of times the candidates interrupted the moderator. I think it’s somewhat sad that the candidates we have for the American elections are both as unappetizing as cinnamon and sugar flavored Pringles. I really enjoy the (ideally) honest and respectful discourse of politics, but sadly it rarely happens that way.

That is why I am incredibly proud of Dalat’s Presidential Debate.

Though the presidential debates ended in America, ours happened on November 3rd in Penang. Some students from Mr. Sasse’s American Government class took sides in a debate emulating that of the presidential debates in the States, with the exception of Gary Johnson, who also participated in Dalat’s debate. The teams representing Trump and Clinton each consist of five people, four of whom had an area they specialized in, such as the economy, foreign policy, personal issues, and social issues. Gary Johnson’s third party had only two people in that group (Noah Graves and Josiah Brake (12)). Participants meticulously prepared for the debate. I, on the Clinton team, even asked each teammate questions from the actual debate, looking for a competent (or political) answer.

 “Do you really want this man as president?” said Alan Luchtenburg, a die-hard Clinton supporter, during his opening statement.

I’m really happy that the Presidential Debates happened to fall on the year I am a senior, the one time I could participate. Though I am a bit disappointed to have been picked as a Democrat, I gladly take up the challenge. Dalat is a very conservative community, and I believe the honest discourse of competing theories in a respectful manner is the key to having an educated society.


Vote in Dalat’s election (and the real election, if you’re a U.S. citizen and adult) on November 8th!  

Tuesday 1 November 2016

An Unlikely Collaboration

Jessie Ross
On Monday, October 24, it was announced that the Master Studio and the AP Physics students were merging to collaborate on a project. The task at hand was to take an arrangement of data and bring it to life in the form of an art representation. Little did we (the art students) know how this entirely new task was going to be formed.

The students were separated into several groups—with about two Physics students to one art student. The Physics students explained what their project was: each group was given the task to create an arm-like structure with limited resources. Once they had designed and created their “arm,” they were to test it though adding specific weights to see how much their structure could hold. After testing their structures, they were to compile the tested data and record their findings.

I confronted my group with an open mind and was ready to assist in developing a new perspective on their project. My group consisted of Tian Ooi (11), Jia Qi Tan (11), Annabelle Teoh (11), and myself. Ooi described how they liked the idea of drawing an actual arm and fitting the designed structure inside of it. To demonstrate the bearable weight, they wanted to have it color coordinated.

I thought their idea was rather practical and clever - taking something visual and interpreting it in a literal sense. However, after the Physics students left and the Master Studio students regrouped, we figured out something rather interesting. We all ended up with the exact same requests. All the groups wanted a literal arm to represent their structure.

It could clearly be seen that two different types of minds were at work, being the artistic and scientific. From a scientific point of view, the AP Physics students looked at representing their creation in a literal sense; they see things logically—what is in front of them is what they need to represent.

Whereas the art student wanted more of a core message, or symbols—something beyond what was right in front of them. It became a battle of the structured, logical minds integrating with the more abstract, artsy minds. Each person was trying to bring his or her talent to the table. For the Master Studio students, our task now is not only to develop an art piece that brings both the science and artistic voice to life but to break a barrier between two conformities.

The question now stands: will the two opposite brain-types be able to collaborate further, or will this project fail to generate a sensible outcome? 


Fulfilment on a Football Pitch

Benjamin Finlay

ACSC was probably the most enjoyable week I have ever experienced in school. But it was more than just seven days. It was a full season, being ten long weeks of preparing the entire team for this all-important tournament.

ACSC is a sports conference focusing on football, volleyball, and basketball. Seven or eight different schools compete, representing various countries around Asia. This particular year, the men's varsity football tournament was hosted by Morrison Christian Academy in Taichung, Taiwan. Unfortunately, only eighteen athletes of our twenty-two roster were able to travel to Taiwan, and it didn't quite feel the same without those additional four players. The community of a team lacked a little bit, and some people I bonded with weren't there with me in Taiwan — it was quite disappointing, to say the least.

In the past, our football team has not placed very well. The best we ever placed was second to last, and the other schools always look at us as the easy team to get free points off of. But not this year.

Our first match was against Faith Academy, and we had a disappointing match against them last year; we were up 2-0, and in the last minute, they scored twice to end the match 2-2. Thirsty for revenge this year, we dominated the entire match and came out with a 2-1 victory. This was the first step on our way to glory.

The second day, we played Grace. Grace is usually the best team at ACSC but often end up in 2nd. They were 1-0 up against us, close to winning their first match in this year’s tournament after a poor run of form. In literally the last second of the match, though, Ruben Nyul (10) headed home from a corner to equalize the game.

“This is it,” Ruben said to me. “We can actually do it.” I told him that I knew that this was it. For the past few weeks I knew that this was our best chance at ACSC, and it was finally happening.

Later that day, we had a less intense match against St. Paul where we won 1-0. But we all knew how hard the next day would be. We were to play Morrison, the hosts, and ICS Hong Kong, the favorites to win the competition.

Morrison was a tough match, but in the second half, I was brought down in the box by their keeper and converted the penalty to win 1-0. It was great feeling to dominate our opponents and steal a win in front of the home crowd. Yet we knew our next match was going to be really difficult.

Unfortunately, I injured my left leg against Morrison, and I wasn't able to play against ICS. In the team huddle before the match, I cried at the fact I wouldn't be able to contribute much to the team; I wouldn’t be able to play, but I could shout tactical phrases and encouragements. I told the team, “Make me proud. Play your hearts out and make me proud.”

And my goodness, did they make me proud. We dominated the whole first half, and we were sure it would go our way in the second. But against the run of play, ICS scored and just about crushed our hopes. But like the Grace match, we played how we normally played and worked as hard as we could until the final whistle.

After quite a play in the box, the ball was scrambled over the line and took the score to one all. Game on. Moments later, after more drama, we scored another to take the lead. Ignoring my injury, I leapt off the bench and sprinted to Woo Young Chung (12), the goal scorer. A lot of us players gathered there for a minute on the pitch, embracing in pure ecstasy. The match ended a few moments later, and once again, I ran onto the pitch to hug my teammates.

It was such a good feeling. I sprinted to Ruben and hugged him, and we both started crying. Though we still had a match to go, we knew the real struggle was over, and we had conquered it. We knew that we were going to win.

The final day, we cruised to 4-0 victory against YISS, which guaranteed us our 1st place spot. As soon as the final whistle blew, we all ran to the live-stream camera and applauded, thanking our fans back home in Malaysia and other countries who watched our matches and sent us encouraging messages. All of us on the team appreciated the support of the fans, and if you are reading this, thank you so much for your support that week. Your support did not go unnoticed.

As I said, it was probably the most enjoyable week I have ever experienced in school. It was so fulfilling to stand on stage with my teammates, bearing medals and holding the trophy. To everyone on the team, the champions of ACSC, I am SO PROUD of you all.

Crushed Dreams

Joseph Hsu
Hopes were high as Dalat’s varsity boys’ volleyball team travel to Hong Kong for the Asia Christian School Conference (ACSC) tournament; however, tragedy struck, crushing the team’s hopes and dreams of winning the tournament.

Bump. Set. Spike! On Wednesday, October 19, the Dalat Eagles ran their usual plays against Faith Academy. After a killer spike by Andrew Kim (12), which tied the set 14-14, a loud, resounding snap echoed through the court. Joseph Hsu (12) and Noah Graves (12) were the first to notice Kim tumbling to the ground. Hsu initially thought that Andrew Kim had torn a ligament. Upon closer inspection, Hsu noticed that Kim broke his leg. The entire team was traumatized by the sight of Kim’s disfigured leg. As the paramedics lifted Kim on a stretcher and took him out of the gym, the Dalat Eagles were discouraged by the fact that they lost their captain early on in the tournament. Unable to clear the tragic event from their minds, the team lost the next two games. Dalat managed to defeat Kunming International Academy, ending the day with a win.

After a long day, the team took the metro to Prince of Wales Hospital to visit Kim, moments before he went for the first of two surgeries. The team was encouraged by Kim’s positive personality. He told jokes and was laughing even through his pain.

On the second day of the tournament, Dalat was evidently still affected by the previous day as they fought hard but still lost all four games that day against Christian Alliance International School (CAIS), Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS), International Christian School Hong Kong (ICSHK), and Grace International School (GIS).

All games were cancelled on Friday, October 21, due to Typhoon Haima. The athletes enjoyed the sauna and steam rooms and relaxed in their cozy rooms at Marriott Courtyard, the four-star hotel they stayed at for the duration of the tournament. They also had the opportunity to enjoy local food at a mall nearby.

Due to the cancellation of games on Friday, Dalat was put in the loser’s pool after their loss against GIS on Thursday. They were robbed of a chance at achieving their goal to place at the ACSC tournament. Despite the disappointment, the Eagles managed to perform well and win three of the four games they played on the final day of the tournament.

Keito Wantanabe (12) said, “The tournament was an invaluable experience. We were able to push through agony and play our best. Also, I was able to make new friends from other schools. I have gained many irreplaceable experiences from this tournament.”

Overall, the ACSC trip was a great experience. Staying at Marriott, learning to overcome adversities as a team, and making new friends with students from other schools in other countries made the trip to Hong Kong worth it.


The Week for Winners

Noah Graves

            Fall break, October 16-23, was a big week for Dalat Athletics; it was ACSC time for men’s soccer and men’s and women’s volleyball. Men’s volleyball started off strong in Hong Kong, with initial hopes to bring home a medal. Early in the tournament, they faced an injury that proved to be critical to their success. Their star player, Andrew Kim, broke his leg on the first day of the tournament against Faith Academy. They continued to fight throughout the round robin stages, coming within just a few points of beating the best teams in the tournament. There were a lot of close games, but they needed that extra push to win, and for them, Andrew was the push they needed. After a lot of “almost wins” they had a low seed in the bracket and ended up finishing sixth in the tournament. They kept their heads held high and proved they could play with the best, as Emmett Balzer (12) received all-tournament honors. But please keep Andrew and his family in your prayers.

Women’s volleyball traveled to Korea and fought hard but finished in last. Losing a lot of seniors last year left a lot of big shoes to fill, and this season was a rebuilding season for them. They have a lot of promising, young talent, so you better watch out for the Lady Eagles these next few years. Mikaela Steinkamp (10) was named as an all-tournament player from Dalat.

 Men’s soccer was in Taiwan and was the big story of the week, bringing home Dalat’s first ACSC gold medal. Winning all their games, except one that ended in a tie, they displayed stellar playing and teamwork. They proved to be too much to handle for any team at the tournament, being an unstoppable force. There is not much to say other than that they were dominant. All-tournament honors were given to David Unruh (12), Jesse Lohman (11), Woo Young Chung (12), and Ben Finlay (12).

All of Dalat’s teams played with heart and represented the school well; we should be proud of all of them. Now we look forward to the next season of Dalat Athletics—let’s bring home some more medals!