Monday 10 December 2018

Wake Up for Another Tradition: The RLT Ministries

Alice Chang

What is so special about Dalat drama? What makes Dalat drama unique? Is it the script? Is it the actors? Or is it a unique tradition of our own? The answer to this question would be all of these.

Dalat has had this unique tradition for the fall/Christmas productions since 2011. Mr. Sasse, former drama director, formed a new group called the Road Less Traveled Players. Dalat students would perform out of Mr. Sasse’s and student-written scripts, which were unique and special to the Dalat community.
                                                                                                                     
On December 6, 2018, it was the night of the fourth annual RLT Christmas show. However, there were several things different about the RLT in comparison to past years. First, we performed the drama inside the Harbor Hall instead of at PenangPAC. Second, the students only had four weeks to prepare for the entire show. The production began after the fall drama, To Kill a Murderer, so students did not have much preparation time. Lastly, the admission fee for this production was completely free.

Before the show began, Mr. Yost went up on stage and announced the changes in RLT. He specifically mentioned that the RLT tonight would not have a curtain call for a specific reason. “The RLT players will now be called the RLT ministries. Oh no! I made a new tradition!” cried Mr. Yost, and the show started.

The production consisted of seven skits and one dance performance by the Dalat Dance Club. The opening skits usually brought up a lot of laughter to bring up the mood. 

“I loved the skit ‘Do You Want Change for that Quarter?’ the most,” said Natasha Palanivel (12). “It was so funny and interesting to see Alex Shing act as a southern reverend. As a part of the crew, I’ve seen it multiple times, but it just got better and better.”

While there were skits that gave laughter, the RLT ministries also performed skits that gave a serious message. The night closed out with the skit “Christmas Presence”,  emphasizing that the real presence of Christmas is not the gifts but the presence of Jesus.

After the last skit, the audience did not clap. Rather, they were drawn into the true meaning of Christmas. This was the change Mr. Yost had wanted to make. This was the start of the new tradition: The RLT Ministries. From now on, we’ll say, “Welcome to the RLT Ministries.”

Not Another Thing About Christmas?

Justus Goh

It’s almost Christmas, and even more almost Christmas break! But amidst all the presents and decorations and the like, especially here, it’s necessary to remember the true meaning and traditions of Christmas. Modern Christmas has become so soft, so commercialized in this modern age. We have lost so many old cultural practices and so much meaning to the inexorable march of the legions of consumerism in this modern age. What is the true meaning of this season? What should it be like? Obviously, a mad bacchanalian carnival of anarchy, social havoc, and quasi-paganism, as the Medieval pioneers of the tradition did. As finals begin to end this year, and Christmas break begins, consider abandoning the tinsel and toppling the Christmas tree onto a pyre; reject these icons of modern Christmas and celebrate a truly traditional, truly consumerism-free Christmas.

First among Christmas traditions is obviously the recreational frightening of strangers. Even unto the late Renaissance in Northern Europe, it was custom among young men to adorn themselves in terrifying masks and ambush people while acting like ghosts, trolls, or many of the other delightful occupants of the space beneath your bed. More gender-inclusively, the effectiveness of such activities were boosted by the especially Icelandic tradition of recounting terrifying folklore and spreading tales of unstoppable monsters that occupied homes for their strange revels, something that would certainly be magnificent revived. All this might inspire a particularly terrified peasant to seek aid from the local Bishop, but that peasant might be encountered with a very unecclesiastical young boy, unfit for banishing demons.

Even acknowledged by royalty, the tradition of consecrating some random boy plucked off the streets to a Bishopric for the day was common in Medieval times. That urchin would then accept tribute from the populace and wield the sometimes formidable powers vested in the Bishopric, decreeing marriages especially. For those without Bishoprics to elevate a child to a more lay tradition is that of the Lord of Misrule, a peasant elected to preside over the Christmas Feast of Fools.

As school begins to end and we dissolve to celebrate Christmas, I urge everyone to remember these old, pre-consumerism traditions and perhaps revive them in your family. Beg you. It may be a futile struggle against the zeitgeist, but as Bolivar said, “If nature is opposed to us, we shall fight her.” I urge all my fellow students to take up this mantle of old Christmas again and end the hollow modern traditions. Perhaps I may be the Grinch waging the War on Conventional Christmas but if I hear another Christmas carol or see another piece of Christmas paraphernalia, I shall scream.

Tuesday 4 December 2018

Students, Beware of the End-of-the-year Virus

Ashley Kim

This recent week, our school has been infested with sneezes and coughs, tears and mourns. It seems that the End-of-the-year Virus we have all learned to dread has struck the Dalat community once again.

It was 9:25 AM, November 26th, in the ES choir room. High school students sluggishly dragged their bodies to class, only to then plop themselves back into the grey couch or the carpet. Some stacked themselves upon each other, like a pile of corpses; their sunken eyes had lost their last vigor. Trudging in upon the death scene, Miss Goh frantically tried to wake the choir up by singing “I’m Alive, Awake, Alert, Enthusiastic.” And as the students sang the chorus, the supposed cheery song turned into a death anthem, “I’mmm…. alive….” *cough* “awake…” *achoo* “alerr-” *yawn* “ennnthusiastic…”

Isabel Smith (12) said, “It’s very tiring, but at least the people around me liven me up.”

Students were faced with overwhelming stress: juggling projects, tests, social life, sleep, and extracurriculars. Juniors were busy with their JSB and their store, seniors with their college applications, athletes with their games; the plate of a high schooler was overflowing. On top of that, students were challenged by the constant stimulation of social media, whose baits were hard to resist, whereupon the poor individual caved, only then to find himself procrastinating on the upcoming Bible Debate or binge-watching Shane Dawson’s Jake Paul series.

Subsequently, it was common to see students come to school with a looming air of distress, with dark circles and droopy eyelids. Some students sitting on Starboard One didn’t have the energy to socialize and buried their heads into a pile of unfinished assignments. Some students came to school with a stuffy nose and itchy throat. Amanda Low (12) said, "my coughs usually come consecutively. It’s hard to keep the volume low. I’m always agitated by distracting the class.”

Despite the situation, however, students are fighting against the virus and remaining optimistic, knowing that winter break is approaching and that they will spend Christmas in the warm comfort of their friends and families.

Monday 3 December 2018

The Horrors of the SAT

Min Guk Kong

November 24nd, six days before the day of the trial, many students trembled in fear, hoping that their hard work would not result in failure. Due to their captivity in fear, many scrambled to their homes after school to mentally prepare themselves for Doom’s day.

Three days before the SAT, I interviewed an applicant for the examination. Audrey Shing (12) stated, “I am very frantic because I just realized that the SAT is coming up because, right now, I have a lot of things due, such as applying to the Universities of California. And because this is my last SAT, I feel very pressured to do well.”

Truly, the horrors of this test day encapsulate the minds of many in agitation.

Finally, December 1st, is D-day for many students. The examination entry began at approximately 8:30am, and proctors could see the trembling of many students as they continuously drank water and went to the bathroom.

As the test ended at 1:45pm, the air was filled with mixed feelings of happiness, drudgery, and pain. I took the time to interview two individuals who took the test, Dael Kim (11) and Alex Shing (12). Kim said, “It was my first SAT, so I felt like I was not pressured and all I did was some practice. But when the test day finally approached, I was very nervous because other people in my grade were freaking out, so I also started to freak out like crazy.”

Alex Shing (12), the brother of Audrey Shing, tells us his condition as he entered the testing room, “I quaked in my boots, and I broke out in a cold sweat as I walked into the examination center with fear and trepidation wrenching in my heart, a sense of concentration filled my mind rendering my bowels useless.”

In conclusion, December 1st was a day that put many in misery and remorse. Therefore, how long will colleges torment us? These exams test only our knowledge but not our actual value as human beings. It is absurd that they should put students in such agony; for isn’t learning supposed to be joyful and interesting, not forceful and boring?

No Rest When It Comes to the Test

Jacqueline Leech
  
The day has finally come. Some of us just remembered about it, while others have been counting down to this moment for months. Even though some students chose to prepare, while others didn’t, preparation never seems to change the mental strain and pounding headache of this day. This event is truly never easy – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

While no one likes to be rated and compared to others, it is the very purpose of this thing called standardized testing, specifically the SAT. Although taking the SAT is stressful, it shouldn’t be overwhelming. The test is just a test, and in the end, doing your best is all you can do.

The truth is the SAT is cruel but necessary, and no one at school can avoid it. For high achievers, the pressure is tremendous. As I asked Grace Wan about her plans for Christmas break, she thoughtfully responded with a concerned look, “Oh…but that is like SAT grind time.”

I realized then, that she, among many other students, took the SAT very seriously, as they willing sacrifice precious days off school to study.

At this point, students taking this December SAT are also still squeezing in as much study time as possible. When I asked Suzanne Liew (12) about the SAT she exclaimed, “I’m dying!!”

Indeed, it might feel as if it is a death sentence for many students, but as quickly as the test comes, it also passes. Realistically, just as it is quite unlikely for a forty-six-year-old to reminisce about their score on the SAT, it is unlikely for a six-year-old to reminisce about spilling their milk on the kitchen table. It shouldn’t be made into a bigger deal than it is, and no one should put unnecessary pressure on themselves.

A test never defines a person or determines someone’s ultimate future. Just doing your best is enough, and yes, it is possible to do your best without chewing your fingernails off and stressing yourself silly. Choosing peace and clarity in the situation usually results in better scores in the end anyway.

As Audrey Shing (12) wisely noted, “The SAT doesn’t necessarily score you on your intellect but rather, on how much you can practice.”

Someone who is aiming for the best score possible is going to have to practice… a lot. The question is, is it worth it? Reasonably, people have different answers for this. This is because people have different goals for their future, so the importance of the SAT will vary between people.

Looking beyond the SAT, however, it is obvious that there is so much more to a person than how well they can do under pressure, or how skilled they are in a particular subject. The point of a career is, yes, to make money but also to do something you’re truly passionate about. Studying with the right goal in mind can make the journey to your career less stressful and more exciting and enjoyable.

Again, in the end, overthinking about the SAT actually hinders your ability to do your best. So, when it comes to taking the test, prepare if you are truly wanting a high score, but don’t let it overwhelm or define you. 

Monday 26 November 2018

Laughter and Bonding with a Second Family

By Lydia Kim

With his lips tucked in his mouth, John Cho (12) proceeded to face the group and screech the word, “pterodactyl.” Everyone in the group teared up in their attempts to stifle their laughter and hide their teeth to escape the punishment of the Pterodactyl Game.

On November 23, all three dorms in the Dalat community packed up to leave for their annual Dorm Retreat. Unlike other years, the bus did not take the route to the Chefoo Centre in Cameron Highlands but instead headed to the Swiss-Garden Beach Resort in Damai Laut. After three hours of an anticipatory bus ride, the dorm students found themselves welcomed by a familiar yet foreign ocean breeze and a dance flash mob prepared by the staff at the resort.

Following the appetizing dinner with various seafood dishes, the students sat in the main hall for the sessions. This year, the sessions were led by guest speakers Mr. and Mrs. Castro, who shared their testimonies and connected them to the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15. As Daniel Kang (12) stated about the Castro’s testimonies, “It could be quite difficult to share something so vulnerable in your life, but they were very open about their past, which helped us relate to the Castro’s more personally.”

The dorm students also experienced various group activities both nights they were there, including games, such as Empire, and bonfires. Another highlight of the retreat was the talent show where students displayed an assortment of talents from dancing to the popular song “Level Up” to rapping about students from each of the dorms. The silly and lighthearted atmosphere of the talent show brought the dorm students closer together and contributed to everyone enjoying a relaxing time.

Bethany Davis (12) stated that one of her favorite memories about the dorm retreat was “sitting in big groups and playing Korean games outside while not having to worry about anything else.”

As the end of the retreat drew near, students savored every minute of their time by playing games with friends, swimming, playing beach soccer, and getting closer to or getting to know new people. On the last day, students were still able to enjoy a laid-back schedule with a closing Q&A session with Mr. and Mrs. Castro and the last lunch meal before preparing for their departure.

Even as the Pterodactyl Game was halted by an encroaching horse, the dorm students could not stop themselves from bursting into laughter. When the dorm students reflect back on this moment, they will remember a time of endless laughter and bonding with friends that helped deepen their relationship both with Christ and with their dorm family.

Choir Crashes Straits Quay

Seth Kelley

On Saturday, November 24, a portion of the high school choir brought the Christmas spirit with a small performance at Straits Quay. The mall’s staff gave this choir a prime-time slot, which meant there was high demand for their angelic mix of voices.

The choir performed their November’s worth of work on acapella arrangements of “White Winter Hymnal” by Robin Pecknoid and “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley. But they went beyond the standard conglomerating of their twenty voices—give or take. The former song included several body percussion solis from the women, and the latter song opened with a vocal solo by Joseph Chandra (11) and Celestine Teoh (11).

“The most challenging part about the solo for me was learning how to blend my voice with Joseph’s, while at the same time, maintaining my projection and conveying emotion,” reflected Teoh. “One reason I enjoyed performing in Straits Quay is that it gave me a chance to exhibit my passion for music.”

This short flash-mob-like performance stretched the singers’ skills and allowed them to experience a challenging setting they had never before tried—letting the acoustics of the open air carry their voices into the listeners’ ears.

Shannon Frohlich (12) commented, “Considering I've been dying of a cough recently, singing for around 10 minutes without coughing my guts out was an extreme challenge. Luckily, I made it all the way through without going into a coughing fit. It was great. Oh, but the audience couldn't really hear us because the microphones weren't really working. That was also great.”

Performing for a small audience at Straits Quay allowed the choir to, in a sense, test-run their songs—looking for ways they could improve their performance in anticipation of the upcoming Christmas concert. But it also brought the choir together and deepened the friendships they formed over the choir trip and during class.

“I was just really thankful that we had the opportunity to officially perform at a venue like Straits Quay,” said Su-Ji Lim (12). “The fact that they invited us is amazing. They had mics, a keyboard, and stage lights all set up for us when we came. I appreciated all the time and effort the production team must have spent putting it all together.”

Thanksgiving

Lauren Lee

Finally,” Albert Jeong (12) groaned loudly at the sound of Wednesday’s school bell. School was officially out, and the long weekend looked amazing from where most students were standing. The much-anticipated four-day break celebrated gratitude, rest, and thankfulness with family and community. However, the iconic American holiday wasn’t celebrated by everyone: to some, it was a huge family occasion, while to others, it simply acted as a promising and relaxing long weekend.

Dalat’s high schoolers took advantage of this break in many different ways—while some students took the break to get some well-needed rest, some were stuffed with the busyness of organizing Thanksgiving lunches and dinners. For others, this four-day weekend was good just to have extra time for academics, especially with the December SAT coming up.

Thanksgiving planning seemed to be the most popular event of the weekend, though, as the American tradition is a popular one amongst Dalat staff members and students. “Dalat’s tight-knit community also means lots of visitors, so we have to prepare for that, but it’s worth it, because Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays,” said Elisabeth Kilgo (12). “We had three different pies, one turkey, and lots of other side dishes on our dining table. The prep was lots of work, but it paid off.”

Full of food and time with family, it’s understandable why so many people love the celebration. 

Those who didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving still had fun, though. For example, many students said it was a really refreshing break: after being crushed by all the overwhelming work that teachers always try to squeeze in before long weekends, it’s nice to have the days off.

Freshman Esther Lo explained, “My family doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but the long weekend was an amazing time to just relax, spend time with my friends and family, and just not think about school.”

From watching movies to trying new restaurants in Georgetown, Dalat’s high schoolers really took advantage of these four days with enjoyment.

Thanksgiving is a time of reflecting, celebrating, and being grateful, and this break certainly did that for lots of students. With nothing pressuring like sports practice or big projects going on, this four-day weekend didn’t just bring a time of thanksgiving but a time of relaxation for Dalat’s well-deserving and hardworking students. Ready to get back on the grind this week, this break helped refresh students for the upcoming flurry leading up to Christmas break.

Tuesday 20 November 2018

Are You Prepared to Face the World?

By Courtney Soon

As the end of the semester is approaching, Mr. Kilgo, teacher of the Christ and Culture 12, decided to place the seniors’ nightmares into reality. In place of a final exam, the Bible class hosted a debate. Students had to research different current social issues, such as capital punishment, drug legalization, climate change, homosexuality, dating, immigration, and so on. The final project tested them in their knowledge, both around the controversies and their biblical stance on the issues, as they will need a good foundation to defend their beliefs once they leave their Dalat bubble.

For the final project, all seniors in the class participated in different roles of the debate: Topic Presenters, Debaters, and Question Generators. Topic Presenters needed to present findings around the issue to the class in both secular and Christian views. Question Generators were assigned to spur critical-thinking questions and press the debaters to question their ethical, moral, and biblical stance on the social issues in society. Debaters had an unexpected twist in their roles: they were only able to know which side they supported on the day of the debate, so they had to be prepared to argue for both sides.

Not only that, they have to provide biblical support for whichever side they were randomly assigned. When Mr. Kilgo gave the rule that students were not allowed to bring any notes when debating, many students let out a huge sigh. All the facts and Bible verses that they have accumulated have to be fiercely glued in their minds in order to carry out a good debate.

On the first day of debate, Karl Chan (12), Seong-Min Kim (12), and Trevor Ronning (12) went as guinea pigs to carry out the debate on capital punishment. Smiles were still spread across their faces, even though nerves filled them internally. Presented with a tough question, “Isn’t killing killers also murder?”, Karl was assigned to argue the opposing side and had to provide biblical views that would support his argument. He stood up courageously and proceeded to argue, “God gave us a command to love our brothers and sisters, so there is no such thing as killers in the Bible.”

The whole class broke into laughter and applauded him for his effort in answering the difficult question while connecting his given stance to the Bible.

As Lydia Kim (12) explained, “The Bible project is helping me understand more about what's behind the controversies that I hear about frequently but don't know very well. By researching my own topic and also listening to others’ debates, I am learning more to form my own opinions about the issues.”

While this may be a start of a few weeks of chaotic Bible class, it will help the seniors formulate solid backgrounds for the controversial issues when they face the real world. 

Monday 19 November 2018

The New Kid on the Block

Ruben Nyul

The Dalat community is a very welcoming one. Last Friday, the “new kid on the block” presented himself for everyone to see. By ‘the new kid on the block,’ I mean the recently added sport into Dalat Athletics: rugby. A few courageous individuals remained on the team after weeks of hard, physical practices. Some had to drop out of the team given the physicality that the sport requires.

At the weekly All Hands On Deck announcements, it had been announced that the first ever rugby game in Dalat history was to be played on Friday, November 16, 2018 on Upper Field: the Blue Dalat team versus the Yellow team, an inter-squad scrimmage. The hype was unreal and later justified. The varsity basketball team postponed its practice so that the team could watch the rugby game. The sidelines were so packed with spectators that it was hard to walk around and find the right spot to watch the game. This was the most packed I have ever seen Upper Field in my six years of attending Dalat.

The game was about to begin; no one was prepared for what was about to happen. The yellow team kicked off by Hudson Morgan (11), captain for the Blue team. The first play of open scrimmage was Morgan running right into and through Gavin Zimmer (11). The crowd was shell-shocked; there were bodies flying everywhere. Never before had we seen something so intense and so physical. Gabe Frohlich (10) said, “The first play of the game was a slap to the face of the crowd”, indicating that no one was ready for that type of intensity and physicality.

Unfortunately, during the game, there were a couple of injuries; some were bigger than others. Trevor Ronning (12) cut the left side of his head, with blood dripping down his face. This was the first taste of real rugby the whole audience got. Regardless, when asked how he felt about the game and why he was looking forward to the rest of the season, he said, “I love the intensity and pace of the game, as well as the warrior spirit I feel when I play rugby.”

A couple of minutes later,  Nathan Chand (12) also went down with a broken collarbone, proving that rugby is not a sport for the fainthearted, but rather for the tough and competitive.

Luke Lindsey (11) ended up stealing the show, as he led the Yellow team to victory and earned himself the first ever Man of The Match award for the Dalat rugby program. The first match certainly lived up to its expectation and left the crowd asking for more at the end of the game. The first ever Dalat rugby game proved that this sport is here to stay for good in the Athletics program.

Coming In Hot

Hannah Lawrence

Many underestimated the hidden skills that were found last Friday on Upper Field when some high school girls, part of the varsity rugby team, played their first ever inner-squad game.

They can only pass the ball behind them. The ball is like a football but not. They don’t wear any gear, but they run right into the other teams’ face. They get touchdowns, but they are called a Tri. Some say it is like a game of tag with a ball, but last Friday showed that it was much more than just that.

Last Friday, the girls here in high school got to experience their first ever touch-rugby game in the history of Dalat International School.  There were two teams: the Gold team and the Blue team. They were divided not by rank of skill but by girls learning together about the game. Most of these girls are athletes, but some are not and have never been on a varsity team, much less on a team. There is much diversity; with Coach Van though, they are making history.  The girls’ varsity rugby team played an inner-squad game and played with all their knowledge of the game, with only three weeks of practice.

The game of touch rugby is simple (at its core). There are two teams that consist of seven players on the field. These seven players are trying to get to the opposite side to put the rugby ball down on the other side without being touched. If they are touched, they have to put it down on the ground and walk over it, so that their other teammates can take it and run, while the other team has to back up 5 meters before touching the opponent with the ball. The Dalat girls had it down.

They played with so much intentionality while making some mistakes to learn from.  There were some injuries, such as a broken finger, sprained ankle, and bruises left and right, but as they say, “No pain, no gain.” Specifically, Abby Owen (10) said, “I like it, and I’m glad I did it. Everyone is pretty much new at the sport, but they are all encouraging and nice.”

She has never played a varsity sport, and others like her now have an opportunity that they didn’t have before. This sport has brought opportunity for these girls. This bonding experience will go down in Dalat history. And it is only the beginning.

Monday 12 November 2018

Battle of the Factions

Vivien Chang

November 7, 2018, the sound of cheers reverberated through Youth Park— the battle between Blaze, Wave, Quake, and Bolt had begun. From station to station, each team competed for beads—ultimately leading to the wonderful Seahorse Trophy.

That morning, each team separated into their factions based on the team color. Blaze with their enthusiastic cheer, Wave with their music, Quake with their face paint, and Bolt with their energetic smiles: each team trooped towards the new parking lot and into the buses. As the buses arrived at the Youth Park, each team slowly progressed towards the stadium where directions of the event were given.

Throughout the day, each faction separated into eight smaller units to rotate through eight stations. Each unit consisted of different grade members, which in turn encouraged teamwork and new friendship formation. Going from Capture the Chicken, crossing the road using tires, to Chinese Checkers, a wide variety of activities with different types of teamwork were presented. Despite the students having a blast throughout the day, there were also students who witnessed the mischief of the devilish monkeys in the Youth Park. They jumped from one tree to the next, snuck up to steal snacks, and blocked passages with their fierce expressions.

As an intermission, the senior class ExComm also prepared a small announcement about the upcoming Splash and Dash charity run event during lunch. After finally drying off, the senior class president was once again drenched in order to show an example of what the Splash and Dash event would look like. After lunch, each unit returned to complete the last four activities of the day.

As the day slowly came to an end, each unit returned their beads to the faction leader and the anticipation for the winners begun. The rest of Wednesday, everyone was tired out. However, Thursday was the day the winners were announced. With a very close difference, Blaze took the Seahorse Trophy home this year. According to Nicholas Khor (12), the senior class president, “Putting aside the final results, it was a great atmosphere - the camaraderie from the teams, the friendly competition, and the frequent laughs from humorous moments made the event a pleasure to take part in."

As much as it was tiring to complete all the activities, the memories were just as worth it.

Fare Thee Well, Phone

Sin Ler Oo

On November 2nd, a group of Media Literacy students sat pensively in their seats as Mr. Steinkamp strode to the front of the room. A pile of Nokia phones and an empty box lay ominously on the desk nearby. All of the students could see the wide grin on his face. As Mr. Steinkamp clapped his hands to signal the start of the day, he also marked the beginning of something else. Day 1 of the Dumb and Dumber Project had begun.

The project’s goal was to replace the students’ smartphones with “dumb phones” (the Nokia phones sitting innocently on the table) so that students may experience the impacts of using a smartphone on individuals and society. For this project, students were expected not to use a smartphone for two weeks. To those who were attached to their phones, this would be a challenging project indeed.

As a result, with the help of Seth Kelley (12) and Gabe Roberts (11), Mr. Steinkamp began to orchestrate the Dumb and Dumber Project’s first mockumentary as a way to lighten the mood. Even though Mr. Steinkamp had announced the project earlier, students acted as if he had sprung the project upon them. Of course, Mr. Steinkamp desired nothing less than pure pandemonium as he set about casting different “roles” for the event. Students had to pretend to sob hysterically and jump over tables to escape while Seth and Gabe gleefully filmed the event.

As the first part of the chaotic filming ended, the true project began. Individually, students started shutting down their phones (some more mournfully than others) after saving their most important contacts. SIM cards were taken out of the smartphones and dutifully placed into a Nokia that Dalat had purchased. Although newly bought, the phones contained the classic keypad as well as a small screen. As a result, some students struggled to remember how the Nokia worked, to the amusement of Mr. Steinkamp.

As Natasha Palanivel (12) put it, “As I held the phone in my hands, I pondered on how to turn on the device as there was no power button. I didn’t realize there was an instruction manual. By some miracle—after pressing a variety of buttons—the phone turned on! It was a Christmas miracle! It was a thrilling moment to hold this small device in my hand.”

At first glance, it seemed as if the phones could not access the internet, call Grab, or even download music. Students, however, were elated to find classic games such as Snake, Doodle Jump, and Crossy Road on the phone.

For the final filming of Day 1, students formed a funeral procession. They lined up with their smartphones and gradually strolled towards the empty box, where they set their phones down as if performing some elaborate ritual. Then the box was lidded and taken away. It was to be stored in Mr. Steinkamp’s office, out of sight but unlikely out of mind. The 336-hour countdown began.

Tuesday 6 November 2018

Basketball Tryouts

Sam Castro

The anxiety passed through every boy’s body as they woke up. Everyone knew that it was the day to show their best basketball skills to join the men’s varsity basketball team, but all nerves were on the edge. Because of the anticipation, the school day couldn’t have felt longer; then the time finally came, at 3:10 the bell rang, and instantly people were mentally preparing for the coming event of tryouts.

As soon as all the boys walked into the gym, one distinction from last year was noticeable: the coaches were completely new to their position. Coach Hoffmeyer and Coach Lee were named the new coaches of the team. Both coaches from last year moved away the same year, leaving the team with nothing until Mr. Hoffmeyer came to the team’s aid when it was most needed. Everyone who just walked in noticed that the format was different than it usually was from the previous coaches. Cones were set up everywhere in positions that no one recognized. The boys were told to show their skill in basketball handles and smooth moving with the ball, while maintaining their posture. Countless drills were done to test the ability of each player.

At the end of the day, all the boys’ energy was completely drained. One of the boys, Wansuk Kunawaradisai (11), said, “I was so tired, my muscles could barely handle the pain.”

Coach Hoffmeyer told the group they were done with day 1 of tryouts, but to prepare ourselves for day 2, which was all playing ball. The second day of tryouts, the group of ball-hungry boys walked onto the court once again. Mr. Hoffmeyer separated the boys into teams to play with for the rest of the day. 3x3 competitions were played, as well as full court 5x5. The group of boys played their hearts out, each one of them desperate for a spot on the team. Sweat drops and bodies hit the floor as the second day of tryouts finished, and Coach Hoffmeyer told everyone the roster would be coming out within a day.

Anxiously, the boys waited all night and halfway through the following school day to know who made the team. All the boys who made it are eager to start a new season and to show the world what they’ve got. The men’s varsity basketball team will play their hearts out this year to represent Dalat and God and by being the best team they can be on the court. 

The Game of the Strongest

Linus Lim

Rugby. A sport only the strongest play.  As I watch players suiting up for practice and tackling dummies, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, I can’t believe we’re having this in Dalat.” October 30, 2018 marked Dalat’s first ever rugby practice.

Nervous and excited, players started stretching and warming up before practice began. Eyes wandered around the field as players prepared for the coach’s arrival. Phreeeeeet! All students assembled to the sounds of the coache’s whistle. Coach Morgan congratulated players for joining him in this historic moment and started practice with the signature Eagles chant: “Eagles on three! One! Two! Three! Eagles!”

With that, Coach Morgan began practice with a wrestling drill. This drill required the toughest and strongest players. Well-built figures, such as Gavin Zimmer (11), stood out amongst the others as one of the most brawny and powerful players on the team. Next up was a drill of passing. Players worked on technique and form during this, and Coach Morgan continued his scouting for potential talents within the team. Finally, day 1 ended with tackling a dummy. Coach Morgan taught the team how to properly tackle someone. Standing in awe, most players are very impressed by how well Coach Morgan tackles, and everyone did their best to follow his teaching.

The first day of practice ended with smiles and laughter. After the coach closed the practice with prayer and the Eagles chant, chatter filled the field with whispers of who could be captain of the team and who stood out in every drill.

As everyone went to their lockers, I asked Trevor Ronning (12) on his thoughts of their first practice. Ronning said, “I became super excited for the rugby season the first day of practice as we began learning about what an incredible and complex sport it is. Coach Morgan did a great job of making practice challenging as well as fun.”

This day goes down as one of the special moments in Dalat sports’ history. As these young players learn the game of rugby, will they have a great season full of growth and development, or will their season end in flames and ashes? Tune into Dalat Athletics to find out more!

Picture of Mycah Winsor(10) and Gabe Roberts(11) preparing for practice. Photo Credit: Dalat Athletics Facebook



Bounce, Swoosh, Smack

John Cho

Drip, drip: sweat slowly rolls off the players’ faces, as they will give everything they have to get onto the varsity basketball team. They will push and fight for every single ball like a warrior because, if not, there is no guaranteed spot. Try-outs were held during the week of October 29th.

Perhaps Dalat’s most popular sport would be basketball; girls and boys play this sport full of passion and desire. Samuel Castro (12), who didn’t make the basketball team in 9th grade, said that he practiced almost every day on the outdoor court, after he finished eating dinner with his Jaffray dorm family. As he practiced, he said, “I always thought I would get better playing scrap ball with my friends; however, I realized I am only going to get better playing against skilled players and high-level competition.”

On the other hand, some basketball players didn’t practice due to the volleyball or soccer season. The boys’ tryout was split over two days. The first day was showing their physical ability, such as agility and speed, and the second day was based on shooting skills and understanding plays.

Some of the athletes have been waiting for this moment, the start of Season 2 sports, since the beginning of the school year.  Well, part of the reason is that they wanted to show their skills that they worked on during offseason.

Along with basketball, another sport that excited most of the students was rugby, due to its first entrance as an official Dalat sports; even the teachers were excited about this. A future rugby player, Gavin Zimmer (11), exclaimed, “Dalat is blessed to have such a manly sport once in its lifetime!”

Corresponding to Zimmer, Onyu Kim (11) stated that “I think it is fortunate for people in Dalat to encounter a new sport that is not entirely friendly to them.”

As shown, it is obvious that they wanted to play rugby for Dalat desperately over the years.


Freaky Friday Fun

Trevor Ronning
 It was Friday night and the final preparations for Freaky Friday were falling into place. The anticipation was swirling in our hearts as seniors got ready to put on the event for the middle schoolers. We provided four stations: a dinner station, a flour bomb capture the flag station, a treasure hunt station, and my station—dodgeball. When it finally started, all I had on my mind was, “I hope the middle schoolers have fun.”

 I had whistles and dodgeballs, and I was prepared to ref the games; but when Mrs. Steinkamp saw me standing on the side officiating, she told me, “You should get in there.” So, I joined in the festivities. In the end, I may have enjoyed it even more than they did. Ashlynn Ruble (12), who was leading dodgeball with me, said, “I really enjoyed helping with dodgeball because it gave me the chance to interact with the middle schoolers and have fun with them.”

One particular group I remember better than the others was because Jeremy and Min Guk were the leaders. After warming up from playing with two groups, I was more than ready to take them on. I ended up on the opposing side from my fellow seniors and started picking them apart, one ball at a time. I was about to throw the kill shot on Jeremy when a stealthy middle schooler appeared out of nowhere and hit me square in the foot. The disappointment I felt in that moment was crushing.

After all the groups had come through, the middle schoolers gathered in the outdoor court for a variation of rock-paper-scissors called bear-man-gun. Mr. Steinkamp, along with Nick Khor (12), explained the rules of the game which happen to be in the form of a song: “The bear beats the man. The man beats the gun. The gun beats the bear. You tie, you die.” And then you proceed to turn around and use the action corresponding to either bear, man, or gun. The game happened tournament style, meaning winners progressed to the next round. I had high hopes for my chances but only made it two rounds in! In the end, I believe that Freaky Friday was a huge success and that the middle schoolers that came had loads of fun.

Wednesday 31 October 2018

It’s Show Time

Jackson Miller

Last week saw a momentous occasion for the Dalat drama department. The student written three act murder mystery, To Kill a Murderer, premiered on the 17th and 18th of October; the first production to be performed in Harbor Hall. A full cast of student actors, some longstanding drama enthusiasts, others newly interested in acting, spent two busy months rehearsing and practicing under the direction of Mrs. Horton and Miss Geiman. This is by far the shortest time that any drama team has had to pull off a full-scale production here at Dalat.
As the big night quickly approached, the cast spent a busy week of school during the day and dress rehearsals at night. The tech crew worked tirelessly to design set pieces and procure costumes. Posters and announcements popped up all over school, advertising the upcoming production. The final rehearsal came and went, and the realization suddenly dawned that we were near the end. Opening night arrived with the set finished just in time.
As we put on makeup and costumes, the conversation was about memories made and new friendships. The crowd started to gather, and we all took our places backstage. The hall was full of an audience waiting with eager anticipation for what was to come. Backstage, we smothered our coughs and talk died down to whispers as the lights came down and the (metaphorical) curtain began to open….
Dalat seniors Suji Lim and Kristi Philips spent their summer weaving the glorious script for To Kill A Murderer. In an exclusive interview with Philips, she remarked about having her writing produced: “It was a huge privilege to be so involved in the actual performance and production of the script. I am aware that most playwrights have almost no control whatsoever over the play after they've sent their script off; so, to actually be a part of the cast and give input on the production was really special.”
And this play was certainly very special. Intrigue and mystery fill the story, so much so that we gasped and marveled during the first read-through. The play contains unique characters, many with extensive backstories. Kristi portrayed Iridium on stage, a logical chemist with a soft spot for family. When asked what it was like to act as a character she created, Kristi replied that “as the writer, I knew exactly what each line meant and how I wanted to say it; but as the actor, the challenge became doing my own character justice and helping the audience to see [her] as I did.”
The cast steadily developed and learned about their characters throughout the month of rehearsals. Everyone agrees the cast represented their characters extremely well.
The final performance wowed audiences as the layers of intrigue were slowly revealed, and the story fell into place: the audience gasped when Rylance came back to life, they were shocked at the revelation of Octavian Ballester, and they laughed as Jade and Bianca met their favorite Juggernaut Agency Members. When the last scene came, and the curtain would have closed, the hall was filled with loud applause.
Backstage, we congratulated each other on a job well done with hugs and high-fives all around. The first season of drama had concluded, and we all felt a bit sad that our cast was disbanding. Many of the actors will again participate in drama for the Christmas season, while others are moving on to other things.
Overall, To Kill a Murderer was a huge success. Kristi concludes by saying, “we were essentially making Dalat history and blazing the trail for all dramas to come.”



The Ball In Our Court

Ashlynn Ruble

The week before fall break, Dalat’s soccer and volleyball teams had their biggest  tournament of the season, ACSC. The volleyball girls had ACSC at home, where we hosted the rest of the teams.

The week consisted of many activities, such as the opening ceremony, the cultural night, volleyball games, and the closing banquet on the last night. After a week of playing hard and getting to know other teams, it was great to have a night where we ate dinner together and released floating lanterns over the ocean. A common highlight from ACSC is often spending time with other people and getting to know other teams, while also playing them in intense competition. Often, the tournament is a learning and growing experience for every individual both on and off the court.

During the ACSC tournament, our team was pushed very hard, but still managed to show incredible perseverance and focus on the court. There were times where positions were switched from what our players had practiced, but everyone stepped up to the challenge and did their best. Even with obstacles like soreness, sickness, and injuries, we were able to play our game and do our best. One example is that one of our outside hitters switched to middle hitter and completely showed her dominance in that position, especially considering that the middle was often a target for the other teams.

Having ACSC at home was a fun experience because we had supporters at every game cheering us on, and we were able to share some of our lives and culture with the other teams. It was an emotional tournament because most of our team is seniors, but that also made the experience even more special. One of our seniors, Carissa Hoffmeyer said “Most people were sad that our last year of ACSC was home, but for me I loved the opportunity to show the other teams around Penang and play for the last time on our court, in our gym.”

Although our goal was to be top four in the tournament and we ended in fifth, we fought hard and it was a great end to a season of hard work and investment of both time and effort into volleyball and every individual on the team.

Tuesday 30 October 2018

Beaches, Bags, & Bronze

Yi Yao Tan

Six boys position themselves on court, waiting for the whistle. Sweat dripping. Crowds cheering. This is it. Boom!! A finishing blow by Albert Jeong (12), as he settles the score 15-12 once and for all. Dalat is in the semis.

With a season full of ups and downs, some wins and many losses, Dalat’s varsity boys volleyball finally lifted their heads and saw victory in a 2-1 playoff upset of the original third seed, Faith Academy. Having lost to Faith in round-robin earlier in the week, the team was undeterred; with meticulous planning and strategizing, the Eagles gained their foothold to shut down their dangerous competitors. In the semis, Dalat fought valiantly, however, losing to the defending champions YISS in a hard fought 1-3 loss resulting in a bronze medal for Dalat.

A week earlier, the team had arrived fresh on the island of Guam after more than a day of traveling, ready to take on their opponents. The first few days before the tournament, however, were calm and filled with hours of beach time, exploring, shopping, and snorkeling.

“The best part about snorkeling is being able to refresh your mind in the nice, cold water, and in the end, you forget about your homework,” said Karl Chan (12).

Guam is not only known for its beaches but is filled with malls and outlets full of American goods and tourists looking for souvenirs to bring back. Almost every day, the boys had dinner and spent hours after games walking around malls looking for something “special” to bring back.

The tournament, ACSC Boys Volleyball, began with an opening ceremony on a Tuesday evening. There were many new faces, along with quite a few old ones of experienced players. For the next four days, six teams, Dalat, Faith Academy, Saint Paul Christian School, SPCS JV, International Community School of Hong Kong, and Yongsan International School of Seoul, competed to prove themselves as the best ACSC volleyball team.
The intense competition not only grew the individual players and different teams but also the relationships between players of different teams, as they also worked together in community service: teaching local children and mixed around scrimmaging on empty courts.

At the end of the week, the Dalat boys volleyball team returned with well-deserved medals, memories, shopping bags, and many new friendships.

A Devastating but a Memorable Week

Seong-Min Kim
           
“All for one, seize the moment! All for one, seize the moment! All for one, seize the moment!” Captain Seong-Min Kim (12) and Jeremy Worten (12) led the Dalat varsity boys’ soccer team with a chant that spread across Hong Kong and made a fierce presence on the field.

Wednesday, October 17th, 2018 was the start of the journey to become “Champions of Asia.” The boys’ varsity soccer went up against Morrison Academy in their first game of ACSC Tournament. Throughout the match, the intensity level was high with lots of physical contact against the thick team of Morrison. The match concluded with a 2-1 loss but the boys played an “enormous game,” according to Coach Dustin Roberts, who wanted the team to carry on this momentum to the next game.

The second and third day decided which playoff spot they would be placed in. Their second game of the tournament was against Grace International School. The boys were hyped and ready to compete. The boys struck first with a goal by Ruben Nyul (12) which then escalated towards full time when Seong-Min Kim (12) hit a 25-yard banger to give a commanding 2-0 lead against the opponent. With poor field conditions, the team came out with their first win in the tournament, still having hopes for the finals on the last day.
On the same day, the boys posted another win against Faith Academy, winning 3-2. The boys were up 3-0 at the half, but Faith didn’t back down and gave everything, scoring two goals in the second half.

Dalat was on the pace to reaching the finals but had to either collect a win or a draw against ICS Hong Kong, the last year’s champions. The boys fought hard, maintaining their focus to the game and pouring everything they had into the match against ICS. The boys held tight until the remaining ten minutes of the match where an aerial ball blew by Dalat’s defense line, allowing the ICS striker to put it in the net. The result pushed the boys down to the 3rd/4th place game against Morrison, earning the chance to redeem themselves from the loss against Morrison on day 1.

But things would not go as the boys had planned. The last game of their tournament ended with a 1-0 loss against Morrison and secured them in the 4th place spot in the tournament. The boys learned that they either win as a team or lose as a team and give everything out there during the next game.

The one week for the boys was incredible. Learning new things, having fun with jokes, celebrating as a team. Results don’t matter; it’s the effort that defines the team.

Monday 15 October 2018

Couch Derby

Esther Ko
           
The weeks of strategizing has finally ended. The troops circle around their prized chariot, and the four kingdoms prepare for war. With half the army having deserted their posts, the remaining soldiers now depend on one another to win a battle that will leave its mark in history.

First, the freshmen with their glorious Disney chariot.

Second, the sophomores with their dark and enigmatic Halloween chariot.

Third, the juniors and their chariot glittering just like its name — 2020 Bling Bling.

And last, but not least, the seniors with their… Christmas couch?

The most ancient of all kingdoms, the seniors thrust their way through the raging competition, pumping with 2-months-prior anticipation for the holiday; and, as if enchanted by some mysterious magic, they transform a once torn and tattered, old couch into a mesmerizing thing of beauty. The judges give their votes, and the first victory—of most aesthetic couch— falls into the hands of the seniors.

But the war is now beginning.

The four teams line up their embellished couch at the starting line. The tension cloyingly hangs in the air as the three brave souls from each team take their positions on the couch. The seniors pump with anticipation, not for Christmas, but for the second victorythe fastest couchthey are about to bring home. As the teams eagerly await the starting signal, the seniors suddenly sense a foreboding chill run down their spine.

But before anyone has the time to question it, the race begins. Everyone strains to push the couch and its riders forward — everyone except the seniors. They all peek under the couch in horror, realizing something is terribly wrong with it: the wheels are broken.

“Uh oh,” says Lauren Lee (12). “There’s no way we can win.”

But there is.

Amid the dire situation, everything seems to be falling apart; but the seniors refuse to give up their victory. The wise class of 2019 lift the Christmas couch up together and begin running across the racetrack, passing by one team after another. To everyone’s surprise, the seniors cross the finish line first, taking home yet another victory.

“The Couch Derby was something StuCo has never done before, but personally, I thought it was a lot of fun,” comments Shannon Frohlich (12). “Although it didn't go as expected, I feel like it helped bond the different classes together as we struggled to carry our heavy couches around campus."

The battle ends with a single victor, but the four teams appear more united than ever as they gather together with a movie showing on the projector and snacks snuggled in their palms. With a sense of peace and accomplishment, they celebrate the night away.

Soda & Shawarma by the Shore

En Min Saw

The PSAT, probably the most dreaded acronym (after SAT) for high school students, took place on the Wednesday of October 10th. Juniors and sophomores were required to take the test, but they were dismissed as soon as it ended. As for the fellow freshmen and seniors, since they weren’t in the PSAT examination, it was still a typical day of school.

To elevate the sunken mood of being stuck in school, the Senior EXCOM decided to organize a picnic lunch for the class at the grassy area by the ocean. When the bell rang at 12:15 p.m., seniors swarmed out of classrooms toward the picnic spot, chattering away nonchalantly. The high sunlit clouds drifted across the blue sky; the seniors laid out their picnic blankets and gathered under the shade.

Everyone was ready to replenish their growling stomachs. Half-patiently waiting for lunch to arrive, they munched on the chips and chatted about how their week was going. To kill time, Seong-Min Kim (12) picked up a soccer ball and started showing off his juggling skills. Intrigued, Uncle Scott, Nathan Chand (12), and Jeremy Worten (12) couldn’t resist joining in.

A few moments later, a middle-eastern man, carrying four large plastic bags of food, arrived and received a warm welcome from the hungry seniors. They then lined up to collect their lunch, including a Shawarma chicken wrap, coleslaw, and fries. As a supportive gesture to the Junior Class Store, the senior class purchased a can of soda for every senior from them. Light-hearted conversations filled the atmosphere as seniors indulged in the luscious wrap and sipped on their refreshing drinks.

It was then time for a corn-hole faceoff between Trevor Ronning (12), Mikaela Steinkamp (12), Albert Jeong (12), and Ruben Nyul (12). A few others circled to enjoy the banter of both the physical and verbal aspect of the game. Although Mikaela and Albert attempted their best, they were still no match for Trevor and Ruben, who were exceptional at distracting their opponents.

The picnic lunch was short but sweet. As the end-of-lunch bell rang, seniors swiftly tidied up their mess, leaving the area spotless before heading to class.

"Despite the short time duration, it was a nice change from the norm for the entire senior class to have lunch together, appreciating each other's company. It was even better with Mr. Shawarma's chicken wraps!" Class President Nicholas Khor (12) expressed.


Tuesday 9 October 2018

The Singing Never Ends

Ryna Mayekar

Hi da hi da hi dee dee hi da hi da, hi da hi da!

These words will never leave our heads. The choir kids went over to Bangkok over the weekend and learned a lot. We worked together to make a beautiful sound that echoed through the auditorium. Not all of the class could go due to SATs, which was truly heartbreaking.

Waking up excited on Thursday for our departure later that day made it hard to focus in class. We sang our way over to the airport in three vans, making sure we know our notes. After reaching the airport, checking in our luggage, and grabbing a quick bite, we decided on doing a flash mob. We picked “Amavolovolo,” an African Folk song, to sing, since we had a dance to go along with it. We circled up as Ms. Goh set our beat for us.

3, 2, 1… Nge-ke si ye le la-Kwa-Ma-shu…

Ms. Goh and a few other parents filmed us as we took the strangers by surprise. The video was posted on the Dalat Fine Arts Highlights Facebook page and managed to get 1700+ views so far! The musicians who were taking a break even joined us in with their cajón and guitars.

After having a little bit of a bumpy flight, we made it to Bangkok! We were tired from the travel and passed out shortly after reaching our hotel. The next morning, we had breakfast and made our way to ISB. We were a little early, so we had free time to roam around and explore the campus, respectfully. We received our festival shirts that were too small for many students, which resulted in lots of trading around. Group photos were then taken with all the schools together on stage. We then rehearsed for an hour straight for the first time.

Hearing the sound a school choir makes can be so pretty, but is nothing compared to hearing that many schools all together. The sound we made together was truly beautiful, ignoring the wrong notes due it being our first time all together. We then had a 15-minute break to have snacks and mingle with the other schools. Matthew managed to meet Grace students that he hadn’t seen in years. Football girls recognized each other and chatted for a while. Lots of socializing was done during that break.

Our next rehearsal went on for an hour and 25 minutes. Everyone complained about how much their legs were hurting since we had to stand for all of it. We had lunch and then our third rehearsal of the day.

All the other schools were free to go except for a few. Grace, ISKL, and Dalat were scheduled to have a “special clinic” with Henry Leck. We played a few choir related games and learned that “Hi Da” song that will forever be imprinted in our minds.

This was just one of our days there. Our schedules were very packed. On Saturday, we rehearsed the music twice, once without the middle school choir and once with them. We then figured out the logistics of the order and ran through it all. We were then dismissed to have lunch and get ready for the concert.

Finally, it was showtime.

The concert went smoothly. We got to perform for many parents, as well as the cameras set up by ISB. They had us livestreamed too! The high school and middle school choirs first sang a song together, then the high schoolers had a seat. After 15 minutes of the middle school choir, it was the high schoolers turn.

After all the stress of the concert was done with, we went to the mall and did another flash mob, singing in the kid’s train around one of the floors. The next day, we went to the Chatuchak market where we got to split up and shop till we dropped. After the market, we headed straight to the airport, where suddenly the realization that we were students from Dalat truly hit us. We recalled how much homework was left for us to complete, and as we waited, some began working on it. Matthew Strong (12) even managed to finish his essay in the air.

We were greeted back by our friends sweetly. Many said they could tell how much fun we had from what we had posted on social media. “School felt empty without all my friends,” said Ruben Nyul (12).

Even though we dreaded all the work we had to catch up on, I think we’re pretty happy to be back home, especially since we know all our notes for sure, which we will show off in our concert on Thursday that you should definitely attend!