Monday 13 March 2023

A Day of Celebration

By Enson Tang

On March 10th, Dalat came together to celebrate the many cultures that make up the school. Until Covid, PTO, the Parent Teacher Organization, organized a yearly food fair to celebrate the cultures and experience the food within our community. This was the first year of its return. In the same week, the Freshman class ExCom hosted Spirit Week, a week that allowed students to dress up according to the different themes assigned that day, and coincidentally cultural day was assigned on the same day as the food fair. 

On the first day of spirit week, Wednesday, students dressed up as characters, characters from movies and books; on Thursday, black and white was the theme, and Friday was cultural day. 

Benjamin Wong, a senior in high school, said, “I thought cultural day was the best part about spirit week. It was amazing getting to see all the different diverse cultures in our international school come to life. We go to such a unique school where we get to appreciate the different cultures at our school daily, which is something that I will not take for granted.” 

At the food fair, countries were assigned to individual stands, where they were allowed to express their own cultures. 

Darryl Dwumfour, a student who attended the international food fair, expressed his excitement about the event, stating, “The international food fair was something that I was pretty excited about since it had not happened in a few years. It was great seeing the entire school come to life and come together to celebrate the different cultures at this school through something that we all love: food.”

The International Food Fair and Spirit Week brought the community together to celebrate and appreciate the diversity within the school. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the PTO organized this event and showcased the different cultures within the community.

A Time to Celebrate Cultures

By Daewon No

Last Friday was a busy day and full of events to enjoy. It was the last day of Spirit Week - which started on Wednesday - where students got the opportunity to get out of their usual mundane uniforms and dress up. On the first day of Spirit Week, students could come to school dressed up as their favorite movie, show, or book character. The second day was a blackout or whiteout day, and students had to coordinate an outfit that was either full black or full white. The final day of Spirit Week was culture day, where students could be dressed in their respective traditional attire or simply wear clothes that matched the color of their country’s flag to show off their cultural pride; this day also overlapped with the International Food Fair. 

The International Food Fair, as the name suggests, was an occasion when parents from 23 different countries worked hard to prepare delicious food to serve the community and share their country's cultural food. There was food ranging from baked goods, desserts, and sweet and savory dishes from many countries such as Malaysia, India, Korea, America, and Germany. Students and teachers brought their families along to spend an entertaining afternoon with them. 

“I enjoyed having a food fair after not having one for two years,” said Haylee Douglas (12), as the International Food Fair couldn’t be held for the past two years because of the pandemic. 

Millie Morgan (12), when asked about what she liked about the food fair, replied, “My favorite food was the kimbap and the Korean station in general. I wanted to get more food from there, but all the food was soon gone.” 

Overall, it was an excellent event to experience and celebrate the diversity of our school. People got to display the uniqueness of their own culture and serve the community with love. I learned to appreciate the multicultural community we have in Dalat. 

Saying Goodbye to the Game

 By Darryl Dwumfour

For many high school athletes, the end of their senior year marks the end of their sports careers. This can be a bittersweet moment as they say goodbye to the sport they have dedicated so much time and effort to.

For some seniors, their sports season may end with a final game or competition that culminates their efforts throughout their entire high school career. This moment can be emotional as they reflect on all the memories and relationships they have built through their sport. My season ended with the final whistle blown in the basketball championship game, and what came after that was an immediate sense of defeat. Our captain Noah Kaney (12)described it, “It was sad knowing that everything we worked on just slipped away.” 

Others may have shortened their sports seasons due to unexpected circumstances, such as a global pandemic. For these seniors, the end of their sports career may feel particularly abrupt and unsatisfying. Regardless of the circumstances, the end of a sports career for seniors can bring up a range of emotions, including sadness, pride, and a sense of accomplishment. It can be a time to reflect on the skills and lessons learned through sports, such as teamwork, perseverance, and dedication, and how these skills can be applied to other areas of life. When reflecting Sharon Kang (12) said, “The outcome wasn't as expected, but the I am proud of the team's progress and the lessons we learned  throughout the season." 

It can also be a time to celebrate the friendships and connections made through sports. Going to ACSC in Thailand and Taiwan has made new friends that I am proud of.  For some seniors, the end of their sports career may not be the end of their involvement in sports altogether. They may continue participating in recreational leagues, coaching, or other sports-related careers.

Overall, the end of a sports career for seniors is a significant moment that can be filled with a range of emotions. It marks the end of a chapter in their lives but also the beginning of new opportunities and experiences.