Drawing Mission Emphasis Week to a Close

By Anna Kilgo

From the 19th to the 21st of February, Dalat School was visited by speakers who traveled from Canada to speak on the theme “Alight” for Missions Emphasis Week, or MEW. All students attended the day's messages and worship, and many returned for the evening sessions. 

Each day began with heart-stirring worship songs accompanied by a daily themed message taken from John 8:12, where Jesus states that He is the Light of the world. At the night services, many games were played, including geography trivia and a chance to win a MEW shirt if a slip of paper was below your chair. 

However, the last session of MEW looks a little different from the previous nights. Instead of the speakers coming up to tell stories and offer wise words, it is completely student-led, from the worship to the messages to the prayer time. Friday is devoted to senior stories. Members of the Leadership Development class were given 10 to 15 minutes to share a testimony from their lives that may relate to many students and even parents. Some highlighted the struggles of change, challenges in their faith, or difficult times they faced and what they learned about God from the experience. 

“My favorite part of MEW was the opportunity to glorify God as a community. It was also fun to learn new worship songs, and I really experienced something new when I prayed for my friends, and they prayed for me. It really changed my daily school life for the better!” Jay Chong (10) exclaimed. 

Many students enjoy the open atmosphere of praying with Leadership Development students, the guest speakers, staff, friends, or by themselves at the night services. They were also given the option to pray for people groups in South America, Asia, North America, and more for a wide range of topics. 

The night ended strong with the upbeat worship song, “I Thank God,” with everyone jumping, singing, and enjoying themselves. The last day of MEW 2025 was an overall success and an enjoyment for Dalat International School!

“What does it mean to be ‘Alight’ in a community that already feels light-polluted?”

By Sabrina Boyd

'Alight': this year's MEW theme. The topic was quite impactful for many students, staff, and families; however, some admitted that it is hard to feel 'Alight' when we live in a society with so many believers already. 

In case you missed it last week, MEW: Missions Emphasis Week was from Wednesday to Friday. Many members of the Dalat community attended the chapels and night sessions to hear guest speakers from Canada and members of Dalat's senior class share their takes on what it means to be 'Alight'. The guest speakers, including Cara, Rick, Hanna, Ana, and Sam, came from Portico Church in Mississauga, Canada. Cara spoke to the elementary school, Hanna spoke to the middle school, Sam spoke to the high school, and Rick then shared with everyone who attended the night sessions.

Uncle Keith, coordinator of the high school worship team, reports that "Hanna, one of the guest speakers, said, 'I have never seen an all-student worship team that was so good. Usually, there is always an adult. They are so good! You would be so proud,' and I am!" 

This semester, the focus was on being 'Alight' for God and what it means to be practically missional in our daily walk with the Lord. Being alight means being intentional in how we act, speak, and love those around us after being filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to reflect God's character.

A challenge, however, is being able to stand out, as Jesus describes in Matthew 5:14 ("You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden"), when we live in a community where many of us believe and trust in the Lord. 

Romeo Kontsas (12) contemplates this idea: "In our community that is filled with Christians, it is sometimes hard to be a light amidst the "light" all around us. We blend in more than we stand out because we won't get judged for our beliefs. However, when we are amid non-believers and darkness, it is easier to stand out as the light and be different, but we have to be ready for the judgement that might follow."

Kontsas' idea understandably makes it difficult to see the fruit of being 'Alight'; however, once we all move to different places of the world, it will undoubtedly become apparent just how necessary it will be for Christians to be a reflection of a Hope in the darkness.

So, I urge you to examine yourself and evaluate just how much of a light you are in your everyday life for the Lord. Have you become complacent in your faith and everyday actions just because it feels like being 'Alight' doesn't make a big enough difference? Old habits die hard, so why not continue shaping them into good, Christ-like habits that show those beyond the Dalat bubble that He is the light of the world?

Be Alight

By Esther Jung

As the lights went out at Harbor Hall, we were engulfed in complete darkness until one small light flickered in the crowd, shining light in the darkness. 

This year’s Mission Emphasis Week focused on being alight for God. Tears were shed, and hearts were softened as the students heard the amazing, miraculous things God can do for us and how we can be on fire for God to fulfill the Great Commission.

From February 19th to the 21st, speakers from Portico Community Church, a multicultural church in Mississauga, Canada, were invited to speak at this year’s MEW. They emphasized on the idea of how as Christians, it is important to not only keep the good news to ourselves but to share it with others. During the evening services, the worship team started off with powerful praise and worship, followed by a message from a guest speaker speaking, and ended off with prayer.     

When asking Elijah Peh (12) what he thought about MEW, he said, “It was an inspiring experience to see students and adults of all ages and all origins come together to worship God.”

On the last day of Mission Emphasis Week, some of the students from the Leadership Development Team had the opportunity to share their testimony to the audience, each of them recounting their journey of encountering God and choosing to follow Him.

Natalia Nosker (12), an LD student who shared her testimony on the final day, reflected on how she felt before going up to speak. “Thinking about sharing my senior story moments and even days before going up on stage was honestly terrifying. As I walked up on stage, my legs were shaking, and I prayed God would help me. Sitting down and praying was the key because my nerves vanished as I started speaking from that stool. If you are considering doing LD, do not back down because of public speaking. God WILL give you everything you need as it's through His strength and not your own.”

Year after year, Mission Emphasis Week has impacted and changed the lives of both students and adults, and this year was no different. It was so evident how God worked through people’s hearts, making it a truly powerful, transformative experience for all Dalat students. 

FOBISIA Touch Rugby Tournament

By Onyou Kim

Fueled with determination and teamwork, the varsity girls touch rugby team competed at the FOBISIA Tournament in Johor, Malaysia, displaying their skill and bonding like never before.

It was Friday morning, and the 17 girls were excited to finally leave their B-block classes and head for the airport. With Pastor Bob giving a final prayer for the team, the girls were off to go to Johor. After arriving at Penang International Airport, most of the team ate at McDonald’s and waited to board their flight, eager for what was to come. Upon landing, their long and strenuous wait was coming to an end as they approached Marlborough College Malaysia.

Even though it was a friendly match on the first day, the girls couldn’t contain their excitement. The clouds loomed over Johor, and heavy rain started to fall, but this wasn’t going to stop them from playing; instead, it was the perfect weather to dive. The rugby girls quickly changed into their uniforms and cleats, warming up to play their first game. However, as fate would have it, the lightning alarm went off, and the girls were left with a fun practice in the torrential rain. 

Jenna Juday (9) optimistically expressed, “I loved the team bonding in the bus and the practice we did in the rain,” showcasing the team's unbreakable spirit.

When the girls arrived at the Sunway Hotel after their mini practice, two unfortunate souls found themselves without their comfortable shoes, as they had left them on the bus. With the bus not arriving until the next day, the two girls had no other choice but to wear hotel slippers until then, which made for a fun and bizarre memory for everyone on the trip. 

The morning quickly came, and the girls had an extravagant breakfast at the hotel. With their stomachs filled, they were ready to tackle the day and win. Arriving at the school once again, the girls warmed up and started their matches as early as 8 AM. Wins and losses were stacking up, but the girls pushed on. Despite their hard effort, the rugby girls narrowly missed their place on the podium, but they did not lose heart and vowed to become a stronger team. 

Surya Mu (10) remarked, “I was impressed that we almost placed third out of a lot of good teams, but we will next time.” With much anticipation for next year, the rugby girls are ready and determined to win their next tournament and show everyone what they are capable of. 

ACSC Basketball

By Sean Lee

“We are at least getting 3rd,” I said confidently before entering the tournament. 

When the tournament ended, we finished in third-to-last place, which meant we ended up 6th. We had only one win throughout the entire tournament, a result I never imagined we would see. The first two days were the roughest I’ve experienced in my three years of varsity basketball. We lost all our games and found ourselves in the losers' bracket. In that bracket, we faced ICS Bangkok, the hosting team, and sadly, that was our one and only win. After that game, we had to compete against Grace to secure 3rd or 4th place. Everyone was exhausted as it was a back-to-back game. Unfortunately, just five minutes into the first quarter, Jaeyoun Kim (12), who had been performing well throughout the tournament, got injured and had to leave the game. From that point on, our team’s energy drastically dropped. We fought as hard as we could but ultimately lost to Grace, 46-58. 

“If I hadn’t gotten injured, we could’ve beaten Grace,” Jaeyoun said. It was a tough loss, and we had to battle for 5th or 6th place against YISS. I was determined to get 5th place at least. However, Aaron Morrison (11) couldn’t play due to a finger injury. With Jaeyoun and Aaron out, we went up against YISS in a tight match. We fought hard until the very last second but fell short, losing 34-31. 

That was it. It marked the end of my basketball career at Dalat. I felt so disappointed with the outcome and with myself. Every time I closed my eyes, one thought haunted me: what if I had played better? Why didn’t I perform better? That thought kept me up at night, filling me with regret. However, even with the unfortunate placement, the trip was really fun. I got closer to the underclassmen, and the team bonded together. 

It was a trip I will never forget.

The Last KawKaw Basketball Edition

 By Shasha Menon

The 2025 ACSC tournament was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Dalat Varsity Girl’s Basketball team. After nearly 4 months of dedication and perseverance, the girls had made it through to the semi-finals against Faith. Despite falling short with a final score of 21-37, the team displayed unwavering determination until the very last second.

From the get-go, Faith had already come out strong, applying relentless pressure on Dalat’s defense. Despite the challenge, they held their ground, fought back, and caught up early in the game. Their defensive efforts and quick dribbles kept them in the game; however, Faith’s consistent shooting and fast-paced play caused a gap in the score. Even with the scores against them, our girl’s basketball team kept pushing forward. 

One of the senior girls, Caitlyn Chan, reflected on the game, saying, “I felt overwhelmed with joy being able to end the season well and placing third in ACSC.” Placing third in the tournament was no small feat, and it was evidence of their team’s hard work throughout the season. 

For Kiera Nichols, the game was especially hard. She said, “My last game as a senior for basketball was very emotional because it’s probably the last time I’m going to be playing for a long time. I’m gonna miss my team.” Her words captured the bittersweet moment of a closing chapter filled with friendships, growth, and unforgettable memories on the court.

Although the loss to Faith was rough on the team, the Dalat Varsity girls walked away from the tournament with their heads held high. A team filled with passion and commitment gave their all and secured a third-place finish making their school proud. Their journey throughout the season will not only be remembered for their victories, but for their perseverance and love for the game.

Taking Home Bronze

By Kyra Brewster

This past week at Dalat, the school hosted the Girls Asian Christian Schools Conference Basketball tournament. 7 teams from Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, and Hong Kong travelled to the school for a weeklong tournament with games spanning over a four-day period. 

The week began with an opening ceremony and a trip to the Tuesday night market with girls from all different teams. That night, anxiety and stress were high as the athletes prepared themselves mentally and physically for the high-stakes competition that was to follow the next day. On Wednesday, Dalat girls faced SPH, a school from Indonesia first, playing tough and smart to eventually come out in the lead and winning their first pool play game. Many other games were played on Wednesday with some predictable outcomes and some surprising ones.

During games, the crowd stands were filled to the brim and the entire gym filled with cheers and yells from the excited fans watching. When one team would begin a chant, the crowd would follow with a “let’s go eagles” chant louder and crazier then the first. The stands shook with stomps and the gym echoed with the sounds of whistles, screams, and buzzers. The tension was high as the players felt pressure to perform well and would feel a rush of fulfillment when they made a shot, and the crowd exploded in deafening noise. Throughout the craziness of the atmosphere, all athletes remained calm and collected, communicating with their teammates on court and during timeouts to play as best as possible. 

Each team was assigned to an elementary school class that they visited and talked to. They got to know each kid and the class made posters and cheers to support the teams at their games. This companionship between players and young Dalat students continued throughout the week as players would see their supporting class and give hugs or share small conversations. In addition, a service day was held in which all teams bonded together to teach students from a Rohingya school how to play basketball. It was a unique experience with smiles passing from face to face and laughter coming from every child in the gym. 

Ee Rynn Ong (11) from the Dalat girls varsity team says, “It was nice to interact with the kids even if it was for a short time. I was at the crafts station and one of the kids drew a card with all our names on it which was so cute.”

Dalat girls played 8 games in four days, ultimately winning important games to come out in third place. They were pleased with their placement at the end of many difficult games pushing though injury, fatigue, and anxiety. At the closing ceremony individual awards for top defender, top rebounder, top shooter, and tournament MVP were given. In addition, there were all tournament team awards as well as medals handed to the first, second, and third place teams. Every athlete on every team performed to the best of their ability and used their talents throughout the week to glorify the Lord and leave everything they had on the floor. 

ACSC 2025!

By Andy Tan

Intensity. Excitement. Nervousness. So many emotions and feelings flowed through DALAT this past week. The ACSC (Asian Christian Schools Conference) tournament for Varsity Girls Basketball was hosted on our very own Dalat campus this past week, welcoming 7 other basketball teams from different schools. 

The battle was long and hard for our varsity girls who faced off against skilled and challenging opponents, using all that they had practiced and trained for this basketball season. From Wednesday to Saturday they played tirelessly, every game with its own difficulties and obstacles, and our Dalat Eagles struggled through it. They encountered close games and tight squeezes, with their position in the tournament on the line, enduring and persevering to make it through all the way to the semi-finals.

Even games they lost, such as against the difficult team of FAITH, with physical opposition that seemed too much for them, Dalat proved that it wouldn’t let them stop their fight, pushing themselves to give FAITH a game that they wouldn’t forget. There were no easy games, but within all the hardship and opposition, the team also built new memories, grew stronger bonds, and played with excitement and heart for our school and for God. 

One of our very own varsity athletes, Kiera Nichols (12), said that, “ACSC was so much fun. Not only did I get to play one of my favorite sports everyday but I got to bond with my teammates.”

However, the fire of the team was also shared by those that supported them. Each day crowds of students flooded into the gyms to support our girls team, and even in the classroom live streams were playing that showcased the games. It seemed that every block of the day, chunks of our student body congregated to the gym to watch the games, and cheer on the athletes that were fighting for their schools. 

The atmosphere was intense and heated, metaphorically and literally. Dalat showed its strength as a community with chants and cheers of encouragement at every game, Aunt Claudia leading the charge as she always does. One of our top cheer squad members, Gerald Yang (12), said, “A highlight was chanting against YISS for Dalat to win by one point.” 

In the end, the exciting week had finally come to an end. Mixed emotions of sadness and happiness filled the air as people headed home after the last game. Sad that the week of madness came to an end and how they would have to return to their mundane life the next week. Happy with how Dalat was placed at ACSC and are able to go home and finally rest. Both players and crowd, completely exhausted and drained from the week, had no problem sleeping well that night.

A Colourful Celebration of 100 Days

By Elijah Peh

Last Friday was an incredibly eventful day, one filled with a myriad of surprises and fun that many of all ages enjoyed thoroughly. Firstly, it was the 100th day of school, where the elementary students dressed up as “old folk” and were rewarded for their hard work and studies with Freezies gifted by the Senior class. Much of the Senior ExCom stood outside the Sandycroft building distributing the freezies all dressed in a variety of “old people” clothing to fit the theme. In addition, many elementary students enjoyed the variety of amusements that were provided to them by their teachers and staff alike. While short, it marked a large milestone in this year for many individuals, not only students but staff as well.

Secondly, the Senior Class hosted the annual Colour Wars event, where the Freshman, Sophomore, and Senior Classes all participated to redefine the definition of colour on school grounds. Beginning with a free chicken rice dinner, the night started with a trivia session where all the grades competed for a winning prize of Freezies. It was a hard fought battle, with all Freshman, Sophomore, and Senior grades battling each other in wits and brains to solve these questions. Alas, with the final question, the Sophomores took home the prize with a 2 points lead over the Seniors. 

We then pivoted over to the Dodgeball where each grade was divided into 4 groups, allowing for intermingling amongst the grades for optimal cooperation. As per usual dodgeball fashion, everyone began to pelt their enemies with a hailstorm of balls with no mercy. Eventually, this came to a close as the main event was finally introduced. Thanks to the Senior Year’s sponsors, the event was smoothly set up and the games soon began. While there were rules, it soon became a Free-For-All battle where friend and foe alike were being coated in a variety of coloured powder. Finally, once the dust had settled, everyone was covered in colour, one could see a rainbow on the ground. 

Senior Liv Gohan says that, “It was a great event, colour everywhere. I had lots of fun bonding with my friends.” 

All in all, this 100 Days of School was a massive success on all fronts, with many saying that it would be something they would do again. I hope in the future this day continues to be a highlight of many DALAT students. 

The End of the Marathon

By Nikita Sarhad

With the second semester of the school year now in full swing, there’s no doubt as to what that age-old affliction beginning to creep up on many of us seniors is: senioritis. That, and having 99% of our conversations revolve around college.

Jokes aside, every senior, at one point or another in their final year, feels the weight of college applications and the pressure to make some important life decisions. With college just around the corner, the stakes just seem to multiply. Grades, GPA, and AP exams are just some of the things that take up more space in our heads than ever before. Even so, the urge to take our feet off the pedal early is stronger than ever. The motivation that kept us going in previous years may be starting to sputter out now, with the end so near in sight. 

In many ways, this semester feels like a kind of in-between for the familiar high school life we’ve always known and the life we envision for ourselves soon after. Sarah Loh (12) says that, “So far, in second semester, the most challenging thing has been grappling with the idea that I'll be graduating in four months and moving away across the world in six. But I'm excited to see what the future brings.” 

While some of us want to savor the present, others are looking to the future. Whatever the case might be, I think we are all determined to enjoy our last semester at Dalat, spend time with close friends, and cherish the memories of this time in our lives.

Despite the busyness of this last semester, there are many opportunities to make this final stretch of senior year memorable. With the Senior Transition Retreat and Senior Tea coming up soon, we will all have the chance to reminisce with friends and teachers, as well consider what the future might hold. 

So, in all the mayhem of our last semester here, I think we should not forget to make the most of this time, push through, and finish the year strong.

Thriving Traditions

By Eleannor Tang

Chinese New Year is not just a one-week-long celebration. It consists of 15 days of gatherings, fireworks, ang paos, and delicious foods! This year's festival was somber for me. I knew it was the last one I could spend home with my family and relatives since I'll be abroad next year. I got to spend time with my baby niece, which was something memorable for me because my cousin used to babysit me when I was younger, and now I babysat her baby daughter, which felt like a full-circle moment. She even said that I was her favorite aunt! One of the things we kids look forward to during Chinese New Year is money. In Chinese culture, when you get married, you automatically aren't the ones receiving ang pao anymore but who offers them. It's one of my favorite parts because who doesn't love money?

On the other hand, fireworks aren't something I usually enjoy. It's loud, dangerous, and very smelly. With Penang's 35-degree weather, fireworks often make the night hotter and more unbearable to get through. I love this time of the year because I reconnect with family and experience my yearly traditions. 

Students at Dalat celebrate Chinese New Year in different ways. Let's see what Kiera Nichols says about how she spent her week: "I spent time with my family, and I spent lots of time eating home-cooked meals." 

Home-cooked meals are essential because they bring the taste of childhood and can make you relive the past. This is how another senior, Zoe Yeoh, spent hers: “I celebrated my Chinese new year in Taiwan, and it was a refreshing escape from the usual heat in Malaysia. The cool air, glowing lights, and mesmerizing fireworks made it an unforgettable experience.” 

Many students travel to different places to reunite with their loved ones to celebrate. Without them, Chinese New Year wouldn’t hold the same memories and meaning. 

On the 10th day of the Chinese New Year, I started the night with a color wars event with the underclassmen. The event included a trivia game, dodgeball, and a color war. It was a good bonding experience with people outside my friend group and from other grades. Right after, we went to Liv Gohan's house to make our own celebration. We did lou sang and played a game of poker, which me and Kiera came out victorious. Lou sang is a traditional Chinese raw fish salad, also known as a Prosperity Toss. You are supposed to use chopsticks to "toss" it up and down and wish for a good year to come. 

These 15 days of festivities are an essential part of Chinese culture. Dalat students get a five-day weekend to reunite with family and friends to celebrate this time. It's an important reminder for the current seniors that no matter how far away from home we are, we should try to keep the tradition alive.

Future ACSC Basketball Champions?

 By Ting-Yi Huang

ACSC Basketball is right around the corner. What better way to anticipate it than to ask Mr. Van, one of the varsity basketball coaches, what his thoughts on the upcoming event will be like. With the team's amazing first place win during the Island Shootout tournament, Mr. Van confidently stated that “the Island Shootout tournament really galvanized the team, and showed us that we can be real competitors at ACSC.” This year’s varsity basketball team shows promising results in their performance, something that they will surely carry into ACSC.

Diving into the team itself, let’s ask the captain, Sean Lee (12), what he thought about the recent win in the Island Shootout tournament. “I think overall, it was good. We did a good job on keeping the ball and attacking the basket. But, I think we are still struggling to communicate and move without the ball. Moreover, I think we need to work more as a team so that we have a better chemistry,” he said. With this in mind, the team has had more training since the tournament, certainly learning from their mistakes, as well as improving their team chemistry and telepathic-like communication during games.

The team without its captain is like a boat without its sailor, and how good the team can be depends on the captain as well. Asking Darnell Dwumfour (12) how he felt about his captain, he said, “Sean is the strength of this team. As a captain, he united the team to its greatest. When times were tough, Sean was there to save the day. Although he fell off during the end, we still ended up taking the dub. Yay!” It’s obvious that this team feels very proud to have Sean as their captain, and for good reason as well. 

Bonded together through friendship and perseverance, Dalat’s Varsity Basketball team, even though they won the Island Shootout tournament, still works very hard to become better throughout every training they have. As Mr. Van says, “The goal is to win, and if the individual players can buy into the philosophy of the team, we can beat anyone.” 

With this mentality and persistence, it’s safe to say we will see extraordinary performances during ACSC. Go Eagles!

Incredible Island Intensifiers

By Jaeyoun Kim

Champion Gooners, how does it feel to win? “Erm, heh.. Nah, I’d win,” said Sean Lee. Up until the half, it was a close game, but bagless winners unite!

Every member of the Dalat team played to secure the victory, the days were long but we were fit. 

“I think the tournament was a great success because of the way each player on the team fought for each other. Rebounds, points, and steals were for the team and not for the individual player’s benefit," said Mr. Van. The coaches felt the victory in reach, so the players played while scratched and hit.

Every team played long and hard to show they were strong, and crowds were created from all teams to make the experience belong. When scores were close, players were worried, and everyone felt the intensity. To pull away from a close game and to feel relief or despair. Each game won was evidence of their tenacity. 

Between games, you watched other teams play, were nervous to play the next game or just tired and wanted to rest. Eating before the championship game was nearing and everyone wanted to play their best. We played these games before.. So adaptation was key for both teams. 

The championship game had the opponents fired up, they played their hearts out along with ours, matching our points back to back. The coaches were worried as we were not able to pull away. Mr. Consistency came to help us out with strong defense and tough shots and rebounds to break away. Hyping each member up so they have the confidence to keep going, as confidence is key as they say. Seeing the younger boys act tough after they get fouled, fueled the drive in the rest of us.

The bagless boys united football club has been victorious!

A Blasting Weekend

By Kiera Nichols

This past week was a time teeming with celebration, festivities, and fellowship for our Dalat students. Having only 2 days of school, everyone was blessed with freedom and roistering thanks to the Chinese New Year holiday. 

One major hallmark of the Chinese New Year holiday schedule is the bombardment of fireworks that enriches our night sky every night. The smell of smoke, booming of gunpowder, and flashing of vibrant, exotic hues offered exciting and exhilarating thrills of festive celebration. Many of the Dalat students took part in the fireworks, from our freshmen like Evangeline Fan, who said, “I visited my hometown and got some red packets and played with firecrackers. I had fun", to our Seniors like Braden Abrams: “I had fun being stupid with my friends this weekend and set off fireworks."

People who celebrate Chinese New Year often have a torrential schedule, which usually entails evenings of preparation for meals, long days of visiting relatives, and plenty of feasting and salivating food! One of our freshmen said, “I spent a lot of time with my family and celebrated Chinese new year together. I helped prepare for new year celebrations” (Giselle, grade 9). Aside from all the chaos of these communal activities, a staple of this Chinese New Year week that can’t be forgotten is AngPaos, the red packets that almost everyone who celebrates this holiday looks forward to.

While all this prosperous and money filled uproar was surging around the island, some took this opportunity to slow down and take a well deserved break from the responsibilities and pressures of school. One such student was Ellie Park (12), “I stayed home and did puzzles to destress." 

Overall, this past week has been a blessing and a privilege for everybody, to spend time with friends and family, take a breather from school stressors, and simply have fun. 

Eating Brings Fortune

By Liv Gohan

Chinese New Year is a period of rest, rejoice, and reunion. It emphasizes that the people should take their days off from work and studies to come home to family and friends to celebrate the New Year together. One of the most significant factors that make Chinese New Year special is the food that sometimes is only served a couple times a year, such as Yee Sang, Bird Nest, Tang Yuan, and more. Did you know that the food we eat also have specific meanings behind them? 

I spent about 60% of my Chinese New Year holiday eating, and it was definitely worth it. My family and I visited a lot of restaurants, and some of the food we ate was typical for every Chinese New Year reunion dinner.

Chinese New Year Eve is arguably even more important than the first day of the New Year, because Eve is when all our family members get together and have dinner to welcome the New Year. Every year, my family switches up when to celebrate Chinese New Year; sometimes they choose my hometown Medan, sometimes we go to Singapore, and this year, they decided to come to Penang.

On Chinese New Year Eve, my family and I had our reunion dinner (团圆饭 ) at Maple Palace, a Chinese restaurant with lazy Susan style meals. They served delicious boiled peanuts as an appetizer, and we had chrysanthemum tea for drinks. 

Before we started dinner, we did the yee sang (发财双鱼雪梨捞生) which had salmon, whitebait fish, and pear. Yee Sang is a Chinese New Year tradition where we toss a crunchy salad with ingredients like fish, carrots, red cabbage, and other crunchy vegetables while shouting good wishes and blessings. Elijah Peh (12) explains that “the higher the salad is tossed, the more luck will come to you”. Overall, Yee Sang represents wealth, abundance, and fortune. 

We also had shark fin soup (黃焖八珍鱼翅羹), chicken with ginger scallion sauce which represents unity and good luck (脆姜红葱自切粟米黄皮槽鸡), steamed fish which represents abundance (双椒墨鱼丸蒸笋壳), abalone and oysters also representing good luck and fortune (发财澳洲2头鲍鱼片海参蚝士青菜), and clay pot rice (北方腊味砂煲饭). For dessert, we had sweet Snow Fungus (海底椰莲子八宝茶) and New Year cake, which symbolizes prosperity (椰丝年糕).

A lot of the food we ate were puns and sounded similar to good wishes and blessings (for example fish in Chinese sounds similar to the word for abundance). We eat the food because they symbolize good things like prosperity, wealth, and fortune, and the act of eating these foods represent us wishing for these good blessings to come to us in the new year. So, eat a lot of good food during Chinese New Year, and good blessings will come upon you and your family. Happy Year of the Snake!

Chinese New Year Excitement

By Romeo Kontsas

The fuse was lit, and now we were all just waiting for the familiar firework sound, but instead, we got more than we could have ever asked for.

My friends and I decided to meet at Gerald Yang’s (12) house to celebrate Chinese New Year with food and fireworks. After finishing our delicious food, we eventually made our way to his backyard, where the fireworks were waiting for us. We started off with the usual routine of starting off small and making our way to the biggest. We had a lot of fun (and horror) throwing around small fireworks that you light in your hand and seeing how far or high we could throw them. 

As we were finishing off all the smaller fireworks, I came across a cylindrically shaped firework that was pretty small in size. Not being too worried about the sound or impact of the firework because of its small size, I lit it in my hand and threw my first bomb. After what felt like an eternity, the fuse was finally up, and then it happened. The sound and vibration I felt was a record high from a single firework. It made the ground beneath my feet vibrate so that I felt it throughout my body. The sound deafened every other sound beside me, and all of us covered our ears. My friends and I all looked at each other and were baffled at the potency of this little thing. 

One of my good friends Braden Abrams (12), said it the best, “It was like a flashbang we were so disoriented and surprised at what had just happened.” 

We all nodded at each other in unison to this remark because that was what it truly felt like. After our first experience with this firework, the fun did not stop. With the remaining few that we had, we would try to throw it and then line up a pose to match the timing of the bang, although unsuccessful, it brought us a lot of joy.

After throwing a few more of the fireworks, we moved on to bigger and more grandiose fireworks that were more in line with everyone's expectations for the evening. However, the little “bombs” that we threw were definitely the highlight of the night and what we would remember when reflecting on our last Chinese New Year together.

The Year of The Snake Has Arrived!

By Gerald Yang

Gong Xi Fa Cai! This Chinese New Year is the year of the snake, which is the 6th zodiac of the 12. 

All over Penang, students, teachers, parents, and friends are kept awake by the fireworks the echoed night after night since the first day of Chinese New Year. The first day (Chu Yi) fell on Wednesday, the 29th of January and since then, Penang’s traffic has come to a standstill. Popular places like Georgetown, Gurney Drive, and The Penang Bridge were crammed with cars of those who were visiting relatives, and friends for the sought-after red packets. 

During the day, temperatures hit a high of 33 degrees Celsius or 91 degrees Fahrenheit which contrasted the weeks following up to Chinese New Year which were littered with days of rain. As residents tried to catch a break in the cool evenings, the crackle of fireworks echoed through the night leading to sleepless nights. Instead of thinking they are an ear sore, join a friend! If you celebrate Chinese New Year, invite friends to set off fireworks to participate in the yearly tradition of making noise whilst seeing your money explode in front of you. Romeo Konstas, a senior, recalled, “Jaeyoun playing baseball with the fireworks was the funniest thing ever.” So make sure you don’t miss out on creating lasting memories with friends. 

Photo Credits: Ooi Choon Jin

A typical day of Chinese New Year would have included visiting family or friends paired with a full day of eating. Snacks that are native to this festivity are pineapple tarts, almond cookies, love letters, and pork jerky; if you haven’t been able to try one of these snacks, make sure to visit one of your friends who celebrate Chinese New Year before the last day which is on February 12th. Until then, expect to hear the continuous screeches of fireworks.

Speaking of the last day of Chinese New Year, be sure to appreciate different Chinese New Year decorations that can be found in temples, malls, and homes. Lanterns are commonly hung up during Chinese New Year as they are a symbol of fortune and good luck.  Above is a picture of this year’s decoration at the Goddess of Mercy’s Temple which is also the oldest temple in Penang.

The Day Lunar New Year Ended

 By Ryan Khaw

The only certainty in this world is change. For many, change is a difficult thing to accept, but only because it comes suddenly upon them. Slowly adapting to life is the key to moving on. I remember when there were constants in my life I was scared to lose, but growing up meant slowly accepting that nothing was forever.

For a significant portion of my life there was always one constant. Every January or February, my family would visit my paternal grandmother (We referred to her as “Ah Ma”). Extended family that reached as far as Singapore would visit for one or two days and cousins from Johor would make themselves home in Ah Ma’s place for three days. The festivities were the rare time the family was all together. Before teenage-hood me and three of my first cousins removed would retreat to one of the bedrooms away from the noise of the adults gambling and entertain ourselves with a myriad of card games I cannot recall. When the older cousins brought out the illegal fireworks and firecrackers we would rush out to watch them light it; we would again run back to the room because we hated the loud noise. Afterwards we would play with snappers (or “pop-pops” as we would call it) and sparklers, repeat the whole process three for three days, and go back to regular life until the next year to do it all over again. 

As time passed on, us first-cousins-removed came more distant, and Ah Ma’s health was deteriorating. She didn’t stand up much as the older she got it was increasingly more painful to walk, coupled with eating an excess amount of sugary diet she developed diabetes, She had surgery to remove her right kidney due to diabetes. 

The inevitable occurred on October of 2022: Ah Ma had passed and since then we haven’t had a full family reunion. 

“People of your generation don’t have a family monarch or leader," said Huang Ju Lee. Ah Ma was the centre of the family, and with her not around, each part of the family celebrates Lunar New Year by their own and the Lunar New Year I knew was gone. 

If you told this to 8 year old me, I would probably fall to my knees crying that reunions were over, but as I grow older I saw the writing on the wall and instead of constantly denying the inevitable and suspending myself in ignorance, I slowly came to accept what I feared. Pushing off your fears will only lead to more pain when I come around and you have left yourself unprepared for it. 

As a child, having certainties are important, but part of growing is knowing that nothing in this world is certain, and growing for me was knowing Lunar New Year was going to end, and that I needed to accept change instead of run from it.

Chinese New Year: The Uninterrupted Fireworks

 By Grace Cao                                                                              

What time can people hear fireworks every night? Chinese New Year! Dalat International School had a five-day weekend starting January 29 for parents and students to celebrate with their families.

Chinese New Year is an essential holiday in Dalat because Chinese and Koreans celebrate the new year with their families. It is a time for people to connect with their families and talk about the wonderful things that happened in the year. No matter how far away people are from their families, they will always return. Delicious food is necessary during the Chinese New Year. There is food that has good meaning. For example, there will always be a big fish dish on the table, which shows “年年有鱼.” It means that there are blessings left every year. The most important part of Chinese New Year is giving red envelopes to children. The child must thank and praise the elders to receive their blessings and money. It is a traditional activity that connects elders and children better.

There are many fun activities during the Chinese New Year, but don’t forget about the fireworks that happen every night. During the Chinese New Year, fireworks are being played to chase away the negative spirits, pray for peace, and welcome the new year. The last year's negatives are all being chased away, and the new year will be full of blessings. There are many kinds of fireworks used during the holiday. People use firecrackers to chase away the negative things and beautiful fireworks to welcome the new year. It is a charming time for family and friends to watch the fantastic fireworks together. It is also a lovely time for people from other cultures. 

Like Nikita Sarhad (12) said, “ I had a lovely time with my family and friends during the CNY!”

On January 29, the first day of the Chinese New Year holiday, some Dalat students got to spend time with their parents on the beach. They enjoyed the time light and watching the fireworks with their parents. Seniors and middle school students were spending time with their friends. They set the campfire with their parents and baked sweet potatoes using the fire. It was a great time building connections with people.

The Junior Varsity Basketball Players Maintain a Resilient Spirit

By Sam Boyle

It was the morning of Friday the 17th of January, and the JV players, both the boys and girls teams prepared to embark on a bus trip to KL. It was a grueling 6 hour trip, but the players took it as an opportunity to prepare themselves and bond with each other. 

"The bus ride was mega long but we got to talk and eat with each other as a team which helped us prepare ourselves," said Matthias Seevaratnam (11). Once the Eagles arrived in KL, they grasped the opportunity to hang out in the KL City Centre for the rest of the Friday as they were without any games until the following day.

Saturday Morning

It was 6:30AM at the Oakwood Hotel, and the players were fired up and equally as excited, boys and girls alike. After breakfast, the Eagles flocked over to the bus at 7:30 and left to ISKL for their first games. 

As for the boys, their first game was at 8:30, a tough matchup with ISKL. The boys unfortunately lost their match against ISKL but it didn’t break them as they still stayed confident. 

“We lost the fight but we didn’t lose the war, of course we’re gonna win against them next match," said Abraham Miller (11) when asked what he was feeling after they lost. The boys lost their next two games. 

“We just turned the ball over too much and didn't control the pace,” said Benjamin Lim (9) about why he thinks they didn’t see success in their matches. 

It was now the final game of the day: Imagine the JV Boys, engulfed with desperation, wanting nothing more than to win this match against the Saigon Dragons. Abraham started in this game where he tried his hardest to control the game as the Centre. Before you’d know it, he displayed his fury and finished the game with 16 points. 

Although they lost all their games, the JV Boys showed their deep mate-ship and resilience as they continue to push forward and win games in the future.