As The Tide Comes In, So Does Wave with The Win!

 By Liv Gohan

Eagle Games is the one day each year where students get together with their houses and compete against each other to prove once and for all that their house is the champion of champions! It is an incredible school-wide event that encourages friendly competition, good sportsmanship, and incredible teamwork.  

The day of the Games did not start off great. Just like the last two years, this year’s Eagle Games was opened with cold and brutal rain. Students were drenched and forced to take off their shoes and walk barefoot around campus to avoid marinating their feet in soaked socks and shoes, while the upper field that hosts an outdoor game transformed into a muddy slip and slide. However, towards the end of the day, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, and the rest of the day was bright again. 

This year, the team that brought back the Eagle Games trophy was none other than the reigning champions: WAVE! The blue team that brought back its trophy from last year showed off their unique charms in their Spongebob-themed house chant: While everyone huddled together, one of the senior leaders, Ellie Park, serenaded the audience with the iconic clarinet solo from the Spongebob theme song. Caitlyn Chan, who has been in Wave since the beginning of her high school career, commented on the victory: “I have to say I’m very surprised but proud to be part of Wave to win in my senior year. The best thing that could happen is winning in freshman year and ending high school by also winning in senior year in Eagles Games.”  

This year’s Eagle Games was particularly special and nerve wracking for some of the seniors because they were chosen to lead, and it would be their first time leading a team of people in their house. Anxious up until the day of the Games, Vennie Wong says that “When I first found out [I] was leader, [I] was worried because I have never been in a spot to lead, and knowing my personality, leading would be very hard. Leading up to [the] Eagles Games, I felt nervous and was dreading it a lot.” 

However, she changed her mind when she got to have fun playing games with her team: “[W]hen it actually came, it was quite fun. Also, I had another leader with me, so it wasn’t as hard. I tried to encourage people because I felt like I wanted to be encouraged when I was an underclassmen in the past years of Eagle Games.” Eagle Games is a great opportunity for students from all grades to bond with each other through their competitive spirits.  

Eagle Games is an exciting event hosted each year that encourages team spirit and cooperation. It is a fun day full of games and competition that brings students from all over the grades together. Hopefully, next year’s Eagle Games will also bring the same joy and excitement as it did this year and this Dalat tradition will continue for many years to come.  

Game On

By Madison Abrams

This past Friday, Dalat high school students received a break from school and were able to participate in Eagle Games. Eagle Games is a day of fun, interactive events and activities that encourages bonding and cooperation between our high school students. This has been an annual tradition for many years. Now, our seniors are able to lead and interact with their underclassmen and an opportunity to promote bonding between the grades. 

The way Eagle Games works is that all high school students are randomly split up into one of four groups, known as “Houses.” The blue house, known as Wave, the yellow house, Bolt; the green house, Quake; and the red house, Blaze. Each house splits off into smaller teams that represent their respective houses in exciting, challenging, and creative head-to-head games, competing against the other teams to earn points for their house. In addition to representing their houses in the activities, students also embraced team spirit by wearing accessories, face paint, and appropriate apparel that demonstrated their loyalty and patriotic spirit. 

“Leading was definitely a struggle, but I think that me and my team managed to get closer throughout the day, and we played well and did our best together,” said Andy Tan (12). 

This year, Eagle Games started off as a grey, rainy day, but it wasn't enough to ruin Dalat spirits. The students embraced the wetness and made the best out of the unfortunate circumstances, creating unforgettable memories. As the day progressed, the sun began to shine. Students embarked on an array of activities such as relays, leaky pipe, dodgeball, charades, captain chicken, buckets, hole trap, and blindfolded obstacles.

When all the activities came to an end, all students gathered in the outdoor basketball court, waiting for the announcement of which of them would be victorious. Mr. Van announced that “this is the closest Eagles Games Dalat has ever had.” A drumroll echoed as all students waited in nail-biting suspense. With Blaze taking 4th, Bolt taking 3rd, and Quake taking 2nd, that left 1st place to Wave!! The members of the wave house erupted and cheered as they waved their flag in victory. The seniors celebrated their third win of their high school years. 

Micah Pickett (12) says, “I was so surprised, but very pumped to win my last year of Eagle games. Let's go Wave!”

Overall this year's Eagle Games was full of exciting moments, leadership, and laughter. Although the day started off gloomy, it ended with sunshine and great spirits from all. Great thanks and congratulations to all students and staff that participated and contributed to another great Eagle Games for Dalat.

Eagle Games

By Caitlyn Chan

For the past week, it has been pouring rain each morning, making our campus wet and slippery for outdoor activities. Despite all the prayers, it still rained on the morning of our seniors’ last Eagle Games. 

Every year, Dalat High School hosts the Eagle Games, similar to an elementary school sports day but consisting of station games rather than regular track and field events. The teams consist of Wave, Quake, Bolt, and Blaze, all in coordination with the colors blue, green, yellow, and red. Each year, the winning house will bring back a trophy shaped like a wave (which could be biased) with their house name written on it and have bragging rights for the rest of the year. 

Today was finally the day that we, the class of 2025, were group leaders in each group within our houses, which meant responsibility and a weight on our shoulders to fight for that trophy. To continue the tradition, every house had their juniors and themselves covered in their respective color paint. This year, we had people go all out, dying their hair red and even covering their entire face with blue face paint, lifting our house color spirits. 

As we began with our house cheers, the reigning champions, Wave House, went first with a SpongeBob-themed cheer, shouting, “WHO LIVES IN THE PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA?”, “WAVE WAVE WAVE WAVE!” Next, we had Quake House with their annual rumbling of the ground and people falling, portraying that an earthquake had occurred (which won 2nd place). Bolt House came in strong with a catchy tune and cheer, shouting, “OH, IT’S COLD IN HERE, THERE MUST BE SOME BOLTS IN THE ATMOSPHERE!” Last but not least, we had the biggest surprise of the Blaze House, dressed in aprons and using kitchen utensils in their robust and confident cheer: “Cooking you all!”(which won them 1st in the cheer). 

In this year’s selection of station games, it seems Mr. Van switched a few things up and introduced new games while retaining some of the crowd's favorites. 

One of our Wave group leaders,  Liv Gohan (12), says, “My favorite game was the blindfold obstacles. It was a new game this year, and I thought that it really challenged your teamwork and coordination as your guide had to give you really specific instructions through the course.” 

Aside from the new games, Annabelle Fan (12) says her highlight “definitely has to be the hole-trap game. It was my first year doing it successfully with my team once and twice (while singing the ABCs).”

All in all, Eagle Games this year was a success, as many students enjoyed the balance of outdoor and indoor activities that required all types of skills to win. It may have poured rain for most of the day, but at least we know it was God’s plan for the rainwater to push Wave House members to stop the ground from rumbling, block lightning strikes, and extinguish all fire.

Eagle Games and Wave wins again!

By Ellie Park

In an impressive show of sportsmanship and team spirit, the annual Eagle Games at Dalat International School brought together high schoolers in fierce competition. Team Wave emerged as the champion, claiming the title, while Blaze, Bolt, and Quake fought fiercely, showing their determination throughout the event.

At Dalat, high school students are divided into four houses—Bolt, Blaze, Wave, and Quake—which compete against each other in various games. Despite the Eagle Games beginning on a rainy morning, the atmosphere on campus was electric with enthusiasm. Each house, represented by a distinct color, added vibrant energy to the event. Blaze showcased red, Bolt burst with yellow, Quake splashed green across the grounds, and Wave unveiled blue, as participants proudly displayed their team colors.

The houses rallied behind their unique chants: Blaze shouted, "You’re cooked! You’re cooked!" Bolt cheered, "Oh it’s cold in here! There must be some bolts in the atmosphere!" Quake roared, "Do you hear the rumble? Quake Quake Quake!" However, none could overpower the winning team Wave, who echoed, "Who lives in the pineapple under the sea? Wave Wave Wave!"

Eagle Games featured a variety of thrilling challenges such as dodgeball, charades, captain chicken, relay races, and holes in a pipe, with all four houses passionately competing in each event. After the games concluded, everyone gathered on the open basketball court for the final moment they had eagerly awaited: the announcement of the Eagle Games winner. With the students pounding the gym floor for drum rolls, silence fell as Mr. Van, the Eagle Games coordinator, stepped forward to reveal the champion: Wave!

Wave's determination secured their victory, and the gym erupted into a wave of celebration as team members rose and cheered in unison. While the other houses clapped in respect—perhaps with a hint of envy—the court was filled with the spirit of sportsmanship. The Eagle Games 2024 provided a valuable opportunity for students to build teamwork, form new friendships, display their athletic skills, and create lasting memories. 

Elijah Peh, a leader for Blaze, quoted, “The Eagle games was a fantastic team building experience, allowing me to feel the exhilaration of winning as a team in the various games we played that day.” 

Students are eagerly looking forward to next year's games, excited for the competition as the spirit of Blaze, Wave, Bolt, and Quake comes alive once again.

Head in The Game

By Renee Tay

It was a Friday afternoon and there wasn't a soul in sight moments before the tournament. Mid afternoon, the buses began rocking up; all the new faces stormed the school. 

The hype was about to begin. As the crowd pulled up, people could feel the aura building up from within. As the Dalat team took their places on the court, the whistle blew and the crowd erupted. Giants were pounding balls across the net as their opponents fought to stay on top of the game. 

While the Eagles were crushing their opponents, the Junior Class was selling lots of fun things. Funnel cakes, drinks and yummy snacks were bought by everyone. “Please come and support our store!!” said Anna Chand (11). 

No matter how nervous the players seemed, they kept their heads in the game. Players were diving left and right, eager not to let any ball touch the ground. As the play ended on the first day, all the athletes were gassed but left with their heads held high, eager to come back the next day and smoke the competition. 

The next day the players came back energized and ready to fight for the champion spot. Players came back with a fresh set of jerseys and a new goal set for the day. Crowds were filling the gym as athletes were warming up. As the referee blew the whistle, crowds erupted yet again, supporting their team. 

The final day was full of exciting and breathtaking plays, all the teams played their hardest and put it all out on the court. Cheers filled the room as the plays went on, despite winning or losing the point, the players could always count on their supporters to bring their mood up. 

The fight for 3rd hit hard. The thought of getting last on home ground wasn’t in the agenda for the Dalat Eagles. Despite losing the chance of 1st and 2nd, letting the bronze slip away would be detrimental. Everyone was watching, the gym was packed with nervous fans. With the pressure fully on the players, they knew they couldn’t let anybody down. The whistle sounded and the game was on the way. The players fought for every single point, one by one. 

As the referee blew the whistle, the audience roared yet again, supporting their team. Soon, it was down to match point. The Dalat Eagles were about to bring it home. The whistle blew one last time, as Peter Hsu (12) served it over.  The ball went over the net and onto the hands of the opponents, as the ball went to the setter, ready for it to be set to the hitter. In a blink of an eye, the ball was on the ground and the Dalat Eagles secured their place for 3rd place. 

The closing ceremony was the final event on the weekend's schedule. Although everyone was tired and worn out from either playing or cheering, the school pride was still evident. Mr. Jarrett Ulmer announced the placements of the teams and there was a hearty round of applause for the hard working athletes. 

A Year of Firsts and Lasts

By Daniel Willoughby

For myself, the last two weeks have been a blur, a whirlwind of activities and travelling. 

On August 27th, just after 6:00 PM, we departed Dalat for Senior Sneak, with a long and tedious day of travelling ahead of us. After over ten hours on the busses, five hours waiting at a ferry terminal in Johor, and four hours on the boats, our arduous journey was over.

Was it worth the time it took to get there and back? That is questionable—but there is no doubt that staying at Telunas was an incredibly refreshing experience for most people. Many activities were planned for the days we were there, both on and off the beach, and there was plenty of time for swimming and playing various board and card games. 

The brevity of being a senior does not hit right away, or even at all, really; it trickles in slowly. The first day of school was certainly the first shock; seeing myself and my classmates in the iconic red shirts, as well as being now the oldest high school students. In Indonesia, spending time with the class was pretty fun. Still, it definitely began hitting home the idea that in a year, we’ll all be going our separate ways.

In as much, I appreciated being able to spend time with some people I hadn’t really been able to before. On the third evening, after a bonfire on the beach, Iyan Sandahl (12) pointed out to me a shadowy sky full of incredibly bright stars; in fact, the Milky Way itself was also visible. It was breathtaking; I had never seen such a clear night sky before. Myself and a few other students spent a good part of the evening lying down on the observation deck, pointing out stars and marveling at the extreme vastness of the universe. 

To quote Zeke Croft (12), “Looking out at the stars, staring out at God’s creation, was humbling.”

However, not four days after returning from Indonesia, I was off with nine other students on an airplane to Thailand for the Bangkok International Band Festival. This year, we had to go on an earlier flight than usual, so we got to spend an extra evening in Bangkok and go to a restaurant on the Chao Phraya River for dinner.

While it was awesome to be able to play our instruments all day, and meet up with friends we made on band trips in previous years, it was incredibly bittersweet. Knowing that this was the last time we would be at ISB, see these people, and go to these places, was indeed sobering. 

While senior year offers so many new opportunities as a student, connecting with other people, and exciting prospects for a future after Dalat, it is just as much poignantly marked with reminders that we will be leaving a much-loved life behind us when we leave.

Bangkok International Bonding Festival?

By Tee Yu

“Music draws people together,” Conductor Dr. Matthew Arau from Wisconsin said, as two-hundred students from schools in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and India listened closely. 

Once a year, ten selected students from each school get to audition for a band trip called BIBF: Bangkok International Band Festival. But maybe students are actually auditioning for the Bangkok International Bonding Festival. 

Driving to dinner after we landed in Bangkok, Jing Xuan Leow (12) expressed that she was most excited about “collaborating with other schools at the festival.” 

A lot of us were excited to make music with new people from different schools. BIBF is a band trip that usually occurs once every year, so making new friends and reuniting with friends is always something that students look forward to. 

During the festival, Aiden Kinchington (11), a student from Raffles American School in Johor said, “One memory I won’t forget is being with the people that I met along the way.” 

In between practices, we had fifteen-minute breaks where students from the different schools would search for an old friend that they met from previous trips, including the ACSC trip in Hong Kong and the Honor Band trip to Raffles American School. Lunch break was also a popular time for people to build friendships. Students from different schools would sit together and talk about anything from music, to ambitions, to sports. 

After eight hours of practice with other students, it was time to perform the music for the audience. There were so many students and parents filling the concert hall, that some people were standing at the back of the auditorium. The concert was also live streamed for those wanting to watch it overseas. 

As the band played the last note of the concert, we all felt the same feeling of accomplishment. It is no easy task to unite two-hundred people to play one piece of music in two days. But it isn’t the music that we remember this trip by. 

Emily Coniglio (11) from International School of Bangkok, where the festival is hosted, said that her favorite part about BIBF was “meeting new people and being able to play with over two-hundred people.” 

Walking out of the concert hall, students scrambled to exchange contacts and goodbyes, hoping that they would make the auditions for the next trip.

Lesson from Merdeka Day

By Ryan Khaw\

My grandmothers grew up in Japanese colonial Malaysia on their father’s plantation. Atrocities, too graphic to list on a senior scribble, surrounded her family consistently. When regular Japanese patrols came, my maternal grandmother would hide in her house, and my paternal grandmother would hide in the drain sewers on the side of the road. Fear and anguish gripped the colonized lands until the war ended. 

Peace fell upon Malaysia, but the cries of independence over twenty years became unavoidable to the British, and this was the case on August 31st, 1957. My grandmothers must have been so proud when our first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, raised his fist three times, yelling “Merdeka.” 

“She must have been so proud holding her Malaysian passport, Malaysian IC; everyone felt unified; we all shared one culture,” My mother said, recalling the strength of the national unity on Independence Day and during her childhood.

During Merdeka Day all the public schools would gather at the stadium for the parade. All public schools really means all public schools; Chinese, Malay, and Indian schools came to celebrate national unity. Chinese schools would wear their Cheong Sam, Indians their Saree, and the Malays with their Baju. Though with these stark differences in apparel, my mother says there was no difference between the races; they were all handed one flag to hold during the parade, which united them. Oneness in diversity made Merdeka Day so beautiful, and of course, the omnipresent Milo van would be the cherry on top. 

Over the years, however, my mother sees this cultural unity erode as politicians constantly stoke the fires of racial tensions. She lived through the events of May 13th, 1969, when violence flooded the streets between Malays and Chinese. Every ethnic Chinese citizen knows the consequences of an eroded racial unity, and so do ethnic Indians. 

Every Merdeka Day should be a reminder of the importance of peace and national unity. This country has seen the effects of racial division, so lets not replicate that in Dalat, where races from all over the world conglomerate. The Dalat environment can learn from Malaysia’s past lessons to help build an environment where division is shunned. 

Good Food, Beautiful Scenery, and Bonding

By Nikita Sarhad

Bleary-eyed, exhausted, and famished after a long journey, when we first climbed out of the small ferry that took us to Telunas Beach Resorts on our first official day of Senior Sneak, we were all overjoyed to be met by the smell of delicious food. Stomachs rumbling at the sight of steaming trays of rice, sweet-and-sour chicken, fish soup, and vegetables, we hastily took our seats and sipped the sweet fizzy welcome drinks we received in anticipation. 

Throughout our time at Telunas, seniors made many fond memories at mealtimes, whether they be of discussing the activities for the day, enjoying the different dishes, or playing games with friends. Most of us enjoyed the food at Telunas and looked forward to meals each day. 

One student, Ryan Khaw (12), even commented that “the highlight was every morning waking up to the most perfect scrambled eggs,” going on to express his disappointment that breakfast “always ran out.”  

But good food wasn’t the only highlight of the trip. Sabrina Boyd (12) says that “The rustic huts on the gorgeous blue waves made Telunas a charming place to retreat to. There’s no feeling that can compare to swimming with your closest friends in the ocean with a beautiful mountain and sunset in the background. The beach, mountain, and hut lifestyle made our senior sneak truly feel like the ultimate getaway with our closest friends.” 

Every morning, when we stepped out of our over-water bungalows, we were met with the sight of a bright blue sky, gentle turquoise ocean, rich green trees, and fresh sea air. Early in the day, a peaceful quiet and stillness seemed to settle over the island, slowly broken by the chatter of students as the sun rose. In this time, small groups of friends would gather at the front deck to enjoy the surreal serenity together. 

While we spent our mornings looking out at the ocean, we spent our afternoons playing games, swimming, and chattering. Groups of friends gathered for a lively game of beach volleyball, a lighthearted competition of table tennis, a round of tetherball, or a fun frolic in the ocean. It was a cheerful time for good conversation and connection, old and new. 

By the end of the trip, the time away from school and the opportunity to bond with new people resonated with us as we departed the island. Throughout our time on Senior Sneak, many found new friends, created deeper bonds, and made joyful memories, making this trip a memorable start to our final year. 

A ‘Peak’ into Sneak Dinner

By Marissa Elliott

From ferries, to bus rides, to 5am pickups, the senior class was exhausted after returning on September 1st from their week away at Senior Sneak at Telunas Indonesia; but what better way to relax then dinner and a good show? 

The ‘After Sneak Dinner’ is a long standing tradition among the Junior and Senior classes here at Dalat. While the seniors are rewarded with their trip after a long year of hard work raising money as former juniors, the current juniors put on a dinner to surprise them the night after their return. 

This year's amazing Grade 11’s put on an unforgettable After Sneak Dinner filled with laughter, surprises, and memories with the theme of High School Musical! 

The dinner preparations were no easy task, as Aiden Boyd (11), the star of the show, playing Troy Bolton said, “From the first workday, all the committees were working very diligently not wasting any time, because of this, (the) entertainment (committee) had an entire script. And for decorations, they had already started creating decor and this was on the second workday. So to prepare we made sure not to waste time and even forced our sponsors to stay late for more practice time.” 

And all that work paid off: Caitlyn Chan (12), our senior class president, said her favorite part of the night was “Jane Lee’s solo bit dancing along with the song so professionally.” 

From the moment we walked through the doors each of us could see the hard work put into the night, and it only got better as the event went on and we were able to watch the different talents of each junior class member; whether that be serving, cooking, decorating or acting, each students’ abilities were united to create lasting memories as Caitlyn described. 

The Harbor Hall was creatively decorated with basketballs, stars, and cardboard jerseys that the seniors could all bring home. They created a ‘build your own’ burger bar and had homemade brownies for dessert! The stage was lit up with karaoke, props and costumes that engulfed all the hard work the juniors did to make the night unforgettable. 

It is safe to say that the senior class was spoiled with the dedication and greatly appreciate the huge effort that the Grade 11’s put into a great first night back in Penang. 

On behalf of the Senior class, we could not be more grateful! 

Sneak 2024 Wrapped

By Anju Takikawa

On August 28th at 5:30 pm, senior students began shuffling with their luggage to the upper field parking lot benches. They talked fervently amongst themselves as they gathered. When two buses were spotted, one of the sponsors enunciated over the crowd’s exhilarating talk, “Make sure to use the bathroom before you get on the bus! There won’t be a bathroom break any soon!” Bus? Bags? Where are the mysterious seniors headed?  

It is revealed that they were headed for Senior Sneak! Senior Sneak is a senior class trip where Grade 12 students are given a last chance to bond with the class, serve the local community, and create a long-lasting memory as part of their last year in high school! In junior year, students worked laboriously to raise money for the highly anticipated class trip by working at the Junior Class Store (JCS), Juniors for Hire, Junior-Senior Banquet (JSB), and the multitudinous events and services.  

Senior students headed inside the bus- some eager that it would be a getaway from the school, others feeling apathetic about being away from home for four days. Feeling sorrowful, students bid adieu to their parents and the sixteen-hour bus ride began. When the atmosphere inside the bus became convivial, some began hyping the crowd by bursting the song "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction from their wireless speakers and singing along animatedly. Others ate their dinners made by their parents or were store-bought in a tranquil manner. 

Many felt ardent during the time spent in the vehicle; however, not all were ecstatic as “the bathroom breaks were horrendous because it was every two hours, so you couldn’t sleep even if you wanted to,” Cassie Tan (12) groaned. 

After the strenuous hours of the 16-hour bus ride, 4 hours of awaited immigration to enter Indonesia, and 3 hours on the scorching ferry, the class of 2025 safely and successfully arrived at the final destination- Telunas Island.  

A fit full of laughter and giggles was heard at one of the bungalows on one cozy night. The seniors were able to see new sides of their fellow classmates during the talent show as it progressed, from seniors acting out a skit to Mr. Uzzle, our high school principal, rapping. 

Jiwoo Seo (12) added, “My favorite activity was the talent show because I got first place!”  

With the tormenting hours en route, tingly sunburns, and tanning excessively, the senior sneak for the class of 2025 comes to a wrap.   

Michael Fearday (12) remarked, “Senior Sneak was a great time to bond with our classmates, and I feel that all the team-building activities we did really helped us accomplish this goal. (The food was really good.)”  

Indisputably, this class trip is one of the chapters in my life I will cherish forever and will remember. 

We All Laugh in the Same Language

By Rebecca Wong

It was the second full day of Senior Sneak, around 10 am on Friday, August 30th, when we stepped off our boats and into Buah Rawa, a rural community on the other side of Sugi Island. 

Water lapped lazily at the wooden posts beneath our feet, and the village was still sleepy as we walked past dirt roads and houses on stilts, carrying hoes and shovels that we would later use to mix cement. The night before, we had been through a thorough cultural briefing that highlighted the many differences between foreign and Malay culture, but as we neared the local school, the sound of children laughing and playing was universal to every one of us. 

Wide, curious eyes peered out at us from under hijabs and from behind the leaves of bushes. Giggles and screams of joy filled the air as children chased each other around, climbing and scrambling over walls and up flagpoles, returning to the ground in disappointment when reprimanded by the teachers. As we watched the chaos, Mrs. Roylance remarked that children were “the same everywhere.”

The morning began with traditional Malay and Arabic dances, first performed by the children and then by everyone – Telunas staff, Dalat students and Buah Rawa kids filled the floor, following the rhythm of music we didn’t need a translator to understand. 

Sandy Choi (12) enjoyed the cultural aspect of the service trip, saying, “I loved that the school planned things so that we could not only serve but also do activities that allowed us to learn more about Malay culture.”

In the afternoon, despite taking on multiple tasks such as mixing cement, weaving coconut leaves or working with rubber trees, many of us spent time playing with the kids. Whether you spoke Malay or not, it was almost impossible not to join in the infectious fun of running around, playing four sports at a time, drawing, singing, reading in their libraries or trying fruits from the surrounding trees. 

Buah Rawa was a breath of fresh air for many of us. Sidharta Selvaraja (12) found that the community was “colourful in terms of culture, and I was very surprised to see how accepting and bright everyone was.” 

There was a lot to learn from their ways of living, and a lot for us to show them. The service project was fun, but it’s important to remember that open mindedness is what truly makes it possible to interact with other cultures.

Senior Sneak Travel Experiences

By Sandra Nguyen

As we started to exchange goodbyes and pack our suitcases away, students began to board each respective bus one by one. We waved one last time to our family members and settled down in our seats. Senior Sneak had finally begun, hitting the trip off with a 10-hour drive. 

The traveling experience is a very important aspect of a trip, especially for trips that have long distances set between the starting location and the destination. Sometimes it’s a mere two-hour drive in a car; sometimes it’s a sixteen-hour flight to a different country. For Sneak, students spent around 20 hours each way traveling to our destination spot. 

These hours being cramped in a bus, freezing in the ferry, or melting in a boat with no air conditioning made quite an experience for our seniors, an experience that students could look back on and laugh in nostalgia. The travel itself adds to the overall experience because it allows more time to bond and connect with fellow students, creating new memories and companionship.  

Anju Takikawa (12) commented, “Although it was very long, hot in some of the ferry, and crowded, I thought it was a fun experience where we, seniors, were able to bond with others.” 

Another senior, Nikita Sarhad (12) added, “Overall, I thought that the traveling experience was pretty fun and memorable since we were with friends the whole time. Although the bus ride was tiring and long, I still really enjoyed spending time with friends and also connecting with new people.” 

Personal perspectives differ but the unified bonding and fellowship was shared between many seniors. 

But what exactly were the seniors doing while traveling? 

During the long drives and waiting times in between each vehicle transition, many sang karaoke, played card games, or simply slept in the meantime. Intense games of Slapjack and Uno were popular among certain groups while guitars and sing-alongs were popular with others. 

Traveling isn’t only about the drive there but it’s also about what we do along the ride, creating our own experiences and memories. 

Now that Sneak is finally over, we can be reminiscent about our times during the trip. From uncomfortable drives to new friendships, our experiences all combine to create a memory that can be looked back upon with nostalgia.