MISSION STATEMENTThe International School of Kuala Lumpur provides

an exceptional education that challenges each student to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful,

spirited, socially responsible global citizen.

The International School of Kuala Lumpur

November 2014

TAKE 1

EDITOR’S NOTE

Senior EditorsKailee Norcross

Safa Arshadullah

Staff Writers Allie Peschel-Keel

Alex DeanAya Ogasawara

Juni LeeMariana Felix-Kim

Faculty SupervisorHugh Plouffe

Faculty Advisor Paul Ubl

Design EditorSarah Kim

Have sometHing to say? send all feedbacks to

thetake@iskl.edu.my

TAKE

As the juniors, sophomores and freshman returned from GAP trips around Southeast Asia at the end of September, they emanated stories of adventure and excitement. Juniors were bittersweet about their last journey whilst freshman were already looking forward to the next years of high school. Seniors spent the week working diligently on college applications and other assignments, enjoying the peace and quiet on campus. The thrills of travel were soon pushed aside as school work began to consume their thoughts.

After what felt like a well-deserved autumn break in October, we came back to school with the daunting task of working through the month of November, the month without holidays. Before that happened though, our school experienced one of the most memorable events of the year, TEDxISKL. Notable speakers, along with two ISKL students spoke at the conference, garnering a large audience from around the city. ISKL also hosted IASAS soccer taking great pride in hosting athletes from our sister schools, as well as winning the bronze medal at home through our girl’s soccer team.

As the presence of the impending semester exams grow, we‘re trying to keep the balance between extracurricular activities and study time. Seniors are sleep-deprived, walking zombies awaiting their last days at school. Juniors are beginning to feel the pressure of their most important school year whilst sophomores and freshman are just starting to realize what high school really is.

The TAKE team will be losing senior Juni Lee, who is preparing to enter university as she graduates in December. We’re definitely going to miss her sweet smile and valuable input. Our already small team will become closer for the next issues as we move toward a new semester. If you know that you or some of your peers are interested in writing or graphic design, the TAKE magazine is waiting with open arms for your expertise. Your name and your work will be published schoolwide, giving new opportunities to learn and grow.

Remember to work hard and prepare for semester exams, because really, you have it in you to do well. Good luck and have a wonderful winter holiday!

-Safa Arshadullah ‘16

Copy EditorKaitlyn Hambly

TAKE 2

Vol. VI Issue 2TAKEcontent s

days until Semester Exams

12

56789101112

A Real Bang For Your Buck

Hidden Sugars in Malaysian Food

Practice Makes Perfect

Sesame Street Live

Koh-Eds in Samui

To Check or Not To Check?

Buzzing Around

School Safety

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Eat Well, Do WellContactThe Light RevolutionInternational Fest at ISKLChristmas ConcoctionsOnce Upon A HalloweenEbo-lie ConspiraciesGreen Council Grant ProgramSpreading Joy Around the WorldNewest TV With MarleyWinter Sun

days until the next holiday

8days until December Break

7

Public Speaking

Healthy Foods

the 24 Hour Race

PG 7

PG 14

features

editorials

our TAKE on...

the numberedT R U T H

PG 18

p h o t o o f the month

days until ISKL’s 1st Farmer’s Market

5

sports1416

The 24 Hour RaceIASAS Soccer

TAKE 3

GRADE: A-

t h e scoop

ISKL’s first season athletes pushed themselves to perform their best during the school year’s first IASAS. Althought we weren’t as successful as we wished to be, hosting IASAS soccer led us to a solid bronze from our girl’s team. Cross country and volleyball tried just as hard, earning their rightful status of true athletes.

SCORE: B

As one of the school’s most popular events, the International Fest attracted a huge crowd. The food was absolutely delicious as usual, helping us appreciate the true diversity of our school, along with the booths and cultural performances. This year, the PTA helped bring Breakout Escape Room to the school, providing a new source of fun activities.

GRADE: A+

Without a doubt, IASAS MUN is the event for those who are inclined toward keeping up with current global affairs and public speaking. This year ISKL brought home an extraordinary amount of awards, including two Best Speakers and Best Dressed. This year’s delegates definitely brought pride to ISKL.

This year seemed to be quite successful with providing freshman, sophomores, and juniors to opportunity to travel to nearby nations. With new additions to the destination list including Bhutan and the Maldives, ISKL high schoolers not only made some amazing memories, they also learned valuable lessons whilst working hard.

GRADE: A-

Events: o c t o b e r + n o v e m b e r

highlights

Global Action Program (GAP)

International Fest

Season 1 IASAS

IASAS MUN

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02

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FEATURES

TAKE 5

A Real Bang

Kailee Norcross ‘15Senior Editor

For senior Sharmaine Lau, texting is a way of life. She considers it to be an essential, and never leaves the house without her phone. People like Sharmaine can be classified as ‘cell phone addicts’, but as long as it is not affecting their lives, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Cell phones, for those of us that are fortunate enough to have one, can be considered pretty much an essential. They used to be thought of as a simple object in our world, but nowadays for people like Sharmaine, they are their whole world. People all over the planet suffer from cellphone addiction, whether they are ready to admit it or not. The constant need to touch/hold/look at your phone classifies you as a cell phone addict, no matter what the purpose of usage may be.

Sharmaine is one of numerous people who are willing to admit that they have a problem, but are not willing to do anything about it. The mindset of many is that if it’s not interfering with their immediate lives, why do anything about it? Sharmaine said, “I do think I’m addicted. I’m always on my phone, there isn’t a moment when I’m not to be honest, unless I’m asleep.” As crazy as this may sound, she is not alone. In fact, her case is a mild one in comparison.

Earlier this summer, American news media website CNET reported that a woman from Texas was threatened to be shot unless she surrendered her phone to a thief. Rather than simply giving her phone to the criminal and continuing on her way, the woman crouched down on the ground in preparation to be shot. In the end, the woman escaped, running off to a nearby friends house, but not before being grazed by the bullet on the back on her neck before escaping. She may have gotten away with her life, but in return she later had to face bashing from the media on what an utter fool she (seemingly) proved to be.

The fact of the matter is that people are both willing to kill and be killed, for nothing but a small, easily replaceable electronic device. Your life, the most valuable thing you ‘own’ per say, something completely irreplaceable, can be taken away in a matter of seconds. What could you possibly be hiding on your phone that could be so precious (or secret) that you would be willing to give up your life to keep it hidden? Many people

filter out their thoughts through their fingers, but it seems unreasonable that any picture, video, or

text message could be so embarrassing that you would rather risk your life than have it exposed.

Sharmaine admits that her cell phone is “a part of her”, but unlike the woman from Houston, she would never go to so far as to risk her life. Sharmaine was asked whether she would take a bullet for her cellphone, and although that simple question may seem completely preposterous, it is no longer thought of as being entirely out of line. Sharmaine exclaimed, “Of course I

would give up my cell phone! I’m not that addicted.”

People all over the world have different purposes for their phones. Many, like Sharmaine, are innocent friend-related reasons. “I feel like when I don’t have my cellphone it’s like I

lose contact with the world. I’m always on Facebook, on

Instagram, on Whatsapp with my friends to keep in contact” says Sharmaine.

At the end of the day, it’s not the addiction that is the problem;

cellphones are not by any means the most dangerous of obsessions. The problem is in the extremes people are willing to go to, in order to protect their handcrafted online profiles from reality. People are so afraid of the media seeing them for who they truly are, that sometimes they will take any risk necessary in order to preserve their pride. Others, like Sharmaine, have much less serious cases, and just need to focus on spending time talking to people

both online as well as in person.

For Your Buck

TAKE 6

mummyicancook.com

urbancdn.com

nyonyacooking.com

Juni Lee’15Staff Writer Brian Im ‘15 has lived in Malaysia for 7 years and he is very aware of how salty and sweet Malaysian foods are. “I realized I was gaining weight when clothes weren’t fitting me because of the oily, salty, and sweet foods I’ve been eating in Malaysia,” said Brian. Eating inside and outside of school made Brian become lazy and less active due to sweet, salty and oily food.

When Brian was in Korea during the 2014 summer break, he felt the necessity to lose weight for his health and avoided unhealthy diets. “When I was in Korea, I ate home-made food, ate smaller portions, and exercised regularly”, Brian remembers. Repeating his healthy routine in Korea helped him become more active and fit.

Ever since Brian lost six kilograms of fat, he has been watching his food intake. He tries to eat less sweet or oil food, in particular. He also avoids any fried food, and the calorie-heavy sauces made to go with Malaysian dishes.

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) is concerned with the level of sugar consumption among Malaysians. According to the CAP, that level is increasing at an alarming rate. The high sugar intake is causing serious health problems for the nation, like diabetes.

In 2009, Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, the former Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, announced that Malaysia is the 8th highest sugar consumer in the world.

In the 1970s, Malaysians consumed 17 teaspoons of sugar per day. As the years passed, the amount of sugar consumed each day has only increased. In the 1980s, it was 21 teaspoons a day, and a decade later, 24 teaspoons of sugar were consumed by Malaysians, daily. Today, the average amount of sugar intake, daily, is about 26 teaspoons. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the recommended daily sugar intake is six to twelve teaspoons.

The price of sugar in Malaysia is priced at RM1.60 per kilogram, and RM1.75 in East Malaysia. However, the price

of sugar in neighboring countries, is significantly higher. Thailand, for example, sells sugar at RM2.31 per kilogram. In Indonesia, sugar is RM2.62 per kilogram, while in the Philippines it costs RM2.85 for one kilogram of sugar. Singapore tops the list of sugar prices, charging a whopping RM3.13 per kilogram. While many grumble about the high sugar prices in Malaysia, these statistics indicate that the lowest price of sugar in Southeast Asia can be found here.

According to the Consumers Association of Penang the overconsumption of sugar leads to a lot of health issues, such as: cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart problems, osteoporosis and kidney problems, to asthma and allergies. One major health concern is that 4 out 5 people with diabetes will die of heart disease as it is the number 1 killer in the country. Every hour, there are six new cases of stroke in Malaysia. All this suggests that the Malaysian diet contains too much sugar or simple carbohydrates.

Another ISKL student had a similar experience to Brain Im. Yoo Dam ‘15 also faced a similar conflict with Malaysian dishes. “When I was in the United States for pre-college this summer, I lost weight because I wasn’t consuming any Malaysian dish. But when I came back from United States, and started eating Malaysia food in ISKL, I gained the weight back right away,” she admits.

Brian describes how he definitely feels healthier when he eats less sweet and salty food. Additionally, he notes that he is able to work out without feeling too heavy or tired. “I am able to lift up more weights, and when I am running, on the treadmill, I feel a lot more fit than before,” Brian concluded.

Despite the fact that Malaysian dishes are delicious, Brian will stay alert on what he eats in Malaysia and stay away from dishes that will cause him to gain weight. Yoo Dam will as well be cautious about the foods she is consuming in Malaysia after personally experiencing the consequences of over consuming.

HIDDEN SUGARS IN MALAYSIAN FOOD

TAKE 7

Safa Arshadullah ‘16Senior Editor

Picture this: you are at an event where you must speak in front of a large audience. As your turn approaches, your stomach performs a few somersaults and your knees begin to quake. You take faltering, deep breaths and your palms begin to sweat. Your name is called and you exhale loudly, getting out of your seat to approach the stage. Now comes the hard part: the part where you have to trust your voice to be strong and say what you want it to say. At this point, you

have no idea where your speech might go. You either open up, and let the

nervous energy enhance your performance, or you speak shakily, letting your nerves take over. Some of us have had experiences with the latter, whilst others of us have been more successful in our

public speaking endeavors. What always plays a large

role in these types of events is the amount of practice that goes

into each speech. Sometimes, the practice is what benefits us during the

performance. Other times, your stage fright is so severe it causes you to forget everything you had carefully worked for. This begs the questions: how necessary is it to seriously preparation for events like this? Does everyone have the capability of being a public speaker?

Just recently, select ISKL students participated in a poetry slam, hosted

by Sunway International School for the second year in a row. They came home with individuals placing first and second, last year, and this year, they won a second place award. This is definitely an achievement; what seems to stand out, though, is the

lack of cohesion of the group pieces. For both years now the group ensembles, instead of flowing and performing well, seemed to have suffered from a lack of practice time. Although there were some improvements during the poem-writing process, it was difficult to determine how much the presenters had prepared for the performance. Mr. Venables, the adviser for the slam poets, as well as the IASAS Forensics event ‘Impromptu’, knows quite a bit about public speaking and what is needed in order to be successful. He said, “A lot of it just has to do with repetition. You have to know what it feels like to just get up and speak, and there’s no other way to get better at that, other than just doing it.” It’s not surprising that the amount of practice and comfort performing are key to becoming a better public speaker. But is everyone capable of speaking loudly and confidently?

In response to this question, senior Madeline Wilson said, “No. I think you have the ability to practice over and over again, and gain experience in front of large crowds. But I think that ‘success’ is objective and is hard to aspire to.” Mr. Venables, on the other hand, stated: “I think everybody can be a better public speaker than what they are. Not everybody needs to become a public speaker and I think everybody should have practiced public speaking. I think that they should go to university having heard their own voices with confidence and having been successful in speaking in front of a group.” These two differing opinions can be combined to understand the multi-layered situation that is performance. Even if a student practices and prepares for a speaking publicly, they may not always be able to succeed. Nonetheless, each student is capable of using that opportunity to strengthen their voice.

At school, we are fortunate enough to have a close, comfortable setting where it’s safe to share. Sometimes, despite all the practice and work to create a quality piece, the sight of the audience gets the better of us. Events like the Sunway Poetry Slam, IASAS Forensics, and TEDxISKL give our community a chance to experience public forums first hand. They encourage the idea that every individual has a unique voice, that can be improved,with repeated practice.

Practice Makes

PerfectIs it true for public speaking?

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Sarah Kim ‘15Design Editor

John Chang, a senior, is a Sesame Street fanatic. The educational television show has long been a favorite of his. Though he has not been able to watch the recent seasons due to a busy senior schedule, he still eagerly sings along to the lyrics of the “Elmo’s Song”. He hums the tune on the morning bus ride, in the corridors, and even in the shower. “My childhood would have never been the same without Sesame Street,” John admitted.

Sesame Street appeared on the screen for the first time in 1969, and continues to attract a large fanbase. The program currently holds the record for being the longest running children’s television series in America. For fans, like John, the show is best known for its educational content, and its use of multimedia. The variety of communication methods include: casual humor, animations and short videos, and cultural references. A combination of these elements is incorporated in each episode, but the main attraction is the use of Jim Henson’s Muppets to interact with the audience. The fluffy, lovable, puppets is one the reasons the show has been loved by children and their parents, year after year.

The author of Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street, Michael Davis stated that 95% of American preschoolers above the age of 3 viewed the show at least once, in 1993. In 2001, over 120 million viewers, in total, saw the various international versions of Sesame Street. By the show’s 40th anniversary, in 2009, more than 140 countries were regularly broadcasting the show.

45 seasons in total, Sesame Street has undergone significant modifications throughout the years. The show consists of combination of commercial production elements and techniques. Over time, it evolved to reflect

the changes in American culture and the audience’s viewing habits. Sesame Street, when created, was the first television production in history where writers and producers focused on an educational message. Today, many shows cater to the education of children, thanks to the innovation of Sesame Street.

The earliest studies by the Educational Testing Service, in the 1970s, showed that Sesame Street is the most researched television program, to date. A significant amount of research done by the ETS shows that the program has been significant influence on out of school education of children in the United States and even in other countries worldwide.

With this in mind, it’s no surprise that when John found out that ‘Sesame Street Live – Elmo Makes Music’ would be performing at Resorts World Genting from 28th November to 3rd January, he was more than excited. “I already made plans to go watch the show during Christmas break,” John said with excitement. The performance of ‘Sesame Street Live – Elmo Makes Music’ at Resorts World Genting will feature nearly two dozen songs, including the classics like “C Is for Cookie” and “The Alphabet Song”.

According to Mr. Kevin Tann, the vice president of promotions and entertainment of Resorts World Genting, this series of performances is a new production that is expected to wow its audience, made of individuals of all ages. Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and all the other Sesame Street friends will be taking the stage to give Malaysian fans an unforgettable, blast to the past. John is just one of many excited Sesame Street lovers who are looking forward to the performance. “My favorite song was, and still is, “Elmo’s song”,” John adds with a smile. “I would love to see Elmo perform.”

“ELMO PLAYS MUSIC” COMES TO MALAYSIA

TAKE 8

TAKE 9

Koh-Eds In SamuiAllison Peschel-Keel ‘15 Staff Writer

Being a senior can be stressful, especially when it comes to managing school work. But, if we have something to really look forward to, it gives us a motivation to succeed. Rather than merely trying to meet the goals we’ve set, we work to push ourselves, to exceed our own limits. By the end of the year, it makes our sacrifices worth it.

Andrew Fernandez, a senior this year, explained how the process of planning the senior trip occurred. “Well, for our trip it took much longer to get everyone to agree on what to do, since most people dropped out then joined again, which made things much more chaotic.” Despite these setbacks, the students graduating in 2015 are looking forward to starting their own adventure. Andrew highlighted the fact that there was extremely limited adult involvement in the organization of the senior trip. When the time of our vacation arrives, we will be adults. We will be capable of going wherever our whims (and wallets) desire.

However, before we can leave our homes, and embark on the rest of our lives, we have the opportunity to celebrate as one large group, for a final time. Senior trips celebrate the independence of seniors and the official transition from teenage-hood into adulthood. Mr. Petersen, an observer of trends in senior trip planning says, “The planning and organization of the senior trip has the potential to give seniors a real experience in economic sense and budgeting.”

Over the years, there have been many groups of seniors, who travelled to different parts of the world. Being the international school students that we are, distance from Malaysia is rarely a limitation. One of the most common trip locations is Koh Samui, Thailand. While some groups may wish to set themselves apart, it’s almost tradition for each year of graduating seniors to meet in Koh Samui.

For the class of 2015, this is the case. The majority of the senior grade voted unanimously to celebrate the end of the year, and of high school, together, instead of in smaller groups. When asked about the general feelings in

terms of the trip, every class of seniors have assured their listener that they expect to have a great time, and go on to describe the various activities Koh Samui has to offer. Although the first semester is only part-way finished, the chaos of planning the trip has dominated conversations for months. In particular, there are conflicts in terms of accommodations and transportation. Despite the fact that the anticipated holiday is more than six months away, the topic of a senior-created and senior-focused vacation seems exciting and luxurious compared to the sleepless nights of our final year of high school.

In many ways, the process of planning for this trip has distinguished the senior class from their former, childish behavior. As mini-adults, we’re faced with situations like claiming villas that are competitively offered on a first-come first-serve basis. In light of this, they have done a remarkable job at resolving conflicts, and making compromises. Of course, more than simply selecting a villa, the process require discussion between the various groups of ISKL seniors who intend to take part in the 2015 senior trip. Each group was careful to select a desirable villa, yet not step on any other group’s toes. By staying in villas, the senior class will be able to split the cost, and bond with friends, possibly for the last time.

As the years go by, Mr. Petersen has sent off enough graduates to be able to offer advice. Mr. Petersen advises the 2015 seniors: “One message would be: ‘be safe’. Another message would be, to ‘have fun and enjoy friendships because some of the friendships you have will last a lifetime. Others will fade and remain memories, but cherish them. Don’t get ahead of yourselves, and try not to embark on your senior trip before you’ve finished important business of your senior year. This all comes back to point of living in the moment; you’ll lose perspective, when on the trip enjoy the moment and don’t wish it away. It’s a great experience, it’s certainly a wonderful time for reflection and looking forward.’” For the most part, the senior grade is prepared for the end of the year trip. By the time we’ve graduated, hopefully we will be ready to take on the world, in all sense of the word.

samuiproperties.com

To Checkor Not to Check?

Kate Hambly ‘15Copy Editor

High school counselor, Mr. Scott Muir, estimated that the counseling office sends approximate 75 emails per day, to the student body. This number can vary, and when asked to pin down an exact amount, Mr. Muir said, with a laugh, “50? 75? 100?” He spoke for the rest of the department when he noted that his hope was that students regularly check their ISKL email inboxes, and act on the information.The TAKE was curious whether the high school students actually checked as often as Mr. Muir hoped they did. The team interviewed a handful of individuals, about the attitude the student body has towards the Gmail system. Overall, we were surprised by the amount of positive data. Mr. Muir would be pleased to know that a hundred percent of the students the TAKE interviewed claimed to check their email at least once a day. The majority of students maintained that they check multiple times a day: freshman Alysha Baig was the only interviewee to admit that she checked her email “everyday”. Only eighty percent of the students replied that they check their emails over the weekend. Nonetheless, the TAKE team was pleasantly surprised by the positive results.

Clearly, ISKL students are fairly homogeneous when it comes to reading their email. 60% of the interviewees maintained that they use their computer to read emails, and a solid 40% mentioned that they often used a combination of their

computer and handphone. No students reported using only their phone. When the TAKE asked why a computer was the preferred method, Julian Pu ’16 described that he had set his Gmail account as the default windows on his computer: “As soon as I open up my browser, it will just pop up.” He added that he routinely leaves the tab open, so he can quickly be made aware of any incoming messages. Gwyneth Allen ’17, on the other hand, commented that her phone does not sync with her school email. Because of this, she misses out on instant notifications. Gwyneth remarked that she has often been forced to respond late to messages, which takes away from the advantage of email improving response time.When Ayla Bollom ‘15 faced difficulties concentrating on her school work, her mom stepped in and took her off of Facebook. Now, six months later, Ayla is grateful for the effort on her mom’s part. Nevertheless, Ayla understands Gwyneth’s frustration about not seeing emails until hours after they were sent. “I go to bed relatively early,” Ayla confessed. “If it’s something that’s sent at 8:30pm, or whatever, I will not read it until the next morning.” As indicated by the students the TAKE interviewed, advancements in technology offer new methods of learning and communicating.

Mr. Brian Candler from the Tech. Department informed the TAKE team that during the week, ISKL sends more than 5,000 emails. ISKL students and faculty receive upwards of 30,000 messages daily, but “that’s a lot of spam,” according to Mr. Candler. As Alysha indicated, it is common to send fewer emails when not in school: only around 1,000 emails are sent from ISKL accounts on weekends. He was enthusiastic about the features Gmail boasted, because they were user-friendly and hid most spam messages. Thanks to this element, students at ISKL are able to see new emails from people like Mr. Muir, and respond in in a timely manner.

Technology has indeed allowed individuals to work more efficiently, and to sort ‘junk’ information from

‘essential’. Students and teachers can collaborate like never before, and the students the TAKE

questioned emphasized that they felt the current system that ISKL uses to communicate

electronically is successful.

Buzzing Around:Mariana Felix-Kim ‘15Staff Writer “From Jan 1 to 22, 2014 6,155 dengue cases were reported compared to 1,792 cases within the same period in 2013” (BBC). Leah Petterson ’16 was infected with dengue last school year in 2014 during one of the most stressful times in a high school student’s life: the week prior to finals. Last spring, Leah returned home from school one day, and began to feel a variety of symptoms that indicated something was severely wrong. These symptoms included a fever, hot and cold flashes, fatigue, among others. When she woke up from her restless sleep, freezing underneath five blankets, she realized that she needed to go to the hospital. “In the morning, I told my mom that I felt like I was dying,” Leah recalled . Although sick, Leah still attempted to study. “I tried to do math [work] but I just couldn’t do it,” she explained. With finals the following week, she realized she was in a difficult position, unable to study to the best of her capabilities. However, Ms. Renaud contacted her to ensure that Leah concentrated on recuperating instead of putting her health at risk for finals. Leah took the initiative and checked into the hospital the same morning. Here, she was diagnosed with dengue. Dengue is known to be carried by a female ‘aedes aegypti; and ‘aedes albopictus’ mosquitoes, which are typically found in wet urban areas such as Kuala Lumpur. According to World Health Organization (WHO), as of September 13, 2014, there has been a 3.3% increase of dengue causing an overall number of 72,603 cases. Dengue begins with a bite from a mosquito that has been infected and carries the illness; this is typically because it previously bit someone infected with dengue. Once infected, symptoms such as chills, headaches, pain from eye movement, and low backache begin to affect the patient. Aches in the legs and joints are also common during the first couple of hours of the illness, and temperatures can rise as high as 40 Cº. Dengue is usually diagnosed and treated by taking paracetamol to relieve muscle and joint aches, fever and headache. Bed rest and plenty of water are essentials as well for getting better as well. As previously stated, dengue has affected many people and disrupted their daily lives. Leah did end up taking her finals the same time as everyone else, but explained that she feels she wasn’t capable of completing them to the best of her ability. She attributed her lowered ability to display her understanding to her time spent in the hospital. In particular, she found she had not been able to retain information while she was recovering.

Not only were her academic skills impaired along with her athletic abilities. “When I got back to swimming, I sucked because I had lost so much muscle,” Leah with regret. Leah isn’t the only ISKL athlete who was infected. Aiyan Ahmad ‘16 was diagnosed with dengue only a week before GAP last school year. Aiyan explained that one morning he woke up and noticed red dots all over his body, and rushed into the hospital. When admitted, Aiyan fainted while a blood test was being drawn. The results of the blood test revealed that Aiyan had indeed been infected with dengue. He explained the symptoms he had experienced, which were highly similar to Leah’s symptoms when she was initially infected. Aiyan also noted that he, too, was affected athletically. “The most difficult part was getting back into rugby, as I wasn’t used to the sudden exertion on my legs,” Aiyan explained. Nonetheless , Aiyan was able to recuperate in time for GAP and was able to enjoy his trip without any mishaps. The Dengue Vaccine Initiative (DVI) is working to encourage the improvement and use of vaccines to prevent the estimated 50 million annual dengue cases. DVI is currently working to lay the groundwork for the introduction of dengue vaccine in endemic areas such as ISKL. Hopefully, DVI will soon be able to minimize the amount of lives affected by dengue specifically in students so students such as Leah and Aiyan can continue their daily lives as students and athletes.

D e n g u e S t r i k e s a t I S K L

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TAKE 12

Alex Dean ‘16Staff Writer

On the 24th of October, Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Seattle, Washington experienced a shooting at their school. That Friday morning, a student opened fire in the high school cafeteria. The school was closed for two weeks after the incident. As of November 5th, four students passed away from their injuries, one of whom was the shooter. This school shooting is one of several that have taken place over the past few years, which begs the question: is there more we can be doing to ensure the safety of our students?

School safety has become a rising topic over the past few years. According to the National Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), “Crime, violence and disorder in schools have become major issues.” Both nationally, and throughout the world. According to the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) weapons carried in schools, as well as people not attending school because they feel unsafe, although not having a significant increase, has not decreased either. School safety is a main concern for parents, teachers, faculty and individuals, globally, and many precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of the students and faculty.

At ISKL, safety is taken very seriously. There are many resources to help keep our school safe. ISKL has both fire and lockdown

drills scattered throughout the year to help ensure the safety of the students, as well as the faculty and staff. In addition to the drills, ISKL also has random drug testing to prevent from the use of any harmful drugs. The school uses a random generator that picks a certain number of students per day to receive random drug tests. As there is a very strict drug policy in Malaysia, this helps prevent the use of drugs among students, and in doing so, keeping the school safe. Dzaim Dzulkifli ‘16 felt very strongly about the drug testing. “With the random drug testing, its keeping our school safe because drugs can be really harmful, especially to children.”

The vast majority of students at ISKL, as well as faculty, feel safe. Safety is everyones number 1 concern. In addition to the precautionary actions being taken, ISKL also has additional staff to help keep the school safe. Guards are posted at every entryway, with the main guardhouse at the front of ISKL, managed by Mr. Masilamani. Only allowing entrance if shown an ID card, as well as a nursing staff on campus. In general, most people at ISKL don’t feel as though safety is a problem. “I feel ISKL is a pretty safe school.” Dzaim had to say. “The guards do an adequate job here.” Another way the guards keep the school safe is upon entering ISKL, a school ID must be shown, or people must sign in, to keep the school safe. “You have to show [the guards] your ID, or they tell

the principal and you could actually get in a quite a bit of trouble.”

One of the main reasons for insecurity in schools is the student relationships with

teachers and the community. At ISKL, students seem to feel connected to their

teachers, staff and other students. This, in turn, makes the school a

safer place to be. The shooting in Seattle

was very tragic, and schools everywhere are continually trying to improve their safety standards. We here at ISKL believe we are in very safe hands. From the guards, to the nurses, to the random drills, we feel as though we are cared for, and in turn, safe.

As it is said, safety is ISKL’s number one concern.

Safety First:School Safety at ISKL

highwaytrafficsuppply.com

SPORTS

TAKE 14

Sarah Kim ‘15Design Editor

Human trafficking might not be something students think about on a daily basis, but it is the second fastest growing criminal industry. Statistics suggest that everyone should be concerned, with 27 million people are in modern day slavery worldwide, and 800 thousand people are trafficked across international borders each year. Just in Malaysia, more than two million illegal immigrants are forced into labor. Malaysia has been downgraded to Tier Three, the lowest rank, in the 2014 US Annual Human Trafficking of Persons Report, which alerted Malaysians to the seriousness of the trafficking issue in the country.

Chris Schrader, the CEO of Running To Stop the Traffik (RTST), has always been eager to raise awareness about the issue of human trafficking; in his teens, he ran across the UK for charity, and he even dropped out of Harvard in order to pursue his goal of promoting anti-trafficking among the youth. Then, in 2010, Mr. Schrader created RTST, which is a unique organization that raises awareness about human trafficking and modern slavery through the youth’s passion for sport. Mr. Schrader also started the ‘24 Hour Race’, in which runners participate in a team relay, racing for 24 hours to raise money for the charity.

Similar to Mr. Schrader, Shu Mei Teh ‘15 has taken an active part in raising awareness. She states, “I feel that human trafficking is an issue that is not addressed enough. In a world where everything is changing, the main global issue that comes to the surface is the environment, global warming, and how humans are using up too many resources. However, there are other pressing issues that are going on, simultaneously. Human trafficking is one of them. Sometimes, you do not realize how big it is and how much it affects its victims.”

Once she found out that RTST was coming to Malaysia, she immediately signed up to help organize the 2014 24 Hour Race. Her role as a health and safety director was to ensure that the race environment is safe for all. This includes having procedures and protocol set in place in case of any emergencies. In addition, she was in charge of ensuring that the race had enough volunteers and marshals around the entire race area. With Shu Mei onboard, the organizing team was able to host a safe and successful event.

In Hong Kong and Singapore last year, RTST had a surprising number of students involved: 22,000 students participated, from more than 30 different schools. Runners accumulated an equivalent distance to running from Hong Kong to New York (14661.2 km) and brought the total amount of money raised to HKD 2.5 million (about RM 1.1 million). Since 2010, 100% of the donations to RTST has been sent directly to the anti-human trafficking charities and NGOs.

This year, Malaysia joined the other two countries in hosting the race, to raise awareness in KL, especially among teens. The race was held on November 15th and 16th, at Nexus International School, in Putrajaya. Each team was sponsored and paid a certain amount of money per lap. In the end, the runners ran a total of 6027 km, which means they raised more than RM760,000 for the cause just by running.

Other ISKL students were also involved, mainly in organizing sub-committees. ISKL’s very own mixed gender team Flaming Flamingos included a few Varsity Cross Country runners, like Victoria Chatron-Michaud ’16 (team leader). The girls were able to run the highest number of laps for all girls team and as a whole, the Flaming Flamingos ran a total of 271 laps, scoring third highest number of laps run overall.

Aman Mehmood ’16, another Flaming Flamingos member, expressed, “Human trafficking is an issue that I’m really concerned about and I’m glad to help out in any way I can. This year, I was able to run a total of 42 km, which is as much as the distance of a marathon. I hope I can run more next year!”

Though the 24 Hour Race is already over, anyone can still help out by spreading awareness in their community. Shu Mei mentioned, “There is an Android App – ‘Run for Freedom’ by FrogAsia. Download it, take the quiz and share it on social media. For everyone that takes the quiz and shares it, RTST gets a RM 1 donation.”

Students can also lend a hand by donating on the online page: www.justgiving.com for the SUKA Society’s Victim Protection Program that helps ease victims of human trafficking back into society. Also, anyone who wishes to help out with the future races can definitely sign up next year. Shu Mei added, “Make sure to keep an eye on the website: www.24hourrace.org for the next application details!”

The 24 hour racekuala lumpur 2014

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The 24 hour racekuala lumpur 2014

TAKE 16

Alex Dean ‘16Staff Writer

On the 18th of October, the ISKL girls won the IASAS bronze medal Football 2014, in front of an ecstatic crowd here at ISKL. Varsity Girls member Sarah El-Sernagawy, felt particularly motivated by the crowd in the ISKL stands. “Playing that last game, in front of the home crowd, the atmosphere was really amazing.” The cheering from the ISKL bleachers lead the Varsity Girls’ football team to a bronze medal for IASAS 2014.

“Playing at ISKL, there was little bit of pressure, because they want you to win. It’s your school and your home, in front of your friends. I don’t know, there was definitely a little bit of pressure. A lot of the new people on the team were pretty nervous, but it was also really exciting, and, I mean, we came out with a medal.” The varsity girls went into this IASAS well prepared, and however much pressure there was, they were very excited to bring home the gold. Even though they didn’t get there, they

still viewed this season as a success, and reached one of their goals of getting an IASAS medal here at home.

The last time an ISKL team won an IASAS medal at home was the tremendous 2013 boys rugby team, who bested Singapore American School to take home gold in front of yet another ecstatic ISKL home crowd. There are many similarities between both the 2013 rugby and 2014 football teams. Both are relatively young and dynamic, with much to prove to the other schools, as well as their home fans.

Last year, the girls’ football team had another good run, placing fourth, just barely missing the medal. This year was their chance to redeem themselves, and get the medal they lost out on last year. Playing the same team they lost to last year, ISB, they came out on top, and took the bronze medal.

The varsity team definitely put in the time, practicing four times a week, two hours each practice, each varied with fitness and skill training. “In our practices, we do our typical game warm up, just dynamic stretching and warming up our feet. We then we do some ball skills, drills to improve our ball control. And depending on the day maybe some shooting. Then usually, in almost every practice, we would have a bit of fitness. Maybe like five to ten minutes, or sometimes more.” Thanks to their hard work and practice, the ISKL Girls were able to reach their goal of getting an IASAS medal.

Even though she won’t be here to help the girls football to another medal, Sarah believes their team is in very good shape heading into next year, and is confident that the young talent that helped bring them to a medal will continue to improve for the next football season. “Well, I think since there were only three seniors on our team this year, the team is going to be fairly experienced as a whole. Our team did really well this year, and hopefully they’ll do even better next year, because I think they can.”

IASAS SOCCER:Home Field Advantage for ISKL Girls

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EDITORIALS

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WalnutsWalnuts with their crisp, warm, tan color, can help with iron deficiency scenarios. You are what you eat, and walnuts almost look like mini-brains! As the Natural Society states, “walnuts are rich in antioxidants which fight against free radical damage to brain cells’ DNA.” Walnuts help prevent illnesses such as breast cancer and diabetes. These kinds of nuts are packed with Omega-3 fatty acids as well. Go walnuts!

ChocolateThe darker the better, and in this case, it’s also the healthiest. Chocolate is good for the brain because it its one of the healthiest ways to give your body a quick energy boost. Chocolate with 70 - 85% cocoa is the healthiest option, and is often considered the tastiest. Bioactive compounds found in dark chocolate increase blood circulation throughout the body. The risk of developing cardiovascular diseases are lowered when you eat dark chocolate. In moderation, chocolate can be a healthy snack, with positive effects on your life. On the other hand, it’s good to be aware of how much chocolate you’re consuming. The majority of things are healthy in moderation. But anything done to an extreme, even chocolate, is unhealthy and overindulgent.

EAT WELL, DO WELLAllison Peschel-Keel ‘15Staff Writer

Studying for tests and quizzes can be extremely bothersome. While no one likes to study, it is a necessary evil that must be undertaken in order to obtain good marks. Still, there are always those classes we have the urge to doze off. This sleepiness isn’t due to the tedious subject material, but more likely, it is because of poor eating habits.

Healthy eating is one of the most overlooked ways

to help your body feel positive. When confronted with the choice of a cookie or an apple, many people will find themselves begrudgingly choosing the apple. Zeeyad Khan ‘15 said, “If I get any choice in what I eat, it’s always going to be the least healthy option. I like cake and I like cookies. But sometimes I feel like it affects me at school.” People who don’t regularly get enough vitamins and minerals are more likely to notice symptoms of fatigue throughout their day at school.

allcropsolutions.com

womansday.com

BerriesAge no more! Berries are one of the best anti-

aging foods avaliable. An interesting statement issued by Natural Society claims that, “in addition to delaying memory decline by up to 2.5 years, in one study, blueberries have [also] been

found to improve learning capacity and motor skills.” Berries help fight off Parkinson’s disease,

diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, various heart diseases, as well as keeping our minds sharp.

And these are only a few of the benifits of berries! Many more illnesses and

diseases are destroyed because of our strengthened immune system, thanks to berries. Are those not some

incredibly great reasons to include more berries in our daily life?

Knowing the foods we should be eating can encourage us to start eating better. We become more likely to change our views of our eating habits, rather than merely noticing that something is not quite right. In conclusion, if we limit the amount of unhealthy food– which is a major source of short-term energy– we will reap the rewards of our efforts.

Eating healthily doesn’t mean that the food can’t taste good. Life Hack: eat delicious, healthy food, to develop a more positive lifestyle. As great as snacks may be, eating regular meals at the appropriate times is what is most essential in determining how your body feels.

BreakfastIt’s extremely important to start off your day with a healthy breakfast. This healthy start allows you to stay focused, for a long period of time. People who skip breakfast often tend to consume more during the other meals throughout the day. By missing breakfast, we’re more susceptible to gaining weight. Because we’ve missed a meal, we continue eating a greater amount of food than normal during the remaining meals. Skipping meals is never a good idea, and breakfast is certainly no exception to that rule. However, eating foods that are high in sugar and include a high number of unnatural chemicals is not an ideal way to start the day. Breakfast is fundamental in establishing how well one’s day will go, but it only works when it involves a healthy, balanced diet.

lobelsculinaryclub.com

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contactThe Mystery of Social InteractionsSafa Arshadullah ‘16Senior Editor

People interact with each other on a daily basis, gaining new experiences and developing relationships. The only reason we can do so is because we learn new things every time we make those interactions. At times, we feel uncomfortable, unsure of what to say in the presence of someone we would rather not be around. Sometimes the situation sorts itself out, leaving you surprised that you are indeed holding a pleasant conversation. When changes occur in an environment, especially one you are already habituated in, it is sometimes hard to determine what behaviors are correct.

For some people, the phrase ‘social interaction’ conjures the image of nervous laughter and incessant head-bobbing, a time where things may go awry, whereas for others, it’s the total opposite. Herbert Blumer, a student under prominent sociologist George Herbert Mead, coined the term ‘symbolic interactionism’. This described the way people’s behaviour toward certain things depends on its personal meaning; meanings that have been changed through different definitions and stem from other interactions. Junior Gita Kardani exemplifies this theory, saying, “I get incredibly uncomfortable when people bring up topics I’m sensitive about.” Whether the topic is sensitive, exciting, or new to you, it changes the whole dynamic of the conversation, leading it many different directions.

As high school students, we sometimes find ourselves in difficult circumstances where we are not sure what to do, whether it be discussing a grade with a teacher, confronting your close friend about an issue, or even just meeting someone new you haven’t yet connected with. A feeling of

anxiety washes over and it becomes hard to tell what we’ll do next. This may be the case, but from experience of other such situations it is easy to learn how to face these problems.

People have a variety of strategies to handle these conditions, especially when things take a turn for the uncomfortable. Gita says that in these situations, “I usually just remove myself from the situation if I can, but if I can’t, I don’t look at the people who are making me uncomfortable and I just make it seem like I’m doing something on my phone.” Senior Mitsu Puri agreed with that, saying “I’ve learnt to ignore the uncomfortable atmosphere and find something else to talk about or remove myself from the situation completely. Both work well, the latter is more effective obviously.” Rida Haq, another junior has a different approach to meeting new people, saying “I try to start a conversation about something we both have in common, like TV shows.” Shu Mei Teh, a senior thought along similar lines. She said, “I bring up something school or work related, or something that everyone knows.” A mix of mutual interests and awareness of the situation seems to be a great solution to deflating a tense atmosphere.

No matter where we are or who we’re with, there will always be a time where we need to interact with people we don’t know. From those interactions, we develop a repertoire of skills to handle the myriad of situations we encounter. It is important for us to be considerate of what other people are sensitive to in order to maintain a respectful relationship. Although we are high school students and we apparently haven’t had ‘real life experiences’, we definitely have learned how to interact with other people through our daily life.

www.alltimebest.co

TAKE 21

Aya Ogasawara ‘15Staff Writer

On October 7th 2014, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to two scientists in Japan, Professor Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano, and one scientist in the United States, Professor Shuji Nakamura. They were awarded for their invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes (LED) which has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources. Nowadays it is common to have these lights incorporated in gadgets everywhere, such as a TV screen or a portable game. Why is blue LED so special and valuable that it results in a Nobel Physics Prize? It’s because they are much harder to invent than red and green kind.

Using blue LED, white light can be created in a new way. With the advent of LED lamps we now have long-lasting and more efficient alternatives to older light sources. White light has three primary colors : red, green, and blue.Therefore, making proper white light needs blue light for its creation. In the early 1960s, red LED was invented and later in the decade, green LED was too. With only those two colours, there was no efficient light emission. Phd. Akasaki, Nakamura and Amano challenged to create blue LED for three decades. Akasaki and Amano researched blue LEDs together at Nagoya University ,and Nakamura researched blue LEDs at a small chemical company in Japan. And in the earlier 1990s, they were finally successful: they had created blue LEDs.

A main characteristic of LEDs is that they’re an eco-friendly means of emitting light. The two biggest differences between LEDs and traditional lights are the amount of energy consumed, and the brightness of the light. A large amount of energy is saved when LEDs are

used, that other methods waste. This also means that LEDs maintain energy levels for longer, because they produce light more efficiently. The brightness for a light bulb is 16 lm/W (“lm/W” is the amount of light emitted, or lumen, per watt); for a fluorescent lamp, the brightness is 70 lm/W. But for a LED, it is 300 lm/W. An LED is able to emit light through a light bulb for up to 1,000 hours, and a fluorescent lamp for 10,000 hours. LED lights work for far longer than other methods of light emission, which means less frequent light bulb changes. Again, this means that LEDs minimize waste.

The lighting system has continued to improve and become more efficient. It allows a sustainable method of improve light emission, and saves money along the way. Sayaka Hozumi ‘15, observed that “…LED lights are quite effective…. [and] can expand the way of lighting more and more.” Because of the invention of blue LEDs, they are beginning to replace traditional lights in emergency kits. These revolutionary lights are predicted to dominate competing methods of producing light. The work of these three scientists may not be remembered, but their research has dramatically transformed the technological field.

www.thenewecologist.com

Professor Hiroshi Amano Professor Isamu AkasakiProfessor Shuji Nakamura

The Light Revolution

withnews.jp www.asahi.com news.mynavi.jp

Alex Dean ‘16Staff Writer

On the 15th of November, ISKL hosted the annual International Fest. International Fest is a festival in which all the countries and cultures of the ISKL community are represented. There are many activities held during International Fest, as well as dancing, music, a parade and a cultural show, games, and food as well. It is opened to free entrance for all ISKL members. This year, however, were some new activities, such as the escape room, sumo wrestling, jousting, bull riding, and not to mention, human foosball. Both students and parents take part in it, and it always seems to be a hit with everyone. When asked, Sanidhya Mathur ‘16, a repeated member of International Fest and a Bollywood dancer, said “It’s really cool how ISKL has an International Fest, because it really shows how diverse we are as a school, and we can celebrate it.”

The new activities provided at International Fest have excited many of students. Sanidhya loved the new activities. “I really loved the new activities at International Fest II think it’s really cool how they brought the escape room to ISKL, which is always fun.”

One of the main reasons why the International Fest is so popular is because of the wide variety of delicious foods from around the world. Parents bring in food and organize themselves according to their nationality. Over 30 countries are represented in a large buffet, for easy access to foods from all around the world. This part of International Fest has always received positive feedback, and is a big reason for its success.

Another main attractions at the International Fest are the performances, such as music and dance, and, the

Bollywood dance. It does take a lot of time and rehearsing for the dancing to be ready to perform. They are always impressive and fun to watch. The choreography and timing is very strict, the performers need to rehearse that much more to be able to perform. Putting it together is very time consuming, but the end product is always worth it.

In addition, a big part of International Fest is the cultural show. Each country is represented through their traditional dance and music and food. It is always very diverse and incredible to witness all the various cultures at our school.

International Fest has repeatedly had good reviews, and is something for everyone. Sanidhya states that “I always love it.” Countless hours of preparation have made the International Fest possible, and it is something truly wonderful to experience. It has been spoken high of, also, not to mention, free. It is something truly amazing to experience.

International Fest at ISKL:A Cultural Extravaganza

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ChristmasConconctions

Kailee Norcross ‘15Senior Editor

Christmas is a very special time for people all around the world. One of the most diverse parts of the holiday is the food that is consumed in different regions. Individuals across the globe, aside from having various ways of celebrating, also have different delicacies. In an international community like ISKL with a variety of cultures and nationalities, every holiday has its own twist depending on who you talk to. The same goes for the food that accompanies the celebration. In the case of Christmas food, there are a variety of types of food people eat, depending on their home country. In many North American countries, the meal consists of food similar to Thanksgiving. A common pre-Christmas hype is candy canes. Whether it be the traditional red and white mint flavor, or one of the more modern Wonka candy flavors, candy canes are always a hit with any age group. In terms of more traditional dishes, the main course of a cooked turkey or ham is often present on a North American

Christmas table. Other foods served alongside the meat may be potatoes,

vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce,

or gravy. For d e s s e r t : butter tarts, Christmas p u d d i n g ,

f r u i t

cake, and pumpkin or pecan pie can usually be found.When travelling to another western country such as

Sweden, the food instantly differs. Swedish student Emil Thonell ‘15 described his more European take on Christmas food. “Swedish people have the Smörgåsbord. Basically what we do is we eat a lot of fish, and a lot of meat balls, and a lot of potatoes. It’s like a traditional Swedish feast in a way.” This tradition is native to Sweden, so when travelling to other countries nearby, it can’t be assumed that the same dishes will be served all around the continent.

On the other side of the world in Asia, a large variety of food can be found on your plate on Christmas Eve. Unlike the USA or Canada, where the dishes are very similar , in Asia you will find something very different in every country. For example, in the Philippines, pork is consumed, and just a few countries away in Malaysia, local people don’t (traditionally) celebrate Christmas, and many do not eat pork at all. When being asked what he eats on Christmas, Filipino Miguel Habana ‘15 says, “We have a pork dish called lechon. It’s basically a giant, cooked pig for the whole family.”

About four hours north is Japan, where a tradition has been set for years but only recently been recognised by the rest of the world: KFC fried chicken on Christmas Eve. When KFC was originally opened in Japan back in 1970, it was a huge deal. People would drive all the way out to rural areas to get their KFC before more central locations were finally allowed to be opened in December of 1974. This was a very exciting time for many people, and because of that, investors and marketing experts began to promote KFC fried chicken as a Christmas food. Ever since, fried chicken from KFC has been widely consuming at Christmas time, in Japan.

One of the best things about food is that it brings people together. When surrounded by good food and

good people, the true holiday spirit can be found. Sometimes something as simple as your favorite Christmas dish can trigger pleasant memories, and remind you what you’re thankful for. Miguel remarked: “Whenever I have that dish, it always brings me back to Christmas’ with my family, and

times that I’ve spent with them.” As much as food is a part of the holiday for almost every family, being together with family is, essentially,

the true meaning of Christmas.

Juni Lee ‘15Staff Writer Halloween has evolved into a commercialized event, and the history of it is forgotten as time passes. Halloween is an exclusively North American event, on October 31st. When most people think of Halloween, they think of trick or treating, parades, bobbing for apples, and other family-friendly activities. However, all these activities aren’t originally part of Halloween.

An ancient Celtic festival called ‘Samhain’ was celebrated almost 2000 years ago. This was the origin of Halloween, which was celebrated on November 1st. On the night before Samhain, October 31st, people believed that the dead returned as ghosts. People would leave food and wine on their doorsteps to keep the roaming spirits away. They also wore masks and dressed up as ghosts to hide themselves when they leaved the house. The Christian church turned Samhain to ‘All Saints Day’, or ‘All Hallows’

in the eighth century, which became ‘All Hallows Eve’ on the 31st of October. Later, it was shorten to ‘Halloween’.

Trick or Treating is now a traditional activity that is known to all North Americans, however ‘Souling and Guising’ were original traditions associated with this festival. The two traditions originated from Britain, during the medieval period. On All Souls’ Day, November 2nd, the impoverished would beg for pastries called ‘soul cakes’. In return for the food, they would pray for people’s dead relatives, and suffers from famine/plague; and this was all called ‘Souling’. The other medieval tradition was ‘guising’, where young people would dress up in costumes and accept food, wine, money, and other offerings in exchange for singing, reciting poetry, or telling jokes. In 19th century America, Irish and Scottish immigrants revived these old traditions. They altered the practices slightly, and the result was Trick or Treating. At first, the trick or treating was more about the tricks in the forms of pranking of people with planned activity, such as, throwing eggs to their windows and doors than the treats. By 1950, the custom has changed to its current family-friendly, kid-centered form.

Today, Halloween is a large-scale event for people, of all age ranges, in North America. Customers in America are spending more than 2.5 billion dollars annually on costumes, and including the cost of candy, it is estimated that Halloween each year costs six billion dollars. That makes it the second largest commercialized event after Christmas.

once upon a halloween

www.buzzfeed.com

EBO-LIE CONSPIRACIES

Mariana Felix-Kim ‘15Staff Writer

This past summer in 2014, Ebola has had a heavy presence in the media. The coverage initially hit Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Guinea, and– like the virus– it has grown exponentially. Now it has branched out to haunt citizens of southern European countries and the United States. The special attention in the news makes it difficult for readers to be able to decipher which information is true and which is false. The increase in coverage, unfortunately, also means a rise in the number of conspiracy theories. Due to the rise of technology this past decade, voicing one’s opinion is as easy as clicking a button. The reliability of sources becomes suspicious, as the authors are not likely to be supported by accurate data. Their intention is to voice their own opinion based on prior knowledge, which of course varies from person to person. However, since no concrete information is present to support the opinion, it becomes a conspiracy theory. In situations such as the Ebola outbreak, conspiracy theories tend to become ubiquitous, as the public panics. In addition to the rise of these theories, this attending panic manipulates the mindset of many, leading to people believing information that would have seemed ridiculous, were they in a more rational state.

Before formulating one’s opinion, it’s important to be educated about the basic facts of Ebola, like reliable statistics and the science behind the virus. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), “The Ebola outbreak in West Africa was first reported in March 2014, and has rapidly become the deadliest occurrence of the disease since its discovery in 1976.”

This fatal virus is known for fusing with cells lining a person’s respiratory tract, eyes, or body cavities. The genetic contents are released into these cells, which causes the genetic material to take over the cell machinery, and replicate itself. New copies of the virus are then produced and released back into the body. It is thought that the virus was initially introduced by three different type of fruit bats: Hypsignathus monstrosus, Epomops franqueti and Myonycteris torquata. Ebola is spread from human to human only through bodily liquids, like blood and sweat. Symptoms include sudden fever, muscle pain, fatigue, headaches and a sore throat, followed by more serious indicators such as vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding internally and externally in places like the gums, eyes, nose, and in the stool.

The information mentioned above is factual, and has been cross-checked with multiple reliable sources. However, there is a variety of less-than-accurate information that gets thrown into articles about the recent outbreak. Some inclusions of false information may be accidental, while other writers or organizations intentionally

sensationalize their report of the situation. After researching

reliable and unreliable sources thoroughly, from

the New York Times to Chris Brown’s twitter account, it was interesting to see what type of conspiracies are being made. Here are three conspiracies currently being reported:

israelnewsagency.com

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1. "The Red Cross initiated Ebola." This has been the most common conspiracy. While

researching this conspiracy, a statement by a Ghanaian man named Nana Kwame was consistently referenced. Kwame believes that “Ebola as a virus does NOT Exist and is NOT ‘Spread’. The Red Cross has brought a disease to four specific countries for four specific reasons and it is only contracted by those who receive treatments and injections from the Red Cross”. This statement has been supported through many arguments such as the purpose of the introduction of the deadly virus was to a method of bioterrorism by Red Cross. Bioterrorism is known as the intentional release of biological agents such as viruses, toxins, and bacteria. It’s thought that the virus could be used as a weapon to eliminate the human population that has already been deteriorating. This conspiracy derives from the Soviet Union’s attempt at bioterrorism during the Cold War. The Soviets tried to cultivate biological threats such as smallpox and hemorrhagic fevers, along with Ebola. A Japanese cult, 'Aum Shinrikyo’– known for setting off a sarin gas bomb in 1955, in a Tokyo subway– also explored the idea of using Ebola as a biological weapon. In 1992, a group of 40 doctors were sent to the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a relief unit. In reality, they were sent to collect a sample of the Ebola virus, but were unable to so. Though there is a factual background to this theory, there is no evidence to suggest that a group has, recently, attempted bioterrorism in the form of the Ebola virus.

2. "Ebola was man-made to benefit pharmaceutical companies economically."

Previous outbreaks such as H1N1 and HIV have indicated that pharmaceutical companies become ‘heroes’ once a vaccine is available for distribution. Drugmakers profit from the spread of the infectious diseases, in a way, because the high demand for the only available treatment further elevates the price. These companies routinely sell pricey life-saving treatments and fight as long as possible to retain the rights to their patents, to evade genetic versions of their drugs being produced at a lower cost. The government has also been the subject of finger-pointing. Government officials are ultimately the people who hand-pick which pharmaceutical company is permitted to fast-track an Ebola vaccine. There are two sides to the government conspiracy:

right-wingers believe the government is conspiring to create an effective way to endanger millions of people in order to be a ‘hero’, while individuals on the left think that the government and corporations are suppressing the benefits of a natural Ebola cure. In conclusion, it’s believed that pharmaceutical companies and forms of governments are conspiring to maximise profitability.

3. "Saltwater cures Ebola."Throughout scattered parts of Nigeria, it has been

believed that saltwater has the capability to cure Ebola. However, this is quite the opposite from the solution. At least four people have died drinking saltwater, because it severely dehydrates heavy consumers. This attempt to ‘cure' oneself from Ebola has gotten so bad, that it received recognition from The World Health Organization (WHO), who issued a statement warning doctors, nurses, and the general public against this theory. This conspiracy is the epitome of why readers must be careful with what they choose to believe in, as it can have very harmful consequences.

Although interesting to read, conspiracies theories do have the effect of causing unnecessary worries, but Carmela Ganeson, the school nurse at ISKL, is confident about students' safety. Ebola is not something residents of Kuala Lumpur should worry about, as “the one person… diagnosed in Singapore turned out to be fake so initially we thought that Ebola was going to be a big thing here but it’s not." In addition, she believes that the conspiracies are false as “nothing is proven and there is no research, so the only thing that we can do is stay away from infected countries." Ebola will only become a concern if a student travels to an infected country, so Ms. Ganeson advises against it.

The conspiracies listed here highlight the impacts of mass panic. The combination of unreliable conspiracy theories being published and believed can be linked to the ease at which ideas can be published, thanks to technological advancements. Misinterpretation isn't solely the individual's fault, and the media should be compelled to discontinue publishing nonsense. Ebola is a classic example of this situation due to the amount of coverage and panic that is attached. Although the spread of the Ebola virus is a major concern, globally, it’s comforting to know that ISKL and our community is safe. Nonetheless, school nurse Carmela Ganeson advises readers to validate information before spreading it, or believing it.

redbrick.me

Green Council Grant Program

Mariana Felix-Kim ‘15Staff Writer

The Green Council was a new addition to ISKL last school year. Though, this is the first formal ‘Green Council’, according to the Council’s president, Kabir Peshawaria ‘15, “an eco-committee has been around for a couple of years at ISKL.” He acknowledged that only recently has the movement been publicized to such a degree, when their name was “officially changed from ‘Green Team’ to the ‘Green Council’.” Green Council takes pride in making ISKL the first school in Malaysia to receive a green flag from the EcoSchools program as it is globally established and internationally recognised, and has recently been established in Malaysia. The WWF, in collaboration with the EcoSchools program, specifically focus on schools in an effort to encourage green awareness. ISKL has worked hard to incorporate all these factors and into their agenda to ensure ISKL keeps our green flag since being achieving a green flag isn’t an easy task. Not only does The Green Council have main themes to keep in mind but also small tasks that must be enforced throughout the entire year. Some of these tasks include: maintaining a visible notice board on campus with up to date information about future events and green information, reviewing the Green Vision Statement available on the EcoSchools website annually to ensure it’s incorporated in projects, and; incorporating the ISKL community and even beyond the ISKL community.

Since The Green Council is established at ISKL, their main priority is to give back to ISKL to appreciate our participation in all the green tasks that have been implemented. One way the Green Council incorporates

the ISKL community is through their grant program. The Green Council Grant Program started a few years ago in an effort to provide funding for groups with a desire to initiate sustainable projects. This is a crucial component because it provides ISKL an opportunity to collaborate on projects in order to promote and complete eco-friendly tasks. These can range from an endangered species campaign to a BPA-free water bottle sale. Kabir excitedly explained that Green Council has received a few grant proposals recently. For instance, “the students at Melawati asked for funding for BPA-free [‘bisphenol A,’ a carcinogenic chemical] water bottles, which they intend to sell.” These new bottles will have a big impact in the ISKL community and even beyond it. The BPA-free bottles are minimizing the amount of plastic wastage and accumulating a fund that will be given to an ocean clean-up charity. Kabir also mentioned that; “ISKL has a large budget allocated for such projects so expenses are usually not an issue!” which allows various project a possibility for ISKL.

The Green Council is responsible for each green activity at ISKL including the Middle School’s. As a new club, Green Council is very excited to bring new ideas and events to make ISKL an even more sustainable environment in addition to make an impact in Kuala Lumpur. As mentioned previously, the WWF has been in contact with the Green Council and have been in the works of running an endangered tiger campaign. It’s believed that it will launch next semester. It is clear through the Grant Program that Green Council is driven to give back to ISKL and Kuala Lumpur. In addition, Kabir states, “If you have any ideas for the grant program, please submit them to Green Council.”

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Juni Lee ‘15Staff Writer

It is difficult to feel blue when one sees a 61 foot yellow rubber duck floating down a river. A giant rubber duck sends out a positive sensation to those who come across it while walking by a river and gives an impression of hospitality. Also, coming across a giant rubber duck unexpectedly recalls a childhood memory of playing with the rubber ducks in a bathtub.

The theory of sending out positive sensation, recalling childhood memories and bringing peace and joy the giant rubber duck sends out is a dutch artist, Flortijn Hofman’s. He stated: “The rubber duck doesn’t discriminate people and doesn’t have a political connotation. The friendly, floating rubber duck has healing properties: it can relieve the world’s tensions as well as define them. The rubber duck is soft, friendly and suitable for all ages.” Hofman believes that the giant rubber duck is capable of relieve global tension, through delighting tourists from different countries and backgrounds. His intention was to spread joy around the world, regardless of ethnicity or culture.

The project was established in 2007, and the duck is still exploring the world today. Hofman planned for the project to last five years, but because so many additional countries requested a duck of their own, the project was extended indefinitely. Today, in 2014, the ducks are still a tourist attraction, and a source of happiness, no matter what country the ducks reside in. It will most certainly be a

memory people will not forget. The rubber ducks become a new attraction whenever

one arrives in one of the many lucky cities around the world. Hundreds of people gather around their rivers to take pictures of the duck, and many have described how adorable they find the giant rubber statues. As Hofman had hypothesized, the ducks have reminded individuals about their childhood. When people are gathered together in such a friendly setting, they forget about the worries and stress of everyday life. “People are smiling when they are taking pictures of the rubber duck and smiling to one another in Korea. Overall, the atmosphere people were creating around the duck was a positive one,” said Min Jung ’15. She recently visited Korea, and saw the rubber duck there, firsthand. South Korea received a rubber duck just few months after the tragic Sewol Ferry accident that happened in 2014 April 16th. Its arrival gave Koreans a small amount of relief from the pain caused by the incident.

Many people are forgotten about the small detailed happiness there are in a daily life due to the stresses people are facing with. Despite the stressful lives people are constantly battling through, the joy and happiness that the rubber duck brings to people will not be forgotten. Hofman chose this particular way of spreading happiness, because there is little cost in getting the message across to people. This allows more people to be able to experience the positivity of the rubber duck for themselves.

spreading joy around the world

scmp.com

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NEWEST TV WITH MARLEYAllison Peschel ‘15Staff Writer

One of the most knowledgeable people about almost anything cinema-related is Marley Emerich, a senior here at ISKL. When they think they’ve seen everything, her friends go to her, inquiring about television series and movie recommendations. She always has a response, helping them choose something she knows they’ll like; she’s our in-house movie maven. Marley admits that she often finds

herself prioritizing her favorite shows over other activities. "Sometimes, I'd rather spend my nights binge-watching Friends or LOST instead of socializing with people!" she said. Like many others, the TAKE team went to Marley, with questions about some of the up-and-coming TV shows you (all) may be interested in. Here are some of her suggestions:

“It's like The Walking Dead meets Dracula," Marley explained. The Strain begins at the JFK Airport in New York City. A plane lands suspiciously, carrying dead bodies infected with a virus similar to ancient vampirism. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, an epidemiologist, takes on the case when the passengers’ bodies start to go missing. Marley explained that for our generation, it’s a completely new take on vampires. She notes, “These days vampires are so romanticized that they sparkle. The Strain doesn't do that. It's a really creepy show and so if you like horror, or gory and dark stuff, this is the show.”

THE STRAIN

“There’s a lot of tv shows about lawyers and murders. The only way to become popular is to be different, and this show is really different. It’s got a great cast, and things happen that never could happen in real life. It’s totally ridiculous, and that’s what makes it worth watching,” Marley remarked. The show follows a group of law students who have been hand-picked to study under an exceptional, cutthroat professor. Acting as her interns, these students wrestle for her attention and validation. The show features a diverse cast, including Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, the high-profile attorney-professor. The plot impressively incorporates gripping cases, which only add to the deft intensity of this series.

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER

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Another show Marley eagerly suggested was The Leftovers. “If you love watching things that make you think, and also gives you tons of ‘feels’, The Leftovers is the show for you. But it’s dark, twisted, and difficult to watch sometimes,” she warns.The Leftovers’ story begins after a global event, referred to as ’The Sudden Departure’ occurs, causing 140 million people to disappear. She later highlights the show’s redemptive qualities. “It’s honestly beautiful, and talks about things that are often seen as taboo.” The exceptional cinematography used by the show’s creators in particular, excited Marley. The plotline follows police officer Kevin Garvey, as he fights to maintain normalcy, while the people around him fall apart. Marley continued, noting that “in any show where something apocalyptic happens, you get to see a side of human beings and what they’re capable of. In these realistic situations, you see the ugly side of people.” The current popularity of genres like science-fiction and drama suggests that The Leftovers will develop a strong fanbase.

THE LEFTOVERS

AMERICAN HORROR STORYAlthough American Horror Story (AHS) returns

annually with a new premise, the actors are consistent. The cast, including Sarah Paulson and Kathy Bates, was subjected to criticism when it was premiered in 2008. Its mature situations, including nudity, caused outrage among some viewers. The show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, has somehow made it thus far without being forced to tame the suggestive elements. Since the release of new promotional videos, season four has been highly anticipated. The new season, entitled American Horror Story: Freak Show, will be set in a circus. A mix of new supporting actors and characters will be featured in the series, including the world’s smallest woman from India. Jessica Lange, a lead actor, has been praised for her remarkable portrayal of her characters. She intended to leave the show for good, but was convinced to return when Murphy accepted her as scriptwriter. Since Lange was a driving force behind the initial season of AHS, fans of the show are eagerly waiting to see her talent highlighted.

If you enjoy dramatic TV shows, and a myriad of different characters and premises, you should definitely give these four series a try! You might surprise yourself, and end up really liking them. As Marley reminded the TAKE team, stay tuned for the April 8th premier of Game of Thrones’ fifth season!

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w i n t e r s u nSafa Arshadullah ‘16Senior Editor

The word ‘winter’ conjures the image of blankets of snow and storms of love as families come together to celebrate a time of sharing. At time we may not be cold in winters, but it doesn’t have to chilly or snowing outside to want to be cosy and warm. These two playlists will warm you up and hopefully wrap its arms around you when you’re feeling down or encourage you to get your blood flowing by jumping up and dancing.

Is This Christmas- The WombatsBlood- The Middle EastFlaws- Bombay Bicycle ClubRoslyn- Bon Iver + St. VincentAfterlife- Arcade Fire

Buzzcut Season- LordeSo High- Ghost LoftKnee Socks- Arctic MonkeysDon’t Say Oh Well- GrouploveI Can’t Win- The Strokes

c r y s t a l l i n e

f r a c t a l l e s

We Can Glow12 FingersAfter Glow

Time Above The EarthYoung LionsDecemberAll In WhiteLost At SeaWithdraw

Ghost Lights

-Royal Teeth-Young the Giant-Foals-The Kooks-The Maccabees-Sara Bareilles-The Vaccines-NeverShoutNever-Kimbra-Woodkid

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