During what WAS my mundane winter break, I received a phone call from my childhood friend, Sakurako. We’ve known each other for quite some time. Like, our first meetup was when she came out of the womb. Was that TMI? Well, anywho… She lives in Japan, and I am stuck in a less cool version of her idea about America. So, the day after Christmas, I got that phone call from Sakurako saying that her friend, Kanon, was hosting an ‘International Zoom Party’. I was instructed to bring food from my country, to which I chose a day old hamburger from McDonald’s. Classic American meal. This Zoom call ended up being a small group of 6 that ended up greatly changing my perspective about COVID and education. To give context, there was Sakura and Kanon, two female students from a private high school in Japan; Laura, a senior, who lives in San Francisco; Yoga (his full name is Pranayoga) a sophomore from Indonesia; and Jiabao, a female college student in China. Everybody spoke English as a first or second language, with the exception of Yoga since he also studied Japanese in hopes of going to college there one day. Kanon, who arranged this meeting, had a set array of questions for us and our experiences with COVID. Before our interview started, all of us shared a brief presentation of our lives with pictures of our hobbies, school life, friends, etc. First Question: What is your school like? Immediately, somebody asked if we go to gender-separated schools. All but Laura and I were split up, boys and girls. Jiabao, who was really curious about American life, asked how Laura and I got the opportunity to be in these ‘extra’ classes. These ‘extra’ classes she was referring to were electives. It was so fascinating to the group that American students got the opportunity to choose a ‘fun class’ (in Yoga’s words) to take. Jiabao shared her experience that in her providence of China, students were required to take this one test that would pretty much determine their life after high school. She said that successful students will continue pursuing their career of choice, while others would dwindle on what their life would like next, all because of one, singular test. Meanwhile, Sakura and Kanon expressed how school was somewhat relaxed, but what really took up all their time was a paid, after-school tutoring course. Mind you, they already pay a fortune just for the private school alone. I shared about how school is somewhat hard, but colleges are more interested in people’s extracurriculars + academics, rather than just solely test grades. Second Question: What is your life like during COVID? I was super fascinated by Jiabao and her experience in China because she was attending school as normal, and COVID was monitored in a high-tech way that made me sorta jealous. Aside from the tracking and facial recognition that Americans have a negative view on, most of what Jiabao said was kinda cool. Jiabao explained how COVID is almost 100% tracked through their phones, often through the app called WeChat. While it is highly controversial, it does serve a vital purpose of protecting people from potential COVID risks. I got kinda fussy about how some Americans were still gathering in large groups, and yes, still partying. Jiabao and Yoga both said something on the lines of “Isn’t that scary? Knowing that somebody could potentially have COVID but you still risk your entire life just to go out?” Mind you, this interview took place before January 6th… Also, I wanted to note that I just recently got a message from Kanon, Sakura, and Jiabao about what was going on in Capitol Hill. They were all very sweet by sending me reassuring messages of hope and safety within my family and friends. Last Question: What is or were your hopes for the future? This one kinda hit all of us hard. Yoga, as I mentioned earlier, has his heart set out on coming to Japan one day. He’s actually more fluent in Japanese than I thought, which he credits to countless hours of anime. Kanon is mostly set on graduating and in the meantime, planning to host more international Zoom parties. Laura says she is worried about not being able to take SATs and enjoying her last year in high school. But, Laura was still optimistic and said she is happy with the people in her life and appreciates her teachers more than anything. Jiabao said if it wasn’t for COVID, she would have traveled to America and sightsee places she saw on TV. For Sakura, well, ever since we were kids, she always said she wants to go to college in the US. She desires to come visit Crescent Valley and live at least a week’s worth of life as an American high-schooler. Sakura mentioned how she and I always aspired to one day recreate all the pictures our moms took when they were our age… That definitely hurt to hear, since our chances of seeing each other again in person seem slim. I think the most valuable lesson I learned was although COVID blocked all of our passions in life, it has opened a new wave of opportunities to connect with one another. Although this pandemic, let alone the past year has sucked, I would have never gotten to speak with some of these people, had we not all shared the commonality of being stuck at home. Now, I can officially say I had a pretty cool winter break experience like no other. - Maria Fuller If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading!
0 Comments
Book of the Month: Graceling by Kristin Cashore There’s a lot of young adult books centering around “a girl with powers.” Wow. How quirky and original, I can hear you saying. But Graceling is the example of why that structure works, an example of how self-discovery, trust, and commitment can change the course of the future and, along with its companion sequel Bitterblue, a powerful analogy of the danger in a leader who can lie and be believed. I highly recommend this book, especially if you liked the Hunger Games series, The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson, or characters like Annabeth Chase or Reyna Ramírez-Arellano from the Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus series. Overall, though, the world building in this book and in its prequel/sequels (Fire and Bitterblue) are incredible. They have inspired me greatly in fiction writing and in life overall, and they’ll make you grin, laugh, possibly cry, and definitely want to keep reading. Jokes of the Month: What do you call a can opener that doesn’t work? A can’t opener. If you get cold, just go and stand in a corner. They’re usually 90 degrees. Knock knock. Who’s there? Nobel. Nobel who? Nobel. That’s why I knocked. Quotes of the Month: “It seemed funny to me that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from the back steps was the same one. Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren't so different. We saw the same sunset.” ― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders “Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” ― Neil Gaiman, Coraline - Kate Voltz If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Mortality lives down the hallway from my room, between pillows and blankets and never ending pills. Where “when he gets better” reigns supreme. Where I choke on the words, stagnant, sticky, and ill-repeated in my thoughts. Sticky and ill-repeated, a child has jam on their hands and messes with the record player. It breaks, damned to replay the same verse over and over. That is my mind. Mortality appears on my bedpost when I wake up, before daytime has had the chance to mince my thoughts, bastardize them to choppy, orderly rows. Before the still moments, my mind is muddy, dripping, swirling with absolutely nothing and then The dying bird that won’t go away lifts its wings and crawls to my side haphazard and rude, piercing my shoulder till I remember Mortality Lives Forever. I choke on the thought, extract the damn birds claws from my shoulder, and go downstairs. The bird follows me, dragging crumpled wings behind trembling legs, crooning a mournful song about sunlight as my father closes the shades in the room upstairs down the hall. I start the dishes, lost in the sight of water flowing from the spout. Suddenly, through the rushing water, the ocean calls me, and just as fast Mortality tears me away from my reverie, grips me by the shoulders, and violently shakes me awake, thrusting a plate in my hand and yelling, “SCRUB!” I relent. For a moment, all is right in the world Then I catch sight of the bird, no song spilling out its beak, now only shivering in a cold I find myself unwilling to feel. I go upstairs, the dishes forgotten, remembering only to take my time, meandering down the hall, pausing at the two doors before the one at the end as if I’m considering entering. Then a thought: Mortality Lives Forever. I enter the room; he is fast asleep. In my father’s unopened eyes, I see Mortality. In the lines of his face, in the hours spent in bed, in the pill bottles and coffee cups on the nightstand, in the abrupt conversations we have about life. Mortality lives in my ears as I listen. Mortality, marching closer and closer. The half-dead bird stirs. I dodge its talons. - Anonymous If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Why do we get bored? And how do we deal with it? “I have nothing to do” is the most common way to define boredom, and sometimes, we just don’t know what to do to get it over with. But boredom? It’s more than just an emotional state. According to Live Science, boredom is just as familiar as the feeling of excitement and fear. Monotony in the mind, lack of flow, paying attention, emotional awareness, inner amusement skills, and many others are some reasons why we get bored (Heshmat, Ph.D.). James Danckert quotes that boredom has been understudied, but it’s actually worth studying. Here are some quotes from different references that can explain further findings of boredom. “A 2012 review of boredom research that was conducted in educational settings suggested that boredom is some combination of an objective lack of neurological excitement and a subjective psychological state of dissatisfaction, frustration or disinterest, all of which result from a lack of stimulation.” - Live Science Your brain looks for something new. “Think of a baby or toddler exploring their world. When they see, touch or taste something for the first time, their brain makes new connections. Novelty produces chemistry that makes humans feel happy. This process continues as we grow. “The brain latches onto new things,” says Dr. Bea. “Novelty helps us learn, so the brain prefers it. New and different experiences reward the brain.” - Cleveland Clinic Since boredom is partly what makes our brain look for new things, here are 25 things that might be new to you. They could be fun, intriguing, or controversial. What’s the best way to know? Yes, you got it… try them. 5 Foods: “Good food brings a good mood.”
5 Books: Read more to feed your soul.
5 Movies: Bring back the classics.
5 Hobbies: Do what makes you happy, but don’t be afraid to try something new.
5 Challenges: “Everything you’ve ever wanted is one step outside your comfort zone.”
References: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-we-crave-new-experiences https://www.livescience.com/56162-science-of-boredom.html https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ - Althea Balisi If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! Old/romantic novels :
Sci-Fi
Mystery/Crime/Thrillers
- Phia Mathison If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! - Rain Scarborough Sources: Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-ces-general-motors-flying-car/general-motors-unveils-cadillac-flying-car-and-shuttle-concepts-at-ces-idUSKBN29H1ZH, and the Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/02/no-kill-lab-grown-meat-to-go-on-sale-for-first-time.
Monty Python’s Holy Grail is one of the most celebrated and beloved comedies of all time. Released in 1975, the movie was made and produced by Great Britain’s Monty Python, a sketch comedy group well-known for their absurd and fantastically unique humor. The six members of Monty Python (Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin) also played almost every role in the movie, from the main characters and villains to random witch-hunting peasants. Monty Python, and especially this movie, was an indelible part of 1970s pop culture, their influence on comedy often being compared to the Beatles influence on music. This movie stands as one of their greatest and most well-known works, and it is a wonder to behold. Monty Python and the Holy Grail tells the story of King Arthur’s search for the Holy Grail, albeit reimagined in the Pythons’ own, rather unique style. Here for the viewer’s pleasure is a tale of knights, rabbits, Frenchmen, Enchanters, and aaaarrgghh. Here is the greatest surreal comedy film ever to exist. The film’s non-linear storytelling, combined with its quick, witty writing and absurd versions of classic fantasy tropes takes a stock-standard English myth and turns it into a beautiful, hilarious tale that wanders about itself like a rabbit made of wood. The lines are endlessly quotable, the acting is strange and magnificent to behold, and the overall low-budget styling of the film make it feel like a treasure dug up from some ancient basement, just waiting to be watched by a cozy fire. Now, this movie is not for everyone. Comedy is subjective and therefore will very rarely appeal to all. However, this movie’s fantastic writing and significant lack of suggestive material (save one small section) helps it immensely. While the movie has violence, its purposely low quality acts as an enticement, rather than a dissuasion from enjoying it. Many people enjoy watching terrible movies, and Monty Python and the Holy Grail provides something completely unique; a purposefully terrible-seeming movie that surprises in its excellence. It is truly a wonder to behold, and one of the greatest comedy films this writer has ever had the pleasure of watching. 5 out of 5 stars! - Trevor Winder Image sources: IMDb, Mental Floss If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading!
Use this link for a helpful table of options and to see the answers: docs.google.com/document/d/1lU6uZgmIWuMBfBoSTfQLW-6wCBIE3RX23CiX49hn4wM/edit?usp=sharing. Happy puzzling! - Mya Andrews If you want to write for the Crescent Crier, we would love to see you at one of our virtual meetings, which are every Wednesday at 1:30pm! To come to a meeting, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TrQ5PqFcDqeE2yiB9, and we’ll send you a link ASAP. If you would like to submit a single article - or anything else like creative writing, an opinion, an art piece, photo or photo series, or something else entirely - then you can do that using this form: https://forms.gle/WAHSoWJuVwK3q5du6. If you want to contact us for any reason, you can email
[email protected]. Thanks for reading! |