Insight magazine september-october 2012

Insight

Berlin International SchoolSeptember-October

2 Insight September-October 2012

Berlin International School

Contents & Contributors

Editorial...............................................................................3Ask Melody..........................................................................4Music Review......................................................................6Sports day...........................................................................8Slang and us........................................................................9Film review.........................................................................11Competition.......................................................................13Berlin IFA...........................................................................14School trip-London............................................................16Revolution.........................................................................20Halloween.........................................................................22Paralympics...........................................................................24Raising awareness................................................................26Interview................................................................................30iPhone 5 review.....................................................................36Overdrive ................................................................................38Across the universe .............................................................40Restaurant review ................................................................41Dot-to-dot .............................................................................43Colour-me-in ........................................................................45Birthdays ..............................................................................46

Contributors:

Editor:................................................................................Nathalie ReeveLayout design............................................................... Charlott e McGiffi nSupervisor.......................................................................Ms. Busso-Heinze Photography................................................................. Greta BorunovaiteArti cle writers: Klara Fritz, Helena Cladders, Alexa Schüler, Maxwell Dwyer,Jacqui Dwyer, Christi ana Asare, Rea Steinberger, Robin Struss, Ruta Butkute, Beata Stepantchenko & Asad Shabbir

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Editorial

Writi ng this, as my very fi rst editorial for Insight, has given me the ti me to look back on how much work is put into a single Insight issue. I knew right from the start that it would not be easy, but I am determined to carry on making our school newspaper even bett er than ever.

I obviously couldn’t do it alone and I am so lucky to have such a great team working with me. They have so many brilliant ideas and talents, which are shown in the excellent work done in this issue.I am especially happy (and grateful) to have Charlott e as my “second in command”, Layout designer and friend, as she has been a massive help! Insight is sti ll looking for members so if you’re interested, please email us!

So, this issue has A LOT in store for you! A Back to School interview, a Halloween Special, some fantasti c reviews, games, jokes, a competi ti on and many more things are waiti ng to be read and enjoyed!

I hope you have great ti me reading the fi rst Insight of this school year!

Yours,Nathalie ReeveEditor-in-Chief



Ask MelodyBy: Melody

Ask Melody (with a twist)

This is the fi rst Ask Melody (with a twist) of this new school year.

As this issue is a halloweeny issue, I thought I would answer some, guess what, halloween questions. So sit back, relax and read ahead... IF YOU DARE!

1. If parents say, “never take candy from strangers” then why do we go trick or treating on Halloween?

I must admit that the phrase “never take candy from strangers” is valid as someone could of done anything to those delicious sweets, so what our par-ents are saying is fair enough.

I guess the “rules” are slightly overlooked at halloween as trick or treating is a tradition. Trick or treating dignifi es how the spirits would visit Celtics homes disguised as people, in hopes of claiming a new soul (which also explains why we dress up). We even bob for apples to honor a fruit god that the Celt-ics honored. I bet many of you didn’t know that! ;D

2. I always wondered that, if ghosts can walk through walls and glide down stairs, why don’t they fall through the fl oor?

The simple answer is that ghosts can control with their minds where they want to go, like you or me.

They just have an advantage (or are simply lazy) as they don’t need to open any doors to go to the next room.

By using their minds and “special powers” ghosts don’t need to walk up or down stairs to get to a different fl oor. Although, I suppose that we can do that to if we fall down the stairs (which is technically not walking) or if we take the elevator/ escalator.

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Ask Melody

es/2011/11/the_hunger_games_634.jpeg

The “scientifi c” answer is that the laws of gravity don’t apply to ghosts as they have no mass... Or do they?! Good question but hard to answer XD

3. What happens when you put a lightsaber in water?

Ok, fi rst things fi rst, a true Jedi would never do such a thing, unless they also have the same thought as you, in which case they shouldn’t be a Jedi. Anyway, in my opinion, based on the cartoon star wars, a lightsaber exposed to water, in the cartoons case it was rain, the water will evaporate almost instantly as lightsabers are concentrations of light and heat. Contrary to what some people say, you will not get electrocuted if you or someone else is in water when the lightsaber is put in it too. If you ever have the privilege to get hold of a real light-saber, dip it in a bucket of water and see what happens.

If you have any of lifes little questions that you want me to answer, email me at: [email protected] with “Ask Melody” as the subjet!!!



Music Review

To start the year off, I chose to review Billy Talent’s new 14 track album, Dead Silence. Billy Talent is a punk rock band from Toronto, Canada, with 4 albums previously re-leased; Billy Talent I, II and III.

The album starts with “Lonely Road to Absolution”, a soft song that warms the listener up to the music to follow, with fabulous harmonies and awesome backing.

The next song, “Viking Death March”, has already been released as a single, and it is very reminiscent of previous hits, with the classic overdriven guitar and awe-some singing talent.

This song is immediately followed by a heavier song, “Surprise Surprise”. It fea-tures a short guitar solo, but unfortunately, up to this point, there is none of the screaming that the singer, Ben Kowalewicz is known for.

The songs “Runnin’ Across the Tracks” and “Love Was Still Around” are more reminiscent of classic Billy Talent.

The heavier section is followed by the softer song, “Stand Up and Run”, which is then followed by the heavier, “Crooked Minds”, with the fi rst and only memo-rable scream of the album.

“Man Alive!” is another heavy Billy Talent song, which is then followed by the soft intro of “Hanging By a Thread”. The illusion however is quickly broken as “Hanging By a Thread” goes heavy.

The following song, “Cure for the Enemy”, is another softer song, with a chorus that goes heavy. This song is very reminiscent of a heavier version of rock ballads from previous generations.

“Don’t Count on the Wicked” is another song that has an awesome verse riff and an all-round awesome chorus.

By: Maxwell Dwyer

7


Billy Talent

The next song, “Show Me the Way”, is one of those happier, bright songs, which is a good contrast to the previous songs. It is softer, but not by much.

This is followed by a song that starts with a big part for the piano, but fi nishes a soft rock song, titled “Swallowed Up By the Ocean”, which is again, another big contrast, showing the many talents of Talent.

The album fi nishes off with “Dead Silence”, the title song. This rounds every-thing off nicely, with vocal solo conjunction and is reminiscent of a Muse song. Altogether it ends the album nicely.

Overall, the album is a fabulous addition to the Billy Talent catalogue, but it is unfortunately missing the screaming that I always think of when I hear the name Billy Talent. All things considered, it is still an album that shouldn’t be missed.

Amazon DE link: http://www.amazon.de/Dead-Silence-Billy-Talent/dp/B004YPX6S0/

iTunes DE link: http://itunes.apple.com/de/album/dead-silence/id550341413

Offi cial Website: http://www.billytalent.com/



Sports Day!By: Jacqui Dwyer

Sports Day was on Friday 7th September. We all came in our sports clothes and walked to the sports fi eld after registration in our homerooms. It was a cool and cloudy day. There were a number of activities; Twister, sack-racing, egg and spoon racing, tug-of-war, three-legged soccer, dominos, even a soccer match at the end which was IB vs. Teachers.

We were sorted into our “houses”, which were Red, Blue, Green or Yellow and given a coloured wristband each. After a short introductory talk by Ms Kleihues, we were allowed to roam free and choose what we wanted to do. Other than the activities previously mentioned, there were a few Science Challenges and a Maths Challenge, which involved memorising as much of Pi as we could (3.14159265... etc.) and writing it down. One of the Science activities was the classic game where you have to guide a metal hook around a metal wire, all the way to the end without touching it. Another was to make a paper airplane in 1 minute and see which airplane could fl y the farthest. The last one was to spin this plastic tube that made a noise around for as long as you could. The last man standing won.

There was also another challenge on Sports Day involving a path marked out with chalk and a mirror. What you had to do was to walk backwards along the path while not touching the chalk. The tricky thing is that you had to look through the mirror and not down. There was also face painting, food and drinks. All in all, the games were a success.

After the games, we were all rounded up so that the teachers could count up the points collected by the four “houses” to see which house won. Funnily enough, it was a three-way tie between Blue, Yellow and Green. Sorry Reds! The winners received Haribo sweets as a prize. After that, we all sat down and watched the IBs vs. Teachers soccer match. The IBs ended up winning 2-1.

All in all, I thought that this years’ Sports Day was brilliant. From what I have heard from other people, it was much better than the past years. Thanks to all the people who organised and helped out in this event.

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Slang and UsBy: Christiana Asare

Young people make themselves sound stupid by speaking slang outside of school. But while the use of the word ‘’like’’ may be annoying, it fulfi lls a use-ful role in everyday speech. One of the most common is using ‘’like’’ as a fi ller word in a conversation. Filler words are a way we all stall for time when spea-king and historically, always have. It has nothing to do with sloppiness. ‘’ It is not a lazy use of language, that is a common fallacy among non-linguistics,’’ says John Ayto, editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang. We all use fi llers because we can’t keep up highly-monitored, highly-grammatical lan-guage all the time. We all have to pause and think. But crucially, we often use fi llers like ‘’um’’ and ‘’ah’’.”When words break out from a specifi c use and become commonly used in a different way, people come down on them,’’ says Dr. Robert Groves, editor of the Collins Dictionary Of the English Language. Another common use of ‘’like’’ by young people is a quotative, which is a grammatical device to mark reported speech. It also interrupts a statement. For example:

‘’ I was, like, so mad at her so mad at her.”

“The Lake is, like, 2 miles long.”

“This is so, like, amazing.”

“You can`t believe how grateful I am that you are, like, a life-saver.”



Slang and Us

The problem is that overuse of the word in public speaking creates an unpo-lished and unsophisticated tone. In writing, it is generally an unacceptable use of word order. It serves no purpose, because there is no need for, like, an inter-ruption within writing.

“If young people deploy the sort of language they’re using on the streets in formal settings then it could well be a disadvantage to them but at other times it’s quite clearly the way they get along, the way that they signal they belong in a group, the way that they fi t in.

We’ve all got our acronyms and our little words that we use that sends a signal and I’m one of the club. Some others are just not in the ‘’like’’ club.

Sources: http://printhinking.blogspot.de/2008/04/using-word-like-in-conversa-tion.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11426737

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Film review

Le Premier Jour du reste de ta vie

(The First Day of the Rest of Your Life)

Can you remember a day that changed your life? Granted, most of us have barely been alive long enough to experience something profoundly life changing, but anything counts. Maybe it was your fi rst day of school, the day you met your best friend, or your fi rst kiss. Take fi ve family members and the fi ve days that changed their lives, and you get this amazing movie. Starting on August 24th 1988, and ending 12 years later, the French fi lm Le Premier Jour du reste de ta vie, written and directed by Rémi Bezançon, chronicles fi ve days in the life of the Duval family. Following one character on a day that changed their life in each of the fi ve episodes, the movie has an extremely nostalgic quality, rising above petty family dramas and instead showcasing the banality and at the same time the extraordinariness of family life.

Yes, this is a French movie, and yes, there are subtitles, but don’t let senseless clichés stop you from watching and enjoying the fi lm, because this movie isn’t pretentious, and neither are its characters. They’re real, relatable and fl awed, just like all of us are. The characters are all relatable in some way, be it ambitious Albert, grungy Fleur, misunderstood Raph, or their parents. This is due, in no small part, to the very fi ttingly cast actors. Their convincing, heartfelt performances even earned Marc- André Grondin, who played Raphaël Duval, and Déborah François, who played his younger sister Fleur, the César award for Most Promising Actor and Most Promising Actress, respectively.

This fi lm brilliantly captures the seemingly fragile, but at the same time

By: Klara Fritz



extraordinarily strong bonds between family members, and will leave you feeling as if you’ve known the Duval family all your life. It’s no wonder that the fi lm’s French tagline reads, “Cette famille, c’est la vôtre”, or, this family is your family. The feelings of bitterness, rejection and hopelessness, but pervading love are ones so universal that anyone can identify with them. Different fi lming techniques are used for each “episode” to showcase their personalities, creating not only a beautiful narrative, but also a great piece of cinematography.

With an amazing soundtrack with artists ranging from the French musician Sinclair to Janis Joplin and Lou Reed, this movie will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate your family and life so much more. I can only urge you to watch it, if only for air guitar contest scene! However, if you appreciate newer movies and those you can understand without subtitles more, there are plenty of places in Berlin where you can see the newest blockbusters to hit the big screen. Head to the CineStar Original Cinema in the Sony Center for new movies in their original version.

http://www.festivalff.cz/IMG/jpg/le-premier-jour-du-reste-de-ta-vie.jpg

Film Review

Competition!13


COMPETITION!!!

Welcome to the fi rst Insight competi ti on of this school year! The winner(s) will get their photo put into the next Insight Issue in colour! (Oooooh). Look out for “Candy Competi ti ons” where you will get the chance to win, guess what, CANDY and your photo in the Issue!!!

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is the following:

1. Go to either: The Olympic Stadium, The Brandenburg Gate, The Television Tower (Fernsehturm), Checkpoint Charlie or The Reichstag (Deutscher Bundestag).

2. Take a picture of yourself holding up this Insight in front of your cho-sen site.

3. Send the photo with your name(s) and class to: [email protected]

You must compete the mission by the 3rd of December!

Note: If you are with friends in the photo, include their names and classes as well and remember to stay safe round Berlin!

By: Nathalie Reeve



Berlin IFABy: Asad Shabbir

A few weeks ago, I found myself walking past a large red balloon with the logo of some IFA thing. I glanced at the cool red balloon and walked by. A few days later, I ran into another IFA billboard at an u bahn stati on. Curious, I googled IFA to fi nd out that it was one of the largest consumer electronic shows in the world!

Interested, I checked which companies would be there and what electronic good-ies they might have. There were some big players like Samsung and Sony and a lot of smaller players like Huawei and Archos. Deciding it might be fun to check it out, I booked a ti cket and headed to the Messe ICC where the trade show was being hosted. Now, I don’t really know how to express its size. It was absolutely giant. You start off with relati vely small companies which produce every imaginable case, headphone, speaker, and add on for the latest and greatest devices.

Not only did they have cases etc. for existi ng products, but some companies had actual mockups of upcoming hyped products (iPhone 5 and iPad Mini). You’re done with the small companies, your feet are not complaining, but fancy a rest. But wait, you haven’t gone upstairs. As you climb the stairs, you hear people chatt ering. You fi nd them in a large dark room, staring at a blank wall. Someone hands you a pair of 3D glasses, which you put on, to see what everyone is staring at. You’re about to take them off when the blank wall explodes and a huge 3D galaxy blows past you and you know that you’re entering LG’s hall.

The level of excitement and sense of unpredictability was high throughout the day. Every company was trying to shine and belitt le the presentati on of other companies (Grundig had a fashion show including a full catwalk…Nuff ’ said). There was honestly so many things I saw that I can’t list them all here so I’ll just menti on a few big ones.

Samsung. Samsung. Samsung. And Samsung. Everywhere you looked, somebody was walking around with a Samsung bag. Their hall was decorated beauti fully with a series of pencil-thin LED TVs, suspended in midair, while slowly turning in their place. I had been looking for the Samsung hall and came across it while I was lost and I have to admit that as I stepped in, I had to just halt in my track and admire the bizarre scene in front of me. 3D TVs, smartphones, mp3 players, tablets, laptops, laptops which swiv-eled, laptops with removable screens, laptops with two screens, and prett y much ev-

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erything else under the sun.

I walked out of the Samsung hall, admitt edly sti ll quite dazed from all the glamour and I saw the Sony hall. The Sony booth had a more classy and elegant white look, with a huge circular ring on which the projected stuff across the enti re hall. They had their latest line up of smartphones, which have now ditched the ‘Ericson’ and are just ‘Sony’.

To be honest, Sony and Samsung are very good examples of how much technology has evolved because when you see a 106 inch incredibly thin television screen which has a shark coming at you, biti ng, you realize how much things have changed.

All in all, the day I spent walking aimlessly around the halls was admitt edly very ti r-ing, but incredibly enjoyable. It’s not cut out for everyone as it could get boring to see screens all day and walk through the hundreds of halls seeing prett y much the same stuff but if you really fancy playing with the next cool gadget, this was defi nite-ly the place to be. If you missed it, not to worry as Berlin plays host to IFA every year. Book your ti ckets for the next one!

Berlin IFA



School Trip- London

In the second week of school, some lucky IB1 students � ew to London for four days of exploring, sightseeing and helping ourselves to some local � sh-and-chips.

On Wednesday, 5th of September, the whole group met at Tegel Airport at 6 a.m. Obviously, not all of us were on time (and someone even for-got their passport!), but at 07:25 we were all sitting in our seats waiting for take o� . Before we knew it, we were � ying over Millennium Dome, and catching glimpses of the 2012 Olympic Stadium. At 8:25 we arrived at London Heathrow.

A� er we � nally got our luggage, we headed directly to the London tube and set o� to the Meininger Hyde Park Hostel, which to our surprise, was also accommodating the German Paralympic team. Everybody was buzzing to head out into the city, and because our hostel was located a few minutes away from Hyde Park, we were able to walk by foot to all the best places. � e � rst we thing we all had to do was get used to the cars, because they drive in the other direction. A� er a few le� -and-right head turns, we soon got the hang of it, and we were ready to see what London had in store for us.

We took a long walk in Hyde Park and encountered some funny squir-rels along the way, until we � nally got to Buckingham Palace. We saw the Queen’s famous Foot Guards wearing their full-dress uniform of red tunics and bearskins outside of the building. � en we walked towards Big Ben, (which isn’t very big!) and saw the Houses of Parliament, where we then made our way towards the London Eye. Only a few of us were brave enough to experience the 30 minute ride, but it was de� -

By: Beata Stepantchenko

17


nitely worth it. � en we started to get hungry, so a� er making a quick trip back to our hostel, we set o� to Piccadilly Circus where we had time to have dinner before seeing the play, “� e 39 Steps” at Criterion � eatre. � e play was set in First World War era, and only had a cast of four, but it was thoroughly entertaining and extremely impressive.

On � ursday, 6th of September, we travelled to the Tate Modern, which had many di� erent art exhibitions, and then we had lunch next to the River � ames where we had the famous Tower Bridge as our view. We then walked to the Globe � eatre, where we were taken on a special tour and got insight on all the details about the Globe. We then got to study the Globe ourselves in the exhibition and saw the various props and costumes used in the plays. We even got to watch a Shakespearean play, “As You Like It”, where we, as the audience, had to stand for two hours, just like in the old days. A� er a few group photos, we headed back to the hostel again where we got ready to go to the very emotional musical, “Ghost” at Piccadilly � eatre. � e musical was highly impressive and had many special e� ects, and the story line was heartbreaking. In the end, all the girls (and some boys) were weeping and crying!

On Friday 7th of September, we walked to the Science Museum near South Kensington Station and had lots of fun with the various interactive activities. Some of us even went on a real-life � ight simulator, where we were literally upside down. We then went to the Natural History Mu-seum, where we saw amazing displays, and were even fascinated with the building itself, because it had so much detail. A� er exploring the muse-ums, we travelled to Notting Hill, where a few of us went shopping and

School Trip- London



bought amazing stu� . Some of us also went to Oxford Street, Selfridges and Bond Street. In the evening, we had free time, and some of us went back to Piccadilly Circus and saw a movie in the cinema. Sadly, the next morning we already had to pack our stu� and say good-bye to London. We arrived at London Heathrow airport at 10:30 for check-in, and arrived back in Berlin at 15:00, where are parents were waiting to pick us up and hear about our new experiences. Overall, the trip was a great success and we had amazing weather, (not one drop of rain!). Nobody wanted to leave, and we would all miss going to Piccadilly Circus every evening to watch another play, because they were so entertaining.

For some of us, it was our � rst time in London and we can de� nitely say that it was a memorable trip. We want to give a big thank you to Ms. Busso and Ms. Gri� ths for organizing this trip and making it so enjoy-able. We would de� nitely recommend you to go next year!

School Trip- London

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School Trip- London



By: Asad Shabbir

Jasper was slightly apprehensive that Adam was being slightly arrogant but he did not show it.

“Awesome! We can leave tomorrow night. That way, we arrive early morning. Can you arrange that?”

“Yeah, sure. Just the three of us?” asked Adam, looking around for other peop-le he could invite.Spotti ng someone in the dark, he called “Oye! Pete! C‘mere!”A very thin and bespectacled boy made his way to the trio and said, “Yo, what‘s going on?”“We are going to Veldin tomorrow night, wanna come?” asked Harol, giving Pete a friendly push.“Tomorrow night? Yeah Yeah, let’s go!” agreed Pete.Pete was just about to say something when everyone shielded their eyes be-cause the electricity had returned, bringing with it a lot of light.“Thank god!” said Jasper, his eyes adjusti ng to the brightness.“We gott a run! I‘ll message you all the details on Facebook. See you!” said Adam before joining the stream of people heading back to their rooms.Once out of earshot, Jasper pulled Harol into a corner and said “Harol, don‘t go. I am not going. It‘s not right.”“Oh my god! Not this again! Listen, I know you are all noble and stuff but loo-sen up!” snapped Harol.“Dude, he and his father are misusing the resources they have been given for offi cial purposes.” protested Jasper. He was not going to let his best friend be in the wrong company.“Misusing? Who the heck cares? We get a free ride and stay in Veldin! What more can you ask for?” asked Harol, waving his hands.“Listen, don‘t go with them. We will go with other people. The right way. I‘ll

Insight serial

21


pay for you.” off ered Jasper.“No man. C‘mon, old people care about this sorta stuff . Corrupti on, policy! We are twenty years old computer students! Why do we care?” chuckled Harol.“Because this exact stuff leads to the stuff that’s going on in Irruti a. Our ‚com-puters‘ will have nothing to run on if this conti nues.” hissed Jasper.“Whatever buddy, I am going. You don‘t have to come. But to tell you the truth, I am sick and ti red of you constantly trying to make me do good stuff . I know it’s a mistake but let me live my life.” spat Harol, aware of the fact that he was crossing a line.Jasper was taken aback. “Fine, I‘ll let you live your own life. Tell Adam I have a fl u or something. I am not coming.”“Aright, let‘s go upstairs now. I have to pack and print Google maps to Veldin.” said Harol, unable to hide a smirk.Jasper was far from smirking. Despite being all calm, he was stung by his friend‘s words. They had known each other since primary school and they had fought a lot but this argument had been one of those fi ghts which stands out.They returned to their studio and Harol quickly booted his laptop before the next round of load-shedding. Jasper, meanwhile, collapsed into a heap on his bed.What has my country become?

That was the conti nued fi rst chapter of Asad Shabbirs‘ new book enti tled „Edge of the Cirlcle“. If you wish to conti nue reading this interesti ng book, you can purchase it on amazon.de

Revolution



By: Rea SteinbergerSo Halloween is upon us, the second most commercial holiday of the year. But what is it and where does it come from? Sure, it's the day where we all dress up and go trick or treating, while the daredevils among us venture into haunted houses. Nevertheless, if you value your beauty sleep I wouldn't recommend it. Trust me, I speak from experience. It is more than just the day you can scare people and not be hated. Like any other holiday there is a deeper history behind it.

Halloween has been around longer than you'd think and is originally from Celtic Ireland BC. 2000 years ago. A day called Samhain was celebrated on November 1st , and it was believed that the night before, ghosts would come out from their graves to visit. Food and wine was le� on doorsteps to keep the spirits away, and anyone who le� the house would have to wear a mask, so that it wouldn't be known that a hu-man was out and about. In the 700's, the church changed Samhain to All Saints Day or All Hallows. � e night before All Saints Day became known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween.

Trick or treating comes from something called souling and guising. Souling was when the poor would bake 'Soul Cakes' for the rich and in return pray for their dead relatives. In guising, children would dress up and accept food and money from strangers in exchange for entertain-ment in the form of singing and jokes. Since these traditions originated in medieval Britain, British immigrants were the ones to spread the idea of trick or treating. Who would have thought that we'd be doing the same thing people did generations ago?

� e Jack O' Lantern, a big part of Halloween tradition, also has many stories behind it. One version is:

Do you know about

23


� ere was a young man called Jack who had an annoying habit of pull-ing pranks on people. Apparently, a lifetime of pulling pranks was not enough for Jack. � e trickster invited the devil for a drink. Of course the trickster didn't pay for the drink and recommended for the devil to turn himself into a coin, so that Jack could use him to pay for the drinks. Once the devil did so, Jack put the money in his pocket, putting a silver cross next to it, preventing the devil from turning back into his original form. Soon a� er Jack tricked the devil into many other things and eventually, Jack died. God didn't allow Jack into heaven and the devil didn't invite him into hell, which lead to the result of sending Jack o� into the dark night with only a coal to light his way.

Now you know a bit about the history of Halloween. Here are some things you shouldn't do on this fateful day:

Don't:

1. Stand in front of a mirror and say 'Bloody Mary' 3 times. She will ap-pear and scratch out your eyes a� er which your death will quickly ensue. 2. Accept apples from strangers, there might be razors in them.3. Leave everyone to go investigate a strange noise in the attic; nothing good will come of it.4. Bob for apples. Sticking your face in a bucket of spit is not hygienic.5. Watch a horror movie in your basement. Alone.

Hopefully these tips will help you survive Halloween!http://www.history.com/topics/jack-olantern-history

Halloween?



You have all probably heard of the Paralympic games, the international sport events where physically and intellectually disabled people can compete. The actual Paralypmic games fi rst started about fi fty years ago, while the idea of sport events for disabled people can be dated back to the second World War.

This year’s Paralympics, were held in London from the 29th of August to the 9th of September. There were 503 Disciplines; including Wheelchair Tennis, sitting Volleyball and Sailing. It was mainly dominated by China winning 231 medals, those including 95 Gold medals, followed by Russia then Great Britain with 120 and 102 medals (36 and 34 Gold). Germany came in 8th, with 18 Gold medals and 66 altogether.

The Paralymic games sports in 2012 included Boccia, Archery (wheelchair), Weightlifting, Goal ball (blind/bad sight), Judo (blind/bad sight), Athletics (wheelchair), Cycling (bad sight/ People with Cerebral Palsy/People with amputations), Horseback riding (all handicaps), Wheelchair- basketball, -fencing, -rugby, and –tennis, Swimming (all handicaps), Sailing (all handicaps, the boats will be customized for the type of handicap.), Sitting Volleyball (all/no handicap), and Table tennis (wheelchair/varying).

Of course there are also different categories of handicap, for example paralysis (wheelchair), amputations, sight problems or blindness and learning or speaking disabilities. Most sports are divided by those categories, as for example someone in a wheelchair racing a person with learning abilities would be a rather unfair contest.

At the closing ceremory, the world saw the Paralympic Flag being handed over to Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, cueing a colourful musical performance by Rio 2016.

Picture: Screenshot from http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/sports/

By: Alexa Schüler

Paralympics

25


Paralympics



� e social impact of the Paralymic Idea on a global scale.

It’s only a few weeks ago that the Paralympic Games excited millions of people from around the world. � ey impressed all those, who are inter-ested in sports. But more than that, they touched everybody who wit-nessed the handicapped individuals’ excitement over their achievements. How could individuals from around the world, individuals of all colors and from many age groups, with dramatic handicaps which make us humble, leave us with such a deep impression, as they did? What hap-pened in London that made humankind look just a little more human than before?

In order to understand this, let us look at the games´ participation rate: � e London Para lympics had the highest participation rate ever, both in terms of individual athletes and in terms of participating nations. About 4200 athletes represented 164 countries; these were 250 more athletes and 18 more countries than in the 2008 games in Beijing.

Why are these such important social facts? Well, one has to consider how societies used to treat disabled people. For many centuries, disability had been considered to be a major defect and � aw, and this beyond national boundaries and across cultures. While families took care of their disa-bled relatives within their means, the disabled were generally, not well respected members of society. With an increasing advance of technical progress on the one hand, particularly with increasing help to secure the handicapped people´s mobility, and with the speedy change of informa-tion technology which allows news to travel around the world faster, this attitude has changed for the better. A change of laws, at least in Western countries, and a change of mindset have improved the general condition

Paralympics

By: Helena Cladders

27


of handicapped people. In third world or emerging countries, means to provide easy public support and attention to the handicapped and thus shape public awareness, are scarcer. � e more is it to be admired that countries like Antigua, Brunei, Cameroon, Congo and North Korea, to name just a few, are among the newly participating countries. � us, they help to make public awareness of the handicapped athletes and their po-tential grow in their respective societies.

Raising awareness



But also in western societies, public interest in Paralympic perfor-mance was not to be taken for granted even a few decades ago. Just think of this: In 1984 the commercial organizational team of the Olympic summer games in Los Angeles refused to put on the “In-ternational Games for the Disabled”. � e reason given was that these games would not � t into the professional image of the Olympic games of Los Angeles. In reaction to this, the community of Champagne near Chicago volunteered to carry out the games for the disabled, but canceled a few months before the opening with the excuse that they were lacking 100.000 USD. � e Games were then divided: the para-lyzed met in the UK at Stoke Mandeville, the others on New Island, New York. Here, the money needed was collected within a couple of hours by the local Hofstra University which also organized the games.

Ever since 1988 the Paralympics take place at the same venue as the Olympic Games and within the same cycle. While the 2012 London Games were a wonderful success, also in terms of public interest, there is still room for improvement for public awareness: � e media could and should, even more than they did during the London Para-lympic Games, broadcast their programs even more widely during prime broadcasting time. � is way, even more people in each respec-tive nation would become familiar with the achievement of handi-capped sportsmen and –women, of individuals who refused to let a fatal illness or accident get them down for life: of individuals who overcame their dark period of life and now stand in the light of their achievement.

Paralympics

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Raising awareness



Students, both new and old-timers were asked around the school about their thoughts on the new school year, their goals of achievement and how they feel about B.I.S.

How is this school di� erent from your last school?

Zoey (7th grade): It’s bigger, more languages are spoken here. It’s more fun.

Anni (8th grade): Well, lunch is longer at this school, and the library is bigger. � e other library was quite small. � e lessons and the teachers are quite the same.

Anonymous (9th grade): You have a lot more freedom here and the people are nicer, but the school work is harder. I went to a public school before in a small town in North Carolina and everything was much di� erent. Here it is very international and diverse.

Rea (IB1): A lot more academic, I’d say. Everyone is really smart here. It is also much bigger than my last school. My old school was quite disorganized.

How is this school year di� erent from the last school year?

Roman (6th grade): We have more freedom, but it’s harder. More responsibilities than in primary school, you have to bring your homework on time when it is due.

Chipo (7th grade): More homework, di� erent teachers.

Tessa (7th grade): We had to get more organized. More work is piling up on top of our basics.

Emily (8th grade): � is year, I don’t think that much changed. I know that last year at the beginning of 7th grade the whole library changed, and they moved my locker, but that’s another story. � is year there are a lot of new teachers – okay, maybe less than last year, but still- and we changed English classes, so yeah that’s good, that we’re with other people.

Anonymous (10th grade): I realized that I messed up with school last year. If you don’t do the work it’s not stressful, but if you do then it is quite hard. IGCSE exams are com-

Interview

By: Jacqui Dwyer and Ruta Butkute

31


ing up.

Lena (IB2): More work. � is year we really have to prioritize our work and decide what tasks we have to do � rst. IA’s are priority compared to some homework so it may as well be forgotten… But otherwise there are more responsibilities than ever, “free periods” have become work periods.

What do you like about our school?

Eric (6th grade): Teachers watch over their students during recess. We don’t get bullied and they take care of us if something happens.

Konstantin (6th grade): It’s very international. � ere are many kids with di� erent cul-tures and everyone speaks many languages so you can learn a lot about the world. � e teachers are very nice and creative.

Tessa (7th grade): I like that we all speak English and we get know people from all over the world.

Anni (8th grade): Everything. It was a little bit di� cult at the start. I was learning Eng-lish in kindergarten, so it’s quite natural, but then in 2nd grade I didn’t do any English, but I have friends in my classes.

Anonymous (9th grade): It has good sport facilities.

Anonymous (10th grade): I don’t know. I’ve been here since kindergarten so it’s hard to say because I don’t know how di� erent it could be. � e longer I am here, the more I like it I guess.

Isabel (IB1): � e library is quite good now. It is open before and a� er school hours so we can work whenever. I also like that the school is not that large and the teachers can really know their students personally and identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Rea (IB1): I think the people are nice and there are a lot of activities you can do a� er school. For example, I’m taking part in Speech & Debate, I’m on the football team and

Interview



I read out-loud to little kids in the primary school.

Solene (IB2): I like that you have the feeling that your teachers know what they’re doing and that they are directing you toward good grades.

Vicky (IB2): � e IB allows people to form their own opinions about world matters and makes us question the environment that we live in.What do you dislike about our school?

Eric (6th grade): I would like more space in the playground and larger halls.

Anonymous (9th grade): Too much homework!

Isabel (IB1): Lack of community spirit. � ere is also some talking behind backs going on, but I guess it’s like that in all schools.

Solene (IB2): People are not very keen on the events organized by the StuCo, we don’t get supported by many students. School spirits are also quite low.

What are your long-term goals or what are you looking forward to in the year ahead?

Zoey (7th grade): � e Spring Dance.

Emily (8th grade): Well, one thing I’m looking forward to is de� nitely the trip to Bel-gium, because I’ve never been to Belgium. Yeah, I’m nerdy, I know, because I’m looking forward to it because basically it’s all about WW1 – call me nerdy, I don’t care – and that’s it, actually.Konstantin (6th grade): Bringing homework on time! Also getting good grades mostly, having fun and making new friends.

Anonymous (10th grade): Pass the IGCSEs exams.

Isabel (IB1): To keep up my grade point average, work on having a good IB.

Rea (IB1): To � gure out what I’m going to do for my Extended Essay and get a lot of my CAS hours over with.

Interview

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Lena (IB2): Good grades, obviously. Keep on top of all the work so that I would get the results that I worked for and that re� ect the e� ort I’ve put in. Also, I want to keep the stress to the minimum.

Do you think it is very hard to � t into B.I.S?

Konstantin (6th grade): I think it depends where you’re from. Sometimes your culture is so di� erent from Germany’s that it takes some time to adapt to our school and the other cultures that are present.

Chipo (7th grade): Yes, very hard. People look at you weirdly. For me it was okay, be-cause I’m not shy.

Zoey (7th grade): It depends from person to person.

Anonymous (9th grade): Not at all, the people were very nice from the beginning on.

Anonymous (10th grade): Yes. If you are here since the beginning, you already created your space and group of people. If you come later, it is hard to break those circles. If you don’t wear the right kind of clothes or say the right things, at � rst it will be hard to make friends. Coming in the middle of the year is good actually, because people are more interested in the new person.

Rea (IB1): No, I mean everyone is really nice and we get mixed up in all the classes. � at makes it easier to get to know people. � ere were also other new people in my year, so we supported one another.

Solene (IB2): I don’t know, I guess it’s like being new in any other school. Here people were very open which made it easier to approach them. Also, there were many other new students as well so I didn’t feel like the only one.

How do you � nd IB?

Isabel (IB1): Well, it’s much di� erent to IGCSEs but doable. I personally hate essay writ-

Interview



ing and we have really many Internal Assessments, but I know it will get less. However, I have bad time management and I leave everything for the last day…

Rea (IB1): Hard. It’s not really the lessons that are very hard, but the amount of work we get is a lot. With 3 hours of homework every day there is relatively little time to enjoy the weekends.

Vicky IB2: All the work you have is the work you make for yourself. You can write 4000 words in a couple hours easily. In the end you choose the amount of time you invest because the IB is something you do for yourself and not for your teachers.

What are you looking forward to a� er IB?

Lena (IB2): � e freedom to choose what I want to do with my life and which direction to go. I’m looking forward to university and the independence that comes with it de� nitely.

Tessa (IB2): I want to go to Africa for a year so I’m really looking forward to being inde-pendent and doing what I really want to do. No bio labs and written tasks.

Vicky (IB2): I’m looking forward to the unpredictability and adventures in a new envi-ronment and the challenges that come with it.

Any tips for future IB students?

Asad: Get all given IAs done in IB1 OR face the wrath in a more pressurized IB2.

Claudio: Stop procrastinating! Even though I know you’ll do it. Just don’t.

Hanna: If you’re having a mental breakdown, just stay cool and relax. You’ll manage in the end.

Interview

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Helena: When you get the task of choosing an EE topic, start right away. You don't need to have extra pressure 2 weeks before the � nal submission date, along with IA's, Written Tasks and orals!

Lena: Don’t get discouraged and don’t stress yourself out too much, just keep on work-ing. If I were to do IB1 again I would actually start working from the beginning of the course.

Lino: Make sure you always communicate. Talk to your teacher and classmates, don’t think you have to go through this on your own.

Ruta: Remember that IB is still High School; don’t lose your life over it. You will prob-ably spend more time complaining about the Extended Essay than writing it. In the end there is more time than work, so take the time to have fun!

Solene: I know everyone says this but really, keep up with the deadlines! Do as many CAS hours in your � rst year or you’ll drown in them in IB2. Oh, and have a healthy lifestyle and activities that allow you to escape the routine and think about something else than school.

A great big thank you to all of the interviewees. Without you, there would be no inter-view!

Interview



Yes, the latest apple iPhone has been released and hype, as per usual, is very high. Does it live up to expectations? Let's � nd out. Much like previous iPhones, this iPhone has distinctive looks, with the rounded corners and uni-body. � e glass that gave it its glossiness on the back in previous iPhones has changed to aluminium, either bare or black, which looks good, but the darker colour can attract � ngerprints easily. It is much lighter then previous iPhones, going from 140 grams to 112 which makes a big di� erence. Also, the screen has gotten longer to allow one more row of icons. Some people have critiqued this, stating that this is the exact size needed for a banner ad on an app, but most people are happy with the change in the size of the screen. Apple owns the retina display which is a very high quality screen with good brightness and contrast. � is technology is used in all of their iMacs, iPods, iPads, and previous iPhones � is iP-hone uses this technology as well, to ensure the screen looks brilliant. � e change in size makes the screen bigger but changes the aspect ratio to 16:9, which looks better when presenting HD content. � e iPhones have previously been the industry standard for comparing camera quality. � is camera is mostly unchanged from the previous iPhone, which is not a bad thing as the 8 megapixel camera still presents fabulous photos, for a phone. � e camera is also quick, meaning that the camera is able to take lots of photos in a short amount of time. New in this phone is the Panorama mode, which is where you press a button, move the camera le� or right, and this will create a long image. � is is an automatic method of making a Panorama, which is better than previous Panorama technology I have used. � e front facing camera is also high quality and good for video calls. One issue is found in the new sapphire protective glass, which creates a purple � are in highly-lit areas of some photographs. � is requires budding photographers to be very careful where they point the camera.

Using wireless performance, the iPhone 5 was able to � nd and keep signals well with great call quality and fast data transmission. � e iPhone 5 has just over double the performance of the previous one, and is quicker than other competing devices such as

ReviewBy: Maxwell Dwyer

37


the Galaxy S III and the HTC One X. Battery life is also excellent, with heavy usage it will attain about 14 hours of battery, with Engadget's stress test – about 11 hours. Un-fortunately the iPhone 5 has refused to adopt NFC, what is quickly becoming the new standard in mobile payments, for their new Passbook virtual wallet. � e iPhone 5 is running Apple's latest operating system iOS6. � is has some new fea-tures but the dropping of Google Maps in favour of Apple Maps, and the new Passbook virtual wallet are the biggest thorns in the side of the iPhone 5 so� ware wise. Apple maps is a disaster, with bad turn by turn directions, incomplete or incorrect maps and places in some areas, and lack of public transport make dropping Google Maps a terrible idea on Apple's part. � ey are unusable to the point where the CEO released a letter recommending Google and Nokia maps as alternatives to the Apple Maps. Passbook is also incomplete, with few retailers supporting it and NFC being supported by a larger market share of Android and WP8 devices. It will be interesting to see what Apple does with it in the next iPhone.

All of your apps in the previous iPhones will still work, so that is good. One issue that needs to be addressed is the new lightning connector. For ten years apple has been using the same connector but changed it in the new iPhone � ve. Some people like this change as it allows for the device to be thinner and works regardless of orientation, but there are issues. � ere are a huge amount of iPhone accessories out there that have all of a sudden become obsolete, and without the not-included €30 Euro adapter they are useless. Also, if they require iPod out, the technology used to control the iPhone in BMW and Mini dashboards, lightning will not work, as lightning does not support this. � is is ignoring the fact that the USB cable costs €19 (a standard Micro-USB cable costs about €5).

� e iPhone 5 has many good features about it, and has many positives. However, the issues with the camera, lightning and so� ware brings out the worse side of Apple. � is product gets 3.5 stars

iPhone 5



Welcome back to OVERDRIVE! � is time, I will be talking (well writ-ing) to you about a cute little convertible that’s not like any other on the market. I’m talking about BMW’s Mini Convertible Cooper S.

� e comfort and handling…� ere is easily enough space up front with a good amount of head room. Unfortunately, any passenger in the back will need to be a VERY small child or have no head and legs, due to the lack of space. It o� ers a smooth ride even on the larger optional alloys. I would say a 50/50 score comfort wise. On the other hand, the Cooper S makes up for it when it comes to handling as critics say that it is very nearly as good as the Coupe. � e Cooper S powers round corners with the enthusiasm that you would get from small, yappy dogs when they’ve seen a squirrel. � e steering is nicely weighted and the suspension is � rm but well damped.

� e performance…It has a break horse power of 120. It hit 99.78km/ h (62mph) in about seven second. It has the possibility of cruising along at a respectable top speed of 225.31km/ h (140mph). It may not sound much to some, but remember that fabric roof and as-sociated extra bits do have an e� ect on its performance.

� e quality…Just by glancing at the interior, you can see strait away that someone has been hard at work trying to create a better Mini; one that looks plusher and less “plastic painted metallic colours”. By looking at build of the Cooper S, the suspension and engine, you can see that quite a lot of money has been spent on the engineering. Even though it’s � ashier than

OVERDRIVE

By: Nathalie Reeve

39


the previous generation, you can’t deny the quality of workmanship.

How practical is it? With the roof stowed neatly away in the boot, there is obviously not much boot space le� . With the roof up, there, well, still not much boot space. � ere is just about enough space for a squashy overnight bag, but anything more and you’ll be lucky if the boot closes. Still, it's small and nippy and is great for weekends away or if you travel a lot of short dis-tances, say, to the shops and back again.

How cool is it?Even though the car has a � re in its belly and genuine ability, you will � nd it hard looking tough or super macho in this nice little drop-top. It has a greater appeal to women than men . But hey, if guys like it, I’m not one to say anything against it.

Link: http://www.goodlife.com.ng/uploads/Seun-Patrick_168_mini-convertible-thumb.jpg

OVERDRIVE



If you're interested in a futuristic world, dark mystery and bewildering plot twists with splashes of romance, this book by Beth Revis is for you.

� e story starts o� with one of the protagonists, 17-year-old Amy, getting ready to be frozen and placed into the Godspeed (the spaceship), where she and her parents will travel through space and wake up on an entirely new planet.

However, things don't quite turn out that way. Amy narrowly escapes her death and instead of being thrown out into the stars with the rest of the dead, she wakes up to an entirely di� erent environment- 50 years before she was supposed to.

Amy senses something is o� about the place. � e people don't quite act like people, those classi� ed as 'crazy' don't seem crazy. On the entire ship there is one person her age, Elder, the Godspeed's future leader. Elder and Amy set out to � gure out who the murderer is, and along the way Elder stumbles upon secrets that change everthing.

I enjoyed this book very much, especially the futeristic elements, for example the whole process of being frozen and unfrozen is very detailed, as well as realistic. � e book is quite long, but well thought out, and the alternating narration of both Amy and Elder give you di� erent points of view of what it is like to be completely new and both familiar with the Godspeed. Amy's anguish at being trapped inside a giant metal box, leav-ing almost everyone she loves behind and having to wait so long really enables you to feel you are right there with her.

I would give this book 4 stars. You can � nd it in the school library.

Across the universe

By: Rea Steinberger

41


Chaapa is located on Nollendorfplatz, down the road from the sta-tion. Chaapa Viet/� ai has a sushi bar. "Sashimi", is built on the side of Chaapa's. Both places are run by the same people, so it is almost one restaurant. If you sit in Chaapa's and want sushi from Sashimi, while your family or friends eat from Chaapa's, the sta� will let you order from two di� erent menus. Both menus come in German and English, and the sta� speaks English too. � ere is indoor and outdoor seating available.

� e decor inside is very nice. As you walk in, the bar and a large tree with leaves spread along the ceiling are right in front of you. � ere is seating to the right and le� , as well as raised seating in the back. Along the walls are pictures all the way from Vietnam. On the right wall, there is a televi-sion, showing some music videos or scenic footage. Some small Buddha statues can be found around the restaurant.

When I went there recently, I ordered some sushi and I tried one of the Vietnamese dishes. I ordered the White Tiger Roll, the Sashimi-Roll, the California Maki and the Mi Xao. � e � rst three are sushi and the last one is a noodle dish. I ordered a Mosquito to drink, which is like a non-alco-holic Mojito, a cocktail made usually with crushed ice, mint, lime, sugar and rum. Mine had lemonade to substitute the rum. It was very fresh, cold and really tasty. With whatever sushi you order, it’s all put onto the same plate; with a small side of lettuce, carrot, radish, ginger and a small dollop of wasabi. ( didn’t try any wasabi! Too spicy! � e White Tiger Roll is cucumber, prawn and a bit of mayonnaise wrapped with rice, which is wrapped

Restaurant Review

By: Jacqui Dwyer



around with thin strips of cucumber. It's very light and doesn’t leave too strong of an a� ertaste. � e Sashimi-Roll is surrounded on the outside with seaweed, rice, cucumber and a spicy � lling in the middle. It is a little spicy, but the rice and the cucumber dulls the spice so it tastes very nice. � e California Maki are little mini-sushi. � ey are wrapped with seaweed and have prawn and avocado in the center. � ey are nice little bites that you can eat with chopsticks. � e last dish, the Mi Xao, is a fried noodle dish with vegetables. You can get your choice of di� erent meats, e.g. duck, pork, beef. I chose chicken, and it was very tender and juicy. � e � avor of the noodles with the vegetables was very nice and the noodles themselves are very light.

� e sta� are very nice. We know the manager on a � rst-name basis, which is nice too. Dennis (see below) greets us like friends when we walk in, making us feel welcome. He knows what we like to drink and knows that me and my brother always order sushi, so he gets everything for us. Sometimes, while we ea,t he sits and chats with us a bit.

All in all, it’s a nice atmosphere when we go to Chaapa. � e food is great, the service is excellent and we leave with full stomachs. I would rate this 4/5. � ere’s always room for improvement!


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43 Insight May-June 2012


Dot-to-dotBy: Helena Cladders



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Dot-to-dot

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45 Insight May-June 2012


Colour-me-in!



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Happy Birthday!!!

Birthdays!!!

Ms Burrows

Ms Hancox

Ms Henning-Nauber

Ms Kleihues

Mr McClymont

Mr Smith

Mr Techeira Clavell

Mr Tynan

And a special birthday wish goes to Mr Keulers!!!

These lucky teachers celebrated their birthdays in September or October. Congratulations!

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With thanks to...

Thank you...

I would defi nitly like to say a big thank you to the whole Insight team.With-out you, Insight would be nothing compared to what it is now!To Ms. Busso for her support and ability to adapt to the new effi cient sys-tem of editi ng so quickly.To all of our interviewees; it makes Insight just that litt le bit more interest-ing.To those who helped in the printi ng of Insight.To Mr. Compeyron and Mrs. McGiffi n for allowing us to use the library for meeti ngs and the putti ng together of the issue.And last but not least, thank you to Mr. Cunnigham for letti ng Insight be part of our school lives. (I’m sorry for anyone I may have missed out.) Insight is sti ll looking for members, so if you’re interested, please email us at: [email protected]

School’s Out

The warm sort of summer breezeBlowing through the trees,The whole class doing different thingsFeeling so at ease.

The teacher then comes bursting inSaying “work, work, work”,The whole class sighing, moaning, groaningDriving him berserk.

The lesson was � nally over“Homework” teacher said,The whole class knew it all alongShakespeare before bed.(groan)

The bell � nally set them free“HOORAY” they all scream,The whole class ran outside to playAnd frolic happily.

The End

by Nathalie Reeve and Helena Cladders

Welcome

Welcome to the new school year,So far it has been all laughs and cheer.

Sports Day was a taste of what's to come,

Work hard, revise and have some fun.

For those who are new, do not fear,School's setting you up for your future career.

It may be hard and you may get stressed,

But all you can do is try your best.

So welcome again to this new school year,And remember that Halloween is already here!

By Nathalie Reeve

Insight magazine september-october 2012

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Transcript of Insight magazine september-october 2012