E. 57 - Practice

editors-in-chief

The New Regime Begins!

Introducing the editors-in-chief

T

he old Talon? No. Here comes the evolved Talon with the

Minjae Park and Yumi Park flute and saxophone is one of the few skills I am proud of.

new Editors-in-Chief! Before we start our new regime, we would like to offer a little glimpse of its leaders.

Minjae: Playing and watching soccer, reading and writing about soccer. And mostly just lying on the sofa and watch-

How do you feel to be the editor-in-chief of the Talon?

ing TV. My perfect day? Watching soccer and old seasons of

Yumi: I feel a mixture of excitement and worry. Becoming

Friends all day long with some pizza.

Editor-in-Chief has been a dream of mine. I knew I wanted to do it eventually, after spending a year as an assistant News

What’s your pet peeve?

Editor. I feel great honor and joy to be heading the Talon for

Yumi: Although I am usually a patient person, my pet peeve is

the next one year. It was a bit scary at first to face the biggest

when people do not respond to me and when they are being

staff ever and the responsibility as the Editor-in-Chief, but

arrogant. Hubris is always a bad thing, as we learned from all

I’m getting used to this.

those Greek tragedies, right?

Minjae: When people come up to me and say “I thought this

Minjae: Being interrupted while speaking.

and this about your article,” it feels great because it tells me that people are reading my work and thinking about it. It’s

What are some of your predictions about each other after

amazing to think that I’ll be heading a paper that students,

high school graduation?

teachers and parents read wherever they are and gives them

Yumi: Surrounded by lab equipment, Minjae is working in a

something to think about.

laboratory, looking sharply through the microscope and making scientific observations. At night, he sits in front of his

What are some of your hobbies?

desk, facing a mountain of books about filming and movies.

Yumi: I have lots of different hobbies, but most of them have

While his roommate has already fallen asleep and is snoring,

to do with reading. My perfect day would be when it is raining

he is writing new scene and thinking of new techniques for

softly outside the window, and I am under a thick blanket read-

the film he will be shooting because it’s JUST fun.

ing a good novel for several hours until I fall asleep. I also enjoy playing and listening to music. My ability to create music out of

Minjae: Her dorm has heaps of books lying around. After coming home from a flute performance in New Hampshire, she heads to the coffee shop. After classes, she usually comes to this café and sits in this corner where she takes out a pen and starts writing.

Under our guidance and with this, our first issue, the new phase of the Talon begins. We do hope everything goes well and this new regime does not turn into a reign of terror! We welcome you and all our readers to each coming edition, and we invite your comments and suggestions.

the talon • 1 1

editors-in-chief

Just a Change New layout, new staff and new Talon

I

Yumi Park am one of those people who frown at the idea of change.

designs, we finally came to an agreement of what kind of

Change means leaving the safe and comfortable world of sta-

new design we wanted. The three key elements that became

tus quo and entering the dark world of unknowns. Why take

sort of a slogan were: simple, modern and elegant. After

that risk? In my room, everything is static like a sculpture in

this process, I realized that a balance of enthusiastic will

a museum. Textbooks are always on the first shelf and novels

produces a good change. The world changes and The Talon

always on the second. CDs are always next to my desk in the

is not an exception. It will be a brand new Talon with the

same order. If things change in my room, there would be

biggest staff ever, new designs and lots of creative ideas and

minor chaos. The perfect arrangement and order would be

enthusiasm.

gone and I would take much more time to find what I need.

In the novel Catcher in the Rye, Holden was both

I guess that I have fear of change for its menacing innuendo

perplexed and unwilling in the inevitable transition all hu-

that it might lead to failure, disorder and frustration.

mans go through from innocent childhood to experienced

So, my first response to the idea of implementing

adulthood, questioning what happen and where he should

new layout design for The Talon was a mixture of suspicion

go when that change comes. That process of questioning and

and worry. What if the new layout design does not work for

fearing uncertainty is part of change. I guess what we can

all the articles? What if only some people like it and others

do is replace some of these doubts and apprehensions with

do not? What if that leads to the decrease in readership of

wonder and optimism. After all, it’s just a change.

The Talon? I had many doubts. Above all, changing layout design meant only one thing to all Talonistas: more work.

But, my view radically changed once I looked at some famous magazines such as Vogue, The New Yorker and Time.

Looking at all those different borders and heading designs, my desire to make visual changes to the Talon was slowly growing. The creative designs of these magazines not only served the articles well and were visually pleasing, but also gave the magazines distinct identities. My “what if” questions about the changes were by then full of dreams and wonder. What if The Talon also had more distinct identity as our magazine?

What if The Talon had more innovative and good-looking designs? What if…? After going over several designs, I closed the magazines and immediately wrote an email to the layout editor. We are changing The Talon!

As we started to work on new layout designs, we realized how much work, time, consideration and help from the other staff it takes to implement the changes we wanted. After many days of staying after school and trying new

2 • the talon

Getty Images

news

The Paradox of Biofuels

Brazil’s carbon emissions rise as deforestation ravages the rainforest Andrew Shim

D

ue to recent alarm over ecological issues, many in the world now believe that the welfare of the environment is a top priority, in league with various other issues such as terrorism and racism. With global warming and the high emission of greenhouse gases, one can definitely argue that the planet has significantly deteriorated within mankind’s relatively short period of existence. Many people attribute this decline to the abundant use of petroleum oil to fuel our cars, houses and harvest energy, and feel it is vital to replace this now diminishing energy source, replacing it with a new, cleaner and less polluting form of fuel. Proposed replacements have been sources such as solar, wind or nuclear energy, yet insufficient research and other limitations impede a widespread use of these methods. However with the example of alcohol and the recently-famous ethanol, the introduction of biological fuels, or biofuels for short, have taken place as a demand for a future source of life.

Despite the obvious claim that these biofuels will

clean up the globe, many people do not realize that it is ironically destroying the environment, and impeding the progress of an ecological recovery of the world. The recent interest and governmental endorsements of biofuels are fostering more and more demand for agriculturally-grown fuels made from crops such as corn or sugar cane. Of the nations that are producing these crops, it is Brazil that holds the largest plantations of sugar cane in order to support its pledge to make ethanol a viable biofuel.

Unfortunately, to plant the necessary sugar cane or other plants to produce ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, ranchers cut down enormous portions of the southern Amazon rainforest, creating hypocritical and ironic scenario. For thousands of years, the rainforest has stored up massive amounts of carbon, the prime cause of global warming when set out into the atmosphere. Due to this deforestation, the releasing of carbon in the Amazon region also aggravates global ecology.

In the second half of 2007, more than 300,000 hectares of the Amazon have been cut down in order to meet the global demands for sugar cane and soybeans, a staple food.

Brazil, with the United States, makes up almost 70% of the global supply of biofuels and so-called renewable technology. Yearly, Brazil can produce up to 4.4 billion gallons of ethanol from sugar cane, while the US relies on corn for its ethanol supply. President Lula sees biofuels as a potential to strengthen Brazil’s stance in the global economy and raise the nation into a formidable power in the world. The United States has recognized this, and las year president Bush visited São Paulo in March to finalize a deal with Lula on the exchange and export of ethanol between the two countries.

The implications of this are huge. Brazil, above all, faces a colossal dilemma as it chooses between environment and economy. While ethanol can certainly bring the country to financial prosperity and global prominence, plantations that replace vast tracks of rainforests will deal a great and likely irreversible blow to the global environment. The issue of economy and fuel has raised an essential conflict yet to be resolved in the impending, and possibly bleak, future.

the talon • 3

news

Maré de bons resultados para o petróleo nacional Ações da Petrobras obtêm ótimos resultados na bolsa de valores

A

pós apresentar um crescimento de cerca 5,3% na produção nacional de petróleo no ano passado, a Petrobrás desenvolveu musculatura para sustentar a forte alta de suas ações na Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (Bovespa) no último trimestre. A produção diária alcançou cerca de 480 mil barris, número muito acima daquele referente ao mesmo período no ano passado. O crescimento foi em decorrência do início da produção das plataformas P-51 (que, sozinha, em total funcionamento, adicionará por volta de 180 mil barris diários à produção nacional), P-50, FPSO Capixaba, e P-34 e FPSO Cidade do Rio de Janeiro.

Como se não bastasse, essas plataformas somadas a outras que estão em “fase de licitação e desenvolvimento de projetos deverão levar a Petrobrás a produzir, até 2011, cerca de 3.493 milhões de barris [diários] de petróleo e gás”, de acordo com a Agência Brasil.

Em parte, isso fez com que as ações da Petrobrás se tornassem extremamente atrativas para os investimentos de longo e curto prazo, não só pelo que representam, mas também pelos preços, que ainda se mantêm acessíveis. Tal

Max Winitzki Walsh Goldvag acessibilidade é muito significativa, dado que as ações mais negociadas (PN) da empresa acumularam valorização de 111% nos últimos 12 meses.

Todavia analistas acreditam que o resultado positivo tem outras origens além dessas previamente mencionadas.

Muitos vêem a valorização como uma resposta à descoberta da reserva batizada de Carioca e seus supostos volumes de petróleo. Vêem também a boa fase concretizando-se assim que houver confirmação da empresa em relação aos altos volumes especulados.

Em contrapartida, outros acreditam que o controle dos custos e despesas feitos pela empresa no primeiro trimestre, a fim de contornar o aumento do preço do petróleo no mercado internacional (decorrente de outro aumento, sendo este dos tributos sobre commodities), foi o motivo do período otimista.

Independente de qual fator foi de fato o mais influente, todos eles, somados à elevação internacional do país ao grau de investimento, contribuíram para a boa campanha das ações da empresa que, cada vez mais, consolidam seu lugar na predileção das corretoras.

Cotação da PETR3 no mercado Brasileiro

Cotação da Petrobras no exterior

4 • the talon

news

The Third Petroleum Shock

The price of oil sets new highs and threatens the global economy

O

n Friday, May 9, oil prices reached a record high of US$125.96 per barrel, representing a one-thousand percent increase since values hit bottom at US$11.30 per barrel in 1999. Clearly, the world is in the midst of its third petroleum crisis. The three main origins of this crisis are the large increase in demand due to emerging countries, speculation, and the depreciating U.S. dollar.

It comes as no surprise that China, “the factory of the world,” would eventually increase the demand for petroleum. What does come as a shock is the magnitude of its growth; in the past four years, China has increased importation by 26.5%. Whereas in 2004, China consumed 6.4 million barrels a day, today China utilizes over 8.1 million. Another developing giant is India, whose intake has grown an estimated 20.1% since 2004 to almost 2.9 million barrels a day. The population of China and India combined account for roughly 40% of the world population, so the trend is for continued growth rates. The Olympics have also temporarily increased China’s consumption, as the country is “stocking up” on oil for local transportation.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which is responsible for 40% of the world’s oil supply and 77% of worldwide reserves, is in no rush to increase oil supply. Prices have exploded and anyone familiar with the rule of supply and demand knows that emerging countries’ consumption growth is negative for worldwide buyers but positive for oil producers. Petroleum is still the main source of global energy, which means that OPEC can let costs climb without much concern, leaving consumers to suffer.

The lack of significant discoveries of worldwide oil reserves and OPEC’s inclination to not increase supply means there is little prospect of relief for consumers in the near future.

OPEC has also been raising prices because of the depreciation of the U.S. dollar, which is the worldwide reference for the price of the barrel. Because the dollar is losing value in relation to other stronger currencies, OPEC has to raise oil costs in order to maintain the price of oil relative to other goods. In the past year, the Euro has risen 15% in relation to the dollar, and OPEC has been accompanying this rise by forcing high prices. The dramatic cost levels have shocked the US consumers at the pump and have affected the rest of the world, though to a lesser extent.

Deborah Fiuza

Activerain.com

The current American sub-prime mortgge crisis has also contributed to the increase in oil prices. Real estate prices have increased dramatically since 2001 due to low interest rates and speculation. Now that banks have sustained huge losses due to increasing default rates in home mortgages and declining property values, speculators are turning their attention to commodities markets, mainly oil, further increasing demand.

Energy is vital to modern life and petroleum is the source of 38% of energy in the United States. The world is currently in its third and most serious oil crisis, without a clear forecast of resolution. The two previous petroleum shocks of 1973 and 1979 was a result of global politics, but this one is demand driven. Oil costs are also affecting global development: the world has been growing at an average annual rate of 5%, but recent forecasts indicate a mere 3.5% growth.

This crisis is much more than just an economic problem. The rising prices may initiate a fundamental worldwide change in lifestyle, ranging from transportation to food security. Countries are now starting to explore alternative sources of energy for the inevitable downfall of the petroleum economy.

Brazil has been running the ethanol program for years, and as of last year the United States has started heavily investing in that market. However, alternative sources of energy, although more viable at current oil prices, cannot supply as much energy to replace oil in the short term.

the talon • 5

news

Myanmar Crisis Chaos takes over Myanmar as Cyclone Nargis ravages the country

O

n May 3, 2008 Cyclone Nargis ravaged the country of Myanmar, also known as Burma. With winds up to 120 mph, Cyclone Nargis uprooted buildings and trees, flooded communities, and left the country utterly devastated. Over the past couple of weeks, Myanmar has been struggling to keep the situation under control as the death toll rises and those who are still alive stare starvation, disease, and homelessness in the eye. At the moment the death toll hits more than 78,000 and may reach 100,000 according to ABC News.

As the situation continues to get worse, the United Nations has pressured the government in Myanmar headed by a military junta to allow foreign officials to enter the country and provide much needed aid and relief. Yet the Myanmar government has blocked these attempts as much as possible even though they have allowed some to enter. Many internationally recognized associations that were created to assist in situations much like this one have been applying for entrance visas for officials to enter the country and provide help. The United Nations World Food Program applied for 16 visas and so far has only received approval for one. The same has happened to many other organizations such as World Vision. Although they are generously offering help, so far the junta has taken up on their offer. This is hard to believe when the death toll is predicted to reach 100,000 if aid and clean water does not reach the survivors in time.

The minimal aid that is received has not been much of a help either. The military-ruled government confiscated

Danielle Aguilar 38 tons of food supplies, which were donated by the United Nations World Food Program, but later released it. Even help coming from within the country is being discouraged as police prevent citizens from helping each other. Many countries have prepared supplies by aircraft to the impoverished country, but ships and planes await approved to enter the country.

Even though Myanmar is receiving and accepting some aid, it isn’t nearly enough. Experts believe that only a small fraction of the amount of supplies needed are reaching the people of Myanmar, inlcuding 1.5 million people who are now without food or shelter. The conditions are horrible with people living in disease-ridden areas as corpses flow through flooded communities.

It is at times like these when people are reminded of the need for humanitarian contributions. Yet it is not always easy to help from a world away, or, in this case, a hemisphere away. Time and time again people have come together to help raise money or supplies when desperate countries are in need the most. If you are interested in making a donation, here are some organizations that you can work through: • www.ifrc.org • www.adra.org • www.care.org • www.imcworldwide.org

Residents clean up outside a restaurant destroyed by a devastating cyclone hit Sunday, May 4, 2008, in Yangon.

Newsday.com

6 • the talon

news

Money Making for Humanity

Graded Entrepreneurship Enterprise, the newest activity on campus

F

abio Berger had a vision this semester. It was of a student-run firm, using business-type activity to raise money for Graded’s community service programs, run by the students.

This vision has already been realized.

The Graded Entrepreneurship Enterprise (GEE) supports members in their endeavors to create innovative activities, while benefiting the community through financial support and guidance in business-centered activities. We strive to give all our members the opportunity to learn skills of management, organization, and leadership—useful skills in the business world. We are a group of twelve high school students who share an interest in business. We are doing it to benefit us: What is it like in a board meeting? How does a company function? What do consumers really want? We don’t all know if we want a business-related job in our adult lives, but we at least want to try it out now.

We meet and we talk. Talk talk talk. We try to figure out what the community of consumers wants and how to provide it. Basically we work in four steps: (1) brainstorm and select, (2) plan, (3) put into action, and (4) evaluate. A big bulk of our meeting time goes to finding out what our next project will be. We are quite creative and come up with a great number of ideas, but that only augments our problem: which projects should we choose and which will produce profit? When we have decided on a project we try to shape it as to maximize the consumer’s satisfaction. And then when we think we are set and ready, we do it. A happy consumer makes for a good night’s sleep and a successful project makes for twelve happy campers. In the end, we check out what we did well and what we need to improve. Have new demands arisen? Have we stumbled onto a ‘til-now-undiscovered obstacle?

Have we learned anything?

The group is not the only beneficiary. As our mission statement states, we attempt to benefit “the community through sponsorship and advisory help” Now what does that mean? It means we do all those four steps, and then we add a fifth: We financially sponsor the community service programs at Graded. For, in fact, we are not in this group to supply ourselves Ferraris and private jets.

No, actually,we donate the money to Graded’s community service programs. In sincerity, we grew tired of the recurring bake sales and wanted to find new ways to financially aid the community service programs. Why can’t the programs themselves try to raise this money you might ask? Well, GEE believes that the programs have enough to worry about with

Felix Wibergh planning their events and raising money by the means that they already employ. We, on the other hand, devote ourselves to finding innovative ways to raise funds, funds that would otherwise not have reached the programs.

Our first project, our Clay Tile Mural Project, was our first idea that sprung into action. We purchased clay, made it into tiles, and marketed the event in the Art Center to the middle school kids. We had a great few days of setting everything up and helping the little rascals come up with ideas of how to design their tiles. We were surprised by some of the designs the kids made! A few friends made their tiles link together, some made messages like “Save the Animals” and “Recycle” and other pretty thoughtful messages. It was truly impressive!

When all the tiles were done and ready to be displayed, we got the help of the maintenance staff to hang them up on the brick portal in the lower school courtyard. You can go there and see for yourselves (they still hang; the maintenance men did a great job!). The whole effect is pretty neat I must say.

Afterwards we took a group picture, but everyone in the group couldn’t make it, and among those is our very helpful advisor, Mr. Horst, who, unfortunately, is leaving for Buenos Aires for next school year; then a woman walked past us and said something like, “I’ve been walking past this place for five years now, but I never even noticed this brick portal before.” That’s the kind of response that tells me we did something meaningful.

We are in the process of donating the R$500 profit we made from the Clay Tile Mural Project to Day Care, and the funds will most likely be used to expand their play area and perhaps even buy a sandbox for the kids (and the adults).

If you are in charge of a community service program here at Graded and need funds, then please contact us and we can take a look at how much you need, and maybe even work out a project especially for you.

However, if you, as a student, have read this and feel that this group is just the thing for you, then please talk to Fabio Berger or me, Felix Wibergh, in the hallways and email us your answer to these questions “Why do I want to join GEE?” and “What could I contribute?” Upon receiving your mail we will set up an interview between you and Fabio, Felix, and our three senior members (and yes, it is a terrifying experience).

Business is busines—and we mean business!

the talon • 7

point of view

Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Why do Graded students act respectfully off campus but not on?

Victoria Steinbruch

O

can’t use this privi-

ur community attends all kinds of trips throughout the

school year. We travel with our classes in order to not only

lege

responsibly.

attain a better knowledge of the country we live in, but also

how all my friends are

increase unity among our peers. We go to MUN and HACIA

now locking up their

in order to deal with the crises and issues the world faces

bags inside lockers in-

and offer our modest solutions to problems that reaches far

stead of leaving them

beyond us. During Ilha do Cardoso and Habitat, we work for

scattered around our

others and grow as people. These trips make us more aware

hall, like the way it

as citizens and make us humble and more grateful for the

has always been. Both

things we tend to take for granted. In order to make these

teachers and students

trips work, we have to show maturity and responsibility since

complain

these trips require such behavior. The amazing thing about us

vandalism of the bul-

Graded students is that we almost always act appropriately

letin boards that had

while we are away. We represent our school with such delight

been so carefully put

that no matter where I am, I’m always left impressed.

together for our ben-

about

Or

the

In the last days at Big Four, I couldn’t help but notice

efit. How absurd is it to

the degree of difference between Graded and other schools.

have to put a glass pro-

We are always the school that respects curfew and that gets

tection around them

up in the morning when no other school did, just so we could

just to create a barrier

become a more united community. We were the ones who

from the vandals?

stayed behind and cleaned the bleachers, picking up others’

For me this is the

trash. Most importantly, we deliberately watched games of

biggest paradox that

sports other than our own just so we could better support our

we face as a commu-

friends and peers. We act with so much maturity and respect

nity. How can we be so

towards each other that I do believe that we students raise

great when we are off

the standards and expectations. It’s crucial to understand

Getty Images campus and not do the

that not only the athletic community acts in such fashion. It

same on it? If we are willing to impress and be distinguished

is the same when we go to MUN and all the other tournaments

by outsiders but aren’t doing the same at home, then some-

and trips that we attend as a school; quite simply, we honor

thing clearly is very wrong. We have to decide what we want

Graded’s ideals and values when we are away from home.

to be and be that way constantly. We can either become a

Yet when I return to Graded’s campus, I feel that

united community that supports each other and is mature,

we lose this positive quality and don’t reflect Graded’s val-

responsible, and tries to promote a safe environment without

ues. Part of the reason why this is happening is because the

theft or vandalism, or we can chose to become the opposite.

students aren’t respecting the school or each other. How can

To be both is hypocritical. This behavior of ours affects us

the “golden school,” the one that shines the most and meets

more than we think. We are losing privileges that we took for

high expectations when outside our campus not do the same

granted before simply because we aren’t behaving as we’re

when at home? To outsiders we are a model school. Everyone

expected to. We should show the school that we can act in a

is so amazed at our level of maturity and how much trust is

mature and responsible manner. The fact that we aren’t do-

granted to us by our mentors and teachers. Inside our cam-

ing so is the main reason for some of the restrctions this year.

pus, though, the rules are increasing and our rights diminish-

The worst part is, we are the ones digging our own grave.

ing. I can’t understand why it has to be that we won’t have

That’s why we have to choose to change, for the sake of our

access to the Arts Center elevator anymore because students

rights.

8 • the talon

point of view

The Art and Necessity of Practice Having the will to prepare to win

P

ractice is the “repeated performance of an activity with the goal of acquiring skill or proficiency,” as the dictionary describes it. But I’d add that practice is the ONLY way to acquire skill. This is applicable anywhere, and is in no way a recent idea. Publilius Syrus, Roman author in the 1st century B.C., said, “practice is the best of all instructors.” Indian spiritual leader Gandhi believed that “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.” However, the most obvious manifestation of the value of practice is in sports. No one can ever expect to have any increase in performance through anything other than performing that exercise hundreds, thousands, even millions of times. Even someone particularly gifted in an area can’t hope to exceed without repetition. Beginner’s luck can only last so long; the immediate success will wear off after a while.

Practice has become synonymous with drilling and training, and what better application of those two things than sports? People whine and complain about their sore limbs after a long, practice packed with drills. But it’s very infrequent that they credit practice as being absolutely necessary. The exercises were specifically designed to strengthen a particular skill. Whether it’s endurance, power, or just plain ability, the coach knows what’s best. Bobby Knight, former college basketball head coach and holder of the most wins in college basketball, has said, “The key is not the ‘will to win’ —everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important”.

Very often, I’ve heard the phrase “practice makes perfect” used to motivate hard work. Personally, I find that axiom to be extremely unfair and, quite frankly, untrue.

Martin Shores Monotheistic religions dictate that perfection is only found alongside the single entity responsible for all creation. So how can we measly human beings hope to achieve the unachievable? Practice, that’s how, or so they want us to believe. Unerring execution is impossible. Even those credited with being the best suffer their fair share of mistakes. Roger Federer, ranked world number one in men’s singles tennis, has lost many times to his opponents.

The aforementioned expression has its silver lining. Although perfection is impossible, it gives us something to strive for. Imperfection leaves so much room for improvement, for challenges, and for new experiences.

What greater bliss is there than achieving something through hard work and perseverance? Perfection would get very boring very quickly. Sure, at first you’d feel happiness like no other. But after that, what’s the point in playing? No one would be your equal, and even if someone were, the match-up would be identical, that no one would get anywhere.

The results of practice are extremely satisfying, be they in the form of victory, confidence, fitness, or praise. As one improves, his chances of victory Getty Images increase. Former college basketball star Ed Macauley agrees: “When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win.” When one can perform things others cannot, he feels pride in himself. He is equally admired by both those who witness it, and those who recognize the amount of hard work it took to achieve that level. Don’t we all wish we had that body? Or could play as well as Pelé?

Break track and batting records? Great athletes got where they are through dedication, perseverance, and lots and lots of practice.

the talon • 9

point of view

Games of Controversy

Should the Tibetan conflict affect the Olympics?

A

larmed by the events occurring in Tibet with the Chinese government and China’s holding the summer Olympics, I found the relationship between politics and sportsrather interesting. Setting aside the historical issue for a moment, I could not find a reasonable justification for why a traditional sporting event and the political oppression of the China’s regime. should even be discussed in connection to one another; Who would have guessed that such a connection would ever be formed? I certainly had not. I was flustered at what our world had come to, so an element of excitement flooded over me when Mr. Watlington decided to bring it up in one of our TOK discussions. My immediate thoughts were critical. Why does the world shed light on this issue so extensively now that the Olympics are happening, and not in 1951 when the Tibetan crisis commenced?

Comments I would have never thought of came up in our discussion, remarks ranging from “The Olympics should in no way take place!” to “We never cared about Tibet before?” and ending with “Didn’t they learn from Hitler?” With so many alternative perceptions and valid arguments, the discussion was heated. Some students believed that if governments were to allow their countries to attend the 2008 Olympics, then it would be a demonstration of support for the Chinese government’s actions. On the other hand, others argued that Tibet was never discussed to this extent before the Olympics and that an event that has been given massive funding and commitment deserves the right to take place. As I was focusing on the two antipodal arguments, I tried to make sense of what is truly being said.

Those who were strongly against allowing the Olympics to take place emphasized their frustration at the fact that countries were willing to dismiss the oppression of the Tibetan people merely for a sporting event. While I agree to a certain extent, I still think it is important to highlight the idea that a national sport team’s participation in the event does not send a political message. Individuals commit their lives to preparing for the Olympic Games, dedicating endless hours to practice towards perfection. Their core aim is to

10 • the talon

Vivian Lorencatto do their best in their sport, not to establish what side of the political issue they are on. Then again, if countries decide to support the event their decision could be indirectly implying their inability to confront the issue at hand. Also, since the Olympic Games are meant to represent tolerance and peace amongst competing nations, there then seems to be a contradiction if the Olympics were to take place.

These were a few of struggles I faced when processing the different perspectives in my mind, as I was amazed that there are some superficial aspects and role playing involved. The Communist Party in China is violently silencing the rebelling people who seek freedom, merely to impose a fake appearance for the world to see. China strives to appear stable and harmonious, not unstable and violent. How could a government sacrifice lives for such a justification? Following this same train of thought, the need to pursue the Olympic Games illustrates our world’s unfortunate priorities. Some individuals, not all, are more concerned with whether the games will take place or not, rather than the implications it may have. So I had come to a disappointing conclusion: I couldn’t be more against the Olympics in China. Or so I thought, until someone presented a more realistic approach, asking “To what extent can stopping the Olympics solve anything?” Though it was radical in thought and slightly cold in manner, I could not help but see the truth in that statement. Not having the Olympics could, and most likely would, cause more discontent then already present. Athletes would be frustrated, businesses contributing massive funding would be resentful, and most of all, I wonder, how would China react? If they have gone to such extremes to silence the people in Tibet to establish a certain appearance, what would they do if they were faced with a cancellation of the Olympics, which in turn would impose a great deal of shame in its nation?

The thought of cancelling the Olympics interests me; the understanding of it challenges me. This all leads to the cliché, “there is no right or wrong,” or “no black or white,” but merely different shades of gray, filled with clashing ideas of human rights, authority, sports, and freedom.

point of view

Plastic Revolution Whose identity is it?

Yumi Park

I

s it so awful that uniquely designed embroidery naturally perishes with time? Or is a mass-produced item from a machine, each identical, better? Being able to change one’s features into an image that is considered more beautiful by society is no longer part of a dizzy daydream. It is real now, and increasingly less radical.

Recently a 38-year-old woman went through a revolutionary surgery of partial face transplant. Her face had been horribly damaged by a dog and was replaced with lips, a chin and a nose from a brain-dead donor.

Though in this case the appearance alteration was obviously justifiable, the procedure has raised practical and moral questions about human identity. Sally Cook, an author of children’s books, expresses her strong disapproval of purely elective plastic surgery by saying, “replacing your features with those of a donor just to make yourself prettier – that idea is abhorrent.”

However, in many people’s minds, this kind of natural revulsion is being replaced by imaginations and hopes for more beauty. People are more willing to accept the possibility of changing their appearance, thrilled by the prospect of their faces becoming interchangeable and consumable like any other commodity.

Surgeons suggest that the notion is bound to Getty Images seem horrific at first, but once people get over the shock, it will become more acceptable and probably desirable. In accordance with the professionals, Ms. Murray

Getty Images

said, “If celebrities put up their faces for auction after they died, people would be bidding on her features all the time.”

Appearance now seems to be a covetable luxury item, like an iPod that can be exchanged for newer and trimmer model.

But then the question is: whose identity is the new, more beautiful appearance? People are becoming more and more inclined to conform to society’s ideal standard of beauty and “plastic surgery has given everybody the same face,” as Natasha Singer says. Suzanne Yalof Schwartz, the executive fashion director at Glamour magazine, empathizes with people who want to undergo an extreme makeover, saying “if I had to have a face transplant, why not upgrade? I’ve lived long enough as a jalopy. I want to be a Jaguar.”

The problem is, if everyone wants to be a Jaguar, the unique appeal of the Jaguar would be gone. Our appearance is physical proof of our individuality and an expression of personality. Cosmetic surgery, while satisfying our deep desire to attain ideal beauty, seems to gnaw away at the essence of human identity. The result of plastic and cosmetic surgery is this paradoxical situation in which identity is no longer reflected on the outside. We should ask ourselves: Can we borrow someone else’s features and still be us?

the talon • 11

point of view

Barking Up the Wrong Tree Illogical arguments about dog eating

I

have eaten dogs twice in my life. I personally didn’t enjoy it;it tasted bad. But IF I liked the taste of dog, I wouldn’t mind at all eating it again. Now, I’m well aware that a lot of you might be offended by this idea. Some find it immoral and disgusting; others find it weird; many find it “just wrong.” I guess it is hard to imagine our own pets getting killed, boiled, skinned, and eaten. I do understand this love for our pets, having raised some myself. But I must say that I disagree with the view that eating dog meat is wrong. Also, I find it offensive to hear people generalize that Korea is a dog-eating country or that Koreans are dog-eaters. When dealing with these cultural issues, it is very important not to let ethnocentrism take over our thinking. And I must make this clear from the start: I’m merely trying to offer an alternative way of viewing this issue rather than to change or judge anyone’s opinions.

Before I discuss my beliefs on dog eating, let me clarify some misconceptions about Korea. Believe it or not, not all Koreans eat dogs. Some do, indeed, but only 3 million out of 47 million, which is less than 10% of the total population (animalfreedom.org). This means that saying “Koreans are dogeaters” misrepresents more than 90% of Koreans who do no eat dog meat since many of them are anti-dog-meat activists.

Another thing about Koreans. They do have puppies! And no, they don’t eat their pet dogs. Just like cows, “meat dogs” are raised in the countryside where they are raised to be eaten as food. Most of us forget that Korea is not the only country to have history of eating dog. Other countries, mostly Asian, such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines have citizens that eat dog meat today. Moreover, many countries have a history of dog eating. These include France, during famines; Germany, until 1986; India, Mexican Aztecs, Nigeria, and Native Americans. It is clear Korea shouldn’t be stereotyped as The dogeaters country.

Now, why am I not against dog eating? The short answer would be “why would I?” Most people are disgusted by this practice and find it barbaric. (Again, these people include many Koreans.) So why am I not? . No one has so far come up with a reason that was convincing enough for me. The reasons given by anti-dog-meat eaters seem to focus on relativistic views.

12 • the talon

Nelson Cho They argue that dogs are different from other animals because they are “humans’ best friends,” “companions,” and “pets.”

Fair enough. But what about cows, chickens, and pigs? Cows are more than “best friends” to Hindus; they are considered sacred.

Looking from the Hindu’s eyes, all you cow-eating people would be barbaric. What about those cute little chickens? I remember having friends in Korea who had them as pets. Couldn’t they say that the chicken-eating people are all savages? In fact, there is an organization called Save The Chickens that, just like the anti-dog-meat communities, has as its objective the humane treatment of chickens. Pigs? Banned in many religions as being unclean. But do all these people criticize us for eating these Google Images animals? No. So why do people have to pick on dog eaters? What about bunch of other “weird-animals” eaters? What about people eating insects, rats, monkeys, elephants, cats, donkeys, horses, kangaroos, rabbits, alligators, and whales. Aren’t they inhumane?

If there’s one thing I think is wrong is the method used to kill the dogs. There is a traditional belief that the more pain the dog suffers in his death, the tastier its meat will be, and so they find different brutal ways of torturing the dog. I think this is a problem. Eating an animal is one thing. Making it suffer is another. But again, this is not only done to dogs. The same goes for cows, chickens, pigs, which I mention these becausemost people eat them. Yet, I don’t really hear complaints about chickens being decapitated, or cows being electrocuted. Nor do I see people eating their McDonald’s saying that innocent animals have gone through torture to feed some selfish human beings. So I don’t see the reason why they criticize the brutal way of killing dogs when nothing is said about the similar killing of other animals.

If a vegetarian condemned all kinds of meat eating, I would totally understand it, even though I wouldn’t agree. But saying that some animals can be eaten but others can’t just because the culture in which one lives in says so would be an invalid argument. I don’t see any problem with people eating animals as long as they don’t eat each other. If anti-dog-meat activists want to change my mind, they’ll have to come up with better arguments. Until then, they’ll be barking up the wrong tree.

point of view

A Plea to Teachers More you, less PowerPoint, please

I

Andrew Churchill spent the second semester of my tenth grade year away from

amazing, especially if you do this on a daily basis.

Graded. I was in Vienna, Austria (not Australia), attending the

So, how can you substitute PowerPoint for something

American International School there. After five months of not

else? Well, think back all those years when you were in high

seeing my parents and friends, I eagerly awaited my return to

school. Who were your favorite teachers? Did they talk end-

São Paulo. I was worriedsick about how my schedule was going

lessly about—about—ah! whatever that subject was? Or, did

to work and whether everything was ready for me to take the

they prepare different activities for you? (The latter, I hope).

IB. I had heard from students who got behind in the beginning

Also, think back to when you were learning how to teach. I

of the year and who had a tedious time getting back on track.

am no scholar in the area of education, but it takes a mon-

Yet, my return was smooth, thankfully, and I was able to head

key to realize that the learning happens when students are

straight into the new portion of my life. I hardly paid atten-

actively engaged.

tion to the new developments in classroom: the high-quality projectors and an sound systems in every room.

Here is a list of different thingS PowerPoint-relying teachers could do more of in their classes:

Teachers, know from the start that I am not writing this pela because I want to beg for less homework. Quite frankly, I

• Have a socratic dialogue.

have learned there is no point in arguing that. I am writing to

• Make the class engage in a discussion.

make one simple request: please cut back on the use of Power-

• Have a debate. We love to argue.

Point. Some teachers use this tool as if it were the only way to

• Take your class for a walk and teach them oustide.

teach a class. We forget that PowerPoints are a relatively new

• Vary your teaching styles.

technology. Like cell phones, some of us have no idea what

• Make a movie.

we did before these “miracles” appeared. In regard to some

• Use “hands-on” experiences.

teachers, I have an incessant curiosity about what they did

• Play a game.

before PowerPoints. Their entire teaching method seems to be based solely on its use! (Teachers, you know who you are.)

But why is PowerPoint not an effective tool to use in

In the interest of variety and active-learning, I just ask you to give PowerPoint a rest.

teaching? The answer to this lies in the way in which some are using it: not as a teaching tool but as a teaching substitute. It requires absolutely no skill to read off a PowerPoint.

The best teachers are those who can actively engage an audience and make them interested in learning the material.

That is how we learn. Now, if you can do this while using a PowerPoint, kudos to you! You are amazing.

Now, I have absolutely no problem with the use of PowerPoint if it is done in moderation. It is important to remember, however, who your audience is. We are not college students. We are in high school. We are not meant to spend 80 minutes listening to a lecture, and we will not—those blank looks are supposed to make you think we’re paying attention.

It is a select few those who can pay attention to a screen and take notes for 80 minutes. If you can, kudos to you! You are Google Images

the talon • 13

point of view

Atraso Pontual Cultura ou trânsito?

A

i, como gosto da chamada “tradição brasileira” que nos permite chegar atrasados aos nossos compromissos. Embora saiba que a dita tradição não passe de mais um tolo estereótipo, sinto-me aliviado por não ter de estar sempre no horário!

Fica difícil explicar a idéia para um estrangeiro recém-chegado ao Brasil, mas se o visitante passar algum tempo em São Paulo, certamente entenderá o significado de uma palavra essencial pra se compreender nossa amada metrópole: congestionamento.

São Paulo, como qualquer outra grande cidade, apresenta uma série de problemas infra-estruturais. Entretanto, a capital paulista destaca-se dentre as outras megalópoles no que diz respeito ao trânsito. Temos enfrentado, diariamente, um dos piores, se não o pior, trânsito do mundo, com picos de 200 km de congestionamento. Creio que ninguém, nem mesmo os taxistas, queiram comemorar esse caos. Na verdade, 87% dos paulistanos consideram o trânsito “ruim”, e só 3% julgamno “ótimo”, segundo pesquisa do Datafolha recentemente publicada.

Vítimas que somos dessa terrível realidade, é crucial que tentemos solucionar o problema ou pelo menos achar um “jeitinho” de minimizar seus efeitos nefastos. Não, não estou defendendo a instauração de uma CPI do trânsito. Até porque nem mesmo a pizza chegaria a tempo... Devemos, isso sim, procurar formas criativas de nos prevenirmos do trânsito, ao mesmo tempo em que pressionamos as autoridades responsáveis para que tomem providências imediatas e proponham soluções efetivas a longo prazo.

Relaxe... isto ainda vai longe. Refiro-me, caro leitor, ao congestionamento em que você está preso agora, enquanto lê meu artigo. Uma sugestão: feche as janelas, ligue o ar condicionado e ponha um James Brown no rádio. Para os que têm ar condicionado chulo, ou sincera preocupação com o meio-ambiente, sugiro algo mais drástico. É isso aí... você vai sofrer se não tirar a camisa. Essa idéia, contudo, não se aplica às mulheres, pois graves acidentes seriam causados pelo grande número de motoristas distraídos.

Voltando ao assunto, o principal malefício causado pelos congestionamentos é, sem dúvida, o estresse. Para reduzi-lo, sugiro que tenha vários CDs de música no carro, ou que faça bom uso de seu rádio. Não ouça, de forma alguma, aos infames bate-papos sobre futebol. Sintonize uma estação que tenha como prioridade música e não propaganda. Talvez

14 • the talon

Carlo Hamermesz Neumark

a “Kiss FM” – a única rádio com “real rock’n roll”.

Evite dirigir. Não estou sugerindo que você use carros futurísticos ou contrate um motorista (como invariavelmente acontece em nossa escola). Refiro-me à brilhante idéia à qual três professores, Ms. Pfeiffer, Mr. Berg, e Mr. Amaral, aderiram há bastante tempo: o “carpooling”. A idéia é bem simples; Encontre pessoas com o mesmo destino que você e alterne os dias em que tira seu carro da garagem. Garanto que ficará muito menos estressado.

E por falar em tirar o carro da garagem, adoro o recapeamento das ruas feito pelo Kassab. Pelo menos na minha rua, o asfalto agora é liso e perfeito, o que diminui muito os percalços da viagem e facilita a vida nos dias em que estou fazendo lição a caminho da escola. O governo parece querer tomar medidas para aliviar o trânsito, mas o recapeamento, ainda mais no meu bairro, é só o começo. Queremos metrô! E já! Aquela mesma pesquisa do Datafolha apontou que 96% dos paulistanos são favoráveis à ampliação das linhas de metrô.

Chega do lenga-lenga e da superlotação dos ônibus.

Gostaria de parabenizar também os responsáveis pelo projeto da ponte estaiada, que liga a avenida Águas Espraiadas à Marginal Pinheiros. Sua inauguração nos dá ao menos uma certeza: nenhum caminhão vai ficar entalado debaixo dela.

Mesmo que a ponte estaiada alivie o trânsito da região, ela não resolverá uma questão fundamental: o excesso de veículos.

Aumentar o horário do rodízio e impor restrições à circulação de caminhões também não vai adiantar. Acho que deveríamos investir na crescente frota de helicópteros. Quem sabe até usamos a idéia dos professores e fazemos um “helicopterpool”? Poderíamos até construir um heliporto onde estão as quadras de tênis. Simplesmente genial.

Definitivamente, não há como dar um “jeitinho”. É preciso investir em transporte público. Podemos, por exemplo, apoiar políticos cujas plataformas de governo tenham o trânsito como prioridade. Aposto que muitas promessas serão feitas a esse respeito, com a proximidade das eleições para prefeito.

Vote certo. Mas não na Dona Marta, porque já vimos que os túneis não ajudaram muito. Mesmo sem boa assessoria de imprensa, é visível que o Kassab não é má opção. Infelizmente, por enquanto, teremos que nos contentar com os inevitáveis atrasos. Quem sabe, pelo menos na primeira aula, a escola possa ser mais flexível em relação aos “tardies”?

features

Practice into Perfection The thrill of the process of writing

E

xcitement mounts inside me as I begin to write my first Talon article. I’ve started numerous drafts and, for unfortunate reasons, they were left unfinished.

Luckily, this year I’ll be part of The Talon staff, which will give me at least eight opportunities (not to mention eight times the motivation) to write.

For the longest time I’ve been told that “practice makes perfect.”

Everyone practices something at some point in their lives and this is my time to put my practice in action. Since this is the first article to the magazine I have to contribute, there is no more appropriate way of practicing my thoughts other than writing them down. When it gets down to “crunch time,” does it really matter how much you practice? Or is it just inspiration that comes to you when you grab that pen or start typing?

Writing has always been my passion, no matter in what form, be it a short story or a persuasive essay. I believe this is why writing for The Talon seems like the beginning of an extremely thrilling experience rather than an obligation. The idea of enjoying schoolwork is relatively new to me, but I sense this experience is going to be much more than entertaining. In the midst of all the homework, the ceaseless habit of procrastination and all the stress, I know my next articles will stop me in time and relieve some of these unsettling feelings.

Writing is much more than a way of communication; it is a means of expression and for some it is even a way of living. Writers become accustomed to transferring their thoughts onto paper. Once the words are there, they seem almost official. History began with written records and all evidence of human culture we know today only exists because someone decided to put their words down on paper (or

Melanie Vladmirschi symbols on clay tokens in ancient Mesopotamia). Sometimes I wonder if Egyptians were stuck when they were carving their hieroglyphics. I’m sure they were, after all, everyone gets stuck while practicing writing, and overcoming these barriers is what transforms practice into perfection.

The Egyptians probably had no idea that millions of years later their stories or messages would still be read by many people.

In a strange, humorous way this gives me some kind of confidence and makes me wonder what my writing, the traces that I leave behind, will mean to future generations.

Many times, when I start out writing, it’s as if a door has closed inside my mind and all my insignificant little memories come out. I then say to myself, “No, I do not want to remember those times when my best friend said something stupid, why can’t Getty Images those intelligent thoughts come out?” This is how I conclude that practice does make perfect because the more you write, the more techniques and skills you develop to transfer valuable contemplation into actuality.

Accomplishments start out as small dreams and ambitions but I’m sure none of us know how grand and surprising the life can be. I feel that as I write my thoughts down, they acquire a certain worth, and it is even a little encouraging how permanent they seem to be now that they are printed on paper and not floating around in my mind.

The future of a written piece, when it finally gets done, proves that ambitions might not be as insignificant as they seem in the beginning. What gives me even more confidence is the fact that you are reading this. I hope that my writing publicly encourages others and these ideas will serve as an inspiration to those who are afraid to speak up and write.

the talon • 15

features

It’s Raining Romildo

An interview with the aspiring director of Chuva de Poemas Vivian Lorencatto

I

feel that I am not alone when I state that the performance, Chuva de Poemas, performed by the school’s staff in one of our Flex blocks, was a true success. Reciting poetry in a manner that created a beautiful story, the actors portrayed professionalism, imagination, and most of all, passion. This element of passion is what ignites the director and writer of the successful production, Romildo Filho, in his pursuit of. Acting is only as a love or a hobby for him, but also as a form of giving back to society by establishing a sense of commitment, a commitment to provide entertainment, knowledge, drama, and, as he fondly stated, interpretation and “desenvolvimento” or the practice of literature. Awed at the actors’ confidence, the effective and symbolic scenery and the dynamic script, I felt chills creeping up my arms and legs as I heard Romildo recite the words of Machado de Assis. Although I am not familiar with the alluded poetry, through the acting and way in which the story was creat to ed to intertwine with the poems’ messages, I understood enough. Who would have known that this man, whom I see everyday during my lunch hours, possessed such a talent. Feeling the need to give justice to his work and success, I conducted an interview with Romildo, asking questions concerning his life as an actor, along with what he thinks of acting in a broader scope.

When did you first start to act?

I began acting in the 80’s when I was thirteen years old.

What motivated you to become an actor?

I always liked literature as child, so acting for me was a way to express all the literature that I had read about. I also like to entertain people and send a message through the powerful words of literature. I know that I said that many of my family members were actors, but what really motivates me is the passion I have within. I just think acting, in general, is so beautiful.

Have you ever participated in any acting courses,

16 • the talon

or taken any lessons?

Yes. When I moved to São Paulo from Fortaleza, where I spent most of my childhood, I took several courses to develop my skills including interpretation and directing skills. I attended Barbara Bruno Goulart’s classes in 1993 where I learned a lot.

What styles of acting do you prefer?

I love all forms of acting but my favorites are really dramatic and serious. The role I enjoyed playing the most was Hamlet, and I think that has to do with the seriousness Hamlet has and also the drama created in Shakespeare’s most famous play.

What three fundamental characteristics make up a good actor or actress?

It’s crucial that the actor has a good “domino,” control, voice, and understanding. It’s very important that a good actor or actress has the ability to clearly express his or herself by having this strong voice and ability to be flexible in terms of embracing new roles. Understanding the origin of the work is also really important since if the actor knows where the work comes from, what country, what culture, and then the acting in itself will be a lot more effective.

What obstacles do you face as an actor?

Support of the authorities is a major obstacle. I’ve always been an actor because I love acting; it’s for myself and no one else.

But, in reality, one needs the help and approval of others to pursue the dream, and at times they aren’t so supportive. If I were to rely on the approval of the authorities, I would have given up a long time ago.

Would you prefer to act on television, in theater, or in films?

Theater! The problem with acting on television is that people go on it just to appear and have their “five minutes of fame.” Theater is the main form of acting which, I think, really shows talent

features and passion. There is a lot more to do when acting on stage then on television. I love the movies of course, but my real passion, is theater.

What are your favorite national and international actors?

Brazilian—Wagner Montes; international—Robert DeNiro.

Is acting is merely a hobby or do you intend to pursuing acting as a career in the future?

To begin with, I think acting has to be hobby. Hobbies are done because people want to do them for personal reasons, whether that is because they love it or they think it is fun. For me, acting is a hobby with responsibility; there’s a responsibility actors have, which goes back to the commitment I talked about before.

As for now, I make a living off of gastronomy, but my passion is theater and I try to do it as much as possible. I don’t care if I’m good or bad, theatre is like a school for acting; it’s where actors grow.

Have you ever worked in a theatre production as the director?

I’ve been in a total of 28 productions, but nothing too serious.

They were all plays that I did out of my own interest, no money involved. Money often leads to a lack of passion and when there is money involved, everyone takes everything too seriously, so I prefer that there is no money involved. As a director, one of my largest productions was the one which I presented to Universidade de São Paulo (USP) with Tom Cavalcante and Ary Toledo from CIPA of ECA. Have you ever seen one of Graded’s plays? If so, which one and what did you think?

Yes, I’ve seen three plays in total, which I’m sorry I can’t remember the names of! The one I do remember and liked the most was Anne Frank. I love all of Bruce’s plays. He always puts

on wonderful productions. I thought that there was a lot of passion in the actors and commitment. I would love to be in one of Bruce’s productions! If ever there is a script in Portuguese, I am 100% available.

Considering that your play was such a success, do you intend to perhaps present another one?

I have two potential scripts that I would love to present to the Graded community. Anytime, any day, you can count on me, always. I would perform with the greatest pleasure, and I look forward to possibly sharing another production with the high school.

What is your advice to people who intend on pursuing an acting career?

One main advice is always to have two professions. Even if acting is what you are sure you want to do with your life, things always change, so it’s always good to be safe. These days it’s hard to make a living off simply being an actor. It just doesn’t provide enough support. But that should in no way stop you from doing it as a hobby. Study a lot, be simple, never change, and treat everyone fairly.

Romildo’s passion for acting is evident in his overwhelming and intriguing words. I was interested by the one statement he made concerning acting as a hobby and how it should be a hobby before it becomes a profession since it is through loving acting as a hobby, that true passion and commitment are created. His genuine love for theater is something I find beautiful, which thankfully I had the privilege to witness face-to-face as excitement shown on his face when he spoke of his commitment to acting and his commitment as a passionate actor. If any of you have the time, please congratulate Romildo. He takes such pride in his work and even more when individuals take the time to recognize his love for acting.

“Atuar tem que ser um hobby, daí você vai fazer com prazer, você tem que se divertir! Se você atuar sem se divertir, não adianta.”

“Atuar é um hobby com responsabilidade.”

“Teatro, muitas pessoas confundem. Não é um lugar de trabalho, é uma escola.”

Getty Images

“Seja mal ou bom, eu gosto de atuar.”

the talon • 17

features

They Will Leave Us Whole My feelings at the end of PGC

Amanda Rudzit

A

this practice of discussing the activities in our groups.

define PGC.” Fine, but I can say it stands for Peer Group Con-

As I left Ranieri that Monday afternoon, I was worried

nection. We had activities during our meetings and ate and ate

that the “spark” of PGC would soon fade when school started

and ate until we could eat no more. We learned about friend-

again. Thankfully, it did not. Even though the environment was

ship, trust, communication, relationships, and countless other

different, the essence of PGC remained intact. One of the great

skills, but above all, we strived to have fun. PGC is not one

things I took from this experience was the fact that I became

of those simple activities that fit into neat definitions in school

closer to my senior leaders, the freshmen in my group, and

handbooks. In fact, it would be too boring if it did. In September

other leaders whom I did not know so well before. Every Friday

2007, I did not know the slightest bit about PGC. I had heard

during Flex, the PGC groups met for half an hour, during which

some comments about it from my older brother and other

we were able to escape from the difficulties in our social and

friends, a vast majority of them positive, but I did not quite get

school lives and find solutions to them as a group which we

what PGC was all about. It was with this feeling of embarking

learned to trust and admire. A group in which we all knew we

on an unknown yet exciting journey that the freshmen class,

could find warmth, encouragement, comfort, and advice. One

seventeen seniors, and the advisers traveled to Ranieri camp for

of the images that stay with me is of when Sasse realized she

the PGC Retreat.

had forgotten something that was needed for our activity that

s my PGC leaders used to say, “There is no accurate way to

I remember meeting with the senior leaders during a

day, only to find that Maia had brought it with him. Maia said,

Flex block a few days before the retreat, where they asked us

“I’ve got your back,” and it was clear that he did. This is one

to make the best of effort to go on the trip. If I close my eyes

of the feelings that come up when I think about PGC: It always

now, I can see Vicky Sasse, one of my leaders, asking us fresh-

seems like someone will have your back when you need it.

men, “Please just trust us.” And so we did. I am glad for it. It

March came along and PGC had planned another re-

was exactly with this theme of trust that we started our first

ally successful activity: PGC Parent Night. The purpose was

activities in individual groups at the camp. Each group had two

to introduce the freshmen’s parents to what types of activi-

leaders (the exception this year was the “Trio”), one of each

ties we had gone through and the lessons behind them. The

gender, and about ten freshmen. It was during this retreat that

highlight of the night was the “Fish Bowl” activity, where both

my group adopted the name “Passe” (my other leader, Pedro

parents and children learned more about each other and how

Maia, suggested it since it was a perfect combination of his

to communicate better.

name and Sasse’s), which is what we use to even now.

Now, PGC 2007-2008 has unfortunately come to an end.

The retreat was definitely one of the highlights of my

It’s terribly sad feeling of bidding goodbye to the seniors leaving

PGC experience. The bonds we built, the fun we had and the

for university. (Maia, good luck in Suffolk and Sasse, all the best

sense of unity we developed was what established the strength

in Argentina!). I’m sad but grateful every time I remember the

within our group. We practiced several incredible activities

wonderful experiences I had with my group. I think I speak on

in which we learned more about each other and ourselves.

behalf of most in my grade: this activity as a whole was a true suc-

We also tested our communica-

cess due to the seniors’ efforts.

tion skills and even performed

Maybe some of us freshmen have

a memorable dance that led

not yet recognized the effects of

the way to infinite inside jokes.

PGC in our lives, but they will cer-

After every activity, each group

tainly appear throughout the fu-

would talk about what we had

ture years. The seniors will leave

achieved and what skills we had

a hole in our hearts but they will

improved together. The retreat

also leave us us a whole lot differ-

flew by, but PGC continued

ent people and much more com-

throughout the year, and so did

18 • the talon

Amanda Rudzit

plete individuals than we were in September 2007.

features

She’s Leaving Home My sister, my blessing

I

t is such a comfort to know you aren’t alone in the world, to know that there will always be someone sleeping in the next room. But what happens when suddenly you find out that what brings you comfort will leave you very, very soon? That comfort is my sister.

Many of you may have gone, are going, or will go through what I am going through. My sister is a senior about to graduate and I am merely a freshman, leaving me with the time to ponder what my life will be like once my sister leaves for university.

Siblings are a funny thing. Those who have one often wish they didn’t and those who don’t have one wish they did. They can be a blessing, and a burden. Yet I think it’s safe for me to argue that having a brother or sister definitely outshines being an only child. With them comes comfort; comfort of knowing there will always be someone tied to you no matter what.

I am almost positive that my sister takes part in 98% of all my memories. She was there when I was born, and she’s been with me ever since. She has been present for every birthday, every ballet recital, every trip and every moment of my life. Each night that passes is another memory with her as I hear her footsteps scuffle to the kitchen for water. Every morning that passes is another memory with her as I habitually hurry my leisurely sister to school. Every lunch that passes is another memory with her as I catch a glimpse of what used to be my sweater among the multitude in the cafeteria.

But certain memories outshine others. For example, one a year ago we linked pinkies and promised each other we would make our last year together the best. And now a year has

Georgia Caldart almost passed, the college tours have been made, report cards are almost ready and I am terrified. I have three more years of high school to go and I can’t imagine going through them without my sister.

I have seen my sister go through it all: from sophomore project all the way to mock exams. I have seen the stress, the sleepless nights, the hard work, and the toll all of it has taken on her. I am afraid that when I need her the most, during similar situations, she won’t be there across the hall like she has been all these years.

Students often say how awful it is to be an only child once their older sibling has left for university. I can only imagine how devastated my parents will feel by just glancing at the empty seat at the table. We are now four in the family and soon we will be three. I will be the one left behind to confront family conflicts, frustrations at school and drama with friends, all on my own. At night, it will soon be the silence I have longed for, but to my ears it will simply sound eerie and unsettling. In car trips, I will have the whole back seat to myself and after school I will be able to leave at whatever time I like. This may sound like a dream come true, but I have the feeling that it will leave me broken. The only comfort I will have will be the one of stretching my legs comfortably in the car but I prefer the comfort Georgia Caldart of having my sister close.

I am so proud of my sister.

She will be able to graduate from high school with success in the IB program, rewarding grades and with a ticket to five great art colleges. She is, and has been, the one I look up to and want to be like.

For once in my life, I don’t want this school year to end or vacations to come because once it does, my sister will pack her bags and my world will be changed forever.

the talon • 19

features

Practice for Life

The beauty of extracurriculars

B

eing a student athlete, musician, artist or actor can often lead students to feel stuck in a hard place, trying to balance academic life, extracurricular commitments, not to mention a social life. The pressure of school and personal expectations can be arduous. As educators, we ask you to persevere. The skills learned outside the classroom are transferable and equip you very well for life post-Graded, whether it is further education, social life, family life or contribution to a workforce.

Let’s make a comparison between your activity of choice and future employment. Consider your coach, director, conductor or sponsor as your mentor or boss, your team as your work colleagues, and your performance as your product or service. You are required to attend practice to develop skills, as you would be required to attend meetings to brainstorm and develop strategy. Participation in post-event review, for the purposes of reflection and evaluation, mirrors self assessment in the workplace. As such, the foundations of extracurricular activities serve as the essential building blocks in preparing students to be successful either in the workplace or any chosen path in life.

Being employable requires a person to have a variety of skills and personal attributes. Extracurricular activities serve as a great platform for developing employability. Human resource departments will often receive hundreds of applications for a particular position. The curriculum vitae that stand out from the rest are those that display a balance between academic credentials and extracurricular commitments.

The skills that you are practicing and developing in your extracurricular activities will be applicable in real life. When you make a commitment to a group, you are promising to be on time, reliable, and dedicated, just as you are expected to be at work. Teamwork is an integral component of a group. Forbes 500 voted teamwork as the number one criteria that companies look for in a

Mr. Steve Brophy and Ms. Andie Urquhart potential employee. Each team member has identifiable roles and responsibilities that are crucial to the success of the team or corporation. In a group activity, such as a team, cast or orchestra, you often deal with personalities that are vastly different to your own. You are required to put aside these differences to work towards a common goal. The workplace is no different.

An employee, like a player, has opportunities to develop leadership and to mentor less experienced team members.

In your extracurricular activity, you may be called upon to be a Graded ambassador, whether this is wearing an athletic uniform, submitting a film to an international film festival or representing Graded at the global finals of Destination Imagination.

To balance your academic workload with your afterschool commitments, you are required to have outstanding energy and time-management skill; a quality that any employer would welcome. Practice, goal-setting and problem-solving are vital to raising the bar of expectations. The pressure of the final performance or game provides the perfect stage to develop adaptability, deal with adversity or bask in success. All of the above qualities are held in the highest regard, by teachers, employers, colleagues, families and friends.

For 99.9% of us, work is inevitable and will occupy the majority of our time. Getting involved in extracurricular activities, no matter what age you are, provides you with an avenue to maximize your potential. Ask any actor who took center stage in the Black Box or student athlete who has been to Big 4 or musician who performed at the Jazz Festival. They will tell you that extracurricular activities at Graded have enhanced their lives. If you ask them in twenty years time what prepared them most for life, we are sure that many will mention participating in extracurricular activities. Plus they are a lot of fun! Participating in extracurricular activities not only gives you the gift of transferable skills, it feeds the soul and allows you to be your best self.

Nelson Cho

20 • the talon

features

Independence The war fought alone

Alex Trimbo

S

earching for something in your mind and

heart is truly an instinctful action, one you might think would take only a few seconds.

The truth is it might take several years. After all, defining who we are and figuring out what makes us individuals is quite hard to do. How can something be so close to me yet still be so difficult and complex to describe. A complete and thoughtful answer is never permanent. In my own moments of reflection, I have concluded that my persona is independent. This value of independence is what I learned during one summer at Camp Nosso Recanto.

When I was thirteen years old, I was on a bus heading to Camp Nosso Recanto. I

Nelson Cho

had already previewed how my entire experience at NR would

began to swim deeply in my thoughts and whisper to myself,

be. It included laughing with new friends, being a leader in

“How can I change this? How did I make friends when I ar-

a new crowd, serving as an example for others to follow, and

rived at Graded? What is it that I have to do?”

igniting envy in others for not being me. In my mind, the

The following day I began changing things around

sky was blue, the sun shone brightly and apparently, I was

me. I decided to act as I always did in school, as if everyone

the center of the world. This was the scenario for a true fai-

was my friend, as if we’d known one another for years. It

rytale summer, but only later would I discover that nothing

felt odd to talk to strangers, pretending to share intimacy

was like what I had imagined. As soon as the buses arrived

with people I’d never seen in my life, but the results were

at the camp, people’s eyes began sparkling with hope and

astounding. I made several friends that I could talk to, laugh

excitement. When I took my heavy luggage to my dirty room

with, hang out with, and trust. I made friends faster than I

which I would be sharing with strangers, I couldn’t bear the

had ever in my entire life. Throughout the rest of the week,

feeling. This vulnerable sensation was a first time experience

it looked like the sun shone not only on me but on everyone

for me. I realized what it meant to be alone.

in the camp, creating a magical, sensational feeling. I ended

For the following hour, I discovered what it was like to be lonesome, and by that I mean very lonesome. Because

up having one of the best weeks of my life. This was the first time that I had felt independent.

I was afraid of how people would judge me, I barely spoke.

Even though no one helped me, I was able to take

Trying to look cool, I stood in one place as time dragged on:

control, make things happen and change my experience. I

ten minutes, thirty minutes, two hours. The only interesting

achieved all of this alone. This entire episode gave me my

thing I did involved a few group activities. It was that night

independence. Create an objective, set a goal, fight with de-

that I realized I would have to fight to reach the happiness I

termination to fulfill it and go beyond my limits. That is what

expected since there was no one to help me.

I did that summer and I gained so much, including proof that

I felt as if the darkness of the day was growing inside

I am independent. The battle I faced did not reward me with

of me. I was submerged in a world of sadness.That same night

trophies or awards, but instead with a feeling of perfection

in my cold bed, I tossed and turned in my sleep, terrified. I

deep within.

the talon • 21

features

My Senior

How a brother can be a best friend

T

hroughout my life, on this living planet and in its darkest corners, I have had unforgettable experiences with a graduating senior whom I call my brother.

My brother is my conscience and my best friend. Even though we have had our moments of glaring stares, we have also shared lasting memories of joy and laughter.

Patrick always has a scientific fact to share with me; one that he read on the Internet or a news update he just heard about. In my point of view, my brother is one which holds a great deal of knowledge.

Throughout high school he has been in Knowledge Bowl, written for the The Talon, volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and involved in M.U.N. He always managed to bring a smile to my family’s face along with facts that I always found to be quite extraordinary, like the time he told us over dinner how chicken was processed in order to get their meat. My mom, of course, stopped him before he went into greater detail as she could not handle that kind of conversation during her “food time.”

My mom humorously said that if he did not share this new and “exciting” information with anyone, Patrick would explode. I guess that shows how much he loves to talk about his passion, science, which has fascinated him ever since a young age and still now as senior writing college applications.

Throughout our childhood I would often be his little assistant in scientific experiments (even when he told me not to). It may sound strange but when I found him carving statues or designs from soap bars, I would be intrigued by the idea of his acts being science, and would always enjoy helping him with his practice. My brother loved to work with his hands, which also meant he could apply his abilities to producing different forms of art, such as paintings and drawings. Although Patrick did not excel in his artistic talents, he didn’t let that get in his way when participating in art activities.

Unfortunately, art class never managed to fit in his hectic schedule, which I am sure disappointed him greatly. This may have led him to hardly work with art anymore. Despite the amount of time that has passed, I remain with a feeling that the artistic skill is still within him, waiting to burst out and blossom. All my life, I have looked after him, even though he might not have known it. He has been a part of my life as much as I have been part of his. Although he may appear to be annoyed when around me, I know he cares for me dearly.

He, whom I call my brother, is also conscious of what I am thinking because he knows how I work and how to read my body language. This understanding between my brother and I was evident during one point in my life, where I was not in the mood for anything

22 • the talon

Tessa Peixoto

Nelson Cho

and just wanted to be left alone. This was during summer vacation when we were visiting the United States. One day, when driving to the mall, I sat in the passenger seat with my brother behind me. I was staring out into space, lost in my thoughts, when my dad started to interrogate me for my silent state. Unlike Patrick, my dad has not got a clue on how I function. Extremely irritated, I was about to explode with an alarming scream when my brother turned gingerly around and stated wise words of caution, “Don’t bother her, she’s not in the mood.” Patrick saved my dad from my wrath. He is a living being that is, in a special way, connected to my brain and heart.

Best friends can be described in many different ways. A best friend can be a person you choose to be with because you connect and bond easily with. A best friend can also be someone whom you can trust and you know will be loyal to you. Best friends can be held within the family. In my case, my best friend is my brother.

Patrick has always brought a smile to my face when I did not even want to smile, made me laugh till my stomach hurt, made tears of happiness flow from my eyes. When our car broke down in the middle of a tunnel, Patrick cheered my family up during our two hour wait. And when he and I were bored, we always found something to do, whether it was saying stupid things at random times, throwing something over the railing, or even attempting to explain the unknown.

Now that I think of it, it will be awfully quiet as I begin ninth grade with my brother moving off to college. I have been with him for so long that as I think of the being the only child in our cozy home, I realize it will take time in getting used to hearing only my own voice echo off the walls while I long for his reply.

features

Prom All Around the World It’s not just an Amercian tradition

Cássia Di Roberto

W

hen most people think of prom they think of gowns, cor-

The same cannot be said for Germany’s celebrations,

sages, limos, boys in tuxes and friends dancing all night long. But

which celebrate the senior class with an Abifeifer or commonly

did you know that prom is an event celebrated in many parts of

known as “Abi Party.” Students generally do not wear tuxedos,

the world for other reasons?

and the girls rarely go in dresses. The event follows a rigid set

As the seniors are graduating and the year is coming to

of rules, where there are welcomes, introductions, and awards

an end, that means one thing on the social calendars for junior

for students, followed by student-run activities that make fun of

and seniors, the world-famous prom. Although it is mostly cel-

their teachers. Following that, the school’s own band plays while

ebrated in the United States, other countries have end-of-the-

some students dance. The “prom” in Germany is the only one in

year dances that resemble those we are accustomed to. The

the world that serves alcohol, since the legal drinking age in 16.

most commonly known country with the same sort of dance is

In other countries, such as Poland, the dance happens

England. In the United Kingdom the prom is referred to as the

around 100 days before high school exams, and is only organized

Leaver’s Ball or dinner, where seniors to gather together one

for people who are about to graduate. People from other years

last time. Unlike the United States, the prom in England doesn’t

may not attend unless they helped organize it. In Italy there is

consist of “kings” and “queens,” but rather of everyone being

the same concept but they also include a cabaret show where

the “spotlight” for the night.

they parody their teachers.

In Sweden, this event is known as the “Studentbalen,”

Brazil, a country known to all of us, doesn’t hold the

meaning Student Ball. This ball is held during the last weeks be-

traditional prom, but holds “Graduation Dances,” which usually

fore graduating, after three years in high school. In Ireland, the

consist of a dinner for family and then afterwards a party until

dance is referred to as the Debutante’s Ball or “The Debs,” and,

very late. Often other kids from various schools also attend.

like the US, it is a formal event but it is celebrated in September rather than in April.

All around the world people celebrate prom. Some tend to think of it as such a small tradition, but they couldn’t be more wrong. The tradition has spread across the world, becoming

an

exciting

event for many high school students.

Our prom was once again something the students will talk about for years to come. I hope it will continue to improve every year as a bigger and better tradition.

Getty Images

the talon • 23

features

English and Me

Articles by Graded’s F.A.L.A. Students Luan Fernandes de Oliveira (19)

I

have always dreamt of being able to speak English. In 2003, I did not know it then but, as you can see, now I know a little bit more. When I came to Graded, I was afraid of not understanding the teachers because the most of them did not speak Portuguese. My first teacher was Ian, and I found him to be a very nice guy. In my first classes, the teachers would teach us prepositions and sometimes give us Internet articles to read in class to see if we had any questions on the meanings of weird words; I used to understand almost twenty percent of everything my teachers said in class. Everything was new for me; the people participating in the F.A.L.A. program were completely different from the people I knew from the place I came from.

In eighth grade, the English teaching program in the school I was studying at was poor, so I easily noticed the difference between the two teaching methods between the F.A.L.A. program and my school’s program. Basically, we did not speak only English at school. We often spoke and used Portuguese in order to try to translate what we knew into English. F.A.L.A. seemed totally different because when we came to Graded we were not allowed to speak Portuguese, which makes you think in English and pay attention to what your teachers are saying. I used to go home after F.A.L.A. classes thinking of what I had just learned, so when I got home I would review. Two years later, I can say I was addicted to studying English.

In 2006 I got a job working at a large law firm. I was an office boy. That work was dreadful for me! I could not do usual chores because I wasn’t familiar with how to do them. So, when I had some free time, I used to study English as inspiration to keep trying. It might sound strange to say that during the time I had to relax at home I spent it studying English, but I am proud to say that I did. My job was so bad that I could hardly stand nine months at work and if it was not for English, I think I would have given up a lot earlier.

Nelson Cho

24 • the talon

Nelson Cho

Last year I got a new job. I worked as a Customer Services Representative for three months, which was really interesting because I had to only speak English. When I got the job, I was so in shock that I wondered whether this was really happening. I never had thought that I could have made it this far.

I speak the language fluently. After having faced so many obstacles at my previous job, I could finally say, “I am happy working here.” After getting this job, I realized I am able to learn a new language. Unfortunately, the company recently moved away from Brazil and everyone lost their jobs.

I got a new job in May last year. I worked as a Skip Tracer. Once again, I had to speak English at work, and I was successful. I worked there for a while and then I quit the job.

After that, I became an English teacher. In the beginning I did not know how to prepare and to give an interesting class, but my English was already at a good level. I learned step by step how to conduct a successful English class. I gave classes for some months and I enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I was unable to continue working as a teacher because I had to start studying for the Vestibular. I had to quit the job once again.

Now I am teaching English again at a new school that is different from the one I worked at last year. I aim at being kind to my students because I think it is a good way of grasping their attention. We actually talk about many things in class, not only about what is in the book. When the students are relaxed, they learn faster. I keep improving my English and I learn a lot from teaching. I can say that F.A.L.A. has changed my life. I want to thank the teachers (all of them) and I want to thank Graded for everything!

features

Crescimento Eduardo Menezes (25)

T

odo ser humano, para crescer, precisa de outro: dos pais, de outras crianças para brincar e começar se desenvolver, mais ou menos assim é o início.

Depois crescemos e começamos a estudar e desenvolvermos a nossa capacidade de pensar e realizar muitas coisas. Hoje em dia precisamos muito de estudar e temos necessidade de aprender uma língua que não seja a da nossa nacionalidade.

Vejo que o inglês é uma necessidade indispensável em nossa vida, e assim o F.A.L.A. está nos ajudando a crescer.

Mario o Motorista Mario Pereira de Almeida (42)

M

eu nome é Mario, nasci em São Paulo, tenho 43 anos, sou casado e tenho uma família maravilhosa e muito unida.

Eu tive uma infância muito boa, mas aos 14 anos precisei começar a trabalhar, estudei até o 1º grau.

Não tive muitas oportunidades de terminar os estudos, pois o trabalho era mais importante para ajudar nas despesas de casa.

Aos 18 anos sonhava em ser policial militar, pois é uma profissão que me daria muito orgulho, mas logo aprendi a dirigir caminhão com meu pai, nas estradas do Brasil, e não parei mais, abandonando os estudos para sempre.

Aos 20 anos sofri um acidente na estrada que me deixou impossibilitado de trabalhar durante dois anos e acabou de vez com meu sonho de ser policial.

Trabalho como motorista há 22 anos, hoje sou autônomo, pois muitas empresas no Brasil recusam trabalhadores acima de 40 anos, e os nossos governantes não fazem nada para que a situação se reverta.

Eu amo a minha cidade. São Paulo é uma cidade maravilhosa, embora o trânsito conturbado e violento faça com que a nossa legislação seja ultrapassada, pois os especialistas perderam o controle da situação e não sabem como reeducar os motoristas. Acabam tirando proveito, aplicando multas muitas vezes indevidas para arrecadar fundos para os Estados e municípios, o que não é uma forma correta de educar os motoristas.

Hoje estudo inglês porque tenho a oportunidade do programa F.A.L.A que está sendo muito importante para o meu aprendizado, onde conheci pessoas que se importam em ajudar o próximo.

Esta é uma pequena introdução a minha vida.

Racism Dayane Carlos Santana (15)

R

acism is a problem caused by people, not a thing that happens to people. Although this statement is accepted by many, others object to facing the issue courageously for several reasons. I think that perhaps these people are interested in keeping things the way they are. Or perhaps they are not used to discussing the matter seriously.

One thing is for certain: if we remain ignorant about our differences, we will not diminish the problem. By taking responsibility and improving the racial society in which we live in, we will be contributing to a better world.

In case you are interested in getting involved with the matter, you will find lots of organizations that are concerned about battling racism in a serious way. They look forward to having you as an important and contributing member. An important organization is Martin Luther King Jr.’s Center for Non-Violent Change in Atlanta, Georgia. Once run by Coretta Scott King, its goal is to preserve and advance and advancing Martin Luther King’s unfinished mission through non-violent measures.

Let us fight to say “no” for racism, and “yes” to a better country.

the talon • 25

entertainment

The “Land of Opportunity”

Exploring the new videogame “Grand Theft Auto IV”

“L

Andrew Churchill ife is complicated. I killed people, smuggled people,

is called Dukes, the Statue of Liberty is called the Statue of

sold people. Perhaps here, things will be different.” These

Happiness, the island of Manhattan is called Algonquin. Fa-

were the first words the public heard concerning the new

miliar places such as Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge

video game Grand Theft Auto (GTA) IV in its first trailer. The

have been depicted as well.

game, created for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, was released

The game has been rated in the United States for

by Rockstar Games on April 29th, 2008. For those who are

“Mature Audiences,” and there is a clear message behind the

familiar with the previous GTA games, this is a long-awaited

facade of blatant violence, swear words and sexual refer-

sequel.

ences. It is a modern-day critique of what the creators beThe plot revolves around Niko Bellic, a Serbian im-

lieve the United States has become. The radio stations in the

migrant in search of a better life in the United States. He

game make this very clear. One station called WKTT, which

arrives at Liberty City, the fictional metropolis designed from

stands for We Know The Truth, broadcasts ultra-conservative,

scratch to resemble (and many times mock) New York City,

right-wing messages. “Public education is another lie,” says

after a long voyage across the Atlantic. Greeted by his cousin,

the host. “You see it in the bunk they’re teaching as science.

Roman Bellic, who says he is living the “American Dream”

Now, science is good when it teaches you how to turn a mil-

(with lots of girls, money and a big house), Niko quickly re-

lion ungrateful foreigners into glass.” This is the sort of sar-

alizes that not everything is exactly like his cousin wrote in

castic criticism of the modern day United States that can be

his letters. The city is plagued with corruption, prostitution,

found in the game. Another radio station, Jazz Nation Radio,

organized crime, poverty and an overwhelming feeling of me-

repeatedly mentions its slogan: “Music from when the U.S.

diocrity. As the story continues, Niko digs himself deeper and

was cool.”

deeper into a harsh and unforgiving world of crime regard-

The game has been rated extremely positively on

less of his original attempts to remain out of it. “I promised

most game websites. Imagine Games Network, for example,

myself I wouldn’t kill anyone here,” says Niko Bellic with a

has given it a 10.0 rating, the highest accolade it has ever

macabre sense of humor shortly after his arrival in the “Land

awarded. I would not go as far as to give it a 10, but rather a

of Opportunity” which is Liberty City.

9 ½. The graphics can be a bit jumpy at times and the melee

The game is the ninth in the Grand Theft Auto series,

combat a bit annoying. But overall, the game is by far one of

which began in 1997. Designed as a sandbox-style game, the

the most amazing I have ever played. The story is compelling,

player is free to do whatever he wants and play the game as

the graphics are excellent, the gameplay is nearly flawless,

quickly or slowly as he wants. The game is mostly non-lin-

the realism is stunning and the sounds are pristine. The at-

ear, meaning that the missions are optional and free play is

tention to detail is simply awe-inspiring. Whether you are a

encouraged. Although the game is referred to as a “3rd-per-

fan of the entire series, or someone looking for a good time

son shooter,” it contains elements of role-playing, driv-ing,

and a good laugh, Grand Theft Auto IV is definitely a game to

stealth and adventure games as well. The point most often

consider buying, despite its awfully high prices. You can pre-

made about the game is in relation to its sheer scope. The

order the game from Fnac at the steep price of R$229,90 or

game had a budget of over 100 million dollars, making it the

you can get a friend to buy it for you in the U.S. for $59,99.

most expensive game to date. (However, it grossed over 500

In any case, GTA IV will entrance you. And in spite of the

million dollars in its first week). It relied on a team of over

initial ugli-ness of Liberty City, there still seems to be some-

1000 different people ranging from developers to writers,

thing about its brutal honesty that keeps you coming back

programmers to testers, actors to DJs. Rockstar even sent

and wanting more. It’s a shame the game only lasts about 70

teams of researchers to New York City to find out its inhabit-

hours.

ants’ idiosyncrasies. Many of the aspects in the game are direct references to places in New York. The borough of Queens

26• the talon

entertainment

Our Small World Drifting together again

Laura Deckers

P

angea, pan meaning “entire” and gea meaning “earth” in

are set in places worlds apart from theirs. Hearing the stories

Ancient Greek, is the name given to the single continent be-

of people who know the meaning of the word disaster, who

lieved to have existed around 250 million years ago before a

belong to such a differently reality, but manage to prove in

continental drift, in which land masses separated, forming

their films that they aren’t really that different from anyone

isolated landmasses as we know them today.

else is far more effective than hearing a narration of that

While in this day and age global citizens are perhaps

same story from a journalist.

more physically separate than ever, advances in technology

Some stories had epic lines, and others were bril-

are sophisticated enough to allow people from any two points

liantly simple, yet every movie exhibited had the power to

of the planet communicate with each other instantaneously.

bring the same types of emotions to people all around the

Members of our planet are figuratively as close to one an-

world at once. If the entire world could reach the harmony

other as they once were when the world consisted of a single

and share the sympathy brought by Pangea Day, I believe this

continent.

planet would finally be a place of peace. And although it may

With that spirit in mind, documentary filmmaker Je-

be dangerously hopeful to wish for long-lasting understanding

hane Noujaim sought to develop a project which would prove

of one another in the world’s current state, I know that it is

how the technological resources of today can exceed physi-

possible to do so.

cal boundaries. As it progressed, this work took on a deeper

Pangea Day has past but the movies and their effect

meaning, setting to unite people from all over the world

still linger in me. I recommend you visit pangeaday.org and

through a common experience, to enhance the compassion

watch these movies for yourself (My personal favorites are

and understanding between peoples of different nations and

those I have mentioned above as well as “Dancing Queen”,

cultures, and to create solidarity amongst one another to in-

“Stille Post”, and “Inja.”) Your initiative and openness to

spire a combined effort to work on global problems. Those

another’s experience might be an excellent warm-up for the

that tuned in on Pangea Day (Saturday, May 10) saw Nou-

practice of peace.

jaim’s final product and witnessed her success in creating everything she hoped for − and perhaps even more.

For four hours, short films submitted by filmmakers from all over the word were broadcast live on television, as well as performances by a vast array of musicians, including Brazil’s minister of culture Gilberto Gil. Several guest speakers (such as Queen Noor of Jordan and cultural ambassador for Rwanda Jean-Paul Samputu) addressed topics of international concern such as the environmental crisis and the persistence of war, hostility, and misunderstanding in our world.

One of the films, “I Remember Lebanon,” brought attention to the devastation of the Lebanese civil war in a very touching manner. “Combatants for Peace” touched on the violence between Israelis and Palestinians and on the recognition of their shared humanity, which has led men who would be otherwise killing each other to seek a peaceful solution together. Though these films present issues constantly seen in the news, there is a sort of detachment people have in relation to the stories they read or watch on CNN, almost as if they

the talon •27

entertainment

Performance Anxiety A teacher talks about playing at Zombie Zoo Cássia Di Roberto

A

fter several talks in class with Mr. Bair, I discovered that he would be one of the featured artists at Zombie Zoo. His happiness in class was overwhelming and everyone could tell that he was thrilled to be playing in this year’s student run concert. I knew I made the right choice to interview him when he said to me, “I’m going to be a rock star.”

How did you get involved with playing at Zombie Zoo? Well, about three years ago, I was speaking to Chris Freiberg and told him my dream was to play guitar on stage in front of a lot of people. He then said to me, “Mr. Bair, I’m going to make your dream come true.” Three years later, at his last Zombie Zoo, he fulfilled his promise and invited me to play with him and his band.

Nelson Cho

What inspired your to play in this concert?

My greatest inspiration for Zombie Zoo was my boyhood dream of becoming a rock star and playing in front of millions of people.

How long have you been playing the guitar?

Ten years ago, a good friend of mine showed me how to play some chords and that is how I’ve been playing all these years.

So you never took any lessons?

No, all I do is play the chords and the music comes out naturally.

What were your hopes for this year’s Zombie Zoo? I hoped that there would be a record company there and that they would sign the guys and me to a multi-record deal.

What songs did you play?

I played only one song, “Fade to Black” by Metallica.

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Did you enjoy playing at Zombie Zoo? Yes. No doubt about it. I was extremely nervous, but I loved it. The truly terrific part was being able to play with my basketball guys, Leach, Kiko, Pedro, and G. What was the most exciting part of playing?

Probably when I first stepped on the pedal and heard the power of the electric guitar distorter.

The first thought that came to mind when you were up there play was...?

How did I get to this place? [laughter] No, but really, that was actually the first thing that came to mind. Also, how did my life lead me here to be playing in front of all these people?

If you could change anything abut Zombie Zoo, what would you change?

I would want to play three full sets with the guys and I would want 40,000 people in the audience taking it all in.

entertainment

Tense Moments on Stage In the mind of a performer

Luiza Justus

“N

ever again,” I thought as I walked the short steps up to the stage. The purpose of Zombie Zoo was and always had been to entertain. What did that mean, anyway? How was I supposed to find a way to entertain everyone in that audience with my two songs? The meaning of the word entertainment was completely absent from my mind during those intense minutes on stage. After contemplating how I was supposed to engage that small number of people which felt like thousands, I just decided not to think about it and go with the flow.

After many amazing songs played (including the incredible Aerosmith cover performed by Isabella Coelho and Anthony Linford), I wondered how all those performers managed to captivate the audience so extraordinarily. All the performances until then had been remarkable, and I wanted to know how to make people think the same of mine. I had performed so many times before, and I had never been nervous. The person singing with me, Paula Drummond, despite being the outstanding singer she is, was also a bit tense about performing.

When we finally got up on stage, I looked at all the little faces staring right back at me, expecting. Expecting an

Nelson Cho

astounding performance or a wreck, but still expecting. Anxious to meet everyone’s expectations, I decided to let go of my worries. Whatever happens, happens. With that mindset, I started strumming my guitar and went smoothly through the two songs.

After getting down from the stage I relaxed and enjoyed the show. A truly inspiring performance by Eric Kleppe and Sarasa Mizuno with the song Anyone Else But You by the Moldy Peaches gave everyone a cheerful vibe and was amazingly engaging. The most hilarious song was the cover of Wicked Games by Chris Isaac, which demonstrated a comic display of talent by Christopher Freiburg, Pedro Maia, Andrew Leach, Eric Ovrebo, Pedro Mendonça, and Eugenio Lee. Whether I did well or not, I will never know. I honestly do not want to know. What matters is that during those short minutes on stage I was the happiest person there, with the opportunity to show everybody the result of my hours of practice. I hated myself for even thinking that I would never perform again, and realized that performing is something that I love to do. There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from my experience at Zombie Zoo: it ended way too quickly.

Facebook

the talon •29

entertainment

A Teenage Literary Perspective Books you should consider reading over vacation Ms. Hillary M. Marshall Operation,

Red Jericho

Sold, Patricia McCormick

This action-packed novel is told through the diary of fifteen yearold Becca as she and her brother, Doug, uncover the mysterious disappearance of their parents. Becca and Doug are sent from their home in India to live with their uncle, a sea captain of a research vessel which is docked in Shanghai, China. Researching through the media of confidential records, colorful maps, and important documents, Design Archives Becca and Doug discover a secret society containing an evil warlord who helps complete the complex puzzle of finding their parents.

Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl living a simple, pleasant life in Nepal. When the monsoon rains of the Himalayas demolish her family’s farm, her drunk, desperate stepfather demands that she work to help support her family. She is taken to the “Happiness House” in India where she learns that she has been sold into prostitution and must confront her new life in the confines of the brothel. This stark story is told in strong, free-verse that poignantly portrays Lakshmi’s adjustment to this horrific future.

Gossamer,

Skin: A Novel, Adrienne Maria Vrettos

Lois Lowry

Littlest One is a dream fairy that learns how to collect images to produce meaningful, peaceful dreams to humans.

Through the guidance of Thin Elderly, another dream fairy, she learns to develop an understanding of the most meaningful remembrances of a human in order to ward off evil nightmares. Assigned to a young boy named John who is an orphan and is living with a kind old woman, Littlest One learns how to colGoogle Images lect the most precious remembrances from John’s small collection of personal items. Each night, John combats nightmares of his rough childhood filled with physical abuse and broken promises. Littlest One bestows dreams with a gossamer touch and at the end of the novel is renamed and granted a new teaching position as the newest dream giver.

30• the talon

Amazon.com

The story opens with Donnie, a fourteen year-old brother, trying to revive his most trusted companion, Karen, his older sister, through CPR. Karen is slipping through his fingers as her body withers to nothing from an eating disorder. Donnie has always been able to depend on Karen to confide in and hang with when life just got unbearable. Donnie’s world scrambles into chaos: his sister is skin and bones, his parents argue, sleepGoogle Images ing in separate bedrooms and on the verge of a divorce, and his own social, outcast standing at school makes Donnie wonder if life will every return to a peaceful existence.

entertainment

The English Code The eagle does not catch flies?

I

grew up with English as my only language, yet sometimes I still wonder about it. Certain words and phrases can be so confusing. Proverbs in particular can be quite bizarre-sounding, especially if certain ones are taken literally. When I was very young, “a stitch in time saves nine” meant someone was sewing time. And that whole “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” thing never seemed to work for me.

Many proverbs are cryptic, but make a lot of sense if you think about them. “The worth of a thing is best known by the want,” meaning the more you want something, the more valuable it is to you, sounds a bit strange at first but is very true. Finally, there are the obscure and perhaps outdated proverbs that can almost be seen as code phrases that mean something else entirely. “The eagle does not catch flies” means that you should not spend a great deal of time and effort on something that won’t

Emily Matt

actually be of much use, but it sounds like it could easily follow “the rooster crows at midnight” or some other code phrase.

This leads me to my next question: does anyone even use proverbs anymore? I’d say yes, since proverbs are sometimes ingrained within people without them knowing it. When family members use them, even if we aren’t really listening, our brains pick them up. Parents or grandparents may have referred to some to teach us a lesson when we were children. But then, proverbs aren’t just in English; all cultures have them, and some are passed on as people travel. Often, proverbs are similar or almost identical in different languages. In Portuguese there’s “Não deixe para amanhá o que você pode fazer hoje” and in English there’s “Don’t put off to tomorrow what can be done today.” These sayings known worldwide can depress us, inspire us, or confuse us, but they’ll probably always be there for us.

the talon •31

viva voice

Little Black Dots

My Intention Felix Wibergh

Kathleen Frost “So frustrating!” she yells to no one in particular. She opens the book one last time before she explodes with impatience and stares intensely at the black dots littering the neat lines across the page. Her clumsy fingers lightly touch the white keys and press down to create one long resounding sound that floats through the open room. Each finger does its part and glides across the slippery keys following the notes on the page. She arrives at the part in which her brain just can’t seem to connect with her fingers, and an awful confused cry escapes from her frown of concentration. The keys seem to trip her fingers as she tries to make sense of the notes once more.

“F-A-C . . . okay it’s a C,” she mumbles as she counts the lines and plays the note. Slowly, like a walking elephant, the teacher-less student plays. Seconds pass by, forming minutes, then hours. Each bump in the road becomes a new challenge that she must overcome alone. Soon enough, the page has been tamed. The notes are reigned in to create a sound that makes listeners giddy with each staccato bounce.

“Daddy, listen to what I learned!” she exclaims when the doorknob turns and he walks through the door smiling.

My Intention goes beyond the unknown, Beyond the ambiguous twilight zone To the end of everything, even time.

I seek it in my mine of blood and bone.

Excavating I am hindered and climb, Summit, and see what’s behind – it’s sublime!

There it runs, my Intention I tell you.

I descend to catch it, yet slip on slime.

Tumbling down the miners’ floor drenched in goo I stop, assured I fought a kangaroo!

My Intention jumps into a dark hole And I instantly decide to pursue.

Plummet endlessly, deprived of control, Distance remains to my intent, my goal.

The endless hole is ending – I extol, For out we go, into a toilet bowl.

Silence is Golden She had known him all her life, so she knew that his passion for music had not been sparked by anyone but himself. His only inspiration was the golden glow of the tenor saxophone. It was love at first sight.

He would practice everyday for hours uninterrupted, producing gorgeous solos, almost as if he were in a trance.

She would sneak into the warm, dark room on certain afternoons and sit in a corner watching him without a word. She would listen intently as he poured his every emotion into the instrument, and although she did not know the first thing about music, she could always understand the feeling behind the music he played.

Sometimes, he would simply sit still, staring off into space, silent. In those rare moments, she would stop

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Deborah Fiuza

breathing so as to remain as invisible to him as she was when passing him in the halls. He was a quiet, uncommunicative boy and she knew she couldn’t put words together nearly as well as he did notes. It seemed to her that he was always off in an alternative world where words were unnecessary and music was the only language.

So, when he played, she listened. She didn’t just hear his music: she was bound to his every note. When his solos were joyful, she became elated. When they were melancholic, she became utterly miserable. Unknowingly, he spoke to her through his music, his daily confessionals. She learned to listen and feel in a different way. She only wished she had the courage to breathe during his silences, break his trance and be noticed.

sports

Passion or Mon£y?

The impact of money in the sports world

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oney. Every sport requires it. From Michael Schumacher, who was statistically the highest paid sportsman in the world before his retirement, to the huge transfer fees paid by football clubs for talent they desire in the team. With all the money thrown around, it seems that sports are no longer about loyalty to one’s team, but rather about selling out to the highest bidder.

In the past, football players generally stayed at the club they loved for life. Pelé and Pep Guardiola spent almost their entire careers at Santos and Barcelona respectively.

Players moved clubs purely because they wanted to play in a different league. Big money was not associated with sports in the least.

Come the 90’s, television deals infused clubs with immense amounts of money, and this allowed player salaries to rise to levels never seen before. Transfer bids for established players and rising stars alike often carry ludicrous values. More and more, sports are becoming as much a business as a joy. This introduction of such high monetary value for players really brings up the question of what they play for: love of the game or the money that goes into their bankroll?

In the world today, very few players stay with a club long-term. For example, Ronaldo has played for Internazionale and AC Milan and even for various rival teams like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. It seems that nowadays the motivation to play a sport is no longer just to play it, but to make as much money as possible. Salaries today are at such a high level that should any given team be interested in a player’s services, they can now offer massive amounts of money through salaries or transfer fees. This has led to instances in football known as “tapping-up,” where players and agents meet other clubs behind their club’s back to determine a contract. A famous example of this is Ashley Cole, Arsenal’s long-serving left back. He sought higher wages, leading him to be involved in a tapping-up incident with then-Chelsea coach José Mourinho. He eventually

32 • the talon

Christopher Thomas signed with Chelsea for the wages he wished. Other instances of wage-seeking can be seen within Chelsea itself. Midfielder Frank Lampard demanded a higher salary than the one he was receiving in order to sign a new contract.

Real Madrid and Chelsea’s transfer bids are also very large in number. Real Madrid’s galácticos era was when they signed Luís Figo for £38.7 million, Zinedine Zidane for £44 million, Ronaldo for £26 million, and David Beckham for £25 million. Chelsea, with the help of Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, has made transfer bids of £80 million for Andriy Shevchenko, eventually signing the player for £30 million, Didier Drogba for £23.8 million, Anelka for £15 million, Ricardo Carvalho for £20 million, and Shaun Wright-Phillips for £21 million. These figures may seem alarming, but with the spending power football clubs now have, the transfer markets have become inflated and frequently we see players being lured away by money when they could have a more successful future at the club they are currently in. With all the money going around in the sport, it is always a joy to see a player such as Paolo Maldini, who spent his entire career at AC Milan. One can only hope we see others like him in the future.

Google Images

sports

The Olympics: Origin and Purpose Not to win but to take part

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thletes around the world are hurriedly preparing for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the world grows eager as the date, August 8th, approaches. But let’s start from the beginning: what are the Olympics about?

Basically, they’re an international event where athletes from almost all nations gather to compete. They are divided into summer and winter games and alternate every two years. The Olympics originated from the ancient Greeks in the 700’s BC and have become a worldwide event. The purpose of the Olympics is to help build a peaceful world by educating people through sports practiced, played, and evaluated fairly, without discrimination. Finally, these games would not be possible without the Olympic Movement, composed of the systems that organize the games, at the heart of them the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The earliest records of Olympic games in Greece are from 776 BC and they’re thought to have stopped around 393 AD as the Romans gained power. Myths recall that Heracles created them to honor Zeus, his father. Back then the Olympics were a tradition important to the Greeks both as entertainment and religious since they honored the gods. Winning athletes were greatly admired and honored through poems and statues.

In 1859, Evangelos Zappas was interested in reviving the Olympics and organized the first of the modern games in Athens. The IOC was eventually founded by a French man, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, in 1894 as he sought a way to improve world peace by encouraging people to compete in sports rather than go to war. From that year on, the IOC has continued organizing Olympic Games in different countries worldwide.

The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. It ““represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.”

Wikipedia.org

Andrea Estrada Various groups that specialize in specific sports organize the individual events, and the people who regulate the movement within a specific country are also part of the IOC. Athletes contribute to the movement as well. All these people follow the Olympic Charter, a set of guidelines and principles for the games. Most of the Charter’s rules are derived from Coubertin.

The purpose of the Olympic Games can be summarized by the Olympic Creed, created by Coubertin: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” This quote has motivated and guided many athletes through history, giving them a different perspective on their lives and the world.

Through the emblem and the slogan we may also understand more of the Olympic goal. The five rings in colors blue, yellow, black, green, and red in addition to the white background are representative of the five continents of the world, and allow every nation participating in the games to have at least one of their flag colors present in the emblem.

The slogan “One world, one dream” shows Coubertin’s desire to unite humankind through his organization.

Throughout Olympic history there has been interference from terrorist acts, boycotts, and politics. Despite this, young athletes, coaches, supporters, and organizations unite every two years to celebrate this special worldwide tradition; this shows that Coubertin’s ideals still live in us today and will continue to do so in the future.

The five colors of this flag (from left to right: blue yellow, black, green and red) represent the five different areas of the world: Africa, the Americas (both North and South combined), Asia Europe and Oceania.

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sports

Graded Athletics Wrap-Up An overview of the year

Karen Hime

T

Varsity Girls Basketball

his year has been significant in the his-

tory of Graded athletics, not only were

Girls Basketball had a sensational season,

both Big 8 and Big 4 hosted by our very

losing only two games. But, sadly those

own Athletics Director, Mr. David Bair, but

two games were the two finals; the SPHSL

there were also incredible achievements

final against EAC, and at Big 8 against

by all of Graded’s teams. In both semes-

Chapel. Both the finals were full of excite-

ters Graded had success at both Nosso

ment and intensity and the girls lost by

Recanto and back home in the São Paulo High School League (SPHSL), intimidating

Andrew Leach

only a few points. And it must be pointed out that all their sweat was rewarded be-

its opponents and making its presence

cause second place is an excellent achieve-

felt.

ment.

Varsity Boys Basketball

Varsity Girls Soccer

Boys Basketball had a very strong se-

Girls Soccer had their curse thrown upon

mester. Since all their senior athletes

them once again. They began the semester

wanted to finish off their last year with

in great shape, but halfway through half of

a gold medal, they started the semes-

the team got hurt in some form. Despite

ter determined. Unfortunately, they lost the final match of the regular season to

www.nr.com.br

having some girls with broken toes, hyper extended tendons and blood infections, the

their greatest opponent PACA. But at Big

team still managed to achieve a surprising-

4 their final match was against PACA once

ly good placement in the SPHSL. They lost

again, and this time, our boys brought

the final to stay in third. At Big 8, with all

home the gold!

teammates newly recovered, they lost the finals to ASA due to a lucky goal during the first half, finishing with a 0-1 loss.

Varsity Boys Soccer Boys Soccer started off by winning their first game, but after that their luck

Cheerleading

seemed to run out. They had unlucky

The Cheerleaders have been a great part of

losses with a few ties and wins to balance it all out. As their defensive mid-

the athletic community this year, supportGraded School

ing all teams whenever they could. They

field player, Erik Kim said, “We had good

jumped, screamed, twirled and danced try-

players but it seemed that the team just

ing to encourage the crowds to join in. In

couldn’t fit the pieces together. The team

the second semester, when the girls had

as a whole was not playing well and the

Juliana Carvalho as their coach and were

continuous bad games reflected that.”

short a cheerleader by the end of Big 4,

But at Big 8 they played their boldly, run-

they were still able to organize the squad

ning until all their muscles ached. They

and be there for all the teams during the

were determined to play their best, even

final games!

though their final game was 6 o’clock in the morning! As a result, the boys placed 5th at NR.

34 • the talon

Varsity Boys Futsal Isabella Krell The Boys Futsal team had an excellent

sports start to the season through the SPHSL. They secured the final in our very own gym by the time Big 4 came about, but lost the final match to EAC soon after their return.

At NR they played their

very best, pushing themselves all the way to the finals against the impressive EAB team. After a frustrating first half, they were down 5 – 0. All seemed lost, but not to

www.nr.com.br

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them. Coach Ney put into action a play never before seen and the boys almost caught up by scoring four goals, when EAB scored and the game ended. Graded landed an excellent second place finish in the tournament.

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Varsity Girls Futsal The Girls Futsal team was an exceptionally tough team this semester; they came in with their heads focused on simply two things; winning and having fun. Without the SPHSL, they had only three games in preparation for Big 4. They won

all three and went into Big 4 ready. Despite tripping up on the first game, they realized it was time to get in gear and eded up winning their long-deserved gold medal.

Varsity Boys Softball The Boys Softball team had a hard time against their SPHSL rival, PACA. Unfortunately they lost to them when it really mattered: in the championship. So after a rough time here in São Paulo, they left for NR, ready to regain what they had lost here. At Big 4, they sailed through with ease, beating any opponent that came their way and finally receiving their much deserved 1st place.

www.nr.com.br

Varsity Girls Softball The Softball Girls have always been a threatening team to their opponents, and this year nothing changed. They went into the SPHSL as strong as ever, and blew everybody away to achieve 1st place. During their second round of games at Big 4, the girls continued to do as well as they had all semester long. However, during their final game against Chapel the girls struggled to get the game going.

Nevertheless, they still finished with a silver medal! www.nr.com.br

the talon • 35

sports

Politics, People, and Sports in FC Barcelona How a football club was a symbol of national resistance

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n the granite, pine coated mountain range of Guadarrama in Spain, Josep Sunyol, president of FC Barcelona was executed by Franco’s soldiers without a trial. Through How Soccer Explains the World, a book that Mr. Berg lent me a few months ago, I learned about the unique role of FC Barcelona, nicknamed Barça, in Catalan history and society.

The death of Josep Sunyol is just one of many examples.

The role of sports in society has been well documented in events such as the shutting down of major Korean newspapers in protest when the Korean marathon runner, Sohn Ki Jung, bore the Japanese flag in the 1936 Berlin Olympics during the acceptance of his gold medal. Those same Olympic Games were used as a propaganda tool of Nazi Germany. The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute was the Black Nationalist protest of two African American athletes. Even today, there is huge controversy on whether to boycott the Beijing Olympics. History has shown that sports are more than merely physical activities.

The book Barça, by Jimmy Burns, whose back cover calls the club “a social and political phenomenon,” describes how a football club is an “obsessive national pride.” How and why does this football club mean so much to Catalans?

Born in Barcelona in 1898, Josep Sunyol was the son of a major shareholder in Spain’s main sugar refinery.

But like his uncle Idlefons, one of the leaders of Catalan nationalism in the early twentieth century, he opted for politics. Sunyol got his first taste of politics when he became a member of FC Barcelona in 1925. This was two years after General Primo de Ribera had overthrown the parliamentary government and had established himself as dictator of Spain.

In 1928, Sunyol became a member of Barça’s governing board. He was also named the president of the Federation of Associated Catalan Football Clubs and was elected as a deputy in the new parliament in Madrid in 1931 as a representative of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, the left-wing Catalan party. Sunyol wrote on the politics of football in the newspaper he founded, La Rambla and used his paper to support the idea that sports and politics are linked in creating a truly democratic society.

His role model was Barça. The newspaper’s slogan was ‘Sport and citizenship.’ As a Catalan patriot, Sunyol

Minjae Park believed that Barça could be a club for and of the people.

With this vision, he accepted the club’s presidency in July 1935. In February 1936, Sunyol was elected for the parliament again.

On July 18th 1936, the Spanish Civil War began.

In the beginning of August, Sunyol travelled to Madrid to talk to other Republicans who retained influence in areas of the country that had resisted the military uprising. He also planned to visit those in Madrid who had volunteered to defend the city from Franco’s military. Sunyol set off for the Guadarrama mountain range from Valencia on the east of Spain flying a Catalan flag on his car. By then, because of its proximity to Madrid Guadarrama had already become a key battleground for control over the capital.

Perhaps unaware of this, Sunyol soon found himself on a road controlled by troops loyal to Franco and was captured and shot dead on August 6th 1936.

A report was later published by the new nationalist government’s Catalan headquarters: “For a time [Sunyol] was the president of Barcelona football club, and was responsible for the clear anti-Spanish line which the club adopted.” Nicolau Casaus, who became the vice-president of Barça following Franco’s death, said of the Civil War: “The atmosphere was such that people in the regime saw FC Barcelona as a focus of Republican resistance.”

Once the Civil War ended and the Franco regime was in place, the Catalan championship (which is similar to the Campeonato Paulista) was scrapped. The Copa del Rey (King’s Cup) was renamed the “Generalísimo’s Cup” in honor of Franco. Most significantly, Catalan was banned as an official language. Even still, Barça’s neighbors RCD Espanyol were labeled by Barça supporters as “foreigners” because they spoke Spanish. Another measure taken by the government was changing the English name, “Futbol Club Barcelona,” to a Spanish name, “Barcelona Club de Fútbol.” This is evidence of General Franco’s paranoia following the Civil War. The four red and yellow stripes on Barça’s crest indicating the flag of Catalonia were reduced to the two stripes of Spain. Barça’s management board soon consisted of pro-Franco Catalans handpicked by the regime. Today, Futbol Club Barcelona’s crest has four stripes on it.

I was fortunate enough to attend matches at Bar-

sports ça’s magnificent 100,000 seat stadium when I lived in Barcelona. One thing anyone can notice when arriving before the crowd fills up is the coloring of a section of the seats which, from afar, reads “Més que un club” or “more than a club” in Catalan. The stadium is called the “Camp Nou” or the “new field.” The team’s anthem played before each match, also Catalan, says “Jugadors, seguidors, tots units fem força” meaning “players, fans, all united we have the strength.”

Josep Sunyol was a symbol of Catalan resistance.

The Les Corts stadium, the home of Barça during the first twenty years of Franco’s regime, was a haven for Catalan nationalists who were able to speak Catalan freely while waving their flags in protest of the Castellan government.

FC Barcelona, which retained its name in 1974, is a club run by 156,366 members, supporting Sunyol’s idea of a true democracy. The history that has shaped the identity of the club points to the slogan engraved in the stadium’s seating: ‘Barça is more than just a club’. In many ways, it is an embodiment of Catalonia to such an extent that some

even see it as the national team of Catalonia.

The Barça website describes the idea of “Més que un club”: “FC Barcelona is ‘more than a club’ in Catalonia because it is the sports club that most represents the country and is also one of its greatest ambassadors. Also, for different reasons, FC Barcelona is ‘more than a club’ for many people living elsewhere in Spain, who see Barça as a staunch defender of democratic rights and freedom.

“This movement reached its peak during the Spanish Civil War and under the Franco regime. There were some particularly poignant episodes, such as the tour of America, in which the team was received as ambassadors of the Republic, or the tram strike in 1951, which received the support of Barcelona fans much to the surprise of the Francoist authorities who could not understand why, on that Sunday in the pouring rain, the fans left Les Corts stadium after beating Santander 2-1 and refused to catch any trams. It is moments like these that show how FC Barcelona represents much more than just Catalonia for so many forward-thinking Spaniards.”

Celebrity Advice World Cup winner Mauro Silva shares his views on practice M

auro da Silva Gomes, also known as Mauro Silva, was born January 12th 1968 in São Bernardo do Campo, and is a former central-midfield soccer player. He started off his career playing on the Brazilian team Guarani. After two years he switched to Bragantino. Still aiming higher, he moved to Spain where he played for 12 years for Deportivo La Coruña.

He was also part of the squad that won the FIFA World Cup in 1994, and played for the Brazilian national team for ten years. Through his son, I was able to ask him a question about practice:

Alex Trimbo

able amount, and your resistance, all very important to all matches.

An efficient practice greatens discipline and thus obligates us to participate and be punctual. It also strengthens the friendship and the relationship you have with your team, very important for teamwork during the matches. I must say, it is only through practice that everything in life is achieved.

What is it like to be on the Brazilian national team, and what are practices like there?

It is an unforgettable moment. Being in the Seleção is amazing; it shows that all sacrifices made up to the moment were worth it. I practiced very diligently during most of my childhood, so that I could grab a chance of perfecting my soccer skills on professional teams. To be able to practice with professionals is also amazing, something fundamental for all sports. It is there that a true soccer player’s qualities are perfected. Practice improve your physical form a considerwww.worldfootballers.com

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Inside Scoop

Graded coaches reveal secrets

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ICARDO VIERA - JV SOCCER COACH; LITTLE 8 2008 CHAMPION

What does it take to make a champion team?

To create a good team on paper is very simple, but to make a team work inside the court is more complicated. In the team that I coach, I like to emphasize and always perform a triangle tactic giving importance to three sides equally: the individuals’ ability, the physical conditioning and the team organization. The idea is to create a training by which the team’s performance will be near 100% by the time we reach the competition.

Following that thought, we begin putting the pieces, the players, into each individual place according to their ability; that helps each yield his maximum potential in contribution to the team. After, we start the conditioning, so we are able to increase the players’ strength and speed. Finishing up the training triangle comes the organization, the use of a tactical system. This tactical system defines if the team is more offensive or more defensive throughout the game; and such decisions depend on the adversary. This change in tactics requires an already advanced level of training so that with a simple gesture or sign, the team will be able to quickly change the system of play and astonish the adversary.

But, everything is not as simple as this: it requires a lot training, dedication, knowledge, compromise and mainly, the appreciation and love for the sport. Now, following all these things will not necessarily form a championship team. Sometimes hours and hours of fight and sacrifice, can simply change the athlete’s attitude, can help surpass a personal barrier, can challenge him and can especially show that he is a capable athlete, that he is capable of playing this game. Sometimes in some moments the player might not realize what is most important; the moments in which he feels pleasure, happiness and joy are much more important than the plain medal on the chest.

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EFF MARQUIS - VARSITY GIRLS SOCCER COACH

From your experience, how is it different to be a basketball coach and be a soccer coach?

Well, at this moment I am a Varsity soccer coach, and this is something I have been doing for three years. The major difference between these two teams is that, in basketball, I play a larger role during the games, where I am able to make sudden changes and call out new plays while the clock is still ticking.

I can be much more active and speak a lot with my players

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Alex Trimbo looking for improvement. In soccer, my role is more important during practices. Everything that will be done in games must be tried many times in practice first, in this way a better result will show up. Differently from basketball, I cannot create something that they have never done in practice; they won’t be ready for the change. Soccer is a sport that needs time.

How is practice important for sports?

Practice—this is needed for all sports. It is where all different plays come from, it is from where a team begins to show its level of greatness. Practice is something not only for basketball and soccer, but for all sports.

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EY VIEIRA - VARSITY SOCCER / FUTSAL COACH What is the Scandinavia trip like?

Well, I have led this trip for several years here at Graded. It is a trip that we make with Sport União, where I take a group of kids to visit many different countries. There we have lots of fun by visiting such places as museums, amusement parks, and enjoying the typical Brazilian evening for adolescents at “baladas”. On this 2008 trip, I am trying to set up a visit to the beautiful stadium of the Dutch soccer team Ajax, which would be a very cool and exciting experience.

How is practice there?

Well, even though there is the fun part of playing soccer, most people go to Scandinavia to perfect their skills. Here practicing for the trip isn’t taken very seriously. Many people aren’t able to go for private reasons, mostly involving time, and many great soccer players decide not to go on this amazing trip because it is during vacation, and they might have summer classes to attend to, or any other similar reasons.

How is it different from practicing with the Varsity soccer boys?

In Varsity, the team is much more serious. Everyone that participates is there voluntarily, and so dedicates himself to it. Mo one misses practices or fails to participate after they have made a commitment to the team. Also, since it is a school team, and the players do not get paid or pay to be on the team, everyone feels more comfortable. Here everyone practices with a lot of determination. In Scandinavia, our practices are more focused on having fun. Varsity soccer is a more professional group than the one going to Scandinavia, because the boys are getting ready for the international school tournaments.

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The Practice Experience What the athletes have to say

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thletes, especially at Graded, dedicate themselves enormously to practice. It is where they spend most of their time running, kicking, bating, shooting, spiking and scoring, re-doing everyrthing to improve in every aspect of their game. The time and effort put into all these practices can add up to a lot more than spectators realize: four practices a week, four weeks a month, for about three months. It all ends up being more or less 48 practices in total. These athletes stay past school hours to play their favorite sports and to practice as hard as they can in preparation for their games and championships.

Following some accounts of the Graded athletes about their experiences during their practices.

Felix Wibergh: Practice is much harder and more demanding than games. You work harder in practice so that you can play games with ease, and ultimately I spend about ten hours a week in practice… no probably less, eight or six, and in addition to that, two hours in a game. Games are what matter for the team but if you don’t practice you can’t play, because practices are fundamental for the games. To win games, you must practice and always be ‘harder, better, faster, stronger’!

Karen Hime had to do, and how we would do things.

Alberto Saraiva: This year was my first year on Varsity, and practices definitely changed. I had to run a lot more, and the game was a lot more physical. It is also more demanding because practices are now two hours long rather than only 40 minutes long like in JV. The responsibility that is given to me has also increased, requiring me to give a lot more of myself to the team. The coaches also change a lot, because on Varsity they push me so much more, and I definitely like pushing myself more too, to meet these expectations.

Nicole Fergie: In practice we actually have a lot of fun.

For example, Bianca introduced this new running technique where we had to throw our legs back, and we all looked really bizarre. So no one was able to practice properly because it was so funny to watch others do it that no one could stop laughing. Including Bianca!

Andrew Leach: Boys basketball practice I would say is torture but helps you get where you want to go. It’s hard work and requires a lot of dedication. The softball practice is a little easier, though; it’s less running, but you still have to take it seriously and work hard.

Juliana Carvalho: In the beginning cheerleading was obviously hard because we didn’t have any supervisor.

I am only one or two years older than the other girls, so it becomes harder to have such authority over them. But this was only in the beginning, and soon after we all became one, and there wasn’t this coach/athlete relationship anymore and we were all deciding among ourselves what we

Nelson Cho

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