IAS TIMES 24

May 2014 Official Newspaper of the International American School of Warsaw

Issue

24

School News

Warsaw Culture

Embrace the other, TEDxWarsaw 2014

Our Voice — CP launches iaspodcasts.com Where Are They Now?

An interview with author Nick Brown

Academic News

MUN Fever!

Student Opinion

Chaos in Ukraine

School News

Breaking ground in Konstancin Alumni News

The road to Oxford

INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

Student Opinion

Chaos in Ukraine

by IAS alum Oleh Bilyy

Events in Ukraine today are actually tragic. People went out to Maidan Ne Zalegnosti, the Independence Square in Kiev, because they wanted to integrate with Europe. The Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych rejected an Association Agreement with the EU and strengthened ties with Russia instead.

The tension grew into a huge conflict between the people and the Ukrainian government. After the decision, a protest movement forced Yanukovych out of office. People descended on the president’s mansion and were amazed by what they saw. A private zoo. A golf course. The palace was worth millions. This in a country where 35% of the population live in poverty.

Yanukovych is gone now, and his removal has been called a “success”, but was it worth it? Maybe I’m not with all my brothers and sisters here, but I think it wasn’t worth it. Why you ask me? My answer is that people weren’t dying on the streets to get Yulia Tymoshenko out of prison. Nor were they dying to put a former boxer in the highest office. Maybe you will ask what has changed now that people have died and we got rid of the corrupt president? Nothing actually has changed. From 2004 to 2014, everything was just starting to get better and now what is going on? People are scared again of Russia. Russia and Ukraine are again enemies. Ukraine, Belarus and Russia were brother nations and where are we now? Everyone is against each other. Ukraine is split.

You will ask me, “Who is at fault? Who is guilty for what happened a couple months ago?” Yes, Yanukovych is guilty for what had happened in the country under his watch. But let’s not forget about the people; they are also guilty. Why the people?

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The people who came to Maidan Ne Zalegnosti actually didn’t know what they were there for. They came out with flags of UPA and portraits of Stepan Bandera. Who is Stepan Bandera? He was an ultra-nationalist who betrayed his country in World War II, killing his own Ukrainian people, someone who especially hated Poles and wanted to do the same thing with the Jews that did Hitler. Ukrainian pride all mixed up with ethnic cleansing. After all of this, how can people make him a national hero? I have no idea.

Panic is the biggest enemy in Ukraine. It always has been and always will be.

Yanukovych changed his mind about an EU agreement and the people panicked. Now we have lost Crimea to Russia and there is more panic. It’s like we’re addicted to it, addicted to bad politics, over-reaction, hate and mistrust.

Something more about the Crimean situation. Let’s not forget that Crimea was always Russian. Maybe if we want to be really clear, we can say it was always Tatar. But it was Russian until 1954 when Khrushchev decided to give Crimea to Ukraine, to create a better bond between the two neighbors. The majority of the population is Russian, over 60%. They speak Russian there. You may not trust the referendum vote to join Russia (93% in favor? That’s suspicious). But many there are celebrating. Meanwhile, people in the West are afraid Putin is going to want more.

What is my opinion on all of this? No more panic! Put down the flags. No more war of words. I can only say the one thing that makes sense in this type of situation: MAKE LOVE NOT WAR.

INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

Academic News

IAS TIMES

MUN Fever!

A review of the first ever IASMUN 2014

by Sara Zulfiqar

There are several emotions MUN beginners go through: joy, nervousness, relief, excitement. It begins after clicking the blue registration button on the IASMUN website. Then you realize the amount of work ahead of you, writing a policy statement that will be good enough, and researching the particular topic. As you sit there, staring mindlessly at your computer, something in your brain triggers, which causes you to type the first word, and before you know it you’re typing a paragraph as quickly as your fingers will allow. In an hour’s time you’re done with your work. It’s then you experience the first emotion: relief. The policy statement is finished on time. But that’s just the beginning too.

Our first ever IASMUN gave students a taste of the real thing. Even though this MUN was comprised of just our school, it still gave us experience in official writing and public speaking skills. However, the best part about IASMUN was the onset. The moment you walked into school, you noticed the change in atmosphere from our regular school day. In fact, with all the formal dresses and suits on display, and all the buzz going around the halls, even a total stranger could see that this day was special.

So, stopped in your tracks to examine the surroundings, you felt a strange, uncanny feeling, one that you’ve felt before but have never been thrilled about.

Nervousness. That’s when you heard the bell ring, except this time you wouldn’t be going to first period; instead you’d be attending the Opening Ceremony.

Honestly speaking, it’s very exciting seeing your friends sit down in their seats with their countries’ placards, and the ‘Honored Chairs’ facing us with their stoic expressions, and you look ahead and see the wooden podium. And the speeches…all the speeches given were so inspiring and excellent, so that be the end of the ceremony everyone was more motivated than ever.

In the committee rooms, everyone read their well written policy statements.

There were lots of great debates and discussions to follow. Anyone could tell that the delegates had tried their best and completed every task with enthusiasm. In my own Environmental Committee, delegates from the Russian Federation, United States and United Kingdom all did an especially fantastic job in their roles. We voted in favor of a resolution that was eventually shot down in the General Assembly, thanks to speeches against it.

We could see that it was democracy that chose and denied the resolutions. It was also interesting to see delegates from the same country bickering about the proposed resolutions. Some would argue for a while but agree in the end, and others would simply disagree. Sight of this helped in understanding the persuasive power of speaking.

MUNs attended 2013/14: WROCMUN, Wrocław (Nov) -Sweden & Israel TRIMUN, Gdansk (March) -United Kingdom & Ecuador IASMUN, Warsaw (April) -Everyone!

PORGMUN, Prague (May) -United States & South Korea

None of these insights or experiences would have been possible without our dedicated student leadership: Mohit Keswani, Tommy Le, and Sunny Dong.

This was their idea, their baby, and they did a great job as Committee Chairs.

Also thanks to our esteemed teachers, Mr. Uden and Mr. Krasner for their involvement. And the students themselves who took that first brave step of pressing the blue registration button! What better way to end IASMUN than by giving each of them an official diploma. Calling IASMUN a success would be an understatement.

Hopefully there will be many more in the coming years.

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Warsaw Culture

Embrace the other A review of TEDxWarsaw 2014

by Sunny Dong

After waking up late, I took a bus with my friend and rode to Złote Tarasy. Still half asleep, I entered Multikino, picked up my name card, and proceeded to the main hall. Inside, I saw a man on his knees; a proposal was happening.

TED presenter, Yuri Drabent, was taking his chance to earn the hand of his girlfriend. With the standing ovation, I completely woke up. I missed most of his inspiring talk but arrived in time to be witness to the happiest moment in his life. Weirdly, I felt happy too when I heard his girlfriend scream “YES!” Happiness is so infectious. It spreads even through people you don’t know. The theme of this year’s TEDxWarsaw, “Embrace the Other”, hit me just like that.

A few minutes later, I listened to my first live TED talk. I sat on the floor (there were no seats left) and watched Andrzej Kaczorowski give a talk about holograms. I expected a remake of almighty Tupac’s hologram concert but instead was presented with an explanation. Apparently, the hologram was just projectors lighting a single screen, creating a near 3D moving image.

According to Kaczorowski, real holograms aren’t possible yet. He and his team are still working on them. On stage, he showed their first steps and was able to create a floating screen. With current technology, we are only able to create very small holograms. However, in a decade or two, we might see some interesting projections in the streets...sci-fi dreams come true!

After a short coffee break, I listened to the famous story teller Jan Blake. With a soothing voice, she told a story of trust between strangers. The story felt relevant to me. Sharing trust and happiness can happen between complete strangers. That was apparent in this first TED talk.

Soon it was time for the final set of the speeches. We listened to Michał Mikulski, a robotics engineer, and two Danish muralists, Kasper Alsing and Tore Gyllenborg. They met in a coffee shop from a twist of fate and started working together. The other speakers included a veterinarian, Natalia Strokowska, who talked about embracing the other in the form of animals, and Canadian transmedia storyteller, Erica Hargreave, who related how creating characters for children’s stories changed her life.

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As time passed, Hargreave’s characters intertwined with her personality.

Sometimes she decided to live her normal life as one of her fictional personas.

According to Hargreave, your social persona and private self are both you.

Thus, by becoming the other you, you are able to embrace both lives. What I learned is to at least fake your confidence because it will come to you eventually and you’ll find out that it wasn’t fake at all.

The 5th anniversary of TEDxWarsaw was a special day. We learned what it means to embrace the other on many different levels. Every speaker’s interpretation of the ‘other’ was unique, ranging from your significant other to holograms to animals and to yourself. I arrived at Złote Tarasy sleepy, but I left wide awake.

Upcoming TEDx events in Poland: May 29th TEDx WarsawPresidentialPalace June 26th TEDx Marszalkowska (Warsaw) July 5th TEDx Wroclaw Visit: ted.com

INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

IAS TIMES

Alumni News

The road

to Oxford

by IAS alum Agnieszka Kaczkowska

Next, the interviews—the most challenging and stressful experience of my life.

I had four all told—two per subject. The psychology interviews were about experimental design and interpreting data. I was given a description of two studies and was asked to determine what errors were made in their design, data collection and conclusions. Then I was shown several graphs and had to propose what sort of data they represented—a fairly easy task if you’re prepared.

Applying to Oxford was a spontaneous decision, one I constantly rejected with the rationalization that I couldn’t do it. After all, I was the student with poor attendance, inconsistent involvement in class, and an ever-growing pile of missing assignments. I followed this pattern until my second year of IB, when I realized it’s now or never. With months of insanely hard work, I managed to score 42 IB points (I was deeply surprised). That’s when I seriously considered the Oxford application.

Yet, my actual decision didn’t come until a couple days before the deadline. I found myself sitting in a pub over a pile of random notes trying to put them together into an academic personal statement. “Extra-curricular is secondary… a candidate who lives and breathes their subject will have no problem writing a whole personal statement about it,” the Oxford brochure said. Oh well, easier said than done.

The next part of the application was an exam which evaluated my thinking skills. The first part was a set of multiple-choice questions on logical reasoning (like deductive and inductive arguments in TOK, but more confusing) as well as math problems and spatial tasks typically found in IQ tests. Not that hard until you realize that you have one minute to answer a question that’s a half page of text. The second part?

Pick a question and without preparation, write a cohesive essay in 30 minutes. Do patent laws encourage or hinder development? Should we have a right to choose when and how we die? Good luck to all…

But things got worse. If I gave you a million pounds, would you be able to stop believing that you’re in Oxford and convince yourself that you’re on a beach in Spain? If you had to kill either your mother or five babies, what would you do? What factors might influence the responses to the previous question within the population? What is log10 of 100? All these questions asked by an educated man sitting with his legs up, staring as if he wanted to kill me and laughing at most the things I said. At the same time, two people in the corner noting every response, and perhaps every gesture or movement. Was it an attempt to test cognitive performance in increasingly stressful situations? It worked pretty well.

I left my last interview convinced I had seen Oxford for the last time in my life.

The three weeks of waiting for a decision letter was an episode of self-hatred and frustration. I couldn’t stop re-evaluating everything I said in the interview.

Until then, I never realized how irrational you become when you’re paralyzed by fear. I honestly wished I could give everything away just to go back in time and correct all the stupid things I came up with. When you’re in the interview room, things you know well just disappear, and the more you care about how you perform, the worse you perform! Apparently I wasn’t the only one—all my friends said their interviews went terribly wrong. Maybe this is by design.

After all this, my letter did come. “I am delighted to be writing you…” What? Did I just get into Oxford? I was delirious with joy for days. I still am!

So I must conclude that going through this trial was definitely worth it.

Receiving an offer letter was one of the happiest moments in my life, and also a great lesson—it doesn’t matter who you are or what you did in the past. If you really want something, anything, with enough work you can achieve it.

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Where are they now? Student Edition

Kissing the Aegean Sea

by Anthony Petinaris 3rd year cadet Hellenic Air Force Academy (IAS 2008-2010)

Hi everyone…this is Anthony Petinaris. I was asked by the Times to write a little bio of my life, so here goes….I was born and lived in Athens till 15 and then moved to Warsaw for two years. I graduated from IAS in May 2010. Then, I applied to the Hellenic Air Force. I had to pass written, psychological and medical exams to be accepted. It was painful at the beginning...

I did not pass the first examination attempt. But in my second year of trying, I managed to pass and come one step closer to fulfilling my dream. That though was still just the beginning.

Becoming a pilot demands sacrifice. Students in the Hellenic Air Force live on campus from Monday to Friday, and then return to their homes till Sunday night. This lasts four years. During the first year, cadets fly the T-41 (R172-F), which is the first filter towards becoming a pilot. Then, during the third year, we fly the T-6 (Texan II).

The everyday schedule is demanding. Each morning we wake up at 5:55 and run till 6:20. We shave, get dressed, and go for breakfast at 7.

After breakfast, academic lessons run from 8 till 14. As soon as the lessons finish, we go to the school’s restaurant for lunch. After lunch, we sleep for an hour because in the afternoon, we have gymnastics from 17 till 19. Then we shower and go for dinner. After dinner there is free time from 21 till 22 and we play board games, listen to music, or study in the library. At 22:45 we have to be in our dorms – lights out.

We have to sleep early because the next day, at 5:55, it all starts over again. Every day is a challenge.

We all have to follow the tight schedule because we are a team. The people next to me at 6 every morning and running beside me, they’re the ones who’ll cover my back in a future dogfight. I have to trust each and every one of them with my life.

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To conclude, I am one of the few people who can say he is living his dream. I dreamt about entering the Air Force since I was a kid. My father was an F-4 pilot and I looked up to him my entire life. He is my hero and my goal now is tough: to do everything in my power to become like him.

I want students at IAS to know that if you try hard enough, your goal is reachable. All you need is patience and preparation. I have come across many people who told me that I could not accomplish my dream, that it was too high. Well, here I am suckers! Pretty high indeed! My advice for young people is to never let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big. Be optimistic and go “all in”. Fulfill your best dreams.

Like the cloud I fly My friend and my god is the sun I embrace the earth and sky Without my wings I am not scared The ocean’s blue is a warm hug In the tall mountains I will be sleeping Giving kisses to the Aegean Sea I ask the winds for freedom I am no longer a mortal I am flying high and I love A bodiless golden eagle Like the cloud I fly…

INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

IAS TIMES

Mystery-Thriller

History teacher makes history Chapter 3: an original ‘whodunnit’

by Amber Wazacz

What Rachel was referring to when she said ‘not again’ was the case of the missing cookie… the culprit ended up being my useless brother. But stealing cookies is not murder. Was I serious about solving this case?

The smile on my face slowly grew bigger with a hint of mischievousness.

“By the way,” I said, “have you seen Mr. Bond?”

“Nope.”

“Yeah I guess now that you mention it…so what about it?”

“Why would he pick today?”

“I dunno,” Rachel murmured.

I thought about the last time I had had a lesson with Mr. Bond. Now that I think about it, he did seem a lot more irritable, like he had something on his mind and the class was bothering him.

“Are you sure?”

I mentioned this to Rachel but she laughed nervously and shook it off as a coincidence.

“Yeah, why?”

“Stop your suspicious mind right there!” she said. “This is no lost cookie.”

“I need to talk to him about our math test.”

“Oh well in that case I still haven’t seen him.”

But I continued to wonder and thought to mention this to Miss Summerfield and Detective Michał.

“Thanks for that interesting information that I didn’t already know.”

Then I remembered how useless they were and how there was no point.

Rachel laughed knowing how much it annoyed me when she stated the obvious. My gaze slowly travelled up to the dark grey clouds that I knew were threatening to let all hell loose. I wondered if the weather was meant to be a sick coincidence to represent the overall emotion of the school. The students and teachers were still huddled in small groups expressing their distress and grief over the loss of Mr. Lewis.

I was just staring into the distance at nothing particular, or that’s what I thought until I realized I was staring at something. It was the school trash bin at the corner of the lot. There was something hanging out of it, a sleeve of some sort.

I suddenly realized how cruel it was of us to be laughing and cracking jokes when a horrible tragedy had just taken place. The ambulance sirens had just faded away. And then it hit me… why wasn’t he here? Mr. Bond had never missed a day of school…not in my three years attending.

Why pick today…a day when one of his close friends and colleagues has been murdered?

I glanced at Rachel who was still smiling absently. When she saw the curiosity written on my face, she instantly said, “What’s wrong? Are you ok?”

I inhaled deeply.“Yeah,” I said before exhaling.“It’s just that Mr. Bond has never missed a day of school; I mean really, never. Have you noticed that?”

“Come on!” I yell to Rachel and tugged at her arm.

“What?! Where are you going?”

We were out of breath when we arrived. It was a sleeve alright, all red and white and stuffed into the middle of the bin. I pulled it out with the tips of my fingers and my nose plugged.

“You’re crazy,” Rachel said. But I was too involved in my mind, trying to figure out what it was. Then it hit me…it was a white sweater.

A white sweater I knew all too well…a white sweater I had seen Mr. Bond wear before. I didn’t have to take a closer look at the red stains to know what they were. An amateur in this business might say ketchup, but why throw it out?

Why not just get it cleaned? Because it wasn’t ketchup at all. It was blood…

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Where are they now? Teacher Edition

An interview with Nick Brown, author "Agent of Rome" series (IAS History teacher 2005-2011)"

by Lilla Orly For a writer, getting published is a tremendous dream and a simultaneous nightmare. We put a great deal of effort, research, and time into our work in the hopes of sharing it with others. However, in the process of distribution, we will get rejected more often than not.

This can make recognition seem like a distant and unachievable goal.

Despite the harsh world of publication, a former IAS teacher, Nick Brown, has succeeded in publishing not just a single book, but an entire series! He is now working on the fifth book in his Agent of Rome series that takes place in the 3rd century AD and revolves around the adventures of a Roman ‘secret service’ agent, Cassius Corbulo.

Mr. Brown has kindly taken the time to answer some questions I had for him about his novels as well as the process of writing and getting published.

Q: What was it like making the leap from school teacher to successful, published author? Was this a life-long dream/goal?

NB: It’s been a long process. Luckily teachers get good holidays so I always had time to work on my writing. In the last couple of years I’ve been able to focus full-time on the novels which has been great. Getting published was very satisfying but I’d say it took about ten years to get to that point.

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INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

IAS TIMES Q: What made you choose the particular time period that the novel takes place in?

NB: Roman fiction has always been popular but I chose the later period (the third century) because it hasn’t been explored as much. The 270s were very dramatic and included the reign of Aurelian, one of the most successful and capable emperors.

Q: When learning about ancient times, we often hear only of important people and events relevant to that time. What was it like inventing the lives of unknown, everyday Romans? (ex. speech, mannerism) NB: It’s true that we know more about the important and powerful Romans because those that left their writings behind were interested in subjects like history, politics and philosophy. ‘Ordinary’ people and daily life is studied by historians, however, and I couldn’t write the series without their books to help me. Sometimes it’s a case of using accurate details to convince the reader, sometimes you have to just make an ‘educated guess’ based on what we know.

Q: Have you ever built a character based on someone you know in real life, like some authors have done in the past?

NB: Not really but I do occasionally use people’s characteristics, appearance and behaviour. I doubt they ever spot it though!

Q: You've mentioned that one of your favourite authors is J.R.R Tolkien. Tolkien had the freedom to create new worlds that were entirely under his control. Do you ever find it limiting to have to follow the strict guidelines of history?

NB: That’s true – one of the advantages of fantasy. What I’ve tried to do is make my main plot and characters fictional but place them in a real background that also includes some actual characters. Generally I find that the history provides more opportunities than limitations.

Q: In the future, do you hope to write more novels of a different genre such as sci-fi or fantasy?

NB: My first two books were both sci-fi but I never managed to sell them. I am re-working one of them though so we’ll see. Fantasy does appeal too; I’m a big fan of Joe Abercrombie, who writes very dark, gritty books with a strong vein of black humour.

NB: It’s very slow! With the rise of self-publishing and ebooks, publishers are in a state of flux – the future is hard to predict which makes them even more careful. Rejection is never pleasant but sometimes it can help if you get constructive advice. If you really want to get your work published you need a lot of self-belief and tenacity.

But if you can sell a book, the whole project from finishing writing to hitting the shelves takes at least a year. Once I’ve completed my initial draft (which is actually about the eighth re-write) I send it to my agent to see what he thinks.

When we’re both happy it goes to my editor and he and I discuss any further changes. Then the manuscript is printed out and I check it simultaneously with a copy-editor – he/she is looking for continuity errors, inconsistencies and other mistakes (there are always hundreds!) Then I and another copy-editor check what is called the ‘proofs’ – the final printed version. In the meantime an artist has been working on the cover and it all comes together in the actual physical book. For a while I have been writing the ‘blurbs’ myself; these also take a long time to get right!

Q: Has writing your own novels made an impact on your everyday life? Do you often find yourself thinking, 'This would make a great story!'

NB: The main change is just that I can focus on writing. Of course this is huge advantage but after being a teacher for ten years working from home can be a bit quiet and lonely! To be honest, I’m more likely to be inspired by a film or a book than by real life.

Q: How would you encourage young writers to get started and feel confident with their work?

NB: I think it’s very important to write what you want to; it’s essential to have that passion. The reason I say that is that although you can get help - from teachers, friends, study etc- you are largely on your own. It’s also crucial to read a variety of genres and try to learn from the writers you admire. For young writers I would say try to be objective about your own work. When you read it over, put yourself in the position of a reader – is it too slow? too boring? too repetitive? What can you do to improve it? There are some bits in my books that I have re-written forty times to get to a point where I was happy. If I can do that, you can do three re-writes. And of course, listen to the advice of excellent teachers like Mr. Krasner!

To finish I’d like to say what a pleasure it is to be interviewed by the IAS Times, the newspaper I helped set up all those years ago!

Q: What was the publishing process like? How did you cope with rejection?

The Agent of Rome Series: Book I – The Siege Book II – The Imperial Banner Book III – The Far Shore Book IV – The Black Stone (provisional title)

Visit: nickbrownauthor.com

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School News

Breaking ground i an interview with Sunny Hussaini on the progress of the IAS campus in Konstancin

Q: So…we've all seen the pictures and made our own guesses, but can you tell us exactly what stage of construction the new IAS campus is in?

Q: What other features of the complex should students, parents and teachers be aware of?

Well, the campus will have two buildings, each average over 3500m2. A total of 7500m2.. The first building is nearing completion of its first floor (basement level included). The second building started a few weeks ago and will start showing results soon. Very exciting.

SH: I’m most excited about the botanical gardens we are planning. Connecting biology classes with an outdoor garden where students can learn firsthand about seeding and growing can be a wonderful complement to the curriculum.

Q: We've been in our cozy building on Dembego for 25 years…but now we'll have two large scale buildings! Can you tell us how they will be used, their differences in function?

Q: Will we notice anything different about the classrooms at the new site? What an opportunity to take advantage of 21st century innovations in education!

SH: This is where it gets exciting for IAS. We are hoping to be a one of a kind school in Warsaw, if not Poland. The two buildings will consist of purpose designed rooms with eco-saving and alternative energy solutions used within the walls. The first building will be more formal: conference halls, auditorium rooms, private IB classrooms. It will also connect to the gymnasium and viewing area. The second building will have media rooms devoted to IAS Radio and IAS Times, an art gallery, music room etc. It will be more creative in purpose and its library study area will be the most exciting part.

Q: What kind of student capacity are we looking at? Will there be boarding accommodations too?

We are looking to host up to 800 students after opening. This is very optimistic.

We must remember however that the idea of IAS is to keep the classes smaller for higher individual attention. We are very proud of our student to teacher ratio and want to keep it that way. As for boarding, yes absolutely. But one step at a time.

SH: I am waiting for the architect to come out with these solutions. He has been instructed to think outside the box. Be prepared for classrooms to be not only “thematic”, but also mixed in with open spaces.

Q: We’ve been aware of this project for many years, yet it is finally becoming a reality. Can you tell us what has been the biggest challenge in fulfilling this dream of expansion?

SH: I will be honest here and say is it was a mixture of factors. Governmental permissions, more permissions and more permissions. It was a 2 year battle to get everything right. Konstancin is a green area. Any building done there needs all the correct paperwork. Finances too are a factor. The buildings will be intelligent and use solutions that cost double than that of a normal construction.

Q: Okay, last word: when can we expect to be seated in our new school site? What's the inaugural date?

SH: September 2015 is the date we hope to open and rewrite history!

Q: We've enjoyed IAS Sports Day at the Konstancin site for years…but now we hear that the playing field will be upgraded to an Olympic level pitch! Can you tell us more about that?

SH: The campus grounds will be one of a kind! The area is on a 5 ha land and the football pitch will have a big viewing area (around 500 seats). The size of the pitch is equivalent to any national stadium. Adjacent, there will be three indoor tennis courts and two outdoor basketball courts, which can be converted for other uses. There will be a horse riding paddock and a mini-golf area. Once the vision is complete, it will be the envy of all.

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INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

IAS TIMES

in Konstancin

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Student Life

On holiday

by Disha Keswani

Do you ever wonder what you’ll do during a school break and end up doing nothing? Well, I thought the same thing this winter, but luckily the Indian festival of Maha Shivratri was approaching. There was to be a celebration in the Hindu temple on February 27th. For women, Maha Shivratri is an auspicious event. We fast and offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Parvati, to receive their graces towards a blissful married life. Many devotees believe that Maha Shivratri marks the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Others believe that Maha Shivratri signifies when Lord Shiva performed the dance Tandava, which led to the creation, conservation and devastation of the universe. There are many versions of the story, but the real tradition is to create a story and enact it in some form.

The next festival in Indian tradition is Holi, celebrated on March 16th.

Holi is a festival of colors and play. It also symbolizes a new beginning for Hindus, to end conflicts and let go of emotional impurities from the past. Mothers fast for their children as it is said to promote long life. People throw colored powder and liquids at each other. No one is spared! Overall, Holi is one of the most spirited and beloved days on the Hindu calendar.

So as winter break approached, Seema Motwani, a member of our Indian community, asked if I would write and direct a play, and choreograph a dance. I said yes immediately! Some of the participants were IAS students, including Mohit, Janvi, Praveer, Pranit, and Daksh. Everybody had an important role to play, as each played a divine god.

After the story, poem and dance, we had the bonfire of the Holika. The burning closed the fasting period for women. With prayers and offerings concluded, it was time for the play! Once the colored powder was in the hands of one person, the painting didn’t stop. If someone didn’t like the color he or she received, revenge became the mission! Bright colors were everywhere…red, pink, green, yellow, blue, indigo, white and purple. The celebration was blessed by nature too, as it was raining. Mother Nature was supporting us. After all, Holi is not complete without water!

This was one of the rare times I actually enjoyed my break! Our play was based on the theme of respecting our parents. Shiva and Parvati’s sons, Kartik and Ganesha, were tested with the following challenge: circle the universe three times; whoever finishes first wins! Kartik started off his journey immediately while Ganesha’s plan was to circle his parents, as they meant the universe to him. I guess you know the ending—Ganesha won! We ended the play with a dance dedicated to Lord Shiva. And then a feast—as might be expected for an Indian festival!

A group of girls along with Janvi and I decided to prepare a short performance which included spiritual dance. The choreography was a collaboration, as many great ideas were proposed. I prepared a poem and short story of why Holi is celebrated.

The festivals made this winter break a memorable one. And the festivals will never end. They provide such magnificent remembrances and will remain always! So, what will you do next break? Want to come and visit the Hindu temple during festival time?

You’re most welcome!

For more information about the Hindu Temple in Warsaw, and about the Hindu calendar in general, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/Hindubhavan

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INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

School News

IAS TIMES

Reinventing the radio

by Mohit Keswani

So here I am in the media room, in my little world every morning. Just three meters of squared area, and I can control the sounds of the whole school. My territory and my kingdom.

It is just a new experience, taking upon the challenge of IAS Radio.

Since the start of the school year, nothing special was happening with the school radio. It was only during lunch time that songs were played.

With winter approaching, I was not playing sports during the morning and lunch breaks. I had nothing to do, and wanted to use my time wisely. So IAS Radio struck in my mind. The initial plans were only a few thoughts, tips here and there and just some school news, keeping it very simple. That is how it went for the first weeks.

Then came the turning point, a meeting with the school brass. And a directive: reinvent the radio!

After this meeting with Mr. Uden and Mr. Krasner, I changed my perspective of how I should handle the radio morning edition. We call it radio, but it doesn’t sound like radio…that was the theme from the meeting. So I decided to eradicate old plans and bring out new ones. I had to first gather up a hard-working team which would lead to our success. With that, Bahwesh, Bobby, Pranit, and Bartek were on board.

Our plan included the idea of alternating voices between the main broadcaster—myself—and the various reporters. We also decided to include original material, such as the thought and joke of the week, health tips, and interviews with teachers and students.

Then a clear and positive tone of voice to go with it, with some school news, and concluding warm wishes for the day ahead. In the future, our focus will be on playing more pre-recorded stuff, such as students’ original commentaries, reports, or comedy bits. For that to work, we need the help of everyone.

After this show enhancement, I thought why don’t we improve the lunch time segment as well? Nobody was really overseeing the music playlists anymore, so there was silence in the halls when there should have been good tunes. Now, the lunch time playlist has been constantly changing, from soft meditative sounds to recognized hits, as people need variety in songs.

Now we have not only made IAS Radio more professional, but we also have included our special editions where a lot of people can express their thoughts and personality live on the air. The show has become more dynamic. I personally think we can be more precise in the technical work, but overall everything is delightful.

Radio is important in everyone’s lives, as a form of news, weather, idea exchange, music, and regular announcements to keep students aware and motivated throughout the day. It’s also a way that the whole IAS community can feel together. We will continue to try our best to make the show more professional and interesting. I personally love my three meter space; it has become a part of my daily routine. So thanks to everyone for all your support and until we meet again, this is Mohit Keswani on a bright sunny day…

13

Customs and Traditions

Citing Bigfoot

by IAS folklorist Aristianna Voureka

“You walk down the forest path, perhaps on a hiking trip, when you spot him. The giant…..beast staring back at you. Too big to be a man, perhaps an Ape, but not quite an Ape…” That is how many Bigfoot folklores start. The legend has enticed imaginations for centuries, exciting or frightening them. Whether you first encountered it from your friend’s beaming face above the fire or the movie you saw that full moon, we’ve all heard about the legendary Bigfoot (unless you live under a rock).

Stories of an 8 to 12 foot ape-like wild man are found in every continent except Antarctica. The complex tapestry ranges from the Australian “Yowie”, the Himalayan “Yeti”, and the Native American “Sasquatch” (‘hairy giant’). The varied names from across the globe, yet similar sightings, give credence to his existence. Or hers. How do we know?

Bigfoot’s behavior and characteristics vary. In Sumatran legend, he’s said to be a dwarf! In some cultures, he is a guardian of nature, while in others he is a monster who eats, kidnaps or plays tricks on people.

Hundreds of films have been created around the mystery, including Bigfoot and Harry and the Henderson’s.

I was shocked to learn how many people believe Bigfoot is real.“What if the history you were taught in schools was all a lie?” These words introduce a BBC documentary which defends Bigfoot’s existence. It includes typically obscure footage of the solitary beast. The documentary is not alone—hundreds of Bigfoot videos have been uploaded to the cyber-world, followed by some delusional comments: “We like to think there is nothing threatening us out there.

But remember: the Natives, the Himalayans etc. were living in the wilderness for hundreds of years. They know those places…so if they say they won't go to certain hills and woods because of the Sasquatch, I believe them.” – cited Youtuber.

On the other hand are the skeptics, certain the folklore is nothing more than myth. They ask, “If Bigfoot exists, why can’t he be found?”

This makes sense. The survival of such a large breed of primates could not have gone unnoticed, even in remote regions of the Northwest.

And why is Bigfoot always alone?

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Admit it…part of you wishes Bigfoot is real. You are not alone. But what drives us into this irrational thinking? I am not certain of this answer (keep in mind I haven’t started my psychology classes yet) but I think humans have always wanted to believe in something bigger, scarier and more dangerous than them. Maybe it makes us feel better knowing that there is something more beastly and cruel than our species (after all, we are known to blame things on others). Whether it is because the top of the food chain is boring, or we miss the anxiety of survival, there will always be people who go deep into conspiracies to support the existence of beasts or monsters. Instead of blaming them, think of why they are doing so.

So, whether society uses its “reason” to conspire against the existence of Bigfoot, or whether people are just gullible, the giant beast is here to stay. He makes us wonder, especially the young who would like to believe in a few mysteries. Are there any left? And even though I am not a fan of shallow Hollywood horror films, I am glad that old beliefs and customs are passed down to the new generation. I doubt the real existence of Bigfoot. But if I was alone on a camping trip and venturing deep into the forest at night, and saw two strange ominous eyes looking back at me, what steps would you recommend I take?

Very…large ones!

Naming Bigfoot: Australian: Yowie Himalayan: Yeti, The Abominable Snowman Native American: Sasquatch, Siatco, Omah, Wendigo Southern U.S.: The Woodman, Skunk Ape Sumatran: Orang Pendek Chinese: Yeren Visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-sl8Y5HXNI

INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

International News

IAS TIMES

by Linda Murphy

Rallye Aicha Gazelles is a race which takes place in the deserted areas of the Moroccan desert. It is however, no ordinary race. Only women are allowed to participate, and all the money raised goes to charity. It was established in 1990 by Dominique Serra as the first all-women’s motorcar rally. “The rally isn’t just any other race – it’s a commitment and dedication,” says Ms. Serra. The money earned helps to finance teams of doctors providing medical care for people in the remote regions of Morocco. Annually, with the infrastructure provided by the Rally, a medical caravan, including a mobile clinic with eight doctors, cares for the rural population. This year 4,582 people have received free medical care. In addition, aid for children’s education has been set up as well as aid for an orphanage for children under six. It was initially designed as a campaign which fought against prejudice; however today it is one of the biggest motor sport events in France.

The Rally consists of one prologue and six legs, all off-road, two of which are marathon legs lasting two days. A total of 2,500 kilometers through dried-out river beds, shock absorber-busting stony plains and the sandy dunes of the western Sahara desert have to be covered by the teams with only a compass and a 1:100,000 scale map. With these bare instruments, the women must plot their route between checkpoints. The Rally’s off-road course is redesigned every year. GPS, binoculars and cell phones are forbidden. The winner is not the fastest team but the one which has traveled the least number of kilometers on the onboard odometer between checkpoints within a given time frame. Eco-driving is encouraged and rewarded, so the event does little damage to the environment. The idea is to leave “no trace behind”.

The 24th edition of the Rally ran from March 14-29. 160 teams took part; that’s 320 women between the ages of 19 and 64. There were representations from 24 countries, including: Bulgaria, Canada, France, USA, Morocco, Norway, Indonesia, Italy, Colombia, Switzerland, Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Angola, Congo, Nigeria, Gabon, Luxembourg, Portugal, UK, Vietnam, Yemen, South Africa and Senegal. There was also a wide variety of professions represented amongst the women participating: firefighter, postal worker, doctor, sports coach, shopkeeper, graphic designer, wine-grower, pharmacist, homemaker, civil servant, lawyer, esthetician, farmer, and corrections officer. All these women, from very different lifestyles, came together for a united cause. They showed strength, determination, teamwork, and perseverance. “It’s the ultimate moving chess game,” media liaison Kirsten Kuhn described. Women are drawn to the Rally not just to face the athletic challenge, but to contribute to the community’s rewarding goals: battling prejudice and helping those less fortunate – two very important causes indeed!

Participants have the freedom to choose their own route. Dividing the vehicles among different courses makes it harder for them to follow each other, which is strictly prohibited during the competition. The competition begins at dawn, with successive starts every two minutes.

An average day of competition is 10 to 13 hours long.

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Teen Drama

Cocoon, chapter 3: Bittersweet memories

by Nnenna Josakweker

The school bus came to a halt. A minute passed before Kaycie realised her stop. The bus driver looked back, his countenance that of a hunter.

“Sorry,” Kaycie muttered on her way to the exit. She turned her head back. There was Meredith. The same smile she had glimpsed that morning. Kaycie smiled back and waved before stepping out of the bus.

“I agree. I was at Mrs Simmons today,” her mum replied.

She was hit heavily by the fresh scent of flowers that had been carried acres away by the wind. From the top of a pine tree, a bird tweeted. A distant church dazzled in the warm sun. Its bell dung with the 16th hour. Kaycie stood there, palms outstretched, patiently appreciating the winds’ soft embrace.

“He’s a man. I am not at all surprised. He’s just like dad. One minute they are there, then the next, they leave you...alone.”

“Oh really? How is she?”

"Coming around. Day by day she's getting better. Foster really hurt her bad."

Her mum looked at Kaycie sympathetically.

“Not all men are the same Kaycie. Most of us are just unfortunate.”

A vibration was coming from her pocket. It was a text. Kaycie awoke from her trance and headed for home. “I’ll read it later,” she thought.

She rang the doorbell. Her mum’s face appeared instantly, her sky blue eyes questioning.

“Don’t worry mum,” Kaycie said, “the bus dropped me off a while ago but I stayed outside to get some air. The sun feels perfect by the way.”

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“Yeah mum, stick up for him; oh and where is he to collect his trophy?

Eh? Nowhere. He could be rotting in jail for all we know or even deceiving another woman with his ‘charm’. I’m old enough now mum.” Kaycie walked into the living room, sat on a chair and patted the place beside her. “Sit mum. I believe it’s time we had that talk.”

INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

IAS TIMES

“Honey, go take a shower and eat your lunch. It’s in the kitchen.

I need to get some air.”

Kaycie sighed, seeing there’s no point in arguing. “You clearly don’t think I am ready. I’ll wait a few more years then. By the way mum, you smell so good! Your lovely scent hit me as soon as you opened the door.”

“Kaycie, you want one of my don’t-go-near dresses don’t you? Oh and that scarf right? That joke’s getting old you know,” her mum laughed.

“Ok, but don’t stain or tear it or you’ll have me to contend with.”

“Ok. Thank you!” Kaycie smiled and ran upstairs. A moment later she came back down to retrieve her school bag. Her mum had left by then so Kaycie locked the door and headed back upstairs. She strolled over to her reading table and pulled out her math book. Then she got another idea.

“Hello beauty!” she uttered as she opened her mum’s closet. She reached for a dress in the ‘don’t go near’ section when something caught her eye. She spotted a small vent in closet wall. She bent down and put her pinkie inside. The wall moved. She jerked back in alarm but then leaned in again. She pushed the wall and on the other side it revealed a box about medium size which read, “All we’ve got now are memories.” She paused, took a breath, and opened it. There were tapes, lots of tapes, some letters and then a prominent picture. She studied it for a while before a tear ran down her sculpted cheeks. She recognized him. Her dad, the same man from her dream. What does this mean?

“Have I met him before?” she thought aloud.

He wanted to quit the army, but I didn’t let him. He was doing too well....it was his dream. So, time just went on and I had to move on.

He…..but he still sends money for us. For our upkeep you know.

Sometimes I even see him in the neighborhood and we talk. We still love each other you know.”

“So he was that selfish to choose his job over you. Over us?”

“I disagree Kaycie. He had a dream and I wanted him to follow it. He always respected me.”

“Before you got married, weren’t you aware of the sacrifices you have to make? He couldn’t sacrifice something he loved even for his love for you?”

“You are not getting the big picture here Kaycie. I told him to not quit!

If you have to blame someone, then blame me!”

“But he was the one that told you not to wait for him! God! Why are you guys so selfish?! If you wanted this love of yours to work, then why make such a decision? Why even get married in the first place? Why have ME?!!”

Kaycie was sobbing now. Her mum tried to hold her but she wiggled free from her grip.

“Kaycie...”

“And he’s been to the neighborhood? Why didn’t you bother to call me? Am I not allowed to see him? He’s my father!”

He was holding her mum and she was smiling. That smile…Kaycie had not seen it in a long time. She focused on her father. She looked a lot like him. Same eyes, nose and smile...just like his. Just then, the doorbell rang. Oblivious, Kaycie carried the box downstairs and opened the door. Her mum smiled, but stopped herself.

“I couldn’t...”

“Kaycie....how did you find that?”

Her mum too was sobbing.

“No more dodging mum. Tell me, why did dad leave?” Kaycie sat on the ground with her head in her hands.

“What? What are you saying?”

Her mum leaned sadly against the wall and slowly slid to the ground next to her daughter.

“When we first met, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about him. He was this sweet, tall, handsome guy who loved the sea. I was only 18.

Every moment we spent was a blessing. We dated for three years and then got married. At the same time, he joined the army. That’s when things got complicated. He left and when he would visit, the little time we had, we shared, and then he was off again. He loved his job and he loved me too. That’s when you arrived; tiny, pink, chubby baby and my!

You looked just like him. He was delighted...we both were. We celebrated but when the time came, he went back into the army. He wrote letters and I replied. Then one day he wrote that I shouldn’t wait for him. He said he was the worst father and that a child should be able to have both parents at home.

“WHY?!”

“Because he is married now...to his colleague.”

“One of the few times he came back from the army, he asked to have me back, but I refused. I told him he couldn’t walk in and out of our lives whenever he liked...that’s not right. He moved on and so should we.”

Kaycie held her sobbing mum and hugged her. They both wept. All the time her mum was apologizing. The doorbell rang.

“Mum, quick wipe your tears. I’ll go get it.”

Kaycie walked to the door and opened it. On the porch stood a tall, handsome figure. At the sight of him, she gasped. He stood there dumbstruck. He fell to his knees and spoke….

“I am sorry. Dear Kaycie, I am ready to be the father you’ve always wanted….”

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Student Advice

“Dear Anna...”

– an anonymous advice column for REAL student problems [Send your anonymous letters to advice-iastimes@ias.edu.pl]

If you have a real issue at home or in school, please send your anonymous letters to Anna at: advice-iastimes@ias.edu.pl

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INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

Guest Writer

IAS TIMES

szcz

ru

by Julia Ch

The situation in Ukraine is getting worse and worse. Following the dismissal of President Janukowicz (who has ran away) the people of the southern region of Crimea have voted in a referendum to join Russia and leave Ukraine. Russian President Putin has taken advantage of the chaotic situation and sent 20,000 Russian troops into Crimea to take over government buildings. Russian separatists in many parts of Eastern Ukraine have taken over government buildings, leading to a violent response from Ukrainian national forces. At least three such Russians were shot in the border town of Sloviansk. The threat of war in the region remains very real.

About 60 years ago, Nikita Khrushchev of Russia gave Crimea to Ukraine as a gift and a sign of friendship. Current Russian President Vladimir Putin always wanted Crimea to be a part of Russia again, and has fulfilled that ambition. Putin coveted Crimea because Russia has a large navy fleet based there and the region has a large Russian speaking population. But many leaders in the West are concerned that Putin is not finished expanding his territories. They fear he may use the ‘protecting ethnic Russians’ defense to enter other nations, including the Baltics.

American President Barack Obama and European leaders have used strong language to cope with Putin’s power moves. Western leaders said that the Russian takeover of Crimea was illegal under international law; Putin did not listen, and in response said that America attacked Afghanistan and Iraq, which were illegal attacks.

Putin held a press conference in which he said that he only wants to protect Russian people in Ukraine and that Russia is not doing anything illegal.

There is still a chance that a war may break out. Russia has massed 40,000 troops on Ukraine’s eastern border, while Ukrainian defenses fight off Russian separatists. Meanwhile, the U.S. has announced that it will send in 600 troops to Eastern Europe, including 150 to be stationed in Poland. The move is mostly symbolic, but even the mention of “Eastern Europe” brings back unhappy memories of the cold war era.

How may this affect Poland? Because of its long history of tension with Russia, Poland usually sees Russia as a bully pushing around its neighbors. This conflict will likely be viewed in the same context. Also, Poland and Ukraine have a good trade relationship, so prices in supermarkets and other shops may increase in the event of a war in Ukraine. The Polish currency, złoty, may also suffer if the financial community believes that Poland is under threat. There is also the possibility that if war breaks out, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees will come to Poland as well as other neighboring Central European countries.

The thought of such events is almost impossible to believe. But we don’t have to look too far back into history to realize that it is very possible.

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School News

“Our Voice”

– CP group launches iaspodcasts.com a review by Nnenna Josakweker In school, students learn basic skills such as reading and comprehension. We also learn how to work with people and keep friendships. However, the goal of school is not only to copy notes and listen to teachers; rather, it is about making a contribution wherever possible. Aren’t you bored with always having to listen to other people talk, while your voice remains hidden amongst the turmoil of chatter? And your thoughts buried in the countless assignments after each lesson? I know you are – I believe you want to be heard too.

Since the beginning of this year, grades 7 to 10 have been working hard producing scripts for Creative Performance, led by Dr McBride.

We started off with lively discussions and built towards writing down our thoughts. Our topics varied. Many simply wanted to put down their feelings on paper. Some looked into their hearts and questioned delicate matters, such as “Nostalgia”. Others decided to write about science, sport, or society at large. It was typical creative writing 101, but then Dr McBride decided to do something different. He took our silent scripts and turned them into voices. One by one, we recorded our words in the media room, and all our unique voices rose in harmony revealing one rich theme: passion. At one point, we had close to 100 recordings and Dr McBride thought to himself, “Hey we need a team – a podcast team.”

Thus iaspodcasts.com was born, our school’s first published media contribution out there on the world wide whatever. Podcasts bring forth individual ideas and introduce them to a much broader audience. Their production and distribution serve as a confidence booster; they make you feel more comfortable in your own skin and help build up your creative sense. But as lovely as that sounds, some work has to be done for the listeners to receive (and like) what they

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hear. This is where the podcast team comes into play: Disha Keswani, Sara Zulfiqar, Sofia Pantoja, Amber Wazacz, and myself. We work diligently in editing and evaluating content, to see that your original work meets its destination. The idea is to project your voice, and your voice alone, through your choice of words.

The podcast site, designed and implemented by Dr McBride, was launched on Tuesday, April 15th. We presented the project to students outside the CP loop, and it was a tremendous success. Keep in mind, this is the first time such an idea has been developed in our school’s history, and it likely has no competition in many other schools. We can say loudly, “Listen! This is a turning point for IAS!” Our voices shape who we are. They reveal our moods, fears, intentions, hopes, thoughts, desires…our true natures. They show a glimpse of an inner universe, and as with all creative pursuits, ask for a dose of inspiration. This is a compelling activity for any potential writer, actor or director. There’s nothing more inspiring than humanity and nothing greater than reaching people by using our voice. Hint, hint, iaspodcasts.com is here to stay.

To submit your original script, please go to iaspodcasts.com

Current iaspodcast topics: • Art Music Culture • Sport • Our world • Nature • Science and Technology • Our Deepest Thoughts

INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

iaspodcasts.com

IAS TIMES

All the Little Things

an original iaspodcasts.com script by Amber Wazacz

I never really thought about how life was like many decades ago. I never really realized how many lives have gone undocumented. When we think about the past we always think about Hitler or George Bush and that’s because it’s the first thing that comes to our mind when someone says HISTORY. When we think history, we also think Romans or Vikings, we don’t think about the people who were just sitting in their homes enjoying a meal with their family or the kids that were playing outside.

We never think about the little people like the villagers or townsfolk or the old man who owned the local bakery at the end of the street.

I know that not everyone can be famous but if you think about it this way, you realize that there were people who lived on the same earth as we are living on right now but no one knew they were there.

There is no obvious trace of their existence. The reality is if you are living a normal life with your family – going to school, coming home – people on the other side of the world won’t know you exist.

Certain places are only known to people because they are famous for something. What they don’t realize is while the event that made them famous was happening there were normal people who were scared or happy. They were going through the same things as the person who became famous because of the event, but no one noticed them.

History is important to us because it teaches us how and why laws were created; it teaches us the reason why our lives are the way they are today. But history should not be about forgetting the little things.

There are some things that history doesn’t teach.

We don’t know who Columbus’ parents were, or why he wanted to become an explorer. History doesn’t tell us about his History.

History is all about appreciating the big things, but what about the little things?

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Photo Gallery

IASMUN 2014 – Another first!

One last look back at IASMUN 2014, an event that could not have taken place without the initiative, imagination, and effort of three special 'Chairs': Mohit Keswani, Tommy Le, and Sunny Dong!

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INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL • WWW.IAS.EDU.PL • SECRETARY@IAS.EDU.PL UL. DEMBEGO 18 • 02-796 WARSAW, POLAND • +48 22 649 1440

IAS TIMES

IAS Crossword

The IAS crosswords are here!

by Disha Keswani

Crossword 1: Remembering our first IASMUN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

1. The ______ statement; an essential part of the preparation for the MUN 2. Meeting of committee members to decide on policy (unmoderately) 3. Person authorized to represent the state and sent to the conference 4. Student conference designed to learn the ways and means of the United Nations 5. Formally decline to vote either for or against a proposal or motion 6. Proposal put to a committee vote (delegates used this opportunity to kick out unfriendly delegates) 7. Delegates fight for its passing along with their co-submitters 8. Practice of training people to obey rules or codes of behavior, often involving scolding (will the delegate of Russia please take her seat!)

9. Prized possession of each delegate, as without it he or she cannot vote or be recognized to speak

Crossword 2: In celebration of spring 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. Occurs in the middle of spring and celebrated with chocolates, bunnies and eggs 2. Some people have them, unfortunately, in reaction to flowers when they bloom 3. The type of weather in spring which satisfies all the warmth 4. Synonym for the lovely scent coming out of blooming flowers 5. Air or gas filled spherical cavities in a liquid or solid liquids such as glass or amber 6. Amphibians with moist skin known for jumping and pond song 7. You have to buy a ticket to get in and you will need a bathing suit 8. Coastal area of sandy, stony, or rocky land

Answers to last crossword: Departed Teachers and Students: 1 HARRIET, 2 MRWHITTED, 3 MEGAN, 4 SANDERSON, 5 MRSSARIKA, 6 JESSICA, 7 MRFLEMING, 8 MRCHOJNOWSKI, 9 DIVYA, 10 ROHIT, 11 MRSANNIE, .12 GREGORY

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May 2014

Issue

International American School of warsaw

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JOIN THE IAS EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY AS WE STRIDE INTO THE FUTURE! • IAS was the first independent international school in Poland, founded in 1989.

• Programs to enhance student progress, including ESL, PSL, extra math, history, and science classes.

• IAS is accredited by the world’s leading education authorities: IBO, NAAS, CITA, MENIS.

• A variety of after school clubs provided for all students, meeting every Monday and Wednesday.

• Teacher to student ratio 1:8.

• Dedicated tutors for university guidance.

• Fully resourced and staffed library, providing students with a choice of 30,000 titles.

• 100% university placement.

• Zero tolerance to drugs and alcohol.

• Strong disciplinary policy conducted in a positive and • Dedicated staff from a variety of backgrounds, including Britain, America, Poland, France and Canada. friendly atmosphere.

THE INTERNATIONAL AMERICAN SCHOOL AN IB WORLD SCHOOL EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

THE IAS TIMES NEWS TEAM Staff Writers

Senior editor Linda Murphy

Sunny Dong

Mohit Keswani

Tommy Le

Nnenna Josakweker

Lilla Orly

Matthew Krasner Aristianna Voureka

Amber Wazacz

Oleh Bilyy

Find us on Facebook:

Disha Keswani

www.facebook.com/iaswarsaw

Sara Zulfiqar

Julia Chruszcz

ng i d a e R r o Thanks F www.ias.edu.pl