The rexonian november 2014

T he R exonian THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014

VOL. VIII … № 26

“A l l t h e n e w s t h e y le t u s p r i nt ”

Special Parents’ Weekend Edition

Kursi Wa Kitab Brings Hope to CP Students

Reflecting on Round Square Bidding A Fond Farewell to Our Round Square International Conference

Student Initiative Teams Up With Hungarian Peto Institute

By AHMED KHALAYLEH

By SEUNGJUNG SOHN

Wa-Alaykum Assalam!

As I waved goodbye to my Bermudan friends as they left for the airport, I reflected on the past week of the Round Square International Conference. ‘Two years of planning, all over in a week,’ I thought. I was reassured that the impact that the conference had made could not be measured merely in time, so the two years were certainly not wasted. The delegates of the conference, many of whom were on their first trip to the Middle East, went home with far more than a t-shirt, a hatta, and a fancy certificate.

We had the opportunity to listen to voices from all over the region.

The conference began with Nooreddin Amer, a King’s alumnus, sharing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the eyes of a Palestinian.

We then moved on to Afghanistan, where Shabana Basij-Rasikh gave a motivating talk on her efforts to bring education to girls in her home country. Then we journeyed to Yemen, where Azd Al-Kadasi shared his view on what conferences such as RSIC could really achieve. Our very own Sari Samakie ’17 brought us up to Syria as he shared his incredible story of struggle and triumph through the multiple kidnappings he experienced. Nadine Toukan, a Jordanian filmmaker, discussed the power that youth hold in today’s society, one of love and imagination. And to bring our conference to an end, Jordan’s Prime Minister, Abdullah Ensour, sent off the delegates with a sense of the hospitality that Arabs have and the prospect of peace which they seek.

The delegates participated in various service activities, both on and off campus. While some planted, paint-

moving, churning out food. Everyone wears gloves; sanitation is held at superlative standard here.

Our guide, Mr. Salah Kurdi, spoke to us as we stared in amazement at this wondrous spectacle. He has been working with King’s Academy for eight years and says he is very happy with his employment.

According to Mr. Salah, there are more than sixty tables to serve during sit-down lunch and approximately ninety tables during advisory lunch.

The chefs who take on the daunting task of feeding everyone deserve to be admired for their hard work and efficiency.

We were able to speak to Mr. Abdullah Shatat and Mr. Muhammad Halleeq, who were gracious enough to let us interview them between shifts. Mr. Abdullah described what it feels like to cook in the kitchen.

“We love to cook food,” he said, “We love variety. We want to satisfy everyone’s taste and convince them that the food they are eating is great.”

What was their favorite food? we asked.

“Mansaf.” Mr. Muhammad said with a smile.

“Maqluba.” Mr. Abdullah chimed in.

The ingredients used in the kitchen come from a variety of sources. Most of the vegetables and fruits are local.

Every Tuesday, a group of students meets behind the closed doors of the library rotunda. In the three years that they have convened in this circular room, they have truly reached out of their ‘circle’: first to Jordanian physicians, then professionals in Hungary, and eventually the world of differently-abled spanning across the kingdom. The process for these far-reaching results was, of course, neither easy nor quick.

“It all started more than three years ago, at a school meeting, when Ms. Rana recounted a story of a girl with cerebral palsy,” recall the earliest members of Kursi wa Kitab. “We were moved by Ms. Rana’s passion and later joined in her efforts to assist in the struggles of cerebral palsy students in Jordan.”

Cerebral palsy, also known as CP, is caused by brain damage usually inflicted at birth, which greatly reduces one’s motor skills: walking, speaking, and even sitting, in more severe cases. “However, rarely does it affect one’s mental ability,” stress the Kursi wa Kitab members. Despite this fact, the CP students in Jordan are denied access to the regular education and are only provided with an inefficient and limited alternative that fails to successfully accommodate their physical challenge.

From the exposure to this inequitable treatment in Jordan sprung the foundation of Kursi wa Kitab: providing the right tools—wheelchairs—and education—books—for CP students in Jordan. In the beginning, Kursi wa Kitab started small.

They sold donuts in at school plays, held charity poetry events, sold awareness stickers, and held bake sales at school. These efforts spanned over half a year and produced enough

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FINALLY FALL Denizens of Sulafat celebrated autumn’s harvest with pumpkins

How We Eat at King’s Academy

By SHEILA BABER and RAND AL-HARAHSHEH

One of the first things every new student at King’s Academy notices is the peculiar lunch system. Students and teachers alike file into the Dining Hall and stand dutifully as the daily grace is offered in both Arabic and English.

“For food, for friendship, for the blessings of the day we give our thanks.”

After a burst of applause, everyone digs into the steaming plates in front of them. The clamor of silverware hitting porcelain and chairs scraping the carpet all fade into a cheerful din.

Bowls and platters filled with food are passed around.

Dear Reader, this is a miracle!

What are the intricate steps that allow these scrumptious viands to arrive on our plates and vanish without a trace? Most of us have no clue about where our food comes from, how it is prepared, and where it goes.

The misty wall between the eater and the food must come down at once.

The first step of our quest begins in the kitchen.

The kitchen at King’s Academy is a perpetually busy place, with men and women bustling about, darting from one station to another. The room has tiled floors, tiled walls, and stainless steel equipment constantly

CAMPUS A4-6

WORLD A3

Daniel Leal Proposes More Mandatory FreeTime A4

R ami Rustom on Foreign Conspiracies

Dima Al Maaytah on Life in Grade Nine A6

SCIENCE A7 Five Fantastic Fauna Tareg Hamzah Explores The Animal Kingdom

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THE REXONIAN OPINION NOVEMBER 6, 2014

The Rexonian

Operation Constructive Pledge

By RAMI RUSTOM

amelia kenna, Executive Editor

The war in Gaza this summer stirred a surge of pro-Palestinian sentiments. The conflict, which lasted over fifty days, was characterized by a surprising shift in public opinion, highlighted by the comments of pop stars, actors, and other celebrities in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The effects rippled outward, and by October 3rd, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven deAssistant Managing Editors clared the Sweden would recognize Palestine as sheila baber omar sindi a state. This pledge was soon followed by a Brittareg hamzah rand al-harahsheh ish parliamentary vote which recognized, by an sophia jaber dima al maaytah overwhelming majority of 274 to 12, the state of hyun taek lim Palestine. Romaine Nadal spoke on behalf of the French Foreign Ministry, declaring that France Staff Writers Publishers would soon recognize Palestine as well. The US ahmad freihat mr. james magagna and UK’s criticism of Israel’s expansion and esahmed khalayleh ms. diane foster tablishment of settlements in the West Bank also rami rustom came as a surprise.

Contributing Writers While this a shift in global opinion is important tala habbab on the political stage, the real life implications are seungjung sohn intangible. “UK recognizes Palestine” is a very sammy abdulrahim attractive headline. In reality, however, it isn’t as pretty as it seems; it’s a non-binding gesture—a mere formality.

What really matters is the people—the people of Gaza. Recognition might be important for fuKicking the plastic habit ture peace talks and negotiations—but that’s exOn our campus, a shortage of water is never actly what they are, and what they’ll always be: an issue—in contrast to the rest of Jordan talks and negotiations. What does recognition and so many other parts of the world. Over a even mean to the average citizens on the streets billion people lack access to clean water today, of Gaza? What does it mean to the victims of Opbut here at King's we don't even have to look. eration Protective Edge? What Gaza needs more Drinking fountains are around every corner, urgently is food, water, shelter, and humanitarian aid. Over 2,000 civilians were killed in airstrikes daniel leal, Managing Editor xu zhaoying, Campus Editor seung hee yang, Sports Editor suhail nahhas, Science Editor sophia sarmadi, Arts & Culture Editor imad-aldin fadil, Deputy Managing Editor

Ban the Bottle?

five-gallon jugs are delivered to faculty apartments, and bottled water magically appears at our tables for lunch. But this convenience comes at a price: those plastic water bottles are made almost entirely from petroleum, and the overwhelming majority of bottles end up in landfills or incinerators, rather than in recycling facilities—over 75 percent, or 30 billion in the U.S. alone. One could object that the tap water on campus isn't as clean as one would like, so bottled water is necessary—but then do we really need bottled water delivered to the fields for sports teams instead of a 10-gallon cooler? Why does the Kaziyeh sell bottled water when students can fill their own water bottles? What about the fuel needed to transport all this water to campus? If we could give out insulated water bottles to every RSIC participant last month and replace bottled water with carafes at the lunch table, we should continue to move forward, not back to business as usual.

Corrections, Op-Ed submissions, and letters to the Editor may be addressed to: rexonian@kingacademy.edu.jo The Opinion page publishes individual authors and their own views, which do not necessarily reflect the views or editorial policy of The Rexonian.

during “Operation Protective Edge”, and hundreds of homes were destroyed.

The headlines should instead focus on “European Union pledges over $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza.” This is the first step that really makes a difference. Over the last decade, the EU has spent over $1.3 billion reconstructing Gaza, but unfortunately, such efforts go in vain with each war every few years.

In order for the impacts of aid to last, they must be immediately followed by the observance of the law. According to the all too infamous United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 signed in 1967, Israel is legally bound to return territories in the West Bank to Palestinians. This resolution, unfortunately, is silently blowing in the wind, along with many others. In September of 2014, Israel declared the expropriation of over 990 acres of land in the West Bank near Gvaot. The move was criticized by the US and UK, but other than that, not much has been done. The only peace the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can achieve is under the weight of the rule of law.

Some might say that simply healing the wounds averts our attention from solving the root cause of the conflict. This might be true, but can this be explained to the victims? The Palestinian conflict is complex and deeply-rooted. A fix-all solution may not yet be in sight, but what we do see are humanitarian atrocities and violations of international law. To begin working for a lasting peace, we must address the issues in that same order: humanitarian atrocities, and violations of international law.

Until then, symbolic formalities can wait.

‘An Invitation to Change Everything’

By TALA HABBAB

These people were tired of waiting for the world to take action, so they decided to do the job themselves. On the 21st of September, 311,000 people left their homes, drew out their banners, and flaunted their determination in the streets of New York City. From New York to over 150 countries all over the world, hundreds of thousands gathered on this memorable day to take a stand for the future of our planet, protesting at the top of their lungs: this is the People’s Climate March.

We can no longer deny that our world is developing and changing year by year; however, along with positive developments come the negative consequences. These threats are real, and they have already begun to make their way into our lives. From glacial retreats to ocean acidification and even extreme events as severe as tornadoes and hurricanes, the evidence is all around us, and there will never be a better time for us to act than now.

Jordan is not the third or fourth poorest country in water; as of a few weeks ago, it is the second.

Our water supply is 88% below the international water poverty line, and the growing population has led to a 40% increase in demand in the north, 10% in the south, and more than 21% in the Kingdom’s average water demand. These numbers will keep increasing, and the impacts of climate

change only make matters worse with shifting rainfall patterns and a smaller amount of freshwater for the population.

Not only does climate change involve our water supply, but it also affects our crops, energy, atmosphere, and just about our entire lifestyle.

It’s about time we start realizing this and taking responsibility, because it isn’t too late just yet.

We can help prevent these issues from progressing by taking small steps every day. Instead of fifteen-minute showers, limit that time to seven.

Switch your light bulbs to LED bulbs that use up less electricity and even have a longer life span than other bulbs.

Always remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle. There are various easy and creative ways to do all of this: collect your recyclables every few weeks and take them to a recycling center; install water tanks to collect rain water; print double sided papers; reuse and recycle your plastic bags, or even grow plants that don’t require a lot of water, such as thyme. You can even come up with your own ideas to help out, and never forget the most important part: spread the word. The more people involved, the closer we are to reaching our goal.

No longer do we have to wait for a better tomorrow if we start today.

THE REXONIAN WORLD NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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Too Big to Fail? When Governments Blame Foreign Conspiracies

By RAMI RUSTOM

The most dangerous weapon you have is your voice. You don’t like something? Speak up against it. The same goes for entire populations; their most powerful weapons are not sticks, stones, or Molotov cocktails—it’s their voices.

Corrupt governments around the world, from the weakest to strongest, fear the people most. When crowds begin to protest, the government must respond, and will reveal its true colors through such a response.

What’s the one response, however, that all corrupt governments have in common? They blame the problem on foreign conspiracies.

Hong Kong is the most recent example of this. In response to the “Umbrella Revolution,” the Chinese government blamed “foreign anti-China forces,” according to a state-run newspaper. Chinese state press blamed the U.S and U.K directly for conspiring against China, and making a “big fuss” of the protests.

In December, 2013, when protests erupted in Ukraine, the Russian government immediately blamed

NEWS ANALYSIS “Western forces.” Last June, when protestors occupied the streets of Istanbul, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed a foreign conspiracy to destabilize his government. In the Arab World, Mubarak, Morsi, and Sisi all blamed foreign hands for Egypt's political instability. The Syrian regime accused “Zionist-Western forces” of paying protesters the equivalent of $20 to take to the streets.

All these governments and regimes blame others for the unrest in their countries—but why?

They do it to undermine, justify, and unite.

A correspondent on Russiya 24 argued that protests in Hong Kong were organized by the U.S because it’s very “unlikely” that the protestors, mainly students, learned “how to turn on their mobile-phone screens simultaneously for an effective image. It’s unlikely that people of school age came up with the elegant idea of bringing umbrellas.” The first argument a corrupt government will advance is that the people aren’t

smart enough to start protests. This offends protestors, and undermines their ability to create a Facebook group, organize a protest, and yell at the top of their voices in front of a government ministry. Saying that the people aren’t capable of organizing a protest implies that they received outside help. For citizens at home watching state television, protestors getting help from foreign governments and incapable of organizing it themselves only means that they shouldn’t be taken seriously.

In the eyes of the public, if these protestors are puppets of foreign conspiracies, then the government would have an excuse to suppress the protests. It becomes a matter of national security, and the nation (at least those who support the government) will be galvanized, and united against this threat. The government needs to secure support from the rest of the population, and this is done by giving the impression that they need the government’s protection against a foreign threat. Not only would suppressing the protests be justified, but they would also have the support to suppress the protests.

When protestors are chanting, corrupt governments have to undermine, justify, and unite for one very simple reason: in order to stay alive. If the governments are legitimate, and have nothing to fear, peaceful protestors will be protected, and their demands addressed. Corrupt governments, however, are only reminded by protests that their systems have weak foundations, and will crumble anytime soon. The instinctive reaction is always fight or flight, and when their existence is threatened, these governments will go to great lengths to stay in power—starting by blaming foreign powers.

Protests aren’t always successful, but they’re always a symptom of change. Governments that belittle their people and blame other governments for their failures don’t like change, and will fabricate as many conspiracy theories as possible to justify suppressing the voice of the people.

So what can we take away from this? If a government begins blaming global conspiracies for civil unrest and popular disapproval, that’s when you know it’s doomed to fail, and that change is on the way.

The Ebola Outrage: Confronting A Worldwide Crisis

By SHEILA BABER

More than six months ago, a twoyear-old known as patient zero died of Ebola in Guinea. Since then, Ebola rapidly ballooned from an isolated case to an international epidemic, splashing across borders into Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Liberia. Ebola cases have appeared in Senegal, United States, and Spain as well.

As of October 8th, more than 4,000 people have died from the current strain of Ebola, and the virus has killed more than 70% of those infected. The World Health Organization announced that the number of infected could rise to 20,000 by November, and a WHO official warned that humanity might have to live with Ebola “forever” if this outbreak is not brought under control.

The situation is an outrage.

Currently, there is no cure. Aid workers can only prevent dehydration and provide comfort to the numerous patients piling into what few treatment centers are available.

There is an acute lack of resources such as hospital beds, which forces aid workers to turn away many of the sick who line up in front of these

treatment centers. Those who return to their homes pose a great threat to their community.

where more than 90 nurses and doctors have died, health workers are threatening to go on a strike over a

Medical workers are especially vulnerable to infection, despite the full body suits and respiratory equipment they wear when treating patients. Hundreds have already succumbed to the disease. In Liberia,

lack of pay. One can only imagine the scale of damage this would have on the effort to fight Ebola.

Public response has been unhelpful as well. There were rumors that the medical workers were bringing the

illustration by sheila baber

disease to the region and harvesting organs from the dead bodies. Several villages refused help and even attacked aid workers, driving them away. In a slum in Liberia, mobs attacked a treatment facility and dragged out the quarantined patients, claiming that Ebola was a hoax. This atmosphere of fear and mistrust is an enormous obstacle in delivering help across to the public.

Actions taken by governments are only helping to fuel this paranoia.

Borders have been shut down, preventing the flow of goods and severely crippling the economy of the affected nations. Quarantine measures have isolated communities, which has led to clashes between the police and the people. Air traffic has screeched to a crawl, making the transport of resources and health workers a challenge. There was also one incident when cargo containing medical supplies and kits was barred from entering a port.

Amidst all of this chaos and paranoia, it may seem as if the only thing that an outsider can do is watch in horror and pray for the wellbeing of those affected. Perhaps it is time to cast off our status as bystanders.

THE REXONIAN CAMPUS NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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In Praise of Idleness

By DANIEL LEAL

I value education and appreciate every opportunity for understanding and learning that King’s Academy gives me. However, these past several weeks have been life changing as I have been placed out of my comfort zone and developed personally. Many of my ideologies have been strengthened, among them, my thought on education. With all I have learned these past few weeks about myself, I have come to understand that education does not solely lie in a classroom or a homework assignment. Education is an experience. I understand that homework and class lie within these experiences, but there is more to it than that.

At times these past two years, I have felt as if I am trying to survive day by day in finishing assignments.

I have seen some of my friends suffer from the same stress and even drown in it. It is sad to see youth, with such infinite potential, implode because of circumstances that are not as life defining as we may at times think.

King’s philosophy of education, with empathy and understanding at its core, is a model to be followed, yet I feel that it is lacking in terms of appreciating every individual. I am not talking about favoritism, but rather the fact that it is easier for some individuals to survive in this environment than others because of the academic rigor of the school environment.

I agree that such high expectations help us rise beyond what we thought we could do, but not all people work that way, and I think King’s should recognize and embrace this fact by continuing to provide students with varied opportunities as it does now.

I believe we need to place a greater emphasis on the value of free time for each individual, for we tend to find ourselves in the right measure of losing ourselves. Such a quest might happen when we pull through in times of great stress, but it is far more likely in times when we are free to explore.

One could argue that that is what weekends are for. Unfortunately, as a student, I find personally that my weekends are not very free. Any excess leisure on Friday leads to a late Saturday night and a bad start to a week. While I understand that excess is not usually good, after a tough week the prospect of having to work during the weekend is the last thing to appeal to me. I do not want to sound like a brat, but am I supposed to be responsible and controlled 100% of the time? Not even adults are up to this challenge.

Secondly, I believe that school should be a holistic experience, to borrow a term that universities love.

King’s has achieved holism in terms of opportunities that take dedication, but lacks holism in understanding the fact that people need free time to relax and find themselves. The story I love to tell is that Isaac Newton was only able to find the free time to develop what now is known as calculus because of fear of the Bubonic Plague in 1665 at Cambridge University This article is not a rant against the amount of work King’s gives. I have been very fortunate to be on the lower end of the spectrum in this situation, compared to other stories that I have heard (although, granted, some of them may have been exaggerated). I rather wish to begin a debate in school over a balance between free time and responsibilities. I would begin by proposing that for everyone, including faculty, students, and staff, there should be no work at all for one afternoon during one of the days in the week. I believe Tuesday would be the best day, as it would mean everyone would be refueled to come back on Wednesday and Thursday to finish the week strong. I propose that on that Tuesday we all have co-curriculars, then dinner, but afterwards be free until 11 p.m. I would also like for there to be some sort of free time for the staff, who we may at times forget. I might have a lot of misconceptions concerning the feasability of my idea, but I believe that by proposing it, better plans may come out of it and an improved system may arise.

Sports Scores

Volleyball Girls Varsity vs. National Orthodox Boys Varsity vs. The Baptist School Girls JV vs. AHSS Boys JV vs. The Baptist School

Soccer Girls Varsity vs. National Orthodox Boys Varsity A vs. National Orthodox Boys Varsity B vs. The Baptist School Girls JV vs. The Baptist School Boys JV vs. New English School

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1–2 (A)

2–0 w

2–0 l 0–4

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7–0 6–4 l 0–3 l 1–2 w 3–1

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3–0 (B)

On Civil Disobedience

By AHMAD FREIHAT

King’s Academy believes in its students and their abilities to make rational decisions. However, some students do not live up to these expectations. One should note that the broken expectations tend to be similar and have always been dictated by the faculty. In these cases, peers of the violators take it upon themselves to decide what should be done with these particular individuals. The peers, in the form of the Disciplinary Committee, decide on the consequences of the student’s actions. As rules are enforced, there are those who will attempt to oppose them, and often succeed in breaking them. This select group of people does this simply because the laws exist, not because of their displeasure over the said laws.

As a proctor, I often hear my proctees whining to me over possible consequences that could result from violating expectations. They raise chaos in order to fight back against “the man,” essentially fighting fire with fire. These people do this without thinking of what they wish to achieve or how they might best achieve it.

Now some might mention Thoreau’s ideas of civil disobedience, where the unjust laws are broken because of their irrelevance or for their invalidity. While this is arguable, people must recognize the difference between law and the consequences of law. If you break a law, whether for good reason or bad, you must understand beforehand that punishment is a possibility. One should not be enraged when he is punished, given that if one didn’t desire the punishment, then one should not break the law. When one makes the choice to violate a law, one must consider the consequences of that choice. Even those who were wise and just know this. When Socrates was given the death sentence, he did not attempt to escape, as others attempted to per-

Boys Volleyball

By JALIL KHOURY

After a rough start to a highly anticipated season in their contest against Amman Baccalaureate School (ABS), the King’s Academy’s Varsity A Volleyball team quickly redeemed itself, bringing home victories against the American Community School (ACS), Al Mashrek International School, and the Olympic club. As a very team-oriented sport, volleyball does not allow for a single person to act alone. The beauty of volleyball lies in the team, and this year’s team epitomizes unity. When

suade him to. Instead, he accepted this sentence, for this was justice. To escape the consequences of his actions would have undermined those actions and all that he fought for.

Another factor people must take into consideration when disobeying rules is the reason for the said rules.

In King’s Academy, freshmen students are made to go to the academic building during study hall. They will continue to go there until they prove that they are fit for independent study. Now, if students wish to break free of this rule then the obvious course of action requires them to remain orderly and to prove that they are fit for independent study. At the current moment, certain freshmen take part in “civil disobedience” and brush off the rules. What they must realize is that this response is unfit for the situation. By “sticking it to the man,” they are bringing down his wrath upon them, and bringing upon themselves exactly what they are trying to escape.

In addition to the factors that are justifications of justice, what one must understand is that at times, these rules are beneficial, though they might not be pleasurable. Study hall is set for our own benefit. If one does not want to study during study hall, one must understand that his actions are hurting him. Perhaps it is because one cannot handle responsibility, but these actions results in a lack of trust. We must understand that school s meant to educate and better us, and we must have study hall in order for this to happen.

Now do not misunderstand, I have broken rules in my day, though I might have been better at doing so than some. And when I was caught, I did not hate those who punished me for it. When I broke the rules, I believed that I was doing this for a good reason, not just to spite the authorities.

People must understand this when they think about their next moves. they lose, they lose together; and when they win, they win together.

Every single one of the 12 players on the team has an important role on the court. Whether it is Rayan Badrie’s silky sets, Omar Stinner’s rocket spikes, or Adam Abdul Halim’s finesse around the net, each player has a clear sense of their role in the team and is determined to perfect their particular skills.

Led by Coach Iyad, Coach Ghassan, and Coach Mohammed, the volleyball team will continue to become more of a unit as they have more exhibition matches and two tournaments to wrap the season up.

THE REXONIAN CAMPUS NOVEMBER 6, 2014

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Reflections on RSIC Swim Team Prepares for METS

Searching for Food

From Front Page

By HYUN-TAEK LIM

ed, and plastered in nearby schools, others reached out to the children in Key Club service projects, the Kursi wa Kitab initiative, and many other on-campus activities. Of course, all of their hard work was accompanied by hours of entertainment. On one evening, the cultural evening, delegates had the opportunity to share various performances from their respective cultures, including dance, song, and the occasional folklore.

The next day, the King’s Academy community showed off its own talent during its entertainment evening, featuring the orchestra, the jazz band, Glee Club, dance troupes, the improvisation group, and much more. In addition to all of that, our very talented cast of thespians, directed by Mohammad Abu Hawwash ’15, presented an insight into the rich history of the Arab world.

Organizing this event, of course, was no easy task. We hit some bumps here and there, but with diligence and hard work on part of students, faculty, and staff alike, we overcame them. Not only did we succeed in running the conference, but we also succeeded, I believe, in sending a very powerful message to the delegates from around the world. I personally have received countless responses from many of the delegates, all of whom expressed nothing but praise and gratitude. Even before the end of the conference, delegates were sad to be leaving Jordan and King's Academy. As my roommate packed his bags on the last day, he told me, “I really don’t want to leave this place.”

Through the collective energies of our entire community—the hospitality of our students, the enthusiasm of our faculty, and the tireless efforts of our staff—we created an unforgettable experience that our guests will be able to carry with them, and share with those they come in contact with, for a lifetime.

Swimming is a sport that has a long history. The Ancient Egyptians have the first record of swimming in 2500 BCE. Swimming was an official army training institution in Ancient Rome and Greece. It was an efficient way of blindsiding enemies in that era. By the first century BCE, there were so many people swimming in Far East Asia that there were swimming competitions in Japan. In 1837, the first swimming association was made in London. Nine years later, in 1846, the first swimming global competition was held in Australia. Swimming became an Olympic sport in 1896, and F.I.N.A is the official swimming institution of today. Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly are the four swimming strokes that athletes compete in at the Olympics and World Championships.

Swimming benefits the body greatly because it uses all of the body’s muscles. This aerobic exercise requires a constant supply of oxygen to the muscles, which further burns fat. Swimming is also believed to reduce the harmful effects of stress.

This awesome exercise is offered by King’s Academy swimming program.

The METS (Middle East Triangle Sports) Swim meet will be held on November 14th and 15th at King’s Academy. Students from various schools will be participating in this large-scale competition. The METS Swim meet is the school’s biggest swimming competition, and will be held at King’s Academy. Therefore, swimmers and the coaches are passionately training for the tournament for great results.

Boys and girls are participating in this swim meet, and the divisions within ages are Under-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18. The competition will adhere to the F.I.N.A’s latest rules regarding disqualifications. Four main strokes, like in the Olympics, will be competed in 25m long pools, which

Coach Iyad Abu Touq and Mr. Mazen Jarrar lead the revelers at Arab Night

have five lanes for five swimmers.

Mr. Tom, one of the coaches for King’s Academy’s swim team, hopes to represent King’s Academy well.

The chemistry teacher commented, “We have many King’s students who have trained for several hours a week (including [this reporter]) and are becoming seasoned swimmers. They can do all four strokes and are building up an impressive level of endurance ability. I want to see every one of my swimmers trying as hard as they can to swim fast and with good technique, something I know they can do well.” He hoped for positive results in the competition, but he also emphasized that enjoying and taking pride in their effort at the METS Swim Meet is the most important part of the competition. He expressed his hopes for the future of King’s swimming, stating, “We don’t have too much of a history of competitive swimming at King’s, but the swimmers this year can take a big step towards changing that. We can change the culture of King’s and I hope we can take a big step in that direction during the swim meet.”

Tala Habbab, King’s Academy’s female swimmer extraordinare, was very excited with the competition.

She said, “I am really looking forward to the first swim meet of the year. This just might be the biggest swim meet ever held at King’s Academy, so I’m excited to participate with my fellow teammates. We’ve been practicing very hard, and I’m very proud of my teammates!” She added, “Thank you Ms. Cornelia, Mr. Tom, and Ms. Ghada!” to acknowledge the immense efforts the coaches have taken in preparing for this upcoming competition.

With one week left, every swimmer and coach is preparing particularly hard for the tournament, and they will continue to train enthusiastically during the remaining weeks. Don’t forget to encourage the swimmers and come support them next weekend.

From Front Page Some, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are grown behind the cafeteria in greenhouses. The rest come from local markets in Madaba. When buying these ingredients, chefs always take into consideration any dietary restrictions that students or faculty may have.

Here, the chefs follow a program that ensures that meals are diverse and nutritious. Though the specific dishes change daily, each day's menu always includes vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins. A set amount of food is made every day to accommodate everyone at King’s Academy— nearly one thousand people.

As expected, there are usually leftovers.

The kitchen staff at King’s Academy make effort to ensure that these leftovers are not wasted. Mr. Salah said that those who work in the kitchen often take the leftovers home to their families. Untouched food is recycled and reincarnated into new delectable creations that we might enjoy the next day.

While the system is great, not all food can be saved. After every meal, a large amount of food is still thrown into the garbage cans that stand behind the cafeteria.

“Wasted food upsets us.” Mr. Abdullah lamented. “We work very hard to make it, and then it is thrown away.”

“When we see wasted food, we wonder if it is a mistake on our part.

Were we not good enough?” Mr. Muhammad sighed. Of course, there is always room for improvement.

This is the first article in a series about how we eat here at King's Academy: where our food comes from, who cooks it for us, how it's prepared, and what happens after the trays are put away. In the next issue, our reporters seek out the farmers who grow the food that we eat.

Catching up with Mr. Abdullah Shattat and Mr. Salah Kurdi of the Dining Hall

THE REXONIAN CAMPUS NOVEMBER 6, 2014

A6

‘The Tools for Independence’ From Front Page money to buy one wheelchair.

This wheelchair brought unimaginable happiness to Heba, a woman with CP who previously could not afford a wheelchair on her own. Despite Heba’s heartwarming smile, however, Kursi wa Kitab members could not simply rejoice. They began to feel hesitant about their goal. If it took half a year to raise enough money to buy a single wheelchair, how many would they ever be able to donate? Will buying wheelchairs even make a dent in the issue of cerebral palsy in Jordan? It was time for them to redirect their goal, to target the heart of the matter—the inadquate infrastructure for the differently-abled.

Weeks of research pointed them

Things were uphill from there: writing countless emails, collecting donations, and organizing fundraising and awareness-raising events.

The efforts paid off, however, in results neither expected nor thought possible. The Peto Institute accepted an invitation to a conference in Jordan which attracted a group of Jordanian physicians interested in the innovative method. After the conference, the Peto Institute and Kursi wa Kitab engaged in continuous correspondence during which they designed a detailed plan for the establishment of a conductive education center in Jordan.

Eventually, this summer, Kursi wa Kitab carried out a seven-weeks pilot program in collaboration with the Peto Institute. “It was unbelievable.

We watched students learning to

wasim ayesh /office of communications

Serene Akkawi, Mehak Sachdeva, and Seungjung Sohn, all founding members of Kursi wa Kitab, being recognized by HM King Abdullah II for their efforts. towards an innovative treatment method called conductive education.

This globally renowned method was exactly what Jordan needed: a combination of medical and psycho-educational approaches. Conductive education does not merely treat the medical problems of the children, but also focuses on their personality; by learning basic life skills such as sitting, eating, and writing, and being encouraged to push themselves, the children become confident, independent, and ultimately ready to be reintegrated into society.

Confidence, independence, and chance for reintegration into society: these were what the Jordanian children with CP—or any disability for that matter—needed. Immediately, Kursi wa Kitab contacted the Peto Institute in Hungary, where conductive education was first developed in 1945.

open her hands for the first time; one came in a wheelchair only to leave on his legs,” recalls Serene Akkawi, one of the founding members.

This is not the end, however. Their successful pilot program only urged them to aim further, to establish a long-term and self-sustaining conductive education center in Jordan.

“We are currently working with the Jordanian German University to start a training program in order to produce our own Jordanian conductors,” explains Mehak Sachdeva, another founding member.

Their ultimate aspiration, however, reaches beyond the material and infrastructural change. Through their efforts, Kursi wa Kitab looks beyond changing the definition of the word ‘disabled’ to how the world views the differently-abled, and how the differently-abled view themselves.

RSIC’s Arab Night

Campus Voices

Life as a Frosh

By SAMMY ABDULRAHIM

By DIMA AL MAAYTAH

On the final night of the conference, hundreds of participants assembled in front of Alnilam waiting for Arab Night to begin. Just two hours before, the Round Square delegation had concluded the closing ceremony with the passing of the conference flag to the delegates from UWCSEA in Singapore, and students were taking photos and exchanging Facebook and Instagram accounts with their newly made friends. They did not know what to expect of the evening planned ahead as they were only asked to wait in front of Alnilam. Then, heads started turning as the participants noticed a group of men dressed in traditional garb take place next to Nihal. The King’s Academy participants were the first to catch on to what was happening, and they started to group around the oddly dressed men, whom they recognized as a traditional Zaffeh Band. The international delegates followed the lead of the King’s students. In just a few minutes, a big body of students clustered around the band waiting for something to happen. All of a sudden, a loud cheer erupted as a bagpiper blew his instrument with all his might. The band started to move—to the international delegates’ surprise—and students followed, dancing, singing and ululating in gleeful response to the spontaneity of what had just happened. And so, the long march to the spectacle of the Arab Night began with the band leading the way.

There were no seats to sit on, no tables to dine on—our visitors not only experienced but also lived Arab Night. This was a night solely dedicated to all things Arab. From small lanterns to massive tents, everything to do with the night was of the region. King’s Academy and the Round Square team spared no expense to make this night memorable. Inspired by earlier Meissa house weekends, there were Bedouin tents to welcome our myriad guest and participants—only this time, six instead of just one. The music coming from the turntables of our very own DJ, Jouman Barakat ’16, spanned the whole Arab world, as did the delicious food: from kushari to kanafeh.

The Arab Night was certainly one of the most anticipated nights of the conference, especially by those who knew what lay in store. As the last

I would like to begin by saying that the freshmen experience is different for each person. It depends on your outlook, personality and maybe some luck! But all freshmen will face common issues.

One common issue is living away from home. It may affect a student’s performance at King’s Academy.

It’s a normal occurrence for the first months or even first year of school!

It’s not an easy step for a student, but you have to work hard and bear the difficulties to reach the next phase of your life.

A freshman’s diet can also be an issue during their first few months at King’s. Without having parents around to monitor what you eat, your diet can either become more or less healthy. This usually depends on the student’s diet before he or she came to King’s Academy. Although the school offers a variety of choices including chicken, beef, lamb, vegetables, and fruits, the student has to choose well so that they have a balance diet.

Tardy! Tardy! And tardy! Time management is a really hard challenge for freshman because our school has a highly organized system for students, the purpose of this being to manage the student’s time.

The issue that is the most common one is life in the dorm. Although freshmen find dorm life difficult and hard for them because they experience homesickness, they actually have a new family. All of the students in the dorm are their big family!

Although all of these issues and challenges will disappear in a short time, they’re actually good for us because we learn so many useful things from them that will better us in the end. event of the conference, the impression it left on our guests is the one they will take back to their respective communities. One of the core themes of the conference is “breaking stereotypes.” The whole conference saw plenty of activities and trips aimed at breaking Middle Eastern and Arab stereotypes, but what better way than for our guests to leave Jordan with an authentic image of the Arab world and its traditions? That is where the importance of the Arab Night lies, and that is what our King’s Academy community and Round Square team were aiming to convey to our guests—and what a night it was.

THE REXONIAN ‘SCIENCE’ NOVEMBER 6, 2014

5 of the World’s Weirdest Creatures A Blast From

By TAREG HAMZAH

Axolotl The Axolotl, a Mexican salamander, is also known as the little monster.

This critically endangered creature lives in only two lakes in central Mexico, Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco. These unique species dine on a diet of brine shrimp, California blackworms, and salmon pellets.

This exotic amphibian can grow up to 12 inches and weigh up to 8 pounds. A weird fact about this unusual creature is that only an expert can identify its gender, as both males and females look extremely similar and the differences between the two are subtle. The Axolotl breathes not only through its gills, but through its skin, which can absorb oxygen as a result of its complex capillary system.

Dumbo Octopus The Dumbo octopus is a delicate creature that feeds on crustaceans, bivalves, worms, and copepods. It is a harmless creature that fears any human activity and will constantly try to escape any large fish. This octopus can grow to 8 inches but the largest one found alive was 6 feet long and weighed 13 pounds.

These extraordinary species live at the bottom of the ocean at an extreme depth of ranging from 9,600 to 13,000 feet. The Dumbo Octopus comes in red, orange, and green colors. Its lifespan stretches anywhere from to 3 to 5 years. The octopus eats through its sucker and eats its prey as a whole. Fortunately for the octopus, the prey never exceeds an intimidating length of 1–2 mm.

Frill-Necked Lizard The frill-necked lizard is an Australian lizard that can also be found in South New Guinea. This lizard lives mostly in trees and bushes. This

mysterious animal is quite large, its average size being 85 centimeters.

Although it lives mostly on a diet of insects and small vertebrates, it favors butterflies and moths, which are harder to catch because they can fly. When this species chases prey or escapes its predator, it stands on its hind legs to move faster. These animals are great survivors and are hunted by mostly birds. They can live up to an age of 20 years and generally weigh about 0.5 kg.

Blobfish The blob fish is known to be one of the least attractive creatures on this planet. It is called the blobfish because it is nothing other than a small blob deep in the sea. This fish is facing endangerment due to the large amount of deep-sea fishermen in Australia. These blobs are no longer than 30cm and live in depths ranging from 600 to 1,200 meters below sea level. The Blobfish eats small mollusks and sea snails found in coral; In spite of its mushy frame, the Blobfish also downs spiky sea urchins. These fish are found only in Australia and New Zealand. This fish has no muscles, yet swims at depths of 9,000 feet.

Narwhal Also known as the sea unicorn, the Narwhal is well known for the tusk or horn on its head. The tusk is made of a protruding canine tooth. These fish live in arctic areas north of Russia, Greenland, and Canada. To eat, Narwhals create a type of vacuum and suck in rockfish, flounder, squid, and arctic cod. These amazing fish are under no threat other than global warming, which will force them to adapt to warmer climates. A newborn Narwhal is about a meter and a half long, while an adult is about 5.5 meters, weighs 1,600 kilos, and has a tusk of 2.5 meters.

Random Facts: Global Edition The flag of Paraguay has different designs on its front and back.

The city with the longest name (too long to tweet) in the world is: “Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.”

The city’s conventional name? Bangkok.

Switzerland invaded Liechtenstein in 2007. Swiss soldiers were marching in the Alps when the weather turned for the worse, and inadvertently crossed the Switzerland-Liechtenstein border while carrying arms.

The United States has 4 “commonwealths,” which are Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. While they are still states, their official names are different! (One could argue that the United States does not really have 50 “states.”)

Since 1990, more than 30 new countries have been added to the world (this is mostly due to the USSR splitting up).

The Past

A7 SIDE–LENS Exploring the Paranormal

By SUHAIL NAHHAS

Some of us have heard of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World (1925.) The book turned into a stop-motion film, and the story is centered on an expedition to a land inhabited by prehistoric animals in South America. The explorers eventually take a brontosaurus back to London. Thanks to reports of a strange creature in Africa, this story may eventually become a reality.

Since 1776, natives and explorers deep in the remote forests of Cameroon have sighted a large creature they call Mokele-Mbembe (one who stops the flow of rivers.) The creature has been seen prowling through the

tions with anyone who would listen.

Through the method of comparative observation, it was also determined that these people can clearly tell the difference between local modern animals and anything depicted as a sauropod dinosaur. The only physical evidence of this creature are three-clawed footprints that are 3ft in circumference and the lack of foliage

jungle and lurking beneath the waters of the Congo Basin, suggesting that it’s semiaquatic. It has also been known to be extremely aggressive and territorial, with a reputation for attacking the canoes of natives and even killing hippos and tribesmen.

But what makes this creature truly extraordinary is its appearance.

Covered in reddish leathery or scaly skin, the beast is described as having a long neck, a small snake-like head, a body twice as big as an elephant (25-30ft in length), four large limbs ending with three-clawed feet, and a long tail. Some reports say it even has spines going down its back and a crest on its head. According to these reports, this creature seems to resemble a living sauropod dinosaur.

One would think the natives might have simply misidentified a modern animal or are just telling the legend as fact for the sake of publicity. However, explorers have noted that these people have had no contact with the outside world, and despite not receiving payment for their stories, they were eager to share their observa-

high up in trees (which some would say are from giraffes, but no giraffes live in this part of Africa).

Despite these facts, other experts doubt the likelihood that this animal exists- and for good reasons, too. Paleontology alone rules out the likelihood of any dinosaur’s survival in modern times, especially when sauropods alone were said to have died off before all other dinosaur species in the great KT extinction event. At the same time, science claims that in order for an animal like this to survive, there needs to be a real breeding population instead of just few elusive individuals.

Remember that living fossils like the tuatara and coelacanth (which lived before the dinosaurs) already exist in nature. With 55 thousand squares miles of Cameroon’s wilderness unexplored, there could be a time when we finally find a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Lost World creature. Let’s just hope we don’t bring it back to London so that it can rampage through the city the way it did in the movie!

illustration by suhail nahhas

Ronaldo d'Or?

By IMAD-ALDIIN FADIIL

Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, will be contending for the highly prestigious 2014 Ballon d’Or at the beginning of next year. Although the award show is still a few months away, many speculate that his fine form will win him the legendary award for two consecutive years. He has contributed vastly in obtaining the La Decima title for his Club, Real Madrid. Ronaldo was also devoted to the success of Portugal’s National Team, but had to watch Portugal be disqualified at the group stages in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was always determined to bring positive results to his national team, but one man can’t bring success to a team alone. In spite of Portugal’s loss, Ronaldo has excelled in his club and proved himself the most dangerous footballer on the planet in Spain and Europe’s top tier teams.

By the end of last season, he had won two trophies: the long awaited Champions league with the Copa Del Rey. Despite a glamorous end to the campaign last season with ‘Los Blancos’, Ronaldo’s fitness

& C.

worsened. He had constant subtle injuries and sharp pains, which deteriorated his optimal health.

Eventually he bounced back and regained his top shape.

Throughout this season, Cristiano has been in astounding condition. He blasted fifteen goals in only seven league games and two goals in two Champions League games. He has scored more goals than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues.

He has scored against every team he faced so far in this season. Dubbed a ‘goal machine’ by many fans, Ronaldo is always hungry to score more and more goals even if the game is already virtually won. Although he is inclined to finish off the goals himself, Ronaldo has maintained the respect of his teammates.

Being Europe’s top goal scorer, Ronaldo has helped to make Real Madrid the deadliest team in La Liga, as the Spanish club holds the highest number of goals in the league. In the summer, he also won one of Europe’s finest and most prestigious individual awards, the European Player of the Year Award. If he continues his positive trend, there will be no doubt that he will be the highest contender for the Ballon d’Or.

last word

By RAND AL HARAHSHEH

Do you want to spend some time playing an amazing game with your friends and family?

Here you are, and here it is—you have come to the right place.

Let’s get started!

There are five houses in five different colors. In each house lives a person of a different nationality. The five inhabitants drink a certain type of beverage, smoke a certain brand of cigar, and keep a certain pet. No one has the same pet, smokes the same brand of cigar, or drinks the same beverage.

• • • • • • • • • •

The Brit lives in the red house.

The Swede keeps dogs as pets.

The Dane drinks tea.

The green house is on the left of the white house.

The green homeowner drinks coffee.

The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.

The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.

The man who is living in the center house drinks milk.

The Norwegian lives in the first house.

The man who smokes Blend lives

next to the one who keeps cats.

• The man who keeps the horse lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.

• The owner who smokes Bluemaster drinks beer.

• The German smokes Prince.

• The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.

• The man who smokes Blend has a neighbor who drinks water.

The question is: who owns the fish?

Einstein wrote this riddle during the early 20th century. He said that 98% of the world could not solve it.

Uh-oh!

Come now, it is not that difficult.

I am sure you will defy him and solve it.

Be sure that you will be one of the 2% of the world, if you take into account the following advice: Collect your thoughts in a table Concentrate on the directions.

Know that you are lucky because I have determined the starting point for you.

So… Ready…

Set… Solve!

THE PLAYLIST

By SOPHIE JABER

space oddity

David Bowie Space Oddity This song will give you serious chills. It’s psychedelic and space rock sound comes from the younger David Bowie, who was mostly known as a man who wore platforms and rocked out in incredibly strange outfits. The song has a story line so take care in listening to the lyrics.

Doll Parts Hole Live Through This This grungy love song is totally rad.

The simple guitar part (consisting of only three chords) acts as placeholder for emotions of anger, love and insecurity. This is accompanied by Love’s infamous screaming, which simply ties the song together and marks it with a characteristic theme of Love’s music, uncertainty.

I Ran (So Far Away) A Flock of Seagulls A Flock of Seagulls Crazy hair and a funky new wave sound make this song a fingerprint of the 80’s. Who else could represent the 80’s better than these guys!

This catchy tune has incredible guitar playing and a consistent drumbeat, designed to reflect a heart beat.

Last N ight I D reamt That S omebody Loved Me The Smiths Strangeways, Here We Come This song is totally depressing but in a comforting way. The Smiths were an 80’s rock band made famous by Steven Morrissey’s heart wrenching and provocative lyrics. Like most of their songs, this one is totally slow with a light sense of despair. But what really makes this song are the lyrics (obviously.) Beware of your emotions!

Readers can submit playlist suggestions to rexonian@kingsacademy.edu.jo

Dystopian Anime

By SOPHIA SARMADI

Last issue, I spoke about recent scifi anime series. For this issue, I will talk about Shinsekai Yori, an anime that that aired from September 2012 to March 2013 and falls under the dystopian and psychological genre.

Shinsekai Yori describes the unraveling of a dystopian society that holds crumbling humanity on the brink of life and death. Every single scene in the anime comes together to form a brilliant and mind-blowing finale.

Sometime in the distant future, there exists a utopia in Japan. The protagonist, Saki Watanabe, lives in an idyllic village barred from the outside world. Her world is ruled by the people who possess the “gods’ power” of psycho-kinesis. After finally obtaining her own powers, Saki enters the Zenjin Academy to train her psycho-kinesis powers with other children.

Not everything is as it seems, however. In this utopian village, strange rumors circulate about a monstrous cat that abducts children, and students are said to disappear from the academy. No one seems to remember exactly who these children are.

One summer, Saki and five of her

friends are on a camping trip when they stumble upon a “Minoshiro”, a holographic library left behind from civilizations of the past. From this Minoshiro, they learn the dark and twisted secrets of the society they live in. When they return from their trip, their memories of the summer are erased. However Saki and the other children hold a feeling of unsettlement deep within—and soon enough, one of Saki’s close friends goes missing. Once again, no one remembers who this friend is. Saki, troubled by this never-ending feeling of anxiety, heads out on a life-threatening journey in search of her forgotten friend in order to unravel the truths of the world and its history, which reveal themselves to be far darker than they appear.

If you were intrigued by any of this, I highly recommend you give this anime a shot, and prepare yourself for a mind-blowing anime experience. Other dystopian anime I recommend are: Psycho Pass, Ergo Proxy, Serial Experiments Lain, Madoka Magica (hang on until episode 3—things take a dark turn from there on out), Eve no Jikan, Haibane Renmei, and Texhnolyze. If you want to know where you can watch these anime then feel free to contact me via email, or in real life. Now go on, into the world of anime, and enjoy!