The NEST Issue #4

Issue #4 Apr. 5, 2022

Contents

4 School Spirit 18 Politics 26 Literature 30 Art 36 Curiosity 2

Nido En Cien Palabras Hello guys! In the past issue, we launched a competition called Nido en Cien palabras.

The due date for submissions has come and gone, and we are proud to say that we have picked out two winners! Congratulations to Zhenhao from the juniors and Mr Ferrebee from the teachers! Their pieces have been selected as the winners of this competition. You can read them below:

6 years

It rained that year - April or May?

By: Zhenhao (11)

By: Tom Ferrebee (Staff)

6 years ago…

We couldn’t remember in-between the news reports of leaders holding onto power

Bewildered but I knew exactly what’s

and the virus disrupting their petty games.

ahead of me.

Arrogant yet ignorant.

The year of rain, unanticipated but welcome

A future full of possibilities for a speck

- on evenings when the baby slept between

of dust in the universe.

us and our son brought his mattress down

Reality is lightyears away.

so we could be together in Chile holding fast to lovely fear or fearful love, had

6 years, in a blink of an eye.

arrived.

Everything remained the same yet everything changed.

We would wait for the light drum beat to

Reality is approaching. Approaching

end, for the cactus to drink, for the quillay

ferociously. Approaching fast.

tree, whose bark is said to treat some of the ailments in our chests, to reach skyward.

3

School Spirit

The 2022 IB Art Exhibition By: Ameer (11) An explosion of color—luscious, green mountains, purple and orange eyes, brown, rusty portraits, piercing-red blood, neon spray paint, pink and purple handwriting, copper-tainted dresses, rich blues, and indigos. This is what I perceived almost instantaneously as I entered the labyrinth of creativity that was the IB Art Exhibition on the 25th of March.

Live jazz standards played in the background as I marveled through the art pieces of Margherita, Andrea, Oscar, and Carla. This event was meant to commemorate the hard work of these HL IB Visual Art students, and since we’re dealing with Nido’s top artists, the way they decided to display their work was superbly creative. There was tasteful graffiti spray-painted on every white wall, a blackboard filled with the viewers’ positive comments written on yellow sticky notes, projectors showing creative films directed by the students, and a dark room within a room accessi-

5

ble by an ominous, old-fashioned door.

told me about the positive message it

Each artist’s work was placed within a

evokes. Impressed, I asked her about

separate chamber, and outside of these

when she started doing art, to which

cavities, guests were greeted with the

she responded, “Ever since I was an

creator’s sketchbook. Here, you could

eight-year-old, I liked art. I used to

observe the student’s artistic progres-

watch my sister draw, and was equally

sion throughout the two-year IB

jealous and amazed by her skills: I

course.

wanted to do what she did.”

Under Ms. Victoria Sanchez’s mentor-

Oscar, the “only guy in IB Art this year”,

ship, students were taught to “break

told me a bit about his experience in

the frontiers, come up with new ideas,

this class. “It’s been tough. It’s a lot

use a wide selection of materials—be

of work, and it takes a lot of patience.

as unconservative and avant-gardist as

Honestly, I didn’t know what I was

possible.” This pedagogical approach

getting into, I didn’t have much of an

proved to be fruitful in developing the

idea about how much work this class

artist’s technique and their ability to

demanded of me. I don’t regret taking

self-express. Some examples of this

this class, however. It has opened my

notion include a streamer made up

mind to more styles and ideologies,

of painted, disposable masks, a dress

and has allowed me to grow as an artist

adorned with a variety of coins, and a

and person by doing things I wasn’t

life-sized sculpture depicting a medi-

used to doing. It’s been wonderful,” he

cal bed.

explained. Again, I asked about when he started getting into art. He told me,

Coming into the IB course, these

“ever since I was a kid I loved drawing.

students already had a deep relation-

I was that friendless, awkward kid that

ship with art. Carla, for instance, said,

drew during lunch and recess. I didn’t

“For me, art is very important because

put too much work into it then, but I

it gives me an outlet to express myself

knew I had a certain ease for drawing.

and to connect with, or comfort,

When I started growing up, I recog-

other people.” Then, she pointed out

nized I was somewhat talented with art

her transparent, winged, statue and

so I began to take it more seriously.”

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find a balance between creating things It was also interesting to learn about

at home and things at school.” Andrea

the artists’ inspirations. All of them

adds, “As time passed, we were all in

mentioned encouragement from loved

different parts of the world. I was in

ones, along with a varied cast of creative

Miami, Margarita was in Italy, Carla

people in their lives. Some mentioned

was in Spain—it was really interest-

specific places, like a vineyard or the

ing to see how the culture you were

streets of Santiago seen through the

surrounded

backseat of car, while others listed an

paintings.” In the end, these seniors

eclectic selection of artists, both classi-

acknowledged that the tribulation of

cal and contemporary.

studying at home and their precarious

with

influenced

your

circumstances resulted in newfound Ms. Sanchez also told me about the

adaptability as artists.

pandemic and the hardships her class faced during the quarantine. The 2022

The climax of the event was marked

Art Exhibition had been the first live

by a reflective speech given by Ms.

exhibition in two years. As explained

Sanchez in the middle of the Fine Arts

by Margharita, “the two-year course

Building. The four spirited artists,

has been really stressful, especially

dressed in voguish attire, ritualisti-

because we’re moving around a lot

cally stood side-to-side whilst their

from online to in-person. It’s hard to

teacher gave them each a bright, arti-

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ficial flower. These were Van Gogh’s sunflowers, explained Ms. Sanchez as she awarded these talismans of guidance to her hard-working pupils. The event reached its emotional conclusion as the audience celebrated this momentous achievement with a standing ovation.

“There’s a crucial lesson an artist needs to learn at some point,” Oscar said to a group of underclassmen considering taking IB Art next year. “There’s always someone better than you at art, and that’s just part of the humble attitude of being an artist. If you like art, and if you are patient, this is the course for you.”

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IB Concert Review By: Ignacio (12) The folks over at IB Music were grace-

jumps rather comfortably, and even

ful (and hardworking) enough to give

when he falters just a small bit around

us a concert. Let’s see what they had in

the ending, he makes a very effec-

store!

tive recovery such that his mistake is not very noticeable. I was rather impressed at how the arrangement he played made a good compensation for the lack of lyrics which really just comes off as a very essential part of Por una cabeza. I mean, how could anyone fully compensate for Gardel’s beautiful voice? Again, there lies my reason

First up was Martin, who played an

for being impressed. A good rhythm is

arrangement of Gardel’s Por una cabeza

also kept throughout. It’s fast enough

on the piano. Gardel was the single

to sound like a good tango, but slow

most acclaimed and recognized tango

enough to not be overly hard to play.

composer, with this piece of his being a true classic to the genre. According to Martin, his inspiration to play this came from seeing a saxophonist playing Por una cabeza in Spain. Needless to say, I believe he places just the right emphasis on the chorus, staying very well composed and tranquil at other parts of the piece. The bass section

Next up was Vicky, who played Chopin’s

he plays is very refined, making large

Waltz in b minor, Op. 69 No. 2, which

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is quite the interesting piece. The way

theme, the Windmill Hut theme, and

Chopin wrote it makes it feel like the

finally a reprise of the main theme. To

player is subtly, almost barely chang-

say I could not be bored for a single of

ing the speed at which they’re playing

this would be an understatement. Even

in the middle of a phrase. It’s overall

within each theme, Logan would be

a somewhat playful piece, but the best

playing variations every few measures

part had to be the way Vicky’s hands

or so, this way the medley constantly

moved. They looked very light when

changed, and constantly flowed from

she was moving them, yet they very

one theme onto the next. The amount

clearly weighted on the keys. She, too,

of tricks he had to pull to play so many

stayed relaxed even if she made a small

things (and to make some very fun

slip-up, and still managed to maintain

jumps every now and then) is impres-

commendable control over the piece.

sive. I applaud his talent and his labor,

Her reasoning for choosing to play that

it’s cool to hear and watch for geeks

piece was that she saw the chance to

like myself.

re-learn it for this concert.

Then, Olivia played Cesar Franck’s Logan played a Legend of Zelda medley. I feel more compelled to say that he flexed his piano skills on everyone for approximately five minutes, but the fact is that he played a Legend of Zelda medley. He cycled through the main theme, the Lost Woods theme, Zelda’s Lullaby, the Fairy Fountain

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Violin & Piano Sonata. She said she’d watched the piece on youtube, and that it really touched her emotionally.

Frankly, witnessing it at this concert, it did touch me a little as well. Watching her slowly sway her body as she played her vibratos also communicated very well the impact of the piece. I should say, though, something… interesting

happened in the middle of this: a part

small distortion he’d aptly apply with

of the microphone on Olivia’s violin

the handle on his guitar. Did I mention

actually fell off. It didn’t really affect

the song he played is called Wonder-

her playing, because this happened at

ful Slippery Thing? Now I have. Also,

a part where she was not playing, and

Guthrie Govan composed it. Ameer

then she just carried on through the

said he felt inspired to play it in order

rest of the composition like it wasn’t

to learn new techniques, which I’d say

a big deal. A second recording of the

paid off quite well in his performance.

performance had to be done, though,

He wasn’t afraid at all to play with

for the purpose of delivering a higher

what he was playing (no pun intended),

quality recording. Her second playing

although he was a little bit more

was very welcome, I’d say. Throughout

wooden in terms of posture compared

all of it, Ms. Kim completes the piece

to the other musicians.

by backing Olivia’s melody with calm, long chords

The very last IB Music performance was done by all of its integrants, the song of choice being “Hijo Del Diluvio”, by Congreso. It’s a very “unplugged” song, because it mainly utilizes non-electronic instruments, but at the same time goes a little beyond the normal rock piece ensemble. Piano, drums,

They changed the spotlights to red when Ameer came in. They didn’t have to, but they did it anyway. Turns out that was just the prelude to the sheer shredding the Nest’s founder was about to unleash. His cover was really fun to listen to and observe, especially because of how he’d keep changing his guitar’s timbre with the pedals below him. This is without mentioning the

violin, guitar, bass, and xylophone.

That last instrument is often used along with many, many other instruments in orchestras, but the fact that there are fewer players here allows the xylophone’s percussive contributions to accompany the violin’s melody to an effective degree. The whole band ends up sounding rather organized, and plays on point, with Olivia’s voice being

11

very well accompanied by the bass throughout the bridge sections. Can I just say for a moment that Martin’s posture throughout is always a very prepared one? It’s clearly unlike the hunchback posture I take in Concert Band with the chimes and bells. Of course, Na Yeon provides a wellrounded support through the piano through chords, which Ameer does as well whilst Logan beats the snare out of the drums. If I could describe this whole recital with one word, it would certainly choose the word “organized”.

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BOND - Bridges Over Nido’s Diversity By: Nicolás (11) colegio, decidimos que íbamos a hacer crecer al club cada semestre, cada vez cumpliendo un propósito más holístico y de amplio alcance.

El primer semestre, partimos con nuestros reconocimientos semanales, nombrando a Jonathan Muñoz y Ana Maria Rosales en nuestras reuniones de High School. Esta tradición ha seguido este semestre, esta vez dándole Es un hecho que vivimos en un país

reconocimiento a Patricia Vasquez,

tremendamente desigual, y más allá de

Carolina Carvacho, Eduardo Alarcón y

sus efectos económicos o políticos, este

Octavio Morales.

fenómeno crea una grieta entre nuestras realidades. Por esto, crea-

Para celebrar Thanksgiving al estilo

mos una iniciativa que intenta cerrar,

chileno, organizamos un asado donde los

o encoger, estas brechas que existen y

estudiantes y janitors trabajaron juntos

buscar cosas que tenemos en común.

para hacer choripán con pebre. Además de quedar exquisito, el asado creó

BOND surgió en septiembre del año

conexiones reales, las cuales podrían

pasado y rápidamente se transformó

haberse creado en un ambiente escolar

en un club sólido, gracias a la partici-

común y corriente.

pación de alrededor de quince estudiantes de High School. Después de

Este semestre nos queremos enfocar en

reunirnos con los trabajadores del

seguir expandiendo el club. Al final de

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nuestro paso por Nido, esperamos haber podido mostrarles a los estudiantes del colegio que detrás de cada sala limpia, cada arbusto bien tendido y cada entrada al estacionamiento existe una cara con cuento.

Si está interesado en unirse a la inicia tiva, entre en contacto con el Instagram del club (@bondnido).

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An Interview with Nido’s Gender Equality Club By: Christian (10) This week one of our correspondents,

we had a lot of sophomores join, which

Chris, interviewed the current leader

is cool. I feel that the group has been

of the Gender Equality Club, Dana,

excited about making an impact in

in order to discuss the efforts and

the school. Our club advisor is Ms.

purpose of their organization. The club

Vasquez, and we have two people that

was created last year by ex-seniors Ale

lead this club: Fran and me. I’m in

and Nao. It started as a safespace for

charge of Instagram, and for the most

students to discuss topics related to

part a lot of people have come up and

gender equality, sexism and feminism.

said “Dana I wanna do a post on this”,

However, it also developed into an

or be like, “I have an idea for a post”.

organization which raises awareness

I feel that this shows commitment for

for gender issues through their insta-

the most part, and whenever we ask

gram page (@igualdad.cl), and educa-

them for help, like if they could talk to

tional workshop hosting. We encour-

a teacher or anything like that, they’re

age anyone interested in gender issues

always down for it.

to learn more about the Gender Equality Club and to stay tuned for their

How do you see the club in ten

upcoming informative workshop this

years?

semester.

Our club consists of two parts. We have Sounds like a really open space!

our workshops, where we discuss with

What about commitment?

the community about gender issues through zoom, and then the Instagram

The club was created during the

where we update the account every now

pandemic and we have had issues with

and then. I just hope that in ten years

commitment. However, last semester

time, we will have greater support

15

from our teachers since they are a

ing deep opinions and I feel that you

really important part of our commu-

need to learn how to listen to people and

nity, in addition to the students. Nowa-

say your opinion respectfully as well.

days we have a group of teachers that

It is important for future members to

are very supportive. For example, we

understand that all opinions are valid

are going to do a workshop with Link

and that we are all a bunch of teenagers

Crew, so Mr. Branch and Mr. Duffy

learning together about it, so we might

have been helping us with that. We

as well respect what we have to say. We

also have our advisor, Ms.Vasquez, she

are all in the same boat and non of us

has been really nice about it. She’s the

are professionals.

best! However, it would also be nice for other teachers to help us out and to be more open to us sharing our ideas and

Have you been planning any club

opinions on gender and sexuality.

trips?

What’s the main skill you would

I don’t know if this would count as

need for this club?

a trip, but we have been trying to do something with the Middle School.

I would say respect and empathy

I also think that it would be interest-

because there are a lot of people shar-

ing to get involved with other Chilean

16

schools. I remember when Nao and Ale led this club, we participated in a workshop that took part in another school. I don’t know if it would be in person but I think it would be interesting to take part in something like that. It’s hard because of COVID restrictions, but if we’re talking about the Middle School, I think it would be within our reach.

Although our main target is High School, it’s important to be informed about these topics at their age.

How do you think this club affected your life?

For starters, I have been a feminist my whole life and I used to have a hard time talking about these issues—politics and gender—because I felt like people always knew more than I did.

When Nao asked me to join the club, I eventually understood that we all know the same amount, we are just trying to help each other out and that we shouldn’t be scared of sharing our opinions on subjects like this. Just seeing people support us has shown me that I don’t have to be scared of these things because we’re all learning together.

17

Politics

Period Poverty In Latin Ameria: A Global Affliction With Local Consequences By: Carolina (11) unimportant issue, the fact that thousands of women around the world do not have access to basic sanitary products is efficiently and effectively silenced.

Period poverty is a silent affliction.

As previously mentioned, this is not a

Drowned out by taboos and dirty

modern issue. Cultures all around the

looks, menstruation, although some-

world have stigmatized menstruation as

thing that every woman has to deal

far back as literature is recorded. Pliny

with, is stigmatized all around the

the Elder, an ancient Roman philos-

globe. This is an attitude that has been

opher stated that “menstrual blood

cultivated since the beginning of time,

could turn dogs mad, wither crops and

and it stems from the idea of female

trees, and, if exposed to lightning, ward

inferiority. Even though society has

off ‘hailstorms and whirlwinds’. “ Peri-

collectively taken steps to reduce the

ods are often considered as unclean,

levels of inequality and give women

as a sign of impurity. In Ghana, for

all the value they deserve, the topic of

example, women on their period are

menstruation is a repellent that imme-

not allowed to approach a house with

diately hushes any conversation regard-

a man inside or cook food. In Nepal,

ing equal rights. May it be because it is

women on their period are isolated in

associated with the female reproduc-

“menstrual huts” during the duration

tive system which in itself causes many

of their cycle. During their period of

awkward pauses in conversations, or

confinement they are not allowed to

may it be because it is dismissed as an

have contact with other people, cook,

19

read, given that menstruating females

can do anything and everything, even

are dirty and “impure.” This is not only

if she is on her period, but given the

reflected in cultural customs, it extends

saturated stigma that overflows soci-

to school attendance. In Kenya, an

eties afflicted with low levels of educa-

average girl will miss about 20% of the

tion, girls believe that periods are an

school year, given that she is expected

actual inconvenience, and they do

to stay at home during the duration of

inhibit them from leading a normal

her cycle. Similar numbers are reflected

life. Nevertheless, Plan International

in Uganda and Malawi, given that 28%

UK states that “In Africa, one in 10 girls

of girls miss school during their period

misses school when she has her period

in the former and 70% miss at least

because of the lack of information and

3 days of school each month in the

adequate facilities. The knock-on effect

latter. Extending beyond simply miss-

of this stigma is huge.”

ing class, in rural India, around 20% of girls leave school once they get their

However, it is important to note that

first period. When girls leave school,

this is not a problem confined to third-

especially in developing nations, they

world countries. Plan International,

become increasingly vulnerable to

a worldwide humanitarian organi-

teenage pregnancies, early marriages,

zation, also conducted a survey in

involvement in crime industries, sex

Ireland regarding period poverty,

trafficking, and other horrifying insti-

and the results were terrifying. The

tutions that are built and organized in

study concluded that 61% of girls have

order to exploit women. Furthermore,

missed school because of their periods

as girls leave school, the economy is

and 50% of them have had difficulty in

deprived of future thinkers, leaders,

accessing sanitary products due to their

and problem-solvers, all because they

cost. The same study was conducted

did not know how to manage their

in Scotland in which 45% of girls

period correctly. If taboo is reduced

reported using toilet paper, socks, and

and societies open up to understanding

newspapers instead of using expen-

what the menstrual cycle is and how

sive sanitary products. It is import-

to manage it, it will cause no inconve-

ant to note that sanitary products were

nience to the daily life of a woman. She

not developed only for comfort— they

20

are vital in maintaining hygiene and

Nevertheless, these products were not

health. If menstruation is not taken

commercialized until 1896 when the

care of correctly, girls and women are

first pads were released to the market.

at risk of reproductive and urinary

Lister’s Towels were an utter failure, not

tract infections coupled with urogen-

because they were poorly designed, but

ital disease. Often, countries that do

because women were too embarrassed

not have stock of female hygiene prod-

to be seen buying them in the stores.

ucts do not provide access to stable

Furthering the problem, pseudosci-

and efficient healthcare, thus when a

entific claims started gaining traction

woman contracts one of the aforemen-

in the early 20th century. The likes of

tioned diseases it often scales, given

scientists such as Professor B. Schick

the lack of infrastructure to treat the

proposed the idea that menstrual

conditions. Cultural customs coupled

blood was riddled with menotoxins —

with inaccessible hygiene products

poisons— that caused wine to go bad

leave every girl in an unfavorable and

and flowers to die. These toxins were

unsafe position. Due to their biological

not confined to menstrual blood, they

sex, they are already at a disadvantage

were also present in a woman’s sweat,

socially and economically, and society

saliva, urine, and tears. This theory

often engenders and cultivates these

was later debunked, but in its wake, it

inequalities.

fermented great fear and stigma that left women embarrassed of their natuinvention

ral condition. It was only after World

of pads, tampons, and period cups,

War I that pads became marketable

women had to be creative with their

and available. French nurses invented

hygiene. Often, rags and paper were

the earlier versions of the modern pad

the only way that they could control the

in order to stay clean during their long

bodily fluid, and although unhygienic,

shifts attending wounded soldiers.

they did the job. In the 1850s women

Companies like Kotex and Johnson &

used to pin cotton and flannel to their

Johnson caught sight of the idea and

underwear and this technique even-

began developing pads that could be

tually evolved into menstrual belts,

sold in stores. Although these were

cloth belts with an absorbent fabric.

important steps in making menstrual

Historically,

before

the

21

hygiene accessible to women, menstru-

an interview with Megan Kelly, a Fox

ating carried emotional stigma as wel.

News anchor, he implicitly stated that

Premenstrual Stress Syndrome is the

Kelly was overly aggressive with her

formal name assigned to moodiness

lines of questioning because she was

or sensibility that some women feel

on her period by saying, “You could

before they get their period, given the

see that there was blood coming out

hormonal imbalances that their bodies

of her eyes…blood coming out of her

are experiencing in order to prepare

wherever.” Because of this, it is easy to

for the possible conception of a baby.

understand why women felt so embar-

This “syndrome” has often been used

rassed by their period. Society made

against women, labeling them as unsta-

menstruation dirty, impure, and there-

ble, overtly emotional, and difficult. In

fore made women so as well.

an incredulous report in the Duke Law Journal published in 1983, PMS was

Notwithstanding

described as a “form of legal insan-

cultural implications of menstruat-

ity” as acknowledged by the English

ing— despite around 50% of the global

and French governments during the

population doing so— the economic

time. This meant that women who

factors of menstruating have made

were involved in crimes could plead

basic hygiene products inaccessible to

“diminished responsibility” because

thousands of women worldwide, and

she was on her period. This idea was

Latin America is no exception. Clau-

immediately accepted given that “PMS

dia Vidal, the founder of WordPoder-

syndrome can range in severity from

osxs in Panama said that in many

mild to incapacitating in both a physi-

cases “Women have to choose between

cal and psychological sense” according

buying a pound of rice or a pack of

to the publication. Perspectives such as

feminine sanitary pads.” This prob-

these, unfortunately, did not stay in the

lem has become exacerbated by the

20th century. Women have to deal with

COVID-19 pandemic, given the closure

period shaming on the daily. Former

of healthcare centers and the economic

President of the United States, Donald

tribulations that come alongside the

Trump, often used period shaming to

devastating global situation. Stock and

express disdain towards women. In

availability of these products have also

22

the

social

and

been reduced. As a result, the United

sanitary

products.

Nations Population Fund delivered

ing testaments of poverty are heard

around 150,000 hygiene kits to women

throughout the nation. In an interview

in 2020 during the pandemic. Period

with Voice of America, Raquel Peres,

poverty in Latin America, however,

a Venezuelan citizen can, “buy either

long precedes the COVID-19 pandemic,

pads for herself or diapers for her chil-

and one of the prime nations suffer-

dren; she chooses to buy diapers and

ing from this predicament is Vene-

handcraft her own pads” Further up in

zuela. The humanitarian crisis that

Latin America, a study by UNICEF in

resulted from political, economic, and

Mexico concluded that 43% of students

social instability has left the country in

menstruating

ruins. Now, people can no longer have

school. As previously mentioned, this

reliable access to basic necessities, and

not only has a devastating impact on

hygiene products are amongst these.

the life of the student who is forced to

According to Relief Web, around two

leave school because of preconceived

million Venezuelan women cannot

notions, taboos, and lack of access to

afford menstruation products. This is a

sanitary products, but also ends up

result of the horrifying economic situ-

affecting society as a whole. Because

ation plaguing the country, in which a

of this, on April 28th, 2021 the House

pack of sanitary pads exceeds 25% of

of Representatives approved the Digni-

a month’s salary. Access to clean water

fied Menstruation bill which proposed

in the region has also been reduced—

free menstrual products around the

water being a vital part of hygiene and

country. This is an extremely import-

self-care— resulting in around 28%

ant step in guaranteeing access to reli-

of schoolchildren skipping class. A

able and safe products for women.

family planning association in Vene-

Similar

zuela called Plafam stated that 90%

around the world as the fight to elimi-

of medicine and healthcare products

nate the “pink tax” gains traction.

would

movements

Heart-wrench-

rather

have

miss

sparked

are in shortage. This, combined with the rising prices of menstrual prod-

Only through the normalization of

ucts, makes it impossible for a woman

menstruation and open conversa-

to access and purchase the necessary

tions, society can reduce the stigma

23

surrounding this natural body process.

Menstruation is something that every biological woman has to experience, and conversations regarding it should not be marred by awkwardness or stigma. Beyond reducing stigma, legislators, and policymakers also have to realize that adding taxes and reducing access to sanitary products has wide consequences and implications, resulting in less education and opportunities for thousands of women. The solution to period poverty is a balance of stigma reduction through healthy conversations and active advocacy in order to make sanitary products more widely available. It is time to move on from antiquated

perspectives

that

only

continue to harm and oppress women.

It is time to stop accepting theories and ideas that promote inequality. It is time to give women equal opportunities around the world, without any kind of exception.

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Literature

Pandora’s Bracelet By: Ryleigh (11) life I am living and of the places I have been and the things I have seen and the things I hope to accomplish. The tangible melding into the intangible, carrying the weight of memories, the weight of dreams and the weight of the silver itself.

Among the ten charms is a heart, encrusted with fake diamond jewels and intricately woven silver, a symbol of my birth month and stone, flags that stay as remembrance of the counI carry a pandora bracelet. The one I received for my birthday five years prior, the one I have worn everyday since. The cool silver hanging off my wrist, a small reminder that it is there.

Always clasped loosely around my right hand. Swinging. Strung randomly around the silver chain hang ten individually bought charms. The bracelet itself weighs a total of about 1.6 ounces while each individual charm weighs between 0.1 and 0.2 ounces. Each one carries with it a certain significance and story. Each one a reminder of the

tries I have spent the majority of my life in; one for Australia, one for Spain, and one, of course, for Chile, a mickey mouse figurine for all the summers spent in orlando with my grandparents passing the days at Disney, and an R for my name. My favorite charm depicts the big five: an elephant, a rhino, a lion, a leopard and an african buffalo, a small memorandum of the four and a half years I spent living in Ethiopia. The token reminds me of the things I saw, the memories I made, and the friends I have kept. It helps me

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to appreciate what I have and express

thing down. I did not have the chance

how lucky I am to have the things I do

to make friends or see the school, I felt

and to be able to have the opportuni-

alone, I felt tired, I felt excluded.

ties that I do.

I’ve never been a particularly superstiEvery now and then I can hear the

tious or religious person, but having

soft jingle of a harmony bell, the one

the harmony bell close by, hanging on

my dad gave me as a Christmas gift

my pandora bracelet, cool silver brush-

one year. It hangs loosely at my side,

ing against my skin, I gain access to

placed between my birth stone and

a certain feeling of reassurance and

big five charm, ringing gently, this

trust. Despite my skeptical nature. Not

harmony bell contains the proper-

only does it act as a talisman for spiri-

ties of a good luck charm. The small

tual enlightenment but it also acts as a

ball is covered in 7 individually etched

reassurance of the family I have to go

stars. It is a reminder of the family I

home to everyday and the support that

have and of the people I am closest to,

I have from them in everything I do.

it became almost a sort of safety net for me. Something I could put my trust in

The bracelet is a symbol of my own

when everything was out of my control,

hardships in the world, it was gifted

a relic that I could put my energy into

to me in one of the more difficult

when I felt like too much was weigh-

moments of my own life. During the

ing on my shoulders, I could leave the

pandemic when things felt hopeless. It

world and my fate up to luck. Luck that

was a time of solitary confinement and

is brought to me by that single star

emotional struggle but I know now and

covered charm.

I knew then that I was not really ever alone because the love of my family

The year of 2019 was one that I strug-

was with me even in the most chal-

gled with, I had just moved in the

lenging of times. Even when they were

middle of the year. A new school, a

not physically there, I had the bell

new house, a new country. But right

charm as a source to keep them with

before I could adjust to everything new

me in my heart. The cool silver brush-

in my life, a pandemic locked every-

ing against my skin, a constant soother

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to the stress I felt and the overwhelming days that I often faced. Never truly alone, never truly lost, never truly out of luck.

So every time I carry my pandora bracelet, all of this is with me in the back of my mind, constantly pushing me forward and encouraging me to work hard for what I have. Helping me to believe, not only in myself but in my future and in my abilities to continue growing and to continue improving alongside the people I love most in the world. So every time I carry my pandora bracelet I think of how lucky I am and how as long as I believe, my dreams will one day come true.

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Art

Simply Human By: Clara (9)

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Review: Amazônia by Jean-Michel Jarre By: Ignacio (12)

I would say Amazônia has got to be

that matter. He simply did not tackle at

one of the most vivid, expressive forms

all. He instead looked at a boundless

of electronic composing I’ve listened

source of a primordial connection to

to in a while. There’s this mix of life,

nature (and humanity, by extension),

raw, unadulterated life; and a sort of

and he chose to approach it slowly, and

nomadic flow that Jarre gave to this

very respectfully. According to Jarre,

score. Amazônia is a symphonic score

he did not wish to make your average

Jean-Michel Jarre made last year in

ambient music, so instead he created

order to accompany Sebastian Salga-

his own electronic and orchestral

do’s exhibition of the Brazilian Amazon.

noises that would imitate “the timbre

He, however, did not tackle the ambient

of natural sounds”. Thus, artificial art

of it, or any sort of culture or nature, for

was mixed with real recordings from

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the Ethnography Museum of Geneva

ring elements. From Part 3 onwards,

to create Amazônia.

the score turns more melodic, and gets

The whole score has a strange,

progressively grittier as the percussion

yet comforting entourage of almost

becomes seemingly clad in metal as a

guttural noises, which ever so breathe

more industry-like beat begins to play.

in and out. Rhythm is always there,

It’s almost like Jarre is alluding to the

which frankly will come off as a pleas-

small fragments of primal culture that

ant surprise to whoever’s listening to

stays even within urbanity. From this,

Amazônia. You can’t quite tell where

a cycle of industry, silence, and the

each string of melodies and percus-

more faithful native sections begins.

sion comes in, and you can’t tell where

Synthetic horns blare in Part 5, as

they come out, either. However, Jarre’s

all of these parts come together into

excellent craftsmanship makes it so

a blend of synthetic leads (melodies)

that every timbre contains an impres-

with simple rhythms. What fascinates

sionist origin to it. It imitates voices,

me about this is that the overly modern

and old flutes, and the noises of raw

pieces do not detract from the ritualis-

natural elements like water, but there

tic environment that has been created,

isn’t a style that you can exactly

and instead sustains it through, yet

pinpoint, precisely given the fact that

again, its element-imitating timbre.

nothing in this score lasts.

Part 6 opens as a hazy drag with

Sometimes the electronic parts

attack-filled synths, which prolong the

of this just moan. They let out cries,

start and rise in volume of the notes

and cracks, and crude attempts at

played. Around the halfway point, the

being bigger, at evolving. Something

storm comes through blaring synth

always catches up to that, though, and

horns at a very low tone, which inspires

it’s the fact that these are really spams

a muddled, yet life-giving event where

of vivid emotion, like a precursor to a

the sky is clouded. The true rain then

parade that never seems to arrive, and

comes at the last fourth of this piece for

that’s what Jarre is trying to get us

a moment, as an actual rain recording.

to. This whole phenomenon begins in

The status quo shifts towards Parts

Part 2. Part 1 is too short, it’s almost

7, 8, and 9, as they gain much more

like a soft tryout for all these recur-

structure and accompaniment of other

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instruments. Jarre fans will be pleas-

consistent. As for the rest, the impres-

antly surprised with the similarities

sionist stance taken ends up being very

these compositions share to his previ-

successful, in my view.

ous and more recognized works, such as Oxygen and Equinoxe. The “breathing” noise made by the synths is simply unmistakable, and so are their enveloping, gritless melodies. I feel like Jarre simply couldn’t avoid placing his Oxygene air noise in Part 9. It does fit the score’s whole ambience, too.

That being said, this is mainly what I’d criticize about Amazonia.

It’s the fact that Jean-Michel always begins to develop his compositions prior to Part 7 and beyond, but then it’s like he remembers that his whole score is inspired by cultures that do not make music nearly as developed as the artists in this time, so he stops developing those sections. Jarre is already able to create something that is simple, yet imitates the style of the Brazilian Amazon in a manner that is so genuine, he himself made electronic sounds that meld with real recordings as if they were part of nature itself.

Then the last three parts come in, and suddenly they have actual overarching motifs and a structure. I am by no means saying they sound bad, I am simply saying that the score is not that

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Greek Pillar By: Clara (9)

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Curiosity

Etymological fact of the Week By: Andres Irribarra (Staff)

Ancient theater gave us a very interesting word.

Remember learning about the great Greek plays where actors performed wearing masks? From Ancient Greek ŭ́πο- (hypo-, “under”) + κρī́νω (krī́nō, “I pronounce”) we get ύποκρίνομαι (hypokrī́nomai, “to dialogue on stage”). Literally, to pronounce under (your mask!).

The latter verb gave form to ύποκριτής (hypokritḗs, “stage actor”) because those who dialogue on stage under their masks are… actors!

And we all know that actors are pretending… right? With the passing of time, those who pretend to be someone or something they are not earned the label of hypocrites ;)

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The NEST Team Executive Team Ameer - President Martín - Editor-in-Chief Esetemariam - Literature Director Christian - Graphic Design Director Logan - Executive Editor

Graphic Design Martina Khaien Ian Giovanna

Staff Writers & Editors David Ignacio Carolina Christian Christian Pablo Fuqi Mariana Special Thanks to Mr. Irribarra and Ms. Cade

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