Issue 6, the Black & Gold, Volume 92

the

Photo: S. Hutchiso

For a spotlight on exchange students, including debunking common international stereotypes and the best and worst of American food, turn to pages 2 and 3. And for highlights about our Chinese visitors, turn to page 4.

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international

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March 19, 2013

Volume 92

Issue 6

Black Gold

2012 MIPA Spartan Award Winner

Traverse City Central High School 1150 Milliken Drive, Traverse City, Michigan 49686

Fun at Disney and Desserts

Photo: K. Raymond

Traverse City Central’s Chorale hosted “Disney and Desserts” Mar. 1 and 2. Student soloists and small ensembles performed songs from popular Disney movies such as The Little Mermaid, Pocahontas, and The Jungle Book. Anthony Miller ‘14 felt “exhilarated” after his performance as a monkey in Disney and Desserts. “The best part of it was seeing the little kids smile,” Miller said. “They were laughing and smiling because I looked like a total goof in my big furry costume.” Miller’s love for the stage began last year when he joined choir. “I joined for kicks and giggles, and I ended up really loving it,” he said. “I met some really great people, and I realized that performing may be my passion.”

Inte r Spe nation cial al Edi tion To our community

The Black and Gold recently experienced quite some excitement with the publication of our satirical “Grinding: A guide for future reference” graphic, on our Leek page in the Mar. 1 issue. While our intention was to provoke discussion on dancing in schools, we didn’t foresee the firestorm that ensued. We wanted to address the grinding issue—a topic of controversy at our school as it is with many—humorously, so as to resonate with our student audience. However, we did not consider that many of our readers are not Central students who did not have the context to appreciate the graphic’s humor. This led to misconceptions about our message. We neither condone grinding nor are associated with the “Stay Gold” dance. We believe there is much discussion that needs to happen with all stakeholders about grinding.

In hindsight, we’d like to give some thanks to those who have supported the Black and Gold throughout the years, and especially those who were there for us during this media blowup.

Thank you to. . . parents for their love; teachers for their forbearance; our publications alumni who shared their support and reaffirmed our belief that our paper is a sacred space for students’ voice; Mr. Grant Parsons--you know why; TCAPS administration for supporting our First Amendment rights and for understanding that we think critically and deeply about pressing topics of interest to our audience; our own Principal Rick Vandermolen for his unwavering support and continued guidance; our staff for handling the situation maturely; our adviser, Missi Yeomans, whose passion for newspaper has ignited the spark in so many of her students. And most, thanks to our Leek editors, who lit this dustup: Scott Hardin and Alec Reznich. Their eloquent, courteous explanation of the graphic upheld the stellar standards of the Black and Gold.

Sincerely, Katie Stanton and Miranda Winowiecki Black & Gold Editors-in-Chief

International relationships: our Dalian, China visitors

Out of the 50 total Chinese foreign exchange students who stayed in Traverse City Jan. 21-Feb. 17, 25 attended Central, forging unforgettable bonds with Central students. From shopping trips to skiing experiments, as well as field trips to the Coast Guard Station and Sleeping Bear Dunes, Chinese students were immersed in American culture, and relished life in TC. Check out the highlights of their stay below, and read more about their experiences and impressions on page 4.

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Photo: L. Williams

Photo: L. Williams

Photo: L. Williams

1. Xu Heqing and host student Sydney Roberts ‘15 formed a special friendship over the month-long stay. “We got really close,” Roberts said. “She cried when she had to leave. We still talk a lot, though. She’ll text me at eight o’clock every morning.”

2. Principal Rick Vandermolen congratulates Gao Tianyue at the goodbye ceremony for the Chinese students Feb. 17. Each student received a personal certificate.

3. Jin Na and Yin Hanyue get ready for a snowshoe hike through Sleeping Bear Dunes.

4. English teacher Cui Yue says goodbye to ESL Seminar teacher Kristine Dietrich.

5. Zhang Yuxuan, Jiang Bowen and Wang Shaohui enjoyed skiing at Crystal Mountain.

6. Liu Yuming and host student Alex Bjoraker ‘16 enjoy their last time together. “I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was open-minded,” Bjoraker said. “He ended up being really nice and fun to hang out with.” Bjoraker is one of the students who will travel to China for the summer.

7. Jiang Lianna, Xing Jiaxiang and Dong Ying prepare a Chinese-style rib dinner.

8. Paige Paul, co-China Exchange Liaison officer, was pleased with the learning experience the Chinese students gave Central. “They really started to feel at home,” Paul said. “My favorite part was having a face-to-face contact with people from a culture so different, and learning that we’re just the same.” Paul will be one of the teachers accompanying Central students to Dalian, China as part of the foreign exchange program in late May.

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Feauture Editor

News Editor

A&E Editors

Katie Stanton Miranda Winowiecki Katie Stanton

Opinion Editor Ivy Baillie

Lia Williams

Lia Williams

Leek Editors Scott Hardin Jake Myers Alec Reznich

David Reinke Bryton Lutes

Business Manager

Sports Editor

Packaging Editors

Miranda Winowiecki

Photo: L. Williams

Photo: courtesy of D. Rutt

Photo: L. Williams

Editors-In-Chief

Photo: courtesy of N. Hong

Photo: courtesy of K. Raymond

7.

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Staff Box

4.

Bryton Lutes

Sophie Hutchison Fiona Muha

Photo Editors

Katie Raymond Autumn Hilden

Graphics Editor Nick Mulvaine

Illustration Editor Alex Korson

Staff Reporters Mady Basch Tyger Bell Emma Caldwell Kory Cole Jeff Comerford Hunter Kelly Garrett Kosch Erin Lipp Maddi Miller

John Minster Patrizia Rietmann Hayley Rozema Isabel Schuler Allison Taphouse Julian Vandenberg Marc Weber

2 International

Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold March 19, 2013

Global stereotypes: true?

The B&G investigates international myths Marc Weber Staff Reporter

GERMANY

FALSE, everyone drinks beer

"Just because Germany makes great beer doesn't mean everyone is always drunk. I would say beer is definitely a part of German culture, but there are also a lot of other things like good bread and bratwursts.”

-Sebastian Köth

SPAIN

TRUE, meals occupy a large portion of the day

“Usually its breakfast for about one hour. Then the big meal of the day is at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon for one and a half hours up to two hours. Dinner is at 9 o’clock and about one hour, one hour and a half. We also eat small meals in between meals, so we eat five times per day usually.”

-Ines Lopez-Martinez

TRUE, everyone eats pizza and pasta

“In Italy I eat pasta every day, at least once mostly twice a day. Pizza once a week at least, maybe twice. I kind of eat pasta twice a day, for lunch and then for dinner.”

-Riccardo DiMauro

KAZAKHSTAN

BRAZIL

TRUE, people eat horse meat

TRUE, everyone loves soccer

“It’s so famous, that if Brazil is playing against another country, for example in the world soccer cup, people don’t go to work or school.

It’s kind of stupid but that’s how popular it is” -Gabriel Sales

ITALY

CHINA

TRUE, students spend all their time studying

“Everyday we go to school at 7 o’clock, and we finish at 5 o’clock. Then I usually go home and start doing my homeworks, which usually takes me till midnight, just to finish the homework for one day.”

-Sun Naigian

“Yes, we do eat horse meat. Its delicious, I love it.

We usually eat it two to four times a week, always depends on celebrations, but we don’t eat it all the time because its quite expensive.”

-Zhanar Tuleutayeva Graphics: I. Baillie

Host families immerse exchange students in American culture Traverse City host families give Central exchange students a true Michigan experience

John Minster Staff Reporter

Exchange students provide some of the most interesting and enlightening experiences to their host families. Their long, live and intimate visits introduce hosts to completely new cultures so different from ours. Just ask Lori Wildfong, who has hosted three exchange students from three different countries; she enjoys experiencing different cultures and traditions.

“How they celebrate, the new things they react to is really fun,” Wildfong said. “Gaia was really surprised about the amount of drive-throughs in America. I think it’s important to connect with others around the world.”

For Wildfong, hosting exchange students was her way of building relationships with people from around the world. Wildfong’s hosting an exchange student occurred by happenstance. A friend at Wildfong’s job works with an exchange program, so she was inspired by listening to her colleague’s experiences with exchange students.

Wildfong’s family’s original plan was to host an exchange student, but their daughter brought

home the wrong papers so she went abroad instead.

“We wanted to give back to the program after our daughter’s exchange, so we got a student from Finland to live with us,” Wildfong said.

Wildfong’s family also wanted to give their exchange student get a full taste of Northern Michigan.

“We visited some family down state so we took her to some bigger shopping areas in Lansing,” Wildfong said. “We also went to the U.P. and the Soo locks, and then we went camping there. Gaia had never done that before and we all really enjoyed it.”

Wildfong says the benefits of hosting an exchange student in one’s home brings many joys and she hopes it becomes more commonplace.

Cathy Dye, mother of Courtney Dye ‘13, is hosting her first exchange student this year and it’s been a life altering experience.

“It’s been an eye opener,” Cathy said. “It’s been really cool for us to think of someone other than just ourselves.”

Courtney has grown extremely fond of her visitor.

“We’ve got a really close bond. I’m the last kid

Photo: courtesy of C. Dye

From left to right: Courtney Dye ‘13, Patrizia Rietmann ‘13, Cathy Dye, Jim Dye watch the Superbowl. The Dye family shared their American tradition with Swiss exchange student Rietmann.

in my family and I’ve never had a sister before, so it’s just really cool,” Courtney said. “We’re both very musically oriented, and we connect really well through that.”

The Dye family is hosting Patrizia Reitmann, and they wanted her to experience Michigan.

“We planned a trip to Mackinac, spent the day there and then ventured into the U.P.,” Dye said.

“We love to sail, so we wanted to get Patrizia on the bay, and she’d never done it before. It’s been really cool for us to try to show her the the experience of our area.”

Reitmann commends her hosts for sharing so much of their lives with her.

“Around Christmas I really started to miss my family, so they included me into a party with a lot of new people and showed a lot of interest in me,” Reitmann said. “The inclusion is so nice and it makes me feel like I’m right at home.”

Wildfong says people should be more open to hosting. “It’s a great experience for the whole family,” Wildfong said. “We’ve just been so fortunate with how well this has turned out.”

Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold March 19, 2013

International

3

American foods: yummy and yucky Patrizia Rietmann Staff Reporter

Graphic: A. Korson

Hurdling the language barrier Exchange students share English learning obstacles

Photo: S. Hutchison

Sophie Hutchison Packaging Editor

America turned out to be just as Napatsorn Praek-Udom imagined back in her home country of Thailand: big and cold.

“I knew some Americans and they told me America was a large country,” Praek-Udom said. “They also told me all about the fast food. So, I knew what to expect and, for the most part, they were right.”

However, Praek-Udom’s American friends couldn’t prepare her for the language barrier she’d face.

“English is very different from my language, so it was very hard to understand it when I first got here.”

Despite the challenge, rewarding moments for Praek-Udom have been her improving grades in school, especially in history.

“School is very difficult when the teacher and students are speaking a different language.

It was gratifying when I got a 99 percent on a history test.”

Along with her triumphs over the language barrier, Praek-Udom struggled to understand her host family. Her host father told her to buy turkey from the store for the guests they would be having. Misunderstanding, PraekUdom bought pork instead.

“Our friends could not eat it because they were Muslim, it was just a mistake but I felt bad for getting something they couldn’t eat.”

American cuisine is unsatisfying for PraekUdom; and when she went to a local Thai restaurant, she was surprised how different it tasted from the food in Thailand.

“The food here is not spicey. Real Thai dishes are very spicey.”

Along the food, Praek-Udom misses her parents but when she departs, she will miss the home she has found in America.

“I will miss my friends, my host parents, and pretty much everything.”

Photo: S. Hutchison

Although Briac LeGuen ‘13 has been learning English since he was 12, English class couldn’t prepare him for American slang and teen colloquialisms.

“When you say ‘swag’, there is no French word for that,” LeGuen said.

When he first arrived, LeGuen often misunderstood his host family, stores and restaurant workers.

“When I went to a restaurant I thought I ordered cheese pizza but when they brought it out it had something spicy on it,” LeGuen said. “I was mad, but I ate the pizza anyway.”

LeGuen said it’s easier to understand adults because they tend to speak slower, while kids speak too fast and use confusing slang.

Classes with technical terms, such as Economics, have also been difficult to comprehend because of the class-specific vocabulary and concepts.

“Math and physics are easier because numbers are universal, and calculus is taught pretty much the same way everywhere,” he said.

Once LeGuen got used to hearing and comprehending English, his next challenge was communicating his English. LeGuen’s accent makes it difficult to achieve English fluency.

The French speak faster and have different stresses and sounds, making sentences sound like a single word.

“It’s easy to understand others, but it’s difficult to be understood,” LeGuen said. “It’s hard for people to understand my thick accent at times.”

Although the language transition has been a challenge, LeGuen enjoys Central’s casual atmosphere and lighter academic load. LeGuen has more time in America to study English and immerse himself in American culture.

“I’ll be sad to leave here because the people are so cool and less stressed,” LeGuen said.

“I’ll miss the friends that I’ve made.”

Photo: S. Hutchison

Ever since Wychert Cath watched American Pie, he has dreamed of life in the U.S. But now that he’s acclimated to Traverse City, he realizes the average American life isn’t exactly the constant party depicted in the film.

“America isn’t like the movie, it is the opposite: ‘no touchy-touchy and no drinky-drinky.’”

Cath said.

However, Cath says there are significant differences between the people from Netherlands, as opposed to Americans. “Dutch people are open, to the point, and talk too much,” Cath said. “Also, everyone spends money on little things here.”

Other than familiarizing himself with the new culture, Cath recognizes progression in his English proficiency.

“My variety of words are bigger and I talk much faster now. I used to talk about serious things, but now I can joke around with friends and use a few slang phrases.”

One of Cath’s first language barrier was an encounter when he was at an English speaking restaurant. He asked to speak to the cook, but it didn’t go as well as he planned.

“In Dutch we call the chef the cook, and with my accent you can imagine what it sounded like in English.” In Dutch, the English word “cook” sounds like the word we use for a male rooster. “The chef wasn’t too happy with me.”

Aside from becoming more conversant, Cath now understands American English with ease.

“I can understand everyone except the actor who plays Lincoln and maybe rednecks, I can’t understand weird accents and slang.”

Friends and family make Cath miss home the most, but thinking about leaving Traverse City saddens him.

“I like the snow in the winter and the beautiful lakes. I’ll really miss all the activities there are to do here.”

Central’s own share their international experiences Two students abroad on Rotary’s foreign exchange share the differences between their new international location and their home in Traverse City

Lucas Empson ‘14Campino Grande, Brasil

Sophie Hutchison Packaging Editor

Rory Feys ‘13Istanbul, Turkey Photo: courtesy of R. Feys

“Everyday has a unique experience but, personally, I don’t think there is anything more fulfilling than after a long night, late after the metro trains have stopped, sitting in the backseat of a taxi watching the city lights go by. I would have to say what I miss most are the hiking trails, the Brew, the State Hospital, and the Open Space. I love living one of the largest cities in the world but it makes me appreciate T.C. all the more.”

Yucky: mac and cheese “Mac and cheese doesn’t taste like anything and even the color is gross, like, where do you get orange cheese? Eating mac and cheese is like walking into the woods to cut a tree and instead of cutting the tree you cut into your own knee and you are just disgusted because there is so much blood on your knee and you throw up on your knee.”

-Constance Marquis, France

Yummy: lasagna “Lasagna is tasty and different and I’ve never had it before. I tried it at my host-family’s house when my host-mother made it sometime in the first week of September and I really liked it. In fact, being able to drive would make me as happy as eating Lasagna.”

-Ishtiak Zim, Bangladesh

Yummy: tacos “I like tacos because it’s new and we don’t have them at home even though they are not really American. I had tacos from Taco Bell at the mall about 2 months ago. I also really like pizza because it reminds me of the pizza back home that I miss.”

-Suttinee Maneerat, Thailand

Yucky: KFC “About 3 months ago I had Kentucky Fried Chicken and I didn’t like it at all. First of all, it’s more bones than meat. It’s crispy but there’s still so much fat that drips onto your pants. Also they make it look like they’re giving you a lot of food but they actually aren’t.”

-Eivind Kragebakk, Norway

Photo: courtesy of B. Empson

“It’s been hard to adapt to the heat. The hot climate is nice sometimes, but I miss the four definite seasons. But the different environment can be thrilling. At my host family’s ranch we saw a wild jaguar.

Overall, I miss my homies back at home, the weather, and not having scorpions at home. They are really scary.”

Yummy: pasties “My favorite American food is a pastie because of the vegetables inside and I think that they are really good. I had it in a Restaurant in the U.P. when I went camping. It reminds me of winter because you have to eat it hot and you get it on a farmer’s market. Eating pasties makes me as happy as being with my real family and school breaks.”

-Gaia Maestripieri, Italy Graphics: I. Baillie

4 Chinese

Traverse City Central High School Black & Gold March 19, 2013

Hello to our friends from Dalian Fifty Chinese foreign exchange students as well as five teachers, arrived Jan. 21. Half attended West and half came to Central. We found ways to welcome our guests, and they greeted us with the same enthusiasm. Our friends departed Central Feb. 17 with a taste of American life and culture. We miss your warmth, curiosity and enthusiasm. As promised, we are sending this tribute to you. We hope to see you again in the future.

First impressions of CHS/TC “The school is big and quiet, and people are very easygoing.

They are very friendly and everyone has different hobbies and thoughts, which is different from China.”

-Luo Tianning, “Jerry”

Photo: courtesy of D. Rutt

Our Chinese foreign exchange students pose for their last picture in front of Central High School before leaving TC Feb. 17.

Back row: Wu Fan: “Frank,” Zhang Yuxuan: “Jeff,” Gao Tianyue: “Matthew,” Liu Yuming: “Potter,” Wang Shaohui: “Kim,” Jiang Bowen: “Ruby,” Jin Na: “Daisy,” Qiu Ting: “Sophia,” Jiang Lianna: “Jade,” Xing Jiaxiang: “Jackson,” Wang Aobo: “Ben.” Middle row: Wu Fangxi: “Fancy,” Xu Heqing: “Cindy,” Yin Hanyue: “Lily,” Dong Ying: “Alice,” Wang Biquan: “Tina,” Jiang Chunyi: “Octavia,” Zhao Ziying: “Jenny,” Yang Hanqing: “Leo.” Front row: Zhang Yurou: “Grace,” English teacher Cui Yue: “Melody,” Li Hanchen: “Henry” Not pictured: Cong Xuepeng, Luo Tianning, Tang Yuntian, Gao Mingze

A word from some of the visiting Dalian teachers “I learned about the attitudes of Americans toward their lives. Just from their faces, I got it.

They’re happier than Chinese people.”

-Nie Hong, “Nellie,” English teacher

“Students in America are quite creative.

They have more chances to do things they like.”

-Wang Xinyu, “Lorna,” English teacher

China vs. America: some noticeable differences “I listen to a lot of American music. I like Linkin Park and Fun. with ‘We Are Young’ and ‘Some Nights.’”

-Cong Xuepeng, “Charlie” “Central is very different from our school.

What surprised me most were the snowdays, of course, the snow days.

-Jin Na, “Daisy”

“The most interesting thing about America is the food. I learned to cook American, and my favorite food is a hamburger.”

-Wu Fan, “Frank” “When I celebrated Chinese New Year with my host family, it was my first time making dumplings.”

-Gao Tianyue, “Matthew”

“I will miss Traverse City. The environment is very clean, and the city is filled with peace, kindness and beauty.”

-Wang Aobo, “Ben”

“It’s funny that there are so many cherries here. Cherry coke, cherry jam, cherry in everything.

-Jiang Chunyi, “Octavia

Did you know?

1. Students left T.C .to tour Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and finally, San Francisco, returning to Dalian Mar. 2 2. Dalian is home to 6 million people—that’s about ¾ the population of N.Y.C. 3. Chinese people use “Baidu” as their Google and “QQ” as their Facebook.

New perspectives on life and independence “I like being independent.

I’ve learned to try my best to do the things I like, and say my own opinions.”

-Wang Biquan, “Tina”

“The students here were very kind. I was fortunate to meet them, and I think we need to take care of everyone around us.”

-Li Hancheng, “Henry”

“I expected America to be like the movies, with high buildings and big cities. There’s not so many big buildings, but it is very beautiful.”

-Yang Hanqing, “Leo” “I like the classes here, because we can’t learn some of the subjects like Calculus or French in China.

I would really like to learn French.”

-Dong Ying, “Alice” “In China, teachers are teachers and students are students.

The teachers here can be friends with the students and joke with them. That was pretty interesting.”

-Zhao Ziying, “Jenny” “What surprised me most is that students are allowed to use computers if teachers ask them to. In China, students are not allowed to use their computers in class.”

-Jiang Lianna, “Jade”

Fast Facts about Dalian:

1. Full name of school: Dalian Technological University Senior High School 2. Many students live on campus, typically visiting their families over the weekends 3. Students go to school from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

4. Students take different classes every day, but each week they take Chinese, Math, Biology, Geography, English, PE, History, Chemistry and Physics.

5. During the day, students remain in the same room, while teachers change rooms.

6. Students have two breaks during the school year, one of which was the winter break when they came to tour the U.S.— their first stop was T.C. 7. For many Dalian students, this was their first time in America.

8. Most of the students who came to T.C. will go to college in America. Other students will pass the College Entrance Examination to apply for a Chinese university.

Reporting: Gao Tianyue, Zhao Ziying, L. Williams, M. Weber, E. Caldwell, P. Rietmann Photos: K. Raymond, S. Hutchison Graphics: N. Mulvaine, I. Baillie