Volume II, Issue V

Sarah steps down as HSSC President after two consecutive terms Yuta assumes leadership

BY SAKURA MYA | GRADE 10

Every year in early February, returns the important event (no, not Valentine’s) that is

vitalised by the high school students who bring their enthusiastic spirits regarding leadership and responsibility. It’s the Annual HSSC election but this one was going to be more than just stimulating; it provoked sentiment and some might even call it bittersweet. We will no longer have the pleasure of seeing Sarah and Trois (G12) in their roles as president and vice president, respectively, as they anticipate their graduation and prepare to transition from school into the real world. But that leaves us with the questions: who is to carry on these crucial responsibilities and continue improving every aspect of the school?

Yuta (G11), the former secretary, had decided to step up from his position to further his involvement in embodying and representing the Saint Maur high-school community as a whole. He states that his favourite achievement by far (when he was secretary) was his successful efforts to allow participation, not just from the HSSC itself, but from every single grade.

SEE

HSSC boycotts Nestle in making annual Valentine's Grams

BY EMMA NARVAEZ | GRADE 12

and the satisfying crunch of chocolate

You may be familiar with the High School Student Council’s annual Valentine’s Grams project, where KitKats and heartfelt notes are tucked into desks courtesy of friends, secret admirers, and even teachers. Nestle’s trademark red wrappers

wafer bars have become a staple part of the annual celebration of love and friendship here at Saint Maur. However, this year, in response to concerns over Nestle’s unethical production practices, the HSSC made the bold decision to replace Nestle’s beloved KitKats for Montoile’s Bon o Bons.

SEE NARVAEZ PAGE 2

BY JULIA TANAKA

FEATURES

How do you love? A Guide to the 5 Love Languages

BY MARIA CAROLINA MARTINS | GRADE 12

As February rolls around, love can be seen everywhere, big or small. It can be seen in the couples that stroll along streets while holding hands as they brace for the cold weather, in the heart-shaped sweets in the cafeteria that make the air smell all sweet and sticky, in the people running to the stores to buy last minute surprises for their loved ones, it’s in the big smiles and longing looks some reserve for people they wish they could spend Valentine’s Day with or even the long-lasting late night calls long-distance couples have right before the holiday to make the distance and the lengthy hour differences fade away for that moment. Although Valentine's Day is known as the day for couples to show their romantic love, other types of love are also celebrated during February, such as friendship and platonic love. But the question is: How do we love?

In what ways are we able to demonstrate our feelings towards those who are important to us?

SEE MARTINS PAGE 5

TEACHER OF THE MONTH

LI GAUDEFROY, DANNA

SCHOOL NEWS

NARVAEZ FROM PAGE 1

The decision was made under the tenure of Sarah (G12), the HSSC’s previous executive president, who immediately took action in response to such concerns. She explained that one student suggested that the HSSC “change who [they] source from and try to support local businesses, or at least ones that aren’t harmful to society.” Sarah mentioned that child labor and poor sourcing of materials were just two among many reasons contributing to Nestle's perceived ethical shortcomings.

https://logowik.com/nestle-logo-vector-57257.html(modified)

The decision to boycott Nestle posed challenges for the HSSC, particularly in terms of profitability and logistics. Sarah expressed the difficulty faced due to Nestle’s affordability, acknowledging the significant profits that could be made from using their products, especially for fundraising purposes. In addition, Yuta (G11), the recently appointed HSSC executive president, explained that finding KitKat’s replacement also created complications, stating, “KitKats were something we've been doing for a long time and we knew everyone liked it, so we were pretty nervous about if everyone would welcome this change.”

The HSSC decided to use Bon o Bons in place of Nestle’s KitKats, which are manufactured by Montoile, a Japanese confectionery wholesaler. Being that the Valentine’s Grams project was Yuta’s first initiative as the HSSC executive president, he initially had some concerns about whether it would be successful with competition from the MSSC’s Valentine’s Grams and other popular CAS projects running simultaneously. However, with a 8,000 yen profit, Yuta confirmed that the HSSC “were pretty happy in how things turned out at the very end.”

Moving forward with his presidency term, Yuta drew from this experience that “it's really important to take into account all ideas, not just from the student council representatives or the executives, but everyone in the student body,” he stated. Both Yuta and Sarah concurred that this shift was the necessary move to take, showcasing their commitment to responsible consumerism and accountability within the school community.

https://montoile.co.jp/

MYA FROM PAGE 1

“Generally we were able to organise the student council in a way that would be more inclusive”, he says.

Now, as the president, he aims to build more connections with other schools to provide the students the additional opportunities to socialise. “Maybe even more sports social”, he tempts us. He is also looking forward to working with Keita (G10) the vice president, as well as Hyunseo (G11), the treasurer and Masaya (G10), the secretary, to optimise our high-school experience. The role is pretty big and though it’s nerve wracking the first time,

he intends to try his hardest. “Thank you for placing your trust in us. We will continue to remarkable progress in her absence.

Then comes the emotionally significant segment, when she is asked how it feels to finally stepping down. “I was definite sentimental. But I don’t think I have a regrets, which I think is the major thing me.” She states that for this, she’s happy with where she left it off. She also says how she high hopes for the future as she trusts student council has a strong team. She clai that it happens to be a very “diverse” team terms of grades hence why she believes they will widespread entrusts the team to continue making

work in your interest and continue improving your high-school experience”, he concludes.

As for Sarah, she takes this time to reflect on her profound commitment to this role for three school years. When asked about the potential achievements, she starts, “well, it’s definitely rewarding.” Tell me all about it! She talks about how it was quite difficult at times with the projects the HSSC pushed forward. Despite the challenges, all projects saw happy endings. Out of the many accomplishments, the ones that stood out most to her were the successful projects of the varsity jackets and the adorable school’s mascot. She then exclaimed, “I think we’ve pushed past what they have done previously”. I think we’re definitely with you on that, Sarah! And lucky for Sarah, she no longer has to deal with journalists like me pestering her for interviews!

All this has been a rollercoaster of both emotions and thoughts of how to act progressively as the representatives are newly elected. We would like to thank both Sarah and

carry on

they have put on the the legacy.

new (though faces)

plate and hope that the team not new will

Trois for all the time and effort

IB & IGCSE Mocks Season: A horror movie starring Sophomores and Seniors

The month of February can have a multitude of meanings to different people. Some see this time as the perfect opportunity to pursue their romantic interests, while others just want to stay warm and bear the unpredictable weather we usually face in Japan around this time. For Saint Maur’s Sophomores and Seniors, it’s also the last chance to cram their studies and prepare for their upcoming mock IGCSE and IB exams. From balancing extracurriculars to devising effective study techniques, the mock IGSCE and IB exams have surely kept our sophomores and seniors busy this February.

One sophomore, Giorgia (G10), has been preparing for her upcoming mock IGCSE exams, declaring that “it’s been really busy

BY MARIA CAROLINA MARTINS | GRADE 12 SOPHIE WYNKOOP | GRADE 10

and stressful.” Many share Giorgia’s view and a certain comfort can be found in the fact that many students are currently undergoing similar experiences. Lima (G10), who is also taking mocks soon, concurred: “It’s definitely tiring, I feel as though I am actively cutting out distractions, so I can study more but I'm not sure I can describe it properly.”

Seniors face similar struggles. The IB is considered by many to be a heavily contentbased course, which combines two years' worth of learning into two or three papers per subject. The mocks are very important in their academic lives and may have a direct impact on their future, as colleges may often consider internal grades when accepting a student into their programs. When asked about feelings

before and after the mocks, Yura (G12) mentioned feeling “really stressed” also highlighting the fact that the official IB orals happened the week before and students “weren't given much time to study so [she] didn't know where or what to start with.” Rio (G12) had similar worries, feeling very nervous because she “wasn't prepared enough” which she later also justified by the lack of time to prepare.

After each mock, a common feeling among seniors was a relief, as they finished one more 2 hour paper and could narrow down the amount of content being actively kept in their short-term memory. Yura said she felt “accomplished as [she] finished each test and a

2024-2025HSSCExecutiveTeam

2023-2024HSSCExecutivePresidentandVice-President

Sarah’sproudestachievements

little more relieved.” While finishing the process may bring a happy feeling of welldone duty, some other sentiments may come to the surface.

As this big stage of their senior year is left behind, some may also feel the weight of their inevitably changing futures as Seniors

approach their graduation date. Yura reported feeling “so much better and happy that the busiest part of senior year is over.” While at the same time experiencing some nostalgia as she realized “the thought of graduating becoming more real” and that she is now “trying to enjoy every last moment as a senior.”

Because mocks are meant to be taken all within the shortest amount of time, students

often have to brace more than one exam per day with little space between each subject. This highly demanding period with peak amounts of stress creates

Seniors also gave some insight into their study methods. Rio’s strategy included rewriting and even rewriting her notes in separate notebooks and highlighting the concepts she needed to prioritize or memorize. Yura on the other hand gave us a tip – she downloaded a study log app called Focustraveller. Describing the app she mentioned that it tracks your study time while showing characters climbing a mountain, which in turn helped her to not get distracted by the phone, and seeing the time spent per subject gave her motivation to continue.

Anxiety is increasingly common among all students. Ignoring stress is also something that many students are guilty of, including Giorgia. “I don't manage it [stress] at all” Of course, there are also some benefits of stress. Giorgia, for example, uses her anxiety as a motivator for working harder. “When I'm nervous, I

FEATURES

MARTINS FROM PAGE 1

As humans, love and affection are often present in our lives as we create relationships with those we care for. One of the most beautiful things about our existence is the possibility of caring and being cared for, showing love in a multitude of ways and forms –things that can make being alive such a wonderful experience. Gary

Balancing life and academics is essential to avoid this situation, but may often be a difficult job for students. When asked about the harmony between revising and participating in leisure activities, both Giorgia and Lima have struggled to maintain a stable

the perfect environment for the development of burnout. balance.

“Right now, I’m not balancing, only studying, because I procrastinated a bit before,” Giorgia admitted. “I study around 4 to 5 hours a night,” she added. Similarly, Seniors have many

priorities unrelated to the mocks, such

as sports, extracurricular activities, and college applications. With a supportive environment, it becomes easier to balance things out. Having friends to study with, going to different studying environments, and still having some form of entertainment and fun in between study sessions is crucial in performing better and staying grounded during this time. Yura mentioned that some days in between mocks, she decided to make some time so she could “go out to practice soccer or just chill”. Resting is just as much of an important part of the preparation as studying, and learning not to push yourself so hard can help a lot. As Yura puts it, “It's important to take breaks.”

There are a variety of ways that students like to study and prepare for their mocks. Giorgia recommended that students use all of their materials, whether that be textbooks, handwritten notes, or the Internet. “For me, I read over my notes, mark or highlight them, and memorize them” This strategy is tried and true, and seems to work for most. Lima suggests that students “start early, and focus on the topics [they] need to improve on first.” For studying math specifically, both Giorgia and Lima like to repeat practice problems countless times. Lastly, Lima says to “remember it'll be over eventually, and then you can do whatever you want to for the break afterward.”

study to make me feel more prepared,” she shares. “If I know everything, it calms my nerves.” Lima tries to manage her anxiety by organizing her thoughts, “I try to know what I'm revising for the day. I can only study when I'm calm so I guess I manage my stress and anxiety by wanting to know that no matter the result of my exams, I tried my best given whatever circumstances I was in.”

When questioned about the value of the mocks as a preparation for the actual exams and what they plan to do differently for the IB examinations, Seniors mentioned the mocks had some value, acting as practice or a form of revision, since the content is going to be mostly the same while also mimicking the conditions of the actual examinations and showing what students should expect. Mocks can also give a sense of where students stand in each subject,

revealing tentative grades that may indicate which areas should be prioritized.

IB and IGCSE mocks mark a big step in students’ academic careers. During this challenging process, Saint Maur's Sophomores and Seniors had to work hard to achieve good results. From balancing extracurriculars to combating stress, the students share common experiences of tight schedules and focused dedication. After the completion of these mocks, we hope students achieved their desired scores and also learned important things about themselves, their capabilities, and strengths and weaknesses when it comes to such examinations and that this process may help them exceed expectations when facing the actual exams at the end of this school year. Best of luck to our Seniors and Sophomores!

Chapman is a pastor who wrote the book “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” in 1992 based on his observations of the couples he spent years counseling and giving advice to, ultimately coming up with 5 different ways we use to demonstrate our love and affection to those around us. With more than 20 million copies sold

worldwide and translations to more than 49 languages, his ideas became quite popular and are still relevant to this day. Even if these languages refer primarily to romantic relationships, they may still apply to other types of love such as platonic love, friendships or familial links such as mother and daughter.

Focustravellerapp,assuggestedbyYura

1. Words of Affirmation

This love language applies to people who value verbal demonstrations of love, such as acknowledgments, saying “I love you", compliments, and communicating feelings, thoughts, and affection through words. This is what makes them feel appreciated and understood and can be done in countless ways: a good morning text, little notes, love reminders, and any verbally expressed affection.

2. Quality Time

People who have quality time as their love language feel the most loved when their loved ones want to spend time with them. They value being listened to and prioritized, with active eye contact and thoughtful conversations. However, sometimes just being around the ones you love is enough. With the quick pace of life, quality time encounters can be simple interactions such as grocery shopping together, watching movies together, or even doing personal tasks while enjoying the company of one another.

3. Acts of Service

This love language is characteristic of those who feel loved or love through small acts that make the lives of those important to them somehow easier. This could be things like bringing food when a loved one is sick sick, making someone's bed when they have to rush out of the house, cooking breakfast or lunch the way they like, or tidying up the house for when they come home. It is in the things that are carefully done, paying attention to details that really make a difference and show that they care.

4. Gift-Giving and Receiving

This is the love language of those who feel loved the most when given meaningful gifts – "visual symbols of love," as Chapman calls it. A small (or big) token of appreciation, a meaningful thing that really shows care and attention to the things the person receiving the gift enjoys. It can be expensive things such as jewelry and big flower bouquets, or small gifts like the person’s favorite chocolate, or even handmade things like love cards, just as long as it has symbolic and sentimental value.

5. Physical Touch

People who love through physical touch usually enjoy small physical gestures, such as holding hands, hugs, kisses, and cuddles. This love form can be expressed through small gestures like stroking someone's hair, tickle fights, back massages, head scratches, or just touching feet under the table as a form of contact, ensuring some type of warm exchange even if small or barely noticeable.

Citations

These love languages apply to both giving and receiving love. People might express or enjoy being loved through multiple or different love languages and can also enjoy receiving love in a different way than they enjoy giving it. For example, a person may really like to give gifts to their loved ones and not like receiving them in return.

What about you? How do you feel loved the most or enjoy showing affection to those you care for? If you want to find out which of the love languages is most compatible with you, try answering Chapman’s curated quiz at the end of this issue, or click this link if you are viewing this online: https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language

FEATURES OPINION ●

Karantzas, G. (2023, March 3). Is there science behind the five love languages? Greater Good Magazine. Retrieved from: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/is_there_science_behind_t he_five_love_languages#:~:text=Love%20languages%E2%80%94the%20 concept%20coined,insights%20into%20how%20relationships%20functi on Nguyen, J. (2020, October 21). What are the 5 love languages? Everything you need to know. Mindbodygreen. Retrieved from: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-5-love-languagesexplained

Romance Media Tropes: Can abuse ever be romantic?

A trope is a familiar thematic idea that can be seen in many stories across the genre, but each with their own characters, settings, plot, and spirit. In romance, tropes are things like friends-to-lovers, Grumpy vs Sunshine and Love Triangles. They can be entertaining and fun; however,they can also be quite dangerous, especially with tropes that are not morally acceptable in normal society. In this essay, I will be discussing one romantic trope that is quite controversial and in my opinion, should be less used in society: abduction as romance.

man. I find this trope highly concerning, as it The trope of abduction as romance is stereotypically written as a man who kidnaps a woman who eventually falls in love with the

perpetuates harmful misconceptions about romance and glamorises a very serious crime. You can see this trope through different types of media; books, movies, TV shows, etc. A good example of this is the very famous and beloved movie “Beauty and the Beast.” In the movie, we see Belle, forced to sacrifice herself, as the Beast has captured her father and won’t let him go until he has imprisoned Belle in his castle. This, already, is not very romantic. However, later on we see that the two start to fall in love, the Beast giving Belle his own personal library and the two eventually getting married, revealing a handsome gentleman that used to be the Beast. Most children watch this movie when they are younger and don’t seem to have a problem with it. But as those children grow older, they may notice how this type of romance

BY JULIA TANAKA | GRADE 10

should not be popularised, especially by a big company like Disney.

Some movie critics say that this was not the Beast’s fault, as Belle suffered from Stockholm Syndrome, which is a psychological phenomenon where a kidnapping victim comes to sympathise with their kidnapper. Yet, I believe this argument focuses on blaming the victim rather than the abductor, who has committed the crime. In the movie, we see how the

Beast is the one who verbally berates her, forbids her from eating, and keeps her in a small cell. For example, when Belle declines the Beast’s dinner invitation, The Beast says, “You’ll come out or I’ll

break down the door!” (Beauty & Beast 35:03-07). He then shouts, “If she doesn’t eat with me, she doesn’t eat at all!” (Beauty & Beast 35:46-52). Additionally, when the Beast discovers Belle in the West Wing, to which she was forbidden, he yells, “Do you realise what you could have done!?” (Beauty & Beast 46:31-36) and destroys the surrounding furniture. Despite all of this abusive behaviour, the Beast is still framed as a mysterious and misunderstood man and in the end, he still “gets the girl”, which gives a harmful message to young boys, who might watch this movie and think that aggression is the way to win over girls. Especially at a young age, this can brainwash young children into resorting to violence to get what they want.

Most writers or screenwriters use abduction as romance because kidnapping scenarios provide an easy way to bring two very unlikely characters

together. Yet, these narratives are based on situations where the man violates the women’s

In conclusion, while it's valid to appreciate the themes of redemption and seeing the good in others within narratives like "Beauty and the Beast," it's crucial to acknowledge the broader implications of romanticising abduction. I suggest considering the potential implications of media that glamorises abuse and criminal activity associated with romance. If you are looking for alternative romance media, maybe try enemies-to-lovers, which offers a healthier portrayal of relationships that experience growth and overcome adversity. There are so many good movies to watch that portray this trope in very exciting ways such as “10 Things I Hate about You” and even “Mulan”. Through

such choices, we contribute to a more positive cultural environment surrounding romance in the media.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AbductionIsLove, The phrase 'picking up

rights and autonomy and are then rewarded with a romantic relationship.

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Trust, Deceit and Unexpected twists: Delving into “After She’s Gone”

by Camilla Grebe

BY EMILY BEYER | GRADE 11

The novel “After She’s Gone” was written by Camilla Grebe, a Swedish crime novel author. The book tells the story of an investigation into a cold case, the remains of a 5-year-old girl found in a cairn near the small town of Ormberg ten years prior. Psychological profiler Hanne Lagerlind-Schön and her partner Peter are brought into the investigation straight from the capital. When the body of a woman is found at the cairn, Peter goes missing and Hanne is found at the edge of the woods covered with blood and with no recollection of the past few weeks, it is up to the rest of their team to discover if the new murder connects to their old one. Told from two different perspectives of seemingly unconnected Ormberg locals, the book thematises topics such as equality, acceptance, trust and deceit through many threads of the mystery, which all tie together in an unexpected ending. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in a thrilling and suspenseful reading experience filled with many twists and turns.

What sets this novel apart for me is how Grebe characterises and utilizes the voices of Jake, Malin and indirectly Hanne to narrate the story. At first glance, the teenager Jake has no connection to the murder case. He lives in Ormberg with his not-so-innocent, alcoholic father and older sister, who is still grieving the death of their late mother, watches horror movies with his best and only friend Saga and tries to avoid his bully Vincent and his gang. A big secret he is trying to keep leads to him running away when Hanne calls for help from the edge of the woods, taking her diary with him. From here on, Jake reads Hanne's diary which gets him increasingly involved in the mystery. Jake is a character that longs to be understood but is hesitant to confide in others. In Hanne, he sees a friend, as she, like him, is unsure of herself and not able to see

https://www.waterstones.com/book/after-shes-gone/camilla-grebe/9781785764714

her worth. Hanne has dementia, but with the fear that her younger partner Peter will leave her if he finds out, she sets everything on trying to conceal her condition. Similarly, Jake feels he needs to meet the expectations of his father and the judging town he lives in, hindering him from being his true self.

Through Jake and Hanne, Grebe works with the themes of trust and acceptance in a very relatable way.

Opposite Jake, the other voice of the book, Malin, is involved in the case from the beginning, more than anyone, including herself, would have initially thought. Malin is also from Ormberg and was the one to find

the body of the girl out in the woods with her friends when she was a teenager. Her mother, aunt and cousin still live in town but she has now gotten a job as a police officer and a boyfriend in another city, trying her best to cut ties with her childhood home which has caused her all kinds of mental scarring and where she never completely felt she fit in. She reluctantly returns after being invited to work on the case as part of the team. As a local, Malin expresses the town's perspective on multiple occasions. A big trigger for debate in the story is the home for immigrants that was fashioned out of an old factory that used to give work to many of the town's inhabitants.

While she denies it, Malin shares the dislike against the government for letting Ormberg’s inhabitants lose their jobs and either move away or live in poor conditions while immigrants are moved there, being supported and supplied by the country. Different views of characters on this range, and the original Swedish title “husdjuret”, which translates to “pet” explains the extreme view of some of the town's inhabitants that do not see immigrants as equals and feel to be above them. Grebe shows how the people of Ormberg, a fictional town, are too preoccupied with their problems to have compassion and empathy for others, which reflects reality to a certain extent. Marlin's character ironically, as it later turns out, is in the worst position to make these claims.

Grebe's writing style immerses the reader in a suspenseful atmosphere, which makes the book a thought-provoking and thrilling read The book has a captivating narrative which intertwines societal reflections with complex characters, which is why I would highly recommend it.

Beauty and the Beast. Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, Walt Disney Pictures, 1991.

A Feast for the Heart and Mind

BY EMMA NARVAEZ | GRADE 12

Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory: Stories Review

https://www.amazon.com/Someone-Will-Love-Damaged-Glory/dp/152473201X(modified)

Some personal favorites:

Salted Circus Cashews, Swear to God - A first date that begins well until the man offers the woman a can of salted circus cashews that definitely doesn’t have a fake snake inside prepared to jump out at the lid’s opening. The date quickly becomes an introspective reflection of the difficulties in trusting someone at the start of a new relationship.

Open this can and everything will be okay.

The salted circus cashews are waiting. They are so savory and delicious. You will be so glad you put your faith in me. This time is different; I promise you it’s different. Why would I lie to you? Why would I want to hurt you? This time there is no snake waiting. This time things are going to be wonderful.

In all this book’s damaged glory, I undeniably, wholeheartedly loved it. From the title page, all the way to the end of its Acknowledgements, this book constantly kept me on my toes. Written by the creator of the beloved animated sitcom Bojack Horseman, I knew I was in for a treat. Those who are familiar with Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s brand must be aware of his wry humor cleverly intertwined into tragic storylines, but could that same wit translate the same way in the literary domain? The answer is yes.

Each of the 18 short stories transport readers into the hearts of real people (and one dog), who experience love in every form, and in endless ways. Bob-Waksberg explores the endurance of love and why it may falter; why it was so great and where it came from in the first place. But most importantly, Bob-Waksberg illustrates what that love (or “love”) itself does to those who experience it– what’s left after the storm.

Each story diverges into various genres and formats such as literary fiction, surrealism, science-fiction, including even a poem and a list. Waksberg also makes use of every kind of relationship – boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife, dog-owner, brother-sister, and co-workers. These dynamics, although distinct, all highlight the flaws humans possess and their influence on the connection that brings them together. The stories ring with the same bittersweet truth, but are all executed in a myriad of ways, some taking readers across dimensions.

My favorite part of Bob-Waksberg’s experimental literature is that it doesn’t rely on cynicism nor pretension to create meaningful narratives. Instead, he balances ironic humor and sincere sensibility, leaving readers constantly surprised and charmed by his unexpected storytelling.

Inevitably, some stories hit the mark better than others, as others may have lingered for too long without giving readers a reason to care. Nevertheless, the collection as a whole offers a comprehensive landscape of love in all its forms.

someone for so long, but not really know them. How some couples spend a life together without really knowing each other. Or how some couples will never have the chance to know each other because they never try.

Lunch with the Person Who Dumped You - A gameshow take on five hypothetical scenarios of how a reunion lunch with an ex may turn out, namely “The No-Hard-Feelings Lunch”, “The Loaded-Weapon Lunch”, “The Reconciliation Lunch”, “The For-Old-Times’Sake Lunch”, and my personal favorite, “The Here’s-Your-Stuff-Back Lunch”.

A Most Blessed and Auspicious Occasion - A satirical, hyperbolic analogy of wedding culture and how it reduces love to how much one is willing to spend on a Promise Egg, or whether traditional Shrieking Choruses will perform.

Lies We Told Each Other (a partial list) - The start and end of a relationship told through a list of lies told to each other. Hilarious and heartaching at the same time.

I’ve never felt like this before. This moment, right here, is the happiest moment of my life.

Yeah.

No. Definitely.

memory of whatever spark you had is corroded, hardly maintained, and isited. This was no great affair, This was no tragic This was just another thing that in a long series of things that Here’s your stuff back. Have a nice life.

rufus. – A precious narrative told completely from the perspective of a dog, Rufus, who observes its ManMonster fall in and out of love. When the ManMonster is left with Rufus and his dogged loyalty, the ManMonster utters the sound “Goodog” and nothing else matters.

makes noise like, he scratches my back him with everything him like he’s a part of myself.

More of the You That You Already Are

constantly malfunctioning, monster-like creature who pukes non-stop. But it’s not its fault, it didn’t choose to exist did it? When a wardrobe worker ends up falling in love with the creature, seeing through its disturbing facade and seeing the “heart of ten men”, she steals it before it gets killed by the scientists. In this sub-plot, Waksberg illustrates that anyone has the potential to be loved, even artificially created beings that won’t stop puking. But that’s just the half of it. The protagonist, the 21st president impersonator, flees this chaotic job—where he faces the threat of being replaced by another lab-created combined president and corporate misdeeds—to be with his sister, who is recovering from cancer surgery. Although Waksberg takes time to distract readers from the sole purpose of the story, at its core, there lies the message of showing up in the midst of any multidimensional crisis.

But my favorite quote lies humbly in the Acknowledgements section of the book, and perfectly ties everything together.

would like to thank my wife. these stories are half since, and I’m em all up in the order written, you could pinpoint where my heart became whole.”

Missed Connection—m4w - Two people sit on a train for 60 years, waiting for the other to spark their connection. Until one day the girl finally gets off the train, and it becomes apparent to the boy how you can know

This one is probably my favorite out of the bunch. Here, Waksberg cleverly creates an action-packed, sci-fi narrative, with a scientifically constructed presidential mishmash of the most iconic U.S. presidents to replace ten impersonators at the Presidentland theme park. However, this science experiment does not work as planned – what’s created is a

Whether you had a valentine this February, you lost yours, or you’ve never had one, I recommend you read this book to experience love in all its damaged glory. At the end of the day, Waksberg makes us understand that love is out there for everyone, regardless of how damaged or unlovable we may seem to ourselves.

Bob-Waksberg, Raphael. Someone Who Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory : Stories. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 2019.

“The Curious of the Dog in the Night-time”: On stage and under the stars

BY PAULINE LI GAUDEFROY | GRADE 9

You could be anywhere in the world today, but you have decided to be at Saint Maur. And what better thing to do than experience Saint Maur’s greatest show? Everyone’s been waiting for this moment! The moment where history takes a turn; the moment

production is worth seeing. “How we're doing the play this time around is very, very different from the past iterations. We're not using many props and we're not using a proper set. We just have the boxes, and so that adds a really interesting dynamic to watching it where the high school dramatists showcase their abilities with The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time! (Only on March 14-16). If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, buy them now! For this play has an interesting stage–compact and tight. Have fun breathing your neighbor’s sweat as they watch the plot unravel. But wait. Why should you come watch this year’s play? Well don’t fret, because Mr. G is here to answer your questions! The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is a “show unlike anything you will have seen at Saint Maur before,” says Mr. G, “The story is told from the perspective of 15 year-old Christopher, who has autism. It starts off as a murder mystery but ends up being something much deeper as Christopher has to confront his own fears and find a way to navigate the world.”

And if that doesn’t motivate you, just wait until you hear the awesome music solely composed by Saint Maur students. It’s electric, it’s magnetic, it’s everything you need for a retro night-out at the disco! But this isn’t a night at a party, is it? Mr. G explains that the lighting, sound, music, projection, and physical theater is all part of the plan to fully immerse the audience into Christopher’s world. Plus, you get to breathe down the actors’ neck (if you pick the right seats) because they’ll be onstage the entire time!

Cast

This year’s drama play does not only feature two different sets of casts, but also two Christophers! That is, the protagonist of the story. So let’s hear what they have to say about their experience behind the scenes, and why everyone should come watch!

and seeing how the actors manipulate the set to give

you should come watch the play.”

Rei’s favorite thing about being part of the cast so far is “being able to see how the ensemble people are so talented and able to work together. So it's really interesting and a good experience for me to be able to see the talent of the new actors and actresses.”

Luke (G10), the actor who plays Christopher in the beginning of the show, believes that a “big part of

says. “The truth is that no one here does Drama Club just because it's for credit. The truth is we do this because it's fun to us.You get to talk to these people two, maybe even three times a week, and I think that itself is kind of its own reward.” Well spoken Christopher- I mean, Luke.

Yuta (G11), who plays Christopher in the second Act of the show, believes people should “come watch because it is a really unique show. We haven't done anything

Michelle (G9) plays Mrs. Alexander and easily explains the core reasons as to why this

off a certain feel.” She describes her time on set as a nice experience of watching people “figure out the different scenes” such as “watching actors like Luke figure out their character and figure out how they're supposed to move and their mannerisms. And then seeing them grow into that character during dress rehearsals and things like that [is] really interesting to me.”

Rei (G12), who plays the kindhearted

Siobhan, also agrees with Michelle’s claims and says that this play is “quite unique from all the other classic plays in the last three to four years. [...] Mr. G is excellent at adapting novels into [plays]. So, the way that he takes bits and pieces from the novel and mixes it with the script that already exists, you [can] get the impact of the novel [visually]. So it's easier to understand the storyline and how an autistic person sees the world, even though there's different types of autism out there. It's a great play to raise awareness, so I think

what makes this show special is the representation of an autistic character in this play.” He goes on to state that, despite this show being abstract and very physical, a problem with our generation is that we “often make fun of people with neurodivergence or with disorders that

like this before–featuring an autistic character–and we are trying to portray this in a really interesting way and I think everyone should come and watch this new type of show that we're doing.” If that isn’t enough proof for you to come watch, I don’t know what is!

His favorite part of being part of the cast was “being able to work with amazing cast members,” like Luke, his co-star, who helped him a lot in this journey. He’d also like to thank all the other members of the drama club who helped me greatly through the process of rehearsal.

have to do with social ability, because sometimes those jokes can be funny, and sometimes people will make fun of them without really intending to hurt people. But I think by turning so many of these people into a punchline, we inadvertently make them feel less human, And that's what I really want to tackle with this show.”

Something that Luke enjoyed a lot during his time on stage was the chemistry the cast shared between them, sharing jokes and making each other laugh. “There's not a single day on set that I have not laughed when we rehearsed,” he

Lastly, this year’s drama production features two actors playing the same character at the same time; Luke and Yuta. So how does it feel knowing that you are the same? For one, Luke was skeptical at first about Mr. G’s decision (never doubt Mr. G), however he soon realized how grateful he was for this turn of events because, if you go watch the show, Christopher talks a lot. “I don't have the capacity in my brain to do mock exams and also study a hundred pages of yapping,” he explains. For Yuta on the other hand, he initially thought that it was going to be plain and simple. “We just [had to] play these characters differently,” Yuta says, “But I realized that we have to try to find a way to integrate, the way we play, portray these two characters together, and tell this one story. I found it a bit difficult at first, but I think it was a really interesting challenge for me. And, although there are many lines, I think it was a very, very fun experience to work with Luke.”

Of course, we can’t forget about the other wonderful actors who contributed so much to bring this play to life.

The others go as follows: Parth (G9), Pauline (G9), Nuo (G9), Hinata (G10), Masaya (G10), Rosa (G10), Sakura (G10), Taikan (G10), Kai (G11), Yakumo (G12).

Crew

Mr. G also has a great group of kids to thank for working so hard in the dark; the crew! Without their hard work, the drama club wouldn’t have amazing lighting, cool props, and a very interactive set to play around with (though limited). Clement (G12), who is Head of Tech, described his experience as “nice” because he’s been able to “experience many different aspects. At the same time, I've learned what being a manager is, [which is a] lot less fun when you have to take care of some slightly immature people. But it's nice what I've learned, [even though its] not really much

because I already know a lot about technical theater.” His enjoyment of playing and experimenting can reflect the sentiments of many crew members too.

FINE ARTS MUSIC

We also have to give a major round of applause to the crew for working hard after school in preparing the set, the sound effects, the props, and so much more!

Finally, Mr. G would like to “thank the whole cast and crew for their tremendous work on this project. They have sacrificed a lot of time and energy to this and we have tried our best to stay true to the

Exciting and Unforgettable KPASS Jazz Festival

on their performances, and appreciating others’ performances, I also began to immerse myself in it and did not feel nervous.” When asked about her feedback on this festival, she answered, “I think this festival was well arranged. The timing, pacing, and coordination were all very well, and the students didn’t feel rushed. Additionally, the performances from each school were outstanding, making it difficult for us to compare. I enjoyed this

story and to Christopher himself. I also want to thank Mr Levy and Ms Littani for all their help (as always!) in helping make this world come to life in a visually engaging way. Special shout-out to our Seniors, both in the cast and crew, who will be leaving us after this production. I hope they feel that this is a high note to end their high school careers on.”

hadn’t realized my shortcomings, and not that I am aware of, and I will diligently work to improve.” After that, I asked her about her feelings about the performance from the judges. She replied, “I think they performed exceptionally well, and their profound expertise was evident from their performances. What particularly excited me was that they interacted with the audience. I found them very approachable.

A few weeks ago, on February 2nd, Saint Maur hosted the annual KPASS Jazz Festival. These musicrelated events have greatly improved our students’ musical abilities and provided them with the opportunity to showcase their musical talents. At the same time, it facilitates exchange between schools, offering students with similar musical interests a chance to interact. The main focus of this event was to allow students to perform, while four highly professional judges provided

critiques and insightful feedback from the sidelines. In addition, the four professional judges also took the stage themselves to perform.

To fully immerse myself in this festival, I interviewed a student, Julia (G9), who participated and had strong feelings about it. When I asked her about her thoughts on this festival Julia said, “This festival was very fun and exciting. Initially, I was very nervous, but when I realized that everyone was enjoying the atmosphere, focusing

festival.” Then, I asked Julia some questions about the judges. She stated, “I believe feedback from judges was very accurate. There were many aspects where I

Through allowing students to perform on stage and receive feedback, this festival has deepened everyone’s understanding of music and inspired them to pursue playing more passionately. This performance has left an indelible impression on everyone’s hearts.

Hopefully, in the future, more

people can participate in such musical events and create unforgettable

memories.

Castduringrehearsal

Castduringrehearsal

SaintMaurBigBand

SaintMaurBigBand

Productionposter

Why do we behave the way we do when we are in love?

Love is a force that drives people to work hard, make sacrifices, and take large risks. If you’ve ever done anything unusual while in love, you may wonder what exactly made you behave that way and why. When we see someone that we perceive as attractive, our heart rates accelerate, palms become sweaty, and we often stammer over sentences that would otherwise be spoken fluently. For the longest time, people associated love with the heart. It seems logical enough that the large thudding in your chest you feel would be related to the feelings you’re experiencing, but that is in fact not the case. Some may be surprised to hear that the science behind love actually happens in the brain.

A team of scientists at Rutgers University, led by Dr. Helen Fisher believed that love could be split into three main categories: lust, attraction, and attachment. These categories are each identified by the unique set of hormones released. There are some overlaps between hormones in each category, but generally testosterone and estrogen are what drive feelings of lust; dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin create attraction; and oxytocin and vasopressin lead to attachment.

Lust is defined by the human desire for sexual gratification. This is heavily affected by evolution and the human desire to reproduce. The desire to grow the population of one’s species is a desire shared by all living organisms, and one that is essential for the survival of a species. The brain stimulates the production of the testosterone and estrogen hormones from the testes and ovaries, which drives the desire to reproduce. The additional hormones dopamine, oxytocin, and

TEACHER OF THE MONTH

brain during this time. They are

particularly produced in the hypothalamus, which is a region of the brain that controls much of

BY SOPHIE WYNKOOP | GRADE 10

vasopressin are also produced in the relat-

our rational behavior. This could offer an explanation as to why we behave irrationally when in love. The next category, attraction, is categorized by the brain pathways that are in control of our “reward” behavior. Attraction is very similar to lust in that they share many common hormones being produced. Dopamine is released when we experience things that feel good to us. This hormone can drive humans to engage in sexual relations purely for the gratification that comes with it, not for reproductive reasons. Norepinephrine, which is related to dopamine, is also released. This hormone makes us feel euphoric and overly energetic, which leads to a decrease in appetite and insomnia.

ionships are quite distinct from romantic Ultimately, the concept of love is a bit more complex than some may believe. The

Attachment can be characterized as a bit different from lust and attraction. This is because attachment is related to friendships and familial relationships, as opposed to being solely related to romantic entanglements. The two primary hormones that are classified as attachment are oxytocin and vasopressin. Similarly to dopamine, oxytocin is released in large quantities during copulation, breastfeeding, and childbirth. Although not all of these activities are enjoyable, they all lead to bonding in some way. It’s very important to categorize attachment as separate from lust and attraction, given that familial/friend

three main categories within love- lust, attraction, and attachment each serve their unique purposes and release their own hormones. Lust, the sometimes obsessive desire that drives us to act. Attraction, driven by the human need for gratification. And lastly attachment, which is involved with meaningful relationships of all kinds. Whichever stages you’re familiar with or not, now you have an explanation into some of the hormones that are related to specific symptoms or emotions. Perhaps this information can be used in future relationships, helping us all be more mindful of what exactly is happening in our brains when we fall in love.

Saint Maur’s one and only martial arts expert: Dr. Erard

BY PAULINE LI GAUDEFROY, DANNA YOON | GRADE 9

he explains, “and the Nintendo people. And This month’s teacher is Saint Maur's wellrenowned biology teacher; Dr. Erard! Having worked here for 14 years, how much do you truly know about him? How come our biology teacher also happens to be a master in Aikido? And what motivated him to come to the tranquil country of Japan? Read more of this article to discover!

1. Where did you grow up?

“I grew up in France, in a city of about 150,000 inhabitants, which is a medium city size in France.” While most people think of Paris as the epicenter of France, miracles can also happen outside of the city of love. For instance, Dr. Erard! And how fun it should be to live in a small city with a small number of people. But it’s “boring,” he says, “it’s a rather old city in Burgundy. So it’s full of old families that come from French nobility and bourgeoisie.”

2. How would you describe your childhood?

So if Dr. Erard lived in a boring city, what would a youngster think?

“I had a pretty normal childhood, I think. My dad was a truck driver, mom was an English

teacher. I didn’t really enjoy Middle School. I was not a very sporty person, so not playing soccer when you were in France, you know, it kind of isolated you. At that time, soccer was huge, and there were those who played and those who did not. So I was always part of more outside groups, I was not the popular type. Then I found that in High School, there were a lot more opportunities for one to develop their own interest and identity, and as a consequence, to find some levels of acknowledgment or even respect.”

3. What were some of your favorite childhood

memories? Dr.ErarddoingAikido

At 7 years old, Lego was a big thing, in which Dr. Erard also enjoyed playing with. He also played video games once in Middle School: “There were the Sega people,”

there was war between the two, and I was on the Nintendo team,” he recounted with a reminiscent laugh. But that stopped in high school, people when moved on to more modern devices. Not being able to afford a computer, video games naturally stopped

being a big part of his life, and he turned towards tabletop role-playing. And yes, you guessed it, Dungeons and Dragons. “We set up a club at school, but at the time people were very concerned because the media had made up a few stories about people supposedly performing dark rituals in cellars. When we set up a club in the high school, that raised a few eyebrows. But we had tremendous fun with that and when they figured out that we were just harmless teenagers, who were playing with dice in a classroom on Wednesday afternoons, they stopped being worried.”

Furthermore, high school was also where Dr. Erard found his deep

“I still think to this day that

competition is mostly pointless, perhaps even harmful. Nobody needs to “learn” competition, it’s built-in deep in our genomes. What our species needs is to learn to compete less and cooperate more. Besides, on a personal level, not much good can come out of comparing yourself to somebody else who’s different, anyway. What matters is how you are now compared to what you were yesterday. We’re life-long, unique learners.” Et voilà. That is how we eventually got an aikido master at Saint

Maur (this is only the

beginning of

4. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever course!) done?

meters in rocks. I then did a ten meters fall straight down a cliff, and then another one of fifteen meters. I think I probably passed out at that stage. I remember I stood up eventually, but I could feel that there was something wrong in my back. So I could just stand up, but I couldn't move anymore. I was probably in shock as well. I don't know how long I stood there. A storm was starting, so the rescue helicopter could not find me, even though I could hear it. The first person who got to me was a guy who worked as a stuntman for Luc Besson’s movies. I remember just before he took me to the ambulance and closed the door, he said to me that if I ever walked again, he told me to contact him, and he would have a job for me. [laughs]”

“There was a yearly event on TV, a big demonstration in Paris, with all the top

interest and people in the world, and I saw a French gentleman demonstrating Aikido.

instructor in the world, and I

He was the most senior non-Japanese thought that what he was doing was amazing. It’s funny, come to think of it, because this very month, he has a new book coming out, and he asked me to write a few chapters in it. I would never have thought at the time that I would end up even meeting him, let alone writing with him.”

Before Aikido, he did judo, like every other kid. But Dr. Erard felt weary of being the same as other kids. As a kid, he always sought out eccentric activities which nobody else did.

cereal trains. I remember one time, I was supposed to push one of those huge train wagons with a truck, I got a little bit carried away, and I went a bit too far; too fast. And the wagon bumped into the other one so hard that it fell in on its side off the tracks. So we had to rent a big crane. Can you imagine the size? To put that thing back on the track. And from that point on they called me the “Station Master” [laughs].”

6. What made you come to Japan?

So let’s just take a break, and think about everything we just learned. Dr. Erard was a shy student

at school, who was

also part of the ‘unpopular’ group, and played Dungeons and Dragons every Wednesday. Wouldn’t it seem unlikely that he would end up in a wheelchair one day? Well, that’s exactly what happened here:

“I had a group of friends, and we used to go scuba diving, climbing, caving, all kinds of stuff. And we had a leader. He used to be an instructor in the army, so he had all that gear. One day, we went mountain climbing in the winter. A plaque of snow broke, took me with it, and I ended up sliding over 300

me, suddenly, that one possibility of going to Japan didn't sound as unreasonable anymore. So in a way, difficulties and things happening to you that don't go according to plan, sometimes highlight a path that may be important to you.”

7. Why did you become a teacher?

5. What was your first job?

Times were really different back then, many teachers can agree. When mobile phones, WiFi, and Starbucks didn’t exist yet. So what other part-time jobs would there be? Let alone, in a small, bourgeois city?

“We were not very well-off, so I worked in a silo,” says Dr. Erard, “They're those big, big towers full of grain And we did some interesting stuff. I took my license to drive a forklift truck there. Other times, we had to jump into the silo to clean it up. Once you had jumped in from the top, the only way out was to push all the grain in the big screw pump at the bottom, so that it would reveal the exit of the silo a few meters down. With all the dust, that would be completely forbidden now due to the risk of lung disease, but also explosion. We also operated

he actually finds enjoyment in his. In summary, his life was a whirlwind that eventually brought him here, and he doesn’t regret it; not one bit!

8. What is your favorite memory while working here?

Ever since he was a kid, Dr. Erard had the lifelong dream of visiting Japan. “There was no doubt in my mind,” he said. “And I must say that a lot of the things that I did in my life kind of made sure that it led to that. For instance, one of the big reasons why I did my PhD was that I felt it would be a lot easier to find a job in Japan. And turns out, it did. So I had to wait a bit. I wanted to go earlier, but I felt I needed to get my studies done. However, I had some issues with some of the work that had been done before I started, that was not what it was supposed to be. It made my own research much more difficult, so I ended up having to work for 4.5 years instead of 3, with no additional funding.”

Unfortunately, the project itself closed a few doors for him. The work was going to get patented, however, that meant he couldn’t publish anything. But if he couldn't publish, he couldn’t find a job either. So because of that, he explained, “I thought that my options were closing. There was no obvious path for me to go to. And you know, when the doors closed on

Dr. Erard didn’t really see himself becoming a professor of plant molecular biology. Therefore, as soon as he finished his lab work he came to Japan and worked in a French restaurant in Ginza for a while, and during breaks, he wrote his thesis. After looking for a slightly easier job, he was hired at Saint Maur. “There was a biology teacher here who went on maternity leave. I had taught at universities, so I had some experience teaching. I became a teacher because Ms. Thomas (the former head of school) and Mrs. Endo gave me a chance very early in my career. I was only planning to stay here for a few months, finish my thesis, and then go back to academia, but I just realized quite quickly that for the first time in my life, I was actually happy to go to work. So I thought, ‘Well, man, if you can find an activity in your life that you have to do 8 hours per day, and you're happy doing it, that must be something.”

After many years of toil, Dr. Erard is glad that he didn’t leave his job because, unlike many people who don’t enjoy their jobs,

He mentioned that one of his favorite memories is a fantastic interaction with students who were doing their IAs. He liked to see the students that were so motivated and he and his students looked at ways to fix things and to get things going.

“One thing that I remember–I don't know if it's the best memory, but it's a significant memory–is I never really used to see plays and games. But I remember one year, I went to the talent show for the first time. And I used to perceive the students through the lens of biology only. So, you know, you are either a good biologist or a bad biologist.

The story of a man who fulfilled his childhood dream.

affection towards Aikido.

And therefore, a good student or a bad student, in my narrow view, right? And then I turned up to the Talent Show and I saw those students who I didn't really have high regard for, academically. It hit me in the face, I saw talent and competence, and a completely different aspect of them that made me realize, ‘Oh man, I missed a lot of things about that person’.”

Dr. Erard’s first Talent Show actually taught him to deal with students in a more holistic manner, not only zeroing in on biology. That is why he turns up to the Talent Show every single year because that keeps him in that state of mind that there is a lot more talent within students apart from their talent in Biology class.

9. What advice would you like to give to students?

Finally…the most important part of this article!

So listen up folks; you’re about to hear some words of wisdom.

“You have to be able to define what it is you're about. And what the non-negotiable things are that make you happy. That’s what is going to give you the energy to get things done. And then, you do what you have to do to pursue those goals. It can be something big, like a professional career, or it can be a place you want to visit or a person you want to meet. And reflect on what a happy life is for you. Find what intrinsically motivates you and don't mind the smaller things that tend to make you unhappy. Focus on where you spend your energy. And ideally, you want to use your energy to build things, not break them. That’s why I don’t like competition, because like the geneticist Albert Jacquard said: ‘The moment I become a “winner” in a competition, I have automatically created many “losers”. My life

FINE ARTS ART ● IB Visual Arts Exhibition Dates

Be sure to visit the art room and check out the IB Visual Arts exhibitions all throughout March!

PUZZLES

Heart Hunt

cannot boil down to creating losers around me, I’d rather work with you than against you. And another thing, within that, is to find intrinsic motivation. Whatever you're learning, you have to become interested in that particular aspect of the curriculum. Is there something in there that's hitting a little closer to home, something that you can connect to? Having that will make it easier to spend the time and make it more enjoyable. It's going to be easier with IB and afterward because you're going to start to select your courses and therefore, you'll get a bit more agency over what you do, but at the moment, there are many things you have to do. So get the taste for knowledge for its own sake, it will serve you well.”

Thank you Dr. Erard for being an insightful, well-spoken Teacher of the Month!

Can you spot these 14 hearts hidden throughout the issue?

*Not drawn to scale

Medium:

SUPERVISORS: MR FEEZELL & MR ALEXANDER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & LAYOUT

DESIGNER: EMMA NARVAEZ (G12)

-EmmaNarvaez

WRITERS/EDITORS:

EMILY BEYER (G11)

JUNLIN CHU (G9)

PAULINE GAUDEFROY (G9)

HANA LANG (G12)

MARIA CAROLINA MARTINS (G12)

SAKURA MYA (G10)

EMMA NARVAEZ (G12)

TROIS ONO (G12)

JULIA TANAKA (G11)

SOPHIE WYNKOOP (G10)

DANNA YOON (G9)

The Five Love Languages Test

By Dr. Gary Chapman

Read each pair of statements and circle the one that best describes you with a pencil. Once you finish, add up the totals of each letter to discover your most compatible love languages, and erase your markings.

1. A. I like to receive notes of affirmation from you.

E. I like it when you hug me.

2. B. I like to spend one‐on‐one time with you.

D. I feel loved when you give me practical help.

3. C. I like it when you give me gifts.

B. I like taking long walks with you.

4. D. I feel loved when you do things to help me.

E. I feel loved when you hug or touch me.

5. E. I feel loved when you hold me in your arms.

C. I feel loved when I receive a gift from you.

6. B. I like to go places with you.

E. I like to hold hands with you.

7. A. I feel loved when you acknowledge me.

C. Visible symbols of love (gifts) are very important to me.

8. E. I like to sit close to you.

A. I like it when you tell me that I am attractive.

9. B. I like to spend time with you.

C. I like to receive little gifts from you.

10. D. I know you love me when you help me.

A. Your words of acceptance are important to me.

11. B. I like to be together when we do things.

A. I like the kind words you say to me.

12. E. I feel whole when we hug.

D. What you do affects me more than what you say.

13. A. I value your praise and try to avoid your criticism.

C. Several inexpensive gifts mean more to me than one large expensive gift.

14. E. I feel closer to you when you touch me.

B. I feel close when we are talking or doing something together.

15. A. I like you to compliment my achievements.

D. I know you love me when you do things for me that you don’t enjoy doing.

16. E. I like for you to touch me when you walk by.

B. I like when you listen to me sympathetically.

17. C. I really enjoy receiving gifts from you.

D. I feel loved when you help me with my home projects.

18. A. I like when you compliment my appearance.

B. I feel loved when you take the time to understand my feelings.

19. E. I feel secure when you are touching me.

D. Your acts of service make me feel loved.

20. D. I appreciate the many things you do for me.

C. I like receiving gifts that you make.

21. B. I really enjoy the feeling I get when you give me your undivided attention.

D. I really enjoy the feeling I get when you do some act of service for me.

22. C. I feel loved when you celebrate my birthday with a gift.

A. I feel loved when you celebrate my birthday with meaningful words (written or spoken.)

23. D. I feel loved when you help me out with my chores.

C. I know you are thinking of me when you give me a gift.

24. C. I appreciate it when you remember special days with a gift.

B. I appreciate it when you listen patiently and don’t interrupt me.

25. B. I enjoy extended trips with you.

D. I like to know that you are concerned enough to help me with my daily task.

26. E. Kissing me unexpectedly makes me feel loved.

C. Giving me a gift for no occasion makes me feel loved.

27. A. I like to be told that you appreciate me.

B. I like for you to look at me when we are talking.

28. C. Your gifts are always special to me.

E. I feel loved when you kiss me.

29. A. I feel loved when you tell me how much you appreciate me.

D. I feel loved when you enthusiastically do a task I have requested.

30. E. I need to be hugged by you every day.

A. I need your words of affirmation daily.

Add Total Number of Answers Here: