Bosphorus Chronıcle Bosphorus Chronıcle

If you are curious about our new headmaster, read ‘‘Interview with Anthony
Jones’’ by Göksenin Akdeniz (page 3)
Do NASA, space, universe and space
travel interest you?, read ‘‘NASA: A Human
Adventure’’ on Page 5 by Leyla Ok and Nazlı
Güngör
For some ideas about travel destinations, read ‘‘Travel Page” by Aslıhan Asil and
Paulina Schenk (page 10)
Do you want to learn about the hectic
process behind student schedules? Are
you curious about how your schedule is
arranged?, read “Making of a Student Timetable’’ by Mert Dilek on Page 12
Bosphorus Chronıcle
JANUARY 2010
DECEMBER
2012
Issue
Issue
Bosphorus Chronicle is the quarterly newspaper of Robert College
Go Tibet Goes to Nepal
Birce Alkın
Ezgi Su Korkmaz
“It was disappointing not to go to Tibet,”
Türkoğlu explained, “especially after a whole
year of preparation, but it was surprising that
the program went so well. It was a very busy
schedule.”
The trip to the alternate destinations, Nepal
and Bhutan was much better than they ex-
Going there made me realize how luxurious
our lives really are.”
Nepal’s economic condition was not the only
thing that surprised the travelers. Another
very impressive feature they noted was the
Grand Happiness concept. People are not
classified by their material welfare. Rather,
their friends for a while to show them that
they love them regardless of their gender.
Another thing that I found really interesting
was the Nepalese tradition of cremating the
dead rather than burying them.”
After spending a week in Nepal, the group
continued on to Bhutan to spend the next six
Going on a school trip is always fun. What is
even better is going on a school trip to Nepal. Last summer seven Robert College students had a wild journey to one of the most
interesting places on earth and they could not
have loved it more.
For Türkoğlu it was like a scene from a fairytale. “Everyone was so peaceful and happy. They had their own rules and they were
open and welcoming towards everyone. Both
in Nepal and Bhutan it was easy to see the effects of Buddhism everywhere.”
The magnificent temples in
both countries were not the
only places where the marks of
Buddhism were seen. “It was
not unusual to see people meditating in the streets, turning
around the sithas. You could
hear hymns from shops and
see big statues of Buddha,” reported Türkoğlu. The Nepalese
culture is a healthy product of
Hinduism and Buddhism. The
famous image of the dot on the
forehead is a mark of good luck
originally from the Hindu religion, yet numerous Buddhists
carry the same mark.
“Each moment was so exciting,” says Ceren
Türkoğlu (L10), “even the plane ride. After
getting off the plane, we boarded another
plane. This one was very small and was very,
very shaky. It was definitely an exhilarating
ride.”
The school trip was planned by teachers Layne Mayard and Kristine Massey and
formed as an after-school club on Mondays.
The club was named “Go-Tibet!” as that was
the original destination; however, after certain complications the route changed to Nepal and Bhutan.
Nepal is not the easiest place to travel. The
students had to familiarize themselves with
Nepal before even going there. As the original plan was going to Tibet, Ms. Mayard’s initial intention was to teach Tibetan culture,
history, food and even a bit of writing. At the
beginning of the year members of the club
were already discussing how hard their physical exercises were. The club functioned according to the Tibet plan for the whole year,
yet the plan had to change.
unique experience to witness it in Nepal.
Nepal group with the natives
pected. After the nine hour plane ride, when
the club members set foot in Nepal everyone
was struck with severe culture shock. According to Türkoğlu, “It is as different as it can be.
they are classified by how happy they are.
“Everything was so interesting,” said Türkoğlu.
“In Nepal, holding hands is an indication of
friendship. People always hold the hands of
days there. Perhaps the thing that surprised
them the most was to see how Buddhism
worked in its natural habitat. It was intriguing to study Buddhism in Turkey, but it was a
As the result of the poverty in
both countries, simple comforts are far cheaper than in
any other touristic venue. It is
possible to have good dinner
for three or four dollars. While
inflation has a strong influence
in this aspect, the atmosphere
of the place does not rely on material
goods and is a reminder that happiness is not
always expensive.
Forget About CVs, What Is Your Klout Score?
Fulya İdil
Keskin
It was one of those days when I sat down in
a café, chilling with friends. Unintentionally,
I started listening to the conversation of the
customers nearby. One asked the other about
something called “the Klout score” that she
recently heard about from the news in the US.
It grabbed my attention; I googled to discover
its meaning and came up with some information that might particularly interest us teenagers. Admit it; many of you grab your smart
phone in the morning, even before you wash
your face,to catch up with what happened
while you were asleep. As those might understand easily, the Klout score is a system that
exposes the absolute power of social media. It
observes and measures everyone’s state and
power in social networks and decides whether one is a passive observer or an active phenomenon. It is also noteworthy for being the
only social marketing tool that mingles every
major social networking site, creating a great
range of impact.
vestigation. As for the figures, Barack Obama
currently holds the highest score, followed by
Justin Bieber.
Klout was founded 3 years ago in San Francisco. Briefly, it inspects the activity on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Foursquare, YouTube, Instagram, Flickr and Tumblr. And
what are the factors that affect the over-
Although you might think “never mind, I am
not into this Klout business,” it keeps following and evaluating your profiles. So, now that
a Big Brother is watching us beyond our control, we need to give greater importance to
sive social profile. Even further, some countries take a look at Facebook profiles of the
applicants before they issue visas, or they examine whether your digital profile is acceptable.
On the other hand, there are “Klout Perks”
which are prizes awarded by brands according to the influence created on social media.
Klout score
all score? Let’s take Twitter as an example.
Number of followers, number of tweets, content of tweets, how many times your tweets
are retweeted or favorited, images and links
shared – they are all included in this cyber in-
DECEMBER
December 2012
2012 Issue
Issue
our digital identity and outlook. For instance,
posting irrelevant photos or pointless tweets
just to score better is actually dangerous, as
ten or maybe twenty years later when you
apply for a job, you may have to face this abu-
Many restaurants, hotels or automobile companies reward their high-scored clients with
discounts, meals or even free vacations. As a
minor example, Audi shares exclusive wallpapers only with those who have Klout scores
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
higher than a certain number. Not only companies, but also some authors give away free
copies of their books to these e-powers. It
should be noted, however, that there is a criteria displayed in Klout’s website that limits
the eligibility of perks. It is simply being older than 18 and being in the range of interested companies.
In the future, no matter which profession
you choose to follow, it will not be possible
to shut your eyes to this application. One can
anticipate that business cards will not only
include profession, position, phone number,
address and e-mail, but also one’s Klout score.
1
NEWSBOSPHORUSCHRONICLENEWSNEWSNEWS
Film Academy
İpek
Ömercikli
As I headed to the club I had just joined, I felt
a little excited. This newly established “Film
Making Club” was a hot topic in our school, at
least among us ninth graders. I must be lucky
to join, I told myself as I walked the long corridor of Woods. I started walking faster because I was afraid that I would be late for the
first meeting. I entered the gloomy MMR2
and found out that I was the first one there,
except for Mr. Rick Hummel, one of the club
advisors. “Hi, Mr. Hummel,” I mumbled and
took one of the seats.
“First of all, we don’t call this a ‘club’,” Mr.
Hummel said when the session started. “This
is a ‘Film Academy.’” I really didn’t understand
why we had to call this club an ‘Academy’
Whatever, I thought. I am in.
In our first session we watched a part of a film
called “Dead Man” starring Johnny Depp. I
was sure that I was going to love it because he
was Johnny Depp, also known as Jack Sparrow. When we were discussing the movie, I
realized that it was actually really fun. And it
was inspiring that Mr. Hummel and the other club advisor, Mr. Jameson Vierling, tried to
teach us something unique, something different and useful.
We learned that we were going to shoot six
movies this year. It was a big project. But
how successful would we be with little space
and limited equipment? My answer was in
the editing room. Give me some water and
food, and I would live all my life in this room
all alone. The computers must be expensive,
I thought. And the keyboards were different
from ordinary ones; they were multi-colored.
I blamed myself for thinking that we would
have limited equipment because the cameras were brand new and too professional for
me to use.
The BC Staff
“Okay, see you next week, guys!” The
end had come, but none of us wanted to go because we were learning about new and fascinating techniques and equipment.
After several meetings, I was sure
that I had to pursue a career related to filmmaking, because it was
the most entertaining activity I had
ever experienced. RC Film Academy is a big opportunity. Writing
scripts,shooting movies, directing,
editing... All the opportunities are
provided and the teachers help the
members as attentively as they can.
I now understand why Mr. Hummel
called the club an “Academy”. It isn’t
a club one attends out of obligation.
It is an Academy that teaches the
participants how to be a director, an
actor, a creator. It is a place for one to
express his feelings simply by using a
camera and enjoying the experience.
Key to Education
SECTION EDITORS
Aslıhan Asil Esin Aşan Ali Murat Gali Setenay Gel Paulina Schenk
Layout Editor
Göksenin Akdeniz
Copy Editors
Ali Girayhan Özbay
Begüm Kilimcioğlu
Birce Alkın
Bita Koç
Deniz Şahintürk
Ece Selin Timur
Ege Bıçaker
Elif Naz Samancı
Ezgi Su Korkmaz
Fulya İdil Keskin
Gizem Ergün
Hilal Kocabıyık
Layout Assıstant
Umutcan Gölbaşı
Publisher: Birmat Matbaacılık
RC adına sahibi ve yazı işlerinden sorumlu müdürü: Güler Erdur
Bosphorus Chronicle is published monthly during the academic year by Robert College students. We welcome letters to the editor,
feedback, and articles by students. However, we reserve the right to edit all materials for reasons of appropriateness of length.
Give your submissions to the advisor or one
of the editors or send it to us via e-mail.
All photographs published are taken by
the writer unless otherwise credited.
How to contact us:
By mail: Robert College, Arnavutkoy 34345 Istanbul, Turkey.
By e-mail: bosphoruschronicle@gmail.com
Yerel Süreli Yayın
Advısors
Carolyn Callaghan
Moira Lang
2
Edıtorıal Assıstants
Hande Güven
Lara Margaret Güneri
Mert Dilek
Writers
Ali Girayhan Özbay
Ali Murat Gali
Aslıhan Asil
Barış Heybeli
Begüm Kilimcioğlu
Beril Erdoğdu
Berk Eroğlu
Birce Alkın
Bita Koç
Buse Oldaç
Deniz Şahintürk
Ece Selin Timur
Ece Toprak
Ege Bıçaker
Ege Ersü
Elif Naz Samancı
Esin Aşan
Ezgi Su Korkmaz
Fulya İdil Keskin
Gizem Ergün
Göksenin Akdeniz
Hande Güven
Hilal Kocabıyık
İnci Serdar
İpek Ömercikli
İrem Turgut
Lal Tüzman
Lara Margaret Güneri
Leyla Ok
Mert Dilek
Mert Uşaklı
M. Miraç Süzgün
Naz Duru Mola
Nazlı Güngör
Paulina Schenk
Setenay Gel
Sıla Göral
Vera Can
Yasemin Kirişçioğlu
Begüm
Kilimcioğlu
This year, Robert College is offering a new
club to students: Robert College Key Club
(RCKC). Key Club is an international club that
was originally founded in the United States.
The International Key Club is one of the largest and oldest service programs for high
school students. Students whose goal is to
teach leadership through helping and supporting schools in need and to improve the
education system lead the program. Since
RCKC is a brand new club, it is not ready to
be a member of Key Club International yet.
RCKC will be similar to a Community Involvement Project (CIP) concentrating on children’s education, but with
slight differences. As widely known, CIPs
only last for a limited period of time, but
RCKC will choose a school and continue working with the same school for a couple of years. RCKC is aiming to build a com-
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
munity with the chosen school by working school is in need of a library, we shall start a
with the same school for a longer period. book campaign throughout the school. If the
school needs painting, we will get in contact
RCKC was started with student initiawith the paint manufacturers and find voltion. The student leaders of this club, Tayunteers to paint the school on weekends. If
is Arslan and Zeki Safak Ekmekçi, contactthe students in that school need peer coached Tulu Derbi (who is now the advisor of
ing, we will look for other RC students willthe club) and told her about their plans.
ing to help us out.” After deciding on the
Ms. Derbi, an advisor for RKANEP since 2007
needs and the requirements, RCKC memand involved in educational CIPs, was rebers will start planning how they can help
ally supportive about opening the club.
make the school a better place for education.
Eight members have signed up for RCKC this RCKC is planning to have bake sales, second
year. The club holds meetings every Monday hand goods sales, or sales at concerts in orafter school, during which the aims and the fu- der to raise funds for the needs of the school.
ture plans are discussed. Tulu Derbi states that
Since other social service clubs like the Braille
the afterschool time is not enough; therefore,
Club and the Kızılay Club do not exist anythey will start using the weekends as well.
more, establishing a club like RCKC was a
At the beginning of the new school year, necessity at Robert College. In a couple of
RCKC chose the school with which they will years, RCKC will be fully established and opwork the whole year, and their first visit to erational, and RCKC will start working in cothe school was planned for after the Bayram operation with the CIP Office. RCKC members
holiday. Tulu Derbi summarizes their future are planning to turn the club into a CIP after
plans, stating “We shall start with visiting the being registered with the International Key
school to determine their needs and expecta- Club. We look forward to seeing RCKC work
tions. Then we shall form our plans depend- with the International Key Club in order to
ing on our observations. For example, if the make significant changes in schools in need.
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
January 2008 Issue
NEWSNEWSNEWSBOSPHORUSCHRONICLENEWS
Interview with Anthony Jones
Göksenin
Akdeniz
As the 2012 – 2013 school year commenced,
Robert College welcomed Anthony Jones as
the new headmaster. Bosphorus Chronicle
brings you an interview with Mr. Jones, elaborating on his life before coming to RC, his
advice to students, and his experiences as a
teacher and administrator.
Bosphorus Chronicle: Can you shortly summarize your life before RC?
Anthony Jones: I was born in England. When
I was fourteen my family moved to America.
Soon after university I came back to Europe.
I worked mostly in international schools, but
I also worked in a French public school. Before I came to Robert College, I was at an international school in Washington D.C. Actually, I have not spent much time in America in
the last 25 years. I lived in France for 8 years,
in Switzerland for 6 years etc. I started as a
teacher: English, History, and Philosophy. I
just loved the opportunity to teach different
subjects. After 10 years of teaching, I started
to do extra things: athletic director, dean of
students, assistant principal, and department
head. After a while I became a principal.
BC: Can you elaborate on your high school
and college life?
AJ: High school was very enjoyable. I think
in both high school and university the same
thing happened. In 9th and 10th grades, I
was very insecure, didn’t quite know what I
was doing and what I was supposed to do. I
didn’t understand how things worked or why
I was doing this and that. At university, I had
the same problem: I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I was not sure about the choices
I was making. I didn’t get much guidance. But
in both schools, the last two years were very
different from the first two years because I
began to understand what I needed to do and
wanted to do. Both high school and university were really enjoyable once I understood
those things. I went to high school in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, which was quite a change coming
from London. Actually I liked it a lot. It was
very much like being in a foreign country. It
was almost like I spoke another language.
None of my references worked. People talked
differently. All the sports were different. Everything was a bit of a change. I went to a
very special high school which believed in accepting the greatest variety of students imaginable: rich, poor, black, white, Asian, Puerto Rican, Indian, Hispanic, North American
students. It was a very positive, kind experience. For undergraduate, I went to Yale University, and I tried different things like History
and English for graduate school. I didn’t finish
graduate school programs partially because I
didn’t know what I was going to do after. A
few years later I went to graduate school at
Oxford.
RC: What motivated you to work in a foreign
country?
AJ: I don’t have a home country. This will
probably happen to many of you in your life.
You will know places very intensely for several years. If anyone lived in France from 1987
to 1995, I can have a very in-depth conversation with them about politics, music, culture
and events. The problem is that I left in 1995
and France became something else. I can
have incredible conversations with people
who lived in England in the 70’s. I can’t talk to
them about life in 80’s because I wasn’t there.
I am where I want to be. I enjoy the world.
I think the quicker we think of ourselves as
world citizens the better this planet will be.
It’s a failure not to understand that you can
both be patriotic and still care about other
countries.
BC: How did you hear about RC?
AJ: It is difficult to say exactly when. When
you work in international schools, you see
a lot of teachers from other schools. Actually, I already knew three teachers from Robert
College who worked here 20 - 30 years ago.
Often, you get into conversations about the
schools in which you worked. All three of the
people I worked with said that Robert College
was the best place they had ever worked. It
is a very strong recommendation. It also hap-
pened that in 1998 I was at one of these conferences where they hire teachers. I don’t remember if Robert College was there, but I
remember getting a job offer from a school
in Istanbul. So I said to some of my friends
that I had an offer from a school in Istanbul.
They always asked whether it was Robert College. After a while, it doesn’t take long before
you realize that this is the place that teachers who know Turkey want to work at. That
stays in your mind. Secondly, when you get
to be my age, you realize that there are two
or three places you want to work. The question is, “Where are these places?” I came
up with a list of probably ten schools in the
world where I would want to work. Robert
College was one of them. Robert College is a
very unusual place. If I had the power to invent a school tomorrow, I would use the Robert College model. I realize that there are a lot
of schools in Turkey who actually have imitated and tried to become Robert College. That is
very flattering. That’s a standard of excellence
Robert College has that other schools want to
use to create something similar.
BC: Can you compare your expectations with
what you have so far experienced?
AJ: I have visited Istanbul four times. I was
here for a conference with heads of schools
in April 2011. Then I came again in May 2011
because I was interviewing for the job. I came
again in January 2012 and June 2012. I was
very fortunate to be hired at a school that believed in having me come before I took the
job to know as much as I could about the job.
In a way, I have expectations that are now a
year and a half old. I feel like I have been coming here for a year and a half now. I saw a student the other day and I felt like I had known
him for two years now. It was a gradual shift.
Nothing I have experienced here has been
disappointing or frustrating.
BC: What did you find most interesting about
Istanbul?
AJ: I love walking. To me, great cities of the
world invite you to walk. They are like mystery stories. Istanbul is one of the great cities of the world because it makes you want
to walk. I could spend the next fifteen years
in this city. I love the boats on the Bosphorus.
BC: The extended metaphor of Olympics in
your opening speech was unconventional. Is
there any special reason behind that choice?
AJ: I am glad that you used that word because it’s not that I don’t respect convention
but I think the problem with communication is that you forget sometimes to just be
original. I know students are writing to universities now in their applications. They always think about what the university wants
to hear without realizing that actually if you
look inside yourself there is a good chance
you will find something that says a lot about
you. It came to my mind that this was the
summer of Olympics. It only happens once
every four years. There are people who risk
huge amounts of effort for a ten second race.
Who are these crazy people? Well, in a way,
you are, and I am. I took a risk and you have
taken a risk by coming to Robert College. Our
whole lives are based on risks. Why is it that
Usain Bolt loves taking a risk? It is because
his whole life prepared him for that. I think
that is the message I would want students to
have. You, everyday, take a risk. You ask for a
challenge. That is preparing you for your life.
the exam. I am going to prepare to the point
where I don’t need to be stressed.“
BC: Is there anything else you would like to
say to the student body?
AJ: The Board of Trustees asked me when I
visited what the strongest impression I had of
Robert College was. I said that so much of it
was by reputation. You can’t see reputation.
I know there are famous people who went
to Robert College but I don’t know them. I
know the students are very intelligent. You
can show me a sheet of paper that shows
acceptances, but you still can’t see it. What
I saw was “laughter.” I have been in a hundred schools in my life and I have never heard
the kind of laughter I hear in Robert College. I
think that’s a sign of health.
We can all
work hard and still have fun. I know in a few
months people will be tired and there will be
more stress, but right now, my fondest relationship with Robert College is listening to
the laughter. It says something about the
community. If the whole day I haven’t smiled
or laughed, it’s a bad day. It has been dull. It
hasn’t stimulated my brain. I just hope everyone can keep up their enjoyment of each other and laughter.
BC: Do you have any advice for juniors or seniors who are studying for the OSS or the SAT?
AJ: The best thing to suggest is that they
should learn to control their stress so that it
is a positive one. I played American football,
which is a strange thing to do. It was very
stressful. I used to have the ball, and there
were eleven people trying to kill me. So, one
would ask, “Why does someone in his right
mind do that for fun?” I learned that I needed to manage my stress or else the game became too important or I became so stressful I
couldn’t perform. I always remember that if
I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t going to play well.
It is a strange contradiction, but it was positive nervousness that made me in control. I
would hope that the students recognize what
I mean by that. To be able to control your own
performance under stress is essential. You
can’t change the questions that they give you,
but you can change the way that you are going to feel about answering them. That is very
important. I would encourage them to say:
“This exam exists for a purpose. I can’t change
RC Headmaster Anthony Jones
Deutscher Kaffeeklatsch with Janelle Bondor
Elif Naz
Samancı
“Which clubs should I choose?
I don’t have a club-time club!
What are you guys choosing for afterschool?”
And so on...
Those conversations all ended when RC students finally decided on their clubs for this
year. On the long list of possibilities was
a new and definitely exciting club-time
club that German-speaking students could
choose: the German Conversation Club.
The founder of the club is the German teacher, Janelle Bondor. Unlike the other clubs,
“the Kaffeeklatsch” is not taking place in a
regular classroom; the members usually meet
in Frau Bondor’s home, and there are often
trips to cafés in Bebek, Ulus and Kuruçeşme.
They practice their German while drinking
tea and tasting Frau Bondor’s homemade delicious goodies.
The club has a friendly and warm atmosphere
and the conversations are about almost anything. The members might find themselves
talking about being a famous singer or popular TV programs. The club differs from German
classes in one other way: There is no reading
or writing, and even better, there is definitely
no homework! There are no strict rules of the
club, except using only German, or at least
trying to do your best. That is why only the
students who completed their second year of
German are accepted into the club. On a similar note, even on the club description list and
homeroom announcements, German is used.
Frau Bondor explained her inspiration for this
original club: “The idea for the Kaffeeklatsch
was based on a club at my former school.
With interested students of all levels of German, we gathered some evenings at a café
and we spoke only in German. It was a great
way for them to practice and their level of
spoken German improved dramatically. This
tradition continued for several years and it
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
reached a point where even the students who
had graduated joined the meetings when
they were home from university or the military. I thought such a chance would appeal
to Turkish students as well. We are so busy in
our lives that we miss to share our stories and
opinions with the others. In this club, we try
to complete what is missing: It just happens
to be in German!”
Some students might remember that last
year there was the club Deutscher Stammtisch, with Frau Bondor and Frau Yıldırım.
However Stammtisch was focused more on
the German culture and traditions, but less
on speaking. This year the Kaffeeklatschhas
created an excellent opportunity to practice
German and to improve language skills, without having worries of exams or grades. Nur
zum Spaß!
Janelle Bondor
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
3
NEWSBOSPHORUSCHRONICLENEWSNEWSNEWS
Welcome to Robert College
Ege Bıçaker
There are countless wonders. What will the
teachers be like? Will the other students be
welcoming? Will it be hard to adapt to the
new environment and become an RC community member? The first day of school is full
of wonders not only for students but also for
the new teachers. Two of our newest faculty members are English teacher Carolyn Callaghan and Physical Education teacher Greg
Pinto. Here is how these two see this experience:
Is it your first time in a school outside the
States?
Ms. Callaghan: No, before Turkey I spent one
semester in Delhi, India, three years in Nepal
and one year in Kuwait.
Mr. Pinto: Yes, this is my second job after
graduation. I spent five years in the States before.
How have you found RC students so far?
Ms. Callaghan: My AP literature students are
really impressive; they are very bright and
dedicated, it’s a real pleasure to work with
them.
Mr. Pinto: I find them very smart and willing
to learn. They are polite and respectful.
When was your first visit to Istanbul, what attracted you here? Have you been to other cit-
ies?
Ms. Callaghan: I visited Istanbul about a year
and a half ago. Since I was coming from Kuwait, Istanbul seemed cold and rainy. I fell in
love with the tulips immediately. I only visited Istanbul. I heard of Robert College from
RC teachers at a St. Petersburg MUN conference. Their comments on students were very
positive.
Mr. Pinto: For the last seven years, I have been
helping to run the RC summer camp. First
I was a counselor, and then I became a part
of the core staff. It is the best summer school
in Turkey. Here at RC I see some of my former
students. One came to me and said, “ Hey,
Mr. Pinto, do you remember me?” He turned
out to be a student of mine from the summer
school. I needed a change and I moved here.
Istanbul is surely a great city to live in. I also
visited Fethiye, Bodrum, Çeşme and Antalya.
Besides academics, what are your interests
that can contribute to the RC community?
Ms. Callaghan: I’m interested in ecology. In
my former school, I was the advisor of a club
called “Roots and Shoots” where we aimed to
foster awareness about how to save the planet. We were trying to increase recycling and
reduce smoking; we planted trees. Experts in
the field would come and give lectures. If RC
students are interested in this topic, I can support them. Of course, the projects should be
initiated by students.
Mr. Pinto: I’m interested in hiking and biking;
I am willing to participate and help any kind
of sport event. I just love to be around RC students, I like weekend events and residential
events. I want to expand the fitness room; yet
it costs money. More students interested in
their health will be better for the community.
Of course it’s also better for their personal life.
What do you think about the RC community?
Ms. Callaghan: It’s a great pleasure to be here.
I believe students here have a sense of pride.
They care for their community. In my canteen duty, I saw that they were cleaning the
tables; they respect their environment. I feel
very welcomed here.
Mr. Pinto: I’m very excited to be here; I’m full
of school spirit. I believe RC is a great school;
it can become even better. If I see you walk-
New Havens of Food
İnci Serdar
In Robert College, there are a lot of clubs to
choose from during club-time. This includes
the Gourmet Club in its first year. This club
was founded by Şebnem İtil, a teacher of English, for people who love eating, cooking and
are interested in food culture. The school facilities were not suitable for a Cooking Club,
leading her to found a club with similar principles but a different approach. The club
plans on going abroad to places such as Ita-
ly, Russia, Paris, Crete, discovering new havens of food, if the budget is available. Another plan is to have a competition in school,
the winner of which will accompany the club
on their trips to restaurants or travels abroad.
A few professional cooks, including the highly acclaimed Turkish cook, Özgür Chef, will be
invited as guest speakers.
the food preparation, club members eat and
comment on the food. In every session, a
student presents the food that he/she is interested in. It is a good opportunity for students to acquaint themselves with different
cultures, as many members have visited places far away, such as Cuba and China, and tasted most of the cultural food there.
The club encourages students to take cooking courses; Macro Center, for example, is a
great place for starting to learn how to cook
according to Itil. In each club meeting, one of
the students brings food and prepares it. So,
if the school approves it, students may cook
in the kitchen of the school’s cafeteria. After
Surprisingly, most students’ favorite food is
Sushi. Some of the students say that they
have never eaten McDonalds before and
most of the students hate fast food. Some of
the students’ parents are more interested in
food culture, though the students tend to be
equally enthusiastic about learning different
food cultures. In fact, İtil was surprised about
the level of enthusiasm to join the club. She
expected 10 to 15 students, but 24 students
signed up, most of whom are 11th graders.
To warm up in the first weeks of club, they
were discussing where to travel and what
to eat, their first trip being to a doner shop
in Beşiktaş. If the club continues as well as it
does now, they are willing to create a blog
and have an independent website. With a solid start, the club aims to become an extraordinary opportunity for food lovers.
A new haven of food
RC Welcomes Ms. B!
enough to get a haircut.
Hande
Güven
Theatre teacher Darcy Bakkegard, or as most
of her students call her Ms. B, is one of Robert College family’s newest members. Following the departure of Mrs. Şamlı, Ms. Bakkegard is the new face of RC Theatre Company.
Some of the students may know her from Creative Arts, while others know her as the Modern Drama teacher, but from her favorite ice
cream flavor to her first impressions on Istanbul, this is your chance to get to know her
better.
-Where are you from?
I’m from Valley City, North Dakota. It’s a town
of about 8000 people, and I grew up there. I
was also teaching in Fargo, North Dakota before coming to Istanbul.
-How are you adjusting to Istanbul after living in North Dakota?
I learn something new almost every week,
just something that’s different--not better,
not worse. I certainly think there are things
that I love about being here and things I miss
about being at home.
-What was the biggest culture shock for you?
I don’t know if it’s a culture shock, but for
me it’s difficult to be in a place where I know
very little of the language. I, kind of, feel like
a child sometimes. (laughs) You know, I had
to take someone with me to get my haircut
because I can’t communicate well enough in
Turkish. I can ask for basic things but it’s not
4
- What have you enjoyed the most about your
experience in Istanbul so far?
I really liked the city and the history. I’ve enjoyed going and seeing things. I like traveling in general; it felt like I was on a long vacation during which I still had to go to work
but I also got the chance to see and do beautiful things. North Dakota is only just about a
hundred years old as a state, so there are very
few things that are more than one hundred
years old. Even in the United States, there
aren’t a lot of things that are older than a couple hundred years. In Istanbul, it’s very different. There are buildings and customs that are
thousands of years old, so it’s been fun and
interesting to see and do things that I’ve only
seen in movies or read in books. That’s been
awesome. In general, people are very gracious, particularly when I try to speak Turkish. People seem so appreciative. I flew back
from Berlin over the Bayram and the stewardess spoke to me in English, and her English was perfect but I’ve been trying to practice my Turkish a little bit. She asked me if I
wanted the chicken or the beef, and all I
said was “Tavuk lütfen” and she clapped her
hands. She was so excited. She said, “Oh that’s
great. Your pronunciation is so good,” and she
was so complimentary and very patient. Turkish people are willing to help me and are patient when they realize that I’m a foreigner
who is trying to learn their language and adjust to the culture.
-Why did you decide to come to Turkey?
I wanted to experience something different,
to stretch my mind and my teaching skills.
I felt I was ready to undertake a bigger and
challenge. I went to an international teaching fair in Iowa and Mr. Chandler had contact-
ed me beforehand, saying, “We have this theater position, would you look at it and let me
know what you think?” and I had emailed him
back to meet with him. At that point, I started to search about Turkey and I was like, “Oh
wow, it’s right in the middle of everything.”
And I had already known that but I hadn’t
really thought of it thoroughly. A four hour
plane ride and I could be almost anywhere
in any direction, in Europe, Africa and other
parts of Asia. When I read about the climate,
as a person from a state that is cold four or
five months a year, I thought “This would
be nice, not super-hot or super-cold.” Then
I started reading about Robert College, the
theater program and everything about here.
It kind of felt like someone had taken everything I’ve wanted in a job and put it all in one
place, and told me that this is what I got to
do. When Mr. Chandler offered me the job,
I said, “Well then, I really don’t know how
I cannot say yes.” At that point I had job offers from Indonesia, Ghana, Kuwait and Bulgaria, but the school, the location and the
job [in RC] itself fit into everything I wanted
to do. I never thought I would come back in a
full circle to teach the things I went to school
for, which were acting and directing. It’s just
a beautiful journey into a different world and
culture.
- You said you studied acting and directing;
what led you to pursue these two subjects?
It was something I really loved to do in high
school. I did theater and we had competitive
speech, in which you did different cuttings
from plays and books and interpreted them. I
was also very involved in our school’s Science
Olympiad team. My original declared major
when I started was Biology. My initial plan,
before my freshman year, was to major in Biology and still do theater and take theater
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
classes. But I was fortunate to be involved in
a summer stock theatre company in the same
college that I attended afterwards. I was a
high school apprentice for two summers before applying to the college. By the time the
program ended, I just knew that that’s what I
wanted to do. There was the logical side of my
brain that kept saying you can’t make a career
doing theatre, it’s very risky. After doing summer stock a few times, I couldn’t kid myself.
Certainly I could have made more money doing something else, but I’ve felt that doing
what I was passionate about and what I really
loved to do was just going to be better for me
in the long run.
consider such questions: What will you have
to sacrifice logistically and realistically? What
will you have to give up in order to achieve it?
You should make that decision after you think
thoroughly about each aspect of your choice.
If you are truly willing to say, “For the next
three years I’m fine with living out of a couple of suitcases. That’s what I want because
that’s what’s important to me,” then do it.
So, set your goals realistically. There is nothing more disappointing than looking back ten
years later and regretting.
- As you said earlier, studying arts or humanities in college seems to be a risky move for
many of us. What is your advice for those of
us who want to take a similar route?
Favorite book:
I think most importantly you have to trust
yourself. You have to look at the reality of
what you want. I had to make some concessions and decisions. I took a different path
after school because I knew about myself. I
don’t like a lot of uncertainty, and being an
actor comes along with a lot of uncertainty. I
like having a home, an apartment or a house
where I live or nest. I need some stability in
my life. I admire greatly the actors and actresses who can handle the instability of not
knowing where they will be living or what
they will be doing next month. So I took a different path. Even when I was a child, I always
wanted to be a teacher, but I thought I would
be teaching science. So, for those people who
are interested in the arts, I would say don’t
ever give up on what you want. Happiness is
what you make of it and you need to follow
your dreams. Those are all true, but also you
need to be realistic about those goals. If it’s
something you really want, you should also
Favorite movie:
Amelie
I had a hard time limiting it to three! But one
of my favorite books is The Sound andThe
Fury by William Faulkner.
Favorite musician:
I’ve been listening to a lot of Amy Winehouse
lately, but also more folk artists like Dan Bern
and Martin Sexton.
Favorite food:
Ice cream! (laughs) The gelato place in Arnavutkoy [Girandola] has this amazing flavor, Mojito. It’s so good! But typically I prefer
chocolate flavors. In the States there’s a flavor called Moose Track. It has peanut butter
cups and a thick chocolate swirl with vanilla
ice cream. That’s my favorite flavor.
Favorite song:
I would say now, “A Little Night Music” by Steven Sondheim.
Can you describe yourself in three words:
Absolutely not! (laughs) I think I would say:
energetic, curious, creative.
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
January 2008 Issue
NEWSNEWSNEWSBOSPHORUSCHRONICLENEWS
NASA: A Human Adventure
Leyla Ok
Nazlı Güngör
“Looking up to the night sky and wanting
to see stars and planets close up is a human
wish,” thought NASA. Dreamers had this wish,
pioneers worked for it, astronauts risked their
lives to achieve it. Welcome to the exhibition
“NASA: A Human Adventure” in the Marmara Forum.
“Five, four, three, two, one. We are ready
to lift off.” Visitors at the entrance of a rocket are invited on a short trip to discover NASA’s backstage. They walk through the corridors covered with metal pipes that resemble
a space shuttle. As they are trying to guess
what is going on, they find themselves in
a huge room. There the visitors encounter
the “dreamers” of space: Jules Verne, Chesley Bonestell, Georges Méliés and many others who dreamed and wrote about space.
They were the people who inspired scientists
and astronauts. The most popular “dreamer”
was Jules Verne who wrote a fantastic book,
“From Earth to the Moon,” telling the story of
a man on his way to the Moon. While Verne
was writing, he actually visualized outer
space, made the necessary calculations and
designed a module. This book was an inspiration for NASA. The Apollo V program has
aspects which are similar to the book; both
modules are called “Columbia” and both consist of three people.
Soviet Russia vs. the USA: That’s what the
next room is all about. One wall displays Soviet space history and another shows American space history. During the Cold War, the
Russians were the first to send a human to
space and Yuri Gagarin was the lucky one to
be selected. After the Soviet achievement,
American President John F. Kennedy made a
promise to American citizens to do the same.
Only 23 days later, the American astronaut
Alan Sheppard was sent to space. It’s possible to see his smiling face oppositethat of
Yuri Gagarin. There the visitors also have the
chance to watch his journey live from an antique television.
With the help of some arrows, the visitors
find themselves between walls full of equations and diagrams. Every theory and equation has the name of its owner near it. The pioneers on the wall are Konstantia Tsiolkovsky,
Robert H. Gaddard, Hermann Oberth, Wem-
her von Braun and Sergei Korolev. Tsiolkovsky, Gaddard and
Oberth are considered the fathers of rocketry, Braun is the
architect of the American Space
Programs and Korolev is the
founder of the Soviet Space program. Behind the walls, motors
are waiting. They are ready to
show visitors the physics, math
and labor they use. They were
made and studied by these pioneers and dreamers of space. In
this room, Titan I and Apollo Saturn V are also introduced. Produced by the Martin Company,
Titan I was the first engine and
the first true multi-stage missile
to be created. It was one of the
rarest engines that was reliable
enough to be ignited at altitude.
Then the visitors arrive at a big
room: Innovation. There they see
different parts of a space shuttle.
Straight ahead there is the Mission Control Center. As they approach, they see consoles and
various buttons. MCC manages all the missions of the space
shuttle from the beginning to
the end. MCC has flight controllers and it also controls the space
shuttle through ground control.
The Mission Control of the first
American space flights was in
Cape Canaveral, Florida. Some
examples of space missions that
were controlled by Cape Canaveral Space Center are the “Mercury” and “Gemini” programs.
Afterwards, the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, the
best known space center, took
over the mission. Since its establishment, it managed most of
the NASA space missions.
As the visitors continue their
trip, corridors lead them to the
endurance exhibition. It’s time
to learn about the astronauts’ Man on the moon
daily life in space. What do they
wear? What do they eat? The visitors can see high-altitude reconnaissance flights. Basic
the special space suits that can endure the space suits are required to have certain qualhard conditions in space and the extravehic- ities: balancing pressure, mobility, temperular activity (EVA)
ature control, protection, communication,
outside the spaceship. There are some oth- maneuvering, charging and waste manageer special suits for special missions, such as ment. Another main requirement for the astronauts is food. When the Russians first went
to space, they took vodka with them. However, it’s not possible to have a feast in the space
shuttle. Astronauts usually ate boiled meals
which are in much heavier containers than
the meal itself. In the early days, it was rough
to eat in space but nowadays astronauts are
able to have better meals.
The Next Generation: Future Exhibition. The
first thing the visitors see is the Hubble Space
Telescope, named after well-known astronomer Edwin Hubble. It was carried into the orbit of the Earth in 1990 and still keeps working. It’s one of the largest and the most
multifaceted space telescopes. The idea of a
space telescope began in 1923. The Hubble
Telescope was started in 1970 and launched
in 1990. In this exhibit, there is also a model
of the International Space Station. It is a human-made satellite, which is suitable for people to live in. The first component of ISS was
sent to space in 1998. The station has been
occupied for nearly 12 years. It is approximately 400,000 kg and it hasa 837 m² living
area. The last part of the exhibit is The Mars
Probe. The MALEN Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission will be sent in 2013.
It will explore the planet’s upper atmosphere,
ionosphere and intersections with sun. It will
be sent to find out why the climate changed
on Mars and whether or not it is habitable for
microorganisms and to gather more information about the history of the atmosphere.
NASA: A Human Adventure was a small exhibition of big dreams and successes. It shows
how NASA worked hard to achieve what
seemed impossible. Reading in a book or trying to learn about NASA and its features from
the internet is not as effective as going and
witnessing it first-hand. It is an opportunity that one may get only once in a lifetime.
Don’t forget that the exhibition is open until
December 22nd.
Inside of a space shuttle
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
5
EDITORIALBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEEDITORIALEDITORIAL
Ready, Set, Speak!
Ali Murat Gali
‘One language, one person’ would be the
most basic translation of the Turkish phrase
everybody knows. Directly, it means that
learning a new language creates the opportunities to get to know new people and subtly, it is an advertisement slogan for language
centers. However, the important question to
ask in this 21st century of limitless globalization and easy travel opportunities, is whether learning ‘1’ language is actually enough?
Come to think of it, English is an obligation
rather than a skill, but with many other countries rising in prominence, it will not be sufficient in years to come. Therefore, what languages, other than English, can we learn?
There are a variety of answers to this question, based on differing rationales. The first
and most simple one is learning a language
for pure pleasure. You may love the country
where the language is spoken, enjoy the personality of the citizens, or simply adore its
pronunciation. Two popular languages fall
in this category: French and Italian. The language of love and passion, French has conquered the hearts of many women and the
thoughts of myriad writers throughout the
centuries with its beauty and its power. There
are French-speaking regions around the
globe, but specifically in France, where one
cannot get a response if one doesn’t speak
French. Italian, on the other hand, comes for-
ward with its harmonious and rhythmic pronunciation. Friendly and joyful Italian people
are accompanied with their similarly characterized language that is mainly spoken in the
touristic land of Italy.
Specific work areas present the next major reason, as language can easily provide a
huge bonus in professional life. For example,
a businessman without Mandarin Chinese is
no different than the one without a tongue.
As China progressively takes over the global
community, the natives would prefer to handle jobs with people who speak their language. Also, with over 1 billion inhabitants
in China and over 3 million in the USA, it is
a language that will definitely connect you
with more than ‘one person’.
While some may argue whether Spanish or
French is the second most common language
around the globe, Spanish clearly holds this
position in the United States. The number of
Hispanic speakers is beyond 45 million, with
some who do not even speak any English.
Thus it is somewhat a requirement as a social
skill, but a definite necessity for future physicians who will encounter patients who will
not understand English.
As we move in our lives from high school to
university, these are logically the two easiest and most practical times to learn a new
language, either just to read a literary piece
in its original version or simply to show off.
One more thing you might want to consider
before you pick a new language is how easy
it will be to learn. German, for example, is
not difficult for an English speaker with the
common vocabulary it presents. For a better understanding, you might want to check
‘Lexical Similarity’ which presents an official
measurement of how close the vocabularies
of English and German are. Out of a possible score of 1(100%) it is 0.60 for English and
German, which is not as obvious as 0.89 for
Italian and French, but still pretty high.
So, whether you want to become a famous
opera singer or a CERN engineer, use your
time to make a permanent personal development and learn a new language!
Apart from this very popular language, the
language you should learn depends rather on
the location of your business. If Turkey is your
area of interest, Arabic and Russian are two
indispensable ones that will propel you all
the way to the top. These countries create the
basis of commerce and exchange in our country, providing endless work opportunities for
the speakers of their languages. Also, Arabic is prevalent throughout the Middle East
and Northern Africa; certain changes in dialect do not limit its usefulness. Russian, from
a similar perspective, is spoken in a huge area
where the former Soviet Union was located.
Unfortunately, these languages face prejudices of sounding rough and being very hard to
learn, which decrease their popularity.
Going back to my hypothesis, if the USA is
in your future plans,then Spanish is a must.
Once a symbol of nationality, languages have become a tool for international communication
Favorite Hangout Spots
Hande
Güven
We spend the majority of our weekdays on
or around the Robert College campus: waiting for the ferries, going to dinner after school
with friends, meeting up to complete projects
and assignments, or just going out on a Friday to get the stress of the week out of our
systems. Throughout my four years at Robert
College, I could not help but notice that some
of the spots were unofficial RC favorites: I encountered familiar faces whenever I went to
these places and at school there was talk of
this one famous dish of this one café or another. Here are some of our picks of RC’s favorite hangouts:
Ara Café
Destan Café
Taksim
Ortaköy
Tucked in a narrow side street on Istiklal
Street, Ara Café provides a cozy ambiance
with small, intimate tables and a diverse
menu. The eatery takes its name from the
famous photographer and the owner of the
café, Ara Guler. The photographs decorating
the walls and the placemats that cannot be
ignored are all works of Guler himself, and
there is a chance you will see him sitting at
one of the tables in the corner. What sets this
little café apart is the warm and familiar environment; whether you are there for a quick
coffee or for a meal, it is easy to come across
RC students and graduates alike. Next time
you are there, make sure to try the warm Indian tea and keep your eyes open, you might
recognize a few faces.
Although this café has three floors, the rooftop is undoubtedly the highlight of the experience. With a menu comprised of Ortakoy classics like kumpir, waffles and Turkish
coffee, as well as a great view, the place attracts many RC students on a Friday evening.
Although it is mostly quite crowded, it is possible to find seats - especially if you are with
one of the “regulars” of the establishment.
Great for both big groups of friends as well as
smaller parties, Destan is another RC favorite.
Kuruçeşme Kahvesi
Kuruçeşme
A popular spot, especially on the nights when
a football game is on, Kurucesme Kahvesi is
in walking distance from Robert College. You
can ‘do it all’ at this joint: Have your pick from
the extensive menu, play games like “okey”
and backgammon with your friends, watch
the heated game on the TV or just drink some
tea and enjoy the view...
been experienced with the staff and errors
have been corrected on the bill several times.
Nar Café
Everybody loves ice cream, but Girandola’s
gelatto has a special place in the hearts of
RC students. This little ice cream shop is right
next to another RC legend, Bodrum Manti in
Arnavutkoy. You can have your pick from a
myriad of flavors and then either sit at one
of the small tables outside or stroll along the
Bosphorus while enjoying your scoop of sugary deliciousness. Each of the flavors, be it the
quintessential Chocolate, Watermelon, Cookies or the renown Mojito, has its own fan base
and you can decide which one is your favorite
on your next visit to Girandola.
Rumelihisari
Situated near Rumelihisari, Nar Café has an
astonishing view of the Bosphorus and a delicious menu with quirky names for the dishes such as “Asli goes to New York”. Although
the café serves all three meals, it is most popular for its breakfast and brunch on the weekends. With surprisingly big portions, a wide
selection of fruits and outdoor seating, it is
the perfect location to have breakfast with
friends on a sunny Saturday morning. However, a word of advice: be sure to check the bill
at the end of your meal since mishaps have
Girandola
Arnavutköy
A Power Technique: Stereotype
Miraç
Süzgün
It is a universally acknowledged truth that
the world is not peaceful, equal or benevolent. While walking on a sidewalk, one might
see a crippled, poor and needy man sitting
on a bank. Although he does not present any
danger at all, the mind unconsciously marks
him as a dangerous person. This is a clear result of human nature, which also accounts
6
for envy, jealousy and desire. These, together, lead to inaccurate assumptions about individuals in different socioeconomic levels or, in
other words, “stereotypes” in modern times.
Since the creation of the universe, everything has existed in contrasts, such as black
and white or positive and negative. Even if
two substances are thought to be the same,
their qualities differentiate in some way.As
Immanuel Kant explains, “… In the case of
two drops of water, we may make complete
abstraction of all internal difference (quality
and quantity), and, the fact that they are intuited at the same time in different places is
sufficient to justify us in holding them to be
numerically different…”
As an organic substance, people also fit this
theorem: No one is exactly the same as someone else. However, these differences tend to
have a dividing impact only in humans. People compare themselves to others, create
groups with the ones that have similar characteristics, and start drawing sharp boundaries around their union. This process is continuous; even within groups separations follow
due to differences in color, race or ideas. The
problem then becomes evident, because people start to name the ones outside their limits
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
as ‘the others,’ the enemies.
For example, around the 15th century when
America was discovered, the Spanish and the
Portuguese were using Africans in slavery. In
time, whites started to use the word “Negro”
to describe poor black African-Americans.
Eventually, usage of the word increased and
peaked in the US at the time of Civil Rights
movement. One of the issues of this movement was the line drawn within society. It
was separated into blacks and whites, where
the latter was thought to be superior. However, a legitimate reason for this difference cannot be given.
According to Gordon W. Allport, “stereotypes are not in themselves a full explanation for rejection. They are primarily
images within a category invoked by the individual to justify either love-prejudice or
hate-prejudice.”Allport illustrates this point
by making a comparison between Jews and
Abraham Lincoln. His assertion is that if people were asked why they admire Abraham
Lincoln, they would list his qualities such as
being thrifty, hardworking, eager for knowledge, ambitious and successful in climbing the ladder of opportunity. Then, if people were asked what characteristics of Jews
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
January 2008 Issue
EDITORIALEDITORIALBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEEDITORIAL
they do not like, they would indicate similar
qualities. Of course, the terms might change
to negative ones such as tight-fisted, overambitious, pushing and radical. But the important fact remains that the personal qualities
admired in Abraham Lincoln are disparaged
in Jews.
A possible rationale for this revealing example is that as people were describing Abraham Lincoln, they were mentioning him as a
power figure, but while describing the Jews,
they were considering members of a different
religion.
Nevertheless, ideas about different groups
tend to change. In fact, there is a special term
for the opinions that impact cultures for a certain period, which is Zeitgeist. The important
thing to note is that these are temporary; with
time even stereotypes have been altered. For
example, the word “Negro” is unacceptable
to use in modern society. However, the main
question to ask is, are these words for classification actually necessary at all?
It is time for change. There are many regulations accepted on paper to stop discrimination, but unless people stop seeking the
differences and look for the commonalities,
there will not be a progress. And a step to
start the change: Being different from each
other is a similarity we all share.
Kant, Immanuel (1781 [trans. 1855]).Critique of Pure Reason.Trans.by J.M.D. Meiklejohn. London:
Allport, Gordon W. “Chapter 12 - Stereotypes in Our Culture.” The Nature of
Prejudice.N.p.:n.p., 1966. 189.Print.
Statistic
6 Things You Have To Do at Robert College Before Graduation
Every RC student should have attended at
least one of the events going on the campus,
as it is impossible to separate RC from the activities. However, taking part in the organizational team is not in the to-do list of everybody! For a change, imagine being one
of the brains behind the scenes, whether it
is Lise Live, Debate Tournament or RCIMUN.
Only when you contribute hours into building
these remarkable experiences, you can understand the meaning of School Spirit.
İrem Turgut
Beril Erdoğdu
RC’s campus is phenomenal. With its location, size and nature, it is a sight of envy for
the ones outside the RC family. However, with
myriad of opportunities it has to offer, what 6
things you must complete before considering
yourself a qualified RC member?
5)Run the Marathon!
RC Sports Day by itself is a remarkable experience of Robert College. Every class marks
their first one with a specific competition or
activity. However, one tradition has stayed
unchanged for many years: The Marathon
between the upper and the lower gates. The
route is discouraging for many students, as it
is always thought to be torturous. But join the
family and compete in one of the races: Maybe you will be the next winner to break the
record!
1) Step on the stage!
Watching a theater performance or listening
to the announcements at the flag ceremony: The magical experience Suna Kıraç stageprovides is always visible. Most of the students, including even the shyest ones, want
to change roles and experience the excitement of being on stage. In fact, it is a must to
be seen at least once up on the platform rather than down on the seats. So, start searching
for the right opportunity to get your 20 seconds of fame!
2) Roll Down the Hill!
Start rolling down from the hill at the back of
the Plato. Feel the softness of the grass, and
ignore the ugliness: There is only a combination of the green and the blue. Birds fly away
and your best friend gets farther away as she
rolls down on a different direction. This is
freedom and happiness, though as anything
else it has an ending. When you stop, dizzi-
6) Adopt a Sibling!
Smile
ness will take over and it will be hard to stand
on your legs. But when the bell rings and it is
time to go the class, there is no other option
but to hurry. Still, you can carry the pride of
accomplishing what many had missed to do.
3) Invade the Famous Library Armchairs!
Robert College library is beyond the imaginations of many high school students. It
holds many best- sellers as well as unforgettable classics on innumerable subjects.
However, the position of the library on the
3rd floor of Gould Hall adds even more to its
experience,where the most special spot re-
mains to be armchairs in front of the windowson the second floor. There are three of them,
but the biggest catch is always the middle
one with the amazing Bosphorus view it provides.
clubs, they can find after-school clubs that
suit them. Robert College urges students to
choose different and unusual clubs to explore
their hidden interests and abilities. Prep students, therefore, should not be shy about attending auditions and choosing clubs that
they really want. Who knows, maybe you will
discover new talents in yourself.
that no one can harvest the fruits without
watering them.
4) Organize a Robert College Event!
On the first month of the school year when
the preps are lost in the grandeur of the campus, the first upperclassman they meet and
become friends with turns out to be their
‘Older Brother’. He advises and motivates the
prep, while constantly warning about how
quickly the time passes at this school. This,
indeed, is a mutualistic relationship where
the experienced is happy to share his knowledge and the newbie gets a bonus. For you, it
might be too late be somebody’s prep, but is
never too late to make a younger sibling.
Beginners of Hard Journey
Vera Can
Buse Oldaç
Many Robert College students know that the
phrase “beginners of a hard journey” may
easily refer to the marathon we are running
to graduate from Robert College. Every year
is a new challenge for us, except maybe the
prep year. Every student who sets foot in Robert College gets through this prep year, which
many of the students would call a “paradise”.
For most of the students, prep year is a year of
freedom and discovery. Students have time to
enjoy the campus, attend Student Council activities, such as Movie Night, balls, and Man-
gal Night. Students also have a lot of time to
spend with their friends. Now, let’s discover
this year of so-called paradise in a more detailed way.
First of all, the biggest advantage of the prep
year is not having final exams. As the prep
students will probably learn later, the exam
weeks are among the most challenging of
the year. In this matter, Robert College acts
like a university: During finals weeks there
are no classes but only the exams, and when
they are over, students are free to go home or
stay on the campus to study for the upcoming tests.
Prep year is a year that gives students an opportunity to discover themselves, their talents, interests and abilities. Even though
prep students cannot join the club-time
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
For most of the students in Robert College,
prep year is the easiest one, but still it has
some difficulties, especially for students who
came to Robert College without knowing any
English at all. Even the students who learned
English well in their elementary schoolscan
have difficulties since they may assume that
they know everything about the English language, and so do not study. Due to this, they
cannot get the grades they expect to get. In
these instances, it should be remembered
The difficulties are not limited to grades;
there is one more problem: adaptation. No
one in this school can say “I adapted very easily to the school,” because all of the prep students come from different backgrounds into
a different environment. As we all know, the
education system in RC is different from other
schools in Turkey. Also the school is huge and
crowded, and half of the teachers are foreign.
These are the things that may initially appear
as problems, but a prep student should not
worry about these, since most students get
used to them in a couple of months.
and showed that students are really happy to
be here, even though they do not think they
are going to make it to the very end easily. It
looks like some 9th graders scared them too
much about RC.
This has been some advice to prep students;
now it is time for the older students to pay
attention. As a so-called Robert College custom, students from higher grades often mildly make fun of preps. This should not happen
because we are more than a group of students–we are a big family. We need to welcome our newcomers properly.
Bosphorus Chronicle talked to some of thenew members of the Robert College community. The overall feedback was positive
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
7
EDITORIALBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEEDITORIALEDITORIAL
Dear Ninth Graders
Hilal
Kocabıyık
Right now, while you are reading this article, you might be thinking about Mastering
Physics, your last chemistry quiz or maybe
that “famous” algebra exam. Every day you
hear students talking about how difficult 9th
grade is. Is it really that hard?
You are missing the Prep year so desperately.
But do get used to it, because unfortunately
there is no turning back. This year you are going to feel like you are cool because you are
not prep anymore. In the hallways you are going to make fun of them, like we did to you,
but somewhere inside your heart, you will
want to be like them: no homework, no finals…
You think 9th grade is hard now? Oh, you did
not see the finals yet! You are one of the busiest people in Robert College right now. But
think positively: At the end of this year you
are going to be able to do 10 things at the
same time. You are going to be able to write
a perfect essay in a 20-minute break. Mastering assignments will be easy
Are you one of those students who used to
cry in elementary school after getting 90 on
a test? Maybe now you have friends who cry
after getting an 88. Do not forget their faces because at the end of this year you may
see them in the hallways dancing after getting a 60.
All those things may seem like a pessimistic scenario to you. It is a very harsh year,
but believe me you will miss even the 9th
grade. Even I miss it as a 10th grader because in the 9th grade you share many special moments with your friends. You will cry
together; you will cheer up together. You are
going to learn the importance of being hap-
py no matter what the situation you are dealing with. My sister would always say: “The
whole high school is just a prep year for real
life.” Ninth grade is the prep year of your life,
but once you finish it (hopefully), you will
be very proud of yourself. You will even miss
the finals. Before each final, we were changing a famous song’s lyrics into ridiculous lyrics
about Robert College and finals. Before
every single final, we were wishing
for some kind of a miracle to happen, so that the final would be delayed. After the last exams, we were
calculating the grades we needed to
get in order to pass the class. In 9th
grade, we discovered many things
about our TI. It was not only a calculator but it was also a PSP, a texting device or a best friend thatwas
always there to entertain us at boring moments in the class.
So, whatever happens this year, try
to “seize the day.” Do not waste your time crying after an algebra exam or do not be unsociable. Enjoy your year because one day you
will miss those days.
Do you remember the very first day of Robert
College? You were sitting in the Maze andthe
sun was burning your skin. Unsurprisingly,
you were not even listening to the speech-
es. Four years later you will probably come
to the Maze once again with your friends,
but this time you will be graduates, and you
should know that those four years will pass
very quickly. Therefore, create unforgettable
memories this year to recall in the future. And
most importantly, enjoy every aspect of Robert College!
Robert College; where the miserable 9th grade year takes place...
Eastpak Craziness
Sıla Göral
I have a long way to go. I am on the second floor of Woods for my German class and
Feyyaz Berker is waiting for me for a Physics
class. Luckily, it is only on the third floor. This
is what one of my twenty-minute break consists of:
the preps’ floor. The bag disappears into the
crowd. I do not mind because I am familiar
with this situation. All bags appear and then
disappear.
I go downstairs and find my locker near the
canteen. I greet my friend whose locker is
next to mine. She turns her back to me and
I see that sign again: EastPak. This time, it is
covered with colorful lines.
I prepare my bag and check everything I
need. I step out of the classroom and a student’s bag hits me. I can feel the plastic bottle in it. I do not mind the bag hitting me, but
there is one thing I do not like: EastPak.
I go on my way but I am more observant of
the bags. I try to separate them from the other brands. It is not hard. They could show
themselves on a Saturday in Taksimand
would not feel out of place. I pass through the
whole corridor. There are some bags left and I
can tell that 70% of them are EastPak.
My eyes start to follow that EastPak. It is a
black one with some indecipherable shapes
on it. A prep student is carrying it. I am on
I move up the short staircase after the big
canteen. I have some difficulty with going
through the crowd, and I hit some people. A
yellow EastPak, how charming! Finally, the
fresh air helps me think. I put all the EastPak
kids in a little space in my mind. I still keep
seeing them. This time, I study the bags and
the people who carry them.
I cannot find anything special besides the
good looks that come with those magnificent bags. “But I can see through your bag!” I
think. You also have those EastPak pencil cases. I can see the plastic bottle and the notebooks. I have the same ones.
I step inside Feyyaz Berker and make my first
move upstairs. I see five more EastPaksas I
reach the right floor. My classroom is empty. I sit down and check the clock, check the
classroom, check my bag. Ten minutes left
with nothing to do, so I keep thinking about
the bags. What might be special about them?
Winx characters
on it. Five out of
seven girls used
to have them.
It was because
they were Winx.
Who
didn’t
want to be one
of those girls?
Then I remember the boys:
Batman, X-men,
Spiderman…
Eastpaks
All our heroes...
Having their pictures on our bags was special. But that was not the only reason. We had
them because the others bought them first.
I remember my old bag with some pictures of
I return to thinking about EastPaks. Are they
only loved because they are too good-looking to let go of or is it about popularity? Are
Mert Hızlı, another L9 member of the team,
who plays as receiver and corner back, and
the shortest and the thinnest player on the
team commented, “Maybe we were not as
strong and big as the university team players
were, but we had something that they didn’t
have, our hearts! Love has 10 letters and 2
words for us: RC Football.” All the players were
they bought because of their practicality or
is it about the white letters on a red-black
background?These questions are ones that
need immediate answers.
Brave Bobcats
Berk Eroğlu
On the 6th of October 2012, there was a flag
football tournament at Istanbul Technical
University and the Robert College Bobcats
Flag Football Team was invited to participate.
There were a total of five teams in the tournament, but the RC team was the only high
school team; the other teams consisted of
university students. In Turkey, the Robert College Bobcats and Üsküdar American Academy
Tigers are the only two high school flag football teams. Thus, they only competed with
each other until this tournament. Here the
Bobcats had to participate in more challenging matches and against stronger opponents.
The Bobcats were not among the favorites,
because they had players younger than any
on the other teams, but the RC team proved
all expectations wrong.
In their first match, the Bobcats played
against Istanbul Technical University and
won. In the second match, they played
Yeditepe University and lost, but this was the
only loss before the play-offs. The Bobcats
had three victories and only one defeat and
8
they made it to the play-offs.
In the play-offs, they lost against Yeditepe
University and Istanbul Technical University and they finished the tournament in the
4th place. Before the tournament, Ali
Sarılgan (L10), the captain of the RC
team and also the holder of the Most
Valuable Player Award 2012, made a
speech to encourage his team members
to remain positive in spite of the sturdy
appearances of the players of the other teams. Sarılgan said, ”You have the
power in yourself; you only need to use
it.” The players all agreed that the captain’s speech inspired them and kept
them determined. Can Akdere (L9), offensive-defensive line player, commented after the tournament: “That was one
of the most important experiences that
I’ve ever had. I knew I was strong, but
I didn’t know that I was strong enough
to play flag football with university flag
football teams and I learned that today.”
Eren Uman (L9), the player in the receiver position, also said, “We believed in
ourselves and we promised each other
that we would play with all our power
and energy. They told us we were small
but we amazed the audience. We made
RC Bobcats Flag Football Team
some sacrifices but it was totally worth it.”
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
proud of what they achieved against the university teams and are now determined to play
like this against the UAA Tigers.
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
January 2008 Issue
EDITORIALEDITORIALBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEEDITORIAL
Packing Up
Ece Selin Timur
Either for a night at your friend’s house or a
week-long boat trip, packing up luggage is
always a difficult task; however, it gets even
more challenging when you have to take both
formal and casual clothes!
Anyone who has been to an MUN conference
or a debate tournament out of Istanbul will
get what I mean. Packing up for those events
is a huge pain. I have been suffering from
this for quite a while now, and I have discovered some ways to make the process a bit less
painful. Nowadays, I am busy packing up for
the EurOpen debate tournament in Stuttgart
and I would like to share some tips with you.
1. Picking luggage
A smart choice of luggage obviously makes
the traveler’s life very easy. With the right
luggage, you can bring everything you need
and still have a light pack. Here is how you
can pick the right luggage for a formal school
trip.
•Fit your stuff into one suitcase
You may or may not have noticed, but there
won’t be anyone carrying your luggage from
the airport to your hotel, or anyone willing to
remind you that you left your cabin-sized luggage on board. It doesn’t make sense to risk
forgetting a suitcase. Use a single big bag
rather than two.
uments. Bigger ones can be used as toiletry
bags; the smaller ones are good for coins.
•Put a tag on your luggage.
•Flip-flops
Make sure there is a tag on your luggage that
clearly indicates your contact information, so
that your luggage can find its way back to
you. Essential information: your full name,
an address where you can be reached, and a
phone number.
From late night runs down the hall to the
vending machine to the gross showers you
have to enter, you will probably need a pair of
flip-flops for many reasons. Frankly, a pair of
flip-flops is the most essential thing to pack.
•Go soft-sided!
You cannot believe how much more a softsided suitcase can hold compared to a hardsided bag of the same size. This will add so
much room for your stuff. In addition, softsided bags are a lot lighter.
•Backpack
Filling your backpack with your books, passport, wallet and other small but important
stuff makes your travel a lot easier. A backpack can be taken into the cabin of the air-
plane and is easy to carry around wherever
you go.
3. Extra tips for girls
It is clear that girls are a lot more concerned
with how they look, so I will share some key
things that really help girls while packing.
•Plan ahead
Once you have organized what you will wear
on Monday (or for which event you will wear
your gray blazer), you can pack a lot lighter;
furthermore, you can get ready a lot faster
in the morning. Next time you are going off
2. The Essentials
Now that you have your luggage, it is time to
fill it up. Here are some belongings you must
take with you and noteworthy information
about them.
One way to pack lightly is to have clothes that
can be matched with others. This way, you
can have a far more versatile pack and still
look good. One way to do this is to pack up
more tops than bottoms.
•Go easy on your feet
Since you will be standing up a big portion of
the day, it might be a better idea to leave your
five inch spike heels at home. However, if you
are like me or my friend Zeynep Aksoy (L10), I
bet you wouldn’t do that. In this case, we suggest you opt for wedges and bring a pair of
comfy flats.
Last but not least, packing up for a formal
trip is a matter of experience; the more you
travel, the more advanced you get. With each
trip you make, you learn that there are more
things you must put in your luggage. For example, Ege Sozgen (L10-10) never leaves
home without putting nail clippers in his luggage. Don’t ask me why; he just doesn’t.
Although the super-market type plastic bags
have the tendency to annoy your roommates
with the weird, scratchy noises they make,
they are true friends. Since they take up little
space and are extremely light, taking a few
of them with you for your laundry is a great
idea.
A4 sized Zip-locks are an amazing way to
keep your ID, passport and other legal doc-
•Mix and Match
4. Weird Things You Thought You’d Never Need
•Plastic bags
•Zip-lock organizers
to a conference, before placing seven sets of
formal clothes in your baggage for a five day
trip, please remind yourself of this technique,
and save yourself tons of trouble.
I hope you pack light and never forget your
nail clippers.
Tournaments and conferences are already vexatious, why
make them even harder with heavy luggage?
The Winner of 2012 Presidential Elections: Barack Obama
as his numbers vastly outpace Romney, who
has about 6 million likes. Obama’s Facebook
posts, most likely prepared by his “Team”, are
very direct, witty and often imply that Mr.
President would retain his position without a
doubt. He tries to reach out to all parts of the
population through these posts. He also tries
to promote himself as an “ideal family man”
by publicizing his affection for his family. He
has been faring fairly stable and well, except
for the “You did not build that” incident, when
Obama made a campaign speech which received much public attention and significant
criticism for seeming to support big government and gave the GOP something to counter-attack. The stagnant economy will also
affect Obama in an adverse way during the
election, even though he claimed office in the
midst of an economic crisis. Presidents cannot
magically alter the economy. Sooner or later
people will learn that.
Going on a school trip is always fun. What is even better is going on a school trip to Nepal.
Last summer seven Robert College students had a wild journey to one of the most interesting places on earth and they could not have loved it more.
Going on a school trip is always fun. What is even better is going on a school trip to Nepal.
Last summer seven Robert College students had a wild journey to one of the most interesting places on earth and they could not have loved it more.
Going on a school trip is always fun. What is even better is going on a school trip to Nepal.
Last summer seven Robert College students had a wild journey to one of the most interesting places on earth and they could not have loved it more.
“Each moment was so exciting,” says Ceren Türkoğlu (L10), “even the plane ride. After getting off the plane, we boarded another plane. This one was very small and was very, very
shaky. It was definitely an exhilarating ride.”
“Each moment was so exciting,” says Ceren Türkoğlu (L10), “even the plane ride. After getting off the plane, we boarded another plane. This one was very small and was very, very
shaky. It was definitely an exhilarating ride.”
“Each moment was so exciting,” says Ceren Türkoğlu (L10), “even the plane ride. After getting off the plane, we boarded another plane. This one was very small and was very, very
shaky. It was definitely an exhilarating ride.”
The school trip was planned by teachers Layne Mayard and Kristine Massey and formed as
an after-school club on Mondays. The club was named “Go-Tibet!” as that was the original
destination; however, after certain complications the route changed to Nepal and Bhutan.
The school trip was planned by teachers Layne Mayard and Kristine Massey and formed as
an after-school club on Mondays. The club was named “Go-Tibet!” as that was the original
destination; however, after certain complications the route changed to Nepal and Bhutan.
The school trip was planned by teachers Layne Mayard and Kristine Massey and formed as
an after-school club on Mondays. The club was named “Go-Tibet!” as that was the original
destination; however, after certain complications the route changed to Nepal and Bhutan.
Nepal is not the easiest place to travel. The students had to familiarize themselves with Nepal before even going there. As the original plan was going to Tibet, Ms. Mayard’s initial
intention was to teach Tibetan culture, history, food and even a bit of writing. At the beginning of the year members of the club were already discussing how hard their physical
exercises were. The club functioned according to the Tibet plan for the whole year, yet the
plan had to change.
Nepal is not the easiest place to travel. The students had to familiarize themselves with Nepal before even going there. As the original plan was going to Tibet, Ms. Mayard’s initial
intention was to teach Tibetan culture, history, food and even a bit of writing. At the beginning of the year members of the club were already discussing how hard their physical exercises were. The club functioned according to the Tibet plan for the whole year, yet
the plan had to change.
“It was disappointing not to go to Tibet,” Türkoğlu explained, “especially after a whole year
of preparation, but it was surprising that the program went so well. It was a very busy
schedule.”
“It was disappointing not to go to Tibet,” Türkoğlu explained, “especially after a whole year
of preparation, but it was surprising that the program went so well. It was a very busy
schedule.”
Nepal is not the easiest place to travel. The students had to familiarize themselves with Nepal before even going there. As the original plan was going to Tibet, Ms. Mayard’s initial
intention was to teach Tibetan culture, history, food and even a bit of writing. At the beginning of the year members of the club were already discussing how hard their physical
exercises were. The club functioned according to the Tibet plan for the whole year, yet the
plan had to change.of preparation, but it was surprising that the program went so well. It
was a very busy schedule.”
The trip to the alternate destinations, Nepal and Bhutan was much better than they expected. After the nine hour plane ride, when the club members set foot in Nepal everyone was
struck with severe culture shock. According to Türkoğlu, “It is as different as it can be. Going
there made me realize how luxurious our lives really are.”
The trip to the alternate destinations, Nepal and Bhutan was much better than they expected. After the nine hour plane ride, when the club members set foot in Nepal everyone was
struck with severe culture shock. According to Türkoğlu, “It is as different as it can be. Going
there made me realize how luxurious our lives really are.”
Nepal’s economic condition was not the only thing that surprised the travelers. Another very
impressive feature they noted was the Grand Happiness concept. People are not classified by
their material welfare. Rather, they are classified by how happy they are.
Nepal’s economic condition was not the only thing that surprised the travelers. Another
very impressive feature they noted was the Grand Happiness concept. People are not classified by their material welfare. Rather, they are classified by how happy they are.
“Everything was so interesting,” said Türkoğlu. “In Nepal, holding hands is an indication of
friendship. People always hold the hands of their friends for a while to show them that they
love them regardless of their gender. Another thing that I found really interesting was the
Nepalese tradition of cremating the dead rather than burying them.”
“Everything was so interesting,” said Türkoğlu. “In Nepal, holding hands is an indication of
friendship. People always hold the hands of their friends for a while to show them that they
love them regardless of their gender. Another thing that I found really interesting was the
Nepalese tradition of cremating the dead rather than burying them.”
After spending a week in Nepal, the group continued on to Bhutan to spend the next six days
there. Perhaps the thing that surprised them the most was to see how Buddhism worked
in its natural habitat. It was intriguing to study Buddhism in Turkey, but it was a unique experience to witness it in Nepal.
After spending a week in Nepal, the group continued on to Bhutan to spend the next six
days there. Perhaps the thing that surprised them the most was to see how Buddhism
worked in its natural habitat. It was intriguing to study Buddhism in Turkey, but it was a
unique experience to witness it in Nepal.
For Türkoğlu it was like a scene from a fairytale. “Everyone was so peaceful and happy. They
had their own rules and they were open and welcoming towards everyone. Both in Nepal
and Bhutan it was easy to see the effects of Buddhism everywhere.”
For Türkoğlu it was like a scene from a fairytale. “Everyone was so peaceful and happy. They
had their own rules and they were open and welcoming towards everyone. Both in Nepal
and Bhutan it was easy to see the effects of Buddhism everywhere.”
The magnificent temples in both countries were not the only places where the marks of
Buddhism were seen. “It was not unusual to see people meditating in the streets, turning
around the sithas. You could hear hymns from shops and see big statues of Buddha,” reported Türkoğlu. The Nepalese culture is a healthy product of Hinduism and Buddhism. The famous image of the dot on the forehead is a mark of good luck originally from the Hindu religion, yet numerous Buddhists carry the same mark.
The magnificent temples in both countries were not the only places where the marks of
Buddhism were seen. “It was not unusual to see people meditating in the streets, turning
around the sithas. You could hear hymns from shops and see big statues of Buddha,” reported Türkoğlu. The Nepalese culture is a healthy product of Hinduism and Buddhism. The
famous image of the dot on the forehead is a mark of good luck originally from the Hindu
religion, yet numerous Buddhists carry the same mark.
As the result of the poverty in both countries, simple comforts are far cheaper than in any
other touristic venue. It is possible to have good dinner for three or four dollars. While inflation has a strong influence in this aspect, the atmosphere of the place does not rely on material goods and is a reminder that happiness is not always expensive.
As the result of the poverty in both countries, simple comforts are far cheaper than in any
other touristic venue. It is possible to have good dinner for three or four dollars. While inflation has a strong influence in this aspect, the atmosphere of the place does not rely on material goods and is a reminder that happiness is not always expensive.
Barış Heybeli
I am not an expert on American politics. I
know as much as an ordinary citizen following the course of the elections, but since I am
interested in politics, I decided to write an
opinion piece on the American elections. Let’s
start with the incumbent: Obama.
One of Obama’s biggest advantages is that
he has got a large number of followers on social network websites like Facebook. On Facebook alone, he has more than 28 million likes,
though a good number of them, including
mine, are international. He still has the edge
Despite these two negative factors, as the
democratic candidate, he got votes from
growing minorities such as Hispanics. He is an
African American president and this fact affected the votes from the African American
community, as it did four years ago. ObamaCare, often criticized by the Republicans,
benefits the lower class of American society,
which suffers from relatively high income inequality, and people benefiting from it supported Obama in the elections as expected.
Romney would be the first Mormon president
if he won the elections, but Obama got the
majority of the votes. According to a poll by livescience.com, 32% of the respondents were
not ready for a Mormon president anyway,
?
The trip to the alternate destinations, Nepal and Bhutan was much better than they expected. After the nine hour plane ride, when the club members set foot in Nepal everyone was
struck with severe culture shock. According to Türkoğlu, “It is as different as it can be. Going
there made me realize how luxurious our lives really are.”
Nepal’s economic condition was not the only thing that surprised the travelers. Another
very impressive feature they noted was the Grand Happiness concept. People are not classified by their material welfare. Rather, they are classified by how happy they are.
“Everything was so interesting,” said Türkoğlu. “In Nepal, holding hands is an indication of
friendship. People always hold the hands of their friends for a while to show them that they
love them regardless of their gender. Another thing that I found really interesting was the
Nepalese tradition of cremating the dead rather than burying them.”
which portrayed the reluctance of the voters. Yet 63% of the respondents claimed that
the acceptance of Mormonism was on the rise
in American society. Thinking about the rise
of the African-American people among the
American hierarchy in the last few decades, it
really seems possible that the nation is continually giving up their prejudiced views in
favor of more open ones.
As in the past, most Southern, Central and
inner Northwestern states persisted in their
conservative views and voted Republican.
The Pacific states were solidly democratic. Most northeastern states, including New
Hampshire, supported Obama. The Midwest
appeared to be a major battleground, since
it is filled with either tossups or leans, except
for Obama’s home state Illinois. Other tosing places on earth and they could not have loved it more.
“Each moment was so exciting,” says Ceren Türkoğlu (L10), “even the plane ride. After getting off the plane, we boarded another plane. This one was very small and was very, very
shaky. It was definitely an exhilarating ride.”
The school trip was planned by teachers Layne Mayard and Kristine Massey and formed as
an after-school club on Mondays. The club was named “Go-Tibet!” as that was the original
destination; however, after certain complications the route changed to Nepal and Bhutan.
Nepal is not the easiest place to travel. The students had to familiarize themselves with Nepal before even going there. As the original plan was going to Tibet, Ms. Mayard’s initial
intention was to teach Tibetan culture, history, food and even a bit of writing. At the beginning of the year members of the club were already discussing how hard their physical exercises were. The club functioned according to the Tibet plan for the whole year, yet
the plan had to change.
“It was disappointing not to go to Tibet,” Türkoğlu explained, “especially after a whole year
of preparation, but it was surprising that the program went so well. It was a very busy
schedule.”
The trip to the alternate destinations, Nepal and Bhutan was much better than they expected. After the nine hour plane ride, when the club members set foot in Nepal everyone was
struck with severe culture shock. According to Türkoğlu, “It is as different as it can be. Going
there made me realize how luxurious our lives really are.”
“It was disappointing not to go to Tibet,” Türkoğlu explained, “especially after a whole year
Nepal’s economic condition was not the only thing that surprised the travelers. Another
very impressive feature they noted was the Grand Happiness concept. People are not classified by their material welfare. Rather, they are classified by how happy they are.
“Everything was so interesting,” said Türkoğlu. “In Nepal, holding hands is an indication of
friendship. People always hold the hands of their friends for a while to show them that they
love them regardless of their gender. Another thing that I found really interesting was the
Nepalese tradition of cremating the dead rather than burying them.”
sups are spread throughout the country and
the candidates were clearly targeting them.
Obama had already travelled through many
tossups and eventually attended the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, NC. Backed by
the former Democratic president Bill Clinton,
Obama stood strong as he led electoral votes,
according to the map provided by the New
York Times, and the ballot box, which is the
result of a dice toss which can never be absolutely predicted, eventually revealed the victorious side: Barack Obama. He got 332 of the
electoral votes and has won a second term as
a president, defeating Republican Mitt Romney who got 206 of the electoral votes. The
Democrats retained the control of the Senate, while the Republicans kept control of the
House of Representatives.
Going on a school trip is always fun. What is even better is going on a school trip to Nepal.
Last summer seven Robert College students had a wild journey to one of the most interesting places on earth and they could not have loved it more.
“Each moment was so exciting,” says Ceren Türkoğlu (L10), “even the plane ride. After getting off the plane, we boarded another plane. This one was very small and was very, very
shaky. It was definitely an exhilarating ride.”
The school trip was planned by teachers Layne Mayard and Kristine Massey and formed as
an after-school club on Mondays. The club was named “Go-Tibet!” as that was the original
destination; however, after certain complications the route changed to Nepal and Bhutan.
Nepal is not the easiest place to travel. The students had to familiarize themselves with Nepal before even going there. As the original plan was going to Tibet, Ms. Mayard’s initial
intention was to teach Tibetan culture, history, food and even a bit of writing. At the beginning of the year members of the club were already discussing how hard their physical exercises were. The club functioned according to the Tibet plan for the whole year, yet
the plan had to change.
“It was disappointing not to go to Tibet,” Türkoğlu explained, “especially after a whole year
of preparation, but it was surprising that the program went so well. It was a very busy
schedule.”
The trip to the alternate destinations, Nepal and Bhutan was much better than they expected. After the nine hour plane ride, when the club members set foot in Nepal everyone was
struck with severe culture shock. According to Türkoğlu, “It is as different as it can be. Going
there made me realize how luxurious our lives really are.”
Nepal’s economic condition was not the only thing that surprised the travelers. Another
very impressive feature they noted was the Grand Happiness concept. People are not classified by their material welfare. Rather, they are classified by how happy they are.
“Everything was so interesting,” said Türkoğlu. “In Nepal, holding hands is an indication of
friendship. People always hold the hands of their friends for a while to show them that they
love them regardless of their gender. Another thing that I found really interesting was the
Nepalese tradition of cremating the dead rather than burying them.”
Bosphorus Chronicle welcomes your comments, suggestions,
After spending a week in Nepal, the group continued on to Bhutan to spend the next six
days there. Perhaps the thing that surprised them the most was to see how Buddhism
worked in its natural habitat. It was intriguing to study Buddhism in Turkey, but it was a
unique experience to witness it in Nepal.
After spending a week in Nepal, the group continued on to Bhutan to spend the next six
days there. Perhaps the thing that surprised them the most was to see how Buddhism
worked in its natural habitat. It was intriguing to study Buddhism in Turkey, but it was a
unique experience to witness it in Nepal.
After spending a week in Nepal, the group continued on to Bhutan to spend the next six
days there. Perhaps the thing that surprised them the most was to see how Buddhism
worked in its natural habitat. It was intriguing to study Buddhism in Turkey, but it was a
unique experience to witness it in Nepal.
story ideas, and any feedback about the contents of the Chronicle.
For Türkoğlu it was like a scene from a fairytale. “Everyone was so peaceful and happy. They
had their own rules and they were open and welcoming towards everyone. Both in Nepal
and Bhutan it was easy to see the effects of Buddhism everywhere.”
The magnificent temples in both countries were not the only places where the marks of
Buddhism were seen. “It was not unusual to see people meditating in the streets, turning
around the sithas. You could hear hymns from shops and see big statues of Buddha,” reported Türkoğlu. The Nepalese culture is a healthy product of Hinduism and Buddhism. The
famous image of the dot on the forehead is a mark of good luck originally from the Hindu
religion, yet numerous Buddhists carry the same mark.
For Türkoğlu it was like a scene from a fairytale. “Everyone was so peaceful and happy. They
had their own rules and they were open and welcoming towards everyone. Both in Nepal
and Bhutan it was easy to see the effects of Buddhism everywhere.”
For Türkoğlu it was like a scene from a fairytale. “Everyone was so peaceful and happy. They
had their own rules and they were open and welcoming towards everyone. Both in Nepal
and Bhutan it was easy to see the effects of Buddhism everywhere.”
Send them to chroniclebosphorus@gmail.com and you may see them printed here
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
As the result of the poverty in both countries, simple comforts are far cheaper than in any
other touristic venue. It is possible to have good dinner for three or four dollars. While inflation has a strong influence in this aspect, the atmosphere of the place does not rely on material goods and is a reminder that happiness is not always expensive.
Going on a school trip is always fun. What is even better is going on a school trip to Nepal.
Last summer seven Robert College students had a wild journey to one of the most interest-
The magnificent temples in both countries were not the only places where the marks of
Buddhism were seen. “It was not unusual to see people meditating in the streets, turning
around the sithas. You could hear hymns from shops and see big statues of Buddha,” reported Türkoğlu. The Nepalese culture is a healthy product of Hinduism and Buddhism. The
famous image of the dot on the forehead is a mark of good luck originally from the Hindu
religion, yet numerous Buddhists carry the same mark.
As the result of the poverty in both countries, simple comforts are far cheaper than in any
other touristic venue. It is possible to have good dinner for three or four dollars. While inflation has a strong influence in this aspect, the atmosphere of the place does not rely on material goods and is a reminder that happiness is not always expensive.
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
The magnificent temples in both countries were not the only places where the marks of
Buddhism were seen. “It was not unusual to see people meditating in the streets, turning
around the sithas. You could hear hymns from shops and see big statues of Buddha,” reported Türkoğlu. The Nepalese culture is a healthy product of Hinduism and Buddhism. The
famous image of the dot on the forehead is a mark of good luck originally from the Hindu
religion, yet numerous Buddhists carry the same mark.
As the result of the poverty in both countries, simple comforts are far cheaper than in any
other touristic venue. It is possible to have good dinner for three or four dollars. While inflation has a strong influence in this aspect, the atmosphere of the place does not rely on material goods and is a reminder that happiness is not always expensive.
9
FEATURESBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEFEATURESFEATURES
Travel Page
out events that express the significance of the camels in their culture.
Among these activites camel decorating, camel fur cutting, and camel polo are the most popular. The
festival ends with the cricket match
and the folk concert on the third
day. Between the 23rd and 25th
February, the Desert Festival of Jaisalmer aims to attract both locals
and tourists with traditional foods
and cultural entertainments.
Paulina Schenk
Aslıhan Asil
Travelling is the expression of fascination
and curiosity evoked by the idea of discovering different cultures. In order to make travel
worthwhile, it’s important to know the right
time to go to a certain place. In this article, we
have provided you with the best places to visit this winter. Below, you can find the festivals
all around the world that are worth attending
between December and February.
Further information on the festival
can be found on http://rajasthantourism.gov.in
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, China –
Sliding down the Great Wall of China
The Snow Festival in Harbin takes place from
the start of January to the end of February.
The first of the annual winter wonderlands
was established 10 years ago and the festival is amongst the largest ice and snow celebrations today. The sculpture exhibition includes ambitious world record pieces that can
be as large as two football fields or as tall as
50 meters. These are displayed at night with
varying colours and designs thanks to sophisticated lighting systems and are the heart of
the ice sculpture exhibition called Sun Island
Park. While the festival relies heavily on technological enhancements, a number of the
sculptures are handcrafted pieces. The Zhaolin Park, another section, is dedicated to the
ice lantern show, while the Grand World of Ice
and Snow provides plenty of snow activities,
including sliding down a replica of the Great
Wall of China.
Further information on the website Chinahighlights.com/ festivals/harbin-ice-andsnow-festival.htm
Up Helly Aa Fire Festival, Scotland – Europe’s largest fire festival
The Up Helly Aa Fire Festival, centred around
Shetland, Scotland, has been intact, with few
exceptions, since 1881. The tradition grew
out of troublemakers marking the end of
Yule. They dragged torched tar barrels around
town. After the abolition of ‘tar barrelling’,
the Duke of Edinburgh gave permission for a
torch procession. There are about a thousand
guizers, leaders of squads, who carry torches in Shetland. The Guizer Jarl, the leader of
the procession, and his ‘group’ the Jar Squad
are Vikings for the day. The preparations for
each year’s festivals are planned two years in
SOURCES
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
Holi Day
advance and being part of the Jar Squad is a
great honour. Following the processions, 45
squads are invited to perform acts in 12 halls
open to visitors. The festival will take place on
the 29th of January 2013. This important part
of Shetland’s history has become a unique
tourist attraction.
Further information on its official website Uphellyaa.org
Holi Day, India and Nepal – Celebration
of Good through Colour
The Holi Day takes place at the end of Phalgun Purnima, which is either at the end February or the beginning March. The Hindi festival celebrates the triumph of ‘good’ over ‘bad’.
The celebration begins with a bonfire on the
Holi eve, where legends and stories about
the Holi celebration are told. The following
day people rub coloured pigments called ‘gulal’ and ‘abeer’ onto each others’ faces, blessing them. In different regions of India, Nepal
Holi Day is celebrated with varying traditions.
In some places the women are given the upper hand for the day, and may play tricks on
their husbands in the form of revenge. Elsewhere the women hang a pot of buttermilk
high up, which the men try to reach by building a human pyramid. The person to reach
the pot’s height then tries to break it with his
head. Despite all the differences, the festival
is celebrated today in a colourful atmosphere
by Hindis as well as non-Hindis, marking the
end of the winter and the triumph of spring.
Further information on the festival can be
found on Holifestival.org/tradition-of-holi.
html.
Pingxi Lantern Festival, Taiwan-Wishes
Reach the Sky
Taking place in a small Taiwanese town called
Pingxi, Lantern Festival celebrates the Chinese New Year. Each year thousands of people visit the site to witness this picturesque
celebration. The initial purpose of lantern
launching was solely communicational; during wars, the dwellers used them to signify
that they were safe. Today, locals and tourists
carry out this tradition with the belief that
their wishes will come true once they reach
the sky. First each participant chooses the color of his lantern. This selection is importantbecause each color signifies the type of wish
such as employment, relationship, etc. Then,
the wish is inscribed on the lantern with calligraphy. Once its fuel is lit the lantern is ready
for launching. All the lanterns are released simultaneously. Although the realization of
your wish cannot be guaranteed, this scenic
event is worth experiencing.
Further information on the festival can be
found on eng.taiwan.net.tw
Carnival of Venice, Italy- Witnessing History Behind a Mask
Among one of the oldest Italian festivals,
the Carnival of Venice’s roots go back as early as 1162. Originally, Venetians celebrated
the victory of “Repubblica della Serenissima”,
the war which they won against Ulrico, Patri-
arch of Aquileia, in San Marco Square. Puppet shows, acrobats and dances constituted fundamental elements of the event. The
nature of the celebration was slightly altered
with the addition of masks in the 13th century, when masked men started throwing
scented eggs in front of ladies’ houses as a
sign of courting. Since then, participants utilized highly ornamented masks not only to
disguise but also express their individuality. Today, with entertainments, parties, performances, balls and participants in elegant
costumes and masks, Venice continues to
provide the tourists with the opportunity to
experience this longstanding tradition. This
year, the carnival will take place between
January 26th and February 12th.
Further information on the festival can be
found on http://www.carnevale.venezia.it
Desert Festival of Jaisalmer, India- Experiencing Desert Culture
Organized to commemorate the victories and
tragedies of the desert, Desert Festival introduces the idiosyncrantic elements of exotic
desert culture. From traditional musical recitals under the moonlit desert sky to mystical
snake charmers, the festival offers a variety
of entertainment. There are many eccentric
competitions such as the best moustache
contest, camel polo matches and a camel
tug-of-war. The festival lasts three days, inaugurated with a procession from Jaisalmer
Fort to Shahid Poonam Singh Stadium. The
first day ends with traditional dance performances. On the second day, the locals carry
“Chinese New Year: Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival.” About.com Chinese Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct.
2012. <http://chineseculture.about.com/
od/chinesefestivals/a/Chinese-New-YearPingxi-Sky-Lantern-Festival.htm>.
“Darren Melrose Photography.” The Pingxi
Lantern Festival. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct.
2012. <http://www.darrenmelrose.com/
blog/?p=354>.
“Top 10 Festivals In The World For Your World
Travel Bucket ListGreen Global Travel.” Green
Global Travel. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.
<http://greenglobaltravel.com/2012/03/05/
top-10-festivals-in-the-world/>.
Carnival of Venice
“- Venice Carnival -.” ItalyGuides.it: Venice Carnival. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.italyguides.it/us/venice_italy/venice_carnival/venice_carnival.htm>.
“Welcome to Venice.” Venice Carnival Its History and Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.delpiano.com/carnival/html/
venice_car.html>.
“Venice Carnival.” Venice Carnival. N.p., n.d.
Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://venicexplorer.
net/carnevale-di-venezia/index.php>.
Desert Festival of Jaisalmer
“Rajasthan Tourism- The Official Website of
Rajasthan.” Rajasthan Tourism- The Official
Website of Rajasthan. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct.
2012. <http://rajasthantourism.gov.in/>.
Pingx Lantern Festival
10
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
January 2008 Issue
FEATURESFEATURESBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEFEATURES
Fictional Story: Raphael’s Diary
Barış Heybeli
October 20, 2044
I have made mistakes, numerous mistakes.
Sure, everyone makes mistakes, but my problem was that I didn’t realize that I had made
them until now. I was driven by some arcane
force until recently, about a month ago or so.
Until that moment, I was lost. I can barely remember a period of time that lasted seven or
eight months, yet felt like a lifetime. The period had begun when I saw an elderly, gaunt
man lose his balance and fall onto the sidewalk.
I’m not special, but I am a wishful thinker. I’m
not handsome or popular and I don’t have
anything that makes me different than a typical boy in his mid-teens. I go to school, come
back home, do homework, clean up, sleep
and then go to school again. So far, I’ve fallen in love many times, but have never been
loved back. I had countless goals but I failed
many of them, thanks to my lack of courage
and ambition for anything that matters. The
man I met on the sidewalk changed my life,
in a way that I never could’ve predicted.
When I first helped him up and saw his face,
I shuddered. It was late evening and the sun
had disappeared and his eyes were faintly
glowing like cats’ eyes in the newborn dark.
He saw me noticing this and smiled warmly, but I still wouldn’t let myself trust him.
He said he was tired, so I helped him sit on
a bench and to rest for a while. I sat next to
him as I feared that he might have a heart attack or something like that. He was breathing
heavily and slowly, and was very pale. I asked
him if he had a history of a chronic disease.
He said: “Boy, I’ve been roaming these lands
since I was born back in 1755 or ‘56.” Did he
have neurologic problems as well? The date
would have made him almost 300 years old.
Even today’s standards allowed us only to go to
100, with 87 being the average lifespan of a human. I asked if he was joking. Humor can alter significantly over a few generations.
“Not at all, son. I was born a colonist’s son and still
am. I remember the days when I was fighting off
the British with muskets back when I was your
age.” He had to be crazy, or his disease, whatever it
A New Way To Spread The Happiness
was, caused illusive memories, making him think
that he was a foot soldier of General Washington.
“Sir, I don’t want to be disrespectful, but I do not
think that you can be that old. No human, biologically, can live up to that age.”
“Son, you’re completely right. Of course normal
humans can’t live that long. Yet you’re missing
something: Who said I was like humans?”
“So, what exactly would you say you are, sir?”
“You would call me a creature, I define myself as
above human.” I still thought he was nuts but he
seemed fun to talk with. For some reason, I wanted
to hear more of his story, his skirmishes with the
British and his view on the past two centuries that
he claimed he had lived through.
thing maybe?” I couldn’t decline, either because I
was too polite or too weak of character to say no.
It’s only now that I realize he might’ve somehow
lured my mind into accepting to go into a random
geezer’s house who claims to be 288 years old. I
walked, almost hypnotized, through the main
street of the town and followed the old man into
a narrow street near the historical dock district of
the town. Knowing the houses date back to the
colonial times and despite a clear concept of the
human life-span, I asked myself if he could possibly be an exceptional human being that somehow
managed to live for more than a quarter of a millennium.
To be continued…
“Can you take me home, son? I see you’re tired,
you can linger inside for a while and drink some-
Ece Toprak
International communication is a tool that
creates memorable moments and positively affects one’s career. At Robert College, international communication is possible. However, in the past, only 150 students had the
chance to communicate peer to peer internationally through clubs like Model United
Nations, Debate Society and Junior Achievement. So, what about the remaining 850 students? Now they have RCII as a club!
Robert College International Initiatives was
founded a couple of years ago to help every
student experience the opportunity to communicate internationally at least once. It
started under the leadership of English teacher Cyrus Carter when Global Education Benchmark contacted RC. This contact formed the
seeds of the growing tree of RCII. Mr. Carter
remarks, “Robert College has started to exist
everywhere.”
built an enthusiastic team of almost 20 students who were not members of the Model
United Nations, the Debate Society or Junior
Achievement. This well-selected team represents the remaining 850 students in the international platform.
“The best way to get work done is to have
the students do the work,” says Mr. Carter. He
A club can maintain its existence only if it creates interest among students. Since the par-
ticipation in the school time projects is usually lower than desired, it has been decided
that most of the projects of RCII would be
done over the holidays.
tion tool. With this new tech application students are able to work with closed groups, to
share documents, videos,etc. Creating a film
with students from Italy sounds like a dream,
but it is about to happen soon.
“It’s all about networking,” said Mr. Carter. Travelling is no longer necessary. Since
technology is a part of our daily life, “Google
hangouts”has become a useful communica-
Students are going to be able to find a suitable
project for themselves in RCII. For instance, if
one doesn’t want to spend money on traveling, hecan host people from all over the
GEBG Logo
world. It is an entertaining and useful way to
discover other cultures and to practice English while guiding foreign students through
Istanbul and its unique culture.
Robert College International Initiatives is
open to everyone. The only thing to do is to
check the homeroom announcements and to
choose the right project.
The Changes in Robert College
Gizem Ergün
The first day of school, astonishment struck
Robert College students. There were neither
bad smells nor old- fashioned siphons in the
toilets. The renovation of the toilets became
a very popular topic among the students as
comparisons between the old and the new
ones were many. Since the students were
spending plenty of time in toilets, the restoration of them received a lot of attention;
however, it was not the only change in the
school. The 2012- 2013 school year opened in
RC with other innovations that even the students might not have realized yet.
Mainly the comments about the new toilets
were positive, since they looked cleaner and
more fashionable. Instead of the pale color,
this year the color of the toilets’ doors was
changed to green. Last year, some locks were
not working well so they were also fixed. Even
though some students were complaining that
there was no space to put their bags in the toilet, that problem was soon solved. According
to İlarya Duranoğlu (L10-7), it was problem-
atic for students to have no place to put their
bags; however, the tables for bags were put
in most of the toilets soon after and they became really useful. Likewise, the lights in the
toilets were innovative, fitted with sensors.
Bihter Erbaş (L10-9) said,“The lights turns off
quickly and you need to move almost every
five seconds to turn them on; however, they
are still advantageous for energy saving.”
Another one of the renewals this year was
changing rooms. The changing rooms for
both girls and boys were widened, as the
walls in the changing rooms were demolished. It was easier for students to change
their clothes in this new arrangement because there are lots of students who use the
changing rooms at the same time, mostly in
PE lessons, and they needed bigger space.
Moreover, the toilets in the changing rooms
and the showers were renovated as well;
more taps and mirrors were added.
Besides the ones that the students can observe, there were other changes which RC
students might not have known about, such
as the new water distribution system in
the school. From the interview with Ümran
Üngün, Director of Business and Finance, it
was learned that the school’s water distribu-
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
Robert College
tion systemwas also renovated and the treated wastewater from the tank near the Arnavutköy gate has been connected to new
toilets for toilet flushing. Ms. Üngün reported that the school received a matching grant
from USAID for the replacement of the water
distribution system as well as the wastewater
treatment project.
Apart from the toilets, changing rooms and
water distribution system, Ümran Üngün also
mentioned the second film& editing room
was opened this year with all new equipment
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
provided for students.
Students spend most of their time in school;
therefore, they were pleased to see the developments which made some parts of the
school more comfortable and more useful for
them.
11
FEATURESBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEFEATURESFEATURES
Just Say No
Lara Margaret
Güneri
Mehmet* is a professor at a prestigious university,
but he suffers from a deep depression which led to
him abuse his prescribed medicine. Now he is in rehab, struggling to leave his addiction behind while
figuring out how he will continue his job and explain his situation to the university board. He’s not
alone in his journey to a clean life. Oğuz is starting
college this year but while his friends were away
vacationing during the summer, he spent his time
in the hospital trying to get over his crack addiction. “It all started back in high school,” he admits,
“I was a good student with good grades but I occasionally smoked marijuana, chilling as we called
it”.
The idea of havinga drug addiction in high school
isn’t a distant scenario. As a survey conducted by
the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse
(NHSDA) shows, in the years between 1991 and
2001 the number of 8th graders who smoked marijuana increased to one in five from one in ten,
making it the addiction with the earliest starting age. Every year at least 100,000 teenagers are
treated for marijuana addiction.
“One never starts using a drug saying I will get
addicted, they always believe that they have the
will to stop using it whenever they want,” said Dr.
Suat Ekinci who works in Balıklı Rum Hospital, one
of the few treatment facilities for drug and alcohol addicts in Turkey. “But it’s never the case, because addiction is both a biological and psychological disease and a hard one to overcome,” he
added. The treatment of drug addiction is a long
process, because it is possible to fall back into the
same habit. The process consists of a two to three
week intensive treatment where the body is purified of the drug and where the worst of the withdrawal symptoms are overcome. This part of the
treatment is supervised by a team of doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists. The treatment, however, is not over at this point. The patient should
work with a psychologist to understand their motives in using drugs and how they will shape their
lives from then on. It is important not to forget
that there is never a recovered drug addict, but always a recovering drug addict.
An important step in overcoming the drug epidemic is to know the types of drugs, how they
work and what they do to one’s body. Being informed may prevent many dealings with drugs.
İbrahim, a heroin addict who still lives with his
parents at the age of 27, said, “I didn’t know I was
using heroine until I agreed to use it.”
Stimulants are the drugs that speed up the body’s
nervous system and create a feeling of energy
and make the user feel awake. However, when
the effects wear off, the user is left with a feeling of sickness and loss of energy. Cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines are types of
stimulants. Amphetamines, which are sometimes
prescribed by doctors for the treatment of ADHD,
are the most abused type of stimulants by teenagers. A 2011 report by the National Institute on
Drug Abuse shows that 3.5 percent of 8th graders, 6.6 percent of 10th graders, and 8.2 percent of
12th graders used amphetamines in the past year.
Veli, another patient staying at the rehab facility in
Balıklı Rum Hastanesi, is a crack addict. Crack is a
type of cocaine mixed with baking powder. “I was
studying theater and performance in university,
and I loved the rush I got on stage,” said Veli. “But
when I had to leave school, I started smoking crack
because it gave me that rush back.”
Inhalants such as glues, paint thinner and aerosol sprays are sniffed or huffed and give the user
immediate results. The body becomes deprived of
oxygen, causing a rapid heartbeat and difficulty
in walking and thinking. Inhalants are one of the
few classes of substances that are abused more by
younger adolescents than older ones; however, inhalant abuse can become chronic and continue
into adulthood.
Alcohol, which is a depressant, is by far the most
abused drug among teens. Depressants slow down
the body and seem to give a sense of relaxation.
Depressants are available as prescription drugs to
relieve stress and anger, which often leads to their
abuse. The withdrawal symptoms are horrifying,
including paranoia and cold sweats.
Opioids are morphine derivatives that cause
drowsiness, confusion, and nausea. Opium, morphine and heroin are types of opioids. Aslı, a heroin addict being treated at Balıklı Rum Hastanesi,
is so thin that the nurses have a hard time finding
any veins in her body to give her necessary medicine. She is also HIV positive, because of a shared
needle, which she admits to being the “worst mistake” she ever made.
Some of the most dangerous drugs are hallucinogens, which include LSD, magic mushrooms and
cannabis, or marijuana as most know it. These
drugs change the state of the mind and cause delusions. Hallucinogens affect the body’s self-control
causing speech and movement deficiency. Marijuana is called a gateway drug because the use of
it can lead to the abuse of more serious drugs. “It is
like a red carpetleading to cocaine,” said Oğuz, who
started smoking marijuana in high school. “I never thought it would be harmful since it comes from
a plant but I was wrong”. Mertkan, a marijuana
user for eight years said that there isn’t anything
he wouldn’t do under the influence of marijuana.
In 2009, 28.5 million Americans aged 12 and older
had used marijuana at least once in the year prior
to being surveyed. As with other drugs, after a fre-
quent use of marijuana, the user may feel the need
to increase the amount used and eventually switch
to drugs which give a greater sense of relief.
It is also important to understand why someone
turns to drugs. Usually a drug addict uses drugs
to feel normal. Mertkan reported in a therapy
session,“I feel like if my mood is -3 and the others
are 1, I only reach the level 1 when I smoke marijuana.” Simply put, the brain has a reward system
and when an individual does something that they
enjoy such as eating their favorite food or seeing
a loved one, the brain releases dopamine which
causes the individual to feel happy. However, the
use of drugs empties the dopamine store, so the
individual can only feel happy under the influence.
To store dopamine back in the body takes months,
making addiction a very hard mental and physical
illness to overcome.Feeling supported throughout the recovery process is very important. Fami-
lies and friends should always put out the message
that they are supportive of the patient as long as
the patient is willing to spend the effort,but make
it clear that they don’t accept a life with drugs as
well.
Using drugs is never a wise idea, whether it is to
fit in a group, or to seem cool. “Losing control and
having to spend time getting treated because
ofone stupid mistake isn’t a sign of being tough.
It is the opposite, it is weak,” said Oğuz at the end
of his treatment, ready to start university. Don’t
watch your life’s control get out of your hands, be
the one steering the wheel not watching. “Just say
no to drugs,” said Aslı, teary eyed. “I know I would,
if I had the chance again.”
*All the names have been changed in order to protect the patients’ privacy.
Making Of A Student Timetable
Mert Dilek
Arranging the student body’s schedules is clearly
not an easy task. Considering that there are currently 1032 students in Robert College, who are
taking an average of 10 courses each, the job looks
much more intimidating. With a possible change
in the scheduling system in coming years, there
are quite a number of questions lurking on the
topic.
The Bosphorus Chronicle interviewed Özlen
Tanrıöver from the Student Registrar’s office to
examine the meticulous process through which
classes land on a student’s timetable.
How does the process of creating student schedules based on students’ elective choices work overall?
ÖT: Let me begin by describing the process that
most of the schools employ to deal with the issue
of scheduling: In an ideal situation where there is
no significant deviation from the main scheme,
the school separates the periods in a cycle (in our
case, 5 days) into manageable blocks depending
on the frequency of the courses per cycle. These
blocks are called carriers, which may consist of any
number of periods per cycle; for example, Carrier
#1 may have six periods per cycle, whereas Carrier #2 has four. Each carrier has certain periods of
the cycle occupied. Then certain classes and their
respective teachers are assigned for a carrier. The
classes in the same carrier may belong to the same
or different subjects. Eventually a student has
12
courses in all carriers.
Even though this concept may be challenging at
the beginning due to the hardship of dividing, let’s
say, 500 classes into 7 carriers, afterwards it gets
much easier and more practical. This is the overall
concept and understanding that we, too have, but
we eventually hit the wall.
According to my understanding, in the U.S., the
number of periods a course has per cycle does not
change significantly from course to course. They
are mostly 5 periods per cycle. Therefore, all of the
carriers consist of 5 periods, which makes things
much easier.
On the other hand, here we have courses that have
one (Religion), two (P.E.), three (Prep Science),
four (Intro Sciences), five (most of the electives),
six (Advanced Sciences), seven (Lise 10 English)
and ten (Prep and Lise 9 English courses) periods
per cycle. Therefore, to break down our timetable into equal carrier has always been very challenging, and what is even more challenging is that
some classes, such as P.E., must have double period chunks to be able to make use of the facilities.
We are trying to divide the same template over
and over again by different denominators. That’s
why the carrier concept does not work very well
in our case.
How do you eventually deal with all of these problems?
ÖT: Had there been no instances of course repeat and the case of varying numbers of periods
a course has per cycle, this system alone would
work very well in Robert College. However, what
we do is, we utilize this concept only with 11th and
12th grade students, because the majority of their
courses have 5 or 6 periods per cycle. We employ a
different carrier concept with the 10s and we create an Intro Sciences carrier system for the 9s; it is
an altered version of the usual carrier system since
we mix and merge the carriers.
In essence, we modify the general plan for each
special case. For example there are four 9th grade
students who are taking French 3 and German 3
this year, which is not actually offered in the 9th
grade. These students are taking these courses
with 10th grade students. French and German are
offered four periods a week in 9th grade; however
French 3 and German 3 have five periods a week,
so these four students have to miss one period
each week. Such exceptions occur, as we are able
to meticulously modify their schedule.
Had we been able to use the carrier concept for
the entire template then it would necessitate an
“ideal” case, but we are anything but that. What
makes us unique is that we are different both from
the United States and Turkey in terms of the courses we offer.
Do you do all these using computer software or
simply on paper?
ÖT: We mostly use computer software. One year
we did it relying completely on software, resulting in several unanticipated outcomes. We now
use software in a more controlled manner; we load
the information of students, teachers, sections and
classrooms into the software, and then we finalize each tentative schedule. The software notifies
us about conflicts and errors, and then we make
the decisions. For example, we make sure that a
class does not always meet in the mornings or in
the afternoons; we balance the dispersion of periods manually. We strive to be objective and fair
on such issues.
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
Do teachers have the opportunity to choose which
courses they will teach?
ÖT: That’s between the teacher and the department head. Most of the time we get the teaching
assignments from the department heads, so that
issue is settled before it comes to us. But most department heads try to support their teachers in
their requests and consult them on this matter,
since happy teachers make happy classes!
How are the homeroom teachers assigned to their
sections? Is the assignment random?
ÖT: It is not actually random, since Mrs. Halıcıoğlu
tries to assign the homeroom teachers in a way
that would make sense to that section, based
on the teachers the students in the specific class
have. But sometimes the system does not work
as clear-cut; some teachers don’t get to be homeroom teachers a few years, and sometimes teachers have to be re-assigned to a section and similar
problems can arise.
How do you assign the classrooms to classes?
ÖT: As far as classrooms are concerned, that’s an
important problem in our school. When we used
to have a middle school in the past, middle school
classes would stay in Woods just like the Preps
do today. They would have their dedicated classrooms and wouldn’t change them except for science or art courses. On the other hand, the high
school students would move around and go to department classrooms, which is what you all do today. In the past, this was a privilege for the high
school students; it was a seniority issue to be able
to move around in the school and go to the department classrooms after four years of inertia. It used
to be a cool thing, whereas now, since you instantly begin to move around the campus as soon as you
are a prep and everybody does the same thing as
you, it is not seen positively anymore. Yet, if each
class would have its own dedicated classroom, we
wouldn’t be able to fit into this school. We don’t
have enough rooms to be able to fit 50 homeroom
sections to dedicated classrooms, since science
classrooms and art studios are not practical for the
use of other courses.
Are there any changes in the schedule you are
planning for next year?
ÖT: Next year, the school is planning for not a
five-, but a ten-day cycle. The decision is still tentative, but the plan is that one period will be 80
minutes, given that a cycle will last for 10 days.
So, students will have 4 classes during one day.
Although initially it sounds perplexing, no course
will gain and no course will lose from this change.
But the school is hoping to gain from the transition in terms of educational effectiveness through
fewer transitions from course to course, more concentrated work, and more time for in-class activities and e-learning. This is what a school should
be doing to reach the contemporary understanding of education.
Last year we hosted Simon Jeynes, who was a consultant from a company called Independent School
Management, which provides consultancy to
schools worldwide in terms of scheduling, learning
and teaching –but mostly on scheduling. The plan
that Simon James offered us was an 8-day cycle,
which would necessitate variations in the length
of periods over the course of a day. Given that the
challenge of varying frequencies of courses per cycle persists, this additional variation would be extremely confusing, so we modified it in accordance
with our preferences.
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
January 2008 Issue
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENTBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEARTS
State Of Sound: Muse - The 2nd Law
Umutcan
Gölbaşı
When I first stumbled upon The 2nd Law’s
trailer I was pretty amazed. This was a rather
nice amazement that came with good news.
It was a feeling a fan gets when he sees that
his favorite band is working on a new piece
–and of course with each new piece come a
brand new vision and experience, especially
if the band is Muse. However, things were different than expected. “Muse goes dubstep?
No!” was my initial reaction to the little earthquake they created with the new turn they’ve
taken. The worst thing was, we, the Musers,
had to wait through a painful summer to be
able to see what changed about the band
with the amazing guitar riffs and a genius vocal feast. Wouldn’t Matthew Bellamy come in
to save the day with his guitar? What about
their symphonic approach?
If there’s one thing I can say about Muse after my familiarity with their sound for the last
12 years, is that they are not afraid of trying
new approaches. They are far from the “Ra-
diohead-alike symphonic prog-rock band”,
which was their label after their first album
Showbiz. From then on, Muse tried to display
a new approach each time they locked themselves up in the studio, and actually did succeed in providing a unique set of sounds on all
of their albums. The 2nd Law is the ultimate
product of this process. Muse took an unexpected turn towards electronic sounds and
implemented these into dramatic vocals and
the usual symphonic style—maybe even
created a whole new genre. As a Muse-lover,
I hated it the first time I heard it, and the second time, and the third time as well.
What do I think of this record now? The album
definitely starts to sink in after multiple listens. The theme of “the second law of thermodynamics” actually makes perfect sense:
Lyrics sound more intellectual than random
screams, and machinery-like sounds go together well enough to create a harmony. Let’s
not get into Chemistry, but the inevitable second law connects with the urge to survive and
live, even though death is the only end to life.
This is a theme that is preserved throughout
the album, which is similar to the lyrics Muse
wrote before. Muse worked that theme with
dramatically presented sounds and crescen-
dos.This is most apparent when the Greek vocals of “Survival” break in the lines: “Life is a
race, and I’m going to win.”
What they did was to try to use the existing
Muse we adore with extremely clear guitar
riffs, Radioheadesque, OK Computerish-slavish prog sounds, and mix it with the electronic vocals, the infamous “bass drops,” and a
symphonic sound that still resembles Queen.
Melting all these items in a pot is extremely risky and hard to pull off, but my humble opinion is that they have succeeded. The
disturbingly epidemic electronic back vocals of “Madness,”the wonderful symphonic
building-up process of “Supremacy”with the
strings, the funky bass pattern of “Panic Station” inspired by Scissor Sisters, the extremely dramatic “Survival,”the Chopin-like piano
outro of “Explorers”, and even the surprising
bass drops and electronic-psychedelic sounds
of “The 2nd Law: Unsustainable” bedazzle
the listeners. The album is a freak show that
includes almost every different approachtowards music, yet it is able to sound like a
unified and harmonic piece.
This album, what I would have called a “mess”
with its seemingly completely unrelated
songs at first listen, now sounds
like an album
that is meant to
be. The irregular pattern to
it is sometimes
frustrating, but
it is loveable at
the same time.
Although I still
hate the dubstep
–even though
Muse is making
it—, the symphonic rock, the
strings, dramatic
vocals, huge bass
sounds, electronic “drops,”
Muse: The 2nd Law
and Matt’s loveable falsettosmake a lot of sense together in
time.
The 2nd Law is an album that needs time. It
is not for every listener, and definitely not for
listeners who hate electronic music. Initially,
the album isvery hardto define and contextually full, but it starts to sound just natural
as time progresses. It completely depends on
personal taste at that point: one either loves
its freakish and unique form or not. Muse’s
musical evolution is yet to continue, and I
can’t stop but wonder what the next product
of their journey for the “musical truth” will be.
State Of Sound: SigurRós - Valtari
Cem Töre
SigurRós has been adding something new to
its music in each album. For 15 years, every
album has been like a baby step. The albums
are brilliant in terms of musical quality, but
it is as if the group members still try to discover ways to make their music better. Their
untitled album has no lyrics at all, and Með
suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust signals an
attempt to return to the roots of music with
basic drum patterns and clear vocals. Valtariis different from all the previous albums. Valtariis a declaration. It is the proof that SigurRós has reached maturity.
The album looks like the perfect combination
of all the music styles. The album’s first song,
“Éganda” opens the album just like their others: peaceful, slow, making the listenerexpect
something to happen. However, the sound
of an electric guitar breaks the silencein less
than a minute. The sudden change of style is
seen again in a few minutes, this time with a
song reminiscent of the 2005 “Sæglopur.” The
song is a good album opener, nothing more
or nothing less, summarizing the album. You
can expect to come across anything in Valtari,
even things that were not present in any of
the previous albums.
Probably the most exciting song on Valtari
is“Varúð,” a salute to the music they were
making in the Ágætisbyrjundays. Vague vocals, combined with the bowed guitar of Jonsi and SigurRós’s trademark crescendo, create
a song that will probably be one of the best
pieces of music SigurRós will have ever made
until their next album, classed with the likes
of “Svefn-g-englar,” “NyBatterí” and “Popplagið (Untitled 8).” Another piece that stands
out is “Fjögur Píanó,” a song that sounds like it
was meant to be the ninth track in the untitled album. “Dauðalogn” reminds the listener
of the album Von, and “Ekki Múkk” can be related to one of its best-selling albums Takk.
A lot can be said about this album, but to really understand it, the listener has to be familiar with the “pulse” of the previous albums. Valtari has no artistic concerns at all,
since the band has chosen this album as their
symbol of musical maturity. The album just
flows as if it was made up of natural sounds,
and no favors are done for the listener to truly
understand the album. Valtarimeans “steamroller” in Icelandic, and the name says it all.
The lead singer of the band, Jonsi, describes
the album succinctly: “The music kind of just
SigurRós: Valtari
Water Lilies of Istanbul
Bita Koç
As all of you art enthusiasts may know, the
famous “Monet’s Garden” exhibition has arrived at the Sakip Sabanci Museum in Istanbul. Thrilled about the event, I immediately
made my way to Sakip Sabanci Museum. As
I entered the museum, I was first welcomed
by the voices of the birds in Monet’s Garden
and surrounded by the visions of Giverny Garden projected. This idea makes the exhibition
more creative and realistic. Also, it creates an
impression of the Giverny Garden and helps
art lovers see the surroundings from the perspective of an impressionist artist.
As visitors continue to explore the exhibition,
they see the portraits of the Monet family including his children, himself and his wife.
They also see the palette Claude Monet used
and the pipe he smoked. The actual exhibition starts after that room.
The artwork displayed in the exhibition goes
chronologically: the paintings are separated
into several rooms according to the time period Monet painted them. At first the visitor
is presented with a variety of different landscape pictures. Then, as the exhibition continues and the visitor passes through several
rooms, he starts to observe that the pictures
focus on water lilies, a symbol in Monet’s
works. The water lily images are all influenced by the ones in Monet’s Giverny Garden. The only differences between these water lily images is the time of day when they
were painted, such as at dawn or midday; the
dominant colors are lilac or light blue. The
paintings start with a realistic approach, but
as one moves through the exhibit they become more abstract and seem to be just a collection of brush strokes. However, the reason
for this abstraction in further paintings is not
intentional: it was mostly because Monet had
cataracts and this was the only way he could
paint.
Personally, I was very pleased with the exhibition and I had a great time. For those of you
who are thinking about going to Monet’s Garden exhibition, I have further suggestions.
First of all, I highly recommend that you use
the audio device distributed in the entrance
of the museum, which I didn’t take. The audio
device provides one with some basic information about the artwork marked with an audio sign. Additionally, it is beneficial to have
some background information about Monet and his works before going to the exhibition. However, if you don’t have a chance to
prepare,the museum posts information on
the walls of the exhibit about Monet’s life, including Monet’s family tree, and his career.
Monet’s Infamous Water Lilies
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
13
ARTSBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
State Of Sound: The Mars Volta - Noctourniquet
Ali Girayhan Özbay
Oftentimes in a band’s life, the members
grow tired of what they have been doing and
instead try something experimental rather
than conventional. The album Noctourniquet
fulfills roughly the same role for The Mars Volta. Although the band tends to stray from familiar waters, their music still has several signature qualities that make The Mars Volta
what it is now, including their indecipherable
lyrics, odd time signatures, liberal use of dissonance and the common Latin and relatively rarer Middle Eastern influences, primarily
introduced by the band’s guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. This time around, however,
things are slightly different.
First of all, Noctourniquet represents a marginal change (not necessarily in terms of aesthetic quality, but rather as in change in musical style). The Mars Volta has not simply
made a 180-degree turn in terms of what
kind of music they do, but rather has enriched
their work by drawing from a wider pool of
influences. The Mars Volta has a history of
producing very different albums, ranging
from the lugubrious paranoia of De-loused
in the Comatorium to tense Bedlam in Goliath. Noctourniquet sharply differentiates
from all the other ones. The most immediately recognizable change in this album is the
significantly greater weight of electronic elements. The first track of the album, “The Whip
Hand,” gives a more prominent role to sampled sounds with a catchy yet dissonant and
aggressive riff on top of Omar’s electric guitar. Meanwhile, the album’s only single so
far, “The Malkin Jewel,” starts out with Omar
ramming power chords and major chords,
which are unexpected. The piece later turns
into a turbulence of sampled sounds mixed
with the pedal-distorted electric guitar and
the syncopated drums that create a distressing cacophony. Add the heavily distorted
voice of the band’s vocalist Cedric Bixter-Zavala, constantly reciting the unsettling chorus,
and you see what is new.
One of the noteworthy aspects of Noctour-
niquet, however, is the incredible amount of
detail every single song has. No note is there
to fill time, but because that is how The Mars
Volta intended it to be. This is especially important as the songs have dissonant characteristics and The Mars Volta rarely relies on
musical conventions; therefore, precision is
essential for them to catch the harmony. This
is something they have been doing very well
for some time and Noctourniquet seems to
display the zenith of this quality.
The problem for many artists has been repetition, but Noctourniquet would have none of
that. It was intended as a concept album. Vocalist Cedric Bixter-Zavalas states “It’s about
embracing life for what it should be. There’s
a view of the elitist lifestyle - that being an
artist is unattainable. I’m trying to write this
story that reminds people that we’re all artists.” While the mysterious lyrics certainly do
not help to resolve the songs’ contents, vocal
coherence is certainly present. Also, this coherence does not become monotonous, but
rather adds to the overflowing creativity of
Noctourniquet. One could argue that it is too
creative, having gone towards the nonsense
side too much. However, in
my opinion it’s not the case.
The masterful use of synthesizers and samplers and liberal use of the odd time signatures are still present, as is The
Mars Volta dissonance (which
has been one of the key factors which enabled them to
produce songs vastly different from each other). From
the slow arpeggios of “Imago” supported by soft singing
and ambient sampling in the
background to the sonic chaos of “Dyslexicon”, Noctourniquet certainly does not bore
the listener with its great diThe Mars Volta: Noctourniquet
versity. Still, like all other alhave been listening to any kind of convenbums by The Mars Volta, it requires much attional music for some time, expect to hear a
tention to detail and getting used to the style
mad, thundering blur instead of the painsto be able to appreciate this one at all.
takingly detailed experience Noctourniquet
The Mars Volta has come up with another al- offers.The Mars Volta has produced an album with great creativity, yet like all of their bum that can reach out to few but does its job
albums, Noctourniquet comes with a warn- commendably well.
ing; it is not an album for everyone. If you
State Of Sound: Grizzly Bear - Shields
Mert Uşşaklı
In our age of unclassifiable music, where each
music genre spontaneously blends into another, Grizzly Bear is a frank representative.
With their 2009 break-out album Veckatimest, they impressed the audience with their
raw sound. They utilized every sound they
could produce in the studio. Their recently attained fame raised the bar for 2012’s Shields,
an album no less of a pearl than Veckatimest.
Grizzly Bear manifests an interesting style on
“Shields”. The record in general is very freeflowing yet quite elaborate and coherent.
This has to do with Grizzly Bear’s inner structure: Each band member has an equal part in
contribution. Mix that with the kind of band
that Grizzly Bear is, and you get the “tasty vis-
cous syrup” feeling of “Shields”. Take the song
“Sleeping Ute”, for example. As the first song
on the album, it is a bombastic one with a
very striking, jumpy guitar riff and dynamic song structure. Even though the songwriter is Dan Rossen, we see Chris Bear’s wisely
structured drum parts and a chaotic texture
added by Ed Droste that is simply indispensable. Each Grizzly Bear song belongs to the
band, and by making use of the inspirations
of every band member, Grizzly Bear adopts a
unique balance.
With regard to their previous effort, Grizzly
Bear has gone from being “strikingly clear”
to “modestly intricate”. In other words, songs
that were adorable at the very first listen,
such as “Two Weeks” and “Southern Point”
have been replacedwith“growers”, songs
that get better and better each time you listen. The ambitiously textured record offers a
lot, and it is this plenitude of melodies that
forcesthe listener to put the record on repeat
and attempt to dig into it. This is by no means
a setback; Grizzly Bear’s “Shields” rewards the
listener munificently. Above all, this indicates
a maturation of Grizzly Bear’s compositions.
Perhaps our little cub is something grander
and more ferocious now. Songs on “Shields”
don’t beg to be released as singles. The album
feels like a huge, reverent monument. It’s big
and complete, but it requires the listener’s incentive to be fully appreciated.
The only exception is “Yet Again”:a song that
sounds as if it could welcome Chris Martin of
Coldplay anytime as a guest vocalist.
Yet what makes Grizzly Bear amicable is not
particularly their eccentric melodic phrasings
or detailed song structures. It is their downto-earth, mundane style that attracts many
music aficionados to their music. This tradition continues on “Shields”, yet in an ever
more comprehensible fashion. The despair in
“Sleeping Ute” as Daniel Ross chants “I can’t
help myself” and the sentimentality with
which Ed Droste hums “And I always rescind
/ Everything I bought into, there’s no name”
hints at one thing: Grizzly Bear is an effusive
band whose sentimentality is collectively shared by
most of us. Almost
anyone can connect
with the vague descriptions and fluctuating emotions
that are prevalent on
every Grizzly Bear album. “Shields” is no
exception. Even the
grandiose ringing of
the piano throughout the 7-minute
piece “Sun In Your
Eyes” shares a basic,
emotional core with
the listener.
Grizzly Bear : Shields
Nowadays, an interesting age of music is growing with ambitious acts such as Grizzly Bear, which abandon the prevailing celebrity idea and foster
an artistic sense of warmth and cordiality.
The fact that we’re diverging from the idea
that music celebrities are at an unattainable
position is intriguing and mysterious. Whatever the reason, I enjoy it. You should enjoy it
too. “Shields” is worth every penny.
Farewell Scorpions
Ege Ersü
October 19th was a day of joy, excitement and
sadness for Turkish rockers. It was the day to
witness a landmark in music history and to
say goodbye to the great rock band, Scorpions, which changed many people’s lives as
well as Rock ‘n’ Roll itself.
Some background information for readers
who are not fully informed about the group:
Scorpions is a German rock band that was
formed in 1965. It has many legendary songs
such as “Still Loving You,” “Wind of Change,”
“Send Me an Angel,” and “Rock You like a Hurricane.” After the release of their last studio
album Sting in the Tail, the band started their
ultimate world tour “The Final Sting Tour.”
They visited Istanbul in 2010 and this year
14
they came to Turkey for one last time. Their
first concert was at Izmir Arena on October
17th and the second was at Maçka Küçükçiftlik Park on October 19th.
When the long-awaited time for the concert
finally arrived, there was a huge line in front
of the gates. They were opened for fans at 7
p.m., and people started to fill the concert
area very quickly. The variety of fans was remarkable: from blatant teenagers to 70 yearold grannies, and from little kids who came
with their families to heavy metal fans with
black leather clothes. “This shows how legendary this group is, attracting all kinds of
people to unite for their music,” said Güneş
Günay, a Scorpions fan. On the down side,
some were angry about the starting time of
the show and they started to complain loudly
about the 3 hour wait. But of course the concert organizers had already thought about
this issue: Hard rock and heavy metal songs
were played until the concert began, which
diminished the discontent as everyone sang
the songs together. Following this collabor-
ative performance, the opening singer, Ayşe
Saran, took the stage and gave a short concert. When that was over the clocks were
showing 10 p.m. and everyone was trying
to find the best place to watch the much-anticipated concert. The band did not make the
crowd wait any longer, starting the concert
with the song “Sting in the Tail,” which carries
the same name as their latest album.
The band never lost connection with the
crowd, not even for a single song. They were
always active on the stage, keeping their
communication with the fans at a high level. But for a lot of people, the star of the night
was James Kottak, the 50 year old drummer.
He presented the fans fascinating shows during the songs and long drum solos between
the songs. He did not forget to show the tattoo on his back, which says “Rock and Roll Forever,” while continuing his acrobatic moves.
As deserved, he received great applause from
the fans. Other amazing yet dangerous shows
came from the guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who
actually could have been seriously injured.
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
Howe ve r,
when
he successfully completed
his acts
t h e
crowd
awarded him
James Kottak
a long
ovation.
Overall, the audience enjoyed the playlist that
included songs from the new album as well
as some classics such as “No One Like You” and
“Holiday.”
It was easy to see from the fans’ faces that
the most amazing part of the whole concert was the finale. “I’ll never forget the ending, it was unbelievable,” said Begüm Kerey.
The Scorpions said that the concert was over,
but of course came back for two more songs,
including one of their most romantic songs,
“Still Loving You”. Following the magic of the
rhythm, couples were hugging and kissing
each other as others were swaying left and
right with their lighters up in the air. To create an enjoyable contrast, the band ended
the concert with their most energetic song,
“Rock You like a Hurricane,” which brought
the crowd together once again to sing. These
were unforgettable and sorrowful moments,
as Turkish fans said their final goodbyes to the
Scorpions.
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
January 2008 Issue
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENTBOSPHORUSCHRONICLEARTS
Fusion Of Genres In The Third Millenium
Ali Girayhan Özbay
Mert Uşşaklı
Albums reviewed in this issue of State of
Sound draw material from a wide variety of
influences, ranging from the electronic dissonance combined with unorthodox progressive rock structures of Noctourniquet to
the ambience of the bowed guitar conveying
the pastoral tranquility of Iceland. This represents a trend that has become very prevalent
in the music of the 21st century: the blend of
genres. This effect is much less distinctively
evident in music before the early 2000s and
late 90s, and has gained much more influence
in the last decade. This leads one to ask: Why
is this happening “now”?
By the end of the 90s, all four major
record labels (EMI, Warner, Sony, UMG) that
were dominating the music scenepushed a
particular kind of sound that left many musicians dissatisfied. Musicians who wanted to
reflect their own distinctive style in their music were dissuaded from doing so. This led the
said musicians to abandon these major record
labels which birthed the independent music
labels from which the term “indie” comes.
It is not only the independence of these labels that is unique; musicians who wanted to adopt their own styles drew influences
from as many sources as possible to do so. These record labels
not only operated differently in
terms of finances, but also the
music that they published was
sonically different. A particularly popular example is Radiohead’s Kid A (2001). As one
of the most popular alternative rock bands of the late 90s
thanks to their groundbreaking
hit OK Computer, Radiohead’s
next release was highly anticipated. However, their next album Kid A was not quite what
the public expected. Drawing
heavy influences from 70s early
German electronic and avantgarde modern classical musicians like Messiaen, the album
was shockingly successful. Radiohead was a leader in this
trend and many artists followed it.
beats to 50s classical pop
string parts. This variety
drew a much more diverse
listener base, all of who
found something they
could connect to. Similarly M.I.A., the British pop
artist with a Tamil background, mixed elements
from diverse genres. Using the internet actively,
M.I.A., an outspoken political critic, achieved a level
of notoriety for being politically bold. She could
not have been as outspoken and popular simultaneously as she is today if
she were signedto a major
record label. These examples demonstrate how the
Kid A essentially revolutionized indi in the beginning of the 21st century
digital revolution made
it possible for these inhelped and continues to help indie musicians
die
artists
to
create
unorthodox music drawspread their word but also aids them in dising
from
a
wide
pool
of influences and take
What made this transformation covering manysources of influence. Considequally
unorthodox
stances
while still repossible was the rapid advance in technolo- er Lana Del Rey, the so-called vintage indie
maining
competitive
as
an
artist
from a busigywhich made it much easier to carry around pop artist who made a huge breakthrough
ness
perspective.
and discover music, finally giving indie labels in 2010 thanks to numerous webzines that
a fighting chance against the giants.The in- praised her music. Her breakthrough is not In addition, advancements in the field of
ternet made it much easier to acquire music, only due to a viral marketing campaign on music production technology itself have enand the mobilization of music that came with the internet, as regularly is the case these couraged many artists to develop their mixthe use of digital music players made mu- days, but also due to the wide variety of in- of-genres sound.The development and comsic consumption much easier. This not only fluences in her music, ranging from hip-hop mercialization of digital audio workstations
and the prevalence of many advanced sound
synthesis equipment made the album recording process much easier and cheaper. Technical advances in sampling,the process of taking a sample of music from a recording and
utilizing it, opened the gates for musicians
to quote each other directly. Sampling forced
some musicians to develop their lexicon of
music so as to be able to utilize as much samples as possible. A grand example is the rap
scene, for which the use of advanced music
production technology is so essential that almost all rap songs are based on samples. The
popular Eminem single “Stan” features a sample from Dido, while the MosDef piece “Supermagic” interestingly contains a sample of
Selda Bağcan’s “İnce İnce”. Other artists, such
as Kashiwa Daisuke, compose, record and release their work just with the use of a laptop. The ease with which music can be created nowadays forces us to conclude that with
the advancing music technology the trend of
blending different genresis not only possible
but also encouraged.
Today’s music has a grand palette
of influences the music and a large and constantly growing library of works. It only follows that music of subpar quality too shall
thrive in this pool. Some listeners will complain about the ever increasing amount of
low quality music. It is the duty of the listener
to cherry pick the best out of this potpourri.
I’m Not Alright
Sıla Göral
“All dressed up
In a white straight jacket
Shut your mouth
No, you can’t have it
Paper airplanes
Open window
Here today
And gone tomorrow.”
Have you ever heard these lyrics? Oh wait!
The right question is: Have you ever heard of
Shinedown?
I first met Shinedown when I typed “I’ll follow you” in YouTube. I meant to find the song
by Lykke Li, which was actually called “Follow
Rivers,” thus I came across “I’ll follow you.” As I
kept listening to it, I started to feel differently. It was not anything specific or clear, but I
could not help but replay the song a couple
of times.
I started to ask myself, “Who are these talented guys? I’ve never heard of them,” which
would be many people’s reaction. Thus, I decided to discover them and their music. I
spent at least an hour listening to different
songs and thinking how emotionally effective each one was. I followed them all the
way.
Shinedown became my new idol, an unknown rock and metal band. To verify this
statement, I started to walk around asking
people with a hopeful expression: “Do you
know Shinedown?”
And all I got was,
“What is that?”
Then I raised a second question: “Do
you know the new
band called One Direction; the one with
256,257,379 views
on YouTube for one
single?” They knew
it; every single person did. The band
formed only two
years ago yet they
just knew it. Personally, I would listen to
One Direction, but
I prefer three men
playing and one
singing to five boys
singing altogether. But the worst
thing is the number:
6,090,463. It is the
views on YouTube for
Shinedown’s most
known single.
A more fair comparShinedown
ison would be to Arctic Monkeys, White
Stripes and Red Hot Chili Peppers. These
bands just need to grab attention to spread
out and to make people feel the beauty and
high quality of their music.
It has been nine months and I still cannot
find anybody who is aware of Shinedown. I
started to try the opposite way and made my
friends like the band, but there was always
need for more people, for those who do not
get stuck up with those usual, popular, ‘amazing’ bands.
I once ran across a girl who shouted at me “I
listen to Scorpions!” Oh really? You must be so
DECEMBER 2012 Issue
proud of that because
they are extremely qualified and every ‘cool’ human being around you listens to
them. How lucky you are, you can go to the
concert on the 19th of October!
Istanbul. I love a song of his so much that I
bought a ticket, and so did my friend. However, her reasoning is different: Sting was one
of the members of The Police. When I already
knew this face, we had a high five: She found
someone who is aware!
let them through the “open windows.” They
should make their own decisions and discover everything like a newborn. Maybe this way
music can be enjoyable and various. Shinedown is “here today” but it should not be
“gone tomorrow.” We should keep it alive.
Shinedown does not come here.
I don’t want people to be “all dressed up in a
white straight jacket.” They should be different; they should open their minds to new perspectives, new thoughts. They should leave
some space to be filled. I don’t want people to
say “shut your mouth, you can’t have it.” No, I
can! I am not shutting my mouth; I am wearing my headphones and enjoying the music.
I am rebelling.
So take a break now. Type some words in the
search box on YouTube and listen to the first
song that comes up. Just do something different!
I have a friend who has grown up
with The Police’s songs. You probably don’t
know that band; I didn’t know them. It’s a
band of the previous generation, a band of
our parents. My friend really loves them, but
complains about the same thing: they are not
known.
On the 26th of November, Sting will be in
By the way, the name of that song is “I’m Not
Alright.”
Do you think I am?
People should play with “paper airplanes” to
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
15
Bosphorus Chronıcle
A Visual Feast at Robert College
Setenay Gel
How do you feel when you go to an art museum?
Do you adore the walls decorated with beautiful
paintings? It feels the same at Robert College.
Art works of students, posters of previous theater performances, paintings by famous artists.
RC corridors provide a visual feast.
16
BOSPHORUS CHRONICLE
DECEMBER 2012 Issue