ISB Dragon Scroll
ISB Newspaper Club
October 2021 edition Newspaper
-Student Life-
Senior Appreciation & Recognition
May 25, 2021
Michelle Wang
Highschool is merely 4 years, a small fraction in a long life. Short but significant, highschool is a turning point from adolescence to adulthood. Here are how some seniors used 1 word to describe their ISB experience:
- Expansive
- Roller coaster
- Unparalleled
The word roller coaster was used the most times to describe time spent at ISB. Although the global pandemic added even more twists and turns to an already turbulent highschool experience, the seniors not only survived but found new opportunities and meaning in their less than ideal situation. Here are how some seniors believe the pandemic affected their ISB experience:
Created a more isolated space.
Online learning has made it impossible to feel like a senior with responsibilities. The communal feel of just being in a regular classroom made it easier to be on top of things and engaged. Considering ISB offers what I'd call a pretty challenging curriculum as far as high-school is concerned, the pandemic has hit us especially hard.
The pandemic has been rough, I'll definitely mourn the fact that my senior year wasn't filled with lunches with friends. But I think in the end it all worked out okay, my friendships survived and the whole experience makes this last month of hybrid learning even more special.
The pandemic significantly reduced my motivation in all aspects. But it made me realize the importance of social interactions. I realize now how important face-to-face contact and being at school is to a student's overall success at school and in extracurricular activities.
It has made it harder to experience high school and engage with those people. But the close knit community of ISB with the students and teachers and faculty have made it a comforting experience and have made many positive effects on my experience
Although I’m sad that I haven’t been able to see my classmates in person for most of the year, I actually made some new friends. At times, I also enjoyed being able to learn at home because it’s more flexible.
ISB is known for its small class size and academic rigor. However, students and faculty alike know that ISB is much more than just a high stress environment. Here is how some seniors responded to the question: How has ISB impacted you personally?
ISB provided me with an extremely supportive community that has enabled me to prosper. ISB's guidance of students through the IB curriculum has really been helpful for me. I have been able to make great relationships with all of my teachers because I know they are always ready to help me and that my success means as much to them as it does to me.
I think my writing ability is better than it would be if I didn't attend ISB.
I complain about ISB a lot, it's hard and so much work, but I'm not sure who'd I be without my seven years at this school. I'll definitely be walking away from ISB more conscientious and aware, part of that might be the fact that I'm no longer 12, but I'm pretty sure ISB had something to do with it as well.
It has given me really vital skills that I know I will use for the rest of my life, whether it is managing schedules or taking time to relax and enjoy my own life, ISB above all has taught when and how to balance
Many students at ISB have become my best friends that I hope to stay in touch with for a long time. Teachers and staff have inspired me to continue to work toward my goals.
Pushed me to reevaluate priorities, and to reach higher academic and personal goals.
When seniors were asked what they would miss most about ISB, it became clear that it was the community that defined ISB and made highschool special. It is the students and staff that will remain as a testament to these stressful, but amazing 4 years.
I will most miss the people at ISB, both students and staff. They are kind and supportive. The students at ISB have the kind of community that can only come from understanding the stress and work that has to be put in to succeed.
The one thing I will miss most about ISB is its close-knit community. Being part of this resilient community has pushed me to explore and achieve goals in my high school career that were out of my comfort zone.
The fact that I knew almost everyone, it was easy to get a hand of someone when needed
The small school environment
The close community of people and the support that you will have throughout your time at ISB because it really helped be that much more successful in everything I did.
Definitely the people. Everyone here, teachers and students are fantastic and I'll definitely miss them once I've graduated.
As highschool ends, a new chapter begins. Freedom of new opportunities, experiences ad relationships await Class of 2021. Here are some of what seniors are most excited about:
Immediately after graduation? The release of the film In The Heights. Comes out June 11th and I'm extremely excited. Further in the future, I'm really excited to rebuild my foundational understanding of art and see my work improve as a result.
I am most excited about going to college and gaining more freedom to explore interests that I did not have time to do in High School. I am also looking forward to a fresh start.
I’m excited to begin a new chapter of my life and start meeting new people in college! And I’m looking forward to seeing who my classmates and I become.
Studying an academic field that is my choice and doing so to a greater degree than high school provided.
Some independence (at college)
The freedom of college life
Excited to meet new people and start a new chapter of my life and career.
The fact that some people would have known me since 6th grade really well
Senior Class Features
Elijah Singleton:
Elijah was soccer captain his senior year while also being named to the First-Team all metro League. He won the Links scholarship and will be playing soccer at Pacific Lutheran University. He started a giving wall at ISB in which many donations came in.
Annabelle Hauss:
For her CAS Project Annablle volunteered in a 2nd grade classroom and taught the students an art project. The cards they made were sent to Bring Smiles to Seniors which sends cards to seniors in senior centers.
Vrishank Shivaprakash:
Vrishank received two Gold Presidential Service Awards for over 600 hours in volunteer service. He is also part of the local band AGNI that performs for fundraising events to provide low-income students in India. He has also developed an active Cure Roadmap for Clear Cell Sarcoma, officially in use by the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute.
ISB rundown for newbies
May 14, 2021
Valerie Owusu-Hienno
I did not attend ISB for middle school, so I have no firsthand experience to share. Fortunately, others who completed ISB’s middle school curriculum were welcome to sharing the perspectives.
Now in high school, you've got the Personal Project
10th grade marks the end of the middle years program (MYP) and the start of the personal project. The middle years program is meant to prepare students aged 11-16 for the IB program. The personal project is well named, because it is a project personal to you. 10th grade students are placed in a personal project class where their teacher, a.k.a, their project supervisor, leads you through the process of making a personal project. Here is an oversimplified summary of the process.
You decide what to research and devise a guiding question
Solidify a product
Research
Make the product
Write the paper summarizing your process
Despite what you may have heard, the product is not the most important aspect of the project, the paper is. I learned that the hard way.
The IB program
If you choose to stay at ISB after 10th grade you have the pleasure of becoming a full time IB student. Your schedule will be regulated by the IB overlords in Switzerland, and you will have to tackle brand new assignment types like the “IA” and “EE”. The IB program lasts 2 years-you will have to continue your junior year classes in your senior year.
As an IB program student you will be required to do an Internal Assessments (graded by your teachers) and external assessments(graded by outside IB educators) in all your classes. The IB’s official website has more information.
In the second half of your junior year you will write an Extended Essay, a 4,000 word paper which you will work on for 9 months. Below is an oversimplified summary of the process
You decide your topic
Film, english, biology, psychology, chemistry, language, history, arts
This will determine who is your advisor
You solidify a research question
You begin researching
You make your first outline
You make you first draft
You make your second draft
TURN IT IN
Between these steps are 3 required meetings with your supervisor, you can have more if you want, and instruction from IB coordinators as well!
-Entertainment-
Student Art Features
May 15, 2021
Jaime Park
Kara Ng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppn2G01flTQ
Kara is a current ISB Senior, and a talented pianist. Whether she was inspired by her brother (a fellow pianist), coaxed by her parents, or struck by a sudden burst of conviction, Kara has been playing the piano since she was 7 years old. Because she started at such a young age, piano now plays an integral role in her life. In her words, “I feel like it’s an important part of what makes me me.” When it comes to playing, music serves as both a personal challenge and an outlet for her expression. Role models in her music career, such as her piano teacher, have inspired her to take more risks with her music, and encourage her to step out of her comfort zone musically. Having played for all these years, Kara is a seasoned musician with no signs of quitting. She plans to play piano through college.
Kara's covers are played with a level of precision that surpasses most. Her playing shows no signs of uncertainty. Like a walk in the park, her posture is collected, smooth and natural, clearly a sign of a piece well-practiced. With her experience, Kara’s level of skill is unsurprising. Her cover of “Veiled Autumn” is played beautifully with clean and precise ornamentation. Regardless of difficulty level, Kara makes playing the piano look effortless. With a fantastic sense of musicality and clear rhythm, her covers and musicianship are sure to amaze.
You can find more of her playing at @kar_piano on instagram. Be sure to check it out.
Umerakuen
Nico Taylor is a 10th grader at ISB. Art has been a long time interest of his. In fact, he has been drawing for as long as he can remember. A paragon to this modern era, he mostly works in digital. He is inspired by other artists such as Hiroshi Shiibashi (manga artist) to continue improving his craft, and emphasizes the catharsis of recognizing his own progress: “I think making something I'm proud of is one of the best feelings in the world”. Indeed, Nico will continue to make art and strives to become the best artist he can be, driven by the freedom of creativity that the arts offer.
Nico's art creates a fine balance between warm colors and the shadows which often pervade his pieces. The rougher texture which often accompanies this blend, further compliments it and brings out a whole new facet to “atmosphere”. “Umerakuen”’s skillfully contrasted warmth and darkness is a welcome tenant of Nico’s style that amplifies the vibrance of the piece. Its unique perspective further interests the audience while the subtle, yet atmospheric background enhances the scene.
Be sure to visit his instagram page: @jellyboy.n for more!
Work with Worth; Synthesis
Art piece by Helena Lieu
Helena, a 12th grade student at ISB, started making art from childhood. Her primary medium is digital. Though her art originally started as a hobby, it is now driven by the need for self reflection, which allows her to explore sensitive subjects through a versatile medium. “Art is … a stepping stone for me to constantly improve as a person”. She admires the works of Gabriel Lipper (local artist), fellow art student, Alesya Zaytseva, and works by countless other artists whose styles she aims to contend with. She is currently president of ISB’s Art National Honor Society and runs an art business by accepting commissions from her clients.
Helena's works are full of color. Her art often gives the impression of ordered chaos: in which the color variety enhances the subject matter rather than distracts from it. The contrasting bold colors of Work and Worth seem inevitable to fall into conflict but instead create a synergy that works beautifully in giving the piece its signature striking nature. The blending in Synthesis gives it a soft texture. That, with its warm colors, compliments the mood of the piece. The diversity in styles, both of which are executed masterfully, is a testament to Helena’s artisanship.
Make sure to support her instagram page: @dramatire
WandaVision
March 20, 2021
Marvel's studios recaptures audiences in Wandavision, a 9-episode spinoff around characters Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) in that classically-creative Marvel style storytelling. The first three episodes are set in sitcoms based around 50s, 60s and 70s style of television, establishing the antics and relationships between a Chaos Magic-wielding woman who's new to the neighborhood and her husband, the awkwardly loveable synthetic superhuman. You know, normal sitcom stuff.
The series takes a turn when it is revealed that Wanda herself, the Scarlet Witch, has created this sitcom reality, entrapping the citizens of Westview in a traumatizing mind-controlled state. Outside this reality, or "The Hex", as Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) names it, Monica Ranbeau (Teyonnah Parris), Darcy, and Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) investigate the truth of what the Hex really is and how to help Wanda Maximoff and her involuntarily casted actors. I appreciate the humanity and realism that each character displays, no matter how small of a role they played, showing time and effort crafted each person instead of haphazardly throwing stock characters together. This is especially seen in the beautifully-crafted backstory of Wanda Maximoff and the growing bond between her and Vision during the events of Endgame. However, considering the relatively small cast compared to other Marvel works, I am looking forward to Jimmy and Darcy's characters to be expanded on, rather than used for comic relief or ex-machina schemes.
Speaking of needing to be expanded on, one of the antagonists of the series (apart from Wanda herself), is Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), a witch playing along with Wanda's sitcom reality under the name Agnes, her upbeat, somewhat overbearing neighbor who pops up in situations with too-perfect timing. It is revealed in Episode 7, "Breaking the Fourth Wall", that while she was playing this role she was also pulling the strings "all along", and the audience discovers her past as an extremely power-hungry witch who escaped death at the Salem Witch Trials. Though her personality is mischievous and alluring, paired with a kickass aesthetic design, I thought it lacked depth, particularly for one of the villains of the show. How does the betrayal of her coven lead to the need to rely on Wanda? Judging from how her fate was sealed to play the role of Agnes for eternity, I doubt she will be able to reappear and answer, leaving me a little disappointed.
Incoming Seniors Kick Off This Last Year With Senior EE Party
September 8, 2021
Helena Lieu
We had the exciting opportunity to be able to interview and survey how seniors felt coming into this year, and how this event helped them feel and be ready for this last year!
Q: What are you hoping to accomplish during the Kick Off, EE work portion or party portion?
Lynn : I was hoping to see friends.
Approaching two years in social distance, many of us haven't been able to see friends or interact with people outside of family in person, so many reasonably prioritized seeing friends and having fun. This was noticeable through the airy and energizing atmosphere of the party, friends, classmates, and teachers having fun alike.
Moving onto their second and final drafts of their Extended Essay, many seniors also have been able to gain valuable insight into what is important to consider when starting out (for juniors) and when finishing the paper (for other fellow seniors). Ranging from art to biology to world studies papers, it is the number one advice from all, to the point of cliche: do not procrastinate. Others also say:
"Keep in good communication with your advisor, not just for mandatory feedback sessions."
"Work on the essay regularly. Even if it's just 15 minutes a day, that's 15 minutes off when you're cramming it in the end."
"Do lots and lots of research. It's better to be over prepared than underprepared."
"Do not neglect context and different point of views, you need to consider a lot of approaches to the same situation. For example, it's easy to look at China's politics from an American perspective, but it is crucial to also look at it from a Chinese or a European perspective."
"Make sure you know what you're doing."
...So keep it in mind juniors and seniors! Let's work hard to get the EE done with the highest quality possible. Go dragons!
Many thanks to Emilio Calderson for the additional interviews, Clay Rosser for pictures, and Sophia Hurtado-Hernandez, Nashita Naresh, Henry Seely, Jamie Park, Sophia Wagner, Lynn Yoon, Matthew Ramsell, Lakshmi Adiga, Liliana Foley, Joshua Bolly and Valerie Owusu-Hienno for responses.
-Global events-
Holidays You May or May Not Have Heard of
September 18, 2021
Irene Lim
Think of a holiday. What came to mind when you read that word: “holiday?” Perhaps it was brightly lit decorated pine trees. Perhaps it was a juicy stuffed turkey on the dinner table. Maybe it was red, white, and blue-colored fireworks in the night sky. You are already familiar with Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July, so let’s learn about some more interesting and less-known holidays and festivals in other countries.
'Boxing Day'
To shake it up, let’s start at the end of the year with Boxing Day. Similar to the American “Black Friday,” it is an event where stores hold massive sales. Nowadays, people also gather with family and friends to watch big sports games on this day. Boxing Day is celebrated in countries of the British Commonwealth the day after Christmas.
Originally, the holiday had nothing to do with the sport of boxing or sports in general. The tradition started during the Victorian era in the 19th century. On this day, wealthy people boxed presents for the poor, which is where the name “Boxing Day” comes from. In addition to a day off, masters also gave “gifts,” usually leftovers and unwanted gifts from others, to their servants.
Today, shopping is an activity many people like to do together because of Boxing Day sales.
Watching sports is another activity that has become synonymous with the holiday. In the UK, watching football (soccer) and rugby is popular, while in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, watching cricket is more common. Of course, watching the sport of boxing is a must
'Santa Run'
Speaking of Christmas, the next holiday is a very unexpected, but related tradition. It is called the “Santa Run” and it started in Newtown, Wales, in 2001. It was held every year in the last week of November and now many other cities have their own versions of it.
In classic British fashion, the idea was formed in a pub. On this day, up to thousands of people dressed up in red and white Santa suits and participated in a long-distance race. There were also different kinds of courses to accommodate wheelchair participants and children. The registration funds all went to charity. The Santa Run became popular with the help of news outlets and media. Because of its unique concept, people came from all over the country to experience this one-of-a-kind event.
The original Santa Run in Newtown is, unfortunately, not running anymore (pun intended). However, over the 10 years that it had been operating, the runners had raised over 150 thousand pounds -over 200 thousand US dollars- for charity.
'Dia de Los Muertos'
Some of you may have heard of Dia de Los Muertos, a holiday popularized a few years ago by Disney's movie Coco. The name means “Day of the Dead” in Spanish, coming from the tradition of remembering and honoring one’s deceased family members. This holiday is celebrated during the first two days of November, but communities spend weeks preparing for it.
Families create offerings, called ofrendas, to honor the family members that have passed away. These ofrendas consist of altars decorated with yellow marigolds and colorful sugar skulls. Photos and favorite foods and drinks of the ones being remembered are placed on the altars. Ofrendas are thought to draw spirits to visit and meet with the family members still alive.
Dia de Los Muertos isn’t all about cherishing the dead, it is also a celebration of life. In Mexican culture, death is a normal and welcomed part of life, so the occasion is joyous, not somber. People dance, play music, and feast on this holiday, taking the time to enjoy time with family and friends, dead or alive.
'Gerewol Festival'
Usually lasting the last week of September, the Gerewol Festival is an interesting event most similar to a male beauty pageant. It is celebrated annually by the nomadic Wodaabe people somewhere in Chad or Niger; there is no set location, them being nomadic and all.
Wodaabe clans from all different regions gather together once a year to celebrate this one-of-a-kind tradition. At the crack of dawn, single, young men spend hours decorating themselves in vibrant paints, accessories, and robes. Then, they dance and pose in front of the ladies, attempting to impress them. In this culture, it is the woman who dominates the relationship. Throughout the event, girls choose who they find most beautiful. Even married women can participate, going so far as to choose a new husband if she wishes.
This courtship could last for a single night or for the rest of the couple’s lives, whichever works best for them. Whether for just a whirlwind romance or a lifelong partnership, this festival is sure to be memorable for all who experience it.
'Boryeong Mud Festival'
Let’s skip onto summer, shall we? Every July, the South Korean city of Boryeong holds an annual Mud Festival. Visitors come from all over the world to roll around in the mud. What a way to cool off in the high heat of the Korean summer!
The festival lasts for several days and includes festive activities like the Beach Mud Football Competition, mud pits, mud fountains, mud pools, mud massage spaces, and inflatable mud obstacle courses. If getting dirty is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of non-mud-related activities for you there too! Every year, there are live performances of Kpop stars, fireworks displays, and karaoke, called noraebang, which directly translates to “song room.”
Since Boryeong is also a seaside town, there are both sand and mud beaches to lounge around and enjoy the summer weather. As expected, there is something for everyone at this exciting festival.
'May Day!'
May Day! In terms of when it takes place, the name is pretty self-explanatory. You can guess: it’s May, specifically on May 1st. This holiday is one of Celtic origin, celebrated in the British Isles and New England area in the United States. Occurring directly halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice, this holiday is a celebration of spring and gives colorful, floral, sunny vibes.
There are two special traditions that occur on May Day: the gifting of May Day baskets and the dancing around a maypole. May Day baskets are usually made out of colored paper and filled with flowers. Anonymous senders will put these baskets at the doorstep of their loved ones, shouting “May basket!” while knocking on the door before running away. If the sender is caught, they have to be kissed.
Maypoles are decorated with long, colorful ribbons streaming down from the top. People hold the ends of these ribbons and dance merrily. In medieval times, there would be a possibility of courtship between young people. Additionally, a May Queen and her court would be appointed, now it’s more like a popularity contest in school.
'Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr'
As of the time of writing this article, Ramadan is in full swing all around the globe. At the end of it, Eid al-Fitr will occur. I talk about both of these holidays at the same time because one cannot happen without the other. Ramadan takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, which changes every year on the Gregorian calendar, the calendar we all use today. This year, it is between April and May.
Ramadan is a time for Muslims to practice “self-restraint, God-consciousness, compassion, and collective worship,” as Harvard University states. During Ramadan, Muslims fast (to not eat or drink) from dawn to dusk. Additionally, during both night and day, Muslims actively abstain from “evil” actions like swearing and negative thoughts and actions. This is why we must warn Muslims of this content using the “NSFR (Not Safe For Ramadan)” indication on social media. People who celebrate Ramadan eat and drink before sunup, known as suhoor, and after sundown, known as iftar. These meals are festive and lively, including many special foods like dates.
Eid al-Fitr is a commemoration of Ramadan’s completion and the breaking of the month-long fast. Muslims gather with their community to party and give gifts. Parents and elders also take this time to educate their children on the traditions and importance of Islam in their lives.
'Holi'
Out of all of the holidays here, Holi is by far the most colorful. It is nicknamed the Festival of Color, after all. Also referred to as the Festival of Love, Holi is a time for people to forget all grudges and bad feelings towards one another. It is celebrated in India on the day of the full moon in the Bengali/Nepali calendar month of Falgun. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually lands during the spring months.
Holi eve kickstarts the festivities with the burning of Holika the night before. This way, the Holi celebrations can last for all 24 hours of the day.
As shown in the picture above, people joyfully cover each other in brightly colored powders called gulals. Kids like to throw water balloons and play with a type of water gun, called pichkari. People also exchange sweets, dried fruits, greeting cards, and other gifts. They eat delicious holi foods like gujiya, malpuas, mathri, puran poli, and dahi vadas. There is dancing to folk music and singing. The day overall is fun and exciting with more activities and traditions than I can talk about here.
'White Day'
In East Asia, White Day is kind of like a second Valentine’s Day. It is on March 14th, exactly a month after Valentine’s Day. Couples, friends, and family celebrate both of these holidays together pretty similarly, but with a little twist.
Couple culture is very important in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea. Couples celebrate dates like the 100th, 200th, 1000th, and 5000th day anniversaries in addition to the traditional annual anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, and of course, White Day. Heads up: since East Asian culture is still a bit conservative, the vast majority of couples are between men and women, boys and girls.
In these areas, Valentine’s Day is when the girl treats the guy, taking him out and giving him lovely presents. On White Day, it is the other way around, when the guy treats the girl, giving her chocolate, gifts, and things like that. Most importantly, White Day is meant to be an answer, a “thank you,” to the partner that treated you on Valentine’s Day.
'Lunar New Year'
This section is for those who don’t take Mandarin at ISB. Also commonly referred to as Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year is a celebration of the beginning of the lunar calendar. It is similar to how New Year’s Day is a celebration of the beginning of the Gregorian calendar. The celebrations last up to fifteen days, starting at the end of January or the beginning of February, as the calendars are not quite the same length.
In East and Southeast Asian countries, this holiday is so important that people often get two weeks off of work and school for it. This is sometimes the only break workers will get in the entire year, so it is extremely cherished. This time is spent with friends, neighbors, and family, eating traditional foods, dressing in traditional clothing, hanging lanterns, giving children money in red packets, and launching fireworks and firecrackers.
The Lunar New Year is celebrated slightly differently depending on where you go. A lot of East and Southeast Asia both used to use the lunar calendar, thus many cultures within those regions have developed their own new year traditions. For example, Koreans will wear various-colored hanbok, Korean traditional clothing, while Chinese people will mostly stick to red-colored qipao, Chinese traditional clothing.
I hope you learned a little more about some holidays outside of your culture today! Which holidays do you celebrate? Which holidays sound the most interesting? Leave a comment below!
Sources
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The Impact of Covid-19 on Students in Russia
May 18, 2021
Emily Henton
As teenagers living in Oregon during the pandemic, we have first-hand experience of the restrictions here in the U.S. Schools, restaurants, sports, stores, and basically every aspect of our public and social lives in the Northwest have drastically changed.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the entire world shut down for a period of time. Unlike most of the U.S and several other countries that still have strict quarantine restrictions, many places around the world have reopened and the people there live as they did prior to the pandemic. There are no mandatory masks, minimal restrictions on social distancing, and public places are back in regular business.
Margo Manusadzhian, a 14-year old student living in Yeysk, Russia, shared her perspective on how Covid-19 has affected life in her hometown. She said, “Absolutely no one wears masks in schools. In the city and on the beach it is rare to see someone wearing a mask. In stores, this is where you usually see people wearing masks.” She explained that life in the small city of Yeysk now is almost the same as life prior to the pandemic.
Margo at the beach
Margo continued to explain what school looked like at the beginning of quarantine and how it has changed since. “During the end of the 2019-2020 school year”, she explained, “my school had a few weeks of distance learning, without the use of technology. In April and May, we would receive homework assignments in the mail and send our work back in the mail. There were no lectures or actual class learning time for my school, but other schools had zoom classes.”
In September through December of last year, Margo’s school had in-person learning with the students spending the entire day in one classroom, and the teachers moving from class to class in masks. After winter break, the students and teachers came back to school, not having to wear masks nor abide by any social distancing restrictions.
Margo and her friend at an end-of-year school party
Yeysk is a small resort town located on the coast of the Azov sea, about 800 miles
below Moscow. The city has a population of only a little over 83,000. Margo’s father works in a much larger city, Saint Petersburg, which has a population of about 5.5 million. Manusadzhian says there are more Covid restrictions in St. Petersburg than there are in her hometown, and masks are mandatory in public transportation, stores, and schools. Most students go to school, but some have continued with online classes.
In another interview, Daria and two of her freshman classmates from Yeysk explained how covid has affected life in their town. The girls stated facts similar to what Margo reported about the effects of Covid 19-restrictions on the general public; they are very minimal.
In the first few weeks of quarantine most refrained from going outside, but Daria took advantage of the empty city. “In those first few weeks it was a total ghost-town, unusual for Yeysk. Gyms were closed and staying inside all day drove me crazy so I walked outside every day, enjoying the quiet of the empty streets” -Daria.
Daria meeting the sunrise on a morning walk along the beach
One of her friends chimed in, “Currently, the environment we live in has not changed since before the pandemic. But now there are two types of people: there are people that couldn't care less about the pandemic and live their lives as if the virus did not exist, and then there are those who are hyper-aware of the pandemic. The latter take extreme measures to protect themselves and their families.”
Dana, the other classmate, added:
“Nothing has drastically changed, but I do see more people that are reluctant to meet in large groups. The only time it has felt different, prior to the pandemic, was during the first month or two of the quarantine when the world went into total lockdown. Nowadays, we don’t think much about it. I find it funny when people freak out about social distancing,” she laughs, “But, masks are a usual thing to see in public.”
Whether attending school in-person or online, or even living in a different country, we have all gone through some change in our lives because of the pandemic. We have all had to adapt to different school environments, accept small and big changes in our lives, and choose how we react to the pandemic. In both Russia and the United States there are some pandemic restrictions, but Yeysk, Russia has largely taken the virus more lightly compared to Oregon.
Manusadzhian, Margo. Personal interview. 29 April 2021.
Plotnikova, Daria. Personal interview. 30 April 2021.
Anonymous. Personal interview. 30 April 2021.
Dana. Personal interview. 30 April 2021.
COVID-19 In Oregon
September 8, 2021
Emilio Calderon
Cases
Masking
As of August 27th, Governor Kate Brown’s announcement that masks will be required in indoor and outdoor settings brings back the familiar mask requirement to Oregon. For more information look at Oregon Heath Authority’s page on masking requirements.
Vaccine
Oregon is currently ranked 27th in the US based on the number of first doses given (76.2% of adults) and 12th in the number of fully vaccinated adults (69.4%). These numbers are on track with the national average: 75% and 64% respectively.
As of May 10th all Oregonians 12 and older are available to receive their vaccination. However, as many have likely found out, eligibility and availability are very different things; personally I had to go down to the Fairgrounds in Salem to get my vaccination. Navigating through the vaccination process can be quite confusing but there are resources available to help.
A return to school
After being online for most of or all of last year, schools are finally returning to in person this year. But when students returned to the doors they faced a completely different return to classrooms. With masks and social distancing, classrooms this year will look distinctly different than any before.
On September 7th, Governor Brown held a press conference on the COVID-19 pandemic. In which, Governor Brown encouraged schools to hold ‘back to school’ events for parents online and to ‘reduce extracurricular activities’. While these suggestions aren’t yet required, they do foreshadow what could happen if cases continue to climb.