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CATS Academy Courier

"A Trusted Students News Source with an International Twist"

#GetCultured

By: Jennifer Phan

Representing over 30 countries under one roof? Surprising.

What’s not surprising? How the 2017 Culture Fair will do just that.

Jules Verne can take us around the world in eighty days1. The Culture Fair needs only two hours. Join us at the Culture Fair on February 6th for a few hours of festivity, food, fashion, and fun!

Not persuaded? Hear it from our teachers themselves. Stay tuned for videos every day during advisory.

[1] Verne, Jules. Around the World in Eighty Days. 1956. Get reading (Keep an eye out for an upcoming book club!)

Poetry Out Loud 2017

By: Jackie Kovalcin

CATS Academy Boston’s second-annual Poetry Out Loud competition was filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and emotion. Each student in the school recited a selected poem off of the poetryoutloud.com website for their individual literature classes. The best recitation was then selected from each class and moved forward to the school-wide competition. Every recitation was impressive. It was evident that the students put effort into perfecting their memorization and tone for these poems.

I was lucky enough to have a conversation with the first-place winner of the school wide Poetry Out Loud competition. Congratulations Princewill Uhrukpe-Oghene Uviovo. Congratulations are also due to the second and third place winners Giridhar Gopalakrishnan and Anna Merzliakova.

Below is a Q&A session with Princewill.

Q: Why did you choose the poem you did?

Princewill: “I really wanted to try something different. I liked the earthy, motherly tones used in it. I liked how it talked about the deep roots within a person. I felt as though I could really use gestures and physical movement in my performance. I wanted to share the poem and its ideas with everyone.”

Q: Would you say you relate your poem of choice, “Mothering Blackness”?

Princewill: “Yes, it is something I can definitely relate to.”

Q: What did it feel like to have won first place?

Princewill: “Oh my god it was so amazing. I didn’t think I was going to win because CATS is a school of 400 students. I told myself that if I made it to the school competition, I was going to do it differently than the rest. I wanted to inspire others to do the same.”

*Check out Princewill’s winning performance on the CATS Courier website.

Peace Talks Astana: A Shift in Global Influence?

Photo Source: Los Angeles Times

By: Gabriela Santana Taveras

The Syrian Civil war has been ongoing since 2011, taking the lives of 400,000 people, and making half of the Syrian population refugees throughout the world. The war, quite frankly, is nothing but a proxy war.

Russia supporting Assad’s government, the United Sates supporting the Rojava rebels, Turkey supporting the Syrian Opposition, and ISIL. The talks over the ceasefire in Syria started on January 23rd  in Astana, Kazakhstan. The rebels and Turkey on one side of the room, the Syrian government and Russia on the other, and the U.N. envoy, Bashar Ja’afari, mediating.

More surprising than having both sides of the issue sitting together is that the United States is only an observing member. This is an important shift from the peace talks in Geneva at the end of last year, where most Western nations were more focused on the crimes committed by the “dictator Assad” rather than peace talks.

The United States, contrary to its usual role as leader of coalitions and interventionist in nature (ex. Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, Vietnam), is now more resilient to send troops, limiting its presence to 50 Special Troops for training processes. President Obama, during his term, had made it clear that he was not going to send troops, resonating the public’s opinion of the Iraq war. For many, the United States is now more focused on internal politics. Whether this has a positive or negative impact, it is for the readers to decide, but it is undeniable that we saw the results of the new American approach in Aleppo.

Opinion: Bamboo Moon Restaurant Review

By: John Liao

I have a fancy for eating Chinese food. Thus, I go frequently to Chinese restaurants to satisfy my appetite. One of the frequented places is Bamboo Moon Restaurant, which is based in Randolph, MA. Look for their red siamese-character symbol, which is typical and outstanding. It’s undeniable that they have been serving the local community for several years. They also have lots of die-hard fans and I’m of one of them. Indeed, I’m enchanted by the restaurant because of its staff, fantastic foods, and light atmosphere.

First of all, the restaurant has the nicest staffs, compared to other Chinese restaurants. You’ll get a warm welcome from the staff as soon as you go through the door of the restaurant. The staff warmly welcomes you with a smiley face. It makes you feel like eating a sweet chocolate. If you ask them questions about the dishes, they will try their best to answer those carefully. Moreover, when you order any dish ,they will serve you sincerely.

The restaurant not only has the nicest staffs, but also has the most delicious Chinese food. In its menu, you will see all kinds of Chinese food, such as, Lo Mein(a kind of noddles),Chow fan(fried rice),house special meats and many other dishes. I’m keen on General Tso’s Chicken. It’s a kind of sweet, mildly spicy, and deep fried chicken. It’s served in North America Chinese restaurants exclusively .It will melt in your mouth as soon as you chew a piece of it. The unique taste of sweet and slightly spicy flavors makes me come back for more.

In addition, the atmosphere of the restaurant is extraordinarily. The floor is immaculate and the wall is white-and-black hanging with pictures of signature dishes. It makes me feel extremely relaxed. It’s a good place for thinking about things and hanging out with friends too.

To sum up, Bamboo Moon Restaurant is a fabulous and excellent with its service, food, and atmosphere. You will definitely return for more. It is strongly recommend if you want to enjoy a good super. Please go to the Bamboo Moon Restaurant.

Opinion: Intercontinental Hotel Review

By: Emilija Nestor

Intercontinental Hotel is located in the heart of Boston, overlooking the historic waterfront. It has exquisite architecture and is adjacent to other  attractions around Boston including Quincy Market, Chinatown, Boston Tea Party Museum. The hotel’s location should be considered convenient because it’s near the Financial District and is only 10 minutes from Boston Logan Airport. The hotel offers numerous restaurants and stylish bars where you can try the appetizing food, and the refined, elegant cuisine.

As you enter the hotel, you will be astonished by the hotel’s architecture and design. The outer structure of the hotel is very modern, shiny, and the inside design is mind-blowing. The whole hotel lobby is filled with classy embroidered silk couches and armchairs, surrounded by giant fireplaces flickering with flames. The light brown floors are in perfect harmony with the white walls. The lobby has lots of flowers and the large windows allow light through, which makes the lobby very glossy. The chandeliers look as if they are rainbows dancing across the luxurious lobby. Thisit makes the lobby look paradisiacal.

Besides the luxurious hotel lobby, the charming, refined rooms are designed to make you feel as cozy as possible and they offer comfort and luxury. The rooms are equipped with a TV, mini fridge, sleek marble bathroom, classic Italian furnishings and a superb view of the city that will amaze you. The rooms are designed with discreet patterns and rich fabrics. There is also a smartly designed work area for people, who stay in the hotel for business purposes. You will sleep peacefully while visiting Boston, thanks to the plush bed and gracious design of the room to make you feel relaxed and escape your usual daily routine while you are looking at the spell-binding views of Boston.

Furthermore, the friendly and helpful staff is always there to help you with any problems you may face or any questions you may have. Ultimately you will be amazed by the exceptional service provided. All hotel guests get decent service and all the hotel employees are willing to go above and beyond. The hotel staff seems invested to create special moments for guests. The customers are offered drinks, they are brought mints after dinner and most importantly they are treated with full respect by the whole staff.

Finally, the hotel offers outstanding facilities, which are elegantly decorated to make you feel as if you are in heaven. Guest rooms and suites offer an inspiring environment with spacious windows to let the sunlight in with breathtaking views of Boston. This hotel is the perfect choice for any person who wants to relax and have a good time, as well as feel pampered. Every room in the hotel is designed to offer a unique welcoming atmosphere, including the outstanding service that all the customers are offered to feel pleased and enjoy their stay to the maximum. Overall it is worthwhile to spend your money in this well-rounded hotel.

Survival Guide: How to Survive a Winter in New England

By Jackie Kovalcin

For many, the winter months in New England can be the harshest. The freezing weather, snow storms, and flu season can really get people feeling down. Of course, there are a few tips and tricks to make the winter time more bearable. To help you survive your winter in New England, I have listed a few of my favorite tips and tricks learned over the many winter seasons spent on the coast of Maine.

  • Stay moisturized and hydrated: Always keep a tube of chapstick with you throughout the day. This will help prevent the common dry and chapped lips. Often times during these cold and dry winter months our skin will start to dry out. To prevent this, I would recommend putting lotion on the dry spots. Remember to stay hydrated. Try to get your 8 cups of water each day!
  • Get a Netflix account or a library card: Because of the harsh weather conditions, you will be spending more of your time indoors during the winter. In order to keep yourself occupied, sign up for a Netflix account so you can watch movies while it snows. This is also a good opportunity to curl up with a good book. (Check out the great selection at the CATS library!)
  • Eat healthy and stay active: With viruses spreading and more and more people getting sick, it is in your best interest to make sure you do your best to prevent getting sick. Drink orange juice for vitamin C, eat a healthy diet, and WASH YOUR HANDS. Although it may be tempting to stay in your warm bed during the cold winter months, it would benefit your mind and body to take part in physical activity. Indoor workouts include weight lifting, treadmill running, and crew. But if you don’t feel like leaving your dorm, try yoga!
  • Be prepared: Download a weather tracking app so you can be updated on snow storm developments and potential snow days! Keep a supply of hot cocoa or tea in your dorm  so you can have something warm to sip while you watch the snow fall (you’ll thank me later.) Have a supply of cozy blankets and thick socks to keep you warm at night.
  • Have fun: With the shorter days and darker nights, you may find that your mood is changing. Spending time with friends and having fun can prevent any sadness that comes with the winter season. I would recommend building a snowman, making Coca-Cola snow cones, go sledding, or have a friendly snowball fight. These activities are also a great way to spend more time outdoors and enjoy winter!

Welcome New CATS Students!

By: Sasha Chernysheva

It is no surprise to anyone that, as the new spring semester started, the school became more crowded, and our multinational community is even bigger now. Many people left in the last semester, and we miss them a lot, but this December is our great chance to meet new people, start a new life. CATS Academy on behalf of the CATS Academy Courier welcomes all of our new students and we genuinely hope that the months spent here will become one of your favorite life-memories.

➢           We hope you will find many close or life-long friends here. Maybe in 30 years you will be sitting together, remembering these times…who knows?

➢           We hope CATS will show you how to enjoy studying because you can choose any course you want.

➢           We hope you will enhance your English skills in a fun way: by talking to your friends, reading books in English, writing poems in English and all the other fun ways that CATS provides you.

➢           We hope you will learn a lot about other cultures and know how to live in a diverse community. These are  essentials that will follow you during your entire life.

➢           We hope you will explore the USA, visit the places you probably would never visit, see things you would probably never see.

In general, we hope you will love being here, enjoy this wonderful experience, and achieve all the goals you had in mind when coming to CATS.

With love,

CATS Community

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Opinion: Pho Le Restaurant Review

By:Vi Ha Nguyen

People who love Vietnamese food definitely have heard about Pho Le restaurant before. Located in – Dorchester, Pho Le restaurant has become popular with both Vietnamese-Americans and all ethnicities alike. As a Vietnamese who studies far from my native land, Pho Le has become one of my favorite places in Boston.

First of all, this place is not fancy, but it brings me the feeling that Vietnamese traditions exist here. The entrance of the restaurant is very friendly and hospitable to make customers feel like their home. The board named “Phở Lê” in Vietnamese in front of the restaurant makes me feel that they have brought the Vietnamese tradition to America. On the inside, the restaurant is bright and decorated in a sweet and traditional style. There are many pictures of landscapes in Vietnam decorated on the walls. They even placed a blossom, which is the symbol of the Vietnamese Lunar Year Holiday at the entrance. Pho Le restaurant makes me feel like there’s a part of my country’s culture within this huge and culturally diverse make-up of the United States. Moreover, they even play a lot of Vietnamese songs to represent Vietnamese tradition.

Pho Le restaurant not only brings me an authentic feeling of Vietnamese tradition but , it also makes me fall in love with the taste of food here. The food at Pho Le doesn’t taste fake like others Vietnamese restaurants. The food here is exactly similar to the food in Vietnam. The special dish of the restaurant is “Pho” which is so attractive to many foreigners. They know about “Pho” as a traditional food of Vietnam. Its taste makes me miss my home whenever I eat it. “Pho” also reminds me of my mom who always cooks “Pho” for me every single day. Furthermore, there are also many tasty Vietnamese foods from different cultures of different areas in Vietnam such as, Ha Noi style fried tofu, noodle specialties, and special Beef Noodle Soup.

Along with the amazing taste of comes great servise. They are very nice, friendly and enthusiastic to introduce customers to the menu. They even suggest customers the most popular dish at the restaurant. They are thoughtful when they change the special dish every single week. The waiters and waitresses are also very helpful. They help customers order meals very quickly and bring dishes to customers very carefully..Besides that, all the waiters and waitresses wear the “ao dai,” which is traditional clothing of Vietnam to create an authentic atmosphere for customers. That’s another  reason why I feel like I’m at home whenever I come to this restaurant.

In conclusion, although there are many Vietnamese foods from different areas in Boston, Pho Le restaurant is still the only one that satisfies my taste and also makes me feel like home. For those who come to Boston and want to try Vietnamese cuisine, I highly recommend Pho Le restaurant.

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