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I CULTURE FILMS BOOKS MUSIC

"Even though you may not want to hear it, I want you to know that you'll always be a part if me. In our time together, you claimed a special place in rJ?Y heart, one P II carry with me firever and that no one can ever replace. You're a hero and a gentleman, you're kind and honest, but more than that,

you're thefirst man I ever truly loved. And no matter what thefoture brings, you always will be, and I know that rJ?Y lifo is better fir it. "

DURING HIS 2- WEEKS LEAVE,john Tyree met and fell in love with Savannah. Together they turned those 2 weeks into the most passionate and memorable time of their lives. Life is unforeseeable, and they were unaware of the fact that their perfect love would be ruined forever by 9/11.

This is a story of love, duty, loss and sympathy.

Throughout the story, the concept of love is demonstrated in many different ways: a dad who is prepared to sacrifice everything for his only son, a rebellious young sergeant who carries an idealistic love and a young girl who is willing to give away her only

A Nov,I'1>1 .1;,

IN New York TimtsBr$tsellulgAutllor

NICHOLAS SPARKS

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true love to help a lung cancer patient who is savouring his very last days of life.

Following up the success of his previous books, Nicholas Spark one more time brings us a highly recommendable story about love.

The AIS etucient body is an active and diverse cornrnunity. Such energy and variety offer an important platform for scudenrs to express themselves and empathize "With others.

As the name 'The Scope' suggests, the editors "Would like to investigate some of the spectrum that life in AIS entails.

As in any school, there are a number of topics that etuclente are keen to address. By establishing a magazine, "We hope to project

a panorama of the scudexit cornrnunity, its interests and perspectives.

WELCOME

The editorial team encourages students to partake in the creative processes of the magazine, with the central aim of being the students' independent voice. Aspiring writers, journalists, photographers, designers and editors are welcome to participate. Ms. Barnsley, who has worked as a journalist in Australia, will also be on hand to help us out.

The journalism group meets at 3.30 pm every Tuesday in the Art Room (Room 5.13).

Please email ais. thescope@grnail.com for more information.

The editorial t.eera (Frorn left to right): Do Hoang Quynh Huong, Dinh Duong Ngoc Tran, Nguyen Minh Phuong, Vu Tran Kirn Phuong and Tran Le Duy.

Vietruirn. is engulfed in excitement this month as people from all over the country celebrate Hanoi- Thang Long being 1000 years old. Hanoi has become the cradle of Vietnamese culrurecfollcnering ten decades of establishment and development. This has given Hanoi its position in the heart of not only the local residents but also those who call Vietnam horne. Large-scale activities have been held to celebrate the most significant anniversary of the whole nation.

"JlDOI-

11000

THE FOCAL POINT of the 1 O-day program was the ever biggest national-level meeting and parade that took place at Ba Dinh Square. At precisely 7:55 am on October l Oth, 2010, the meeting started with a torch procession from Ho Chi Minh Museum to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. After the speech of the State President, Nong Due Manh, the national parade began. More than 31,000 people took part in the parade, including 12,000 from the armed forces. Besides the on-scene communications, people in Hanoi could enjoy the "once in a millennium" performance through 20 large screens that were set up at several public sites. The meeting and parade was closed with the image of 1000 Vietnamese students releasing

and doves, symbolizing Vietnam's peaceful and prosperous future.

The name Thang Long evokes the image of a majestic dragon flying into the sky, representing Vietnam's indomitable spirit and the people's aspirations. That is why the most anticipated ceremony of Thang Long's millennium celebration was held in My Dinh Stadium. It was entitled "Hanoi- Thang Long- the Dragon City". At 20:20 pm on October l Oth 2010, the audience had the opportunity to embrace in a sacred and artistic atmosphere that was created by an abundance of spectacular performances. With an amazing lighting system, giant 3D

by Minh Phuong Nguyen

screen, lazers and choreography, several national historical events were brought to life astounding millions in the audience at the stadium and those who watched the show on television. The HanoiThang Long 1000 year ceremony ended with an incredible fireworks display that illuminated the whole city. It was truly a party of the arts set against the background of an epic.

Prior to October the 10th, there were other noticeable activities to celebrate the millennium anniversary. The "Pottery Road" project, which started in

2008, is nearly 3 950 meters in length and about 7 000 square meters in area. Stretching from An Duong to Van Kiep gates (Hanoi), the Road features Vietnam's artistic and cultural heritage through colorful pictures created by Vietnamese and international artists. Ho Chi Minh City also embraced the national celebration. Thousands of Saigon youths carne to Darn Sen Cultural Park on the 8th of October to participate in traditional games as part of celebration program for Hanoi's 1000th birthday.

The actual birthday party may be over, but the enthusiasm and delight still echo in the air. HanoiThang Long's Millennium is truly a significant event that brought the whole country together; and through this the national spirit is demonstrated as vividly as ever.

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Welcome to "Ne'W in 'Towm "! In each issue of The Scope, a teacher 'Who is ne'W to AIS this year 'Will be intervie'Wed so that everyone can get to Icricrw them a little better.

Our guest for the first issue is Mr. Raymond Montalban, year 11 and 12 leT teacher. He has visited 45 cities, a true world traveler, isn't he? "I will not buy myself anything, even food if I want to travel", he said. He can speak German, French, and a few terms in Indonesian and Estonian. Still, he finds Vietnamese the most difficult language yet. Watch out kids! He's eager to learn all the slangs to catch the naughty ones talking behind his back.

Mr. Montalban was very happy to have a friendly chat with The Scope and share a little about himself. With such a positive energy and witty sense of humor, our conversation was very interesting.

What urged you to choose Vietnam as your destination?

To be honest, I didn't intend to choose Vietnam as my destination. I looked at the list of countries where there were jobs available and I saw Vietnam. I told myself, 'Why not?" As I knew so little about this country, it would be an explorative adventure for me. So that was literally my inspiration. I wanted to go somewhere where I had never been to before, to learn new knowledge and gain expenences.

What do you think of AIS after working here for a few months?

There is a lot of work to do at this school right now. Generally, everyone is very caring and supportive. Teachers and students here respect each other, and no one has tried to talk down to me, which has happened to me in the past. Therefore, this is one of the nicest schools that I've worked in as a teacher.

Favorites

Book: Hyperspace by Professor Michio Kaku Music: Anything but Death Metal

LadyGaga, Kylie Minogue, BritneySpears, Nirvana, Trip-hop. TVSeries: Babylon 5

What do you like/dislike about the HCMC so far?

Like: I love the bright smiles of Vietnamese people, because that simple, friendly gesture makes newcomers like me feel very warm and welcomed. If you make friends with the right type of people, they are actually extremely friendly and helpful. What I also like about this place is the price range of goods and the lifestyle I can have here as a teacher.

Dislike: I am terrified of the motorbikes being ridden chaotically on the street. The noise and pollution that they produce drive me I am still afraid of being over by a motorbike every time I cross the street.

Where did you work/live before coming to AIS?

Before arriving to HCMC, I lived in Australia and worked as a teacher for two and a half years, teaching year 1 1 and 12 also with the New South Wales' equivalent to A Levels. One year before that, I was in England, teaching Computing for year 7 to IO. I also went to Europe amongst those periods.

How do you like the food?

The food here is one of the best attributes of this country, if you know the right place to eat. I have my favorite "Quan Cam" where I eat every day, and there's a lady who knows exactly what my order is (3 serves of roasted pork, soup, eggs and vegetable). She makes the dishes so well that I can't stop eating every day. What's more is that I recently discovered a very nice "Quan Pho", and found out that "Quan" is actually a food stall. I also find cha gio, chao vit and chao thit bo very tasty, and I would like to try other kinds of chao someday. I love the freshness of the vegetables here and the reasonable price of the fruit, especially mangoes.

What's your favorite pastime?

My all-time favorite pastime is definitely travelling. Let's put it this way: I will not buy myself anything, even food if I wanted to travel. I will spend everything on travelling if I have to.

would have to say my idol is my mother. I was raised in Australia and the country wasn't as multi-cultural and open-minded back then as it is now. Frankly, some parts of the country were very racist. Being there all on her own was very tough, and my mother had to raise me and my sister in her third language. However, she was a smart woman so we all got through the hard times.

What's a quote you live by?

I don't have a favorite quote, but I do have a life motto that I live by. "Life should be seen through rose-tinted glasses". I choose to see the positive in everything as it makes my life easier. Otherwise, the negativity and the wrong will adverseaffect you.

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8

Short Story

THE SEARCH

by Joyce Le

THE WIND SHRIEKED through the trees, making the hair on her neck prickle. May turned around. The trail stretched on endlessly before her. The cold gnawed her to the bones, giving her no respite. In the distance, a howl of wolves reverberated; murder of crows flew away from the canopies and disappeared into the twilight sky. "Snoodles!" May cried. The name echoed throughout the forest as the terror began to build up her clenching grip.

It had been 2 hours since her pet dog went missing. May could still remember the faint traces of footprints leading towards the meadow, then Sherwood Forest where the trail suddenly carne to a stop. Sherwood Forest was the horne of horrific nightmares. It was infamous for many reported attacks of wolves. May pictured Snoodles's flesh being torn by the beast, blood splattered across tree trunks. May flinched. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to force the image away. "That would never happen," she chortled uneasily as she pushed on into the dark forest.

The deafening screeches of insects surrounded the forest floor. Twigs and dried leaves cracked sharply under her boot soles. May tried to hold back her fears at bay. What if she got lost? A sudden throb tightened her windpipe. May concentrated on the house across the meadow that held most of her memories - the only way to distract her from the terrifying forest. It was a villa, peeling peach in color that needed repainting. The slanting roof was made out of wornout red tiles and the garden surrounded by bright green fences. Leaving such a heavenly place for a dark forest was like revisiting an old nightmare. An abrupt high-pitched yelp interrupted her thoughts. May lunged towards the direction of the yelp, feet tripping over the tangled vines.

Beads of perspiration fonned on her head as her lungs became heavier than usual. May carne into a clearing. The white Bolognese was huddling in a corner under the oak tree. Its soft fur had turned coarse, covered with stains of the muddy soil. Tears of joy trickled down her cheek. May ran towards her pet, unaware of the shadows lurking in the background.

May held Snoodles in her arms. She could feel its wet nostrils sniffing her damp coat. The dog was unharmed, she sighed with relief Suddenly, a low growl caught May's attention. Frozen in her tracks, she finally turned around slowly, only to face the wolf of everyone's nightmare. The latter even bore the scars inflicted by the knives of hunters. May's throat went dry. Its snarl revealed the threatening canine that had ripped out the throats of many. She could sense the reeking smell of its powerful jaw. Slowly, May reached for her father's gun in her pocket with only one thought in mind. Kill the wolf If she failed, she and Snoodles would die. May did not want the grotesque scene she once imagined to entertain her thoughts again.

The wolf took a step forward, fixing its eye on the prey. It gave Maya deadly glare. Instinctively, it leapt into the air at her. May took aim, the gun pointing at the beast's chest. She pulled the trigger and the gun exploded. Blood splattered onto her face. The beast howled in pain and landed only one meter away from the troubled May.

In an instant, the beast was dead, lying motionlessly across the forest floor. May panted heavily as she wiped the blood from her forehead. She laid her back onto the ground, letting the mud discolor her light locks. Snoodles ran towards May and threw itself around her waist, licking her face. She felt its warm little body and hugged it tight. May forced a smile. Her bloody hands petted the dog, dying its fur pure red. Snoodles barked happily, its dangling tongue tasted the bitter sweat of its mistress. "It's okay," May exhaled, "I'm here."

But deep down, she knew that the journey was not over. Somewhere in the distance, a wolf let out an agonizing howl.

The End.

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