International Day Performance

Me, representing the Armenian
traditional
 costume.

International Day is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining events held in our school! During this big event all the students and teacher represent their counties with amazing cultural performances, room decorations and delicious traditional food.

                                                  

What were my aims?
The objective of this activity was to devise, practice and then finally perform a dance on International Day. I was hoping that the dance would provide the audience with the flavour of Armenian culture and traditions.  Personally I wanted to gain more confidence and performing skills and be able to dance on the stage with ease and assurance, representing my culture.

What did I do?
As I am doing IB Theater, I helped my friends to create a short performance by using the space, props, costumes and music effectively. I didn’t really made up a lot of dance moves, as I didn’t have any experience in Armenian folk dancing, so I tried to interpret my friend movements, who actually had enough experience and skills in professional Armenian dancing. The performance was about 5 minutes, and it represented the essence of Armenian culture.

A snapshot from our dance

One of the challenging moves

What difficulties did I encounter?
During our rehearsals there were times that felt that I would not be able to manage to learn the dance as I didn't have any experience and skills. But the ongoing support of my friends encouraged me to work harder and prepare myself to face the challenge. For me it was a great responsibility for me to go on stage, and perform the dance, representing my culture. That’s why I was feeling really nervous and a little scared to mess up the dance. I knew that any of my incorrect movement might hinders my friends of doing their correctly, ruining the overall performance. But when I was on stage I was so excited and enthusiastic that I forget that I was on the stage dancing for a big number of audience.

What did I achieve?

After the dance I was feeling very relieved and at the same time satisfied as I didn’t mess up on stage and managed to remember all the moves. I think that this performance served as a bonding device to make me even closer to my friends. Also, I realized that I could successfully combine the fun of life with the opportunity of gaining interest, experience and new skills in Armenian folk dancing.

Moreover I felt that I developed myself as a risk-taker, as I wasn’t used to dance Armenian folk dances on the stage especially in front of a large audience. The best that I had done was to dance in my room in front of the mirror, or during some Armenian weddings and traditional ceremonies. But I hadn’t really thought that I would be able to actually represent my country with a dance to a large audience. Even though the dance was a risk and challenge and uncertainty as I was afraid to mess everything up, but I approached it with courage and forethought. Throughout the rehearsals, I realized that I was starting to develop an independent spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies.
As a balanced person I realized the importance of doing various different things in life and that they can all bring a new aspect of me out, helping me to reveal myself and my personality.

I also developed myself as an inquirer, as the performance helped me to develop my natural curiosity. I obtained the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research more about dancing and its techniques. Despite the challenges, I really actively did enjoy learning the moves and I think that this love of learning new skills will be sustainable through my life.

International Day - Decorations

For the International day, we all were supposed to decorate our country room so that we could represent our country and the essence of our traditions and cultures the best we could.

What were my aims?

My objective and aim for this activity was to develop myself as an open-minded person who appreciates her own culture and history. Secondly I was hoping to be more of a thinker, to be able to critically approach and solve some problems. Moreover I was aiming be more balanced in order to be able to balance and manage my time between doing my studies and the decorations.

The door of our country room

What did I do?

Every country was a given a room to decorate, in order to represent their culture and traditions.  I used my designing experiences and skills to change the room, creating a traditional mood.

 This year we were also supposed to decorate the door of our country room, so after a lot of brainstorming and discussions we came up with an idea. We covered the door with cotton pieces and panted them with the same colors as our national flag: red, blue orange.

 I thought it would be a great idea to make a small model of Mount Ararat. Mount Ararat is the saint mountain of Armenia, and the inspiration for most Armenians. Therefore having the model of the mountain in our room will let other people to know more about our country and our beliefs.  

What difficulties did I encounter?

I was really afraid to start making the mountain, as there was firstly I thought I won’t have enough time, and also I was lacking the appropriate skills that will be needed for accomplishing the construction. As I didn’t know how to make it I decide to try some ways to see how it goes. It required a lot of time thinking about various methods and ways that we could do it. I tried to make Mount Ararat with wires, but then it didn’t. I started to panic as I was in despair. Fortunately those of my friends who were doing Design and Technology offered me their help, and after thinking critically we decided to use a newspaper and do paper mashie. Thus we could all combine the different skills that we to reach the desired result.

Making Mount Ararat

 I was really worried because only I and one of my friends (Gagik) were supposed to decorate the room (as the rest of Armenians went for shopping for the International day). It was very challenging. We didn’t have a lot of time but there was plenty of work for us to do. So instead of working separately we decided to work on and finish one thing first and then go on. I thought that it was more productive and effective in terms of managing the time.

 What did I achieve?

  I thought I meet the objectives that I have set at the beginning. As I felt that I had developed myself as an open minded person. I do understand and appreciate Armenian culture and personal histories more. I am sure that the experience that I gained will grow, as I became more open to others perspectives and views.

  I saw myself growing as a thinker, because during the activity I gained critical and creative thinking skills, and was able to approach some complex problems.

Everyone likes the delicious Armenian food

This activity also made me realize that if something goes wrong I am not supposed to panic but to think and make reasoned, ethical decisions. I should calm down and find another ways to approach the problem, as There is always a light in the end of the tunnel.

  Also I became more balanced as learned how to control my time, and use it effectively in order to manage and succeed.

Mount Ararat in our country room

Disabled Women's House

Visiting Women’s Disabled House is one of my weekly activities, and I thoroughly enjoy going there, spending some time with the ladies, and it always makes me happy when I see them smiling.

Painting their nails

What were my aims?

I aimed to interact with the ladies there, and make their time more interesting, at the same time developing myself as a communicator and thinker. I wanted to see myself as a caring person by organizing some activities and make them feel like individuals. I also wanted to know more about their backgrounds, and how they had appeared in that house.

What difficulties did I encounter?

Making the ladies more beautiful

Before going there I was feeling nervous and maybe a little scared as well.  I had never been in place like that before and there were so many questions eating me from inside: How I was going to interact with them? How was I going to connect with them? Would I be able to handle what I was about to see? How would they react to me, will they accept me? Also that fact that I knew only a little Thai was scaring me as well, as I thought that I would not be to interact with those ladies. However, when I went there, I understood that they are all normal people, just like me. Yes, they are unfortunate but it doesn’t mean that they can’t have fun, laugh and experience their lives as individuals.

What did I do?

Christmas party for the women

When I reached Disabled Women’s House, I was really surprised by the warm welcome that those ladies gave us with their big smiles. It looked that they were very happy to meet and spend time with us which was really touching for me. During that afternoon we painted their nails, applied make up, made some hairstyles and made them more beautiful.  I wanted to treat and make them up equally but individually so that they will feel that they are different from each other and have individual personalities. We also play some games, danced and talked! Talked? Yes, even if I knew very little Thai, I still could smile at them, and it meant a lot for me when I got their smiles back.

What did I achieve?

It's feels so good seeing them happy.

After the activity I found this quite a touching experience and I felt like I was doing a good thing and making a difference in someone's life by caring for them. I felt very delightful and think now I do understand the way of life of those people who don’t have family. Even though the ladies in the house did not realize it, but they taught me something. I understood that I always have to happy for who I am today, and think about those people who are less fortunate and don’t have all the opportunities that I do. By the end of the activity I could already see myself developing as a Caring person, as throughout the activity I showed empathy, kindness and respect towards the ladies and their needs and feelings. I discovered my personal commitment to service.

I also developed my communication skills, and tried to use my limited Thai and body language to interact with the ladies. Also I think that I worked successfully, effectively and willingly in collaboration with others students who took this same activity.

I learnt some things about the background of those ladies, which made me more of an open minded person, as I could understand and appreciate local Thai people and their culture more.

Father Ray's orphanage

The best thing is
 to see the kids smiling

During our boarding trips we sometimes have the chance to visit and interact with the local Thai community, especially with those people who are less fortuned and, and don’t always have the opportunities and living conditions that most of us do. We visited Father Ray’s orphanage.

What were my aims?

Most importantly I wanted to interact with the people there, so firstly they and secondly I would be able to effectively and therefore try overcome the Thai-English language barriers, that sometimes are likely make the interactions more difficult. Secondly I wanted to know more about the background of the kids there, and show my caring by spending time with them and doing something positive.

What did I do?

I spend half of the time inside the orphanage to playing and spending some songs with the kids.

 We sang some songs with them drew simple pictures and made several crafts with them. The other half i played some games outside, in the playground. Prior to arriving we had each been given the challenge of getting to know at least three children. We had to find their names, their age, how long they have been in the orphanage and what their favourite color is. In the end of the day I was very delighted as I already made some good friends there. The fact that they were all happy and looking at me with their shiny eyes made me realize that I succeeded to entertain them, making their time more interesting.

What difficulties did I encounter?

My three new friends: Ploy, Bam and Chat

I was faced with the language problem, on the first day. As my Thai was very limited and the kids didn’t know English very well. But then it became easier, and I think that i overcome that obstacle, as we started to use our physical body, like hands to talk and to express our emotions.

What did I achieve?

I feel that through this activity I became a better communicator as I was able to play games, sing and dance with the kids despite the Thai-English language barrier. However I wasn’t able to know a lot about their background as most of the orphanage kids didn’t understand what I was asking them, or I couldn’t understand what they were replying.  However, I did become more of an inquirer and a risk taker as I spoke to the Thai staff there, who knew English, and knew more about the kids.  

Lastly By the end of the activity I could already see myself developing as a Caring person, as throughout the activity I showed empathy, kindness and respect towards the children and their needs and feelings. I thought that I was committed to service, and hopefully acted to make a positive difference to the lives of the children. 

Round Square Conference "We Walk Together"

The Conference logo

This October our school hosted the International Round Square Conference. I can proudly say that our “We Walk Together” conference was a great success. The conference was very significant for me because as a Barazza leader I was going to be highly involved in almost all the activities. I was going to facilitate some Barazza sessions (discussion groups), perform, speak and dance on the stage. The thought that there were going to be 800 delegates all from different countries made me very excited but at the same time nervous as well.

What were my aims?
My objectives for this conference were to get to know as many different people from different schools as possible, to increase my confidence and do something that I hadn’t done before.I hoped to develop myself as a better communicator, knowledgeable and as a risk taker person.

What did I do?
On the first day of the conference we all did some service. I myself was supposed to meet the delegates, give them some drinks and take them to their boarding houses. This was tiring because I had to stand or walk for 5-6 hours but it helped me to get to know some people before the conference actually started.I also had to perform short performances and introduce key-note speakers on the stage.


What difficulties did I encounter?

"We Dance Together" the final dance of the RSC

I was nervous because it was the first time that I was going to get onto the stage in front of 800 people, including His Majesty King Constantine and his family. Besides my nervousness I was incredibly happy that I had that opportunity to do something that I hadn’t experienced before. I remember the moment that I first went onto the stage. I was going to perform a three minutes dance with one of my friends, to represent “WE DANCE TOGETHER” subtheme of our conference. Before the music started I was felling so nervous that I wanted to run away from the stage. But NO! I didn’t, I tried to calm down telling to myself “This is a challenge. Don’t be afraid of it. Challenge is what life is about”. And guess what? The long lasting applauds made me realize that I could overcome that change. I was more than happy because after that dance gave me a huge experience and more confidence. After that I was not that nervous when I had to get on the stage again and do a small performance and a speech. That same 800 people didn’t scare me already.

All Barazza leaders on the stage

   As I mentioned before I am a Barazza leader and I should lead three Barazza sessions. The problem that I was afraid to face was that I might have some English problems (as I am not a native English speaker) and ruin the session. But fortunately everything went very smoothly with lots of interesting discussions and ice-breaker. The best appreciation was that the people from my Barazza group told that they really enjoyed the sessions.

What did I achieve?

This “We Walk Together” conference was a great success not only for my school but certainly for me as well, as I get to know other people and me better. It helped me to achieve my goals that I hoped to achieve. I could see myself developing as a communicator, as I was able to work corroboratively with the members of my Barazza group, and other participants.
I became more of a knowledgeable person, as during Barazza sessions i facilitated our group discussions, exploring concepts,ideas and issues that have both local and global significance (like poverty, corruption).
I developed confidence and new skills, acting as a risk-taker and performing, dancing and speaking in front of 800 people. I also realized that if I don’t know something or I haven’t done it before I must not panic, but try to calm down and balance my emotions.

WE ARE TOGETHER

Thai Dance

Me, wearing a traditional Thai costume.

For the Round Square Conference, some of my friends and I were supposed to perform a traditional Thai dance, showing the essence of Thai culture.


What were my aims?
I think that it is true that getting acquainted with different cultures makes a person more well rounded and knowledgeable. So I aimed myself to learn Thai dance, to perform it in the coming up Round Square conference, meanwhile supporting internationalism and developing myself as an open minded person. 


What did I do?

I started to have weekly Thai dance classes. Dancing is one of my passions, especially when it helps me to understand more about other cultures. Before I tried to dance different traditional dances, but Thai Dance was something that I have never experienced.

There are few performances more elegant than traditional Thai Dance with its graceful movements, its brilliant color, its soft rhythm and its radiating presence. It is so beautiful to see all the movements that always have a meaning hidden under them. The moves are so delicate and so calm.

What difficulties did I encounter?

Our dance group

As I liked dancing I thought that I was not going to meet any major obstacles, but to be honest it was pretty hard for me to learn that Thai dance. It was probably because it required slow movements and flexibility. I knew I was more flexible than I was before (because of my previously done Yoga classes), but it wasn’t enough. My friends who were dancing with me helped me a lot. With patience they explained me how to do the difficult moves. The thought that I was going to perform it during the conference motivated me toward working harder on my movements. After some lessons I could see the progress and in a month time I successfully learned all the moves and was glad that I had the opportunity to experience that kind of elegant dance.

What did I achieve?

I think that this dance helped to increase the belief in myself, i understood that there is more in me that I sometimes think there is. I just have to act as a risk-taker and explore what's inside me. 
The dance also helped me to meet my objectives, as I developed myself as an open minded person. I got acquainted with another cultural dance as well, and increased my flexibility and dance skills. I started to understand appreciate Thai culture and their values more than I used to. 
I became more of a reflective person as I also understood that if I can’t do something I have to try as long as I will be able to do that. Sometimes it might be hard to do it alone, and at that point you will need someone to help you to succeed. 

Barazza Leaders in Koh Chang

In the end of this term all the barazza leaders went to Koh Chang for the preparation of RS conference next year in October. As I’m a barazza leader as well I was involved in that trip and in all the activities that was done there. From behalf of all other students I can surely say that we had a really amazing time three. We learnt quite a lot, gained many new skills and will share them with our peers during the conference next year.

What were my aims?

The aims that I have connected to this trip, was to communicate with as much people there as possible,in order to develop my communication skills. I hope to get out from my comfort zone, become more of a risk taker and a reflective person improving my leadership and public speaking skills.

What did I do?

This trip was more interesting as we had some special leadership trainers from JUMP foundation. The activities that the JUMP foundation organized for us were aimed to challenge us and help us to get out from our comfort zones. I wanted to challenge myself and for that reason I took part in some activities that I never thought I would. One of them was that I volunteered to dance on my own in the middle of the room surrounded by more than 50 people. At the beginning I was wavering if I should dance or not but then to be honest I actually enjoyed it.

 Besides doing various leadership activities (with), we also didn’t forget to do some drama there. All the students did public speaking and also took part in devising and performing some short performances which were based on the subthemes of the conference. In my opinion the idea of having public speaking activity was really useful. I am not afraid of public speaking but in the end of that session I realized that I have learnt some new skills and have gained even more confidence.

The subtheme of our team was “WE EXPLORE TOGETHER”. It didn’t matter that I was the only drama student there. We all brainstormed together, and created a short performance. The style of our performance was abstract, so we used appropriate music, and movements to create the atmosphere that we wanted. This activity can feed into my Theater studies task, as I participated in devising, directing and performing a play.       

We didn’t forget to do some service as well. I really do like helping people and doing something good for them. We went to one of the local schools in Koh Chang and built some bookshelves as well as painted the walls of their school. Actually I before going there I was concerned about the though that I might not be able to built shelves, because it was something that I had never experienced before. But I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said that I couldn’t do something without even trying it. With the help of my friends we could build three big bookshelves for the students.

What did I achieve?

Overall I think that it was a successful trip, because I could reach my aims by communicating and participating in all the activities, evolving me as an effective communicator. 

I did some activities that seem to be out of my comfort zone or that I had never experienced. Thus saw myself developing as a risk taker and as a reflective person, as the activities helped me to became more aware about my strengths and areas of growth. The skills that I gained from this trip will surely help me for the Round Square Conference, where I am going to be one of the barazza group leaders.