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The Spark Journal, Tashkent (2026)

03/03/2017

Check out Humans of TIS! In this issue with permission of the author we featured interviews with Clara, a senior, Ms. Dilya our secondary library assistant, our director Ms. Anderson, our head of marketing and communications Mr. Peterson and two juniors - Laetitia and Artem.

03/03/2017

So yeah, it is time, it is time to leave the school, and our friends, and our teachers, and our books, and step into what they call, ”real life.” I have asked grade 12 students on a messenger group chat about their first thoughts on graduation and these are some of the ideas they wrote. Some of us wrote that they want students from grade 9 to 11 to cater to our needs, while some of us just always wanted to wear those graduation hats. Others were asking about the yearbook quotes, and a few of us wrote “hella cool,” or “I think it’s gonna be cool,” or that “It should’ve happened a long time ago.” One of my favorite quotes is “Nothing's legendary unless you do it with your friends.” Other quotes about graduating the school were “Walking through the gate, and I’m looking fresh as Subway,” and “I want 9-11th graders to get on their knees and lick my feet.” So yeah, this is how some grade 12students feel and think about
graduation. But, if we talk seriously here, it is kind of sad that we are graduating, but I am also happy because I am graduating. We are ending a big chapter in our lives, the first day in first grade, to the first friends and teachers, to the last day with the graduation hats on, and we are starting a new chapter about universities, jobs and responsibility. It is scary, but as IB learners (haha) we should be ready, and try to make this world a better place. Still, it does not make me less scared, because I am afraid I will not have any sense of what I am going to do with my life, who is going to teach me like teachers taught me? I am afraid I am going to get too excited about leaving the school and stepping into something new and then be stuck all the time. But the scariest part is that I will take my future into my own hands, and so will everyone else in
grade 12. We will be separated and we will be alone. One of the grade 12 students wrote this: “It’s time to take our future into our own hands, break free, cut the cord, fly, flap our wings (ikr such an emotional moment) we are leaving the nest, we are leaving our grandpa behind “we say NO to abuse” This quote or if I can call it a poem, basically reflects what it feels to be a senior, to graduate from a school where we spent 12 years of our life, and now ready to “flap our wings”. Of course, I cannot express my real feelings about graduation, or even realize what is waiting there for us. However, I am certain about one thing — that we will miss this, we will miss school life, waking up every morning and not wanting to go to school, and we will miss this because it is nothing compared to what is really waiting for us there, outside. So all I can say is that I should be enjoying every day of school, because we are about to
graduate.

03/03/2017

QUIZ NIGHT

The quiz night was held on 20th, January, 2017 with a total of about 17 participants. In each team, there was a captain that led the procedure and decided the name of the group.The rules were quite simple. as shown below:
1. Use of phones is not allowed
2. A certain period of time for answering the question will be allocated to the teams. During this time, your team will be required to write the answers to the question/s on a piece of paper, along with with the name of your team. When this time ends, StuCo members will go around collecting the pieces of paper. If you don’t finish on time, the paper won’t be taken from you and your team won’t get any points.
3. Talking to the members of other teams during the game isn’t allowed
4. The emcees have a right to subtract the points from a team’s score when any of the rules are violated.

Members of a group discussed problems with each other, and
brought up final answers as a group. They would answer a certain number of questions and their papers would be then collected by StuCo members for a group of judges to count each correct answer. After collecting the papers, there was a recession, when people could hang around and discuss their answers. While at recession, there were popcorn and beverages, purchases provided for competitors. Near the end of the event, there was a special match, in which captains from each group were called out and had to answer about 15 questions with buzzers, and a team would get extra 15 points for captain to answer one question. The last match ended up by having Rizo answer almost all of the questions, and his team eventually won the prize. The prize of the quiz night was the box of sweets (chocolates,
candies, etc……)

03/03/2017

THIMUN

For a week at the end of January and the beginning of February,
the TIS MUN team went to The Hague in the Netherlands. As
one of the members of this team I can only describe the trip as interesting. And not always in a good way, sometimes in a way that makes you deeply uncomfortable. Before I elaborate, I would like to thank our supervisors, Mr. Ross, Ms. Staggers, and Mr. Mortelette, for surviving the whole endeavor. They are in no way at fault, and were just as alarmed as us, by some of the events of the trip. I would love to say that we got through the airport smoothly, and all was well, but that is simply not true. We all arrived at the Tashkent Airport at 1:30 in the morning, and were greeted by a large mass of angry Uzbeks. Mr. Ross had gone to The Hague a day ago with our chairs, Kate and Vincent, leaving Ms. Staggers and Mr. Mortelette to fend off a group of tipsy admirers who were deeply fascinated by William’s hair. As Will fended them off with an umbrella, Sid and I made a run for it through the security line, leaving the weak behind. From the other side of the barricade
we watched in horror as a suitcase crowd surfed the mass of people, and the distinctive sounds of a fist fight broke out. We began to make our peace with the loss of our team mates. BUT THEN, low and behold, Rizo broke from the crowd, running like a scene from a war movie, yells in the background, closely followed by an umbrella wielding William and various other terrified TIS students. At this point, an hour had passed. We thundered up the escalator, losing Songe twice in the process, before finally piling
into an already packed airport. We were in the passport line for an hour and a half, making it into the terminal just as our plane started boarding. At this point, we should have relaxed into our seats and enjoyed the flight, but alas! The world was against us. Somehow we were all seated in a middle seat between two unknown, and usually rather large and sweaty, strangers. After 4 hours of flying, punctuated only by a gourmet meal from Aeroflot (Russia’s
best airline), we arrived in the Moscow airport, all in need of a
bathroom that was not saturated by urine and god knows what else. While gorging ourselves on Burger King, a large, drunk Norwegian man approached us, not doubt attracted by David’s Scandinavian flair. For some odd reason, he wished to film us. We did not wish to be filmed. He was chased away by Ms. Staggers, and began to play his ukulele and harmonica to cheer himself up. He was actually quite good, despite the slurred language. Finally, we boarded our flight to Amsterdam, and amazingly, we left the airport with all children and luggage intact.
This brings me to the actual conference. We were all spread about amongst another 3,000 students in different committees to start a day of lobbying, or as certain TIS students called it, “everyone sucking up.” We found our allies. We found our enemies. We did not find the delegate of North Korea; she left for the toilet and did not return. We quickly realized that there were three types of students at THIMUN. Those who were there to go to “Club 7” and send each other nefarious notes, those who were totally invested in MUN but were quite rude and pompous, and those who cared about MUN but were not there just to revel in the sound of their own voice (we liked these people). At the end of the day we all got together and talked about what we’d been through, and Mr. Mortelette read things that he had been horrified to see on our Telegram group (we had not been aware he was a member of). Each evening we ate inappropriate amounts of food and invaded Subin and Choong’s room, much to Choong’s dismay. Throughout the week we wrecked resolutions, passed some, and burned many bridges. Speaking in front of 160 people was difficult, and getting called on to do so was even harder, but we persisted. Even ex-TIS members were there. We saw Abhu. His jacket was in the wrong buttons and his shirt was un-tucked. We saw Gareth. He was just Gareth but taller. We saw TIS graduates who had supposedly gone through major fashion changes; however they all looked the same to me. It was an enlightening trip.

03/03/2017

BEHOLD THE SPECTER OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS (and its very real counterpart - bigotry)

Dearest, darling TIS, so innocent in your belief that your students are good upright global citizens – you are sadly misinformed. Alack! Alack! Unkindness rises from the depths, disguised as a joke and defended by accusations of snowflakery. (for those of you so privileged as to have never been called a little snowflake it is a demeaning term signifying that you think you are super super special and fragile).

In the White House with one hand on Lincoln’s bible Donald Trump cries ‘Unfair!’ - dear old white man with small loan of a million dollars, you are right, life is unfair – YOU have been given an unfair advantage over other more qualified humans. But Dearest Don is not the only disgruntled person brought below their rightful place of superiority, to rest at a level merely equal (the shock! The horror!) to those who were once disdained (women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, etc.). Across the world ideals of justice spread and in response jerks abound, decrying political correctness, portraying themselves as defenders of free speech, while all the while being uncivil, inconsiderate and ignorant members of the human species.

So let me enlighten you, both those of you who are not aware of the monstrosity of Telegram and the like, and those of you who are very much aware of it, and cultivate this dark underbelly of TIS culture – our very own personal dark web (complete with racists, misogynists and anti-Semites). For once again racism, et al, rings out not just through the hallowed halls of the twitter-sphere but in the gossip of your students, classmates, friends, in their telegram messages and Facebook posts, in their snapchat stories and Instagram pictures.

Why is there money pinned to the board in the DP room you might ask? “Aha!” answers an anonymous classmate, “to catch the Jews.” Ha. Ha. Ha. In respect of journalistic standards I must tell you that this is in fact only a reported story; no evidence has been found personally by the journalist but she does have a witness.
“Why did I get a bad grade?” a woeful 10th grade boy asks himself, and then alights upon the obvious answer: “Our teacher is a sexist.” (Well duh! Get with the program ladies. It’s not that you happen to have worked harder than me; it’s just REVERSE SEXISM!!).

“What is the difference between a feminist and a su***de vest? One actually makes a difference when it is triggered.” Oh, hhaahhahaha, uproariously funny! (To be fair, I am sure the teller of this joke has since repented but it was a nice illustration of the problem.)

And with some people you can kindly point out that was kind of insensitive, (as in hey millions of Jews died in a holocaust because people thought things like this) or perhaps lacking awareness (like girls still make 73 c for every dollar a man makes) and they will revise their ideas and learn. And that’s fine – that’s the point of dialogue and if we all point out one another’s faux paus kindly and listen to corrections attentively all would be well.

The problem is some people will block out any alternative viewpoints (yes politically correct people do this too but in my experience at our school that case is much rarer). When you refuse to listen to the other side and dismiss them too then you are in fact the special little snowflake, then you will be responsible for the continuation of intolerant ideas.

I must conclude with one final word in defense of those who call you out for saying something inappropriate (occasionally endearingly known as feminazis).

We are more sinned against than sinning. (Adapted from King Lear) (And he is a King, so you should listen to him, he knows a lot, tremendous guy, the very best, very bigly, yuge brain etc. etc.)

03/03/2017

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Please… Don’t even bother!

Today, the topics of sustainable development and conservation of environment have unnecessary attention and popularity among young people. Every person growing up and entering the world will sooner or later ask the question “Why should I even care?” “Does it really matter?” The only answer to this question is - you shouldn’t. And anyway you probably won’t due to your natural human tendency to care only about your own interests and lives. Like it or not, want it or not, your selfishness will supersede any sense of concern and here is why…

These days the news is filled with such nonsense – most of which doesn’t even apply to us. For instance, “only 1% of China’s 560 million city residents breathe air that is considered safe by the European Union”. First of all, it is clear that most of us are not in China, so our air should be just fine. (according to the standards of EU countries that should be applauded for caring too much about health of its people, and booed for being overdosed with environmentalism). Alright, alright, I see your point, we all probably know Chinese people that we truly like and admire, but I have to underline the fact that it’s really their problem, and most importantly not ours. I mean, me and you have so many problems of our own, such as choosing between iPhone 7 or iPhone 7s, and as you can see we’re not complaining about our own problems, so neither should they.

Once a vegetarian asked me, “what’s the difference between a cow and a dog?”, and my only answer would be “how much time do you have?” – this is a complicated answer. I’m far from stupid, and know what the person meant, and it was “what makes dogs so much better that we eat more of beef?” Well one answer I thought of was that dogs are more “alive” than cows, because the majority of us interact with dogs on a more emotional levels than with cows, I mean that would be little weird, like talking to your burger in front of others in MacDonald’s. But then I thought, what defines “aliveness”, and I think its sense of being hurt that defines it. Alright, I do consider the other side of the argument about “aliveness”, cows can be hurt physically and most likely a little bit emotionally. Then I have to declare the only valid reason is that dogs can simply sit when told to, and do other unique or necessary things that most other animals cannot.

There will always be people that will encourage you to fight for climate change, use more natural resources, boycott green and renewable energies, protest against animal rights, and other environmental nonsense. My only suggestion would be that, as supported in the article, sarcasm is the best response to these people.

03/03/2017

FRIDAY ON FIRE

If you missed Friday on Fire night, well you better find a way to invent time travel and go back in time. Friday On Fire consisted of both dance and singing performances, and two hilarious guest performances - the crew of Project 3580 can officially give themselves a pat on the back. The two MC’s were fresh, funny, and frisky with many compliments given to the performers to boost their confidence before they stepped into the light. The judges on the other hand had either a string of heartwarming compliments, a mix of good and bad comments, or a resentful bashing of the performance.

The preparation process was the real race to the finish. The only way to prepare was through constant hard work. Especially if the goal of the product was an originally choreographed performance. As a performer the experience of the performance was drastically different from that of the viewers. Backstage in the mini black box the nervous atmosphere was thick. Pacing, running through lines, and marking steps were filling the space with an excited frenzy that only made us more nervous. While waiting for the act in front of you to finish a few quick deep breaths didn’t hurt any performer. This was all leading up to the final moment before you perform. In that one second; the air goes still, the dust particles in the air freeze, and there is no noise. Only the light and your slow deep breathing remain. The chills run down your spine, and you close your eyes. The music starts and all that nervous energy turns into focused determination. Three minutes quickly turn into three seconds. The dance your muscles know by heart turns into a blur as your body takes over, leaving your mind to feel the story and live in the moment. As soon as you realize it is over, its already ended.
In the intermission snacks and drinks were sold, as well as merchandise for Project 3580. The audience mixed with performers discussing the development of the piece, choices of songs, and the root of the idea. While the judges debated about to whom the prize should be granted, two very friendly members of the Project 3580 gave a short and detailed presentation the work of the project, the profit raised, and an overview of last years Friday On Fire (which was called So You Think You Can Dance). At the awards there was again a sense of nervous energy, but not the same kind encountered backstage. The atmosphere seemed lighter - like nervousness mixed with excitement. After the awards were given out the performers and members of Project 3580 joined for the final event; a lovely group photo full of lovely people.

The winners of the event were:
Munavvar and Olivia!
Julia June!
Mrs. Ariana and Mrs. Alicia!

03/03/2017

A FEW STUDYING TIPS

Now, I am no expert or super genius who knows everything about school but I have learned a few tips and tricks from all these years that I found effective and I am now here to share them with you.

1)Do not procrastinate!
It does seem very obvious that this is the first thing mentioned since so many people are tempted to just leave it off till the day its due but, starting early could actually help you. Get off that phone or whatever that seems to be distracting you and as Rihanna says: work, work, work.

2)Get organized in your study space!
Before starting homework, make sure to have everything you need. This way when you are working you won’t have to go anywhere and get distracted. Another great thing to do is to include snacks and water close by so that if you are feeling hungry or thirsty, everything is there.

3)Make a study plan
When you know that you do not have a lot of time, create a study plan for the evening. Make sure to follow it through! The following points are important to consider:
a)Prioritize your homework
Decide what needs to be done first and whether that one is the most important. That way you can finish everything that is due tomorrow and even for the days after not leaving yourself huge loads of work to do.
b)Add breaks in between
Every 30 minutes, have a 5-10 minute break to allow your brain to refresh and then go back to work.
c)Actually do the work!
It sounds very fun and convincing that doing all these things will make sure you get everything done, but in the end it’s really up to you if anything actually does get done. Create your study plan, organize your work, include breaks, and in the end, you must follow through.

4)Review
Whether it’s only for 5 minutes or 45 take your time and review everything you learned that day. Say it to yourself a couple of times and make sure you take time to just read through all the material. This will help you remember all the little details and make sure you understand the information.

03/03/2017

IT SNOWS
The passage outside the black box seemed different. There was excitement in the air, chatter in the background and the ticket counters were busy as a bee. Popcorn stalls were in full profit. Not like any other day. It was the 24th of January. The drama class of grade 10 was ready to debut their adaptation of Bryony Lavery’s “It Snows”. They had been working for 5 months for this final evening. Being someone who had recently performed in the TIS high school production, I can tell you it was a big day, not just for the students, but for the parents. At 6:00 sharp, the doors swung open, and proud parents rushed in to take the best seats. The backstage was full of hushed lines; while some were practicing their dialogues in whispers, others were practicing their dance steps. However, there also was a sense of anxiety. After all, the play was about to begin.

As the curtains went up, and the spotlight faded in, the play gently swept the unsuspecting audience into the myriad moods of the storyline. Suddenly, the stage was abuzz with
energy. What started as a clichéd “boy meets girl” story ended with the audience searching deep within for more. It was an opportunity for many students to display their acting
skills. Intense soliloquies with a mix of ensemble performances made it an evening to remember. This was interspersed with wonderfully choreographed dances that made the audience tap their feet. After months of hard
work and practice, and a 60 minute rollercoaster of emotions, the play concluded with a standing ovation. I guess the thundering applause will stay etched in their memories.

As the students took a bow, they knew that none of this would have been possible without the guidance and hard work of Ms. Buckman and the invaluable encouragement of Mr. Kuhlmann. As people walked away discussing the performances of their children, and feeling proud of what they had just seen, all the drama students packed their bags one final time. This was the end. Tonight, they made memories.

03/03/2017

THE WOMAN’S MARCH

On January 21st, 2017, an estimated five million people took to the streets in a demonstration of monumental proportions. The goal and purpose of this march, coined “The Women’s March on Washington,” was primarily, according to the official website, “To send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women's rights are human rights” (Retrieved from,https://www.womensmarch.com/). The marchers in this nonviolent protest “Support the advocacy and resistance movements that reflect our multiple and intersecting identities. We call on all defenders of human rights to join us … We will not rest until women have parity and equity at all levels of leadership in
society. We work peacefully while recognizing there is no true peace without justice and equity for all.” The Women’s March, claimed by several news outlets to be the largest demonstration in US history, garnered international attention, spurring sister marches in hundreds of countries all over the world, in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, etc, and even a quiet (but no less significant!) march in our very own Tashkent. Various celebrities (Katy Perry, Scarlett Johansson, Miley Cyrus), and prominent persons (leader of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards, distinguished professor Angela Davis, filmmaker Michael Moore), and activists, journalists, and founders great and small, showed up to participate in and speak at this massive protest. Many marchers at this event donned “pussyhats,” (a play on the word “pussycat”), pink knit hats with cat ears that served as a symbol of empowerment and civil rights. These were especially appropriate considering the disrespectful attitude towards women, displayed by the current controversial US president in a recorded bus conversation with Billy Bush. (Does “grab her by the [redacted]” come to mind?) Women at this march took his words
and turned them into a symbol of unity. P***y grabs back.

03/03/2017

Happy Friday Everybody! The latest issue of the Spark is out today! Look for it around campus or just check this page!

17/12/2016

Ho Ho Ho! Christmas is on its way and it is coming faster than the deadlines for all your assignments! The spark voice wants students to remember that even though grades do matter sometimes you have to remember that you are human. Sometimes you have to think about the small things in life like Christmas! As you may all know this is a widely celebrated holiday throughout the world and is often celebrated with the New Year. In this article we will give you a few very simple but easy tips on how to make your last few days at school less painful and your Christmas more fun. First of all leave some time for something you truly enjoy. That could be something as simple as cooking, basketball, or even doing your personal project. Continuing on, if you want to enjoy a holiday you should get into the mood. Find a holiday costume of an elf, Santa, or batman and spend your Christmas in a happy fashion with your jolly costume. Finally eat food! Food is the source of all happiness and is by far the best tip I can offer to anyone. Now go out there in your Santa costume while eating a cake and pretend to do your personal project. Best of wishes and Merry Christmas!

by Dail Jung

The Spark Journal

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