The HOWL Thai-Chinese International School

February 2015 Issue

The HOWL is BACK!!! Bigger & Stronger! The official TCIS news article is back in operation with new passionate members on board along with two of the most zealous teachers, Mr. A and Ms. Lisa! With Rebecca, Hans, William, Ping, Woody, Alan, Nutnaree, and Por on the crew, the HOWL will be full of flair, insight, excitement, and vivacity! We are here together for one purpose: to entertain, update, and be a medium of communication for TCIS faculty, teachers, students, and parents. There will be monthly issues for everyone to enjoy so don’t forget to check them out!

"I just think it's silly to be stingy with compliments. If you see someone and they strike you as beautiful in any way, why not let them know?" - Jill Scott

Compliments TCIS is a Facebook account created anonymously. According to its profile, the purpose of the account is to create a positive environment among the student body at the Thai-Chinese International School. Instead of hate, the page is for everyone to inbox compliments about the people around you. How to Submit compliments? Private message Compliments TCIS (all posts will be anonymous) → https://www.facebook.com/ComplimentsTC Want to submit compliments anonymously? Go to: http://goo.gl/forms/fOJyprL3AV

Also Inside…

Class of 2018……2 Meet Ms. Laura……5

Book Reviews……8 Latest Fashion News……12

ASEP 2014……13 Model United Nation……14

Music Recommendations……16 Chinese New Year……17

Internet-olic……19 Horoscopes……21

Members……24

Color of the Year

Marsala “A naturally robust and earthy wine red”

Last year, Radiant Orchid was the 2014 color of the year. This year, Pantone, a

notable authority on color, reveals Marsala as the 2015 color of the year!

A TASTEFUL HUE “Much like the fortified wine that gives

Marsala its name, this tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a

fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated,

natural earthiness.”

2

Meet the Class of

2018

45% 55%

Gender 66% 3% 0% 3%

Sexual Orientation

Ethnicity

39% 18%

5% 37%

(Mix-blooded)

Birth Months

Jan.-April: 42%

May-July: 34%

Sept.-Dec.: 21%

50%

37%

13%

Oldest

Middle

Youngest

Birth Order

By: Purichaya (Por) Eiamkanchanalai

Continued…

3

What do freshmen like most about high school?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Lockers Courses Overnight Trips

Others

What do freshmen hate most about high school?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Others

Courses

Teachers

Exams

Homework

Hardest Classes for Freshmen

Geometry: 11%

Literature: 11%

History: 5%

Biology: 55%

Languages: 5%

Others: 13%

Continued…

4

Are Freshmen Enjoying High School So Far? “Yes, even though I hate to do my homework, I still enjoy living the high school life; going on overnight field trips and spending time with my friends.”

“Yep, teachers are nice. School is fun and life is great.” “Yes, more freedom, choices, and activities such as spirit week.”

“Yep, way better than middle school.”

“Yea, because the teachers treat us more like adults rather than kids.”

“Yes, it is a different experience from MS. Enjoy being a high schooler J”

“I’m enjoying HS so far, because I get new experiences and get to join activities that I’ve always wanted to.”

“Yes, because I can choose the course I wanted to instead of doing every subject with no choices and there are more activities we could attend then in

middle school.” “Yes! There are CS trips and many more trips. It will be fun for sure. I get to hangout with friends at school and we get to study with each other.”

“No, because high school is really hard and I hate exams and there are too

many tests.” “Yes, because I am learning about a lot of things in HS and I like all the course I have chosen.”

“I am enjoying HS so far because I think that it is an totally new experience for

me and it is way different than MS.” “High school is 50% fun and 50% a NO.” “HS has many activities that we can participate in. The activities give me good

experiences and give me a chance to meet more people.” “I am enjoying HS so far because I get to learn new things and study from a whole new environment.”

“Yea, but I miss MS…”

*These results are based on 38 responses from the students in the class of 2018

5

Meet Ms. Laura Our Friendly High School Math Teacher

As most of you would know, Ms. Laura is a new teacher who just joined TCIS this year. I bet you would want to know more about her, wouldn’t you? To make it easier for fellow students to learn more about Ms. Laura, I have conducted an interview and

hope to give you more information on our new math teacher.

By: Purichaya (Por) Eiamkanchanalai

Starting off with her decision to come to work in Thailand: Por: Why did you decide to come to work in Thailand? Ms. Laura: I had some friends who were teaching in Asia and raved about the students and the environment. Thailand wasn’t originally on my list but when Mr. John offers you a job, he’s very persuasive. To this day I cannot imagine having moved anywhere else! Therefore, it is thanks to Mr. John that we have just a fabulous teacher with us today! Following with her passion and career path: Por: Why are you passionate about math? Ms. Laura: I love having a right and a wrong answer. I never understood in English courses how I could be ‘kind of right.’ I liked the black and white, right or wrong, and when you were wrong, working your way to accomplish being right! Since Ms.Laura enjoys working her way to the right answer, it does hint that you should try your best to reach the correct answer too. Por: Why did you decide to become a teacher? Ms. Laura: I never dreamed as a child to become a teacher, and I never had close family members that were teachers like most people in this profession. For me, it came to the end of high school, and I needed to make a choice, I knew I wanted do something with math, and I knew I was good enough at it, that teaching just became the perfect fit. Business would have been good money, but long hours, engineering seemed like too much math. But teaching was just right. I just want to let you know that I’m really happy that you decided to become a teacher, and I think you are great at what you do. :)

Continued…

6

Feelings towards TCIS: Por: How do you feel towards TCIS? Ms. Laura: I love it here… most days. On the days where my students did their homework, asked great questions, and wanted to learn! On the days when that doesn’t happen… trust me, it’s just as painful for me as it is for you guys! TCIS gives both teachers and students a lot of freedom in the classroom, which I make my personal mission to fill that freedom with the maximum amount of fun we can have while preparing you guys for a successful future. We know that our feelings varies every single day, but don’t forget that the same goes for teachers. To add on to that, our teachers’ attitude does depend on our attitude towards them too. Por: How many years will you be spending in TCIS? Ms. Laura: As of right now I am here for 2 years. The long term changes every day, get me a good pad Thai and I am staying forever, but a quick call to my niece and I could be back in Canada in a hurry. Being away from my family is hard, but it’s great out here as well! When I know how long I will be here, I’ll let you know! Please do let us know! It would be wonderful if you decided to stay for more years. From her response, I could tell that she loves her niece and family a lot too, which is a very cute side of her. (P.S. If you are ever indecisive, I’ll buy you Pad Thai.) Por: How do you feel when you hear students speak in foreign languages? Ms. Laura: I am pretty nosy, so I usually just want to know what they are talking about. If you ask my classes I usually say that, “I want to laugh too”. It would be nice to understand what we hear, but students like us prefer to converse in Thai or Chinese. However, it would be extremely nice to talk in English, so our teachers’ feel more welcome. Comments on Thailand: Por: What is your favorite food in Thailand? Ms. Laura: Pad Thai 100%! I cannot get enough!

Continued…

7

Por: How do you feel towards Thailand? Ms. Laura: I think you can’t get beaches like this where I’m from! And you cannot beat the warm weather, compared to Canada! Yes, I’m sure you can’t. There are some amazing beaches in Thailand such as Hua-Hin, Phuket, and Pattaya. If you find time in your schedule, try heading there and stay for a few nights, you will love it. Just some more about tidbits about Ms. Laura to end this interview: Por: What hidden talents do you have? Ms. Laura: If you ask me nicely I will show you my “Canadian Loon Call”. Even though we have seen Ms. Laura perform during the Talentless Show, this other hidden talent does seem interesting. I don’t know about you, but I would surely go ask her to show her Canadian Loon Call to me at some point. Por: What hobbies do you have? Ms. Laura: Anyone in my classes knows I am an avid hockey fan! If I am not watching a game, then I am looking up stats on players, or on games I’ve missed. Or talking with my friends back home about great plays, players, or trades happening this season. Through this interview, I hope you have gained more knowledge about Ms. Laura, our new math teacher. To the students who may be reading this article now, let’s make Ms.

Laura’s time in TCIS and memorable one and also to welcome her to TCIS’s family.

8

Book Reviews By Yuan-Hang (William), Liao

The first issue of HOWL for the 2015 school year means the start of good reading! Of course, HOWL can’t be the only thing you wolf pups read. Join the rest of the pack and pick up a book, and who knows, you might find something interesting. To help you get

started on some picks, here are a few suggestions that may land as your next favorite book:

Continued…

Historical Fiction The Long War series (Killer of Men, Marathon, Poseidon’s Spear, The Great King, Plataea, Empire) By Christian Cameroon

The Long War series is the first historical fiction book that I ever got into. Perhaps it is my personal bias, since I love Greek mythology, but the series is well-written nonetheless. The Long War series follow the story of Arimnestos, a smith’s son who gets sold into slavery. During and after his enslaved years, Arimnestos gets drawn into the conflict between Persia and Greece as Persia tries to conquer all of Magna Graecia, or Greater Greece. The premise may be a bit difficult to grasp at first for people who don’t understand Greek history that well, but is easy to pick up. I highly recommend the Long War series for people who want to try out the historical fiction genre or loves Greek culture. Personal Rating: 9.5/10

9

Sci-fi

Ender’s Game By Orson Scott Card

This book might be a bit old, but it’s really worth a read if you haven’t picked it up. Some of you may have watched the movie already, but the book is still worth a read regardless. For those of you who don’t know this book, Ender’s Game is a sci-fi novel about a young boy shipped into space to train and become Earth’s next great general in a war against an alien race. It is a simple background that no doubt would be easy to pick up. I recommend this book to both beginner and veteran sci-fi readers because of its blend of a simple background and a complex storyline all the while being one of our lovely editor Hans’ all time favourite.

Personal Rating: 8.5/10 Windup Girl By Paolo Bacigalupi

Imagine a world where fossil fuel ran out, and the human race could do naught but to make do with other forms of energy. Windup Girl is a book that explores this post-catastrophic world and how the people survive in this bleak universe. The story follows several characters as they get caught between a struggle for power in future Bangkok where global warming has forced the city to build walls and dams to keep the ocean out. This book is definitely not an “easy” read, but an extraordinary read. I would not recommend this book to beginner sci-fi fans, but if you like a convoluted storyline, a myriad of well-drawn characters, and an intriguing setting, then by all means try out this book. I guarantee it will not be a waste of your time.

Personal Rating: 9/10

Continued…

10

Fantasy (Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, Inheritance)

By Christopher Paolini

The Eragon series is a saga of four books that follows the life of a young boy later turned Dragon Rider on a quest to overthrow the tyrant king who rules with an iron fist. The story follows Eragon along his path of growth, training, and eventually leadership. Though a bit long, the Eragon series is definitely a worthwhile book if you are a fan of fantasy and dragons. The setting behind Eragon should be pretty easy to follow if you have read or watched Lord of the Rings before, for Eragon retains a huge influence from the Lord of the Rings series. All in all, the Eragon series is a great place to start if you have a lot of free time and the perseverance to read through loooooooooong books. Personal Rating: 7.5/10 A Song of Ice and Fire Series (A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter, A Dream of Spring)

By George R.R. Martin

I’m sure many of you have already watched the TV show HBO boasts of. And if you did, then be prepared for a ride that is less… graphic… in the books that brought the series to life. For those of you who watched Game of Thrones for the... ahem… less appropriate contents, the book is a great way to immerse yourself in the intense story of the Game of Thrones universe with a more family friendly medium. A Song of Ice and Fire tells (mostly) the tale of Westeros, a land filled with knights and ladies; bandits and sellswords; and kings and queens. Watch the seven largest Houses in the land contend for power in an attempt to win the Iron Throne. Reading the books has made me an emotional wreck as you feel the heart-wrenching pain as your favourite characters die off one by one. What A Song of Ice and Fire gives its readers is a fantasy world fraught with realism. The gallant does not always prevail and the evil does not always perish. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is not afraid to spend hours after hours of reading. Don’t blame me if the book leaves you with a hollow hole through your chest though. Personal Rating: 10/10

Continued…

11

Romance Every Day By David Levithan I usually don’t read romance novels, but Every Day hooked me up on it. The premise behind Every Day is very interesting, as it follows a nameless protagonist who changes bodies everyday. He falls in love with a girl and sets on this bizarre quest to court her with his ever-changing bodies. I personally really liked the premise of the book, but don’t be convinced just because of the premise. What makes the book even more amazing is the way the author uses his words, giving the entire story a heart-warming feel to it. This book is very worth a read if you are looking for something fuzzy and will leave you with a heartfelt contentedness. Personal Rating: 8/10

12

BREAKING NEWS

on New Fashion

YORK Week After a six-year partnership between the sponsor and

organizers, Mercedes-Benz has decided to drop out as titular sponsor of fall fashion week in New York. In the past few

years, the fashion shows always took place at Lincoln Center, where every designer dreams to show their collection. Now,

New York has to look for a new sit for the fall show. A spokesperson from Mercedes-Benz states, “Our

relationship with fashion is not ending, and we do support fashion globally.”

By Chi-Fen (Rebecca), Lee

13

2014

Asian

Student

Exchange

Program By Liuh-Shin (Nutnaree), Tsai

During the winter break, five high school students, Yoyo Chang (G. 12), Ping Juthapornmanee (G. 12), Rebecca Lee (G. 12), Alan Juthapornmanee (G. 11), and Nutnaree Tsai (G. 11) attended the 2014 ASEP in Kaohsuing, Taiwan. There were six countries that participated in this program: Japan, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Australia. This year, the project is called “How to Save a Doll Named ____.” We, as students, needed to come up with a social issue and make a doll (food, stereotype, animal welfare, etc.). After that, we needed to create a presentation and present our issue in English. Our school was paired with Affiliated Senior High School of National Kaohsiung Normal University (ASHS), and we called ourselves “Justice Palette” with the theme of stereotype.

We had three days (December 26-29th, 2014) to create and rehearse our presentation together as a team. Throughout these four days, we stayed with our host families (also in our team) from ASHS. Not only we prepared our presentation, we also had fun going to night markets, eating at restaurants, and going to the amusement park together. It was a time where we bonded and made new friends. On December 30th, 2014, the day of the presentation, we gathered at Kaohsiung Municipal Girls’ Senior High School. I was so nervous during our presentation that I forgot my lines. However, I covered it up by coughing once, which gave me a few seconds to think through. Later on, my teammates and mentors asked me am I feeling all right, I was like “I’m fine. Why?” They mentioned my cough on the stage. I chuckled and said, “Oh, I did it on purpose because I forgot my line for millisecond, good cover up right?” We all laughed.

Our team, in my opinion, gave the most interesting presentation with a unique way of expressing our social issue. This was the second year TCIS participated in ASEP, and we beat our record by bringing back the “Best Tech Award” along with the “Platinum Award.” I had a great time in Kaohsiung, and I would encourage everyone to join this four-day program during our winter break next year.

14

Many of you may have heard of Model United Nations (MUN) from the obscure announcements of Mr. Eli last year, or from the half-asleep Thursday morning assemblies by the hobbling MUN club. However, even if you are acquainted with MUN, the majority of high school students do not know what MUN is. MUN is a simulation of the United Nations; hence the name “model.” I agree that the work of the United Nations may sound boring to an average teenager: drafting resolutions, dressing formally, or using parliamentary speech isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. Even in Nerd Realm, MUN caters to a niche community.

There are four main roles in an MUN conference: the Secretary General, the administrator of a conference, the Chairs, the moderators of a committee, the Delegates, the pseudo representatives of a nation, and the Pages, the messengers of a conference. After the opening ceremony with cheesy speeches from the Secretary General and special guests, the pages will usher you to the conference room. Once inside, sit accordingly to your country’s placard.

The Chair will then do a roll call of the house to

check for attendance. Delegates will then deliver a minute-long opening speech to state their position on the issue at discussion. Pay attention to the

speeches because it will determine who

your allies are. You will have to form groups based

on your country’s interest. If you worry about being ignorant and

alone, fear no more. Next, comes time of unmoderated caucusing where your team scrambles to draft a resolution and lobbying other groups at the same time. Granted, teamwork is a must.

After you have presented your resolution, you will then defend it. Your supporters will give a for-speech to support and your opposers will deliver and against-speech to attack your resolution. Pages shine during these times of chaos, delivering top-secret strategies to humiliate the delegate on the podium and phone numbers of delegates who fancy each other. Delegates are advised to answer any and all points of information to look professional. After the house settles down, the voting process starts. Voting is done by locking the doors (for safety) and raising your placards (to vote). If you manage to pass your resolution, clapping will be allowed in the house. Congratulations, you have just completed your first conference!

Continued…

Model United Nation Classroom-sized World Diplomacy

By Suthipatr (Alan) Juthapornmanee

15

MUN teaches you how real nations operate and how they tackle conflicts. You also have the chance of exercising your public speaking, debating, lobbying, writing, and improvising skills while developing your leadership and teamwork abilities. Among those impressive set of skills you gain from the MUN experience, you also get to make friends, and if you are still not convinced, your transcript will look magnificent with MUN! If this has intrigued you in anyway, feel free to contact Mr. David Jolly (david.jolly@tcis.ac.th) Tam (11), Friend (11), Annie (11), Jeffrey (11), or me! We would be grateful to introduce you to MUN with our MUN for Dummies Guide.

16

Recommendations By Papop (Woody)

Tanglaocharoen

Recent Top Chart Singles: Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars “Uptown Special (2015)”

Want to get pumped up? Well, this song will make you dance anytime, anywhere! The top singles of January Billboard Charts, “Uptown Funk” is a perfect combination of electro music and old-time Jazz-funk.

Retro Singles: Red Flag - Billy Talent “Billy Talent II (2006)” “Where there is young people and vitality, you’re going to find punk rock” - Henry Rollins “Red Flag” is a punk-rock genre music by a four-people band, Billy Talent. Video-Games lovers might also know that “Red Flag” was used as a soundtrack in the popular playstation game, “Burnout Revenge”.

Recent Top Chart Album: Title - Meghan Trainor (2014) “Title” was developed as a "very honest" album for all ages, with "very honest" storylines. It reflects on changes in Trainor's life and in her artistic process, and is intended as a source of empowerment for youth. It Includes Trainor’s most successful singles: “All About That Bass”.

International Album: Dream - Naoyuki Onda (1999) Want something to listen before you sleep? Album “Dream” is highly

recommended! The musical instruments in this album will let you enter the world of peaceful nature, and this album will let you feel the beauty of the sound of East Asia instruments.

17

Chinese New Year

“Xin Nian Kuai Le, Hong Bao Na Lai!”, the repetition of these phrases bombarded my ears as we gradually entered the end of January. According to the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year falls on the second new moon after wintertime. In Chinese, “Xin Nian Kuai Le” means “Happy New Year”. “Hong Bao Na Lai”, on the other hand, must be a favorite phrase among youngsters. It is basically defined as, “Give me the red envelopes”. In Chinese culture, red envelopes symbolize “lucky money”. They are usually given by the older generation to the younger generation. It is equivalent to a blessing, wishing the person wealth and happiness.

By Jittranuch (Ping), Juthapornmanee

How did “Chinese New Year” originate? A Chinese legend, passed on from generations to generations states that there was a monster named “Nian”, which in Chinese means “year”. Nian usually comes out every New Year’s Eve, bringing chaos and destruction upon mankind. The villagers were terrified of Nian, and tried every way to get rid of it. However, they failed, until a wise man told them the secrets of defeating it. Nian feared loud noises, fire and the color red. As a result, the villagers poured their hearts into hitting the drums and launching fireworks to scare Nian. Every house’s door was covered with red scrolls and paper, making Nian terrified, running away. As a celebration to victory, the villagers recognized the day as “passing of the Nian”.

Continued…

Continued…

18

I remember this story being told during the Chinese New Year celebration at TCIS every year. Studying in TCIS for many years, I’ve become familiar with many Chinese New Year traditions at the school. The celebration starts off with cool upperclassmen drumming, creating excitement and festive atmosphere for the whole school. “Nian” and company, tough looking lions controlled by strong high school boys, would come out and stir up the crowd with enthusiasm. There would be traditional Chinese dance performed by cute, little girls. Lastly, small red envelopes are awarded to every student, orchestrated by the Taiwanese Parent Association. This highlights one of the “reddest” events in the school year.

As we are approaching Chinese New Year in less than a month, my anticipation for the school festival is for it to be filled with enjoyment and excitement. I hope old traditions are kept, but new twists added to the shows. This way, old students and staff members can taste new flavors in each celebration; meanwhile, new members of TCIS will also be entertained by the exclusive shows presented by our fellow students. I’m wishing everyone a “Xin Nian Kuai Le”. I hope you’re looking forward to it as much as I am! Zai Jian :)

References: Chiu, Lisa. "The History of Chinese New Year." ABOUT.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan.

19

Internet- lic By Papop (Woody) Tanglaocharoen

As our technology advanced immensely that we can cure almost any disease, the obesity rate around the world also multiplied proportionally. According to US Department of Health and Human Services, adolescent’s obesity rate had more than doubled from 13.4% to 35.7% since 1960s. More and more students are getting “Sedentarism”, or what we know as “Sitting-Disease”, which is one of the major causes of obesity. On the other hand, a person’s average Internet consumption per day rose to 15.5 hours by 2015! Holy Moly! Think about it, we use two-third a day on the Internet everyday! No wonder the prevalence of obesity is astonishingly common. Continued…

Do you remember your childhood when you had to carry a lot of textbooks to school? Or when you had to go to CD-shop to buy or rent the movie you wanted to watch? Or when you had to look up the dictionary to check words you don’t know? Well, the Internet makes everything more convenient, less time-consuming. The Internet was started during the early 1960s, and it was first introduced to Asia during late 1980s and early 1990s; it had been, undoubtedly, the greatest innovation of the century since Ernest Duchesne discovered the antibiotic properties of Penicillium. Because of the Internet, we now are able to send instant messages to our families at the other side of the world, to talk with our friends from our bedroom, to stay in the room and do almost everything!

20

I’m not trying to say that the Internet is baleful because the internet allowed me to send out my college application on the last minute before the deadline. However, it is quite painful to see more kids nowadays looking down on their phone or tablet instead of chasing each other or playing four-square like we used to. When I used to walk to the canteen after school to meet up with my friends, I would see children running and laughing, but today I only see them smashing the keyboards and staring intensely at the screen.

The Internet can be educational; there is unlimited knowledge inside of it, but more people are addicted to it. The Internet lessens the chance of

us having “real” interactions, and it encourages us to shut ourselves in our circle. So, try something different today or tomorrow, for instance, instead of messaging a person, maybe you can try calling him/her. Last

but not least, I want to borrow a short passage from my favorite poem called “Look Up” by Gary Turk:

When I was a child I’d never be home

I’d be out with my friends, on our bikes we’d roam

I’d wear holes in my trainers and graze up my knees

Or build our own clubhouse high up in the trees

Now the park is so quiet it gives me a chill

See no children outside and the swings hanging still

There’s no skipping, no hopscotch, no church and no steeple

We’re a generation of idiots, smart phones and dumb people

21

Aries (Mar. 20 – Apr. 20) Your year starts off so hot and high-energy, Aries, that you may sometimes look in the mirror and wonder whom that person is! Your true New Year, Aries, begins the day after a Solar Eclipse with Uranus and Mars both conjunct the Moon. Feelings may run rampant for a few weeks, but life will settle down to a subdued roar and thunder, leaving you to feel like you could succeed at just about anything. Use that confidence and energy while being wildly creative, social, and happy in August when the Sun meets Jupiter in fiery Leo. The September 13 Solar Eclipse is a brief but intense moment to look back. Are you staying healthy and on track? In November, be willing to take on more responsibility and authority, and afterward find yourself to be a more matured, refined person.

oroscopes H By Liuh-Shin (Nutnaree), Tsai

Taurus (Apr. 20 – May 20) 2015 is a great year for Taurus to begin something new and maybe choose a new direction for some part of your life. Mentally, you may have been preparing, and now's the time. The Sun and Moon are both in Taurus as your year starts, so April and May could be the most agreeable for your plans. Love and relationships in general may take a slight hit in July and August when Venus goes retrograde. Sometimes you need to go extra slow with people and affairs of the heart, that's all. Be extra creative and you'll be popular all summer long. The Mercury retrograde in Libra (September 17 to October 9) might stress relationships, but Venus rules here, too, and Taurus knows how to be sweet. Be healthy, happy, and good to yourself, especially in November and December!

Gemini (May 21 – June 20) 2015 is an exciting year, Gemini, when relationships bloom, opportunities for personal growth and maturity abound, and friends and family become more cherished. As blazing and energetic as the year begins, you have plenty of built-in pauses to stay on track and take care of all those people and things you love. Mercury retrograde (all in Air signs) is your friend. May 18 to June 11 (in Gemini) lets you mentally regroup and rethink what might have been done with too much haste the month before. Socially, Gemini is running in high gear all year. Eat healthy and get enough rest, and moderate those social indulgences. Friends and family are there to remind you how important you are, especially in the July. It is a fun, fabulous year!

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) You have a well-balanced year ahead, Leo, with plenty of passionate Fire, sensitive Water, practical Earth, and diplomatic Air energies at your fingertips. Neptune will offer you illusions and comfortable escapes in February. Uranus will surprise and energize you in April. Mercury and Mars will tug at your heartstrings and family in July. Venus will make daily life more pleasant and comfortable than ever in September. Jupiter spends the first half of 2015 in your sign, Leo, bringing good luck and abundance, but also the temptation to enjoy the good things in life in excess. Try to use moderation in all things, especially eating, spending, and socializing, and simply share the wealth. Jupiter is retrograde until April 8, so be aware of maintaining or

improving your personal integrity. Take good care of yourself and enjoy each day to Continued…

Cancer (June 21 – July 22) You may feel a bit like a sea creature out of water this year, with only sensitive Neptune in a fellow Water Sign (Pisces). This will illuminate your instincts, feelings, and intuition compared to all the other signs. Keeping your emotions controlled may be the biggest challenge in late June and July, when the Sun and Saturn move into Water Signs, too. The first two months you will be focused more on others, but make sure you also take good care of yourself so you can properly be there for loved ones or friends if they need you. People keep you busy with fun in May and June. Your mind may motor in high gear while your attention zooms in on family, home, and what you love best. Things should calm down after the Sun-Mars conjunction on June 14. With the Moon in Leo square Saturn in Scorpio on the Summer Solstice, you may not feel charming, but everyone will see your charm throughout the rest of the year!

22

Virgo (Aug. 23 — Sept. 22) 2015 is a year of great luck and abundance, Virgo. There will also be strong feelings, opinions, and a great drive to succeed. It may be hard to think straight all the time amidst so much activity and bustling daily life, but you'll do your best. Expect opportunities and congenial people around you from January 1, as your ruling planet Mercury is in Capricorn along with the Sun, Venus, and Pluto. Capricorn is an Earth Sign and very compatible with you, Virgo. Jupiter enters Virgo on August 11. From then on, amplified good luck and prosperity should blossom. Friends and family (particularly siblings) may be extra generous. It's a year to bring each other many happy times. Enhanced creativity, good times with groups of people (especially large gatherings), and a trip or two are all smiled upon this year. Be healthy, active, eat and rest well, because it's a busy year!

Libra (Sept. 23 — Oct. 22) 2015 gives you a deeper desire for material security and luxury. This means you'll have greater motivation and ambition. In your gentle, agreeable Libra way, you'll accomplish more and attract more compatible people into your camp. You'll be extremely lucky with people, so network away! Then put social activities on pause during August, rest up and re-energize. Mercury goes retrograde in your sign (September 17 - October 9) and this is a great thing, too. Consolidate your team of friends and family members now, and see clearly who your truest supporters are. November and December are powerful times for you as well, particularly the last two days of December when your planet Venus moves into glorious Sagittarius.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 — Nov. 21) Powerful good luck and instant energy are at your fingertips in 2015, Scorpio. Given your natural level of intensity, you'll need extra effort almost every day to not burn out or frazzle the people around you. Be cool and a bit distant if necessary in February and March when instincts are tested and people become harder to read. Reserve judgment about others but don't over-idealize them - namely friends and family. When Mars conjuncts Uranus (March 11) and when the Sun conjuncts Uranus (April 6), the Moon will be in Scorpio, affecting you more strongly than most other signs. Be braced for surprises. Respect your physical limits, avoid overexertion, and be healthy and ambitious. Such a fiery year can be hard on a Water Sign like you, but 2015 gives you plenty of Earth energy to anchor and get you through!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 — Dec. 21) What a great year to be a Sagittarius! With so much admiration, respect, and authority coming your way, it could be hard to remember to be modest. Make the effort, though, be gracious and understated, and people will regard you all the more. Be methodical and then trust your sound, critical judgment. Emotional judgment is strong and true, too, especially in February. Saturn in Sagittarius this year adds to your patience and careful treatment of people and situations. Family and friends will think well of you no matter what, and could lavish extra affection on you in the springtime. Be well, active, and avoid too many extra calories too often, however yummy. This could be an ongoing challenge after early April, when Jupiter's retrograde ends. It's quite a delicious year, Sag!

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 19) Make a major new start in 2015, Capricorn, or perhaps several minor ones. Let your heart and passion be your guides. Then be your own best friend rather than your own worst enemy. (All unlike you, I know!) Trust your gut. A slowly forming Jupiter-Saturn square (not perfected until August) will help keep you from going too far, too fast, or off track. Family supports you in a big way, perhaps wondering what took you so long. You have great ambition and energy for your work this year, and also great compassion. Your Capricorn year actually starts with the Capricorn New Moon (December 21, 2014). Find healthy ways to de-stress and to nurture and encourage yourself. This becomes increasingly important as the year progresses. Remember, it's not failure if it doesn't work the first time. Persist!

Continued…

23

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) 2015 sees you firmly in control of your own world, Aquarius, as well as prominent and lucky in public. Jupiter is at the top of your chart all year. You can keep your private goals and desires private and still shine and work wonders for others. Any nervousness won't show in your appearance or how you present yourself. Saturn in fiery Sagittarius supports you. Friends and family will see how hard you work and won't slow you down. But if you want help, just ask. Mercury and Venus in Aquarius oppose Jupiter and anchor your chart for the year. Mercury goes retrograde in Aquarius (January 21-February 11), making you sharper and more cautious. Your health looks strong, but overdoing things will be an ongoing concern. Be safe and avoid silly, careless accidents. It's a very well-balanced but high energy year, Aquarius!

Pisces (Feb. 19 – Mar. 20) If you've ever dreamed of taking a step up and being a bigger, better you, 2015 is your year! Fresh, unexpected opportunities are everywhere, and doors will magically open for you, Pisces. Be sensible, not giddy. Take all this good luck seriously and say "thank you" often. Give yourself enough attention and be healthy, especially in January through April. January and February (with the January 19 Mars-Neptune conjunction and the February 21 Venus-Mars conjunction) will keep you busy but happy. Family and friends help you keep a lid on the wild times and offer sanity, harmony, and gentle fun and relaxation close to home. People may have high expectations of you, especially in the summer, and you may overextend yourself trying not to disappoint anyone. Focus as much on yourself as others and become all that you want to be!

Reference: "2015 Horoscopes." 2015 Horoscope. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://astrology.horoscope.com/horoscope/year/2015-horoscope.aspx>.

24

Members

Mr. Valente Aquino Advisor Valente@tcis.ac.th

Ms. Lisa Diviney Advisor Lisa.diviney@tcis.ac.th

Jong-Won (Hans), Han Editor-in-Chief #1953

Chi-Fen (Rebecca), Lee Page Designer Editor-in-Chief #2724

Jittranuch (Ping) Juthapornmanee Reporter #1818

Yuan-Hang (William), Liao Columnist #2065

Liuh-Shin (Nutnaree), Tsai Reporter #1800

Papop (Woody) Tanglaocharoen Reporter #2675

Suthipatr (Alan) Juthapornmanee Reporter #1819

Purichaya (Por) Eiamkanchanalai Reporter #1900