ISSUE: JANUARY 2012

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Shortly after the winter break, high school students and teachers from NIS traveled to Nagano for their annual winter retreat. Like every year, the students and teachers were kindly greeted by the Northstar staff, and after a brief introduction by the staff, everyone departed to their own lodges. The boys all stayed at Northstar and the girls stayed at a Japanese style lodge called Raicho. The retreat began with activities led by the High School Student Council, which included Twister, Charades, and two original games created by the Student Council members. Afterwards, students returned to their lodges to have a dinner, a warm meal of chicken and soup. Once dinner was over, each grade had to perform a musical with the theme being ‘community’. After an hour and a half of preparation, each grade gathered at Raicho to perform their musical. The students brought originality and fun to their performances: both Grade 9 classes presented very simple yet entertaining musicals, and the Grade 10 had everyone laughing with their comical jokes. Grade 11 performed their own version of West Side Story, and the Grade 12 presented a sophisticated and ironic skit involving teachers at NIS. The winner of this competition was 9M and for their prize, they received a free item at the tuck shop in Northstar. This concluded

the first day and on the second day, students and teachers arrived to the slopes to either ski or snowboard. All of the students and teachers had great fun on the slopes and in the snow. After the lessons had finished, everyone returned to their lodges for free time before dinner, which many used for the onsen or to rest in their rooms. After dinner, the girls at the Raicho lodge went to Northstar to have dessert and mingle with the boys. There were all kinds of activities going on, including table tennis, foosball, air hockey, and wall climbing. A horror movie was playing in the lounge and to cap the day off, the 11th grade Drama class performed three skits. On the last day, everyone arrived at the slopes for their last ski/snowboard lessons. After eating lunch at the slope, people returned to their lodges and returned all their equipment and gear. Then, the students and teachers said their final goodbyes to the Northstar and Raicho staff, and the buses left for Nagoya. The winter retreat was an unforgettable experience, providing everybody with an opportunity to bond with fellow classmates and friends and enjoy an exciting three days up in the mountains. Hopefully, the high school can have as much fun as they had this year during the next winter retreat!

High School RetreatBy Vihara Ekanayake

Dolphin Wave

ISSUE: JANUARY 2012

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Skiing and snowboarding are two great winter pastimes, and it seems that these two sports have grasped the hearts of many NIS students as well - there is no question that spending time on the slopes is an amazing way to spend the freezing winter of Japan. However, there are times when you find yourself in an unbelievably long line for the lift, or stuck in a crowded restaurant full of Japanese middle school children. All of a sudden, the crowded ski resort doesn’t look like the best choice for a peaceful vacation. It may also be the case that you are seeking new thrills. With the Sochi Winter Olympic Games coming up in two years, here are some official winter Olympic sports you can take on this winter.

Biathlon – Becoming a biathlon player is probably one of the only ways to make your Modern Warfare fantasies a reality. This unique sport consists of two disciplines: cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Originally created as a method of military training, most current players belong to either the military or the police. Hiding a gun in your suitcase on the way to a ski resort may not be realistic, but if you ever get a chance to try the sport, it is well recommended.

Luge – Known as one of the most thrilling sports in the Olympics, luge is exciting to both watch and play. Though the name derives from a similar French word meaning wooden sled, a luge is not just any sled. The player lies face up on a small toboggan with minimal protection on an icy circuit, racing against competition with speeds that can reach up to 140km/hr. I am personally not brave enough to take on such risks, however the sport itself is definitely a ‘must watch’ this winter.

Ski Jumping – With jumps of over 100 meters and speeds that reach 90 km/hr, ski jumping is one of the most dangerous of all winter sports. In fact, the sport is so dangerous that some Norwegian regions have used ski jumping as a form of execution. If you are interested, there are jump slopes available in Hakuba (the Dolphin Wave will not be held responsible for any injuries or deaths).

WINTER SPORTS:

ISSUE: JANUARY 2012

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MERRY (BELATED) CHRISTMAS

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: APPLE CRISP: Ingredients:3/4 cup all-purpose flour1/4 cup light-brown sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking)3 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:1) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, salt, and 2 tablespoons of

granulated sugar together.2) Cut butter into flour, using a pastry blender or two knives, until mixture is the texture of coarse meal.

Add oats, and use your hands to toss and squeeze mixture until large, moist clumps form. Transfer to freezer to chill while you prepare apples.

3) In another large bowl, mix the apples with lemon juice, cinnamon, and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar. Transfer this mixture to a shallow 2-quart baking dish, and sprinkle with topping mixture.

4) Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until golden and bubbling. This takes 55 to 65 minutes. Let it cool 10 minutes before serving.

The Dolphin Wave staff welcomes you back from have what we hope was a terrific break. Is everyone freshened up and ready to go for another semester of 2011-2012 school year?

I am sure many of you had a fun and enjoyable Christmas but have you ever wondered how other people around the world celebrate this jolly time of the year? When you are sitting down opening presents and eating cakes, the world actually celebrates this special day in various and unique ways!

For example, in Germany, it is tradition for children to put out a piece of bread on a plate outside of their house for Santa’s white horse to eat. They also put out a clean pair of boots for Santa to put presents in!

In Italy, January 6th is ‘the’ day all children wait for all year long! January 6th, being the last day of the Christmas holiday, is the day the good old witch comes to give presents to children! Who could’ve

guessed? A witch giving presents? Never heard of that one before but sure sounds interesting.

In Sweden, December 13th is the day to celebrate Saint Lucia. On this day, Saint Lucia comes in a carriage, followed by Santa Claus and several boys and girls dressed in white, carrying candles. They sing Christmas songs and eat ginger cookies. Yum!

All these different traditions that we might not be used to or have even heard of sounds fascinating doesn’t it? Maybe next year, you could try eating ginger cookies, or even putting out a piece of bread out on a plate for Santa’s horses to devour right here in Japan!

By Inhye Choi

By Amy Kirby