August Issue: Remembrance

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

Typically our editors' notes are due in the early days of the month and obviously August's one is much overdue and for that, we apologize. We've been caught up in the tidal wave that is August - Founder's Day, FHC Prize Giving, not to mention YJC's own event- An Afternoon with the War Poets. 

We commemorated a centenary since the Great War or World War I the way we know best through literacy and design. And the words "Gas! Gas!" will forever be etched in our minds. To the students who painstakingly worked to pull off an event that some might have thought of as impossible, thank you. Thank you for the weekends spent painting posters and cutting out models and nights spent reciting poems.

In July, we persevered through the hard times. This month, we commemorate. We honour, we pay tribute to and we remember. Though tragic and truly so, both the anniversary of the first world war and the MH17 incident brings about more than just empathy, pity and solemnity. It urges us not to just remember them but to learn from them.

History is meant to teach us not to repeat mistakes of the past but if we look at the world today, war still prevails. Yet in these times, we must not lose hope. For the world has changed tenfold from centuries ago - new and improved technology, medicine, communication. War, conflict and peace is simply another big, tangled web of an issue but it can be unknotted. The shining heroes of the wars and tragedies of the past will not die in vain for they have shone the light to guide us to a peaceful tomorrow. 

The devastation of the MH 17 tragedy was one particular tragedy of a bigger war elsewhere that we will never forget. It is the epitome of the saying "When the rich wage war, it is the poor who die." This accident, has turned out to be a tragic, senseless, loss, another number in the casualties of war statistics. Another reason why it is so important that we learn and pray for the victims, who have at last returned home.

In commemoration and respect to the lost lives, we will remember and will forever carry them with us in our hearts.

The Horror That Was World War 1

Written by Akhilan Manivannan, Junior 1 Higgs, Class of 2015

There is nothing more evil in this world than war, and as the anniversary of World War 1 draws upon us, one would be hard pressed to argue with that statement. World War 1 was aptly named as such due to it’s massive worldwide involvement of countries, the first time any war had been so widespread all over the Earth. The war begun on July 28 1914 and lasted until November 11 1918. The war was mainly fought due to difference in foreign policies, but the immediate cause was the assassination of Austria’s Archduke Ferdinand. World War 1 was fought by two main sides, the Allies(including France, Great Britain and Russia), and Germany and Austria-Hungary. In total, 30 countries were involved in the major conflict but countless other countries were affected by it as well.

During the war, soldiers fought most of their battles in trenches (large, narrow ditches) and because of this thousands of these men suffered from shell-shock, a mind debilitating stress. The British and French trenches were usually filthy, squalid and generally unpleasant, while the German trenches were rather luxurious in comparison, some even having bunks and decent cooking facilities.

Even animals suffered the trauma of World War 1, and dogs were used to carry messages in capsules attached to their body. In addition dogs were sometimes also charged with carrying and placing telegraph wires in important areas. Pigeons also took to the sky, about 500,000 regularly dropped into enemy lines by parachute, and then sent back with messages. 

World War 1 was one of the first wars to start rapidly developing advanced weaponry, and the cannons and artillery used were extremely loud. For example in 1917, the explosives used in the destruction of a bridge in France could be heard over 130 miles away in London. A plethora of new weapons were invented or first put to use during the war, most famously a 48 ton gun called Big Bertha, capable of firing a shell over 9 miles. Big Bertha did however take a big 200 men several hours to assemble it. Tanks in World War 1 were also interestingly divided into two categories, "male" tanks armed with cannons, and "female" tanks armed with machine guns. 

They say that some aspects of our world simply cannot be expressed in words, and the incredible statistics involved in WW1 are certainly one of those aspects. Instead, here are the shocking, pure statistics regarding the terrible tragedy.

Total number of men mobilised to fight : 65 million

Percentage of men mobilised who died : 57%

Total number killed : 8.5 million

Total number of casualties : 37 million

Number of missing Prisoners of War : 7.7 million

Number of wounded soldiers : 19.7 million

Number of years of fighting : 4 years

Number of allied countries military casualties : 5.7 million

Number of allied country civilian casualties : 3.67 million

Number of allied countries wounded : 12.8 million

Number of military casualties : 9,720,450

Number of civilian casualties : 8,865,650

Total War Cost : $186.3 billion

Those are some extremely terrifying numbers.

World War 1 was undoubtedly one of the most tragic and devastating historical disasters in the history of the world, and will remain as one till the end of our existence. We must however continue remembering the horrors of World War 1, and ensure that we do what our forefathers failed to do, and that is prevent another world war, for the Earth may simply not live through another. 

Nightingales of the War

Written by Ayena Shaneez, Sophomore Aer, Class of 2016

I was transported a hundred years back to the trenches as my mind led me through a sea of green gas. Around me, men were fumbling for gas masks, people were shouting, screaming, dying. He didn't get his mask on time. 

And then it was over. I was back at home — on my macbook, staring at the pain and sorrow of the great war intertwined in one single poem. I read, and re-read it, and re-read it again, the poem Dulce et Decorum EST by Wilfred Owen. 

There is nothing sweet or righteous about dying for your country.

No pictures can ever portray the raw feelings war poets pour into their poems. A majority of these war poets were soldiers in the great war, scarred by their experiences. Among them were Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Edward Thomas, Robert Graves, Ivor Gurney and many more. 

Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen was one of the leading poets during World War I. He describes the war as a raging inferno, man against man killing each other like cattle. His words captivate me, they hold my attention like a good movie would only that unlike a movie, his words leave an imprint in my mind that would always be my perception of The Great War. 

Owen isn't just a great poet but a true military hero. One of the significant events that shaped Owen was when he had to take shelter from German artillery fire on the side of a railway embankment. He was trapped there for days with the body of fallen comrade. This experience trigged shell shock, a mental disturbance caused by prolonged exposure to active warfare. He was sent to Craig Lockhart War Hospital and by chance, he met Siegfried Sassoon, a fellow war poet.

Sassoon survived World War I, unlike Owen, who died just a week before it all ended. But the death of Sassoon's companions which included Owen made him bitter and angry, which he expressed in his writing. He wrote 'The Soldier', a poem about the horrors of the trenches and the brutality of warfare. He condemned generals, politicians, and 
churchmen for their incompetence and blind support of the war. 

Sassoon wrote passionately about the effects of war on soldiers and veterans — gassing, shell shock dreams and post trauma. His writing had the power to make the reader enraged as well. His poem 'Glory of Women' is ironic as it accuses the women at home waiting for the soldiers of being blinded by the honour and glory of the men fighting in the war, only to conveniently forget about them upon death or disfigurement.

"YOU love us when we're heroes, home on leave, 

Or wounded in a mentionable place.

You worship decorations; you believe

That chivalry redeems the war's disgrace:

(An excerpt from 'Glory of Women' by Siegfried Sassoon)

The bitterness and compassion that he pours into his writing made it popular among the public. He protested against the government by throwing his Military Cross medal in a river and sending The Soldier's Declaration to his commanding officer, defying the militaristic values of that time. He wanted to end the agony that a soldier had to go through.

In the diary of war poet Siegfried Sassoon - The Soldier's Declaration, which was later read out at Parliament         

By pure coincidence, earlier into the war, Sassoon was sent to the 1st battalion in France where he met another fellow poet, Robert Graves. They quickly became friends, united by their love for poetry. It was through Sassoon that Graves became friends with Owen as well.They exchanged poems and writing as well as their experiences. Graves was also a victim of shell shock but was not hospitalised for it. 

Graves survived the war but never really recovered. His writings about the war were frank, a little crude and highly descriptive. He didn't mention much about how he felt — if he was angry or upset — but from his words one could tell that he was greatly disturbed by the effects of war and the war itself. He wrote :

To you who’d read my songs of War 

And only hear of blood and fame, 

I’ll say (you’ve heard it said before) 

"War’s Hell!”

To me, these poets are like nightingales of the darkest hour. They have managed to convey an impactful message using words and emotions that come from the corners of the battlefield and the depth of the trenches. Their literary talent shall always be remembered.

White Christmas; Thoughts/Review Part II featuring Spoilers Galore

Written by Chin Wye Mun, Junior 2 Cempaka, Class of 2014

[Spoilers all the way from here as I elaborate on my personal feelings about the show] 

Biggest Question in the Drama : How do you define a monster?

Photo Credit : dexjul

Upon watching this drama, there is one big question that will be floating around in the space of your mind for a while. That question, is posed at the very beginning of the series by one of my absolute favorite characters, the "ace of the team", the emotionless genius, Choi Chi-Hoon (played by Sung Joon) : Are monsters born or raised? This is equivalent to the nature versus nurture debate, which questions whether the behavior of us humans are inherited by genes or learned through observation and imitation of our environment. Although this question is more frequently asked than the award-winner, when you think about it, you'll find yourself wondering more on what is a monster rather than how one is created. The original question stems one of what exactly is the definition of a monster? How would you define "monsters"? 

After having these questions prop themselves in my mind for hours and taking away my precious sleep time, here's what I think I think (this is intentional; it's such a complicated topic of discussion I'm not completely sure this is what I think but for now, it is). I've always leaned a little more to the nurture side of the debate. I believe that if you grow up in a certain environment, you will most likely be influenced by said environment. For example, if you are surrounded by a Chinese-speaking community, regardless of your born race, you will end up picking up some of the Chinese language, likely even more than the race you're born into. 

Regarding the definition of monsters and the whole talk about whether we are born with them or we raise them, I feel that the presence of monsters are inevitable. Humans are monsters - we are complicated creatures, shaped by our environment and shaped by nature. There is no single human who will not feel the touch of a "monster". We are not born to kill yet we are not born 100% pure. We are born to be challenged by temptation, by envy, by anger and hatred. The beauty of being human is that we can choose who we want to become. It is true that circumstances can restrain, but with determination, we can be whoever we want to be. When a murderer kills, they have chosen to pull the trigger. When you help an elderly lady cross the street, you have chosen to extend your arm to her. We are not born to point guns or to be generous. We are taught and we should be educated. And then we choose for ourselves. Like a novelist, you write your own story. It is your choices that make you who you are - monster or not. 

Even then, the lines can get blurry. Are you a monster if you steal for your poor family? On one hand, by stealing, you have committed a sin and a crime - bad. On the other, you're aiding the survival of your family - good. Like I said, humans are complicated. Sometimes, out of the blue or when our boundaries have been pushed, we turn into monsters, but then we learn to calm our demons and maybe even eventually slay them.

This is why so many people are focused on getting criminals to be educated rather than just punished. Of course, prevention is best but that is not an option when the crime has already occurred. 

Who won the game?

The ending was a beautiful thing. The doctor claims he "won" because the students pushed him to the edge of the roof and watched him fall, eyes cold and blank, unfeeling. At that moment, he felt that he had managed to turn them into monsters, cold-blooded killing machines. I have to agree. I think it is true. That scene and the interrogation scene that follows show the dark side of the students. Look into Park Moo-Yul's dark eyes during the interrogation and you will find something terrifying - the loss of the innocence of a young boy who once believed that following the rules makes you honorable. They could have chosen to let the police enter and do their job (which they aren't very good at - how can you mistake a frozen body for a fresh one?) but instead they chained the doors together and cornered the doctor into gripping the edge. They let themselves be consumed by anger and hatred. In this sense, I do believe they let out their beasts.

However, within the unleashing of their inner monsters, they also made themselves vulnerable to each other and found among the group, the formation of a new (hopefully) unbreakable trust. They too had won the game by finding the power to trust each other. They all had matching stories during the interrogation and no one person told the truth. Throughout the game, there are rare times you find all 7 of them together and discussing plans or filling each other in. Someone is always missing. But in the end, they're all together and they walk the same path, the same direction. Lying is a sin but trust and teamwork are virtues. 

If you think about it, while playing the game, they were forced to already consider the possibility of being burdened by murder in order to stay alive. Young Jae cracking under the pressure convinces me that he is the weakest link of the group. The rest of them though, remain adamant that they will not become the monsters Doctor Kim wishes them to be. Though they remained adamant about it, they were definitely very close to crossing the border. Jae Kyu almost smashed the life out of Young Jae, but then he took a look at himself and he saw the image he swore not to be. Eun Sung raged at Doctor Kim and threw her cup near him in anger, the want to kill boiling and bubbling at her very surface. Moo Yul thought about letting go of the rope and letting Chi Hoon fall to his death and he faltered. He let go for the slightest moment but he regained himself and he pulled again till Chi Hoon was back to safety. But when it came to the doctor, they all cracked.

I was truly very disappointed that they pushed him over the edge. When the doctor admitted Yoon Su's case had failed but questioned the results of the rest standing in front of him, Park Moo Yul turned to walk away. I honestly thought he was walking away from this nutcase, walking away from becoming a monster. But he didn't. I suppose he actually gave it away in the beginning. He did say, "I had to become a monster to fight a monster". I loved the students so much that I really didn't want them to turn into monsters, even if it was just for a moment.

Adults vs. Adolescents 

Anyway, perhaps it is better that they pushed the doctor to the edge instead of letting the police take over. This brings us to another great thing about this drama which is the incompetence of the adults versus the genius of the adolescents. Perhaps they feared the police would slip up yet again and fail to wrap this whole mess up. Young Jae's mother was frustrating. She should have just waited her turn to speak and the minute she stole the microphone from Moo Yul's father, I was in disbelief. Eun Sung's mother was quite a sad case. There are several theories on why she kept quiet about her greatest sin but I still stick by the simplest, most obvious one, as explained in the movie. She was selfish. 

Genius Kids

Also, the fact that they were all incredibly smart (except I didn't really see Young Jae's intelligence, pardon me and if anyone can show me some proof of this, I'd be thankful) meant that there was no room for ranting at the ensemble for doing the silliest things. Many characters often make obvious mistakes like trusting the wrong person, taking the wrong road or doing the stupidest thing like going out alone in the dark. However, these geniuses don't and that's a relief for it saves me the energy of having to press the space bar and pause the show and just take a moment to detach myself from the utter stupidity of the character. 

Best Death : Choi Chi Hoon

Other contenders include Yoon Eun Sung, Yoon Su, Jung Hye and the teacher. I'm assuming Eun Sung was indeed hypnotized and the teacher didn't really stand out to me as anything anyway. It was a pity he had to die. It would have been handy to have a judo expert still on the student's side. Jung Hye was just crazy but Yoon Su's death was well-done. Even so, the thought of Chi Hoon dying was more saddening though manageable for me. It was honorable. He worked hard to get them out of their mess but Young Jae had to crack under the pressure, once again and put Chi Hoon up for punishment. This particular award could be slightly prone to bias, I'm sorry.

Best Character Development : Yoon Su/Kang Mo

Furthermore, the character development was pleasant. They're all very distinct characters. My favorite characters for development/background were Yoon Su and Kang Mo. Yoon Su taught me that we believe what we want to believe. We twist illusions and make it into our own truth. He was illusioned that his maid/aunt was his real mother and formed a disliking for her real son, who stole the attention away from him. He lied about being kidnapped and eventually even believed his own lie. The corner monster was only a monster because Yoon Su thought it was. It was all in the mind. 

For Kang Mo, he was brave and courageous and I pitied the way they "witch hunted" him. He was so cheery in the beginning of the show; it was heartbreaking to see him lose his smile for about the whole second half or so of it. He is so selfless - he discards his own personal attachment towards Eun Seung, for as long as she is happy, he feels happy. He was separated from the rest and had to hide from the people who were supposed to be his "teammates". And yet, at the end of it all, he saved the day, disabled. 

Young Jae actually had a good chance to win in this department (he's not even the best troublemaker). He battled with consistency and vulnerability and he cracked twice under the pressure of the gun pointed to his head but in the end, he managed to keep it cool and keep the trust. 

Best Bromance/One True Pair (OTP) : Kang Mireu & Choi Chi Hoon

You can't deny it. The moment Mireu found out that Chi Hoon was dead (or presumed so), his face just completely changed. They're from two completely different worlds - Mad Mi Reu & the emotionless genius. Yet, they're bound by the heated passion of competitive youth. Mireu was the one person to ever beat Chi Hoon. Mireu was the only person to ever cause Chi Hoon to feel loss. They don't show great affection towards one another or even friendship, but there's a special relationship found in competition. 

And they definitely beat Eun Sung paired with anybody. If I were to pair Eun Sung with anybody, it'd probably be Young Jae. That part where he cornered her and said that twisted line, there was something magical in the darkness of their relationship. 

Most Angelic : Yoon Su (of course, haha)

Finally, some people argue that Yoon Su killing himself was more monstrous than becoming a killer. I disagree. Indeed, he stayed true to his nickname of Angel. Even if he didn't like it, I felt that Yoon Su was more of an angel and less of a monster than any of the other 7 kids. Not even Park Moo Yul, the most obedient or Choi Chi Hoon, the smartest was more angelic than Yoon Su. Yoon Su killed himself but the 7 of them killed somebody else. Yoon Su had the right over his own life and sacrificed his own to protect those of others. Was the doctor's life for the other 7 to take? No. Stripping it down to the basics, they had killed someone, committed murder and turned into monsters. 

People also speculate that Yoon Su's death was made to symbolize that together they stand but alone they fall as Yoon Su was the only one separated from the group at the end during their recovery while the rest were together in the hospital. I could agree with this and I think it's further testament to the strength of the trust they've formed with each other. It's just a pity that Yoon Su can't be a part of it in the future (hoping for a sequel). 

Character Who Deserved More Screen Time : Lee Jae Kyu

Jae Kyu was one of my favourite characters from the start. I honestly thought he was going to die first because he seemed to be very close to the main protagonist (Moo Yul) and normally the main protagonist won't die but someone close to him will. For example, he was always around Moo Yul and helping him search the student records. 

Luckily, he didn't have to experience death. I also did not expect that Jae Kyu would be the sender of the letters. He seemed genuinely confused and out of place, having only transferred that spring. His fighting scene with Young Jae was thrilling and his blood-spattered face is just, cool. I really am a fan of that scene. Along with the snowball fight scenes (both the ones with and without Eun Sung), Jae Kyu and Young Jae's fighting scene is among my favourites. 

In this scene, we really see that moment of realization Jae Kyu faces when he looks into the mirror. He sees the monster in him and drops to his knees. You can feel the desperation and craze in his eyes. He longs to wash off his stains of cruelty but they don't come off easily. He lost himself. 

I sing praise for this drama for it is not your regular Korean drama. It is not predictable and though there are slight plot-holes on which the drama can be criticized on, the overall impact was enough to cover it up. It has much more of a real, human feel to it than many of the Korean dramas out there. I look forward to more good psychological, thriller finds in the Korean drama scene. Some people may find my praise for this drama to be exaggerated and overly-hyped but I stand by the fact that this is one of the best dramas I have ever watched and no one will be able to change my opinion. Also, I'd be happy to engage in any discussion in the comments below about the drama. 

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood & The Allure of Being A Celebrity

Written by Nadia Marissa, Class of 2014

Love her or hate her, Kim Kardashian has built herself an empire from which she can mint money constantly. A recent addition to this is her free-to-download game (available on both Android and iPhone), KIM KARDASHIAN: HOLLYWOOD. 

The premise is simple, you start at the bottom and crawl your way to the top by making appearances, modelling and walking the runaway. This is done by tapping a series of buttons to complete tasks, in order to fulfill your current goal. At first glance, it’s vapid and superfluous. So why is it that this game stands to make $200 million this year and has a five star rating on the app store? 

Some of Kim Kardashian's favourite outfits in the game!

You don’t have to look far into the human psyche to find the answer. Only a microscopic group of people have the luxury of luxury. Kim Kardashian: Hollywood allows you to experience the life of an elite where bicoastal flights are worth mere dollars and it’s okay to blow off $950 on this really nice tank top which is an absolutely necessary purchase, thank you very much. There are no credit card debts, utility bills to foot or taxes to pay in Kim Kardashian’s world. 

The media mogul has intelligently created a warped, idealised, and infinitely more glamorous version of adulthood within this small game. A twisted piece of reality which apparently, everyone wants. 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a fashion shoot to complete.

YJC Summer Fun Editorial Entry: Summer For Aliens?

Written by Ho Wye Yew, Sophomore Cempaka, Class of 2016

Neo Nvan Netereok
 
Rocky Red Cliffs
,
Mars
.
30th June 2014

Cempaka Damansara Campus
19 Jalan Setia Bakti 1
,
Bukit Damansara
,
50490 Kuala Lumpur
,
Malaysia
,
Earth.

Dear Earthling,

I received a letter from you a year ago, asking me to describe how I spend my summer holidays. Unlike your two month holiday, Martians get to relax for 6 Earth months since our summer is longer than yours! Be warned: do not get overwhelmed by the complexity and absurdity of what I shall write below. Keep in mind that Mars and the Earth are two different planets, so expect a huge cultural shock!

After the mundane term, my friends and I usually head to the meteor valley to play a game of Meteorball. Usually, we have to wear ‘gravity gainers’ which overcome the lack of gravity and pull us downwards in our everyday lives. Basically, Mars has a significantly lower amount of gravity than your planet and as such we will float in the air during this game. When the game commences, two hundred meteor balls will be unleashed upon us on the field. As individuals, we need to catch as many balls as we can to win the game. The twist is, that when you place your meteor balls back into the cage, they may escape so you are required to keep an eagle eye on it. The highlight of this game is that a rush of adrenaline and pure excitement always surges through you when you try to partake in the frenzied pandemonium for the first time.

To the contrary of all the commotion, many Martians enjoy hiking up Arsia Mons to enjoy the serenity of what the mountain has to offer. Whenever I get the solitude to stroll briskly up the mountain, I grab the chance to gaze at the psychedelic sunset, where a warm orange glow of sunlight glistens upon the edges of the clear yellow sky. Purple clouds envelop the vicinity, creating a picturesque yet mystic panorama. Eerie but interesting creatures can be found roaming the area. Defining fun on Mars is not just the presence of friends and activities but also by observing Nature’s talent. Although many people do not even notice it, there are so many things to learn in this area which really defines the educational side of my summer fun. For instance, observing a different creature can improve your biological knowledge on the classification of Martian animals.

If the gruelling sun takes its toll on me, heading to my mother’s dance studio would be ideal. Not only have Martians placed first place consecutively in universal dancing competitions with their authentic ‘jelly dancing’, we have been accorded with twisting dances from different planets as well. At first, when I tried dancing, I forgot to put my ‘gainers’ on, so I ended up twisting my entire body in mid air. It was a real disaster. Nonetheless, failure is the head start to success. As I learned new techniques, I felt more confident in meandering myself across the hall.

In life, I believe that people should experience their summer fun by indulging in unattempted activities yet having that irresistible feeling of excitement, enrichment and exhilaration. Holidays filled with opportunities should not be demolished by stress and pressure. One word of advice—prepare cold refreshments with you! On Mars, all of us get dehydrated extremely easily so we need more redeau, which is our source of hydration. Anyways, I hope you will invent some activities on Earth based on mine! Cheers!

Regards, Neo.

YJC Summer Fun Top Editorial Entry: Summer Fun, Expectations Versus Reality

Written by Yap Jia Xin, Class of 2015, Form 4 Science 1

For most people, the bare mention of the word “summer” triggers the uncontainable excitement that builds inside of them as they yearn for the summer holidays to arrive year after year. As summer inches closer, many even count the days till they get to kick back, relax and enjoy that time of the year where the very existence of stress and worry have no authority over anyone whatsoever. Unfortunately, or shall I say fortunately, we Malaysians do not fall into that category as living in a tropical country, we experience this much anticipated season all year-round. However, let’s not talk about how we spend our year-long summer indoors with the air conditioning set to the lowest temperature permitted, but about how we would spend our summer if we did experience the four seasons. 

The promise of summer brings great hype and expectations- tanning, swimming, going to beach parties, the list goes on. You and your best friends spend the whole month planning out the perfect summer, but let’s face it, odds are that the exhilarating activities and action-packed agenda will not quite go as planned. Nonetheless, chances are that it will not result in summer break being any less spectacular. Having that said, here is a breakdown of typical summer fun, where expectations meet reality.

It is almost guaranteed that the first thing on everyone’s summer to-do list is to hit the beach. That said, your expectations would in all likelihood, be to get a tan or swim in the ocean. Either way, when summer rolls around and the reality of the sun beating down on your back and frying you on the sizzling pan (otherwise known as the beach) would suddenly make watching movies indoors with the air conditioning on full blast seem like the more reasonable choice, which you take without a moment of hesitation. Just like that, all hopes of getting that beautiful sun-kissed skin is thrown out the window. 

The next thing on the list you would expect yourself to fulfill - start being healthy and exercise every day. Alternatively, this could also be written as - start working hard for the perfect beach body. In reality, and also the unbearable searing heat of the summer, you may as well just cross this off the list as it would be immediately ruined by your overdose of ice cream, frozen yogurt and shaved ice. Well, that was quick.

Besides that, surely you would expect to spend every waking moment of summer break with your friends going to phenomenal beach parties or simply just letting loose. However when reality kicks in, your inner sloth would probably have revealed itself and have you stay inside and be socially awkward in every possible way. Incidentally, no, this in no way implies endless hours of stalking your friends on Facebook, Twitter or even on Instagram. Of course not!

As you can see, reality has quite distinctly triumphed in the expectations versus reality war. In spite of that, one thing remains unchanged. The element of fun in the summer was always at hand whether in expectations, or reality. Truth be told, although it is wishful thinking that we would ever live through the four seasons and get to experience summer from this point of view, one thing is undeniable - summer is always filled to the brim and bursting with fun, whether it lasts for two months, or a whole year.