Youth Spot

Welcome to another issue of the What’s In This Issue!

Youth Spot student magazine. This Page 2
issue we have tried to bring you SRC Announcement
some information on the history of Rugby 7’s are coming to town
Page 3
Valentine’s Day. Although Valen-
Movie Reviews: Romances
tine’s day has already passed, we Page 4
at the Youth Spot thought you Book Reviews: Love Stories
might like to learn a little more Page 5
Valentine’s Day Facts
about that special day dedicated
Page 6
to love. Valentine’s Gift Ideas
Page 7&8
Chocolate Lover’s Special
Page 9
Jokes and Riddles
Page 10
Fun Zone
Page 11
Mandarin

Photograph by Heather Sperry

Extraordinary (and Simple) Choco-
late Fondue Recipe
Ingredients
16 ounces dark, sweet or semi-sweet
chocolate
1 1/2 cups light cream
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Break chocolate squares into smaller
pieces and drop them into the fondue pot.
2. Add cream (which will prevent the
chocolate from going lumpy) and stir
gently but constantly until the choco- Photograph by
Joe Routon
late is melted and smooth.
3. Add vanilla extract, and stir it in.
4. Use a fondue fork to spear the fruit,
then dip it in the chocolate. Enjoy!
For some other variations on a basic
chocolate fondue recipe, add:
- some chopped nuts: pecans, almonds,
walnuts, and hazelnuts all work well.
- a tablespoon of instant coffee granules or
cappuccino
- your favourite syrup flavour
PAGE 1
 Message From The SRC
SRC Updates

The SRC has recently been discussing the school cafeteria and they want
some more ideas from you! Check the cLc SRC page to access the forums. Or
you can Tell your SRC members what changes you would like and it’ll be
brought up at the meeting!

Also, Sports Day is coming up on March 20th. Start your team decorations

SPECIAL FEATURE
Rugby 7’s
THE RUGBY 7’S
The Hong Kong Sevens are said to be the best in the
world. They come around to Hong Kong every year sometime at
the end of March. Teams from all around the world compete
against each other in the Hong Kong Stadium.

On the first day, each team plays one game in their

pool. On the second day another two games are played, the
group winners and the two second placed teams with the best
records advance to the Cup competition. The remaining four
second placed teams along with the third and fourth placed teams
progress to the plate competition. The remaining eight teams move to the bowl competition. The third day,
the most exciting, is when the quarter finals, semi finals and the finals are held.

The rules are a more simple adaptation of the rugby union league with seven minute games for bowl
and plate competitions, 10 minutes for the cup finals, 3 man scrums, yellow cards are only a two minute
suspension, conversions must be drop kicked, the half time is changed along with almost everything else
besides the forward passing rule.

The online ticketing this year sold out in record time, in only two hours 5000 tickets were gone, the
stadium fits 40000 people, the other 35000 went out to local rugby clubs, sponsors and overseas buyers. If
you missed this years tickets maybe you can beg them from a friend or perhaps join a rugby club next year.
If you’ve never been then I’ll tell you that it’s definitely an event worth going to, probably the biggest and
most exciting event all year round in Hong Kong, forty thousand people cheering and supporting their
team, unfortunately the south stand is now closed to people under 18 years old because of its reputation for
alcohol, if you are a teenager then I suggest you try the east stand, its where all the teenagers have fun.
Have fun to everyone who managed to get tickets and better luck next year for all those who missed
out!!!!!

PAGE 2
 Movie Reviews
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Based on the books "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and "Shopaholic Takes Man-
hattan" by Sophie Kinsella. Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is a 25 year old
college working for a financial magazine. she's hopelessly addicted to shopping
and drowning in a sea of debt . While Rebecca has dreams of working for a top
fashion magazine, she can't quite get her foot in the door, this is until she snags a
job as an advice columnist for a new financial magazine published by the same
company. Her column becomes hugely popular, turning her into an overnight ce-
lebrity, but when her compulsive shopping and growing debt issues threaten to
destroy her love life and derail her career, she struggles to keep it all from spiral-
ing out of control--and is ultimately forced to reevaluate what's really important in
life.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in
his eighties and ages backward. “ I was born under unusual circumstances.” thus
we follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918 to the
21st century. O n the day that Hurrican Katrina hits New Orleans, elderly Daisy
Williams in her deathbed in a New Orleans hospital, at her side her adult daughter
Caroline who she asks to read her diary of Daisy’s lifelong friend Benjamin But-
ton. Benjamin has an unusual aged disease since birth which makes him grow
backwards. This movie talks about his entire extraordinary life.
Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, Benjamin
Button is a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he dis-
covers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death,
and what lasts beyond time.

Bride Wars
Liv and Emma are best friends who since childhood have planned every detail of
their respective weddings. At the top of their bridal "must have" list: a ceremony at
New York's ultimate bridal destination, the Plaza Hotel. Now both of them aged 26;
they’re about to realize their dream to live happily ever after...or NOT. When a er-
ror strikes they find out that their wedding dates both clash on the same date! Now
Liv, Emma and their lifelong friendship are put to the ultimate test. Liv being a suc-
cessful lawyer and always getting what she wants and Emma a schoolteacher who
cares and looks after people but not so good herself.
Lets see how this tragedy turns out when these two best friends turn to a battle of
wits.

By: Gabriel Wong

PAGE 3
 Book Reviews: Love Stories
Twilight
By: Stephanie Meyer
When Bella Swan first moved to Forks to live with her dad, she
had no idea that her whole life was about to change. At the cafe-
teria, she sees five beautiful people, who weren’t talking to each
other, or eating. They were pale, very pale and they walked with
inhuman grace. They were the Cullens. She becomes Edward
Cullens partner in biology class, but he seems to hate her. The
truth is Edward is a vampire, and he finds himself attracted to
Bella’s blood more then anyone else. What kind of love story will
these two weave together?
I really like Twilight because of the love between Bella and Ed-
ward. There was always humour from the story in Bellas point of
view. I also liked how every character had their own personality.
The story was also great, there isn’t a dull moment. Definitely a
pick-up-and-can’t-stop-reading type. If you want to enjoy Valen-
tines day with a romantic book, here it is!

Romeo And Juliet

By: Shakespeare

The Capulets and Montagues have been rivals for generations. But
their kids fall in love. These star-crossed lovers must fight fate to stay
together. The stories eventually leads to a tragic ending.
I didn’t like the story because it was sad throughout the story. I also
didn’t like the story because there wasn’t any happy parts and all of it
was quite sad. However the play really shows the beauty of true love,
and reading this book will make it easier when you read it in class!

Can You Keep A Secret?

By: Sophie Kinsella

Emma had a perfect life and perfect boyfriend, and a job. But all that
was about to change, when during a turbulent flight, she spills all her
secrets to Jack Harper, the American CEO of her company. But what
happens next? Well, Jack actually starts to make Emma’s life just
that much more exciting. Knowing what she likes and what she
doesn’t, that’s just what a girl wants, right?
This book shows how secrets may threaten someone’s life. By tell-
ing her secrets Emma has a hard time trying to keep people from
finding out. Emma has a funny personality and it’s funny how she
changed into someone who stands up for herself. However she does
have funny moments when she ‘wants the pink drink instead of the
champagne’. I really enjoyed how the story proceeded and it’s a
really good book for Valentines day.
By: Jenny Xu

PAGE 4
 Valentine’s Day Facts
Valentine’s Day History

People say that Valentine’s day started in the 3rd century,

in Rome. In this period Emperor Claudius II ruled Rome.
This Emperor made a rule that young couples could not
marry. This is because he thought that unmarried men
were better soldiers than married ones. However a priest
named Valentine still secretly married young couples to-
gether. When the Emperor found out he sentenced Valen-
tine to death. Valentine was said to have died on the 14th
of February.

Another story is that Valentine was a guy that was sent to

jail. Valentine fell in love with a jailer’s daughter. Before he
was sentenced to death he gave a letter to the girl and
signed it ‘Your Valentine’. This is now used on Valentine
cards.

Valentine’s Day facts.

Richard Cadbury (from Cadbury chocolate) in-

vented the first Valentine’s Day candy box during
the late 1800’s.

About 1 billion Valentine’s day cards are ex-

changed in the US each year. That’s one of the
biggest card-sending occasions of the year!

Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given on

Valentine’s Day each year. That’s a lot of flowers!

Women buy 85% of all Valentines.

By: Andrea Battad

PAGE 5
 Valentine Gifts Ideas
for Him for Her
Kisses Flowers
Kisses are greatly A gift to express your
popular amongst lov- love to her in a pas-
ers on Valentines day, sionate way. Give her
it can show the love flowers and maybe
you want to express put in a note of love
through your lips. to her.

Chocolates Chocolates
Sweet, fragrant, full of Although this is one
aroma! Chocolate can of the most common
sweeten your lover’s presents for valen-
heart and sweeten his tines day, do not un-
taste too. derestimate its power
to express love.

Roses Jewellery
This is just the flower Sparkling, beautiful,
which represents love. and attractive. One of
Its deep red petals and the best presents to
romantic look, a really reveal your true feel-
good gift for your lover. ings for her. She
would wear it every-
day and think of you.

Love Love
As long as she means It doesn’t really mat-
it, material can’t repre- ter what you give. As
sent as much as long as you get your
Heart. Give him a true feelings across with
piece of your heart, your confession,
and he will treasure nothing else material-
this day for the rest of ised can replace your
his life. love.

By: Hearty Cheung

PAGE 6
 Ideal Chocolates for your Valentine

Lindt
Lindt Lindor Milk (left) is a light, mild, milk fla-
voured chocolate which comes in bite sizes. There
are different packaging for different countries,
and you can easily buy this in Hong Kong super-
markets.

Cost: $52.90 HKD

Lindt Original (red), Milk (blue) and Toffee

(brown) flavoured chocolates (right).
You can select either one to be your gift depend-
ing on what your valentine likes.

Cost: all are $24.90 HKD

Merci
Merci Assorted Chocolates (left) is a wide range of
selections of chocolates. Flavours include: Milk
Chocolate, Coffee and Cream, Hazelnut Almond,
Hazelnut Creme, Dark Cream, Dark Mousse, and
Praline Creme. A good chocolate because of the
wide variety you can choose from to eat.

Cost: $29.90 HKD

Merci Finest Selection (right)

is the box of chocolates who like to eat from
the best. Flavours include: Milk Chocolate, Cof-
fee and Cream, hazelnut almond, Hazelnut
Cream, Cream Truffle, and Praline Cream. Cost:

$29.90 HKD

By: Hearty Cheung

PAGE 7
 Ideal Chocolates for your Valentine

Ferrero Rocher
Ferrero Rocher Diamond (left) is a very com-
mon gift for any special day. But in terms of
valentines, it is one of the selections defi-
nitely suitable.

Cost: $59.50 HKD

Ferrero Prestige (right)

is one of the best types Ferrero Rocher avail-
able. It has Mon Cheri Original (most Left), and
Mon Cheri Silver (middle row).

Cost: $84.50 HKD

Hershey’s
Hershey’s Cordial Cherry (left) is a wonderful choice of
chocolates to give, the sweet sensation the cherry
chocolate fudge in the middle melts on your tongue.

Cost: $19.80 HKD

Hershey’s Milk Chocolate (Right)

is a unique kind of Hersheys. It is quite
sweet and is good for people who like nor-
mal but exiting flavours.

Cost: $38.40 HKD

By: Hearty Cheung

PAGE 8
 Fun Zone
Jokes
Bob was in trouble. He forgot his wedding
anniversary. His wife was really angry.
She told him "Tomorrow morning,
I expect to find a gift in the driveway that
goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT
BETTER BE THERE !!"
The next morning he got up early and left
for work. When his wife woke
up, she looked out the window and sure
enough there was a box
gift-wrapped in the middle of the drive-
way.
Confused, the wife put on her robe and
ran out to the driveway, brought
the box back in the house.
She opened it and found a brand new
bathroom scale.
Bob has been missing since Friday.
Riddles
Q: A man takes a barrel that weighs 20
pounds and then puts something in it. It
now weighs less than 20 pounds. What
did he put in the barrel?
A: He put a hole in the barrel to make it
weigh less.
Q: The more there is the less you see.
What is it?
A: Darkness
Q: A boy was at a carnival and went to a
booth where a man said to the boy, "If I
write your exact weight on this piece of
paper then you have to give me $50, but
if I cannot, I will pay you $50."
The boy looked around and saw no scale
so he agrees, thinking no matter what the
carny writes he'll just say he weighs more
or less.
In the end the boy ended up paying the
man $50. How did the man win the bet?
Answer is below....
Sources By: Saras Wong
and wrote "your exact weight" on the paper
A: The man did exactly as he said he would
PAGE 9
 Fun Zone

PAGE 10
 Mandarin Section
西安之旅 徐嘉勵 Y8K

  今年的11月 3日到7日是我們學校的 “探索週”，我們國際部8年級的學生去了西安旅行，去見識那裏

的中國歷史和文化。

在西安的期間，我們參觀了很多歴史名勝,如兵馬俑、古城牆、華清池、鐘樓及鼓樓等等， 還去兩
間不同的學校作交流。第一間學校是一間農村學校,那裏的教室較簡陋，但學生的課外活動很豐富, 而且
學生們都十分熱情；第二間學校是西安外國語學校,我們去聽了一堂他們的英文課，之後還和他們交流
了好一會兒 ! 而最難忘的是我們跟這兩間學校的同學進行的篮球賽! 雖然我們没在球賽中取勝,但是我
們的同學都已經盡力了，也盡興了! 另一件特別難忘的事發生在旅程的第三 ,當我們吃過 飯後,我們
的兩位導遊為我們的三位同學Peggy,Anya,Isaac舉行了一個小小的生日會。同學們吃著生日蛋 ,唱
著生日歌，拍著生日照，温馨的畫面久久地印在了每個人的心裡。

西安之旅是我最為難忘而獲益良多的一次旅行。

PAGE 11
 Mandarin Section
“食”在西安” 林靖 Y8C

這次的西安之旅真是到處都充滿了新鮮事 ！我們不僅認識了很多新朋友，見識了數不清的名勝古蹟，
更在這幾天中嚐到了各種各樣的中國北方食物。
在西安我們吃的食物全都是中國菜。這使我們這群來自國際學校的很多學生一開始都不習慣，但是久了
之後大家都“愛”上了那些異地食物。 由於西安地處長江之北， 小麥是最普遍的農作物。也因為如此, 西安
的主食是以麵食為主的。另外那裡的食物的味道偏重，有說有袪寒之功 。那裡的菜色包括小籠包、燒
賣、高湯、餃子、“醋麵”、 “哨子麵”和“擔擔麵”等等……
口味濃郁的西安菜(特別是醋麵)終使我們念念不忘。我們回味著濃濃的香味在嘴裡流動的口感，那種美
妙的感覺真是可遇不可求啊！

PAGE 12
 Mandarin Section
西安文化之旅

1. 太極

同學們跟著太極大師有板有眼地打著太極 !

2. 剪紙藝術

PAGE 13
 Mandarin Section

1. 戲劇餐廳裡觀賞唐朝歌舞

工作人員在演示如何做拓本的工序

3. 皮影戲

2. 參觀全國最大的碑林博物館

PAGE 14
 Mandarin Section
1. 皮影戲

同學們都津津有味地看著精彩的皮影戲 “三

打白骨精”

工作人員在演示如何做拓本的工序

PAGE 15
 Mandarin Section

元宵節在中國已經有兩千多年的歷史，也稱"元夕節"。按照中國古代的習慣，"元"指月亮正
圓，一年之中有所謂"三元"──正月十五稱為"上元"，七月十五稱為"中元"，十月十五稱為"下
元"，故元宵節亦稱為"上元節"；"宵"即夜也，所以元宵亦有一年之中第一個月圓之夜的意思。

根據考證，元宵節的來源，有說與祭祀"泰一神"有關。泰一神亦稱"太乙神"，主宰人間的風
雨、飢饉和瘟疫。據說，漢朝武帝曾久病不癒，求助太乙神後竟奇蹟治癒，乃於元鼎5年（西元
前122年）開始建太乙祠壇祭祀，每逢正月十五通宵達旦以盛大的燈火祭祀，從此便形成元宵節
張燈結彩的習俗了。

另一說是東漢明帝篤信佛教，於上元夜在宮廷、寺院，燃燈表佛，命令士族、庶民一律掛
燈，遂相沿成俗。隋唐諸朝之後，上元之夜放燈的習俗亦已流傳甚廣，並演變成民間盛大的元
宵佳節。張燈時間也從一夜增至三夜。到北宋時，放燈增至五夜，南宋更增至六夜，明朝官府
發布節假日十天的規定，為中國歷史上時間最長的燈節。

如今，每到元宵佳節，各地總要舉行盛大的遊園燈會。大抵古代元宵燈節時人流如潮，節
日活動豐富多姿，而古時男女缺乏交往的機會，所以元宵節很自然就成了古時情人相會之日，
如歐陽修亦有詩云："去年元宵時，花市燈如晝。月上柳梢頭，人約黃昏後"。因此，元宵節亦
稱為"中國情人節"。

PAGE 16
 Mandarin Section
面繭和焦譔

相傳唐朝元宵節（當時稱為"上元節"）的時令食品為"面繭"和"焦譔"（音"賺"）。面繭是一種
外形似繭的一種麵食，而焦譔則是 餅的一種，這兩種食品實為"實心湯圓",又叫"粉果"或"元
寶"，將糖放在湯裏一塊吃。這兩種食品在宋朝之後均不流行，代之而起的則是名聞遐邇的元
宵，即現在的"湯圓"。

湯圓

湯圓是一種用糯米粉做成的圓形有餡食品，至宋朝已是流行全國的元宵節時令食品，從品種上
湯圓可分為不帶餡的和帶餡的兩類。甜的餡有豬油豆沙、白糖芝麻、桂花什錦、果仁、麻蓉、棗
泥（即蓮蓉）、杏仁、白果和山 等數十種；咸的餡有鮮肉、火腿、蝦米和豆乾酸白菜等。

製法也有南北之分：南方把糯米粉磨成粉團"包"湯圓；北方則是拉出乾粉"晃"元宵，即先把餡
兒大小均 捏好，放在糯米粉上，搖晃簸箕使餡粒不斷粘上糯米粉而晃成。從元宵的吃法上看，
也有水煮、炒吃、油炸和蒸食等方法。從歷史的發展過程來看，元宵也由單一的圓形演變成各種
形狀的糯米食品，如糯米團、珍珠圓和壽桃型的形狀等。

湯圓與舞獅、舞龍的球一樣，都是月亮的象徵物，吃湯圓含有祭月、賞月的意味。詩人周必大
在《元宵浮圓子》就曾將月亮與元宵互喻："星燦烏雲，珠浮濁水中"。還相傳1913年袁世凱因"元
宵"與 "袁消"諧音，於己不利，下令改"元宵"為"湯圓"。此後湯圓之名也就廣泛流行開來了。

PAGE 17
 Mandarin Section
是象徵美好、光明、喜慶和吉祥，於廣東和福
建一帶更與"丁"諧音，點燈有"添丁"之意（詳見
香港傳統節誕專號"元宵點燈" ）。唐朝以後，
燃燈和觀燈逐漸脫離了宗教色彩，成為民間的
元宵節期間，民間多吃元宵（湯圓）來應
娛樂活動。
節，象徵家人團圓。此外還有掛花燈、猜燈
謎、迎紫姑、踩高蹺、舞獅、舞龍等民間娛樂
猜燈謎
活動。流傳至今，這一連串充滿熱鬧歡樂的慶
典活動稱為"鬧元宵"。
元宵節除放燈之外，不少地方還設有燈謎盛
會，猜燈謎是將謎語貼在花燈上，讓人們一邊
鬧花燈
賞燈，一邊猜謎；猜對了固然拍掌叫 ，猜不
出亦是一種樂趣。燈謎的起因相傳與春秋時期
的遊說之士，多以借喻、暗示的方式表達自己
意見有關。由於謎語含義豐富，亦莊亦諧，既
能啟發智慧，又能開人笑顏，所以自秦漢以
後，騷人墨客以猜謎為樂事。相傳至宋代，宋
仁宗為了表示與民同樂，大力倡導漢魏以來舉
元宵節是名符其實的"燈節"，燃燈、觀燈是 行元宵燈節的舊俗，一些文人學士為顯示才
這個節日最主要的活動。從正月十三"上燈日"開 學，常在元宵節之夜，將謎語貼在彩燈上供人
始，商舖都掛出各式花燈供人購買，蔚為燈 猜射，以吸引路人駐足欣賞，此後猜燈謎便逐
市。十四日"試燈"，各處紛紛搭起牌樓，在棚上 漸成為元宵節的習俗了。
張燈結彩，有的更疊成山林的形狀，稱為"燈
山"，並燃放煙火，預先慶祝元宵節。十五日稱
為"正燈"，即燈節的正日子，各處有燈會和比賽
花燈，小孩也高興地提著燈籠四處遊觀玩 。
這種歡樂的場景一直要持續到十八日"落燈"為
止。至於燈節的起源，一直有許多不同的傳
說：有說起源於釋道的宗教活動；有說漢武帝
時流傳下來的；也有說與"照田蠶"的風俗有關。
唐朝，民間還有認為燈節是"放哨火"的發展──
春耕之前將乾枯雜草燒掉可以除蟲害；更有許
多與神話相關的故事與傳說。不論如何, "燈 "總

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 Mandarin Section
猜燈謎

元宵節除放燈之外，不少地方還設有燈謎盛會，猜燈謎是將謎語貼在花燈上，讓人們一邊賞
燈，一邊猜謎；猜對了固然拍掌叫 ，猜不出亦是一種樂趣。燈謎的起因相傳與春秋時期的遊
說之士，多以借喻、暗示的方式表達自己意見有關。由於謎語含義豐富，亦莊亦諧，既能啟發
智慧，又能開人笑顏，所以自秦漢以後，騷人墨客以猜謎為樂事。相傳至宋代，宋仁宗為了表
示與民同樂，大力倡導漢魏以來舉行元宵燈節的舊俗，一些文人學士為顯示才學，常在元宵節
之夜，將謎語貼在彩燈上供人猜射，以吸引路人駐足欣賞，此後猜燈謎便逐漸成為元宵節的習
俗了。

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