By Amanda Wisner In our world, there are many popular countries, many iconic places, and several historic, yet beautiful cities. One of these colorful, astonishing cities is Gothenburg, Sweden. Also known as; in Swedish; Göteborg, this place is Sweden’s chief seaport and and second largest city, one city behind Stockholm. Gothenburg lies along the Göta River estuary, which is near Kattegat. Back in 1603, Gothenburg was first founded by King Charles IX. The placement of the city was out of strategy, since at the time, the Göta River estuary was Sweden’s only direct outlet to the Atlantic Ocean back then. However, during the Kalmar War against Denmark, Gothenburg was destroyed, but later refounded by King Gustav Adolf II in 1619, and was chartered two years later, in 1621. Moving forward to the Eighteenth Century, Gothenburg’s prosperity increased with the development of the Swedish East India Company. Later on, during Napoleon's continental blockade, the port became Europe’s chief market for British goods. Another period of wealth rose in Gothenburg, in the year 1832 when the Göta Canal was completed, and a transoceanic shipping service was on the rise. Gothenburg has a few post-principal exports, which include the automobile brand Volvo, ball bearings, and paper. Along with these, shipbuilding yards on the island of Hisingen (Closer to the north) were important at one time, and the industry had ended in the 1970s. Thanks to the Göta Canal and railway lines, Gothenburg is connected to the rest of Sweden, and also with nearly Landvetter Airports, which support both domestic and international air traffic. Today, Gothenburg includes magnificent landscaping and beautiful towns, which feature an old, welcoming feel to them, along with a sense of organization and comfort. Overall, Gothenburg, Sweden holds a great history, along with beautiful scenes that adjectives cannot give justice to. With amazing architecture, welcoming cities, and overall beauty, Gothenburg is an astonishing city with many loveable features.
0 Comments
 By Ava Soloff Photo: Le Champs-Elysee (1998) taken by my dad, Matt Soloff,
when he traveled to France while studying abroad in Israel. Q: What country did you travel to? A: France Q: Do they speak a different language there? If so, what language? A: Yes, French Q: What was your experience communicating with the people there? A: The French people were not so nice, especially if you didn't speak French. If you did speak French, they were nicer, but they were cold to English speakers. Q: What was your favorite landmark or attraction? Why? A: Le Champs-Elysee in Paris because I like shopping. Q: Explain some of the cultural differences or traditions that you enjoyed or thought were interesting during your time there. A: Meal time in France takes a lot longer. You eat for 20 minutes and then sit and talk for 45. It's a lot more community bonding. People at the beaches are not wearing clothes and that was just normal there. Q: Did this trip inspire you to want to travel to another country? If so, where would you like to go and why? A: Yes! I want to go to Sweden, Turkey, Columbia, and back to France. I have family in Sweden I’d like to visit. I want to see the architecture in Turkey. I know lots of people from Columbia and I enjoy the culture. Q: Do you feel traveling abroad is something that all teens should experience? Why or why not? A: Yes, because it opens them to new cultures and helps them understand how the world works outside of the little bubble of their own country. Since I haven’t traveled abroad and because I am very eager to, I decided to interview a local teen that has. I was excited when I learned that Mark has traveled to France. I am taking French this semester and I am very interested in the language and culture. We’ve learned about Paris and Le Champs-Elysee in class, so it was awesome to be able to hear from someone who’d actually been there. Mark was very fortunate to have been able to visit France. I agree that teens should have an opportunity to travel to another country. I love learning about history and different cultures and can’t wait for my chance to visit another country. I’m glad I had the chance to interview Mark. He inspired me to travel even more! I’d even like to study abroad someday like my dad did in college. Until then, au revoir!  Interview by Emma Clopton How long have you been dancing and why did you get started?
- I have been dancing since i was 2 so for 13 years and I started dancing because my other friends were. Also, I was very girly and had an interest in dancing! What are the different kinds of dance you do and have done in the past? - I currently do jazz, tap, lyrical, acting, select dance groups, and our performing team. In the past I have done acting, jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, hip hop, and performances. I also have a leading role in this years musical as Wendy from Peter Pan! If you had to choose only 3 types of dance classes to take what would they be and why? - If I only had 3 choices of classes, I would choose, tap, jazz, and ballet. I would choose these because tap is my absolute favorite style of dance, also, jazz is one of my strongest styles and lastly I would choose ballet because it works on technique and it is basically the platform of all dancing! Have you ever been on any dance teams? If so, where have you traveled and what were your favorite moments? - Yes, i am currently on my dance studios dance team called, "Turning Out", we travel all over pennsylvania and go to disney world every 2-3 years. Also, we dance at Peddlers village, the 76ers, the Harlem Globetrotters, Newtown and Yardley parades, public events in bucks county, the Phillies, Trenton Thunder, Applebee's fundraisers, and many other events! This year we are going to New York City and New Orleans to the college bowl! My favorite thing about being on a team is having all of my friends to support me. Lastly, we share many memories that will never be forgotten! When you are dancing, what is going through your mind, whether it’s emotions or just something random? - Usually when I am dancing, I am watching myself in the mirrors trying to fix what i'm doing wrong. my mind kind of just goes blank and the dances are muscle memory. If you could dance anywhere in the world where would it be and why? - I would dance in the Bahamas or in the Caribbean because it's a nice warm tropical place and it would be a perfect bonding experience for my team and I!  Interview by Shayna FinkWhen did you start dancing and why did you want to dance in the first place? - Originally I went to a different studio then where I currently dance and danced for almost 7 years there. I took a long break from dance and started up at Elements Dance Factory where I knew a lot of people. Everyone was incredibly supportive the first day I came in and still are today. I wanted to start dancing again because I missed expressing different emotions throughout my body and I was practicing a few dance moves at my house and realized how much I missed dancing. If you could be any dancer for a day who would you be and why? - If I could be any dancer for a day I would want to be Maddie Ziegler. She is such an incredible dancer and an incredible person as well. She has inspired many people including me to be themselves and dance comfortably in their own skin. I also love her style and I’ve known her and been a fan for a few years. If you could try any new genre of dance what would it be and why? - If I could try any new style of dance it would be contemporary. Over the summer I took a few contemporary classes and I got very emotionally connected to the movements and music. The style is very unique and every move has a different feeling which I love and also works on technique! What are some of the best moments you have had at dance? - In the summer I took a dance intensive camp at Elements Dance Factory and received the dance scholarship. After 6 years of not dancing, I felt a huge rush of accomplishment that day, especially that everyone I danced with was incredible. I also love all of the people I dance with. They are all very supportive, including the teachers, and being there allows me to feel very comfortable in my own skin. Over the course of the time you have been dancing at your current studio, how have you developed as a dancer? - Although I have only been dancing for a short period of time, I definitely feel like I have improved at dancing. Hip hop has always been a very fun genre of dance to me and as I continue to practice, I feel like the movements are coming to me more easily and I don’t struggle as much with remembering dances.  By Montana Moyer If you are a young college student who is given the opportunity to study abroad, definitely don’t pass it up. No matter what country it is, studying abroad is truly an experience of a lifetime. I started by study abroad journey in Florence, Italy about a month ago and since coming here I have seen so many amazing things. Here are some of the top things I suggest doing while studying in Europe: 1. On the weekends, travel to as many places as possible. When you’re studying abroad, most schools don’t assign mandatory classes on Fridays so that you have longer weekends to travel. When you’re in Europe it is super easy to travel since countries are so close together. Since coming here, I have ventured outside of the country once and I have been to two other Italian cities. Throughout the course of the semester, I will be visiting 14 more cities and six more countries. 2. Take advantages of galleries and museums. There are some amazing pieces placed in museums all throughout Europe. Even if art may not be your thing, I would still suggest seeing as many museums as possible because each piece tells an amazing story about history. Trust me, learning history through art is 1,000 times better than sitting in a class listening to a teacher talk for hours. You may even find a piece you really like and fall in love with a something new. 3. Expand your palette and try some local foods! A big part of the study abroad experience is adapting to cultures and becoming one with the locals. So maybe do something crazy and try some lampredotto and gelato in Italy, chocolate and cheese in Switzerland, or even steak tartare and macarons in France. 4. Spend some time exploring your own city. When you find yourself sitting in your apartment with nothing to do, definitely use that time to your advantage and walk to some new places. Don’t use a GPS for this, see where the streets take you. If you do this, finding your way around the city on a daily basis will become so much easier. Who knows, you might even find some hidden gems right around the corner. 5. Do something adventurous! Conquer your fears! I just recently did something super adventurous in Switzerland and I am so happy that I did. I got to paraglide over the Swiss Alps and it really opened my eyes to how truly beautiful this world is. I’m not suggesting jump off a mountain like I did, but if you ever get the opportunity to do something as amazing as this, definitely don’t turn it down. You will not regret it and it will be something you can talk about for the rest of your life. And most importantly… 6. Enjoy yourself and have the time of your life! Treasure every day and spend your time doing amazing things. Don’t waste a single minute while you’re studying abroad because sooner than you know it, it will all be over.    Interview by Emma Dickinson Last school year my family had the privilege of hosting an exchange student from Brazil. The exchange program was organized through the Rotary. Nicole lived with us and attended CB West as a senior. I learned a lot about her culture and it was great to have an older sister, too. Nicole spoke three languages: Portuguese, German and English. She also benefitted from the exchange program. I recently interviewed her to ask about her experience.
1. Why did you decide to do the exchange in America? The Rotary program sends students all over the world. I wanted America because I had seen so many American movies and TV shows and I wanted to experience the culture. I also liked the choice of America because there are people from all over the world that live there. 2. What are some differences between here and where you live in Brazil? In Brazil, we do not have peanut butter. Our school day is also much shorter. We go from 7:30 am-12:00 pm. After our regular school day most students go to English language classes or to work. 3. What did you enjoy most about your experience in the United States? I met so many great people. I enjoyed all of the friends that I made at CB West and through the rotary program. I also liked visiting new places. 4. How did the exchange benefit you? I became more independent, improved my English and made some great friends that I am still in contact with today. Article, Images, and Clothing by Simply Be 5 Top Tips for Finding the Perfect Prom Dress for You Prom season has arrived! If you're a Senior, prom is a great way to celebrate four years of High School memories with your friends before you graduate, and will be a special night that you remember forever. It's also an amazing opportunity to dress up and look your best, so buying the right dress is important. But, finding the perfect prom dress can seem like an impossible task, especially if you're not sure what style of dress would suit you. 1. Dress for your shape Choosing a prom dress that flatters your figure is one of the most important things to consider when out shopping. There are loads of different dresses that suit different body shapes, from 'apple' to 'hourglass'. If you're a curvy girl looking for a plus size prom dress, knowing which body shape you are will help you to find a dress that will draw attention to all of your best features, so you can dance the night away while looking and feeling fabulous.  2. Choose a style to suit you When you know what body shape you are, you can decide which parts of your body you want to show off with your prom dress. Go for short dresses if you want to draw attention to your legs, or look for cinched-in styles to create a curvy silhouette. Off the shoulder dresses are great for both plus size and petite girls who want to draw the eye upwards towards the top half of the body. 3. Selecting your shade When deciding on a color palette, think about which shades would look best with your skin tone. If you've got warm-toned skin, try rich colors like red, orange, yellow and green. Avoid icy blues and bright jewel tones that might wash you out. If you've got cool-toned skin, you'll look amazing in ocean hues. Blues, greens, purples and icy pink will suit you beautifully, but you should try to avoid yellow, orange and tomato red. Super pale girls should try to avoid light colors that don't offer enough contrast with your skin tone. If you have very dark skin, jewel colors will look beautiful on you, as well as pretty pastels, but steer clear of brown and dark gray.  4. Trends to look out for this S/S '18 If you love being up-to-date with the latest fashion trends, you'll want your prom dress to look like it's come straight from the runway. Some key trends for this season are floral prints, two-piece dresses, illusion panels, lace and embellishments, which will suit girls of any shape and size. 5. The finishing touches Once you've found your dream dress, it's time to find the shoes and accessories to match. If you've gone for a plain dress, you could pick out some accessories in a clashing color to mix things up a little. For embellished or patterned dresses, try to keep the accessories as simple as possible and let the dress do all the talking. Makeup is another fun way to showcase your personality. Rock a bold lip with a pastel prom dress for a splash of bright color, or go for catlike eyeliner flicks and bring a touch of vintage glamour to your look.  |
