Hi!
I’m not able to get wifi on my iPad, so this is a slow hunt and peck on my phone.
We had a long but good flight from LAX to Shanghai’s PuDong Airport. We actually were delayed for two hours before take-off, making it a very long day. We left LA early Friday, and with the time change, arrived Saturday night.
I’m with a delegation of 21 administrators, mostly from the San Gabriel Valley. You all know our SPMS Principal, Mr. Kubela. He is part of the delegation, as well.
Today, Mr. Kubela and I are off to explore the city on our own. We were the only ones to take the option of a day without chaperones. We want to find a tour so we can get an overview, and then we’ll probably double back to see some areas through walking tours.
If my calculations are correct, as I write this on Sunday morning our time, many of you are getting ready for the prom. I wish you all a wonderful evening. Make it drama-free, fun, and safe. I hate to miss it, but other adventures await…
Until the next message and with love,
Ms. Anderson
Photos by Matt Winkel
By Shyam Senthilkumar
Business Manager
Sedona, also known as “Red Rock Country” is located in the heart of Arizona and is an excellent tourist location. My family and I only had a day to dedicate to the town, but one can easily spend several days experiencing all Sedona has to offer.
Sedona has a method to please all visitors, whether you’re simply into nature and outdoor sports, or even into shopping and the arts.
The absolutely stunning aspect of Sedona is the red rocks that enrich the inner town and the surrounding environment. It’s a breathtaking view to take in. Throughout Sedona, whether it be the dirt, cliffs or even buildings, everything takes on a red theme.
Just outside of Sedona, there are a multitude of different hikes available through the rocky forests that surround the town. For the novices like myself there are plenty that take on a gradual incline but still go as high as 5000 ft. For the more daring there are designated areas where one can rock climb up the brick-red cliffs.
Strolling down the main street of the town, you become immersed in the culture of the town. Sedona has many art galleries, most of which display paintings of the area and some of which hold countless sculptures of rock and crystal.
Sedona hosts plenty of hotels and cabins for overnight stay, but arguably one day is sufficient to get a sense of the area. However, if you find yourself in Arizona, Sedona is a must see and definitely worth a day trip.
Thomas Von Bibra: Online Staff Writer
Far to the North from our Southern California home, lies the frigid state of Minnesota.
If you can get over the freezing temperatures, a truly beautiful world is revealed, a rare rural beauty. With clear starry nights, colorful sunsets, medievalist architecture and kind people, Minnesota is the place to go if you want to get away from the heat and the city atmosphere.
My visit there served as a college visit and a visit to my sister. In the three days I was there, I quickly fell in love with the landscape and the people.
My travels took me to St. Olaf College, a school seemingly taken from the land of Narnia. It seems like a medieval castle with snow gently covering stone towers and long, tall buildings that resemble stone cathedrals. The school itself is known for its music and science programs, with choirs that tour the county.
My visit to the school was primarily to visit the St. Olaf Christmas Festival. The school’s orchestra companies the five primary choirs in a spectacular show of vocal ensemble.
Academics aside, the people of Minnesota are truly special in themselves. Life moves slower here, and the people are genuinely kind. The sense of community is not just from town to town but statewide.
On multiple occasions, upon reaching the school parking lot, it took only a matter of seconds before a stranger would approach me and ask if I needed any help finding something, a phenomenon difficult to come across even once in Los Angeles.
And while many may joke at the funny-looking Norwegian Sweaters that are extremely popular among both students and adults, the cold air outside not at all dims the spirits of these fine people.
For cows, colleges, and contentment (as the motto for Northfield goes), Minnesota is a place to see if you don’t mind wearing a couple extra layers of clothing in order to go outside.
Zoey DuPont: Online Staff Writer
This summer, I took a weeklong vacation to Boise, Idaho. I went out there to visit with my dad, who just bought a three-bedroom town house. He had a lot of adventurous activities planned, but none of them seemed to follow through. So we had to figure it out day by day, making use of our time.
The first couple of days, we went shopping around downtown Boise, which slightly resembled Old Town Pasadena. There are plenty of places to purchase clothes and shoes, as well as local restaurants and cafes. Everything hosted great merchandise, delicious food and fun atmosphere. Despite the homesickness, it was difficult not to have a great time in downtown.
Next, we went “Cosmic Bowling” at Emerald Lanes. The only light in the alley was the glowing white clothing articles and grins, while strobe lights sporadically lit selected areas. Alongside every lane there was a big screen playing popular music videos. Bowling is one of the most popular pastimes in Boise, and it was a great experience.
Then, we decided to drive four hours to the small and deserted town of Pocatello, Idaho to attend a Gay Pride Festival. My dad’s roommate is gay and was planning on going to the festival, so we decided to go along. The festival was full of rainbow-colored accessories and dramatic drag queens. Although Gay Pride Festivals aren’t a strictly Boise activity, it was fun and different activity that brought a little bit of the culture into perspective.
Another attraction in Boise proper is the Boise State University. The campus is fairly large. It’s equipped with the usual luxuries of college such as the various eating areas, book and spirit stores, and last but not least, the blue-turfed stadium that was home to the Boise Broncos.
Although homesickness had hit long before and I was glad to return to California, Boise was a very interesting city with a large culture and a lot to offer.
By Kelsey Hess
Staff Writer
Ten minutes spent in Downtown Boston could have you head-over-heels in love. Its incredible diversity and atmosphere make it unforgettable. From the Italian-influenced North End to the upper-class houses of Cambridge, Boston offers more in less than 50 square miles than some entire states do.
Boston is a college town, setting it apart from its big-city peers. Boston Common, the centrally located park, is minutes away from institutions such as Emerson, Suffolk, Boston University, Northeastern, and MIT. Metropolitan Boston is home to more than 50 institutions of higher learning, everything from Ivy League colleges to renowned music schools.
This college-centric nature gives the city and its surrounding areas an entirely unique atmosphere. Every September, over 120,000 students descend on the city, filling its seemingly endless pizza parlors and running to catch the T, Boston’s form of public transportation.
Whether they actually attend a college in the city or not, everyone is influenced by the presence of these institutions. Boston has an extremely educated feel to it; intelligent conversation can be overheard in every restaurant, from the $300 seafood meal at Neptune’s to the Starbucks in the Prudential Center.
Thirty years ago, Boston was not the charming town it is today. It was struggling due to lack of funding, gang activity, and absence of businesses. However, as more and more universities established themselves in the heart of the city, Boston began to rise in social status. Although the majority of Boston’s civilians may rotate every four years, the city has an inspiring amount of entertainment, intelligence, and community. Not to mention that the food is sublime.
By Devin Mitchell
News Editor
It seems strange that a city would choose to highlight the fact that the most notable historical event to occur there was the assassination of one of the more popular American presidents. And for awhile, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a sore subject in Dallas, Texas. But today, Elm Streetnding Dealey Plaza, where the assassination took place, is a major tourist attraction. A white “X” on the street even marks the very spot where Kennedy was shot dead.
Especially compared to other areas of the city, the plaza is crawling with people. Many eyes are on the sixth floor window of the former Texas School Depository Building, where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired several shots and fatally wounded President Kennedy. But various conspiracy theories about what actually happened are being audibly discussed, and those who actually believe the Warren Commission’s version of events are hard to come by.
And the grassy knoll, where many think a second shooter may have been, is the center of the scene. Several street vendors are selling supposedly unseen video footage and commemorative publications going into detail about every facet of the assassination. Visitors periodically look for a good time in the flow of traffic to take a picture on the “X.”
The most formal acknowledgement though is the Sixth Floor Museum, located on the floor that Oswald shot from. The window has been restored to its condition in November 1963, and the remainder of the floor contains historic films and displays detailing Kennedy’s trip to Dallas, the assassination, the aftermath, and popular conspiracy theories.
The opening of the museum in 1989 and the decision on the part of the city to ultimately formally acknowledge the assassination was a good one. Though it was obviously a tragic and unfortunate event, Dealey Plaza was still the site of an important historical occurrence, and people are now able to travel there and learn about what happened with the location largely intact.
While Dallas offers other attractions—such as the stadium of the Cowboys football team—Dealey Plaza is the most historic aspect of the blooming Texas metropolis.
By Clem Witherall
Assoc. Sports Editor
Two hundred miles north of South Pasadena rests Paso Robles, the heart of central California’s wine country. The region is home to over 150 boutique wineries and thousands of acres of rural land filled with crops and a variety of animals.
Although the main attraction in the city is wine tasting, making Paso Robles more of an adult destination, there are some activities that appeal to all. The vineyards and beautiful farm country are great for hiking and cycling. Horseback riding is also popular attraction among visitors. There are many fine restaurants hidden in the friendly and colorful downtown area.
A trip to Paso Robles can also be a good college touring experience. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and University of California Santa Barbara, both popular schools among SPHS students, are situated south of Paso Robles.
Paso Robles isn’t the place for wild and crazy fun, but if you are searching for a charming and picturesque vacation, then it is the perfect spot.
Heather Vaughan: Staff Writer
Anyone thinking about visiting our nation’s capital should be forewarned; although the city is scenic and picturesque, beware of distractions while on the road, because one wrong turn can mean hours of swimming in a sea of traffic. The drive to our hotel from the airport—which should have taken an hour—ended up spanning several as we drove in circles and waited in standstill lines of cars. However, once we arrived in the early evening, we found it far easier to navigate the city by foot. We chose to walk to an authentic Italian pizzeria, where our food was prepared before us by a pair of accented Italian men and bore the closest resemblance to bona fide Italian pizza than anything I’d tried in California.
Sofi Goode: Feature Editor
When Californians think of the Channel Islands, they generally think of Catalina, by far the most popular of the isles. However, a vastly different world awaits on the five islands of the Channel Islands National Park – Santa Rosa, Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. Although all are available for day visits at various points throughout the year, Santa Cruz is the only island that visitors can camp on and it offers a unique experience.
Several ferries run from Ventura and Santa Barbara out to Scorpion Harbor—and the only campsites—on Santa Cruz. The excitement begins with the hour-long boat trip. Visitors are almost guaranteed to see wildlife, whether it is a sea lion on buoy or a dolphin surfing on the boat’s wake.
Once the boat arrives at Scorpion, campers listen to brief lecture from the rangers explaining the rules of the island and then must hike half a mile inland to their campsite. It may seem far, but campsites are worth the walk. Nestled in a valley, they are large and covered in trees. Foxes and ravens are frequent visitors, and campers have to keep a careful eye on their food.
The island offers a variety of experiences. For those skilled in a kayak, caves run up and down the coast, some of which can fit an entire fishing boat. There are rocks with holes in them that kayakers can row through and plenty of beautiful beaches to stop for a snack.
Kayaking also offers the best access to Santa Cruz’s amazing snorkeling locations. Hidden caves and beaches and the stunning Potato Cove are homes to hundreds of schools of fish. That’s not to say that visitors can’t snorkel if they don’t want to kayak; there is an entire kelp forest right in Scorpion Harbor.
Those less inclined to water activities can enjoy wildlife on the island itself. There are dozens of hikes that lead out to the more remote corners of the island. Santa Cruz is home to several unique species of plants and animals, and with a quiet tread and watchful eye, almost all of them can be seen between the campground and Potato Cove. Hikers are warned to take water and food, because there is no cell phone coverage on the islands, and a person lost will likely not be noticed until they miss their ferry back to the mainland.
All in all, Santa Cruz Island offers a stunning and natural escape from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Between kayaking, snorkeling, hiking and animal watching, the island offers at the very least three days of activities and guarantees a beautiful stay.
