Not the Class of 2020: Senior Pictures from AISB’s Secondary Faculty
The senior class of 2020 has had a year like no other. IB exams canceled, no prom to look forward to, a possible Zoom graduation, and an uncertain start to their future. In support of this year’s seniors, AISB’s secondary teachers rifled through old yearbooks…
Top Things to Do/Watch/Read when you’re stuck inside
After socially distancing for nearly two months, it’s safe to say that most of us are sick of being inside our homes. Unfortunately, even with restrictions beginning to ease this Friday, it’s still going to be a long time until things are back to normal….
TOP 5 TRADITIONS TO WELCOME SPRING
While we may be stuck at home for the next few weeks (or months?) because of COVID-19, at least spring is here! The sun is shining, birds are singing, and you can smell the fresh scent of flowers in bloom. In celebration of Romania’s most…
Fast Fashion: What It Is and How It Impacts Our World
Even though the malls are currently closed, and many of us are now wearing pajamas 24/7, it’s still important to talk about consumerism during AISB’s Earth Week. As sustainability expert Alden Wicker told Harper’s Bazaar, “We know the industry is broken, and we know people…
5 Ways to Stay Mentally Healthy While Social Distancing
We’ve all been in physical lockdown for four weeks now– forced to stay in our homes with very few opportunities to go out. Many of us have also been in an emotional lockdown, struggling to identify and manage our mental health. To make things a little…
Tips on How to Work/Study from Home While Distance Learning
Having trouble focusing at home? Getting distracted by your phone sitting right next to you? This is a common problem for most teenagers, especially when left alone in a bedroom to “study.” Many of us are struggling; and AISB Counselor Sommer Blohm says this is…
Top 5 Reading Websites to get you through Social Distancing
Call us nerds, but we think the absolute best way to spend an afternoon is reading. And during this time of uncertainty and the 24-hour news cycle, it’s important to find books and short stories that make us happy–and ideally, transport us to a different…
From Communism to (Almost) Equal Pay: How Women’s Rights Have Changed in Romania
In the last few years, movements fighting for women’s rights have appeared worldwide. From “Times Up” to the “Me Too” movement, there’s an expanding global trend surrounding feminism. Having been a communist state for over four decades, and only recently becoming a democracy, how has…
Everything you need to know about Mărțișor
The first day of spring represents a new beginning, and is celebrated differently in cultures around the world. In Romania, people celebrate the first day of March, “Mărțișor,” by giving their loved ones red and white strings (also called mărțișor, marț or mărțiguș) tied around…
How to take care of your curly hair: A detailed guide
If you’re a curly-haired person, you know the pain of caring for your hair. People with straight hair can get away with brushing through their locks in the morning, but your routine probably isn’t as simple as that. Here are some tips that will alleviate…
All You Need to Know About Senior Year
The DP is tough. If you’re a junior, you’ve probably come to terms with this pretty recently. You feel like you’ve learned more in the last few months than in your entire MYP career. The prospect of EEs and university are still but a distant…
We Tried Three Bucharest Brunch Spots. Here’s What We Thought
As a teenager, what could possibly be better than having breakfast at noon? With all these late nights studying, in addition to social gatherings, we all need something to calm us down. So, with our mental health in mind, we visited some of Bucharest’s top…
AISB is Getting a New Secondary Principal Next School Year
Last month, AISB’s Secondary Principal Jonathan Cain announced that this will be his last year at the school. This, of course, prompted many questions–most importantly, who will take his place? Read below to find out about our future leader, Viktor Novakovski. Who is Mr. Novakovski?…
Celebrating AISB’s Little Writers: an interview with Erika, author of “The Daisy Without a Petal”
At just six years old, Erika, an enthusiastic reader from AISB’s Early Learning Center, chose to beautifully blend her passion for books, abstract ideas, creativity, and her love for the surrounding nature and animals in the form of a book. The Bite wants to celebrate…
Award-Winning Author Matt de la Peña Visits AISB
On November 14-15, Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña came to AISB and shared his career story with secondary students. Peña has written 12 books throughout his career, many of which were New York Times Bestsellers. Here’s a look into how it went. Who…
“Man up” – Challenging the stigma against men expressing emotions
As Movember comes to an end, we’d like to wrap up this important month with one last issue: the stigma surrounding how men should (or should not) express their emotions. Last week, we addressed men’s mental health, revealing that suicide is three times as common…
Testicular Cancer: A Movember Issue for Young Men
For the past few weeks, The Bite has been reporting on Movember, with articles explaining the month-long initiative and reporting on men’s suicide rates. With a little more than one week to go (then teachers will finally shave off those 70’s-looking ‘staches), we’re looking at a…
East-Hot, West-Sour: Chinese Regional Cuisines You Probably Don’t Know About (But Should)
Last school year, we published an article about cuisine in the southern and northern regions of China, and now it’s time to talk about the east and west, based on the common Chinese saying, “South-sweet, north-salty, east-hot and west-sour.” “East – Hot” A lot of…
A Movember Issue: Why are so many men taking their own lives?
Things are starting to get hairy, but for a great cause. This month, Movember is all about spreading awareness to help men who suffer from prostate and testicular cancer. But it’s not just physical well-being we’re concerned with. Today, we’re addressing something just as important: men’s…
It’s Veterans Day. Learn about some of the challenges veterans face and how you can help.
Veterans Day is celebrated every year on the 11th of November to honor those who have served in the military. Although commonly recognized as an American holiday, Veterans Day is observed across the world, from the United Kingdom to South Africa. Veterans put their lives…
Movember is back: What is it and how you can participate
In 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, two guys had a conversation about mustaches. Questions like, “Why did the mustache disappear?” and “Could we bring it back?” were asked, and shortly after, they convinced 30 of their friends to join their mission. Who knew it would become…
Vampires in Romania: The Myth, The Legends, and some fun for Halloween
Let’s be honest: We’ve been meaning to address this topic for awhile, and Halloween week seemed like the perfect time to do so. If you’re Romanian, you’re probably sick of hearing the word “vampire” associated with your beautiful country. And if you’re an expat, well,…
A Look at ‘Banned Books’ in the AISB Library
Did you notice books wrapped in black when you walked into the AISB library last week? You may not know it, but reading material gets banned from libraries and schools all the time (even classics like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the Harry Potter series,…
Meet the AISB Secondary Counselors
While we ran a similar article last year (“Getting to Know AISB’s Secondary School Counselors“), we thought it was important to revisit the current counseling team–especially since we lost Oddny Bakke and gained Sommer Blohm and Vera Kirsten Den Otter. The Bite caught up with…
Meet AISB’s New Secondary School Teachers
Like any other international school, AISB welcomes new teachers every year. To help students get to know them better, The Bite asked 14 new teachers to tell us a little bit about themselves. Here’s what they had to say: Danielle McDonald Q: Where did you move…
AISB’s New Director: Who is Mr. Welch?
If you saw Peter Welch’s first speech to the student body, then you may recall that he introduced himself three times. And his introductions went somewhat like this: Hello, my name is Peter Welch. I am the new director at AISB. I have spent my…
How is social media affecting our self esteem?
We often come across pictures of skinny models and muscular bodies on social media. Whether intentionally or not, these photos tell us what an “ideal body” should look like, and make us think we should be the same way to be accepted by others. Considering…
Top 5 Instagram-Worthy Desserts in Bucharest
Bucharest is full of cafes and dessert shops–so many, in fact, that choice can be overwhelming. Lucky for you (and for us), we tried some of the highest-rated restaurants, with the goal of finding sweets that were both delicious and Instagram-worthy. Here are our top…
A Short Guide to Berlin
With October break coming up, one of the best destinations to visit is Berlin. Filled with fascinating monuments, beautiful scenery and intriguing museums, the history-rich capital is a captivating yet inexpensive place to travel. Below are the must-see’s of Berlin, as well as the places…
Documenting the Delta: A Look at Last Year’s Experiential Trip to the Danube
At the end of last school year, a group of students from Grade 9 and 10 went on a five-day-long experiential trip to the Danube Delta, a UNESCO protected site renowned for its gorgeous flora and fauna. Since this area, only accessible by boat, remains…
Using laptops in class: is it helping or harming us?
If you’re a student, you might already be put off by this headline. But before you make any judgements, have a read through these evidence-based pros and cons of allowing laptops in classrooms. Let’s check them out in detail. The Pros According to a meta-analysis…
Top 5 Activities to Do Before Summer Ends
Although most of us are now craving cooler weather, we still have a few more weeks of heat. Below are five activities you should enjoy before the temperature drops. EdenLand Park Chances are, you’ve heard of EdenLand Park: the highly popular outdoor adventure destination 30…
The International School of Comfort Food: The Student Edition
After publishing the teacher version of this article back in May, we received quite a few requests to keep this series going. Because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love some good old fashioned comfort food? In celebration (?) of the new school year, we interviewed…
A Look at AISB’s Service Learning Groups
Now that the first day of school is over and done, it’s time to start getting back into the routine–and for many of us, that means getting involved with service learning. We’ve put together a small snapshot of some of the groups, but also know…
Anonymous Stories from AISB’s LGBTQ+ Community
” It’s difficult to figure out who you are in a country that pretends people like you don’t exist.” This quote comes from a survey we (Amnesty International) sent out last month, where we asked LGBTQ+ students to share (anonymously) their experiences about coming out…
10 Books that Should be on your Radar this Summer
Summer (n.) rest, relaxation and reading whatever you want, when you want. Exams are finally over and vacation is on the horizon. Summer check out begins now! The library has hundreds of the newest titles to bring the heat to your summer reading. Here are…
Moving On: Mr. and Mrs. Parnell say Goodbye to AISB
After six years at the school, and a decade of international teaching, Mr. and Mrs. Parnell have decided to return to their home country of Canada. After meeting at teacher’s college in 2008 (find more about their incredible story on The Bite’s Valentine’s Podcast!), Middle…
Ramadan: “It will be a test but the peace you get is beautiful”
On Monday, May 6th, hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world began their month-long fast for Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic Calendar. On June 4th, we’ll finally break the fast, that’s lasted every day from sun up to sun down. As part…
The Coziest Study-Worthy Cafes in Bucharest
With finals just around the corner and deadlines getting tighter, students tend to rely on the comfort and isolation of their rooms. However, it’s not always the best thing for our mental health. Another option is to take your notes and laptop to a coffee…
The International School of Comfort Food
There are days when we feel the need to eat our feelings away. Whether it’s because of stress from school work or you’re just missing home, sometimes we need a quick fix. The solution? Comfort food. We reached out to some of the teachers at…
Discovering Quality Coffee in Bucharest
While Bucharest is full of great coffee, it’s not always easy to navigate the sea of (often mediocre) cafés. We scoured the city and compiled a list of four of the best, most unique, coffee shops–just in time for exam season. Origo Coffee Shop This…
All You Need to Know About Easter in Romania
April break is finally here! While some are going on vacations, many are staying at home to spend Easter with their families. Easter is a significant celebration in Romania, with about 81% of the population being Orthodox Christians. For those who are not familiar with…
Meatless Mondays: What it is and why you should try it
To start off this year’s Eco Week, we are encouraging all students to try something called “Meatless Mondays.” Now you might be wondering, what is Meatless Monday? Founded in 2003 by the non-profit organization “The Monday Campaigns,” its goal is to “reduce meat consumption by…
5 of the Best Destinations to visit in Europe this April Break
After a long, icy winter, you’re probably looking forward to taking a break from school and going on spring vacation. Luckily, April break starts next Friday! Just in case your parents haven’t booked tickets yet (or you just want to daydream), here are five of…
Top 5 Studying Techniques You Should Try Out This Semester
With the end of the school year approaching, many students feel the pressure to improve their grades. If this applies to you, here are some scientifically proven studying techniques (verified by AISB Learning Support Leader Sean Whitney) you could use for a final boost on…
A Look at AISB Student Dances: Can we change the school culture?
When was the last time you went to a school dance? Probably a long time ago if you’re a high schooler here at AISB. (That is, unless you’re a senior, as our 12th graders recently had a very successful prom, from the sounds of it….
Everything you need to know about the Chinese Year of the Pig
Did you know that 2019 is the Chinese year of the pig? If you’re a student in Grade 6 or a teacher born in 1995, 1983, 1971 or 1959, you might not have realized until now that this is your lucky year. To all piggies…
The Bite Tested: The Food Truck Festival at Promenada
Since March 18th, the front entrance of Promenada Mall has been taken over by food trucks. They’ll be parked there through April 14th, serving burgers, tacos, and other types of “street food” from 11am to 8pm each day. Having seen the billboards for a couple…
To Be Black: An AISB Experience
“Write an article for Black History Month.” This was my assignment. Pretty straight forward, really—a first-person narrative of what it’s like to be the only African American at AISB. But we’re now well into March and I’m just now finishing it. Writing this article for…
An X-ray of the Romanian Healthcare System: What’s Really Going On?
For two years in a row, Romania has occupied last place in the European Health Consumer Index (EHCI). The index analyzes national healthcare for 35 countries, looking at variables such as accessibility (waiting time for treatment), treatment outcomes, range of services offered, preventative care and…
The Personal Project: Tips from Current Grade 10 Students
The Personal Project is something that many MYP students fear when they enter the 10th grade. It’s a huge task that takes almost a year to complete, where students create a product, report on the process, present it, and write a report that’s between 1,500…
Q&A with Damian Draghici: Roma Musician and Politician
This year’s Romanian Week has brought some impressive locals to AISB–from a revolutionary architect and inspirational artisans, to the woman who illegally dubbed over 3,000 movies during communism. And on Friday, Damian Draghici, a famous Roma musician and representative in the EU Parliament, is speaking…
Debunking Romania’s Top 10 Medical Myths
Romania has a rich oral tradition when it comes to folklore. Throughout history, fairy tales were spread to entertain workers and to teach children life lessons. Superstitions spread quickly, and things like spilling salt was soon a symbol of bad luck. If a knife fell…
Meet some of the Artisans from AISB’s Romanian Week
This week at AISB, students have the opportunity to experience traditional Romanian culture. Folk artists have been invited to share their art and handcrafted goods, from handmade rugs and blouses to artisanal honey products. From March 4th through the 8th, students will be able to…
Q&A with Dorin Ștefan: The Revolutionary Romanian Architect
For some architects, their profession is about more than simply designing buildings, but unleashing their stored creativity into a product that betters society. This is the case for Dorin Ștefan, the well-respected and revered architect, coming to AISB this Wednesday, March 6th, to present during…
Q&A with Irina Margareta Nistor: The woman who dubbed over 3,000 banned movie titles under Ceaușescu’s Reign
For many Romanian citizens, memories from Nicolae Ceaușescu’s communist regime are still fresh: Standing in line for hours to get half a loaf of bread, having electricity cut off in the evening, and getting two hours of TV everyday – which consisted mostly of government…
South-Sweet, North-Salty: Chinese Regional Cuisines You Probably Don’t Know About (but should)
Chinese cuisine has a very long history, and is incredibly diverse. There is a Chinese saying that goes: “South-sweet, north-salty, east-hot and west-sour.” It means that the food from each region has very distinct flavors. For those who want to learn more about China’s regional…
AISB Alumni Share Insight and Advice
Whether you’re currently preparing for (or, stressing out about) university, or if the idea of it is years away, being informed about college life is always important. The Bite connected with a few AISB alumns to get a few tips and opinions. Here’s what they had…
Japanese Food In Bucharest: More Than Just Sushi
When you hear the words “Japanese food,” what exactly comes to mind? Chances are your answer is sushi. It’s undoubtedly Japan’s most iconic dish, and for good reason. But Japanese food is so much more than raw fish and hand rolls. There’s yakatori (delicious skewered chicken),…
Getting to Know AISB’s Secondary School Counselors
According to DS Psychology Group, “Adolescent counseling is not only for adolescents with personality or behavioral issues, but for [anyone] who may be confused or overwhelmed.” Okay, so that’s pretty much EVERY teenager. But who do we talk to, and how do we make an…
AISB Humanities Teacher Joel Warren Says Goodbye to AISB
A few months ago, a collective sadness spread throughout the secondary school hallways when MYP Humanities Teacher Joel Warren announced he was leaving AISB. After five years in Bucharest, he and his soon-to-be-wife Patricia Khalil (Ms. Patty), will be heading to Shanghai to start a…
AISB Teacher Spotlight: Bryan Parnell shares his passion for film and his students
AISB students have gotten more interested in the creation of movies over the last few years, and a large part of this interest is due to the work of creative DP and MYP Film Teacher Bryan Parnell. We sat down with him to learn about…
Surviving The Nepal Earthquake: AISB Teacher Micah Smith Shares His Story
Micah Smith looked out over Bhaktapur, watching the dust rise as people’s homes caved in, and the ground shook beneath his feet. What he didn’t know was that he was witnessing an earthquake that killed over 9,000 people, leaving 22,000 injured and more than 3…
Everything You Need to Know About the Personal Project
Personal Project: two words that evoke fear in any IB student. But what is it that really causes this anxiety, and what can we do to ease this stress? According to the IB website, “The MYP Personal Project is a student-centered and age-appropriate practical…
Is DP Theater the Right Choice for You?
Have you ever found yourself wanting to explore your creative side and push yourself artistically? If so, taking DP Theater might an interesting option for you. The DP is known for being a rigorous academic program, challenging students and helping them explore material in science,…
Online Counseling: Why It’s Worth A Try
Every teenager has heard, at least once, that what they’re going through (i.e. significant changes in behavior) is “just a phase.” However, this isn’t always the case. The Guardian recently reported that one-fifth of all adolescents are thought to have a diagnosable mental disorder; and…
Following Your Passion: Why Is It Important?
What are the things that make you happy? What is that one thing you can see yourself doing your whole life? Be it painting, reading, writing, helping someone, cooking, singing, playing an instrument, or any other passion you have, philosophers have reflected on the power…
Romania’s First Cereal Cafe: Is it Worth the Hype?
The first cereal cafe in Romania, called Cereal Crunch, recently opened on March 7th. Pictures of the inauguration were posted on the cafe’s social media, Facebook, and Instagram. The cafe’s small but cozy environment is perfect to have a nice bowl of cereal of your…
3 Ways to Keep Up Long Distance Friendships
Long distance friendships are hard. Going to an international school, we must say goodbye to lots of close friends, and sometimes it gets difficult to keep your relationships alive. For many, distance is a barrier; but with these tips, it won’t be anymore! Tip #1:…
What Does AISB’s Past, Present, and Future Look Like?
Imagine a dark, cold room where a dedicated teacher is leading a class of ten students. This room is located in a desolate building, in a gloomy, sorrowful country going through a devastating time: the Communist era. Believe or not, this is what it was…
The 5 Best Places to Take Instagram-worthy Pictures in Bucharest
Teenagers love taking photos everywhere. Our camera rolls are filled with hundreds of pictures that consist of selfies, portraits and landscape captures. However, out of all the hundreds of photographs, only a number are acceptable to upload to our Instagram pages. Since spring is here,…
MUN’s Trip To The Hague: A First-Person Account
In today’s tense world of politics, many people from around the world are ready to put a spotlight on what they believe. With even more ways to communicate with each other, everyone is able to have a political conversation–whether it’s a yelling contest at a…
New DP Science Courses: Everything You Need to Know
Where do you see yourself in the future? Do you really think that Biology, Chemistry, or Physics are the right science classes for you? If you don’t, you may be in luck; AISB is offering two more DP science courses next year. The first new…
5 Ways for Teens to Make Money
Are you one of those guilty shoppers who desires one of the most expensive items, yet you are short on money? Did your parents stop giving you money because you spent it all? Stressed, because you are too young to have a job and think…
AISB Electives: New Classes This Year, and What’s in Store for 2018-2019
Electives are enjoyed by many students, because they have the option to explore the arts, music, and design. This year, two new courses have been added to the school: Theater Production and Journalism. We sat down and talked to the teachers of these classes, to…
IBDP: What are we getting ourselves into?
What is the IB Diploma Program? What does a DP student’s day look like? Is it really as stressful as people make it out to be? If you’ve ever wondered these questions before or have occasionally worried about how to make it through the “horror”…
Standardized Testing: Good or Bad?
In the US, students take approximately 112 mandatory standardized tests before they finish high school. According to an article in the Washington Post, these tests consume about 25 hours each year (a total of 300 hours throughout 12 years of school). These tests will either…
Procrastination: The Art of Being Lazy
Picture this: you get assigned a long history project, due in two weeks. As a result of this extensive due date, you think the assignment isn’t so hard to do – so you make the mistake of deciding put it off until tomorrow, then the day…
Fashion Forward: A Look into the Textile Class’s Upcycle Projects
This year, Textiles was added to the curriculum as a design elective, thanks to Jann Brindley who decided to start this class because she noticed that most kids nowadays do not have any experience with sewing. Brindley developed this passion when she was little. Her…
The Best Art Galleries in Bucharest
As a young artist growing up in Bucharest, I’ve been inspired by many local galleries and the artists in which they feature. You may not know it, but this city is teeming with revolving art exhibitions–so much so that it’s hard to choose which ones…
Dreams: A Parallel Universe
You’re walking as you breathe in the fresh air of the fields surrounding you. The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the sky is as blue as the ocean. You lean back to sit down, but instead of being softly greeted by the…
What’s the Price You’re Willing to Pay for a More Ethical and Sustainable World?
If you’ve been attending AISB for awhile, you’re probably quite familiar with current issues surrounding worker’s rights; but to what extent do we let this knowledge impact our lifestyles? As part of the SA group’s Ethical Shopping Campaign, Amnesty International surveyed 60 high school students….
Picture Perfect: A Look at AISB Science Teacher Peter Stanley’s Award-Winning Photographs
A young boy’s hands fumble, twist and turn, then he aims the apparatus…*Click*. It was the first moment seized, a first memory: A hibiscus. AISB Science Teacher Peter Stanley took his first photo using a pin-hole camera for a project in his photography class. “The…
Staying in Bucharest Over Winter Break? We’ve Got You Covered.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Whether you’re making plans to tan on the tropical beaches in the Bahamas, looking forward to feeling the cold breeze while skiing in the snowy mountains of Austria, or even just sitting next to a fireplace in…
How Sports Improve Academic Excellence
Feeling stressed in school, or having trouble focusing in class is inevitable. Thankfully, studies have shown that by simply playing sports we can reduce stress levels and improve our academic performance. Physical activity can boost observational skills, improve focus, and even develop our abilities to…
TCK Kids to AISB Teachers: A Q&A with Margritha Hofman
Being an international school, AISB obviously has a lot of TCK students; but there are also quite a few teachers that grew up as 3rd culture kids themselves. One of these teachers, Margritha Hofman, Service Learning Coordinator and DP Physics Teacher, takes a seat to…
5 Must-Have Apps for Students
High school can be hard, but students always find a way to simplify it. These days, there are resources everywhere (thank God!), including hundreds of applications on our cellphones. Here are The Bite’s top recommendations: Duolingo Hallå! Ciao! Γειά σου! Hej! Здравствуйте! こんにちは! Duolingo is…
The Slime Obsession in Middle School
Although many teachers don’t agree with kids using it in school, the sticky stress reliever slime is the new trend in Middle School. Slime has risen again to become one of the most popular DIYs. It’s the new fidget spinner. It was developed in the…
How to: Create Your Own Service Learning Group
Do you have a dream college in mind? Ever wonder what you can do to make yourself stand out from all the other competitors? Luckily, there’s an easy answer: creating your own service learning group. Creating a service learning group is a great opportunity to…
Olympic Athlete Runs Amidst AISB Community
“On your mark, get set, go!” Tracksuit crinkling, feet slapping, Coach Arif Akhundov tears down the track in record time. Head held high, back straight, he effortlessly runs past the finish line and back to the start to reunite with his students. Their eyes fixate on…
A Look Inside AISB’s New Early Childhood Building
At the beginning of the school year, the new early childhood building opened its doors to AISB students ages two to six, in order to meet the demand of the growing student population. We had heard a lot about it, but wanted to see for…
How Service Learning Can Change Your Life: A Personal Story
Every person has challenges throughout their lives. My name is Gunel, and my first challenge came early: in elementary school. Sitting in my fourth grade classroom, I struggled to concentrate. I sat in my desk with my hands over my aching stomach. I was constantly…
5 Must-Visit Places in Romania
Romania is a country perfect for tourists. Whether you like history, nature, road trips or castles, you can spend an enjoyable time here. And if you’re overwhelmed with what to do, start with these five attractions: 1. Peleş Castle Peleş Castle was built between 1873-1914….