Why AISB Needs to Change Its Start Time
“Waking a teenager up at 6 am is the biological equivalent of waking an adult up at 4 am” —Sleep Research Wendy Troxel, during her Ted Talk. Sleep deprivation has become the accepted norm for high school students, which is not ok. Sleep is crucial…
Amid War, DP Students from Ukraine and Russia Tasked with Difficult Decisions about Exams
Since the advent of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Baccalaureate organization (IB) has been under pressure to communicate its exam policy regarding affected students. DP exams begin Thursday, April 28th, and many seniors from IB schools in Ukraine and Russia are learning across several…
Bucharest’s Best Restaurants? A Video Food Review
Haven’t you ever wanted to spend an entire day restaurant-hopping in Bucharest? Well, we did just that. In this video, 9th graders Sofia and Petra ask three of AISB’s “foodie” teachers to give their recommendations for the best breakfast, lunch and dinner spots in Bucharest….
La Finca by Alioli: A Review of Bucharest’s Premier Spanish Restaurant at Home
La Finca by Alioli, located near Victoriei Square, is supposedly the best Spanish restaurant in Bucharest (according to Spanish expats). The “boss” of the restaurant, Sorin, is a Romanian citizen that lived in Spain for over 10 years. When he came back, he started a restaurant…
A Look Back at the Romanian Revolution: Could the Same Thing Happen in Russia?
In January, an estimated 40,000 people gathered in the streets of central Moscow, protesting against the jailing of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. In te months since, thousands of demonstrators have been arrested by riot police, and Navalny went on a 24-day hunger strike—only fueling…
The Disillusionment of the American Dream: How Trump’s efforts to become ‘great’ shattered global perception
Growing up, I gazed at pictures of America with wonder and amazement. I watched sitcoms and movies set in Manhattan, Los Angeles, and Miami—pretending to be those smiling, happy people who seemed to have it all. They had, in my mind, the perfect life: The…
Top 10 Most Anticipated Games on Next Generation Consoles
After much anticipation, the next generation of gaming is upon us. While it might be hard to get your hands on the the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles this month (Xbox sold out in most stores on launch day and PS5 stock allocations have…
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…
Should You Take a Gap Year?
It’s that time of year: seniors are starting to apply for universities, deciding on programs, getting conditional offers, and planning for life after AISB. But something that more and more students are considering is actually taking a break from school. In fact, five out of…
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…
Environmental Impact of CEESA Trips: How Can AISB Make A Difference?
AISB gives its students the amazing opportunity to travel and participate in CEESA tournaments across Eastern Europe. However, flying hundreds of students to different cities causes a detrimental impact on the environment. In fact, Director of Athletics & Activities David Hughes estimates that this season’s…
Sex Education: is AISB doing enough?
Technically, one could argue that sex education is being taught at AISB, but in the form of advisory discussions. Basically, we’re asked to talk about romantic relationships and how we should act and treat each other in those relationships, as well as consent and communication….
Advisory at AISB: What Should Change?
While the advisory program has changed a lot over the last couple years (most would argue for the better), many of us still think it’s a waste of time. So, what’s the solution? Well, it’s complicated, but here’s a breakdown for the school’s admin and…
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…
IB Stress: Why we need to stop being 7-obsessed and start setting realistic expectations
“If I don’t get a 7, they’ll be disappointed in me.” “I have to get a 7 because that’s what’s expected of me.” “I’m a failure unless I get this 7.” Sound familiar to you? It does to me. And to many other students at…
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…
How “Unpatriotism” Has Become Part of Romanian Culture
On May 26th, Romania will hold its European Parliament elections to decide who will represent the country in the European Union for the next five years. While many would see this as an opportunity to bring change and support to the nation– to make more…
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…
Paper Wastage: Why we need to be doing more to stop it
According to AISB’s Environmental Change Agent Marion Siekierski, the school wastes around 1.5 million sheets of paper every year. She says the school has attempted to decrease this number through a variety of methods, such as allowing students to print only in the library (they…
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…
What is the EU doing?!
Have you ever read the book, 1984, by George Orwell? It portrays an omnipresent, totalitarian government, set on controlling everything–including the minds of its citizens. People are constantly monitored: everything can be seen and anything over a low whisper can be heard. In this society,…
RM’s Mono: The Album Everyone Needs In Their Lives
We all have ways to overcome stress, whether it’s crying, over-eating, or a common IB student favorite, procrastination. But there’s another not-so-toxic method you can turn to: listening to music. About a month ago, I discovered and fell in love with an album that not…
We tried 3 of the ‘best’ Asian restaurants in Bucharest. Here’s what we thought.
Have you been looking for a nice Asian restaurant in Bucharest? A place with a comforting atmosphere, good service, and most importantly, traditional food? Well, you’re in luck. We visited several of the purported best Asian restaurants in the city, and here were our three…
American Thanksgiving: What are we Actually Celebrating?
Knowing what we do now, is it our generation’s responsibility to step up and change not only our own, but also the world’s understanding of this tradition? Like most Americans living abroad, today is the day I miss home most. Speaking to my mom on…
Romania’s LGBTQ+ Community: Why AISB Needs to Lead the Charge on Acceptance
On October 6th and 7th, Romanian voters were presented with a question: Should the constitution be changed to recognize marriage as “a union between a man and a woman?” Or, quite simply, “Should there be legal language put in place to prevent gay marriage in…
This Year’s Later Sports Practice Schedule: Why it Needs to Change
Since the beginning of fall sports season, AISB students have been complaining about the later practice times. Whether it’s not having enough time after practice to socialize, not being able to get homework done on time, or getting stuck in rush hour traffic, students aren’t…
An Escape from Reality: Gateway VR Studio in Bucharest
Did you know that there’s a virtual reality studio in Bucharest? Neither did we. To get a firsthand experience, The Bite tested one of the few places in Bucharest: Gateway VR Studio. A few weeks ago, we found ourselves in front of Gateway with a…
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),…
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…
Opinion: Why Advisory Needs To Change
We have all been there before: it’s 12:50, and Block 4 is finished. Finally, lunch! But wait, no, it’s advisory time–time for you to go to a class, sit, and, well, do nothing. This time should be dedicated to working on whatever you’re falling behind…
Which Language Should You Be Learning?
A student stares coldly at a block of text. The bitter aftertaste of coffee lingers on their tongue, their shoulders slumped, head pounding, and eyes strained from attempting to understand what they were reading. Frustrated, the student turns to an old yet reliable friend that…
Is Social Media Destroying Our Society?
Heads bent, eyes wide open, and thumbs moving at record time, we post, message, and check our social media accounts constantly. Our parents and teachers are always telling us to spend less time on our phones and on the Internet. It’s bad for our eyes,…
Opinion: Should We Get Rid Of Google Classroom?
AISB’s addition of Google Classroom into its educational resources has been met with a mixed response from the student body and teachers. There are arguments for and against using Google Classroom in addition to (or instead of) ManageBac, but it seems the majority of people…
South Korean Music: Why is it so K-Pop-ular?
AISB’s Secondary School K-pop squad: a group of girls and sometimes a few guys, eagerly gathered around one bright laptop screen, huddling and cuddling one another, occasionally squealing or singing (badly) in Korean. Firstly, if you have no idea what I am talking about, I’d…
Should AISB implement Uniforms?
Schools across the United States and Europe are implementing new policies aimed at creating a better environment for students. One of these policies is uniforms. The policy of uniforms has been criticized as being “outdated” and “a denial of student’s rights to express themselves.” An…
Korean Food in Bucharest: Seoul Restaurant Review
In the city of Bucharest, consisting of mainly Romanians, Hungarians, Turks, and Germans, it’s interesting to know that there’s a restaurant serving solely Korean food. Its name: Seoul Restaurant. With the help of their native Korean head chef, Seoul claims to incorporate salty, sweet, spicy,…
Homework: Is it Actually Bad for Us?
Most high-school students can agree that homework isn’t exactly the thing we look forward to most when returning from summer vacation. Even so, since we are all responsible students (and none of us really want to go to homework catch-up club), we do it anyways….