Tag: break

Soccer Struggles

LetsGetSendyy6767Leave a comment

The first week back from break, the OVS soccer team had a game against Newbury Park. The team was still sluggish because of the three weeks we had off.

I had my own set of challenges coming into the game because I left my soccer gear at my house in Palm Springs. Luckily, Kai had an extra pair of black shorts, and my white socks could be stretched to cover my shin guards. The shorts were nearly pants in size, but they worked, and I was able to play.

The game was difficult. None of us was 100% there. In between plays, I talked to Kai, who said mentally he is still in Japan playing video games. I know I was mentally still in bed or on a couch watching TV.

Over the course of the game, we kept getting slower and slower. The runs became jogs, and the team’s energy wasn’t where it should be.

We ended up losing the game, but came back stronger and won our next two games.

Athletics - Ojai Valley School

P.C. Google

Break

riceandsoysauce4Leave a comment

As Thanksgiving break rolls around, I can barely contain my excitement. Not only do I get a break from school, but I’ll also be able to see my family and friends. It has been over three months since I’ve seen my friends, which, for me, is way too long. I’ll finally get to eat soooo much food, which really brings the whole trip together. Stuffing is my favorite, along with mashed potatoes and turkey, but when everything is piled onto one big plate, it becomes pure deliciousness. I usually won’t eat breakfast or lunch on Thanksgiving Day to build the suspense, making it all that much better. I’m also excited because once we get back from Thanksgiving break, it will be so close to winter break, which is something I’m really looking forward to. I’m going to a resort in the mountains of Canada that can only be accessed by helicopter. We’ll get to snowboard, snowmobile, and play in the backcountry snow. It’s all very exciting.

PC: Google

How my break was

graypenguinLeave a comment

It has already been six weeks since the end of Christmas break. This year, I have been busy with many things and time seems to be passing faster than usual. This makes me feel that I need to plan things more systematically. I spent this winter vacation with my friend in LA. We made strawberry cheesecake for her father’s birthday celebration. The cake has two layers: a jelly and a cheesecake made with strawberry fruit and lemon juice. It was hard to get the strawberries to float when I laid them on top and poured the juice over them. However, after an hour of struggle, we managed to complete the cake. We were very happy that her father was so pleased. We had a great time with them by treating them to Japanese food. Then we went to see a university during the vacation. I was surprised at the scale of the place, which I usually only see in pictures, when I actually walked around. The school building was very big and it motivated me for future applications. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of path I will choose and which university I will go to next year, and at the same time I am filled with anxiety. After visiting the university, we went to Korea Town to eat our long-sought-after Ganjanggaejang. I was very happy because it was the thing I was looking forward to the most during this vacation. I am now less than a hundred days away from the end of this school year, so I want to spend my time in a meaningful way. I am looking forward to what I will do on my next vacation.

pc;me

Another break

leapingwaterLeave a comment

I just arrived back at school from break, but this time it feels a little bit harder to be back and away from my home and parents. My best friend came home with me this break, and we ate a lot of good food, once again! We had all sorts of things from pastries to ganjang gejang to shabu shabu, which my friend made for my family. It was also my dads fifty sixth birthday which we celebrated by baking him a cake, which was a strawberry cheesecake with a clear gelatin topping which was delicious and cute. I wasn’t actually able to be with my dad on the day of his birthday as he was out of town, but I’m happy we got to celebrate before that. Overall this break was very relaxing, and it’s time for me to look forward to the next one!

pc: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Korean_seafood-Ganjang_gejang-01.jpg

Excited for Christmas Break

graypenguinLeave a comment

I recently got a plane ticket to go home for Christmas break, and I am very excited about it. I spend roughly 1/4 of the year with my family, but I still miss them very much because I have to live away from them for the other 3/4 of the year. Living away from my family in the dorms has made me appreciate them more.
I would like to write a little about what I am looking forward to on my next vacation.
The first thing I am looking forward to is my family’s annual tradition of visiting a shrine called Fushimi Inari in Kyoto during the year-end and New Year holidays. Also, on January 1st, the whole family gets together for Osechi, a dish that is served as a drop-off from the gods after the Japanese New Year. I like to spend time with the whole family and talk about the events of the year. I also receive New Year’s money from my family. This is one of the joys of the New Year in Japan. I also look forward to watching TV with my family and going to Hatsumode (New Year’s visit to a shrine) when the date changes from December 31 to January 1. The year-end and New Year’s holidays in Japan are a bit busy, but I look forward to spending a lot of time with my family.
Secondly, I am looking forward to meeting with friends. One of my friends just got accepted to a university today and is looking forward to spending a few more months in high school. So my friend and I are planning to go on a little trip.
I am also in the process of getting my driver’s license, so I am looking forward to going driving with them.
Winter break is only two months away. I am most looking forward to seeing my family. I will use the winter break as motivation to study hard.

pc;me

Summer feels

localdreamerwithapenLeave a comment

I can’t wait for this summer. You know, in the past, people have always told me that junior year is gonna be harder than all the other years. But I had no idea that they were actually right about that!

I’m mentally and now even physically so exhausted that I don’t want to do anything but sleep. But guess what! I can’t!

That’s why I can’t wait for summer. I can actually sleep then. I won’t have anything to do but read, ride horses, go for runs with my dog, probably study for the SAT, go to my summer journalism program, and travel. I’m so excited to travel!

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In the US everything seems to be so far apart. If you go on a two hour train ride here, you get to another city in the state. But if I go on a two hour train ride from my hometown, I end up in another country. I can’t wait to go to Paris, to Amsterdam, Berlin, to Greece.

I also really can’t wait to ride my horse again. I am so glad that I get to ride at my school here, I am so thankful for that, but it’s so different from my barn at home. I can go there whenever I want, I can stay there as long as I want, go on trail rides through the fields and forests, and I can actually get lessons. So, obviously, I can’t wait.

Of course I’ll miss all my friends here, as always. I’ll miss the amazing weather in California, and the amazing avocados and oranges, that simply don’t taste the same in Germany. But I can’t even tell you just how excited I am for this summer!

San Diego, the Sleeping Beauty.

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Over the break, I headed to one of the most beautiful places – San Diego for a week.
I’ve heard of how attractive and magical the city is so I finally had a chance to discover this “dream place.”

Before we launched out journey, my dear friend Emmy made a three-page list including all the “must-go places” and “must-do things” in San Diego. She said, “you would never get bored in that city. There’s always so much things to do.” After all, I would say that she was completely correct.

We followed Emmy’s list to plan our schedules and each day we discovered something new about San Diego. We went to the USS Midway Museum to explore the history of Aircraft Carriers and got a chance to see the famous “Kissing Statue.” We went to the Coronado Island by the water taxi and visited the famous Hotel Del Coronado.

We also went to the strawberry lands to pick up our own strawberries. They were huge and super sweet strawberries and honestly I’ve never tasted that fresh strawberries! They were just amazing.

The next day we went to Balboa Park, where numerous museums are located. It was extremely sunny and warm. We walked around the park and visited some Spanish historical galleries.

Later in the afternoon we headed to the Old Town, which became my favorite site in San Diego. Old Town is like a small community full of culture and history. It is considered as the birthplace of California, where the first Europeans settled. The whole little town was filled with laughter and music. There were lots of stores and museums as well and mostly about the old European or Indian things.

We walked along the road and forget the time till we met the sunset.
The golden sunshine poured on the street and I believe I just saw one of the most gorgeous moments in the world. Then the lights became alive. I picked up my camera and saved the natural beauty. By the way, Old Town has the best Mexican food in the world.

Anyways, eight days are obviously not enough so I need to go to San Diego again to finish Emmy’s list.

I would describe San Diego as the sleeping beauty. She lies there, quiet but charming.

It is nearly impossible to not fall in love with her because once you awaken her, she would invade your heart gently and never leave again.

Break

Daphne PsaledakisLeave a comment

You know that feeling when you’ve been going strong, getting everything done in time, and doing a bang-up job of it, and then all of a sudden, BAM, you’re sick, exhausted, run down, and ready for a break?

Yeah, well that happened to me about two days ago.

I’ve been doing pretty well in school, and I’ve actually been ahead of my work for once, which never happens. But all of a sudden I got really run down, and now I can not wait for break. Thankfully, there’s only one more day.

And even more exciting, I’m not going home to Aspen, Colorado, but to Santa Monica, which let me tell you, is a heck of a lot warmer right now. My plans for break aren’t anything crazy, but my dad is driving out with my dog, who is a total sweetheart and who I can’t wait to see.

I can’t wait to see my dad either of course.

I plan on relaxing as much as I can, and eating a ton of food. And then the week after break, I’m going on the Honors Ski Trip. The ski trip is led by the headmaster, and we spend a week in Yosemite cross-country skiing and hiking. It’s a blast, and turns my one week vacation into two. By the time I’m back in school, I’ll be ready to kick my schoolwork’s butt for the next five weeks, before I break down again right before spring break.

Rinse and repeat.

Honors Ski Trip

Daphne Psaledakis1 Comment

Break is quickly approaching, and on Friday the campus will begin to empty out. Students will go home, or to friends and family, for the week long winter break. And then, on Sunday, they will return.

However, there are the lucky few that leave the morning after boarding students return to campus. They will load bags and bodies into the school vans in order to make the trek up to Yosemite. These students get an extra week of break on Honors Ski Trip.

The Honors Ski Trip is a week long excursion with the headmaster and a couple other teachers, and a handful of students who put in the work to keep their academic and effort grades up to standard.

Last year I went on the trip and I had an amazing time. In the mornings we would cook obscene amounts of bacon before loading into the vans and driving to the nordic track.

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Finals

Daphne PsaledakisLeave a comment

Right now the Upper Campus is filled with students stressing out, worrying, and complaining. Why? Finals begin on Friday, and everyone is feeling the effects of their prolonged procrastination.

Teachers repeatedly remind us to study and get some sleep, all the while stacking homework on us as if playing with building blocks. Last minute tests are hurriedly being completed, and review sessions take up the majority of class time.

On Friday, every student, with the exception of maybe two or three, will cram into their assigned classroom, silent and exhausted from a full night of studying. They will spend the next two hours on their English final, and then be released to lunch.

In the afternoon, those with an art final will stick around, while those lucky enough to be done for the day take off. Whether it’s back to their dorm room or their home doesn’t make a difference.

The finals will continue on Saturday, with History, and a day off on Sunday. On Monday, the school will reconvene and knock out he last three.

And then finally, at the end of an exhausting week, we will all be released for break. For that amazing three week Christmas break everyone has been looking forward to since the start of the school year. And I can’t wait.