The Bite Magazine

School’s out! Scream and shout!
Welcome to the first edition
of The Bite’s new quarterly
magazine, designed especially
for students, by students.
It’s been a long year – and
a busy year for AISB’s journalism
program. But even
so, we decided it was time
to take some of our online
content offline, in hopes to provide vibrant, engaging material to celebrate our
community.
Just before we went to press, our seniors were in their last week of exams. We
were lucky enough to sit down with four of them for our cover story, to find out
what’s in store after high school. We also got some insight from our new director,
and scoured the city for one of the best rooftops – just in time for summer.
We hope you enjoy this first issue,
Clara S, Naomi S, and Raquel G.
Contributors
Without these lovely people, we wouldn’t have a magazine.
Ilinca, Illustrator
Ms. Stevens, Editor Matei, Graphics Toyosi, Writer Natalia, Writer Tea, Writer

MADE FOR STUDENTS
Discover Summer
Is there anything better than hitting the beach with friends, or the great open road?
Either way, you’ll need some sweet summer playlists, courtesy of Spotify. Here are
our favorites!
PLAY
PLAYLIST GENRE ARTISTS
+ Mega Hit Mix Pop Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Travis Scott
A mix of personalized songs you currently love.
+ All Out 00’s Various Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, Maroon 5
The most essential tracks of the decade, ranging from electronic, pop, indie rock and hip hop.
+ Chilled R and B R&B Ella Mai, SZA, Frank Ocean
Chill songs to relax to.
+ Rap Caviar Rap Drake, Post Malone, Offset
The hottest songs and rappers in one playlist.
+ Indie Road Trip Indie, Soul The 1975, Rex Orange County, Arctic Monkeys
The essential indie hits for when you travel.
+ Rock Classics Rock Rolling Stones,The Beatles, Eagles
The rock classics and legends that continue to inspire generations.

Books
Drama
The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini
A beautiful, yet heartbreaking
story about a young boy in
war-torn Afghanistan, and his
friendship with his servant.
Romance
Five Feet Apart
by Rachael Lippincott
Seventeen-year-old Stella has
been in and out of the hospital
her whole life. She keeps
everyone at a distance, until
she meets Will, a charming
high schooler who has a similar
illness.
Skinny
Sunglasses
From oval to round to square, 90’s
inspired small sunglasses are all
the rage. And while the tiny frames
may not do much to protect
against UV rays, most every fashion
blogger is sporting them on the
bridge of their noses.
Thriller
The Girl on the Train
by Paula Hawkins
This psychological thriller
focuses on Rachel, a girl who
takes the same commuter
train every morning, becoming
obsessed with the lives she
witnesses from the window.
Young Adult
The Hate U Give
by Angie Thomas
Starr Carter is a teen who witnesses
the unjust death of her
childhood best friend who was
shot by a police officer.
Neon
Spring was all about pastels, but
now it’s time to start flaunting
bold neon colors. Celebrities
rocking this trend are Hailey Bieber,
Bella Hadid, Chanel Iman and
the Kardashian-Jenner clan.

SUMMER
TRENDS
Rocketman
Movies
Drama
The story of Elton John, his
sexuality, and rise to fame.
Release date: May 31st.
Romance
Long Shot
A journalist trying to find his
childhood babysitter realizes
that she is the potential future
president and becomes her
speechwriter.
Release date: June 28th.
Tie Dye
If you thought this trend ended
in the 70’s and 80’s, think again.
Tie dye is probably the biggest
trend for 2019, and designer
brands such as Prada, Stella
McCartney and R13 have heavily
incorporated it into their designs.
Animation
The Lion King
The 1994 Disney classic is getting
a photorealistic makeover
this summer.
Release date: July 19th.
Comedy
Once Upon a Time in
Hollywood
Set in 1969, a television
star and his stunt double
attempt to change the industry.
Directed by Quentin Tarantino.
Release date: August 9th.

isle of skye
scotland
If you want to connect with nature, this is the place for
you. The Island of Skye is the second largest Scottish
island, connected to Scotland’s northwestern coast. This
is the ideal place for exploring, from rugged landscapes to
picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles. Expect
to do a lot of hiking to explore some of the majestic
geological features on the island, and make sure to enjoy
freshly caught lobsters, crab, and plenty of oysters.
azores
portugal
You may have never heard of the Azores. An up-andcoming
destination, the group of nine Portuguese
islands sits in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean,
rich in untouched beauty and unique experiences.
There are no 5-star resorts on these islands, so if
you’re looking for luxury, this isn’t the place for you.
But if you’re a nature-lover looking to hike, go dolphin
and whale watching, and sunbathe on volcanic
dark sand beaches, Azores is your spot.
Formentera
Spain
The smallest of Spain’s Balearic islands, Formentera
is known for having some of the best
beaches in Europe. If you want to avoid the
glitzy, party scene of its sister island Ibiza, then
this could be your refuge. Come here prepared to
do nothing but lie on the creamy white beaches
and bathe in the crystal clear waters. There’s no
airport on the island, so you’ll need to get here
by boat from Ibiza.

Best European Destinations for
the Summer Break
Thinking of booking your summer vacation, but are overwhelmed
by the multitude of offers out there? Well, The
Bite has you covered. Here are some of the best destinations
to visit during the summer break, whether you’re
looking to relax, to experience a new culture, or simply
want to get lost in nature with friends.
Athens
Greece
This is the ideal vacation spot if you want to combine
culture with relaxation. Athens, the capital of
Ancient Greece, is home to 5th century BC landmarks,
like the Acropolis citadel, which you can see
towering from its hilltop. Spend some time on the
laid back Athenian Riviera, on the crowded golden
beaches and enjoy the warm Aegean Sea. You
can also take day trips to some of the enchanting
Greek Islands, some only one hour away by ferry.
Puglia
Italy
The idyllic region in southern Italy, Puglia boasts fairytale
cottages, outstanding Baroque architecture, and some of the
best sandy beaches in the country. The area’s capital, Bari,
is a lively port and university town, home to great seafood
restaurants. While food is always a draw in Italy, Puglia is
famous for its orecchiette pasta, prized tomatoes and olive
oil. When you’re not eating, be sure to check out the intimate
rocky coves, and wild, sandy shores in Gargano.

The Tassel Was Worth the Hassle
Four seniors talk about life after high school
After two grueling years of DP, our seniors are about to head off to start new chapters of their
lives. Whether it’s studying at their dream university, taking a gap year, or serving in the military,
AISB’s graduating class of 2019 are doing some cool things. Here’s a closer look at what four students,
Venla, Clara, Andrei, and Charlotte, are doing after high school.
Venla P.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
I will be voluntarily attending the army of my home country, Finland,
for one year, with the goal of reaching the rank of a reserve
officer, which is the highest achievable rank within one year of
attendance.
What led you to this decision?
I was interested in the leadership training programs that the army
offers, and I was inspired by all of my family members who have
been very successful during their time in the army. I have been
doing strength training for about four years and I thought this
would be a good challenge for me-- to use my skills for a good
purpose (national defense).
Did you have any doubts of what to do or where to go?
Attending the army has been my goal for over two years and I’m still not sure what I will do after.
It’s very beneficial to have this one extra year to think about it.
Are you nervous?
What makes me the most nervous is how I will be treated as a girl in the army. It is very likely that
I will experience discrimination since attending the army is viewed as “a man’s responsibility” (the
army is mandatory for all men), and because I am smaller in size and will probably be considered

as “weaker” than the rest. For this reason, I am training really hard in order to be physically
capable to perform the same tasks as the men, and succeed regardless of my
gender.
Is this how you pictured yourself at the end of 12th grade?
To be honest, I was never sure whether or not I would feel mentally and physically prepared
for the army at the end of 12th grade. But in the end, thanks to all the hard work
and preparation that I have done, I don’t feel worried anymore.
How was your high school experience?
My high school experience had some ups and downs, but luckily the ups outweighed
the downs, and through the downs I learned some important lessons which I will always
remember in the years to come.
What will you miss the most about AISB?
I will miss all the amazing people who I met, friends and teachers, some of whom I
might never see again. I’ll also miss being in an international environment, where you
can learn so much about cultures and beliefs, and how to accept our differences.
What do you plan to do after high school?
I will be going to Brown, a college in the US, this fall, and I’ll be
pursuing a pre-med/neuroscience degree so that I can go on to
medical graduate school since I’d like to become a doctor.
Clara V.
What led you to this decision?
I was always very interested in the human mind, and as I started
to do biology in high school, I realized that I also enjoyed learning
about the biological processes surrounding it. I began to look
into different specialties in the medical field, and was instantly
fascinated by psychiatry, and the study of mental illnesses. I
wanted to be able to study this topic more in-depth, and ultimately
have a career that would allow me to directly help those who were affected.
Did you have any doubts about what to do or where to go?
At the start of high school, I was heavily considering studying law, until I realized that I found
the sciences a lot more interesting and engaging. Since then I’ve been pretty certain I wanted
to pursue something in the STEM field, particularly neuroscience/medicine, but I am not entirely
sure what exactly that will lead me into. I’m not particularly worried, however, since I know that in
college, I will have the opportunity to explore different courses/fields/internships which will allow
me to solidify my idea of what I want to do.
Are you nervous?
It is definitely a bit nerve-racking to realize that my life as I’ve known it for the last 12 years will
change in a matter of months, especially because I’ve been at this school since kindergarten.
However, I am also very excited. The college I am going to has some amazing classes, and I’m excited
to have more independence and control over what I choose to do with my education and free
time.

Is this how you pictured yourself at the end of 12th grade?
In some ways it is and in other ways it isn’t. For starters, I’m happy (and stressed) to
see how close I am to finishing high school, particularly the IB, since this is something
that has been on all of our minds since the first day of senior year. On the other hand,
one thing that’s changed is that I’ve come to appreciate the city I live in, my family, and
my friends a lot more over the past few months than I expected to.
Andrei A.
What do you plan to do after high school?
After AISB, I will be studying bioengineering at Lehigh University.
At the same time I will be part of the university’s basketball team
which competes in the Patriot League at the Division 1 level. I
can’t wait to experience the life of a student athlete, and see
where this experience will take me. I still have to decide what I
will be doing after college, but I still have time. One of my plans
is to launch a mobile phone app that will help in the prevention
of certain diseases, and reduce the number of times people will
have to go to the doctor.
What led you to this decision?
I always had the dream to study and play ball in the US. Even
though a lot of people told me to apply to the UK, going to the US was one of those decisions I
wasn’t willing to change my mind about. I had to fulfill my dream.
Did you have any doubts of what to do or where to go?
Yes. Applying to US universities was a really nerve-racking experience. Lots of rejections, lots of
waiting, and I wasn’t always sure it would end on a good note. I want to thank Ms. Kehl for guiding
me through this crazy process.
Are you nervous?
I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s a mixed feeling. There are days I’m really confident and I
feel like everything is going to fall in the right place, and there’s days when I don’t know what to
expect. Actually, I’m a bit nervous because I will leave my family, go to another continent without
any of my friends, and it kind of feels like starting from the beginning.
How was your high school experience?
I would give it a 7 on the IB scale. Academically, I really enjoyed some of the classes I had, especially
10th grade global issues, math, economics, and biology throughout the IB. Athletically, three
CEESA championships, speech and debate, Mathcounts, and coaching basketball made it a great
four years. I’m also really happy with the friends that I have made.
What will you miss the most about AISB?
It would be an impossible task to pinpoint a single thing, but it’s the feeling that I have every day
when I enter the school. It’s a feeling I can’t put into words. It’s the effect of a melange of great
people, a familiar place, and unforgettable memories.

What do you plan to do after high school?
I’m going to first spend my entire summer traveling
through Portugal, the US, and Australia. Then I will
hopefully be going to the University of Stirling in Scotland
where I will be studying computer science.
Charlotte D.
Did you have any doubts of what to do or where to go?
I had so many doubts. I think that the biggest thing
I struggled with was deciding what to do. For so
long I thought that I was going to study international
business administration (IBA) in Rotterdam exactly
like my sister. I wasn’t necessarily pressured, but
everyone seemed to think it’s what I was meant to
do. My family kept telling me, “You will love it; it is so
you!” but I never had that spark that I have with computer science. That’s the reason I thought for
so long that I was going to take a gap year; I was excited for university life, but was dreading the
course. I kept toying with the idea of doing computer science, AI or engineering. Every time I found
a course that I liked, it required HL maths or somewhat high grades… I lost hope. I kept saying to
myself, Well I might as well just do IBA. I was settling. In the end I found quite a few degrees in
comp sci which I could do with my grades. Now I am just overly excited to start university, so I
decided against the gap year idea.
Are you nervous?
Yes and no. I’m nervous because I have no idea what to expect. This for me is mainly to do with
the course in particular. When I told some people in my grade I was planning on doing comp sci,
they literally laughed and asked what computer languages I knew; and when I told them, they
again laughed. I felt horrible, and after that I doubted myself as to whether or not I could do this,
a degree in a heavily male-dominated field. However, at the end of the day, I love this degree, so
[that’s what I’m going to do]. I also visited the Uni of Stirling and fell in love with it so I feel completely
at ease moving there as I know I will have a good support system.
How was your high school experience?
It had its ups and downs. Two years ago, I moved here from Australia, which is the hardest thing
I’ve ever had to do. I love all of my teachers here and have some great friends, but I’ve felt out of
place in this grade. But as a whole, high school has been amazing. I’ve been able to learn so much
about myself and how I interact with the people around me. It’s crazy to think that it’s almost
over. It can be a struggle, but it is all so worth it in the end.
What will you miss the most about AISB?
My friends and teachers. I feel like “my friends” is quite obvious, but the teachers at AISB are the
most loving and supportive teachers I have ever had and I would not be here without their support.
*A big thank you to these seniors for their time. We wish the entire Class of 2019 the best of luck
in whatever you decide to do. AISB won’t be the same without you!

New
Direction
Dr. Robert Brindley passes the baton to
Peter Welch
To continue
reading, scan
the QR code or
access
thebite.aisb.ro
When Dr. Robert Brindley came to AISB five years ago, he said he would
change everything. And by the end of his tenure, he will make good on
his promise. From a new early childhood building to a massive secondary
school expansion, Brindley has spearheaded projects that have
restructured the campus and the board’s master plan.
“There’s a life cycle of schools,” says Brindley. “I’ve restructured it, and
now we need a new person to come in and build the culture.”
That person is Peter Welch, who comes to us from the International
School of Helsinki in Finland (ISH). According to Brindley, he’s the perfect
person to “bring the school from growth into stasis.”
We reached out to Welch to see what we can expect from him as our
new director. Here’s what he had to say:
“With a priest and a counselor as parents, the conversation around the
family dinner table was often about what makes people tick, and this
upbringing gave me the instinct to ask deeper questions about what
things mean. I think I have always been exploring these themes as a
student, as a teacher, and as a traveler.
This curiosity and searching is what has taken my family and me around
the world. We love to keep learning and trying to renew ourselves. I enjoy
great food and movies and books. Stevie Wonder makes me want to
get up dance. Chelsea Football Club can affect my mood way too much
on the weekends. Some of my happiest times are walking our dog in the
Finnish forests, watching the seasons change.
As a director, it is important for me to understand the ‘why’ questions
first of all. Why are we doing this, this way? This is a kind of default strategic mindset in which I constantly
explore the purpose of what we do and the wider implications.
With this priority, I invest time in working out our collective purpose in conversation with the communities
I seek to lead. I would always like this conversation to be brave, open and based on trust. I am
comfortable in challenging basic assumptions of how schools work, but understand that creating a
consensus for change can take time. The success of any conversation is really impacted by the culture
and context of my work. I believe more and more that leadership is an adaptive skill. What works in one
place, in one school, often does not work another. So becoming the director of AISB will challenge me to
really tune into what will work in my new community.”

Up on the Roof
Great views and tasty dishes at Upstairs Rooftop
Find it: Strada Sevastopol 24
Tel: 0723 307 930
You know the kinds of places that you want to keep secret, but just can’t help talking about them? Well,
Upstairs Rooftop is exactly that.
Located on the seventh floor of a building near Piata Victoriei, the restaurant is well-positioned in the
center of Bucharest. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with colorful, abstract graffiti-style
paintings on the walls and sweeping views of the city. We sat on the beautiful glass-covered terrace, as
it was not only comfortable, but served as the perfect backdrop for our Instagram photos.
The menu offers modern and international cuisine at good prices. As our main courses, we chose the flavorful
and perfectly al dente Green Tagliolini with Shrimps (37 RON), tossed with cherry tomatoes, garlic
and white wine. The Beef with Vegetable Duo and Gravy Sauce (66 RON) was both tender and juicy, served
atop some seriously creamy mashed potatoes. For dessert, we opted for the Golden Globe (27 RON), a
chocolate dome filled with vanilla ice cream and frozen berries. Our server even poured hot fudge sauce
over it, table-side.
There was a wide variety of drinks that we could choose from to accompany the dishes. We chose two
different types of lemonades: the blueberry with basil and the passion fruit (18 RON each), but took note
of the numerous non-alcoholic cocktails and fresh juices for next time. All our orders were brought out
quickly and the service was friendly and respectful.

TO BE BLACK: AN
AISB EXPERIENCE
To read “To Be Black,” scan the QR
code or access thebite.aisb.ro.
As you probably know, Aries’ article “To Be
Black” went viral at our school, and then
beyond, as it was picked up by the BBC.
Here’s what she has to say now.
Q: DID YOU EVER EXPECT YOU
WOULD RECEIVE SO MUCH
ATTENTION FOR THIS ARTICLE?
A: Definitely not. I actually got
pulled aside just today because
a visitor from California
is at the school. She told me
about how my article reached
her via Twitter and she shared
it with a community she runs
online made up of people who
have graduated international
schools. They had been really
pleased by what I wrote as
most of their discussions stem
from race and intersex issues
and how they aren’t properly
taught in these settings. She
even mentioned that she went
to a conference in Thailand
and that the majority of those
attending were talking about
the piece. I never expected my
words to get so far, especially
being the second piece I’ve
ever written for The Bite. Like
my first one, I expected my
friends to read it, my family to
share it, and then move on to
the next one.
Q: WHAT WAS IT LIKE GETTING
THIS REPUBLISHED ON THE
BBC?
A: It’s very overwhelming. I’m
really not too sure of how I’m
supposed to respond and I get
really anxious when people
thank me for writing it; I’m
only capable of smiling and
thanking them for their kind
words, but I never feel like
that’s enough. I find myself
not knowing what to say next,
and I hope I’m not seen as
awkward as I feel. I think the
biggest shock was the Reddit
thread. Since comments were
disabled on the article itself,
I never thought that people
would use other outlets to
discuss it. It was ignorant on
my part due to the age we live
in, but to think that the words
I produced are worthy of such
conversation is just... it makes
me feel really giddy inside, but
there’s also this small knot of
fear.
Q: HAS THIS INFLUENCED
YOUR PLANS FOR AFTER HIGH
SCHOOL?
A: The publishing of my work
has actually made me doubt
what I initially planned to do
after high school, which was
to pursue a bachelor’s in 2-D
animation. However, the editor
at BBC sent me some advice
in an email telling me that
writing isn’t necessarily a
passion that needs to be studied,
and that most people find
themselves gradually pulled
back into their pastimes later
in life. So, I’m still going to
study animation, but with help
from the school, I’ll hopefully
find some internships to keep
myself writing throughout
college.

“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 this school.
(And any other IB school, for
that matter.)
We hear it in the hallways,
buzzing around in idle conversation.
The very thought of
being substandard stresses us
out. Anything other than perfection
isn’t good enough, so
anything less than straight 7s
makes us idiots.
This is the broken attitude
that plagues so many IB students.
But just because it’s
broken, doesn’t mean it can’t
be fixed. To do so, we need to
find the root of the problem.
Why are IB students so
stressed?
Well, it’s not really the system
itself. I know it’s a frustrating
reality, but IB students are
put under the same amount of
stress as other students.
“The IB recently commissioned
Great Stress-Pectations
a study on stress amongst
IB students,” DP Coordinator
Arpeetaa Tyagi explains. “One
of the things that they found
was that the stress was no
more than the stress students
in other examination
boards were experiencing.”
So, why do your AP and A-Level
peers seem to have it easier?
The answer is simple. Although
IB students aren’t put
under any extra stress, we
tend to feel like we are. Research
led by the University of
South Florida suggests that IB
students are more susceptible
to the negative effects of
stress. This includes mental
disorders and reduced academic
performance. And as
you might’ve expected, it’s
because of the workload.
IB students reported that academic
requirements were their
main stressor - much more
significant than students in
the general education curriculum.
Another study by researchers
at the University of Hong Kong
agrees with this point of view.
A look at why IB students are
so stressed out
by: Toyosi
The IB’s rigor does offer important
university prep, the
study says. But at the cost of
something much more valuable:
our mental health.
The study mentions that the
sheer amount of work we have
to do “could restrict time allocated
to the development of
non-academic Learner Profile
traits, such as ‘balanced’,
through out-of-school activities.”
So, in effect, the academic requirements
are almost counter-productive
to what the IB is
all about. I mean, think about
it. We’re learning university-level
material in six different
subjects, along with three
additional ‘classes’ - TOK, EE,
and CAS - which take up any
remaining free time we’d have.
It’s a struggle even for those
with time-management skills...
To continue
reading, scan
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thebite.aisb.ro.