Middle School Life at ACS Athens

By an Anonymous Middle School Student
          Doing the same thing every other day may not sound that much fun. Well, welcome to my life; waking up, getting ready, going to school, trying to open my locker, and sometimes, on rainy days going late to class. For some others, this may sound like a terrible and boring day but it is not. The most important thing is that new lessons are taught daily and you don’t get bored doing the same thing everyday.
           Unlike, elementary school students whose life is not full of responsibilities, lockers, and schedules, we are different. Oh yeah! They also have someone to blame for everything. We are expected to be mature.
           Although you have responsibilities, the fun that you can make out of this journey is that you are free to go wherever you want without being forbidden to go around the campus at lunch, which makes you feel older, with more rights at school.  It also sometimes makes you feel more mature. You also can participate in more activities around the campus, which can make you feel older as well.  It is true that you can’t go everywhere or else you will be in trouble; but you can make your own choices: how you will “live your life” from 6^th grade until high school, until 12^{th grade} , until university, until your job and so on.
          Middle School is a great place to be so I recommend you enjoy every moment.



Will music become extinct?

By Alexandros Markowitz
          Music always was a universal language that everybody understood and could relate to. It never died. Music has been around since earth was created. Birds singing, thunder, and other noisy things are music. That is how man made music began. In the ancient times groups of people would sing and dance in the streets. Music has always had a special place in our hearts.
          The first documented music was found in the year 100 c.e. It was called the Epitaph of Seikilos, found on a grave stone. Imagine having to carve your music on a gravestone. It was like a drinking song. Music was also in the Bible. From classical music to Jazz music, this article is about how people changed with the music around them.
          In Medieval times, music was usually chanting in church. It was in the Renaissance times that composers started to compose. In the Baroque period, the first operas appeared. The Classical period was known for the instrumentals such as Mozart's. In the Romantic era, music had a more expressive, dramatic feel. These pieces of music were performed in concerts or at homes. All of these changing pieces of music were a result of changing people, times, and governments.
          In the 20^th century, the radio was invented, one of the most remarkable discoveries in the history of music. Jazz and rock music evolved. The sound of rock revolved around electric guitar and was supported by bass and drums. Sometimes synthesizers are involved. Electronic devices that could make sound were made. Some other genres that were made were rap, country, salsa, blues, disco, funk, and soul. All of these were real music.
          In my opinion, in the 21^st century music has become atrocious, awful, cheap, lousy and garbage. In other words, pop. Technology is beating natural voices. Auto tune is one of the biggest examples of this occurring. Today, to be an artist you have to be rich enough to get an electronic device that can play music. You are then considered to be an artist. Most of my generation is turning to this bluff. Sadly, music is dying. Artificial, fictitious, phony “music” is progressing and taking over the world. Maybe someday it will perish from mankind.



Christmas in Germany

By Alina Alafouzos

          Christmas in Germany is very important. On the first day of Advent (1 December) we open the first little door of the Advent calendar. This calendar has 24 small doors. In each of the small doors there are chocolates or small presents and a number on the door. Every day we are looking for the next number and we open one little door.

 
The Christmas Market
       On the first of December the Weihnachtsmarkt starts. The Weihnachtsmarkt is many small stores together. Every city has its own, that is the tradition. And there we buy presents and eat or drink something.
Christmas Food
          In Germany at Christmas time we eat Cinnamon stars, Vanillakipfel and Christmas cake. The adults drink Glühwein which is like hot mulled wine. 
Santa Claus and Christmas tree
         In Germany, the Santa Claus comes in the afternoon of the 24^th of December and brings many presents for the children and puts the presents under the Christmas tree.
The Adventskranz
         The Adventskranz is a wreath with four candles on it. We light the first candle four Sundays before Christmas. So every week we light one more candle until Christmas. We decorate the candles with Christmas decorations.
Christmas Cards
          In Germany we send cards to our friends to wish them health and Merry Christmas.
I hope you enjoyed your holidays. I hope next year you can spend them in Germany.