year 10 ideals challenge week to Cat Ba Island. RISS - Renaissance International School Saigon. Offers from pre-school to secondary curriculum under the structure of the British system. Located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

1. Renaissance International School Saigon
Year 7 IDEALS Trip
to Cat Ba Island
Volume 1, Issue 1 May 2011
Photographers and Art-
ists:
Letter from Ms. Imogen, Mr. Ramez and
Ji Yoon Mrs. Ly
Sara
Dear All,
Eun Ah
Yeo Eun The Year 7‟s went
Ji Yeong on a school trip to
Seon Ah Cat Ba Island, which
Dan Thanh,
is in Ha Long Bay.
Ha Long Bay means
Dan Thy,
“Descending Dragon
Min Ah
Bay”, it is a place of
Van Khanh,
great natural beau-
Cindy,
ty and is an
Ji Woo,
UNESCO World
Sana Heritage Site.
Peera,
On the trip the
Yeo Bin.
Year 7‟s had many
Inside this issue: opportunities to try countries. ple who worked to-
new activities and Students were also wards making our
Welcome letter 2 go on exciting ad- able to fulfill the trip the great suc-
ventures. Nearly IDEALS program cess that it was, in
Day 1 2 – 3 everybody tried the and achieve many particular Buffalo
rock climbing and personal goals. Tours, Slo Pony, Mr.
Day 2 4 – 5 the kayaking proved Charlie and Ms. Lien.
to be a popular, We hope you enjoy
Day 3 6 – 7 reading about our Ms Imogen, Mr.
though wet, choice
adventures in Cat Ramez and Mrs Ly.
also. We sampled
Day 4 8—9
different foods and Ba! And we would
had the opportunity also like to take this
Day 5 10 opportunity to
to talk to people
from different thank the many peo-
Goodbye 10

2. PAGE 2 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Day 1—Monday: The Beginning by Duong (7IV)
At 4 o‟clock in hour to the boat to arrive and then
the morning, we do! After went by bus to Sunflower1 ho-
went to school we went tel. At the first we stayed in
and Ms Imogen to Hai our rooms to have a wash and
gave us a card Phong air- then we had lunch at the Slo
to write our port, the Pony restaurant which was piz-
names and we bus takes za. The we went to the Lien
put in on our us to the Minh Village, and did some ac-
luggage. The port. It tivities there like picking up
teacher did a was terri- litter. At about 10 o‟clock, Ms
roll call and then we got in the ble, people were burning rub- Imogen and Mr Ramez checked
bus to go to the airport. Be- bish, polluting the air and our rooms for the last time to
fore we got in the plane, we throw rubbish everywhere! We make sure we were asleep.
checked-in first, it takes an waited about half an hour for
Travelling by Kai Yi (7RR) and Ho Seok (7IV)
The scene begins at 4:30 AM, kids forgot to bring their enter- groups rock climbing group do
where everybody met up in the tainments. After 2 hours, the air- rock climbing and the other group.
school‟s activity room. When eve- plane landed. Next we took a bus Thursday we took a boat again!
ryone was there, we got on the to a port. We got on the ferry Anyways on Friday it is the trip
buses to be transported to the and it took about twenty minutes. Home! And everybody seems ei-
airport. As we entered the air- We arrived in Cat Ba Island. The ther cool with it or has mixture
port, we were given the duty of rest of the trip is really just bus of sad feelings. When we arrived
keeping our passports safe. Our rides to one destination to anoth- back to HCMC, everyone is sent
airplane was good pretty It was a er. We took a bus to the Hospital back home safe and sound!
good flight except some other Cave, we were divided into 2
Food Review by Tran Anh (7IV) and Hyun Sik (7RR)
Breakfast: On the first day we al water but mostly we chose something else. Everybody said
had breakfast on the airplane, we Coke. that that was a good lunch be-
ate bread with ham and some cause it was easy to eat and deli-
Lunch: At lunch, we had fried rice
meat and vegetable. We can cious.
and pizza for lunch at the Slow
choose between 4 drinks which
Pony‟s office. We has a Pepsi but Dinner: For dinner we were at the
include 7up, Coke, Milk and miner-
we had to pay Lien Minh village, we had a deli-
10.000VND if want- ed cious dinner in the canteen, a Vi-

3. V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P PAGE 3
Activities around Lien Minh Village by Hung (7IV)
At the Lien Minh Village, we could be put around the Vil- walked to our bus and went
did some activities like pick- lage like “Put the trash in back to the hotel, we had a
ing up trash around the the bin” or “Do not shout” good sleep and were ready
place that we will do the or something. We went for the next day.
rock climbing, digging some back in the evening to have
bonfire pits so we can make dinner, we had a bonfire and
a bonfire in the evening af- ate some sausages. We sat
ter we have dinner. We had around the biggest bonfire
a rest, ate some fruit and and sang, talked and laughed.
we helped the people pull After half an hour, Ms.
out some wild grass sur- Imogen told us a scary story
rounding their wheat. We and we played the “Love”
also made some boards that game. After that, we
Painting signs, picking up lit-
ter, weeding crops and
building a fire pit

4. PAGE 4 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Day 2 Tuesday By Jeremy (7RR)
On Tuesday, we climbed a guide told us what happened games such as cards and
very high courageous tall in the room a long time ago. many more. Lastly, we ate
mountain. It was very inter- Secondly, we went back to dinner and the food was
esting because a lot of peo- the village to wait for din- very delicious. Then we went
ple climbed a very high ner. back
mountain so it was very awe- While to the
some. Then we had a deli- we hotel,
cious lunch at 11 am. After wait- Sun-
that, we visited the Hospi- ing, we flower
tal Caves, it was very dark did 1 to
in there and the room was some- rest for the next day‟s ac-
empty because it happened things
a long time ago but the fun like: telling jokes, play tivities .
Visit to the Hospital Caves By Harry (7IV) Sae Wook (7RR)
When we arrived at the Hospi- the history of Hospital Cave. The Hospital Cave had a very
tal Cave, we climbed up the When we went into the thea- long history. This is important,
high stairs. Inside Hospital ter, we saw the stairs that had as it served both as a secret,
Cave it was cold, it had a lot of a warning sign that said:” FOR- bomb-proof hospital during
different rooms, like the BIDDEN”. We sat down near the American War and as a
kitchen, the pool, the theater, the stairs and wrote a report safe house. It was built be-
and the doctors room. We vis- about the Hospital Cave and tween 1963 and 1965, and was
ited these rooms and learnt we did a sketch about it. in constant use until 1975.
Food Review by Tran Anh (7IV) and Hyun Sik (7RR)
Breakfast: We ate breakfast at Lunch: For lunch we ate some Dinner: We had lunch just the
the hotel Sun Flower 1; we had a sandwiches which we ordered the same like the 1st day at the Lien
buffet which is quite delicious. day before. We had a choice of Minh village, Vietnamese kind of
For the free drinks we can have tuna sandwich or chicken sand- food but different food not like
mineral water or tea. For the cost wich. For drinks we can buy any the day before, the drinks was
drinks we can have anything we thing we want but with our own also the same; Pepsi or
like but cost 15.000VND. money (10.000VND/ drink). Mirinda.

5. V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P PAGE 5
Rock Climbing by Minh (7IV) and Yeun Soo (7RR)
We have done the most in- gerous so we had to learn we got to climb up to very
teresting activity in the trip. how to be safe. We needed high cliff but it was easiest
It is Rock Climbing. In rock to about safety harness and one. We were divided into
climbing we experienced safety helmet plus shoes two groups to do the rock
new feelings like being and the Haines gloves. Be- climbing.
scared or fun. Rock climbing fore we did rock climbing,
While we were doing the
is a very good sport and we also needed to use chalk-
Rock Climbing, we were very
good for health. In that ac- on hands it soaked up sweat.
nervous so the guides always
tivity, some students were
There were three types of said “Don‟t look down! If you
scared and some were ex-
rock climbing. For the first look down you will get nerv-
cited.
type, we could hold on to ous!” and told us how to
Rock climbing is very dan- the holes in the cliff to climb up and how to move to
climb to the top. The second the next steps. Some stu-
cliff was harder; we didn‟t dents were scared of
have the hole to climb up heights so they couldn‟t
the cliff. For the third one, climb.
Ho Seok and Peera Rock
Climbing
Mr. Ramez and Ms. Sarah
talking to everyone before
rock climbing.

6. PAGE 6 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1

7. V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P PAGE 7
Pictures by Van
Khanh and Seon
Ah on page 6
and on page 7,
Dan Thy and Ji
Yoon

8. PAGE 8 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Day 3 Wednesday By Su Min (7IV)
On Wednesday we went to the We often had to change direc-
restaurant called „Slo Pony‟. our thickest clothes! We went tion of the boat but we man-
Most of us ate pan up to the 2nd floor be- aged to get away from finding
cakes there and we cause the view was really direction. We also had to get
drank cocoa. It was re- beautiful. Everything was away from the basket of oys-
ally hot! We rested a little absolutely beautiful and amaz- ter that Vietnamese people
while in the hotel and than we ing. Suddenly, it started to caught. We were wet and cold,
went to the port where we rain so we had to go down- so we put on some dry clothes.
rode on the boat. The most stairs. When the rain has Then we went back to the ho-
exciting fact was; the boat stopped, we wore a life jacket tel. We cleaned our bodies
had a 2nd floor! We had a great so we could go kayaking! The warm and than went back to
view on that boat we saw a most exciting activity in our sleep to take a long rest of our
place called Monkey Island al- school trip! Every one got tiring day.
so. When we went to the 2nd their clothes wet but we all
floor of the boat, it was had fun. We sang and rowed.
freezing cold. We had to wear
Food Review by Tran Anh (7IV) and Hyun Sik (7RR)
Breakfast: In the morning, we had on the boat when we were going Dinner: When we arrived at the
breakfast at the hotel, we had a to go kayaking. We ate some nor- island, we ate a buffet which is
buffet. We can buy our own mal Vietnamese really delicious! There was meat
drinks or we can just drink miner- food. We could pay and fries; there was also rice and
al water or tea for our drinks soups. There were no free water
which include Pepsi, so we all had to pay
7up and Mirinda. for our drinks.
Lunch: We ate lunch

9. V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P PAGE 9
Kayaking by Phuc (7IV) and Won Sang (7RR)
First we went on the boat to get trol the kayaking you need to and especial Mr. Ramez. Some
to the floating house which had have team work and strong hands. student don‟t have clothes to
the kayaks tied to it. Then we got Then we went to the mountain the change then they must wearing
into groups of two then we put when we say something like “Ah” wet or short clothes. And that
life jackets on. Then we started the sound will be bigger and big- day every body is so cold that
kayaking but it was very hard to ger. When we went back to the they don‟t want to go camping any
control the kayak. If you don‟t boat we were so tired and wet more! When we come back to the
know how to control the kayak the that we can‟t go swim- hotel every body just want
kayak just goes around and ming any more. And to take a hot water shower
around! After that you will know when we come back it and then sleep. It was a hard
how to control it. The sea is warm have a problem that day and everybody had used
and very clean. So we can see fish some kayaking was up- all their power. We worked
and coral reef, seaweeds. Because side down and we must hard!
we went too fast then a lot of go and help them. No
kayaking crash together. To con- one got hurt but they got all wet

10. PAGE 10 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Cannon Fort In The Caves
Before Rock Climbing
Kayaking Playing Games
During Rock Climbing Cannon Fort
Before Rock Climbing
In The Caves Talent Show

11. V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P PAGE 11
The hallways of the hospital caves
Playing cards at Ha Long Bay
Us on the Junk Boat
Outside the exit of the hospital cave
Su Min On the Junk Boat
Minh getting ready to rock climb Us at the Hai Phong airport

12. PAGE 12 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1
Day 4 Thursday by Song Anh (7RR)
On Thursday, we woke l u n c h our talent show and get some rest.
up at 7:30 and had break- there. In Then after that, we performed our
fast at 8:00. Then we the lunch, show in a house which was also a
started to walk to the Can- Ms. Imo- small restaurant. We also had din-
non Fort. In the Cannon gen told ner in the same house that we had
Fort, there were many sol- us about performed the talent show.
dier mannequins. There the tal-
After the dinner, Ms. Imogen
were also guns, soldier‟s ent show
took us to go to karaoke. We had
shirts, caps and a clay and she
lots of fun. The Vietnamese sang a
model of Cat Ba Island. said that
lot!
every-
After we visited the
body had Finally, we went back to the
Cannon Fort, we went back to the
to join in! hotel to prepare to go back to
hotel, (actually we walked back) to
HCMC the next day.
get some rest. Then we went to We went back to the hotel
Lien Minh village (by bus) and had again. We had 45mins to prepare
Hill Fort By Khoa (7RR)
On the fourth day we woke up Vietnam Land. At the top we the enemy can‟t see them, Next
early, we ate breakfast at 7:30 looked down to the sea there is a to the weapon there is a big box
am and relax until to 9:00am. At small island which looked like a that they kept bullets. We then
9:00 am we walked to the hill fort. fish. There was a small room that relaxed in the café where could
At 9:30 we were at the top of the has all the stuff from the Ameri- buy snacks and drinks. Then we
hill! We visited a lot things. The can War like: Hats, uniforms, guns went back to the hotel to prac-
fort name is Canon. We saw the and shoes. There was a big model tice for the tal-
weapons used in the American of the Island. The reason why ent show.
War. There is a big gun to shoot they put the weapon on the hill
the airplane of the America or because it was easy to shoot the
French army because they want airplane and they dug a big hole so
Food Review by Tran Anh (7IV) and Hyun Sik (7RR)
Breakfast: We ate pancakes normal Vietnamese food at the Dinner : We also had dinner at
and eggs with bread. We can Lien Minh village. the Lien Minh village but still
choose soft drink but most We ate a lot be- Viet- namese
people drank cause it was really food and soft
hot ca- cao. cold even in lunch, drinks.
so the food made us warm.
Lunch : We ate

13. V O LU M E 1 , I S S U E 1 Y E A R 7 I D E A LS T R I P PAGE 13
Talent Competition By Kiet (7IV) and Duy (7RR)
On Thursday, at about 15:00, that good when teams are so stand, the melody was quite
we started to divide into small scared that they hid there good. Magic tricks, acting and
groups to prepare for the well numbers or threw it away. Un- many other talents are per-
known talent show. 2 hours lat- fortunately, Duy and Kai formed. We had great
er, we set off for a restaurant Yi, the most imaginative pressure but fun perform-
which is then prepared for the students, are chosen ing in-front of our class-
talent show. The numbers of first. They struggled to mates. Groups even got
chairs are just enough for us. the centre, whispering prizes later on. There was
This show had put lots of their plan to each other. this ABC song singing from
pressure on everyone so no Their performance was out- Korean boys which somehow
groups volunteered. So we put standing so they eventually came first. Our talents were
it the easy way, when captains went third. Then Korean sing- simple but amusing, and every-
come to pick a number to see ing followed, even though sev- one was tired after this well-
the order. It didn‟t work out eral students didn‟t under- known event!
Karaoke by Kiet (7IV) and Duy (7RR)
After all the struggle through While setting up the karaoke took turn to sing, but Mr. Gary
the tiring talent show, at thing Mr. Gary showed his tal- sang first since one of the mi-
about 20:00 on ent: beat-boxing. Everyone crophones was held by him.
Thursday, we and our clapped after the most- Some students even dared to
teachers, together fantastic beat-boxing ever sing a solo, but not too long
with Mr. Gary (one of heard, and truly is. But unfor- after all the others join in.
the guides), set off for karao- tunately, everyone forced Phuc, Popular songs like „We will rock
ke at some other hotel. As we the best beat-boxer of the you‟ and ‟25 minutes‟ … were
reached our destination, eve- students (maybe), to challenge chosen. Vietnamese and Korean
ryone settled in seats which Mr. Gary. Mr. Gary won easily, songs then joined the list. We
are lacking somehow because since Phuc was too scared and had great fun enjoying singing
of the overload number of stu- most of what he did was spit- and listening to songs. But stu-
dents. So we shared seats, ting sounds. Once the karaoke dents soon went back to the
which wasn‟t that comfortable. thing was set up, everyone hotel, after the great-full-of-
Left: Min Ah & Yeo Bin
walking to the Hill Fort up
the Hill

14. Games by Chris (7IV) and Yu Jin (7RR)
First day (night): We played „If you love me honey give me a smile‟. This is so funny and shy girl said to girl and boy
said „If you love me honey give me a smile‟ to boy, but some boys said to teacher. Later this game is boring and we
change a rule we must do boys to girls, girl to boys. This game is exciting and this game is finished we talked about
ghost story, Ms Imogen told us ghost story and it is so scary but some scary story is real.
Second day: We played number game if teacher said number 4 we cannot move (jump) and we must jump once a time
and if we are wrong we need to start again but teacher said another number we need jump and first who goal that
person is win.
We think this game is easy but this game is little bit hard. If main number is four, a man said fourteen. It was very
tricky. We had to careful
Third day: we took a boat and we play separated in two groups. We played some games and talked and we arrived we
play kayaking, some people were wet and they said very cold. Some boys were sick so girls borrowed girl‟s jackets
and towel.
Fourth day: we went karaoke to sing. Most of boys sang the songs and we had really fun time. After karaoke, we
went back to hotel. We went to friend‟s room and played some games. After we played games, we go to our room
and slept.
Day 5 — The End by Duong (7RR)
On Friday, we ate sandwich- to the airport to go back Ho in Ho Chi Minh city we felt
es for breakfast. Chi Minh City and we so warm. We went back to
And for lunch, we waited few minutes for school by school bus, we
went to Hai Phong the plane come. It took said good-bye to each other
and we went into Lot- 2 hours to fly from and went home.
teria. We can only Hanoi to Ho
eat hamburger and rice with Chi Minh City.
beef, for drink we must buy We landed at Tan
it by our self if you wanted Son Nhat Airport.
a soda. If some people We felt so good
wanted even more food be- when we‟re back
cause they‟re still hungry, in Ho Chi Minh
they used their own money City everybody
to buy more food that they fell so well because in Cat
wanted. After that, we went Ba Island it was so cold and