Loanwords | Issue One Read online



  Loanwords

  Issue 1 | June 2014

  Loanwords is the literary magazine of International Academic Alliance. IAA is an American administered international program that partners with local high schools in China. For more information about our program, please visit: iaaprograms.com/accel-high-school.

  Contact or submit to Loanwords at: [email protected]

  Editor: Jonathan Neske

  Cover Calligraphy by Kim Yang

  Cover Photography by Jonathan Neske

  ©2014 International Academic Alliance. All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  Doors by David Sun

  Untitled by James Yang

  Untitled by Tom Jin

  Your Story by Berg Wang

  Untitled by Effie Wang

  Naughty by Carey Jiang

  A Shower of Haiku

  Haiku inspired poems by:

  Ricardo Zhao

  Kim Yang

  Matthew Jiang

  and Holmes Liu

  A Shower of Diamante

  Diamante inspired poems by:

  Shawn Xu

  Laura Shen

  Zoe Chen

  Thea Yin

  and Shelley Ying

  Untitled by Tiffany Chen

  Unnamed by Kessey Wang

  A Man Who I Admire by Simon Pang

  Untitled by Eagle Wei

  Untitled by Mark Zhou

  Remember When by Jerry Wang

  Introduction

  So why Loanwords? And what is a loanword, anyway?

  A loanword is a term used in linguistics. It refers to a word that is taken from one language and is used in another without translation. I think it is an interesting title because a loanword is essentially a word that is the same in two different languages. I see it as a kind of bridge, or at least a place where two languages can meet amid so many differences.

  I think it is similar to what the writers here are doing. They are trying to say something that is true for everyone despite language. Instead of a place where two languages meet amid so many differences, the writers here are describing instances where human experience meets amid so many differences. That is, in their work they are expressing something that is true for everyone. It needs no translation because the experience is the same.

  But perhaps I've gotten ahead of myself because the more noteworthy part of this literary magazine is not the title, but the authors. All of our contributors are Chinese high school students who are currently enrolled in the International Academic Alliance program. They are all planning to go to college in America and have very demanding schedules. They have remarkably little free time, yet in the free time that they do have, they use to do some very creative things: photography, singing, playing music, making movies, and (of course) writing poetry.

  I find their submissions remarkable. The language and the approach that these student authors use is both direct and surprising. Perhaps, they have such a different and such a fresh take on language precisely because they are not native speakers. I suppose, in the end, the reason doesn't matter. Collected here are some interesting poems by young authors just beginning their search into what is true for all people – what is true beyond borders and in both their old language and their new one.

  Jonathan Neske

  Ningbo, China, 2014

  Doors

  David Sun | Qingdao High School

  There is a door which is in people’s soul

  I negotiated with Mr. Paul

  In a room with a door

  He was keen on getting petty advantages and selfish

  I sighed

  Why people are petty?

  How so?

  Maybe it just because

  There is a door which is in people’s soul

  There is a door which is separating corridors and rooms 

  I went out of meeting room

  I saw warm and sweet ornaments on the wall

  People nod and smile to say hello to me

  I smiled

  Why people are pretty?

  How so?

  Maybe it just because

  There is a door which is separate corridors and rooms

  There is a door which is separating houses and outdoors

  I went out of house and walked down the street

  I was looking at crowded people

  People were crazy at the gate of the People’s Mall

  I sighed

  Why are people such maniacs?

  How so?

  Maybe it just because

  There is a door which is separating houses and outdoors

  There is a door which is in my room

  I held my astronomical telescope towards twinkling stars

  I felt a strong sense of serenity and safety

  I played Ode to Joy on my lovely piano

  I smiled

  Why do I feel peaceful at home?

  How so?

  Maybe it just because

  There is a door in my room

  If doors disappeared

  How so?

  Untitled

  James Yang | Yinzhou High School

  The world is amazing – all matter

  created by atoms, the atoms like

  Lego blocks. They are all mixed up into

  all kinds of different objects: plants, rocks,

  animals, and soon everything is set

  beautifully and logically – the green leaves,

  the grey rock, they white butterflies, and the

  brown tree blooms

  Even these different

  objects are created by atoms, but they are

  surprisingly designed into different shapes.

  While you touch them, different objects have

  different senses.

  Now consider this, if we

  erase all the scientific laws and theory in

  human history, and all the vision of these

  natural things, then you see a tree or a rock –

  how cool is it that it was designed to be just like that!

  Maybe that is the magic of science.

  Untitled

  Tom Jin | Yinzhou High School

  I stand in a plain

  I see a war

  I see the great stone giant

  I see the angry tree man

  I see the small but strong dwarf

  I see the evil ox

  I see the fierce dragon

  I see the light

  I see the darkness

  I see they are fighting

  No one can win

  However, I see human beings

  I see human beings use gunpowder

  They burn everything!

  Nothing survives

  They win the war.

  They also lose the war.

  What an honor!

  What a shame!

  Your Story

  Berg Wang | Qingdao High School

  Maybe it’s not your fault.

  Maybe you just passed out.

  Good bye, don’t be worried.

  I will visit your cemetery.

  And your story will be legendary.

  During your funeral I remembered our childhood.

  We played around in the neighborhood.

  You told me you want to be a soldier.

  But now you chose to go before me.

  So what can I do?

  But toast for you.

  Hey brother, just rest in peace.

  And wait for me there.

  Untitled

  Effie Wang | Qingdao High School

  I met a girl, her name is Fate

  She said she could make me a better person

  But I
don't have faith

  And day by day, she came to my place

  She fixed up my broken life, when I thought there was nothing that needed to be fixed

  She hugged me, she comforted me

  But I got a little tired of this

  And one day, when I was awake

  I couldn't see her, in my place

  I screamed and cried like a kid

  Now I still remember her face

  Remember her saying "my name is Fate"

  Naughty

  Carey Jiang | Yinzhou High School

  an insect is trying to get out of the net

  Green. Flowers yellow

  big ants

  bees move to collect honey

  tree spider

  Two parts of trees

  under the tree is

  white to protect itself

  birds are singing

  my classmate said

  she is beautiful

  and I'm ugly

  How stupid

  a bee is working

  my classmate is crying

  something is happening

  What a piteous day!

  A Shower of Haiku...

  Ricardo Zhao | Yinzhou High School

  When we met each other

  we studied together

  our story begins.

  ...a shower of haiku...

  Kim Yang | Yinzhou High School

  The clouds are really black

  A heavy rain is coming soon

  Run into your house.

  ...a shower of haiku...

  Matthew Jiang | Yinzhou High School

  A shy girl comes here

  the beautiful flowers open

  The sun shows his smile.

  ...a shower of haiku.

  Holmes Liu | Yinzhou High School

  Leaves

  The color turns deep

  slowly summer comes

  quickly we are growing

  Butterfly

  White butterfly.

  White queen. Leaves.

  It must be the color

  of spring.

  Fireflies

  You would not believe your eyes

  if there are 10 million fireflies

  They want to teach

  me how to fly.

  A Shower Of Diamante...

  Shawn Xu | Yinzhou High School

  Rain

  cold and suddenly

  drops from the sky

  let me become weak and energetic

  rainy day.

  ...a shower of diamante...

  Laura Shen | Yinzhou High School

  flower

  sweet white

  growing opening smiling

  witness to failure

  success

  ...a shower of diamante...

  Zoe Chen | Yinzhou High School

  Birds,

  hide themselves,

  songs through leaves,

  can't know their emotions,

  Fairies.

  ...a shower of diamante...

  Thea Yin | Yinzhou High School

  Ants

  small black

  running, moving, chattering

  stronger than it looks

  working together

  ...a shower of diamante.

  Shelly Ying | Yinzhou High School

  Butterflies

  beautiful insects

  fly and dance

  white, yellow, black,

  graceful

  Water smells strange and bad

  there are many green things in it

  no fish and no birds

  Spring is coming

  There are many lives in the garden

  but it is beginning to rain

  many insects will die

  Untitled

  Tiffany Chen | Yinzhou High School

  Listen

  can you hear any noise?

  there's no one talking

  there's no machine working

  there's a silence in the world

  Listen

  can you hear any noise?

  The birds are singing

  the wind is running

  the leaves are whispering

  this is our supreme world

  and this is the sound of silence.

  Unnamed

  Kessey Wang | Qingdao High School

  When the sun rises

  When the moon falls

  Then the birds sing

  When the sky bright

  When the alarm rings

  Then the dream ends

  A new day has already came

  Every day is a wonderful day

  Every day is an amazing day

  Different things happened one by one

  Laugh out loud all the time

  It’s a great honor to breathe the fresh air

  It’s a happiness to be standing here

  But I can’t help thinking

  The resources are using up

  The rivers are drying up

  The sea level is getting higher

  The climate is warming

  The mother we all have

  Is dying

  I can’t help thinking

  What if one day the sun doesn’t rise

  What if one day the moon doesn’t fall

  What if one day the birds stop singing

  What if the alarm doesn’t ring

  What if the dream doesn’t end

  What if the earth starts to quake

  What if the sea starts to wave

  Still, I can’t help thinking

  What if a new day doesn’t come

  A Man Who I Admire

  Simon Pang | Qingdao High School

  Every time I make a mistake

  You will be serious

  But forgive me

  Every time I get hurt

  You will be reproachful

  But ask me if it’s painful

  Every time I see you during the midnight

  You will be at working

  But won’t be frustrated

  Every time I get a problem

  You will show up

  You are everywhere around me

  You are a hero for me

  You are protecting me

  You are taking all the responsibility on your shoulder

  You are carrying me to move forward

  You are my father

  Untitled

  Eagle Wei | Yinzhou High School

  Little birds flew away

  left a trail of voice in the sky

  then come back tomorrow

  Tears

  crystal, tiny

  shining, rolling, dropping

  eliminate the passed memory

  Beginning

  Water is the origin of all living organisms.

  But is also the end of lives.

  It turns to vapors and flows toward the sky,

  but forgot to take the yellow leaves flooded on its surface.

  Untitled

  Mark Zhou | Yinzhou High School

  Birds are talking about me

  Bushes are hiding me

  Paths are for guiding me

  I heard someone talking to me

  saying, “You are not alone.”

  The setting sun is warming me

  The wind is comforting me

  The ants are eating my heart

  I hear someone talking to me

  calling my name.

  Telling me, “Don't be ashamed.

  And I just want to say

  say to you

  I love you.”

  Remember When

  Jerry Wang | Qingdao High School

  I’m walking along a shady path,

  With the aroma of leaves and flowers.

  I have seen this scene before.

  This reminds me some unforgettable memories.

  The feelings are so true and precious,

  We were so happy at that time.

  I still remember
the stupid things we did together

  We were running and yelling at school

  Singing our favorite songs

  Didn’t care about anything

  I believe we can go back there

  But everything is changed

  The happiness between us has gone

  Suddenly the life became complicated

  You’ve lost inside

  Like the night stars

  Far away from here

  I’m not sure you know

  Goodbye sunshine

  Goodbye my friend

  The new life is waiting for me,

  I need to fight for the futures.