December 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 4
The LCA Student Gazette
1000 Child Jockeys in Mongolian Horse Race
Every year, Mongolian people
celebrate their most famous
festival, Naadam, which consists of 3
games: wrestling, archery and the
longest, toughest horse race in the
world. It always starts with horse
racing.
Horse jockeys are children
between 5 and 13 years old. There
are 6 races according to the age of
the horses; 2-year-old horses to 6year-old horses (fully grown), and
stallions. Racing distances are
dependent on horse ages, between 6
-12 miles. Horse races are held in an
open field.
Twenty-one provinces and 329
soums
(small
administrative
divisions) celebrate their own festivals
and the biggest Naadam celebration
is in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
Horses and children are trained
for a few months before the festival.
The horses are given a special diet
and treated with tenderness. The
children are also responsible for
cherishing their horses with a special
song called “Gingo” to raise their
spirits and cheer them on.
During the Naadam festival, July
10th to 12th, around 112 thousand
horses race throughout the country.
On August 9, 2013, the
Mongolian people won 2 new
Guinness
records.
The
first
one was the Guinness World Record
title for the largest parade of horses:
11,125 horses. The second world
record was for the most runners in a
horse race: 4,249. The race covered
a total distance of 11.18 miles and
the youngest rider was 7 years
old. People said that when the race
began, there was a cloud of dust and
it seemed like a tsunami had arrived!
Mongolian
people are very
respectful of their horses and they
are inseparable from them. There is a
traditional Mongolian saying, “A
Mongol without a horse is like a bird
without wings.”
Helmeted children in Nadaam Race, riding bareback for speed
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By Erdenechimeg Davaakhuu, Mongolia
December 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 4
The LCA Student Gazette
Breathtaking Natural Wonders in Yellowstone
The U.S. has three very famous
national parks; Grand Canyon,
Yosemite and Yellowstone National
Park. Of the three, Yellowstone is
the best park I’ve ever seen because
of all the activity there. It is a natural
park located in Wyoming, Montana
and Idaho. Yellowstone is the first
national park in the U.S. and is also
widely held to be the first national
park in the world.
The park is known for its wildlife
and many geothermal features.
People can easily find geysers and
there are many beautiful lakes,
I was impressed by the
very unique and wonderful
scenery. The most famous
geyser in the park is Old
Faithful. Old Faithful is the
most popular of all the
geysers. This is one of the
largest active geysers in the
world. Old Faithful erupts
more frequently than any of
the other big geysers,
although it is not the largest
geyser in the park. Its
average interval between eruptions
is about 90 minutes, varying from 50
- 127 minutes. An
eruption continues
1.5 - 5 minutes,
expels 3,700 - 8,400
gallons of boiling
water, and reaches
a height of 106 - 184
feet. The geyser’s
pattern of eruptions
may change at any
time.
I was full of
anticipation to see
the geyser eruption.
XXXX
White travertine around blue hot springs
That day, it came
canyons, rivers, and mountain about 30 minutes late. This event
ranges.
was spectacular and breathtaking.
The vast forests and grasslands
Mammoth Hot Springs is a large
are home to unique species of plants complex on a hill of travertine, which
and various kinds of animals.
is limestone deposited by the
Grizzly bears, wolves and free- mineral spring. It was created over
ranging herds of bison and elk live in thousands of years as hot water
the park. The Yellowstone Park from the spring cooled and
bison herds are the oldest and deposited calcium carbonate forming
largest public bison herds in the the huge amount of geothermal
United States. People can frequently vented travertine. Throughout
encounter bison and elk all over the Yellowstone, the ribbons of different
park.
colors in and around the thermal
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The author at the park entrance
features are usually formed by
thermophiles (heat-loving
organisms). The blue surface color
of Mammoth Hot Springs was a
mysterious and beautiful sight.
Yellowstone has numerous
Old Faithful erupting
recreational opportunities, including
hiking, camping, boating, fishing and
sightseeing.
Once again, I couldn’t help but to
admire this wonderful display of
nature. I am dreaming of another
unforgettable trip with my husband
December 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 4
The LCA Student Gazette
Felted rugs from Kyrgyzstan
Handmade crafts
have been very
popular in Kyrgyzstan
for centuries and every
house has them.
People have been
creative and have tried
to use any material
that could give an
aesthetic beauty while
crafting, sewing or
knitting. A long time
ago in Kyrgyzstan,
females would have
been taught hand
crafts from an early
age. It was important
because handcrafting
showed that a young
lady was prepared for
the future life.
In like manner,
every culture can
attract people to
discover lots of vibrant
and unique patterns of handmade
items. In similar fashion, Kyrgyzstan
has its own captivating style of
crafting. Furthermore
because of the
XXXX
nomadic style of living, most of the
objects were made from sheep wool.
and mostly brightly
colored. On top of the
second layer goes
beautifully quiltedtogether patterned
sheets representing
spiritual values, and the
balance between
nature and people.
Also there is a
possibility to have a
shyrdak felted rug from
Zurich, Switzerland
because not so long
ago a store was
opened
named
“Shyrdak Avenue.” The
Owner, Bernard
Zarnegin promotes the
shop, advancing the
culture of Central Asia.
Generally speaking
these soft, thick and
fantastic felt rugs which
Wool was used to protect people
from harsh weather conditions. For
example yurts were covered by
wool. Also clothes, hats, and even
rugs were made of wool.
Nowadays Kyrgyzstan has
started to provide more modernized
handmade items. The most famous
item that has found demand on the
market is “shyrdak”. Shyrdak is a
traditional felted rug. It is executed
by the mosaic technique which is
one of the world’s oldest art forms.
These types of rugs are made
from colored wool and pressed into 2
layers of sheets. The first layer is
thick and mostly black or browncolored. The second layer is thinner
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can last for decades are not just a
part of the interior design of the
house; they are also a remarkable
part of the cultural heritage of
Kyrgyzstan.
December 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 4
The LCA Student Gazette
International Recipe
A CREAMY DELIGHT FROM PERU
Aji de Gallina is a famous Peruvian recipe from 1542. In Lima then, chicken hens were the most popular food. Limeans
took the flesh and left the bones with the remains of the hen, and the poor used that to cook soups. They added pieces of bread to
extend the meal, and more spices. In this way, that poor soup became fashionable with one ingredient more: the Mirasol chili and the
name became Aji de Gallina (Chili of Hen). Now this recipe is served in the most expensive restaurants in Peru.
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 6 people
Ingredients:
 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
 2 red onions, finely chopped
 5 cloves garlic, chopped
 1 oz (25 g) shelled pecans or almonds,
chopped
 1 cup (8 fl oz/250 ml) Yellow Chili
Paste (Victory Garden Chilies, find them
in Walmart)
1/2 cup (4 fl oz/120 ml) Mirasol Chili Paste
or (Victory Garden Chilies, find them in
Walmart)
Cooking:




1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 white bread slices
1/2 cup (4 fl oz/120 ml) whole
(full-fat) milk, plus extra if
necessary
 1 1/2 cups (13 fl oz/375 ml)
chicken broth (stock), plus extra if
necessary
 1 lb (450 g) cooked chicken
breast, shredded
 3/4 oz (20 g) Parmesan cheese
 2 white potatoes
 2 cups (14 oz/400 g) cooked white rice, to serve
salt and pepper
Heat the oil in a pan over low heat, add the onion and garlic, and saute for a few minutes, until the onion has softened.
Add the chopped pecans or almonds and chili pastes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cumin and oregano and continue
to cook, stirring, for a few minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside. Put the bread in a bowl, cover with the milk, and
let soak for 5 minutes, then put in a blender with the onion and pecan mixture. Blend together well. Pour the blended mixture
into a pan over medium heat and add the broth (stock), shredded chicken breast, and Parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust the
seasoning if necessary. Cook for 8 minutes until it is creamy. If the chili starts to dry out during the cooking process, add a little
more broth or milk. Meanwhile, bring a pan of water to a boil, add the potatoes, and cook until tender. Drain and cut into slices.
Arrange the sliced boiled potatoes on a serving platter and ladle over the chicken chili. Garnish with the olives, hard boiled egg
quarters, and curly parsley and serve with rice. (From Gaston Acurio's cookbook)
This creamy Peruvian classic stew can be as smooth or as spicy as you like.
By Vangie Hernandez, Peru
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December 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 4
The LCA Student Gazette
DISCOVER UNFORGETTABLE BELARUS
A small country, which looks
like a maple leaf right in the center of
Europe, is Belarus. People want to
visit Italy, Spain and France, but why
not Belarus?
It’s time to discover “the blueeyed girl” or “the country under the
white wings”, as Belarusians call
their country because of the blue
lakes and all the white storks.
Young and old at the same
time, Belarus got independence in
1991, but has a long history. You
would easily find places and things
which will lead you hundreds of
years back and stay in your memory
for a long time.
From far away you can notice
the majestic Mir Castle in the middle
of Belarus. The incredible view of it
Nesvizh Castle
will open your eyes wider.
Built in Belarusian Gothic style
in the 16th century, it has five towers
surrounding the courtyard. The walls
form a square of 75 meters (246 ft.)
on each side. The castle has had 4
owners who were the families of the
richest people in Belarus. It became
a state estate in 1939.
As a fortification, Mir Castle
participated in four wars. It was a
Jewish ghetto in 1942 during World
War II. And in 1944, after the
liberation of Belarus, people
whose houses were destroyed
in the war lived there till 1962.
Also this place, like many
other historically significant
places, is surrounded by
legends. One stone in the south
wall is shaped like the head of a
ram. In ancient times a ram's
head served as a kind of
talisman against attack. So
while the stone is in the wall, the
castle will stand, but if somebody
would try to remove it, the castle
would fall.
In 2000, Mir Castle was listed
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Just a half-hour drive from Mir
Castle is equally fascinating Nesvizh
Castle. It was built 400 years ago
using 4 different styles of
architecture. The main building is
surrounded by a moat and on one
side of the castle is a beautifullydesigned park with rare species of
trees. Some of them are not
common to Belarus and can only be
found here. The estate was owned
by the Radziwill family, one of the
most influential and wealthy clans of
the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and
the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland
from 1583 till 1939. People say the
owners were so rich that they
covered the surrounding hills with
salt in summertime to ski and sled.
People still believe that somewhere
in a tunnel under the castle are
hidden life-size figures of the 12
apostles made of gold.
Bialowiezha Pushcha [Bee-alow-vee-ay-zha]
[Poosh-cha],
meaning “deep forest,” is the oldest
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Mir Castle
nature reserve in Europe. It is
located on Belarusian and Poland
territory and covers 1500 square
kilometers (579 square miles). In
2009 the place had its 600th
anniversary as a reserve.
The entire area of northeastern
Europe was originally covered by
ancient woodland similar to that of
the Bialowiezha Pushcha. This old
and primeval forest was mentioned
in historical records in 983. It’s a
home for many rare kinds of animals
and birds which were saved and
protected there, even though other
ecosystems in Europe were
destroyed by humans. The biggest
animal there is a unique bison or
zubr, which is the national animal of
Belarus.
Still now the forest has a high
level of protection, but some areas
are open for visitors.
In 1991, the document
dissolving the Soviet Union, was
signed in this forest by the leaders of
Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
By exploring these places, you
will discover the real wealth of “The
Land under the White Wings”; its
historical uniqueness and the beauty
of
By Helen Savostianova, Belarus
December 2016
Vol. 4, Issue 4
The LCA Student Gazette
What would you like to change in your life if you had a chance
to go back?
Make more connections and memories
If she could go back and change
anything, she would go back to high
school and try to talk to more people,
make more friends and be less shy. In
high school she didn’t have many friends
until senior year because she just felt so
scared to talk to anybody. She felt like
everybody was different from her and she
couldn’t find someone to relate with. “In
truth, I should have tried harder to relate
to other kids, make more connections
and good memories,” she said.
Carly Sjordal, 21, living in Two Rivers,
college student, born in AK
Put forth more effort in school
"I would've paid attention in school more
and put forth more effort in my classes. I
skipped school a lot, I didn’t do homework
and I didn’t care about being there. I cared
more to be cool than actually pay attention
in school. So I wish I could go back and
just put more of my brain into the books
because I know I am smart. I just did not
apply myself. I think if I had paid more
attention in school and got better grades, I
would've done something different with my
life.”
Christopher Dobson, 27, Army soldier, 7
months in AK
Played violin instead of silly class
"When I was a 9th grader I played the
violin. In the 10th grade, instead of
continuing to play the violin, I took a silly
class. I regret that because I stopped
playing the violin. I took a leadership
class and I called that silly. Also I wish I
had listened to my mother more and
been more respectful to her, as I am
now."
Tomi Ingersoel, 37, tutor at Fairbanks
North Star Borough school district, 4.5
years in AK
STUDENTS AT LCA
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
COUNTRY
PEOPLE
COUNTRY
PEOPLE
American Samoa
1
Moldova
1
Argentina
1
Mongolia
1
Belarus
1
Nepal
1
Brazil
1
Nicaragua
1
Cambodia
1
Palau
1
China
Cuba
Dominican
Republic
6
1
Panama
Peru
1
2
2
Puerto Rico
5
Ecuador
2
Russia
1
El Salvador
5
Sri Lanka
1
India
1
Thailand
1
Korea
10
Togo
1
Kyrgyzstan
1
Ukraine
2
Mexico
5
Venezuela
Vietnam
2
2
TOTAL
62
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Lay-out and design by Helen Savostianova, Belarus