Writing is an integral part of education. By mastering the use of language at a young age, students can prepare themselves for life outside the safe surroundings of the educational arena and get ready for their future careers. Those studying at Shanghai’s International schools are no exception. This time we introduce to you Simone Kane, who is pretty good at creative writing.
Simone Kane from Western International School of Shanghai submitted two short stories to us. Her writing invokes clear imagery while the simplicity of the subject is given more emotional context and feelings of empathy, making her stories an intriguing read.
Sweet Creations
The process begins before I even enter the kitchen. The hours spent online and in the recipe books. The recipes I find excite me, the aesthetics, the texture, and the thought of it meeting my tongue and bursting into a thousand different flavors…
Butter…check.
Sugar… check.
Flour… check.
Eggs… Uh-oh, Dad used all the eggs.
Vanilla extracts… check.
Recipe book… check.
Creative mode… engaged.
The sweet smell of the vanilla and the combination of butter and sugar makes me ecstatic as I mix and whisk. The concepts I produce make me want to dive in, the multi-colored icing, the chocolate oozing out the center of a warm, fluffy sponge. My most prized possession sits on the countertop standing tall and proud.
The hum as it blends, bringing the rush through my body. The tick-tock of the timer makes me anxious as I wait, eager to savor perfection. The reactions on people’s faces are a measure of my success, the unadulterated joy in the knowledge that my creations have brought temporary happiness.
Bringing to life the simple process of baking in the kitchen, Simone shows a delightful handling of style and a finesse with the language belying her age. In her Above and Beyond, we are given a valuable insight into how life in a different climate is seen from the little ones by our side.
Above and Beyond
Whoosh. The air streams past as we cut through the clouds. The seats make me feel uncomfortable as I fidget, squirming around as I seek contentment. My ears pop and my stomach lurches. Touchdown!
A big gust of wind hits my face, carrying the essence of the city. Tall skyscrapers loom above my head and cast shadows upon the people below. Mingling odors tickle my nose: fish, chicken, and the fragrance of a magnolia flower. The sounds coming out of people’s mouths confuse me. I have no response to the words they say.
I feel fortunate that I can go above and beyond my daily routine. The different cultures make me feel alien as I explore their customs, which challenge my definition of normal. I eventually grow used to these traditions, learning words that sit on the tip of my tongue as I attempt to communicate.
These experiences open my mind to the world, taking my thinking outside the box and extending it beyond my contemplations. Place after place, culture after culture, these understandings make me feel limitless and untethered as I discover the world just like Christopher Columbus.
Simone Kane is in Grade 8 at Western International School of Shanghai.
