Fidan Karimova


Name: Fidan Karimova
Position: Page Editor
Graduation Year: 2005
Fidan is a SENIOR!!! She is happy to be a part of the Silver Chips staff, considering that it's the best high school newspaper ever! She would also like to point out that she is one of two Azerbaijani students at Blair and proud to be representin' her country.


Stories (33)


Republic of India

By Fidan Karimova | April 26, 2005, midnight | In Print »

India's most ancient civilization was discovered in the mid - 1800's by British engineers, who were busy constructing a railway line between Karachi and Punjab. The engineers found ancient kiln-baked bricks along the path of the track. Soon afterward, two cities, Harappa on the Ravi River, and Mohenjodaro on the Indus were discovered. Over time, the Ancient Indian civilization extended half a million square miles across the Indus river valley and outlasted Egypt and Sumer civilizations.

An evening of Russian and English culture

By Fidan Karimova | March 25, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The first annual concert involving the Russian School of the Russian Embassy and the British School of Washington was hosted at the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC on Thursday, March 17. The concert was dedicated to educating students of both schools about the Russian and the British culture.

India-Pakistan cricket match

By Fidan Karimova | March 25, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Well before an India-Pakistan cricket series begins, newspapers start splashing headlines, such as `A War on the Pitch' or `The Kargil of Cricket.' However, everybody fails to notice the friendship among the spectators of the two nations.

International Night

By Fidan Karimova | March 23, 2005, midnight | In Print »

On Friday, March 18, International Night took place in the auditorium. It was an opportunity for the many diverse cultures at Blair to represent themselves and their country to the Blair community.

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

By Fidan Karimova | March 7, 2005, midnight | In Print »

From first to sixth centuries AD, Vietnam was a part of the Indianised Kingdom of Funan. The Chinese covered the area in the second century and ruled for 1000 years. Their rule ended in 938 AD, when Ngo Quyen destroyed the Chinese armies and became the leader of the country. Quyen died in 944 AD. In 1858, the French and Spanish stormed into Vietnam and a year later captured Saigon. From then on, the French ruled Vietnam until 1954, when communist leader Ho Chi Minh helped drive the French out of Vietnam. The same year, the negotiations of the Geneva Accords divided Vietnam into two regions – South Vietnam, controlled mostly by the anti-communists, and the communist North Vietnam.

Foreign exchange students in America

By Fidan Karimova | March 4, 2005, midnight | In Print »

On a cloudy Sunday morning they congregated, students representing countries of the world: Switzerland, New Zealand, Morocco, Zambia, India, Germany and many others, to discuss topics such as relocation, education, making friends, learning the culture of their host country and their new school.

UPDATE: His first and last day at Blair

By Allison Elvove, Fidan Karimova | Feb. 22, 2005, midnight | In Print »

On Monday, Jan. 31, junior Abrahm Gurmu died of heart disease. It was his first day at Blair. Abrahm, who was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, came to America eight months ago to pursue a better education. "He was very eager to go to school," said Abrahm's cousin, senior Namerud Admasu. Abrahm was also a model student back at home in Addis Keteema School, according to his older brother, Dawit Gurmu, who said Abrahm was one of 10,000 students, out of a pool of five million, to receive a high score on an important nationwide exam.

Controversy over A-Level examinations in German school

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 22, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The article below is from the Carl-von-Ossietzky-Gymnasium school newspaper, located in Hamburg, Germany. The article deals with the newly implemented A-Level examination, a test that is taken by all graduating students in thirteenth grade in Hamburg schools. The A-Level exam is very similar to the standardized testing in American schools.

Halle Berry

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 17, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Halle Berry, who was named after the department store Halle Brothers, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Aug. 14, 1968. Her father left her family when Berry was just four years old, so she and her sister, Heidi, were raised by their mother, Judith, in a one-parent household. Later, the family moved into a suburban area dominated by Caucasians. In the new neighborhood, children started teasing Berry and her sister because of their skin color. Determined to overcome the racial issue, Berry became more involved in school as a cheerleader, Prom Queen and member of the National Honors Society.

Aretha Franklin

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 14, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Through her mixture of blues, pop and rock, Aretha Franklin became the first person to bring Gospel singing to American popular music. With songs such as "Respect," Franklin has attained world recognition, 20 number one R&B hits, 15 Grammys and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Muhammad Ali

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 7, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Clay on Jan. 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the most influential moments in his young life occurred when Ali was 12. He met policeman Joe Martin, after Ali's bike was stolen, and the young boy told the officer that he wished to beat up the person who took his bicycle. Martin suggested, however, that before Ali took any action, he should first learn how to box and defend himself. From then on, Ali began to attend Martin's boxing gym regularly. In a short period of time, he became the best in his age group; by age 18, he had won all the possible amateur titles and qualified to participate in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, from where he brought back a gold medal.

Kofi Annan

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 6, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Kofi Atta Annan is the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations (U.N.) and is the first man from the sub-Saharan Africa to head the U.N. He is fluent in English, French and several African languages.

Serena and Venus Williams

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 2, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Venus Williams was born in Lynwood, California, on June 17, 1980. One year later, on Sept. 26, her sister, Serena Williams was born in Saginaw, Michigan. The two sisters were raised in an economically depressed Los Angeles suburb of Compton but found comfort in tennis.

Living after the tsunami disaster in India

By Fidan Karimova | Jan. 28, 2005, midnight | In Print »

On Dec. 26, 2004, a series of tsunamis struck South Asia. In India 10,749 were pronounced dead, "5,640 missing -- 5,554 on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands." Following is an article from Anshul Kapoor, an eighth grade student from Bluebells International School, in New Delhi, India. Anshul has agreed to send Silver Chips Online articles about India and student life in his country.

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

By Fidan Karimova | Jan. 19, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Christopher Columbus discovered the island of Trinidad on July 31, 1498. The island frequently underwent colonization from countries such as Spain, France and Britain. In 1834, slavery was abolished in Trinidad. After slavery was abolished, laborers were brought in from India to work the fields. Portuguese and Chinese peasants were also hired. In 1889, the islands of Trinidad and Tobago were combined into a British Crown Colony. In 1958, the islands became independent, becoming a part of the West Indies Foundation. However, it was only on August 1, 1976, that these two islands officially became known as the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

German school puts up a wall to protect nonsmokers

By Fidan Karimova | Jan. 13, 2005, midnight | In Print »

This article is from Carl-von-Ossietzky-Gymnasium, a school located in Hamburg, Germany that is attended by students from fifth to 13 grades. Since the smoking age in Germany is 16, students are allowed to smoke on school campus, and at times teachers join the students to smoke.

Republic of Haiti

By Fidan Karimova | Jan. 6, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The Island of Haiti was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Then, in the 1700's it became a French colony and in 1804 it gained its independence, becoming the Empire of Haiti. The country's struggle for democracy continued in the 20th century as it underwent many struggles, for example poverty. In the 80's it became known as the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

New Years across the continents

By Fidan Karimova | Dec. 23, 2004, midnight | In Print »

New Years is celebrated in every country and on every continent around the world. Everyone awaits the arrival of the New Year to start off with a clean slate. In this page, you will be able to analyze the various New Years celebrations of one country from each continent of our diverse world.

Turmoil in the Ukraine

By Fidan Karimova | Dec. 6, 2004, midnight | In Print »

On Friday, Dec. 3, the Ukrainian Supreme Court agreed on a new date for the country's hotly contested presidential election. The redo will take place on Dec. 26, according to The Washington Post. Local residents with ties to the Ukraine had mixed reactions.

Republic of Azerbaijan

By Fidan Karimova | Sept. 21, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Prior to becoming a part of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan, also named the "Land of Fire,” for sporadic fields of fire gushing out from its petrol fields, was acknowledged as a place where development of many civilizations took place. The independent Azerbaijani Democratic Republic was proclaimed on 28 May of 1818, and in a short time achieved remarkable results.

Putin promises response after 300+ dead in hostage situation

By Fidan Karimova | Sept. 4, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a swift response to Islamist militants responsible for the Beslan school siege, which ended in violent bloodshed after a 52-hour long standoff on Friday, Sept. 3, according to The New York Times and The Washington Post.

High-school heists

By Fidan Karimova | April 28, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Pokerfaced and relaxed, Tim, who has been stealing since sixth grade, approaches a table in the library, snatches a calculator out of an open backpack and swiftly leaves the crime scene, periodically looking around to see if anyone is following him. Assured that he is safe, he rejoins his friends, a big grin on his face, and smugly describes how he has managed to swipe the calculator.

A poem from Russia

By Fidan Karimova | March 24, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Hidalgo gallops to greatness

By Fidan Karimova | March 11, 2004, midnight | In Print »

An epic adventure, a story about love and hate, friendship and betrayal—Hildago is that and much more. It is the true story of an American long distance horse rider, Franklin J. Hopkins, who, after witnessing the massacre of the Indians during the battle of Wounded Knee Creek, turns to drinking and becomes a participant in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in order to forget about his Indian lineage and the unjust treatment his people. An Arab visits the show to invite Hopkins, the greatest long-distance horse racer in the Wild West, to participate in the Ocean of Fire, a 3,000 mile race across the Arabian Dessert. Hopkins accepts the offer and embarks on the greatest horse race of his life with his loyal mustang, Hidalgo.

Complicated Confessions

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 24, 2004, midnight | In Print »

If you want to see a mix of Bring it On, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Holiday in the Sun, and Princess Diaries, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, from a novel by Dean Sheldon, directed by Sara Sugarman, is just right for you.

Who let the dog out?

By Fidan Karimova | Feb. 19, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The dog, a Labrador retriever, seemed friendly, wagging its tail and eager to be petted. The first time I petted it, the dog seemed to be enjoying it, but the second time didn't go that well. Just as I leaned over to pet the dog, it jumped at me. The next minute, I was rushing to the bathroom to wash my face with cold water. Looking in the mirror I saw that the skin on my nose and cheek was ripped and blood was streaming down my face. The dog had bitten me.

Peter Pan: A memorable quest

By Fidan Karimova | Jan. 1, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Take a young boy who does not want to grow up, a girl that is not ready to grow up, the girl's two brothers, and add pirates, mermaids, Indians, fairies, and clouds made out of cotton candy, and you have the adventure of a lifetime. Or in other words, P.J. Hogan's production, Peter Pan.

Poem from Russia

By Fidan Karimova | Dec. 18, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Polly Zamorina is a high school student who goes to school in Russia. She likes rock music and some days wants to have her own band and sing, sing, sing. But for now she is concentrating on getting good grades and getting into a good University. Here is a poem that she has written.

Foreign exchange program at Blair

By Fidan Karimova | Nov. 18, 2003, midnight | In Print »

Juniors Beatrice Walker is sitting in Pre-calculus, attentively listening to the teacher explaining the material that is going to be covered on the test the following day. A handbook is lying on her desk with "Germany” written on it. She also has two binders with pictures, of her family in Germany, taped onto them. You would never be able to distinguish her from her classmates, but there is a difference. She is one of the three foreign exchange students, along with junior Peart Wiwitworakit and sophomore Phuong Le, who are attending Blair this year.

Under the Tuscan Sun: a road to recovery

By Fidan Karimova | Oct. 1, 2003, midnight | In Print »

At times it seems the world is coming to an end, then a glimmer of hope strikes, and life starts moving in the right direction. Everything happens for the best, they say, and that saying is very relevant to Under the Tuscan Sun. Written and directed by Audrey Wells, it is a story about a woman who undergoes her worst nightmare: a divorce. And at a time when everything is going downhill, her life suddenly takes another turn and regains meaning.

The Order: filled with disorder

By Fidan Karimova | Sept. 14, 2003, midnight | In Print »

If you want to see a story filled with demons, saints, stigmata, Sin Eaters, ghosts and other unearthly creatures but will leave you a bit puzzled, The Order, by Brian Hedgeland, is right for you, though it is not precisely the preeminent thing that you could spend your money on.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Discover the adventure of a lifetime

By Fidan Karimova | July 14, 2003, midnight | In Print »

If you are going to see one movie this year, go see Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl. Director Gore Verbisnki has done a fantastic job with the film. He took great care to add details to the tiniest things, includ fantastic graphics, and pick a very talented cast. Unlike his previous movie, The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean is less horrific than amusing. Instead of going home with a certain feeling of fear, this time you get to go home with a light heart.

Taking the trilingual perspective

By Fidan Karimova | Nov. 30, 1999, midnight | In Print »



Images (9)


Photo: Graduation rate graphic

By Fidan Karimova | May 10, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Subhash

By Fidan Karimova | April 22, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Photo: russia1

By Fidan Karimova | March 24, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

A folk song performed by the students of the Russian Embassy.

Photo: russia2

By Fidan Karimova | March 24, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

A dance by the YMCA Ayrlawn Ballet.

Photo: russia3

By Fidan Karimova | March 24, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

A display of the art-work created by Russian school students, dedicated to the anniversary of WWII.

Photo: Teen Forum 1

By Fidan Karimova | March 4, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

The four panelists who talked about their experiences of moving to America

Photo: Teen Forum 2

By Fidan Karimova | March 4, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

The four student panelists who talked about their experiences of moving to America

Photo: Teen Forum 2

By Fidan Karimova | March 4, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Students from the conference

Photo: Teen Forum 1

By Fidan Karimova | March 4, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Students from the conference