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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 4, 2009 · 12 Oakville youth aces global stats competition in Africa By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF S T AT I S T I C A L LY S P E A K I N G : Oakville student Amanda Ens, at left (at the far right), with the friends she met in Africa -- from left, Anika,Ayeanne, and Saskia. The local student took second place in her age category at the International Statistical Institute (ISI) Literacy Competition in Durban, South Africa. At right, her photo of a zebra. Amanda Ens, a Grade 9 T. A. Blakelock student, went to South Africa last summer. She didn't see a lion, but did take second in a global math contest. "It was the experience of a lifetime," said the 14-year-old. Last spring, she was among four Eastview Public School students to square off in the second phase of the International Statistical Institute (ISI) Literacy Competition. The quartet of Eastview students were among 200 Canadian students who wrote the first phase of the competition in February 2008. They wrote Phase II online in April, then found out Ens had won the trip to South Africa. "To be honest, I never even thought I would win," said Ens. The competition is a project of the ISI, which was established in 1885 and is one of the oldest scientific associations operating today. Amanda travelled with her teacher Karen Livingston Jeffrey SUBMITTED PHOTOS and her mom, Laura Ens. With the medical precautions, paperwork and hotel bookings all taken care of, Ens boarded a plane and many hours later found herself among 2,500 delegates at the 57th annual ISI conference. She was also amongst about 100 students who were dubbed `learners' at the conference. "It was definitely a learning experience. I had no idea of what to expect and it was really awesome," said Amanda. The conference was held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, which is South Africa's conference city. While the Ens's did take tours while there, they just briefly glimpsed life outside the city, where they saw stone huts painted in vivid colours. Amanda said while all students at the conference did not speak the same language, they all did manage to have fun. She met students from South America, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Argentina, the United States and African countries. African students wear a school uniform, have more extended families and a great respect for education, said Amanda, indicating that seemed common amongst the students. Culture, too, is a large focus for African people, particularly UIDA TION KOBE FABRIC OUTLET FALL SALE FABR IC LIQ UIDA TION FABR IC LIQ UIDA TION ABRIC ION F LIQUID ATION LIQ FABRIC UIDAT AT LIQUID IC LIQ FABRIC UID ATION LIQUIDATION FA TION FABRIC LIQUID BRIC ATION FABRIC LIQ FABRIC IO UIDIDAIONN FABRIC U ATT LIQUIDATION FABRICLIQUIDATI LIQUIDATON F FABR RIC LIQ ION AB IC LIQUID FAB ATION FABRIC LIQ RIC L ATION UIDATIONFABR IQUID LIQUID ATIO BRIC N FA N FA BRIC DATIO LIQUI DATI ONFA BRIC L GIANT FABR RIC IONFAB WAREHOUSE SALE DRAPERY AND UPHOLSTERY FABRICS INCREDIBLE SAVINGS FRIDAY, NOV. 10-TUESDAY, NOV. 24 TWIN & DOUBLE COMFORTERS 1/2 PRICE Reg. $19.99 music and dance. For Amanda and her mom, the biggest difference they found was an apparent all-consuming fascination with meat eating -- red meat. "Much of the food is based around meat ... for breakfast, lunch and dinner," said Laura, adding, "After a while you get all meated out." Although it wasn't cold, it was winter there and South Africans bundled up for it. Shopping afforded a host of beadwork and Laura said, "Art is everywhere." The Oakville residents saw lots of sugar cane fields, a big export, and cows everywhere, including on the side of the roads. They even went on safari. "It was really great to see the zebra there, where they live and not in a cage," said Amanda. It was a little more intimidating to be about 50 feet from a rhinoceros (which Laura described as "huge") and even more so when an elephant planted itself in their path. Amanda said their guide noted the elephant meant no harm, just wanted them to know it was there. They didn't however see a lion. "If you're in Africa, you want to see a lion," said Amanda. Other memories of the trip include a visit to a Zulu village where the women take charge and produce a beer Laura said is a milky colour. A trip to a healing hut also proved interesting in that upon entering, one found the unvented hut filled with smoke to the point where you had to crouch to breathe in -- a feat all the more amazing when they discovered a healer in training would be confined to such a hut. This was a world in which a tribal king could have as many wives as he could afford in cows -- and a world away from the statistics competition whose goal is to encourage girls in mathematics. Laura said she placed second in her age group (12 to 14) though the competition offered testing up to the college level. "We are very proud of her, very proud," said her mom. A cultural evening that celebrated women in statistical fields drew about 1,000 women and was a "spectacular" event at Durban's city hall. "I've always loved math and science and this was a great experience, it was a real cultural experience," said Amanda. "I was glad to be there, glad to be part of it," said Amanda who was the sole Canadian to compete. While the competition is held every two years -- and initial testing takes that long to complete -- Amanda said she is already preparing for the next round. "In 2011, it will be held in Dublin, Ireland. I think I'm going to sign up for the exams and see what happens." $ 3,375 UP TO SAVE WITH GREAT REBATES EMBROIDERED 100% COTTON QUEEN SHEET Reg. $39.99 + Now Only $ 99 9 $ Now Only 24 99 $ 1,350 MORE WITH THE TAX CREDIT 5380 South Service Rd., (between Appleby & Burloak) Burlington Factory Outlet 905-631-6515 905-6 31-6 515 OPEN TUES TO SAT 10AM - 5PM # 5380 Hurry! Offer ends November 13, 2009 Details on carrier.ca Government rebates subject to change.