Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions!

Once shy reporter leans to speak out—and get the scoop.

Before my experience as a Kid Reporter, I was very shy. I was hesitant to interact with other people and always got major butterflies when I had to give a presentation! Now I get major scoops!

I soon learned that I get the most out of my interviews when I am unafraid to ask more questions than I prepared. I also learned not to be afraid to repeat myself,or ask the person I am interviewing to speak more slowly.

When I interviewed author Pam Muñoz Ryan, I asked her about any upcoming projects. She said I was one of the first to find out about her soon-to-be-released new novel! All because I thought to ask.

You’ll find that when you ask the questions, you can gain access to awesome information and be able to write articles chock-full with fun facts that YOU discovered yourself!

Communication has other benefits as well. As a writer, I have to communicate effectively through emails and phone calls with my editor. She’s an important part of my job, and without her to answer my various questions, I’d be lost and unorganized.

In my first days as a reporter, I was constantly asking myself how long my article should be or when the next interview was scheduled. It never occurred to me that I should stop asking myself and instead ask someone who could really answer my questions! 

Over the last two years, being involved in journalism has combined my love of writing with practice in communication. Good communication is a key skill for everyone, not just reporters!

Is journalism not your thing? It doesn’t have to be to learn from it. Whenever you’re confused about an assignment at school, ask your teachers. They’re always willing to help you succeed, just like the staff at Scholastic is for me!

—Anjali Bhat

PHOTO: Once shy, Kid Reporter Anjali Bhat now reports every chance she gets, even when on vacation at Mount Titlis in Switzerland! (Photo Courtesy Anjali Bhat)

Where it Snows in Summer

Bay area Kid Reporter loses her heart to Switzerland.

This summer, I took my first trip to Europe. In 10 days, we traveled to England, Belgium, Italy, France, and Germany. By far my favorite destination out of all of these was Switzerland.

First we visited Engelberg, which is a small town nestled beneath the giant Alps. We took the Titlis Rotair, a revolving cable car—the first of its kind!—up to the very top of the mountain. Did you know that Mount Titlis is 10,623 feet tall? That's more than two miles high!

Because of the high elevation, it was snowing. Imagine that! For us Americans, snow in the summer is a bit of a shock. In addition to snow tubes and toboggans (which I went on again and again), there was a special type of sled that looked like a toy motorcycle with handlebars. Apparently, the Swiss love to have fun!

They also love chocolate. In Lucerne, the next city we visited, I saw packages of the treat in every window, and a milk chocolate fountain running in almost all the bakeries! I watched a chocolatier at work in a local candy shop. The confectionery they create with just some chocolate, icing, and food coloring is incredible!

Also in the city is the famous Lion Monument, a sculpture carved into the side of a rock. It shows an injured lion that is so wounded you can almost sense the sorrow and pain.

This piece of art was made to honor the deaths of Swiss Guards during the French Revolution. Mark Twain, a famous American author, called it "the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world."

Upscale stores selling luxury watches and bracelets (the Swiss are known for their fancy handiwork) dot the city's clean, riverfront streets. I was more interested in a quirky gold cowbell for a souvenir, though.

No matter where you're from or who you are, the awe-inspiring landmarks of Switzerland, whether they are natural or man-made, will be something you'll never forget!

—Anjali Bhat

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Anjali Bhat at the top of Mount Titlis in Switzerland. (Photo Courtesy Anjali Bhat)

Summer Discoveries in Three Cities

What I learned about Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver in a whirl-wind 6-day trip.

Summer is a time to learn new things and discover new places. That's why I took a six-day trip to the three cities of Seattle, Victoria, and Vancouver. I found them all pretty interesting!

You probably know that the famous Space Needle is located in Seattle, Washington. But a little-known fact is that Seattle is also home to the world's first automatic car wash! I thought the sign, a big pink elephant, was pretty funny! The first-ever Starbucks to open up for business is in Pike Place Market. There was a line of customers down the whole block! Getting a Starbucks in Seattle should be no problem, however, since there are 79 other stores in the city!

Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, a Canadian province. As soon as we arrived there on a ferry, I felt like I had stepped back in time. It was great to walk down the cobbled streets and look at all the old fashioned stores (like Rogers' Soda Shoppe. Yum!) Victoria, nicknamed the City of Gardens, really cares about beauty. Ocean front parks and Butchart Gardens have flowers rarely found in other parts of Canada!

The word that came to mind when I visited Vancouver was fusion. The people of Vancouver are a blend of many different cultures. That's why Vancouver has ethnic markets like Chinatown, Little Italy, and the Punjabi Market. Out of the downtown area is the beautiful Grouse Mountain looking down on the whole city. You have to take a chairlift called the Sky Ride to get to the mountain top, which is at an elevation of about 4,000 feet. There's also a suspension bridge over a breathtaking waterfall in Lynn Canyon that was fun to walk across!

Back home in California, I'm making a collage from all my saved tickets, brochures, and photos. Little keepsakes from a super trip!

—Anjali Bhat

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Anjali Bhat on the suspension bridge at Lynn Canyon in Vancouver, BC. Photo Courtesy Anjali Bhat