This is probably the smallest "dot" or "pin" on our entire voyage. Saipan is 12.5 miles long and 5.5 miles wide. But, it is also a good example for me that you can learn something new every day, no matter how old you are. Saipan is one of 15 tropical islands here in the western Pacific Ocean which is officially named: The capital of the ´United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands¡. I didn't know until today that there was another U.S. commonwealth other than Puerto Rico. Saipan is a little oasis of the USA. Cars drive on the right [View Full Entry]

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Monday, March 17, 2008 We are in Guam today, the largest island in Micronesia, the southern most of the Mariana Islands. It was created from the peaks of two ancient volcanoes that sank into the sea and fused together millions of years ago. Guam is an island territory of the United States located 900 miles north of the equator in the Western Pacific. As part of the US, we have to go through all the US immigration and customs. Because we, along with half the ship, had a tour today we had to be downstairs between 6 and 6:30am to collect [View Full Entry]

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While Saipan’s culture has been influenced by the US, it is less developed than Guam. The northern end of the island has neither electricity nor water infrastructure and is maintained much like a national park. Despite pressure from developers, the locals have repeatedly voted to keep it that way. It is on the north end that my tour was concentrated. The first stop was the Blue Grotto, a collapsed cave when divers can experience one of the great cave dives. One enters the water in a turbulent shore side pool and swims through one of three tunnels to the sea. Turtles, [View Full Entry]

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There is very little native forest left in Saipan for the same reason that Guam is covered by introduced species. What little is left is conserved and allowed to thrive. We took a short walk down a trail and heard birdsong, saw butterflies. Before the war, Japan had possession of Saipan for many years. The population spoke Japanese and many Japanese nationals lived here. During the war, the Japanese propaganda machine convinced the inhabitants that the Americans were evil captors who would rape the women, butcher and torture the men and children. Despite leaflets dropped during the i [View Full Entry]

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So for those of you who have never heard of Saipan, or the Northern Mariana Islands, you will be happy to know that it is where I have been frolicking all day, but at 70 ft below sea level in a yellow submarine. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I volunteered to be another "tour escort" and got put on a submarine tour, I mean when else am I going to be able to go on a submarine (point one) and in Saipan (point two). So needless to say, I was very excited to get this tour. Saipan is beautiful!! The water was turquoise [View Full Entry]

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THE COMMISSIONER IS ADVISING ALL PRINCIPALS TO KEEP ALL STUDENTS INDOORS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE VOLCANIC HAZE MOVING TOWARDS THE ISLANDS OF SAIPAN, TINIAN, AND ROTA. WE WILL KEEP YOU ALL POSTED AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THE NEXT BULLETIN FROM THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. THANK YOU this is a memo i got today after everyone stepped outside for break and couldn't even breathe it was so sulfury. yuck. sorry i haven't updated in forever. 3 day weekend coming up...i will write soon :) [View Full Entry]

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i woke up this morning to the roar of a big storm. the sky is dark and clouded over, and the wind is howling. as angry as it seems outside, it is so peaceful in my house. i have some candles lit for if the power goes out (which i assure you, it will), and a big cup of coffee sitting next to me. now it's time for an update: i have joined a gym! it's called the mandi asian spa and it's at a resort at the north end of the island. since it is a full spa facility and [View Full Entry]

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today we had our first pep rally. it was a half day because of parent report card pickup in the afternoon, so the students who were not misbehaving or failing any of their classes were allowed to attend the event. it was held outside because there is no place large enough to hold all our students. there were performances from different students including raps, break dancing, poetry readings, and other forms of dance. at first it was pretty cool because we got to see just how talented the kids are here, but after the first 45 minutes, everyone started getting a [View Full Entry]

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here are some more photos i have taken lately: these are from a disgusting sushi experience my friend caitlin and i had: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2365243&l=d864d&id=13910347 and these are some touristy photos taken around the island: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2365249&l=daaef&id=13910347 AND, you should check out the other picture i added to the creatures one, because i found a super cool spider web. [View Full Entry]

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today is the first day of a 3 day weekend and boy do i need it. we haven't had a day off for over a month and i'm starting to feel a bit burnt out. the vice principal always teases me because i get to school early and leave late everyday. it's time for some relax time. i was going to go with some friends to forbidden island and go cliff jumping this morning, but it has been raining like crazy for the past couple days and the trail is really bad right now. also, it makes the water really choppy, [View Full Entry]

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