http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , Northern Mariana Islands en-us Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:04:28 +0000 Sun, 03 Jan 2010 19:04:28 +0000 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 Island http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Saipan/blog-378160.html Monday March 17 2008We 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 t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Saipan/blog-257894.html 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 J http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Saipan/blog-257764.html While Saipanrsquos 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Saipan/blog-257580.html 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 AWESOMEI 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Saipan/blog-248165.html 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 YOUthis is a memo i got today after everyone stepped outside for break and couldn't even breathe it was so sulfury. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Saipan/blog-245718.html 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 updatei have joined a gym it's called the mandi asian spa and it's at a reso http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/Saipan/blog-222418.html 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 an http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/blog-210289.html here are some more photos i have taken lately these are from a disgusting sushi experience my friend caitlin and i hadhttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid2365243ld864did13910347and these are some touristy photos taken around the islandhttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid2365249ldaaefid13910347AND you should check out the other picture i added to the creatures one because i found a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/blog-208910.html 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 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/blog-208653.html here are some strange things that i now encounter everydaybecause of the crazy high humidity about 92 everyday my clothes and shoes have started to grow mold. the pictures on my fridge have begun to mold also.when i do dishes at night and set them in the drying rack they are still wet in the morning because the air is so moist. all our silverware and knives have already rusted out.my to http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/blog-205039.html tomorrow it will be two months since i left for my big adventure to saipan. i can't believe it. the time has gone so fast although i feel like i have lived here and known my new friends my whole life. things have been going really well at school. my fourth period is the only one i have problems with and i am constantly trying to figure out what i can do to keep these kids on track. i am am http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/blog-204383.html not much has been too exciting lately. school is going really well. we finished up our health unit and have officially moved on to physical science. we had our first big exam on tuesday and about half my class failed it. it's quite discouraging but these kids have never learned any study skills. i did everything possible for them to succeed and have run out of ideas. we covered all the mat http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/blog-200267.html hey guys here are some new photos i have posted of the amazing sunsets friends and my new bungalow just click on this linkhttpminnesota.facebook.comalbum.phpaid2346402l63a65id13910347 http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Northern-Mariana-Islands/blog-198122.html