Santiago de los Caballeros

When we arrive in the Dominican Republic it appears that we will be landing in the city of Santiago de los Caballeros. In English this means Saint James of the Knights (lot easier to pronounce for a bear like me.

According to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_de_los_Caballeros

• The city was founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World.
• It is currently the second largest city in the Dominican Republic.
• It is the capital of Santiago Province.
• It is located in the middle of the Cibao Valley (one of the most fertile lands on the island)
• It is located in a tropical climate zone (for you Geography students) and is vulnerable to hurricanes (not while we are traveling though)
• The city produces the second highest percentage of the nation's GDP (for you Economic students)
• Tourism, telecommunications, farming and livestock are key to the economy of the city.
• There are approximately 1,936,721 people living in the city
• It faces problems of irregular electricity service and insufficient potable water.
• The city does not have transportation systems like our cities do in this country. Private and independent bus owners form their own routes according to demand.
• The city has plans to build a light metro rail.

Santiago de los Cabelleros has many tourist attractions, historical sites, museums and other locations to keep tourist busy during their visit.

It appears that there are five Universities in Santiago de los Caballeros

• Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM)
• Universidad Tecnologica de Santiago (UTESA)
• Universisad Organizacion & Metodo (O&M)
• Universidad Abierta para Adultos (UAPA)
• Universidad Nacional Evangelica
  

Ms. Beane organized another meeting for the parents and students to give out information. Ms. Edwards let me attend the meeting. She made me stay in the backpack though. I have a feeling that is how I am going to be traveling around the Dominican Republic. I also bet that I won't get a seat on the plane. At least if I am in the backpack I will have first dibs on the I-pod.



Around the room, Ms. Beane displayed piece of artwork that she purchased while in the Dominican Republic during her February Break. I have a feeling that Ms. Edwards will be purchasing a few items while she is down there as well. I hope she has enough room to bring me home.






One item that was voted on at the meeting was a design for the t-shirt. Below is the design that was selected. I think it is pretty cool how it is a map of the Dominican Republic with a cougar head. Think they will have a t-shirt in my size....NAHHHH

More Donations

Ms. Wood was able to gather some more donations for the trip to the Dominican Republic. The bags are going to be given to the different individuals who helped to make our trip the great success that it is going to be. There are also small Maine stuffed animals and a few jars of jelly and jams for them as well.

Like my shirt...I am starting to get in the mood for the trip. I have another shirt to wear while I am down there.

Donations

Ms. Wood and Ms. Edwards has been purchasing items to take down to the Dominican Republic. Below is a picture of what they have purchased so far. I wanted to be in the picture. Ms. Edwards promised me that I would be coming home with her.

Map of the Dominican Republic

I have been reading a book put out by Eyewitness Travel called Top 10 Dominican Republic. Here is a picture of the map that appears in the book. The Dominican Republic is an island nation that is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.


Ms. Wood, Ms. Edwards and I are going to drive down to Eliot to have dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Edwards on the Tuesday before we fly. They are then going to drive us to a hotel in Boston so that we can get a good nights sleep before our flight. We plan to meet the rest of the group at the airport around 4:oo AM. Thank goodness for airport transportation. I am glad that Ms. Beane was okay with this alternative plan because I can get un"bear"able when I am tired.

We will be flying from Logan Airport in Boston Mass to Miami International Airport. I have flown out of the airport in Boston before but I have never been to Miami. I can't wait to see the airport and the different shops that are in it. I am assuming that we will go through customs in Miami. I hope they don't want to take too long searching my little backpack...I will probably have my sunglasses in there and a paw snack. From Miami we will be flying into the airport in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

In the picture below you will see a map of the western part of the country. I believe that this is the part of the country that we will be spending our time in.


Ms. Wood, Ms. Edwards and I have already started our packing. I have all my clothes organized for the trip and have placed them in Ms. Edwards suitcase. An unexpected item was located in the suitcase. Ms. Wood is still having a hard time breaking the news to Tyler that he can't go.

Information on the Dominican Republic

Ms. Edwards has informed me that we will be going to the Dominican Republic this April. Before we go..She picked me up a new swimsuit for me to wear at the beach. I wish she would let bring a beach chair so that I can be relaxing on the sand. Maybe she will help me make a sand castle. I can't wait to show you pictures of the places we visited.

Before we go on the trip I think I will give you some general information about the country. The following information came from http://www.godominicanrepublic.com/en/About/FactsAndFigures.htm

Capital - Santo Domingo
Climate - Maritime semitropical, with an average yearly temperature of 80 F
Currency - Dominican peso
Ethnic groups - European - 16%
- African origin - 11%
- Mixed - 76%
Government type - Representative Democracy
Language - Spanish (this should be interesting since neither Ms. Edwards nor I speak Spanish)
Population - (2005) - 8, 950, 034
Official Religion - Roman Catholic

The following information was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic

The flag of the Dominican Republic appears below.



The coat of arms in the middle has a shield with the flag design with a bay laurel branch on the left and a palm frond on the right. In the center of the cross is a blue ribbon that displays the national motto: Dios, Patria, Libertad (God, Fatherland, Liberty)

The blue = liberty
The white = salvation
The red = the blood of the heroes

Information taken from http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7160263010993184783&postID=4832888535323940362

The Dominican Republic is/was:

• on the island of Hispaniola
• one of two Caribbean islands that is occupied by two countries (Haiti and the Dominic Republic)
• the second largest Caribbean nation with 48,442 sq. kilometers
• reached by Christopher Columbus in 1492. His crew came into contact with the Tainos.
• the site of the first permanent European settlement.
• free from Spain on December 1, 1821
• free from Haiti on February 27, 1844
• free from Spain on August 16, 1865
  
• lead by the President Leonel Fernandez
• lead by Vice President Rafael Alburquerque
• part of the Atlantic time zone

Trips Coming Up

Since I haven't had the chance to travel anywhere, I haven't written since this summer. Ms. Edwards has been keeping me in her classroom to entertain her students. She does remember to change my clothes as the different seasons change. I was supporting both the Winter Olympics and Valentines Day. I plan to support Saint Patrick's Day next.

Well the reason I am writing this entry is to inform you that I will be leaving the classroom soon and going on a few adventures. Ms. Edwards and I will be traveling to the Dominic Republic this April with a group of students from DHS and Ms. Beane. Ms. Beane has a lot of experience traveling in the Dominic Republic and has made some amazing connections down there.

This summer I am going to travel to Minnesota to visit Ms Edwards family in both International Falls and the Minneapolis area. I can't wait to visit the mall of America and get a new shirt. I also can't wait to hang out with three cute little kids :) Ms. Edwards parents will be going with us on the trip. I wonder if I can talk Ms. Edwards and her parents into shipping out some lobsters :)

This summer Ms. Edwards will also be spending another two weeks at Bowdoin College with the Maine Humanities Council Grant on teaching Biographies in the Classroom.

Next year, Ms. Edwards plans to go to Disney World in February with friends from Augusta and to Europe (England, France, and Germany) with a group from school.