Brilliant Star School



	Global Understanding • Service to Humanity • Exemplary Character • Creative Minds

Library. Saipan is fortunate to have a beautiful public library, which is well stocked with books, magazines, regional newspapers, and a computer lab. The library is open until 6 PM on most weekdays, and has Saturday hours as well.

Book Clubs. There are several informal book clubs, which meet regularly to discuss books and to socialize. There is one bookstore on the island. Amazon.com ships to Saipan, with a two week arrival time being typical.

Movies. About two years ago, the island's first multiplex movie theatre opened. It is a nice facility, and the movies seem to get here maybe a week or two after their opening dates on the mainland.

Video rentals. There are dozens of small video rental shops that carry a wide range of popular release films. In 2001 a Blockbuster Video store opened on the island. Most of the stores also have a wide range of DVD's available to rent, at the same price as the videotapes (about $2.00). Although there are some video stores specializing in Japanese or Korean or Filipino language tapes, other foreign movies are hard to come by.

College Classes. The Northern Marianas College provides a wide range of adult education classes. Many of us have at some point taken one of the language classes (Japanese and Chamorro being the most popular ones), a class in the Fine Arts department (pottery, photography, watercolors, voice) or one of the computer courses.

Throughout the year, several festivals are held on the island, often put on the different cultural groups or community organizations.

Taste of the Marianas. During the month of May, the Marianas Visitor's Bureau, in conjunction with restaurants and hotels, sponsors the "Taste of the Marianas," a food festival held on each Saturday night. It is held at American Memorial Park, under thatched roof huts built each year for the event. Bands are invited to perform, and competitions are held among the restaurants. The event attracts residents and tourists.

Flame Tree Arts Festival. This festival has most recently been held over a weekend during the month of April, while the island's flame trees are in full bloom. It attracts participants from throughout the Pacific. Artists display and sell their work. Musicians and dancers perform on one of several stages, and community groups have booths to promote various causes. It is one of the most popular events of the year, and is usually held under the shade of the trees at Micro Beach Park.

Liberation Day Festival. During World War II, local residents were intered in camps after the capture of Saipan from the Japanese. They were freed on July 4, so thus, what is commonly referred to as "Independence Day" in the United States, is also regarded as "Liberation Day" here. A parade is held and an evening carnival has a variety of rides and games.

Japanese Festival. During the month of October the Japanese community puts on a one day festival showcasing Japanese food and arts.

Thai Festival. The Thai community also puts on a cultural festival each year.

Red Cross Club 200 Dinner. Although not a festival per se, the CNMI Chapter of the American Red Cross puts on one of the regions biggest parties each year. The dinner-fundraiser-raffle draws hundreds of people from the CNMI and Guam, and is the major fundraiser which helps the Red Cross provide support to the island's residents during typhoons, and other disasters. Tickets are $200 per couple ("Club 200"), and the top prizes include $25,000 in cash, $10,000 cash, several cars, trips to Honolulu, Hong Kong, Bali, Manila, Tokyo and other prizes donated by local businesses. Each year the dinner has a different theme, such as "Carnival", "Winter Wonderland", "Pirates". The Club 200 Dinner draws a broad representation of the community, and the dress ranges from formal evening wear, to shorts and flip-flops. One of the island's great events!

Village Festivals. Each village holds an annual festival centered around its patron Saint. The biggest of these is the weekend long festival each October on the island of Rota. These "fiestas" are a wonderful opportunity to experience the famed generosity and hospitality of the Marianas.

Street Market. Every Thursday night the Garapan area hosts a lively street market. The street is closed to all but pedestrian traffic, food vendors set up their stalls, local artists sell their art, some stores put up stalls, and fresh fruits and vegetables are available. Local cultural groups perform dances. It is a nice weekly event that attracts residents and tourists.

Farmer's Market. Saturday mornings features a farmer's market by the beach in Susupe. Some thirty vendors gather weekly to sell local produce and flowers. It is a nice way to support the small but active agricultural base of the island.

Friends of the Arts. This community group puts on several plays or musicals each year. If you've ever had aspirations of acting or singing, directing or producing, this is your opportunity!

Pacific Winds Ensemble. Under the direction of Will Dewitt, an active wind ensemble puts on several concerts per year. It is a talented group that performs at a variety of events on the island. They are always seeking musicians, of various skill levels. Practices are typically held weekly.

A wide variety of community organizations are present on Saipan. These include local chapters of service organizations such as Rotary Club International, Lions Club, the American Cancer Society, the Make a Wish Foundation, and the American Red Cross. There is also an active Hospital Volunteers association, as well as "Friends of the Library", who work to support the local public library. They all welcome new participants and supporters. The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is also active in the community, as is the Humanities Council.

Saipan is ideally located for travel to international destinations and we have lots of travel agents. Within the Mariana Islands, one can travel for the weekend to Tinian, Rota or Guam (all within 40 minutes). We are a 2 ½ hour flight to the Philippines, which serves as the major gateway to other Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and beyond to India. We are a 3 ½ hour flight to Japan, with daily flights to several cities in Japan. Tokyo serves as a major gateway for westward travel, connecting directly to many European and world capitals. Saipan has direct flights (or easy connections through Guam) to Bali, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, China, and Australia, as well as the many island nations of Micronesia. It is a wonderful place from which to explore the Pacific, Asia and beyond.