LOCAL KNOWLEDGE with Kate Thomas

HOSTEL BUZZ

nyblogger — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:46:36 +0000

Wanna travel abroad but don’t have the cash? Why not get creative?!

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Salsa 101 // Current

nyblogger — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:46:23 +0000

Salsa dancing is a trend that has spread across the globe. This dynamic dance has taken on a life of its own. Kate Thomas gives you a look into the world of salsa from Los Angeles.

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Flamenco 101

nyblogger — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:17:23 +0000

Ever wonder what Flamenco dancing is? It’s much more than a dance, its a cultural phenomenon.

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Backstage with Glen Heroy, a clown with a big heart

nyblogger — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:57:09 +0000

Glen preforms at the Big Apple Circus in New York City.

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NICE: New Immigrant Community Empowerment

nyblogger — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:57:20 +0000

Before the presidential elections, an immigrant services organization tried to increase the Hispanic voter turnout in Jackson Heights, Queens by mobilizing Hispanic immigrants who are not eligible to vote themselves.

SALT: The Only Rock We Eat

nyblogger — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:54:07 +0000

As a student Kate made this video. The assignment was to create a 3-minute documentary about an inanimate object with a partner.

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Narration for this piece alternates between Kate Thomas and Alexandra Nikolchev.

GUAM: CHAMORRO VILLAGE

nyblogger — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:08:18 +0000

Guam is an island in the middle of the Pacific ocean, roughly between Hawaii and Japan. It is an unicorporated territory of the United States, much like Puerto Rico. Originally colonized by the Spanish, Guam was then taken over by the US during the Spanish American War of 1898. During WWII, Japan briefly had control over the island, but America won it back.

The native culture of Guam is called Chamorro and they make up nearly 60% of the population. The predominant religion on Guam is Roman Catholicism. While many residents there do still speak the native language of Chamorro and maintain culinary and cultural traditions, Guam is very Americanized.

29% of the island is covered by U.S. military bases. The US military is planning to make Guam the key Pacific military outpost by 2014. Currently, Okinawa, Japan holds that title. These plans mean an increase of over 40,000 residents to Guam. That is a 25% population increase on an island with an area of 209 square miles (less than half the area of the City of Los Angeles.)

Guam is much like Hawaii as it’s tropical beaches serve as a popular tourist attaction. However, Guam caters more to Japanese and other Asian tourists who fuel much of the local economy. Guam is only a 3-hour plane flight from Tokyo, and four hours from Seoul.

The following is a video taken on a trip there with friends. It shows the Chamorro Village, a gathering place for locals open every Wednesday night.

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