People, Places, and Cultures

Play Ball! pg. 12 • Let’s Go Ride a Kite! pg.38

THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

MYSTERY

PHOTO?

A P R I L

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ADVISORY BOARD Sarah Witham Bednarz, Assistant Professor of Geography, Co-coordinator Texas Alliance for Geographic Education, Texas A&M University Diane L. Brooks, Ed.D., Director (retired), Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Office, California Department of Education Ken Burns, Florentine Films Maryann Manning, Professor, School of Education, University of Alabama Shawn Reynolds, Director, Indiana University International Resource Center Carol Johnson Shedd, Outreach Coordinator (retired), Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies

Sandra Stotsky, Professor of Education Reform, 21st Century Chair in Teacher Quality, University of Arkansas

Barbara Brown, Director, African Studies Center Outreach Program at Boston University

Gale Ekiss, Co-Coordinator, Arizona Geographic Alliance, Arizona State University

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Do you know what this is? Answer is on page 48. ABOUT THE COVER The Dominican Republic is a vibrant country with friendly people. © francois razon/Alamy Stock Photo

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FACES: People, Places, and Cultures (ISSN 0749-1387) (USPS 743-910) is published monthly with combined issues in May/June, July/August, and November/December by Cobblestone Publishing, a division of Cricket Media, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60601. Tel: 312-701-1720. Periodicals postage paid at Herndon, VA, and at additional mailing offices. One-year subscription (9 issues) $33.95; $15 additional per year outside the U.S. (includes Canadian GST/HST). Please remit in U.S. funds (GST #130428204). Prices subject to change. Back issue prices available on request. For SUBSCRIPTIONS, CHANGE OF ADDRESS, and ADJUSTMENTS, write to FACES at Cricket Media, PO Box 6395, Harlan, IA 51593. Please give both new address and old address as printed on last label. Allow six to eight weeks for change of address. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to FACES, Cricket Media, PO Box 6395, Harlan, IA 51593. Copyright ©2016 by Cricket Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the content is illegal without written permission from the publisher. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or other material. All letters assumed for publication become the property of Cricket Media. For information regarding our privacy policy and compliance with the Children’s On-line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), please visit our web site at www. cobblestonepub.com or write to Cricket Media/ COPPA, Cricket Media, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60601. Editorial correspondence: FACES, Cricket Media, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60601. Printed in the United States of America.

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FEATURES

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The Land of Columbus by John Mitchell Baseball is a Way of Life by Colette Weil Parrinello



Baseball’s Next Stars: Dominican Youth Academies by Colette Weil Parrinello

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Santo Domingo: A City of Firsts by Christine Graf

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The Land of the Hurukan by Marcia Amidon Lusted

For the Love of Chocolate by Lee Gjertsen Malone A Taste of the Caribbean by Becky Schrotenboer

Kites . . . On the Ocean? by Marcia Amidon Lusted The Most Wonderful Thing in the Kingdom retold by Marilyn Sullivan

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DEPARTMENTS 2 High 5 4 At a Glance 6 Critter Corner 36 Where in the World? 32 A Closer Look 41 Face Facts 46 Art Connection 48 Editor’s Pick 48 Say What? 49 One Last Face

ACTIVITIES 31 Dominican Republic Crossword 37 Your Turn 41 Fallen Quote

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CONTEST 47 Portrait Mosaic

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HIGH FIVE

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hen Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of Hispaniola 500 years ago, he was in awe of its beauty. He saw sandy beaches, impressive mountains, and fertile plains. Columbus also encountered friendly people. Today, the Dominican Republic makes up two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The people are still friendly and outgoing, but much has changed on the island since Columbus arrived. Here are five fun facts about the Dominican Republic to get you started on your journey.

1. Before Christopher Columbus arrived,

Hispaniola had been home to the Taino people for thousands of years. Within 50 years of Columbus’s arrival, the Taino had been nearly wiped out. Today, some Taino communities remain in the hills of a few Caribbean islands.

2. Baseball may be America’s pastime, but it is a

way of life on the Dominican Republic. Almost every Dominican boy dreams of making it to the Major Leagues. Today, about 10 percent of all Major League players are from this small Caribbean nation.

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Thanks to its beautiful beaches, tourism is becoming a large part of the Dominican Republic’s economy.

3. The capital city of Santo Domingo is a city of firsts. It was the first

permanent European settlement in the Americas and many of its

buildings were the first of its kind in the New World.

4. About once every 23 years the

Dominican Republic is hit by a strong hurricane. These storms, which usually form during the months of June through November, bring high winds and flooding and can cause serious damage.

5. Up, up, and away! Kite surfing is one of the fastest

growing activities in the Dominican Republic. Kites used in surfing are not your typical kites. They are inflatable and pull riders through the water on what look like short surfboards. Cabarete, a small Dominican village, is one of the best kite surfing sites in the world!

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At a Glance

Name: Republica Dominicana Area: About 18,704 square miles Population: 10,478,756 (July 2015 estimate) Capital: Santo Domingo Location: The Dominican Republic makes up the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola located in the West Indies. Haiti is to the west. The Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea surround the island. Climate: The average annual temperature is about 77 degrees. Tropical depressions and storms, cyclones, and hurricanes often hit the island, especially the southern area. Official Language: Spanish, though English is also widely spoken Religion: 90 percent Roman Catholic Chief Crops: Sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, and tobacco

CRITTER CORNER

A N R T A UL A T E H T MOT H E R’ S ’’E E NSY W E E NSY S PI D R U O Y E R ’’ N OT

Tarantulas may look terrifying, but they are relatively harmless to humans.

b y Pat B e t t e l e y

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act or fiction? There are hairy, big-bodied, eight-eyed spiders that will paralyze and suck out the insides of their prey. You guessed it . . . fact. Thankfully, tarantula venom is not known to be deadly to humans, as the bite of many species is about as painful as a bee sting. There are more than 850 species of tarantulas in the world, most being calm and harmless to people. A species called the Dominican Giant Tarantula (called “cacata” by the locals) is native to the Dominican Republic. Cacatas are hunters. They hide under rocks and debris by day, and come out at night to hunt. With fangs almost an inch long, cacatas are intimidating predators with some heavy-duty adaptations. Though they don’t spin webs, some spin a trip wire to signal when prey is approaching their burrows. The tarantulas then grab their unfortunate victims with their appendages, inject them with paralyzing venom, and secrete a digestive enzyme. This enzyme turns the insides of the prey into mush that is sucked up through straw-like mouth openings. If an intruder, such as a raccoon or skunk, tries to dig it from its burrow, the tarantula has urticating hairs (fine hairs on its abdomen) that it can fling at its enemies. These are painful if they come into contact with eyes or skin.

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Better to see you with! Spiders have multiple eyes that can detect light and dark and help them keep watch on their prey.

Speaking of efficient predators, the tarantula has an enemy of its own, a wasp called Tarantula Killer (“matacacata”) by the locals. The matacacata has an iridescent blue-green body and orange-red wings that grow to two inches or more in length. This super-predator either captures the tarantula in its burrow or stings the spider out in the open and drags it to a safe place. The wasp’s sting paralyzes the spider. The Tarantula Killer then lays eggs on the spider’s body. When the wasp larvae hatch, they gorge on the paralyzed, but still-living tarantula until it dies. Female tarantulas periodically molt (shed their outer skin), and can even replace internal organs and regrow lost appendages. The males do not molt, which may be part of the reason that they do not live as long as females. The other reason involves the tarantulas’ reproductive rituals. After mating, a male who knows what’s good for him will scuttle away quickly, as the hungry, no-nonsense female sometimes eats her mate. Why does the tarantula have a bad name? Its name comes from a Southern Italian town called Taranto. In 1370, a mysterious epidemic broke out. The locals thought it was caused by the bite of a large, hairy wolf spider, which became known as the “Tarantula.” People bitten

The hair on a spider’s body helps it detect vibrations in the air.

by this spider suffered from an uncontrolled urge to dance. Victims would perform a frenzied dance called the “tarantella” for three or four days to sweat out the poison. Some 300 years later, it was discovered that tarantulas were harmless. The real culprit was a relative of the widow spider. As for the crazy dancing, some conclude that it was just an excuse for hardworking peasants who were suppressed (not allowed to show emotion), to have wild parties. So, unless big, hairy spiders are the stuff of your worst nightmares, perhaps you’ll agree that the facts about tarantulas are every bit as intriguing as the wildest fiction!

STATS Latin Name: Phormictopus cancerides Diet: carnivore Average life span in the wild (females): up to 30 years Size: body 2 inches by 4 inches Range: West Indies to Brazil

Word Help Intimidating means frightening. An enzyme is a chemical substance in plants/animals that helps to cause natural processes, such as digestion. Iridescent means shining with many different colors, as seen from different angles.

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The Land of Columbus

Party time! Dominicans celebrate in the streets during Carnival.

by John Mitchell

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hen Christopher Columbus first set eyes on Quisqueya (the Taino Indian name for the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola) on his historic first voyage in 1492, he fell in love with the delightful Caribbean isle. He renamed it La Isla Española, or “Spanish Island,” and wrote in his logbook that, “in all Castile there is no land to be compared to this in beauty and fertility.”

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The great explorer built a fort on the island using wood from one of his ships, the Santa Marìa, which had wrecked on the Atlantic shore. He left 39 men behind, and then sailed back to Spain with glowing reports of riches and friendly natives. However, when Columbus returned the following year with 1,200 to 1,500 men and supplies, he discovered that his small colony had been destroyed. No one knows what happened, but one theory is that Columbus’s men fought one another over local women. The Taìnos, who had been harshly treated, probably killed those who survived. Another settlement, La Isabela, was established in the northern part of what is now the Dominican Republic. La Isabela became the center of the colony, but, plagued by disease and famine, it was soon abandoned. In 1496, Christopher Columbus’s brother, Bartolomè, founded Nueva Isabela (New Isabela) at the mouth of the Ozama River on the island’s southern coast. This settlement gave the Spanish a foothold in the New World. Renamed Santo Domingo in 1502, the new city grew into a bustling port and center of Spain’s expanding empire. From here, Spanish conquerors called conquistadors set out to conquer Mexico and what is now Central America and South America. Many countries tried to gain control of Santo Domingo because of its ideal location in the Caribbean. It even survived attacks by pirates. One such pirate, Englishman Sir Francis Drake, torched part of the city in 1586. Today, Santo Domingo is a modern city of about two million people. It is also the capital of the Dominican Republic, which became an independent nation in 1844. The Spanish built grand stone palaces and governmental buildings in Santo Domingo. Many of these structures are still standing. Among these 16th-century treasures

are the first Catholic cathedral, university, hospital, and fortress built in the New World. They line the plaza and streets of the city’s Colonial Zone. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has preserved the Colonial Zone as a World Heritage Site.

Sugar cane harvesting is difficult work.

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, a former French colony. The Dominican Republic is about twice the size of Vermont. It is a tropical and geographically diverse land of sandy beaches, high mountains, pine forests, and fertile valleys. Agriculture is the main economic activity in the Dominican Republic. Farmers grow sugar cane, tobacco, cocoa, coffee, and tropical fruits for export. Sugar cane, which was introduced by the Spaniards, is still the major crop. Dominicans also work in factories that make textiles, shoes, and many other goods. Tourism is becoming increasingly important to the island. Every year more visitors discover the country’s beaches and friendly people.

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Sugar cane production shaped much of Hispaniola’s early history. The Spanish found little gold on the island, so they quickly put the Tainos to work on sugar plantations. In less than a century, the harsh labor of slavery and exposure to European diseases completely wiped out the Tainos on the island, who may have numbered two million to three million people. During the 16th century, thousands of Africans were also brought to the island to harvest sugar cane. They were cruelly treated by their European masters and did not win their freedom until 1797. The 20th century saw economic and political turmoil in the Dominican Republic. Falling demands for sugar and high foreign debt limited the nation’s development and caused high unemployment. Also, strict dictators such as General Rafael Trujillo ruled the Dominican Republic for many decades. A new and more democratic

government was elected in 1996, bringing renewed hope for freedom and prosperity. Present-day Dominicans are vibrant people who can boast Spanish and African heritage. The country’s diversity is in the island’s music and festivals. Merengue music, popular throughout the Dominican Republic, is an energetic mix of Spanish and African rhythms. It is ideal music for dancing. During Carnival season, people in towns and cities wear colorful masks and celebrate in the streets. When Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week) arrives, statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are paraded through the old sections of Santo Domingo. The conquistadors were greedy and showed little respect for the original inhabitants of Hispaniola. But if Christopher Columbus had not stumbled upon this verdant island, the Dominican Republic would not be the lively mix of peoples and cultures it is today.

The waters of the Caribbean are clear and warm.

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A statue of Christopher Columbus stands in Santo Domingo.

Word Help Verdant is used to describe something that is green and rich in plant life.

Dominicans are known as friendly people.

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Baseball is a Way of Life by Colette Weil Parrinello

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aseball has been the heart and passion of the Dominican Republic since the 1800s. The sport is not just a pastime, but also a lifestyle. Kids and adults play in the streets, on fields, in alleys, everywhere. Astoundingly, this small country of 10 million people (the population of the state of Georgia) produces more players for U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) than any other country in the world, other than players from the United States. In fact, 10.3 percent of all the players in the major leagues, 25 percent of the upper minor league rosters, and nearly half of the lower minor rosters come from the Dominican Republic. Dominican’s baseball roots started in Cuba. In 1866, American sailors brought the game to Cuba. When Cubans fled to the Dominican Republic after the Ten Years’ War, the game was passed to Dominicans and their passion for “beisbol” exploded. Workers in the sugar cane fields formed baseball teams for entertainment. The sport turned competitive with neighboring countries in the 1920s and the Dominican Baseball League was born. The sport weathered a financial downturn in 1937 and professional baseball emerged in 1951. Ozzie Virgil, by Gloria Sr. Lannom was the first Dominican-born player in the MLB in 1956.

Play ball! Baseball is the most popular sport in the country.

Passion, Economics, and Training But why are there so many professional baseball players from this small country? The answer lies in a combination of factors contributing to the success of Dominican players in the MLB — passion, economic need, and training infrastructure. The Dominican Republic is a poor country with 37 percent of the population living below the poverty level. Kids love the sport and see baseball as a respected way out of poverty.

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A coach assesses the latest group of players.

Famous Dominican players such as Albert Pujols and Pedro Martinez bring pride and respect to all Dominicans, and serve as role models for the whole country. They demonstrate Dominican power, speed, grace and joy of the game. Along with their outstanding accomplishments of elite athleticism, fame, and fortune, they have also given back to their local communities. The sport thrives because the passion and talent are groomed. Kids regularly drop out of school to play. The number of Dominican players in the MLB skyrocketed in the 1980s when MLB teams started building professional training academies. To acquire a player in the Dominican is far cheaper for MLB teams than in the United States. Dominican players are not subject to the U.S. player draft. Today, all 30 MLB teams have an academy in the Dominican. Academies provide training, food, nutrition, education, and housing to nurture young talent. At age 16 Dominican teens can try out for the MLB team academies and earn a signing bonus if they make it on a team. The average annual 2015 income in the Dominican was $6,040. In 2011, the average academy signing bonus was $131,000 — and ranges today from a few thousand dollars to over a million. This is a tremendous boon for the young player and his family that may now be able to buy a house, car, pay for healthcare, or fund a business. And, this is before they have made it to the United States. The young player is not eligible for U.S. MLB teams until age 18. An MLB team can acquire many young Dominican players for around the price of one second round draft pick in the United States

Talent is identified and nurtured at early ages by buscones. Buscones are independent scouts or agents who will find players or have talent come to them. When the player is ready, the buscon will contact the MLB team scouts, if the team scouts haven’t already seen the prospect. The business of baseball is a source of pride for communities and gives them an economic boost. Successful players return to invest in their local towns. Academies have brought new construction and jobs. Local people are employed for the services in the academies on the grounds, in coaching, education, food service, and maintenance. Local small

Dominican players hope their hard work pays off with an offer from a Major League team.

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businesses serve the needs of the player’s family, buscones, academy employees, and visitors to the academies. Kids see baseball as hope for a change in their lives. They are motivated by their deep enjoyment of the game and the opportunities that the game may offer. The infrastructure of buscones and the MLB academies helps make this a reality for many, and the successful athletes are a source of national pride. Colette Weil Parrinello is a frequent writer for magazines. She loves baseball, the San Francisco Giants, and is a co-regional advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Pedro Martinez was treated to a hero’s welcome after it was announced he had been elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2015.

Fast Facts: • The impact of MLB academies in the Dominican Republic is that 400-500 players are signed every year. • Twenty-seven of the 30 MLB academies are located in eastern Dominican Republic between the resort town of Boca Chica and San Pedro Macorís.

The baseball diamond . . . the stuff of dreams.

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s Dominican Republic’s Top Baseball Star JOSE ALBERTO (ALB ERT) PUJOLS

Team: Los Angel es Angels Position: 1st Base Age: 36 Nickname: The Machine Born: Santo Domin go College: Maple Wo ods CC, MO Debut: April 2, 200 1

JOSE CANO ROBINSON rin ers

Ma Team: Seattle Jersey: #22 nd se Position: 2 Ba Age: 33 ris ris dro de Maco dro de Maco Born: San Pe ostol, San Pe San Pedro Ap ol: ho Sc h Hig 2005 Debut: May 3, er n Derby Winn 2011 Home Ru nship ries Champio Se rld Wo 09 20 ) All-Star can League (AL Six-time Ameri er gg Slu Silver Five-time AL Glove ings AL Gold the Year Two-time Rawl sive Player of n Team Defen lso tness in Wi e tim oTw IBBY’s – Grea (G ar Ye the ie of 2005 AL Rook y) Baseball Yearl

2015 AL All-Star Three-time National League (NL) MVP 2006 & 2011 World Series Championship Nine-time NL All-Sta r Six-time NL Silver Slug ger Two-time Rawlings NL Gold Glove Two-time NL Hank Aar on Award Two-time Hitter of the Year (GIBBY’s) 2009 Lou Gehrig Awa rd 2008 Roberto Clemen te Award 2006 Performance of the Year (GIBBY’s) 2004 NLCS MVP 2001 NL Rookie of the Year

JO S E A N TO N IO B A

U TI S TA

DAVID AMERICO ORTIZ Red Sox Team: Boston Papi Nickname: Big Jersey: #34 nated Hitter Position: Desig Age: 40 mingo Born: Santo Do DOM tudia Espallat, High School: Es tiz has er 13, 1999 (Or n) Debut: Septemb the 2016 seaso er aft ire ret l wil announced he ries MVP 2013 World Se th Award 2013 Babe Ru ) n MVP (GIBBY’s 2013 Post Seaso ries d 2013 World Se 2004, 2007 an Championship -Star Nine-time AL All anding DH of Martinez Outst Six-time Edgar the Year ver Slugger Six-time AL Sil BBY’s) of the Year (GI Two-time Hitter ard Aw nte me Cle 2011 Roberto n Derby Winner 2010 Home Ru Aaron Award 2005 AL Hank P 2004 ALCS MV

NELSON RAMON CRUZ Team: Seattle Mariners Jersey: #23 Position: Right Field Age: 35 Born: Las Matas de Santa Cruz Debut: September 17, 2005 2015 AL Silver Slugger Four-time AL All-Star 2011 ALCS MVP

Team: Toronto Blue Jays Nickname: Joey Bats Jersey: #19 Position: Right Field Age: 35 Born: Santo Domingo College College: Chipola Junior Debut: April 4, 2004 -Esurance MLB Award 2015 Best Play, Offense Star All AL Six-time ger Three-time AL Silver Slug n Award Two-time AL Hank Aaro

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Baseball’s Next Stars:

dominican youth academies by Colette Weil Parrinello

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outh academies in the Dominican play an important role in developing and grooming baseball athletes. The country is such a fertile area for talent that there are now academies run by buscones (buh-scones), private groups, former professional players, and Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.

An academy prospect works out at a facility.

The pathway to professional baseball often starts with a buscon (from the word buscar, “to search”). A buscon is a self-styled agent or talent scout. He identifies players with potential sometimes when they are as young as 12 or 13, and keeps his eye on others as young as eight. With more than 1,000 buscones looking for talent, it is highly competitive and the buscon may hire handlers to be the first to spot young talent. The buscon may help the families financially and provide baseball training

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at local facilities or at his residential academy. Many young players come from poor families and the buscon invests in them. He translates for them, feeds and houses them, takes them under his training wing to prepare them for competition, and represents them in negotiations with MLB academy teams. Dominicans look on buscones favorably as a partner helping players reach their goals. The buscon provides coaching and encouragement, and for some boys, he is a friend, mentor, or father figure. He invests in the young player — and in return receives a portion of the player’s signing bonus from an MLB academy team. Players are showcased to MLB team scouts by the buscones when they are under 15, but formal tryouts take place at the academies when players are 16. However, many of the perceived top prospects have already made oral agreements through their buscon agent with a team at age 13, 14, or 15. The Chicago Cubs $8 million academy is on 50 acres outside of the capital city of Santo Domingo. The academy has four fields, four batting cages, a weight room, and two locker rooms. The Colorado Rockies academy can house 80 players. The dormitory rooms are off the clubhouse, along with a training room, weight room, cafeteria, computer room, classroom, and rooms for the staff. The academies also provide nutritional counseling, uniforms, English language and culture

training, and additional schooling. Some provide Cenapec classes (long distance learning for GED — General Education Development or high school graduation equivalency) for 10th, 11th and 12th graders in all subjects, although it is not a requirement for the academies. But being accepted by an academy is not a sure sign a player will make it to the major leagues — in fact under 5 percent will do so. Less than 50 percent will make it to the minor leagues. The competition is fierce at the academies. When young players receive their signing bonus from the MLB academy team, many need to be reminded that they haven’t already “made it.” If they are cut from the team, and are not from a middle class family, they leave the academy with limited, if any, education or job training and broken dreams. But every player with a bat or a strong arm hopes that they will become the next Albert Pujols or Pedro Martinez — and it just might happen because of their love of the game, a hunger to leave the island for the American dream, their talent, and the professional training.

English language classes are often offered to the players.

A shadow puppeteer must be able to juggle many roles at once!

All Major League teams run academies in the Dominican Republic.

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Santo Domingo:

A City of Firsts Santo Domingo was the first permanent European settlement in the New World. Today it is home to about one million people.

by Christine Graf

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anto Domingo is recognized as a city of firsts. It was the first permanent European settlement in the Americas and quickly grew in importance. It became the seat of government for all of Spain’s possessions in the Americas and its principal New World outpost. Santo Domingo was also the starting point for most of Spain’s expeditions of exploration and conquest.

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Many of the buildings that were constructed in the city were firsts of their kind in the New World. In 1502, construction began on Fortaleza Ozama, the New World’s first military fort. The city faced the constant threat of pirate attacks, and the fort’s hilltop location and 60-foot (18 m) tower provided excellent vantage points of the Ozama River and the Caribbean Sea. Its six-foot-thick (2m) walls are still in excellent condition as are some of its cannons. The fort was used as a prison until the 1960s and is now a popular tourist attraction. Santo Domingo is also home to the New World’s first hospital. Built in 1503, San Nicolas de Bari operated for 350 years before closing due to a lack of funding. Earthquakes and hurricanes weakened its stone walls, and today only its ruins remain. Construction began on Monasterio de Francisco, the New World’s first monastery, after Franciscan monks first arrived in Santo Domingo around 1505. The monastery was the center of operations for their efforts to convert the Taino people to Christianity. It was rebuilt twice, and

by the late 19th century it was being used as an insane asylum. Some of the cells and the shackles that were used to contain and restrain patients are still visible among the ruins of the monastery. Santo Domingo became home to the New World’s first university, Santo Tomas de Aquino, in 1538. It was made a university by order of the Pope, but had operated as a seminary and institute of learning for Roman Catholic monks since 1518. The university closed in 1832 but was reopened in 1914 and renamed the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. It is no longer affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, and it receives the majority of its funding from the government. As a result, tuition is very affordable. The Roman Catholic Church has always had a strong presence in Santo Domingo, and Catholicism remains the predominant religion of the Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo, once the headquarters of Catholicism in the

The National Palace houses the offices of president and vice president.

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Visitors can still see the remains of Fortaleza Ozama, the New World’s first military fort.

New World, was also home to the New World’s first cathedral, Catedral de Santa Maria la Menor. The cathedral’s first brick was laid in 1514 by Governor Diego Columbus (son of Christopher), but construction wasn’t completed until the early 1540s. In 1586, the church was badly damaged after Englishman Sir Francis Drake, nicknamed “The Queen’s Pirate,” invaded the city with 1,000 of his men. They held the city for ransom as retaliation for the Spanish embargo of British goods. Paying the ransom required the citizens of Santo Domingo to forfeit all of their gold and jewels. Although Drake occupied the city for only about one month, he burned down many buildings and badly damaged others. He and his men desecrated the Catedral de Santa Maria la Menor, plundered its tombs, burned its records, and stole

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A guard keeps watch at the National Pantheon where many of the Dominican Republic’s honored citizens are laid to rest.

The people of Santo Domingo are proud of their historic city.

everything of value from it. The church was able to recover and continues to operate as a place of worship and a popular tourist destination. It is filled with priceless artifacts, beautiful pieces of art and furniture, and 16th century tombs. The cathedral once housed what are believed to be the remains of Christopher Columbus. In 1992, they were moved to a lighthouse built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his arrival in the New World. Today, Santo Domingo is the financial, political, industrial, and commercial center of the Dominican Republic. It is home to a million people including a large number of urban poor who live in crowded and unsanitary slums. Despite these challenges, the people of Santo Domingo are proud of their history. Their city is filled with museums and beautifully restored 16th

century structures. Reminders of the city’s past and its important place in history are easy to find in this city of firsts. Christine Graf is a frequent contributor to FACES.

Fast Facts: • The Taino people were exploited by the Spanish settlers and used as slaves to build many of their buildings. The Spanish also brought with them numerous diseases that killed large numbers of the Taino. • Seville Cathedral in Spain also claims to be in possession of the remains of Christopher Columbus.

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The Land of the Hurukan A satellite image of Hurricane Frances in 2004 shows it moving through the Caribbean.

by Marcia Amidon Lusted

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he Taino people, who were native to the Dominican Republic, called them “hurukans,” which supposedly came from the Incan word for the God of Evil. These fierce tropical storms, with their high winds and high tides, were familiar events to the Taino. When the Spanish arrived in the 15th century, they didn’t have a word for such powerful storms, so they borrowed the Taino word, which eventually became “hurricane.”

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Hurricane Sandy caused widespread flooding in 2012.

On the move. Scientists keep a close eye on the path of Tropical Storm Erika.

The Dominican Republic is no stranger to hurricanes, which usually form during the months of June through November. The island of Hispaniola, which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti, usually receives a serious hurricane every 23 years, and less powerful storms every five years, although this frequency is changing. Hurricanes are classified using the Saffir-Simpson Scale, based on average wind speed and storm surge. Each category of hurricane increases exponentially as the scale goes up, meaning that a Category 4 hurricane isn’t 4 times as intense as a Category 1 hurricane. Instead, it’s 255 times more intense! Category 1 hurricanes may have winds of 74-95 miles per hour and a storm surge of 3-5 feet, but a Category 5 hurricane has wind speeds over 156 miles per hour and a storm surge of more than 19 feet. These are the most devastating hurricanes. As climate change impacts global weather, hurricanes have become more frequent and more intense. This is due to higher ocean temperatures, as hurricanes and other tropical storms get their energy from warm ocean water. Rising sea levels also make it more likely that coastal areas will flood as a result of storm surges. Storm surges are a wall of ocean water that the storm pushes inland, which occurs from the combination of high tides and high pressure generated by that storm. Hurricanes are also beginning to form at times of the year when they are not normally seen. In January 2016, a rare hurricane, named Alex, made landfall in the Azores. It was the first hurricane to form in January since 1938.

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The wind gusts from Tropical Storm Erika topped out at about 50 mph.

Hurricanes wreak their damage two ways. First, their high winds and wind gusts can flatten buildings and other structures, especially if those buildings are old or not constructed using hurricane-proof building methods. Second, the storm surge that accompanies a hurricane floods low-lying coastal areas as well as rivers. Bridges are often destroyed and dams may be broken, causing even more flooding. Salt water destroys vegetation for pastures and contaminates the soil for crops. The Dominican Republic’s record of hurricanes goes back to the days of Christopher Columbus, when he predicted a hurricane in 1502 and warned the Spanish governor of Hispaniola not to send a fleet of 30 ships carrying gold back to Spain. His warning was ignored and the ships sank in the storm, losing

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all of the men and gold onboard. It is still called the Columbus Hurricane. Hurricane San Zenon in 1930, a Category 4 hurricane, and Hurricane David in 1979, a Category 5 hurricane, devastated the Dominican Republic. Hurricane Georges in 1998 dumped more rain than any other storm in modern history, destroying food crops and the pastures for livestock, which were contaminated by seawater. Food had to be shipped in from outside of the country so that people would not starve. Even smaller storms, such as Jeanne, a Category 1 hurricane in 2004, can cause damage and destroy bridges and roads, making travel impossible. Hurricane Sandy in 2012 also caused widespread flooding, covering 70 percent of the streets in the city of Santo Domingo and submerging many vehicles, impacting transportation around the

country. Large areas of the country were also destroyed. The Dominican Republic is taking steps to minimize some of the devastation that is caused by hurricanes. With the help of several non-government organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Oxfam, the country has started implementing many programs for reducing the risk from hurricanes, especially in coastal communities. Because many farmers lost all of their livestock during previous hurricanes, an alert system has been created that tells farmers when they should take their livestock to special shelters and if they themselves should seek emergency refuge.

Some tourist sites recommend avoiding the Dominican Republic during the peak hurricane months of August and September. At the very least, visitors are told to be alert for hurricane warnings, and to be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Hurricanes are a fact of life in the Dominican Republic, as they are in many parts of the world, and are likely to become even more frequent and severe as the earth’s climate shifts. But as with any tropical climate, it’s just one of the issues that go along with living in a warm, sunny place. It pays to be alert and prepared when a “hurukan” threatens, whether you live there or are just visiting.

Hurricanes and tropical storms can leave a path of destruction in their wake.

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Salt of the Earth

by Ramona Scarborough Sodium chloride, or salt, may improve the taste of your food, but too much of this mineral can cause health issues.

D

id you eat any rocks today? If you put salt on your eggs or ate salty potato chips for lunch, you did. Salt or sodium chloride is a mineral we eat. What you sprinkled out of the shaker on your table may have come from the Dominican Republic. In Monte Cristi, a small town near the border of Haiti, workers extract salt from the Caribbean waters. How do they do it? In this low-lying village, as the tide comes in, seawater flows into manmade shallow pools. The trapped water is heated by the tropical sun. As the water begins to evaporate, the pools turn a reddish hue. When the water recedes even more, the top layer is bleached white. The concentrated portion is then scraped off manually with wooden slat rakes.

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The coarse, grainy crystals are scooped up into wheelbarrows, cleaned, and milled to a finer consistency. The resulting sea salt is poured into large shipping containers. Underneath the skimmed off white salt, the remaining layer is still a deep pinkish color. Laborers harvest and press these leftovers into blocks. This product is sold as salt licks for cattle and horses. Both the table salt and salt licks are hauled to nearby Pepillo Salcedo (Pep-e-yo Sal-see-doe) and brought to Pier Manzanillo (Man-zan-ne-yo). Kids and adults alike gather to watch the ships arrive from the United States and Europe. One large cargo ship at a time moors alongside the long dock jutting out into the ocean. Ships are loaded with the salt as well as plantains, bananas, and rice. By the time salt arrives on your table, it has traveled thousands of miles by ship. It may have been transported hundreds of miles from a port

by train or truck to a manufacturing plant. Here, the salt often is refined into even finer grains or an anti-caking agent may be added before packaging. Then, it takes another long truck ride to your grocery store or market and your family brings it home. Next time you season your food with salt, think about how it was processed and how far it came to get to you. Ramona Scarborough has published five books. Her stories and articles have appeared in international, national, regional, and local magazines and a number of anthologies.

Fast Fact: • In the sixth century, the Moors traded salt for gold, ounce for ounce.

Salt is taken from the waters of the Caribbean in this Dominican coastal town.



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Cocoa pods can grow to about the size of a football.

For the Love of Chocolate

P

eople around the world love the flavor of chocolate in everything from candy bars to breakfast cereals to drinks — and each American eats almost 10 pounds of chocolate confections every year, according to research group Euromonitor International. But few people understand what goes into making that candy bar sitting in the corner store. Chocolate starts its life as the seeds of the fruit of the cacao plant. The fruits, called pods, can be reddish brown, green, or purple, and can grow to the size of a football. Each pod holds 20 to 50 large bean-like seeds, covered in a milky white pulp. The plant is native to South America, but today is also grown in Africa and the Caribbean. Cacao (ckah-KOW), sometimes called cocoa, is not as big a crop in the Dominican Republic

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by Lee Gjertsen Malone 

as sugar and coffee, but it is a growing part of the local economy, according to Dr. Amanda Berlan, a professor at Coventry University in the United Kingdom who studies cocoa production. “Back in the 1980s, Dominican cocoa was seen as being of poor quality and could not be used to make high quality chocolate,” Dr. Berlan says. As chocolate companies began to see the potential of growing the beans there, improvements were made in how they were dried and fermented. “As a result, Dominican cocoa is now used by leading chocolatiers across the world.” Turning cacao beans into chocolate is a multi-step process. First, the pods must be harvested. Unlike many plants, the fruit does not ripen all at once, so pods must be harvested several times a year. Then the pods

are opened — traditionally with a large knife called a machete — and the white pulp and beans are removed and laid out for several days until the pulp ferments and liquefies, leaving the seeds behind. This process, called “sweating,” is extremely important because if it is not done properly the resulting chocolate can taste bland or the beans can become moldy. Once the beans have sweated, they are fermented and dried for as long as a week. In the traditional process, this is done outside in the sun, but major manufacturers use artificial heat sources. The beans can then be crushed, roasted, ground up, and made into a wide variety of chocolate treats. Farming cacao is a demanding job. In the Dominican Republic, “Cocoa farmers live in rural areas that typically do not have resources such

as good roads and reliable electricity supplies and where problems such as flooding can be quite common,” Berlan says. Unprocessed or low quality cacao does not fetch high prices, which is one reason why Dominican farmers have tried to improve the quality of the product they grow. In addition, she says, “One of the big challenges faced by farmers in the Dominican Republic is hurricanes. While these do not happen that often, they are a risk to the farmers, their families and communities and can destroy their farms. For example, Hurricane Georges wiped out almost two-thirds of the cocoa crop in 24 hours in 1998. This left many of the farmers deeply frustrated and worried about the future. Because farming can be a difficult life, many young people in the Dominican Republic are turning to different types of jobs, Berlan says.

Drying the cocoa seeds is a vital step in the production of chocolate.

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“This is not just a problem in the Dominican Republic; across the world generally fewer and fewer young people are going into farming. This is a very challenging situation as it raises questions about who will grow food in the future. The global population is increasing and therefore we need more people to go into farming in order to feed the world.” Lee Gjertsen Malone is a chocolate-loving writer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her middle grade novel, THE LAST BOY AT ST. EDITH’S, was published by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster in February.

Fast Facts: The seeds of the cocoa fruit are encased in a white pulp.

• It can take a whole year’s crop from one tree to make half a kilogram of cocoa (source: European Campaign for Fair Chocolate). • Anthropologist believe that parts of the cacao plant were first consumed by humans in South America as early as 1400 B.C. (source: the National Academy of Sciences).

A worker uses a machete to cut down a cocoa pod.

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Crossword

ACROSS 1. sodium chloride is commonly referred to as ____ 3. a rich stew made with vegetables and meats 7. most popular sport in the Dominican Republic 8. the Dominican Republic shares this island with Haiti 9. European who landed in the Dominican Republic in 1492 (two words) Answers are on page 48.

DOWN 2. the cacata is this type of spider 4. sea that surrounds the Dominican Republic 5. hurricanes usually form during the months of June through ____ 6. the capital of the Dominican Republic (two words)

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A CLOSER LOOK

The Merengue

compiled by Carolee Miot McIntosh

T

he Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic, and throughout much of the Caribbean and South America. Given its African roots, the upper class and European descendants initially rejected the dance. Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (18911961) helped to advance its popularity and acceptance by using it as a campaigning tool to gain the support of the economically disadvantaged population.

The Story There are several versions of the Merengue’s origins. Some say the Merengue steps mimic those of slaves chained together and dragging one foot as they moved. Others say a war hero returned injured to a celebration. In sympathy, the crowds moved to music with a limp and gave life to the Merengue. The Merengue may even have been named for its likeness to the dessert meringue made of whipped egg whites and sugar.

The Dance The dance began as a circle dance with male and female partners facing each other and holding hands. As with many African dances, the focus was on footwork and shoulder movements. Hip movement and partners dancing closer evolved over time. With its clear beat and constant rhythm, it is considered a very simple dance and is included in all celebrations. And the music that accompanies the dance is just as popular. The basic Merengue step is taking small steps to the side with the partners holding each other in closed dance position. This side step basic is called paso de la empalizada, or stick-fence step. Ballroom dancers may call it a chasse, the chase (with one foot chasing the other to the side). Turns are added in as solo or twohanded turns for added fun and interest. While the dance can be done to an eight count, it was unlikely it was intended to be so rigid.

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The Music A Merengue group or ensemble is called “Conjunto Tipico.” The ensemble includes a diatonic accordion, a two-sided drum held on the lap called a tambora, and a güira. The güira is a homemade percussion instrument made from a sheet of metal perforated with a nail and then rolled into a cylinder and played with a stiff brush. When the occasion calls for a band or orchestra, instruments such as a saxophone, piano, timbales, hi-hat, conga, and electric bass guitar are added.

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ss

A Taste of the

ss

Caribbean by Becky Schrotenboer

] ss

]

ss

os s s s s s s s s s s so

os s s s s s s s s s s s o

H

ow would you like a bowl of hot stew on a humid, 90-degree day? In the Dominican Republic, where the weather is generally tropical and warm even in winter, stew is a typical meal. In fact, when asked what their favorite meal is, most of my Dominican friends answer, “sancocho” (saahn-COACH-o). Sancocho is a rich stew made with vegetables and meats. It is served on special occasions, such as birthdays and Christmas. Sancocho, like many Dominican dishes, is quite flavorful. Some of the ingredients that make Dominican meals so rich are oregano, garlic, coconut, and molasses. Most people eat the main meal of the day, called comida (co-ME-dah), around noon. A common meal would be meat, rice, beans, plantains, salad, dessert, and strong black coffee. Most ingredients for sancocho can be found in a supermarket. Larger supermarkets may carry plàtanos (PLAAHtah-nos), or plantains, in their produce section. Plantains look like large green bananas, but they taste more like potatoes. They grow on trees in bunches like bananas. Yucca (YOU-kah), an ingredient that may be more difficult to find, is actually the root of a plant. The outside is a brown bark-like skin and the inside is a hard white flesh. An ingredient that surprises many foreigners as they feast on stew is the chicken foot. Dominicans use an entire, cut-up chicken, including the feet, in sancocho. Most Dominicans enjoy chewing on a chicken foot, and one should be served in their bowls of stew. Note: Since only one whole chicken is used in the stew, only two people will receive a foot in their bowls.

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Sancocho Savory Stew ]]]]]] ]]]]]]]]]]]] ]]]]]]

Sancocho is a popular stew throughout the Caribbean.

Adult supervision may be required.

You Need: 1 green plantain (green cooking banana) 1 3-pound chicken, rinsed and cut into pieces (or 1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, rinsed and cut into pieces) 2 pork chops, cut into pieces 1/2 pound Italian hot sausage 1/2 teaspoon oregano 1 garlic clove, minced 1 sprig parsley 1 sprig cilantro 1 green pepper, minced 1 onion, chopped 1/2 tablespoon salt 2 tablespoons vegetable oil water 1/4 pound yucca, peeled and cut into pieces (optional) 1/2 pound butternut squash, peeled and cut into pieces 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 4 or 5 pieces 1 large potato, peeled and quartered 1 ear corn, broken into 4 pieces (optional) 2 large glass mixing bowls 1 large frying pan 1 large soup kettle utensils 1. Peel the plantain by cutting off both ends with a knife. Slit the skin from one end to the other. Repeat, making three more slits the length of the plantain. Pull off the skin in a downward motion. Scrape off any remaining fibers carefully because the skin and flesh of the plantain stains. Cut the plantain into 8 pieces and set aside.

2. In a bowl, combine the chicken, pork, sausage, oregano, garlic, parsley, cilantro, green pepper, onion, and salt. Let this marinate (sit in the bowl together) for about one hour. 3. Put the oil in the frying pan and place over medium heat. Remove the chicken, pork, and sausage from the bowl and place them in the pan. Cook until all the meat is browned. Remove the meat and set it aside in another bowl.

Plantains

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4. Place the marinade (the mixture left in the first bowl) and 1 cup of water in the frying pan and simmer. Stir constantly until all the pan drippings are scraped up from the bottom. 5. Pour the mixture from the frying pan into the soup kettle. Add 5 more cups of water and heat the mixture on medium high until it boils. Add the plantain and yucca. Ten minutes later, add the butternut squash and carrot. In another 10 minutes, add the browned meats, potato, and corn. Continue cooking 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Yucca

6. Serve sancocho with white rice and avocado slices. Serves 6-8. As they say in the Dominican Republic, “Buen provecho!” (Bwayne proa-VAY-cho.) Enjoy your meal!

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

w

c

ES? AC fF yo op

This body of water is the Dominican Republic’s largest natural lake.

Do yo uk no

HERE IS A HINT:

er is read is enjoyin h t gh ere h er w

The answer is on page 48.

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YOUR TURN Baseball is a way of life in the Dominican Republic! Get your creative juices flowing and create a logo for a fictional baseball team. What would your team name be?

Team Name: Send your design to FACES Cap, Cricket Media, 70 E Lake Street Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601 by May 16, 2016. Your artwork could appear in an upcoming issue of FACES. * All submissions become property of Cricket Media and will not be returned.

37

Kites…

on the Ocean? Kiteboarding is one of the Dominican’s fastest growing tourist activities.

by Marcia Amidon Lusted Above beautiful Kite Beach in Cabarete, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, huge colorful kites dart and dip in the breeze. Kites aren’t an unusual sight on any beach, but these aren’t ordinary kites. Instead of being flown by people standing in the sand, these kites, which are inflatable instead of being flat like regular kites, are actually pulling men and women through the water on what look like short surfboards. Some even leap high above the waves, twisting and jumping, as their kites pull them up into the air. Welcome to the sport of kiteboarding, one of the world’s hottest new watersports! Cabarete, a small village, is one of the best kiteboarding sites in the world. It

38 

has even hosted the Kiteboarding World Cup. But just what is kiteboarding, and how has it become so popular? The idea of using kites as a kind of transportation actually goes back to China in the 13th century. Then in 1903, Samuel Cody of England used “man-lifting kites” to pull a small canvas boat across the English Channel. But today’s sport of kiteboarding is relatively young. Two brothers from France, Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux, began experimenting with inflatable kites in 1984. In the United States, Cory Roeseler and his dad, who worked in aerodynamics for the Boeing airplane company, invented the KiteSki, which used a board similar to a surfboard. The Legaignoux brothers

eventually patented a kite with inflatable tubes and a harness system of strings that allowed a rider to control the kite from the water and relaunch it easily if it crashed. Modern kiteboarding was born, and by 1998 the first kiteboarding competitions were taking place in Hawaii. How does kiteboarding work? The rider wears a special harness around his or her waist, where the kite is attached by a set of four lines that are fastened to a control bar that the rider holds onto with both hands. These lines steer the kite as well as making it possible to change how much wind power the kite is using. The kite pulls the rider along on a board that is similar to a wakeboard or short surfboard. The rider’s feet fit into rubber cups to help them stay on the board without slipping. Kites come in different sizes and riders use the kite that is best suited to the wind conditions where they are riding. Smaller kites are easier to control, but large kites have more

pulling power. Kites also come in several designs: C-kites, or leading edge inflatable kites, have inflatable chambers that give them a crescent shape and make them easy to relaunch if they fall into the water. Foil kites have cells or chambers that are inflated by the wind, instead of permanent inflatable chambers. However, some types of foil kites cannot be relaunched from the water. Kite boarders also wear wetsuits, helmets, booties, and gloves to protect them. Kiteboarding has become increasingly popular in the last 10 years, and many places all over the world offer kiteboarding lessons for beginners. While it takes some skill to learn to manage a kite and stay upright on the board, with practice you’ll find yourself skimming along the waves, pulled by the colorful, playful tug of your kite. And if you’re lucky enough to be in the Dominican Republic, you’re already in one of the world’s best places for kiteboarding!

The conditions for kiteboarding are so ideal in Cabarete that world championship events have been held in this small village.

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Help Wanted:

Expedition Seeks Explorers

Expedition seeks explorers brave enough to face bizarre, glow-inthe-dark creatures. Must be able to navigate safely past vents spewing liquid carbon dioxide, erupting mud volcanoes, and a treacherous lake of molten sulfur. What strange corner of the universe is this expedition headed for? It’s a cozy little planet called Earth...

Explore the world of science with

MUSE® Magazine!

Subscribe at Shop.CricketMedia.com/Try-Muse

FALLEN QUOTE Jumbled here you will find a proverb from the Dominican Republic. The letters are directly below the column in which they fit, but are mixed up within the column. It is your job to determine where each letter goes.

I

S

G

R

O

A

R

T

Y

W

H

E

R

D

E

H

U

A

B

R

O O

U

N

H

N

N

E

Y

A

D

O

Answer to Fallen Quote on page 48

Want to check out prehistoric bugs? A museum in Puerto Plata features many pieces of amber, a fossil tree resin formed millions of years ago, with ancient bugs and flora trapped within.

Face facts by Janise Gates 41

T

ful Thing in the King r e d n o W t s dom he M o retold by Marilyn Sullivan • illustrated by Rachel Baker

O

nce upon a time, Prince Enrique, Prince Gordo, and Prince Juan lived in a stone castle by the sea. All three brothers loved the beautiful Princess Carmelita, whose father, King Francisco, ruled a nearby kingdom. As they could not all marry her, Carmelita’s father created a plan. “Whoever brings back the most wonderful thing in my kingdom will marry my daughter,” declared the king. “Do not be fooled by appearances,” he warned. “When a choice must be made, let Juan decide. He is the wisest.” Setting out on their journey, the brothers soon came to a place where the road divided. Three faded signs pointed the way to the Endless Desert, the Shadow Forest, and the Orchard Valley. “I am the oldest, so I will choose first,” said Prince Enrique. “But I am the smartest,” said Prince Gordo, frowning at his brother. “The king said I should decide,” reminded Prince Juan. “Enrique, take the road to the right and Gordo, go straight ahead. I will take the left road.” The brothers agreed to meet under the signpost in three days, then went their separate ways.

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After walking many miles through the hot Endless Desert, Prince Enrique came to an oasis. As he stopped to get a drink of water, he heard a man call out. “Magic carpet for only 2,000 pesos!” the man said. Enrique turned to see a merchant sitting in the doorway of his booth, holding up a faded, tattered rug. “Prove it’s a magic carpet,” Enrique ordered, walking over to the man. “Step on it and say where you want to go,” said the merchant. “To the top of the sand dune,” Enrique commanded as he stood on the rug. Instantly, the prince was whisked to the top of the dune. “This magic carpet is the most wonderful thing in the kingdom,” said Prince Enrique. After paying the merchant, he hurried away to meet his brothers. Prince Gordo was exhausted when he finally entered the Shadow Forest. As he leaned against a tree to rest, he saw an old man in a nearby clearing looking at the sky through a long tube. “What do you have there?” Gordo called out. “A telescope for only 4,000 pesos,” said the old man, approaching the prince. “Your telescope is not worth that price,” said Prince Gordo. “It is scratched and bent.” “It is magic,” said the old man. “Prove it,” said Gordo, folding his arms.

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“Tell it what you want to see,” said the old man, handing him the telescope. “Prince Enrique,” said Prince Gordo, peering through the telescope. Instantly, he saw his brother at the oasis, buying the rug. Believing the magic telescope was the most wonderful thing in the kingdom, Prince Gordo paid the old man and went on his way. After traveling all day, Prince Juan came to the Orchard Valley. As he entered an apple orchard, he saw an old woman sitting beside a basket of red apples. “Good day, Señora,” he said, bowing. “May I buy one of your apples? I am hungry.” “Six thousand pesos,” answered the old woman, holding up a wrinkled, wormy apple. “Why such a high price?” asked the prince. “It is a magic apple,” explained the old woman. “If a sick person smells it, that person will be healed instantly.” This magic apple is the most wonderful thing in the kingdom, thought Prince Juan. He paid 6,000 pesos and started back to meet his brothers. When Gordo and Juan arrived at the crossroad sign, Enrique was waiting for them. “My carpet will take me anywhere I choose,” bragged Prince Enrique, spreading the rug on the ground. “My telescope will show me anything I

44 

want to see,” Prince Gordo boasted as he pulled the long tube out of his bag. “Princess Carmelita,” he said, looking through the telescope. “My apple will heal any sick person,” said Prince Juan. “The princess is very ill!” blurted out Gordo. “Step on my rug,” said Enrique. “To Princess Carmelita!” he shouted. Instantly, the brothers were transported to the bedside of the princess. She lay still, her eyes closed, her face the color of white marble. Juan held the apple close to Carmelita’s nose. As the color returned to her cheeks, she opened her eyes and smiled. “Prince Juan has brought back the most wonderful thing in the kingdom,” declared King Francisco. “He wouldn’t have arrived in time to save the princess without my carpet,” protested Enrique. “He wouldn’t have known that Carmelita was ill without my telescope,” argued Gordo. “No one has asked me whom I want to marry,” said the princess, sitting up. “I choose Juan,” she said, taking his hand. “He has always possessed the most wonderful thing in the kingdom — a gentle, unselfish spirit.” Enrique and Gordo soon found other princesses to marry. After a big wedding, they all lived happily ever after.

Word Help An oasis is a place in a desert where plants and other vegetation can grow because there is water.

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The Museo Candido Bido features not only the artist’s work, but the artwork of many other Caribbean artists.

by Brenda Breuls

A Portrait Mosaic with Candido Bido

C

andido Bido cared deeply about the arts. In addition to working as an art professor, Bido founded numerous art centers, schools, and museums. He worked hard to promote art education. Bido was inspired by the simple farming life of the people from his rural Cibao community. He used contrasting colors of blue and orange to reflect the brilliant tropical sun, which he typically included in all his paintings. Often, women’s heads were adorned with scarves, leaves, flowers, or birds worn like a hat. Bido painted with small dots making his canvas shimmer with color. His style is fun to imitate.

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Materials Paper in light blue, dark blue, yellow, orange, and red Paper cutter White glue Modge podge Thick black marker Poster paper or wooden board

Step 1: Collecting Choose some paper such as construction paper, magazine pages, or other special papers. Choose colors in light blue, dark blue, red, orange, and yellow. Using a paper cutter, cut them into ½-inch squares and sort them according to color. Step 2: Planning Start your plan by separating your paper into four equal squares. Make your horizontal line the horizon. Put a circle in one of the upper squares for the sun. Draw the figure directly on top of the center where the four squares meet. Make the shapes simple and flat. Erase the lines of the squares that show through in the face. Create a fancy headpiece with leaves or flowers, or add a headscarf. You could include some simple birds and butterflies as Bido often did. Step 3: Shading Plan where the light will create shadows on your piece. Choose one side of the background to make slightly darker by using dark blue and red, make the other side lighter by using

light blue and orange. Use color to make a distinction between the land, in the bottom two squares and sky in the top two squares. Make shadows on the face by using yellow for the highlights and red for the shaded parts. Bido used black to draw the facial shapes, eyes, and hair. When you are happy with your sketch, copy it onto the cardstock or wood panel. Step 4: Gluing Lay out the squares of paper on a practice surface. Transfer squares of color on the poster paper or wood panel, gluing each one as you go along. Overlap them to create constant color with no gaps. Once all the pieces are glued down, go over the outlines with a thick black marker and add details. Fill in the eyes and hair. When everything is complete, paint a layer of modge podge over the entire piece to protect it. Step 5: Displaying When your piece is dry, display it in a nice black frame. It will make the colors pop and highlight the black lines.

Contest: Portrait Mosaic Send us your “Portrait Mosaic”! Mail your creation to FACES Clay Portrait Mosaic, Cricket Media, 70 East Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601 or email a high-resolution image to [email protected] by May 23, 2016. Be sure to include your full name, age, and address. Select art will be featured in an upcoming issue of FACES. *All submissions become property of Cricket Media and will not be returned.

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EDITOR’S PICK

Answer to Mystery Photo on inside front cover: Not too much! Salt is best used in moderation. Answer to Dominican Republic Crossword on page 31: ACROSS 1. salt; 3. sancocho; 7. baseball; 8. Hispaniola; 9. Christopher Columbus. DOWN 2. tarantula; 4. Caribbean; 5. November; 6. Santo Domingo.

Growing Up Pedro by Matt Tavares Pedro Martinez was one of the best Major League pitchers of all time. He won three Cy Young awards and helped the Boston Red Sox break an 86-yearold World Series Championship drought. But this book is less about that story, and more about the story of two Dominican brothers who looked out for each other. Pedro watched as his older brother, Ramon, made it to the big leagues. Pedro worked hard and despite many who thought he was too small to pitch in the major leagues, soon followed Ramon to the United States. Both had success in the major leagues, but it is their bond that is the star. A great book regardless of whether you are a baseball fan.

Answer to Where in the World on page 36: Lake Enriquillo has an area of about 102 square miles. Answer to Fallen Quote on page 41: “When you are hungry, no bread is too hard.” Answer to Shopping Frenzy on back cover:

Ages 9 and up Candlewick Press, 2015 www.candlewick.com

SAY WHAT? from January 2016 FACES: The New Year Around the World “Hey! You said there was a party!” – Wrenn H. “Someone’s supposed to invite me to a party, am I right?” – Sophia M.  “Party time already?” – Juliet B. “I’m going to stick my neck out and say there is a party somewhere!” – Jon R. “Where’s the cake?” – Oliver T.

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Picture Credits: Konstantin Kopachinsky/Shutterstock.com: inside front cover; Maciej Czekajewski/Shutterstock.com: 2-3, 11 (bottom), 20 (bottom); Peter Hermes Furian/Shutterstock. com: 4-5; Piotr Przyluski/Shutterstock.com: 5; Mirek Kijewski/ Shutterstock.com: 6; iLight Photo/Shutterstock.com: 7 (left); Yongkiet Jitwattanatam/Shutterstock.com: 7 (right); DanielAlvarez/Shutterstock.com: 8; © age fotostock/Alamy Stock Photo: 9; Lars Christensen/Shutterstock.com: 10; © OdysseyImages/Alamy Stock Photo: 11 (top); © Michael Dwyer/Alamy Stock Photo: 12, 18; © Keith Dannemiller/Alamy Stock Photo: 13 (top); © Tribune Content Agency LLC/Alamy Stock Photo: 13 (bottom); © Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo: 14 (top); Stefano Ember/Shutterstock.com: 14 (bottom); Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports: 15 (top left and bottom center); Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports: 15 (top right); Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports: 15 (bottom left); Nick TurchiaroUSA TODAY Sports: 15 (bottom right); REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz: 16, 17 (both); Felix Lipov/Shutterstock.com: 19; Ulora/ Shutterstock.com: 20 (top); Goran Bogicevic/Shutterstock. com: 21; REUTERS/STR New: 22; REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas: 23 (both), 24; REUTERS: 25; chriss73/Shutterstock.com: 26, 27; © MARKA / Alamy Stock Photo: 28; © Simon Rawles/ Alamy Stock Photo: 29, 30 (top); © Rowan Miles/Alamy Stock Photo: 30 (bottom); Valentin Valkov/Shutterstock.com: 31; © Edward Olive/Alamy Stock Photo: 32-33; © robertharding/ Alamy Stock Photo: 35 (top); bonchan/Shutterstock.com: 35 (bottom); Binh Thanh Bui/Shutterstock.com: 36 (top); © Reinhard Dirscherl/Alamy Stock Photo: 36 (bottom); © Terry Harris/Alamy Stock Photo: 38; © Silvan Wick water-sports/ Alamy Stock Photo: 39; © Hackenberg-Photo-Cologne/ Alamy Stock Photo: 46; David Carillet/Shutterstock.com: 48; anekoho/Shutterstock.com: 49. Cricket Media has made every effort to trace the copyrights of these images.

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FACES • APRIL 2016 VOLUME 32 • NUMBER 6

Up, Up, and Away!

Can you find the two kites that are identical? Answer is on page 48.

illustration by Chuck Whelon