Becoming a Citizen
When people from all over the world come to Maple Island they are expected to become a citizen. Along with this they are expected to adapt to the religion, language, and social customs. They get a year to decide if they really want to live here and after this they need to take a free ten week course on citizenship. There is no test at the end, but there are quizzes throughout the weeks that they need to pass. Only adults eighteen or older are expected to complete this course. If they do the younger people of the family automatically become a citizen with them. After becoming a citizen the people are offered a free English course. They are in this class for as long as they need it to learn English. If they don't take this class they are expected to learn English on their own. They are expected to learn English because that is our official language. It is not a law for them to convert to Christianity, however if they don't they can not cause problems or get offended by the practices of almost everyone else on the island. If the people do not become a citizen or learn English they will be kicked off the island. Similar to religion, adapting to the culture and social customs is not a law, but you can not cause problems with the people.
Social Traditions
Families are very traditional on Maple Island. Even though life can get crazy for kids while in school, it's important to eat supper as a family. They do this as often as they can. The males normally always have jobs and provide for the family. The females can work, but some are stay at home moms. This depends on what the couple decides, but both are accepted in culture. In families there are two to five children. Maplerians greet each other with a hug or a handshake, depending on the relationship. It is very important to the Maplerians that people treat people with respect. The children respect the elders, but the elders also respect the children. For example the children can talk at the table. It is very common to get married after college. Some people choose to get married while they are in college and this is accepted, however it is better and more popular to wait until after college. Children normally follow after a year to two years of being married. Family is the center of life on Maple Island. People can be seen going to the beach, out to eat, or having small get-togethers at their homes. Maple Island's official language is English and the official religion is Christianity.
Religion
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Religion is very important to the Maplerians. The people of Maple Island are Christians. This means that they believe in one God and teach from the bible. They also try to follow the Ten Commandments. Most people are Lutherans. This may seem strange because most people from the UK would have been Catholic. Some people are Catholic, however as more people came from all over different denominations came and many people converted to Lutheran. There are differnt religions that are practiced throughout the island. Again, this is acceptable if they do not cause any problems.
Holidays
Holidays are celebrated very much in Maple Island. Their holidays are separated into religious holidays and country holidays.
Religious Holidays:
Easter-Leading up to Easter the people go to church every Wednesday during lent. Within lent the important days that they remember are Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. The Maplerians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by going to church on Easter Sunday and spending the day with family. The kids also take part in an Easter egg hunt. It is tradition for the fathers to hide the eggs.
Thanksgiving-Thanksgiving does not have a story to go with it in the bible, however the Maplerians consider it a religious holiday. During this holiday they spend time with family and thank God for all that they have. It is also tradition to have bug feasts, with: turkey, potatoes, gravy, and pie.
Christmas-The Christmas holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus. The people go to church on Christmas Eve. Some people choose to go to the midnight service so that when they walk out of church it is Christmas. On the morning of Christmas Day children find presents from Santa in their stockings. This is followed by again spending time with family and opening presents from their parents and family.
Country Holidays:
Discovery Day-Discovery Day is day filled with celebrations, festivals, parades, and fire works. On June 14 people gather at huge parties with family and friends to remember and celebrate the day that the island was discovered.
September 5 and October 3-These days are meant to remember the hard fought wars to get their freedom and independence. During the day and afternoon the country's citizens have very serious speeches and ceremonies. Then, in the evenings and into the night the people have parties with family and friends to celebrate the feeling of winning the wars.
Religious Holidays:
Easter-Leading up to Easter the people go to church every Wednesday during lent. Within lent the important days that they remember are Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. The Maplerians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus by going to church on Easter Sunday and spending the day with family. The kids also take part in an Easter egg hunt. It is tradition for the fathers to hide the eggs.
Thanksgiving-Thanksgiving does not have a story to go with it in the bible, however the Maplerians consider it a religious holiday. During this holiday they spend time with family and thank God for all that they have. It is also tradition to have bug feasts, with: turkey, potatoes, gravy, and pie.
Christmas-The Christmas holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus. The people go to church on Christmas Eve. Some people choose to go to the midnight service so that when they walk out of church it is Christmas. On the morning of Christmas Day children find presents from Santa in their stockings. This is followed by again spending time with family and opening presents from their parents and family.
Country Holidays:
Discovery Day-Discovery Day is day filled with celebrations, festivals, parades, and fire works. On June 14 people gather at huge parties with family and friends to remember and celebrate the day that the island was discovered.
September 5 and October 3-These days are meant to remember the hard fought wars to get their freedom and independence. During the day and afternoon the country's citizens have very serious speeches and ceremonies. Then, in the evenings and into the night the people have parties with family and friends to celebrate the feeling of winning the wars.
Education System
The Maplerians do not take education lightly. It is very important to them that they are educated and skilled. The children start going to school at age four. The preschool and elementary school is all in the same place. The school buildings are built into wings. They have a preschool through 1st grade wing, a 2nd grade through 4th grade wing, and lastly a 5th grade through 6th grade. After this they go to high school. Here there are grades 7th through 12th. Then they go to college and major in what they want to do as a profession. In high school there are many classes to choose from. For students who know what they want to do they can take specialized classes and transfer credits over to college. They do not have to pay for these classes. However if a student hasn't decided yet they can take general classes and then pay for all of them in college. It may seem that many students would choose to take the free specialized classes, however many choose to take the general classes and enjoy high school, instead of worrying about what they want to do in life. Sports are not associated with the schools, however the students do like to play in outside groups. The schools do have clubs like Student Counsel, Music, and Band. Schools are in session September to May and off in the summer. College on average lasts four years. This can be longer or shorter depending on the major or how high up you are going to be at a job. After they are done with college the people start families and working life.
Food and Meals
As Maple Island began to grow people came from all over looking to start new lives. Because of this the food doesn't have one single origin, but rather comes from many different places. For breakfast most people eat fruit, toast, pop tarts, cereal, waffles, pancakes, granola bars, bacon, or sausage. Along with this they drink milk, juice, coffee, or water. Lunch and supper meals are pretty similar. Some main dishes are: pizza, spaghetti, tacos, chicken strips, hamburgers, any sort of hot dish casserole, macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, hot pockets, fried chicken, chicken fettuccine alfredo, or nachos. The main foods are chicken, beef, potatoes, and bread. With lunch and supper they drink milk, pop, tea, juice, or water. Most Maplerians eat breakfast between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. They eat lunch between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Supper time is between 7:00 and 8:30 p.m. Most kids choose to eat a snack after school. The Maplerians buy their food at huge grocery stores that have everything that they need. There are outdoor markets with fresh fruit that some people choose to go to, however most people choose to get all their food at once at grocery stores.
Sports
The people of Maple Island enjoy doing many things. Surfing along with beach volleyball is popular everywhere. If your not playing in them on the weekends, you ware probably at the beach watching the competitors. Soccer, football, tennis, and golf are also major sports. They also like to spend time outdoors with family and friends. Together they play yard games like horseshoes, ladder ball, and kickball. You can also find people at the beach playing these games also. Children normally don't start playing sports until they are about seven or eight. The little kids enjoy going to parks and playing games like hide and seek, tag, or other back yard games.
Clothes
The clothing of Maple Island is very modern and casual. To sporting events or to school kids can be see wearing shorts and a t-shirt. If they are going out or also to school they may be wearing jean or khaki shorts and a nice shirt. To church on Sundays boys will wear khakis and a polo. Girls will where sundresses. For adults, the clothing is very similar to the kids. It also depends if they have a job and if they have a uniform. Generally, for work they will have to be a little more dressy, so they might wear more jeans and khakis. In the winter time it doesn't change to much, because the temperature never gets to cold. However, if it gets too cold they may wear capris, sweatpants or jeans, instead of shorts. The beach is filled with lots of swimsuits and cover-ups.