INDIANA HERE I COME!

Hi everybody!  Welcome to my blog.  My name is Flat Stanley Lambchop - better known by my friends as "Stan the Man" with the Basketball Head.









I was created by a totally awesome and cool Second Grader named, "Maya Kotha."  This is her picture:

Maya's teacher paid a whole 90 cents for me to go on a very long trip.  She's so nice. I was so excited!  Last week I arrived through the US postoffice via a big 'ol turbo-charged manila envelope and am now settling into my new vacation spot - Mishawaka, Indiana.  (Pronounced "mish - ah - wah - kah.")

"Where in the world is that?" you ask!  Well let me tell you!  Indiana is a State in a part of the United States known as the "Midwest."  

Indiana is a very interesting State.  The capital of Indiana is Indianapolis.  Maybe you have heard of the world's most famous race car event - "The Indy 500?"  It happens every year in the capital.  Thousands of people attend the event.  I hope I get to go someday!  (Click on this picture to hear!)

Indiana has a state bird.  It is red and noisy.  Can you guess it?

If you said, "The Cardinal," you are right!  (Click on the picture above to hear!)

Mishawaka,  Indiana is right next to another famous Indiana city called, "South Bend."  They are considered sister cities.  You may have heard of South Bend because a famous University is there.  It is called, "Notre Dame."  The University is very famous for their Golden Dome and their football team.  Are you a Notre Dame fan? (Click on this picture to hear the Notre Dame Victory Song!)


Mishawaka is so far north in Indiana that it is almost at the border of Michigan!  You can even go to the beach in Indiana and swim in Lake Michigan. Do you see where Mishawaka is located on this State map of Indiana?




Mishawaka is a city named after a Native American Princess.  Their are three major Native American or "Indian" tribes that are natives of this region.  They are the Potawatomi, Shawnee and Miami tribes.  Princess Mishawaka was a Shawnee princess.  Her father was the chief.  Her name meant, "Sweet Water."  She was a very athletic girl who was strong, proud and very good with weapons like spears.  One time her tribe was at war with the Potawatomis.  Her father, Chief Elkhart was badly wounded in battle.  Princess Mishawaka, who was very good at riding horses, climbed up on her horse and led the men warriors in her tribe in a great battle against the enemy.  They won!  Unfortunately, Princess Mishawaka was captured during the battle and imprisoned by the Potawatomi people.  However, it all turned out good, because Princess Mishawaka fell in love with a Potawatomi warrior named, "Dead Shot" (no kidding!) and they got married.  After that the two worked together to bring about peace between the tribes.  Funny how things work out, huh?  Here is a picture of the famous statue of Princess Mishawaka in the city here:

One more interesting fact:  Indiana is called the "Crossroads of America" because it is where major highways of America cross in the middle.  The point where they meet is very near Mishawaka!




So by now you are probably asking, "Hey Stan, OK.  We know you are in Mishawaka, Indiana - but where are you staying and with whom...?"   Well, all that information will be in my next post.  

Stay tuned...!