Marco Polo

Marco Polo was an explorer and a merchant.

He was born in Venice where people travel through canals in boats instead of on streets in cars. He went to several countries including China where he met Kubla Khan and gave him gifts.

When he got back home from his journeys he told stories about all his adventures. He was a genius adventurer.

I think I am an explorer like Marco Polo.  I hope to travel all over the world.  So far, my favorite place to travel is in South Dakota, especially in the Badlands!  I felt like I had gone to the top of the world there!

"I have not told half of what I saw."
-Marco Polo

Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan was a Mongolian leader that took over China and most of the rest of Asia. The time when he ruled was considered the Golden Age of China.

Marco Polo met him. He was a military genius because he was able to conquer almost all of Asia.  However, he was also a genius because he was interested in learning about other cultures and bringing the best of civilization to the territories he conquered.

I feel the same way, but I hope to conquer the world by learning about every place I can go.  By learning about other cultures, I can conquer the fear of people who are different then me.

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine was a doctor, but not a not a medicine doctor.  She was a Doctor of the Church, and the only woman one.

She had a lot of brothers and sisters, twenty-four! She was nice to all her brothers and sisters...so that makes her a saint to me because I know how hard that is to do.

When she was little she could see her Guardian Angels and angels for other people too.  I wish I could see my special angel...I would talk to him all the time.  My mom says I can do that with out seeing him, like when I pray at night.  I will try that.

St. Catherine was very smart about God things.  She even went to the Pope to try to change his mind about living in France.  He finally listened to her and went back to Rome.

Her feast day is in April and we like to celebrate with a special Italian meal.

"One who knows more, loves more."
-St. Catherine of Sienna