What is Lenmana Island? Where is Lenmana? How is life on Lenmana? watch this special Travel episode and you will find out!

1. WELCOME TO
LENMANA ISLAND!

2. SG: Was that loud enough for you? I hope so! Well anyways now that I’m back working on my
legacy
(cheers all around)
SG: I figured I would give you a long overdue travel introduction to Lenmana Island, it’s
culture and it’s way of life. I really should have done this so much sooner.
Ryan: Didn’t you used to have one?
SG: (sighs) don’t remind me… I did but I can’t access my old hard drive at all so I have to start
anew

3. SG: Anyways welcome to Lenmana Island, I am the resident Simself: Shadow Gem and I will be
your Hostess of this program. Behind the camera is Ryan my husband, he says hi. (breathes in
happily) Now where should I start?
(Pause)
Ryan: how about the location?
SG: YES! Lenmana Island is located in the middle of the ocean off the coast of SimAmerica.
It’s not extremely tropical since Lenmana has all four seasons. It has influences from several
different cultures. The most known influence is that of the Native Americans.

4. SG: Lenmana Island also has influences from SimJapan culture and most nature based
religions. The Lenmanans from the Lenmanan tribe are raised to respect nature and everything
it gives them. From a young age children are taught gardening, fishing, and even the respect
for their elders. The culture is passed down verbally from the elders of the tribe to the young
children. The story of the beginning is always taught and a lot of the most popular stories
revolve around twin sisters Niehisa and Ketchakaila: two of those stories had been introduced
through the Second legaversery chapter. (pauses a moment to think) Now that you mention it
I’m pretty sure my third legaversery just passed as well. (Back to reality) anyways back to the
show.

5. SG: The most important thing for all Lenmanans is the land they live off of. The land is part of
the magic of the Island. The Lenmanans are told to protect their land and the nature
surrounding the Island. When they build shelters they thank the Island for giving them the
resources they need as well as accepting a lot of the new technology the island has come
across since the beginning of time. The fact that they are close to SimAmerica is what helps
them. Although Technology is pretty new to Lenmana they still try to preserve their land.

6. SG: Respecting those who came before them is also important, while the Lenmanan Native
ancestors had their hardships the Natives believe that their souls still live on. Either through
reincarnation of a sort or just the spirits that chose to keep watch over their descendents.
The Lenmanans are actually Matrilinial, meaning the line passes through the female line of the
family. Usually it’s the eldest daughter who inherits the family house, although if there are any
other daughters the oldest could pass it onto her younger sister if she chooses.*
*see “passing the torch” chapter 3.4 for more information on that

7. SG: but that doesn’t mean sons are loved any less. Lenmanans are big on family as well the are
all grateful for any children they are given. Sons usually go off to live on their own when they
chose to or move into their wife’s house once they marry. In some cases unmarried and
childless sons will continue to live with their mothers or sisters, Lenmanan natives aren’t ones
to kick their children out of the house after they graduate. In the past large families would
live under one roof, although that has changed since then.

8. SG: Lenmanans also believe their children should all have a good education. The early
Lenmanans used to home school their children, or have one school that would educate the
children in one village. Then the next village would have another school and so on. In recent
years the Lenmanans have developed schools for the island. The school year is also a bit
different than the SimAmerican school year: actually Lenmana’s school year is based more on
the SimJapan school year. The School year starts in April because it goes with the seasons
that the Lenmanans pay a lot of attention to. Spring was always thought to be the season of
new beginnings the Lenmanans figured it would be best to start school in the season as one of
those beginnings.

9. SG: the school year ends in early March of the next year, the end of winter. But that doesn’t
mean the children are in school that whole time; children have holidays and breaks throughout
the year. The first week in May is a spring break, they have off for three days in late June for
the summer solstice. Summer Vacation begins the last week of July through August and the
first week of September, this also depends on the Weather. School starts up again in
September, and at the Autumn Equinox children get another three days off. Their next break
is in December starts right before the winter solstice and ends a couple weeks into January.
School is back in session until right before the spring Equinox. If a student is graduating the
graduation day would be the Saturday before the Equinox of that year. The children then get
several weeks to relax before they have to start school again in Mid-April.

10. SG: There are several different schools on Lenmana and each school has a set uniform. There
is the optional Nursery school where students can enroll if they are 3 years old before the new
school year begins or within the first week of school. Children will attend nursery school for 3
years if their parents chose to send them there, for the most part parents send their children
to nursery school. The Elementary school is required for all students, children who turn 6
before the new school year (or within the first week of classes) will start attending Elementary
school. Children will attend this school for six years.

11. SG: Middle school is the next school children will attend. They start attending Middle school
after Elementary school graduation, children would be 12 years old or 12 years within the first
week of classes to attend. Middle School is another three years, Middle school graduation will
lead to high school, children would be 15 or 15 within the first week of classes. This is another
3 years of attendance. Then students could chose to attend University or stay home and work
instead. University is optional and can be attended at any age. Most Lenmanans go on to
University if they can afford it. There you have the Lenmanan school system.

12. SG: I mentioned all the holidays the school children have from school now maybe I should go more into
what Lenmanans celebrate. I have previously mentioned that Lenmanans pay close attention to the seasons
so lets star with the spring celebrations.
*There is the spring Equinox which usually occurs in late March when children are in between school
years. It’s a three day festival filled with food, parades, shows, games, arts and souvenirs. Usually taking
place indoors if it’s too cold.
*Then next is the start of the school year which is always something to celebrate, all schools have an
entrance ceremony for their children parents may attend if they choose/are able to, the ceremony usually
welcomes new students to the school, welcomes back returning students a school song is sang and the
teachers make speeches. From there students are separated into homerooms where they meet their
homeroom teachers, receive their other schedules and meet other teachers and classmates.
*The next holidays take place the first week of May which has the fertility festivals. This usually celebrates
the beginning of planting and growing new crops and the natives thank the island for the past years harvest
and pray for a good harvest this year.
*It has a day to respect the arts of the Lenmanan Natives there are usually bonfires, native dances, art
shows and selling artistic efforts.
*There’s also a day to celebrate children, it’s more of a boys’ day than anything where families celebrate
their sons and thank the universe for giving them. (Since girls have their day in the Winter).

13. *Summer starts making its appearance in late June when the Summer Solstice Festival is celebrated.
Just like the spring equinox there is a three day festival filled with food, parades, shows, games, arts
and souvenirs. Children always have off from school and this festival always takes place outside.
*In early July there is a Stargazer’s day where the Natives show their respects to the sun, moon, stars
and planets; basically celebrating and thanking the universe for letting them live. This is only for about
24 hours starting the night before where families will go out look at the night sky and watch fireworks.
The next day is usually filled with fortunetellers and other things to do with the Lenmanan native
magic. The next night is another night willed with fireworks and stargazing. The Stargazer’s 24 hours
usually takes place on the weekends where children don’t have to be in school.
*In late July right before Summer vacation there is a Ocean day, thanking the waters for quenching
their thirst and helping crops grow.
*Mid-August has a festival where families respect their ancestors. There is a parade in the morning
which is followed by families coming together to share stories, pass down traditions and more while
they thank their ancestors for paving the way for them.
*In early September shortly after school starts up again there is a school holiday where students will
visit Nursing homes and spend a day working, entertaining, and keeping the elders there company.

14. * The Autumn Equinox is in Late September. It is another 3 day festival filled with food,
parades, shows, games, arts and souvenirs. Children always have off from school and this
festival usually takes place outside. This is to celebrate the season of Autumn and there are
parties that watch the leaves change colors. This is also another Harvest of the crops.
* The Monday before Halloween there is a school Holiday called “Health and Sports day”. It’s a
day where the homerooms of each grade form teams and go up against other homerooms in
the school. There is often a variety of sports and relays while students cheer their friends and
classmates on.
•* Halloween is celebrated on Lenmana Island as a day of magic, candy, trick or treating and
parties.
•* The first Monday in November is a school holiday where Students decorate their school and
homerooms to show it off to their families, friends and even children who plan on attending
the school the next year. Projects that had been worked on through the year are usually
shown off as well as a portfolio of a child’s best grades.
•* Mid-November has a day where parents celebrate their children. And thank the universe for
giving them children whether biological or adopted.
•* Late November also has a last harvest of which the families stock up for the oncoming
winter season as they finish gathering up their last crops.

15. * The winter Solstice occurs in Mid December. This is what usually starts the Winter break for
students. There is actually a whole week dedicated to this the first three days celebrate like the
other start of season festivals. Although the vendors and food for the Winter Solstice festival
take place inside with certain events and games that take place outside. The festival ends after
three days but then the next two days are to celebrate families and give thanks by decorating,
eating a feast and gift giving.
•* New years eve and New years day are also celebrated like every other place around the world.
With a parade, fireworks, 24 hour special events as the Lenmanans let go of the old year and be
ready to start the new one.
•* February comes with a “Day of Love” pretty much a Valentines day usually where couples will
celebrate the time they have with each other. Children and teens give out candy and cards to
their friends in school.
•* In early March there is a day that celebrates the daughters the families have had given to them
through the years. This is the same as boys day but for girls. This also Celebrates that winter will
soon come to an end as spring approaches.

16. SG: Well that was quite the list an explanations of the Holidays here on Lenmana. Lenmana
loves celebrating their culture, spending time with family and friends, being creative with their
art, respecting everything nature has given them, respecting their ancestors for paving the way
for future generations and also thanking for what has been given to them. Lenmanan Natives
are also big on magic they believe that the land is what gives them their magic. Which is the
biggest reason they respect the island as well as the universe surrounding them. They also are
very welcoming when new people are willing to discover their Island and culture deeper.

17. SG: There are a few other beliefs of the Lenmanans: for one thing every new Lenmanan is a
gift. And when a child is born they receive a special animal spirit as part of their soul. It is
more of a subtle belief of the Lenmanans although some claim to have seen or been able to
communicate fluently with the spirit. The Lenmanan natives believe that anyone born on this
Island, whether a direct descendant of the Natives or a child who’s family has lived on and
accepted the culture has an animal spirit. It is also common belief that the magic can go much
further than that, but not even I have discovered all the possibilities of this.

18. SG: Lenmana Island is a culture of deep roots from ancient times. The Island itself has so
much to discover. It is actually separated into sections there is Lena (where our main Azure
line resides), Eyota (where Lenmana U is located), Huata, Taregon, and Adahy. Most of which
is undiscovered forests and mountains. Lenmanans are welcoming and treat new people who
decide to live here with friendliness and helpfulness. Lenmanans are also willing to learn and
ask questions about new and different things. They are also willing to give answers about their
Island and culture.

19. SG: Lenmana Island is also a beautiful place the wide oceans the mountains the trees, nature
surrounds you wherever you are. It is the way the Lenmanans want to keep everything, natural.

20. SG: The people are wonderful and welcoming, they are known to help not just their own
families but others as well, like their ancestors, you will most likely see a parent not just
bandage the knee of her own child but clean and bandage her child’s friend’s elbow as well.
This comes from the early Lenmanans where everyone in one village would help take care of a
child, because it is a new generation. And besides; it does take a village to raise a child.

21. SG: So if you are unsure about something just ask a Lenmanan Native, enjoy celebrating the
culture with music, arts, food and fun. Look around at how the Lenmanans have preserved
the nature from their earliest days and how they evolved with the new technology and things
that occur all the time. Just remember Lenmanans are friendly but will protect
themselves, their family and friends if threatened.

22. SG: This again is Shadow Gem giving you information on the wonderful Lenmana Island.