GUAM

17 team members
Adopt-a-country school: Takitumu School
Accommodation: Aotearoa Centre
Dining: Sinai Hall

Administrative Centre:     Hagatna (Agana)
Land Area:      218 sq km
Languages:     Chamorro, English
Currency:     US Dollar

Guam is the largest and most southern island of the Mariana Islands and has a land size of 218km².
Guam was occupied by the Chamorro Indians from 1500BC. In 1565 Guam was claimed by Spain and ruled from Madrid until the Spanish-American war of 1898.
The Spanish governor was unaware of the war and, when a US frigate entered Hagatna harbour with guns blazing, he apologised to the captain for not having a reciprocal salute ready. He surrendered the island the next day.
During the late 19th century the United States gained control of the island and the region soon became a port for American ships traveling to and from the Philippines.
The Japanese occupied Guam during the second world war until the US returned and fought to regain control. The regaining of the territory was marked with the Guam Organic Act of 1950 which saw Guam as an unincorporated organised territory of the United States.
The present population of Guam is approximately 170,000 and is most dense in the northern and central regions with the official languages being Chamorro and English
Approximately 47% of Guam’s population is Chamorro, 25% Filipino and the remaining 28% primarily Caucasian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Micronesian. Each group within Guam contributes cultural heritage and customs to create Guam's unique culture and appeal.