Thinking about leaving Guam. Nah, bought a house!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 18 Apr 07 - 04:54 AM

Brett, thanks for another beautiful description

sandra

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Barry Finn
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 01:12 PM

What about moving south og the equator? They got plenty of island groups. Just looking for more interesting island reports.

Barry

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 08:58 AM

Well I suppose I should get started with the description of our weekend. After all, another weekend has gone by and the dream that is Rota is fading. Here is the first installment.

Now, you must understand the difference between Rota and Guam. Here on Guam life is pretty good. We live in the southern part of the island, the rural area, if you will. The Northern part of the island is pretty much an urban center, probably one of the most urbanized areas in the North Pacific (i.e., north of the Equator) if you leave out islands like Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Rota, on the other hand calls itself Nature's Treasure Island and they are not wrong.

Rota is the next island north of us. It is smaller than Guam, only 85 square miles as opposed to Guam's 210 square miles, and it has a much smaller population. Rota has only about 3,000 people. Guam is fairly crowded with 170,000. That makes a world of difference. When we got back to Guam I commented to Wakana that it was like going to Boston after a weekend up at my parent's place. We went from clean country living to the big city.

The geography of the island is very interesting. It seems to have raised itself up out of the ocean in layers. The highest, smallest layer is relatively flat on top. Each layer below that one is larger and also flat. The lowest layer rises steeply from the ocean in places while it is at sea level in others but that does not mean you can actually get to the sea for all around are razor sharp ragged edges of the limestone that makes up the whole island. The only easy access to the ocean are the shores around Songsong Village.

Wakana has been to Rota many times. She wrote her master's thesis on ecotourism on the island. She spent a lot of time there talking to people and getting to know the ins and outs of the place. She loves it and she wanted me to see why. So, she gathered up her secret money stash and bought two plane tickets.

We flew out on Friday at 7:00 AM. The plane was small, only 27 seats, and we expected to have it all to ourselves until a tour group of Japanese showed up. They were having fun and we got to talk to them. They all belong to the same company. It was a company trip, paid for by their firm and overseen by their CEO. The people were all in their twenties and thirties, men and women.

I learned a lot about Japanese corporate thinking on this trip. Wakana explained that the companies provide such travel opportunities in an effort to create a team mentality. I asked about the possibility of office romance and learned that it is common, not frowned on, unless it is an extramarital affair. I guess the idea is that the man and woman can spend time together and still work for the company.

ANYWAY, the flight was uncomfortable because the seats were so small but it was short. We landed on Rota in the cool morning air. It was quick work to get through immigration, collect our luggage and get through customs. Wakana rented a car and we headed off to find a hotel.

Yes, we had no reservations anywhere. I didn't think that was a good idea, it was a holiday in Japan and the Easter Weekend in the States. The hotels must be full. Unfortunately for Rota, they were not. We drove by the Rota Golf Resort and saw an empty Golf course. We stopped at the Rota Hotel and found a deserted lobby. When we finally found the manager he explained that they had only one room booked in a one hundred room facility. We found the same story everywhere we went.

We decided to stay at the Coconut Village Hotel. This is a very pleasant wooden set of buildings, actually like an old style American motel with cottages instead of a large block of rooms. The grounds were nicely landscaped. The cottages were little duplexes, two rooms each with a Japanese style bathroom (i.e., cramped) and two full size beds. Do you remember the full size bed? Not small enough to be a twin but not large enough to be a double. Do you know how tall I am? Let's just say that my feet got lots of air time.

To get to the hotel we drove from the airport. This is a good point to talk about the roads we used in Rota. The main road from the airport to the two villages is a nicely maintained asphalt two lanes leading down by the shore. The roads in the village are also asphalt and though narrow are easily followed. But, you see, we didn't stay on those roads.

There are many names for roads. Some of you are near superhighways, some near interstate highways. There are roads with four lanes and a median and those with a turn lane. Then we get down to the simple roads, two lanes and a shoulder if you have to stop. At the lowest level are those that we call unimproved. Many of us are familiar with the dirt road. What you don't know about are the roads below that level… Rota's roads.

Consider the washed out road, rocks and gravel under the car, the popping sound the tires make and the grind of the grit under the car, the sickening side slip as you try to climb a steep grade with a cliff on one side and tree tops below you, the bumping and thump of the road rubbing the bottom of the car, the swish of the grass that grows high between the low ruts, and then you have an idea of a Rota road.

And in what did we brave these winding tracks? What could stand up to such punishment? Do you imagine a four wheel drive truck with oversize tires and a roaring engine. Oh no, gentle reader, we didn't have anything like that. Our chariot for exploring the depths of Rota was a 1994 Nissan Sentra sedan. My respect for Nissan went way up over that weekend.

On the first day Wakana wanted to show me everything but we settled for the Swimming Hole, the Fishing Cliffs, and the Bird Sanctuary. The water was too rough for the swimming hole which is a very large tide pool carved out of the coral that makes up the shore. The waves wash over the reef and into the pool filling it with clean new seawater. At low tide it is supposed to be a lovely place to go for a refreshing swim but we never saw it at low tide.

From there we went on to the fishing cliffs, As Matmos. We drove out a long track that brought us on to a large shelf, maybe half a mile wide between the cliffs that towered over us and the sea that stretched out beyond. When we walked over to look at the surf we found we were at the top of a cliff that fell fifty to seventy five feet to sea level. And what a sight! Those waves that kept us out of the swimming hole were crashing into the cliffs and sending white sheets of spray high over our heads. And it wasn't just a localized event. The cliffs run on for at least a mile with white water crashing all along the length. There are blow holes and thunder holes. The sound is deep and constant. The cliff tops are wet with seawater from a long way down. It is an amazing sight.

From there we headed for the Bird Sanctuary. One of the amazing things about Rota, for me, is the multitude of birds. Guam's bird population has been decimated by the brown tree snake. We have some sparrows, lots of pigeons and chickens, and a few protected species like the Guam Rail. But Rota has a full population. As you drive down the roads doves fly up in front of the car. Black Drongos cling to tree branches and fences. You see an occasional francolin and plover. We also saw huge collared kingfishers and once I saw a scarlet honeyeater flash among the trees.

At the sanctuary you can follow concrete walkways through the trees to yet another cliff edge. The actual sanctuary is at the bottom of the cliff, way below you where the trees look like toys. Among the trees are white dots that are the egrets that migrate through the Marianas Islands. Flying out to sea are the boobies and frigate birds. Small black sparrows flap swiftly by. And this was in the sleepy afternoon. In the early morning the sky is full of birds as they head out hunting for food from the sea and forests.

From there we headed for the latte stone quarry. In the old days, long before the Europeans found Guam, the Chamorros lived in house held up off the ground by carved stone posts. The upright carried a half round stone on which rested the timbers that made up the floor of the house. The two pieces are called latte stones. The more important the family the larger the lattes. The quarry we visited holds the remains of lattes that were never finished and they are huge. Nobody knows why they quit making and using lattes but I have my own favorite theory. After seeing the size of the stones in the quarry my imagination went to work.

In my theory there were a bunch of people working on carving the stones when one of them piped up and said, "You know, we have to move this to the chief's hose and set it up. Then we have to lift this big bastard up over our heads."

"You know," said his buddy, "you're right." He turned to the guy on his other side and they all talked about it and concluded they were being jerked around and they weren't going to take it anymore. And that was the end of the latte period.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JudyB
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 12:04 PM

Wonderful news, Brett! Must admit I have trouble figuring how a youngster like you could possibly be a Grandpa - maybe it's related to global warming!?!

All my best to you and Wakana, and to Kelli and her husband!

JudyB

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 08:07 AM

Well, my beard is pretty white. At work Kimiko's daughter is convinced I'm Santa Claus. Must be the belly and the beard.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Apr 07 - 03:41 AM

how come so many of my contempories are grandparents? Surely I can't be that old?

In the olden days, Grandparents used to be old & grey - oops.

sandra (maybe I need to start dying my hair again)

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 08:26 PM

Actually this is their THIRD greatgrandkid. It is the first legitimate greatgrandkid, a fact my ex enjoys rubbing in their faces.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 12:38 PM

Brett-

Well, I consder that grand news, even if it means that you and Wakana have to get used to the idea that you will be grandparents. But for your parents it's GREAT NEWS; they become Greatgrandparents! Are they ready for that?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 10:31 AM

Who-Hoo!! It's a Wonderful Life, being a grandparent!!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 09:09 AM

By the by, she and her husband PLANNED this. It hasn't really taken them by surprise. I'm the only one surprised by it.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Apr 07 - 09:08 AM

Well, the WHOLE story has to wait on this late breaking news. I got a call from my older daughter, Kelli, today. She said she had big news. I asked what it could be. She said it was the biggest news. I asked if it meant she and her husband hadn't been paying close attention to birth control. She said it did.

I'm gonna be a grandfather!

I'm not ready for this....

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 12:58 PM

I want the whole story now!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 11:39 AM

Hope you took the toothpicks out and got some sleep!**bg**

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Barry Finn
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 11:08 AM

Have a good Easter, Brett & Wakana

Barry

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Apr 07 - 06:50 AM

Wow! We are just back from Rota and it is an amazing place! I'd love to give you the whole story now but I've got toothpicks holding my eyes open. More later.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 05 Apr 07 - 01:09 AM

OK! The classes are over and it's time to pack. Wakana and I are headed for Rota this weekend. It's not much, just the next island in the chain but I've never been there. Wakana had been to Rota many times before we met but this is the first time she has taken someone with her. She's looking forward to the tour guide routine.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Apr 07 - 07:47 AM

Sorry about that. I should have posted earlier.

Some of my students are wonderful exciting people. Some are not. I'm working with one of the latter types now. Tomorrow is the last day. There's nothing I can put my finger on but she is just not interesting. I don't understand it myself. I try to be very non-judgmental but this one is hard to take. I seem to use more energy working with her than any other student. I enjoy it less than any other student. I don't get it.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 08:39 PM

Brett-

Thanks! ;~)

I guess we don't have to send out the Mudcat First Responders.

That's probably a good thing, given that we'd first have to agree on our official name...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 07:25 PM

We survived the non-typhoon. It turned more northerly on Monday and blundered over Saipan and Tinian, brushed against Rota, and gave us a cloudy rainy day with little wind. All safe.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 05:52 PM

Errrrr, Brett!!!!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 09:32 PM

Any survivors from the typhoon?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: bbc
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 02:42 AM

No suggestions, but I wish you happy, when- & where-ever you decide & I'll look forward to hearing about it. You were on my mind recently when Duane & I took part in the John Roberts gathering at SINSULL's. I saw many of the same folks we had seen at the Press Room several years ago when we drove down with you & Charley. Happy memory!

best always,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 07:27 PM

Guam as Brett's attic!

I like the sound of that. Can we all send our surplus "stuff" to you?

Maybe I'll wait until after the typhoon.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 04:36 PM

Yeah, Barry, boats are cheap after a typhoon. All you have to do is refloat them. There is a big one on the reef in Apra Harbor. I'm wondering what it will look like after Kong-Rey passes.

The typhoon will run over Rota, the next island north of us. According to the National Weather Service we will only get 50 to 60 mph winds while Rota will get 80 to 90 mph winds. Of course WE doomed Rota. On Friday we are going up there for the weekend. I hope they get cleaned up in time for us to enjoy their island.

Guest, I am actually very comfortable and happy with moving. I am out here on what the Australians would call 'walkabout'. I need to trim back the number of possessions that clutter up my life but once that is done I will head on out.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 04:09 PM

I'm telling you Brett, you & Wakana should buy a boat & live on that. Transportation is easy & cheap, no packing when you decide to haul up anchor, all your shipping is in house, you go when & where you want, as long as there's a breeze in the same direction, you can sing yourselves across to where ever, you can catch your lunch all day long.

Wait until the Typhoon passes first before you buy one though.

Barry

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 03:53 AM

Please, PLEASE, PLEASE do not leave.

The gooney birds and I will be lonely without you.

Recognize your religion, recognize your calling, recognize that no other can take your place.

You will not be happy or content untill you find your resting place....walk, pray, explore, then proclaim, on the island, the place for your grave. It is simple and you will become happy.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 01 Apr 07 - 03:23 AM

It looks like the typhoon, Kong-Rey, is headed to pass just north of the island. By the time it gets here it will have have maximum sustained winds of 115 MPH. Remember it just materialized this morning. We don't get the luxury of time that Florida and the east coast gets.

Can't sit here. Gotta start preparations.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 08:48 PM

Brett-

Maybe you should change the name of this thread real fast!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 07:58 PM

Gordon called this morning to tell us a typhoon is on the way. It is forming up over Chuk and MAY come through here. When he saw the weather report it had not yet formed a single eye. It had two. When I saw it on my TV it had formed its eye and was moving north. If it holds that course we will only catch the western edge but it could swing west enough to give us its full attention.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Mar 07 - 04:16 AM

I looked at going to Oz myself a while back, and the requirements once you reach 35 are pretty onerous. They operate a sort of points system, and if you don't make the points then it's down to money in the bank, and I mean big money!
I would think that any of the latest intake into the EEC would welcome English teachers, don't know about the Japanese tuition though.
BTW because Wakana sang Grandfather's Clock at the last Getaway I attended, I have learned the song myself, albeit in English. It was a song I seemed to have known forever, but realised I never did know all the words.
Good luck wherever you move to folks.
Giok

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 11:13 PM

I will come back to Maine one of these days but I'm not finished looking at the world yet. We might try Thailand. Or we might try Eastern Europe. Not sure I'm ready for cold weather either.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: GUEST,Peter Woodruff
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 09:55 PM

I could never live on an island without a boat or a bridge.

Peter

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: kendall
Date: 30 Mar 07 - 07:58 AM

I could never live on an island.

Come back to Maine, bring Brett with you. :-)

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 08:07 PM

There's room here in Maine for you two.
SINS

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 09:53 PM

It's hard to believe that it has been two years since Wakana got her green card but it has. Today I stopped by the immigration office to get the forms to change her provisional residence status to permanent residence. We'd been told we needed to file WITHIN ninety days of the two year mark. Well, we are within that time frame and two months late according to the immigration officer. Sigh. English is a difficult language, even for native speakers.

I also got our tax forms. Eep! April 15 is coming!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: maeve
Date: 28 Mar 07 - 06:59 AM

refresh...

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Mar 07 - 08:38 PM

There are all types of kids. Some are cynical and angry. Some are apathetic. And some are just plain sweet. Yesterday I had a student who fitted into that last category. Aya is 18 and smart as a whip. She's cute as a button and her eyes are full of intelligence.

She came to Guam with an older friend of the family for her first trip abroad to see the sights and intending to practice her English, which is nearly impeccable, at Liberal Academy. She was nervous about meeting a big bearded gai-jin at first. By the end of our four and a half hours together we were the best of friends. She came for a three hour class. After the class I took her to a bookstore where she bought a copy of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on my recommendation.

Some students make you feel frustrated. Some make you proud. She made me proud and happy, not just to be a teacher but to have had the chance to get to know her. She has a great future ahead of her.

She wants to be a flight attendant. If you are ever in the air and your attendant is named Aya please say hello from me.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 08:24 PM

I would love to live in Australia and Wakana would probably have no trouble finding work teaching Japanese but it appears the Australians think they speak English (God knows where they got that idea.) so I would not be able to find any work there.

On the serious side, Wakana was not very comfortable on her only visit to Australia so she is at best lukewarm about going back. She experienced some bigotry from some Aussie rednecks, I guess. If any of you guys want us there we'll need some help finding work and reassuring Wakana that all of Australia is not like that.

As for anyplace else we do not have any target yet.

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 10:58 PM

wherever you think about living, check the internet connections first!

see ya both whenever

sandra

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 08:31 PM

Maybe we should all take a vote on this first! ;~)

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 12:52 PM

If you come to Oz, you can buy a schooner every day - a schooner of beer! That's what we have instead of pints. I don't know how they came to be called schooners...

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 12:25 PM

Brett, move to Hawaii, we can have a Mudgathering at your place. Just think of it we can all stay for the month. Nce, eh?

Well, it no wonder you keep moning around,. That what comes of ya being born on a schooner. That's it, buy a schooner & you can wander till your hearts content. Wait does Wakana like living aboard?

Good luck what ever you do, just let us know where you'll be.

All my best

Barry

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: JennyO
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 10:45 AM

Brett, I think you should probably ignore these two threads as they are appearing right now. Take your time - unless of course you want to come to Oz. You can do that as soon as you like :-)

Thinking about leaving Guam. / You must leave now!!

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 10:29 AM

Brett - Where ever you finish up , I just hope that you still have good internet availability ! Your posts are always well worth reading .

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 09:50 AM

It kinda sounded as if you were thinking that way in the other thread, Brett. As long as you are together, it should be a wonderful experience wherever you are.

I have a cousin and his wife who are teaching in Albania. They are there with some church and are teaching English. However, they are doing so in a very rural area and, from what I read, it's not something I would rush to do...electricity only part of the day and never at the same time, extreme cold with little heat in winter, etc. etc. Lots different from tropical Guam! Of course, there are other places. The neat thing about living where they do is they are able to travel Europe fairly easily and inexpensively. They are coming home this summer but plan to go back. They really love it.

My sisters had jobs teaching school on a reservation in AZ and were paid quite well as well as had a house provided for about $100 per month. It was isolated but great bennies.

Have you ever looked at The Caretaker's Gazette? Someone posted about it years and years ago, here. I subscribed for about a year. There were some VERY interesting situations offered.

You'll know when the right comes along. Good luck and keep us psoted, please!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 04:05 AM

Would some kind JoeClone please move this thread to where it belongs... NO! Not the trash, the BS list

your wish is our command! BS-faery

Subject: RE: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 04:04 AM

Here is the last thread, Working in Guam.

Subject: Thinking about leaving Guam.
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Mar 07 - 04:00 AM

Yes, indeed, we are thinking about heading out of here. I have never been good at settling into one place for a long time. The longest I ever stayed anywhere was Maine and it always seemed like it must be time to move along down the pike. And so it seems here. Wakana is not happy working at Liberal Academy and I am starting to think that I want to see more of the world. We'd been talking about going to Japan but someone told Wakana that the eastern European countries are looking for English and Japanese teachers.

Of course, we are just THINKING about moving. We're nowhere near going yet.