Good Bye Guam

Always a fiesta in Guam.

No one goes hungry in Guam.

Guam Airport...Adios Guam, you will be missed.

I really did go to work each day...it wasn't a vacation!

CS2 Shimizu, my assistant and guide. Such a gentleman, as all true Chamaro men.

Miss Elsie- The best diet technician ever.

Discharge planning meeting on the multi-service unit.

I had a great group of people to work with.

Pagut Caves and overlook...one of many of God's amazing creations!

Amazing

It was so tempting to jump in but mother nature is one powerful women I am not going to mess with.

Doria-by chance (and James) we met but you truely have become such a good friend that will always have a place in my heart and home and you will truely be missed. Thanks for everything, your friendship and a wonderful time on Guam.

My First and Last Journey with my waterproof camera...the dolphin tour

Being a tourist for one last time before I leave...

Aren't they cute???

Yeah, we saw lots of dolphins. They were smaller than you see on tv but super cute!

No idea what these are, but I like to call them unicorn fish...

CS2's Wedding

A fun night was had by all...

We all clean up pretty nice outside of those ugly blue Navy working uniforms!

Before...

After...Yummy!

This lovely women is from one of the nearby islands who is staying on Guam now. She makes these decorations with dried leaves (I think) and shells and local wood. I picked up this turtle for my mom. I hope she likes it.

This is the beautiful beach I spent last Saturday morning at with some friends. Rough waters but still fun.

Tonight I went to the gym and picked up a few items to bring back state-side. I tried to pick up a little something for my friends. I hope I have something for everyone. Looking forward to the journey home. 10 days left, including the wedding of my assistant. Looking forward to seeing a local wedding. I will try to make the most of my last few days.

Happy Valentine's day kiddos! I wish you were here.

My friend CoCo and I on the beach, relaxing before the powerful wave knock us on all around! It was not safe waters at all but it was too beautiful not to get in for just a few minutes. I have never had so much sand in my clothes after a day at the beach...it was everywhere.

18 more days

So Yesterday I was talking with a friend about how I am working out more than ever but can't lose wt or even feel healthier for that matter...no magic answers but 1 thought came to mind. Instead of running around after children and running up and down steps for this that and the laundry, I work out and then sit on the sofa
the rest of then evening. So I have come to the conclusion this formal exercise here in Guam is taking the place of all the running around I did as a Mom. So logic then tells me that I am lucky I just stayed the same here and did not gain wt and that if I keep up the exercise when I get back to the states and start running around like crazy again with the kids that I will then see some progress...Yes, I have too much alone time which lead to too much thinking.

Wings fund raiser part 2

Yummy Yummy in my tummy!

Some wild wings and wild buffalo

It was a fund raiser for the school...yummy!

Another Day Down!

Every day is one day closer to my return to St.Charles, MO. Don't get me wrong, I love Guam and I love all the people I've met here but I am now in return mode and am counting down the days more closely than I ever remember as a kid at Christmas.!  This blog is to keep in touch with family, share experiences and journal my trip so I never forget my adventures on Guam. And right now all I feel is how badly I want to be home with me family. 

My friend Ria does cultural dance, it is very beautiful and fun to watch. Her daughter also does it professionally.

Bell tower in the Southern part of the Island.

I had a nice weekend with friends, listened to 2 local bands, Friday-liquid courage and Saturday-Jesse and Ruby. Also went to Charrusos, a brazilian BBQ. It was more protein than a person needs in a month but it was delicous. Sunday-Ria invited me to a friends house for a going away party...food, fun and laughter. They all had been friends for years, the connection was dance, either they danced together or their kids danced together but now they were family. How fun to just listen to them share old stories and laugh and tease each other and pick on one another. Reminds me of my family a few years back on both sides of the family before my grandparents died. It seems like everyone was more fun and happy to be together to share stories and harrass each other when they were alive. I miss those times.

TGIF

Well today is Friday. Started some laundry and not much else going on. Greys Anatomy is on tonight and might meet up with a friend but who knows. Not sure what to do this weekend. No hikes scheduled for this weekend, maybe check out a new beach or something and try out my new camera Mark sent me. It is water proof! Fun. I shouldn't sound bored, my husband may never talk to me again...he is far from bored. He has all three kids this weekend alone. Sunday he is taking them down to our old parish in Soulard and letting them help feed the homeless as they enjoy the Superbowl. Then mom will take Jo Jo back to Sullivan with her. Last week after Mark left my parents Jo said "bye Corrine, miss you". How sad is that, he really misses being with the rest of the family. Hang in there everyone, only 3 weeks from Sunday and we will all be together again.


love you all

Jesse and Ruby, A Guam Legion

My awesome friend Ria introduced me to this band who plays at a local Hotel almost every night! Ria is in the white shirt and she has introduced not only to this band but also to the hashing experience and local food and much much more, plus she is just so much fun to hang out with I feel like I have a new Chamoro Sister! Thanks Ria!

These guys are fabulous! You should youtube them, you will feel like you are in the islands even from cold St. Charles!

Talafofo Caves

The cave experience was alot of fun, had to get over a few fears of tight spaces but I did it. Not to say I won't be scared if I ever get to do it again!

And yes, I am in the same clothes as the hash I just talked about! I went cave exploring in the morning and hashing that night! Needless to say I am sore today. Today I am updating the blog, skyped the family, sang Happy Birthday to Mark, and doing laundry while watching a true classic, "you've got mail".  Also went to church to thank Jesus for a safe  ending to a crazy day last night and planning to see a movie at the mall in a few hours with the other dietitian.  28 days to go!

www.hashguam.com on Mount LamLam of Guam

The above website is not all that fancy but can give you an idea of what I did last night! What a crazy time I had last night on my first Hash. The jist of it is that you drink, run a hike in the jungle of Guam and drink some more and hope not to get lost or left behind! The hike is different every time and two "hares" get a 10 minute head start to run a race they set up themselves. They mark the trail with biodegradable tape and flour (who knows why) and then it is a race to the end. I participated in my first (and probably last) hash last night, minus the drinking. I stuck with water and a celebratory soda afterwords! Plus a big plate of fried rice to post carb load! Don't get me wrong, I had a fun time but I don't want to risk getting hurt just 4 weeks before departure!

This was at the top of the mountain. The story goes that every Good Friday the people of Guam (a very Catholic Island) have a procession to the top of this mountain carrying a cross and reenacting the crucifixtion of Jesus Christ. There is an actual path that is not too difficult to follow but during the Hash we did not follow the true path. I wanted to go to the top of this mountain before I left so last night I killed two birds with one stone, a hash and get to the top of Mount Lamlam. 

I have never been so muddy and so stinky in all my life. The whole way down the mountain was a butt slide down mud. I have never been on a mud slide before, I've had the drink called mud slide and I've enjoyed it but never slid down a mountain on my butt down the mud. It was fun, but scary, the only thing that stopped you was a cluster of tall grass and then you take a few steps to the left and slide some more. I am so thankful I did not break or twist anything! I think I was one of the last people down the mountain but I was with 3 other women so I wasn't alone. Last but NOT least!This is the beginning of the post party, but as I said, I just got a drink and a snack and went out to dinner with my friends...maybe we should start something like this in Saint Charles!

Updates

For any of my faithful followers who know what I am trying to accomplish while I am here on Guam:

Pounds lost 1, maybe 2-horrible! Enough money earned for liposuction-check!

Glasses-check, I am now 4 eyed with 20/20 vision!

Continuing education-earned 28 hours, went from 20 to 48 hours-check! Only 27 more to go by 2013.

Ready to pass my PRT in April-check, running 1.5 miles 3x/wk

And as a bonus...getting 2 moles removed and my teeth cleaned in February.

TGIF tomorrow!

PS-special shout out to my wonderful west coast parents (in-laws) who read my blog more than my own husband! Thanks Mom and Dad!

PSS-rode a carbao (sober)-check!

Good Friday in Guam

I'm not sure what they call this hill/mountain but as you can see there are multiple crosses on the top. From what I was told this weekend anyone here is invited to go on a journey to the top of the hill on Good Friday. Different men take turns carrying a cross like Jesus did on Good Friday to his crucifiction and anyone is welcome to go on the journey with them. I think hundreds of people participate each year. I would really like to do that but I won't be here on Good Friday. I may try doing the hike by myself before I go. I think that it would be a very emotional experience on Good Friday.

Well I have tried to update my blog alot today since I haven't posted anything in a week. Now you know what I have been up to this past week or so. 32 days to go and I hope they pass quickly, I am redy to get home.

Roaches

OK- Guam is great but this past weekend makes me appreciate my clean house, yes it may be cluttered, but there is no TWO INCH COCK ROACHES in my home in St. Charles. Friday night I screamed like a horror movie as a roach crawled across my bedroom floor, as I tried to hit it with a shoe it kindly went under my bed!  Mark was not expecting that early morning call, he had to convince me to get in my bed and that a roach wasn't going to crawl into my ear while I slept. I hate this Navy Inns and Suites. I have had ants and cold showers and now roaches!!  If I had to pay the bill, it wouldn't happen. I would not pay a penny of my own money for ants, roaches, and cold showers. Since the navy is paying  I have no choice.  By the way the next morning I saw him again and he did not get away this time. I could go to the closet where he tried to hide and take his picture for you all but I am trying to forget it is in there...so no picture of the roach.

I have been away from the blog for over a week...I guess time is going fast on Guam, but not fast enough...I think I have hit my limit of pleasure and I am ready to head home. I have so much respect for all the military men and women that spend so much time away from their families but I certainly hope I do not ever have to spend this much time away from my family ever again.

As for my latest adventures I spent the past weekend with a special friend of mine I met when I was in Japan on my 2 week AT for the Navy about 9 yrs ago, Ms. Kiyomi. She came over on Friday and spent the weekend with me. We haven't seen each other in about 5 yrs when she came to the USA to visit with me and my family.

We had a great time out together and touring the island together. We headed up North to Ratidian beach at the very northern tip of the island. It was the most beautiful white, smooth sand and clear blue water...gorgeous!!

Then the next day we headed down south to find the exact opposite type of beach...hard to tell from this picture but the sand is black. It comes from volcanic rock deep under the island (according to our friend/tour guide). It was still cool to see, but not the beautiful beaches of the north!

This is called "Bear Rock" as it is said to look like a bear! I think every single state has some rock that looks like something...funny!

Anyway, It was a fun weekend and so great to see my friend.