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.