Thank you for your kind words…. a very good assessment of our beautiful island. I’m from NY originally, met my wife who is Chamorro in California while I was in the Army in 1978. We settled here in 1983 raising 3 children here. I’ve never regretted it. The island is beautiful and thrives with an abundance of family and community. It does help financially to have military privileges which made it more affordable for us to live here. Continue to enjoy living here 👍🏻
Thank you for sharing your story! I love hearing about others who have come to the island and could make it work and fell in love with it. I’m looking forward to all my adventures here 😊
This honestly made me happy and tear up a bit, I am glad you point out the things that a lot of people talk about and most of all, enjoy your stay here on Guam! Have a blessed day fam 🥳
I was on Guam back in 1984/85…..I don’t know if it’s still the case, but when I was there some of the rural roads were made out of crushed coral. So whenever it rained, the roads actually came alive with a thin layer of green moss growing on them. This made the roads so slippery (worse than ice).
Welcome to Guam 🤙😄 I've been here almost 50 years, witnessed our island community grow and developed. Diverse culture and nationality, Beautiful island and people. Enjoy!
This was a very pleasant review of our island home, I run into mainlanders a lot and there are still many who still just cannot adopt to the island way, you either going to LOVE it or your taking the next flight back to the US Mainland, so glad you LOVE it as we all do !
Just moved to L.A. from Guam and the people in L.A. brags about having the best barbeque and I told them that if they want to taste a good barbeque....go to Guam....but they didn't believe me.....thanks for putting it on youtube....biba Guahan....
We live in Alabama now after I retired from the Army. I love your vlog and thank you for your awesome impression about our Island. Guam will never leave my heart. Si Yu'use Ma'a'se!❤
I want live there and work into my retirement. Guam is America's gateway to Asia. I also heard it's very laid back. So sick of hustle and bustle of the mainland. Good video here, giving it a thumbs up.
Guam ... home sweet home. I've been to a lot of places, nothing comes close to Guam. Maybe Hawaii, but Guam still tops. It's probably because of it's simplicity and unique ways that taught me to focus on the things that truly matters. I miss it so much, one day I'll be back to retire there. I love mangoes, avocados, bananas, calamansi, coconut, sinigwelas and other tropical fruits that comes abundant and almost free on Guam. So the prices for strawberries, blueberries and other imported foods didn't affect me one bit. There's a farm to table co-op there where people can actually get fresh fruits and vegetables to. And if you make a lot of local friends, they usually give fresh produce since again it's just so abundant there. There are many stores there to that sells very cheap house hold supplies and gift items from the Philippines like Valencia at Harmon and sometimes wholesale sale prices like Kelly's at Harmon. You just gotta explore. I was a very poor college student majority of my time there. And I made it just fine with nothing but love and gratitude to the island 😊 And lastly, I'm horrified of snails and slugs. But Guam taught me how to handle snakes like a barbarian 😂 I really don't care about the spiders and the cocroaches. Have you seen the wild boars? They're abundant on Guam to. They roam around the jungle areas, one time a big one found it's way infront of the old DMV 😂 but still, I'd rather deal with all the wild predators of Guam, including the stone fish, lion fish, man 'o war and the sharks, than the bears, wolves, mountain lions and cougars and other unforgiving predators of the wild here in the US mainland ... yah know 😉
Thank you for your amazing response. Awesome advice about the farm to table co-op and the Harmon stores! I’ll definitely check them out. I know I’ve got so much more to explore here I’m barely scratching the surface. Oh and yes!! I’ve seen the wild boars! So cool to see. I even saw a bunch of piglets the other day 😍
@@KawaiiTako Warning, steer clear from those wild boars. They are mean and dangerous! One cornered my aunt on her house property in Dededo just outside the main village. She had to be hospitalized because she was gored in the leg. On a good note, grilled wild boars with the skin on, is more delicious than grilled pork belly or real Chamorru BBQ pork ribs, IMO. Glad you enjoyed Guam.
@@donneone 😮 I’m so sorry to hear about your auntie. I hope she had/has a good recovery. I will be cautious of the wild boars. Thank you for the advice 😊
@@KawaiiTako Shes doing fine now. Took a while to recover. Thanks for responding. I’m happy you are enjoying your time on Guam and sharing some of it with us.
Thank you for all the good information. I am a local from Hawaii and was stationed at Andersen for 4.5 years. To me it was hot like the Philippines, Okinawa and Viet Nam. Oh, then there is Typhoon Season! I remember the wind was so strong that when the rain hits the barracks iron doors it just flows to the bottom and floods the room. But what is a blessing that the power never goes out during the typhoon but goes out only on sunny days (caused by a brown snake climbing onto a power line). The insects and geckos is just like Hawaii. Out of my 20 years in the Air Force Guam is the closes base I got stationed to home. The Chamarros and Guamanians are warm hearted people. They made me feel at home. Especially during the Fiesta's you are invited over to eat and celebrate. I will always remember the first local birthday party I attended on the island. I was invited by a Chamorro older woman that worked at the Chow Hall. At the party after I ate she would come over and tell me, " Ah, Aaron you better eat so more!!!" You know every party I attended after that they will always ask me, " Ah, Aaron you better eat so more!!!"
I haven’t been able to attend a fiesta yet but I can’t wait until I’m able to 😊 Although, I am familiar with the insisting to eat more whenever there is a family BBQ hahaha
Hafa adai! Thank you for sharing your video and for your kind words as you describe my home. I've been away since 2000, but fortunately was able to visit twice since gone as my parents are still living back home. I miss home so much, more so recently, and just waiting for the right time to move back. It has changed alot since I left but no matter it's current situation Guam will always be ❤️HOME❤️. Again, thank you! Best wishes to you!
Thank you for sharing! I love hearing about how Guam is your true home and you want to come back. I hope one day I can truly share the beauty I see here. It really is an amazing place 😊
@@KawaiiTakoAt least be thankful for your apportunity to travel there. There are people who are homeless and starving here in the mainland and would love to experience your adventure. Sounds like the island people are still nice even with some of your complaints. God bless them and God bless you!
We were stationed in Guam in 1190 for 2 years. all those things you said about Guam are so true. My 2 boys 3 and 18 mo used to play with the geckos when they were in the house. we lived on base navy housing so we mainly shopped at the Px. the weather was pretty hot and steamy. we arrived in October and 2 weeks later experienced our 1 st of 3 typhoons. it was rainy season and everything was moldy if left outside. the temps were high 78 low of 72 with 90 % humidity. if you could bear it. We got SCUBA certified and that was a fun social thing to do with other families at the beach. the downside of Guam was it was so far away from family. having no iPhones or social media at the time we called home to the Staes twice a year. it cost $80.00 to talk to my parents at xmas for 3 minutes. and boy was I homesick. however the military treated everyone as 1 big family. We made a lot of lifelong friends. some whom we keep in touch with. Guam will always hold a special place in my heart. My daughter was born there 33 yrs ago. I hope to return there someday .
Great video .!! my wife and really enjoyed.! I would venture to say that Guam is literally Puerto Rico's little sister island. The difference is that we are located in the Atlantic but the history, the politics, the climate, what you describe about the people, the lifestyle, it's like you're describing us, wow super interesting. Thank you for share.!!
I was stationed on Guam for 2 years. I lived in the village of Sinajana. couple of the best years of my life. Worst part, though for me, was all the stray emaciated dogs. I saved 30 while i was there and found then homes with Navy personnel.
I spent 12 years on Guam and loved it. The first thing I noticed when moving there is "island time"- the people and things just move and do things at a different pace. It took a little while for me to adjust but that was one of the things that made me really love Guam. You didn't mention the brown tree snakes - did they get them under control?
I definitely had to get used to “island time” and now I love the slower paced lifestyle! It seems like the snake problem is under control. I live in a more rural area with jungle all around and I haven’t seen even one.
No matter where we go, they're going to be things that we don't like or are not used to. I moved out here for medical reasons. But if it wasn't for that I would have never left the Island. It is very expensive out here from buying groceries, and utilities and the most surprising one is housing, especially in the northern California area. Rentals for a 2-bedroom apartment will cost you about 2.500 to 3.000 dollars. No matter where you go they are some things better than other places. Personally, no matter where I go and I have lived in several different states. There is no place better than home. #ESTA #LATER #ADIOS.
I'm from Guam, currently in Florida. I miss the island so much!! I can't wait to go back home!! Thanks for sharing. Hopefully you are still there when I go back home, you seem like a wonderful person, it'd be awesome to meet you someday.
Hahahahaha! Went there back in the late 90’s on a field team to repair a piece of equipment. Only spent 2 weeks there and I loved it. Great people and a beautiful island. Looked much like Okinawa but smaller and everything was English!
I just moved here from Okinawa and heard a lot of bad stories, but I end up loving the island . A lot if people is very helpful and kind. It’s very laid back like Florida.
Can you please share the "stories" you (heard) and what you learned since moving? I am curious if any of the (feared) items are something that merits a deal-breaker? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Asking from someone considering a move there. Thx in advance for any insight.
Sounds like a good way to learn gratitude and meditation. I don't understand how amazon prime would even have a point there so good for you on canceling it. Miss you lots!
It really would be a great place to learn meditation! You can really feel the “Island time” here. Everything around you slows down and there are so many completely silent but beautiful spots around the island to clear your mind!
I lived in Gaul when my dad was stationed at Anderson AFB in 1962. The speed limit then was 45mph. Great place to go spear fishing. Groceries were expensive and some things were just bad. The only eggs were the dried variety. Water on base had stuff floating in it so we used to keep a 5-gallon bottle on the kitchen counter to let the dirt settle out. We didn’t have AC in our four bedroom home. The windows had louvers instead of shades with screens. We had German roaches in the house, they’re small and every dark corner had them. I used to let geckos into the house to eat them. When we lived there the normal temp was 74-79. It was like walking around under a warm damp blanket.
I honestly appreciate everything you said! Also had me laugh because it was all true! I miss home so much! I’m very surprised at what you’ve gathered in short time you’ve been there, you will only learn more. Thank you for sharing, the pictures you have shown also inspired me more of where I’m from and wanting to come back soon. I’m so happy your experience is all positive! Thank you for sharing! Si yu us maåse’
With the cost of living and all the other things, I miss home 🇬🇺 everyday. I've been living in the mainland the past 6 yrs and think of home all the time.
Thank you for visiting our island, I just wish the world wasn't changing so fast but I know it's for a reason, but when I grew up there it was a more beautiful island and I'm sure it will be again. Enjoy your stay I wish I was visiting there again!
I’ve shipped lots of stuff from Walmart. Many things that Amazon won’t ship, Walmart will. Walmart ships for free if you spend at least $35.00. But lately things I’ve ordered from Walmart before I can no longer order.
my mom oldest sister and his husband migrated to agat guam in the 70s.my 2 cousins serve in the US marines and their sister husband serve as an engineer in seebees 7th fleet navy.they are all now retired but my first cousins now are the one seving in US marines and airforce
Welcome & Thank U for ur Blog 👍🏼..."Where Americas day begins". American Citizens who are unprivileged to cast their vote for POTUS / CINC to include Veterans ( drafted in the 60's & who volunteered to this date) defending the constitution taking the same "oath"..Thank Mr.Tako for his service, & to you Mrs.Tako for upholding one of the most difficult job in the military (the Spouse)‼🤙🏽🇬🇺
Just back from a week in Guam and still thinking about it. Beautiful place, nice people. So expensive lol. Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hafa Adai! New subscriber here! I love your authentic presence and blog style. Glad I found your page. I am going through all your other Guam vids now. 😆 Safe travels and happy adventures! 🤙🏾
That's not how the Jones Act work. It just requires items coming from the US to a US port be put on US Built Ships, staffed by Americans, and owned by Americans. Foreign shipping can and does stop at all the US territories. The problem is many companies are not going to bother to ship stuff there, and the ports can't handle the large ships used in most US Asia trade. So yes in some cases it will go to the west coast first before heading back. Believe me the Jones Act is a pain though. I live in northeast and we end up importing foreign LNG instead of buying domestic because no Jones Act ships exist to be used in this trade.
Great video and words. Glad you're enjoying. Not having everything at your fingertips teaches you to adapt. Made me not want for so many things and realize I have a lot already. Humbles you and make u appreciate things. U can kelaguen almost everything lol. Not pork lol. Unless u cook it thoroughly first haha.
Kindly, It would be nice if you could visit the open (local) flea markets and food vending areas that sell (fresh) local fruits, fish, and vegetables that are very affordable. These places are in Dededo, Harmon Loop, and Tumon areas, and throughout the island. It would be nice if you could do a vlog outside of the cost of products from Payless Markets and the Base Commissaries." Thanks and Hafa Adai."
That’s a great idea! I went to Chamorro village for my Christmas video but I definitely want to do a deeper dive into the local flea markets here! Thank you for the suggestion 🙏
I’m from Guam but lived in CA most my life. I know the island very well and really enjoyed your video. It’s so accurate and very well described. Enjoy your stay in our beautiful island. 😎🐠🌴
If the ships for food must dock at the us port, I wonder how Don Donkey (a Japanese version of Walmart) get their foods and products? Don Donkey is scheduled to open 2024 in Guam
i think they bring it over on airplanes from japan. its just a 3.5 hour flight. you'de be surprised what they ship via the airlines. In hawaii i used to watch them unload car/truck tires from the cargohold one at a time and that was only a couple years ago
Hello Kawaii.... Thank you for giving a very clear and concise presentation on our island of Guam! Your were honest and sincere.... Good luck on your journey into content creating. As a new subscriber I cannot wait to see what you create and tag along with you as grow your channel! Biba!
Landmarks is used bc typhoons takes of signs & takes awhile for GovGuam Public Works to prepare a budget. Cost of living is high bc most goods is imported. Central air is expensive so resort to individual AC units is best. Yes, power & cable is separate. Medical is an issues on Guam which is why many gets help from Public Health if they.can’t afford more medical help. Chamorro food is great & add other culture food to it is a feast. Yes, humidity is high & takes about 6mos to adjust, our hottest mos is summer into the ber’s months. The coolest mos is from Nov to March when trade winds flows on island. We only have wet & dry weather that at times storms up Tropical depression or typhoons. Fruits & others products shipped here are very expensive off island from US & Asia. Veggies are cheaper at flee markets & farmers markets or Mom & Pops store villages.
My first duty station in the military back in the early 1980s was Guam. I enjoyed it for the main part, yet the negativity of a lot of those I was stationed with made it a bit depressing to be there. The food and beaches were my greatest joys.... Every Friday my shop would have a cookout at the local beach huts.... Usually a drunken fiasco 😂🍺 LOL
Hi, Thank you for the wonderful review & comments about Guam. Not everyone see the pleasure & hardship see have to go through. Every word you said was true to the ways of living here. Ive been here all must life and its nice that visitors appreciate our island.
Hey there I just subscribed ..🎉...hands down:) great video!.....I'm born and raised from the southern side of guam cross island road......came out in 2019 here at Ohio and I really really miss the Fiesta food😅
Hi. Just wanted to say thanks for this video. Me and husband are considering moving to Guam and we’ve been there a few times. This is very informative. Maybe you could expand on what things cost and how to save money for non military?
We have two dogs/puppies because sometimes we don't want them to wander around or get hit with a car that's why sometimes dogs are on the chain/leash and my dog likes to wander so we do that for her safety and we have a lil house for her and her puppies and our other dog has herself a lil bed with a roof over her so she doesn't get wet and she and the to her dog get a lot of food and water so some people don't care or do it for their safety
I thought my two years living on Guam was a pleasant experience and I also found many of your assessments to be pretty accurate; driving on Guam is frustrating, the speed limit is extremely low, but as you said, most people do not abide by the speed limit and often drive too fast. The people I noticed that drive the fastest were either military or civilians who work on the base. The local people I met seem to stay within reasonable limits, it is an Island and there is not a lot of room especially with all the influx of people either visiting the Island or assigned. It gets really crowded between January and March with there are military exercises. Groceries and gas is extremely expensive if you shop off base, fortunately I was able to buy both on base and that made a difference for me when the commissary was not out of product. With the exception of the geckos and roaches, I didn't find the bugs to be much of a problem, especially mosquitoes', they didn't bother me at all. You are so right about the stray dogs, they call them Boonie dogs. It is my understanding the reason there are so many is the extremely expensive cost to ship dogs from Guam to anyplace, so people just leave them. The local food to me was delicious! Kelaguen was something I only heard of for the first time on Guam, I had been to many other places before and had never heard of it, but I ended up liking it very much, with it was beef kelaguen or fish, I found it to be delicious. I thought for the most part, the temperature was pretty constant, reminded me a lot of Hawaii; however, the frequent rain nearly everyday was a bit overwhelming at times, but when the sun shined, one could see the beauty of the Island and when it does shine, Guam is a beautiful place. One thing you didn't mention was the attitude of the people. Most of the people I met had some of the best attitudes of any of the places I have been. I was accepted with open arms no matter where I went people were so welcoming. I don't know if racism exists on the Island, I didn't experience any the entire two years I was there and there is a great mix of people from all walks of life. Thanks for your video.
What about filled milk? or tuba or don't go out beyond the barrier reef. (I did) and don't go to the hospital (I did). There is a Costco where you can get regular (Mainland) cuts of beef. Great nightlife! Amazing caves. The national pastime is smoking cigarettes.
Driving: I lived there for a year and a half, back in the 70’s. Nothing seems to have changed. If you drive a nice car, forget having a chance to get a break. Driving a ‘Guam Bomb’ and NOT MAKING EYE CONTACT, is like a passport into any turning circle.
Hafa Adai!! You forgot #11 & 12😊 Hook-ups: If you know somebody and you’re very close to them, you can get a good discount or sometimes free. #12. Drinking and driving. Most people that goes out to the bars or clubs pretty much drink and drive.
I was stationed on Guam in the late 80s....I miss it dearly....first place I ever saw cemetery plots painted....oh, I made more money per week at the dog track than I made for my salary......as for food cost, make a friend who is in the National Guard, Air Guard, and or Naval reserves...they go to the commissary every month....saved 300 dollars a month, in the 80s
Being a vegetarian shouldn’t be an issue here. Rice is a staple on Guam so you can always count on big bags of rice to be sold in every store. Veggies are reasonably priced - especially if you get the local produce but fruit can be frustrating. Any packaged fruit is not worth buying like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc. a bag of cuties is like $11. Kroger brand frozen bags of mixed fruit are also around $20 (give or take). Better to stick with apples, bananas, and local fruit from the farmers markets. Beans - I’ve never paid any attention other than canned black beans go out of stock often but there is usually some type of canned bean there in it’s place lol. There are also multiple restaurants with vegetarian sections on their menus.
Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙏. Is it true that federal income tax in the US mainland does not apply in Guam (meaning just sales tax plus Guam “State” tax) ? Thanks again.
Thanks for watching! 😊 The island has its own tax system, which is based on U.S. laws. It’s managed by the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation. And unlike residents of the 50 states who must file federal, state and, sometimes, local returns, residents of Guam will file only one return. - hope this helps 😁
Thank you for your response. Very helpful. One more question, please. In the past, there were projects which were aimed to “take care of brown tree snakes problems.” Was any of them successful, in your opinion?
@@Agenamigo I definitely think so. I have been here over a year now and I have not seen a single one. Also, I noticed there were NO birds here when I first landed - other than a couple pigeons. I am starting to see a big increase in bird population so that is very exciting. C:
I enjoyed your video. Your review is spot on. I am currently here in California but I grew up in Guam. I have family roots there in the island. I was cracking up listening about the roaches, geckos, that huuuge spider, The mosquitos there are like super fast ninjas. It'll just take one bad ass mosquito in your bedroom at night to keep you up. The roaches are huuuge and they fly!!!! We even have termite season. They fill the sky, invade your home, it's like biblical swarm. Toads there are ugly huuge! Swarms of land crabs would cross the streets! I really had a great childhood in the island. I miss the most... is seeing the beach across my home in Agat.
ooohhh the termites!! I totally forgot to add that! You are so correct. Once they get in your house they are relentless. Just when you think you have got them all out you find a new nest. bleh! haha thatnk you for sharing and for liking the video. 😀
Hafa adai!.. i was stationed there for 18 months..one of the best duty station i was on.. i notice the natives were allowed to shop at Navy exchange… prices are high understandably because of being far away from the mainland..but for a single guy living aboard the ship, i had fun being in an island where tourists go especially during summer…
May come out for between a couple of weeks or a couple of months. Probably will be in a hotel. Might have a rental car for the whole time… still working on the details. I think I can handle 86F, I wouldn’t eat sugar and drink lots of ice cold water (presuming I can get plenty of ice cold water).
The most annoying thing about Guam and being stationed there is the DOD civilians and contractors. The contractors from Guam just milk the govt. money. They don’t do there job or take forever, are lazy, and a pain in the ass to deal with bc the longer a project takes me more work they have to do, the more mekney they get. It’s so bad that now the military island wide is getting rid of the contractors bc they’re useless. Vehicle maintenance for example I’m pretty sure purposely breaks vehicles just so we have to turn them back in 3 days later after getting is back. Like shit breaks here randomly for complete different reasons than it broke before.
The dog situation is improving slowly, but there's still a lot of neglect. It breaks my heart. Local humane and rescue organizations do their best with limited funds. Pretty accurate assessment of Guam, except the price of housing. Its really beyond most people's means unless both partners work full time ( even then some people still need assistance) OR multiple generations live together.
I hope you continue enjoying Guam. So far what are your thoughts on the rising homeless population? I remember there being news about 50% of the people in Guam are in poverty, here in Dededo homeless are asking money near the gas station and that there is a homeless camp near two lover's point.
Håfa Adai! Si yu’os ma’åse (thank you) for sharing your expressions to our beautiful island😄 Just want to address one thing to you and to anyone else who is new to the island, and is wanting to tread along Guams waters: BE CAUTIOUS when going along the edge of the reef🚫🚫 the RIP CURRENTS that run along that part of the reef is very treacherous. A lot of accidents has happened of people getting swept out to sea because they got too close to the edge of the reef. Just be mindful, and don’t underestimate the power of the ocean.
If you haven’t been here before, planning a visit first is a good idea to make sure you like it. And I’d say if you do move here, make sure you get out a lot and explore the island. Island fever is totally real so if you don’t get out and explore you might feel a little trapped.
@Bin Godii , I'm from here. Meth is only bad if you live near an addict(s) or a typically shady type area, usually where tin shacks where really poor, or homeless people can be found. It's just like being stateside.
@@KawaiiTako , Military personnel don't have that luxury. A duty station is a duty station. Also, over $2,000 for a round trip ticket on United from the states for a visit is insane.
Active duty servicemembers and their families might be able to request leave orders for Space Available (SpaceA) flights offered out of AAFB while the newly offered Patriots Express is another option for active duty, military retirees and their authorized dependents. SpaceA flights may take you thru Hickam AFB Hawaii, JB McChord Washington State, maybe even Travis AFB CA then you pay for domestic airfare to your final destination stateside. A much cheaper way to fly to and from Guam. Patriots Express might go via Alaska to Seattle. Small fee, maybe between $70-$100+ per person, but worth it and way cheaper. COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) was another plus to working on Guam but Congress wants to reduce/remove COLA not thinking about how cost to transport goods to Guam really affects costs! Everyone stateside needs to submit letters to THEIR representatives opposing the reduction or revocation of COLA for our active duty military and federally funded workers on Guam! They are all absolutely important and vital workers needed here and local Chamorro and Guamanians support them. A lot of locals ARE ALSO employed on bases. SOME state (meaning Government of Guam) employees' salaries and benefits AND various programs are also federally funded.
I was serving in the Navy stationed on Guam in the 80's. It was absolutely fabulous. The culture was wonderful. I was "adopted" by a Chamorro family. I was invited to all the family gatherings and fiesta's. Every village has a patron Saint so every village has a fiesta celebrating their respective Saint and everyone is invited to participate even if you are not local. I once was driving and the single road through the village was block because of the fiesta. I was invited to stop and eat, drink and relax and celebrate with the local community. When I tried to give someone money for all the food that I ate I was scolded for attempting to pay. The diving in Guam is world class (Spanish Steps & Blue Hole). There are a few issues that one has to get used to like typhoons, Coconut Crabs, spiders & roaches plus the mosquito's and the lack of stateside conveniences but after being there for a while you get used to it and learn how to deal with that. All in all Guam is great and the local people are wonderful.
Thanks for reviewing my island! It is very expensive due to shipping but it's not too bad with good planning and a decent job. Oh and yeah the mosquitos here, they like imported blood umbe 🤣 Welcome to Guam!
I’m headed there soon, I’m in the Navy. I’ve heard i would have to live on base if i bring my family unless on base housing is full over a certain percentage, is that true? I really wanted to be off base.
I just got a remote job and can move anywhere in the world. I want to move to Guam, but what’s stopping me is I’m a single 30 year old guy and I feel like I won’t be able to date out there due to being isolated and not knowing people and also having to compete with all the military men out there….
Hi! Good catch! I didn’t really think anyone would notice lol I majored in Deaf Studies in college and was fluent in conventional ASL but I haven’t practiced in YEARS. Certain signs have stuck with me but if I were to jump into a conversation today I would be so lost 😓
Ty for the beautiful comments about our island and our people may God bless you and your family Guam 🇬🇺 pride from Arlington texas
Thank you for your kind words…. a very good assessment of our beautiful island. I’m from NY originally, met my wife who is Chamorro in California while I was in the Army in 1978. We settled here in 1983 raising 3 children here. I’ve never regretted it. The island is beautiful and thrives with an abundance of family and community. It does help financially to have military privileges which made it more affordable for us to live here. Continue to enjoy living here 👍🏻
Thank you for sharing your story! I love hearing about others who have come to the island and could make it work and fell in love with it. I’m looking forward to all my adventures here 😊
This honestly made me happy and tear up a bit, I am glad you point out the things that a lot of people talk about and most of all, enjoy your stay here on Guam! Have a blessed day fam 🥳
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you so so much! 🤗
I was on Guam back in 1984/85…..I don’t know if it’s still the case, but when I was there some of the rural roads were made out of crushed coral. So whenever it rained, the roads actually came alive with a thin layer of green moss growing on them. This made the roads so slippery (worse than ice).
How dangerous 😦 I have not come across that at all so I’m glad they’ve fixed that lol
It was still like that in 1999 when my hubby was last there. He just mentioned that today
Welcome to Guam 🤙😄 I've been here almost 50 years, witnessed our island community grow and developed. Diverse culture and nationality, Beautiful island and people. Enjoy!
Do you still like it there? Is it a good place to live?
@sentero1856 how I can go to Guam 🇬🇺 for a small trip (might be from 3 to 7 days), to see the island, as a russian citizen?
This was a very pleasant review of our island home, I run into mainlanders a lot and there are still many who still just cannot adopt to the island way, you either going to LOVE it or your taking the next flight back to the US Mainland, so glad you LOVE it as we all do !
Just moved to L.A. from Guam and the people in L.A. brags about having the best barbeque and I told them that if they want to taste a good barbeque....go to Guam....but they didn't believe me.....thanks for putting it on youtube....biba Guahan....
LA’s known for barbecue?
The best thing about LA is I10 leaving out of there
@@DavidD6969 lol
Facts! Even my Mexican husband bbq’s Chamorro style now 😉 🇬🇺
Just took a job there how is rent bro ?
We live in Alabama now after I retired from the Army. I love your vlog and thank you for your awesome impression about our Island. Guam will never leave my heart. Si Yu'use Ma'a'se!❤
I want live there and work into my retirement. Guam is America's gateway to Asia. I also heard it's very laid back. So sick of hustle and bustle of the mainland. Good video here, giving it a thumbs up.
I am in the beginning stages of moving to Guam. Selling my house in San Antonio and moving this fall. Spent a week in Guam , first week of March 2024.
Please share your thoughts...are you there...I'm thinking about the move also
Guam ... home sweet home. I've been to a lot of places, nothing comes close to Guam. Maybe Hawaii, but Guam still tops. It's probably because of it's simplicity and unique ways that taught me to focus on the things that truly matters. I miss it so much, one day I'll be back to retire there.
I love mangoes, avocados, bananas, calamansi, coconut, sinigwelas and other tropical fruits that comes abundant and almost free on Guam. So the prices for strawberries, blueberries and other imported foods didn't affect me one bit. There's a farm to table co-op there where people can actually get fresh fruits and vegetables to. And if you make a lot of local friends, they usually give fresh produce since again it's just so abundant there. There are many stores there to that sells very cheap house hold supplies and gift items from the Philippines like Valencia at Harmon and sometimes wholesale sale prices like Kelly's at Harmon. You just gotta explore. I was a very poor college student majority of my time there. And I made it just fine with nothing but love and gratitude to the island 😊
And lastly, I'm horrified of snails and slugs. But Guam taught me how to handle snakes like a barbarian 😂 I really don't care about the spiders and the cocroaches. Have you seen the wild boars? They're abundant on Guam to. They roam around the jungle areas, one time a big one found it's way infront of the old DMV 😂 but still, I'd rather deal with all the wild predators of Guam, including the stone fish, lion fish, man 'o war and the sharks, than the bears, wolves, mountain lions and cougars and other unforgiving predators of the wild here in the US mainland ... yah know 😉
Thank you for your amazing response. Awesome advice about the farm to table co-op and the Harmon stores! I’ll definitely check them out. I know I’ve got so much more to explore here I’m barely scratching the surface.
Oh and yes!! I’ve seen the wild boars! So cool to see. I even saw a bunch of piglets the other day 😍
@@KawaiiTako Warning, steer clear from those wild boars. They are mean and dangerous! One cornered my aunt on her house property in Dededo just outside the main village. She had to be hospitalized because she was gored in the leg. On a good note, grilled wild boars with the skin on, is more delicious than grilled pork belly or real Chamorru BBQ pork ribs, IMO. Glad you enjoyed Guam.
@@donneone 😮 I’m so sorry to hear about your auntie. I hope she had/has a good recovery. I will be cautious of the wild boars. Thank you for the advice 😊
@@KawaiiTako Shes doing fine now. Took a while to recover. Thanks for responding. I’m happy you are enjoying your time on Guam and sharing some of it with us.
Thank you for all the good information. I am a local from Hawaii and was stationed at Andersen for 4.5 years. To me it was hot like the Philippines, Okinawa and Viet Nam. Oh, then there is Typhoon Season! I remember the wind was so strong that when the rain hits the barracks iron doors it just flows to the bottom and floods the room. But what is a blessing that the power never goes out during the typhoon but goes out only on sunny days (caused by a brown snake climbing onto a power line). The insects and geckos is just like Hawaii.
Out of my 20 years in the Air Force Guam is the closes base I got stationed to home. The Chamarros and Guamanians are warm hearted people. They made me feel at home. Especially during the Fiesta's you are invited over to eat and celebrate.
I will always remember the first local birthday party I attended on the island. I was invited by a Chamorro older woman that worked at the Chow Hall. At the party after I ate she would come over and tell me, " Ah, Aaron you better eat so more!!!"
You know every party I attended after that they will always ask me, " Ah, Aaron you better eat so more!!!"
I haven’t been able to attend a fiesta yet but I can’t wait until I’m able to 😊 Although, I am familiar with the insisting to eat more whenever there is a family BBQ hahaha
@@KawaiiTako hafa afai
I LOVE Guam!!! Lived there 2x for over 5.5 years.
Miss it everyday.
Hafa adai! Thank you for sharing your video and for your kind words as you describe my home. I've been away since 2000, but fortunately was able to visit twice since gone as my parents are still living back home. I miss home so much, more so recently, and just waiting for the right time to move back. It has changed alot since I left but no matter it's current situation Guam will always be ❤️HOME❤️. Again, thank you! Best wishes to you!
Thank you for sharing! I love hearing about how Guam is your true home and you want to come back. I hope one day I can truly share the beauty I see here. It really is an amazing place 😊
@@KawaiiTakoAt least be thankful for your apportunity to travel there. There are people who are homeless and starving here in the mainland and would love to experience your adventure. Sounds like the island people are still nice even with some of your complaints. God bless them and God bless you!
We were stationed in Guam in 1190 for 2 years. all those things you said about Guam are so true. My 2 boys 3 and 18 mo used to play with the geckos when they were in the house. we lived on base navy housing so we mainly shopped at the Px. the weather was pretty hot and steamy. we arrived in October and 2 weeks later experienced our 1 st of 3 typhoons. it was rainy season and everything was moldy if left outside.
the temps were high 78 low of 72 with 90 % humidity. if you could bear it. We got SCUBA certified and that was a fun social thing to do with other families at the beach. the downside of Guam was it was so far away from family. having no iPhones or social media at the time we called home to the Staes twice a year. it cost $80.00 to talk to my parents at xmas for 3 minutes.
and boy was I homesick.
however the military treated everyone as 1 big family. We made a lot of lifelong friends. some whom we keep in touch with.
Guam will always hold a special place in my heart. My daughter was born there 33 yrs ago.
I hope to return there someday .
Great video .!! my wife and really enjoyed.! I would venture to say that Guam is literally Puerto Rico's little sister island. The difference is that we are located in the Atlantic but the history, the politics, the climate, what you describe about the people, the lifestyle, it's like you're describing us, wow super interesting. Thank you for share.!!
Wow!! Thank you for sharing! That is so cool and interesting to hear how similar it is 😮🇬🇺🇵🇷
I was stationed on Guam for 2 years. I lived in the village of Sinajana. couple of the best years of my life. Worst part, though for me, was all the stray emaciated dogs. I saved 30 while i was there and found then homes with Navy personnel.
Wow! 30 dogs! That is amazing 🙌
@@KawaiiTako A lot of them were named after the various villages on Guam. I cane home with two dogs and two cats.
I spent 12 years on Guam and loved it. The first thing I noticed when moving there is "island time"- the people and things just move and do things at a different pace. It took a little while for me to adjust but that was one of the things that made me really love Guam. You didn't mention the brown tree snakes - did they get them under control?
I definitely had to get used to “island time” and now I love the slower paced lifestyle! It seems like the snake problem is under control. I live in a more rural area with jungle all around and I haven’t seen even one.
Usually you’ll nevverr see a snake maybe once every few years
thank you yan Si Yuos Maase. I really enjoyed your cheerful reporting. Keep on rolling. Retired and love it here at home!
Very on point! Love your view and opinion of Guam. Thank you.
No matter where we go, they're going to be things that we don't like or are not used to. I moved out here for medical reasons. But if it wasn't for that I would have never left the Island. It is very expensive out here from buying groceries, and utilities and the most surprising one is housing, especially in the northern California area. Rentals for a 2-bedroom apartment will cost you about 2.500 to 3.000 dollars. No matter where you go they are some things better than other places. Personally, no matter where I go and I have lived in several different states. There is no place better than home. #ESTA #LATER #ADIOS.
Ĝreat
I'm from Guam, currently in Florida. I miss the island so much!! I can't wait to go back home!! Thanks for sharing. Hopefully you are still there when I go back home, you seem like a wonderful person, it'd be awesome to meet you someday.
That is awesome that you are going to come back to Guam! 🇬🇺 And thank you so much! That is amazing of you to say!!🤗
Hahahahaha! Went there back in the late 90’s on a field team to repair a piece of equipment. Only spent 2 weeks there and I loved it. Great people and a beautiful island. Looked much like Okinawa but smaller and everything was English!
I just moved here from Okinawa and heard a lot of bad stories, but I end up loving the island . A lot if people is very helpful and kind. It’s very laid back like Florida.
I’ve always wanted to go to Okinawa!! I’m so happy you’re loving the island! ☺️
Can you please share the "stories" you (heard) and what you learned since moving? I am curious if any of the (feared) items are something that merits a deal-breaker? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Asking from someone considering a move there. Thx in advance for any insight.
Sounds like a good way to learn gratitude and meditation. I don't understand how amazon prime would even have a point there so good for you on canceling it.
Miss you lots!
It really would be a great place to learn meditation! You can really feel the “Island time” here. Everything around you slows down and there are so many completely silent but beautiful spots around the island to clear your mind!
I lived in Gaul when my dad was stationed at Anderson AFB in 1962. The speed limit then was 45mph. Great place to go spear fishing. Groceries were expensive and some things were just bad. The only eggs were the dried variety. Water on base had stuff floating in it so we used to keep a 5-gallon bottle on the kitchen counter to let the dirt settle out. We didn’t have AC in our four bedroom home. The windows had louvers instead of shades with screens.
We had German roaches in the house, they’re small and every dark corner had them. I used to let geckos into the house to eat them.
When we lived there the normal temp was 74-79. It was like walking around under a warm damp blanket.
Thanks for sharing! It’s interesting to hear how it used to be over here and how things have changed. 😊
Guam born and raised and I appreciate this video so much! it's so respectful and accurate and so relatable😂
This makes me so happy to hear!! Thank you so much for watching and appreciating the video 🙏 😊
@poreoticsx3
Thank you for sharing your experience in Guam! ❤️
I honestly appreciate everything you said! Also had me laugh because it was all true! I miss home so much! I’m very surprised at what you’ve gathered in short time you’ve been there, you will only learn more. Thank you for sharing, the pictures you have shown also inspired me more of where I’m from and wanting to come back soon. I’m so happy your experience is all positive! Thank you for sharing! Si yu us maåse’
Thank you so much! 🙏 I’m excited to see what else this island teaches me 😁 And I hope you’ll be able to visit your home soon. 🇬🇺
I have a job opportunity to go to guam and I'm considering it. It's nice to see it and hear great things about this island
With the cost of living and all the other things, I miss home 🇬🇺 everyday. I've been living in the mainland the past 6 yrs and think of home all the time.
Thank you for visiting our island, I just wish the world wasn't changing so fast but I know it's for a reason, but when I grew up there it was a more beautiful island and I'm sure it will be again. Enjoy your stay I wish I was visiting there again!
Heck yeah we want 1hr videos about Guam!
😂 Maybe some day
I’ve shipped lots of stuff from Walmart. Many things that Amazon won’t ship, Walmart will. Walmart ships for free if you spend at least $35.00. But lately things I’ve ordered from Walmart before I can no longer order.
Just found Walmart won’t ship what I’m looking for.
my mom oldest sister and his husband migrated to agat guam in the 70s.my 2 cousins serve in the US marines and their sister husband serve as an engineer in seebees 7th fleet navy.they are all now retired but my first cousins now are the one seving in US marines and airforce
Welcome & Thank U for ur Blog 👍🏼..."Where Americas day begins". American Citizens who are unprivileged to cast their vote for POTUS / CINC to include Veterans ( drafted in the 60's & who volunteered to this date) defending the constitution taking the same "oath"..Thank Mr.Tako for his service, & to you Mrs.Tako for upholding one of the most difficult job in the military (the Spouse)‼🤙🏽🇬🇺
Just back from a week in Guam and still thinking about it. Beautiful place, nice people. So expensive lol. Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Hafa Adai! New subscriber here! I love your authentic presence and blog style. Glad I found your page. I am going through all your other Guam vids now. 😆 Safe travels and happy adventures! 🤙🏾
Omg thank you so much 🙏🙏 ☺️ Hafa Adai and thank you for the sub!!
Glad you enjoyed Guam. True we do have our challenges, but overall it's an amazing place! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
My frustration is explaining to online vendors that Guam is a part of the US so “international shipping” doesn’t really make sense
That's not how the Jones Act work. It just requires items coming from the US to a US port be put on US Built Ships, staffed by Americans, and owned by Americans. Foreign shipping can and does stop at all the US territories. The problem is many companies are not going to bother to ship stuff there, and the ports can't handle the large ships used in most US Asia trade. So yes in some cases it will go to the west coast first before heading back. Believe me the Jones Act is a pain though. I live in northeast and we end up importing foreign LNG instead of buying domestic because no Jones Act ships exist to be used in this trade.
Great video and words. Glad you're enjoying. Not having everything at your fingertips teaches you to adapt. Made me not want for so many things and realize I have a lot already. Humbles you and make u appreciate things. U can kelaguen almost everything lol. Not pork lol. Unless u cook it thoroughly first haha.
Lol good to know about the pork. Thank you 😂
Kindly, It would be nice if you could visit the open (local) flea markets and food vending areas that sell (fresh) local fruits, fish, and vegetables that are very affordable. These places are in Dededo, Harmon Loop, and Tumon areas, and throughout the island. It would be nice if you could do a vlog outside of the cost of products from Payless Markets and the Base Commissaries." Thanks and Hafa Adai."
That’s a great idea! I went to Chamorro village for my Christmas video but I definitely want to do a deeper dive into the local flea markets here! Thank you for the suggestion 🙏
If you love Guam then you'd also love the islands of Hawaii because away from the tourist traps the beaches, mountains, valleys etc are spectacular ❤️
Thank you for appreciating the island and its beauty❤
Thank you for covering everything in detail, I really enjoyed watching this video.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching 🙏
"ive learned to make due with what ive got" definitely the spirit of the island...
I’m from Guam but lived in CA most my life. I know the island very well and really enjoyed your video. It’s so accurate and very well described. Enjoy your stay in our beautiful island. 😎🐠🌴
Thank you so much!! 😊
Wow! Awesome video!
Thank you! 😊
If the ships for food must dock at the us port, I wonder how Don Donkey (a Japanese version of Walmart) get their foods and products? Don Donkey is scheduled to open 2024 in Guam
I saw! Super stoked!! Not sure what the work around was but I’m not complaining.
i think they bring it over on airplanes from japan. its just a 3.5 hour flight. you'de be surprised what they ship via the airlines. In hawaii i used to watch them unload car/truck tires from the cargohold one at a time and that was only a couple years ago
@@gregh7457 Bring in food by planes is more expensive than bringing it in by ships
15:47 yep
It's $10 for shipping (even with prime) and its a week and a half shipping
I have been all over the world, and everybody says good and bad, but all in all GUAM is the best place in the world
Hello Kawaii.... Thank you for giving a very clear and concise presentation on our island of Guam! Your were honest and sincere.... Good luck on your journey into content creating. As a new subscriber I cannot wait to see what you create and tag along with you as grow your channel! Biba!
Thank you for sharing the goods of our island. We have to do something with this Jones Act.
Thank you for this. I found it very interesting.
Landmarks is used bc typhoons takes of signs & takes awhile for GovGuam Public Works to prepare a budget. Cost of living is high bc most goods is imported. Central air is expensive so resort to individual AC units is best. Yes, power & cable is separate. Medical is an issues on Guam which is why many gets help from Public Health if they.can’t afford more medical help. Chamorro food is great & add other culture food to it is a feast. Yes, humidity is high & takes about 6mos to adjust, our hottest mos is summer into the ber’s months. The coolest mos is from Nov to March when trade winds flows on island. We only have wet & dry weather that at times storms up Tropical depression or typhoons. Fruits & others products shipped here are very expensive off island from US & Asia. Veggies are cheaper at flee markets & farmers markets or Mom & Pops store villages.
Si Yu’os Ma’ase for your video and thoughts on Guam!
My first duty station in the military back in the early 1980s was Guam. I enjoyed it for the main part, yet the negativity of a lot of those I was stationed with made it a bit depressing to be there. The food and beaches were my greatest joys.... Every Friday my shop would have a cookout at the local beach huts.... Usually a drunken fiasco 😂🍺 LOL
Hi, Thank you for the wonderful review & comments about Guam. Not everyone see the pleasure & hardship see have to go through. Every word you said was true to the ways of living here. Ive been here all must life and its nice that visitors appreciate our island.
GREAT video! Thank you for this information!
The best video about our motherland you got it all, thank you for the accurate video appreciate you … Stay safe hun, hugs from us
The Reynolds
Yay!! Thank you so much 😊
This was hilarious 😂❤ 🇬🇺
Hey there I just subscribed ..🎉...hands down:) great video!.....I'm born and raised from the southern side of guam cross island road......came out in 2019 here at Ohio and I really really miss the Fiesta food😅
Thank you so much for subscribing!! The fiesta food gives me life! ❤️🤤 lol
🇬🇺THANK YOU AND WELCOME !!!!!!
grocoeries are expensive in other territories too
Hi. Just wanted to say thanks for this video. Me and husband are considering moving to Guam and we’ve been there a few times. This is very informative. Maybe you could expand on what things cost and how to save money for non military?
That’s a great idea! Thank you for the suggestion 😊
We have two dogs/puppies because sometimes we don't want them to wander around or get hit with a car that's why sometimes dogs are on the chain/leash and my dog likes to wander so we do that for her safety and we have a lil house for her and her puppies and our other dog has herself a lil bed with a roof over her so she doesn't get wet and she and the to her dog get a lot of food and water so some people don't care or do it for their safety
2:40 google maps said the street view is from 2014... that is 10 years old
I thought my two years living on Guam was a pleasant experience and I also found many of your assessments to be pretty accurate; driving on Guam is frustrating, the speed limit is extremely low, but as you said, most people do not abide by the speed limit and often drive too fast. The people I noticed that drive the fastest were either military or civilians who work on the base. The local people I met seem to stay within reasonable limits, it is an Island and there is not a lot of room especially with all the influx of people either visiting the Island or assigned. It gets really crowded between January and March with there are military exercises. Groceries and gas is extremely expensive if you shop off base, fortunately I was able to buy both on base and that made a difference for me when the commissary was not out of product. With the exception of the geckos and roaches, I didn't find the bugs to be much of a problem, especially mosquitoes', they didn't bother me at all. You are so right about the stray dogs, they call them Boonie dogs. It is my understanding the reason there are so many is the extremely expensive cost to ship dogs from Guam to anyplace, so people just leave them. The local food to me was delicious! Kelaguen was something I only heard of for the first time on Guam, I had been to many other places before and had never heard of it, but I ended up liking it very much, with it was beef kelaguen or fish, I found it to be delicious. I thought for the most part, the temperature was pretty constant, reminded me a lot of Hawaii; however, the frequent rain nearly everyday was a bit overwhelming at times, but when the sun shined, one could see the beauty of the Island and when it does shine, Guam is a beautiful place. One thing you didn't mention was the attitude of the people. Most of the people I met had some of the best attitudes of any of the places I have been. I was accepted with open arms no matter where I went people were so welcoming. I don't know if racism exists on the Island, I didn't experience any the entire two years I was there and there is a great mix of people from all walks of life. Thanks for your video.
Thank you for your thoughtful insights. =D
Thank you. I was thinking.. of retiring there. Just hoping. Any parttime Jobs on Base. Well done
What I heard is the pay in McDonald’s is 15 dollars per hour.
@@Bravo-me1zy I doubt that about McDonald;s and even if it does pay $15/hour it's not enough to live on Guam.
We didn’t have many cockroaches but we kept the welcome mat out for the geckos 🦎.
What about filled milk? or tuba or don't go out beyond the barrier reef. (I did) and don't go to the hospital (I did). There is a Costco where you can get regular (Mainland) cuts of beef. Great nightlife! Amazing caves. The national pastime is smoking cigarettes.
Traffic was imported from the Philippines .
Driving: I lived there for a year and a half, back in the 70’s. Nothing seems to have changed. If you drive a nice car, forget having a chance to get a break. Driving a ‘Guam Bomb’ and NOT MAKING EYE CONTACT, is like a passport into any turning circle.
I absolutely love Guam. STATIONED there from 1967 to 1969. Would love to go back to see all the changes. Maybe I'll find my 1958 T bird.
Hafa Adai!!
You forgot #11 & 12😊
Hook-ups: If you know somebody and you’re very close to them, you can get a good discount or sometimes free.
#12. Drinking and driving. Most people that goes out to the bars or clubs pretty much drink and drive.
I was stationed on Guam in the late 80s....I miss it dearly....first place I ever saw cemetery plots painted....oh, I made more money per week at the dog track than I made for my salary......as for food cost, make a friend who is in the National Guard, Air Guard, and or Naval reserves...they go to the commissary every month....saved 300 dollars a month, in the 80s
I grew up in Guam. I visit every year if I can afford to 😅 I am cracking UP! You’re speaking only truth.
I'm a vegetarian and not military, are fruit and produce prices reasonable , also access to bulk rice and beans
Being a vegetarian shouldn’t be an issue here. Rice is a staple on Guam so you can always count on big bags of rice to be sold in every store. Veggies are reasonably priced - especially if you get the local produce but fruit can be frustrating. Any packaged fruit is not worth buying like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc. a bag of cuties is like $11. Kroger brand frozen bags of mixed fruit are also around $20 (give or take). Better to stick with apples, bananas, and local fruit from the farmers markets. Beans - I’ve never paid any attention other than canned black beans go out of stock often but there is usually some type of canned bean there in it’s place lol. There are also multiple restaurants with vegetarian sections on their menus.
@@KawaiiTako thank you
Thanks for sharing your experience. 🙏. Is it true that federal income tax in the US mainland does not apply in Guam (meaning just sales tax plus Guam “State” tax) ? Thanks again.
Thanks for watching! 😊 The island has its own tax system, which is based on U.S. laws. It’s managed by the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation. And unlike residents of the 50 states who must file federal, state and, sometimes, local returns, residents of Guam will file only one return. - hope this helps 😁
Thank you for your response. Very helpful. One more question, please. In the past, there were projects which were aimed to “take care of brown tree snakes problems.” Was any of them successful, in your opinion?
@@Agenamigo I definitely think so. I have been here over a year now and I have not seen a single one. Also, I noticed there were NO birds here when I first landed - other than a couple pigeons. I am starting to see a big increase in bird population so that is very exciting. C:
Thanks 🙏. I will put down Guam as a place to visit in the future. I definitely will check it out. 😀🙏🙏
I enjoyed your video. Your review is spot on. I am currently here in California but I grew up in Guam. I have family roots there in the island. I was cracking up listening about the roaches, geckos, that huuuge spider, The mosquitos there are like super fast ninjas. It'll just take one bad ass mosquito in your bedroom at night to keep you up. The roaches are huuuge and they fly!!!! We even have termite season. They fill the sky, invade your home, it's like biblical swarm. Toads there are ugly huuge! Swarms of land crabs would cross the streets! I really had a great childhood in the island. I miss the most... is seeing the beach across my home in Agat.
ooohhh the termites!! I totally forgot to add that! You are so correct. Once they get in your house they are relentless. Just when you think you have got them all out you find a new nest. bleh! haha thatnk you for sharing and for liking the video. 😀
Hafa adai!.. i was stationed there for 18 months..one of the best duty station i was on.. i notice the natives were allowed to shop at Navy exchange… prices are high understandably because of being far away from the mainland..but for a single guy living aboard the ship, i had fun being in an island where tourists go especially during summer…
Local people who shop at Navy Exchange need base access. They're usually veterans, guard or reserve duty, or DOD.
May come out for between a couple of weeks or a couple of months. Probably will be in a hotel. Might have a rental car for the whole time… still working on the details.
I think I can handle 86F, I wouldn’t eat sugar and drink lots of ice cold water (presuming I can get plenty of ice cold water).
Finally made it, here all month and I base access 😅
i enjoyed this video, thanks for sharing
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for watching c:
Awesome video 🤙
The most annoying thing about Guam and being stationed there is the DOD civilians and contractors. The contractors from Guam just milk the govt. money. They don’t do there job or take forever, are lazy, and a pain in the ass to deal with bc the longer a project takes me more work they have to do, the more mekney they get. It’s so bad that now the military island wide is getting rid of the contractors bc they’re useless. Vehicle maintenance for example I’m pretty sure purposely breaks vehicles just so we have to turn them back in 3 days later after getting is back. Like shit breaks here randomly for complete different reasons than it broke before.
The dog situation is improving slowly, but there's still a lot of neglect. It breaks my heart. Local humane and rescue organizations do their best with limited funds. Pretty accurate assessment of Guam, except the price of housing. Its really beyond most people's means unless both partners work full time ( even then some people still need assistance) OR multiple generations live together.
You’re so right. The housing market has almost tripled since moving here. It’s so hard to find anything affordable now. 😭
I hope you continue enjoying Guam. So far what are your thoughts on the rising homeless population? I remember there being news about 50% of the people in Guam are in poverty, here in Dededo homeless are asking money near the gas station and that there is a homeless camp near two lover's point.
Håfa Adai! Si yu’os ma’åse (thank you) for sharing your expressions to our beautiful island😄
Just want to address one thing to you and to anyone else who is new to the island, and is wanting to tread along Guams waters: BE CAUTIOUS when going along the edge of the reef🚫🚫 the RIP CURRENTS that run along that part of the reef is very treacherous. A lot of accidents has happened of people getting swept out to sea because they got too close to the edge of the reef. Just be mindful, and don’t underestimate the power of the ocean.
Very good advice. I agree that the rip currents here are very strong and any time you go into the ocean you should be cautious and mindful.
I agree very much! I spent 20 yrs of my life on Guahan ... best years of my life.
With that said also dont run through tall grass because grass grow all the way to the edge of cliffs
My family was MAYBE planning to move to Guam any advice
If you haven’t been here before, planning a visit first is a good idea to make sure you like it. And I’d say if you do move here, make sure you get out a lot and explore the island. Island fever is totally real so if you don’t get out and explore you might feel a little trapped.
@Bin Godii , I'm from here. Meth is only bad if you live near an addict(s) or a typically shady type area, usually where tin shacks where really poor, or homeless people can be found. It's just like being stateside.
@@KawaiiTako , Military personnel don't have that luxury. A duty station is a duty station. Also, over $2,000 for a round trip ticket on United from the states for a visit is insane.
Active duty servicemembers and their families might be able to request leave orders for Space Available (SpaceA) flights offered out of AAFB while the newly offered Patriots Express is another option for active duty, military retirees and their authorized dependents. SpaceA flights may take you thru Hickam AFB Hawaii, JB McChord Washington State, maybe even Travis AFB CA then you pay for domestic airfare to your final destination stateside. A much cheaper way to fly to and from Guam. Patriots Express might go via Alaska to Seattle. Small fee, maybe between $70-$100+ per person, but worth it and way cheaper.
COLA (Cost Of Living Adjustment) was another plus to working on Guam but Congress wants to reduce/remove COLA not thinking about how cost to transport goods to Guam really affects costs! Everyone stateside needs to submit letters to THEIR representatives opposing the reduction or revocation of COLA for our active duty military and federally funded workers on Guam! They are all absolutely important and vital workers needed here and local Chamorro and Guamanians support them. A lot of locals ARE ALSO employed on bases. SOME state (meaning Government of Guam) employees' salaries and benefits AND various programs are also federally funded.
I was serving in the Navy stationed on Guam in the 80's. It was absolutely fabulous. The culture was wonderful. I was "adopted" by a Chamorro family. I was invited to all the family gatherings and fiesta's. Every village has a patron Saint so every village has a fiesta celebrating their respective Saint and everyone is invited to participate even if you are not local. I once was driving and the single road through the village was block because of the fiesta. I was invited to stop and eat, drink and relax and celebrate with the local community. When I tried to give someone money for all the food that I ate I was scolded for attempting to pay. The diving in Guam is world class (Spanish Steps & Blue Hole). There are a few issues that one has to get used to like typhoons, Coconut Crabs, spiders & roaches plus the mosquito's and the lack of stateside conveniences but after being there for a while you get used to it and learn how to deal with that. All in all Guam is great and the local people are wonderful.
Lots of good info for people visiting the island!
Thanks for reviewing my island! It is very expensive due to shipping but it's not too bad with good planning and a decent job. Oh and yeah the mosquitos here, they like imported blood umbe 🤣 Welcome to Guam!
Thank you for the beautiful video about our island
I’m headed there soon, I’m in the Navy. I’ve heard i would have to live on base if i bring my family unless on base housing is full over a certain percentage, is that true? I really wanted to be off base.
Hi! Unfortunately, I am unable to answer that. I am not in the military and would not know their housing requirements. Sorry! 😅
yessuh 🤙🏼🇬🇺 nice vid !🔥
Thank you!! 😁
I just got a remote job and can move anywhere in the world. I want to move to Guam, but what’s stopping me is I’m a single 30 year old guy and I feel like I won’t be able to date out there due to being isolated and not knowing people and also having to compete with all the military men out there….
Do you still live in Guam? I am thinking about relocating
Yup! Still here. 😊🇬🇺
How fluent is your ASL? Did you think nobody would notice your numbers? 🤟
I've always wanted to move to Guam...maybe someday.
Hi! Good catch! I didn’t really think anyone would notice lol I majored in Deaf Studies in college and was fluent in conventional ASL but I haven’t practiced in YEARS. Certain signs have stuck with me but if I were to jump into a conversation today I would be so lost 😓