I had hoped to spend the day touring the southern part of the island with a friend taking more pictures of this beautiful island for you all.
Instead, 2 of my wonderful and adorable children decided that despite my repeated warnings to the contrary throwing rocks at trees outside the chapel was a good idea. Luckily, they managed to not hit anyone outside our family (like the way I worded that?). One kid caught another in the head with a rock and there was blood. Lots of blood.
Fun times.
Thankfully, because we were at church we had tons of help. People took the other kids home so I wouldn't have to worry about them, helped me stabilize the injured child, and made sure I was ok. He ended up not needing stitches, but the event derailed our plans for the afternoon.
Maybe now they'll listen when I say "Don't throw rocks."........
I doubt it.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Has it really been that long.....
...since I last posted? The record doesn't lie so I guess so.
Sorry. I know I keep saying it's busy here, but it really is. I recently took on the treasurer position for the Guam Naval Officers Spouse Connection (GNOSC). It's an amazing group that loves to have fun and also does a bunch of fundraising in support of both military and local non profits. Also, now that the boat is on its way here, the spouses are starting to move here and boat events and homecoming preps are underway.
I've been told a few times in the last few weeks "dust doesn't settle on you". I'll take it.
Of course, there's never too much going on to explore! Last Friday it FINALLY cleared up a bit and we started to get a break from the rain. We took the chance to head out to the Gef Pago, a cultural park in Inarajan that is run by the Historic Inalajan Foundation. In the park we learned how to clean coconuts, make sea salt, weave baskets, cook rice in woven leaves, and artistic weaving (where we met the SWEETEST old lady!).
After touring the village they took us across the street to see an old house that predates WWII (a rare event here between typhoons and the intense bombing that occurred prior to the US storming of the island). The house was a one bedroom with a large common area in which 16 children all slept on the floor under mosquito nets!
From there, we were invited to the soft opening of a new small museum down the street. In true Guam fashion, we were invited to not just tour the museum but eat lunch with the group as well (trust me, saying no was not an option). What an amazing experience!
We took the time to go see some church ruins, drive down to the Inarajan pools and swim for a bit, and came home.
Yesterday we went and explored the historic Sumay village location. The village at one point was called "the pearl of the island" as the most wealthy village on the island pre-WWII. The village hosted whaling ships, the transoceanic cable station, was a stopping point for the Pan Am China Clipper, and supported various US military activities. That all changed when the Japanese took the Island in WWII. The strategic position of the village made it a prime target for takeover and the villagers were moved out (the Japanese used the village parish as a horse stable). The village was destroyed by US bombing efforts, and the ruins now remain on the Naval base (which makes resettlement impossible). Through a working relationship with the villagers and descendants the Navy now maintains the old church grounds and the cemetery and allows for the people to come on base to pay their respects. The people can always arrange a visit, but the prime days are Sumay day in April, Liberation Day in July and All Souls Day in November.
Afterwards we drove another spouse over to get her car, and then drove up to the Air Force Base to spend a beautiful afternoon with friends at Tarague beach. This morning it was back to Gab Gab beach with a bunch of spouses from the boat. Hopefully tomorrow another south island tour with a friend (have I mentioned that I am ultra excited to get a break from rain?! :) ). Have fun everyone!
Sorry. I know I keep saying it's busy here, but it really is. I recently took on the treasurer position for the Guam Naval Officers Spouse Connection (GNOSC). It's an amazing group that loves to have fun and also does a bunch of fundraising in support of both military and local non profits. Also, now that the boat is on its way here, the spouses are starting to move here and boat events and homecoming preps are underway.
I've been told a few times in the last few weeks "dust doesn't settle on you". I'll take it.
Of course, there's never too much going on to explore! Last Friday it FINALLY cleared up a bit and we started to get a break from the rain. We took the chance to head out to the Gef Pago, a cultural park in Inarajan that is run by the Historic Inalajan Foundation. In the park we learned how to clean coconuts, make sea salt, weave baskets, cook rice in woven leaves, and artistic weaving (where we met the SWEETEST old lady!).
 |
| watching them clean coconuts (and make candy-they gave the kids a shell full!) |
 |
| local sea salt |
 |
| the little packet she's holding is how they cook rice |
 |
| master weaver, and a sweet lady :)! |
After touring the village they took us across the street to see an old house that predates WWII (a rare event here between typhoons and the intense bombing that occurred prior to the US storming of the island). The house was a one bedroom with a large common area in which 16 children all slept on the floor under mosquito nets!
 |
| one room........16 kids |
From there, we were invited to the soft opening of a new small museum down the street. In true Guam fashion, we were invited to not just tour the museum but eat lunch with the group as well (trust me, saying no was not an option). What an amazing experience!
 |
| love the pools |
 |
| old Baptist church |
Yesterday we went and explored the historic Sumay village location. The village at one point was called "the pearl of the island" as the most wealthy village on the island pre-WWII. The village hosted whaling ships, the transoceanic cable station, was a stopping point for the Pan Am China Clipper, and supported various US military activities. That all changed when the Japanese took the Island in WWII. The strategic position of the village made it a prime target for takeover and the villagers were moved out (the Japanese used the village parish as a horse stable). The village was destroyed by US bombing efforts, and the ruins now remain on the Naval base (which makes resettlement impossible). Through a working relationship with the villagers and descendants the Navy now maintains the old church grounds and the cemetery and allows for the people to come on base to pay their respects. The people can always arrange a visit, but the prime days are Sumay day in April, Liberation Day in July and All Souls Day in November.
 |
| Sumay Cemetary |
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| Cross of the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Church |
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| Tarague beach |
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Busy weekend
I meant to post this last night after the kids went to bed, but I fell asleep at 930 instead. I guess I was a bit tired.
In between running errands that had to get done Friday, we of course we went on a field trip. Unfortunately it was raining, so outside plans were cancelled and we made our way to the War in the Pacific National Park visitors center. It was an amazing little museum with a ton of information. I really loved how interactive it was, and how many details they were able to put in such a relatively small center. My favorite parts were reading through the books of personal accounts of events, and the display at the front that explained the different battles on the island and showed where they occurred on a map (it traced everything out and showed videos at the same time). After consulting the kids we skipped the video that they had available. There's a short clip in it covering decapitation (a Japanese punishment for locals when they controlled the island) and after reading through many of the stories the kids thought it would be too much emotionally for them to handle. Can't say I blame them, I was welling up quite a bit myself.
Interesting side note this is the first national park visitors center I've been in where everything is written both in English and Japanese.
Friday was also the little girl's birthday. We had a cake and a movie night at home to celebrate. Oh, she also asked for McDonalds so despite my goal to not eat there at all while we are here I ended up going there for lunch.
Saturday afternoon we went to the 25th annual Guam Micronesia Island Fair. It was an amazing event, celebrating the similarities and differences between the islands. We loved going through the delegation and craft tents, talking to the people, and learning about the cultures. The kids even got a lesson in how to properly husk and shave a coconut!
The best part I think was watching the dancers from the different islands. It was so neat seeing how similar they were and yet how different they were. For example, the female dancers from Kosrae sat while they sang and danced. According to the announcer, this is because traditionally it was considered disrespectful for a woman to stand before the king even to perform.
The older 2 and I could have stayed there for many more hours, but after 4 hours of being at the festival the little kids were done.
Sunday morning we went to church, then to the commissary for a few things, home to bake a cake and get ready, and then back over to Gab Gab beach for a small gathering of friends for the kids birthday. It was the perfect excuse for a beach gathering and all the kids thoroughly enjoyed it (unfortunately I forgot my camera). After a good 3 hours at the beach we headed over to a friends house for dinner and more kids play time. By 7pm, the baby was more tired than I've ever seen him before and was very vocal in his desire to go home and get to bed....so I indulged him.
I hope you all had a great weekend as well, and to my friends in RI enjoy the Arts Festival!
In between running errands that had to get done Friday, we of course we went on a field trip. Unfortunately it was raining, so outside plans were cancelled and we made our way to the War in the Pacific National Park visitors center. It was an amazing little museum with a ton of information. I really loved how interactive it was, and how many details they were able to put in such a relatively small center. My favorite parts were reading through the books of personal accounts of events, and the display at the front that explained the different battles on the island and showed where they occurred on a map (it traced everything out and showed videos at the same time). After consulting the kids we skipped the video that they had available. There's a short clip in it covering decapitation (a Japanese punishment for locals when they controlled the island) and after reading through many of the stories the kids thought it would be too much emotionally for them to handle. Can't say I blame them, I was welling up quite a bit myself.
Interesting side note this is the first national park visitors center I've been in where everything is written both in English and Japanese.
Friday was also the little girl's birthday. We had a cake and a movie night at home to celebrate. Oh, she also asked for McDonalds so despite my goal to not eat there at all while we are here I ended up going there for lunch.
Saturday afternoon we went to the 25th annual Guam Micronesia Island Fair. It was an amazing event, celebrating the similarities and differences between the islands. We loved going through the delegation and craft tents, talking to the people, and learning about the cultures. The kids even got a lesson in how to properly husk and shave a coconut!
 |
 |
| learning to shave a coconut |
 |
| husking coconut |
 |
| making traditional boats-told the kids to take notes ;)! |
The best part I think was watching the dancers from the different islands. It was so neat seeing how similar they were and yet how different they were. For example, the female dancers from Kosrae sat while they sang and danced. According to the announcer, this is because traditionally it was considered disrespectful for a woman to stand before the king even to perform.
 |
| Marshall Islands |
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| Kosrae |
 |
| Palau |
The older 2 and I could have stayed there for many more hours, but after 4 hours of being at the festival the little kids were done.
Sunday morning we went to church, then to the commissary for a few things, home to bake a cake and get ready, and then back over to Gab Gab beach for a small gathering of friends for the kids birthday. It was the perfect excuse for a beach gathering and all the kids thoroughly enjoyed it (unfortunately I forgot my camera). After a good 3 hours at the beach we headed over to a friends house for dinner and more kids play time. By 7pm, the baby was more tired than I've ever seen him before and was very vocal in his desire to go home and get to bed....so I indulged him.
I hope you all had a great weekend as well, and to my friends in RI enjoy the Arts Festival!
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