Wow! Our flight to Guam was LONG. It took 8 hours from Houston to Honolulu. Then we had a 1-hour layover for refueling. Then, we had another 8-hour flight across the Pacific to Guam. The South Pacific is so VAST! The inhabitants of both Hawaii AND Guam are Asian, from Indonesia. It is hard to imagine these people in dugout outrigger canoes navigating the Pacific, and settling into island civilizations, but they did. It is SO hard to wrap your mind around that when you fly over it for 8 hours in an airplane going over 500 mph!!!!
The "natives" of Guam, the "Chamorros" are GREAT! First and foremost, they are Chamorro-Americans. There aren't many good paying jobs in Guam, as it is mostly tourist trade, although the military sector generates some civilian govt. jobs. Many join the military due to the presence of Anderson Airforce Base on Guam, and they go to Iraq, Afghanistan, or Africa and fight for us. The American dream is alive and well. They were enslaved by the Japanese during WWII, so they appreciate freedom! These people are happy to see their fellow Americans visiting from the mainland, and they all dream of affording a $1,000+ plane ticket to get off the island to the mainland of America! Such nice, friendly, talkative people! SO POLITE AND WELCOMING!
And aren't the views great, too!?
When we arrived in Guam, we were greeted by the good old Red, White and Blue of old Glory, whipping in the sunset against the green ocean and palm trees. Well, FIRST we were greeted by that American institution called "McDonald's". Then of course, by TSA. :-) THEN, by the flag!
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