Guam may have been described as being in the middle of nowhere, but for Dale the journey was well worth it.
As part of the Marianas Islands, Guam was unassuming, yet rich in archeological interest. It was small to be sure - thirty miles long and at its narrowest location only four miles across. Lush tropical jungles still held hidden World War II unexploded ordnances, which would occasionally claim the life, or limbs, of any unsuspecting jungle adventurer. Steep waterfalls and rugged cliffs made the rocky island diverse and intriguing on a multitude of levels. The jungles gave way at their outer edges to white sandy beaches that ran into crystal clear water, so clear that Guam’s waters provided some of the best diving in the world. The majority of the beaches were calm and, for the most part, devoid of waves due to the prevalent coral reef that surrounded the island.
Guam, Dale would soon discover, only had two seasons, unlike the four distinct seasons of her native East Tennessee. In Guam it was the wet season for six months. This season consisted of steady to hard rain every day, but not all day. Then there was the dry season, consisting of mostly cloudless and perfect days. But no matter the season, the temperatures were invariable. The mercury rarely dipped below seventy-five degrees at night, nor did it rise above eighty-five degrees in the heat of the day. While the sun was intense and the humidity always high, the ocean breeze was always a constant, welcomed companion. Unlike the infamous snakes that pretty much overran the island.
Guam’s snakes were only mildly poisonous, but a real nuisance. They frequently wrapped their slithering bodies around electrical lines, shorting out the electric grid for days. Controlled bush burns were often performed in what proved to be a futile effort to reduce their population. So plentiful were the snakes that the eco-system had been knocked out of balance. As major predators, they had virtually rid the island of its bird population. This Dale hated, for the songs of birds was one of her favorite ways to start her days. Even more, she dreaded the late night encounters with the nocturnal snakes. It was common practice for these snakes to coil up in the top cinder blocks at the beach bathhouses and slide down on unsuspecting facility users.
Yet despite these pesky reptiles, Guam was a paradise in every sense of the word. This was especially true for Dale and those inclined to warm weather enjoyment.
Even so, what most thrilled Dale about Guam were the native islanders. Known as Chamorros, these folks had a rich heritage, heavily influenced by 16th century Spanish settlers. The common greeting was Hafa Adai (pronounced roughly like half a day a), which meant “have a good day,” and they meant it. Theirs was a culture of family, friends, and food. Every event had some element of all three, along with a lot of laughter and exaggerated story telling. They were friendly, accepting people, who for the most part attended the Catholic churches on Sunday and had their picnics on the grounds afterward. As lovers of life, few things ever interfered with their evening fiesta and the mid-afternoon siesta. It was a simple life, with simple entertainments and extravagant celebrations – be it birthday, wedding or funeral, life was always celebrated. The only thing that could match the plentiful food was the rich music. It was music that stirred the blood and ensured that no one sat when the celebration began.
The large naval and air force presence on the island did not change the islanders. If anything, the Chamorros helped the military personnel appreciate life and the things that really mattered.
As an Air Force officer, Dale lived off base. She selected a small apartment in the capital city of Agana. Situated at the very center of the island, her apartment made everything easily accessible to her. If she could not walk there, she could be there by car in ten minutes.
The intimacy of
As part of the Marianas Islands, Guam was unassuming, yet rich in archeological interest. It was small to be sure - thirty miles long and at its narrowest location only four miles across. Lush tropical jungles still held hidden World War II unexploded ordnances, which would occasionally claim the life, or limbs, of any unsuspecting jungle adventurer. Steep waterfalls and rugged cliffs made the rocky island diverse and intriguing on a multitude of levels. The jungles gave way at their outer edges to white sandy beaches that ran into crystal clear water, so clear that Guam’s waters provided some of the best diving in the world. The majority of the beaches were calm and, for the most part, devoid of waves due to the prevalent coral reef that surrounded the island.
Guam, Dale would soon discover, only had two seasons, unlike the four distinct seasons of her native East Tennessee. In Guam it was the wet season for six months. This season consisted of steady to hard rain every day, but not all day. Then there was the dry season, consisting of mostly cloudless and perfect days. But no matter the season, the temperatures were invariable. The mercury rarely dipped below seventy-five degrees at night, nor did it rise above eighty-five degrees in the heat of the day. While the sun was intense and the humidity always high, the ocean breeze was always a constant, welcomed companion. Unlike the infamous snakes that pretty much overran the island.
Guam’s snakes were only mildly poisonous, but a real nuisance. They frequently wrapped their slithering bodies around electrical lines, shorting out the electric grid for days. Controlled bush burns were often performed in what proved to be a futile effort to reduce their population. So plentiful were the snakes that the eco-system had been knocked out of balance. As major predators, they had virtually rid the island of its bird population. This Dale hated, for the songs of birds was one of her favorite ways to start her days. Even more, she dreaded the late night encounters with the nocturnal snakes. It was common practice for these snakes to coil up in the top cinder blocks at the beach bathhouses and slide down on unsuspecting facility users.
Yet despite these pesky reptiles, Guam was a paradise in every sense of the word. This was especially true for Dale and those inclined to warm weather enjoyment.
Even so, what most thrilled Dale about Guam were the native islanders. Known as Chamorros, these folks had a rich heritage, heavily influenced by 16th century Spanish settlers. The common greeting was Hafa Adai (pronounced roughly like half a day a), which meant “have a good day,” and they meant it. Theirs was a culture of family, friends, and food. Every event had some element of all three, along with a lot of laughter and exaggerated story telling. They were friendly, accepting people, who for the most part attended the Catholic churches on Sunday and had their picnics on the grounds afterward. As lovers of life, few things ever interfered with their evening fiesta and the mid-afternoon siesta. It was a simple life, with simple entertainments and extravagant celebrations – be it birthday, wedding or funeral, life was always celebrated. The only thing that could match the plentiful food was the rich music. It was music that stirred the blood and ensured that no one sat when the celebration began.
The large naval and air force presence on the island did not change the islanders. If anything, the Chamorros helped the military personnel appreciate life and the things that really mattered.
As an Air Force officer, Dale lived off base. She selected a small apartment in the capital city of Agana. Situated at the very center of the island, her apartment made everything easily accessible to her. If she could not walk there, she could be there by car in ten minutes.
The intimacy of
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