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So! You wanna move to Guam! |
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| In order to fully appreciate the Island, you might want to read up
on the History of Guam. You will be amazed at your own discovery
of the island. The discovery by Magellan which is celebrated every March
with festivities and a holiday, the Spanish and Catholic influence that
shaped the island so clearly, the two world wars and what a major role
Guam played in them, and many details to help you understand the cultures
here.
The text book which was used in the course is called "Guahan/Guam: The History of our Island" by Pedro C. Sanchez. The book is full of interesting information. If you have the time to read the entire book, many of the island traditions and cultural aspects will be explained. Learn about the natural catch basins and water aquifers from that class and about the five extinct volcanoes which dot the island. The military has built a radar dome - the ones that look like golf balls — on the one close to my house, Mt. Santa Rosa.. All of Guam's highest mountains are in the south: Mt. LamLam (Lightning in the Chamorro language) at 1334 feet above sea level is the highest, Mt. Sassalaguen (the Gate to Hell according to Chamorro legend) reaches 1100 feet and Mt. Tenjo climbs to 1000 above sea level. Now, this may not be the Alps, but for someone who expected flat, I was thrilled to see them. Mt. LamLam also holds special religious significance which will be discussed later. The south end of the island is the proverbial Garden of Eden. The lush vegetation and tall trees remind me of what Guam must have been like before war savaged the island. Here homes are well cared for with many flowers and carefully trimmed lawns and hedges. The soil is good for growing plants, fruits and vegetables. Cocos Island lies off the coast of Merizo, one of my favorite villages. You can take a boat out to the island resort and spend the day snorkeling or diving. Not too far from the island lies the wreck of ancient Spanish galleon, the Pilar. Crews are working to uncover the millions of dollars worth of silver and jewels that the sea claimed for her own so many centuries ago. It is not unusual to see people with metal detectors walking the beaches. You just never know what will wash up. The southern village of Agat boasts a number of fine eating and drinking places along the beach. One of the best ways to spend a Sunday afternoon is to drive to Agat, sit in one of these places and watch the dolphins dancing in the water as the sun goes down. You can't do that in New York City! The northern end of Guam is more industrial. The land is a high plateau raising from 150 to 600 feet above sea level. Most of this end is covered with thin soil over thick limestone and coral rocks. The Air Force used much of this end for its runways and heavy equipment in the defense of the island during World War II. The trees that survived the war and destruction aren't very large and not as numerous as in the south. But flame trees, frangipani and ifil trees abound in certain areas. |