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So! You wanna move to Guam! |
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| Marine Drive, which runs the length of the island from Andersen Air
Force Base to "Big" Navy" or ComNavMarianas (the Navy Base in the south),
is sometimes euphemistically called Highway 1. Those of us who have driven
major highway systems on the Mainland or in Europe smile when we hear that.
When I first got here in 1990, most of this road was a four-lane road.
Its been upgraded now to a six-lane thoroughfare except at the very north
end. This is the central road of the island. I was recently contacted through
the Internet by some people who'd gone to school here in the 60s. They
were planning to come back for a visit. When I told them about Marine Drive,
they were shocked. They remember a small two-lane dirt road. Things have
changed dramatically.
Many changes are happening on Guam. New buildings going up at a tremendous rate. No areas are safe. The construction has slowed now as we wait for the next big growth spurt, but; Guam's villages maintain their small town qualities while coping with the amazing growth. One of the most difficult things about living on Guam is deciding where to live. Nothing is more than an hour away. For those of us who've driven 2.5 hours one way to work, this seems like a stroll in the park. But, take my word for it, it won't be long until the 30 minute drive from Dededo to Agat will seem like a day trip! If you lived in Yigo and worked in Hagatna and had to be at work at 8 a.m., timing is an important factor here. It's suggested that you leave 5 to 10 minutes early. Traffic is an interesting creature here; there are only a few ways to get anywhere. Until recently, few of the streets were marked with names and the official road map was less than reliable. The newest road map has fixed that problem and the Department of Public Works has launched a campaign to get the streets marked. Since the favorite way to give directions is "Go to the place where Auntie Maria's house was before it burned down and turn there," you really need a good map. For those of us who weren't here 15 years ago when Auntie Maria's house was standing, the map is a great help! |