#guam #guamlife #islandlife

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If you’re planning to visit Guam or are potentially moving to Guam, this video shares about some interesting things and fun facts you should know about the island life. If you want to learn about the basics of Guam like everyday weather, location, people, etc. then you can definitely check out these videos:

0:00 Hi there!
0:37 Geckos
1:16 Rough roads
2:10 Military bases
3:34 Ma'goddai
5:03 Dating locals
7:57 Weight gain

1. Geckos - You can find geckos almost anywhere on Guam. In fact, it would be odd to visit and not see at least one! They are completely harmless though, even if they can be a little annoying if you see them in your house. The good thing is that they prey on other pests like roaches, ants, and spiders, so as long as I don't see those around, geckos a welcome "annoyance" in my house!

2. Roads - Guam doesn't have the smoothest roads unfortunately. Other than the main route that goes north to south across the whole island, a lot of the side roads are very bumpy, uneven, and sometimes have potholes. So you definitely have to be careful how you drive in certain areas. If you're not cautious then you'll be spending a lot more on tire maintenance!

3. Base access (visitor passes) - The military bases on Guam are definitely more strict than the ones in the states when it comes to letting civilians in. The process of attaining a visitor's pass involves a thorough background check which usually means a longer wait time, sometimes over an hour! It can be tedious but necessary, of course.

4. Babies (ma'goddai) - If you have babies, don't be alarmed if the older Chamoru people insist on touching or pinching them for the sake of "protecting them from spirits." This stems to an old Chamoru belief that some spirits who are attracted to cute babies may try to steal them. So pinching babies and making them fussy or cry would give them an ugly appearance that would then make them unappealing to the spirits. Ma'goddai refers to the strong urge or desire to hug, pinch, or squeeze a baby because they are just so cute. However you should't feel pressured to let your baby be pinched just because of this local belief.

5. Locals dating (or not dating) locals - There is a good number of local people who choose not to date within their culture, purely because there's a chance they may be related to that person. In my experience, when two people were interested in each other, they would have them meet their families pretty early so that the older members of the family could figure out where their family name stems from and know if they are related or not. Better to know early on!
If a non-local was interested in dating a local, the introduction to the family would still happen pretty early just to get an impression of the newcomer. As Guam is very family-oriented, if things worked out well between the couple, that non-local person would be embraced lovingly by the whole family. Most local families are very emotionally invested in their children/nieces/nephews/grandkids and just want to see them in a happy and healthy relationship.

6. Weight gain - Guam has some of the most delicious cuisine and restaurants, so it's natural to want to indulge in whatever you can when you are visiting. It is also a big community-like culture, so you'll find yourself invited to a lot of events that involve bonding over food. Enjoy your time when visiting, but if you are planning to live on Guam for a longer period, then you might want to be careful of how much to indulge in the local food. It does include a lot of fried foods, starch, and heavy meats so if not eaten in moderation, this can take a toll on your health!