Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Likes: the beautiful weather, beaches, the fact that the ocean water is not freezing cold, the closeness of everything, the food, no sales tax!
Dislikes: I guess the roads could be better..., no freeways so the speed limit is about 45 and under (but everything's pretty close so it doesn't really matter), slow-paced life.
Also, responding to your post about housing: I would suggest this neighborhood called SUMMER PALACE. It's in Dededo, which is pretty close to Yigo (where the base is located). It's a gated community with a 24 hour security guard. The neighborhood consists of townhomes and single houses. (They're all two story homes too). With your budget of $2000-2800 - you can definitely definitely afford the larger (4 bedroom 2.5 bathroom) single houses which go for about $2400-2600ish. I think the townhomes are 3 bedroom, but I'm not 100% positive. The neighborhood has a pool, tennis court, playground. They're privately owned homes, so I'm not sure where to find out if there are any available for rent, unless you know someone on Guam who can check out the area for you.
Tumon is another nice area to live. It's like about 10 minutes from Dededo. Its like... the "downtown" of Guam. It's mostly a tourist spot - so there's a lot of fun nightlife, shopping around there. It's really close to the beach, which is great.
Warm breezes
Rustling palm trees
Dense tropical vegetation
Brilliant blue skies
Sense of being on vacation every day
Kind, friendly, warm Chamorro people
General laid-back atmosphere
Sense of community and closeness
Diversity: white/Hispanic/black folks here with the military; local Chamorros, Filipinos, Micronesians
Don't like:
Horrible public schools and general apathy toward their appalling condition
Endemic patronage system/nepotism in government
Corruption, corruption, corruption!
Seeming inability to manage public funds honestly and effectively
Lack of enforcement of carseat laws (toddlers climbing all over cars going 50 mph and cops couldn't care less)
Distance from the mainland
Concentration of wealth and power in a few families such as the Calvos
Widespread smoking, even around kids/babies
Limited shopping
Miserable condition of only civilian hospital on island; lack of specialist physicians (people often have to go to Hawaii or the Philippines for non-primary care)
Lack of decent Mexican food!
Are there any Chamorros here in EL Paso? we were in Guam for 3 years I love Chamorro bbq and recipes. Can i be invited to one of your parties??? I am from Kosrae Micronesia and live in Northeast El Paso.. I'm looking to meet more islanders here and maybe have a cook out
If I plan to visit Guam in the near future, what would actually I need besides that I know I need to get a visa. What else does it actually mean for me to know I am qualified to go? Can't I just get a plane tickets too...?
Dislikes: I guess the roads could be better..., no freeways so the speed limit is about 45 and under (but everything's pretty close so it doesn't really matter), slow-paced life.
LOL, speed limit!
I saw some speed limit signs in Guam. I think they are just suggestions.
Endemic patronage system/nepotism in government
Corruption, corruption, corruption!
Seeming inability to manage public funds honestly and effectively
This seems to be a recurring theme in most of the world's 60 or so remaining territories.
You would think that the US, UK, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands would take measures to ensure good governance and proper domestic administration of their overseas possessions/territories/colonies/insert current politically correct term. I seriously question the ability of many of these places to govern themselves without the ruling power being involved in day to day matters.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.