Random Things Learned on Guam

I have already been on Guam for 4 months and a lot has happened both in my work at PIBC and everyday living. So, I am going to start with some random things I have learned about living on Guam.

Guam's version of getting anything done with the local government (Guam Gov.)

I thought I was going to be taking a written test so I went to Tax and Rev where the DMV is located. I wanted to get a book of the regulations so I could study.

Once I arrived at the Tax & Rev. building, I didn't know where to go. So I picked on the man taking pictures for driver's licenses. He was very helpful (Guamanians are very friendly). He filled out a form. He then sent me to the cashier to pay $5.00 for the book. So, I went and paid my $5.00 and the form was stamped paid. I then went back to the man taking pictures. He disappeared for quite a while and returned with the book and gave it to me.

I later learned that because I was from California, I didn't have to take the written test.

Getting my car registered, driver's license, water hookup, and electricity hookup all followed a similar pattern. 1) Get in a line and wait. 2) get some paperwork reviewed 3) get in another line and pay the bill. The driver's license had an extra line for picture taking and to get my license made.

It was a bit disconcerting when they punched a hole in my California license before I had my new one!

Guam is a friendly place.

Two examples of the friendliness and helpfulness of the Guamanians .

One day after moving into my apartment, I went shopping in Kmart to get necessities I didn't bring with me (like a shower curtain). In my cart I had a microwave, a DVD/VCR player plus a lot of other things. It was too much for me to handle. I asked the cashier at the checkout counter for help an a teenage boy appeared. He helped me with checking out and I thought he was an employee of KMart. On the way out I found out he was was the son of another customer. I thanked them for helping. They insisted on helping me out to my car (which was way, way out) and loading my car. I can't imagine that happening in the States.

Another time I had a full cart and a man walking up the street just came up and helped me load my car.

Guam Drivers are crazy

I did learn one useful thing from the motor vehicle rules book I didn't need to buy. The center lane in a road used for turning or entering a road is referred to as the “suicide lane” or “kamikaze lane” right in the book. This is due to drivers using them for a passing lane. I have had cars pass me going really fast and Melody had 2 cars pass her one day while she had her left turn signal on!

It's also really good to watch out at stop lights because many times people don't stop until the light turns red (I am guilty of this myself). If you are going to stop, look to the rear because the driver behind may not be planning to stop. I have seen one rear end crash that looked to me like someone stopped of the light and the driver behind didn't.

The maximum speed on most major streets here is 35 mph with a couple of short stretches on Marine Corps Drive where it is 45. On side steets it is usually 20 mph. It was published in the local paper that the police was not going to ticket anyone unless they were driving more than 15 miles over the limit. So, of course, dirvers push the limit. I don't think it was such a good idea to publish this in the PDN (Pacific Daily News).

Guam navigation

If you see someone weaving up the road. The driver is probably not drunk. It is more likely the road is full of potholes.

I hate to drive at night. At some point, in the distant past, lines were painted on the roads -- maybe even with reflective paint. The paint is about 90% worn off. I find it difficult to see where the lanes are at night. The streets are, also, not well lighted.

There are no freeways here. No limited access highways. There is only one set of entrance / exit ramps on the island where one road goes over another. Going under is referred to as going through the tunnel. I am told it had something to do with airport access.

There are no decent maps. Due to typhoons, street signs are a luxury and numbered roads become nu-numbered after a typhoon. Few buildings have numbers on them. Therefore, you can't find anything by address. Mapquest does not work. Every set of directions is in the form of landmarks which for the newcomer makes navigation difficult.

So, whenever I get directions, I get asked if I know where a certain school or other building is and usually I say no but I know where GPO (Guam Premium Outlets), Micronesian Mall, Kmart, Home Depot, and Hafa Adai market are and go from there. There are a couple of places I have never found.

I hope you have been blessed by the Lord this day and have enjoyed my random comments. More to come later -- with pictures.