7 Things NOBODY TOLD ME About GUAM 

This honestly made me happy and tear up a bit, I am glad you point out the things that a lot of people talk about and most of all, enjoy your stay here on Guam! Have a blessed day fam 🥳

Ty for the beautiful comments about our island and our people may God bless you and your family Guam 🇬🇺 pride from Arlington texas

Thank you for your kind words…. a very good assessment of our beautiful island. I’m from NY originally, met my wife who is Chamorro in California while I was in the Army in 1978. We settled here in 1983 raising 3 children here. I’ve never regretted it. The island is beautiful and thrives with an abundance of family and community. It does help financially to have military privileges which made it more affordable for us to live here. Continue to enjoy living here 👍🏻

Just moved to L.A. from Guam and the people in L.A. brags about having the best barbeque and I told them that if they want to taste a good barbeque....go to Guam....but they didn't believe me.....thanks for putting it on youtube....biba Guahan....

This was a very pleasant review of our island home, I run into mainlanders a lot and there are still many who still just cannot adopt to the island way, you either going to LOVE it or your taking the next flight back to the US Mainland, so glad you LOVE it as we all do !

Welcome to Guam 🤙😄 I've been here almost 50 years, witnessed our island community grow and developed. Diverse culture and nationality, Beautiful island and people. Enjoy!

We were stationed in Guam in 1190 for 2 years. all those things you said about Guam are so true. My 2 boys 3 and 18 mo used to play with the geckos when they were in the house. we lived on base navy housing so we mainly shopped at the Px. the weather was pretty hot and steamy. we arrived in October and 2 weeks later experienced our 1 st of 3 typhoons. it was rainy season and everything was moldy if left outside. the temps were high 78 low of 72 with 90 % humidity. if you could bear it. We got SCUBA certified and that was a fun social thing to do with other families at the beach. the downside of Guam was it was so far away from family. having no iPhones or social media at the time we called home to the Staes twice a year. it cost $80.00 to talk to my parents at xmas for 3 minutes. and boy was I homesick. however the military treated everyone as 1 big family. We made a lot of lifelong friends. some whom we keep in touch with. Guam will always hold a special place in my heart. My daughter was born there 33 yrs ago. I hope to return there someday .

Thank you for all the good information. I am a local from Hawaii and was stationed at Andersen for 4.5 years. To me it was hot like the Philippines, Okinawa and Viet Nam. Oh, then there is Typhoon Season! I remember the wind was so strong that when the rain hits the barracks iron doors it just flows to the bottom and floods the room. But what is a blessing that the power never goes out during the typhoon but goes out only on sunny days (caused by a brown snake climbing onto a power line). The insects and geckos is just like Hawaii. Out of my 20 years in the Air Force Guam is the closes base I got stationed to home. The Chamarros and Guamanians are warm hearted people. They made me feel at home. Especially during the Fiesta's you are invited over to eat and celebrate. I will always remember the first local birthday party I attended on the island. I was invited by a Chamorro older woman that worked at the Chow Hall. At the party after I ate she would come over and tell me, " Ah, Aaron you better eat so more!!!" You know every party I attended after that they will always ask me, " Ah, Aaron you better eat so more!!!"

I thought my two years living on Guam was a pleasant experience and I also found many of your assessments to be pretty accurate; driving on Guam is frustrating, the speed limit is extremely low, but as you said, most people do not abide by the speed limit and often drive too fast. The people I noticed that drive the fastest were either military or civilians who work on the base. The local people I met seem to stay within reasonable limits, it is an Island and there is not a lot of room especially with all the influx of people either visiting the Island or assigned. It gets really crowded between January and March with there are military exercises. Groceries and gas is extremely expensive if you shop off base, fortunately I was able to buy both on base and that made a difference for me when the commissary was not out of product. With the exception of the geckos and roaches, I didn't find the bugs to be much of a problem, especially mosquitoes', they didn't bother me at all. You are so right about the stray dogs, they call them Boonie dogs. It is my understanding the reason there are so many is the extremely expensive cost to ship dogs from Guam to anyplace, so people just leave them. The local food to me was delicious! Kelaguen was something I only heard of for the first time on Guam, I had been to many other places before and had never heard of it, but I ended up liking it very much, with it was beef kelaguen or fish, I found it to be delicious. I thought for the most part, the temperature was pretty constant, reminded me a lot of Hawaii; however, the frequent rain nearly everyday was a bit overwhelming at times, but when the sun shined, one could see the beauty of the Island and when it does shine, Guam is a beautiful place. One thing you didn't mention was the attitude of the people. Most of the people I met had some of the best attitudes of any of the places I have been. I was accepted with open arms no matter where I went people were so welcoming. I don't know if racism exists on the Island, I didn't experience any the entire two years I was there and there is a great mix of people from all walks of life. Thanks for your video.

I was on Guam back in 1984/85…..I don’t know if it’s still the case, but when I was there some of the rural roads were made out of crushed coral. So whenever it rained, the roads actually came alive with a thin layer of green moss growing on them. This made the roads so slippery (worse than ice).

I want live there and work into my retirement. Guam is America's gateway to Asia. I also heard it's very laid back. So sick of hustle and bustle of the mainland. Good video here, giving it a thumbs up.

Guam born and raised and I appreciate this video so much! it's so respectful and accurate and so relatable😂

I LOVE Guam!!! Lived there 2x for over 5.5 years. Miss it everyday.

Hafa adai! Thank you for sharing your video and for your kind words as you describe my home. I've been away since 2000, but fortunately was able to visit twice since gone as my parents are still living back home. I miss home so much, more so recently, and just waiting for the right time to move back. It has changed alot since I left but no matter it's current situation Guam will always be ❤️HOME❤️. Again, thank you! Best wishes to you!

We live in Alabama now after I retired from the Army. I love your vlog and thank you for your awesome impression about our Island. Guam will never leave my heart. Si Yu'use Ma'a'se!❤

Great video .!! my wife and really enjoyed.! I would venture to say that Guam is literally Puerto Rico's little sister island. The difference is that we are located in the Atlantic but the history, the politics, the climate, what you describe about the people, the lifestyle, it's like you're describing us, wow super interesting. Thank you for share.!!

Guam ... home sweet home. I've been to a lot of places, nothing comes close to Guam. Maybe Hawaii, but Guam still tops. It's probably because of it's simplicity and unique ways that taught me to focus on the things that truly matters. I miss it so much, one day I'll be back to retire there. I love mangoes, avocados, bananas, calamansi, coconut, sinigwelas and other tropical fruits that comes abundant and almost free on Guam. So the prices for strawberries, blueberries and other imported foods didn't affect me one bit. There's a farm to table co-op there where people can actually get fresh fruits and vegetables to. And if you make a lot of local friends, they usually give fresh produce since again it's just so abundant there. There are many stores there to that sells very cheap house hold supplies and gift items from the Philippines like Valencia at Harmon and sometimes wholesale sale prices like Kelly's at Harmon. You just gotta explore. I was a very poor college student majority of my time there. And I made it just fine with nothing but love and gratitude to the island 😊 And lastly, I'm horrified of snails and slugs. But Guam taught me how to handle snakes like a barbarian 😂 I really don't care about the spiders and the cocroaches. Have you seen the wild boars? They're abundant on Guam to. They roam around the jungle areas, one time a big one found it's way infront of the old DMV 😂 but still, I'd rather deal with all the wild predators of Guam, including the stone fish, lion fish, man 'o war and the sharks, than the bears, wolves, mountain lions and cougars and other unforgiving predators of the wild here in the US mainland ... yah know 😉

I was stationed on Guam for 2 years. I lived in the village of Sinajana. couple of the best years of my life. Worst part, though for me, was all the stray emaciated dogs. I saved 30 while i was there and found then homes with Navy personnel.

I am in the beginning stages of moving to Guam. Selling my house in San Antonio and moving this fall. Spent a week in Guam , first week of March 2024.

I'm from Guam, currently in Florida. I miss the island so much!! I can't wait to go back home!! Thanks for sharing. Hopefully you are still there when I go back home, you seem like a wonderful person, it'd be awesome to meet you someday.

Hahahahaha! Went there back in the late 90’s on a field team to repair a piece of equipment. Only spent 2 weeks there and I loved it. Great people and a beautiful island. Looked much like Okinawa but smaller and everything was English!

No matter where we go, they're going to be things that we don't like or are not used to. I moved out here for medical reasons. But if it wasn't for that I would have never left the Island. It is very expensive out here from buying groceries, and utilities and the most surprising one is housing, especially in the northern California area. Rentals for a 2-bedroom apartment will cost you about 2.500 to 3.000 dollars. No matter where you go they are some things better than other places. Personally, no matter where I go and I have lived in several different states. There is no place better than home. #ESTA #LATER #ADIOS.

Sounds like a good way to learn gratitude and meditation. I don't understand how amazon prime would even have a point there so good for you on canceling it. Miss you lots!

I lived in Gaul when my dad was stationed at Anderson AFB in 1962. The speed limit then was 45mph. Great place to go spear fishing. Groceries were expensive and some things were just bad. The only eggs were the dried variety. Water on base had stuff floating in it so we used to keep a 5-gallon bottle on the kitchen counter to let the dirt settle out. We didn’t have AC in our four bedroom home. The windows had louvers instead of shades with screens. We had German roaches in the house, they’re small and every dark corner had them. I used to let geckos into the house to eat them. When we lived there the normal temp was 74-79. It was like walking around under a warm damp blanket.

My first duty station in the military back in the early 1980s was Guam. I enjoyed it for the main part, yet the negativity of a lot of those I was stationed with made it a bit depressing to be there. The food and beaches were my greatest joys.... Every Friday my shop would have a cookout at the local beach huts.... Usually a drunken fiasco 😂🍺 LOL

Very on point! Love your view and opinion of Guam. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your experience in Guam! ❤️

I have a job opportunity to go to guam and I'm considering it. It's nice to see it and hear great things about this island

I spent 12 years on Guam and loved it. The first thing I noticed when moving there is "island time"- the people and things just move and do things at a different pace. It took a little while for me to adjust but that was one of the things that made me really love Guam. You didn't mention the brown tree snakes - did they get them under control?

Heck yeah we want 1hr videos about Guam!

I honestly appreciate everything you said! Also had me laugh because it was all true! I miss home so much! I’m very surprised at what you’ve gathered in short time you’ve been there, you will only learn more. Thank you for sharing, the pictures you have shown also inspired me more of where I’m from and wanting to come back soon. I’m so happy your experience is all positive! Thank you for sharing! Si yu us maåse’

I just moved here from Okinawa and heard a lot of bad stories, but I end up loving the island . A lot if people is very helpful and kind. It’s very laid back like Florida.

Thank you for visiting our island, I just wish the world wasn't changing so fast but I know it's for a reason, but when I grew up there it was a more beautiful island and I'm sure it will be again. Enjoy your stay I wish I was visiting there again!

I’m from Guam but lived in CA most my life. I know the island very well and really enjoyed your video. It’s so accurate and very well described. Enjoy your stay in our beautiful island. 😎🐠🌴

Thank you for appreciating the island and its beauty❤

With the cost of living and all the other things, I miss home 🇬🇺 everyday. I've been living in the mainland the past 6 yrs and think of home all the time.

My frustration is explaining to online vendors that Guam is a part of the US so “international shipping” doesn’t really make sense

I’ve shipped lots of stuff from Walmart. Many things that Amazon won’t ship, Walmart will. Walmart ships for free if you spend at least $35.00. But lately things I’ve ordered from Walmart before I can no longer order.

Welcome & Thank U for ur Blog 👍🏼..."Where Americas day begins". American Citizens who are unprivileged to cast their vote for POTUS / CINC to include Veterans ( drafted in the 60's & who volunteered to this date) defending the constitution taking the same "oath"..Thank Mr.Tako for his service, & to you Mrs.Tako for upholding one of the most difficult job in the military (the Spouse)‼🤙🏽🇬🇺

Just back from a week in Guam and still thinking about it. Beautiful place, nice people. So expensive lol. Great video, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Thank you for the beautiful video about our island

Glad you enjoyed Guam. True we do have our challenges, but overall it's an amazing place! Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Hafa Adai! New subscriber here! I love your authentic presence and blog style. Glad I found your page. I am going through all your other Guam vids now. 😆 Safe travels and happy adventures! 🤙🏾

That's not how the Jones Act work. It just requires items coming from the US to a US port be put on US Built Ships, staffed by Americans, and owned by Americans. Foreign shipping can and does stop at all the US territories. The problem is many companies are not going to bother to ship stuff there, and the ports can't handle the large ships used in most US Asia trade. So yes in some cases it will go to the west coast first before heading back. Believe me the Jones Act is a pain though. I live in northeast and we end up importing foreign LNG instead of buying domestic because no Jones Act ships exist to be used in this trade.

Thank you for your thoughtful insights. =D

Thank you for sharing the goods of our island. We have to do something with this Jones Act.

Great video and words. Glad you're enjoying. Not having everything at your fingertips teaches you to adapt. Made me not want for so many things and realize I have a lot already. Humbles you and make u appreciate things. U can kelaguen almost everything lol. Not pork lol. Unless u cook it thoroughly first haha.

Hey there I just subscribed ..🎉...hands down:) great video!.....I'm born and raised from the southern side of guam cross island road......came out in 2019 here at Ohio and I really really miss the Fiesta food😅

Thank you for this. I found it very interesting.

thank you yan Si Yuos Maase. I really enjoyed your cheerful reporting. Keep on rolling. Retired and love it here at home!

I grew up in Guam. I visit every year if I can afford to 😅 I am cracking UP! You’re speaking only truth.

We didn’t have many cockroaches but we kept the welcome mat out for the geckos 🦎.

Kindly, It would be nice if you could visit the open (local) flea markets and food vending areas that sell (fresh) local fruits, fish, and vegetables that are very affordable. These places are in Dededo, Harmon Loop, and Tumon areas, and throughout the island. It would be nice if you could do a vlog outside of the cost of products from Payless Markets and the Base Commissaries." Thanks and Hafa Adai."

I have been all over the world, and everybody says good and bad, but all in all GUAM is the best place in the world

my mom oldest sister and his husband migrated to agat guam in the 70s.my 2 cousins serve in the US marines and their sister husband serve as an engineer in seebees 7th fleet navy.they are all now retired but my first cousins now are the one seving in US marines and airforce

I enjoyed your video. Your review is spot on. I am currently here in California but I grew up in Guam. I have family roots there in the island. I was cracking up listening about the roaches, geckos, that huuuge spider, The mosquitos there are like super fast ninjas. It'll just take one bad ass mosquito in your bedroom at night to keep you up. The roaches are huuuge and they fly!!!! We even have termite season. They fill the sky, invade your home, it's like biblical swarm. Toads there are ugly huuge! Swarms of land crabs would cross the streets! I really had a great childhood in the island. I miss the most... is seeing the beach across my home in Agat.

Thank you for covering everything in detail, I really enjoyed watching this video.

🇬🇺THANK YOU AND WELCOME !!!!!!

The best video about our motherland you got it all, thank you for the accurate video appreciate you … Stay safe hun, hugs from us The Reynolds

Hi, Thank you for the wonderful review & comments about Guam. Not everyone see the pleasure & hardship see have to go through. Every word you said was true to the ways of living here. Ive been here all must life and its nice that visitors appreciate our island.

I absolutely love Guam. STATIONED there from 1967 to 1969. Would love to go back to see all the changes. Maybe I'll find my 1958 T bird.

2:40 google maps said the street view is from 2014... that is 10 years old

Si Yu’os Ma’ase for your video and thoughts on Guam!

Wow! Awesome video!

I was stationed on Guam in the late 80s....I miss it dearly....first place I ever saw cemetery plots painted....oh, I made more money per week at the dog track than I made for my salary......as for food cost, make a friend who is in the National Guard, Air Guard, and or Naval reserves...they go to the commissary every month....saved 300 dollars a month, in the 80s

If the ships for food must dock at the us port, I wonder how Don Donkey (a Japanese version of Walmart) get their foods and products? Don Donkey is scheduled to open 2024 in Guam

15:47 yep It's $10 for shipping (even with prime) and its a week and a half shipping

I was serving in the Navy stationed on Guam in the 80's. It was absolutely fabulous. The culture was wonderful. I was "adopted" by a Chamorro family. I was invited to all the family gatherings and fiesta's. Every village has a patron Saint so every village has a fiesta celebrating their respective Saint and everyone is invited to participate even if you are not local. I once was driving and the single road through the village was block because of the fiesta. I was invited to stop and eat, drink and relax and celebrate with the local community. When I tried to give someone money for all the food that I ate I was scolded for attempting to pay. The diving in Guam is world class (Spanish Steps & Blue Hole). There are a few issues that one has to get used to like typhoons, Coconut Crabs, spiders & roaches plus the mosquito's and the lack of stateside conveniences but after being there for a while you get used to it and learn how to deal with that. All in all Guam is great and the local people are wonderful.

Lots of good info for people visiting the island!

Driving: I lived there for a year and a half, back in the 70’s. Nothing seems to have changed. If you drive a nice car, forget having a chance to get a break. Driving a ‘Guam Bomb’ and NOT MAKING EYE CONTACT, is like a passport into any turning circle.

Traffic was imported from the Philippines .

This was hilarious 😂❤ 🇬🇺

Hafa Adai!! You forgot #11 & 12😊 Hook-ups: If you know somebody and you’re very close to them, you can get a good discount or sometimes free. #12. Drinking and driving. Most people that goes out to the bars or clubs pretty much drink and drive.

Hafa adai!.. i was stationed there for 18 months..one of the best duty station i was on.. i notice the natives were allowed to shop at Navy exchange… prices are high understandably because of being far away from the mainland..but for a single guy living aboard the ship, i had fun being in an island where tourists go especially during summer…

grocoeries are expensive in other territories too

Thank you. I was thinking.. of retiring there. Just hoping. Any parttime Jobs on Base. Well done

Hello Kawaii.... Thank you for giving a very clear and concise presentation on our island of Guam! Your were honest and sincere.... Good luck on your journey into content creating. As a new subscriber I cannot wait to see what you create and tag along with you as grow your channel! Biba!

Håfa Adai! Si yu’os ma’åse (thank you) for sharing your expressions to our beautiful island😄 Just want to address one thing to you and to anyone else who is new to the island, and is wanting to tread along Guams waters: BE CAUTIOUS when going along the edge of the reef🚫🚫 the RIP CURRENTS that run along that part of the reef is very treacherous. A lot of accidents has happened of people getting swept out to sea because they got too close to the edge of the reef. Just be mindful, and don’t underestimate the power of the ocean.

I paused your video to make this comment about grocery prices on Guam. (1) Guam is an island and as such almost everything is imported and must come through a "Port of Entry" which Guam doesn't have. Fuel cost from the US must be figured into the sales price of all items shipped. Those cost increase even more when items shipped from Asian countries must go to a West Coast Port before onward to Guam. That is the main reason for the high cost of items not produced on the island.

i enjoyed this video, thanks for sharing

GREAT video! Thank you for this information!

The most annoying thing about Guam and being stationed there is the DOD civilians and contractors. The contractors from Guam just milk the govt. money. They don’t do there job or take forever, are lazy, and a pain in the ass to deal with bc the longer a project takes me more work they have to do, the more mekney they get. It’s so bad that now the military island wide is getting rid of the contractors bc they’re useless. Vehicle maintenance for example I’m pretty sure purposely breaks vehicles just so we have to turn them back in 3 days later after getting is back. Like shit breaks here randomly for complete different reasons than it broke before.

I enjoyed watching your video. And girl you are on point. You forgot to say the roaches there can fly, we call them b52 bomber bc the fly into everything walls , you ect. And also if you look at the sand closely.their tiny perfect little stars. Check it out. .

We have two dogs/puppies because sometimes we don't want them to wander around or get hit with a car that's why sometimes dogs are on the chain/leash and my dog likes to wander so we do that for her safety and we have a lil house for her and her puppies and our other dog has herself a lil bed with a roof over her so she doesn't get wet and she and the to her dog get a lot of food and water so some people don't care or do it for their safety

fun fact: Whack banana spiders with a stick really fast and they go POP! it's fun trust me.

My biggest worry is the roads. I have had ptsd in thr past from being rear ended. But I've also lived in some of the worst traffic but I've never been to guam. Dubai is crazy and so is the philippines but they still seem safer then guam from what everyone is saying on RU-vid. But then again you have to experience foe yourself because I've read idiot comments about Dubai but those people have never been and I went for years and I loved it. And the other thing is I have a problem. I can't stop rescuing dogs. I have 4 and if I come there I'm gonna hate seeing how they are treated but I can't afford more. Also everywhere we've lived we've made due with what is cheapest to eat I mean like in Dubai more then 10 yrs ago berries were 10$ a lb so we'd only buy them when th3y go on sale but we'd buy more of the Persian cucumbers and Australia carrots. 20 cents a pound. We eat really healthy. A lot of produce and yes we love meat but not garbage meat. So my thing is will we find good quality of meats. We eat a lot of protein and produce. Eggs I eat a lot of. I eat farm eggs. Store bought are garbage So I hope that's doable. Just going for a visit For awhile sometime this year for hubby work but I love that it's 4hrs away from the philippines gotta go visit friends

Sorry lady about the speed limit and traffic lights, people get pulled over for speeding a lot but if your going with the flow of traffic you don’t really stick out, try it when no one’s on the road. When the lights are out and flashing red it’s a 4way flashing yellow means proceed w caution.

Hope you never have to experience a Category 5 typhoon. Two in my 3 years there. Otherwise, it's paradise!

Hi. Just wanted to say thanks for this video. Me and husband are considering moving to Guam and we’ve been there a few times. This is very informative. Maybe you could expand on what things cost and how to save money for non military?

I love Guam I been there twice. I'm living in Cebu Philippines now but I have to leave every year because of Philippines immigration law.

I just got a remote job and can move anywhere in the world. I want to move to Guam, but what’s stopping me is I’m a single 30 year old guy and I feel like I won’t be able to date out there due to being isolated and not knowing people and also having to compete with all the military men out there….

Thank you 👍

Lmao 😂 driving on Guam 🇬🇺 many of my friends said the same thing.

Only way you pay $500 for groceries is if you don't buy cheaper versions of certain foods. If you prefer all name brand items you will pay the name brand price.

Google maps is wrong everywhere

What about filled milk? or tuba or don't go out beyond the barrier reef. (I did) and don't go to the hospital (I did). There is a Costco where you can get regular (Mainland) cuts of beef. Great nightlife! Amazing caves. The national pastime is smoking cigarettes.

I live part time in Samar, Philippines and we recently connected to Starlink. 3X faster than what we have in Seattle and only $47 per month.

Nice, generous, easy-going people; beautiful ocean; great food; good fishing; third-world corruptacracy government

It's also expensive to buy many things in Guam because it's a tourists' spot..... oh, and military.

🌴 Sounds like a few changes since we left Andersen AFB on Guam, when I was age 17, way back in 1971. 🙆🏼‍♀️ 🌴 And then, returned again, one year later, from Southern Cal, to visit in the Summer of 1972. Seems like more than a lifetime ago. From 1969-1971 the war in Vietnam was still going strong trong. 🌴 At the time of the Vietnam War. Didn't see the sad dog problem of people being cruel enough to make their poor dog or dogs stay outside 7/24. Our dog was always indoors with us!! Never saw stray dogs or packs, never saw a brown snake, or any huge cock roaches. 🌴 But, I do remember the big toads and lots of them flattened in the roads, after being run over Everytime it rained and the night time squeaking shrews, lots of cute little geckos on the walls & ceilings and outdoors with all the camaflauging camilians everywhere and lots of birds... yep, there were still birds there, before the brown snakes multiplied and killed them off to extinction. And I could never forget the intense humidity, with AC's in our home, totaling = 5. We swam a lot in swimming pools and we swam in adventurous dark caves. Enjoyed the delicious Fiestas with lumpia & pancet and BBQ's at the beautiful beaches. Snorkeled with the abundance of tropical, colorful fishies at Tarague Beach. Surfed at Tolofofo Falls. Wore flp flops & summer apparel, all year round. We had a typhoon, a good sized earthquake in 1971. And there was a Japanese soldier that was discovered, living/hiding in the jungle at the south end of the island, he had survived ever since WWII. 🌴 Oh!! And my older sister, Hilary, was Miss Guam 1970, competing in the Miss Universe Pagent in Miami Beach, Florida that summer!! ☝️😌 🌴