Guam, anyone been stationed there or know anything about it?

Jessica - posted on 08/01/2011

I LOVE Guam! I even have the T-shirt that says so. lol. I lived there for a couple of years and graduated from highschool there. The beaches are beautiful. Try out gabgab(sp) on base. Its was awsome. The only pre move advice I have is to buy a generator before you go and just breath. The locals seem a little strange at first, but be open minded and just go with it. They realy are sweet and friendly. And dont forget to LAUGH! Every time you see a Japanees person smile and flash a peace sign for a photo. Or every time you see some one open their car door to spit out their beetlenut juice. Trying to guess whats a boy and whats a girl walking around Tumon. Eating spam for breakfast that you ordered at McDonalds... Its madness, but fun. Just let it flow around you. Dont try and fight it. Accept that its different and try your best to adapt and enjoy yourself!

Cristina - posted on 07/07/2011

thank you, kim and kelsey for the reply. really? ugh... we dont really have a choice... my husband's boat is changing homeport to guam (and i already asked my husband if we could stay here in hawaii... and i was denied. lol) yup, we're moving to a smalled island!!! haha

Kelsey - posted on 07/07/2011

We are leaving for Guam in about a month. Starting to get really nervous. I really appreciate everyone who posted and gave some great information! Cristina, as far as the medical care there, I've heard not so great things. My medical history was causing us problems at first when we were getting screened for approval. I have poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and anxiety. I know they do normal medical screenings to make sure they can accomadate your health issues over there before they can send you of course, but I was suprised when I had to be reviewed by a few doctors mainly just for my anxiety before they finally approved us. I'm really praying that we adapt to life there pretty easily. Our daughter will be about 19 months old when we arrive there, so we will be limited to things we can do. We will be stationed at Andersen living on base housing. Already got our housing papers put in, huge relief. I think one of the biggest things I'm concerned about is my husband being on sea duty and being gone. I hope I don't go insane on that tiny island with a toddler lol Hopefully we can meet some new people and make some great friends to make the transition a little easier. My parents are already saving up to come visit it, its so expensive which means we wont be seeing family much, which just really stinks. Once again, thank you all for your input!

Kim - posted on 07/07/2011

The medical care is quite pathetic. My husbands boat had a change of homeport there and we moved to Guam in July of 2010. My son developed what they thought were seizures. They had me take him to the neurologist on island which was not a pediatric specialist. The neurologist treated him with the wrong medications, was never on island when needed and basically complicated my sons issues. Eventually I finally got them to med evac my son to Hawaii....to make a long story short. We were sent back to the states in the beginning of July because Guam can not provide the correct medical or educational help that he needs. If I had known how inadequate the medical facilities were I would have fought harder to not go there.

Cristina - posted on 07/07/2011

question... how's the medical care like there? my husband is getting stationed there and we have a 4 month old....

Christina - posted on 04/24/2011

I have created a new community for SAR! Please join us

Tracy - posted on 09/15/2010

my sister-in law and family are there right now. They love it!!!!! Let me know and I will see if she will be your buddy.

Bernica - posted on 09/14/2010

When i was in navy, my ship had gone there a few times before. I did not like it at all, it was way too expensive and too small of an island to really enjoy yourself or you couldn't really do so much in an amount of time period. We went to a club there downtown in the duty van that dropped us off, once we took the cab back to the base it costs us $50 for the ride back, so me and my friend had to split fare, it was horrible. I have a friend that is almost done there too and she said would not ever get stationed there again. Good luck though, and deff make sure you have your own vehicle on the island.

Brandy - posted on 09/13/2010

My husband was deployed there for 4 months. I was going to take the kids over to visit but didn't have the funds to do so. He said it is a beautiful place to be. He kept referring to it as a 4 month tropical vacation.

Shelly - posted on 09/09/2010

I was stationed on Guam from April 3, 2006 to September 3, 2008. There are good points and bad points. If you are in the right areas everyone is friendly and there are open invites to barbeques and swimming pools and the like. If you are in a not so nice area you will hear "haole (derogitory term meaning foreigner) go home!. Of course these are the same people asking you to spend all of your money before you go. I had a very mixed emotion experience there. The one thing I can tell you is to always ask questions and never settle when it comes to your medical care at NH Guam. They get amazing dr's there but it is also a dumping ground for navy problems. I found that out the hard way.
My daughter (now 7) absolutely adored Underwater World. It really is a neat aquarium. The water park is fantastic and the ocean temp is that of a warm (not hot) bath. Even with the loss of a child, I still have amazing memories from the island and have KIT with quite a few amazing friends from my time there. Remember this, any station is what you make of it. Stock up on the sunscreen and have a great time.

Elyse - posted on 09/09/2010

I don't know if this is going to help much, but I lived on Guam (Navy) in 1997. My mom was stationed there at the time, for 3yrs. We lived in the Dededo area, so my little brother went to Finegayan Elementary and I went to Dededo Middle School. We were young, but adapted well. You can travel around the whole island in one day. There's lots to see tho! I'm sure it's changed a lot since then, but my mom and I think you will enjoy it. Also, like someone else previously said, the Japenese are IN LOVE with blonde hair.

Tina - posted on 09/09/2010

I hate to be a Negative Nancy but I absolutely hated that place. It was a wonderful change at first but as time went on I started to feel like I was in the twilight zone because the place was so small and I was desperate for a new change in scenery. On the positive side the beaches are beautiful and the chamorro food is good but I often got the feeling that they weren't always so welcoming towards the military community.Most people who go there either really love it or really hate it. I hope that you will be amongst those that love it and can adapt to the island life easily. It just wasnt a good experience for me. Oh and the Japanese people can be a bit rude and think that they can just touch your children like its no big deal.That really irritated me.If you want to know anything else feel free to message me.

Kristen - posted on 09/09/2010

Okay, this is not going to be very helpful, but I couldn't resits. When my parents graduated from college in 1969, my dad joined the AF. They were both from Boston and his first duty station was Guam. They actually had a great time! They lived there 2 years. I know my mom taught English at a school in Guam. Also, we have friends that are stationed in Korea that have vacationed there.

Coletta - posted on 09/09/2010

Me, my husband and 3 boys will be going there in February. I have a friend who has been there for a year and she loves it. I havent really heard anything negative about it, and were super excited to go.

Carrie - posted on 09/09/2010

We moved to Guam in May. I was excited about the change, but scared to death to move so far away. We have absolutely loved it here so far. I have a 6 yr old and an almost 3 yr. old - both girls. They've taken to the "island life" very well. I'm not really an outdoorsy kind of girl, but still am loving every minute. If your daughter is a blondie be prepared for the Japanese to take lots of pictures. It really freaked me out at first, but now even the girls know just to wave and smile.

Alexandra - posted on 09/08/2010

Hello!

My husband is stationed in Guam right now and we've been here since December 2009. It's a beautiful island with some things to do. You just have to remember to not go do everything right away and space them out so you don't run out of things to do. (ex. scuba diving, hiking, etc.) I recently had my daughter on August 19th so I'm limited to what I can do right now anyway. Is he Navy or Air Force?

Teyaka - posted on 09/08/2010

We just PCS'ed here about a month ago. My hubby is Air Force. But the island is nice. No matter what, you are going to hear good and bad things about the area. I tried my hardest to get as much information as I could on the island before we came. The wait list for housing on base isn't that bad. They may tell you up to 30 days but you are usually in within a week or two if you send your housing application ahead of time. There is tons to do on this island. However, it gets old because you try to do everything at once. DON"T! Just take you time and explore. Get to know the culture. It is amazing and the food is really good. I took me a while to get used to everything. My kids thought we were still on vacation for a while. Even after we got our house. It is strange to be laying in bed and waking up to palm trees in my yard or having the option to go to the beach justabout everyday! You'll love it. If you got questions you can contact me. I am usually near my computer.

Amber - posted on 09/08/2010

Friends of mine are based there now. They are actually from Hawaii && They said that if your used to a small town/ island that you will adapt fairly easy. They seem to like it there && have a great time. However they did say people who are from the states seem to a bit longer to adjust. Hope that helps some what =)

Kim - posted on 09/08/2010

We just PCS'd here on the 30th of August. We are stationed at Big Navy. I might be able to answer some of your questions.

Jaime - posted on 09/07/2010

I have a friend from my last base who has been there since February... if you are interested I can see if she minds me giving her info out. She is married to a lab tech and they have a daughter as well.

Aileen - posted on 09/07/2010

hi kelsey, i don't know how much help i can offer, but i was born and raised on guam and all i can say is that you just gotta let it grow on you. it might not be all you'd want only because it's such a small island, but in time you'll learn to appreciate the simplicity of everything. i have to warn you though, living off base is a bit expensive & i don't know how the waiting list looks like for living on base. but i know there are more apartment buildings going up to accommodate the military build up that'll happen sometime within the next couple of years. the naval base is down south and the airforce base is up north. it's about a 30-45 drive from one end to the other, just to give you an idea of how small the island is. if you have any questions, feel free to ask me & if i don't have an answer i have a bunch of friends that are navy wives that i can ask. take care!