Coconut Delight.

Probably the most delicious food on guam is 

the one that is free, coconut.

Yes. It's true.

Soy sauce DOES go with everything.

Even Coconut.

The Five Steps Of Deliciousness.

Step 1. Take a young coconut and split it in the middle.

Step 2. Take a metal spoon and get all the coconut meat free of the shell.

Step 3. Pour a generous amount of soy sauce over the coconut meat.

Step 4. Squeeze out a penny-sized amount of wasabi horseradish onto the coconut meat.

Step 5. Mix the wasabi and the soy sauce together.

Step 6. Dig in to the delicious snack.

When I first heard that the tourists wanted soy sauce when they

were buying the young coconuts. I laughed and 

thought "yuck!" But boy, don't underestimate the

power of soy sauce. I was amazed when I took the first bite.

Jaw dropped, in disbelief, sort of amazed.

Coconut meat + Soy Sauce + Wasabi Horseradish = Pure joy.

That's all for now!

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, 

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

P.S.

How much would someone

 have to pay you to eat this?

Sand Between My Toes.

              
                For the past two Sundays, I've been going across the street to the beach. The first time, I snorkeled. The fish were absolutely beautiful, and the cucumber slugs were slimy as ever. The second time, I sat on the beach and took pictures, such as the one shown here, made hermit crab races, or Duk Duk Races with my cousin Taby, and just sat on the sand, enjoying myself.

                Today, I worked at Gef Pa'go again and as the tourist's were leaving, one woman asked to take a picture with me. I was pleasantly surprised, and agreed, of course. That has never happened to me. The other tour guides said this happens all the time, and that I should get used to it, because it will happen again. I'm not sure I can ever get used to that. Not in a bad way. In fact, a very good way. Its just... unexpected.

                 I'm finally getting the hang of the rope making. As a tour guide, I turn two handles as part of the rope making process. As I turn the handles, tightening the smaller ropes, those ropes twine together, making a bigger rope on the other side of the mechanism. This new, bigger rope, can pull up to 300 pounds. Quite strong, I'd say.


That's all for now!
Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,
Me.
Simply, a seventeen year old.

P.S.
Comment please! Thanks (:

The Island Way.

I have noticed something about Guam...

Something I've never seen anywhere else 

in my entire life.

What I have noticed is that everybody,

whether they are young children, teenagers, adults, or elders,

they all have a certain way they interact.

It is a must for people to respect their elders, 

but they joke around more than

I have ever seen before. It's not because 

they have a good sense of humor, 

well, all chamorro's have a good sense of humor,

but because it's just... The Island Way.

They know when to be serious, but they

also know that laughter is the best medicine.

They always have a joke going, a laugh for all to enjoy.

If the whole world was like this, everyone would be

happy all the time. It just puts me in a good mood

to be in this kind of atmosphere. 

You can't possibly be upset when you 

laugh and joke around all day with 

people you love.

That's all for now!

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

P.S.

Comment please! It would be appreciated (:

Chamorro munchkins.

Today, I worked at Gef Pa'go, like everyday.

But today was different. In a good way.

Today, two classes from an elementary school

called Harvest, came to Gef Pa'go on a field trip.

It was so fun to teach these enthusiastic kids,

who lived on the Island, more about the place they came from.

They were so excited to answer all the questions 

about what different tools were called, where different 

things could be found, and how to make the things 

they saw. 

They tried coconut candy, 

a sweet candy made from grated coconut and caramelized sugar,

and sea salt,

a salt made found in pure ocean water after boiling the 

water and letting the water evaporate, leaving

the sea salt.

The ocean water has to be collected beyond the reef,

instead of collecting it right next to Gef Pa'go.

The reason being that the water next to Gef Pa'go 

is a mixture of river water and ocean water.

Both the coconut candy and the sea salt are made at Gef Pa'go, 

using the same methods that were used many generations ago.

After the students learned how to make coconut candy, 

sea salt, rope and woven bags, hats and fans,

they played various games. 

-Hermit Crab Races, 

known as "duk duk" races by the locals

-Coconut Relay Race, 

done by forming two lines and having both lines 

pass the coconut over the head than under the legs, 

or having them hop to the finish line with 

a coconut between their legs.

I was told there would be many 

field trips happening in the month of

March. I can't wait. It's exhausting, but fun.

That's all for now!

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, 

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

P.S.

Comment, I won't bite. 

Hard...

Rain, Rain, Go Away.

Guam is supposed to be in dry season.

That, my friends, is definitely not the case.

Since monday, it's been raining on and off.

Last night and most of today it rained so hard.

I was at Gef Pa'go, 

(which, if you didn't know, is completely outside) 

getting poured on. 

I am using all my 11:11 wishes on the hope that it will not rain.

Mission: No Rain is in full effect! 

Well, thats the weather report with Carly! Stay tuned for more.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, 

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

P.S
Don't be shy, comment!

Hearts and Coconuts.

I hope everyone's valentines was amazing.

Mine was great, for the sole reason of where I am: Guam.

I haven't posted since Honolulu, almost a week. 

It's not that I've been busy, because I really haven't been at all.

I was basically just waiting for something to happen, 

something worth blogging about.

I started my training at Gef Pa'go yesterday. 

I hope that's blog worthy enough.

It's been fun, actually. I know I have a lot to learn. 

I will try to blog about what I learn.

I'm still struggling with the coconut husking. 

It takes a lot of upper body strength, which I lack.

At Gef Pa'go, a lot of weaving from coconut tree leaves takes place.

I only know how to make a little fish, even that is really hard for me.

This is what weaving a fish looks like.

I'm not sure where you would find coconut palm to do this, 

but it's cool to know how its done.

Well, that's all for now!

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, 

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

Hello my dear, Hawaii.

Well. Here I am.
In Waikiki, O'ahu.

It's so beautiful here. Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous!

I was supposed to pass right through Honolulu airport and be on a plane to Guam right now, but the plane quickly filled up and I was bumped to a later flight. Tomorrow.

I'm more than okay with that. Who doesn't want to take a break in Hawaii and just have fun?

I have to go to the airport tomorrow around 1:30pm and take a seven and a half hour flight to Guam.

Like I said, I can't wait!

So, the hotel is nice, we can see a small peek of the ocean from the balcony, and the weather is just amazing.

I couldn't be happier<3

Sincerely,
Me.
Simply, a seventeen year old.

Wish upon a star.

A Single Wish

If you could have a single wish
And you knew that your wish would come true...
Would you use it for riches,
Or wish for more wishes,
Or cures for diseases you knew?

Well, I was given a single wish,
And I knew what I wanted, oh, please!
Now either I mumbled...
Or the wish-granter stumbled...
But anyone want some whirled peas?

-Gregory K.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

I can't even wrap my own head around it.

I will be halfway around the world,  

wearing shorts and flip flops on Guam.

What to pack:

*Flip flops 

*Shorts

*Bathing suit

*Another bathing suit

yupp... sounds about right to me.

Speaking of packing, I better get started on that.

Comment telling me where you would like to go right now, if you had the choice.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

One million memories.

3 days.

2 flights.

6 weeks

1 family.

1,000,000 amazing memories.

I can't wait.

   For those of you who don't know how to get to Guam

or how long it takes, let me give you a layout of the flights.

5 hours from L.A to Hawaii.

layover, not sure how long it will last yet.

7 1/2 hour flight from Hawaii to Guam.

And I thought the drive from L.A to Sonora was long.

Sincerely, 

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

Please comment, its nice to know who reads this stuff.

Just can't resist.

I have made a discovery:

I love blogging.

Surprised?

I'm not.

For as long as I can remember, I have been writing stories, writing in diaries, and just putting my thoughts down. Blogging is just natural for me, I guess.

I have decided to try to write a blog entry everyday, excluding travel days and some weekends.

One thing you may or may not know is that I absolutely love photography.

With that, I have decided to post a photograph that I appreciate for whatever reason every single time I blog. Somedays, the photos may be ones I have taken while enjoying my time on Guam, or ones I find online. Either way, I promise to post one.

Sincerely,

Me.

Simply, a seventeen year old.

What's next in my journey?

Well, I'm going to Guam in one week exactly!
My excitement cannot even be explained. I can't wait to see my family, swim in the clear blue waters, and become a guide at a historic village known as Gef Pa'go Park. 
I can't wait to share the culture of my people with whoever will listen. 


Check out the website for Gef Pa'go here. 


Why am I going to be a guide at this cultural village? Because my grandmother, Judy Flores, was one of the founders who helped create it and this is an amazing oppurtunity to 1) get away and have a little fun, and 2) learn a ton about the place where I'm from.
It doesn't hurt that I will get school credit for learning about the history and culture of Guam.


Thanks for reading! 
I promise, next time I write, it will be much less boring and much more exciting.
I'l finally be in Guam!


CarlyAnna