With the recent snow storms that have been ravaging the eastern United States and most of the U.K., we, as islanders, can't help but to scoff a little bit. While, in most places, snow storms mean being stuck at home or having to dredge through a couple of feet of snow, it all only lasts for a couple of days and you very rarely suffer the loss of electricity. If you live in the city or in suburbia, you do not fully experience the wrath of mother nature. There are snow plows that come through to clean your streets. Electricity might cut out for an hour or two. You might have to shovel your way from your front door to the sidewalk.
I remember living in RedNeck Valley, Oregon in the winter a few years ago. That was the closest thing I'd ever experienced to living on Guam during a super typhoon. Our power went out for two days. Seeing as we lived in the hills, beyond city limits, our water came from a well that was dug in the back yard and run by a water pump. We couldn't shower for two days. When it got too cold, we threw a couple of logs in the fireplace and got cozy under the sheets. But, it made me realize that, regardless of the cabin fever, it was nothing compared to the aftermath of a storm on the island.
Just a couple of days ago, I read an article in the local paper that was written by a 'displaced' Chamorro. She had experienced her first snow storm in the east coast and, like myself, thought that it held nothing against living on Guam during a storm. You see, in the winter, when the power goes out, your food does not rot. When the winds blow, you do not have to worry that your roof will fly away or that a coconut might come at your head at 150mph. When the water goes out, you can melt the ice/snow for washing and, if it is clean, you can drink it.
Seeing the way that most people who are confronted by a snow storm react to their situation, it makes me so proud to be from this little island in the middle of no where. People do not hear of our struggles in the aftermath of a typhoon or a super typhoon. Do you know why? It is because we are used to it. We have learned from our past. We understand that the situation is only temporary and that if we pull together as a community, we shall prevail. We may whine when our power goes out for a short period. But, we find something to do to keep ourselves entertained and eventually learn to joke about it. When our food starts to defrost, how do we solve the problem? We call the family and friends over and have a barbecue and tell stories.
The resilience of the Chamorro people is something for which I will always have great pride. The ability of our people to pull together in difficult times and to work as a community is something that I will be able to pass on to my children. The love that we show for our neighbor is something that other communities around the world may never understand. If you have ever met anyone from our island, you know exactly what I am talking about. Not to sound cocky... But, our people leave an impression on the world ;)
*** RedNeck Valley, Oregon is not really a city... But, if it was, you could find it next to Podunk, Oregon(more commonly know as BFE).
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