Hello, all you lovely people. How are you rocking? Or are you rolling? All well, in Bee land. I was supposed to see my surgeon today for a check up on last years operation. However, the lady is away. So I wait for another appointment. That’s the second cancellation of this appointment and I wonder if it will ever happen. But that is out of my hands so I don’t bother with worrying.

Today, I lead you away to Guam and sticklers might tell me that I am cheating. Why is that? Guam is an unintegrated Territory of the United States. It is one of the Islands of Micronesia South East of Asia an North East of Australia. Right in the middle of the Pacific.

I am outed now: I didn’t follow any official list of countries of this planet but simply got Google Maps up and moved my finger from Finnland Eastward and when I arrived at Finnland again, I went one country down and East wards again. Well, looks like I am a panster and not a planner 😉

1. Introduction to Guam

What does it mean to be an unincorporated territory of the US? US laws apply but you are not allowed to vote for the president nor is your representative allowed to vote on any US laws. So one video said. The same video called this situation “a relic of colonialism”, however, the people of Guam apparently are quite happy to be US citizens without these rights, so who am I to criticize?

The indigenous people of Guam are called Chamorro and came to Guam… ooops not quite sure but… some 3500 years ago. They seem to be happy to show their traditions to the tourists. When they are there, that is. Because North Korea has a habit of threatening it with missiles…

Sorry, for the last video in todays introduction list. There are more territorries of the US with a funny legal status not only Guam. I think this video makes the whole strange thing clearer :-). Please also forgive the adverts in the videos. These are the income of the vloggers so we better put up with them so they can keep making their great information. This post series wouldn’t exist without them 🙂

2 An Artist of Guam

In this post, I am not introducing you to a painter or video artist but a lady who broke into the men’s world of carving in Guam. She creates beautiful Chamorro jewellery and was awarded the rank of a master carver. Please learn more about her in this video:

What an inspiring lady who also thinks of the next generations.

3. Climate Change in Guam

Ok, I suspect my readers know a lot about the climate crisis, so I won’t say much in this part. However, I want to mention that the video I’ve chosen is from 2014! And climate change had already an effect on Guam:

4. Food of Guam

As one video said in the introduction: Guam is like the United States and I assume the food would be similar. However, the food video I chose shows the street food of Chamorro Village and I was surprised how many foods were vegetarian or vegan. All sounds absolutely delicious and I can understand the presenters enthusiasm 🙂

5. Poets of Guam

So far, Covid hasn’t shown up a lot on “Come Away With Me”. However, for today’s post I found an interesting article about three poets from Guam and their experience of the pandemic.

One of these poets is Craig Santos Perez and he did a gorgeous poem about the ocean that touched me deeply. Also the video by Justyn Ah Chong is absolutely beautiful. Please enjoy!

6. Mental Health on Guam (Trigger Warning ~ Talk about Suicide)

Guam is unfortunately another country that has to deal with high rate of suicides. It looks to me that the people of Guam are very aware of it and do something about it for years. I saw one video by PEACEGuam from 8 years ago that introduced suicide prevention workers. However, the video I chose is from January 2021 and dives a little deeper into the issue.

7. Some musicians of Guam

So, last but not least, let’s listen to some music :-). Just a short one 🙂 and all rights lie with the musicians.

Thanks for coming away with me but where are we going next week?

Come Away With Me 2021 Musical Challenge Country for Monday, April 26th, 2021

I am taking a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week we venture to Guatemala a country I just have heard a little about in a book about Che Guevara. But that’s it. Please find musicians from Guatemala on the Culture Trip page.

As for the suggestions to take part:

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first year? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not work because my blog is now private so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part. Or leave it at the “Come Away With Me 2021 FB page“
3. Tag your post either with ” Come Away With Me Musical Challenge”/ #CoAwWiMeMuCh” / “Come Away with Me 2021 Musical Challenge” o/“CoAwWiMe2021MuCh” / . You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure. If you add #blog and #music with your hashtags it will get you more readers.
4. No matter which music or country the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please. This is supposed to be a fun challenge and no chore.
5. I post a prompt for the next week with every “Come Away With Me 2021 post” I write.
6. If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow some same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks, my dears, for staying with me until the end.

I appreciate your presence.

Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!