It was 10:55 pm (Philippine time) of August 20, 2018, we rushed to the gate of the airport to board our plane. So I guest this is it? I am having mixed emotions while walking the aisle of the plane trying to get to our seats. This was the day that I’ve been waiting for. After the long wait, the stress I had on the processing of our papers, the never ending story telling of how my son tried to distract me with his tantrums during the interview at the U.S Embassy, I guest this was really it. It’s time to leave my birth place for the very first time.
It was a 4 hour flight from Philippines to Guam. We we’re supposed to arrive minutes before 3 o’clock in the morning (Philippine time) of August 21 or 5 o’clock in the morning (Guam time) at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport also known as Guam International Airport but the flight was a bit delayed. Guam is 2 hours ahead of Philippine time. Luckily, my little kiddo slept soundly throughout our flight so I was able to rest for a bit too. Then finally, we have arrived and it is time to say “Goodmorning! America” for we landed already on American soil.
Yes! You read that right. Guam became an unincorporated territory of U.S in Micronesia, in the Western Pacific in 1898 after it was ceded to the US in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. Guam was often called the place “where America’s day begins” because it is located on the other side of the International Date Line unlike Hawaii and the other territories but actually it only ranks 2nd to Wake Island, a military base just 1,501 miles (2,416 kilometers) east of Guam, right next to the International Date Line.
So when we unboard the plane, my eyes are everywhere very much excited to see all of Guam but before I was able to do that we need to be screened first by the immigration. We’ve been lucky only few questions were asked then they let us go. There were only few people inside the airport too that’s why it only took us about 30 to 40 minutes before we can get out of the airport.
It was raining that day, but my focus then was not on the weather.. it was on the road, the establishments and how clean it was everywhere I look! I also noticed that there were no motorcycles on the road trying to swoosh in between cars (this is what I hate in the Philippines, motorcycles there are moving very fast and won’t even slow down on pedestrian lanes). It is because road policies for the motorcycles here in guam are the same with the policies for the cars and there are very few people who owns one also. They prefer cars because the weather here is very unpredictable.
Guam is only 30 miles long and 4 to 12 miles wide, only three-fourths the size of Singapore so you can definitely drive around guam within the day, not to mention you won’t be experiencing any traffic here except during rush hours but not as heavy like in the Philippines.
Before we head home from the airport, we stopped by at Denny’s Restaurant to eat breakfast. Most of the staff are filipinos so it was not hard for me to order because they can understand tagalog.
That overnight was indeed tiring for me and my family, there is more to see on the next day that’s why we saved our 1st day in guam just for sleeping.
Thanks for joining me!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Life in the Island of Guam 