Hi, would you like to introduce yourself? Yes, my name is Annie Marie Rivera Montes.
Hi, would you like to introduce yourself? Yes, my name is Annie Marie Rivera Montes.

And where are you from? I am from the island of Guam.
And where are you from? I am from the island of Guam.

And where are we right now? We are here in California, in Vallejo.
And where are we right now? We are here in California, in Vallejo.

And why are we in Vallejo? Because my husband had a mild stroke so they
And why are we in Vallejo? Because my husband had a mild stroke so they

requested him to come here. And my Dad had a serious stroke
requested him to come here. And my Dad had a serious stroke

and that's why I haven't been recording any podcasts,
and that's why I haven't been recording any podcasts,

So I am really interested in that you are from Guam.
So I am really interested in that you are from Guam.

My students know about Guam but only as an answer on the Citizenship test.
My students know about Guam but only as an answer on the Citizenship test.

What do you think is the most important thing that students should know know about Guam?
What do you think is the most important thing that students should know know about Guam?

For one thing, when you land in Guam, everybody welcomes you.
For one thing, when you land in Guam, everybody welcomes you.

We are a very friendly people. And we have our own culture which CHAMORRO
We are a very friendly people. And we have our own culture which CHAMORRO

And for other people, they call them GUAMANIANS.
And for other people, they call them GUAMANIANS.

One thing about Guam, we are very friendly and anywhere you go walking around,
One thing about Guam, we are very friendly and anywhere you go walking around,

and people will call you to come eat with us.
and people will call you to come eat with us.

So there is no such thing as a stranger. No, there are no strangers,
So there is no such thing as a stranger. No, there are no strangers,

We welcome everybody as friends and family. Can you tell us a little bit more about the
We welcome everybody as friends and family. Can you tell us a little bit more about the

CHAMORRO culture? The CHAMORRO culture (years ago) we are from
CHAMORRO culture? The CHAMORRO culture (years ago) we are from

Micronesia and then Magellan came in
Micronesia and then Magellan came in

and met the regular CHAMORRO people they are huge people and very strong and powerful
and met the regular CHAMORRO people they are huge people and very strong and powerful

And what happened is when Magellan came in, Guam became a Spanish island and culture
And what happened is when Magellan came in, Guam became a Spanish island and culture

So we learned how to speak Spanish But we still keep the island language, which
So we learned how to speak Spanish But we still keep the island language, which

is the CHAMORRO language And then later on, a couple of years later,
is the CHAMORRO language And then later on, a couple of years later,

then the Japanese people came in and took over the island
then the Japanese people came in and took over the island

During World War II? Yes
During World War II? Yes

And then later on, the Americans came in and took over
And then later on, the Americans came in and took over

So Guam became a U.S. territory But the spelling of Guam is K - U - A - M
So Guam became a U.S. territory But the spelling of Guam is K - U - A - M

Oh really? It's K - U - A - M. When then the U.S came
Oh really? It's K - U - A - M. When then the U.S came

in it became G. The K becoming a "hard G"
in it became G. The K becoming a "hard G"

Very interesting. I did not know that. So from all of the United States,
Very interesting. I did not know that. So from all of the United States,

and all of the territories of the United States, Guam has the highest percentage of people in the
and all of the territories of the United States, Guam has the highest percentage of people in the

U.S. military. Can you talk a little bit about that?
U.S. military. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Well when the military came in Guam changed a little bit.
Well when the military came in Guam changed a little bit.

They added more military (bases) and schools and we have the U.S.O.
They added more military (bases) and schools and we have the U.S.O.

and everywhere you go, you see military people
and everywhere you go, you see military people

and they are very friendly and when they come towards us
and they are very friendly and when they come towards us

we just mingle around that why we are very friendly island
we just mingle around that why we are very friendly island

Ya, when my father was in the Navy he felt very comfortable with the people in
Ya, when my father was in the Navy he felt very comfortable with the people in

Guam Is there anything else that you want people
Guam Is there anything else that you want people

to know about Guam? For instance, where should they go?
to know about Guam? For instance, where should they go?

What should they see? When we have visitors,
What should they see? When we have visitors,

when they step on the island of Guam what we do is that we welcome them with open arms
when they step on the island of Guam what we do is that we welcome them with open arms

and our hearts We welcome them and show them around
and our hearts We welcome them and show them around

just mingle around and take them around
just mingle around and take them around

and have fun! We invite them in our homes.
and have fun! We invite them in our homes.

So what to in Guam is not the navy bases or beautiful places,
So what to in Guam is not the navy bases or beautiful places,

but to go to people's homes and to eat with them.
but to go to people's homes and to eat with them.

invite them in, even if we don't know each other,
invite them in, even if we don't know each other,

we welcome everybody in our house. When we go to the beach or any place,
we welcome everybody in our house. When we go to the beach or any place,

we welcome them. We see them, that they are tourists or anybody
we welcome them. We see them, that they are tourists or anybody

It doesn't matter if they are tourists or not,
It doesn't matter if they are tourists or not,

"Come and eat with us. Stay with us. Enjoy! Enjoy!"
"Come and eat with us. Stay with us. Enjoy! Enjoy!"

That why they say:
That why they say:

"GUAM IS FOR LOVERS!!!!" Guam is for lovers--I've see that.
"GUAM IS FOR LOVERS!!!!" Guam is for lovers--I've see that.

Finally, can you say hello to our listeners in CHAMORRO
Finally, can you say hello to our listeners in CHAMORRO

(She speaks in CHAMORRO) And how about: Welcome to Guam
(She speaks in CHAMORRO) And how about: Welcome to Guam

Welcome to Guam? I don't know how to say that
Welcome to Guam? I don't know how to say that

Maybe there is no "welcome to Guam" May it is: WELCOME TO MY HOUSE
Maybe there is no "welcome to Guam" May it is: WELCOME TO MY HOUSE

(laughing) (She say "How are you?" in CHAMORRO)
(laughing) (She say "How are you?" in CHAMORRO)

Thank you so much. I hope your husband gets better
Thank you so much. I hope your husband gets better

Thank you so much And I hope that your Dad will be ok too.
Thank you so much And I hope that your Dad will be ok too.

God bless you guys! God bless you too!
God bless you guys! God bless you too!