admittingly, i have to brace myself for the worse and become devoid of any expectations whenever my island is about to be featured on (inter)national-freakin-tv, much less a "reality"-type show (let us please forget that syfy's episode on taotaomonas never existed). or when the amazing race, which happens to be my most favorite reality show on the planet, did an eleventh leg through what i thought would be my stomping grounds (but wasn't) - it was so underwhelming i cried. guam was reduced to military bases and a pit stop.
house hunter's international did not misrepresent. the repeated pans of the endless ocean and lush greens were so heartwarming viewed through the lens of hgtv's camera. not only that, the featured house-seeking couple seemed genuinely happy to have ended up in guam. i am suddenly reliving my house hunting affairs during my 3 years back home.
from 2010 and onward, i became such a self-proclaimed expert at finding somewhere to settle by moving 4 times in 3 years and helping countless others do the same. i was helplessly stubborn (and dumb) by refusing to live with my parents. instead i insisted i live as close to the beach as possible.
based on my facebook feed, the reactions have been so radically divided. most who watched from back home were somewhat embarrassed at the properties and the realtor while those off-island were delighted as i was at portrayal of the island's natural beauty (sans the wild parrots!).
the truth about looking for homes in guam:
they will most likely be off the beaten path
they will most likely not have the latest technology and appliances (such as the lack of AC and dishwasher exemplified in the episode)
they will have odd finishes and floor plans
they may look uninspiring and within a concrete box.
yet these reasons are not why people live in guam. people live there for the beaches and the scenery, not the real estate.
it was just myself and my then-twelve year old when we first moved in 2008. i initially found a 2 br apartment right in the heart of tumon, guam's tourist center. for $900 / month, i had the luxury of being 1/4 of a mile from of the office and being able to run, walk, jog, and do as i'd please between my front door and a mere 3 football fields to the sand.
i realized that living in tumon was ridiculously convenient. it wasn't much later when i found another 2 br apt for $750/month that was wonderfully adjacent to my firm's building. i would roll out of bed to my desk in just a matter of 2 minutes.
it was just myself and my then-twelve year old when we first moved in 2008. i initially found a 2 br apartment right in the heart of tumon, guam's tourist center. for $900 / month, i had the luxury of being 1/4 of a mile from of the office and being able to run, walk, jog, and do as i'd please between my front door and a mere 3 football fields to the sand.
i realized that living in tumon was ridiculously convenient. it wasn't much later when i found another 2 br apt for $750/month that was wonderfully adjacent to my firm's building. i would roll out of bed to my desk in just a matter of 2 minutes.
i did not think i could get more value for my buck until i eventually found my last 2br apartment directly across the street from prime shoreline (in the alupang area, away from tumon) for $575/month, another year later.
and just a year later in 2010 idecided i was done and left it all behind for this. back in california: driving 50 miles to the office and away from the house 12 hours a day. i'm just baffled, but only sometimes.
and just a year later in 2010 idecided i was done and left it all behind for this. back in california: driving 50 miles to the office and away from the house 12 hours a day. i'm just baffled, but only sometimes.
