I could probably become a millionaire teaching a course sharing the title of my post on Guam (even though this post will make you think otherwise). Either that, or it would fail miserably. Chamorros, the indigenous people of Guam and Mariana Islands, LOVE to tell stories, and they can go on forever. A few weeks ago, I was talking to a pudgy older gentleman who reminded me a bit of Santa Claus. Fishing came up, and I quickly learned his father apparently once held the world record for the Pacific Blue Marlin. The "brief" conversation lasted a good 45 minutes without me being able to get a word in the conversation. Meanwhile, as Santa was telling his story, he was speaking so passionately with his hands, his beer was splashing everywhere. Of course, he had no idea.
This doesn't stop with guys that look like they're driving a sleigh in December. My client counterpart can also tell stories. While they're mostly interesting stories about the utility industry, this man has a knack for being able to run one story seamlessly into another before you even have a chance to realize you switched topics.
Most recently, I received my PADI Open Water Scuba Certification (a post about that experience will be coming soon!). The instructor was another story teller. He had some great stories though. He represented Guam in the summer Olympics for Archery 20 years ago. Obviously, he has some great scuba stories too. Really, if you can come up with a topic, he's got a story about it.
If you love story telling, Guam is the place for you. Be forewarned though: have an exit strategy if you're striking up a conversation with a Chamorro or be prepared to invest a lot more time than you originally planned!
