GONE TO GUAM (and back again...)

sumahi: Kamyo sin bangko. Using a kamyo without a bench. I...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:19:45 -0700

Kamyo sin bangko. Using a kamyo without a bench.

I really could have used one of these in Hawai’i last week; an ice cream scooper is NOT effective!

sumahi: I’ll be working on this mural for the next month in...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:11:16 -0700

I’ll be working on this mural for the next month in Umatac. If you are interested in joining the contact info is on the flyer.

If I were still on island, I’d lend what measly artistic “talents” I have to this awesome effort…

sumahi: I feel afraid every time Fox News mentions Guam. I am...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:22:32 -0700

sumahi:

I feel afraid every time Fox News mentions Guam.

I am glad I didn’t have to process this. Thanks, Sumahi!

sumahi: Latten Magas giya Haputo. A latte from the Ma’gas house...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:41:08 -0700

sumahi:

Latten Magas giya Haputo.

A latte from the Ma’gas house in Haputo, Guam.

sumahi: Tools made by my grandfather and me. On display at the...

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:11:34 -0800

sumahi:

Tools made by my grandfather and me. On display at the Lunar Calendar Festival at the Guam Fishermen’s Co-op.

My knife with the carabao horn handle will always be my favorite…

Tragedy spans islands...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:04:44 -0800

Tragedy spans islands...:

It’s hard to imagine this amount of violence on island, but it’s harder to imagine what the victims’ families are going through. Peace to all on island and on the islands of Japan.

Tragedy on Island

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:03:03 -0800

Tragedy on Island

sumahi: “Karabao and Moon” Watercolor on Paper. 2013.

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:27:53 -0800

sumahi:

“Karabao and Moon” Watercolor on Paper. 2013.

Kao ____ hao?

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:18:20 -0800

sumahi:

When I lived in the states I always got asked if I was Mexican, Middle Eastern or Southern European. I like traveling in Asia instead where people ask if I’m Okinawan, Ainu or Mongolian.

sumahi: Flowers at Sirena Park in Hagatna. When I went to Guam...

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:14:22 -0800

sumahi:

Flowers at Sirena Park in Hagatna.

When I went to Guam and saw bougainvillea, I thought of my folks’ backyard. Now when I’m at my folks’ house and look out at the towering bougainvillea, all I think about is Guam.

sumahi: “Karabao and the Moon.” Linocut. 2008. OMG...

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:53:15 -0800

sumahi:

“Karabao and the Moon.” Linocut. 2008.

OMG WANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sumahi: Shells from Guam. Cone snails and urchins and trochus...

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 11:39:08 -0800

sumahi:

Shells from Guam.

Cone snails and urchins and trochus OH MY! There are some gems here. I still don’t know how to properly display my millions of shells from that part of the world… This made me so happy.

sumahi: 2012 Guam Political Sign Awards The Two Wrongs and One...

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:11:02 -0800

sumahi:

2012 Guam Political Sign Awards

The Two Wrongs and One Right Don’t Make a Right Award: Javier Atalig

I heard so many people complain about the first round of signs created for Javier Atalig and the fact that he used the term “Mangachongs” in his sign. The use of the “s” in order to pluralize the word for buddy or pal “gachong” is what offended most people. But it was so much more complicated and interesting then that. It is common today to hear people use the term “gachongs” when referring to their friends. In Chamorro you don’t pluralize with an “s” you either add the prefix “man-“ or follow it up with the word “siha” afterwards. Atalig pluralized it correctly left the “s.” He later created signs that removed the s, but the only problem was that the word still remained misspelled. Although many Chamorros still don’t use it this mark ‘ or the glota, it is necessary in order to indicate how a word is properly pronounced. The correct way of spelling the intended term is “Manga’chong”and then you have the option of including the correct pronoun “hit.”

Ooh, and this one’s a nerdy linguist issue! Thanks, Sumahi!

sumahi: 2012 Guam Political Sign Awards: Best Family Award -...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 13:35:55 -0800

sumahi:

2012 Guam Political Sign Awards:

Best Family Award - Adolpho Palacios

It’s becoming more and more common to include family members in political signs. It is only a matter of time until political signs start to look like the stock family photos that come in your picture frames. This election the Best Family Award goes to Senator Adolpho Palacios. His family of five is dressed in beautiful red, white and blue Hawaiian print shirts. They are smiling and warm and appear to not just be a Senator’s family, but also perhaps a musical family from the 70’s that drive around Guam in a red, white and blue van and perform at village fiestas! In their spare time I imagine them solving mysteries as well.

The Suttons visit this year's Micronesia Island Fair

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:17:00 -0800

The Suttons visit this year's Micronesia Island Fair:

My very first weekend on Guam in 2010 happened to be the weekend of the Micronesia Island Fair. I loved it. And blogged it. Here, the Suttons capture their visit to the Fair. Click the link in the title for their post. I wish I’d been able to go with them!

sumahi: My grandfather was honored this past week by Louis...

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:46:25 -0800

sumahi:

My grandfather was honored this past week by Louis Vuitton.

They created a cultural master fellowship program several years ago and through it my grandfather has been teaching me how to blacksmith.

Can’t quite believe I STILL haven’t blogged about Tun Jack Lujan’s amazing knife I got right before we left island, but I love it! There are precious little hunting opportunities in SF, though, so it’s relegated to much less exciting duties. Cucumbers, BEWARE!

sumahi: There is now a Chamorro Studies BA degree at UOG. Guaha...

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:03:20 -0700

sumahi:

There is now a Chamorro Studies BA degree at UOG.

Guaha Prugramma pa’go gi Inestudian Chamorro gi UOG.

If you are interested in majoring, minoring or double majoring in Chamorro Studies send me a message.

Anggen gaiinteres hao nu este na major, na’tungo’ yu’ ya para bai hu ayuda hao.

Fantastic news!

sumahi: Tumon Bay, Guam. 1946.

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:58:33 -0700

sumahi:

Tumon Bay, Guam. 1946.

"Hokkok i salape’-na"

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:00:43 -0700

““Hokkok i salape’-na””

- A Chamorro saying. It literally means “he/she has no money.” It is used to refer to someone who has fallen asleep in a place where you aren’t supposed to sleep (like in your chair, at your desk, in your car, anywhere that isn’t a bed). (via sumahi)

Double Pride in Glen Park

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:04:05 -0700

I love to see Guam-related stuff all the way here in Baghdad-by-the-Bay. I was walking the dog yesterday (oh, he’s there in the reflection on this picture!) around Glen Park and spotted this pick-up with double island pride, although it may be much more than that since the Philippines is made up of so many islands.

Does this truck belong to a local Pinoy who has Guam connections? I’d love to know! In the meantime, it brought a smile to my face.