Auntie Charo's Soapbox

So, I heard Travis Coffman talking about wearing his shells and his Hawaiian shirt...shells, guess that's better than the Kokua(sp) nuts that are worn in Hawaii...but then we may be wearing those next week because there are crafters that make those beautiful lei necklaces here that we offer to visitors from America (you know, the CODEL kind-we're also known to give them carved wooden eagles, carved from the PI-oops, blogger off topic!) Okay, so, last night, the tubers had the gov on and he's not wearing shell jewellry(locals pronounce this 'jury') he's wearing a stone, the kind the 'chelu's' wear, the kind the 'defunto' Angel Santos used to wear. If you want to, check it out, there's a picture of the stone and the neck and the shirt in today's PDN....and I wonder two things...if the 'chelus' who wear the stone are complimented that he's wearing the stone(alas, remember the CLTC is in the process of signing over the Ypao point to the aliens and the stone wearers will be rich forever) or if they're concerned that unlike them, the newest wearer of the stone doesn't speak their language.....
Let's not pretend to be Hawaiians for one day of the week. Let's be Chamorros seven days a week. Let's say Hafa Adai every time we answer the Phone, every time we greet a tourist when they get off a plane, enter a bus, enter a hotel, yes, even say 'adios' when they leave us. Let us say, 'Si Yuus maasi' often, let them ask what it means, they'll be happy to learn what it means, it'll be means to interact.
I have a dear friend who howls every time she sees someone from Chuuk dressed in their version of the 'muumuu'...I howl at her naivete....at least they've taken the attire to the next step...they have their own design. If we're going to be colorful Chamorros every Friday, then I suggest we take it to another level, perhaps we can get Radhi's to order textile that has GUAM scenes in the material or the words HAFA ADAI in it...then there's the matua for the women....etc......we're Chamorros....we should be proud of that! Seven days a week!