Guam....of all places.....Guam!

[Toaster]

Howdy folks,

Well, I was offered a posistion in....get this....GUAM!

Fantastic pay and neat "goodies" dealing with R&D and other relms where "possibilities" are explored.
The problem being...I know NOTHING about Guam and the "tour" is 2 years.
They will relocate me, allow 2 round trip tickets to any major metropolitan airport in the world per year and 4 weeks/year paid vacation. I would live on an on site "dorm" of sorts.
Anyone know anything about Guam?


Also, this posistion has a great deal of travel involved....mostly the orient and the states. Total expected "time" on Guam is 240 days/year.
I have the option of signing on for 5 years with an additionl 10% added to the above.

So...my question....Guam....any clues as to what I might be "stepping" in?

[wedor]

Isn't that where they have the problem with the brown tree snakes? the ones that ate all the birds? I know it's small and very warm. I met someone from there that brought a car he had purchased back to Wisconsin, it didn't have a heater in it, evidently wasn't needed in Guam.

[DrZaius]

Isn't that where they have the problem with the brown tree snakes? the ones that ate all the birds?

Yep, that's Guam.

[Blankman]

When I served active duty Air Force Guam was considered a choice assignment. I would have taken it over Korea.

[HAL9000]

Toasty, the way I look at it, is why not. I would rather go for it just for the experience if nothing else than stay where I am and wonder what might have been. I guess it all comes down to... in your eyes, just how fantastic is the pay? Is it fantastic enough to say screw your life where you are now and go?

[sdkfz]

There is some sort of venoumous snake, forget the name right now, but the SR-71 spy planes used it as their mascot (Guam was one of three places in the world the planes were based)

Other drawback is the possibility of hurricane (to be more accurate typhoon) coming around.

http://www.visitguam.org/

On the positive you will be living in the tropics where thousands go on vacation and there appears to be plenty to do assuming you like the outdoors. Population is only about 150K so there is not going to be a true city.

Personally, I'd go for it, learn to scuba!!!!

[doctorgonzo]

Yeah, why not go for it? Don't worry about snakes; you aren't a bird....or are you?

[snakeyes]

I agree with Hal and sdkfz, if you're looking for a change go for it. You might be close with your family so that might play a factor. Good luck on your thought process!

[Confused]

I have no idea what your family situtaion or personal obligations are so I cain't advise. I know that at different periods in my life I would have jumped at the chance, but alas with my situtation today I would regrettable turn it down.

Hope your situtation is such that you can make a decision purely on what you would like to do.
Chas

[Kubie]

Toaster,
Do you think you would like day after day HIGH humidity?
Carl

[mbossman2]

If I were single , the money good enough, the job interesting and nothing to tie me to any specific area (or person), then I would jump at this as a wonderful opportunity.

With more and more companies reaching globally, this kind of experience (especially if you can add to your language skills) could be incredibly invaluable.

[HackinCowboy]

You guys are forgetting about the most important thing.. What kind of high speed internet access do they have?
Anyway, I would go for it, explore the world. It'll give you something interesting to tell your grand kids someday...

[glc]

I've been there many times - from overnights to a month, all in the military reserves. It's pure tropics, if you like humid heat it's a great place. Cost of living is astronomical but if you will be living in a dorm this helps a LOT. Just make sure it's air conditioned. Guam is kind of like the Japanese "Niagara Falls", the local economy revolves mostly around tourism. The natives are not necessarily friendly toward "mainlanders" and make sure you get a thorough brief on what areas are not safe. If you are into beaches and scuba diving this place is paradise. Due to the heavy US military presence there are plenty of amenities geared toward US tastes. English is spoken everywhere but so is Japanese and Chamorro. You will need a car, public transportation is expensive and doesn't go everywhere, the island speed limit is 35mph so any old beater will do, the smaller the better, there are no expressways, traffic can be terrible. Agana has turned into almost a true city, you can find just about everything there. If I were in your position and had no ties to anybody or anything I would jump at that opportunity. Life is not hectic there - nobody is really in a hurry.

Hafa Adai!

[troysvihl]

Toaster, you've got to do it man. This sounds like one of the once-in-a-lifetime chances. It doens't matter what you hear about the place; good, bad or inbetween, just go.

[morriswindgate]

If you like Hawaii you'll like Guam. Great people and beaches.

[pam123]

Pack your snorkel and your speedos. The windsurfing isn't great but if you like tropical beaches, coral reefs and remember your sunblock it can be very bearable indeed.
If you don't swim you now have a reason to learn.

[morriswindgate]

Although the site is in Japanese (Guam is a big destination for them) there are quite a few very good pictures at the link below.

http://www.fspg.jp/f1/eizan_g/eizan_g.htm

[morriswindgate]

Oh, and the Girls in them are not bad although you should only pay attention to the surroundings.

[Toaster]

Hello folks,

The pay is 120k/year with many "perks" for the sign on. The "dorm" as they call it is within a compound of sorts and is actually a small house, much like a new england cape. The perks are quite impressive due to my security clearances.
I have no ties of any important nature and I often jump up to move to "see new things".
The perks include:

1. Free air travel on an "available seating" bases so long as I fully understand and abide to any restrictions.

2. 4 weeks/year paid vacation. Extedible to 6 weeks on the 5 year tour option.

3. Free housing plus an allowance of 450.00/mo. for "incidentals". All utilities included including telephone.

4. No web access at the "dorm" but available at the work area I would be assigned. However they do state its possible at the dorm, I am to consider this a "no access".

5. A great deal of travel to the eastern rim and Europe. (primarily Sweeden, England and Germany)

6. I was advised to NOT aquire a vehicle but rather depend on public/private transportation but they didn't go into details.

7. Stateside "supplies" every 3 weeks.
Otherwise I buy "incidentals" in a local comasary. No "duties" for inbound US "consumables".



There is quite a bit more, these were the finer details. The "work week" is 44 hours on average and will not exceed 50 hours.

If there is a problem its the heat/humidity. I perfer mid 50's and lower humidities. All "work" areas are air-conditioned as well as the "dorm" so its still "doable".

They will give me a 3500.00 allowance for moving if I choose the 5 year tour and a 2250.00 on the 2 year tour.
The "maximum" shipping weight of my "belongings" is one ton (2000 lbs) and this is also the same allotment for the return or a "bonus" if I sign on again.

I was contacted by these folks who "buy" specialized labor with specific clearances. I have a 180 day decision period with a 180 day sign on delay.
A sign on bonus of 7500.00 if I sign on within 90 days and commit to be on site within that 90 day period.

[troysvihl]

that's not even a decision toaster. Take it.

[Confused]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Toaster
[B]Hello folks,

I have no ties of any important nature and I often jump up to move to "see new things".

I would be there before New England winter starts.
Chas

[mbossman2]

This sounds like a good deal. If you live frugally while there, you may come out of the deal with a ton of cash in hand as your living expenses appear to be pretty much taken care of.

As to the weather, you will find that once you move to an area, you adapt fairly quickly to the local climate and find when you go back home, the weather there is quite uncomfortable (until you adapt back). I can attest to that, as I moved from the cold northeast to the warmer climes of NC and it took about 6 months to fully adapt and now when I go home in the winter (about a 30 degree difference), I find the cold uncomfortable.

I say: GO, unless there is something (or someone) that you are beholden to that is tying you down.

[HAL9000]

Toaster, go man, that's an opportunity that you can't turn down. 90 day sign on bonus, it would take me about 90 seconds to make that decision.

Should you decide to turn it down, I will be EXTREMELY curious as to your decision why.

[archie]

Seems like a good opportunity Toaster. If you do decide to go, one of the decisions is whether it be for 2 yrs or 5 ... Choosing the 5 yr option means extra vacation time amongst other perks. 2 yrs is a rather short time but if you really like it, would the option to stay on exist. On the other hand, if the 5 yr option is chosen and you do not like it, is there a penalty for cutting back to less time?

[mrob]

"Guam, where America's day starts"

[mairving]

Yeah, I remember talking to a guy from the Marshall Islands once. He said that they only get a couple of years out of a car before it rusts out with all the salt air. Public transportation may be the best option.

p.s. Can we have the annual PC Mech convention at your place?

[glc]

You can buy a "Guam Bomb" pretty cheap - plenty of old clapped out Toyota Corollas, Nissan Sentras, and stuff like that there. The times I was there with NO rental car were nowhere near as enjoyable as the times I had a rental.

[Toaster]

Howdy folks,
After some thought and the deep need to leave New England, I arrainged a meet with my "rep" to go into some detail about the work I would asked to do.
I'm not too comfortable around fissionables and biological "hazzards" and once those points are assured, I think I'll jump at the chance.
At the meet, a contract with any pertinent data will be available for viewing. I guess thats the final point.
I already started an update for my passport and other paperwork as well as having my clearances verified.
I guess I'm a tad nervous about it being "too good a deal" to pass up.
I was warned afore hand about withdrawl from the program earlier then contracted as any "perk" would be suspended and my clearances revoked. So...I just wanna be 100% on the matter.
I'll keep you folks advised and send pics or something.
I doubt they would (could) go into any detail about my assigned area.
I am understandably curious as I have certain reservations regarding certain fields.
At any rate....so it seems...I'm Guam bound.

[mbossman2]

Best of luck.

One other point, make sure that you have a lawyer who specializes in labor law review any documents that you might have to sign. (I know you thought of this, but it bears repeating).

[HackinCowboy]

Just out of curiosity, what is it that you do?