of the local population works for GovGuam.
Randy takes his seat and says that the desserts will be put out in about ten minutes. The kitchen staff is replenishing the food right now if we want more.
“How long does a fiesta last?” I ask
“Pahtnaaaah, every village has a fiesta. Village fiestas go on for days, okaaaaay. But this is a private fiesta, in your honor. Enjoy it while it lasts, okaaaaay” Randy says.
Tuna is nodding in agreement.
“Umbre, like leave? Wait ‘til after dessert. Should eat dessert or you act like one haole” he says.
“Same as Hawaii” I say with a smile.
“How long you worked gyms?” Tuna asks.
“More than a decade” I say.
“Been working out long time too. Was one competitive weightlifter an get plany medals. Workout at Tropics Gym too. You like workout? Can work out together if you need one spotter” he says.
“Okay, sure, we can work out together” I say.
“Eh shoot, I forget about my trip. Going Honolulu for training on my job an stay off island one whole week” he says with a look of concern.
“You live Honolulu, yah?” he asks.
“Yes, I live in Honolulu. I meant until today, I used to live in Honolulu until today” I say, stumbling over my reality. Fuck, I live on Guam now.
“Evah train at Da Gym Honolulu?” he asks.
“I used to train there before it closed. I was training at Gold’s Gym South Street until I moved here” I say.
“Shoots, I like train there too! Eh, you like train heavy? Like workout tomorrow?” he asks.
He is offering me a chance to engage in that bonding experience popular among the weightlifters. The invitation of “Let’s train together” is usually another way of saying “think you can out lift me?” It’s like asking ‘how much can you bench? And then telling the person to prove it however, among gym rats, friendships are forged in iron and I am not about to turn down the opportunity to make a friend. Tuna says that we can meet at Tropics gym tomorrow evening, after he finishes work. I agree although I have no idea where the gym is located. I don’t know where I live and shit, I don’t even know where I’m staying tonight.
“Actually, I don’t know where the gym is.” I say to Tuna.
“Eh, no worries is one small island, only get one Tropics Gym. You find it by tomorrow night” he says with a laugh.
“Sounds cool” I say to him. The thing is that I’m sitting here eating strange food with people that I have known for about two hours and I feel panic creeping inside of me. Fuck, am I working tomorrow night? I just made plans to workout with Tuna, I guy I hardly know at a gym that I have never even seen, my gym, the gym where I am now the general manager and I don’t even know where I am. I don’t really know anyone, except Mr. Saru. Fuck, I don’t even know where I am sleeping tonight. Looking around this table I am starting to wonder what I am doing here. The house is filled with guests, family, friends, political associations of Mr. Saru and a few of the people are all in one and then there is me. I am the new guest, observed and ignored save for Randy, the host and Edward ‘Tuna’ Matuna.
“Umbre, we go out, yah? You and me go Gallivanting” Tuna says.
“What is gallivanting?” I ask.
“You know, pick up chicks, poke squid, you know, be gallant.”
‘I don’t think gallant means what you think it means.” I say.
“What? Ok, what means gallant?’ he asks.
“Gallant is to be noble and courageous.” I say.
Eh? That’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout, we courageous an noble. We pick up chicks an poke squid” he says laughing.
‘Alright.” I say laughing. I think this guy just speaks a mix of Chamorro and Hawaiian slang or at least it sounds like Hawaiian slang. The words I don’t understand are Chamorro. At least I can understand most of what he says.
“Hoi, let’s go gallivant, meet girls, be gallant” he says enthusiastically.
I like this guy, Tuna. He’s outgoing, I’ll give him that. The other guys here are looking at me like I’m an outsider, another damn haole. But this guy Tuna is alright. The quick glances and hardened stares from around the room are making me feel awkward. Randy asks one of the kitchen staff to bring me another drink. Randy is on a first name basis with the kitchen staff. He explains to me that the Saru family has a staff to cook, clean, wash the cars and polish the watches and jewelry of the Saru family. The look of disbelief on my face amuses Randy as he confides “Mr. Saru is a fashion icon on island well at least he thinks that he is pahtnaaaah. He has a collection, dozens of wrist watches. He also has necklaces and bracelets but his passion is shoes. He has more shoes than Imelda Marcos, okaaaaaaaaay.”
“I did notice that he seemed to be wearing a new pair of Nikes each time he came to the gym back in Honolulu.” I say.
Yes, Mr. Saru never wears a pair of Nike’s for more than a week” Randy says in a serious tone.
Looking about the room, my eyes meet Mr. Saru’s and he motions for me to come over. He introduces me to the governor’s chief of staff, Mr. Shino and his assistant, Mr. Kamu, the men who sang back-up during Mr. Saru’s karaoke performance.
‘He was a bodybuilder and is one of the best trainers too. He even managed several vitamin stores. This guy is going to make Tropics Gym the best gym in all of Micronesia!” he says about me. The men all smile and we shake hands.
“Thank you for the warm welcome” I say “but I was wondering where I am staying tonight?”
“I will have Alan drive you to the Guam Airport Hotel” Mr. Saru says, “You have a room there with a full kitchen including kitchenware, a full sized refrigerator, stove, and a microwave. Everything that you will need until your apartment is ready.”
“All I really need right now is a bed” I say with a wink.
“It has a bed too” he says smiling.
Elisa Saru smiles and says; “I am impressed. You came into a house full of strangers and made new friends. And you ate Chamorro food. You didn’t make faces or say ‘Ewwww’ to any of it like most haoles. Have you had Chamorro food before?”
“No, this was the first time and I really enjoyed the food” I say.
“I know you are going to do really well here” she says.
She doesn’t know about all the mistakes I made when I first moved to Hawaii like wearing shoes inside a house, making comments about the strange food, asking for a fork. But I have not made any cultural faux pas tonight. Tonight I was able to impress Mrs. Saru with my understanding of island customs, my ability to use ‘hashi’ or chopsticks or whatever they call them here. And the rules of the fiesta seem simple enough, eat when you are hungry. Eat when you are offered something. Eat when you
