Leaving Guam behind to venture to the United States has been quite the adventure. Especially when it comes to customs and cultural differences. Here are a few of those differences between the two.

1. Rice.

Need I say more.

2. Red Rice.

Don't say you won't try it, because this stuff is damn good. Depending on who's making it, red rice is a must have and a must try (maybe I'll make it at school some time). It's made with rice, achote seeds or powder, maybe onions, probably bacon, if you like it, and some other stuff that I won't name, because red rice is an ancient Chamorro secret.

3. Carabao.

Carabao is the Chamorro (our indigenous language) word for water buffalo. During one of my conversations at work with my coworkers and supervisor, I brought up stuff we have on Guam. I mentioned the word carabao and was met with looks of bewilderment, which I met with my look of bewilderment. They didn't know what a carabao was! Everyone knows what that is, but I had forgotten that I wasn’t on Guam anymore, and carabao was our native word for the water buffalo. Well, you adjust slowly, but surely.

4. Familia.

Familia is what it sounds like, family. For the longest time, Sunday was a designated day in my family to drive from what ever part of the island you’re from to visit grandma and grandpa and spend quality time with family. It always shocks me that families in the U.S. are spread hundreds, if not thousands, of miles apart. Quite a few of my friends have awkward visits with cousins, where on Guam you treat your cousins as if they were your own sibling! Being close to most, if not all, members of your family is something that makes Guam truly amazing. On Guam, if someone messes with you, you best believe all the cousins, aunts, uncles and possibly even grandmas, will be coming after the person that messed with you. So, don't mess with me, or else my family will fly to Milwaukee to assist in teaching you a lesson. I'm dead serious.

5. Chorizos Espåñot.

It's probably unhealthy, I mean look at the oil it can give off. But it's magically delicious. I usually eat it with hot rice (again, rice is the ultimate side to any entree) and a ton of Sriracha.

6. Ai (Adai).

I love my haole, a word used to describe Caucasian people, friends, but they don’t use expressions used on Guam! Ai or ai adaiis used to express one's surprise or a sort of sigh. When someone does something ridiculous, you can almost expect an “Ai!” or “Ai adai!” You went to the store to get coconut milk but got coconut cream? Ai adai, I told you coconut milk! Your auntie has high blood and needs to stop getting angry all the time? Ai adai. Your grandma found out you got pregnant and you're 14 years old? Well, you better not get pregnant at that age, because there are some foul words she can scream in English and most definitely in Chamorro.

7. Mago'dai.

Mago'dai —that intense feeling you get when you see something so cute that you want to physically harm it, but not really. Apparently, this does not happen in the U.S. Everyone just thinks I'm violent for wanting to harm a super cute puppy or a babbling baby. Again, it's the feeling to want to do harm, but not actually doing it.

8. Leche.

Since we’re on the topic of expressions, let’s talk about leche. If you know Spanish, you probably thought, “Milk?” Leche is used as an expression of surprise or disbelief. Your cousin crashed his girlfriend’s mom’s car? Leche! Your sister got hit by a stray volleyball during an intense game? Leche! Your mom yells at you for leaving the last Portuguese Sausage in the pan?Leche, Mom! I'm thinking about tan chai, since she didn't eat yet! And although it’s not said in America, I have said it and will continue to say it around my friends in Milwaukee.

9. Weather.

I love the cold, but sometimes I can't help but miss the warm weather. I don't miss it cause it's warm, I miss it because it's what I grew up with. It's what helps characterize Guam. There's nothing like needing to shower three or more times a day.

10. Beaches.

If you know me, then you know that I don't really care for the beach. The only time when I'll want to go to the beach is when it's super hot or when I haven't been to it in a long time. Yes, Milwaukee has beaches, but it's actually a part of the lake. I honestly cannot understand why a freshwater source is considered a beach. A beach is part of the ocean and salty, not unlike me at this moment. One of the best part about the beaches on Guam are the sunsets that come with them.

11. Sunsets.

What is there to say when you can see this any day? Nothing. Therefore, I will say nothing.

12. Barbecue.

As a great woman named Therese Hart once said, "This is the holy grail, no fail recipe for our famous Chamorro barbecue marinade: Soy sauce. Vinegar. Onions. Black pepper, if you're into that. Special ingredient that you like to put in your marination. That's the good stuff. Sorry, Marquette, but if you wanna learn to cook barbecue, talk to your boy right here.

13. Reggae.

Again, if you know me, you're probably laughing or rolling your eyes. I am very outspoken when it comes to my intense dislike for reggae. I cannot stand it. The songs sound the same, they play it all the time and all of the concerts are reggae concerts. (Guam Live! 2015 doesn't count because they had reggae.) But when you're far, far away from all that ruckus, you develop a taste for it. Now I, Jonathan R. Q. Borja, have found a love in reggae because it reminds me of home.

14. Respetu

Respetu means respect. In the culture, there are many things that go into respect. Nginge’is when one sees one of their elders and kisses the back of their right hand as a sign of respect. Ñot is said when kissing a man's hand and ñora is said when kissing a woman's hand. Another way we show respect is kissing the cheek of our elders. So, whenever I'd see Sister Bernadette Prochaska, I'd kiss her cheek. Some people found it odd, but really it made me happy to be able to do that with someone who loved Guam as much as I did.

Mamåhlao means to be ashamed or embarrassed. It's like when you go to a party and someone asks if you're hungry, but you're embarrassed or you don't want to bother them, so you say no. I know that when people offer me food that I want to try, I say no for the first few times and then decide I want to try the food after all. I noticed not many people are shamefaced in the U.S. Instead, they're pretty outspoken, which I thought was a little disrespectful. For example, they might ask personal questions or be extremely obnoxious, which is called banidosu.

OK, I need to stop, because suddenly, this has turned into a vocabulary lesson. The main point is, respect is huge on Guam. Our culture and people thrive on being respectful. If you look at people who visit the island for any amount of time, you will surely find that we are extremely welcoming and love to help people. Therefore, beware to anyone who wants to visit Guam. You might love it so much you will not want to leave.

There is so much that the U.S. lacks that Guam is full of. Amazing food, close family ties, actual beaches. We're a Pacific Island like Fiji, Samoa and Tahiti, and we are an island paradise. Although some people argue that we're not what we once were due to colonization (ooh...colonization...sounds like a great article), I think that we're still a great island to visit. So, if you want to see a Pacific Island, let me know and I can hook you up with a great host family that will treat you like their own.

Bubbles Out!