Walls and Words: Guam’s Public Art and Public Library

Something I love about Guam are all the different murals covering the island. They make the area so colorful and vibrant. I love looking at them as we walk around and get excited when we discover a new one. I was reading about why there are so many murals, and they are meant to celebrate Chamorro culture, promote sustainability, and bring communities together.

The Murals of Guam

Many of the murals depict Chamorro culture and show images of traditions, legends, and village life.

Other murals were commissioned to express the islands artistic culture.

And some are simply just to make spaces look more vibrant and welcoming!

Visiting the Public Library

Braxton and I recently took a trip to the public library, which also displays a beautiful mural. We visited a library while in Japan, and I hope to do this in as many countries as we can. When we arrived and saw the “Closed” sign I was a little discouraged. I checked online several times to confirm their hours, but we’ve definitely had our share of experiences this year where online information wasn’t accurate. Luckily we tried the door and were pleased to find that it was open!

The library was small and pretty rundown. Their book selection was good though, and I saw many of the same titles we’ve enjoyed from our library in Colorado. Braxton was excited to find a lone copy of Dog Man and enjoyed reading a graphic novel with some color! Being there made me miss physical books immensely. I am so grateful for our Kindles, but really miss the feeling of reading a real book. We inquired about whether we could get a temporary library card, but you have to be a resident of Guam.

Settling in Again: Just the Four of Us

We are wrapping up our first full week of school now that Debby has gone back home. The week went faster than we all anticipated and the kids worked hard. Dave and I are busy planning the next stop on our adventure and all the logistics that entails. It will be hard to leave this island paradise.