Unique customs

Tinian has many unique and interesting customs Terri and I have discovered. We have talked about a few of them, such as the men that cut the grass using what I call a weed-whacker (but I was corrected by a local: they call them bush-cutters here). Here are a couple more:

As election time nears, those running for office use loud-speakers to proclaim their candidacy and ask for votes. A pick-up truck with a large two-sided poster of the candidate in the back, and large speakers attached to the top of the cab, drives around the island playing music, and giving speeches, etc., so that people can hear it, even in their homes. They drive slowly through each neighborhood to ensure everyone has heard their reasons for running for office. Unfortunaelty, most of it is in the local language, which we cannot understand, but we can enjoy the music!

Occasionally they will have a soap-box preacher located in the center of town, giving a rousing sermon on some subject of the gospel, and calling for people to repent and be saved. Last night the preacher was located just across from the Poker Palace/laundry. We weren’t sure if that was to shame those who ventured inside, or simply because this is a very busy intersection. We stopped to listen for a while and were very impressed by his abilities and enthusiasm.

As Terri mentioned, we went to the beach to go snorkeling, but found the waves to be very large and the sea to be very agitated. We probably were foolish to venture out into the raging sea, as there are rocks in some areas, but we felt if we stayed in the narrow area where the beach was, we would be okay. But the rip-tide was worse than we thought, and it often carried us too near the rocks (as Terri can attest, as she ‘sat’ on a couple as she was carried by a wave). But as soon as we saw the danger, we quickly left the water and went to the beach. But it was great fun while it lasted!

So far our favorite place to eat is at the Fleming Restaurant. We have yet to eat a bad meal there, and in most cases the food is as good as any restaurant anywhere. If we are celebrating a birthday or other occasion, or just want to treat ourselves after a long week, we go to the Fleming.

The Dynasty has three restaurants (Japanese, Chinese, and Western) and a pizza parlor, none of which we have tried as yet (we try to support the locals first), but I am sure we will get around to it after a while, especially if their pizza is any good.

We are still attempting, without success, to find scooters to buy for Terri and I. We may have to go to Saipan to get them. We keep hoping we will find them here, but it doesn’t look good.