05-05-06

Hi friends, this is Harry Blalock; General Manager for radio stations KZMI & KCNM. It's that time once again to take a look at the issues of the week, and to offer some Food For Thought.

Many times our attitude about our surroundings or circumstances will determine the quality and satisfaction of our experiences. You can either look at the glass as being half empty and be disappointed that you only have half left, or you can look at it as being half full, and be thankful that you still have half of it to enjoy. This is a very important concept for anyone living on Saipan to keep in mind. It is easy for those who were born and raised on Saipan, and have never been anywhere else to look at Saipan as being very small, confining and secluded, without many conveniences that you can find so many other places in the world. It is easy for some of them to forget all the awesome things that Saipan has to offer, and to only focus on what the rest of the world has to offer.

And then there are those who come to Saipan from other parts of the world, and make this their home, either temporarily or permanently. I think that attitude is especially important for this group for several different reasons. First off, they have left their home and have come to a strange place away from their family and friends, so the adjustment to living here will automatically be difficult at best. They have also known another way of life and have most likely had many conveniences at their disposal where they came from. If they are expecting things to work the same way here that they did where they came from, they will no doubt wind up frustrated and disappointed. Things usually work much differently here, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. I have literally seen hundreds of people come and go during the decade that I've lived on Saipan. Some of them have left very bitter and disillusioned, and others have left with their time on Saipan being some of their happiest memories.

So how can people all live in the same tropical paradise and leave with such different feelings and attitudes? I think that much of it boils down to their attitude while living here; do they make the most of it, and take the time to appreciate what is all around them? Or do they concentrate only on the things that frustrate them, and allow those things to block out everything else? You've heard the old saying, you need to take time to stop and smell the roses? Well, I can't think of anywhere that saying is more appropriate. Sure we've got problems and there are frustrations here, but there are problems and frustrations everywhere. And once you realize that and come to terms with it, then you can start focusing in on the unique things that living in Saipan has to offer you. Sometimes seeing Saipan through a visitor's eyes can bring back the wonder and magic of it, and remind you of all the things we have to appreciate. So I want to take some time today to focus on some of the things that make this an awesome place to live. I know that it never hurts to remind myself of these things, and chances are it won't hurt to remind you either. And since May is Tourism Month, this seems like an appropriate time to go over the list.

We live on an island that has one spectacular view or scene after another. This is the kind of place that artists love, because it is full of so many breathtaking scenes. You can sit out on the patio at Oleai Beach Bar & Grill and watch some of the most amazing sunsets anywhere. I bring up that particular location because it happens to be one of my favorites, and I just enjoyed a spectacular sunset there last night. I watched the sky as it was transformed into a breathtaking scene that any artist would love capturing on canvass or in a picture. It was streaked with shades of pink, orange, red and yellow all blending together in one of nature's most amazing attractions. And the ocean below it looked as if it had been transformed and turned into a vibrant orange as well with sparkling diamonds covering it. People spend serious money buying paintings or pictures of sunsets like that, and all we have to do is to go have a drink or dinner at Oleai. That may not be the top reason to live here, but it should sure be in the top 10!

Some of the other breathtaking scenic spots include Mt. Topachou, the Bird Island lookout, the Forbidden Island lookout, the Grotto, Banzai Cliff, Suicide Cliff, Managaha Island, Ladder Beach, Obiyan Beach, the entire Beach Pathway, the gardens at any of our hotels, the winding road leading to Kingfisher Golf Course and all the coconut palms along the way, the numerous flame trees lining our roads, our breathtaking golf courses, or any of the numerous beaches with the waves breaking over the reef line. We need to keep in mind that most other people save up all year long to visit somewhere like this for a week or two a year, and here we get to enjoy it every single day. If you're thinking there is no reason for you to stay here, or that it doesn't have enough for you, maybe it's been too long since you've visited some of these amazing sites. It's so easy to take for granted when you have full access to it all the time, and you forget to appreciate it for the treasure it is.

We have very rich cultural diversity here. Yes, we all have our own backgrounds and cultures, and each of them should be very important to each of us, but I think one of the greatest things about Saipan is that it is such a mixture of different peoples and cultures. And for the most part, everyone gets along and manages to appreciate and enjoy the aspects of other cultures that they have access to as a result of living here. I come from a very small town in northern Michigan where there is very, very little, if any, cultural diversity. After being here, I realize that it was really a huge disadvantage living somewhere where everybody was basically the same, and the biggest difference was whether you were Baptist or Catholic. I don't think I could ever live somewhere like that again and be content. My world has been broadened and expanded and I'm much richer for it.

We just had the 25th Flame Tree Festival, a celebration of arts and culture and performances. Have you stopped to realize what a unique gift it is to have that here every year? We all get to enjoy many great dances and performances that we may not see often otherwise. You can also take advantage of all the unique artwork for sale, and help keep the art alive by patronizing our local artists. It's a time when you can mingle with people you may not have seen since the last Flame Tree Festival. I would hate to think there might come a time when we wouldn't have a Flame Tree Festival because of the lack of interest or finances, because it is another great thing about living on Saipan!

We are about to enjoy the first Taste of the Marianas this Saturday evening at American Memorial Park. Again, this is something that celebrates Tourism Month, but also something that many locals enjoy and look forward to every year. I know that many of you also make a habit of trying to hit the Taste of the Marianas every Saturday night during the month of May. I know that we're not the only place that does these sorts of things, but personally I'm very thankful that we do, because I enjoy it immensely every year.

If you're a diver, I probably don't have to explain to you what a privilege it is to live here, but it never hurts to remind us anyway. Our reefs are awesome and vibrant, and many consider the Grotto to be the #2 ranked cave dive in the world. For me, it's like a kid living in Disney World; I never get tired of it.

I know that I haven't told you anything you don't already know today, and I haven't imparted any great wisdom or thought provoking ideas. But sometimes I think we all need to be reminded of what we've got and what we have to be thankful for. We live on an awesome island, and sometimes it's too easy to forget that. Instead of looking at the problems, the slumping economy and the obstacles we face, sometimes we need to go sit at Oleai, have an iced tea and watch the sunset, and realize that no matter what else happens, we've got an awful lot going for us. It's true that our glass may not exactly be full at the moment, but I'm here to tell you it's far from empty. I only scratched the surface of a few of the things we have going for us, but hopefully it was enough to make you take a second look and appreciate what you've got.

Hopefully I'll be running into you at the Taste of the Marianas this Saturday night. And while you're there, plan on staying a while and enjoying some of the free entertainment and visit with some friends. You'll run into many if you stick around for a while.

And just in case you're wondering, no, I haven't gone soft on the issues, but sometimes there are more important things to talk about and touch on. If this has caused even a few of you to stop and say yes, we do have a lot going for us here, then it has been worthwhile. Maybe you need to take a drive and visit some of our scenic spots. I'm always amazed when I talk to locals who have lived here their entire life and have never been to Mt. Topachou, or Forbidden Island, or have never seen the Grotto. It's your island, explore it, experience it, enjoy it and embrace it. If you don't know how to get to some of those spots, give me a call, I'm a pretty good tour guide, or so I've been told.

I'm Harry Blalock, thanking you once again for giving me a generous slice of your valuable time, and allowing me to share my Food For Thought.