Current Tale

Talayero Tales - a commentary about Guam

i otdot tan i Chamorro
Oktubre 31, 1998

Hoi….

As a child growing up on Guahan (Guam) I was always fascinated with the animals of the jungle. What youngster wouldn't be amused with an alitai (monitor lizard), an ayuyu (coconut crab), a koko (Guam Rail), a babui halom tano (wild pig) or a "rat snake" more commonly known as the brown tree snake.

Every once in a while, a bunch of us neighborhood boys would take off into the jungle to mess around. I guess it would be the equivalent of hanging out at the Shopping Mall playing video arcade games these days. There were times that we didn't run into anything exciting. These were the times where our imaginations were put to the test.

I recall many jungle treks where we would run into a mother lode of anthills. Have you ever watched a bunch of ants going about on their business? They always stop and sorta kiss each other then go about their way. I always wondered what they really did each time they met.

One day I arrived at a "fandango" or wedding celebration and as I made my way to the wedding table, we had to make about 20 stops to greet and "chat chat" with our friends and relatives. I immediately began to laugh and thought to myself, "this is what the "otdot" or ants do when they stop to greet each other. If you really think about it, the Chamorro people have so many things in common with the ants.

There are so many things the Chamorro's have to say to one another that it is no wonder everyone was kept abreast of the latest happenings. If you have a chance to listen in to a "REAL" Chamorro conversation, you will here a dialogue similar to this:

(In Chamorro) Hafa Adai! Hafa Tatatman hao? Hafa Manatatmanu I familia? Ya si Nana yan Tata?, Manu sumasaga hao pago? Kuanto taotao mu (fama guon mu) pago? Manu machocho cho hao pago? Esta que ma alie hit talo

(Translated into English)…Hello, How are you? How is the family? How's Mom & Dad, Where are you living now? How many kids do you have? Where are you employed? Until we meet again!

From these simple questions, you will probably find out that your friend or relative is doing well, their Mom is ill but dad is fine, they no longer live in Yona but have recently built a new home in Talofofo and now have three kids. The person who started out as a bag boy at Payless is now a department manager.

If you analyze this context a little deeper you will find the reason for such a conversation. First off, the Chamorro word "Hafa Adai" extends a sincere greeting. How are you? Is self-explanatory however if all is well then we share in that joy, if there is a problem (sickness, marriage, religion, family) it is fitting to offer assistance if at all possible. Inquiring about Mom and Dad represents the respect of elders. Usually this question is necessary because when you meet other "man umko" or elders, you can relate the condition of that particular person. (Perhaps an intricate web of communication for elders to keep tabs with one another) Wanting to know what village a person lives could be attributed to "fiesta time" but more likely to just "KNOW" where they live. Chamorro's have this thing of wanting to "know" everything.

How many kids do you have? This question will allow the inquirer a good guess on your tax return based on the amount of your deductions! Where are you working? This is a no brainer, if a person knows where you work, he may expect a discount on his next purchase….umbre lai…..CONNECTIONS!

So you see, just like the "otdot" or "ants", the Chamorro's have so many things in common…….

And oh…… If you beg to differ….. How many times have you seen a parade of ants carrying food from a "scrap feast"…. Now think of the Chamorro's carrying plates of food home after a party… yep…..the Talayero is right again!

Esta…

talayero@chamorro.com