Guam Family 05/09

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May 2009

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generations A close-knit family defines the true sense of a support network in Guam.

green home, green world Big business or small family, everyone can make a difference.

Encourage your child The top 5 phones teens want Vanessa Ochavillo shines in Forensics ... AND MORE!



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GUAM’S TOTAL FAMILY RESOURCE

Features Generations 10

A close-knit family defines the true sense of a support network on Guam.

Green Home, Green World 16

Big business or small family, everyone can make a difference. Take a closer look at what some island residents have done to go green at home, at work and around the community.

Departments Health Spot 23

Choose a health care provider

Finance 26

Get your family’s financial house in order

Parenting 29

Encourage your child

Teen Scene 33 Tech for teens

Time Out for Mommy & Daddy 36 Create a personal getaway

May Calendar of Events 38 Island happenings

Center Stage 40

Vanessa Ochavillo: Hard work at play

Kidsville 42

Fun and games

Kusina 45

In the kitchen with Denise Santos

Family Traditions 46

Spring activities for the whole family

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Publisher’s Note publisher’s note GUAM’S TOTAL FAMILY RESOURCE

Publisher Stephani Ferrara Editor Faye Varias Copy Editor Jackie Hanson Contributors Maria Cristobal Steve Hardy Christine Restuvog Janiece A. Sablan Khiersty-Ahn Saoy Art Direction Taliea Designworks

Welcome to the first issue of Guam Family magazine, a publication centered around celebrating life and families on Guam. Guam Family is not just a magazine. It’s a collection of information meant to interest parents, teens, kids, and families as a whole. Whether you’re a single parent raising three kids, newlyweds building a life together, or a grandparent savoring every moment with your grand kids, you’ll find a range of valuable content in every issue. As a wife, mother, daughter, and local businesswoman, I can relate to the issues our families face today and the desire to access useful information to help weather through our daily challenges. I hope this will be reflected in the pages of Guam Family magazine. As commitment is at the heart of family, we too are committed to exceeding the expectations of our readers. We are committed to publishing articles that are not only uplifting and inspirational, but informative and valuable to our lives. We hope to become a family resource that you can come to rely on and trust. This publication is for you, so I hope you find it a great read and, most of all, fun. I look forward to your feedback in the months to come. In the meantime, I am deeply honored to present to you, Guam Family magazine. Be blessed,

Production David Castro Advertising Sales Stephani Ferrara Darrell Pereda Angela Rosario Administration Tia Camacho Blesilda Durousseau Printing Winguide, Saipan ADVERTISING INFORMATION sferrara@guamfamily.net dpereda@guamfamily.net arosario@guamfamily.net Opinions expressed in Guam Family are not necessarily those of the publisher or our advertisers. SEND COMMENTS TO Editor GUAM FAMILY P.O. Box 27290 Barrigada, GU 96921 E-mail: editor@guamfamily.net Tel: 671.635.7501 Fax: 671.635.7520 Web site: guamfamily.net

Stephani Ferrara Publisher 4

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©2009 GUAM FAMILY All rights reserved. Owned by Promo Infomedia, Inc. Jerry Roberts, President


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Editor’s Note editor’s note Big Sister W

hat did you do the day you turned 18? I don’t remember what I did, but it was a Monday, so I must have been in school — as was my brother, who turned 18 this month.

Eighteen. The age when you can officially be called an adult. When I look at my brother, I don’t think of him as that. I still see him as the little kid who always found a way to bug me when I was on the phone but always provided his innocent perspective on my “earth-shattering” adolescent problems. When I first became involved with Guam Family, I felt a little out of my element because when I think of family magazines, I immediately think moms and babies. I’m neither. But my publisher, Stephani, reminded me that everyone is a part of some sort of family. That’s the beauty of this publication. You don’t have to be a mom or child to find things that relate to you in these pages. I’m sure many of you out there know what I’m talking about as you watched your younger siblings grow from little booger-pickers to teenagers who are too cool to be seen with you. You watch them go to prom. You worry when the car isn’t in the garage, force a smile when they introduce a person you know is all wrong for them, and you say, “You’re gonna get it from Mom,” when you know even you can’t save their butts. But you eventually admit that you have to allow them to make their own mistakes and everything will be okay in the end. Unless that’s just me. Is it? This and other life situations are the questions we seek to answer. Guam Family is a collection of people’s family situations, thoughts and achievements — all of which we have experienced at some point in our lives. It is a trusted local resource, celebrating today’s family and the diverse backgrounds that make up Guam’s community. Our main features this month include green building and how people have made a shift to “think green” when making everyday decisions. We talk to John Arroyo of the Government of Guam Employees Federal Credit Union about the plans to build an environmentally friendly branch in Maite as well as one local family who made it their mission to produce less waste. We also visit the Perez family of Santa Rita about what it’s like to live in a multi-generational home. Other departments include Parenting 101, Health Spot, Teen Talk, Center Stage and more. We look forward to sharing our stories with you and encourage you to share yours as well. Welcome to the family.

F a y e Va r i a s Editor

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The Perez Family Maria Perez, matriarch; Mary Quinata, 2nd generation; Krista Anderson, 3rd generation; and Mariana Anderson, 4th generation


Generations THE PEREZ FAMILY

A close-knit family defines the true sense of a support network in Guam. By Christine Restuvog

M

any generations of families in Guam usually live in the same household or right next door to each other. These types of living arrangements exist primarily because of Guam’s rich culture of maintaining close family ties. It is this bond that makes Guam families unique from many mainland U.S. families and is the core of what “family” means in Guam.

Meet the Perez Family

The Perez family of Talisay, Santa Rita is one great example of how a close familial tie upbringing continues from generation to generation. Maria Perez is the matriarch of the Perez family households in Santa Rita. Her daughter, Mary P. Quinata is the second generation of the Perez family, who lives right next door. Maria’s granddaughter Krista Q. Anderson is a third generation Perez, who is temporarily living with her mother along with her three children, Noah, Mariana and Salvador Jr. Two of Quinata’s sisters and their families also live within the Perez family compound. The Perez’s family living situation is similar to many households in Guam. According to the United States Census Bureau 2000 Census Report, about 40 percent of local households consist of grandparents living with grandchildren under 18 years old.

And in the case of the Perez family, the grandparents are the glue that binds everyone.“My mom and dad are the ones who keep our family so close knit,” Quinata said.

Special Traditions

The Perez family makes a point to celebrate birthdays and traditional holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving as a family. “We often have dinner at my grandmother’s house, and we celebrate almost every occasion there,” Anderson said. And they’ve even made some otherwise non-family oriented holidays into family celebrations as well. While most couples go to a special dinner for alone time on Valentine’s Day, the Perez family celebrates with a barbecue for the entire family. One way the second generation Perez siblings make it special is by decorating with color-theme decorations all the way down to a heart-shaped framed photo of their mom and dad as the centerpiece on the table. Aside from the occasional party, the second generation Perez siblings take turns cooking for their mother and father daily. “One of the things we have done, which we just started last year is scheduling ourselves to feed my mom and dad dinner each night,” Quinata said. May 2009 guamfamily.net

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“I receive a tremendous amount of support from my mom, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents while living here.” # Krista Anderson The siblings not only spend dinners and the occasional barbecue parties together; they also have strong family faith that binds them.“A family who prays together stays together” is another way to describe the Perez family. “We all attend the same church and go to mass on Sundays at the same time,”Anderson said. Perez not only instilled the importance of family, but also the importance of having and practicing the Catholic religion. Being within close proximity to one another instills the same strong faith in younger Perez generations.

At Home

Anderson is grateful for the opportunity to be back at home with her parents and grandparents. Her husband, Salvador Sr., is a member of the United States Army and is stationed off-island until mid 2010.“I receive a tremendous amount of support from my mom, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents while living here in Talisay,” she said. Anderson and her family lived off-island for close to eight years and recently moved home. 12

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families to live within close proximity of each other. “Most families in Guam try to take care of each other and would not turn a family member away if they needed help,” Quinata said.

Mariana Anderson Anderson said she thinks a large support system is one of the reasons why households have generations of family members under one roof or right next door to each other.

Anderson added that people in Guam also tend to live with generations of family members under one roof or adjacent to one another because of the sense of familiarity. “Speaking on my experience, it is definitely hard to leave what you are used to,” she said.

An Expanded Nest

In Guam, parents rarely experience the “empty nest”phase of their lives because

Of the 38,769 households in Guam, 63 percent have more relatives than just the immediate family living within the same home, as stated in the United States Census Bureau 2000 Census Report. Many of these families find an unmatched morale, financial and even physical support systems from this living arrangement. Quinata said that for the most part, she doesn’t think it is a matter of choice for

Mary Quinata their grown children eventually come back home, either to live temporarily until they can afford a place of their own or to live there permanently while raising a family of their own. It is very common for families to build extensions of their homes to either accommodate their aging parents or their children who leave the nest and then return.

Facing Challenges Together Krista Anderson

While the Perez family has a supportive and fruitful living situation, they do face challenges that every close-knit family does. “I think the biggest challenge for

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“Most families in Guam try to take care of each other and would not turn a family member away if they needed help.” # Mary Quinata me is trying to find enough time in the day to spend time with my husband and children, my parents and siblings, and even with myself,” Quinata said. “As a wife, a mother and a daughter, I do my best to be there for everyone in my family.” Many people with large families living just within footsteps with each other find it difficult to balance their time with their immediate family and extended family. Another challenge that Quinata faces from living in close quarters to her parents and siblings is coming to a consensus on family decisions. “It can be a challenge for all of us to agree on familyrelated decisions. I have seven siblings and seven siblings-in-law. My husband and I have four adult children, each with growing families. With a family this big, naturally differences of opinions are quite likely, but we do agree to disagree with dignity,” she said. “Proudly, I feel that for the large number of people in my life, we do tend to handle situations well. Good communication and respect for each other’s feelings and boundaries are strengths in my family that I believe truly keep us close, even when times are difficult.”

Maria Perez Though the overall culture in Guam is about the importance of family, there is a particular mentality with Southern residents that illustrates a close-knit family upbringing.“In the South, we definitely have quiet time to spend with our families. We don’t seem to get sidetracked from the busyness of the city,”Anderson said.

From Generation to Generation

Any challenges of having a large extended family within the same neighborhood seem to be far outweighed by the love, support and familiar traditions that only family can give. Each generation of the Perez family portrays the characteristics and upholds the values of the past generations. Those who meet the Perez family will gain a further understanding and experience for themselves the true meaning of family support in Guam.

AM INSURANCE 1/2

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green home, green world, Big business or small family, everyone can make a difference. Take a closer look at what some island residents have done to go green at home, at work and around the community.

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By Christine Restuvog

G

oing green and becoming more environmentally friendly has been an ongoing movement throughout the world. When it comes to how well Guam is taking part in such a movement, some people consider Guam behind the times. Such acts as recycling, composting, building and designing environmentally friendly structures are new to the island’s practices. However, many residents and businesses in Guam are turning a new leaf. One of Guam’s local credit unions, the Government of Guam Employees Federal Credit Union (GGEFCU), and a well-known family clan, the Sanchez family, are just a few of the pioneers leading the way for the local green movement. Ideally, the entire community will follow suit and take part in this ongoing effort.

BEING GREEN STARTS AT HOME Businesses are just one of the groups that are making the effort to go green. Recycling and being environmentally friendly usually starts from home. The Sanchez family is a great example of how an entire family compound pitches in to being green and encourages one another to be environmentally friendly. Several Sanchez family homes in their Upper Tumon compound perform various tasks to save the earth by recycling, composting and turning in their used frying oil, among other things. One family member spoke about how the family members had a recycling mindset from an early age. “There are seven siblings in our family. Our dad worked full time, and our mom was a stay-at-home mom. We were taught not to waste anything and often reused things,” she said. She also mentioned that her family benefited from the little monetary compensation received from recycling aluminum.

have a reimbursement program. “The point of recycling is not to waste,” she said. “We also give away items that can still be used for future resources.” Presently, the family recycles aluminum, plastics and metal and tin cans (both of which do not offer reimbursements) at Pyramid Recycling. They also take frying oil to Lucky One Pumping Service in Anigua. “They will take as little as one container, any size, if you just want to get it out of your kitchen,” she said. “We also place our composted food around our mom’s fruit trees in her yard,” she said. In addition to this practice, the Sanchez family uses their garbage disposal as much as possible. “For the yard compost, we pile it in certain uneven, sunken areas of our yard for fill-in,” she said. The Sanchez family also takes their glass to Ordot Dump, where it is crushed to cover the landfill. “Our family has been very conscious of the Ordot Dump issue, which is one of the reasons why we continue to recycle and be environmentally friendly,” a family

“I think one of the challenges that our community faces in recycling is transporting the trash in your car to these facilities, which can be inconvenient to many people.” — The Sanchez family

member said.The Sanchez family doesn’t stop there; they also recycle cardboard in various facilities in Guam. Not only does it take concern for the earth and drive to continue to recycle and go green, the Sanchez family has to transport all of these items to the recycling facilities throughout Guam.

DAILY HABITS Aside from recycling items, the Sanchez family also gave old clothes and furniture to anyone who had value in those items. The family was enthusiastic about recycling items — even those that didn’t May 2009 guamfamily.net

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TOUGH BUT WORTHWHILE

The Sanchez family is committed to recycling and minimizing waste in their household.

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“I think one of the challenges that our community faces in recycling is transporting the trash in your car to these facilities, which can be inconvenient to many people,” one family member said. She mentioned that another challenge is keeping up with the changes on where to take their recyclables. “In order to keep momentum, you have to pay attention to who takes what and where. It has changed throughout the years,” she said. Another obstacle the Sanchez family has experienced is the difficulty of separating the trash that is thrown out and the items that are being recycled. “Separating has definitely become a problem, not only in our households, but also in the mainland United States. The city of San Francisco, where two of my nieces live, actually charges their residents if their trash and recyclables are not separated,” she said. Taking their recycling practices to their business, the Sanchez sisters pass on their green habits to their employees and colleagues at the Sagua Managu birthing center. “Our maintenance company gives us the option to pay an inexpensive fee to haul our aluminum, plastics, glass and


tin to the recycling centers. We have also extended this option to the tenants in our building,” one sister said. In addition to recycling, the family is also energy conscious. “In order to save power, we unplug anything that isn’t being used,including irons, toaster ovens, hair dryers, charges for cellular phones and computers.” One family member wanted to share that she feels that Guam is not that behind in recycling. She said some states and countries have not started recycling initiatives or are just starting out. “Our community is aware that the Ordot Dump needs help. Our family hopes that our community realizes that recycling and going green and conserving energy are like any other [positive] thing you do for your island,” she said.

Shown is the plan for the new enviro-friendly Maite branch for the Government of Guam Employees Federal Credit Union.

“We could have decided to save costs by building a standard building and moving forward with programs to conserve energy and water and recycle, but we felt that we had to do more, making a statement that we are committed to the environment.” — John Arroyo, president and CEO, Government of Guam Employees Federal Credit Union

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A GREEN BUSINESS A new headquarters for GGEFCU is under construction in Maite, and according to John Arroyo, president and CEO of GGEFCU, it will be the first environmentally certified structure on the island. The building will have substantially lower energy costs and decreased reliance on the island water supply, among many other features. GGEFCU actively looks to aid our island’s environmental issues with this project and hopes that other businesses and residents will follow its lead. “Early in the planning stage, we discussed with our building designers the solid waste, wastewater and other environmental issues facing the island.We decided that the credit union would do all it could to reduce the burden on these systems,” Arroyo said. The company’s goal is to take it a step further and gain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, which will officially qualify the headquarters as an environmentally green building. “We were introduced to the LEED concept by our designers and scheduled a call with a green building consultant. After reviewing the benefits of sustainable design, our board became convinced that this was the right thing for us to do,” he said. Though the environmentally friendly designed building will eventually save GGEFCU money and help save the earth’s resources in the long run, the entire cost to build the new headquarters added about 4 to 5 percent on top of the original cost.According to Arroyo,“We could have decided to save costs by building a standard building and moving forward with programs

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to conserve energy and water and recycle, but we felt that we had to do more, making a statement that we are committed to the environment.”

COMMUNITY EFFORT Other than its new headquarters, GGEFCU was one of the first companies to support the earliest go green effort with local television station KUAM’s Think Green initiative. The initiative includes beach clean-ups, public awareness messages on radio and television, and educational outreach in the community. “We partnered with the I-recycle program by purchasing green bags to support their aluminum recycling efforts that generate funding for our island schools,” Arroyo said. “We recently kicked off our Go Green initiatives at our branches by making changes to our daily work habits. Recycle bins for aluminum cans and plastic bottles have been placed in all of our employee service areas — all aluminum cans collected will then be donated to schools who participate in the I-recycle program. Newspapers and scratch paper are shredded regularly to be given to local farmers that they in turn use as mulch.” The list of environmentally friendly efforts is almost endless for GGEFCU. “We promote our electronic services, specifically the e-statements and CU I-pay [bill pay] to go paperless [and even save members from using gas to go into the branch and pay their bills],” Arroyo said. “Our commitment to save the earth [is part of] our daily business operations.”



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health health spot spot Choosing A

Health Care Provider

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health spot health spot

by Faye Varias

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e all want high-quality health care, but it’s hard to know how to choose. There are many things to consider, including: • what your insurance covers • whether a health care provider or service is accredited • the location of a service • hours the service is available • whether you like a health care provider’s personality. Selecting quality health care services for yourself, your family, or a friend requires special thought and attention. Knowing what to look for and what to ask will help you choose a health plan that provides quality care and best meets your needs. If you have only one health plan available to you, the following can help you better understand your health plan benefits. 24

Health plans may include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), independent practice associations (IPAs), managed care organizations (MCOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and specialty service systems. You may want to begin by talking with your doctor about each health plan available to you. Then ask about the following to determine which health plan meets your needs: • • • • •

Coverage and fees Accessibility and locations Member rights Policies Quality

Overall, it’s about finding a health care provider that’s right for your needs.

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health health spot spot Top 5 Things to Consider 1) Training. There are many health care professionals qualified for general child care, including family physicians, pediatricians and practitioners. Choose one you prefer. 2) Personality. Think about whether age or gender matter to you. No matter what, ensure that your health care provider’s bedside manner is suited to your style. 3) Location. Although visits can be planned in advance, there will be unexpected, frequent visits. It may be more convenient to find one close to your home or work. 4) Type of Practice. Practices range from large groups to privately-owned offices. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Decide if it’s important that you see the same person all the time and/or what your alternatives are should your practitioner be ill or on vacation. 5) Availability. Finding someone you click with won’t do any good if you can’t fit them into your schedule. Ask what the office hours are and see if that fits you. Similarly, you need to find out how much time will be taken out of your schedule for each visit.

Insurance and Public Assistance Aflac American Family Life 267 S. Marine Dr., UIU Bldg., Ste. 2C, Tamuning 687-6401 • Fax 647-5080 Calvo’s Insurance P.O. Box C I, Hagatña 477-9808 • Fax 477-4141 Dental Services Inc. (DSI) 646-3741 • Fax 646-3740 Guam Medicaid Program 735-7245 • Fax 734-6860 Medically Indigent Program 735-7302 • Fax 734-6860 Netcare Life & Health Insurance 424 West O’Brien Dr., Julale Shopping Center, Ste. 102, Hagatña 472-3610/1/2/3/4 • Fax 472-3615 Staywell Insurance 430 W. Soledad Ave., Hagatña 477-5091 • Fax 477-5096 TakeCare Insurance Co. Inc. 415 Chalan San Antonio, Baltej Pavillion Ste. 108, Tamuning 646-6956/9 • Fax 647-3551

Calvo’s 1/2

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finance finance

Get Your Family’s

Financial House in Order

By Janiece A. Sablan

funds coming in might be less than the funds going out. Ouch! There couldn’t be a better time to get your family’s finances in order. Most of us intuitively know that it is important to have a written budget for our family, but if you have never actually sat down with a pencil and paper or a computer with a spreadsheet, let’s get started.

Take Financial Inventory

Before you can determine your budget, you need to take stock of your current financial situation. “I would start with examining your current income and expenditures. I would list your income and subtract your expenditures. Hopefully you will be on the positive side. If you have a surplus of income, determine how to best use it, whether to save, retire debt, or invest. If you are one of the many who find themselves with a negative number, sit down and seriously examine your expenditures,” said Matthew Cruz, assistant vice president of business development management at the Bank of Guam.

A

re you the type of person that stands and analyzes the price per ounce of apple juice to determine the better buy? Or are you loyal to your brand? Are you carefully monitoring mortgage interest rates to see if it‘s time to refinance your home loan? Behavior varies greatly when it comes to dealing with everyday money issues, but in these volatile economic times, people 26

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are becoming keenly aware of how and where they are spending their money. The most effective way of taking control of family finances is to commit to preparing and adhering to a household budget. Yes, the “B” word makes some people cringe. Why? Because it takes work, but also because it requires facing a reality that makes some people uncomfortable. The

Cruz advises families to track their spending for a week to a month. He said, “At the end of the week or month, examine how seemingly insignificant expenditures add up to large expenditures. Next, prioritize expenditures. Look for areas which you can cut. Once you gain an awareness of how you spend, you gain insight into where you can save.” It might be a bit difficult to track every penny you spend, but in the long run, it will help plug holes where $40 per week might be leaking iced white mochas.


finance finance Build Your Budget

Armed with the information you’ve collected, you are ready to build your budget. If you are tech-savvy, there is some great software available for creating and updating budgets such as Quicken and Quickbooks. There are also some useful resources available online that can simply be downloaded and ready for your use including Excel templates from Microsoft Online. (Visit http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/ budget/, where you can plug in your numbers, and it does the work for you!) If you are using good ol’ pen and paper and you want to keep it ultra-simple, include the following headings: w Income (list all forms of income for your household) w Expenses-Fixed (list all expenses that are consistent each month such as mortgage or rent, insurance, loan payments, etc.) w Expenses-Variable (list all expenses that may change each month such as electricity, clothing costs, etc.) Add all forms of expense and subtract from income. Voila! That’s your magic number to work with, but you’re not done yet. This is where you can make adjustments to your bottom line. Cruz said, “If it were a perfect world, all we have to do is increase our income,” but since this is rarely an immediate possibility, “we are left with addressing our expenses.”

Guam’s Financial Institutions Allied Bank - 649-5001 Asia Pacific Financial Management Group Inc. - 472-6400 Assoc Insurance - 477-1754 Bank of Guam - 472-5300 Bank of Hawaii - 1-877-553-2424 BankPacific - 472-6704 Beacon Valuation Group LLC - 653-5757 Citibank - 477-2484 Citizens Security Bank - 479-9000 Community First Guam Federal Credit Union - 472-8210 Financial Company - 472-3324 First Command Financial Planning - 647-2923 First Hawaiian Bank - 475-7900 Government of Guam Employees Federal Credit Union - 477-8736 Marianas Finance Corporation - 646-5011 Merrill Lynch Globalprivate Client - 477-9158 Metrobank - 649-9555 Oceanic Bank - 637-1037 Pacific Islands Development Bank - 477-0047 Personal Finance Center - 647-6820 Smith Barney - 475-8821 Synergy Financial Management, dba Direct Lender 646-9003 Us Financing - 649-2505 Wells Fargo Financial - 637-9834 Young & Associates - 646-6130

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parenting parenting

encourage

your

by Janiece A. Sablan

“I can’t.” The two words used together are banned in my household. The words just get my hair standing on end! Once those words slip out of a child’s mouth, they become a self-fulfilling prophecy. They just can’t. Can’t read the sentence, can’t figure out the math problem, can’t put their zories on the right feet, or can’t eat the tinaktak because it looks icky. On the one hand, some kids are just natural doers and triers. My 8-year-old daughter is very athletic and competitive. She will work and work at a new gymnastics move until she gets it right. My 6-year-old daughter is completely the opposite. She cringes at a challenge and doesn’t have nearly the same confidence. How can this happen? These two girls live in the same house with the same environment. But we’re all wired differently. All children need encouragement. Some just need it more than others. The main definition of “encourage” is “to inspire with courage, spirit or hope.” If you’re like me and you’ve read The Little Engine that Could a couple hundred times, you have also wrestled with encouragement. “I think I can, I think I can,” said the Little Blue Engine. I ask my kids, “What would happen if the engine said, ‘I think I can’t, I think I can’t”? Of course, they laugh, but they get the point. If you think you can’t, you can’t. May 2009 guamfamily.net

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parenting parenting

Encouragement at Different Ages & Stages Encouragement can come in different forms as children get older. In the article, “The Four Phases of Parenthood,” author Bob Hostetler (Focus on the Family magazine, June 2007) labels the phases: Commander, coach, counselor and consultant. In the first phase as commander, we find ourselves dictating what our little ones can and cannot do, albeit with a sufficient amount of high-pitched yays over accomplishments such as rolling over or grasping a rattle. The yays are our encouragement. The coach stage is a real training phase. Parents should give children reasonable options. One way

Parental Pick-Me-Ups When do we need to be encouraging for our children? I often read articles about how to encourage your child to read, to write, to be polite, to share, to stop biting. Yikes! We always have to be on our toes to see if a child needs a little parental pick-me-up. When my 6-year-old started having problems taking spelling tests, I knew she was due for some serious encouragement. She’d freeze up at the thought of walking in the classroom door on Friday mornings because she knew that was test day. I helped her by taking little steps such as additional study time, more one-on-one practice (which is not easy when you have several other children vying for your attention), and small rewards for simply trying to spell new words. Her extra studying and trying resulted in her first A+.

I do this is by offering choices for chores around the house. My oldest daughter prefers vacuuming, while my second daughter prefers to unload the dishwasher. That’s a choice they often agree upon without Mommy telling them what to do. (Notice, they didn’t think that doing nothing was an option.) Offering options encourages children to learn some independence and make some of their own decisions. If you think of an athletic coach, you know there is a lot of encouraging going on aside from the ubiquitous “Good job!” Coaches point out strengths and weaknesses along with suggestions for how to improve. That is encouragement. As a counselor and consultant during teen and adult years, we should let the reigns out a bit and become more of a sounding board for our children’s decisions and choices. This doesn’t mean encouragement stops, but it becomes more

Encouragement Can Be Many Things There are specific strategies for encouraging children on a variety of things, but the root of it all seems to be the same: Take time to focus on your child’s needs, providing a loving and safe environment to try new things, being creative with strategies that promote the “I think I can” concept, and modeling behaviors we are trying to teach. Also, reading The Little Engine that Could a few hundred times might be useful. Janiece Sablan resides in Agana Heights with her husband, Greg, and five children ages 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2. She is also the president of a non-profit organization working to open U’zeum Children’s Discovery Museum of Guam.

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May 2009 guamfamily.net

in the form of advice and sympathizing.


May 2009 guamfamily.net

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May 2009 guamfamily.net


teen teen scene scene

TECH

FOR TEENS

I don’t know about you, but I never had a need for a cell phone when I was in school. By Faye Varias Cell phones have become such a big part of our daily lives. Between scheduling photo shoots and lunch meetings, I couldn’t imagine having to plan and reschedule while out and about if I didn’t have one. But when I see young tweens chattering with friends, racking up minutes while talking about what color they will dye their hair next, I question whether they really need one or if the much needed discussion could have waited until they got home or the next time they saw each other in school. I may be considered a dinosaur in some circles, but in middle school, I treasured having real conversations, sprawled on my bedroom floor while talking on my see-through phone that lit up when it rang. Then the age of the beeper came. In beAbout the Blackberry Storm:

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5

phones that fit their style. See page 34.

tween codes I had to learn just to say, “Hi there� — 41 74373. I had to worry about getting caught with it and getting it confiscated. In high school, I had an endless supply of quarters for the pay phone outside the cafeteria. I still haven’t transitioned into the age of texting and the new language that arose because of it. “Ttyl� and “brb� were foreign to me until just a couple years ago. But in this day and age, I’ve found that there seems to be a balance between parents who think cell phones should be banned in schools and those who don’t. Proponents of allowing them say it would be easier to contact their children should the need arise. Others say cell phones are distractions. One thing seems to be clear: Unlike leg warmers and banana clips, the cell phone isn’t a fad, and it’s here to stay. In a span of just a few years, it’s become a vital part in managing our lives. We just have to deal with it — including the slew of chattering, texting teens. Faye Varias is the editor of Guam Family. Though she has no children of her own, she plays surrogate to her brother, almost 12 years her junior.

May 2009 guamfamily.net

33


teen scene teen scene

By Faye Varias

What’s In?

We hit the streets and polled dozens of local high school seniors who voiced the top five phones that best fit their style.

1

iPhone – The iPhone combines three products into one: a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod and a breakthrough Internet device.

2

BlackBerry Flip – Stylish and compact, the BlackBerry Flip series smart phones help teens communicate on the go and fit right in their back pockets. It combines fun and functionality in a whole new way.

3

BlackBerry Storm – With a unique touch screen and cuttingedge multimedia capabilities, the BlackBerry Storm makes a stylish impression among friends.

4

Nokia 6500 Slide – For the multitasking teen, the Nokia 6500 Slide is a phone with an excellent 3.2 megapixel camera, a large display, digital music options, expandable memory and Bluetooth.

5

LG Chocolate – For teens who want a sleek design, the LG Chocolate has a sharp look while satisfying overall performance and a multimedia-rich feature set that includes Bluetooth, a digital music player and a camera.

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May 2009 guamfamily.net



time out and daddy time outforformommy mommy and daddy

%

on’t know about you other parents out there, but when I hear such words as “couple’s getaway,” I excitedly float like a feather into a spalike heaven of reconnection, romance and recreation and in that same second, come crashing down into a whirlwind of bills, binkies and babysitters. You haven’t had that getaway without the kids. You know you need it — you just don’t know how. Don’t worry. It is all possible.

"SF :PV 3FBEZ

The first question you need to ask yourself is: Am I ready? That’s right YOU. If you’re planning your getaway, but all you can do is worry your head off about Junior eating his broccoli or grandma using the right bath soap — you aren’t ready. Now realize that parental worry is completely normal. Find a babysitter you can trust (Yes, you can trust your parents. After all, you are breathing, aren’t you?) and let the worry go. Your children know you love them, and they will survive without you. This next step will make it easy. The trick to a couple’s getaway is that it can be as short as a one-nighter in one of

$SFBUF B

Personal Getaway By Maria Cristobal

Guam’s own fantastic hotels and as simple as going for a walk. If you’re ready for a full-on vacation package to Europe, well, right on! The most important thing to remember is that you and your significant other need to reconnect and remember who you were before the babies were born. Remember those youthful, energetic people? They are still there. They just need a recharge.

/P 8PSSJFT

I admit, I am a testament to the over-worried mom who hasn’t taken the possibility 36

May 2009 guamfamily.net


time out time for mommy andanddaddy out for mommy daddy “I am also a testament to the fact that you can have a getaway without actually having to get away. ... The trick to a Couples Getaway is that it can be as short as a one-nighter in one of Guam’s own fantastic hotels and as simple as going for a walk.” of a couple’s getaway seriously — until now. I am also a testament to the fact that you can have a getaway without actually having to get away. This is why I know a getaway is completely worth the time and money. Every night my husband and I put our son to sleep and then eat dinner together. We’ll have a glass of wine or a nice dessert and play some jazz or whatever is good on Pandora Radio — something to make the evening feel special. Sometimes we get to curl up on the couch together

and watch one of the movies we’ve ordered from Netflix (without passing out before the ending). This time is special to us and accounts for the closest thing to a getaway we can get. The point is, you can start out slowly by getting away within comfortable parameters — and I’m talking budget-wise as well. You don’t have to spend on an elaborate vacation to get to that calm, sandy beach on a blanket with your loved one. We live in Guam! ... which brings me to a very important note. Remember that this time between you and your loved one is for reconnecting and not recounting bills, school, work, parenting methods or home improvement. It is the time spent together, just being yourselves, and not the distance between you and your kids that makes a couple’s getaway.

)FBMUIZ GPS &WFSZPOF

A healthy relationship between parents is just as healthy for the kids. So create mini-

vacations for you and your significant other and do it often. Go for a walk together. Try cooking a new recipe together. Fly a kite (seriously). Give each other a massage. Eat together. Curl up on your couch and watch a movie together. These little getaways will bring you, finally, to the step from which I find myself hanging my feet: complete and utter readiness for the full-on, real thing couple’s getaway. My husband and I, are planning our trip for next year around our anniversary. (A week sounds good. Maybe two. Okay, one and a half.) We will board that plane. We will check in with the sitters when we get there. And the rest is for us to enjoy.

May 2009 guamfamily.net

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calendar ofof events calendar events

May 2009 sun

mon

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tue

wed

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thu

University of Guam Senior Art Show begins. May 7 to June 19

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Kantan Minagod Song Festival in Inarajan

Happy Mother’s Day! GAIN’s Bark in the Park at Asan Beach Park

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Guam International Tennis Open at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa

Guam International Tennis Open at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa

19th Annual Manukai Coco’s Crossing 9th Annual Tough Guam Extreme Adventure Race

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May 2009 guamfamily.net

14

Guam International Tennis Open at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa May 21 - 25

21

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calendar calendarof of events events fri

1

Calendar of Events in May

sat

2

Guam Symphony Society dinner show “That’s Italian!” Guam Soap Box Derby Kantan Minagod Song Festival in Inarajan

May 2 Guam Symphony Society dinner show “That’s Italian!” at 7 p.m. Call 477-1959 for details. Guam Soap Box Derby on Route 4. Call 472-2227 for details.

8

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May 2 & 3 Kantan Minagod Song Festival in Inarajan. Call 828-1672 for details. May 7 to June 19 University of Guam Senior Art Show. Call 735-2956 for details.

15

Malojloj Fiesta

16

May 10 Happy Mother’s Day! GAIN’s Bark in the Park at Asan Beach Park from 2 p.m. to sunset. Call 929-2839 for details.

Guam International Tennis Open at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa

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Guam International Tennis Open at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa

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May 16 Malojloj Fiesta May 21-25 Guam International Tennis Open at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa. Call 646-1835 for details. May 24 19th Annual Manukai Coco’s Crossing in Merizo. E-mail cocoscrossing@yahoo.com for details. 9th Annual Tough Guam Extreme Adventure Race. Call 483-9453 or 929-6133 for details. If you’d like to place your special event or sports activity on our calendar, e-mail us at editor@guamfamily.net.

May 2009 guamfamily.net

39


centerstage centerstage

Vanessa Ochavillo ;TeW jbe^ cTlf bYY!

Freshman shines in National Forensics League oratories. By Faye Varias When Vanessa Ochavillo first heard about the National Forensics League, she wasn’t exactly sure what it was. The National Forensics League is the nation’s oldest and largest debate and speech honor society, founded in 1925, and has enrolled more than one million members across the country. Members compete in categories ranging from one-on-one debates, original oratories and literary interpretations. Historically, the Guam district has repeatedly sent representatives to compete in national competitions, but in recent years, funding has caused a decline in participation. A freshman at the Academy of Our Lady of Guam, 15-year-old Ochavillo said, “My friend gave me a rough description. Then I thought, it wouldn’t hurt to join.”

Shining Star

did you know...

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May 2009 guamfamily.net

On the surface, Ochavillo appears to be a soft-spoken person, slightly timid in nature. But she finds it easy to speak in front of a crowd and knows how to turn on her competitive side when needed. She took interest in the original oratory category choosing to speak on hope and perseverance with only one month to prepare for her first competition. “A major problem I faced in preparing was getting my thoughts together on


centerstage centerstage

Clockwise from top left:Vanessa Ochavillo acts out a scene with a lead male character in the Academy of Our Lady of Guam’s production of Flower Drum Song; Ochavillo sings a solo in the role of Mei Li in The Flower Drum Song; Ochavillo takes a break from practice with some of her National Forensics League teammates at school. Photos courtesy of Vanessa Ochavillo

my topic. I had the idea of what it was I wanted to talk about, but there was just so much to talk about on hope that brainstorming and organizing my speech was just a mess,” she said.

Back to the Drawing Board

Ochavillo revised, practiced and rewrote her speech eliminating unnecessary parts and concentrating on making her important points count. “The memorizing wasn’t too difficult, but becoming my piece was another problem,” she said. “I memorized it ... and eventually learned to add more emotion to what I was saying.” On the day of her first competition in January, Ochavillo said she was worried her nerves would overcome her and she would go blank. But more so, she was worried about getting her point across to her listeners. “I knew that the content of my speech held an important meaning, but it was no use if I couldn’t convince anyone of perseverance and success. That was my main objective and what was on my mind throughout the duration of the competition.”

Taking the Win

After four hours of competition, Ochavillo was announced the overall winner of the match for her category. She placed first among other older, more experienced competitors. “Winning was the last thing on my mind that day, so when I did, I was completely surprised,” beamed Ochavillo. “I was the youngest ... the least experienced, so I felt triumphant. I also felt accomplished because I knew that all the practices paid off and that my goal to have the judges hear and believe me was reached.” She said being well-prepared definitely paid off. Ochavillo also credited the presence of her mom in the crowd as a big source of confidence. However, Ochavillo knows there’s always room to improve. “During the competition, I did jumble up a few words, so I could always improve on my nerves. Plus, it was very difficult to create the emotions I normally expressed when there were a million butterflies fluttering in my stomach. There’s always room for me to sound

·< ^aXj g[Tg g[X VbagXag bY `l fcXXV[ [X_W Ta \`cbe gTag `XTa\aZ Uhg \g jTf ab hfX \Y < Vbh_Waºg Vbai\aVX TalbaX bY cXefXiXeTaVX TaW fhVVXff! G[Tg jTf `l `T\a bU]XVg\iX TaW j[Tg jTf ba `l `\aW g[ebhZ[bhg g[X WheTg\ba bY g[X Vb`cXg\g\ba!¸ and be more convincing just by psyching myself into it.” As for her future goals, Ochavillo hopes to continue competing in the National Forensics League and eventually win a bid to the national competition. “Anything, really, is possible,” she said.

If you’d like to recommend a student who is making a difference, e-mail: editor@guamfamily.net.

Expand your Talents Today! For Children: Acting/Modeling Hula/Tahitian Tippy toes Ballet Hip-Hop/Creative Dance Jiu jitsu/Little Dragons Your Baby can READ Kindermusik/Sign Language Jump Rope/Theatre After School Tutoring

For Teenagers and Adults: ASVAB/GED Prep Women’s Hula Women’s Tahitian Women’s Belly Dancing Salsa, Meringue, Cha-Cha Hip-Hop Women’s Self Defense

Studio Hours: 7:30am-6:30pm Office Hours: 2pm-6pm Phone: 475-8269 Open Monday-Sunday Located in Maite across Plumeria Garden Hotel e-mail: thetalentbox@gmail.com May 2009 guamfamily.net

41


Identify each numbered item in the image on the corresponding line at the right. Then have fun coloring the picture!

1. 2. 3. 4.

5. 6. 7. 8. See Answers on page 48.

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May 2009 guamfamily.net


health health spot spot B[j j^[ \kd X[]_d$

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PURDY

When the Guam Greyhound Raceway Park closed its doors, Purdy was one of the hundreds of greyhounds left with an uncertain future. Several of her greyhound friends ended up abandoned, but lucky for Purdy, she was saved by a Guam Animals In Need (GAIN) volunteer. She stayed at the shelter while GAIN contacted several greyhound rescue groups in the United States, who have all shown support in helping the Guam greyhounds find homes throughout the nation. Purdy received a health examination and updated her shots, and then she was placed on a waiting list to be transported to the U.S. mainland in search of a loving, permanent home. A month later, her departure date was set, and on Jan. 16, she was on a plane to California with three other greyhounds. On Jan. 24, Chris Terry, a volunteer for the Golden State Greyhound Adoption in California, took Purdy and two of her greyhound friends for an evaluation, but Purdy didn’t even make it to the adoption row. Chris fell in love with her immediately and adopted her himself.

Purdy now lives on a half-acre property in Central Valley, Calif. with 11 other dogs, seven of which are greyhounds. She finally has a forever home. For more information about GAIN or to share your adoption success story, send GAIN a message at www.myspace.com/ guamanimalsinneed.

May 2009 guamfamily.net

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Earth Day Puzzle CZ 5IPNBT 4USPINFZFS

Across 3 Transportation that is good for the environment and good for you 5 To use over again 6 Guam’s underwater reefs 7 Alternative energy 9 Recyclable material 10 Contaminating materials 11 Guam’s environmental agency

“Family” There are many ways to say FAMILY! Afrikaans

Gesin, Familie

Albanian

Familje

Cebuano

Banay

Chamorro

Familia

Chinese

Jia Ting

Cornish

Týlu

Czech

Rodina

Dutch

Familie

Ecuadorian

Aillu

Finnish

Ferhe

French

Famille

Guarani

Rogaygua

Hungarian

Család

Icelandic

Fjölskylda

Indonesian

Famili

Inuktitut

Qatangutigiit

Irish

Teaghlach

Italian

Famiglia

Japanese

Kazoku

B

Kongo

kanda

C

Maori

Whaanau

Maya

Meek-taan

E

Polish

Rodzina

Y

Scottish

Teaghlach

G

Spanish

Familia

O

Tagalog

Pamílya

Vietnamese

Gia quyn con cái

S G

I H

I

F M A

trong gia ình

S

dòng dõi

A

Welsh

Tylwyth

Zulu

Umuzi

44

Down 1 Food or garden waste 2 The color of a leaf 4 Sharing a ride 8 It’s all around Guam

May 2009 guamfamily.net

N


Kusina Kusina

Almond Mango POP Tarts by Denise Rita Santos Crust: 1 c. Almonds, finely chopped 1 1/2 c. All-Purpose Flour 1 /2 c. Butter, softened 2 Tbs. Sugar Mix all ingredients together to form dough. Place dough in Pampered Chef Mini Tart pan, and press center with wood molder. Bake at 350 degrees until light golden brown. Let cool 20 minutes. Set aside for ready filling. Filling: 2 - 8 oz. packages of Cream Cheese 1 c. Confectioners’ Sugar 8 c. Whipping Cream 2 c. Milk 1 - 4 oz. Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix 4 c. Mango, pureed Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 4 cups whipping cream until smooth. Mix milk and pudding until stiff. Combine cream mix and pudding mix together. Fold mango into the mix until thick. Pour mix in cooled tarts. Top with remaining cream over filling. Freeze 2-4 hours before serving.

Banango Bread by Denise Rita Santos 3 c. Bread Flour 1 /2 tsp. Baking Soda 1 /2 tsp. Baking Powder 1 c. Cooking Oil 13/4 c. Sugar 2 tsp. Vanilla 3 Eggs 21/2 c. Mango, pureed 2 c. Bananas, mashed 1 c. Almonds, finely chopped Sift together: flour, baking soda, and baking powder. In separate bowl: Mix and beat oil, sugar, vanilla, and eggs until creamy. Add flour mixture. Stir in: Mango, bananas, and almonds. Mix well. Place in sprayed or floured baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until bread pulls away from sides of pan. Let cool before serving. Enjoy the flavor of Banango Bread!

Have a recipe you’d like to share? E-mail high-resolution photos, ingredients and instructions to editor@guamfamily.net, and you may be published in the next edition of Kusina in Guam Family! May 2009 guamfamily.net

45


family tradition family tradition Spring I Activities

’ve never thought of myself as one of those moms that star in magazines and cook up a meal like the Food Network. And yet, here I sit, as I believe most of us do after having a child come into our lives, pondering different ways to make my son’s first experience in anything as amazing or even better, as I remember in my own youth. I’d like to take this spring to hone my creative skills as a fun mommy and explore different activities we can all enjoy. These are simply ideas, so you can definitely improvise.

by Maria Cristobal

Bunny Masks You’ll need: paper plates, cotton balls or felt, pipe cleaners, scissors, Elmer’s glue, markers or crayons, construction paper, masking tape, and popsicle sticks various sizes of rubber bands or ribbon. Instructions: 1. Pick a paper plate. It’s a perfect time to get all those leftover party plates out — you know, the ones that say “Graduation 1999� on them. 2. Have the kids draw on the back of the paper plates where they want the eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers to be. Let them have fun coloring up a storm. But try to guide them to draw out two rabbit teeth.

3. Have them glue their choice of cotton balls, felt circles or construction paper circles onto the cheeks of the rabbit’s face. You probably want to use about three cotton balls for the cheeks; otherwise, let the kids cut circles out of the felt or construction paper for the cheeks. 4. Cut out for them or help them cut out their eye holes and teeth. 5. Poke holes for the whiskers and push a pipe cleaner through each hole and tape at the back with masking tape. Fashion the pipe cleaners into swirls or zigzags or hey, whatever the kids want! 6. To make the mask wearable, poke holes through the mask on each side, at least an inch away from the edge.

%FTJHO :PVS 0XO 5 TIJSUT You’ll need: blank T-shirts, iron-on transfer paper, computer, scanner, color printer, 8.5� X 11� paper, iron, ironing surface, and crayons, markers or colored pencils. Instructions: 1. Grab a bunch of paper and let your kiddies draw like they’ve never drawn before. Of course, try to keep them inspired by the season.

46

Cut a long rubber band and tie each side through one of the holes. Or you can tie ribbons to each side and then tie onto the child’s or adult’s head. Or, to go masquerade style, you can simply glue a popsicle stick on the back. 7. Have fun jumping around like a bunny.

will come out in reverse on the final product, so if there are words, you’ll have to flip the artwork on the computer. 4. Read and follow the directions on the packaging of your iron-on transfer paper. These instructions should tell you how to place the paper into the printer to make sure you print on the right side and how to flip your artwork. 5. Cut excess white space off the printed iron-on transfer paper. 6. Play around with the placement of the artwork on the T-shirt.

2. Choose T-shirt worthy art from the drawings. It’s always fun to see what the kids pick.

7. Once you’ve decided the placement of the artwork, turn the iron on the highest heat setting, and iron on the artwork!

3. Scan the artwork into the computer. Note: The artwork

8.Put shirts on excited kids and jump around.

May 2009 guamfamily.net


family tradition family tradition Animal Pancakes You’ll need: frying pan, stove, ladle, spatula, your favorite pancake mix, sprinkles, fruit, whipped cream, or whatever toppings you prefer. Instructions: 1. Make your pancake batter. If this is your first time making pancakes, just follow the directions on the box or bag of whatever pancake mixture you decide to pick up. 2. Turn your stove on medium and grease your frying pan using butter, canola or both. 3. Once your stove is to temperature (you can test it by dripping a little batter onto the pan -- it should lightly sizzle and turn golden brown on the frying side), use a ladle to pour your batter onto the pan. Pour a regular circular “cake” toward one of the sides of the pan, making room for ears and other facial parts, like ears for a bunny. Then, quickly, use the ladle to “draw” two ears from the head to the other side of the pan. 4. When the pancake starts bubbling, it is ready to flip. Use a large spatula to loosen the ears from the pan. Then

quickly thrust the spatula underneath the head portion and flip! 5. Top with your favorite toppings. Use fruit or chocolate for the eyes and nose. And use whipped cream for the ear fuzz and whiskers. Enjoy!

Share your Family Tradition by e-mailing editor@guamfamily.net

May 2009 guamfamily.net

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sneak peek sneak peek

Coming Next Month! Focus on Education - Public school or private school, learning starts at home. Beatrice Pereda - The true story of a successful, single mom. Family Travel - How to travel with your family and not go crazy. Also, a look at DisneySea in Japan, just three hours away by plane. In Our Regular Departments: The Value of Faith Saving for Retirement Summer Programs Healthy Family Cooking Father’s Day Celebrations and MORE!

ANSWERS TO PAGE 42 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

LATTE STONE MOUNTAIN SAND OCEAN COCONUT TREE CLOUD SUN SKY

ANSWER TO PAGE 43

THE SECOND PUPPY DOES NOT HAVE A COLLAR.

ANSWERS TO PAGE 44 Across 3 BICYCLE 5 RECYCLE 6 CORAL 7 SOLAR 9 PLASTIC 10 POLLUTION 11 GEPA

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May 2009 guamfamily.net

Down 1 BIODEGRADABLE 2 GREEN 4 CARPOOL 8 OCEAN




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