How do I love Saipan? Let me count the ways

LOS ANGELES, California—It was Monday, May 3, 2004, 7:30am, when the clock pierced the silence inside the Wilshire Boulevard flat occupied only by three suitcases of clothes and personal belongings, an inflatable bed, a laptop computer, and me. Thirty minutes, tops, was all I had to hit the shower and get dressed—yes, no morning coffee—to catch the 8am Metro Bus that would take me from Normandie Avenue to Western Boulevard where I would take the Dash Bus that would take me at least two blocks from an office along Beverly Boulevard where I worked as PR consultant.

From the bus station, I’d have to walk at least two blocks to buy me a cup of Starbucks cafe latte, which I sip on my way to the office. Besides the time, the direction, and the café latte (it’s a cup of Starbucks mocha frap in the PM), it’s always been the same routine in the afternoon as I get off from work around 6pm.

It seems an ordinary routine for a young professional based in a big city like Los Angeles. It is, however, a completely different pattern for someone who’s used to the slow-paced, stress-free, and traffic jam-free island life on Saipan where my workday usually starts at 1pm, which gave me the luxury of getting up at 9am, brew my own coffee, watch TV, shower, and dress up. By the time I leave Unit B-115 of Fina Sisu Terrace Apartments courtesy of my company-issued Mazda 929, it’s already almost lunch time. There have been times that I get to see Shirley’s Coffee Shop along Middle Road and its friendly wait staff first before my own news team.

Those were the days!

Now, it’s buckle down to real hard work in a bigger, real-life jungle where dog eats dog; where board and lodging are not offered to employees for free; where transportation is the worker’s own responsibility; and where work schedule is almost always not flexible. Not for me in my PR job, at least. It’s either I am at the office 5 minutes before 9am and 5 minutes after 6pm or my paycheck will suffer. I can’t afford to see that coming. I have a monthly rent to pay, mouths (my own and some back in the Philippines) to feed, and clothes to buy (the last one being the most important).

Seriously, though, I used to ask why mainlanders go to Saipan to live and work. I thought that maybe they are just unable to make it in the highly competitive labor market in the US. I don’t ask the same question anymore. Although there may really be a few of them who simply don’t have the “it” to make it through the tough mainland life, I am sure that majority of them, mainlanders, on Saipan are on the island simply because nothing beats a good life in paradise.

Like them, I have learned to make the island my home. I love a lot of things about Saipan. Let me count the ways:

1. I love the way it gave me enough time to pick which shirt I should wear to work and with what pants, shoes and bag;

2. I love the way it helped me catch up with my favorite TV programs, thanks, most part, to the time difference and the week-long delay in the telecast of US shows;

3. I love the way I get to brew my own coffee before I hit the shower in the morning;

4. I love the way it allowed me to develop true friendships;

5. I love the way it gave me the chance to grow—professionally;

6. I love the way it helped me learn from my mistakes;

7. I love the way it made consuming half-chicken or an entire serving of crispy pata with lots of fried rice normal;

8. I love the way I got free facial treatment from Ate Guy and free massage from Tina;

9. I love the way I could tap the assistance of tech experts to fix my computer problems sans the fee;

10. I love the way I was able to drive an executive car, to the resentment of others;

11. I love the way I got free food from POI;

12. I love the way I was able to drive from my apartment to the office in less than 10 minutes;

13. I love the way I danced with friends at the Gilligan’s, and TGIT later on;

14. I love the way I was able to build a good lineup of wardrobe without hurting my pocket ($3 for a piece of signature shirt! Who can beat that and where?!);

15. I love the way it provided a place where I could meet someone really special;

16. I love the way I could never run out of things to say why I love the island;

17. But most of all, I love Saipan because it takes good care of my HONEY who happened to have also fallen in love with the island. (Aldwin R. Fajardo)