Saipodities

After being here a year, I'm starting to get used to all of the quirks. In fact, I don't even notice them much any more. But I realized the other day that we haven't done a very good job of describing our bizarre little island to those of you back in the states.

So, why not blog about those funny little details?

Here are a few "Saipodities" for the day:

In the states, as you check out at the grocery store, you can reach for a magazine or a pack of gum. Here, you can buy an assortment of little treats including sushi rolls, tuna fish sandwiches, hot dogs with ketchup, mayo (w/jalapenos pictured below) squished in plastic wrap, some weird unidentified items, and, of course, betel nut. I'd never heard of betel nut before moving to Saipan...it was better that way; what a nasty little habit. Yet, everyone here loves the stuff. They mix it with lime made from burnt coral that's ground into a powder. Apparently, it 'jangles' your nerves. All I know is that it makes for some disgusting teeth (those poor dentists!) Not only that, but we constantly see people spitting the stuff all over the place. As you drive down the road you'll see car doors flying open left and right so folks can spit without spraying it on their cars. And did I mention that it's red? With the red stains covering the ground, it looks like mass murders are taking place all over Saipan.