Hey Guys,

I just returned from Guam and wanted to share my experience with you. First of all, Guam is really far, it’s about 28 hours from door to door! One of the reasons that I chose to go to Guam is that it’s one of the few places that I’ve never been before and I was so pleasantly surprised with how beautiful the island is. It has an amazing cultural mix between the native Chamorro culture and the American influence. It definitely felt like home, the weather is just like Miami and you could see a McDonald’s on every corner. As you probably know, the itinerary was very, very full during my three day trip there. We visited numerous hospitals, schools and military bases, including the Air Force, Navy and National Guard. It was a greatly educational experience to learn about various military proceedings, to see the conditions and communities in which the troops live and to understand the enormous responsibilities that they have in keeping us safe. It was amazing to see how young many of the troops are, most of whom are already married with kids, and how hard it is for their families when they are away from home.

I cannot begin to describe how fulfilling and rewarding this trip was for me. It really felt good to interact with everyone and to feel how much they appreciated the support that we showed them. Even though I don’t hold an American passport, I am a permanent resident and have lived in the US for close to 17 years, so it meant a lot for me to show my support; not only to the troops, but to their families and children as well. I also know, from personal experience, how hard it is to be removed from your home country at a young age.

A Special thanks to KSwiss for the 4000 pieces of gear they donated!! It was great to see the excitement of all the kids when we gave everyone their goodies. It was a bit of a challenge for me to stand up and talk in front of 600 kids at a time and try to keep their attention, but I think it worked out and we all had a good time; they had some very good questions.

Special thanks also to the USO for bringing me out to Guam, it was my first collaboration with them and I’ve already inquired as to when and where I can go next year!

Pictures and videos to come soon, stay tuned!

Anna