Realizations

We have known since the beginning of our time in Saipan that this place is different. It is beautiful, in a way that it cannot be compared to any other place we have lived. When we first got here I was surprised every time I saw someone using American Dollars. Tourists would pay with cash and it was like "look, they're using US Dollars!! Oh, yeah, this is America too..."

Even with that understanding, I still come to realizations about Saipan and it's differences on a regular basis. Maybe I should expect them by now, but sometimes they just come out of the blue...

I was talking with one of my Korean students earlier this week. He is one of my peer tutors and works with the students who need a little extra explanation. Like usual he was sitting around waiting for the students to show. He began looking at my Texas map. It's not uncommon, they all do at different times, if they're waiting to talk to me at my desk, or they get bored. I like to think they are memorized by how awesome a place it must be... Anyway, we started talking about Texas and that he has a friend who lives in the Houston area and how since he is in Texas and I am from Texas we must have run into each other at some point. (It's the same with Chuck Norris, If I am from Texas, I must know him!) Here is kind of how our conversation went:


(This is all in somewhat broken English)
Kelvin: What kinds of things do they have in Texas?

Me: Do you mean like, what do they sell?

Kelvin: Yeah!

Me (thinking): Um, how do I say "everything" without making it sound like I think that was a pretty obvious answer...
Me: Well, see how close Texas is to Mexico? Texas has a lot of influence from the Mexicans in the area. Just like in Saipan, there are lots of Asians that live here and visit here, so the stores sell lots of Asian foods and things Asians would buy. It's the say way in Texas, there are a lot of Mexicans who live in and visit the area so a lot of our products are things they might buy.

Kelvin: Oh, do people in Texas eat tacos?

Me: Heck yes!

Kelvin: Oh, I have never had a real taco before. Are they good?? Maybe someday, I will go to the states and have a real taco.

Me (thinking): How in the world have you never had a real taco??? Followed by the sudden thought that I hope my expression didn't just give away what I was thinking, it's not like he can help it.
(saying): Um, tacos are amazing! They're probably one of the best foods ever. You know how here, there are lots of Chinese and other Asian food restaurants? They have to be really good in order to stay in business. It's the same way in Texas. There are so many Mexican food restaurants that the ones that stay in business for a long time have to be really good. So, almost all tacos in Texas are amazing.

Kelvin: Does everyone eat tacos?

Me: Let me put it this way, tacos in Texas are like Kimchi in Korea.

That brought a smile to his face.

Anyway, it hit me that these things that I take for granted, (Mexican food, Target, Hobby Lobby), and have missed so much the last 6 months, are things most of these kids will never experience. Many of them will never leave this island. Some will travel as far as Guam or go back to Korea or China after graduation, but most will never make it to the states.

I am a big city girl. That I know. Saipan is not big or city in any way, shape or form, but I love it. And I love that I have been able to experience both worlds. But I am ready to be back in my big city world.