Ashton is going to Guam!

Since leaving Bonaire in March, I've spent almost 9 straight months in the continental USA.  And now, after my longest uninterrupted stint in the motherland since 2010, I have a big announcement to make:

I'm moving to Guam!

Guam has lots of snakes and spiders, if you didn't know.  Photo via Slate.

A slightly more appealing photo of Guam.  Via National Car Rental.

I haven't been a complete waste of space these past 9 months.  I spent several months working in retail, where I learned some important life lessons, including the importance of being nice to retail workers.  More recently, I tried (and unfortunately failed) to become an officer in the US Marine Corps.  I lasted an emotionally and physically exhausting 8 weeks at Officer Candidates School in Quantico, VA before getting sent home.  That was, um, exciting?  I don't really think 'fun' is the right word.  OCS was crazy hard and I'm really glad I don't have to get yelled at, eat horrible food, or wake up at 3:30am every morning any more.  But on the plus side, it really kicked my butt into shape and all my clothes look great!

That's me on the far right.  Not a very flattering picture--none of the photos were, honestly.
You can really see the joy and excitement on our faces, right?  (No.  You see exhaustion and hunger.)

I didn't expect to fail out of OCS, and so I didn't have a backup plan in place.  In retrospect, that wasn't very bright.  I had always planned to go back to school, but my Big Life Plan had that scheduled for after the military, about 4-8 years from now.  But sometimes plans change and you just have to roll with it!

For a few years, I'd had my eye on a master's program at the University of Guam.  I applied very last-minute and to my surprise, I was not only accepted, but they also allowed me to start in the Spring 2015 semester!  That is currently about a month away.  I'm super excited and I've been very busy the past few weeks getting ready to move. 

I'm also very lucky to be making a mini-trip (5 days) to South Korea before I start school!  It's great because I'll be able to visit a few old haunts and spend some time with friends I haven't seen in over a year.  (And eat a whoooole lot of delicious Korean food!)

I leave for Korea on January 6th, so I haven't got much time left to pack, prepare, and spend time with my family.  Most people don't know much about Guam, so I've been getting a lot of questions about it.  (For example, when I called my credit union to ask about student loans, the girl I spoke to had never heard of Guam and just kept repeating, "We don't offer student loans for schools in foreign countries," even after multiple attempts to tell her that it was, in fact, part of the USA.)  So to help clear things up, I thought I'd answer a few common questions I've been getting lately.



Guam FAQ

Why are you going to Guam?
The University of Guam has a very cool Graduate Biology Program that I've been looking at for a few years.  I'll get to study marine biology on a tropical Pacific island, who could complain about that?  The faculty are doing really interesting work on a variety of topics ranging from cone snail venom to pharmaceutical uses for sponge bacteria.  Neat, right?


Where the heck is Guam? 
Guam is a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Japan and Australia.  It's in the Northern Hemisphere and is as close as you can get to the international date line without being in eastern Australia or a very cold part of Russia.  Guam is a U.S. territory and home to several U.S. military bases, so United States citizens don’t need a passport to come to the island.

Click to make bigger.  See the brown blob in the middle?  Guam is the tiny orange spot right above it.

How long will you be on Guam?
It generally takes two to three years for students of the program to graduate with their master's degree, so that's how long I'm currently expecting to be there.  (There is no PhD option at UoG.)


What is Guam like?
Guam is a tropical island, so it’s always hot.  The average temperature is between 76-82 degrees.
The rainy season lasts from July to October.  There are lots of coral reefs, mangroves, and beautiful sandy beaches around Guam.  There are also lots of brown snakes, spiders, and Japanese tourists.  It works out great for me because I love all those things!


Do they speak English on Guam? 
Yes.  Guam has two official languages: English and Chamorro (pronounced “chah-MORE-oh.”)   Guam was colonized by the Spanish for over 300 years, and the Chamorro language has strong Spanish influences.  Many people here also speak Japanese due to the high volume of Japanese tourists.


How big is Guam? 
Guam is quite small--just 30 miles long and between 4-12 miles wide.  It’s about ⅓ the size of Rhode Island.


Is Guam like a third-world country?
Nope!  You can drink the water (even if it's a little rusty) and there are plenty of stores with all the basics and most of the luxuries of the mainland.  Guam is home to the world's largest (and at this rate, soon-to-be last) Kmart store.  That said, everything is more expensive on Guam due to the cost of shipping it to an island in the middle of the Pacific!


Is Guam safe?
Guam has a low violent crime rate, so yes, it's pretty safe.  I hear there are issues with property crime, especially if you leave things outside or not chained down.  There's a lot of poverty on the island, and since poverty and crime go hand-in-hand, it's not surprising that people steal.  There are also wild dogs on the island, which (as I learned first-hand on Bonaire) can be troublesome, especially for runners and bikers.  While Guam isn't exactly dangerous, in the interest of safety, I probably won't go running at night.


What is there to do on Guam?
There's lots to do!  Shopping is a popular activity, especially with the Asian tourists, because there's no sales tax on Guam.  Hiking and lounging on the gorgeous beaches are popular pastimes too.  Guam also has some stunning coral reefs, so scuba diving is a big industry here.  I plan to do lots of scuba diving!  (And probably some spider and snake hunting too.  I do love those creepy crawlies!)


How do you get to Guam?
You fly, of course!  Flights to Guam are actually not as bad as you'd expect, in terms of layovers.  I can get to Guam in just two flights: Detroit to Tokyo, then Tokyo to Guam.  Guam is a popular destination for the Japanese, so they have lots of flights.  However, it's also possible to take a direct flight to Seoul (South Korea) and then take a different airline direct to Guam.  This route is often cheaper and shorter time-wise, but more risky, since a flight could change and then you're out of luck with the other flight.


How long does it take to get to Guam?
A really long time.  No matter which way you go, you're looking at between 18-24 hours of travel time from the eastern USA--and that's assuming you have really short layovers.  The longest I've seen is 54 hours, yikes! 


How much does it cost to get to Guam?
Too much!  A round-trip flight from Detroit to Guam on United runs between $1400-$2000 for economy seats booked well in advance.  Delta is typically well over $3000, although they're more affordable if you use miles.  Add in baggage fees, typically $150-$200 round-trip, and you're looking at a very expensive flight!  (Interestingly, a one-way trip is usually the exact same price as the round-trip ticket.)

Unfortunately, while most major US carriers have partners, it's hard to book flights on partner routes.  For example, Korean Air (a partner of Delta) flies from Seoul to Guam, and they operate the flight from Detroit to Seoul, but because that flight is technically a Delta flight, you can't book them together.  It's very complicated, but don't worry, I always find the best deal!  (Because I do a lot of research before I book.  A LOT.  We're talking spreadsheets and everything.)



What is the University of Guam like?
It's a pretty small school, as expected on a small island.  UoG has less than 4,000 students total, almost all of which are Asian-Pacific Islander descent.  Just 4% of the university's students identify as 'white/non-hispanic, so I might stick out a little on campus?

It's an 'open enrollment' school, which means that anyone who applies will be accepted.  Most students are from Guam, but a lot of students come from the nearby islands in the Marianas chain. UoG offers over 60 undergraduate majors and about 10 graduate programs.  Popular majors include education, psychology, English, biology, computer science, criminal justice, pre-nursing, and business.  They also have a variety of specialized buildings, like the UoG Marine Laboratory, dedicated to helping the island and its population.

UoG has no official sports teams, although I hear they have intramural leagues.  (No word yet on if there's a running club, since that's as close to 'team sports' as I'll ever get.)   They have an athletic facility called the Fieldhouse which, according to the school website, comprises "3 basketball courts, 3 volleyball courts, a weight-training room, 2 fitness rooms, locker rooms, showers, 5000-seat arena, a main basketball floor, a volleyball court for international and college competition, recreational courts for basketball or volleyball, and 4 badminton courts" and is used for a variety of community events ranging from trade shows to beauty pageants.  UoG's colors are green and white, and their mascot is the Tritons.

There aren't many photos of the campus, or of Guam in general, so I'll be sure to take a lot when I get there!


Guam sounds great... but are you ever coming back to the US?
I'm coming back in February for a friend's wedding--it's my first time being a bridesmaid and I'm very excited!  But after that, it might be a while before I make it back to the motherland because the flights are so pricey.  A $2000 ticket is just too expensive, especially for a broke student like me! 



Have any other questions I didn't answer here?  Leave them in the comments and I'll answer them as best I can!  :)


Cheers and happy holidays,
Ashton







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Stereotypes

I'm safely back in Michigan now, and while the snow is mostly gone, it's still a lot colder than I would like!  I've been busy with all the usual return stuff, doctor appointments and license plate renewals and other boring things like that.  And now that I've been back in the States for a week, I feel like it's time for a bit of reflection.  So let's talk about...

STEREOTYPES OF THE DUTCH AND AMERICANS

Living in foreign countries is a real eye-opener when it comes to stereotypes.  America is a big place and each state is different, but there are certain qualities that almost all Americans share.  Holland is not a very big place, but there are again certain qualities that almost every Dutch person possesses.  I did a few similar pieces about stereotypes while living in Korea, and I thought it'd be interesting to try again with the Dutch.

Keep in mind, of course, that these 'stereotypes' (if we can really call them that) are my observations only, and not true for every single Dutch or American.  These are generalizations, and I am writing them just to share my own views.  This is far from a definitive guide to Dutch or Americans.  Have a read, see what you think, and if you disagree, then we've all had a good examination of our own views.

Let's get started with the Dutch, then move on to American stereotypes.

#1: The Dutch are unfriendly.
This one is generally true.  In public settings, the Dutch like to be left alone.  They don't want to make new friends.  However, if introduced in the right setting (such as a job or house party) they are perfectly friendly and nice.  The key here is that you have to catch them in the right setting, or they'll want nothing to do with you.


#2: The Dutch are rude.
Okay, maybe 'rude' is a strong word, but they are certainly more direct than Americans are used to.  If you ask a question with an obvious answer, the Dutch won't hesitate to tell you that it was a stupid question.  Got a weird new haircut?  They'll tell you how bad it looks.  Told a bad joke?  They won't laugh.  The Dutch will shut you down and not think twice about it.

I was once telling a story about a rude thing a customer had said to me the night before at a grocery store, and while I wasn't actually upset, I was mildly annoyed and did tell the story with enthusiasm.  I'm not a very dramatic person and I don't exaggerate much, but I was lively because who wants to listen to a boring story, right?  Well, apparently the Dutch do, because one of my unsmiling Dutch coworkers told me to "calm down" and that "it didn't seem like a big deal."  He was right, it wasn't a big deal, but it was a short funny story that I thought he would find amusing.  Apparently I was wrong!

I've had quite a few experiences with rude Dutch people here.  Once I was waiting patiently in line for food, and the line was moving very slowly.  My friends and I started talking to the man in line behind us, a Dutch guy, and when it was our turn to order he stepped in front of us and ordered first.  Then he turned to us with a smug grin and said sarcastically, "Sorry."

There's also a Dutch wintertime tradition where they write cheeky poems that make fun of each other.  I've been told that the poems are similar to a 'roast,' but I have the feeling that a Dutch person's poem would leave a lot of Americans in tears!

Of course, I've had overwhelmingly good experiences with Dutch people.  After all, if I really disliked the Dutch, then I wouldn't have come to a Dutch island.  I do have Dutch friends and they are (mostly) nice, normal people.  I often joke (or semi-joke) about how rude Dutch people are around my Dutch friends, and even started a game where they garnered 'points' by saying and doing rude things.  I think they were a little offended at first, but the more they paid attention, the more they noticed that many Dutch people really do come off as rude to Americans!


#3: The Dutch never smile.
Like with #1, it's a matter of catching them in the right setting.  Americans are easy to spot with their wide grins and easy laughs, but other nationalities are more reserved.  If you greet or tell a joke to a Dutch stranger, they probably won't be amused.  A Dutch friend, however, is much easier with a smile and laugh.  They're a lot like cats; they'll be friendly to people they know, and give the cold shoulder to strangers.

One of the first things I noticed while working in Bonaire was how the Dutch react to smiles.  I am blonde-haired and blue-eyed, so I can (visually) pass for a Dutch person--at least until I open my mouth.  If I greet Dutch customers with a smile--no words, just a smile--they will always speak to me in English first.  But if I am working or reading or for some reason not smiling widely, they will always speak Dutch first.  Smiling at strangers is a dead giveaway that you are not Dutch, and most likely American or Australian.


#4: The Dutch are cheese snobs.
True, but they deserve to be.  Let's face it, gouda is amazing.  And us Americans, all we've got to offer is cheddar and something called "American slices" because they aren't legally allowed to be labeled as cheese.  The Dutch love cheese because their cheese is so delicious! Since living in Bonaire, I've fallen in love with gouda.  It's cheap and easy to find on the island because the Dutch import it like mad from Holland.


#5: The Dutch are cheap.
Totally true.  That phrase "going Dutch" didn't come from nowhere.  Like penny-pinching college students, the Dutch are always on the hunt for free stuff and cheaper deals.  If they think something is expensive, they have no problem telling you that.  "Oh, it's quite expensive, yah?"  As if saying that is going to get them a discount.  That said, this seems to only apply when shopping; if you go out to dinner with Dutch people, they would never try to stiff you with the bill or anything like that.  I think a better way to say this would be that the Dutch are very frugal.


#6: The Dutch are always tall with blonde hair and blue eyes.
The tall part is generally pretty true.  The average height of a Dutch man is 6 feet (1.84 meters), and the average height of a Dutch woman is 5' 7" (1.71 meters).   To compare, the averages for men and women in the USA are 5' 9" and 5' 4" respectively.  (Although if that's true, why do I seem so short?!)

As for the blonde hair and blue eyes, this one is only partially true.  Most Dutch children have very light blonde hair, but for many it seems to give way to brown hair as they age.  Blue and brown are both common eye colors for the Dutch, and blonde and brown are common hair colors, but I haven't seen any with green eyes or red hair.


#7: The Dutch are all huge stoners.
Marijuana is partially legal in the Netherlands, and they do have some of the most relaxed drug laws among first-world countries.  That said, most of the Dutch people I meet are mildly and personally opposed to smoking it themselves.  They don't seem to care much if other people do it, but most of the Dutch people I know have never tried weed and don't want to.  Funnily enough, most of the stoners I meet here are either locals or Americans.


#8: All Dutch people speak English.
True, and not just English!  Every Dutch person I've ever met can speak good English, although some can have thick accents that are difficult to understand.  Most Europeans are taught English in school from a young age, and many of the younger generation can pass for native speakers.  In addition to English, many Dutch people can also speak at least one additional language, and due to the similarities between some of the languages (Dutch and German, for example) they can understand quite a bit even if they don't speak it well.


#9: The Dutch really like the color orange.
True.  It's their royal color, and they are really into it.  And yet, despite being a mostly pale people, they somehow pull it off.


#10: The Dutch love bicycles.
So true!  I think they learn to ride bikes before they learn to walk, or maybe they're born with an innate bike-riding ability.  Dutch bicycles are sturdy and well-made, and the Dutch are pro cyclists.  In Holland, you can bike all over the place!  That's definitely not the case in America.  But thank goodness, the Dutch cyclists don't wear the spandex shorts.  We all appreciate that.



Now let's talk about Americans.  I've said it once and I'll say it again: Americans are the golden retrievers of the world.

#1: Americans are loud and talk a lot/too much.
The 'too much' part is up for debate, but we are certainly louder and more talkative than just about anyone else.  We don't scream and shout like the Chinese, but we will talk your ear off.  For us this is being friendly, because not talking or responding to someone would be quite rude.  But other cultures value succinctness more than we do, and they sometimes see Americans as speaking without thinking and being generally obnoxious.


#2: Americans are aggressively friendly.
Again, this one depends on personal opinion, but Americans are definitely one of the friendliest people in the world.  We want to meet everyone, talk to everyone, hear their life story, see photos of their children and pets and recent vacations, learn about their work, etc.  For us, this is part of being friendly; if you don't show interest in other people, that's pretty rude.  We love to find minor similarities to bond over, such as living in the same state or liking the same sports teams.  Americans are like the dog in the park that wants to sniff the butts of every other dog and cannot rest until every butt has been sniffed.

Other cultures, especially Europeans, value their privacy more and don't want to share their life story with some random stranger they'll never see again.  They don't care where you've been or what college your kids are going to.  They have no real interest in bonding with strangers over minor similarities.  They aren't being rude, they just realize that they probably aren't going to see you again, so why bother?

Personally--and I might be biased because I'm American--I like the American model better.  By meeting new people and learning about them, I've learned a lot of things that I'd never have known about had I just kept to myself.  Factoids about life, new places I want to visit, tips and tricks, and so on.  One of the best parts of traveling is that it opens your mind to new thoughts, and if you aren't meeting new people, you're missing out on a lot of great new ideas.


#3: Americans are aggressively enthusiastic.
Again, this one is true, to the point that many non-Americans think it feels forced and fake.  Americans just get really excited about things, and I don't think it's something we should apologize for.  This enthusiasm isn't limited to our time abroad, either.  Several Europeans have told me that when visiting America, they were put off by the high level of enthusiasm people showed toward them.  This was especially true in the service industry (cab drivers, hotel staff, waiters, etc.) and they believed it was just a show to encourage tips.

I passionately disagreed with that view and told them they were jaded.  Americans are wildly enthusiastic and that's a fact.  The way Europeans feel about football (er, soccer) is the way we feel about everything.  The Europeans view this as a little childish, I think, but I don't believe it's anything we should apologize for.  If we're just mega excited by life, why is that a bad thing?

This one also goes back to the friendliness thing.  In Europe they value privacy and personal space a little more; they like to be left alone, and things are a bit more formal.  American are extremely informal in both language and action, and using formal language can actually be rude or passive-aggressive sometimes.  Even small differences in language use show that Americans are less formal and more friendly.

An example of this difference is in asking questions.  In America you can walk up to a stranger and ask "Where's the museum?"  In Europe, however, it's generally accepted that you first ask "Can I ask you a question?" and then ask where the museum is.  (This is also the same in many Asian cultures.)   Many people will even be weirded out by a stranger asking them questions, whereas an American will literally walk you to your destination even if it's out of their way.  Our friendliness makes people uncomfortable sometimes, I think.

A quote from Wikipedia on American stereotypes: "Many travelers/tourists are taken aback by the overt friendliness of Americans. International tourists report that they believe the behavior to be fake at first, and then come to realize that this is just how many Americans are."


#4: Americans are arrogant, insufferable know-it-alls.
This one makes me laugh because I see it all the time.  Americans like to boast about the places we've been, the things we've seen and done, because it makes us sound worldly and interesting.  We like to sound like experts about everything.

Americans are the Hermiones of the world, and I think it's a complex we've developed from being called stupid and ignorant by other countries so often.  We want to prove that we're not stupid illiterates who know nothing of the world, and in doing so we can come off as arrogant and insufferable know-it-alls.

So you know what, other countries?  This one is your fault.  You made us this way.  Maybe if you stop saying how stupid and ignorant Americans are, we'll stop talking your ear off to seem smart and knowledgeable.


#5: Americans are terrible at foreign languages/speak only English.
Again, this one is true, but I think it's not 100% our fault.  There's a lot of factors that have produced this monolingual effect.  I have some fairly strong feelings about this stereotype.

First, most American middle and high schoolers must take a language course for several years, but we don't have native speakers as our teachers and in fact, many of the teachers aren't that good at the languages to begin with.  We have no opportunity to use French or German in America, so we don't get to practice it.  Europeans, on the other hand, can take a day trip to another nation and practice other languages with ease.

Second, even if we do go abroad, people only want to speak English with us.  Mainly this is because people want to practice their English, which is a worthy endeavor and is hard to argue with.  In some cases it's just plain rudeness, such as in France where they'll simply ignore your attempts at French and speak back to you in English.  Or the native speakers get annoyed because they know the exchange will be faster if they switch to English, a language they've learned since they were small.

Third, other countries expect Americans (or Brits or Australians) to speak only English.  It's a frustrating self-fulfilling prophecy.  Americans want to learn foreign languages, and many of us try hard to learn them.  But when we hear non-Americans complaining and making fun of us for trying to speak other languages, that's very discouraging.  I'm not saying that we should be coddled and falsely praised, but imagine this scenario: you've studied German for five years, you've finally taken a trip to Germany and you'll finally get to speak German, but the Germans always answer you in English and get impatient when you take too long to say something in German or mispronounce things.  Why did you spend all that time learning German if even the Germans won't speak it to you?

An interesting thing I've noted is that Americans are very helpful and encouraging to people trying to speak English.  We'll offer words if you can't think of one, and we're (for the most part) very patient with not-so-good speakers.  But when we visit foreign countries, we are rarely afforded this same treatment.


#6: Americans are fat.
Well, it's not untrue.  America is among the fattest nations in the world.  And looking at what we eat, is it any surprise?  I'd love to see this stereotype change in the future.


#7: Americans like to tell embarrassing/self-deprecating stories.
This one took me a while to figure out.  A few times after telling a funny story, Dutch people would give me a funny look and say, "I wouldn't tell that story if I were you."

Americans like to be funny, and one of the easiest sources of humor is ourselves.  We even do this with new people, which I suspect is a way to humanize us.  If you know something embarrassing about a person, you're not really strangers anymore.  Telling stories in which we did something foolish or embarrassing is a common way to break the ice and get to know new people.

I have two such stories that I've shared here and got that response.  The first is that for many years I thought Omaha was a place in Africa, due to all those Mutual of Omaha commercials with the elephants.  The second is the story of how I got 'fired' from a restaurant after three weeks of working as a bus-girl.  The story goes that they hired me with no warning; they just called six months after I applied and said "Show up at 6 on Wednesday."  There was no training, I was accused of stealing on my third day (a waitress had misplaced her purse), and I eventually was asked to quit because I was too friendly.  Yes, really. Apparently I talked to the customers too much (despite getting all my work done and only breaking one thing) and the help wasn't supposed to be seen so much.  I always make it clear that I was fine at the job, I just had a terrible jerk of a boss.  Most Americans see this story as a funny work experience with a crappy boss, but the Dutch always frown and say "I wouldn't tell people about that."

These stories are about harmless situations where the outcome was just mild embarrassment, yet Europeans often act like I've just told them that I killed someone!  I understand the thinking there, because why shame yourself in front of new people, or anyone?  But on the other hand, we're all human and we all make mistakes, and Americans aren't going to judge or think less of you because you did something foolish once.  In fact, it's endearing!  It might actually make us like you more!  I don't know if I can say the same of most European cultures, and it's something I like very much about Americans.


#8: Americans are optimistic and hardworking.
True for most of us, though certainly not all.  For most the Americans I meet abroad, it does hold true.  Americans are optimists, always believing that good things are going to happen and looking on the bright side.  Is that a rain cloud?  No, it'll pass and the weather will clear up.  Isn't the water a little cold?  Nah, not as cold as at home, nothing we can't handle.  That restaurant gave you food poisoning?  Well, at least it wasn't norovirus!

In addition to working hard, we also like to play hard.  Americans are always trying to cram the maximum into each trip.  We like to stay busy!




And there's my two cents!  I hope you enjoyed it and didn't end up terribly offended.  I admit that writing things like this makes me a bit nervous, but I think it's important to examine stereotypes, both of ourselves and of others.  A little critical thinking is good for the brain!

With some luck, I'll be leaving the country again soon.  The plan is to spend a few weeks in Guam, maybe as soon as May.  But it's all up in the air right now, so stay tuned!  :)

Cheers,
Ashton

Day 72

Just under two weeks left here!  I'm trying to make the most of it by diving every day.  Tomorrow I'm going to the east coast, which is really exciting because I've never been diving there before!  I've also borrowed a fancy-pants GoPro camera, so hopefully I'll have some cool videos to share after the dive.  I just want to see some turtles and rays!

There's trouble in paradise, though--my new wetsuit has a hole in it!  About a week after I got here, I realized that my old 3mm wetsuit wasn't going to cut it because I came out of the water shivering after every dive.  I spent $200 on a new 5mm wetsuit, and even though it's a wee bit too small, I love it because it keeps me warm.  But just two months later, it's got a big hole in the neck!

Booo, poor worksmanship.

Alright, alright, I admit, it's not really that big of a deal.  But it's brand new and the hole is in a place with no load or tension, which is odd.  I contacted Bare (the wetsuit maker) and they've agreed that it's under warranty and will fix it when I get home.  Phew!

Less fortunate was my Sealife underwater camera.  Before I went to Bonaire in 2011 I shelled out $800 for a Sealife 1200 Elite, which came with the underwater housing, special camera with underwater settings, and a strobe flash.  Just 3 years later, the camera's sensor is failing (meaning that I get big lines through every photo I take) and the flash no longer delivers charge (meaning, no flash).  Sealife has generously (harhar) offered to fix it for $500.  Considering that I could buy a whole new and up-to-date rig for $800, that's not a great deal.  Plus, why would I buy another Sealife camera if it's only going to last three years?  Better to save up my money for a proper DSLR housing.  How incredibly disappointing!

But other than my gear misfortunes, everything has been wonderful.  The weather is fabulous, the diving is fantastic, and I'm happy as a clam!  I've been out taking lots more photos with my point-and-shoot camera in its plastic-bag housing.  I can't wait till the day when I can finally afford a proper underwater housing for my DSLR!  (Although by the time that actually happens, I'll probably need a new camera too.  Those housings are about $4000, and that's before you buy the camera and flashes!)  I really love taking photos because I can see details on the creatures that I never would have noticed otherwise.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!  :)

First up, seahorses!  We've got a few seahorses floating around in front of the dive shop I work at, but for the past few days it's only been Ricky.  We call him Ricky because he is red, the same color as a certain British dive instructor in the sun.  (My divemaster instructor, actually!)

Redband parrotfish.

This porcupinefish was kind of aggressive!  Mostly they swim away from you and you rarely see the mouth, but this guy was all up in my face.

"Yeah?  Yeah?  You want a piece of this?"

Ocean surgeonfish.  I love the blue tips of the dorsal fins and around the eyes.

This here is an orange-spotted filefish.  It's a type of unicornfish, a group of fishes that gets their name from the horn on their heads.  The horn comes up when they're alarmed.  They've also got pretty decent teeth, so I try not to get too close.

Pretty!

Such pretty faces!  They look glittery!

Take a look at the mouth and you'll see some teeth.

Arrow crab.

These are baby parrotfish of some kind.  Possibly striped or princess?

They swim with the pectoral fins, and they're awfully cute.

Lots of chromis and a few other fishes on top of coral heads.

A long, skinny fireworm!

A saddled blenny.

I saw a conch!  Or at least, I think it's a conch.  It appears to be hiding out in some sort of underground shell, as opposed to the normal conch shell.  It's like a little elephant alien because its nose is extendable and just ruts around for food.

Look at those eyes.

I found an itty-bitty lionfish that still had the spots!

Saddled Blenny again.

Bicolor damselfish!  It's a bit of a misnomer because most of the ones here are actually three colors.

This is a juvenile of a threespot damselfish.

Same juvenile threespot damselfish.

A three-rowed sea cucumber!

Lettuce slug, a type of nudibranch.

A juvenile clown wrasse.

You already saw the orange-spotted filefish, but here's its cousin, the white-spotted filefish!  The white-spotted one is about twice as big as the orange-spotted.

Tail detail.

It's easy to confuse the orange- and white-spotted filefish because they're both orange and white.

Uhhh, look at those teeth.

Good thing they're pretty unicornfishes!

This little guy is the size of my thumb.  Sharpnose puffers are very common here.

Sand diver.

Tobaccofish!

He looks angry.

And what kind of a name is 'tobaccofish,' anyway?  There's no tobacco underwater.

Schoolmaster snappers.

More photos of Ricky the seahorse!  Ricky lives at about 35 feet, and my camera doesn't like to go that deep.  Apparently the pressure sucks all the juice out of the battery, because even if it's full when I dive down, I can only get a few shots of Ricky before the battery flashes red.  But I've got extra batteries, and Ricky's worth it!

Can you spot Ricky in this photo?

Ricky lives in a cluster of rope sponges, which he wraps his tail around.  Seahorses have prehensile tails, like little underwater monkeys.  (Or should I say, sea monkeys?)

Those little white things everywhere are fish larvae.

Ricky blends in very well with his rope sponges.

A photo without flash.  He looks more red in real life though.

He's kinda dirty and covered in algae.  Makes for good camouflage, I suppose.

I've even got a short video of Ricky:

This is a rough fileclam.  It looks like something from a scary movie.

Jolthead porgy!

Ooh, more nudibranches.  Loving what the macro lens does for this guy.

This is the head.

A long skinny one.

See?  They do look like slugs up close.

Last but not least, a baby palometa!  (Not to be confused with 'palomino,' which is a type of horse.)

That's all for today!  I've found some cool snapping shrimps that are hard to photograph, but I'll keep trying.  Hopefully I'll have some good video and photos from my east coast diving tomorrow!

-Ashton