Marshall Islands Basketball Federation Secretary General Deborah K. Shoniber is on Guam with the men's and women's teams competing at the Micronesian Basketball Tournament. She offered this update Monday September 24 on how the RMI players, coaches and support group are adjusting to life in Guam.

First time to Guam: For some of the RMI Team players, it's their first time to travel to Guam, or play in a Regional Tournament. BUT it's also the first time to experience 3D Movies, a fresh water pool, elevators and the sight of frogs...

3-D excites: On one evening, the men's team took in a 3D movie at the Micronesian Mall. I heard stories of people jumping out of their seats thinking things were physically falling off the roof or out of the screen. Yuuzi Maddison, terrified of the experience, decided it would be easier to close his eyes and just try to sleep it out. Rog "Buroro" Bien was heard yelling "wow" during the entire movie...

Yes, it's fresh water: Upon first arrival to Nimitz Towers, Willis "Mokku" Lamille see's the large swimming pool & points out that if the pool is salt water, he has no interest and is tired of swimming in salt water. Obviously that would be his experience back home in Majuro where the MIR & only pool in Majuro contains salt water...

What about these frogs?: Keoki Pinho asks "are the frogs poisonous?" Meanwhile, Kyle Paul asks "Can we collect them?" Darcyann Muller tells Kyle, "Watch out! They say if you touch them you'll grow warts allover your body!"...

New concept department: Coaches are mesmerized and surprised every day with things that some of the young players are asking making them realize that they play a very big part in their awareness especially with the the dynamics in age and traveling experiences of each player. Questions coming from players: "What is Community?", "What's an Ambassador?", "What does 'obnoxious' mean?" Someone pointed out a large boulder out at sea and questioned how it got there...

Pool pals: Frank Cruz, a Nimitz neighbor and official at the Micronesian Basketball Tournament, tells us that he looks out while driving near Nimitz Towers everyday he passes by and for the first time is observing people actually coming out of their rooms and hanging around the balconies or pool daily. What he is describing are the RMI Team players utilizing the pool area and balconies trying to enjoy a breeze or two...

Senator Frank honors RMI teams: After the opening ceremony Sunday September 23, Guam Senator Frank Blas, Jr. shook each of the RMI players/coaches' hands and thanked them for coming to Guam and said they should make sure to enjoy their stay...