"I wanted to tell a different story," Goodridge explains, "from a perspective and through eyes you don't normally experience." And he does indeed. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised for half his childhood in Jamaica, New York, Goodridge, a self-described "mobile, mac-enabled, mimimalist nomapdreneur who happens also to be vegan" reveals a personal vision of happiness he'd been searching for all his life. His story begins with his challenging, almost aborted "escape from America," his arrival and acclimation to Saipan's unique culture and lifestyle, adapting as a vegan in a meat-centric paradise, finding opportunities for making money, achieving fame, and even cross-cultural dating on a Pacific island.

A graduate of Columbia University, a civil engineer who walked away from his career to be an entrepreneur, former radio personality, author of 15 books, e-business guru, public speaker and career coach, Goodridge amassed an impressive resume in his "former" life in the states. Even so, he's not afraid to risk baring the ignominy of some of his experiences on the other side of the world--such as one humorously chronicled episode of having no money or credit card and having to call friends back in the states in the middle of the night for Paypal loans to purchase a ticket, or his "rats in the kitchen" situation, or finding out too late that he hadn't done sufficient research to know that he needed a visa for travel to certain countries.

With its wide coverage of life in Saipan, the book also doubles as a travel guide, touching on a wide range of topics of interest to potential visitors, retirees, tourists and fellow nomads who will find his "notes" not just entertaining, but also educational, and a great way to round out one's knowledge of this relatively unknown, but quite unique island paradise. By the time you finish reading, you'll know enough about Saipan's culture, lifestyle, economy, tourist spots and even some of the local celebrities to feel like you've been there, or at the very least, to decide if you want to go.

Goodridge's story is a personal, inspiring, at times embarrassing often amusing, but never dull account of the adventure that life often gives as reward to those with the courage to live their dreams. With a Jamaican's eye for cultural anomaly, a coach's desire to teach, and a poet's way with words, Walt chronicles his year-long experience in a collection of personal emails, blog posts and private journal entries. The result is a hard-to-put-down adventure peppered with insightful observations and analysis on everything from global warming, to finding economic opportunity, love and happiness in paradise!

TITLE:Notes from a Jamaican in Saipan: The True Story of One Man's Escape From the Rat Race to Live a Private Nomadpreneur's Dream...(a Unique Travel Guide for the Rest of Us)

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Jamaican on Saipan ISBN-13: 978-0-9745313-9-7; 176 pages; 5.5" x 8.5" Includes Walt's exciting adventures, insights, emails back home, and journal entries, PLUS over 140 photographs of life on Saipan! TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword: Jamaican-ize Introduction: Jamaican-eyes A World Without Borders Note 1: How it all Began Note 2: Freedom Song Note 3: Escape from New York Note 4: Escape from Las Vegas Note 5: Escape from Las Vegas, Take Two Note 6: Escape from Japan Note 7: Welcome to Saipan! Note 8: Where on Earth is Saipan? Note 9: Saipan Facts and Figures Note 10: Off to a Great Start Note 11: First Impressions Note 12: Sights and Sounds... Note 13: Passion Prophet in Paradise Note 14: Meeting the Governor Note 15: Elements of Fame Note 16: Alien Soul Note 17: Let the Music Play Note 18: The Most Important Day of My Life Note 19: Vegan in Paradise Note 20: The Saipan Tribune Note 21: MLK Day Legislation Passed Note 22: Sistah Constable Note 23: Settling In Note 24: New York Calling... Note 25: Rats in the Kitchen Note 26: Dating, Language and Culture Note 27: Return to New York Note 28: Jamaican in Canada Note 29: Preserving Paradise Note 30: The 10 Commandments of Paradise Note 31: Paradise-preneurs Note 32: My World Note 33: Walt's Friday Inspirations Ends Note 34: Escape from America, the Sequel Note 35: A Nomad Ruminates on Home Note 36: Saipan Food Co-op Note 37: Guam Note 38: A Week in the Life Note 39: Okay, So it's more than a week Note 40: A Few Things I Haven't Done Note 41: Heard and Seen on Saipan Note 42: My Best Friend's Wedding Note 43: Holidays on Saipan Note 44: BeautifyCNMI! Note 45: We Love Saipan! Note 46: The Master Plan Note 47: How We REALLY Did It Note 48: MLK Day in the CNMI Note 49: Early-Retirement on Saipan Note 50: Island Fever? Note 51: Saipan Calling Note 52: Someone from the Future Part Two! (2009 Update) Note 53: There's always something to do Note 54: The Best of Saipan! Note 55: My Senate Resolution Note 56: Contract Workers Unite Note 57: Another Jamaican! Note 58: MLK Traditions Continue Note 59: Food for a Week on Saipan Note 60: Marianas Trench Monument Note 61: And Then, There's Obama! Note 62: Ode to the Garment Factory Note 63: Some Scenes We May Not See Again Note 64: Chicken Feathers and Garlic Skin Note 65: Federalization and the Visa Waiver Note 66: The Truth About Saipan Note 67: And Finally... A Better Life? Note 68: The Final, Final Word About the Author Further Reading and Resources Saipan on DVD! Saipan in Paperback Books and Products by Walt Goodridge Quiz Order Form Order on Amazon.com Order Now for immediate delivery $14.95 + $5.00ship/handling

Guest Starring (in order of appearance): New York City Ken Walt Goodridge Eva, the American Airlines agent Dave, the man Yasaka, Joe Sam John Saipan Cinta Maria Tony Harry Irene Joe Herb Bob Marley Gus CRM WIA NMC Governor Benigno Fitial Howard Willie Ben Dan Daniel Remy Rebecca Jeff Tim & Adelia Harvey and Gertrude Rat The Goodridge clan, plus Massoud Clem Curt Lisa Franicia Guam Bruce Wayne Esther Ernest Kim Tim Aaron Stacey Monica Happy Diamond Nicole Chun Yu Rose Angelo Tina Sommer The We Love Saipan bloggers Angie Dorothea Ranger Nancy Cynthia David Dirk David Brad Ian Shanai Neta Flourine Albina Cardiff Ronald Marsha Rose Ike James Jay Ken K. Ruth T Barak Obama Daniel Peter In addition to being just an ordinary guy living a vegan lifestyle on a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean, Walt Goodridge is an in-demand speaker, passion coach, author of 16 books (including his top-seller on Amazon, Turn Your Passion into Profit), web marketing guru, business columnist, and was recognized by official CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) Senate Resolution No. 15-54 for his invaluable contributions to Saipan, its residents and economy. Because of numerous demands on his time, Walt's exclusive all day tours of Saipan (including Walt's "Ultimate Saipan Experience") are not available to the general public. They are available by referral only, or by special application. To begin the application process to experience Saipan Walt's way, please click here.

tags: saipan,saipan tourism,cnmi
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