>Where is CNMI? :-)
In the western north Pacific, 120 miles North of Guam, about 1,000 east of the Philippines.


That's the short answer...if you want to know more, read on

> What does CNMI mean?

Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Saipan, where I live, is one
of the three inhabited islands in the group (along w/Tinian and Rota, south
of here). It's about 16 x 8 miles big. Population is about 60,000, w/a few
thousand Americans.

We're over 1000 miles east of the Philippines and 120 miles north of Guam
(if you've heard of Guam - it's a US territory).

The CNMI was part of the Trust Territory, (and the capitol) formed by the UN
after World War II...most of the islands in this part of the Pacific were in
the TT...then eventually opted for independance or association w/the US in
some form or other. These islands chose to be in a Commonwealth w/the US.
We get a lot of grant money, like states (some call it "drip-feed" aid), but
also have some independance.

You MAY have heard about the garment industry here...it's been on Nightline
(or 60 Minutes or one of those shows). Part of the original deal w/the US
is that we control our labor and immigration (and hence, can set the minimum
wage), and we can also put "Made in USA" tags on items. There has been a
lot of controversy lately about this...many workers from China and other
places come here to work in factories at less than US wages (mostly, I
think, they are GLAD to have work - as long as there are no abuses). The US
garment industry does not like this...and a lot of designer label companies
have clothes made here.

I'm living here because I love the tropics (I sailed around the Pacific on a
40' sailboat for 8 years) and it's easy for US citizens to live and work
here - I just needed to arrive and buy a $50 biz license. I do some work in
other countries (American Samoa, in the south Pacific, and Palau about 800
miles southwest of here).

J