August started out (and ended) pretty good! I had a lot of downtime which was needed so I could catch up on sleep (I didn't know I was that tired) and to prepare myself for the coming school term. I had a month to go before school started back, the Olympics were in full swing (I was so close to Rio yet so far away), and I was making my away alone throughout New Amsterdam.
The first major thing that happened was our Emergency Action Plan (EAP) Site visits. When we first moved to site, I was chosen as the back up volunteer warden for Regions 5 and 6. Our staff warden is Cedric, and our volunteer warden is Kelly. As a warden, our role is to be a point of contact between the PC Office and volunteers. Each region is assigned a consolidation point in case anything happens while we are in country. For example, last year when they were holding elections for the first time in many, many, many years, they "evacuated" all volunteers to their consolidation points for a week. This was a precautionary measure due to the possibility of riots or other incidents that could happen due to the elections. In the end, nothing happened, but better safe than sorry.
Kelly thought it would be a good idea to know where everyone lives in case we cannot get in touch with them in an emergency and have to forage our way through the country to find them. This led to our site visits. Kelly and I spent the night in a hotel the night before so we could all leave Georgetown together. Cedric picked us up the next morning and we proceeded to drive through regions 5 and 6 and visit every volunteer on the way. It was tedious, but was an excellent way to see both regions! Our task included taking pictures of all of the houses, gathering the gps coordinates, and talking with each of the volunteers about any safety or security questions they may have.
The next weekend, there was a planned field trip to our consolidation point. We were required to get there on our own so we would know exactly where it was, how to get there, and how much it would cost to do so. I am not going to go into detail about this because I am not allowed to discuss the location of the consolidation point...that would defeat the purpose of it being safe for us. I can tell you that in the event of us being evacuated for any reason, I know how to arrive quickly and safely.
Now on to other events from this month...
This is my new piece of artwork titled "Cow in a Trench." It features and cow (not sure if it is a bull or heifer) fully submerged in a trench eating the foliage. I cannot tell you why it wanted to be in the trench, maybe it was hot or maybe that green stuff was tastier there than on the road, but I couldn't resist taking the picture.
A week or so after the EAP visits, I was invited to go on a bike ride to a place called New Forest on the Canje River. Because Cassie and Lori (GUY 27) are planning to participate in the Guyana Marathon, they were going on a long run from Aly's (GUY 27) house in Adelphi Village to New Forest and back which is approximately 10-11 miles total. Aly doesn't run so she invited me to go with them but ride a bike with her that she borrowed from a neighbor. So...we got up very early and met at her house about 7am on a Sunday and were off! Now, I haven't ridden a bike since I was 14 years old so I was not even sure I knew how anymore! But, it's just like riding a bike...I was very nervous at first and almost ended up in a trench a couple of times but alas, I made it. The roads aren't very nice to bikers and there is no move over law here so cars are just zooming past you all the time! Eventually we made our way far enough there were less cars which made it easier to ride and not freak out. New Forest has a nice little "resort" on the Canje river, so Aly and I took a break there to relax and have a beer! The runners left before us so we caught up to them as they were on their way back. I can't believe I rode a bike again, let alone that far but I did it! AND, my butt hurt for the next week from the seat! How do people do that all the time???
Canje River
Oh beer...you are a friend
Aly and I...no, we did not plan on matching
View from the ride
Aren't I cute with my helmet?!
Just riding along!
After our run/bike ride, we were awarded with a nice spaghetti lunch and kittens! Aly has been taking care of these abandoned kittens and bottle feeding them (which we all got to help with). Aren't they just the cutest??!!
Kittens!!!
Lori hogging all the love
HELLO KITTIES!
Lori and Cassie before we pigged out
Before I end this update, I want to spreading my knowledge of the creolese language here. While the official language is English (British English), they do speak a local dialect called Creolese. Since Guyana is made up of so many different nationalities, they have all kind of melded into one which is called Creolese. The best way to describe it is broken English. Here are a couple of words/phrases for you to start practicing...you know, so you can be prepared when you visit me.
Question Response
Good Marnin' - Good Morning Marnin', Marnin'
How ya do? - How are you doing Alright or Tryin'
Takin' sun - Taking in a lot of sun
Walk in the carner! - Walk on the edge of the road
