Wednesday, December 21, 2016

November

Not a lot has happened in November it seems.  GUY 29 swore in and officially became volunteers and then were off to their sites the next day.  A group of us attended the ceremony which took place at the Umana Yana benab in Georgetown (the link does not state anything about it being rebuilt, but it obviously has).



It was a blue maxi dress kind of day


Aly and Allee...


GUY 28 at swearing in


First Christmas picture of the year


World AIDS day is taking place on December 1st so we decided to get a head start on our participation.  Peace Corps Guyana HIV/AIDS Taskforce challenged us to a poster contest.  The winning posters will be featured in a calendar to be passed out freely to all schools and health centers in the country.  We were given a packet of information and materials to educate the students on how to prevent HIV/AIDS and reduce the stigma placed on the virus.  I worked with two classes to educate and design posters.  While neither class won the competition, they learned a lot about how HIV is spread and how to protect themselves from it.


Working hard on their poster




The finished product



My Thanksgiving was spent at Kaieteur in Kaieteur National Park.  Seriously one of the best trips I have ever taken.  If I could have stayed longer I would have.  The serene environment of the jungle and the sound of the falls flowing was enough to calm the most high strung person on earth.  The beginning, however, was an exciting trip over land and water for three days to reach our destination.

Day 1:   We loaded up the bus in Georgetown, picked up two other travelers from England, then were on our way.  The bus traveled for a few hours until we boarded a ferry to take us (and the bus) across the river.  We then continued for a little while longer, stopping at a checkpoint, then Mahdia.  The total ride was 6 hours through smooth roads which eventually gave way to bumpy, pothole ridden dirt roads.  Once we were in Mahdia, we transferred our things and selves to trucks that took us on another 30 minute journey through muddy roads filled with pot holes to another village where we would take a boat to our final destination.


The boat ride was an adventure in itself.  While we were waiting on the boat to be loaded up and fueled, Aly (always the instigator), Steve, and I got some beers to drink.  We finished them, then headed out to the great unknown.  Just Kidding!  Let's turn around.  The boat had to go back because it was taking on water faster than could be baled out.  We got a next beer, then headed off into the unknown again.  NOPE!   Let's turn around.  Turns out there was actually a hole in the boat so we had to go back to get it patched up.  And in the meantime, our things were going to be transferred to another boat.  Cue back to a next beer and the lovely experience of peeing in a bucket on the open side landing of a house/shop.  Those were good times.

When we were finally able to "set sail" the sun was setting and we did not have a light to lead with.  But guess what?!  Our captain didn't need one.  He not only lead us all the way to our site safely in the dark,  but was able to maneuver around a huge ship mining for gold.  And at last!  We finally made it!  We immediately scrambled to set up our hammocks, ate dinner, drank some rum, and played cards until it was time to go to sleep.


Our two boats against the sunset


Setting sun as we travel


Don't mind us, we're just mining!

Day 2:  We woke up to a beautiful view of our surrounding area and promptly went to the river to bathe ourselves.  Yes, you read that right.  No showers here!  River bathing is a thing and it is very refreshing.  We were then off to our next destination!  You ever have a feeling of deja vu?  Well, we did this morning.  After being told our boat was able to carry 10 drums of diesel with no problem, we had to make a sudden detour...the boat was taking on too much water.  Cue, the next adventure...half of us got out of the boat to hike and the other half continued on to our next destination.  Those of us who stayed on the boat got out when we hit some rapids so we could walk our things to the other side.







How to get a boat through rapids...just carry it overland!

In the meantime, the boat went to pick up the people we left behind.  Finally, everyone was there and we had the nice job of watching the boys carry the boat over land to avoid the rapids.  After all of this, we were still having boat problems so it took even longer to get to our next destination which was Tony's falls.  We were supposed to be at our camp site by the middle of the day but because of all the mishaps, we were running many hours behind with no food and running out of water.  We did, however, make it to the falls and to our site in time for the darkness to set in.  While racing darkness back to our destination, we literally had to climd boulders, grab trees, and wade through thigh deep water on a log you couldn't see to get to the other side!  FINALLY! We reached our destination and promptly ate, showered, henna'd, and prepared ourselves for the final trek to the top the next day.





Day 3:  It's the big day!  We were all up and ready and we headed out to climb the mountain at 7:00am.  We climbed up rocks, through trees, and under massive spiderwebs before finally arriving to our destination 4 hours later soaked in sweat and covered in dirt.  To pass the time, we played 20 questions and Six Degrees of Separation.  We also asked our own human google (Roy) questions about the surrounding areas.  Our fearless leader Aly, set the pace for us and warned us of all the incoming ants we had to run past, slippery rocks, and steps.


Group photo before we leave!

All of the blood, sweat, and tears were worth it to see the magnificent beauty that is Kaieteur.  The undeniable beauty of this falls was stunning and breathtaking.  I was so transfixed on it, I didn't want to leave!

The look on our faces when we first see the falls


After we got our first taste of the falls, we continued on to the guest house where we gathered our things to bathe and wash clothes in the river.  As Roy led us there, we walked under a do not enter sign, but no one seemed to mind.  After about 30 seconds of walking you could hear water, and as you turned the corner and came out of the trees, you finally realize where you are...the crest of the waterfall.  Seriously?!?!  Roy just laughed at us as we guffawed, then showed us the spot to bathe.  To quote Steve (Aly's brother), "We bathed in the crest of a f*@#ing waterfall today.  We smell so bada$$."  Completely unreal!


Crest of the waterfall


Our bathing area


Before dinner we headed to the falls to watch the birds fly to their nests.  These birds build their homes behind the falls and travel together at the same time to get home.  You can see them swarming together, then as a group, fly down and behind the falls.  It's so interesting how you can see them "communicating" to each other and coordinating their descent.



It's hard to see but fantastic!  






Day 4:  We woke up and before we had a chance to bathe or eat, we were on our next adventure!  We headed out in the early morning in search of the Golden Rocket Frogs and the elusive Cock-of-the-Rock.   We were lucky to have seen both, but not without some hunting.  I was definitely not expecting the frogs to be this small!  They were so cute!



Part of our walk to the waterfall from the guest house.



Golden Rocket Frog


Cock-of-the-Rock

After breakfast, we went on another journey through the jungle where we saw the falls from all different view points and got to swing on a vine like they do in George of the Jungle!  



Sorry for my annoying voice and laughter!  This was intense though.

The night ended with a before dinner excursion to the crest of the falls where we enjoyed the relaxing sound of the water.





Day 5:  On our last day, we woke up, took our last bath in the river, had a big breakfast, then headed to the airstrip for our plane to take us back to Georgetown.  I was sad to go, but am so glad I took this trip.  I highly recommended it!





View from the plane as we left.







Monday, December 5, 2016

October

October began with a Jhandi at Seeta's house.  Seeta is Aly's host "sister" and landlord.  She also lives across the street from Aly (I have talked about both of these ladies in previous posts).  Seeta has become like a second "mom/aunt/sister" to me and I have officially claimed her when Aly leaves (which we will not talk about).  Moving along...I was invited by Seeta to participate in the preparations for her Jhandi which is a big deal!  It is about a week long process of buying tons of food, preparing the food to be cooked, then cooking the food for seven curry.  I was able to make it on the Sunday before the event and clean callaloo (type of spinach) as well as roll out some puri. There's a saying, if you're puri is round, you are ready for a husband...I am not ready for a husband 😄
On Monday, I arrived early to help with setting up the wreaths (I made one!).  One of the aunties then dressed Aly and I for the event.  I was deeply moved by the invitation to be a part of the process as well as witness the beautiful occasion.  
As the Jhandi began and I noticed there were not many people in attendance, became concerned with the amount of food made versus those in attendance.  Turns out I had nothing to be worried about since part of the Jhandi is to give back.  Seeta wanted a small group around her but made enough food for at least 100 people.  The leftovers were packaged up and she, her husband and sons delivered it to a local orphanage in the area.  The more I learn about the Hindu religion, the more I love what it stands for and the people who believe.  I will only post a few pictures here.  The rest you can see on facebook.



Aly with the callaloo


Making puri


Not husband worthy




Aly and I


Ceremony




Wouldn't be a Jhandi without Seven Curry!


Aly, Seeta, and I


School has made it's way through a full month and I think I am getting in the swing of things.  I have started working with an area band once a week.  They are smart, talented, and eager to learn.  I mildly impressed them on my first day by actually knowing what I was talking about!  The way they learn is by ear.  This is truly a talent as they do not know the correct fingerings of their notes, but will guess until something comes out correctly!  Very impressive ears, but I helped them find the correct fingerings so it would make it easier for them.  They seemed grateful and it made me happy working with musicians again.  Since I have started working with them, I've attended a couple of their performances.  One was a church service at the New Amsterdam Fire Station and another was the Breast Cancer Awareness March (more about that below).  
As I talked with the director, he informed me the instruments were donated from a friend in New York but they are short of supplies such as valve oil.  This does not deter the students though who I hear practicing at random times throughout the town.  A few live by me so I can hear them clearly.  I am glad they have a place to play and learn music. 





It's school sports again!  This time it is Inter-School sports held at the Esplanade.  All the primary schools in and around New Amsterdam met on a hot, blistering day to compete in track and field competitions including running and shot put.  St. Therese's put on a great showing by walking away with 3rd place!!!



Ready to race!





Warming up before their turn



Because who doesn't need a donkey at sports day?









My girl Aly!  We've been spending a lot of time together lately!  She came over one Friday night and we cooked black bean burritos and drank beer!  We were eventually going to watch a movie, but we talked so much we never got to it before we passed out!


Rolling the tortilla with a vinegar bottle






Our special bean and cheese dip


As everyone in the world knows, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  We celebrated this in New Amsterdam by participating in a March from the end of Stanleytown all the way through New Amsterdam.  It was a long walk but for a good cause.  I killed two birds with one stone as I marched with some teachers from my school as well as with the band I have been helping.






St. Therese's teachers


The cow was mesmerized by the march.




October is also the month Hindu's celebrate Diwali.  Diwali is the celebration of light and has many activities throughout the week.  One we participated in at school was making rangoli.  This is particular drawings filled in with colored rice.  Each grade level completed their own, then it was capped off by a performance including poems, songs, and a skit.  










And who can forget Halloween!  This holiday is not celebrated widely here but they do know about it.  A few of us NA volunteers and local Guyanese decided to dress up and attend a Halloween party at one of the local clubs.  It was nice to get dressed up and we definitely had fun!  We were all prepared for a Thriller dance competition (learned it in our workout class), but they waited until almost 2:30am to start it and by that time, most of us had gone home to crash....maybe next year.


My homemade butterfly costume


Sarah (bat girl) and Damaris (Mexican Gangsta)


Pinky (Killer Nurse) and Vanessa (Sexy Witch)


End of the night selfie!