August

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

June and July

The last couple of months have flown by as well as a lot of things happening.  We said a tearful goodbye to GUY 26, the school term ended and we successfully completed reconnect.  I have visited the Essequibo coast and Karawab where I saw my host family from training and visited Zach in his hinterland site.

One of these weekends, I was traveling to Georgetown for medical reasons (I was having my ankle looked at...lots of walking here and it was giving me problems).  In true Guyanese fashion, the x-ray machines were not working so I had to come back the next week, so, instead of spending the money to go home,  I visited Kat in Hague with Liz and Caitlin (which was a cheaper option) where we relaxed, attended a community yoga class (led by Kat and Liz) and cooked a wonderful meal to share with new friends.  While it was only one day, it was nice to get away and see how another volunteer lives.  Sadly, about a month later, Kat went home.  I miss her dearly but have recently talked with her and she is doing great!!!  Suddie Crew Forever!

Yoga Time!



The girls!

Beautiful Sunset

Before leaving for GUY 28 getaway weekend, a group of us had dinner at Night Cap (a really nice restaurant) to celebrate Lauren's (GUY 26) birthday.  

Liz and I

LD and I

Kat and I

The last two weeks of the term were spent without LD and filled with the anticipation of CSEC scores and graduations.  Before LD left though, we accomplished a few more projects.  Lindsey introduced an anti-littering poster contest.  The top three posters were then combined into one.  LD blew them up, and then the girls who created the poster pasted around town at various stores and organizations.  They were even interviewed for tv!

We had a fitness day where LD and I led a workout session (more LD than me) and a member of Guyana's national cricket team came by to work with the kids on their cricket skills.  This was all organized by Ms. Deetra and was deemed a success!

Towards the end of April, we had a playground building day at St. Therese's.  We are the biggest primary school in Berbice and the second biggest in the country and we DO NOT have a playground!

We were able to receive donations from the community as well as help from local organizations and parents.  Members of Comforting Hearts NGO were gracious enough to donate their time on this rainy Saturday morning as were some students and parents.  While it rained most of the day, we were still able to put into place a few playground items.  More still needs to be done and we will be continuing this as the term begins.

Digging holes!

The ladies taking care of the welcome booth

LD and Ari with the wood

Girl Power!

On LD's last day of school, there was a big celebration in her honor.  The kids sang, danced, and recited poetry and were very successful in making Miss. Lindsey cry!  It was an emotional day and one that will always be remembered.  WE MISS YOU!

The last exciting event of the term happened when Kristian Paradis visited to look at and help organize our thoughts for a steel pan band.  Steel pans have a rich history here in Guyana, but the equipment and talent has dwindled through the years.  The Ministry of Sports, Youth, and Recreation has implemented Steel Pan bands in are secondary schools, but that still leaves the primary schools without music.  Hopefully, we can start a program here and build up the participation of those who would benefit most from music!  

Messing around

Ms. Royanda learning to play

Members of Berbice High School Steel Pan group with Kristian

I look like a natural!  Maybe....

Guy 26 has successfully COS'd (close of service) and they are on to bigger and better things.  Some are in Rio volunteering for the Olympics while others hiked through South America before returning home.  There are also a few that are touring Europe and some that just went home.  Out of this group, there are about 2-3 who have extended their tour for another year to finish what they have started and one who has received a job teaching at a school that provides an American education to those in Guyana.

Before all of this, we had a nice weekend get together to celebrate their final weekend as PCV's and to live it up one last time in Georgetown.  We began with dinner on the roof at 704 Sports Bar, then we made our way to a Chinese Karaoke bar before ending the night at Seeta's.  It was a great time and my first time to really go out in town.  By Sunday, they were ready to go and departed ways to begin
their next adventure while I travelled back to New Amsterdam to continue my service.

LD, Mikey, and Me

This was at least the 7th picture we took and the only one that turned out well

Liz singing and dancing

Good times

Get it Kelly!

Last shot of the group before heading out.

Lindsey is one of those who is now gone (but also working in Georgetown) and I miss her dearly.  She has been a great friend and has helped me beyond anything I could have asked for these past few months.  She is one of those people who can brighten the gloomiest of days with her smile and child-like personality, is a giving human being who always puts others first and is always the first to help in any situation.  She will not only be missed by the students and faculty of St. Therese's, but by me.  She was my roommate/neighbor/sister and coworker for a mere 3 months, but as I have begun to realize, that is a huge amount of time here where you are away from your family, friends and the familiar.  She is truly one-of-a-kind and will forever have a place in my life whether she likes it or not!

School has let out for the term and we have been at site for 3 months which means...RECONNECT! The entire GUY 28 group came together for a week to attend the conference.  Some of us haven't seen each other since we moved so it was also a time to reconnect with each other!  We were all emotional seeing each other again and picked up right where we left off after training.  We started the week with a 4th of July party (on July 9th) at the US Ambassador's house.  There was food, drinks, games, and a pool!  It ended pretty early so we ended up going back to our hotel, ordering a pizza from Pizza Hut (YES!) and having a few more beers before passing out for the night.  The next day, we had to check out of the hotel and proceed to our next hotel where we are staying for the week.  

  

Below are a few pictures from the party.  I guess I don't have a lot from reconnect but I can tell you, it was not as bad as training!  Maybe it was because we were all seeing each other again or maybe because it wasn't as long.  The first day, we played a BINGO game that I made (thank you Lindsey) so we could have a little entertainment for the week.  I highly recommend meeting BINGO! 

Molly and I

Kelly and Flavio with his American flag inspired shirt

About a month earlier, Zach had sent a message out to a few of us about visiting his site after reconnect.  So...there I was, going to Karawab in Region 2 on the Pomeroon River.  It is a hinterland site that you can only get to by an hour boat ride.  Connor and Molly also came with and because the boat did not come out of the village that day, we had to stay the night at Molly's on the Essiquibo Coast.  We got there in the early afternoon so we rallied and had Suddie Crew (minus 2 +1) beach day before buying groceries to cook dinner for the night.  I was also able to visit with my host family from training.  I was supposed to see them a few days later, but since we were staying over, I decided to surprise them!  It was so nice getting to see them even though it was for a short time.  

Connor, Molly, and Me

Zach and I with an awesome photobomb from Molly

After dinner, we were about to settle in for our showers and a movie when Molly noticed a gigantic tarantula hanging out in the sitting room.  Connor battled it with grace while Molly and I stood on the bed and screamed (naturally) and I filmed the entire process.  Zach, who was in the shower, gave support from the safety of the water.

TARANTULA ATTACK!

Our boat ride to Karawab

Teacher's quarters where Zach lives

Primary school

Jungle

River Lyfe...washing clothes edition

Zach the protector

When your headlamp breaks, put your phone under the strap

Beautiful sunset

River Lyfe...washing dishes episone

River Lyfe...Shop boat edition - how to buy supplies when you can't get to the coast

I am now back in New Amsterdam and couldn't have had a better time with friends and going on adventures.  I am hoping to have many more as the year moves forward.  

To end this post, here is a cute little baby lizard climbing on my refrigerator.