And so it begins...

Quick. Recap. Go.

Sunday, April 19

The flight went smoothly and Dad and Brian picked up Leah and I. We went to the hotel checked in and then went to dinner. Feast your eyes on our entertainment: *******

Monday, April 20

I roomed with Sarah Bee last night and guess where we went to breakfast. Ihop! I may have been there once in my life, but it was down the street from our hotel and a no-brainer really as we were eating our last American Bfast. We got back to the hotel and had our first orientation. It started at 2 and ended around 7 I believe. We split into groups and ended up eating great food at a tapas restaurant. The night fell and things started getting more real.

Tuesday, April 21

Wake up, pack. Your life is about to change. Basically the day consisted of 43 people freaking out about their luggage. BUT 43 of us made it onto a plane and at 10pm 43 of us arrived in Guyana. We were greeted and welcomed as we got through the airport and we split again into 2 groups for 2 different hotels. I stayed at Wind Jammer and had wifi so I called the fam which was nice. Damaris and I roomed together in a nice room with air conditioning and 2 bug nets!

Wednesday, April 22

I woke up in Guyana to a rooster and off the group went to breakfast at Status hotel, where the other half of GUY27 was. The breakfast had mini bananas, papaya, I think hot dogs in ketchup, eggs, toast, the most delicious pineapple I’ve ever tasted, and shredded fish. Then our first day of orientation began and it was basically hellos to everyone and a simple introduction to PC Guyana. We all went in busses for about an hour to the ferry and met a few current volunteers and headed off over the essequibo river. After a little over an hour, we hopped on more busses (ps EVERY TIME I say bus, I really mean 15 seater van) and after another hour or so and we made it to Lake Mainstay where we’d be staying together for the next few days. It is a little resort and we are the first PC group here who got to do our first few days of training there. My roommate is Cassie and together we made our way to our cabins.

April 23- April 30

I don’t know how to describe lake mainstay and I didn’t take many photos so bare with me on the writings from these few days.

The wifi wasn’t great but I occasionally was able to communicate to family and friends. 

Most days consisted of group work, orientation and food. A ton of food. Mainly fish, a cabbage salad, rice or roti (the roti is delightful-look it up) we also ate quite a bit of hot sauce, sweet ketchup and fried foods for EVERY meal, fried pumpkin, fried plantains, fried fish, chicken… the list goes on and on. Oh and the portions are huge, and the day starts early. We normally had breakfast by 6 or 7 and would train until 3 or 5. Other fun things we did during training were dance lessons, we had a kick ass bon fire -smore’s included. We had a swim test in the lake where they tested to see how comfortable we felt in the water, swimming, floating and canoeing. We sang some traditional songs, danced our butts off and really learned a bunch about the culture.

-One thing I completely never thought about was the water situation. I’ve never been more thankful for water in my life. I never knew how beautiful it was to have clean water to drink, and I’m so sorry that I took advantage of it. Here in Guyana there is clean water available but drinking water must come from a bottle. So I learned how to strain, bleach, and filter or boil my water. I also brush my teeth with bottled water. It’s just mind boggling to me how such an important resource is so under developed in countries today. So readers, please enjoy, and be thankful for your clean water sources. We are quite fortunate to have them.

Martindale & Dartmouth

We went on field trips in small groups one day and my group took a bus, to a speed boat and headed to see a small primary school with the nicest of teachers, principal, kids and parents. The kids showed us their school, a dance and the pet baby alligator next door. This small school house had an upstairs and a downstairs and there were no separating walls just open spaces and chalkboards as wall dividers. We ate cassava bread, dipped into a spicy fish soup, and drank delicious coconut milk.

We stopped for lunch which consisted of rice and same. Same is a type of bean (similar to a green bean I believe) that was made into a delicious curry dish. I also had a great mango juice and ice cream. We then met up with Dan, a current PCV and he showed us around Dartmouth. We stopped into the Primary school where we heard a puppet show and then we went to the secondary school where he worked. We then walked to his house where his family lived on a compound. His family lived on the bottom of the house, he lived upstairs and his grandparents and aunts and uncles lived on the properties surrounding. Dan made us play games, like how to tuck in a bug net, how to plug in a fan with energy converters, how to light the gas stove that uses  a propane tank, how to do laundry in your shower, how to bucket flush a toilet, how to sweep with a broom made from a palm tree.. he taught us the basics. He also took us to the ocean before we left. We didn’t go in because it was not the going in type (all brown and rough and dirty).

We did laundry one day at Lake Mainstay. We only washed  2 pieces together. I eventually washed the rest myself one morning before breakfast. Oh and by doing laundry I don’t mean that the 43 of us hopped on a bus to the closest laundromat, I mean the 43 of us hand washed our clothes in buckets and hung them on the line to dry.

The bed bug dilemma. Plain and simple, a bunch of people had bed bugs. Luckily I did not. 

Side note: Lori, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry, but I have to write about how inspiring you are to me.

So I realize that not all people can leave their family and friends and everything they know and love to subject themselves to a different culture and way of life, but I can’t stress how important I think it is for people to learn about other cultures. Anyway, here’s to Lori. My new friend. A fellow volunteer. Who happens to be deaf. Going to live in a different culture can have it’s advantages and disadvantages. It is hard to say what is a disadvantage though because every disadvantage can be made into a positive thing. Example: The deaf population in Guyana is lacking resources and most people don’t even know it exists. But isn’t that the whole reason peace corps exists? We are here to help community members help their own community. Lori, I love and admire you for sharing your talents, knowledge, and love with the world. Not just with the community but with your fellow volunteers as well. Lori, James (a local who happens to be deaf), Rachel (an amazing response volunteer who has been interpreting for Lori), Quincy and Ruben (locals who are interpreters) all helped teach us signs and I believe will continue to teach us more and more and I can’t wait.

Wolves and villagers may be the best game invented. It’s hot as hell here and I’m going to get fat.

I learned how to do a head stand and a crow pose which are both incredibly hard to do in my opinion and I also learned how to do a sun salutation. Here’s to being hella happy and free. Yoga will be a part of my morning routine, thank you Marie.

Thursday, April 30 

We went back to wind Jammer. Took a tour of Georgetown, went to the zoo, saw the tallest wooden structure in the world, St. George’s Cathedral, ate, had kids stare at me with wide eyes in shock of seeing a white person and then had adults point and say wow look there’s a white girl. Also, everyone in the city LOVED my tattoos. Blondie was a hit! And now it’s time to meet my host family!

Friday, May 1

The W Family! I live with them in Soesdyke in their BEAUTIFUL home. Seriously, I was prepared to live in a hut. And I’m virtually living in a beautiful mansion with all of the amenities you could imagine, wifi, direct tv, cars, a laundry machine, running water, indoor plumbing, a refrigerator, it’s unreal. My mom’s name is Jenny, dad Keith, sister Saskeia, brother Keith Jr., sister-in-law Jewel, nice (8) Jekeia, nephew (1) Jaden.

My mom is in catering so good eats are already happening and they’re just all so nice! They made me a welcome poster, Jekeia made me a bracelet, Jaden let me hold him, I had help hanging my bug net and I’ve already added my personal touch to my room!

Saturday, May 2

Yesterday we drove to Georgetown to Borda Market (which I stayed out past my 6pm curfew) and I tried soft serve ice cream and I was told that my hair looks like a beautiful golden river. I went to bed later than everyone around 10:30 and woke up later than everyone at 7:30. But I did my new morning yoga routine and felt pretty good. I am tired, but maybe that’s because it’s hella hot and I haven’t had a time to really think about what is happening to my life right now. 

Today is a rather relaxing day, my mom’s been cooking away for a picnic/party we are having in 3 days. I’ve done some reading, wrote this bad boy, and I have some homework to do too. Tomorrow is church and probably more eating.

First meals with my host mama: fish, veggies and rice, it was delightful. fried fish and plantains as american as the cuisine gets around here. This morning I ate some mama fruit and something else that was super sweet, I also had bake that Jewel made. It is like an english muffin on steroids. Fruit cake for a snack and for lunch, fried okra and rice, again really really tasty. 

Ahh I’m sitting outside on the veranda finishing this up and I just saw my dad ride his bike home wearing one of the Phillies hats I got! I love it!

But thanks for reading this madness! Maybe next time I write it’ll be about something I observed or experienced so y’all can learn more about the culture rather than my every step each week.

Signing out,

Fran

PS be sure to check out the photograph section. I think that’s where I’m just going to post them all! It may be easier that way! Also, my address for the next few months is posted too!

Any questions or comments, please I’d love to answer and or read!!

Miss ya -kisses!