JUS' NOW AND THEN.

[ MY OVERALL STATUS ]

STATUS | Volunteer.
LOCATION | New Amsterdam, Guyana.
DURATION |288 days.
MOSQUITO BITES | 3,124.
COLD BUCKET BATHS  | 1,439.  
STOMACH FLU | 0.

SUCH A LIFE

Special Needs For Life: Instructional Centre.

Kilroy-Cheney, Region 6.

Peace Corps is truly one of the most toughest jobs I ever had. I work on several projects ranging from being a literacy educator for all Deaf students to an educator for Deaf Education training for all teachers to a special consultant in Department of Education: Special Needs Education, a professional coconut tree climber, and the list goes on. Anyway, this is one of many places where I work by giving presentations on Deaf Education and how to teach teachers to teach Deaf students in their respective schools. Some families can't afford to send their Deaf children to New Amsterdam Special Needs School so they would send Deaf children to local schools... and sometimes, never. Most families don't know what Deafness is so they think their child is impaired and unable to learn so they keep the child at home and help around with their local businesses. Believe it or not, this is common case in Guyana and many other developing countries around the world. The key is to educate everyone about the awareness of Deafness and Deaf communities.... especially teachers. Often, teachers have no to limited experience in the area of how to work with Deaf students so I teach them how to recognize Deaf students and how to teach them with what they have available in the classroom. Teachers are respected community members so they have the ability to reach out to families and educate them about Deafness and resources available to help out Deaf students or anyone with different abilities.

It has been a quite handy workshop. 

Kilroy-Cheney, Region 6.

I've been working with few local Deaf people and advocates who know sign language to provide workshops and presentations about Deaf culture. My objective is to teach them with everything I know and all resources I can give so they can teach everything they know long after I complete my service. 

Diwali: the Festival of Lights. 

East Canje, Region 6.

Diwali, known as the Festival of Lights, is an Hindu holiday in Guyana and the festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. We celebrated it in East Canje, a small village just outside New Amsterdam. Next year, I hope we can celebrate in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana, where the biggest festival light is full of the light and goodness. 

 

F-I-N-A-L-L-Y.

New Amsterdam Special Needs School, Region 6.

Just few of my Deaf students finally mastered writing their alphabet letters. It took few months to get through A-Z. Before, they used to learn a letter every day and forget it all over again when the summer rolled in. I convinced teachers and students to adapt to the system of learning how to write the whole alphabet and letter signs as much as they can until every student knows all letters before moving on to learning how to write and read words. My primary goal as a literacy educator is to have each student read a book before the summer begins. 

63 BEACH

What did one ocean say to another ocean?
63 Beach, Region 6.

Nothing. They just waved at each other. Okay, in seriousness, this is one of many spectacular views at #63 Beach where the sands of Guyana and the Atlantic Ocean coincide. From here, you could see the land of Suriname just over the other side. We hung out here for a while, sinking our feet in wet sand and letting the water splash over us to cool off. Did you know that this was my second time seeing the ocean in my entire life? 

 What did you sea out there?

63 Beach, Region 6.

It's a perfect place to reflect on life.
63 Beach, Region 6.

GUYANA MARATHON

Cruisin' along a river in the heart of Region 3.

Santa Mission, Region 3.

 On November 14, 2015, the first ever Guyana Marathon permiered at the start line in Santa Mission where the maximum number of 100 runners eagerly raced deep into the heart of the jungle. Snata Mission is a small village consisting of around 200 people who welcomed everyone from runners to sponsors to spectators all over from eight diferent countries to enjoy the race in three events: 10K, half marathon, and full marathon.

If you told me two yeras ago that I would race in the half-marathon, I would have laughed in your face. Seriously, I would have. Never in my life I thought I could run the half in Guyana. Shortly after I arrived in Guyana, I found out about Guyana Marathon and I knew I had to sign up for it to support the local economy as well as to cross the half marathon off my life. Full marathon next year? Maybe.

A couple of eco-friendly goodies. Hell yeah.

Santa Mission, Region 3.

Like many countries that struggled with waste and proper recycling methods, Guyana Marathon strove to be environmentally friendly and set a testament for everyone on how to reuse and reinvent everything the jungle has to offer. The race shirt was made of 100% recycled polyester from recycled water bottles and plastic and the printing was used with organic dyes. The bib was made from recycled papers along with local dyes. Also, anyone who ran across the finish line received finisher medals, which were made from local wood and carved to perfection by locals. Pretty cool, huh?

Ole! The land of Santa Mission.

Santa Mission, Region 3.

Ready... set...

Santa Mission, Region 3.

Many Peace Corps Volunteers came out to support Guyana Marathon. A year ago, a group of runners wanted to find some trail to run and found Santa Mission where one Peace Corps Volunteer, Kelly Reeves, resided and she explained about the needs of the village so the runners wanted to find a group of runners to run together and give back to the village. Boom. Guyana Marathon was born.

NO WAY!

Santa Mission, Region 3.

When the race started, I wanted to keep my pace slow and steady because 13.1 miles, or 21K, was the farthest I ever ran and I had no idea what to expect in the jungle. Maybe some panthers or anacondas awaiting to devour me so better save some energy to run like hell and escape. Before then, I usually ran up to ten miles, but that was it, not even 10.1 miles or I'd die trying. Around one mile into the jungle, everything started to get denser with many fallen tree branches where I tripped over few times, large leaves scattered everywhere where few stumps stayed hidden, and some deep mud where I lost one of my shoes and had to dig it out. More deeper I ran into the heart of the jungle, more beautiful it became. Many beautiful butterflies flew around, some birds hopping on tree branches, lizards skittering across the ground, and so many more. I felt I could run forever there. Before I knew it, I had ran out of the jungle and over the white sands with the village looming on the horizon where the finish line waited for me. With whatever energy left in me, I ran as hard as I could just to finish the race and cross the half off my life list. Little did I know I was the first half marathoner to cross the finish line with the time of 2:17:34. 

But let's get real here. The real winners are Santa Mission Elementary School and Santa Mission village. Guyana Marathon organizers and the village worked closely to ensure they benefited 100% from hosting the marathon as in employing local boats for transportation, local labor to clear the trails, and so many more. All proceeds on the check are handed over to the Touchou, the village chief, for the local economy including school supplies for the elementary school to set the lifetime marathon of learning.

Charlie's Peace Corps Volunteers.

Santa Mission, Region 3.

 All winners of the race for each event received the beautiful weaved Amerindian baskets as their trophies instead of the actual trophies because these weaved baskets represented the true cultural value of Guyana. As you saw the picture, I'm sure you can read "Guyana Half Marathon 1st Place Winner" stitched onto my basket - a reward for experiencing the beautiful adventure within the jungle and making it out alive without being eaten by panthers or anacondas.

This is real life, is it??

Santa Mission, Region 3.

Peace Corps is definitely a journey. 

Santa Mission, Region 3.

"Life is like a river. Some rivers are long while others are short. Some are filled with fallen branches and creatures that will snag the boat back while some are clear you could see where you are going. Some will rush so fast you just have to hold onto your life vest for your life while some are slow that you can enjoy the scenery and see what life has to offer around you. All rivers, all boats, and all journeys are different." - Unknown.

SIR WINSTON FURCHILL

Of course. 

Sir Winston Furchill posing for America's Next Top Cat. 

Mi casa, New Amsterdam, Region 6.

You know you are a crazy cat lady when you have over 200 pictures of your cat on your phone, more than anything else. Fur real, Sir Winston is my brightest sun in Guyana. No matter how long my days were, even long after the dark, I always looked forward to see him when I came home. Every time I jingle the key through the door lock, he would run up to the door and sit there, waiting for me to come through and pick him up to hug him. Whenever I lay in my hammock and read a book, he'd jump in it and curl up against me. Sometimes, I'd write letters and he'd pounce on my pen and chew through paper as a way of leaving his mark along with my ink.

Who let the cat in the bag????

Mi casa, New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Every single time. Whenever I get ready for work, I'd pack up things into my handbag and Winston would try to jump into it, waiting for me to take him outside. I don't really take him outside that often because I live in the town where cars speed through and a pack of dogs scavenge for any leftovers on sides of the road. The sad truth is that I see more dead cats than living ones out in the streets.

What's cookin'?

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

 Sir Winston just hanging out with one of my host sisters while she's cooking a bake, the Guyanese name for a fluffy bread fried in oil. Sir Winston is fond of chilling on people's shoulders, being held like a baby, and being a Velcro to anyone who picks him up.

Gotta love his look.

Mi casa, New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Many of you know I'm not a fan of selfies in general but I just couldn't pass this one up especially with the look on Sir Winston's face. Okay, I'll never stop being a crazy cat lady fur real. Once again, thanks for reading the blog! A vlog should be coming up jus' now.

THE BEGINNING OF TWO YEARS.

[ MY OVERALL STATUS ]

STATUS | Volunteer.
LOCATION | New Amsterdam, Guyana.
DURATION | 162 days.
MOSQUITO BITES | 2,061.
COLD BUCKET BATHS  | 921.  
STOMACH FLU | 0.

SOME GUYANESE WORDS.

I'll post few words every post because even English is Guyana's official language, people speak and write Creolese. Hell yuh.

1. Skunt - cunt... yep. (The first Guyanese word I learned from my host sister, haha).
2. Crappo - frog.
3. Bai - boy.
4. Gyal - girl. 
5. Aloo - potato.
6. Balanjay - eggplant. (Oh, shit, I just realized I have two I need to cook right now). 
7. Pear - avocado (they look like pears here too).
8. Vexed - gettin' mad/pissed off/angry.
9. Pickni - child or children.  
10. Bazodee - totally confused. 

SOME GUYANESE PROVERB.

"Yuh never miss water 'til da well runs dry."  

[ THE BEGINNING OF TWO YEARS. ]

It's been 60 days since I posted. Posting a blog has been on the top of my to-do list... it's going to be a short one with lots of pictures for now.

 Welcome to New Amsterdam!

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Yea, you saw that right, that's the Pepsi sign with NEW AMSTERDAM on it. Pepsi "sponsors" many towns by erecting up Pepsi signs with town names along the main road from Georgetown to New Amsterdam. (Capitalism colonialism at its finest). Anyway, New Amsterdam is a tiny town with the population of 30,000, making it the third largest town in Guyana. It has three main roads, a mayor, and a thriving market.

Skip over the timeline of New Amsterdam if history bores you.

• 1740: Built by the Dutch. First named as Fort Sint Andries. 
• Pioneer in by-laws: 
• Established sanitation regulations to make sure the creek ain't a shit creek.
• Set up fixed prices for goods like price tags in town.
• Deemed alcohol as a necessity rather than illegal because people believed it would help them ward off malaria and diseases. Yay for alcohol! 
• 1763: The slave uprising tore the town in half with slaves fighting for their freedom. 
• 1764: The town burned to the ground during the slave uprising. Only the brick Lutheran church survived. 
• 1785: People decided to relocate the town near the mouth of the Canje river to be rebuilt as New Amsterdam.
• 1803: Taken over by the bloody British. 
• 1831: Lost the status of the Berbice capital city when the British combined all three regions of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo, into the British Guiana.  
• 1966: Guyana achieved independence from United Kingdom and changed British Guiana into Guyana to honor its new founded independence.   

 

 Just passin' over the bridge over the Canje river. The bridge is one of highest points in New Amsterdam.

Canje + New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Overlookin' Canje from the bridge and New Amsterdam.

Canje + New Amsterdam, Region 6.

 MONEY TRAIN!!! The most trippiest mini-bus I've ever been on.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

A lot of folks asked me how do I flag down the bus... because you know I'm Deaf and all that? This question never gets old at all. If I had a dollar for every time people asked me, I'd be 67 dollars richer (enough to afford 13 peanut butter jars in Guyana). It is similar to the question Deaf people get asked over and over again in U.S... "how do you drive?" Oh, want me to tell you how? Sure! I just open the door, get in the driver's seat, put my key in ignition, and rev it all up - just like that. What the hell do you think, that we drive the different way than you do? No. Just like everybody, I wave my hand to flag down the bus, hop on it, and have the ride of my life... until I see the sign of the town where I want to go. Buses usually play loud music and I can feel it vibrating through the chairs, either rasta music or gospel or even Justin Bieber, fortunately, I can't hear him at all. Passengers would shout their stops at the tops of their lungs or tap on the conductor's shoulder and point at where they want to stop. I do the same thing. Sometimes, I'd flag down a taxi because they are faster than buses, write down where I want to go and negotiate the price with the driver, before I get in the car and just roll on with my life. It's a guaranteed tip to not get ripped off easily. 

Bus fares are usually 100 to 1000 GYD = .50 cents to 5 USD.

 Just kickin' some ball around.

All Saints Field, New Amsterdam, Region 6.

New Amsterdam Summer Soccer Camp running by locals. More than 50+ players showed up so one fellow PCV and I helped out for few days with the youth, teaching them footwork with drills and developing various games to increase their stamina and physical fitness.

 

LET'S KICK SOME GRASS!!

All Saints Field, New Amsterdam, Region 6.

 Oh, fuck, I'm in deep shit...

Bohemia, Region 6.

Thanks to Shearer for this picture!

A fellow PCV, Shearer, and I decided to go for a hike around in her town one Saturday to see if we could trek through the jungle and wrestle with anacondas just to get to the ocean on the other side... EPIC FAIL! We trudged down the lonely dirty road that seemed to stretch on and on beyond the flat land of rice fields... until we passed the large ponds with water for rice fields. Between the rice fields and the dry land was full of the mud with spots of grass patches where I hopscotched as agile as I could without sinking into the mud just to reach the dry land... SQUELCH! One of those grass patches turned out to be a decoy. We never made it to the other side without losing my Tevas (don't worry, they were recovered). At least, we got to meet a local farmer named Vishnu who invited us over to visit his family and talked about life in Guyana - worth it and a couple of mangoes too. 
 

Leaf's hang around!

Canje, Region 6.

Thanks to Aly for this picture!

If you wanted some free fruits, you got to climb for it... fortunately, tree climbing was on my resume. I have yet to master at climbing a coconut tree and it is the hardest tree I ever have climbed... only made it off few feet when my feet bled a little bit. By the end of the service, I'll make it to the top and reap the coconut as the victory. You just probably think I'm (coco)nuts but you just wait and see. 

 

 Na'an, Dhal, nom, nom, nom.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Thanks to Mike for making this delicious dishes with na'an, rice, dhal, etc.

Guyana is ethnically diverse with many ethnic groups including Indians, Africans, Asians, Amerindians, and others... The fact Guyana is ethnically diverse means there is diversity in food. Food is a huge part of cultures everywhere the world so it will deserve its own post in the future. I have yet to master Guyanese cooking and share recipes with you all. 

Sir Winston Furchill!

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

I love puns and I love punny names. It took me two weeks to decide on the name for this little furfella. As many of you know, English is Guyana's official language and most Guyanese words are food (bora, balanjay, curry, roti, you'll learn more later!). I didn't want to name him after Guyanese food because I'm a foodie and whenever I think of food, I get hungry and I'd raid my fridge. So... what else? Puns! Meow Damon, Feline D. Roosevelt, and Stephen Pawking... yet I chose Sir Winston Furchill after Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain during World War II, because many of his quotes resonate with me still to this day...  It was a perfect fit when Sir Winston Furchill became the symbol of the Allied in my house as he is waging a war against the Axis of Pest full of cockroaches, beetles, slugs, and other critters that terrorize our land every day. Every morning when I wake up, I'd find their dead bodies lying across the battlefield with their torn legs scattered, all by the paw of Sir Winston Furchill. Thank god it's not in my bed. Indeed, he is sure livin' up to his name. Oh, he also likes to destroy my tea bags. That little bloody bastard.

Stop playing with flour fur real.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Well, you know you're a crazy cat lady when your cat is in more than half of pictures on your phone. It is truly fur-astic to have him because he is my world in Guyana. I always look forward to come home to him every time after a long day. Even we have the sun for 12 hours in Guyana from 6 AM to 6 PM, days always seemed to be forever. He is an intelligent kitten, no, seriously, I know you're probably rolling your eyes and think yeah, right. I know someone is at the door when he runs up to the door and sit there before they could flash the doorlight. This is how he usually greets me when I come home as he hears my key jingling in the keyhole and as soon as I open the door, he runs up to me and wait for me to pet him. He also knows how to sit and hold his hand out for a handshake. Believe it or not, cats are intelligent and they can be trained just like dogs with lots of treats. Train 'em at a young age and they'll turn out to be purrfect. Such a fine gentlecat he is. 

 

Just one of streets in New Amsterdam.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Hikin' out there in the rice fields, exploring for a way into the jungle. Need to get me some machete.

Sandvoort, Region 6.

The canal near rice fields.

Sandvoort, Region 6.

The new greenhouse on the school grounds.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Older students learn about the process of germination from planting the seeds to cultivating them to harvesting them as food. Some portions of food are used in cooking lessons as life skills for students and other portions are sold at the market for school revenue.

Students + their green thumbs with spinach.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

One of the roads en route back home from school.It usually takes me ten minutes to walk both ways.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

This is why I can't get any work done, haha.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Ms. Okolo teaches ABC to younger students.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Deaf education is... I have no words. Not just Deaf education, but education in Guyana. There is much work to be done and start the progress for the betterment of education. Truthfully, another time is better for me to write about it. I know I keep saying I will write it in my previous blogs... I will. Do not ever take your education for granted. Education is more than a tool: it is a journey.

Ms. Yvonne teaching one of younger students how to fingerspell the alphabet.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

It's like my birthday came early!

 Thank you to all who contributed to these packages! 

Missing: Swedish fish since I ate them all.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH to Mom, Aunt Denise + Kayla + Madison, Judy, Rachel, and Bill + Laura!  It's like my birthday came early - those are lifesavers especially nuts because I'm so nuts about them! Also, thanks to you all who wrote letters! You know who you are - the letters comin' your way jus' now! 

Department of Education: Regional Office for Region 6.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

I not only work as a community literacy promoter at school but I also work as a special consultant for Deaf Education at Department of Education Regional 6 Office. It's sure hard to miss the yellow building there.  

Yeaaaa, peace out, kiddos.

New Amsterdam, Region 6.

Well, it is time for me to hit the sack. I gotta get up at the crack. Stay classy, y'all.