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.