Oh Guyana

I would like to share a poem by my amazing friend and inspirational PCV friend, Jillian Johnson. It pretty much sums up how I am feeling as I look ahead to the ever nearing horizon of change. Thank you Jillian for your poetry!

Oh Guyana by Jillian Johnson

Oh Guyana. I hope I loved you enough.

I hope I turned up in the days that the sun was high and warm and worked hard under your heat and sweated enough.

I hope I taught you something.

I know you taught me something. Or two.

I hope the day ended feeling better than it started.

I hope the next day starts better than it ended.

I hope I tried for you enough.

I hope you felt the fast beats of my heart and the tears of my eyes.

I hope you know that I tried my best.

I hope you know that I loved your children like my own.

I hope you know that many of times they were.

I hope you see a difference because of what I did or did not do.

I know that I will be different, because of what I did and did not do.

I hope you show your beauty to others, like you have shown me.

I hope others will see your beauty that is truly here to see.

I hope you know that you brought some of my favorite people of life together: In my heart and in your country.

I hope you feel the feelings I have for you in every breath that I have left to take

I hope you know that at times it felt like it was forever, but that quickly slipped to lost when I was awake.

I hope you know that I woke up with you, dreamt of you, slept with you.

I hope you know that I broke for you, struggled for you, fought for you.

I hope you know that I loved for you, for everything and everyone you generously gave to me.

I hope you know that I cared for you and will continue you to do so daily.

Oh Guyana, I hope I loved you enough.

Seeing Sara Off

The obnoxious alarm went off at 4:30 in the morning. I opened my eyes as Chelsea struggled through the mosquito net to silence the buzzing, ringing bells from her Motorola. As I came to consciousness a thought shot through my head, ‘This could be my last morning in Guyana. I could be getting out of bed and checking my bags for my eminent departure. I could be anxiously and excitedly waiting for my driver to come and carry Chels and me to the international airport then drop us at the passenger loading corner. Before we know it we will be on plane that’s lifting off the ground, cabin pressure rises, Chelsea will nod off to sleep then…’

I snap back to the present. It’s not my last day; it’s Sara’s, I remember with sad, but proud sigh.

This morning Chels and I trundled down to Sara’s apartment. Our friends Princess and Becky were moving around the living space gathering and packing last minute things, as Sara organized and zipped up her book bag. Then they waited to leave.

It all seemed so surreal. The pattering of the persistent rain provided a picture perfect backdrop to this momentous occasion. One of our own was close of servicing. Our family, Guy 22, started as 35 and as of yesterday had 22. Now we’re down one more. She was a good one. She was my sister and a wonderful, wonderful friend. She, of course, is Sara.

Though it was not all of us who departed at morning-time, but it was a premonition, a marker of things to come. True, not every Guy 22er will depart these coming months, but most of us will need to say good-bye.

We volunteers are growing up; we’re moving on. I know we have not learned all we could from our service, but we have learned plenty to take back to our respective homes of record and enlighten our hometown communities. Or maybe some of us won’t return home just yet, but rather travel and gain more rich experiences to always carry with us.

Sara,

I will miss you. And I know you will succeed in all of your future endeavors. I wish you the best of the best of luck. And I thank you for being brave and blazing the trail for the rest of us.  I know we will be friends for a long, long, long time and I can’t wait to see you stateside, gurrrl!

In other news, Chels and I are doing well we’re still working steady on our projects and loving our community. These last few months are going to be a grand time. Happy Saturday!    

Last night we had Sara's co-workers over and, along with Princess, Becky, Chelsea, Cassie and myself,  ate classic Guyanese food and spent the night gaffing.

Celebrating Sara

Tim, about to swing into the creek

The awesome peeps who came out to celebrate Sara

This weekend we had a hootenanny to celebrate Sara and say goodbye to her before she leaves Guyana next week. Some amazing Volunteers came to Linden to visit and we “proper enjoyed ourselves” with some of our best Guyanese friends and neighbors. We cooked some amazing food; curry, salad, pasta salad, fruit salad and a pancake feast. On Saturday we walked to the creek near my house and did some swimming and jumping off trees into the cool black water. It was sunny and hot as we walked to the creek but it quickly got cloudy and, as we were swimming, it began to rain. At that moment, looking around at the jungle surrounding us and the huge drops of water splashing in the beautiful creek, being surrounded by fun-loving, like-minded friends, I felt so blessed to be in the Peace Corps and very nostalgic for this experience that is rapidly coming to a close.

After our creek adventure, we relaxed with peppermint hot cocoa (thanks Emily and friends!) and because of the rainy weather, actually felt cool-ish for once in Guyana. Then we met up with our friends at our favorite local restaurant and bar for a goodbye party for Sara. We surprised her with a catered dinner of all her favorite Guyanese food: greens cookup, plantain chips and baked chicken. And of course Banks beer. We danced the night away and laughed until our faces hurt.

Sara got early COS (Close of Service) to go home next weekend since all her projects are finished. I will miss her dearly! Sara has been like the sister I never had during our time in Peace Corps. Even in training we lived close to each other and our host families were related so we shared many laughs during our first 2 months in country as we got accustomed to Guyana in Essequibo. I was so excited when we got assigned to Linden together because I knew Sara would be a good influence on me and help me get back into shape. Almost every morning for the last two years Sara and I have worked out together, walking, running, yoga-ing and trying to get ‘cut like Kate’ (the sexy, fit character from the epic TV show ‘Lost’). We have shared our joys and pain, laughing so hard we cried and cried on each other’s shoulders. We have spent hours watching movies, sharing music, cooking, cleaning, gardening, hiking and adventuring throughout Guyana and Barbados. Together we have swam with sea turtles and watched them lay their eggs, danced to Caribbean music, fended off pushy Guyanese men and watched toucans soar over our own neighborhood in this urban jungle. I have so much respect for Sara and am so grateful she came into my life. She is one of the kindest people I know, and is so reliable and trustworthy. She is so strong to have gone through some of the challenges she has faced in her life and so brave to be facing an exciting, uncertain future. I have no doubt that we will be friends for a very, very long time!

Sara, I will miss you terribly in these last few months but I am SO freakin’ proud of you and so excited to hear of your adventures integrating back into America. I know you will land on your feet back home, because you are a strong, capable and amazing woman. I just have a feeling that so many unbelievable things are in store for you in 2012. I’m so thankful to have shared this journey with you and I can’t wait to continue sharing in your life as we move into the next adventure, starting of course with nachos and margaritas when I join you Stateside!

Lots of love for our friend Sara

Too much fun!

Creek time!

COS: Starting the Process of Coming Home

In the first week of January we, along with all our fellow Guy22 PCVs attended our Close of Service (COS) Conference. This was our last training conference as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It was also the last time we will be seeing many of our PCV friends and the last time we were all together as a group. The week was a blend of fun, nostalgia, stress and anticipation. We were at Splashmin’s, a blackwater resort about 40 minutes outside of Linden, and got to enjoy the hot showers, good food and freedom to swim in the blackwater lake every day. We spent the days in sessions, discussing logistics to going home (our official COS date is April 4^th), readjustment allowance, plane tickets, health insurance, and all the millions of forms we have to fill out prior to leaving Guyana. That was slightly stressful to think about all that we have to do in the short time remaining in our service.

But then there was also a free day when we didn’t have sessions. We spent the day near the water, spent some quality time with good friends, took a little boat ride, and I (Tim) even played some Ultimate Frisbee, which I really enjoyed (I forgot how fun that game is) even though I spent the next few days with sore legs and a sore back, but it did give me an opportunity to complain that I was ollllld.

After the conference, we had to go to Town to get medical clearances and fill out several close of service forms. Now though we are back on track and ready to complete our projects.

It is a very exciting and nerve-wracking time. We just purchased our plane tickets out of the country (exciting!) so the South America trip is a reality. But before we go on our jaunt through Andes, to the Incan Trails, Bolivian lakes, Chilean beaches, and Argentinian wine country (more details to follow) we have our work here to finish. We have to say goodbye to all the friends we’ve made, complete our projects, fill out more PC forms, take a foreign service officers exam, and perhaps travel once more through the jungles and rivers of this beautiful, unique country. There are still difficulties and challenges ahead of us, but “just now” (a proper just now, mind you) we’ll be gone.

There are lessons we’ll take away, stories to share, and more adventures to be had…but all of those can be written for another day.

Tim and Paulette, our PC Training Manager

Awesome PCV friends on a boat at Splashmins

PCLP (Peace Corps Life Partners) in the blackwater

Our friend Cassie entertains us all at COS spinning a fire hula hoop!

Happy New Year!!!!

We hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday season and are as pumped up about 2012 as we are!!!!

Well, Tim and I left behind 2011 with a bang and rang in the New Year surrounded by some of the most amazing, wonderful, fun and creative people we have ever encountered. Thanks to all our Peace Corps Volunteer friends who have become like a family to us in 2011. We love you guys and truly hope we will be able to sustain our friendships for a long time to come.

The week before NYE, Tim and I traveled to New Amsterdam for a long overdue visit with the Region 5 folks. We spent almost a week playing addictive card games, strolling through a new city, cooking excellent food and enjoying a chillaxed day at the one and only clean, sandy beach in Guyana. Then we all packed up and headed into G/town. We had booked 3 rooms at a hotel with hot showers and a swimming pool so that we could all be together on NYE and the night worked out so perfectly. The hotel hosted a party, with an open bar and dinner at midnight so we ate and drank to our hearts content for FREE (free is a big deal when you are a PCV). We danced the night away and laughed until our faces hurt.

Now we are home for a quick minute before we have to head back out of site tomorrow for our final Peace Corps conference (Close of Service/COS). It is weird to think that our time in Guyana is so rapidly approaching. From talking to other Guy 22 PCVs this last week, I think we are all very excited for the unknown adventures that await us in 2012 but also a little scared to be leaving our routine in Guyana and heading back to the relentless grind in the USofA.

Tim and I have a foggy picture of what 2012 is shaping up to be. I have gotten 4 acceptances from law schools, still no word from the Dream school, hopefully more to come soon. So far, things are looking good on that front. We will be making more solid plans to travel after COS and have a better idea of our ETA in America soon.

In terms of the dreaded new year’s resolutions, we both are resolved to leave behind our criticalness in 2011 and make 2012 a year without judgement of each other, others and ourselves. We are committed to making family and friends a priority in the new year and are dedicated to maintaining relationships with our loved ones. That’s the plan. Now here are the pictures:

Pina Coladas at the beach. Paradise

The countryside in Berbice, Guyana

Beautiful Berbice Bridge at night

2012!!!

Sara, my dear sister and friend, I will miss you SO much!

Tim and Megan being goobers! Check out Heather's moves in the background

Holidays in Guyana

Merry Christmas All! Here is a quick look into the Christmas Season in Guyana:

Tim and I have both, along with all our colleagues and friends, wrapped up our projects and work until the new year. Now we are in the full swing of the holiday season here in Guyana. Christmas feels different here for many reasons. Even though it is our second Christmas here, we still aren’t with our families so that always feels a little strange. The weather is still hot, muggy and sunny, which isn’t much like holidays back home. But the spirit of the season remains the same. Even in Guyana, people are eager to make their houses nice for their family and friends, putting up Christmas lights and decorations. Everyone makes plans to visit each other and share food, drinks and good company. So that’s what we plan to do this holiday.

Today we are going over to a neighbor’s house to spend the day. We prepped yesterday by heading over to fellow PCV, Tka’s house and learning how to make Jamaican meat patties which we are bringing over to our neighbor’s to share today. Tomorrow we are heading to New Amsterdam to visit with some other PCV friends and take a mini-vacation into a river village near them for some relaxation, nature and fun. Then we hope to ring in the new year in Georgetown before heading off to our Close of Service Conference (COS), the last workshop we will have as Peace Corps Volunteers. It is crazy to think how far we have come.

But in the here and now we are enjoying being together, sharing a last Christmas in Guyana. Check out some pictures from our holiday treat baking, visiting Georgetown and other crazy holiday adventures.

Sara baking yummy Christmas cookies at Tka's to give away to family and friends (I thiefed some....)

Holiday decorations in the clinic at work

Our Halloween tree in November gets Christmas presents that Mom brought from America! Thanks Mom!

A very scary, huge, white Santa give Season's Greetings to everyone in Georgetown. TIG!

For Christmas, I fixed Tim's shabby old copy of The Brothers Karamazov. Resourceful PCV with duct tape. Yay!

Starbroek Market in G/town was so busy the weekend before Christmas. So many people shopping and selling. 'Scuse me little veggie sales girl!

Selling tons of imported goods. Box cake anyone?

Local, Guyanese holiday necessities: sorrel, hot pepper, thyme and tubers.

Homemade Jamaican meat patties! Yum

15 Weeks to Go

We’ve been thinking a lot about leaving Guyana since we only have 15 weeks left here. As with most things in Peace Corps, we have very mixed emotions about leaving this beautiful country that has become our home. We decided to make a list of things we will miss very much about Guyana and also note the things we can say we won’t be missing at all. This is by no means a complete list, we are sure there are things we forgot about but here is what we have for now anyway. Here goes:

Things we will miss:

• Easy and cheap access to fresh tropical fruits: mango, pine, papaya, passion fruit and weird stuff you have probably never heard of (awaro, five finger, ginip, star apple, dounce) etc.

• Living on the river, admiring the beauty as we cross it everyday
• The beautiful, expansive skies: brilliant, fiery sunsets and sunrises and nights with millions of glittering stars

• Greeting everyone with a friendly, “Good morning/afternoon/night”
• Always being able to predict the weather. Let me guess: hot and muggy! Correct again!
• Loud Caribbean music blasting from mobile carts on the roads
• Food: plantain chips, cookup, roti, pepper pot, dahl puri
• The sounds of the jungle morning, noon and night: birds, frogs, bugs, roosters
• Evening thunder and rain storms

• Knowing our neighbors, shop keepers and a general a sense of community
• Getting everywhere by public transportation; mini buses, cars, and the freedom of not relying on anyone else to get anywhere because we can walk most everywhere!
• The flora of the jungle
• The fauna of our urban jungle: cows, sheep, chickens, dogs and cats that run (seemingly) wild all around the streets and yards of the entire country
• The “just now” attitude, island time, taking it easy, nah takin’ worries and time to relax and chill
• Having most of our “adult” responsibilities (bills, rent, medical care, etc) taken care of by Peace Corps and not having to worry about those things, peace of mind, job security
• Guyanese hospitality
• Random events that make us smile and laugh: seeing a 6’6 black man driving a supped up car with a Celine Dion CD blaring from the stereo or almost stepping on a mamma sheep as she gives birth to twins in the side of the busy market road
• Having luxurious free time to read (Tim has read over 150 books) and watch movies/TV
• Cheap and delicious Guyanese rum
• Getting DVDs of movies just released in theaters in the USA for $100 Guyana dollars (50₵)
• Dark, super-sweet, local Guyanese sugar
• The smell of sun dried laundry
• Being able to make our own work schedules and, at times, when work is slow, being allowed to show up, “show my face” then leave work to take care of personal business
• Our coworkers, neighbors and friends who all know and love us and watch our backs

Things we won’t miss and are glad don’t always exist in California:

• Mosquitoes
• Cold showers
• Men sipping, being called white gyal or bai/whitey/Barbie/baby/sweetie/sexy
• Animals (and animal dung) on the public roadways and in our yard
• Homesickness
• Incessant, unavoidable heat
• Our grammar degenerating into a poor version of Creolese (“I wan fuh go ah the market”, “watch at this ting” “me nah know” “how baby today? He goin a’right?”)
• Long, hot and uncomfortable mini bus rides
• The “just now” attitude, showing up late or not at all, little to no accountability
• Turtle slow internet connection
• Being judged and told we are going to hell because I (Chelsea) am not baptized and we are not Christian then almost forcibly dragged to church services to save our souls, being told by total strangers that I (Chelsea) am a sinner for wearing pants when the Bible says women should not wear pants…
• Only having three choices of bland Caribbean beer (Banks, Carib, Stag)
• Not having an oven
• Hand washing all our clothes
• Being asked very personal questions by strangers when we first meet them (are you married, do you have kids?, why not? how old are you? would you like a Guyanese boy/girlfriend?)
• The smell of garbage/dead things rotting in the trenches
• Humidity
• Being the victim of the Guyanese habit of stating the obvious (when Chelsea is bloated: “you gettin’ thick, you must be getting a baby”, when she is out in the weather without an umbrella: “white gyal you takin’ too much sun/rain”, when she is exercising: “you takin a walk”. Why yes, I am thank you!).
• People assuming that we are rich/privileged/religious/ New Yorkers because we are white
• Having no anonymity at all: leaving our site to go across the entire country and still being identified by strangers then having people in our own site tell us how they have heard of our exploits (probably from said strangers) in the far-off town upon our return
• Having to bring our own toilet paper and hand sanitizer everywhere we go because there is never any guarantee that there will be a well-stocked bathroom