Hidey-ho blog followers! Sorry I haven't written in so long! I was in a bit of a writing funk, and there seemed to be a lack of good stories to share. Luckily, I was involved in yet another ridiculous event the other day and will now try my best to convey the hilarity of it all...
After discussing my love for Ultimate and all things sports, my new friend/boss/bad-ass Indira set up a meeting with for me to start working with a local sports club. Now, Indira is unlike any Guyanese woman I have ever met. The first thing she asked me me when we met was “How do you like your men? I like 'em with a tight ass. Men with tight asses usually have big penises”. At that moment the skies opened and the sun shone down upon us and I knew, the way you know about a good melon, that this was a woman I could work with! Anyway, back to the meeting...
Indira picked me up and took me to meet with Tamesh, the president of the sports club. The meeting went swimmingly. We ate fresh guavas and papaya from Indira's garden and discussed the possibility of collaboration on multiple projects. After about an hour of stuffing my face with fruit and gaffing (the Guyanese term for chatting), Indira informed us that she had to rush to a funeral. We exchanged contact information and said goodbye to Tamesh.
We climbed into Indira's car and began reflecting on the meeting. Because I was so excited about the new possibility of work, it took me a little while to realize we were headed in the opposite direction of my house. I didn't want to interrupt our captivating conversation on empowering youth and decided to just go with the flow. Soon we pulled off the main road and parked in front of a house. When I saw multiple black clothing-clad people standing outside, I realized that Indira had decided to take me to the funeral with her.
I contemplated waiting in the car while she paid her respects, but the idea of sitting in a car in the stifling heat was much less appealing than attending a funeral of a man I did not know. So I stepped out of the car and followed Indira inside, completely regretting my decision to wear a flowery top with white pants. As if I don't already stand out enough with my red hair and pale skin, I'm the insensitive girl wearing white at a funeral.
Trying to be discreet, Indira and I search the area for seats, but because we've arrived fashionably late, there are hardly any left. Suddenly, Indira points to two seats at the very front. All eyes are on us as Indira leads the way down the aisle. The seats are staggered, one in front of the other. Indira sits in the one behind, forcing me to sit in the front. She whispers that she doesn't want to sit in front because it would give her heebie jeebies. As I turn around to face forward, I suddenly see what she meant. I am sitting front and center at my very FIRST open-casket funeral!
You know how when some people are really uncomfortable they start laughing? Apparently I'm one of those people. I was overcome with a fit of giggles while everyone around me was overcome with grief. Luckily I was able to put my head down and control my convulsions enough that no one noticed. When I was finally able to get ahold of myself, I sat quietly and listened his eulogy. The departed sounded like an amazing man, and although I'd never met him, he sure did look like a wonderful individual, laying there peacfully in his coffin, wearing his nicest suit.
After an hour of speeches, tears, music and prayer, the casket was closed. Everyone stood to follow as the coffin was carried to the graveyard. I began to join the procession when, luckily, Indira informed me she didn't want to attend the burial.
Love, Peace and Open-caskets(?)
Annie
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Travelin' Whoa-man!
Standing on the side of the main road, I wave down a mini-bus and take a deep breath, knowing it's the last bit of fresh air I'll have for a while. As I board the crammed bus, I am immediately greeted with “marnin!'” from all of the passengers. I return the friendly gesture with a nod and a smile. After searching for a while, I manage to find a seat at the very back of the bus, and am forced to squeeze myself between what looks like a Guyanese Mr. Clean, and a young couple whispering sweet nothings into each others ears. I manage to cram myself in the tiny space made available to me, and immediately begin sweating profusely. There is no place in Guyana that is as hot as a mini-bus. It's like a sauna, steamy with human sweat. As I try to free my arm to fan myself, I realize the bus has turned around, and my hopes of reaching New Amsterdam in a timely manner quickly dissolve. We're driving the opposite direction, and I'm a little confused. I ask Mr. Clean if this bus is indeed headed over the bridge and he assures me that it is, we just have to pick up a few more people to fill the bus. From where I'm sitting, the bus seems packed-full. But in Guyana, there's always room for more!
We begin making the rounds, traveling around Rosignol at an alarming speed, until the driver slams on the breaks, and the conductor yells out the window to prospective passengers “Bridge! Bridge! Over da bridge gyal/bai?!?!”. The moment the passerby shakes their head, we speed up again, no time to waste here folks. The yelling continues and soon, some one nods their head in agreement. The bus begins to slow and the conductor throws the sliding door open and jumps out of the still-in-motion bus. He hurriedly ushers the passenger on. Everyone greets him with a “marnin'!” and we somehow manage to shift and re-arrange ourselves to make room for our new addition. Before the door is shut, the bus is in motion again. We repeat the lurching, screeching, yelling, nodding, ushering, greeting and sweating until the driver is satisfied with the number of passengers on the bus. He finally turns the bus around, and I'm relieved to see that we are headed in the right direction! I see the bridge approaching, and am encouraged by the fact that the driver is rushing straight toward it. He screeches to a halt to pay the toll, and within seconds, we're off!! The wind is blowing and the cool breeze from the river is welcomed by our drenched, balmy bodies.
After managing to make it across the river safely, we encounter our next, and most challenging adventure. The road is surrounded by open fields on either side. It's a beautiful view, and I never tire of it. But with open fields, come loads of unpredictable livestock. The road is filled with cows, donkeys, pigs and goats, or what I like to call a “Guyanese obstacle course”. Each animal poses it's own challenge to the driver, and we are forced to put all of our trust in him to maneuver safely around these creatures. Cows, although large and hazardous due their size, are the easiest animal to avoid colliding with. They move so slowly that they are easy to avoid. Pigs, the most intelligent of the bunch tend to stay away from large, quickly moving objects. Donkeys seem to be oblivious to everything that is going on around them, and tend to just stand there (they often choose the middle of the road to mate) and look at you as though you're disturbing them... what asses! It's the goats that are the real challenge. They move quickly and haphazardly. It's very hard to judge where they will go. Sometimes, after crossing the road to safety, they'll dart back in front of the bus, forcing the driver to slam on his brakes in order to avoid making goat-jerkey. I've never seen something so meticulously beautiful as a mini-bus driver steering his way through that chaos. It takes extreme concentration, serious skill and the ability to react at a moments notice with little room for error. Luckily, these men drive this route multiple times daily, and I have nothing but faith in their ability to get their passengers through safely.
Once we get through the obstacle course, we approach the next adventure. We slow at the corner to drop off some passengers and are immediately bombarded with the cutest little children you ever did see trying to sell plantain chips. They reach in through every opening in the windows and practically throw the chips in your lap. No one can understand a word they're saying because their Creolese is so thick. But everyone smiles and greats them affectionately. I've never seen a child work so hard for so little, all the while smiling and laughing. I often buy some chips to reward them for the hard work. Whoever convinced these children to sell the chips knew they'd make a fortune, tugging at the heart strings of every single passenger. When everyone is finished buying their snack, and the driver realizes the children are out of harm's way, we speed off, leaving the children in the dust.
We continue on down the last stretch of our adventure and we're home free. The remainder of the drive is calm and peaceful, and everyone seems to be filled with a sense of comradeship for making it through the adventure alive. We come to the bus stop, exit safely, pay, and thank the driver. I hand him my plantain chips as a token of my appreciation.
I take this drive at least twice a month and each bus ride is similar. It's like a roller-coaster at Disneyland, only no-one ever throws up, and there are rarely snap-shots of the silly faces we made during the scariest moments (which is good, because I bet Mr. Clean looked terrifying).
I've come to the realization that a trip on a Guyanese mini-bus is quite representative of my experience here as a whole: the journey may be fraught with fear and doubt, but if you accept the adventure of it all, and have faith in people, you will always reach your destination safely and happily. And looking back on it, you'll be glad you did it all, even if it was the sweatiest, craziest time of your life :)
Peace, love and mini-buses,
Annie
We begin making the rounds, traveling around Rosignol at an alarming speed, until the driver slams on the breaks, and the conductor yells out the window to prospective passengers “Bridge! Bridge! Over da bridge gyal/bai?!?!”. The moment the passerby shakes their head, we speed up again, no time to waste here folks. The yelling continues and soon, some one nods their head in agreement. The bus begins to slow and the conductor throws the sliding door open and jumps out of the still-in-motion bus. He hurriedly ushers the passenger on. Everyone greets him with a “marnin'!” and we somehow manage to shift and re-arrange ourselves to make room for our new addition. Before the door is shut, the bus is in motion again. We repeat the lurching, screeching, yelling, nodding, ushering, greeting and sweating until the driver is satisfied with the number of passengers on the bus. He finally turns the bus around, and I'm relieved to see that we are headed in the right direction! I see the bridge approaching, and am encouraged by the fact that the driver is rushing straight toward it. He screeches to a halt to pay the toll, and within seconds, we're off!! The wind is blowing and the cool breeze from the river is welcomed by our drenched, balmy bodies.
After managing to make it across the river safely, we encounter our next, and most challenging adventure. The road is surrounded by open fields on either side. It's a beautiful view, and I never tire of it. But with open fields, come loads of unpredictable livestock. The road is filled with cows, donkeys, pigs and goats, or what I like to call a “Guyanese obstacle course”. Each animal poses it's own challenge to the driver, and we are forced to put all of our trust in him to maneuver safely around these creatures. Cows, although large and hazardous due their size, are the easiest animal to avoid colliding with. They move so slowly that they are easy to avoid. Pigs, the most intelligent of the bunch tend to stay away from large, quickly moving objects. Donkeys seem to be oblivious to everything that is going on around them, and tend to just stand there (they often choose the middle of the road to mate) and look at you as though you're disturbing them... what asses! It's the goats that are the real challenge. They move quickly and haphazardly. It's very hard to judge where they will go. Sometimes, after crossing the road to safety, they'll dart back in front of the bus, forcing the driver to slam on his brakes in order to avoid making goat-jerkey. I've never seen something so meticulously beautiful as a mini-bus driver steering his way through that chaos. It takes extreme concentration, serious skill and the ability to react at a moments notice with little room for error. Luckily, these men drive this route multiple times daily, and I have nothing but faith in their ability to get their passengers through safely.
Once we get through the obstacle course, we approach the next adventure. We slow at the corner to drop off some passengers and are immediately bombarded with the cutest little children you ever did see trying to sell plantain chips. They reach in through every opening in the windows and practically throw the chips in your lap. No one can understand a word they're saying because their Creolese is so thick. But everyone smiles and greats them affectionately. I've never seen a child work so hard for so little, all the while smiling and laughing. I often buy some chips to reward them for the hard work. Whoever convinced these children to sell the chips knew they'd make a fortune, tugging at the heart strings of every single passenger. When everyone is finished buying their snack, and the driver realizes the children are out of harm's way, we speed off, leaving the children in the dust.
We continue on down the last stretch of our adventure and we're home free. The remainder of the drive is calm and peaceful, and everyone seems to be filled with a sense of comradeship for making it through the adventure alive. We come to the bus stop, exit safely, pay, and thank the driver. I hand him my plantain chips as a token of my appreciation.
I take this drive at least twice a month and each bus ride is similar. It's like a roller-coaster at Disneyland, only no-one ever throws up, and there are rarely snap-shots of the silly faces we made during the scariest moments (which is good, because I bet Mr. Clean looked terrifying).
I've come to the realization that a trip on a Guyanese mini-bus is quite representative of my experience here as a whole: the journey may be fraught with fear and doubt, but if you accept the adventure of it all, and have faith in people, you will always reach your destination safely and happily. And looking back on it, you'll be glad you did it all, even if it was the sweatiest, craziest time of your life :)
Peace, love and mini-buses,
Annie
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
First Comes “Hey white gyal”, Then comes marriage...
As I was chowing down on popcorn (my new favorite food) and rocking out to Jackie Green, I realized that once again, I've been a total slacker about updating my blog. Sorry for the delay folks, I'm sure life feels empty without regular updates from me, but worry not, life will go on. Here is some sustenance to last you a while...
I don't know if everyone has heard the latest news, but I'M ENGAGED!!! Haha! Just kidding (sorry mom and dad)! But I was proposed to. Three times in one day, from three separate men, none of whom I have ever met before. One of my suitors told me that he owned McDonalds. I couldn't figure out why the owner of McDonalds would be working knee deep in a trench, but that's besides the point. The point is, I'm a hot commodity over here. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that people see me as a first class ticket to American citizenship. No way Jose! It is true, unrequited love. So ladies, if you're looking for a man, Guyana is the place to be! Come one, come all, to your one-stop-shop for happily ever after!
If you thought that story was a little ridiculous, just wait 'till you hear this one...
A few weekends ago, I was visiting my friends Jillian, Jason and Kirsten in New Amsterdam. After eating tacos (yep! TACOS) for lunch, we decided to chase our meal with a few brews. The few brews turned into a day filled with drinking games and dance parties. After running out of beer, we decided to walk to a nearby rum shop to buy some more booze (because that's always a good idea). As Jason walked inside to check out the selection, us girls stayed out front. A woman was sitting outside with her twins and offered to let us hold them. We couldn't resist, I mean who can say “No” to twins!?! As we were playing with the babies, the mother pulled Jillian aside and asked her if she wanted one. Jillian wasn't sure what she meant, and considering the state we were in, was sure she misunderstood. The woman insisted that we take one of her children. She said we could pick which one. As we stood there in shock, Jason came out with the necessary goods and we left immediately. We returned to the house with a bottle of vodka and NO babies.
On a more serious, and completely unrelated note, I have officially started doing work that I am actually excited about! I started an after-school program for girls a few weeks ago and it has been going well thus far. Attendance is low, but I think that can be attributed to the fact that school is out for the summer. The good news is that the girls who have been coming come every time and seem to really enjoy it. I'm thinking about turning it into a leadership program and doing community work with them. We'll see how it turns out once school is back in session. I'm crossing my fingers I'll have more participants than I'll know what to do with.
Besides the GEM (Girls Empowerment Movement) after-school program, I've started working with a few other volunteers on developing an organization dedicated to working with sufferers of domestic violence. There are no resources for women in abusive relationships in my region, and the hope is to write a grant to attain funds to build an organization modeled after other NGO's in Guyana dedicated to a similar cause. The organization would offer counseling and outreach to victims of abuse. The hope is to eventually also build a safe home for our clients. In order to make this project sustainable, we need to recruit Guyanese people to work with us. We are currently setting up meetings with possible partners hoping to get them on board. Unfortunately, everything takes three times longer in Guyana than it would in the states, so this project is going to take a long, long time. But I'm extremely excited about it and can't wait to get it up and running.
So that's what is new down here in Good Banana-Land (there is actually a town called Good Bananaland not far from here). Hope everything is going well in Delicious Beer-Land!
Peace, love and popcorn!
Annie
I don't know if everyone has heard the latest news, but I'M ENGAGED!!! Haha! Just kidding (sorry mom and dad)! But I was proposed to. Three times in one day, from three separate men, none of whom I have ever met before. One of my suitors told me that he owned McDonalds. I couldn't figure out why the owner of McDonalds would be working knee deep in a trench, but that's besides the point. The point is, I'm a hot commodity over here. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that people see me as a first class ticket to American citizenship. No way Jose! It is true, unrequited love. So ladies, if you're looking for a man, Guyana is the place to be! Come one, come all, to your one-stop-shop for happily ever after!
If you thought that story was a little ridiculous, just wait 'till you hear this one...
A few weekends ago, I was visiting my friends Jillian, Jason and Kirsten in New Amsterdam. After eating tacos (yep! TACOS) for lunch, we decided to chase our meal with a few brews. The few brews turned into a day filled with drinking games and dance parties. After running out of beer, we decided to walk to a nearby rum shop to buy some more booze (because that's always a good idea). As Jason walked inside to check out the selection, us girls stayed out front. A woman was sitting outside with her twins and offered to let us hold them. We couldn't resist, I mean who can say “No” to twins!?! As we were playing with the babies, the mother pulled Jillian aside and asked her if she wanted one. Jillian wasn't sure what she meant, and considering the state we were in, was sure she misunderstood. The woman insisted that we take one of her children. She said we could pick which one. As we stood there in shock, Jason came out with the necessary goods and we left immediately. We returned to the house with a bottle of vodka and NO babies.
On a more serious, and completely unrelated note, I have officially started doing work that I am actually excited about! I started an after-school program for girls a few weeks ago and it has been going well thus far. Attendance is low, but I think that can be attributed to the fact that school is out for the summer. The good news is that the girls who have been coming come every time and seem to really enjoy it. I'm thinking about turning it into a leadership program and doing community work with them. We'll see how it turns out once school is back in session. I'm crossing my fingers I'll have more participants than I'll know what to do with.
Besides the GEM (Girls Empowerment Movement) after-school program, I've started working with a few other volunteers on developing an organization dedicated to working with sufferers of domestic violence. There are no resources for women in abusive relationships in my region, and the hope is to write a grant to attain funds to build an organization modeled after other NGO's in Guyana dedicated to a similar cause. The organization would offer counseling and outreach to victims of abuse. The hope is to eventually also build a safe home for our clients. In order to make this project sustainable, we need to recruit Guyanese people to work with us. We are currently setting up meetings with possible partners hoping to get them on board. Unfortunately, everything takes three times longer in Guyana than it would in the states, so this project is going to take a long, long time. But I'm extremely excited about it and can't wait to get it up and running.
So that's what is new down here in Good Banana-Land (there is actually a town called Good Bananaland not far from here). Hope everything is going well in Delicious Beer-Land!
Peace, love and popcorn!
Annie
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tassa!!
I had a really lame day at work on Friday. The entire day I was on the verge of tears out of sheer frustration with my co-workers and the patients I was dealing with. It was one of those days that made me question my being here. When I finally got home from work, all I wanted to do was lay in my hammock, relax and reflect on my crappy day. Then my friend Nadi called and reminded me that I promised to go to a Muslim pre-wedding celebration. I really did not want to go. I just wanted to stay home and wallow in self-pity. But I promised I would go, and I didn't want to break my promise to a friend.
I quickly readied myself and grudgingly left my house to meet up with Nadi. During my walk to Naidi's house I kept thinking up reasons to be able to escape early. I figured if I stayed for a half hour that would satisfy her and then I could return home and focus on my issues.
When we walked into the wedding house, we were immediately welcomed by smiling women who offered us food and drink, and were doing everything in their power to make everyone feel comfortable. I couldn't understand how they could be so happy when they were working so hard. I was surrounded by happiness, but was determined not to let their positivity dissuade me from being angry at the world.
I began making small talk, and soon everyone was offering their services to me. I was given phone numbers to call if I needed anything. I had to write down my address for them because they wanted to bring me food. I met a woman who had been living in Florida for the past 20 years, and she gave me her address in case I needed a place to stay if I ever want to go to Disneyworld. Here I was, surrounded by women who were genuinely interested in making me as comfortable as possible. In spite of myself, I finally gave in and smiled a little.
In Muslim weddings, the first night of the four day celebration is dedicated to “dying” the groom. The women lay down a white sheet and have the groom sit on it with his shirt off. They then proceed to cover him with a turmeric paste to cleanse his soul. They rub this dye over every inch of his body until he is bright yellow. The groom is not allowed to wash the dye from his body until after the wedding on Sunday.
After taking as many pictures of the dying ceremony as possible, I sat down with Nadi to wait for what was next. When nothing happened, we struck up a conversation. Suddenly, we were interrupted by extremely loud, and wonderfully on-beat drumming. I turned to see people running up to dance around the drummers. Nadi explained that his part of the celebration was called the Tassa. It was beautiful, and once again everyone was smiling. I was enjoying sitting in my seat, moving my feet to the music, and watching the women shake their hips in awe. Then, one of the women ran up to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the “dance floor”. I kept telling her that I'd rather watch, that I couldn't dance but she wouldn't hear it. She grabbed my hips, and somehow, miraculously made them move! I finally decided to stop resisting her attempts and began to dance on my own. At first I was really shy, moving as minimally as possible. But soon, the sound of the beating drum and the smiling faces surrounding me made me feel comfortable and I let loose. And I mean, really let loose. I stopped caring what everyone thought and just let the music take over. I danced and danced and smiled and did I mention danced? until I could barely breathe and my entire body was sore. It was so liberating to let my guard down and be completely free. I'm positive I looked like a fool up there, but no one seemed to mind and I didn't either. I left that night feeling like a whole new woman.
It's moments like these where I am truly thankful to be in this country. The moments, where I get to experience the beauty of Guyanese people and the culture they are ever-so willing to share with me. The moments where I feel like less of an outsider, and part of the Guyanese “club”. These are the moments I will take home with me. This is why I came to Guyana.
Peace, love, and dancing!
-Annie
I quickly readied myself and grudgingly left my house to meet up with Nadi. During my walk to Naidi's house I kept thinking up reasons to be able to escape early. I figured if I stayed for a half hour that would satisfy her and then I could return home and focus on my issues.
When we walked into the wedding house, we were immediately welcomed by smiling women who offered us food and drink, and were doing everything in their power to make everyone feel comfortable. I couldn't understand how they could be so happy when they were working so hard. I was surrounded by happiness, but was determined not to let their positivity dissuade me from being angry at the world.
I began making small talk, and soon everyone was offering their services to me. I was given phone numbers to call if I needed anything. I had to write down my address for them because they wanted to bring me food. I met a woman who had been living in Florida for the past 20 years, and she gave me her address in case I needed a place to stay if I ever want to go to Disneyworld. Here I was, surrounded by women who were genuinely interested in making me as comfortable as possible. In spite of myself, I finally gave in and smiled a little.
In Muslim weddings, the first night of the four day celebration is dedicated to “dying” the groom. The women lay down a white sheet and have the groom sit on it with his shirt off. They then proceed to cover him with a turmeric paste to cleanse his soul. They rub this dye over every inch of his body until he is bright yellow. The groom is not allowed to wash the dye from his body until after the wedding on Sunday.
After taking as many pictures of the dying ceremony as possible, I sat down with Nadi to wait for what was next. When nothing happened, we struck up a conversation. Suddenly, we were interrupted by extremely loud, and wonderfully on-beat drumming. I turned to see people running up to dance around the drummers. Nadi explained that his part of the celebration was called the Tassa. It was beautiful, and once again everyone was smiling. I was enjoying sitting in my seat, moving my feet to the music, and watching the women shake their hips in awe. Then, one of the women ran up to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the “dance floor”. I kept telling her that I'd rather watch, that I couldn't dance but she wouldn't hear it. She grabbed my hips, and somehow, miraculously made them move! I finally decided to stop resisting her attempts and began to dance on my own. At first I was really shy, moving as minimally as possible. But soon, the sound of the beating drum and the smiling faces surrounding me made me feel comfortable and I let loose. And I mean, really let loose. I stopped caring what everyone thought and just let the music take over. I danced and danced and smiled and did I mention danced? until I could barely breathe and my entire body was sore. It was so liberating to let my guard down and be completely free. I'm positive I looked like a fool up there, but no one seemed to mind and I didn't either. I left that night feeling like a whole new woman.
It's moments like these where I am truly thankful to be in this country. The moments, where I get to experience the beauty of Guyanese people and the culture they are ever-so willing to share with me. The moments where I feel like less of an outsider, and part of the Guyanese “club”. These are the moments I will take home with me. This is why I came to Guyana.
Peace, love, and dancing!
-Annie
Monday, June 28, 2010
Mangoes, Mosquitoes, Morrie and Muriel Barbery...
This blog is dedicated to the deliciousness of fresh mangoes, the horribleness of mosquitoes, and the cuteness of my new companion Morrie.
I recently discovered the glory of mangoes. Before coming to Guyana, I wasn't a huge fan of them. I never bought them at the store because they were always so expensive. But the other day when I was at the market, I saw that mangoes were 6 for $100 ( that's 50 cents US folks). So I decided to give them a try. When I got home, I peeled my first Guyanese mango and my hands and arms were immediately dripping with it's juices. Then, with a little hesitation, I took a bite. My mouth exploded in satisfaction. I couldn't eat the thing fast enough. It was one of the most glorious tastes I've ever experienced. I continued to eat 3 more until my belly ached. Now, whenever I see mangoes at the market I stalk up and find myself having to limit my daily intake. The only downside is the ever-present need to floss immediately after consumption. Those succulent suckers manage to force their pulp into every crevice in your mouth. After devouring one I look in the mirror and my teeth are yellow... very attractive. But it is totally worth it, and it ensures that I floss every day! Hurray for mangoes!!!!
It is now officially the “rainy season” in Guyana. This means torrential downpour one minute and blue skys the next. It also means that mosquitoes are out in full force. When I come out of my house to run in the morning, I'm immediately bombarded by a swarm. And I'm not talking swarms like we have in the US. It's like nothing I've ever seen. Sometimes the swarms are so thick I can barely see through them. Even when I coat myself with Mozipel (Guyana's version of OFF!), they manage to bite the crap out of me. I feel like I'm in the Far side cartoon where the people are in the jungle and they discover that they accidentally brought the bottle wrong bottle (ON! instead of OFF!). My new favorite thing to do is walk around my house killing mosquitoes. It's an awesome way to pass the time, and it is surprising satisfying. Who would have thought killing something could feel so good?! The best part about these pests is that they carry awesome diseases like Dengue Fever and Malaria. Spreading the love, one bite at a time. Malaria isn't prevalent on the coast, but most volunteers in my area end up contracting Dengue at some point in time (crossing my fingers I'll get lucky and avoid it). Thank goodness I have a mosquito net!
About two weeks ago one of my co-workers gave me a seven week old kitten. I decided to name him Morrie after the book Tuesdays with Morrie (if you haven't read it, DO IT! It will change your life). A couple of days after getting my new friend, I noticed that his belly was swollen and that he was having trouble eating. I did some research online and discovered that he had worms. I took him to the vet as soon as I could. It was quite the fiasco getting there. Morrie doesn't seem to be a huge fan of traveling in buses. The wind blows in his face and scares him. He was clinging on to me for dear life. When I tried to detach him from my body he freaked out and scratched the crap out of my arms. Anyway, we get to the vet and he's examining Morrie. I ask if Morrie has worms and the vet yes “Yep, she's got worms all right”. I say “wait a minute. Morrie's a she??”. “Oh yes” the vet informs me, “did you think she was a he?”. Yes, yes I did Mr. vet. Suddenly, all of these thoughts came to my mind like: “your whole life has been a lie! Your whole world has been turned upside down! Is he/she going to have gender identity issues? Will she/he need counseling?”. Then I remembered that he/she is a cat and probably has no idea that anyone ever thought she was a he. Phew! That was a close one. After I gathered my thoughts, the vet gave Morrie some icky de-worming medicine which she proceeded to spit everywhere. Then he gave her an injection and Morrie once again, scratched the crap out of my arm. She was not a happy camper, and I thought she hated me. Soon Morrie stopped yelping and I thanked the vet for his time and left. After that crazy ordeal, Morrie and I went to visit my friend Kirsten. Kirsten has a cat named Monkey (who, oddly enough just discovered that she was a he). Monkey did not like having Morrie on her turf and proceeded to clock Morrie in the face with her/his paw. Needless to say, Morrie had a traumatizing day.
Morrie is doing much better now and is settling well into my home and her new role as a female kitty. She's been a wonderful companion and playmate and can cuddle like the best of them. Having her has made my life here so much better. It's so nice to have something to come home to. She greets me every day when I get home from work (usually because she wants more milk), and continues to bring joy to my life (even when she decides to turn the area underneath my bed into her litter box).
To wrap it all up, life in Guyana is continuing to improve for me. I'm starting to establish myself in my community and am finally starting to feel comfortable in my surroundings. I am continuously learning new things at the Health Centre, and am starting to feel like the work I am doing is worth while. I've finally started working on some secondary projects and should get them up and running in the near future. Life is good, and I have a feeling it's only going to get better. I'll leave you with a quote I found today that sums of my current standpoint on life: “ We all have a knowledge of harmony, anchored deep within. It is this knowledge that enables us, at every instant, to apprehend quality in our lives and, on the rare occasion when everything is in perfect harmony, to appreciate it with the apposite intensity. And I am not referring to the sort of beauty that is the exclusive preserve of Art. Those who feel inspired, as I do, by the greatness of small things will pursue them to the very heart of the inessential where, cloaked in everyday attire, this greatness will emerge from within a certain ordering of ordinary things and from the certainty that all is as it should be, the conviction that it is fine this way”- Muriel Barbery, The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Peace, love and kittens,
Annie
I recently discovered the glory of mangoes. Before coming to Guyana, I wasn't a huge fan of them. I never bought them at the store because they were always so expensive. But the other day when I was at the market, I saw that mangoes were 6 for $100 ( that's 50 cents US folks). So I decided to give them a try. When I got home, I peeled my first Guyanese mango and my hands and arms were immediately dripping with it's juices. Then, with a little hesitation, I took a bite. My mouth exploded in satisfaction. I couldn't eat the thing fast enough. It was one of the most glorious tastes I've ever experienced. I continued to eat 3 more until my belly ached. Now, whenever I see mangoes at the market I stalk up and find myself having to limit my daily intake. The only downside is the ever-present need to floss immediately after consumption. Those succulent suckers manage to force their pulp into every crevice in your mouth. After devouring one I look in the mirror and my teeth are yellow... very attractive. But it is totally worth it, and it ensures that I floss every day! Hurray for mangoes!!!!
It is now officially the “rainy season” in Guyana. This means torrential downpour one minute and blue skys the next. It also means that mosquitoes are out in full force. When I come out of my house to run in the morning, I'm immediately bombarded by a swarm. And I'm not talking swarms like we have in the US. It's like nothing I've ever seen. Sometimes the swarms are so thick I can barely see through them. Even when I coat myself with Mozipel (Guyana's version of OFF!), they manage to bite the crap out of me. I feel like I'm in the Far side cartoon where the people are in the jungle and they discover that they accidentally brought the bottle wrong bottle (ON! instead of OFF!). My new favorite thing to do is walk around my house killing mosquitoes. It's an awesome way to pass the time, and it is surprising satisfying. Who would have thought killing something could feel so good?! The best part about these pests is that they carry awesome diseases like Dengue Fever and Malaria. Spreading the love, one bite at a time. Malaria isn't prevalent on the coast, but most volunteers in my area end up contracting Dengue at some point in time (crossing my fingers I'll get lucky and avoid it). Thank goodness I have a mosquito net!
About two weeks ago one of my co-workers gave me a seven week old kitten. I decided to name him Morrie after the book Tuesdays with Morrie (if you haven't read it, DO IT! It will change your life). A couple of days after getting my new friend, I noticed that his belly was swollen and that he was having trouble eating. I did some research online and discovered that he had worms. I took him to the vet as soon as I could. It was quite the fiasco getting there. Morrie doesn't seem to be a huge fan of traveling in buses. The wind blows in his face and scares him. He was clinging on to me for dear life. When I tried to detach him from my body he freaked out and scratched the crap out of my arms. Anyway, we get to the vet and he's examining Morrie. I ask if Morrie has worms and the vet yes “Yep, she's got worms all right”. I say “wait a minute. Morrie's a she??”. “Oh yes” the vet informs me, “did you think she was a he?”. Yes, yes I did Mr. vet. Suddenly, all of these thoughts came to my mind like: “your whole life has been a lie! Your whole world has been turned upside down! Is he/she going to have gender identity issues? Will she/he need counseling?”. Then I remembered that he/she is a cat and probably has no idea that anyone ever thought she was a he. Phew! That was a close one. After I gathered my thoughts, the vet gave Morrie some icky de-worming medicine which she proceeded to spit everywhere. Then he gave her an injection and Morrie once again, scratched the crap out of my arm. She was not a happy camper, and I thought she hated me. Soon Morrie stopped yelping and I thanked the vet for his time and left. After that crazy ordeal, Morrie and I went to visit my friend Kirsten. Kirsten has a cat named Monkey (who, oddly enough just discovered that she was a he). Monkey did not like having Morrie on her turf and proceeded to clock Morrie in the face with her/his paw. Needless to say, Morrie had a traumatizing day.
Morrie is doing much better now and is settling well into my home and her new role as a female kitty. She's been a wonderful companion and playmate and can cuddle like the best of them. Having her has made my life here so much better. It's so nice to have something to come home to. She greets me every day when I get home from work (usually because she wants more milk), and continues to bring joy to my life (even when she decides to turn the area underneath my bed into her litter box).
To wrap it all up, life in Guyana is continuing to improve for me. I'm starting to establish myself in my community and am finally starting to feel comfortable in my surroundings. I am continuously learning new things at the Health Centre, and am starting to feel like the work I am doing is worth while. I've finally started working on some secondary projects and should get them up and running in the near future. Life is good, and I have a feeling it's only going to get better. I'll leave you with a quote I found today that sums of my current standpoint on life: “ We all have a knowledge of harmony, anchored deep within. It is this knowledge that enables us, at every instant, to apprehend quality in our lives and, on the rare occasion when everything is in perfect harmony, to appreciate it with the apposite intensity. And I am not referring to the sort of beauty that is the exclusive preserve of Art. Those who feel inspired, as I do, by the greatness of small things will pursue them to the very heart of the inessential where, cloaked in everyday attire, this greatness will emerge from within a certain ordering of ordinary things and from the certainty that all is as it should be, the conviction that it is fine this way”- Muriel Barbery, The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Peace, love and kittens,
Annie
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sip it Sucker...
It has been far too long since I last updated my blog. The truth is, not much is new here. But I realized I haven't shared much on Guyanese culture on this thing. So that is why I've decided I shall dedicate this blog to sipping. One of the many awesome aspects of Guyanese Culture
The Guyanese people have perfected the art of "sipping". I'm sure you're thinking to yourself "sipping? you mean taking a gulp of a beverage?". Oh no dear reader. In Guyana sipping takes on a whole new meaning. Walk down any street in this country and you will observe the phenonmenon of sipping (especially if you're a white girl with big boobs). It's the Guyanese version of "cat-calling" but it so much more than that! Men are usually the ones who "sip" but women do it too. To get your attention they make an abnormally loud kissing sound. Once you look at them (which for some reason, I still can't help but look) they have some interesting, and often offensive, thing to say to you. Usually they say things like "Hey white gyal, you're beautiful! I love you! Will you marry me?", or "good afternoon princess, you are looking fine today" and if you're really lucky they call you "white meat" instead of "white gyal" or "princess". My friend Jillian, a slef-proclaimed "fat-kid" has gotten the best sips since coming here. Once, while walking down the street, a man who was cutting grass turned off his electric cutter, took off his protective goggles and face mask and said " WOW! You! I love you fat gyal! I love you! WOW!" My favorite was "Hey white gyal, you look like a thick can of condensed milk!". Another friend of mine walked to the market one day and she encountered a man making gagging noises. When she asked him if he was alright, and he said "Yes, just making room for your white meat!". The best one I've ever gotten (and dad I think you'll appreciate this...) "Hey! That girl not white, she pink! Hey pink gyal!". So that, my friends, is sipping in a nutshell and even though no woman in her right mind enjoys being sipped at, the men refuse to stop and I refuse to stop laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.
AND...
Here are some creolese terms I have learned, and actually use!
oh me mo ma!: oh my goodness!
just now: a time frame ranging anywhere from now- 3 hours.
wah happen you?: are you alright?
how yuh do?:how are you?
you gettin' tru?: do you need help with anything? (note: th is pronounced t here)
take a five: to take a nap
coolie gyal/bai: term for Indian girl/boy
auntie/uncle: term of respect for elderly women/men
So life is good. I'm slowly getting comfortable in my site and home. I promise I'll update this thing more often. And I tried uploading pictures, but I couldn't figure out how. They're up on my facebook page so check em' out!
Peace and Love,
The Pink Gyal
The Guyanese people have perfected the art of "sipping". I'm sure you're thinking to yourself "sipping? you mean taking a gulp of a beverage?". Oh no dear reader. In Guyana sipping takes on a whole new meaning. Walk down any street in this country and you will observe the phenonmenon of sipping (especially if you're a white girl with big boobs). It's the Guyanese version of "cat-calling" but it so much more than that! Men are usually the ones who "sip" but women do it too. To get your attention they make an abnormally loud kissing sound. Once you look at them (which for some reason, I still can't help but look) they have some interesting, and often offensive, thing to say to you. Usually they say things like "Hey white gyal, you're beautiful! I love you! Will you marry me?", or "good afternoon princess, you are looking fine today" and if you're really lucky they call you "white meat" instead of "white gyal" or "princess". My friend Jillian, a slef-proclaimed "fat-kid" has gotten the best sips since coming here. Once, while walking down the street, a man who was cutting grass turned off his electric cutter, took off his protective goggles and face mask and said " WOW! You! I love you fat gyal! I love you! WOW!" My favorite was "Hey white gyal, you look like a thick can of condensed milk!". Another friend of mine walked to the market one day and she encountered a man making gagging noises. When she asked him if he was alright, and he said "Yes, just making room for your white meat!". The best one I've ever gotten (and dad I think you'll appreciate this...) "Hey! That girl not white, she pink! Hey pink gyal!". So that, my friends, is sipping in a nutshell and even though no woman in her right mind enjoys being sipped at, the men refuse to stop and I refuse to stop laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.
AND...
Here are some creolese terms I have learned, and actually use!
oh me mo ma!: oh my goodness!
just now: a time frame ranging anywhere from now- 3 hours.
wah happen you?: are you alright?
how yuh do?:how are you?
you gettin' tru?: do you need help with anything? (note: th is pronounced t here)
take a five: to take a nap
coolie gyal/bai: term for Indian girl/boy
auntie/uncle: term of respect for elderly women/men
So life is good. I'm slowly getting comfortable in my site and home. I promise I'll update this thing more often. And I tried uploading pictures, but I couldn't figure out how. They're up on my facebook page so check em' out!
Peace and Love,
The Pink Gyal
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Weep While you Worship...
Last Thursday I agreed to go to church with one of my co-workers, and let's just say it was an interesting experience and one I thought I should share. I walked into the so-called church and suddenly heard the sound of tone-deaf people singing worship songs to the beat of a drummer who was completely off beat. Everyone was standing with their eyes closed and the preacher was going aroung touching people's foreheads and speaking in tounges. When he was finished speaking complete nonsense, the person he was touching would fall backwards into the arms of their fellow worshipers. As he was knocking people off of their feet with the word of god, a boy came in with a bucket filled with hay lit on fire which filled the room with an indescribable scent. Soon, the hay lept out of the bucket and was burning on the floor. Apparently everyone else was caught up their prayers because I was the only one taken aback by this chaos. The boy stomped the fire out, and I was able to continue observing the insanity that was surrounding me. I looked to my left and saw a woman crying and doing what I thought was the hokey pokey (she was putting her right hand, left hand, and the rest of her body in and shaking it ALL about). I could tell that everyone else was very impressed by how seriously this woman took her religion and that they wished they were so in-touch with God. Suddenly, inspiration came to me! I realized how easily I could exploit the devoutness people like the hokey pokey woman and those who wished they were like her by writing a worship album called "Weep While You Worship- the only way the lord really hears your prayers". Basically, the album would consist of multiple worship songs sung by a person who was bawling like a baby, and occasionally a big booming voice (the voice of god) would come say something about how he/she knows that this person is devout because of their tears. I figure I could have my brother and Bo write the lyrics, and Kaci sing in a Gospel-esk voice. We could make MILLIONS! Haha, just kidding :)
In other news, some of my amazing friends sent me an i-pod in the mail for my birthday but some douchebag stole it :( Luckily, the card was still intact and it really made my day! Thanks to everyone else who sent cards, and birthday wishes yesterday! It was so nice to check my e-mail and see it filled with kinds thoughts from my friends and family. You all rock my socks off :)
Four people from our Peace Corps. group left this week. It was heart breaking to see them leave. So far, 7 of the 35 people who came have left and we've only been here for three months! I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon though... even if I'm the only person left. I am really starting to enjoy myself here and have met some rad people in the process (even if I am sweating my ass off!). I'm so grateful to have been placed in Rosignol. I feel like it has been a very good fit for me. It's challenging at times, but I like a challenge... BRING IT ON GUYANA! To sum it all up, I'm happy, healthy and appreciate this amazing opportunity I've been given (thanks U.S. Government!).
Peace, love and positivity,
Annie-Bo-Bannie
In other news, some of my amazing friends sent me an i-pod in the mail for my birthday but some douchebag stole it :( Luckily, the card was still intact and it really made my day! Thanks to everyone else who sent cards, and birthday wishes yesterday! It was so nice to check my e-mail and see it filled with kinds thoughts from my friends and family. You all rock my socks off :)
Four people from our Peace Corps. group left this week. It was heart breaking to see them leave. So far, 7 of the 35 people who came have left and we've only been here for three months! I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon though... even if I'm the only person left. I am really starting to enjoy myself here and have met some rad people in the process (even if I am sweating my ass off!). I'm so grateful to have been placed in Rosignol. I feel like it has been a very good fit for me. It's challenging at times, but I like a challenge... BRING IT ON GUYANA! To sum it all up, I'm happy, healthy and appreciate this amazing opportunity I've been given (thanks U.S. Government!).
Peace, love and positivity,
Annie-Bo-Bannie
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