Nah Take No Worries Man

Hellooooooo blog-a-log:)

So much has happened since I last wrote! Here are a few of the highlights...
I now know where I am going to be living for the next two years of my life WOOT WOOT! I will be working at a hospital in Rosignol which is a suburb outside of New Amsterdam (the second largest city in Guyana). It was my first choice so I am very excited about it. The job sounds amazing and there are a lot of opportunities for secondary projects (can you say Ultimate Club?!?). Rosignol is right on the Berbice river and close to the coast. It's about an hour outside of Georgetown and 2 hours away from Surinam which is supposedly one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The only downfall my placement is that the area is flat, bare, and somewhat ugly compared to the rest of the country. Which is a shame because Guyana has so much beauty to offer. I guess I'll just have to visit other volunteers to have the "wilderness experience" I was imagining.

I only have one week left with my host family which is exciting and upsetting all at the same time. I'm very excited to get to my new place and have some alone time. I am surrounded by people constantly. I have not been alone for more than an hour since I've been here (besides sleeping) which is starting to make me a little crazy. I just have to remind myself that I will be alone all of the time when I get to Rosignol so I should take advantage of the time I have left with my host family. They really are amazing women and they've taught me so much in the little time I have known them. I'm going to miss playing Uno every night and watching Oprah with them!

Last weekend we had "culture day" at Lake Mainstay Resort. It was a lot of fun! I was able to teach some Guyanese Children how to play Ultimate and swim around. The water at the lake is called Black Water. It's supposed to be very healing but it smelled funny and the bottom of the lake was nasty. You couldn't really stand up because it was so soft you just sink down. We had a fashion show where one of the guys in our group strutted his stuff in a diaper. It was a beautiful thing and one of the highlights of my time here thus far.

Some frustrating events that happened at home have caused me to do some serious introspection. It's crazy how an experience like this can make you re-evaluate who you are completely. I find that I am constantly questioning my beliefs and behaviors here. I think a lot of it is because I am surrounded by people who don't really know me yet, and because I'm not totally comfortable around them I haven't been my self. I'm quiet and shy here (didn't think that was ever possible) and don't know what to say or how to express myself. Before coming here I was so confidant in who I was and who I would become. But being here makes me doubt... it's very humbling. I look at this situation as an opportunity for self-improvement. I wanted to come here to find out who I really am and what I want in life and I think it's completely natural to have these doubts at some point in life. I think this experience will only make me stronger.

Regardless of these doubts. I really am enjoying my time here. I have made some amazing friends and have learned to celebrate the little things in life (ie: having normal bowel movements). AND I'm slowly learning some Creolese. Nah take no worries man is like the Guayanese version of Hakuna Matatta. I'm learning how to cook some delicious Guyanese dishes and Roushanna has taught me some sweet dance moves (I taught her the running man). I saw the largest spider the other night and only screamed a little :).

Next week we have our "swearing in" where I officially become a Volunteer!!!!! I am so happy to be finished with training! Although I am going to miss seeing everyone every day.

Okay! I think that's about all that is new in my world. Hope everyone is doing well! Peace and soooooo much love :)
-Annie