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