getting close to the 1 month mark!!

So it seems that in one week I will have been in Lethem for a whole month!! This is crazy because I have never known time to fly so fast. It might be because everything is still so new, or maybe because we are so freaking busy. But anyways heres a run down of the lastest!!

School-

So far my kids have been pretty adorable. They say the funniest things, sometimes slightly insulting but most times just sweet and funny- take this for example- one of my students asks while I’m describing something as an ideal situation in biology- “Miss what’s Ideal?” Me-“ something that is perfect, it’s the way you want it”- boy “Miss your ideal” awwww. The girls here really love to touch me (they sometimes tell me Miss you could be my dolly- ok that’s weird), and this petting can get a little annoying as I do sweat in 90% humidity and the last thing I want on a hot day is little Jessica walking up to me, stroking my face and saying “Miss, greasy”. Thanksss They say some other things that I probably don’t want to hear as well, for instance- Miss your shapes uneven, Miss are you growing a beard?, Miss eat some vegetables you lookin fat, Miss can I have a kiss or at least a friendly hug? Funny right?

For the most part I like my classes. The kids in my bio class are great. Butttt there are the little evil ones in my form class (like home room). It’s probably too harsh to say that I hate them but I am getting there. I have already made three of them write lines as a punishment. That’s right I have made three of my students write “I will not disrespect my teacher” 100 times as punishment. You would think this would suck but they still think it is ok to just get up and walk out of class while I’m talking (perhaps I should borrow Umbridge’s Quill to make a point).

Oh and there are also these weridos from the primary school that have taken to hanging out by our house. That would be ok but these kids are strange. Lets explain- one afternoon we walk back to our house for lunch and are sitting in our living room. I keep hearing these weird noses like someone is in my room/ climbing on our roof. So I walk back and look through my window and there are these three kids sitting on our porch EATING our cloths pins (I know what your going to say, oh Emily it’s a third world country, they are probably hungry, NO these kids were off). So I start telling them to leave, I’m like counting and yelling and nothing they just stare, don speak don’t move, just stare and chew. They finally got up and ran (luckily I didn’t have to threaten to throw rocks at them, but I’m not ruling that out as a possibility) But really I do not appreciate children of the corn hanging out by my windows- that will give me night mares.

So sports week starts soon. Sports week is this insanely important thing they do here- so important that they cancel classes for pretty much three weeks (well not really but we miss a ton of school). They split the school into houses (London, Kerry, Cossou- there named after some ppl but I don’t really know who). I’m on the London team which would be fine (actually great as I can borrow a theme song or two from Fergie) but our color is yellow and I think that might be the only color that I did not pack. Oh well guess I’m going shopping. We just found out about all this and the meeting was quite hysterical- mostly because Reve was so confused. Lets discuss. So were sitting there and Sir Orin (adorable teacher that we have code named Nigel so we can talk about him in secret) starts explaining things. Sir Orin- So we’ll need wood for the tents (Reves hand shoots up) “Why tents?? Are we like having a sleep over?” Orin-No, and we’ll need food (hand again) Are we like making them brunch or something? Orin- not exactly. Reve- sooo I’ve never built a wood hut before, is this going to give my team a handy cap?? Ohhhh Reve haha.

I still don’t really know what is going one with this whole thing except for that fact that there is lots of running and the teacher’s participate. This makes me quite nervous as some people here have seen me running and might have the idea that I am fast and would like to participate- I mean I would if the people that I would be racing weren’t freakessly fast. Losing to a 9 year old was never on my agenda. Still I am very much looking forward to sports week (if nothing else I will again have an opportunity to practice all those swim team chants)

Weekend Fun

So our weekends have been pretty busy here, which is weird because I thought that I would have nothing but spare time. It instead seems that there are always new people to meet. Because Lethem is the central big town (this actually completely misrepresents Lethem because although it is the biggest “town”, the number of shops in Plaza Del Mercado outnumber those in little Lethem drastically) with all sorts of little villages surrounding, people are always coming in to get supplies (by people I mean other volunteers) So the last few weekends have been filled with getting to know the people in Lethem as well as all the white people that literally seem to come out of the wood work.

We had our first experience with Karaoke since Bartica (I don’t know if I mentioned this but we did sing a little something in Bartica- a certain someone had a little too much fun with Christina Aguilera Genie in a Bottle and won’t be going near a microphone any time soon. Therefore I guess I should amend that previous statement and say that Michelle and Reve had their first Karaoke experience in Lethem. So this occurred one of our first weekends here when some of the people that we met came and got us to take us out and out happened to be place with a microphone and a Lionel Ritchie cd collection- therefore needless to say Mich and Reve were all over it. They made quite the splash. So much so that the next day while walking into a town, a car slows, drives up to us, rolls down its window, and the driver looks out and sings, “hellooooo is it me your lookinnggg forrrrr” So hmmmm I guess in this small town you will run into people who will remember moments you wish to forget.

Last Friday we spent with our now good friend Pat. She had been talking about this pepperpot thing and wanted to have us over to try this Guyanese tradition- so ok we’ll go we say, I mean how weird can it be?? That’s what I thought until one day sitting next to her while she puts the order in for some curious things- excuse me, can I have 2 sets of feet, heart and tail- WHAT!! So yes I had my first experience with foot soup and that is pretty much what it is. So we went over to Pat’s house (after giving myself a serious a pep talk- yes you can eat a cows tail) and let me tell you about her house. I am thinking that we are never inviting people over- Pat’s house, while it was 2 miles out of town in the middle of nowhere, was so cool. It’s this little hut with a thatch roof and from the outside appears quite simple- BUT in the inside it has all the makings (besides running water and electricity) of some eco lodge that you could find in Arizona. Think brick walls covered with animal hide (cheetah among them), vintage looking horse saddles thrown about (I think I may have seen similar sets in Top Design- the Wild West challenge). So we all (me, Reve, Michelle, Sara (our friend from with the company bush masters)) grab plates and dig in to channa (spiced chick peas), farine (this Brazilian thing) and then head towards the pot on the stove. Now there is no electricity here, so whatever light available is coming form the 2 candles that Pat has lit. I look into the ominous bowl and really I can’t provide many details of what was lurking beneath, but I took a spoonful of the gravy and headed back to my seat. I can tell you that it was brown and it was thick. Still all in all really not so bad. I mean I did chicken out of the meat parts, but I did eat spices that had been circling something that hangs from a cow’s butt- so I officially give myself credit.

So yes that was Pats little get together (although it officially ended with us trying to walk home 3 miles in complete darkness- we probably could have used our lights but were trying to make like locals and walk by starlight, which equals me stepping in way too much cow poop). The next night we got reminded once again that while our house is quite cute and rustic, it really would be nice to live in a house where bathroom shoes aren’t needed from the moment you step from your bed. We went to Sara’s house because there were some peace corp girls in from a town like 24 hours away (actually about 60 miles but that says something for the transportation system) and it was one of their birthdays, so we all got together to celebrate. Sara’s house was amazing. First off she has two little pony’s that live in a little hut in her front yard, but that’s not to say that they don’t sometimes get lonely and simply take a stroll through Sara’s house. But because Sara brings clients of her company to her house, it was very nice (all the same wild west touches of Pats house but plus electricity). Her bed room had a real bed complete with a canopy like mosquito net (next time take note of a Sandals resort commercial- the bed at least- take that put it in Guyana and you’ll get an idea). PLUS she has wireless internet!! So we hung out there earlier in the day- we watched Romancing the stone (I had been craving a couch- weird I know- but Sara actually has one) oh and that reminds me if you have that movie, pop it in because that place is not so far off from what Guyana is like. When everyone else arrived we got pizza and stuff. My fondness of peace corp is slowly diminishing (except for Kristen) as everyone left before 9, but don’t worry we stayed and had a little dance party. I’m pretty sure Mich demonstrated the “Molly Ringwald” to the utmost perfection.

So those are some of my most recent fond memories. I am also doing a lot of good stuff for the world as well haha. We had our first meeting with some people in town to create an adult literacy program in Lethem. One volunteer had already started something like this but was looking to expand and asked us to help. Pastor Ritchie (he is kinda heading it up) is in the process of writing some proposals to get money. We are then working with a group promoting awareness about Domestic Abuse- which is a pretty big problem here. I am also looking to start teaching fitness classes, step, yoga, and Pilates (I’m still in the brainstorm phase but I do have spandex so that’s a good start).

Ok that is good for now more details to come!! xoxo

sweet sweet Lethem!!

HELLO HELLO!!! I have now been living in Lethem for about a week and toady was my fifth day of teaching- if you can call it that- the school is very unorganized – I have been sitting with one particular class for 4 days strait doing whatever comes to mind while the school makes the schedule. This afternoon I had with them play cards for ohhh 2 hours- I’m running out of jeopardy/ word finds/ hangman ideas. So far our days have been pretty routine though- wake up around 6, make breakfast- Be proud Andrew- I cook my roommates French toast THAT’S RIGHT I cook!!, we then go to school, come home, go to the internet/ look for friends, go to find dinner at one of the little shacks and then wonder home to be in bed around 9 absolutely exhausted. But so far this routine has been pretty successful with introducing ourselves to the people in Lethem and let me tell you there are some crazyyy characters.

First and foremost there is Bruce. This guys is an ex VSO (European volunteer) who stills works here as a teacher (after 2 years) and he lives on the school compound like us. It seems that everyone in town knows this man and smirks at the mere sound of his voice. I’m not sure how to take him seriously as he seems a mere characterature of himself. His daily outfit (and by daily I mean I have yet to see him wear different clothing than this) is a pair of green sweat pants tucked into gray socks with tevos topped off by a wrinkly dress shirt and a tie much resembling a potato sack. As if that weren’t enough he has an insane love of the phrase “jolly good”- insert English accent- and he accompanies about 7 jolly goods with the most vigorous handshake I have ever seen. And that’s just at the beginning of the convo- you can never tell what talking to this man might reveal. For instance this morning we were casually talking about how he used to live in Ethiopia (amoung Vegas as a card dealer, London as a double bus driver and Fiji) when mid convo he just smiles and says well yes that all ended when I was captured by the military and held as a prisoner of their civil war. But no biggie to Bruce his captures were nice so they releases him after a mere 6 months- nice vacation right?? Is this man for real?? More to come.

Among our western friends there are plenty of white volunteers- about 15 or so. They are all very nice and mostly in the 30s or older. There is Kristin (a peace corp) who will prove to be a valuable friend- she has a really nice house complete with a tv, dvd player and like 10 coconut trees.

Pat!! Pat my just be one of my new favorite people (and this is not only because she rears horses and is going to teach me how to ride). Pat is an American who relocated to Guyana (reasons unknown) and currently lives in a thatch house across the creek from us. She seems to pop up at the most unexpected moments with answers to questions that we hadn’t even asked- she found us at the airstrip when our ride had forgotten us and got us a cab- thank goodness I didn’t have to drag the green ladies 2 miles. Pat seems to appreciate us as well- she writes a soap operay blog (rupununispin.blogspot.com feel free to read) and is thrilled to have material for her next issue thanks to us- think learning how I was forced to scoop out the content of our broken toilet to Reve pretending she has a chronic problem (yeast infection by Pat’s suggestion) requiring refrigerated medication in order to get a frig out of the redo (regional education office)- hasn’t happened yet as we are waiting for a letter required to see her but stay tuned.

Our New Friends!!! After wondering around town looking for friends our own age we had just about given up looking and accepted the fact that they didn’t exist and we were sitting at the Brazilian restaurant discussing that very thing when low and behold guess who shows up?? Pat!! with Sean (american guy) and about 5 others who followed later. Apparently they had been at our house but couldn’t find us and come into to town looking. But yay!! New friends!! Among them is Sean- he a researcher researching something, he lives with 2 others who we haven’t met yet. Also there was Sara who, with her husband, runs a company called Bush Masters- they take tourists into the Bush- the jungle- and drop them off for high adventure vacations. She will be great as she knows all the best spots to go camping!!

So that pretty much sums up most of the volunteer but that not to say that there aren’t any eccentric locals because that is definitely not true. Take Auntie B for example (all older women are called Auntie)- upon first meeting she chased us down to ask us over for dinner- nice right- we liked her until we found out that she’ll act really nice but then starting requiring very weird favors. Think forcing a volunteer last year to chase a chicken around in her yard until he caught it (about 2 hours later) and then making him kill it for dinner- SORRY Auntie B I will NOT be doing that.

The other teachers at our school have been very nice and helpful though but that is a different story from the school board (we had our first meeting yesterday lead by Alfred aka frog man) This meeting was to discuss our grievances- or the fact that we had not had running water for 5 days- the boards suggestion was to start collecting rain water to store- ya I don’t think that will cut it, sorry guys. But luckily following the meeting one of the teachers came over to look at our plumbing and was able to fix it- someone had turned it off. It would have been nice if the school board told us this but I guesss that not the Guyanese way haha.

School officially starts on Monday and I am now responsible for teaching bio, integrated science and English. While this teaching thing sounds great in theory, it turns out that I actually have no idea what I am doing. YIKES but I assume/ hope that I will learn as I go along.

OH YES I almost forgot we have a puppy named Sophia Lauren (she’s teeny tiny and all black- we love her even though she keeps us up allll night) She’s not the same puppy that Reve was supposed to bring- that one got stolen back by her mother and hidden – weird right?? Oh well Sophia is better. She is supposed to be our watch dog but at the present moment weighing in at approx 2 pounds she can’t even keep the cockroaches away. Oh well she is sooo pretty and adorable!!

Ok my fingers are sore- I guess that all for now!! I tell you later how my teaching went!!

Hello!!

I have officially arrived in Lethem and I already love this place.

So we left Georgetown yesterday after spending once last night at CPCE (our beautiful home from the first part of orientation). I had just enough time in Georgetown to visit all the favorite places AND BIG NEWS I have a puppy now!!- that's right friends I now have a little baby puppy (or will when Reve arrives in Lehtem with it- oh yes I also have a new roommate- more on that later back to the dog)

I don't know if I mentioned it before but one of the dogs at CPCE had been pregnant most of the time we were there- up until the last day when she gave birth to 6 little guys. So while we were in Bartica much time was spent devising a plan to get a little one to our sites (Jill, Erin and Garrett wanted one as did I). We got back to CPCE like 2 days ago and the first thing that I did was go off to the little nook where they had been last spotted only to find that they had disappeared! But fortunately for me one of the kitchen women saw me searching through the grass for them and told me the news- she had taken them home for safe keeping until we returned and would bring them the next day so we could take them. So yesterday morning when I woke up I went down the kitchen and they were all there drinking milk from a plate. Jill, Erin and Garrett picked a little brown one and I picked a little brown and white one (he is actually the fastest one in the litter- I don't know I guess I sympathize with fat babies haha). Most of the morning was spent convincing mean mommy Michelle (just kidding) into keeping it and we finally compromised by saying that Reve would watch him until she left and if he was ok we would take him.

SO YES Reve is the new roomie. She was supposed to go to Orella but for some reason her housing feel through and she had the choice to share a room or move with us to Lethem where she would have her own room (we had a spare). Obviously she wanted to be with me so she is coming, but she couldn't get on our flight so she will be flying out a day later.

The flight to Lethem was insane- if you have any fear of flying what so ever I suggest you NEVER come to Lethem. This plane was the smallest one that I have ever seen- familiar with the red van? Think that size but a little bit longer. I was sitting right behind the captain- so close that I could read all the buttons and stuff. The flight was pretty bouncy and a few times I was sure we were going down, but besides the whole fear of dying part the flight was amazing. We flew below/ in the clouds most of the way and saw everything we went over clearly, so now I can accurately say there is VERY little in Guyana but wilderness.

We arrived in Lethem around 12 pm on Thursday and climbed out of the plane pretty much right onto the main street. The air strip is in the center of town and it is were most stuff is located. So me and Michelle climbed out and looked for someone who was supposed to meet us (Dana assured us that a Ministry person would be there but this country is kinda forgetful). Since no one was in site we just kinda went to the side of the road and stood. Luckily lost white girls attract attention so we were found right away by this women Pat who called the Ministry person and showed where we were a little until the guy arrived. The ministry guy got our bags and stuff and took us to our house.

OUR HOUSE!! It is sooo cute. It is off to the side of the school grounds where most of the teacher housing is but ours is our own unit with two little porches and a garden. Our view is insane. Behind our house there is a pond and trees and fields with wild horses and off in the distance are mountains. It is extremely picturesque.

So we got into our house using the keys Dana gave us and unfortunately the bugs and mold also loved our house so we had some serious cleaning to do. The walls in my room where covered in mold and it took me prob 2 hours to get it off. Fortunately the ministry guy sent over some school workers to help and in like 4 hours the place looked a lot better. We have electricity and I got a little excited by the fan left there, plugged it in on high speed and unfortunately after like 20 minutes of fan bliss it blew out- but luckily the weather here seems to be very nice (today it was prob in the 70s with breeze). The water is an iffy situation- last night it was running today it was not. But we have a well next to our house so worse come to worse I will come home with some amazing arm muscles with all the pumping.

After cleaning we were hot and hungry so we ventured into town with a map a peace corp guy had given us (this guy we meet at the internet café- hes like 60 and English and very odd but also very nice so far helpful) and a flash light. We found dinner and just kinda wondered around. Currently we are trying to figure this place out. Hopefully in the next few days I wont be getting so lost any more. Ok have to go others are waiting but write again soon!!

top 6 things to do in BARTICA!!

1. go for a hike
If the gorgeous landscape inst enough to get you through then go for the comic benefit of watching aprox 20 girls shriek and flip out over the smallest sign of wild life. The trail was treacherous- think walking down to the lake at the Stein’s times 2 miles but at the same time the walk was priceless, granted it was a little hard to concentrate on the trees and view as for laughing so hard. Apparently Jenny has a mortal fear of snakes and spent most of the hike gingerly stepping then running bloody murder at the smallest sign of movement in the puddles.
2. Swim in the water
Swimming here again has many benefits. While it is refreshing and relaxing, it is still somewhat hard to forget that scary things may be lurking beneath the waters (especially when Andrew spends most of his time creepily grabbing at your ankles from below- not nice) The water here also has the mushiest mud even- perfect for a facial and yes I did put it on my face- we will see how my pores look later but so far so good- and this mud makes for quite the workout when trying to sprint in because once again someone believes that they saw a caiman- quite the hysterical. I am getting much more comfortable in this water though- enough to try some handstand contests, synchronized swimming (Reve’s amazing suggestion- mom we would have done you proud)and chicken fighting. And swimming in the rain has so far been the best. The water has the strangest boiling hot to freezing cold spots and standing around in all the mixed temps while being rained on has so far been a favorite moment. That is until Jill and I almost died. The storms here are extremely intense and in only a few moments can go from light rain to full on lighting wars. So while the rest of the group sheltered from the rain under a porch, Jill and I braved the storm by playing in the water, that is until a massive bolt of lighting struck the water from about 30 ft away. Watch out Olympic track stars. I think Jill and I gave you a run for your money. When we reached the shelter I think that most of the group was dying from hysterics but I can honestly say that I at that moment did not share in the humor- lesson learned.
3. Go for a “sport” (drink) or “lime” (hangout) at one of the shacks.
These little shops are exactly what they are called- shacks run by families who live on the same compound. The one by our school is now a favorite place as you can buy amazing homemade coconut cookies and drink misties (kinda like fresca) It is also as great place to hangout and meet locals. On one of our first nights in Bartica we meet a guy who took us to Karaoke night- interesting place- I have never seen anyone sing Michael Bolton so seriously.
4. Indulge in the local cuisine-
So at first I feared gaining massive amounts of weight due to the quantity of food that I have been eating but thanks to all the walking I think that I doing ok- which is good because I have officially stopped caring that all I eat is carbs… so here are my favs so far
1. roti and curried chickpeas- roti are these massive flour tortillas and you eat them with the chick peas
2. pumpkin- slices of pumpkin cut up and boiled with butter (I presume) and spices- maybe cinnamon. Kinda like the texture of sweet potatoes but taste more like squash.
3. Bora- these are long green things that are cut up so that they resemble and taste a lot like green beans but BETTER. What they are cooked in I have no idea but I am a big fan.
4. cook up- rice and whatever else they feel like throwing in that day- think veggies and beans- in pictures it may look more like fried rice but I couldn’t taste more different- think curry spices and other pepper that a lot of times make my mouth burn off- dad maybe you could handle it)
5. plantains- they cut them up and cook them in species here soe that they taste kinda like potatoes but with the tiniest bit of banana taste. I will certainly be eating these at home because the are like sweet potatoes or bananas but sooo much better.
BUT WARNING be weary of bloodily red meat. On out last night in BArtica we went to a Brazilian BBQ restaurant. These places have a salad bar with all you can eat rice, noodles, veggies and etc and a hug oven filled with all sorts of meats (even cow hearts GROSS) When we were there several ppl got adventurous and asked for the rarest cuts possible. Luckily because of my whole vegetarian thing (I am slowly adding a little bit of meat back) I only ate the well done cuts. Later that night and throughout much of the next day foot steps running to the bathroom could be heard. A massive case of food poisoning took over our last night and made for an interesting boat ride the next day. Apon arrival back in Gtown about half of our group sprinted from the boats to the bathroom- kinda funny but really gross.
5.Learn to love bugs
While I do have a mosquito net to sleep under it is a deterrent to mostly mosquitoes only- leave all others. This morning I woke up with beetles in my bed (and these aren’t the normal sized beetles these are dinosaur beetles who could prob eat my finger) but I have accutaly become accustomed to their company and I am beginning to like my little princess canopy. There is also an ant problem worse than our kitchen at home but as long as they aren’t that nasty red ants that bite I now count them as friends.
6.Befriend the locales
Because we spent so much time hanging out at the pavilion we had plenty of time to meet the locales hanging at there as well and on one of these afternoons we met a speed boat driver who owns one of the guest houses in Bartica. After befriending him we were able to set up a speed boat tour for the whole group to go out to this amazing island guest house. We took the speed boat out on Sunday morning and he gave us a tour around the water ways- we saw a prison that was located on one of the islands that was apparently totally self sufficient and a left over fort from when the English were in Bartica- Apparently back in the day the Dutch traded New York for Bartica- I wonder who go the better deal?? He then dropped us off at the beautiful guest house with pool tables and stuff- for a mere $200 GUY (1.5 US) we were able to spend the whole day there. Later after talking to Bacoron (his name) he offered to take a couple of us speed boating through white water rapids and to his private beach were he takes campers staying with him.- this trip was amazing- we were literally boating through the jungle and the rapids were so much fun. His beach was a little cove- but there wasn’t much beach- mostly just rainforest. We hung out there for awhile and then went back to go to a waterfall with the rest of the group. Get excited everyone be everyday I become more and more like Lara Croft- you should have seen me climbing thought the jungle in my pink bikini- I was practically swinging from the vines- Unfortunately those in tow weren’t aware of my abilities and had a hard time keeping up. Jill took a nasty fall on some mossy rocks and cut her knee up pretty bad. Once at the top me and Andrew (he was the only one who could match my skills) just laid in the water and tried to pretend that we weren’t being watched by lots of scary animals and insects. All in all an amazing Sunday afternoon!!