The last chapter

Flying kites - this was my kite!

Sunset on the sea wall

The beach

The concert

The market

Having fun in the water!

 

There were a lot of goodbyes at the end, the office staff, Head Teachers, Literacy Professional Development Course teachers and all my friends I have made. It was so sad saying goodbye and I cannot believe I was in Guyana for 14 months.

I think I have been luckily with my placement because I feel I was able to achieve the objectives that were set at the beginning. I also feel that I have been able to leave sustainable practices in place – though only time will tell!

Once I finished work I had two weeks to finish up, reduce my belongings to two bags and say my goodbyes. They were a packed two weeks and I did a lot of activities.

I finally made it to a Hindu wedding. I dressed up in my Shallowa and had my hair piled high on top of my head. We walked through heavy rain to get to the wedding and most of the service was in the dark due to a black out. The bride was dressed in a beautiful yellow sari and sat with offerings in front of her with the Pandet (like a priest). Then part way through the ceremony the groom entered.  This was an arranged marriage and they had only met a few days before the wedding. The ceremony had lots of singing and offerings of fruit and coconut water were made. At one part the bride and groom went under a blanket and their scarves were tied together. They then went upstairs with the wedding party (mothers, sisters etc) and came back in a red dress for the bride and red and cream clothes for the groom. We ate Seven Curry in large green leaves and sweet meats.

I also went to church for Easter Sunday, it was a lovely service, very simple and they even made us stand up and say hello to everyone. It was a very early service so the rest of the day we watched a cricket match. We went to the sea wall in Georgetown and flew our kites (sadly we lost it in a palm tree!!) In the evening we went to a concert and watch Beres Hammound, at nearly 70 he had an amazing voice and so much energy; it was a fantastic concert. Easter Monday everyone headed to the beach and flew kites again. They represent Jesus rising from the dead. We went swimming in the sea and eat good food and drank rum!

It was then time to say those goodbyes, it was incredibly difficult as I had made great friendships this year and also saying goodbye to a country I had fallen in love with.

I have been home a month; it has been great to see friends and family. It has felt strange coming back but starting to settling back in. It has been nice to have hot water, carpets, washing machines and light in the evenings, great food and wine. I am not missing the mosquitoes or cockroaches! But I am missing the warm weather, fruit, slow pace of life, the music (it is so quiet here), people being friendly on the street and the loud vibrant nature of the country.

I have been incredibly lucky to have this experience, I have learnt so much about Guyana, myself and about my profession. It is a privilege to be able to live in another country and experience a culture that way. I would recommend anyone to do V.S.O. We are lucky that the world is becoming a global village and allows us to be able to live and work in other countries. So it just leaves me to say thank you for reading this blog and sharing this amazing experience with me.

Shelley xxx

Cooking rice

Seven Curry

All dressed up

The church we went to for Easter Sunday

Donkey cart

Sugar factory

Lifting up the sugar cane

Flying kites on the sea wall

Watching cricket

Good neighbours and goodbyes

I had to move house a few weeks ago and have been located in Canje about 10 minutes drive from I was. The first day I moved in I met my neighbour at the back who offered to grate us some coconut when she heard we were making cook-up (the biggest bit of work when making cook-up). Since then there has been a steady stream of food and fruit coming over. She always makes sure I have something to eat and has quickly become a friend. People’s generosity to a stranger here is overwhelming at times. She has also offered to help to do my washing or clean the house (I haven’t taken her up on those). Here is a lady who I have known for just a few weeks yet she has welcomed me into her family and been incredibly kind.

I am very close to the end of my time here and have been reflecting a lot on the past year. I have had to start and say some goodbyes which have been quite emotional. I have also had some big thank yous to say as well. Yesterday I said goodbye to a family I know. Every time I go to their house I come back laden with things from their garden and eggs. Every member of their family has made me so welcome and been a big part of my life here.

I have also finished work. We had a party in the afternoon with some food and music. When people leave here you have to sit in the middle of the room and everyone makes a comment about your time here. It is quite embarrassing but also lovely and sweet. When we had out last meeting with the Head Teachers they sang us a rousing farewell song – music is such a big part of the culture here.

Having been here for over a year now it has been interesting to experience things for the second time. I noticed some fruit the other day which I haven’t eaten since last Easter, and we had the Hindu Phagwah festival again. It felt a little different from last year but we had fun throwing the water in the morning and colourful powder in the afternoon. Everyone is very laid back and happy for you to come into their yard and cover them and their clothes in bright green and red powder. Again people’s generosity shines through, being given a tour of a garden and taking fruit home. We were also offered food and drink in each house that we went into. We enjoyed listening to the Tassa drum and me doing my best to dance to it. People here have incredible rhythm and even very young children can dance very well.

My Literacy students had to do a one hour presentation on a type of compositional form in small groups. The standard was really high and they showed fun interactive ways you could teach these things. The Regional Education Officer came to see the presentations and she was really impressed too, which was a big morale boost for the teachers. One of the groups used children to demonstrate a Christian wedding, another made kites. The teachers worked really hard on the presentations and will hopefully replicate these things in the classroom.

I can finally say I have been to all 10 regions in Guyana! I went to visit a friend in Moruca which is in region 1. A lovely (but long) journey up there using a car, bus, boat, car and another boat! The same Canadian-Guyanese teacher was working there which I had worked with before in Bartica. I spent one day working with the children in the resource centre. The community is mainly Amerindian and the children were much quieter than those who I usually work with. We also went for a night time swim in the evening in the creek – I was a little worried about caiman but was assured we would be fine (I also saw my first alive black caiman in Region 6 this week)!!

I have been having a few cooking lessons to try and better my Guyanese cooking skills, I really enjoy cooking but it takes such a long time here. I made a bean stew but shelled all the beans and the whole thing took 3 hours to cook! Hopefully I will have volunteers to try out my cooking on when I get home. Women here get up very early in the morning and make breakfast and lunch for their families to carry to work or school. They tend to be bigger meals and then just eat a snack in the evening. At the moment it is cane cutting season so if you are a wife of a cane cutter then you get up at 3am to make a breakfast for them to carry to work!

I went to watch a cricket match – it was softball cricket and you had to bowl underarm but this meant there were a lot more sixes! Cricket is the most popular game here and is played on most roads after work or school. I have had a go a few times but think I am better as a spectator!

So with just a few days left I am concentrating on saying my goodbyes and finishing off a last few things. It is going to be incredibly hard to leave but I am excited about seeing friends and family back home. I have been very lucky with my placement. I feel I have achieved my objectives and it is sustainable, I would liked to have stayed and see what else I can do but maybe it is time to hand the reigns over and see what happens.  It has been an amazing 14 months and I am incredibly grateful to have had this experience. It hasn’t always been easy and even now I still sometimes have a tough day. But most days bring something new and exciting, often funny and have the colourful loud vibrant Caribbean feel. So to Guyana and its people all I can do is say thank you.

Shelling the beans