What's new in Guyana?

Oh, my.  It seems as though our activities are accelerating.  We have personal presentations and Challenge Week coming up next week.  I have just finished a six day week.  We have one day off and then the pressure is on.  I suppose, since we are officially at the training half way mark this is to be expected.  After learning the methodologies, it is time to put them into practice.  I have had seven school days with teacher missing three.  Made for a challenging time.  I have yet to be monitored by training staff while I do a lesson.  That is about to change.  I am preparing a mock lesson as if I were delivering to 5th grade.  However, next week staff will assess my delivery as I do the lesson with fellow trainees.  May I say that I am actually MORE nervous to present to my training group? The next day three of us will host a Literacy Fair after school from 2:30 to 5:00 for students and their families.  We HOPE parents and other family members will attend.  The three of u

Just finished what is known as Chicken Feet with some mango sour for breakfast...it is tasty with the sour sauce. Here is a recipe for you to look up...no worries, it is not meat. http://metemgee.com/tag/guyanese-chicken-foot/ Recap for the week in one word: emotional. I arrived at the school to co-teach on Thursday and no teacher co-teaching with me.  That is NOT uncommon in Guyana.  I was told absenteeism is high in the schools and it runs both ways; students AND teachers.  However, for some reason I thought I was in a little "Peace Corps Trainee" bubble.  Oh no,  just jump in and manage the classroom with 30 students.  Since the teacher had not shared her "scheme"...lesson plan with me, ever, I was clueless as to what to focus on.  The next door teacher (just over the 3/4 wall) came over and wrote the lessons on the board and I walked through the lessons with the group.  Of course, they struggled with my lack of projection and my accent.  They quickly

They warned us by the end of week 3 we would feel like saying "Aren't we done yet?"  It is true.  I can not believe that I have ONLY completed 3 weeks and not even half way through the training process.  I might clarify, in case you are not aware.  NOT EVERYONE is invited to swear in to be a volunteer.  Of course, we all hope to as does the staff.  Peace Corps has a rigorous and taxing entry for a reason.  They need folks that are RESILIENT.  Those who know me, I am quite sure will testify that is one of my main characteristics.  We have learned so much and now are practicing what we have learned.  It is mind blowing to think about the next few weeks.  However, I will do as I have since I arrived at Staging in Miami....look at one day at a time.  I have a nice bracelet reminded me to LIVE IN THE MOMENT.  (Thank you again Rachel!) I know you would like to know what my world has been like for the last many days.  We celebrated Mother's Day here in Guyana, just as we d

This was another very busy day!  Our training group met at our training facility at Red Grounds and we were taken to Georgetown, about an hour away.  Our large group was broken down into many little groups with a PC staff member escorting us.  Good thing!  Georgetown is busy and aggressive!  There are RED ZONES that PC volunteers are not to be in.  However, on this escorted tour, we were shown some of those areas.  PC is a smart group of people.  We all know that if we are told we can't do something, we will explore to see what the big deal is.  So, we saw and we are informed. Those areas are high risk areas for many reasons.  As with anything, there is a bright side and I was amused when I saw an ox walking side by side with a little duck...best of friends! Our vehicle parked to let us out near Stabroek Market, built in 1881.  We made our way into a multi- floor shopping center something like a general store.  Once again, I attempted to buy stamps and could not.  One of these da

Happy Friday, everyone!  Week two of intense training is done.  We have a field trip to Georgetown tomorrow that I am looking forward to.  I only hope that the weather tomorrow is as good as it was today.  We had just a few drops of rain mid day and for the most part, temperature was moderate.  I am looking forward to going to the Peace Corps office, the seawall and market.  Some time over the weekend I will need to get some more time on my phone card.  If you ever talk to me by phone and it suddenly drops, it may be because my minutes are out!  Sorry!  I will try to manage that better.  I only this evening found out how easy it is to get more minutes.  If you want to "hangout" with me on video chat, just let me know a good time to talk...it is free! I am still figuring out the bus system.  I was dropped off this afternoon about a 1/2 mile farther down the road because I could not spot my landmark.  Thank goodness other trainees were getting off or I might have been met

I will get some photos here soon enough (Guyanese say "just now"), but for the moment I will tell more of my story.  I took my first visit to school today as an observer only.  The building was established for civil aviation and has two floors that are completely open.  For you history buffs, you can read up at http://landofsixpeoples.com/news402/ns406242.htm.  The lower level is set up for grades 1,2 and 3.  Upper level is 4,5 and 6 along with Head Mistress Office, Reading Room and SMALL library.  The open class area has temporary walls standing about 5 feet tall to make classrooms.  There are some student desks, but for the most part I saw benches and narrow tables for uniformed students to sit 3 across.  The teacher works with a freestanding blackboard and teaches the Choral Oral (I just learned this term) approach mainly.  When two of my trainee friends and I arrived at the start of the day we visited with the Head Mistress.  She took us to our classes ....mine was a 5t

I am nearing the end of week 2 training and feel pretty overwhelmed!  Our group met in Miami, FL for a day to get to know each other.  The next day we left the hotel on a bus about 11 AM and arrived at Miami airport for a 3:30 flight to Guyana.  Checking is was quite a process.  None of knew that our carry on baggage had a 22 pound limit.  Luckily, someone had a scale that was passed down the line so we could see if we would need to pay for over weight bags.  I had one bag weighing 17 and the other carry on was 21.9...close!  We changed planes in Trinidad and arrived in Guyana to a cheering group of Peace Corps staff and volunteers about 10:30PM.  Clearing customs was pretty fast and we were quickly set up at Splashmin's Resort...our home for the next 5 days.  We were treated like royalty...fed 3 square meals a day while we had lesson after lesson in a classroom setting.  We also had to pass a bicycle test as well as demonstrate our ability to float, oar and swim....in the river.