Hey all
Had a rather interesting day yesterday to say the least, got up expecting to be going back to Britain (the embassy) in the morning and so had prepared for that, until we had a phonecall approx. 5/10 mins before we were due to leave saying that we were going to be going to St Cuthbert's today at 3pm. We therefore stayed behind at Kala's house to pack all our clothes and then get to Georgetown to be ready to be picked up. After packing all our clothes we then made our way to Georgetown by getting one of the notorious minibuses and then walking through the Starbroek Market to Main Street where the British High Commission is.
We came back to Kala's for Lunch and then left to go to meet the Captain of the village back in Georgetown, although the bus journey has to be one of the most interesting and Guyanese experiances so far! The bus had very little fuel left in the tank and it was fine until we got to Georgetown, but as we approached the outskirts, the engine began to cut out at regular intervals as we tried to make our way to the petrol station in 100 yard hops! We eventually arrived and managed to fill up with fuel only to be told that the guy who had come to pick us up had been involved in an accident, more than likely to be the one that we had passed on our way into Georgetown, and that he was unsure when he would be able to leave the Police Station but that he would try and arrange something as soon as possible.
We ended up coming back to Kala's and played cricket and a game called tor with the locals on the beach, which although sounds nice but the beach is made up of a clay that gets absolutely everywhere!!! It was a good laugh and we then all went back to the Beer Garden to have a few beers and play dominoes!! They are very big on their dominoes here with the people taking it really quite seriously, using all sorts of tactics and trying to teach us how to play.
8 volunteers have left this morning and we will not see them again now until xmas, which we are likely to be spending in Tobago, so if anyone has any spare cash and fancies coming to the carribean for xmas you are more than welcome! Anyway gotta head down to the poost office now, will speak to you all later
Much Love xxxx
Friday, 28 August 2009
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Hey all
Has been a busy lat few days, havn't had a lot of time to myself. Yesterday we spent the whole day shopping for clothes and other things we needed i.e. suncream, sunglasses etc. etc. and then we all went down to the local beer garden place, well i say beer garden, its like a small patio on the side of the main road, although the woman who ran it did put on some reggae for us which was quite cool. We also all recieved our hammocks and mozzie nets yesterday, which was like recieving early xmas presents, everyone was excited to get them, and I can't wait to sleep in my hammock for the first time, anything ha to be better than falling asleep drenched in your own sweat as it is still very hot and humid even at night!
Had an early start this morning, was up at 6am to get the bus into Georgetown for 7.30am to got to the Ministry of Education where they all seemed to think that we were already teachers. It was ridiculously boring and very nearly fell asleep a number of times during the lectures. We were told however that to discipline the kids that we may be expected to give them a couple of lashes, although I am not going to take part in that. We then went to Rishon's flat which is in Georgetown to find out where the flat is that we can stay in when we are there, which for me will be quite frequently, seeing as I am only a 2 - 2 1/2 hour bus journey away. Some people also got their hair cut whilst we were there and the look on someones face as half his hair came off was a priceless moment!!! We also had to go shopping today for a months supply of food, which cost us G$10,000 each or about 25 quid each which isn't bad!!
After we went shopping we went out for a nice meal at a brazillian all you can eat restaurant, and by all you can eat, I mean all you can eat. The amount of meat that was brought out to us was ridiculous!!! I ate so much I felt as though I was going to be sick!!!! It is also a couple of people's birthday's today, so we also had a birthday cake for them which was quite nice although I was unable to eat any just simply because I couldn't stomach any more food!! An interesting sight I did see though whilst at the restaurant was the sight of a bloke pushing a handheld cart fitted with speakers blasting out music trying to sell CD's!
Anyway must go to bed, it's nearly 1am here now, have got another early start in the morning, am travelling back to Britain tomorrow, although not for very long. Have to go to the embassy to sort out something.
Speak to you soon
Much Love xxxx
Has been a busy lat few days, havn't had a lot of time to myself. Yesterday we spent the whole day shopping for clothes and other things we needed i.e. suncream, sunglasses etc. etc. and then we all went down to the local beer garden place, well i say beer garden, its like a small patio on the side of the main road, although the woman who ran it did put on some reggae for us which was quite cool. We also all recieved our hammocks and mozzie nets yesterday, which was like recieving early xmas presents, everyone was excited to get them, and I can't wait to sleep in my hammock for the first time, anything ha to be better than falling asleep drenched in your own sweat as it is still very hot and humid even at night!
Had an early start this morning, was up at 6am to get the bus into Georgetown for 7.30am to got to the Ministry of Education where they all seemed to think that we were already teachers. It was ridiculously boring and very nearly fell asleep a number of times during the lectures. We were told however that to discipline the kids that we may be expected to give them a couple of lashes, although I am not going to take part in that. We then went to Rishon's flat which is in Georgetown to find out where the flat is that we can stay in when we are there, which for me will be quite frequently, seeing as I am only a 2 - 2 1/2 hour bus journey away. Some people also got their hair cut whilst we were there and the look on someones face as half his hair came off was a priceless moment!!! We also had to go shopping today for a months supply of food, which cost us G$10,000 each or about 25 quid each which isn't bad!!
After we went shopping we went out for a nice meal at a brazillian all you can eat restaurant, and by all you can eat, I mean all you can eat. The amount of meat that was brought out to us was ridiculous!!! I ate so much I felt as though I was going to be sick!!!! It is also a couple of people's birthday's today, so we also had a birthday cake for them which was quite nice although I was unable to eat any just simply because I couldn't stomach any more food!! An interesting sight I did see though whilst at the restaurant was the sight of a bloke pushing a handheld cart fitted with speakers blasting out music trying to sell CD's!
Anyway must go to bed, it's nearly 1am here now, have got another early start in the morning, am travelling back to Britain tomorrow, although not for very long. Have to go to the embassy to sort out something.
Speak to you soon
Much Love xxxx
Monday, 24 August 2009
hey all
its the end of our 3rd day here and I have already been burnt, bitten to bits by mozzies but also made some really good friends within the time. We have spent all of today sorting things out for our work permits and also just a Q&A session with any worries that we have. This afternoon we spent in a Amerindian Museum who are the native inhabitants of Guyana and are very similar to the American Indians which was very interesting seeing their history. We also saw the Prime-Minister and Presidents house today with the guards armed with AK-47s which was a bit weird, although they said hello when we walked past.
Anyway, i;m off now down to the beer garden just to have a beer or 2 before I go to bed. Speak to you all soon
Much Love xxxx
its the end of our 3rd day here and I have already been burnt, bitten to bits by mozzies but also made some really good friends within the time. We have spent all of today sorting things out for our work permits and also just a Q&A session with any worries that we have. This afternoon we spent in a Amerindian Museum who are the native inhabitants of Guyana and are very similar to the American Indians which was very interesting seeing their history. We also saw the Prime-Minister and Presidents house today with the guards armed with AK-47s which was a bit weird, although they said hello when we walked past.
Anyway, i;m off now down to the beer garden just to have a beer or 2 before I go to bed. Speak to you all soon
Much Love xxxx
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Hey
I have just woken up to my first full day in Guyana, to the sound of dogs barking away at 6am. It is now just after 8am and is already almost unbearably hot. I have also woken up to find myself having been bitten last night by mosquitoes despite sleeping under a net thats meant to stop them!
It is still rather surreal that we are actually here, although it is quite nice that we are all staying together for the first week in a rather sheltered environment. We are having our food cooked for us and things like that which is just giving us the opportunity to get used to the environment and to the heat before we disappear to our different projects on thursday or friday.
Me and a few of the other volunteers went out for a walk yesterday afternoon and bumbed into a really nice bloke who was just out painting his house. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw 4 white people walking down the road, as he had never seen any in Guyana before! He started chatting to us and ended up buying us all a beer which was really nice of him, although we all felt that it should be us buying him one. The reception from the locals has been quite nice, just walking along the road, people are beeping their horns at us just to say hello and a large majority of people are really happy to come and talk to us about Guyana.
Today were off to a creek nearby to go swimming for the day, which will be nice as an opportunity to cool down more than anything! It is so hot during the day you just don't stop sweating! Anyway, must disappear now, need to get ready for the creek.
Take care everyone, much love
xxxx
I have just woken up to my first full day in Guyana, to the sound of dogs barking away at 6am. It is now just after 8am and is already almost unbearably hot. I have also woken up to find myself having been bitten last night by mosquitoes despite sleeping under a net thats meant to stop them!
It is still rather surreal that we are actually here, although it is quite nice that we are all staying together for the first week in a rather sheltered environment. We are having our food cooked for us and things like that which is just giving us the opportunity to get used to the environment and to the heat before we disappear to our different projects on thursday or friday.
Me and a few of the other volunteers went out for a walk yesterday afternoon and bumbed into a really nice bloke who was just out painting his house. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw 4 white people walking down the road, as he had never seen any in Guyana before! He started chatting to us and ended up buying us all a beer which was really nice of him, although we all felt that it should be us buying him one. The reception from the locals has been quite nice, just walking along the road, people are beeping their horns at us just to say hello and a large majority of people are really happy to come and talk to us about Guyana.
Today were off to a creek nearby to go swimming for the day, which will be nice as an opportunity to cool down more than anything! It is so hot during the day you just don't stop sweating! Anyway, must disappear now, need to get ready for the creek.
Take care everyone, much love
xxxx
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Hey all
Well have arrived in sunny Guyana, where it is unbearably hot at the moment. It's in the hottest part of the day right now, at 1pm and you are unable to sit out in the sun. The flight over here was ridiculously long and rather boring although I did manage to get a few hours sleep which I am feeling much better for now. Anyway, I am going to be spending the next few days in and around Georgetown, just sorting out my work permit with the ministry and just getting used to the heat difference before moving down to St Cuthbert's by the end of next week to begin teaching the following monday! It's nice to be here although it is still a little surreal that I am actually here, but I'm sure that it will sink in over the next few days.
Since I have been here have already seen lots of weird and wonderful things including a guy at the airport with a boombox playing reggae! Also seen a few lizards and birds and a crocodile as well. No snakes or anything like that just yet!
The humidity is really difficult to adapt to at the moment, I had a shower a bit earlier today and after I had dried myself, I didn't even have time to get fully dressed again before I was covered with sweat, but it will have to be one of the things to get used to. It is a daunting prospect having to spend a year out here although I'm sure that I will adapt very quickly to the heat and will come back next year shivering!
Anyway, need to go, have got to let other people use the computer.
Much Love xxxx
Well have arrived in sunny Guyana, where it is unbearably hot at the moment. It's in the hottest part of the day right now, at 1pm and you are unable to sit out in the sun. The flight over here was ridiculously long and rather boring although I did manage to get a few hours sleep which I am feeling much better for now. Anyway, I am going to be spending the next few days in and around Georgetown, just sorting out my work permit with the ministry and just getting used to the heat difference before moving down to St Cuthbert's by the end of next week to begin teaching the following monday! It's nice to be here although it is still a little surreal that I am actually here, but I'm sure that it will sink in over the next few days.
Since I have been here have already seen lots of weird and wonderful things including a guy at the airport with a boombox playing reggae! Also seen a few lizards and birds and a crocodile as well. No snakes or anything like that just yet!
The humidity is really difficult to adapt to at the moment, I had a shower a bit earlier today and after I had dried myself, I didn't even have time to get fully dressed again before I was covered with sweat, but it will have to be one of the things to get used to. It is a daunting prospect having to spend a year out here although I'm sure that I will adapt very quickly to the heat and will come back next year shivering!
Anyway, need to go, have got to let other people use the computer.
Much Love xxxx
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Hey,
Ok so just an update on everything that has happened in the last month, everything was going fine until almost 2 weeks ago now when I was told that I was to be delayed because I hadn't raised enough money to go away and that I was now going to be going in January although not knowing where. I accepted this and was beginning to make arrangements for me to be staying in the country when I get a phone call saying that there is no longer a problem with my fundraising, and has since become clear that someone has helped me out a lot!
Anyway, I am now going next friday again (it really is coming very quickly!) and I am going to be living in a place called St Cuthbert's, which is approximately 2 and a 1/2 hours away from Georgetown and about an hour away from a town called Linden. All I have got to do now is finish getting all my paperwork done and also start my anti-malarials tomorrow! And beginnning to get very excited about it all!
Anyway thats enough for now, I'm sure there will be another one before I leave.
Much Love xxxx
Ok so just an update on everything that has happened in the last month, everything was going fine until almost 2 weeks ago now when I was told that I was to be delayed because I hadn't raised enough money to go away and that I was now going to be going in January although not knowing where. I accepted this and was beginning to make arrangements for me to be staying in the country when I get a phone call saying that there is no longer a problem with my fundraising, and has since become clear that someone has helped me out a lot!
Anyway, I am now going next friday again (it really is coming very quickly!) and I am going to be living in a place called St Cuthbert's, which is approximately 2 and a 1/2 hours away from Georgetown and about an hour away from a town called Linden. All I have got to do now is finish getting all my paperwork done and also start my anti-malarials tomorrow! And beginnning to get very excited about it all!
Anyway thats enough for now, I'm sure there will be another one before I leave.
Much Love xxxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)