Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!

This will be my last post until the new year. It is a lovely wintery day in Guyana - grey, cloudy and pouring down rain. Apparently Christmas, among other things, means flooding and blackouts. Thankfully I've got new black shiny rubber boots that go up to my knees and a raincoat that was bought in Newfoundland so I am ready for the weather.

I am definitely feeling the Christmas spirit now as I am reminded that though there is nothing quite as lovely as a winter wonderland, Christmas is so much more. Wherever you are, be it looking out over freshly fallen snow or at a palm tree in the rain, remember the reason for the season and take a minute to appreciate and be thankful for the people in your life. I wish you all the best this holiday season. Be safe. Have fun. And enjoy every minute of it.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Season

Christmas Concert

I went on Sunday with Mrs Boodie and Gavin to see the Rotary Club Demerara Christmas Concert at the Marion Academy. Marion Academy is a Catholic school that from my understanding is the Canadian equivalent of Grade 1-12 (Two of Maria’s children go there – and they are 8 and 16). There is one building for the younger children and another building for the older children with a basketball court, the auditorium and offices in between.

The auditorium had a stage decorated with red curtains and trees with Christmas lights. Refreshments and snacks were available. The concert showcased local talent and an amazing saxophone player from Barbados. My favourite singer was Joyce who sang some lovely throaty jazz songs. The saxophone player, Arturo, made his instrument sing – and besides the alto saxophone, he also played soprano sax and flute. The Christmas carols themselves made me smile because I love Christmas carols, but also because I was sitting in auditorium, not sweating, but pleasantly warm, listening to songs like “Baby it’s cold outside” and “Jingle Bells” with lyrics like “dashing through the snow…”.

Gavin and I went to Celena’s afterwards which may be my new favourite restaurant. The food is good and reasonably priced, I guess – but I love it because it is built right on the sea wall. The ocean breeze flows in, cooling the air... They also make a delicious fruit punch!

Shopping on Regent St

There are stores all around Georgetown, but my understanding is that the place to be for shopping is Regent St. I went with two women from work on Tuesday to shop for curtains. They need them for the living room in their house; I was hoping to pick one up for my bathroom so that I have a “door”.

We parked outside one store and then travelled up and down the street looking at various stores. I have never looked at so many curtains in my life! Prices are listed in both wholesale and retail prices. You definitely have to check your prices too – they can be very different. I have become accustomed to prices that I will pay for things and prices that are acceptable to pay. All the curtains that I saw were too fancy for bathroom doors and nobody else saw anything that they absolutely loved. There were a lot of people out on the street and the later it got the more people around. As well as stores, there are vendors on the street selling on behalf of a store or independently.

When we found our way back to the vehicle, I could have cried. There I was, all nicely diagonally parked in front of a store. There at the back of my vehicle was a car, parallel parked and covering half of my rear end. To make matters worse, there was a motorcycle parked on the other half of my vehicle, completely blocking me in. It’s getting 6 o’clock now, the sky is getting darker and the crowds are getting bigger. Thankfully Marcie stayed with me and promised not to leave me until I got free. A man physically lifted the motorcycle out my way and another man helped get me turn around on the sidewalk and reverse through the little space. Whew. Enough shopping for me.

Christmas Carols at Methodist Church

Mrs Boodie invited me to a carol sing at her church. It’s not actually her church, but the Methodist Church community in Guyana came together for a carol sing which her church took part in. We arrived at 5:30pm only to find it wasn’t scheduled to start until 6pm, which means it started around 6:30pm. I felt immediately welcome. I am obviously a new face and they embraced me. The first woman came over and introduced herself, full of life… “Dawn, as in dawn of the morning” Everyone was all smiles and pleased that I had come to their church. What struck me most was that people in my church at home would never go out of their way like that, but proud of my mom because I know she makes the effort and as the newcomer, I know how wonderful that feels.

I was struck by a conversation that Mrs Boodie had with another woman before the celebration about the new church. It is a simple concrete building with windows made out of fancy concrete blocks and painted with burgundy crosses. The front windows of the church are glass. They discussed whether the rain pours in the concrete window vents (it doesn’t) and the width of the glass windows when open – whether someone could climb in or squeeze a child through…

I’ve never been to a Methodist church before, but I felt like I was taking part in what I have heard about a Southern gospel choir. When it started there were about 25 people, but by the end probably about 40 people were present. We filled that concrete church with joyous sound and I could feel it right to my core. Any doubts that I had been feeling about the beginning of the Christmas season were blown away by the sounds of “Once in Royal David City” echoing around me. The Christmas carols were balanced with lessons read from scripture – one lesson for every congregation in Georgetown. The song volume would bring my packed church to shame. I was familiar with all but one of the songs that we sang from the hymnal and learned a few variations (instead of Glooooooooria, in exclesis deo – Cooooooooome and worship, Christ the King). There was a group of young people that formed an impromptu rhythm section and added energy to old carols. One that I’ll always remember is “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” and a powerful verse sung just by the men.

To end the service, we lit candles (bring your own, wide variety of shapes and sizes) and sang Joy to the World as we walked outside in front of the church. We sang more songs, standing outside the front of the church with candles. It was a bit breezy which threatened our little lights and less confidence outside, but it was a beautiful idea. Here I learned some new carols with such lyrics as… “Lord Jesus, cum dung on all a we” (translation: Lord Jesus, come done on all of us)… “Mary had a baby and de baby name is Jesus”… A lovely Christian Christmas evening.

Bedouin Soundclash... in Guyana?

They're not actually coming here again (as far as I know), but they filmed this video here. Gavin told me about it. I'm trying to fix my sound to hear it, but hopefully you can hear it and see some of the sights. I've been most of the same places!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-lg1fa_MGQ

Driving in Guyana

Mom, I don’t recommend reading this. And if you read this, I warned you not to.

Let’s see, my first impressions of driving in Guyana. I’m all upside down and backwards – I’m on the wrong side of the road, the wrong side of the vehicle and instead of planning my root to maximize right hand turns, I’m planning for left hand turns. For some reason when I want to signal, my windshield wipers turn on. Oh wait, that’s my fault. The vehicle beeps when I reverse which freaks me out a little. I am quite familiar with where the brakes are and I haven’t driven over 60km/h. Thankfully, it’s a Toyota – my first vehicle.

Top 10 interesting quirks about driving in Guyana

#10 Honking

They honk to say hi, they honk to let other cars know they are on the road, they honk when they are behind you and want you to go (regardless of whether you are at a red stoplight), they honk when you cut them off or when they want to cut you off… everybody keeps honking at me!!

#9 Stoplights

The stoplights have a countdown clock on them. Which theoretically is a great idea, but somebody must have picked the numbers out of a hat. There is no logic for how long you wait at a stoplight or how long you have to get through a light. Sometimes they don’t work and they’re just yellow flashing. I don’t know the rules on who has the right of way. Probably because I don’t think that there are rules – and if there are rules, nobody is following the same set!

#8 One way streets not marked clearly

Sometimes they just appear, sometimes there are no signs – “no entry” is painted on the road and faded or you see the sign indicating one way just a second too late . I’ve only backed up the wrong way once (as far as I know) and my policy on new roads is to only turn on to them if I can clearly see the stop line or if I am following another vehicle.

#7 Stop signs? Lanes?

There are a few stop signs, but most of the time there is a line drawn on the road and STOP written before it. Quite often this line and STOP is worn down. When there are stop signs, they are round and white with a red trim (I think just to throw me off from the Canadian stop sign that I’m looking for). Also, when there is one lane with 2-3 options (straight, turn left, turn right), it actually means that there are “three” lanes – you just can’t see them. And there isn’t actually room for them. But the drivers will squeeze their vehicles in and honk to get where they want to be.

#6 Road width

The roads are just wide enough for two vehicles, but everyone (myself included) parks on the side of the room (because there isn’t anywhere else to park!). I haven’t seen on “parking lot” and depending on the building, there are some parking spaces to pull up into. Sometimes when there is a big truck and cars parked along the side of the room, there is barely room for him!

#5 Puddles, pot holes, speed bumps, dogs…

Some roads are new, some are very well maintained, some leave a lot to be desired. Be careful of those puddles, they really are deeper than they look. And if you can’t see the bottom of them, there is potential that there is no bottom…Just swerve around the potholes, everyone else is… The paint has worn off the speed bumps – so cross your fingers that they are a different colour of pavement or that you remember where they are after your first experience hitting them too fast. And yes, the dogs. They’re everywhere. They usually have respect for vehicles on the road, but when they get wet, it’s like they become lost and disoriented and wander out in front of you…

#4 Reckless drivers

Every driver for him or herself - you have to get from point A to point B and you’ll do anything to get there. If someone is in your way, it’s their fault – not yours. I am learning to be more aggressive. I try to honk at someone at least once a day so that when Maria calls I can tell her. I pull out far when I want to cross a road or turn and push my way through traffic. I have too much respect for life to be a reckless driver, but I can hold my own most of the time.

#3 Minibus drivers

Minibuses, where to start... I thought being in one with no seatbelts, too many passengers, loud music, reckless drivers and no predictable route was scary enough. That recklessness intensifies when you are driving behind them and they pull out or pull back in randomly, or when you are driving in front of them and they pass you out of nowhere, or when you think you are in a minibus-free zone and one appears! In front of you, behind you, beside you… be careful…the minibuses are out there…

#2 Motorcycles and Bicycles

It’s one thing to be a minibus and drive like you are the only vehicle on the road (because you can hear and see them when they’re around), but if you’re just a bike- I’m bigger than you! I’m watching for you, but you also have to watch for me. They are supposed to drive on one side of the lane, but I don’t even know which side that is because I see them on both sides. They are on the road in all states of repairs…

#1 Donkey/horse carts

Remember that donkeys and horses don’t have brakes. They also move very slowly. I’m torn between having fun saying that I passed a donkey cart and relaxing behind one because no one can honk at me for going slow – because it’s donkey speed!!

I should point out that not all drivers are reckless and honk and freak me out, but they are the ones that make for the most interesting learning experience. There are those that help me when I set off my car alarm and I look helpless because it won’t turn off and the car won’t start and I don’t know who to call and then… a kind stranger with a smile and the magic trick. I provided amusement for his day – it was a fair deal. There are those that kindly wave frantically at me when I backup the wrong way on a one way street and laugh with me. There are those that will wait for me to drive through if the road isn’t wide enough for both of us because of obstacles or will let me know when there is enough space on the road for me to go ahead beside them.

Maria says that if I can drive in Georgetown, I can drive anywhere in the world – and I believe it!

Update

Work has been going well. I am working closer with staff at the Ministry of Health to work on some projects that they are interested in. My paper-based form pilot project is going well. We’ve modified the forms and the staff at the clinics really likes how they flow and act as a checklist. It was great to get some positive and practical feedback on something that I have been working on. I am still working on manuals for the system, but I am at the point where it requires more collaboration with MOH staff because I don’t know the protocols and policies for different activities with the system. I just completed my interim report for CIDA and it was kind of neat to compile a list of “technical achievements” and “skills gained”, as well as compare what I was ‘hired’ to do versus what I am actually doing.

Wallis has gone to holiday in South Africa with her family. Her sister lives there and she is helping her mother move there. It is lonely without her around the office and after work. I miss her wonderful children. Gavin, the GHIS programmer, is currently in Guyana and has been good company. He is working on some new reports for the system and working out some “bugs”. Glen’s contract finished at the end of November. Maria, Samuel and Gobind are still working on my pilot project for me and any other tasks that I find for them. With Glen done and Wallis away, the project vehicle keys have been given to me. That’s right. I have a permit to drive in Guyana and will be getting… a license!!

Christmas in Guyana

I hadn’t realized how much I associate Christmas with snow until I started hearing Christmas music as I was sweating and seeing Christmas lights in the midst of palm trees. December is the beginning of the rainy season so instead of piles of snow, I’m surrounded by puddles.

I’ve decorated my apartment with Christmas garland and bows, and some candy cane Christmas lights. I have a little itty bitty Christmas tree that is one foot tall surrounded by Christmas cards from home. I love looking around my apartment and how festive it is, and then out my door at the papaya tree (it’s male, doesn’t bear fruit – but still tropical!)

Christmas is a big deal in Guyana. If you don’t live here, it’s the time to come home to be with family. Like any country, they spend money don’t have and charge it until after Christmas, but not just on gifts – everyone gets Christmas outfits, houses get painted, new furniture, the works… The stores are supposed to be crazy in December. The plan was to go shopping in November, but as all good plans go, I still have Christmas shopping to do. Wish me luck in the crowds!

I realized that I may not have shared the good news with all of you – the family is coming down for Christmas!! Mom, Dad and Lesa! Unfortunately Molly can’t make it, but I’m sure she’ll have a wonderful time at the puppy spa. I have a secret plan for their time here which would be ruined if I share it now, so I’ll write about it after they leave. They arrive on the 25^th after a full day of traveling and leave on the 2^nd. I have them staying at the same hotel that I first stayed at and the staff is looking forward to having them.

Enjoy the snow for me!!