Visiting Neighbours...

Once upon a time, three crazy Canadian kids decided to take a little detour from their time in Guyana to cross the border to Brazil. Which is where I find myself now - until Sunday? Have many adventures to tell - look for them early next week, but the keyboard is throwing me off and I really should catch some sleep before I continue with the Brazilian adventures!

GHIS Modularization Consultant - that's me!

I am officially the GHIS Modularization Consultant for the Health Sector Development Unit (HSDU). Actually, my contract has been signed between me and the Permanent Secretary (PS) at the Ministry of Health. I wish I could explain his role - there's a Minister of Health, a Minister within the Ministry, the PS and the Chief Medical Officer - they're all pretty up there in importance. I don't know how they decide who does what, but the PS apparently gets to sign consultant contracts.

I am getting paid through a project under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Not sure how the funding works, but I know I had to go through a lot of approval stages because I was selected for the position and there was no ad posted. So it took a little while to get the contract even though I should have started officially under it when the CSIH contract ended. Apparently I had to be evaluated (which I guess went well though I don't know what they were evaluating) and they granted "no objection" which means HSDU could make a contract and the money would be there for me. I was a free agent for a bit!

I think I've mentioned what I do before. The health information system started out being developed with a focus on HIV/AIDS, OI/STI and TB, then some MCH material was added - but overall a generic system was created with general reports. I am looking at the system by department/program and ensuring that it captures the required information/indicators for the program and their donor agencies. I've completed looking at TB, VCT and Pharmacy - and I am currently working on Outpatient/Specialist clinics, ART and OI/STI. It's been interesting looking at all the demands that a program and its donors have that are similar, but just different enough that they require a different indicator (an example of an indicator is the number of people tested sputum positive - test for TB, a variation is the number of people tested sputum positive on first visit... both tell different things). There is a lot of demand for reports and I find sometimes it's interesting when I include changes that improve the clinic aspect and others question its importance because it is not relevant to any report. The clinic is my first priority, reporting is second - it doesn't matter if the system makes the reports if the system isn't user friendly.

An important detail for some people is that I am on a four month contract that ends September 30th - so look for me in Canada at the beginning of October!

Recipe: Pine Tarts

Probably my most favourite Guyanese pastry - everybody makes them a little bit different, but they're all tasty!!

Ingredients

2 cans crushed pineapple
Sugar (depends on how sweet you want the tarts)
1 large egg

Pastry

1 lb (16 oz) flour
½ lb (8 oz) of Crisco shortening

Preparation

• Drain most of the liquid from the pineapple in the cans, then empty the cans into a pot. Add sugar till the sweetness is desired to your taste.
• Boil the pineapple on a medium fire until the juice is absorbed but the fruit is not dry. Stir often to avoid burning. Put aside to cool.
• Prepare the pastry: mix the flour and shortening together until the mixture becomes crumbly like bread crumbs.
• Then, as you mix with your hands, add small amounts of ice cold water as needed, and knead until the flour mixture becomes soft and doughy.
• Break off 1½ inch balls and roll out into thin rounds.
• Put an amount of the pineapple mixture in the center of each round, and then close the pastry over the filling to form a triangle-shaped tart. Use a fork to pinch the corners shut.
• Beat the egg in a bowl and brush it on top of the pine tarts.
• Put the tarts in an oven preheated to 350°F, and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until done.

A poem to share

This poem was sent to me by my good friend Maria to share in my blog. It is hilarious - most of the references are to food and parts of food dishes, only a couple which I haven't had, seen or heard of (and am currently clarifying). I hope you enjoy what parts you can understand! Feel free to ask for any clarification, but I feel that it needs to exist clean and clear for now!

How Do I Love Thee - West Indian Style

You are the essence in my mauby
De fish in my fishcakes
I love you love you dearly
You are the lard oil in my bakes
You are the coconut in my sweetbread
De pigtail in my rice
Just like piece of curry goat head
I will love you till I dead.

You are the sardine in my gravy
The dumplings in my soup
I love you more than mi belly
Yes I love you bad fah true.

Like banana leaf around my conkie
I'll be always close to you
Sweet like sugar in your bush tea
I'll do anything for you.

You are the sauce around my Cou Cou
Hot like sweetbread when it done
I will stick to you like dandruff
Like the corns upon your toes
Like the fat around your belly
I'll be everywhere you goes

Cause you are my black pudding
And I know I am your souse
When you call I will come running
Like when a boar cat see a mouse.

Oh my pepper on my pork chop
Sweet like sorrel when it mix
When my hands caress your body
You feel just like a couple-six.

You are sweeter than a snowcone
I will give you all I own
You are sweeter than a hambone
Soft and sweet like piece'o'pone.
No one can take me from you
Not in this life or death
My Panya girl I love you
It's just your mudda me caant tek.

New Apartment

I'm trading in my new "oasis" this afternoon for my traditional Oasis (http://www.oasiscafegy.com/). After several months of inconsistent water control (required to turn on a pump to have water come out of tap - pump and switch broken at different times), the breaking point was three weeks with no pump switch and no attempt being made to fix it. A call to one of my Guyana moms and I had a new apartment practically the next day!

It's a bit smaller than the other apartment, but it feels cosier, brighter and quieter. The window design also allows for a lovely cross breeze so it feels cooler! (even without a/c) The apartment itself is in kind of a compound with the landlady's house and a building with two other apartments. I have a cute little patio and access to a beautiful backyard.

Some highlights include:
- running water
- running water that with the flick of a switch can be "hot" running water!
- door on the bathroom
- almost full size fridge that might be able to hold icecream
- itty bitty stove
- walking distance to work (Saves $20/week taxi)
- fresh fruit stand around the corner
- neighbours

I am a bit sad that my itty bitty TV doesn't connect with the DVD player that I borrowed - needed: movie buddy.

I love Mrs Boody, but currently unimpressed after our last phone call and being accused of breaking and stealing things. Sorry, I didn't mention that the microwave was tempermental - it was low on my scale of concern when I didn't have WATER! *sigh*

I don't know how old my landlady is, but she is very cute - also very sharp. She walks slowly and I like to think she takes every step with purpose - she just seems like that kind of woman. I have felt very welcomed by her and my new neighbour. I feel more relaxed and happy when I come home now - one of those things you don't notice until you are in a new setting.

I sat yesterday afternoon writing a letter to my grandma on my new porch... listening to the birds... enjoying the breeze that was bringing the rain clouds in... watching a hummingbird eat and relax on a branch. Seriously.

Quote of the Week

Baby, you're white like milk - can I put you in my tea?

- Random guy's comment on my walk home from work. I had thought after 8 months that I had heard it all... apparently not...