Home Sweet Home

When I first moved in to my flat, I thought it was OK. To be honest, I was not too impressed with it. It is a pretty large apartment, but instead of feeling it was spacious, it felt bare and empty. During my trip, I started to think like "oh, I can't wait to get back home.", and the home meant the apt in Georgetown. I came back from the needs assessment trip on Friday, and I really felt good to be home. Just being away for four days completely changed my outlook on my apartment.

To make things better, my roommate has arrived. Her name is Penina from Kenya. I was worried how my roommate would be like, since not getting along with people whom you live with can make your life miserable. I really like her, and we became good friends quickly. She probably never imagined that she comes all the way from Kenya to Guyana and finds the roommate to be Japanese.... She is going to show me some Kenyan cooking!

We have three bedrooms, and the extra room is currently used as an ironing room. We have an exceptionally large bathroom (someone made a joke saying we were going to have a pool party at our place etc...) The furniture is not in the best shape to say the least, but it is all right. We have no TV, radio, music or card game, so we have to kind of entertain each other, which we have been doing quite well so far.

We started to buy some household and food items together, such as slippers and spices. The bare space is beginning to filled up with different stuff. I think hopefully I will be OK here for next six months.

Exciting End of Journey

The local union rep hired a taxi to take us around, and the driver was very nice and sweet. He brought us to a local market and also showed us one of rice mills in the area. The Region 2's main livelihood is producing rice, and you can see people drying rice on the road. I walked on rice for the first time. My grand parents in Japan use to grow rice, so it was nice to see it in Guyana as well.

One thing Gilly and I enjoyed a lot was that we were able to walk around in the evening. After our long day of work (and off course taking shower), we would take a short walk and then go eat at a restaurant. A local police officer introduced himself to us on a road side, which made us feel a little bit more secure.

I will write about the situation of teachers and the education in general in Guyana some other time (I am sure I will have a lot to say about it...)

One of a few pieces of advice my very supportive father gave me was not to take small air planes, because they crash every once in a while. On the way back to Georgetown, we flew on the very plane that I was not supposed to take. It could seat up to nine passengers, and it almost looked a like a toy. It was hilarious that the "airport" was in a large rice mill and not the other way around. They use a small scale, just like the one in everybody's bathroom to weigh your baggage. What is more is they weigh you, too! I was quite nervous, but I sat right behind the pilot and made sure that I knew what he was doing... The view was amazing, and I enjoyed this 20 min flight.

After all, we made back home OK.

Needs Assessment Trip 2

Continuous from the previous entry....

The hotel where we stayed for three nights is called "Arabian Atlantic Hotel". Yes, it is true that it has a sea view of the Atlantic ocean, but the hotel itself is not as fancy as the name may suggest. It was a very simple place with very nice sea breeze, which is not always the case in Georgetown.

Gilly and I have visited approximately four schools a day. At the every school we visited, they have given us a bottle of drink and a snack. The first pop was yellow, and then red, bubble gum green and something else. I figured if I have to drink all of these, my teeth will fall off by the end of trip. Luckily, in Guyana we have a practical and polite way to not to drink it right away, by saying "I will walk with it." I was traumatized when I saw a head of chicken on a lunch table in China, and since then I was afraid what people would kindly offer me. We ended up with many bottles of these colourful drinks and snacks, and we gave all away to the staff at the hotel before we left. People were so nice and hospitable to us.

At the consultation, most of the teachers were very enthusiastic and cooperative to the project. From the second day on, Gilly and I alternated to do a small talk about the background of the research and the participatory exercise that we were doing. I might have to do some more of this needs assessment on my own after Gilly leaves, so it gave me an opportunity to have a good grasp of the research. We got to look around in schools, sat in one of the class (math!) and took pictures of adorable children.


**Thank you so much for those who e-mailed me!! You don't understand how happy I was to read mails from you. Keep this coming!!**

Sorry..

I have not been able to update my blog. The internet was down past two days, and I can finally access it now. I guess this is part of daily life here, and I (and you) have to just get used to it!! We have to finish up the report for tomorrow's big meeting, so hopefully I will work on the rest of my trip story later on.

I am Back!

I am back from the need assessment trip. I am OK. I haven't gotten sick (touch wood....)


I tried to update this blog from the town where I was staying, but for some strange reason I had a hard time opening this site.

For this union work, I am working with a lady from England. I am so honored to work with her. She is not only a great& fun person to work with, but she is a member of Parliament back in UK!!


We arrived safely in our destination, Region 2 despite one hour delay of the taxi. We drove to a city called Purika, and then we took a speed boat. I was afraid that the water would be very choppy and I may get sea sick. However, it was a rather pleasant trip. Regional Vice President of the Union was there to meet us, and he brought us to greet the Regional Chairman and the head of the education department prior to visits of various primary and secondary schools.

The purpose of the research is basically to speak to teachers in different schools to find out what they think about the union and what the union can do to better represent them. Each school gave us about 15 minutes to speak to the teachers.


To be continued.....

**I can now read Japanese fonts! Please send me e-mails in Japanese. **

First Day at Work??

Well, this is my fifth day in Guyana, and so far it is quite OK. I moved in to the apartment on the second day. I live on a ground floor behind and below VSO couples, one from Canada and other from Holland. My compound has a security guard (who cannot hear very well...), and is in a relatively nice area.


After two days of short orientation, I did a sort of home stay with one of long term VSO's. She showed me around in the town and took me to shopping. I had a dinner at other VSO's place. On Sunday, they organized a potluck lunch party, so that I can meet other volunteers/ interns.

I had everything for the first time, the first walking alone, the first making a cup of tea, the first killing a cockroach, the first power outage etc. I have to admit that I feel a bit lost, but this is quite normal. I am around people who have been here longer than me, so it is hard for me keep up.


This morning, I had a meeting at VSO office to meet one volunteer who did some work for the org where I will be working. I found out that I am already off to other region to accompany her on the need assessment research trip. My work is still not totally clear to me, but I will take one thing at a time.

Already Eventful

Hi Everyone,

I am in Georgetown, Guyana. I arrived safe and sound yesterday morning.

For some reason, I felt something would go wrong on the way, and I was right. I had to use the VSO emergency number, which I didn't think I would be using this soon. When I tried to check-in at the Toronto airport for my flight to Guyana, they told me that they can't let me check in. With my Japanese passport, I am not allowed to enter the country with one-way ticket. Luckily, I had enough time to react, and I purchased return ticket on the spot.

I had quite a few problems with Canadian Immigration before, so I am used to things like this. I could stay calm to deal with this, so I am thankful to what I have gone through before....

I stayed in a guest house near the VSO office. Had some orientation yesterday and today. I am already moving in to my apartment this afternoon. How quick! I am coming to the country, so called "out of cycle", so I am not taking the usual week long orientation. Instead, I have many other volunteers who have been here at least for a month to help me out for my integration.

Hopefully, I will be able to upload some pictures, once I figure out the systems here.

Finally....

I am finally leaving for Guyana tomorrow.