A bit about everything

The past three weeks of teaching have shown me that I will not be (and never had any intention of) pursuing a career as a teacher. Not that anything has gone terribly wrong (yet), but it's just not for me. However, it's not too bad. I'm teaching Grade 9, the majority of whom are aged 13 or 14, which is the oldest grade in the school. The pressure is on, as they have national exams at the end of the year in the four core subjects - English (my favourite), Science, Maths and Social Studies. 'Take each day as it comes' is some of the best advice I've ever received. As each day passes, the next one is the most important. Not the day next August when I'll return home (which has been on my mind a lot), not the last day of the current term and not the coming Friday. Unless, of course, it's Thursday. Teaching is made easier by the fact that I teach outside in the shade underneath the mango trees. The school has a zinc roof, so is intolerably hot from around 9.00 every morning. The school day begins at 8.30 and ends at 2 in the afternoon, with lunch break between 11.30 and 12.00. This is also the time when Steven and I get fed at the Hot Meals, which is wonderful - we are guaranteed one proper meal each day.

As wonderful as sleeping in hammocks may sound, it's really not. I am still getting used to it, and think I may have finally adjusted my hammock to the correct height. Sleeping in a hammock requires a certain way of lying at an angle across it on your back, and when I'm used to sleeping on my front and side, this has led to some nights with very little sleep. We're living in a traditional mud brick house with external plumbing.



The front room in our house, taken from the front door.

Our house and benab

September here is Amerindian Heritage Month. This has meant that teaching time has been partially reduced due to the celebrations. On Tuesday 10th we had the whole day off, as we were transported to Merriwau, a satellite village of Shulinab around 3-4 miles east. The vehicle takes as many as possible - there was the driver and myself, 16 grade nines, the grade eights and one grade four in and on the 4x4. As you can imagine, most people don't wear seatbelts. The celebrations consisted of a number of competitions - kari drinking, cotton spinning and cassava bread making to name but a few. This lasted the whole day. The winner from each competition was selected to represent Shulinab at the South Central Heritage (our area of the Rupununi). This took place one week later at Potarinau, a village 5 miles south. We walked after school one day, leaving at 12. on our way there, we got completely soaked by rain, but then proceeded to go swimming in the Sawariwau River in our shorts anyway. The Heritage celebrations at Potarinau were similar to those at Shulinab, but with less drunk Amerindian men. We eventually got home at 11.30, after a ride on the back of the village 4x4.

The Toushau (village captain) and myself at the Heritage celebrations in Merriwau

Quick update...

First of all, I'd like to apologise for not posting anything since arriving in Guyana - it's been a whirlwind. The 10 days in Georgetown, then down to Shulinab and two weeks of teaching have, for the most part, passed in a flash.

I'm unsure what to post right now; I wish I had posted in Georgetown about my time there, but it never happened. Since arriving in Shulinab I've lived in two separate house, struggled to sleep in a hammock and started to get used to teaching. It's been a complete rollercoaster of emotions since leaving home. A number of times I wish that I'd never come, whilst at others I've been having the time of my life.

This post was just a quick update for so far. Next weekend I'll try to do a proper post about what I've done so far. I fear, however, that there may be a lack of photos as the internet is so slow!

Finally leaving!

So, tomorrow I am leaving the UK for Guyana to  begin my year as a teacher. It's been quite a journey as I'm sure you've been able to tell by reading my blog over the past 8 months. The times spent on Coll, writing (literally) hundreds of letters and running fundraising events have been mentally draining, and although I can't pretend to have enjoyed every minute of it, it's all been important in helping me on my way and bringing about this moment - my last night in England for a year. The next time I sleep in my bed at home again will most likely be the 17th August 2014. 

It's an odd feeling as you spend your last 24 hours at home as you realise that everything you've always taken for granted is about to fly out of the window, and that you'll no longer be a simple text message away from everyone. From the moment I leave Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, for Shulinab in around 10 days from now, the best form of contact will be letter-writing, and letters aren't guaranteed to arrive at all. So you can probably understand that I'm currently feeling fairly apprehensive, although my overwhelming emotion is one of excitement.

My journey began with a talk from a Project Trust Returned Volunteer in school last September. Since then, many people have helped me and supported me along the way. Without them, I highly doubt that I would have been able to reach this point so successfully. First and foremost are my parents, who were invaluable at my fundraising events, as well as being my primary support. A massive thank you to all my friends, and everyone who came to an event and donated in one way or another.  The trust funds that donated money have enabled me to raise all the money - £5,400 initially appears to be a mountain of money to raise, but with their help it was possible. I won't list them on here as Project Trust ask us not to, so that future volunteers can find their own!

If anyone wants to write to me during the year (which would be hugely appreciated), I have put my contact details on facebook, or you can contact my parents.

Tomorrow I leave for Guyana, and begin what will be the most incredible year of my life.

Training and Leaving Soon!

A couple of day ago I got back from training on Coll. It was absolutely knackering, but great fun. There were, in total, around 50 volunteers on training. 24 of those are going to Guyana, the other were split between Ghana and Namibia. Project Trust training is essentially a 5 day crash course in teaching, the many readily available illnesses and health problems (think along the lines of malaria, dengue, jiggers - google it - and anything else you care to imagine) and some more information on our countries and individual projects.

Due to the Isle of Coll being in the middle of nowhere I had to get up at 4.30 to catch a 7 o'clock flight up to Glasgow the day before training began so I could get the 5.45 (IN THE MORNING) ferry to Coll from Oban on the 14th. Staying in the hostel overnight beforehand with everyone else was brilliant, as it was here that I met the majority of the other Guyana volunteers.

The days spent in the Hebridean Centre (Project Trust's base) consisted of getting up at 7.30 each day before starting our sessions at 9.00, and staying up till at least 11.00 most nights planning a lesson or 'gaffing'. The ceilidh on the last night was just as much fun as it was on selection, and this time it had the advantage of both a live band and the bar being open, so everyone had a fantastic time.

Those 5 days have made me both much more excited and apprehensive of what I have let myself in for, although I have little time for either before I leave on August 18th. 

As well as meeting all the Guyana volunteers I met Steven, my partner. He's fourth from the right in the photo below. He's a lovely guy, and I can't wait to live with him for a year!

Bring on Guyana.

The 2013/14 Guyana volunteers with Desk Officer Chris (front left)
and Doug, the previous Guyana Desk Officer

My Project!

On Wednesday this week (the 1st of May) I recieved the details of my project! I've already told a few people a little bit, but here's the information.

My partner (who I meet on training in July) and I will be in a village called Shulinab, which is situated in the Upper Takutu - Upper Esequibo region of Guyana, otherwise known as Region 9. I hope that's helpful, as I'm sure everyone has a thorough knowledge of the geography of Guyana...... The village is just by the Kanuku mountains, and is the only Macushi village in the south Rupununi. 

I will be teaching in the local primary school, which is as much detail as I have about that right now.

My house, in typical Amerindian style, will be built from mud-bricks and have a roof made from leaves. Apparently the house is 'clean, airy and comfortable' - let's hope so! There isn't running water but I will have electricity (although limited, and what there is comes from a solar panel) and definitely no internet, so expect intermittent updates on here. In the compound there is a long-drop toilet and wash hut, as well as a benab (look it up) where I can hang my hammock.

I hope that 'sets the scene' as to where I'll be nicely - better than university halls anyway.

A picture I took from google of the road leading into Shulinab, or that's what it said it was anyway