with three little orphan boys!!
Ha - Fooled you!!!
Christmas here was a wonderful experience. On Christmas eve we got ready to have the little boys come over. They came with their bag full of toys and clothes. I was surprised at how many presents they brought with them and I realized it was due to the generosity of people here in Guyana. Although they received many donations this Christmas the one thing that they did not receive was a home... so we took the boys into our house for Christmas eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing day. When the boys first came over they were quiet - which was surprising because they all know us pretty well. And that quiet lasted about 20 minutes and then they were back to their normal selves. We took them to the Sea Wall for a walk. It was amazing how they were fulfilled by something so simple as going and looking at the boats that were passing by. We walked up and down until the littlest boy got tired and we decided to turn around. We took them home and fed them dinner and then played. The boys like to play with any and everything. It doesn't even need to be a toy - you could give them a piece of string and they would be plenty happy with that. I think it comes to creativity when you live with 50 other boys. We took turns going to Mass because the Masses were to late for the boys... so I took the first shift. I had them sit and watch a movie and while the movie started the youngest, Wendell, fell asleep in my arms. I was thinking how a year ago at Christmas eve I could never have imagined that a year from them I would be holding a little orphan boy in my arms rather than opening presents. And I decided at that moment that he was more of a present to my life than any material item. I got him ready for bed and put him to sleep when I went and sat with his brother and he fell asleep. I guess I have the ability to make them fall asleep. The other one got ready for bed on his own as I helped the sleepy one get into bed. They made my job very easy. I got some time to reflect and get ready for Mass while they were sleeping.
I went to Mass with Sister Katherine and she got me to sit with the choir for the night... which meant I had to sing with the choir. I found it ironic because last Christmas eve some man stopped me and told me how I had a good singing voice (which I denied) and the next Christmas eve I would be singing in a choir. We had 9 lessons and songs before Mass began which was really cool. Then I was excited that one of my favorite priests would be saying Mass for us. He always has really good, and concise homilies. :). Mass was a blessing... but it was annoying to be bit up by mosquitos on Christmas eve.
After Mass I went home and my family called. It was good to hear from all of them. I am sure they had a good time - well as good as they could have without me. I do miss home but at the same time I've been so busy its hard to really think about it. I missed the laughs that I would have had with my family because they are always plentiful. It is always good to have the phone passed around and hear from the different people. I was laughing to myself as I could see the personalities of my family members come out depending on what they would say and the amount of time they would take to speak with me. Life is good.
Christmas morning I woke up to the sound of little feet running around wanting to open up presents. So we went out and watched the boys open up all of their presents. They were super excited with everything that they got. At that point once they were preoccupied with their own toys we took some time to open our presents. I got 2 journals, hair ties, nail polish, sharpies, and some paper. I felt like I got a LOT for Christmas and realized how much waste I have had in the past. This Christmas it was different... I didn't think about gifts at all and I thought of them as just a side thing. It was a really good feeling to have - because I didn't have to force myself to focus on everything else.. rather it came naturally because I had three boys to focus my attention on. For once this Christmas was truly about making sure everyone around me was happy.
I've been thinking a lot for the past few days about Christmas. Everyone says its the season to give rather than receive. But I feel like I disagree. I believe Christmas is truly the season of receiving... but we have made that too literal. We want to receive gifts - when our focus should be on receiving the love of the Christmas season into our hearts. My little boys gave me so much and so did my housemates, yet what I received is not tangible. I also believe it is more about receiving than about giving because it is in giving that we really receive. I believe Pope Benedict said that prayer is pure receptivity. That we give God a moment of our time to speak with Him but really our open communication with Him is a gift to us. Like that analogy I realized I received from so many people this Christmas, by opening myself up to them I recieved more than I could imagine. With a little time, love, and energy (okay lots of energy) -I was able to recieve the best gifts of all. Life is all about perspective...
Christmas day we went to lunch with the Sisters. It was not only really good food wise, but it was fun to be around people we've seen so often for the past 4 months. We ate lunch, prayed, sang Christmas Carols, and laughed a lot. It was a good mix and once again the focus was on family, community, and the true meaning of Christmas. We each took a slip of paper from the infant Jesus that had our "gift" which was a way to grow in virtue over the upcoming year. I thought it was a really good idea.
After that we went back home and played with the boys - fed them and finally put them to bed. Once again it was just a joy to be around them no matter how difficult or tiring it may have been.
Boxing day morning we woke up, fed the boys, and took them to Church. It was amazing how well the behaved. It was quite funny with the three white girls and the three little black boys. One guy looked at me and laughed when I introduced Wendell as my baby. Eventually we had to bring the boys back. The other two brought them back and I did some major cleaning of the house to get rid of the immense dirt that came with the children coming. Then we took a LONG nap - and went out to the "big lime". Basically the whole Main street of Georgetown is barricaded off and there is a big festival. It was a good experience and just another day to go out and have fun.
I got to see some of my students out when we went out and that was a joy. I realized that over the past week I've missed seeing them. I don't miss the work, but I miss the students. I think that I will be ready to go back to work again in January. I will be the computer teacher now at Mercy Wings and I will be teaching all of the students... not just my girls. I am excited about this! :)
Well anyway... I hope your Christmas has been blessed. Know that I am continually praying for everyone back home through my adventure here. Remember there are 12 days to Christmas so keep up the Christmas spirit.
http://christianity.about.com/od/christmasdevotionals/qt/12dayschristmas.htm
May God Bless and Protect you!
Love,
Ashley Ann
Whatsoever you do to the least of My people, that you do unto Me.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Choas, Chaos, Chaos
I used to think that Georgetown was a busy place... but since christmas is just now - THIS PLACE IS CHAOS. There are people everywhere.
This week has been a really interesting week. I had finished all of the cirriculum for my students and all of my assesments were due on Monday so whatever I was going to do with them was going to be not graded.... Since only 5 students showed up each day we took some time just to relax and have fun. One day we went into the computer room and had a paint competition. The other day we sat around and discussed different things. I also got shipped some of the other students from different classes because so few students showed up. On the last day of school they just sent the students to me in the computer room and I let them play games. It was a really good time because I was able to give some of them one on one attention. I realize that this is almost the most important part of my job just being. I don't need to even always talk with them or listen but just be there and make jokes. On the last day we had our school party. That was good it was just basically hanging out and talking with all of the students.
We finished our Novena yesterday morning. I made it every morning at 5:30 except for one when I had a fever and Sarah (nurse) told me to go back to bed. I then went later that night at 5:30. (The pm mass is for "pansies") (just kidding) I really enjoyed the masses. On the last day two of the sisters (Celine Marie and Noel) gave us a nice big envelope with THREE SNICKERS IN IT! They said they were so proud of us for making it all nine days every morning on time. We decided to call them our "Sugar Mommys" because they randomly give us sweets! :) Its an awesome relationship.
A few times this week I was at the bus park for a random reason and saw some of my students. They then asked me if we could go for a walk around the market area. It was really good to spend time with them because I feel like I get to see a lot more things when I am with them. One day we were walking around and they walked me back to the bus and said: "Miss, enough people like you". It was really hilarious because they were referring to all the people yelling "white girl". It was really cute. I even saw a ton of fruit from my time with the students - One of my girls took our a piece of gum and offered me half. And now this may seem little to you - but for her it was a great step in the right direction. She has a beautiful heart that has been trampled on too often. She is so guarded and angry she very seldom lets kindness in or out. I can see a change coming from her - and I am glad because she truly is very sweet.
This morning I went to the bus park because the Cathedral was locked when I tried to pray so I went to grab a bus. (and the bus park and big market are next to each other and I wanted some oranges) So anyway I'm walking to the market and I see two of my students and one of their mother. His mother sells food at the market. I have always been afriad to be ripped off but I decided to eat because she invited me to come sit inside her stand. I ate some cook up - which had chicken foot in it. I couldn't eat the chicken foot because it grossed me out too much - but the rest was really good. And it was at that moment that I was sitting their with their family and my other student watching them sell the food and talking with them that I realized how lucky I am to truly get experiences like this. I have many friends who work at the US embassy who would never come down to the park - much less sit in a stand and talk. And I also found that I got so much respect. When I first started using the bus park (specifically Sophia section) people used to call out to me all the time. But now they all call me miss. (Because i'm a teacher) Even the adults there call me miss. I also feel like a lot of people are looking out for me. For example on friday I got to the bus park and had to go to work but because the student's didn't have to go and A field is very unpopular they weren't sending any A field buses. So since everyone who works there knows where I go they put me on a B field bus and had the driver bring me to the school. And at one point I didn't understand what the driver was trying to ask me on the bus and a lady (who I don't know) told him I was a teacher at Mercy Wings and to drop me there. It was good :)
Anyway ... I have plenty of christmas things to do now. I have a christmas party to go to for the orphanage boys... last night we had our party for work staff. I feel that although I have the next two weeks off I will be plenty busy. This also makes me miss my Grandma Theresa terribly because I have to dress up a lot. And now in Guyana everything has to be neatly pressed... well - I never pressed things because I always would just throw them on ... but I tell you that before I stepped out that door Grandma made me take it off and she would iron it for me. :) Now I had to do all my ironing myself :(. I also have to go and buy a christmas dress. I brought 5 dresses from the states and last night I wore the smallest one I had to the party and it was still much to large. I guess its a good problem to have but not when christmas is just a few days away and you need clothes!!!
Know that I am thinking and praying for everyone back home. Please pray for us we will have three little orphan boys over at our house for Christmas. I am SUPER excited! I am going to love having a little "family" for christmas.
My last thought for the week comes from a song I have been listening to over and over again this week... "If I could tell the world just one thing... I'd say were all okay"
It will be okay - the only thing you have control of is yourself, so although you may be in a tough situation you can't change someone elses dispositon... therefore you must change your own. Go into the Christmas season aiming to change one of your dispositions in your heart you know is wrong towards someone else. I know I will be...
May God Bless you all -
Ashley Ann
P.S. HAHAHA you all got snow!!!!!!
This week has been a really interesting week. I had finished all of the cirriculum for my students and all of my assesments were due on Monday so whatever I was going to do with them was going to be not graded.... Since only 5 students showed up each day we took some time just to relax and have fun. One day we went into the computer room and had a paint competition. The other day we sat around and discussed different things. I also got shipped some of the other students from different classes because so few students showed up. On the last day of school they just sent the students to me in the computer room and I let them play games. It was a really good time because I was able to give some of them one on one attention. I realize that this is almost the most important part of my job just being. I don't need to even always talk with them or listen but just be there and make jokes. On the last day we had our school party. That was good it was just basically hanging out and talking with all of the students.
We finished our Novena yesterday morning. I made it every morning at 5:30 except for one when I had a fever and Sarah (nurse) told me to go back to bed. I then went later that night at 5:30. (The pm mass is for "pansies") (just kidding) I really enjoyed the masses. On the last day two of the sisters (Celine Marie and Noel) gave us a nice big envelope with THREE SNICKERS IN IT! They said they were so proud of us for making it all nine days every morning on time. We decided to call them our "Sugar Mommys" because they randomly give us sweets! :) Its an awesome relationship.
A few times this week I was at the bus park for a random reason and saw some of my students. They then asked me if we could go for a walk around the market area. It was really good to spend time with them because I feel like I get to see a lot more things when I am with them. One day we were walking around and they walked me back to the bus and said: "Miss, enough people like you". It was really hilarious because they were referring to all the people yelling "white girl". It was really cute. I even saw a ton of fruit from my time with the students - One of my girls took our a piece of gum and offered me half. And now this may seem little to you - but for her it was a great step in the right direction. She has a beautiful heart that has been trampled on too often. She is so guarded and angry she very seldom lets kindness in or out. I can see a change coming from her - and I am glad because she truly is very sweet.
This morning I went to the bus park because the Cathedral was locked when I tried to pray so I went to grab a bus. (and the bus park and big market are next to each other and I wanted some oranges) So anyway I'm walking to the market and I see two of my students and one of their mother. His mother sells food at the market. I have always been afriad to be ripped off but I decided to eat because she invited me to come sit inside her stand. I ate some cook up - which had chicken foot in it. I couldn't eat the chicken foot because it grossed me out too much - but the rest was really good. And it was at that moment that I was sitting their with their family and my other student watching them sell the food and talking with them that I realized how lucky I am to truly get experiences like this. I have many friends who work at the US embassy who would never come down to the park - much less sit in a stand and talk. And I also found that I got so much respect. When I first started using the bus park (specifically Sophia section) people used to call out to me all the time. But now they all call me miss. (Because i'm a teacher) Even the adults there call me miss. I also feel like a lot of people are looking out for me. For example on friday I got to the bus park and had to go to work but because the student's didn't have to go and A field is very unpopular they weren't sending any A field buses. So since everyone who works there knows where I go they put me on a B field bus and had the driver bring me to the school. And at one point I didn't understand what the driver was trying to ask me on the bus and a lady (who I don't know) told him I was a teacher at Mercy Wings and to drop me there. It was good :)
Anyway ... I have plenty of christmas things to do now. I have a christmas party to go to for the orphanage boys... last night we had our party for work staff. I feel that although I have the next two weeks off I will be plenty busy. This also makes me miss my Grandma Theresa terribly because I have to dress up a lot. And now in Guyana everything has to be neatly pressed... well - I never pressed things because I always would just throw them on ... but I tell you that before I stepped out that door Grandma made me take it off and she would iron it for me. :) Now I had to do all my ironing myself :(. I also have to go and buy a christmas dress. I brought 5 dresses from the states and last night I wore the smallest one I had to the party and it was still much to large. I guess its a good problem to have but not when christmas is just a few days away and you need clothes!!!
Know that I am thinking and praying for everyone back home. Please pray for us we will have three little orphan boys over at our house for Christmas. I am SUPER excited! I am going to love having a little "family" for christmas.
My last thought for the week comes from a song I have been listening to over and over again this week... "If I could tell the world just one thing... I'd say were all okay"
It will be okay - the only thing you have control of is yourself, so although you may be in a tough situation you can't change someone elses dispositon... therefore you must change your own. Go into the Christmas season aiming to change one of your dispositions in your heart you know is wrong towards someone else. I know I will be...
May God Bless you all -
Ashley Ann
P.S. HAHAHA you all got snow!!!!!!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Oh the weather outside is wonderful
Friends and Family,
I hope you are enjoying the cold weather... don't worry I am enjoying the heat for you!
Life here has been good. The week after the sickness was filled with much sleep. However on tuesday night I went to the "Festival of Carols". It was all of the different choirs from around the area that got together to do a concert. There was even a father son duo that was my favorite. It was really awesome to hear a concert when I feel like music is something I have been missing. Don't get me wrong there is plenty of blasting music everywhere... but I miss concert type music.
I was talking with the Librarian Ms. Oneika this week and I said "It's me own". She started to laugh and said Miss - you're becoming Guyanese. Its hard not to say stuff like that when you hear it all the time! Ms. Oneika has been a great support for me and I spend much time in the library helping other students learn to read and she always helps me work with them or just "gaufs" (Talks and laughs) with us.
I was sitting in on another class helping out because they had a guest presenter and well - they needed more bodies to keep the children quiet. As I was sitting with the children I realized how much I looked at them as children... and then I realized some of them are only 3 years younger than I!! They were doing skits and it was really fun to watch all of them be silly. I realize how much I love working with young people. They have so much energy. And although many times did I have to discipline that day - it didn't take away from how much I love them. This was a work in progress because yes I always had charity love for them... I realized in watching that class that even though they push my buttons and test my patience even the ones who make me the most mad have something to offer. Very few people have given these children a chance. Very few people treat them with disrespect and angerily. And yes they do treat others that was as well - but part of us is always a product of our environment. The only way you can help change that is to help change the environment. And to do that you must become part of the environment. These have been my thoughts this week as I had to deal with some more angry outburst, fights, and tears. I ended up getting in the middle of a boy trying to hit another boy - (on accident - I wasn't trying to break it up) and he ended up accidentally hitting me with a stick. (Don't worry not hard). At that moment I have never seen more fear in someone's eye. He immediately handed me the stick - started apologizing and the other boys ran over and grabbed my arm to make sure I was alright. The other students punished him so hard and he was punishing himself that it was actually hard for me to discipline him. And this was a great moment for me because earlier in the year this student wouldn't have thought twice about this. And so it finally showed me that he had enough respect to show remorse. He was finally realizing to own up to what you do.
That was a long confusing paragraph - but its been a long day.
The Cathedral here is the Immaculate Conception so on the feast of the IC (the 8th) we had a very celebratory Mass. I was able to go and it was really good. There was 9 different priests from all over the country (which is the whole diocese). I always enjoy mass at the Cathedral. Other than that we have been having mass every morning at 5:30 am!! ITS SO EARLY. We are doing a Novena before Christmas. We go until the 17th. Its been two days so far and I'm tired!! But thats okay because these masses have actually helped me to get focused in Advent. I think that it is a great idea to do this because daily mass here is very difficult because of the priest shortage. So since this is a special time they make it so people can come to mass daily - at least for preparation for Christmas. Sister Katerine gives us a ride which is nice - although its just a short walk and 5 in the morning the ride is worth it! (Plus its short rainy season)
Anyway I have to go to the market to pick up some edo, kassava, and "sweet potatoe. I am making soup for dinner!
Sending you all my love and prayers - and look at my last blog if you didn't get a chance!!!
Ashley Ann
I hope you are enjoying the cold weather... don't worry I am enjoying the heat for you!
Life here has been good. The week after the sickness was filled with much sleep. However on tuesday night I went to the "Festival of Carols". It was all of the different choirs from around the area that got together to do a concert. There was even a father son duo that was my favorite. It was really awesome to hear a concert when I feel like music is something I have been missing. Don't get me wrong there is plenty of blasting music everywhere... but I miss concert type music.
I was talking with the Librarian Ms. Oneika this week and I said "It's me own". She started to laugh and said Miss - you're becoming Guyanese. Its hard not to say stuff like that when you hear it all the time! Ms. Oneika has been a great support for me and I spend much time in the library helping other students learn to read and she always helps me work with them or just "gaufs" (Talks and laughs) with us.
I was sitting in on another class helping out because they had a guest presenter and well - they needed more bodies to keep the children quiet. As I was sitting with the children I realized how much I looked at them as children... and then I realized some of them are only 3 years younger than I!! They were doing skits and it was really fun to watch all of them be silly. I realize how much I love working with young people. They have so much energy. And although many times did I have to discipline that day - it didn't take away from how much I love them. This was a work in progress because yes I always had charity love for them... I realized in watching that class that even though they push my buttons and test my patience even the ones who make me the most mad have something to offer. Very few people have given these children a chance. Very few people treat them with disrespect and angerily. And yes they do treat others that was as well - but part of us is always a product of our environment. The only way you can help change that is to help change the environment. And to do that you must become part of the environment. These have been my thoughts this week as I had to deal with some more angry outburst, fights, and tears. I ended up getting in the middle of a boy trying to hit another boy - (on accident - I wasn't trying to break it up) and he ended up accidentally hitting me with a stick. (Don't worry not hard). At that moment I have never seen more fear in someone's eye. He immediately handed me the stick - started apologizing and the other boys ran over and grabbed my arm to make sure I was alright. The other students punished him so hard and he was punishing himself that it was actually hard for me to discipline him. And this was a great moment for me because earlier in the year this student wouldn't have thought twice about this. And so it finally showed me that he had enough respect to show remorse. He was finally realizing to own up to what you do.
That was a long confusing paragraph - but its been a long day.
The Cathedral here is the Immaculate Conception so on the feast of the IC (the 8th) we had a very celebratory Mass. I was able to go and it was really good. There was 9 different priests from all over the country (which is the whole diocese). I always enjoy mass at the Cathedral. Other than that we have been having mass every morning at 5:30 am!! ITS SO EARLY. We are doing a Novena before Christmas. We go until the 17th. Its been two days so far and I'm tired!! But thats okay because these masses have actually helped me to get focused in Advent. I think that it is a great idea to do this because daily mass here is very difficult because of the priest shortage. So since this is a special time they make it so people can come to mass daily - at least for preparation for Christmas. Sister Katerine gives us a ride which is nice - although its just a short walk and 5 in the morning the ride is worth it! (Plus its short rainy season)
Anyway I have to go to the market to pick up some edo, kassava, and "sweet potatoe. I am making soup for dinner!
Sending you all my love and prayers - and look at my last blog if you didn't get a chance!!!
Ashley Ann
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Since I didn't Blog
Hello Friends and Family - 2 things.
For Christmas since we can't be really receiving gifts I am creating my own Christmas Project. I am asking for Christmas Cards! On the back you can write "for christmas" and I will open them all on Christmas Day!!! :)
50 Pere St, Kitty
Georgetown, Guyana
South America
And we had a Mercy Newsletter go out to the Mercy Community in November and I thought I would share it with you because it is a good overview of my time here and includes the perspectives of Audrey and Sarah. (My loving roomates)
Sending prayers and love!
Ashley Ann
Dear Mercy Community,
We arrived in Guyana on September 1st after a long day of saying goodbye to our friends, family, and homes! After a hectic and hot first week we settled into our apartment which now after getting settled in feels like a wonderful home. We began work very quickly which was good to keep us all busy as we adjusted to our new climate and country!
Audrey is helping out at the school attached to St. John Bosco's orphanage. She helps out boys one on one and also will teach if a teacher happens to be absent for a day. Audrey has had a great time getting to know each of the boys on an individual level. She finds that they are typical rowdy boys who love to have fun and sometimes cause trouble. One of the things she has realized through this experience is she has to look at the background from which the children come from. Many of them come from very difficult situations which affects both their behavior and ability to learn. Some of them come from places where they felt unwanted and unloved and may have attachment issues that stem from that. She realizes that in order to combat this issue she must show them unconditional love and mercy each day.
Ashley has been teaching Care for the Elderly at Mercy Wings Vocational School. Teaching at Mercy Wings has been a great struggle and a great blessing for Ashley. Many of her girls come from very difficult homes and some have frequent outbursts of anger. Although there are struggles Ashley loves to get up in the morning knowing that she can once again work with the girl no matter how difficult it may be. Each day to her is a new opportunity to show mercy to young adolescents who may not find mercy outside of school. Each day is an opportunity to lay down one's pride and attempt to love rather than resort to anger.
Sarah is working at St. John's Mercy Hospital as an RN in the High Dependency Unit. Working as an RN in a developing nation has been a personal struggle for Sarah as she faces injustice and inequality each day. Although many struggles may make one feel like giving up Sarah has shown great dedication to her work sight by her continued optimism. In the face of the obstacles she faces every day she has seen great mercy and creativity in watching the other doctors and nurses work with the little resources they have to provide care for each patient.
Audrey's personal highlight from Guyana so far is the resourcefulness she has found in the Guyanese people. They think of many creative ways to deal with the fact that they have a lack of material goods. (This is also Audrey's gift within the community - you can't throw anything away without first making sure Audrey doesn't have a use for it)
Ashley's personal highlight has come from the fact that no one has asked her "So.... what are you going to do with your life?". The people care about who you are rather than what you are doing. It is a breath of fresh air to not be surrounded by the pressures of a high achieving society.
Sarah's personal highlight has come from the respect she has found from her co-workers at the hospital. Many nurses leave Guyana to go to the U.S. for a better job as a nurse there and yet here Sarah is doing the exact opposite. She feels great appreciation for the work she is doing.
As a community we have decided that we are pretty psyched about how well things have been going. We've decided Three's not a crowd, Three's Community. Our community has been together for two months in country, sweet, and although this may be a short time we feel as if because of circumstance we have created an intimate and intense bond. When we are with each other it is there where we find other people who are most like ourselves and understand the culture we came from. Our daily struggles must be faced together and this has lead to an intense bond that over comes even the small tribulations that we have with each other. Sarah may have an over zealous way of making sure we cross the street well, Ashley may have constant outlandish over exaggerated comments, and Audrey may always be late, but these problems are nothing compared to the inequality and injustice that we face every day. We have had to learn to lean on each other and overlook the small things. Our community has been one of our greatest blessings and we all look forward to our family dinners each night in which we discuss the day, laugh, and come up with new theme songs about Guyana.
We have found that spiritually we have all been transitioning from being like St. Terese of Liseux (prayer) to St. Francis Xavier (action). Our prayer life and spirituality has become our every day actions because our lives have less time and less structured activities centered around prayer than we had in the states. We still realize the importance of prayer but have also had to learn to make our actions a prayer which is pleasing to God. Remember breath in prayer, breath out service. We have been spending the past two months trying to figure out how to breath properly in a completely new environment.
We have a few favorite moments of simple living for you: No water in the morning for a shower means you go to work with no shower, cooking in the dark is something Sarah has perfected, Mosquito nets are our new best friend, Reheating everything on the stove because we have no microwave, learning the value of safe drinking water, learning the excess of Internet, being lost in time and space by the sisters and everyone who wanted to get a hold of us because we had no phone for over a week, playing scrabble with the sisters across the street for Saturday night fun, five dollar rum, DVD's for five dollars, deciding whether or not to splurge for .50 plantain chips, cooking all meals at home because it is cheaper (unless you go to a church fair :) ), being more excited about free food than we were in college.
You know you are in Guyana when:
The Three Amigo's
For Christmas since we can't be really receiving gifts I am creating my own Christmas Project. I am asking for Christmas Cards! On the back you can write "for christmas" and I will open them all on Christmas Day!!! :)
50 Pere St, Kitty
Georgetown, Guyana
South America
And we had a Mercy Newsletter go out to the Mercy Community in November and I thought I would share it with you because it is a good overview of my time here and includes the perspectives of Audrey and Sarah. (My loving roomates)
Sending prayers and love!
Ashley Ann
Dear Mercy Community,
We arrived in Guyana on September 1st after a long day of saying goodbye to our friends, family, and homes! After a hectic and hot first week we settled into our apartment which now after getting settled in feels like a wonderful home. We began work very quickly which was good to keep us all busy as we adjusted to our new climate and country!
Audrey is helping out at the school attached to St. John Bosco's orphanage. She helps out boys one on one and also will teach if a teacher happens to be absent for a day. Audrey has had a great time getting to know each of the boys on an individual level. She finds that they are typical rowdy boys who love to have fun and sometimes cause trouble. One of the things she has realized through this experience is she has to look at the background from which the children come from. Many of them come from very difficult situations which affects both their behavior and ability to learn. Some of them come from places where they felt unwanted and unloved and may have attachment issues that stem from that. She realizes that in order to combat this issue she must show them unconditional love and mercy each day.
Ashley has been teaching Care for the Elderly at Mercy Wings Vocational School. Teaching at Mercy Wings has been a great struggle and a great blessing for Ashley. Many of her girls come from very difficult homes and some have frequent outbursts of anger. Although there are struggles Ashley loves to get up in the morning knowing that she can once again work with the girl no matter how difficult it may be. Each day to her is a new opportunity to show mercy to young adolescents who may not find mercy outside of school. Each day is an opportunity to lay down one's pride and attempt to love rather than resort to anger.
Sarah is working at St. John's Mercy Hospital as an RN in the High Dependency Unit. Working as an RN in a developing nation has been a personal struggle for Sarah as she faces injustice and inequality each day. Although many struggles may make one feel like giving up Sarah has shown great dedication to her work sight by her continued optimism. In the face of the obstacles she faces every day she has seen great mercy and creativity in watching the other doctors and nurses work with the little resources they have to provide care for each patient.
Audrey's personal highlight from Guyana so far is the resourcefulness she has found in the Guyanese people. They think of many creative ways to deal with the fact that they have a lack of material goods. (This is also Audrey's gift within the community - you can't throw anything away without first making sure Audrey doesn't have a use for it)
Ashley's personal highlight has come from the fact that no one has asked her "So.... what are you going to do with your life?". The people care about who you are rather than what you are doing. It is a breath of fresh air to not be surrounded by the pressures of a high achieving society.
Sarah's personal highlight has come from the respect she has found from her co-workers at the hospital. Many nurses leave Guyana to go to the U.S. for a better job as a nurse there and yet here Sarah is doing the exact opposite. She feels great appreciation for the work she is doing.
As a community we have decided that we are pretty psyched about how well things have been going. We've decided Three's not a crowd, Three's Community. Our community has been together for two months in country, sweet, and although this may be a short time we feel as if because of circumstance we have created an intimate and intense bond. When we are with each other it is there where we find other people who are most like ourselves and understand the culture we came from. Our daily struggles must be faced together and this has lead to an intense bond that over comes even the small tribulations that we have with each other. Sarah may have an over zealous way of making sure we cross the street well, Ashley may have constant outlandish over exaggerated comments, and Audrey may always be late, but these problems are nothing compared to the inequality and injustice that we face every day. We have had to learn to lean on each other and overlook the small things. Our community has been one of our greatest blessings and we all look forward to our family dinners each night in which we discuss the day, laugh, and come up with new theme songs about Guyana.
We have found that spiritually we have all been transitioning from being like St. Terese of Liseux (prayer) to St. Francis Xavier (action). Our prayer life and spirituality has become our every day actions because our lives have less time and less structured activities centered around prayer than we had in the states. We still realize the importance of prayer but have also had to learn to make our actions a prayer which is pleasing to God. Remember breath in prayer, breath out service. We have been spending the past two months trying to figure out how to breath properly in a completely new environment.
We have a few favorite moments of simple living for you: No water in the morning for a shower means you go to work with no shower, cooking in the dark is something Sarah has perfected, Mosquito nets are our new best friend, Reheating everything on the stove because we have no microwave, learning the value of safe drinking water, learning the excess of Internet, being lost in time and space by the sisters and everyone who wanted to get a hold of us because we had no phone for over a week, playing scrabble with the sisters across the street for Saturday night fun, five dollar rum, DVD's for five dollars, deciding whether or not to splurge for .50 plantain chips, cooking all meals at home because it is cheaper (unless you go to a church fair :) ), being more excited about free food than we were in college.
You know you are in Guyana when:
- You have thirty mosquito bites at once
- The man selling pine asks you to marry him and tells you that you don't have to work another day in your life (Sarah)
- You can spend thousands of dollars in one day and not feel guilty
- You have a display cabinet in your living room with a trophy that says "Worlds Greatest Dad"
- Your ride to work in the morning feels like NASCAR
- The mini bus conductors know your stops and if he asks you or tries to put you off at the wrong stop another random passenger who you have never met corrects him. (Ashley)
- People tell you not to fatigue yourself
- You do laundry by hand and according to the weather
- Body's of water are brown and full of trash
- Whenever something crazy happens you look at your roommates and say "It's Guyana" (Sarah)
- Other white people ask you what you are doing here
- Produce is fresh, cheap and delicious
- Shaving your legs is optional, deodorant is not
- People ask you if they have Kentucky Fried Chicken in the States
The Three Amigo's
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sickness....
Hello Friends and Family,
Well I wasn't able to blog on Friday since we were on our retreat with Sister Julie. Now I wish I had plenty of good things to say about the retreat but I spent the vast amount of time within the four walls of my room because I became terribly sick only a few hours after we got to our retreat site. Also - I ended up sleeping 22/24 hours on saturday and have only ate one real meal since friday. Life here has been crazy. Good news - I'm fine now, just have sore stomach from the whole adventure!
I wish that I had a lot to say but the previous week was pretty normal. We did get to go to a prayer service with all of the religious and priests from the Georgetown area on Monday which was very good. I sat next to a Daughter of Charity at the dinner afterwords and we got to have a really great conversation.
The only other excitement that took place is we are now in our FOURTH month in Georgetown. I can't believe that I have been here so long already. Some days I feel like I've only been here for about a month!
I guess I leave this very pathetic short blog with some small advice a student gave me. Someone was troubling me and student said: Miss you always tell us to not let what other people say bother us... take the advice for yourself if you know you have done nothing wrong do not look so sad.
The student may have had no idea what was wrong or what was going on - but he gave me a good perspective on things. Sometimes things suck and sometimes its not your fault. You can either let that take you down and be sad - or you can smile move on and go on with the rest of your day. Life is too short to be taken seriously -
I will blog more soon with an adequate update - until then I ask for your prayers as I pray for you!
Oh one more thing. Yesterday was one of my friends birthday's - he is in Seminary and he is a very good friend of mine. I ask a favor to throw up some extra prayers for him as since I can't send him an actual gift I can at least ask favors of others that I know right?!? His name is Seth!
Thank you!
Love,
Ashely
Well I wasn't able to blog on Friday since we were on our retreat with Sister Julie. Now I wish I had plenty of good things to say about the retreat but I spent the vast amount of time within the four walls of my room because I became terribly sick only a few hours after we got to our retreat site. Also - I ended up sleeping 22/24 hours on saturday and have only ate one real meal since friday. Life here has been crazy. Good news - I'm fine now, just have sore stomach from the whole adventure!
I wish that I had a lot to say but the previous week was pretty normal. We did get to go to a prayer service with all of the religious and priests from the Georgetown area on Monday which was very good. I sat next to a Daughter of Charity at the dinner afterwords and we got to have a really great conversation.
The only other excitement that took place is we are now in our FOURTH month in Georgetown. I can't believe that I have been here so long already. Some days I feel like I've only been here for about a month!
I guess I leave this very pathetic short blog with some small advice a student gave me. Someone was troubling me and student said: Miss you always tell us to not let what other people say bother us... take the advice for yourself if you know you have done nothing wrong do not look so sad.
The student may have had no idea what was wrong or what was going on - but he gave me a good perspective on things. Sometimes things suck and sometimes its not your fault. You can either let that take you down and be sad - or you can smile move on and go on with the rest of your day. Life is too short to be taken seriously -
I will blog more soon with an adequate update - until then I ask for your prayers as I pray for you!
Oh one more thing. Yesterday was one of my friends birthday's - he is in Seminary and he is a very good friend of mine. I ask a favor to throw up some extra prayers for him as since I can't send him an actual gift I can at least ask favors of others that I know right?!? His name is Seth!
Thank you!
Love,
Ashely
Friday, November 26, 2010
$20 for a Three Lb Turkey...?!?!?!
Hello!
I hope you are all enjoying the consumer driven black Friday! Everyone asked me if I was home sick yesterday because it was Thanksgiving in the States but it was easy to keep busy because no one else was celebrating Thanksgiving and it felt like a normal day. I feel like it will be more difficult during Christmas when everyone is celebrating and you realize how things are different.
Anyway - Last weekend was really good. I just hung out with some friends and didn't really do anything too exciting. I guess one exciting this would have been the Tea and hat party show that the sisters took us to. It was a fundraiser for a Church that burnt down and needs money to begin the new construction. On Sunday I went to the "creek" for the first time and went swimming. It was kind of hard to get myself to swim in water that looked a lot like coke. I did go in but I would say that I much prefer to swim in water in which I can see the bottom.
This week has been good. On Monday I went into work but ended up going to the hospital/clinic because I had been having some sort of allergic reaction all weekend and kept breaking out in hives. I have still been breaking out in hives almost every day but they can't figure out what it is that I am allergic to. This has lead to many early nights sleeping because of the medicine I am taking.
On tuesday was my normal day at the hospital but this week it was VERY busy. It is the national HIV testing week and I helped pre-counsel for about 15 tests on tuesday. This includes informing individuals about what HIV is and then assessing their risk and then helping them to evaluate how they can reduce their risk of contracting the disease and when they should come back for another test.
On wednesday I went to the hospital again instead of the school because they needed my help with all of the testing. These two days taught me a lot about the idea of Mercy. No matter what life choices someone has made throughout their life I would never wish a disease like HIV upon anyone and I find that I learned about how it is must be the same with God's view of us when something terrible things happen to us. He does not wish bad things upon us even when we create ourselves inside the situation. Yes we must be punished for the wrong that we do - but just because their is punishment, sorrow, or despair does not mean that the situation is void of love, compassion and mercy. There are people this week who will find out that they have a disease that will most likely lead to their death, but that does not mean they are any less of a human or deserving of any less love. This is one of the most difficult parts of my job because so many people have a stigma against those with HIV. This breaks my heart over and over again. As I was once reminded next to the blessed sacrament, the person next to you is the holiest thing on earth because they have Christ inside of them. When it comes to HIV many people forget to look at the dignity of the person and dismiss them for the disease that they have. Ignorance may be bliss but it also causes much pain and despair.
I was having a hard time with this on wednesday when I randomly saw one of my students at the hospital visiting someone. It was a really good breath of fresh air on a down day. Its good to find the love of God in the simplest things.
After I got home from work on Wednesday we made a Thanksgiving dinner. We had Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Bora (green bean ish) Casserole, and Rolls. It was nothing in comparison to Grandma Theresa's cooking but at least we didn't have to eat chicken or beef again! :) The turkey was super expensive but we saved up because we ate really cheaply otherwise this week. We've basically ate left overs or some beans. It was good to be with Sarah and Audrey because at least we had each other. Audrey also made a really Amazing pumpkin dessert with real pumpkin. I am grateful for her dessert cooking ability!!
Thursday was a normal day - went to work, came home and got to call my family for a few minutes. This was really good to hear their voices and be able to talk to them even for a short period of time. After that I went home and went to a celebration Mass for the Ursuline community here in G/town. I got to talk with some Daughters of Charity afterwords and a Carmalite novice. It was really good to have conversations with them and they invited me to come and visit or volunteer with them sometime. One of the mercy pre-novice said she would bring me there sometime so that was very nice.
Today has been fine we had a staff meeting which was interesting. It brought me back to think about how earlier this week I had to teach computer class and two boys kept misbehaving. Since the boys kept misbehaving I had to discipline them but by the end of the hour they were fine. Then all of a sudden I see one of the bigger boys holding the other two boys by their necks and dragging them over to me. He goes "Miss - they have something to say to you". Both of the boys came and apologized to me for being disrespectful and told me they promised not to misbehave in my class. I didn't know if I should discipline the one for using physical force to drag the other two over or laugh because it was so cute. In the end I thanked the boys for apologizing and thanked the other boy but asked him to keep his hands off the others. Two boys got into an argument because I came in and asked a class a question and one boy started to lie to me and the other boy don't lie to miss you'll get us all in more trouble!!! It was interesting not seeing my girls so much this week but beginning next week I have them as normal so everything should be well! I miss seeing and working with them, but it was also good to have them go out and actually do hands on work.
Well anyway - I feel as if I didn't have too much to say this week but oh well. I hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving and realize how much we all have to be Thankful for. Remember if you ate three meals today you ate more than many of my students, and that in itself is something to be thankful for.
May God bless you,
Ashley Ann
I hope you are all enjoying the consumer driven black Friday! Everyone asked me if I was home sick yesterday because it was Thanksgiving in the States but it was easy to keep busy because no one else was celebrating Thanksgiving and it felt like a normal day. I feel like it will be more difficult during Christmas when everyone is celebrating and you realize how things are different.
Anyway - Last weekend was really good. I just hung out with some friends and didn't really do anything too exciting. I guess one exciting this would have been the Tea and hat party show that the sisters took us to. It was a fundraiser for a Church that burnt down and needs money to begin the new construction. On Sunday I went to the "creek" for the first time and went swimming. It was kind of hard to get myself to swim in water that looked a lot like coke. I did go in but I would say that I much prefer to swim in water in which I can see the bottom.
This week has been good. On Monday I went into work but ended up going to the hospital/clinic because I had been having some sort of allergic reaction all weekend and kept breaking out in hives. I have still been breaking out in hives almost every day but they can't figure out what it is that I am allergic to. This has lead to many early nights sleeping because of the medicine I am taking.
On tuesday was my normal day at the hospital but this week it was VERY busy. It is the national HIV testing week and I helped pre-counsel for about 15 tests on tuesday. This includes informing individuals about what HIV is and then assessing their risk and then helping them to evaluate how they can reduce their risk of contracting the disease and when they should come back for another test.
On wednesday I went to the hospital again instead of the school because they needed my help with all of the testing. These two days taught me a lot about the idea of Mercy. No matter what life choices someone has made throughout their life I would never wish a disease like HIV upon anyone and I find that I learned about how it is must be the same with God's view of us when something terrible things happen to us. He does not wish bad things upon us even when we create ourselves inside the situation. Yes we must be punished for the wrong that we do - but just because their is punishment, sorrow, or despair does not mean that the situation is void of love, compassion and mercy. There are people this week who will find out that they have a disease that will most likely lead to their death, but that does not mean they are any less of a human or deserving of any less love. This is one of the most difficult parts of my job because so many people have a stigma against those with HIV. This breaks my heart over and over again. As I was once reminded next to the blessed sacrament, the person next to you is the holiest thing on earth because they have Christ inside of them. When it comes to HIV many people forget to look at the dignity of the person and dismiss them for the disease that they have. Ignorance may be bliss but it also causes much pain and despair.
I was having a hard time with this on wednesday when I randomly saw one of my students at the hospital visiting someone. It was a really good breath of fresh air on a down day. Its good to find the love of God in the simplest things.
After I got home from work on Wednesday we made a Thanksgiving dinner. We had Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Bora (green bean ish) Casserole, and Rolls. It was nothing in comparison to Grandma Theresa's cooking but at least we didn't have to eat chicken or beef again! :) The turkey was super expensive but we saved up because we ate really cheaply otherwise this week. We've basically ate left overs or some beans. It was good to be with Sarah and Audrey because at least we had each other. Audrey also made a really Amazing pumpkin dessert with real pumpkin. I am grateful for her dessert cooking ability!!
Thursday was a normal day - went to work, came home and got to call my family for a few minutes. This was really good to hear their voices and be able to talk to them even for a short period of time. After that I went home and went to a celebration Mass for the Ursuline community here in G/town. I got to talk with some Daughters of Charity afterwords and a Carmalite novice. It was really good to have conversations with them and they invited me to come and visit or volunteer with them sometime. One of the mercy pre-novice said she would bring me there sometime so that was very nice.
Today has been fine we had a staff meeting which was interesting. It brought me back to think about how earlier this week I had to teach computer class and two boys kept misbehaving. Since the boys kept misbehaving I had to discipline them but by the end of the hour they were fine. Then all of a sudden I see one of the bigger boys holding the other two boys by their necks and dragging them over to me. He goes "Miss - they have something to say to you". Both of the boys came and apologized to me for being disrespectful and told me they promised not to misbehave in my class. I didn't know if I should discipline the one for using physical force to drag the other two over or laugh because it was so cute. In the end I thanked the boys for apologizing and thanked the other boy but asked him to keep his hands off the others. Two boys got into an argument because I came in and asked a class a question and one boy started to lie to me and the other boy don't lie to miss you'll get us all in more trouble!!! It was interesting not seeing my girls so much this week but beginning next week I have them as normal so everything should be well! I miss seeing and working with them, but it was also good to have them go out and actually do hands on work.
Well anyway - I feel as if I didn't have too much to say this week but oh well. I hope you all had a very blessed Thanksgiving and realize how much we all have to be Thankful for. Remember if you ate three meals today you ate more than many of my students, and that in itself is something to be thankful for.
May God bless you,
Ashley Ann
Friday, November 19, 2010
Cold!
Hello Family and Friends,
As many of you are starting to experience the cold in the States I have started to experience the "cold" of the rain. This week I am pretty sure that it rained every day! I feel as if all of my clothes, sheets, and etc are damp! I even washed and put my sheets out on the line extra this week because I just felt gross... Ahh the rain. This also leaves me in a really big dilemma when it comes to my fan... when I lay down at night i'm warm enough to put the fan on because my windows are closed (because of the rain) but I know in a few hours I will wake up freezing. Then when I wake up freezing I have to debate weather just to suck it up or to untuck my mosquito net reach out turn it off and then retuck myself back into bed... Ahh the dilemma of mosquito nets :)
Last weekend was good - On friday night I went over to two of the Sisters' house for dinner after mass. Almost every friday I go over there after Mass. They always feed me good food and send me home with some small treat for my roommates. Last week they gave me some tangerines :) Since they hadn't seen Audrey or Sarah for a long while they decided to take us out on Saturday for a burger. It was really good to get out and talk with them. They are both in the 80's and sometimes it feels like we have two very sweet grandmothers here. They have very interesting perspectives on both Guyana and their lives as Sisters of Mercy. I feel like I have learned much and had my perspective of Guyana and the Sisters challenged by their experiences. I feel blessed to be able to hear so many different perspectives on life. Saturday night we stayed home and Audrey and I did a puzzle. Sarah had to work on Sunday so she went to bed early. On Sunday night Audrey and I went to a basketball game. I chose the red and white team to win and my team kicked Audrey's team! It was all good fun though because we really didn't know anything about either of them. It was good just to go out and watch some basketball.
This work week was good. My girls are doing their practical work at the different Elderly homes around Guyana. I got to go around and see how they were doing and they were all working very hard. After that I went back to the school and sat in on another class. This two weeks will be a little more laid back since I won't have a class except for when they come back after lunch... and even then they have to go and make up part of the class they missed that morning with the other teachers. Work at the hospital was good I entered charts and did a free test. It was pretty laid back but because of the cuts at the hospital I was able to help them catch up on some work that they hadn't finished since October. Its always a good day because its a break from my other job.
Tuesday night we went over to a friends house. She is from the UK and made pizza for dinner! It was very good and we had some wonderful (splendid) conversations. It was really good to hear someone have a positive perspective on Guyana. Many of the Ex-pats that we meet here or spend some time with have a very negative view of life here and that can be hard. It becomes hard because the people they are talking about are no longer strangers to me but they are my friends, my students, and people I have grown to love. I am glad I don't live within a gated community in which all of my food is imported from the US. I did not come to Guyana to live in America... Some people may not be able to handle a more simple life - but this was my goal coming here and this experience made me realize my new appreciation for simplicity. Materialism is a real problem throughout the world. It reminds me of a quote by Mother Teresa that goes : "Live simply so others may simply live". It is unnecessary that we have all of the luxuries that we do and others die of hunger. But the thing is you may read this and agree but very few people will let that penetrate through their mind for more than a few minutes. Because the more we think about it the more helpless we feel - the more we realize we really don't want to give up our comfortable lives... heck - we've worked hard for it right?!? - people who are poor are poor because they don't work hard.... that's the biggest lie I have ever heard and it makes me frustrated that people I know well will never believe me even if I tell them how hard people work here. They will never believe me that sometimes it is because of our selfish actions that other people around the world will die of hunger tonight. I'm not saying everyone... but the truth is attachment to money is evil and harms others. One of my students asked me what was the root of all evil and I said money... then he said "No Miss - its the love of money that is the root of all evil" He always reminds me of whats really important in life and I am grateful to him for that.
Anyway - off my soap box now - (Also - if you don't agree... that's okay - its my blog, not yours)
On Wednesday there was a Muslim holiday which meant no school!!! We hung out around home... I came down to the Internet cafe and sent out some e-mails I have been meaning to send for a long time... then later that day we hung out as a house and ate dinner together. Ever since one of our housemates started doing shift work we don't really get to eat dinner together. This has been really hard on the three of us because that has always been the favorite part of our day. So instead of doing anything major on Wednesday we just spent time together because we never seem to get to spend time together anymore. :(
Thursday a girl who was touring schools in Guyana came with me to Mercy Wings. This was a super fruitful experience because it was someone who understand the culture I come from experience my life every day. She told me at the end of the day how she now understands how dearly I can love my students. We taught computer class together at the beginning of the day and she told me how well the students were behaved and I told her they were actually kind of trouble makers and she didn't believe me. I then asked her to observe them after the left my class. Later that afternoon she made a comment on how now she can understand what I mean - the students have learned that if they behave for me I will treat them with respect and dignity - and if they don't respect me I won't stand for it. When a student is misbehaving I had found myself asking them three questions: 1. Was I disrespectful to you? 2. Did I lie to you? 3. Did I make you mad? -- I ask them these questions to make sure there wasn't something I did to offend them and then I ask them the same questions reversed: 1. Were you disrespectful to me? 2. Did you lie to me? and 3. Did you make me mad or will the behavior if continued make me mad?
I have realized that yelling at them will do me no good if they do not think about their own actions. One of the students who normally creates a lot of trouble was creating commotion down the corridor and I went down there. I walked in the classroom and ask him what happened. Without prompting he told me how he was causing noise and distracting the other students. He told me that it wasn't right and that it was disrespectful to me and the other students. For me this was a good moment.. he realized I was only going to get more mad if he lied... Later that day he came up right before the bell rang and was talking to the other students. He told them how if he ever was wrongly accused for something or if he was in trouble there are very few people he would ever trust but Miss always give you a voice and I would come to her. Now - these were not the words he used and well you probably wouldn't even understand the English he used but this was one of the most rewarding moments I've had since being here. He understood that I won't stand for misbehaving or disrespect - but I also will give you a voice. These youth have no one who listens to them and whether they are right or wrong, they deserve a chance for their voices to be heard.
The girl who came with at the end of the day asked me how I do this every day because although she didn't do much she was exhausted. She made a good point - my students take a lot of both physical and mental energy. I may not get to adventure out much... or do much after work - but they are my journey and adventure each day. And I look forward to each moment both frustrating and joyful with them.
Well I suppose this is enough for this week.
There is one thing I ask that you remember from this blog and that is to live simply, so others may simply live...
Love,
Ashley Ann
As many of you are starting to experience the cold in the States I have started to experience the "cold" of the rain. This week I am pretty sure that it rained every day! I feel as if all of my clothes, sheets, and etc are damp! I even washed and put my sheets out on the line extra this week because I just felt gross... Ahh the rain. This also leaves me in a really big dilemma when it comes to my fan... when I lay down at night i'm warm enough to put the fan on because my windows are closed (because of the rain) but I know in a few hours I will wake up freezing. Then when I wake up freezing I have to debate weather just to suck it up or to untuck my mosquito net reach out turn it off and then retuck myself back into bed... Ahh the dilemma of mosquito nets :)
Last weekend was good - On friday night I went over to two of the Sisters' house for dinner after mass. Almost every friday I go over there after Mass. They always feed me good food and send me home with some small treat for my roommates. Last week they gave me some tangerines :) Since they hadn't seen Audrey or Sarah for a long while they decided to take us out on Saturday for a burger. It was really good to get out and talk with them. They are both in the 80's and sometimes it feels like we have two very sweet grandmothers here. They have very interesting perspectives on both Guyana and their lives as Sisters of Mercy. I feel like I have learned much and had my perspective of Guyana and the Sisters challenged by their experiences. I feel blessed to be able to hear so many different perspectives on life. Saturday night we stayed home and Audrey and I did a puzzle. Sarah had to work on Sunday so she went to bed early. On Sunday night Audrey and I went to a basketball game. I chose the red and white team to win and my team kicked Audrey's team! It was all good fun though because we really didn't know anything about either of them. It was good just to go out and watch some basketball.
This work week was good. My girls are doing their practical work at the different Elderly homes around Guyana. I got to go around and see how they were doing and they were all working very hard. After that I went back to the school and sat in on another class. This two weeks will be a little more laid back since I won't have a class except for when they come back after lunch... and even then they have to go and make up part of the class they missed that morning with the other teachers. Work at the hospital was good I entered charts and did a free test. It was pretty laid back but because of the cuts at the hospital I was able to help them catch up on some work that they hadn't finished since October. Its always a good day because its a break from my other job.
Tuesday night we went over to a friends house. She is from the UK and made pizza for dinner! It was very good and we had some wonderful (splendid) conversations. It was really good to hear someone have a positive perspective on Guyana. Many of the Ex-pats that we meet here or spend some time with have a very negative view of life here and that can be hard. It becomes hard because the people they are talking about are no longer strangers to me but they are my friends, my students, and people I have grown to love. I am glad I don't live within a gated community in which all of my food is imported from the US. I did not come to Guyana to live in America... Some people may not be able to handle a more simple life - but this was my goal coming here and this experience made me realize my new appreciation for simplicity. Materialism is a real problem throughout the world. It reminds me of a quote by Mother Teresa that goes : "Live simply so others may simply live". It is unnecessary that we have all of the luxuries that we do and others die of hunger. But the thing is you may read this and agree but very few people will let that penetrate through their mind for more than a few minutes. Because the more we think about it the more helpless we feel - the more we realize we really don't want to give up our comfortable lives... heck - we've worked hard for it right?!? - people who are poor are poor because they don't work hard.... that's the biggest lie I have ever heard and it makes me frustrated that people I know well will never believe me even if I tell them how hard people work here. They will never believe me that sometimes it is because of our selfish actions that other people around the world will die of hunger tonight. I'm not saying everyone... but the truth is attachment to money is evil and harms others. One of my students asked me what was the root of all evil and I said money... then he said "No Miss - its the love of money that is the root of all evil" He always reminds me of whats really important in life and I am grateful to him for that.
Anyway - off my soap box now - (Also - if you don't agree... that's okay - its my blog, not yours)
On Wednesday there was a Muslim holiday which meant no school!!! We hung out around home... I came down to the Internet cafe and sent out some e-mails I have been meaning to send for a long time... then later that day we hung out as a house and ate dinner together. Ever since one of our housemates started doing shift work we don't really get to eat dinner together. This has been really hard on the three of us because that has always been the favorite part of our day. So instead of doing anything major on Wednesday we just spent time together because we never seem to get to spend time together anymore. :(
Thursday a girl who was touring schools in Guyana came with me to Mercy Wings. This was a super fruitful experience because it was someone who understand the culture I come from experience my life every day. She told me at the end of the day how she now understands how dearly I can love my students. We taught computer class together at the beginning of the day and she told me how well the students were behaved and I told her they were actually kind of trouble makers and she didn't believe me. I then asked her to observe them after the left my class. Later that afternoon she made a comment on how now she can understand what I mean - the students have learned that if they behave for me I will treat them with respect and dignity - and if they don't respect me I won't stand for it. When a student is misbehaving I had found myself asking them three questions: 1. Was I disrespectful to you? 2. Did I lie to you? 3. Did I make you mad? -- I ask them these questions to make sure there wasn't something I did to offend them and then I ask them the same questions reversed: 1. Were you disrespectful to me? 2. Did you lie to me? and 3. Did you make me mad or will the behavior if continued make me mad?
I have realized that yelling at them will do me no good if they do not think about their own actions. One of the students who normally creates a lot of trouble was creating commotion down the corridor and I went down there. I walked in the classroom and ask him what happened. Without prompting he told me how he was causing noise and distracting the other students. He told me that it wasn't right and that it was disrespectful to me and the other students. For me this was a good moment.. he realized I was only going to get more mad if he lied... Later that day he came up right before the bell rang and was talking to the other students. He told them how if he ever was wrongly accused for something or if he was in trouble there are very few people he would ever trust but Miss always give you a voice and I would come to her. Now - these were not the words he used and well you probably wouldn't even understand the English he used but this was one of the most rewarding moments I've had since being here. He understood that I won't stand for misbehaving or disrespect - but I also will give you a voice. These youth have no one who listens to them and whether they are right or wrong, they deserve a chance for their voices to be heard.
The girl who came with at the end of the day asked me how I do this every day because although she didn't do much she was exhausted. She made a good point - my students take a lot of both physical and mental energy. I may not get to adventure out much... or do much after work - but they are my journey and adventure each day. And I look forward to each moment both frustrating and joyful with them.
Well I suppose this is enough for this week.
There is one thing I ask that you remember from this blog and that is to live simply, so others may simply live...
Love,
Ashley Ann
Friday, November 12, 2010
Miss you know...
Hello Friends and Family,
This has been a week - I feel like I say that every week and I am starting to enjoy the craziness of life here. Last weekend I wrote on Saturday so you already know last friday night - Saturday we just hung out at home and relaxed until one of the sisters called us and we went over to her house across the street and played scrabble. It was a lot of fun other than the fact that I lost by one point. I was super mad to because I put down a word everyone else said wasn't a word - and they didn't have the challenge thing - but IT WAS A WORD! AHh! Hahah... (I'm a jamnick - what do you expect me not to be competative?!?)
Sunday was a good day I went for a walk on the sea wall - the tide was slowly starting to come in and I went down and stood by the water. It was a really weird feeling because It feels like the ocean is going to fall in on you. I picked up some sea shells and a coconut shell which I cleaned (Very well) and made a table decoration with. I have become the new Martha Stewart of our house. You have a small budget so you have to be creative!!
This week was full of work and then home - we didn't do anything extraordinary this week. Work was really good this week - and yet again really stressful. I found a really interesting dynamic this week with my girls. My girls will give me trouble all of the time - they constantly are testing the waters. However someone else gave me trouble this week and my girls could tell that I was pretty upset and all of a sudden it was like I had 14 little body guards. For them its okay for them to hassle me - but No one else can mess with "their miss". Since they are all pretty violent in their speech I heard a few of them say how they were going to "cuff" the person who made me upset. That no one was going to disrespect me. I found it actually pretty comforting that although they will try and give me problems when it comes to the end of the day they have my back. Going along with that as I have said before respect here is really huge in this culture and one of the boys who normally gives me trouble came up to me this week and I asked him nicely to please leave. At that point he looked at me and said "you know Miss - I will do it for you, because miss you've earned my respect". Then later that week he was about to get into a fight and I grabbed him by the arm and he looked at me and came with me away from the situation. If they respect you - they will listen to you - it just takes a while to get there.
This morning I got onto the bus and I had forgot to eat breakfast and one of my girls came back to the bus with an orange and as we were waiting for the bus to "full up" I asked her where she got it and how much - and she said Miss 2 for 100 - so I gave her the 100 and asked her to buy me two. When she came back some other students were with her and they gave me a hard time about something and then all of a sudden the bus drive (who knows me by now) started to give me a hard time and they told him to shut up - I wasn't his Miss. It was funny because some of the girls with me weren't even students I teach. Many incidents all in one week - but its been very rewarding.
Other than that the only other thing I have been thinking about is how there are parts of us that will never change. I know that part of me will never stop fighting for what's right and that may mean that I get frustrated at certain people. I talked to my uncle Warren a few weeks ago for about 3 minutes and in that time I remember him saying: "Well that doesn't suprise me that you have a problem with ___ because you're always fighting when it comes to that". That has stuck with me over and over for the past few months. I will always fight for equality. Now I have been very very laid back and not said anything much since being here because one I don't understand the culture and two I don't want to create waves before I analyze all areas of things - but this week was one of the first times where it was hard for me not to fight back. And then I realized that that is part of who I am and when you realize who you are and how no one can change that about you - you have to realize how to keep yourself in check but also be true to who you are. Here I might not be able to competely speak up and voice myself but I can live by example - and eventually find a way to fight for equality that is appropriate. I feel like becoming self aware is almost impossible not to do in a new situation.
Anyway, my week has been crazy and I'm out of internet time already. I'm sending lots of prayers and love,
Ashley Ann
This has been a week - I feel like I say that every week and I am starting to enjoy the craziness of life here. Last weekend I wrote on Saturday so you already know last friday night - Saturday we just hung out at home and relaxed until one of the sisters called us and we went over to her house across the street and played scrabble. It was a lot of fun other than the fact that I lost by one point. I was super mad to because I put down a word everyone else said wasn't a word - and they didn't have the challenge thing - but IT WAS A WORD! AHh! Hahah... (I'm a jamnick - what do you expect me not to be competative?!?)
Sunday was a good day I went for a walk on the sea wall - the tide was slowly starting to come in and I went down and stood by the water. It was a really weird feeling because It feels like the ocean is going to fall in on you. I picked up some sea shells and a coconut shell which I cleaned (Very well) and made a table decoration with. I have become the new Martha Stewart of our house. You have a small budget so you have to be creative!!
This week was full of work and then home - we didn't do anything extraordinary this week. Work was really good this week - and yet again really stressful. I found a really interesting dynamic this week with my girls. My girls will give me trouble all of the time - they constantly are testing the waters. However someone else gave me trouble this week and my girls could tell that I was pretty upset and all of a sudden it was like I had 14 little body guards. For them its okay for them to hassle me - but No one else can mess with "their miss". Since they are all pretty violent in their speech I heard a few of them say how they were going to "cuff" the person who made me upset. That no one was going to disrespect me. I found it actually pretty comforting that although they will try and give me problems when it comes to the end of the day they have my back. Going along with that as I have said before respect here is really huge in this culture and one of the boys who normally gives me trouble came up to me this week and I asked him nicely to please leave. At that point he looked at me and said "you know Miss - I will do it for you, because miss you've earned my respect". Then later that week he was about to get into a fight and I grabbed him by the arm and he looked at me and came with me away from the situation. If they respect you - they will listen to you - it just takes a while to get there.
This morning I got onto the bus and I had forgot to eat breakfast and one of my girls came back to the bus with an orange and as we were waiting for the bus to "full up" I asked her where she got it and how much - and she said Miss 2 for 100 - so I gave her the 100 and asked her to buy me two. When she came back some other students were with her and they gave me a hard time about something and then all of a sudden the bus drive (who knows me by now) started to give me a hard time and they told him to shut up - I wasn't his Miss. It was funny because some of the girls with me weren't even students I teach. Many incidents all in one week - but its been very rewarding.
Other than that the only other thing I have been thinking about is how there are parts of us that will never change. I know that part of me will never stop fighting for what's right and that may mean that I get frustrated at certain people. I talked to my uncle Warren a few weeks ago for about 3 minutes and in that time I remember him saying: "Well that doesn't suprise me that you have a problem with ___ because you're always fighting when it comes to that". That has stuck with me over and over for the past few months. I will always fight for equality. Now I have been very very laid back and not said anything much since being here because one I don't understand the culture and two I don't want to create waves before I analyze all areas of things - but this week was one of the first times where it was hard for me not to fight back. And then I realized that that is part of who I am and when you realize who you are and how no one can change that about you - you have to realize how to keep yourself in check but also be true to who you are. Here I might not be able to competely speak up and voice myself but I can live by example - and eventually find a way to fight for equality that is appropriate. I feel like becoming self aware is almost impossible not to do in a new situation.
Anyway, my week has been crazy and I'm out of internet time already. I'm sending lots of prayers and love,
Ashley Ann
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Happy Diwali
Dear friends and family,
Hello! I hope you have had a good week! I did not post yesterday as it was Diwali and we had a holiday from School! I love Holidays! Diwali is the Indian celebration of the festival of lights! On Thursday night there was a big parade (motorcade) to celebrate. They decorate their vehicles with literally HUNDREDS of lights. It was really cool to see. The little girls dressed up as the goddess that is associated with the holiday and they sit still for three hours. It is a terribly uncomfortable position and I don't know how they do it. Someone was telling me that the goddess is one who symbolizes good triumphs over evil - and the lights that they shine symbolize the good. I am not really sure though - you could probably good it and figure out exactly what it is. I did have some Indian girls in my class who I am pretty close with - but we spent the whole time talking about 7 curry - which is the food they make at celebration. I LOVE curry - I think that I may have found my favorite Guyanese food.
Anyway - Other than that my week was pretty normal. I had a few more intense days at work this week. One day after another the girls are full of some sort of anger or sadness. At times it becomes overwhelming but normally I am able to keep calm until I get home when I can relax. I am learning patience.
On Monday there was a group of ex-pats who invited us out to dinner. We went to dinner with them and had an amazing meal and some really interesting conversation. Sometimes when I am at something like that I forget that I am in Guyana because it seems so different than my normal every day life. But I guess it is a nice break.
Other than that I guess the only other excitement this week came on Friday when we took the orphan boys to the church fair that they go to. It is right next door so we didn't have to go far - but it was still crazy. I was in charge of four different boys. Mostly I just had to make sure they didn't spend all of their money within the first 10 minutes. The littlest boy that I was in charge of was very sad that day. When I got there I was holding him and a lady came over and said good bye to him which ended up being his mother. He then came and sat with me and fell asleep because he was so upset. It was really hard to watch. Often the boys are not true orphans but rather children whose families can't take care of them for a number of reasons. For the whole day he was attached to my hip. I tried to put him down or distract him but about twenty seconds later he would be in front of me begging me to hold him. I realized then how much love you can have for a child without really knowing them. At least for one day he had someone to walk him around and care for him on a more one on one level. They do a great job at taking good care for the boys at the orphanage but there are a lot of them so its good to give them individual attention sometimes too. The boys are starting to get to know us more and more - and know when we walk in the gate they all come running. On Friday i was pretty sure that we were going to be trampled by 30 small children! Ha. I took a lot of really good picture with the boys and hope to be able to post some soon!
Well anyway - I am going to go for this week. I hope you are all doing well and I leave you with a thought:
A friend sent me an e-mail this week that said:
"As humans and as Christians we have an obligation to help those who need it most".
I know she was right in saying that - no matter where you are in the world - there is someone near you who needs help. And although it may not be physical poverty - poverty takes many forms and although not visible they can be just as detrimental. If you don't fight the poverty you see each day - who will.
Love,
Ashley Ann
Hello! I hope you have had a good week! I did not post yesterday as it was Diwali and we had a holiday from School! I love Holidays! Diwali is the Indian celebration of the festival of lights! On Thursday night there was a big parade (motorcade) to celebrate. They decorate their vehicles with literally HUNDREDS of lights. It was really cool to see. The little girls dressed up as the goddess that is associated with the holiday and they sit still for three hours. It is a terribly uncomfortable position and I don't know how they do it. Someone was telling me that the goddess is one who symbolizes good triumphs over evil - and the lights that they shine symbolize the good. I am not really sure though - you could probably good it and figure out exactly what it is. I did have some Indian girls in my class who I am pretty close with - but we spent the whole time talking about 7 curry - which is the food they make at celebration. I LOVE curry - I think that I may have found my favorite Guyanese food.
Anyway - Other than that my week was pretty normal. I had a few more intense days at work this week. One day after another the girls are full of some sort of anger or sadness. At times it becomes overwhelming but normally I am able to keep calm until I get home when I can relax. I am learning patience.
On Monday there was a group of ex-pats who invited us out to dinner. We went to dinner with them and had an amazing meal and some really interesting conversation. Sometimes when I am at something like that I forget that I am in Guyana because it seems so different than my normal every day life. But I guess it is a nice break.
Other than that I guess the only other excitement this week came on Friday when we took the orphan boys to the church fair that they go to. It is right next door so we didn't have to go far - but it was still crazy. I was in charge of four different boys. Mostly I just had to make sure they didn't spend all of their money within the first 10 minutes. The littlest boy that I was in charge of was very sad that day. When I got there I was holding him and a lady came over and said good bye to him which ended up being his mother. He then came and sat with me and fell asleep because he was so upset. It was really hard to watch. Often the boys are not true orphans but rather children whose families can't take care of them for a number of reasons. For the whole day he was attached to my hip. I tried to put him down or distract him but about twenty seconds later he would be in front of me begging me to hold him. I realized then how much love you can have for a child without really knowing them. At least for one day he had someone to walk him around and care for him on a more one on one level. They do a great job at taking good care for the boys at the orphanage but there are a lot of them so its good to give them individual attention sometimes too. The boys are starting to get to know us more and more - and know when we walk in the gate they all come running. On Friday i was pretty sure that we were going to be trampled by 30 small children! Ha. I took a lot of really good picture with the boys and hope to be able to post some soon!
Well anyway - I am going to go for this week. I hope you are all doing well and I leave you with a thought:
A friend sent me an e-mail this week that said:
"As humans and as Christians we have an obligation to help those who need it most".
I know she was right in saying that - no matter where you are in the world - there is someone near you who needs help. And although it may not be physical poverty - poverty takes many forms and although not visible they can be just as detrimental. If you don't fight the poverty you see each day - who will.
Love,
Ashley Ann
Friday, October 29, 2010
Sick Sick Bad
Dear friends and family,
Hello! I hope you all had a very blessed week since I last posted. I often find when I ask my students how they are doing they tell me they have had a blessed week - it makes you think more than when people just respond good. My week has definitely been blessed!
Last weekend we had a very very relaxing weekend. Friday night we just hung out and talked with a few friends - Saturday we stayed home and watched a movie - and then on Sunday we took an excursion to a pool!!! That may have been my favorite part of the weekend. We were all SOOO hot on Sunday morning and I didn't know how I was ever going to cool down. So we decided to go swimming and the cheapest pool we could find - was actually one of the nicer ones. We spent a good day bonding the three of us. We mostly "limed" in the pool and chatted. We also had a hand stand competition which I lost horribly!!! Sarah and I ate ice cream which was probably the closest to American ice cream that I could find - however - don't get me wrong... The ice cream is still NOTHING compared to American ice cream - but at least it is cold!!
The week was not too exciting. Work has been good. The boy that I help read during lunch has had a cough for over 4 weeks now and I have been fighting with him to go to the doctor - however he refuses. I got another teacher to have my back and finally he agreed to go tomorrow - so we will see on Monday if he actually went! On thursday I had to go to the bus park to catch a Plasiance bus and none of the other teachers were going that day so I had him "carry" (take) me to the right bus to get on. We were with a few other trainees (students) and he kept saying "Miss - don't be afraid". I am never really afraid - but I think it is always a good reminder to relax. I always find so much joy from my students even the students who give me the greatest problems.
One girl especially gives me an extreme amount of problems. At first it was easy to get really mad at her but for the past three weeks I have worked extra hard on making sure that I was patient with her and didn't take her outburst of rage personally. Today she had another outburst of anger and instead of yelling I pulled her out of class and asked her what was wrong. After a few questions she broke down and ended up telling me how she feels upset and angry all the time because she has a lack of respect in her life and she can't take it when people are disrespectful to her. It was a really good conversation in the end in which she agreed to work with me to find ways to healthily deal with her anger rather than lashing out in class. Many times when people are upset or angry we take it out on someone who is near us - rather than looking at the facts. In our house we always think before getting into a big discussion "Am I Hungry, Lonely, Angry or Tired". If one of us fits into that category - emotions are probably going to run high and we should look at the benefit of the other person. I do the same thing with my students. I realize there is nothing I could have done to make them blow up in outrage - rather I just need to be full of mercy in my response to them. (And also use discipline that is constructive)
My job at the hospital was good this week. I am basically just shadowing and answering basic questions for patients - but soon enough it will pick up and get busy. I am enjoying my down day away from the school.
I forgot one of the BEST parts of the week. My student Naameshawari brought me Roti and Chicken Curry for lunch one day. IT WAS AMAZING. It is by FAR my new favorite Guyanese food!!! Her aunt and grandmother sell it at a market and Audrey and I might take an adventure saturday mid morning for some because its really really cheap and Sarah is at work so we need to find something to do!
Anyway. I showed some of the girls in my class a picture of me my mom and "my auntie" as they would say - They were convinced that my auntie Annie was my mother! And if she wasn't my mother than she was definately my sister. Out of all my girls only two thought my mother was actually my mother. I think it might have been a height thing. I also showed the girls a picture of my cousins - one of my girls said she was in "love" with my cousin Nick and that I need to bring him to Guyana so that they could get married. It was fun to share a little bit of home with them!
I have received a few letters since being here and I really appreciate them. I have to give a shout out to my auntie Annie for sending me the letter with the best pictures - and a shout out to my God Mother (God Mother is more important to say than aunt here - so I am saying God Mother) for sending me the best cards!!! My whole house laughed at the last one - and if I had a scanner I would put it on the internet for you all to see!! Also a shout out to Tasha and Brandon for sending me my first Guyanese package!!
Anyway. I promise to write more next week - but for now this is what I have.
I send you my love and prayers - and ask that next time someone blows up at you - be merciful and take a second to see what the real problem is - maybe, just maybe - they are in need of help greater than you could ever realize.
Love,
Ashley Ann
P.S. Sick Sick Bad means you REALLY like something - I like Guyana Sick Sick Bad Man.
Hello! I hope you all had a very blessed week since I last posted. I often find when I ask my students how they are doing they tell me they have had a blessed week - it makes you think more than when people just respond good. My week has definitely been blessed!
Last weekend we had a very very relaxing weekend. Friday night we just hung out and talked with a few friends - Saturday we stayed home and watched a movie - and then on Sunday we took an excursion to a pool!!! That may have been my favorite part of the weekend. We were all SOOO hot on Sunday morning and I didn't know how I was ever going to cool down. So we decided to go swimming and the cheapest pool we could find - was actually one of the nicer ones. We spent a good day bonding the three of us. We mostly "limed" in the pool and chatted. We also had a hand stand competition which I lost horribly!!! Sarah and I ate ice cream which was probably the closest to American ice cream that I could find - however - don't get me wrong... The ice cream is still NOTHING compared to American ice cream - but at least it is cold!!
The week was not too exciting. Work has been good. The boy that I help read during lunch has had a cough for over 4 weeks now and I have been fighting with him to go to the doctor - however he refuses. I got another teacher to have my back and finally he agreed to go tomorrow - so we will see on Monday if he actually went! On thursday I had to go to the bus park to catch a Plasiance bus and none of the other teachers were going that day so I had him "carry" (take) me to the right bus to get on. We were with a few other trainees (students) and he kept saying "Miss - don't be afraid". I am never really afraid - but I think it is always a good reminder to relax. I always find so much joy from my students even the students who give me the greatest problems.
One girl especially gives me an extreme amount of problems. At first it was easy to get really mad at her but for the past three weeks I have worked extra hard on making sure that I was patient with her and didn't take her outburst of rage personally. Today she had another outburst of anger and instead of yelling I pulled her out of class and asked her what was wrong. After a few questions she broke down and ended up telling me how she feels upset and angry all the time because she has a lack of respect in her life and she can't take it when people are disrespectful to her. It was a really good conversation in the end in which she agreed to work with me to find ways to healthily deal with her anger rather than lashing out in class. Many times when people are upset or angry we take it out on someone who is near us - rather than looking at the facts. In our house we always think before getting into a big discussion "Am I Hungry, Lonely, Angry or Tired". If one of us fits into that category - emotions are probably going to run high and we should look at the benefit of the other person. I do the same thing with my students. I realize there is nothing I could have done to make them blow up in outrage - rather I just need to be full of mercy in my response to them. (And also use discipline that is constructive)
My job at the hospital was good this week. I am basically just shadowing and answering basic questions for patients - but soon enough it will pick up and get busy. I am enjoying my down day away from the school.
I forgot one of the BEST parts of the week. My student Naameshawari brought me Roti and Chicken Curry for lunch one day. IT WAS AMAZING. It is by FAR my new favorite Guyanese food!!! Her aunt and grandmother sell it at a market and Audrey and I might take an adventure saturday mid morning for some because its really really cheap and Sarah is at work so we need to find something to do!
Anyway. I showed some of the girls in my class a picture of me my mom and "my auntie" as they would say - They were convinced that my auntie Annie was my mother! And if she wasn't my mother than she was definately my sister. Out of all my girls only two thought my mother was actually my mother. I think it might have been a height thing. I also showed the girls a picture of my cousins - one of my girls said she was in "love" with my cousin Nick and that I need to bring him to Guyana so that they could get married. It was fun to share a little bit of home with them!
I have received a few letters since being here and I really appreciate them. I have to give a shout out to my auntie Annie for sending me the letter with the best pictures - and a shout out to my God Mother (God Mother is more important to say than aunt here - so I am saying God Mother) for sending me the best cards!!! My whole house laughed at the last one - and if I had a scanner I would put it on the internet for you all to see!! Also a shout out to Tasha and Brandon for sending me my first Guyanese package!!
Anyway. I promise to write more next week - but for now this is what I have.
I send you my love and prayers - and ask that next time someone blows up at you - be merciful and take a second to see what the real problem is - maybe, just maybe - they are in need of help greater than you could ever realize.
Love,
Ashley Ann
P.S. Sick Sick Bad means you REALLY like something - I like Guyana Sick Sick Bad Man.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
10/26/2009
(First and foremost - this is not really about my experience in Georgetown & I don't have to work until 11am so I thought I would come and write this)
The past few days I have spent a great amount of time reflecting on the past. Since being here in South America I've come to realize that the person who I am here is a complete collection of all of my past experiences and the people I have known. Often times when I become home sick or sad I want a friend to talk with or a family member to laugh with and that is not possible. However being the Catholic that I am - I very firmly believe in the Communion of Saints*. This meaning that I believe those in heaven can still very much pray for us on earth. So often times when I am angry at God for the destruction here I ask my Dear Uncle to help me see through the Lords eyes. It is a way for me to always talk with someone that I love.
Now, many people may think that is crazy - but I am okay with that. I am okay with that because it is more important for me to believe that those whom we love have gone on are still an important part of our everyday life. I think it is impossible to sum up the effect that our loved ones have on us. And therefore it is impossible to ever be the same after they have gone. And that is a blessing - things change because things are different. Many times in our lives we ignore the problems in our lives and pretend that they are not there. Instead when it comes to the death of someone we love it is impossible to ignore the fact. You just can't imagine them back. And you weep because you realize that you had much joy in your life, and that is okay. The joy will continue to be there - however, it will just be in a different form. Sometimes I think we forget how blessed we are, for all of those who we love that have gone are still with us even when we forget.
When my great grandmother died I remember that it was really hard to go to her funeral because I was so close to her. I remember when I got to her funeral and saw her I started crying. And as I was trying to escape and walk into the corner to be alone I was engulfed in a big hug from which there was no escape. And he said to me: "You were blessed to have her for as long as you did, and you know she loves you very much." As I sit here now reflecting on this I think those same words apply to the man who spoke them. Death is never an easy thing - but it is not the end of life, rather it is a new beginning.
So to close I have two last things. One the ocean is never as beautiful as farm lake and two music can really heal the soul, and here is a song that healed mine:
Never Alone - Sara Evans:
May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you
When it's time to go home
May you always have plenty
Your glass never empty
And know in your belly
You're never alone
May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
As every year passes
They mean more than gold
May you win but stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
Well I have to be honest
As much as I wanted
I'm not gonna promise that cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you
When it's time to go home
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
You have my prayers and love,
Ashley Ann
* (The Communion of Saints (in Latin, communio sanctorum), when referred to persons, is the spiritual union of all members of the Christian Church living and the dead, those on earth, in heaven, and, for those who believe in purgatory, those also who are in that state of purification. They are all part of a single "mystical body", with Christ as the head, in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all.)
The past few days I have spent a great amount of time reflecting on the past. Since being here in South America I've come to realize that the person who I am here is a complete collection of all of my past experiences and the people I have known. Often times when I become home sick or sad I want a friend to talk with or a family member to laugh with and that is not possible. However being the Catholic that I am - I very firmly believe in the Communion of Saints*. This meaning that I believe those in heaven can still very much pray for us on earth. So often times when I am angry at God for the destruction here I ask my Dear Uncle to help me see through the Lords eyes. It is a way for me to always talk with someone that I love.
Now, many people may think that is crazy - but I am okay with that. I am okay with that because it is more important for me to believe that those whom we love have gone on are still an important part of our everyday life. I think it is impossible to sum up the effect that our loved ones have on us. And therefore it is impossible to ever be the same after they have gone. And that is a blessing - things change because things are different. Many times in our lives we ignore the problems in our lives and pretend that they are not there. Instead when it comes to the death of someone we love it is impossible to ignore the fact. You just can't imagine them back. And you weep because you realize that you had much joy in your life, and that is okay. The joy will continue to be there - however, it will just be in a different form. Sometimes I think we forget how blessed we are, for all of those who we love that have gone are still with us even when we forget.
When my great grandmother died I remember that it was really hard to go to her funeral because I was so close to her. I remember when I got to her funeral and saw her I started crying. And as I was trying to escape and walk into the corner to be alone I was engulfed in a big hug from which there was no escape. And he said to me: "You were blessed to have her for as long as you did, and you know she loves you very much." As I sit here now reflecting on this I think those same words apply to the man who spoke them. Death is never an easy thing - but it is not the end of life, rather it is a new beginning.
So to close I have two last things. One the ocean is never as beautiful as farm lake and two music can really heal the soul, and here is a song that healed mine:
Never Alone - Sara Evans:
May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you
When it's time to go home
May you always have plenty
Your glass never empty
And know in your belly
You're never alone
May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
As every year passes
They mean more than gold
May you win but stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
Well I have to be honest
As much as I wanted
I'm not gonna promise that cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you
When it's time to go home
So when hard times have found you
And your fears surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
You have my prayers and love,
Ashley Ann
* (The Communion of Saints (in Latin, communio sanctorum), when referred to persons, is the spiritual union of all members of the Christian Church living and the dead, those on earth, in heaven, and, for those who believe in purgatory, those also who are in that state of purification. They are all part of a single "mystical body", with Christ as the head, in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all.)
Friday, October 22, 2010
L O
Hello - or as they say in Guyana "L O",
This has been an interesting week since I have last written, however, I feel as if every week is still very interesting and new.
Last weekend I went out with Sarah and a friend on Friday night. We just wanted to have a very relaxed night so we went to a place that you can sit and people sing karaoke. We basically just sat around and talked for a few hours and then went home. It was actually a lot of fun doing nothing. On Saturday we decided to take a big shopping adventure. Sarah and Audrey both needed new shoes. I knew the area of town where they had a lot of shops better than the two of them because a teacher once took me there after school so I lead us to a few different shoe shops. Sarah found shoes right away - but it took a few hours for Audrey to be able to find shoes - and she actually found them at a store right before the market once we had almost given up and decided just to go to the market. I always enjoy going to the market. There are many interesting things at the market. I really hate the smell sometimes - but that's really only if you go into the inside and you can smell all of the fish. There is one stand in which a younger man stops us every weeks. We did start to buy stuff from him and every time we've bought something from him he tells us how many days before we should eat it - or if we should eat it today - etc and its always very good! We went to a different stand the next week bought the same things for same price but they all went bad on us! So every week since this man has sold us a lot of good Papayas and mangos without them going bad! One lady tried to sell Sarah and I crab oil for our skin - I wasn't too keen on trying to crab oil.
On Sunday we went back up to the Orphanage - hung out with the boys - and then went out to the Sea wall again. I always enjoy sitting out on the sea wall - it may be one of my favorite things here.
During the week we didn't do anything extraordinary. Just getting into the swing of things is always enough. I had to take a few random buses for my job at the hospital this week and I am finally starting to feel really confident in knowing where I am. I've always been one who needs to know where I am in relation to some land marker at all times and I am finally starting to feel confident in knowing where I am. I also have learned a few new bus routes which is really helpful because it makes me feel more independent.
This week there was accusation of a young girl being hit by her boyfriend. I was not surprised by this as there is violence everywhere but rather I was very surprised to the reaction of others to the situation. I had found that there were other young girls that were convinced that it was okay for a boy to hit a girl. And others were saying how if a young man hits a girl it can be something to brag about. There are very little resources for young women who find themselves in abusive relationships which is a very difficult struggle I have come across. Many young women all over the world find themselves in a difficult position because they are convinced that love comes along with violence. I found it ironic that some of my friends in the states were selling shirts at this time that say: "Spread love like violence". I feel like shirts like that should be worn all over. I also feel like people should be interested in trying to improve the lives of others around them. I hate the phrase "Well as long as it makes them happy". I've been thinking about that a lot since I have been here. Some of the young people that I work with each day think violence can be linked with happiness. I am never one to think that we should impose our ideas on others - unless their basic rights as humans are being violated. Many times rather than helping someone we find ourselves as bystanders who hopes that someone else will do something. And let me tell you something - the person behind you is thinking the same things - and the same person behind them is thinking the same thing. The only persons actions you can control and be in charge of is yourself. And you are the only one whose actions you will be accountable for in the end. I had someone once said: When God calls do you answer? Because eventually you can't run away from the question "where were you?".
Anyway. Off my soap box now.
I've also found a love for living in a big city. I never thought I would say that but there is so much joy found in my life by looking out the window of the mini bus and "people watching". I love all of the activity. My whole life I've lived in the quiet serenity of life - and i'm seeing the good on the other end of the spectrum.
One of my friends sent me a letter and a line from his letter really summarizes how I feel here - so without his permission (sorry) I am going to share it with you:
"I have been given the opportunity to love deeply and that love is life to me. I think we may be united in that reality."
He was so right - It doesn't matter that we are on different continents - but what really matters is that each day we wake up with the goal of loving deeply. Often we fail, but we always have the opportunity to try again tomorrow.
I am going to close with a new favorite quote that I have known for a while but that another friend recently sent to me:
"Nothing is more practical thank finding God, i.e., than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way... Fall in love, Stay in love, and it will decide everything." (Fr. Pedro Arrupe S.J.)
Love and prayers,
Ashley Ann
This has been an interesting week since I have last written, however, I feel as if every week is still very interesting and new.
Last weekend I went out with Sarah and a friend on Friday night. We just wanted to have a very relaxed night so we went to a place that you can sit and people sing karaoke. We basically just sat around and talked for a few hours and then went home. It was actually a lot of fun doing nothing. On Saturday we decided to take a big shopping adventure. Sarah and Audrey both needed new shoes. I knew the area of town where they had a lot of shops better than the two of them because a teacher once took me there after school so I lead us to a few different shoe shops. Sarah found shoes right away - but it took a few hours for Audrey to be able to find shoes - and she actually found them at a store right before the market once we had almost given up and decided just to go to the market. I always enjoy going to the market. There are many interesting things at the market. I really hate the smell sometimes - but that's really only if you go into the inside and you can smell all of the fish. There is one stand in which a younger man stops us every weeks. We did start to buy stuff from him and every time we've bought something from him he tells us how many days before we should eat it - or if we should eat it today - etc and its always very good! We went to a different stand the next week bought the same things for same price but they all went bad on us! So every week since this man has sold us a lot of good Papayas and mangos without them going bad! One lady tried to sell Sarah and I crab oil for our skin - I wasn't too keen on trying to crab oil.
On Sunday we went back up to the Orphanage - hung out with the boys - and then went out to the Sea wall again. I always enjoy sitting out on the sea wall - it may be one of my favorite things here.
During the week we didn't do anything extraordinary. Just getting into the swing of things is always enough. I had to take a few random buses for my job at the hospital this week and I am finally starting to feel really confident in knowing where I am. I've always been one who needs to know where I am in relation to some land marker at all times and I am finally starting to feel confident in knowing where I am. I also have learned a few new bus routes which is really helpful because it makes me feel more independent.
This week there was accusation of a young girl being hit by her boyfriend. I was not surprised by this as there is violence everywhere but rather I was very surprised to the reaction of others to the situation. I had found that there were other young girls that were convinced that it was okay for a boy to hit a girl. And others were saying how if a young man hits a girl it can be something to brag about. There are very little resources for young women who find themselves in abusive relationships which is a very difficult struggle I have come across. Many young women all over the world find themselves in a difficult position because they are convinced that love comes along with violence. I found it ironic that some of my friends in the states were selling shirts at this time that say: "Spread love like violence". I feel like shirts like that should be worn all over. I also feel like people should be interested in trying to improve the lives of others around them. I hate the phrase "Well as long as it makes them happy". I've been thinking about that a lot since I have been here. Some of the young people that I work with each day think violence can be linked with happiness. I am never one to think that we should impose our ideas on others - unless their basic rights as humans are being violated. Many times rather than helping someone we find ourselves as bystanders who hopes that someone else will do something. And let me tell you something - the person behind you is thinking the same things - and the same person behind them is thinking the same thing. The only persons actions you can control and be in charge of is yourself. And you are the only one whose actions you will be accountable for in the end. I had someone once said: When God calls do you answer? Because eventually you can't run away from the question "where were you?".
Anyway. Off my soap box now.
I've also found a love for living in a big city. I never thought I would say that but there is so much joy found in my life by looking out the window of the mini bus and "people watching". I love all of the activity. My whole life I've lived in the quiet serenity of life - and i'm seeing the good on the other end of the spectrum.
One of my friends sent me a letter and a line from his letter really summarizes how I feel here - so without his permission (sorry) I am going to share it with you:
"I have been given the opportunity to love deeply and that love is life to me. I think we may be united in that reality."
He was so right - It doesn't matter that we are on different continents - but what really matters is that each day we wake up with the goal of loving deeply. Often we fail, but we always have the opportunity to try again tomorrow.
I am going to close with a new favorite quote that I have known for a while but that another friend recently sent to me:
"Nothing is more practical thank finding God, i.e., than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way... Fall in love, Stay in love, and it will decide everything." (Fr. Pedro Arrupe S.J.)
Love and prayers,
Ashley Ann
Friday, October 15, 2010
It's 91 degrees and I'm wearing Jeans
Hello friends and family!!
I hope your week has been good. As my title says its 91 degrees and I find myself wearing jeans.Today we had school sports for the second day in a row which means I can wear whatever kind of clothing I want and so I thought I would try and be like the Guyanese and wear jeans. I guess that I have become very acclimatized because its actually not too hot.
Okay So let me start from the beginning of the week.
Saturday wasn't too exciting. I basically spent the whole day running around. In the morning Sarah and I went to the Market which is always exciting. After we got home I was sitting there and Audrey woke up from her nap and asked if we could go shopping for all of the stuff we needed for our house. We have been needing a few things for a LONG time and finally on Saturday we went and got them.
Sunday was our Parish festival! This was a lot of fun. They set up a bunch of large tents behind the church and had a cook out. They served jerk chicken and cook-up. I really love jerk chicken and I never thought I would say that but it is very good. They played loud and popular music - that is one thing that all three of us were laughing at because we could never see the parishiners at our parish jamming out to Sean Paul. :) After the Parish festival I went with two of the sisters to Mahecia. (I don't know if I spelt that right) This is where there used to be a leper colony and where a few of them still life. By now they have all had the treatment many years ago and are cured of the disease but still have physical ailments because of what the disaese had done to them. I spent some of my time holding a blind mans hand and he talked with me. I really enjoyed my visit there. Leaving there made me feel really grateful for all I have - because the place that they are living in is in serious disrepair and I don't think they get the best medical care in the world. However - they were all very kind and sweet. They enjoyed having us come and speak with them. It was one of the most rewarding things I have done since I have been here. One woman even sang a song for me :)!
On Monday "Nurse Sarah" came to Mercy wings to speak to my girls about health. It was really funny to watch her reaction to the students. It was really rewarding for her to come - but at the same time I wish my students wouldn't have been so shy. When I am up in front of the class room they can ask about 100 questions an hour and when Sarah came they all kind of clammed up. However - that is typical. She wants to come back in a couple of months again maybe - so perhaps they will relax by then. Sarah did get to hold one of my girls 6 month old baby. She has her baby in the day care and often after school while the students are cleaning up I will go collect the baby for her so she can do her duties. It has become one of the best parts of my day because I get to hold a baby! And also the baby loves me. I went into the day care earlier in the day to talk with a teacher and I walked by the baby without stopping to play with her and she screamed - however the other teachers say she doesn't do that for anyone else! Mr. Lambert warned me that I better stop holding her and playing with her or I am going to try and escape to the US with her. :) I wouldn't do that - her mother is a really great mother - and a really good student.
On Tuesday I went into work at the hospital and was there for about 4 hours when they told me that none of the doctors were in today so basically I was free to go. Since I had free time I went up to the orphanage because I knew the nursery boys were out of school already. I really enjoy every minute I get to spend with those boys. They are all so sweet. It was also good to go when only 7 of them were out of school so I got to make a point to spend time with all of them equally rather than when we go on the weekends and its kind of a free for all! One of the boys I picked up wouldn't let me put him down - he kept saying "Miss please don't put me down". I promised him that I would come back soon. This is a promise that is easy for me to keep - because even though I get tired from working at school all day - being with the boys always brings me more energy and joy.
I also had a really interesting conversation with some Guyanese women about how the internet is slowing starting to ruin people here because they become addicted to things like facebook and e-mail. Hmm... sound familiar?
Wednesday was nothing spectacular. I went to work at the hospital after working at the school as we had a special adherence program. By the time I got home I was exhausted ate and went to bed. The one really good thing on Wednesday was that Mr. Lambert gave me a ride home. I think one of my favorite things is I will be randomly walking somewhere and I will see a silver van pull up next to me and yell get it. Lambert will show up in the most random of places and always offers a ride. It doesn't happen often - but the few times it did happen it was hot out so the ride was relieving.
Thursday I went to school and only five students showed up. So I hung out with the cook for the first hour and then I "taught" the students some computer. Basically I got permission to let them play because the rest of the school was having fun at sports. I went to sports for the second half of the day. That was fun because I got to talk to a lot of the students. A lot of the boys have started to talk with me more and I really enjoy speaking with them. They always have something funny to say. They also told me the best place to buy shoes.
That is what I did today I went to sports for the first half - and then I went and bought shoes. I saved up last month and this month stipend and bought a pair because I forgot a pair to wear with jeans. I bought converse on really huge sale - I almost felt like I was stealing them. But well at least then I had more money than I saved!! :)
Well - this is long and wordy - It is hard for me to think of new things to write about so I have a request - I would like you to e-mail me any questions you would like answered in my next weeks blog. (harris.ashleyann@gmail.com)!
Oh ya - we went to adoration/benediction at the Cathedral last night which was a HUGE blessing because they only have adoration once a month for the WHOLE country. Crazy - and normally it is during my work time - but this was special occasion during the novena to the Holy Spirit.
Okay well anyway - I'm off -
Ashley
I hope your week has been good. As my title says its 91 degrees and I find myself wearing jeans.Today we had school sports for the second day in a row which means I can wear whatever kind of clothing I want and so I thought I would try and be like the Guyanese and wear jeans. I guess that I have become very acclimatized because its actually not too hot.
Okay So let me start from the beginning of the week.
Saturday wasn't too exciting. I basically spent the whole day running around. In the morning Sarah and I went to the Market which is always exciting. After we got home I was sitting there and Audrey woke up from her nap and asked if we could go shopping for all of the stuff we needed for our house. We have been needing a few things for a LONG time and finally on Saturday we went and got them.
Sunday was our Parish festival! This was a lot of fun. They set up a bunch of large tents behind the church and had a cook out. They served jerk chicken and cook-up. I really love jerk chicken and I never thought I would say that but it is very good. They played loud and popular music - that is one thing that all three of us were laughing at because we could never see the parishiners at our parish jamming out to Sean Paul. :) After the Parish festival I went with two of the sisters to Mahecia. (I don't know if I spelt that right) This is where there used to be a leper colony and where a few of them still life. By now they have all had the treatment many years ago and are cured of the disease but still have physical ailments because of what the disaese had done to them. I spent some of my time holding a blind mans hand and he talked with me. I really enjoyed my visit there. Leaving there made me feel really grateful for all I have - because the place that they are living in is in serious disrepair and I don't think they get the best medical care in the world. However - they were all very kind and sweet. They enjoyed having us come and speak with them. It was one of the most rewarding things I have done since I have been here. One woman even sang a song for me :)!
On Monday "Nurse Sarah" came to Mercy wings to speak to my girls about health. It was really funny to watch her reaction to the students. It was really rewarding for her to come - but at the same time I wish my students wouldn't have been so shy. When I am up in front of the class room they can ask about 100 questions an hour and when Sarah came they all kind of clammed up. However - that is typical. She wants to come back in a couple of months again maybe - so perhaps they will relax by then. Sarah did get to hold one of my girls 6 month old baby. She has her baby in the day care and often after school while the students are cleaning up I will go collect the baby for her so she can do her duties. It has become one of the best parts of my day because I get to hold a baby! And also the baby loves me. I went into the day care earlier in the day to talk with a teacher and I walked by the baby without stopping to play with her and she screamed - however the other teachers say she doesn't do that for anyone else! Mr. Lambert warned me that I better stop holding her and playing with her or I am going to try and escape to the US with her. :) I wouldn't do that - her mother is a really great mother - and a really good student.
On Tuesday I went into work at the hospital and was there for about 4 hours when they told me that none of the doctors were in today so basically I was free to go. Since I had free time I went up to the orphanage because I knew the nursery boys were out of school already. I really enjoy every minute I get to spend with those boys. They are all so sweet. It was also good to go when only 7 of them were out of school so I got to make a point to spend time with all of them equally rather than when we go on the weekends and its kind of a free for all! One of the boys I picked up wouldn't let me put him down - he kept saying "Miss please don't put me down". I promised him that I would come back soon. This is a promise that is easy for me to keep - because even though I get tired from working at school all day - being with the boys always brings me more energy and joy.
I also had a really interesting conversation with some Guyanese women about how the internet is slowing starting to ruin people here because they become addicted to things like facebook and e-mail. Hmm... sound familiar?
Wednesday was nothing spectacular. I went to work at the hospital after working at the school as we had a special adherence program. By the time I got home I was exhausted ate and went to bed. The one really good thing on Wednesday was that Mr. Lambert gave me a ride home. I think one of my favorite things is I will be randomly walking somewhere and I will see a silver van pull up next to me and yell get it. Lambert will show up in the most random of places and always offers a ride. It doesn't happen often - but the few times it did happen it was hot out so the ride was relieving.
Thursday I went to school and only five students showed up. So I hung out with the cook for the first hour and then I "taught" the students some computer. Basically I got permission to let them play because the rest of the school was having fun at sports. I went to sports for the second half of the day. That was fun because I got to talk to a lot of the students. A lot of the boys have started to talk with me more and I really enjoy speaking with them. They always have something funny to say. They also told me the best place to buy shoes.
That is what I did today I went to sports for the first half - and then I went and bought shoes. I saved up last month and this month stipend and bought a pair because I forgot a pair to wear with jeans. I bought converse on really huge sale - I almost felt like I was stealing them. But well at least then I had more money than I saved!! :)
Well - this is long and wordy - It is hard for me to think of new things to write about so I have a request - I would like you to e-mail me any questions you would like answered in my next weeks blog. (harris.ashleyann@gmail.com)!
Oh ya - we went to adoration/benediction at the Cathedral last night which was a HUGE blessing because they only have adoration once a month for the WHOLE country. Crazy - and normally it is during my work time - but this was special occasion during the novena to the Holy Spirit.
Okay well anyway - I'm off -
Ashley
Friday, October 8, 2010
Happy Birthday Grandpa! :)
Today is my Grandpa's Birthday - Happy Birthday from down South. :)
I am on a little early today because I had to take my girls to "The Palms" today. This is the government run nursing home. Now - when a Guyanese tells you that they have shock going there - you can only imagine the shock that I had experienced. We simply took a tour around and it is hard to describe in words the experience. The Guyanese teacher that I was with decided that she had to leave early because she was so sorrowfully moved by what we saw. Now I could focus on the negative but in this moment I actually had a lot to be joyful about. My girls after we were done asked if they could go and work with the patients and "platt" their hair. (Put it in cornrolls) This was a really huge blessing because its so hott many of them want their hair done they just don't have anyone to do it for them. All of my girls are very sweet and I really enjoy getting up for work in the morning to be with them. Don't get me wrong - there are many struggles every day - but my girls are what keeps me going.
This week since I last wrote has been good. We've started to have a few more vistors - come over, watch tv and just hang out. I've decided that I need to start writing down small instances each day because otherwise I forget by the time that I get to writing my blog. One of my favorite moments this week is I am helping a boy read and another girl came and sat with us who reads at an even lower level than him. He pushed the book over to her and she started to read - rather than him getting frustrated at her slowness he started to tutor her with the words and then when they got to a word that they both didn't know they would look at me. I really enjoy working with them both on my lunch break.
Mr. Lambert took us out on wednesday night to two different "bars". Now they are nothing like a bar. There are just a place where there is tabels and chairs and you can go find a person and buy a beer. Now at the first place I had no idea who we would have asked if Lambert wasn't with us. But it was good because we just sat around and talked. He is really good at showing us around Georgetown.
Today I was walking down the road and walking towards the bus stop when I see a bus conductor call out to me "Kitty/Cambaville" - this is the right bus. So I get on and the bus driver asks the conductor where I am going and he says Pere Street. I started to laugh to myself because no where in here had I told the conductor where I was going. They really have started to remember me and where I am going. I actually was thinking about how the mini bus may be one of my favorite parts about Georgetown. There is always a random smattering of people. Now don't get me wrong there are crabby conductors - but for the most part i've had a really good experience. Especially because we use the same buses over and over that they wouldn't want to make you mad because each bus is its own independent company.
I don't think I will ever get used to walking down the road and seeing random animals. And now - i'm not talking about roads on the edge of town, but everywhere. There was a goat outside of house the other night just wandering. One time I was "down by town" - busy area where the major market is - and I saw a random donkey - not tied up no one looking after it, just wandering around.
I did have some sad news this week when I found out the Sister of Mercy that I ate dinner with in Detroit passed away. She was a very sweet and beautiful soul and I was glad that I had met her. She was a very driven and motivated person.
Well anyway, I just came on here for a few minutes today to check something - so until next time wishing you the best.
Love,
Ashley
I am on a little early today because I had to take my girls to "The Palms" today. This is the government run nursing home. Now - when a Guyanese tells you that they have shock going there - you can only imagine the shock that I had experienced. We simply took a tour around and it is hard to describe in words the experience. The Guyanese teacher that I was with decided that she had to leave early because she was so sorrowfully moved by what we saw. Now I could focus on the negative but in this moment I actually had a lot to be joyful about. My girls after we were done asked if they could go and work with the patients and "platt" their hair. (Put it in cornrolls) This was a really huge blessing because its so hott many of them want their hair done they just don't have anyone to do it for them. All of my girls are very sweet and I really enjoy getting up for work in the morning to be with them. Don't get me wrong - there are many struggles every day - but my girls are what keeps me going.
This week since I last wrote has been good. We've started to have a few more vistors - come over, watch tv and just hang out. I've decided that I need to start writing down small instances each day because otherwise I forget by the time that I get to writing my blog. One of my favorite moments this week is I am helping a boy read and another girl came and sat with us who reads at an even lower level than him. He pushed the book over to her and she started to read - rather than him getting frustrated at her slowness he started to tutor her with the words and then when they got to a word that they both didn't know they would look at me. I really enjoy working with them both on my lunch break.
Mr. Lambert took us out on wednesday night to two different "bars". Now they are nothing like a bar. There are just a place where there is tabels and chairs and you can go find a person and buy a beer. Now at the first place I had no idea who we would have asked if Lambert wasn't with us. But it was good because we just sat around and talked. He is really good at showing us around Georgetown.
Today I was walking down the road and walking towards the bus stop when I see a bus conductor call out to me "Kitty/Cambaville" - this is the right bus. So I get on and the bus driver asks the conductor where I am going and he says Pere Street. I started to laugh to myself because no where in here had I told the conductor where I was going. They really have started to remember me and where I am going. I actually was thinking about how the mini bus may be one of my favorite parts about Georgetown. There is always a random smattering of people. Now don't get me wrong there are crabby conductors - but for the most part i've had a really good experience. Especially because we use the same buses over and over that they wouldn't want to make you mad because each bus is its own independent company.
I don't think I will ever get used to walking down the road and seeing random animals. And now - i'm not talking about roads on the edge of town, but everywhere. There was a goat outside of house the other night just wandering. One time I was "down by town" - busy area where the major market is - and I saw a random donkey - not tied up no one looking after it, just wandering around.
I did have some sad news this week when I found out the Sister of Mercy that I ate dinner with in Detroit passed away. She was a very sweet and beautiful soul and I was glad that I had met her. She was a very driven and motivated person.
Well anyway, I just came on here for a few minutes today to check something - so until next time wishing you the best.
Love,
Ashley
Sunday, October 3, 2010
New York Yankees and Sunburn
Hello All!!
I can't believe I've already been here a month!! On September 1st it was officially one month in Guyana. This means that we have exactly 22 months to go. Our commitment is 24 months but we already completed a month of training in the states before we left - therefore we are technically in Guyana exactly 23 months. (coming back July 2012) Anyway. This week has been crazy but good.
I may have mentioned here already that people here always were sports gear from the States. I never go anywhere without seeing someone wearing a NYY hat. I have made an outlandish claim that the Yankee's probably make all of their money by exploiting developing nations by selling their gear to them. The thing is everyone here really loves cricket - but I never see any sort of cricket team gear. Oh well. Anyway.
This week work went well. On tuesday at the hospital I had to give out surveys to all of the individuals who would come in for a variety of reasons to our program. This was good and made the day go by fast. The survey was put together by the government and all programs have to have all of their patients fill it out. I got to talk one on one with a lot of people after as they were waiting for their appointment and I really enjoyed hearing peoples stories.
At mercy wings things are still going well - but I also do feel some stress. I feel as if part of that is because of me still having a hard time with understanding everything everyone says. I have a very type A personality so I like things to be organized but I need to learn to relax and realize that everything will get done as it needs to get done. Not everyone needs to do everything in advance :)
I guess all three of us are starting to encounter our different crosses. We've had some really interesting talks about things that have gone on and at least we have each other to process things with.
I've also noticed that all of my girls always have headaches and feel sick. At least one of them comes to school with a fever almost every day and they never seem well. Even my girls who wouldn't try and pull something over me have gotten sick at least once. I guess that is really frustrating for a number of reasons - one because they only eat high sugar foods. Now this is no different than the students in America! Very few of them eat breakfast - and then instead of eating breakfast they drink pop and eat pastries at "snack" time. Then at lunch time they drink another pop. I think this is a problem all over the world and wish that there was an increase in desire for proper nutrition. At first its easy to judge and wonder why they don't eat healthier - but at the same time... its everywhere! I asked all of the students at sports what they had ate for breakfast that morning and only one of them said oatmeal. All of the other foods were either - a glucose packet - nothing - or the one random kid who told me he had a pop and a hot dog - (For those of you who know me - I think hot dogs are the grossest thing ever - personal preferance)!!! So once someone figures out how to get American students to eat a proper breakfast let me know so I can get everyone here to do it as well!! :)
Anyway. On Thursday we went to the Guyanese education fair. That was good - one of my girls has a 6 month old so I held the baby for her while she was walking around and it fell asleep. It was super cute. All of my students were amazing that when the music started to play I knew all of the words to songs like - "Airplane" and "You belong with me" by taylor swift. I think I showed a little bit of how young I am to them. But oh well :) After the fair one of my students lives near where I did so I asked if I could walk with him to the bus park to catch a 40. One of the other teachers was with us and she suggested we walk the long way so that I could see a particular street. Eventually we split off as the teacher had to go a different way and I was walking with two of my boys and it was kind of funny because they started to say "Miss - are you afraid"? "you don't need to be afraid because you're with us - and well I know people". I laughed I wasn't actually afraid I guess I just really don't like walking in a crowd of people. When we were walking we were talking and one boy goes to me "Miss - You're guyanese now - because God made us all and you are now in Guyana so that means you are one of us". He is very sweet and it made me laugh a little bit. I would say that if you came to a day of school you would think the students are "brown nosers" but I've really learned that they are always like that with teachers and hold a lot of respect for the teachers even when they misbehave. This was interesting because it really showed me that the culture is a lot about respecting others.
Anyway. On thursday night some of the boys from the boys home (those who have left the orphanage and are between 16-26ish) came and took us to Guy-expo which was like the equivalent to a carnival with craft booths and food. We ate dinner with them and it was kind of like having three brothers. They are all very sweet and nice. I would say that they are actually also very aware of our needs. And very over-protective. One guy came up and was standing next to me and one of the boys goes "did he talk to you? Did he touch you? Are you okay?" I had to laugh because he was just standing next to me. But at least they were over protective. It was good to go out and do something. They also speak with us in more "American" English - and then will throw in guyanese words and explain it to us. I think they know more what we understand and what we don't because many of them hung out with the past volunteer Katie and know some of the even more previous volunteers. We also tried a little bit of the rum because they had huge rums booths. Everyone knows how I hate the taste of hard alcohol but from the small taste it kind of tasted like candy. I feel like if I drank more I would enjoy drinking this type of rum. It is made right here in Guyana and is "the best rum in the world" or at least that is what they claim. I would have to argue for someone who doesn't normally drink much the small taste was slightly convincing.
Anyway Saturday night we went to a fundraiser for the hospital which was fun. I sat at Sister Katherine's table which the Bishop was also sitting at. It was interesting to have a conversation with him and he explained to us a little bit more of the Catholic Situation in Guyana. He was a very gentle and humble man and I look forward to being able to see him again. I also found out that there is only one place in the country where they have adoration once a month for a few hours and also there is no where that has a set confession time in the whole country. That was kind of crazy to think about. Sometimes at the Cathedral before sunday night Mass the old Bishop will hear confessions if his health is good. But anyway. It was a good fundraiser with good food and dancing. So at least that was fun.
Well I should get going - as always there is so much more to tell but never enough time. Oh ya - I got my very first sunburn this week! Not bad one month and one sunburn!! :)
Wishing everyone the best,
Ashley
I can't believe I've already been here a month!! On September 1st it was officially one month in Guyana. This means that we have exactly 22 months to go. Our commitment is 24 months but we already completed a month of training in the states before we left - therefore we are technically in Guyana exactly 23 months. (coming back July 2012) Anyway. This week has been crazy but good.
I may have mentioned here already that people here always were sports gear from the States. I never go anywhere without seeing someone wearing a NYY hat. I have made an outlandish claim that the Yankee's probably make all of their money by exploiting developing nations by selling their gear to them. The thing is everyone here really loves cricket - but I never see any sort of cricket team gear. Oh well. Anyway.
This week work went well. On tuesday at the hospital I had to give out surveys to all of the individuals who would come in for a variety of reasons to our program. This was good and made the day go by fast. The survey was put together by the government and all programs have to have all of their patients fill it out. I got to talk one on one with a lot of people after as they were waiting for their appointment and I really enjoyed hearing peoples stories.
At mercy wings things are still going well - but I also do feel some stress. I feel as if part of that is because of me still having a hard time with understanding everything everyone says. I have a very type A personality so I like things to be organized but I need to learn to relax and realize that everything will get done as it needs to get done. Not everyone needs to do everything in advance :)
I guess all three of us are starting to encounter our different crosses. We've had some really interesting talks about things that have gone on and at least we have each other to process things with.
I've also noticed that all of my girls always have headaches and feel sick. At least one of them comes to school with a fever almost every day and they never seem well. Even my girls who wouldn't try and pull something over me have gotten sick at least once. I guess that is really frustrating for a number of reasons - one because they only eat high sugar foods. Now this is no different than the students in America! Very few of them eat breakfast - and then instead of eating breakfast they drink pop and eat pastries at "snack" time. Then at lunch time they drink another pop. I think this is a problem all over the world and wish that there was an increase in desire for proper nutrition. At first its easy to judge and wonder why they don't eat healthier - but at the same time... its everywhere! I asked all of the students at sports what they had ate for breakfast that morning and only one of them said oatmeal. All of the other foods were either - a glucose packet - nothing - or the one random kid who told me he had a pop and a hot dog - (For those of you who know me - I think hot dogs are the grossest thing ever - personal preferance)!!! So once someone figures out how to get American students to eat a proper breakfast let me know so I can get everyone here to do it as well!! :)
Anyway. On Thursday we went to the Guyanese education fair. That was good - one of my girls has a 6 month old so I held the baby for her while she was walking around and it fell asleep. It was super cute. All of my students were amazing that when the music started to play I knew all of the words to songs like - "Airplane" and "You belong with me" by taylor swift. I think I showed a little bit of how young I am to them. But oh well :) After the fair one of my students lives near where I did so I asked if I could walk with him to the bus park to catch a 40. One of the other teachers was with us and she suggested we walk the long way so that I could see a particular street. Eventually we split off as the teacher had to go a different way and I was walking with two of my boys and it was kind of funny because they started to say "Miss - are you afraid"? "you don't need to be afraid because you're with us - and well I know people". I laughed I wasn't actually afraid I guess I just really don't like walking in a crowd of people. When we were walking we were talking and one boy goes to me "Miss - You're guyanese now - because God made us all and you are now in Guyana so that means you are one of us". He is very sweet and it made me laugh a little bit. I would say that if you came to a day of school you would think the students are "brown nosers" but I've really learned that they are always like that with teachers and hold a lot of respect for the teachers even when they misbehave. This was interesting because it really showed me that the culture is a lot about respecting others.
Anyway. On thursday night some of the boys from the boys home (those who have left the orphanage and are between 16-26ish) came and took us to Guy-expo which was like the equivalent to a carnival with craft booths and food. We ate dinner with them and it was kind of like having three brothers. They are all very sweet and nice. I would say that they are actually also very aware of our needs. And very over-protective. One guy came up and was standing next to me and one of the boys goes "did he talk to you? Did he touch you? Are you okay?" I had to laugh because he was just standing next to me. But at least they were over protective. It was good to go out and do something. They also speak with us in more "American" English - and then will throw in guyanese words and explain it to us. I think they know more what we understand and what we don't because many of them hung out with the past volunteer Katie and know some of the even more previous volunteers. We also tried a little bit of the rum because they had huge rums booths. Everyone knows how I hate the taste of hard alcohol but from the small taste it kind of tasted like candy. I feel like if I drank more I would enjoy drinking this type of rum. It is made right here in Guyana and is "the best rum in the world" or at least that is what they claim. I would have to argue for someone who doesn't normally drink much the small taste was slightly convincing.
Anyway Saturday night we went to a fundraiser for the hospital which was fun. I sat at Sister Katherine's table which the Bishop was also sitting at. It was interesting to have a conversation with him and he explained to us a little bit more of the Catholic Situation in Guyana. He was a very gentle and humble man and I look forward to being able to see him again. I also found out that there is only one place in the country where they have adoration once a month for a few hours and also there is no where that has a set confession time in the whole country. That was kind of crazy to think about. Sometimes at the Cathedral before sunday night Mass the old Bishop will hear confessions if his health is good. But anyway. It was a good fundraiser with good food and dancing. So at least that was fun.
Well I should get going - as always there is so much more to tell but never enough time. Oh ya - I got my very first sunburn this week! Not bad one month and one sunburn!! :)
Wishing everyone the best,
Ashley
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Learning the Language
Dear friends and family,
Hello!! I hope your past week has been well. Mine has been good and busy. I started out the week by getting a whole new set of Trainee's. But at least now finally I have all of the students that I will have total. It was an interesting adjustment for me to get new students - but with the planning i've done by this coming wednesday they should all be on the same page - and I can just worry about one lesson plan.
I really enjoy being at school and almost missed being with the kids on saturday - but not quite. I shouldn't call them kids they are between 15-20 and so some of them are almost my age. The girls here find holding hands completely acceptable - and now they always try and hold my hand. Its cute - Some of the boys this week started to ask me advice on girls. I thought it was kind of weird - but whatever. One of the boys was telling me how he wants to become a pastor. He told me that the reason he came to Mercy Wings was so he could learn how to read better. He told me he tries to read his bible - but at the same time its hard because he only has a King James version. I told him if I found a bible or an old bible I would try and send it his way - but I made no promises. Then I was looking through an old book store and there really was no bibles - it was weird. But at least there were some other books.
Anyway. One of the teachers is named Ms. Yvonne and she has become my Guyanese mother. She always takes very good care of me. My classroom is right next to hers so I go and visit her during break sometimes - or eat lunch with her. I really enjoy all my teachers though. Ms. Yvonne and I are on the same "team"/"house" for sports which happen next friday. We will be like their captains. Don't worry - there are other teachers with us. Thank God.
On friday night Mr. Lambert took us out - with one of my co-teachers Sir Niles and his wife. They took us to a restaurant/bar called Jerry's. It was a lot of fun we went on a Caribbean "cruise" as Lambert called it. We had Banks beer from Guyana - A Trinidadian beer and a beer from Suriname. I really liked the Banks beer and the others were okay. We sang karaoke - and we really sucked - but it was still fun. One of my students - well a male student - works at the bar. He is a cook. He is one that I talk to quite a bit and I got a chance to talk to him that night! He sent me out some free chicken! He is very sweet. It was Jerk Chicken which is really good. It may be my new favorite here.
Yesterday we just hung around and went to the market. Today though we went up to the boys orphanage to play with the boys. Its hard to keep them off you. They all want to sit on your lap and play with you. They really enjoyed playing with my watch. It was a good thing that all three of us came so we kept them pretty entertained. Some of them had just come from the other home so they are really young and really enjoy being held. All three of us really liked it and I am sure we will go back again soon.
I stole this from my roommates Audrey's e-mail:
FUN PHRASES: The Guyanese English is difficult to explain, but they tend to swallow their words, drop their h's, and emphasize the last syllable.
three = "tree"
home = "ome"
crispy = "cripsy"
Can I have a pencil = "Please for a pencil"
Did you bring your camera? = "You walk with your camera?"
the game "chutes and ladders" is called "snakes and ladders" and has snakes instead of slides
flashlight = "torchlight"
I have also encountered:
Gauphing = Talking/Gabbing
Liming = Hanging out
Vexed = Angry (we use this too - but they always use it!)
Anyway. I think I have definatley gotten used to the heat. I no longer enjoy cold showers. When I get in the shower at night and its cold I really really hate it. Also the other night there was a really strong breeze and I had to go into the house and put on pants because I was "cold". Being cold is relative here. But I am also not always dying from the heat. Our porch has a really good breeze so we can almost always cool down. I hear that it will get hotter but its pretty "cool" now.
I guess I am also going to boast that we cook a lot of Guyanese food already. We make doll every week - and a lot of rice with random things. At school I eat only Guyanese food and I really am enjoying that. However - ask me in a few weeks how I feel about rice everyday. We had a house debate about potatoes vs. rice and its 2-1 potatoes.
Sarah and Audrey has some pretty blond moments I just can't help but share. There is TV at our house - and we get like 4-6 channels depending on the time of day. And Audrey was always confused at why "Play" kept showing up on our TV followed by a Guyanese commercial. And she also couldn't figure out why American companies were advertising down here. We had to explain to her that the TV was American stole/or/bought TV and they were just overlapping the Guyanese commercials. Sarah's moment came when she freaked out cause she thought that the mini-bus was going 130 mph. I had to explain to her that the mini-buses were in Km and that she was probably going around 70ish. It was a good day for the three of us.
Well anyway as always I am sure I have more to write but enough for now.
Sending my love and prayers,
Ashley
Hello!! I hope your past week has been well. Mine has been good and busy. I started out the week by getting a whole new set of Trainee's. But at least now finally I have all of the students that I will have total. It was an interesting adjustment for me to get new students - but with the planning i've done by this coming wednesday they should all be on the same page - and I can just worry about one lesson plan.
I really enjoy being at school and almost missed being with the kids on saturday - but not quite. I shouldn't call them kids they are between 15-20 and so some of them are almost my age. The girls here find holding hands completely acceptable - and now they always try and hold my hand. Its cute - Some of the boys this week started to ask me advice on girls. I thought it was kind of weird - but whatever. One of the boys was telling me how he wants to become a pastor. He told me that the reason he came to Mercy Wings was so he could learn how to read better. He told me he tries to read his bible - but at the same time its hard because he only has a King James version. I told him if I found a bible or an old bible I would try and send it his way - but I made no promises. Then I was looking through an old book store and there really was no bibles - it was weird. But at least there were some other books.
Anyway. One of the teachers is named Ms. Yvonne and she has become my Guyanese mother. She always takes very good care of me. My classroom is right next to hers so I go and visit her during break sometimes - or eat lunch with her. I really enjoy all my teachers though. Ms. Yvonne and I are on the same "team"/"house" for sports which happen next friday. We will be like their captains. Don't worry - there are other teachers with us. Thank God.
On friday night Mr. Lambert took us out - with one of my co-teachers Sir Niles and his wife. They took us to a restaurant/bar called Jerry's. It was a lot of fun we went on a Caribbean "cruise" as Lambert called it. We had Banks beer from Guyana - A Trinidadian beer and a beer from Suriname. I really liked the Banks beer and the others were okay. We sang karaoke - and we really sucked - but it was still fun. One of my students - well a male student - works at the bar. He is a cook. He is one that I talk to quite a bit and I got a chance to talk to him that night! He sent me out some free chicken! He is very sweet. It was Jerk Chicken which is really good. It may be my new favorite here.
Yesterday we just hung around and went to the market. Today though we went up to the boys orphanage to play with the boys. Its hard to keep them off you. They all want to sit on your lap and play with you. They really enjoyed playing with my watch. It was a good thing that all three of us came so we kept them pretty entertained. Some of them had just come from the other home so they are really young and really enjoy being held. All three of us really liked it and I am sure we will go back again soon.
I stole this from my roommates Audrey's e-mail:
FUN PHRASES: The Guyanese English is difficult to explain, but they tend to swallow their words, drop their h's, and emphasize the last syllable.
three = "tree"
home = "ome"
crispy = "cripsy"
Can I have a pencil = "Please for a pencil"
Did you bring your camera? = "You walk with your camera?"
the game "chutes and ladders" is called "snakes and ladders" and has snakes instead of slides
flashlight = "torchlight"
I have also encountered:
Gauphing = Talking/Gabbing
Liming = Hanging out
Vexed = Angry (we use this too - but they always use it!)
Anyway. I think I have definatley gotten used to the heat. I no longer enjoy cold showers. When I get in the shower at night and its cold I really really hate it. Also the other night there was a really strong breeze and I had to go into the house and put on pants because I was "cold". Being cold is relative here. But I am also not always dying from the heat. Our porch has a really good breeze so we can almost always cool down. I hear that it will get hotter but its pretty "cool" now.
I guess I am also going to boast that we cook a lot of Guyanese food already. We make doll every week - and a lot of rice with random things. At school I eat only Guyanese food and I really am enjoying that. However - ask me in a few weeks how I feel about rice everyday. We had a house debate about potatoes vs. rice and its 2-1 potatoes.
Sarah and Audrey has some pretty blond moments I just can't help but share. There is TV at our house - and we get like 4-6 channels depending on the time of day. And Audrey was always confused at why "Play" kept showing up on our TV followed by a Guyanese commercial. And she also couldn't figure out why American companies were advertising down here. We had to explain to her that the TV was American stole/or/bought TV and they were just overlapping the Guyanese commercials. Sarah's moment came when she freaked out cause she thought that the mini-bus was going 130 mph. I had to explain to her that the mini-buses were in Km and that she was probably going around 70ish. It was a good day for the three of us.
Well anyway as always I am sure I have more to write but enough for now.
Sending my love and prayers,
Ashley
Friday, September 17, 2010
Yellow Misquito Net
Dear Friends and Family,
Good Afternoon! Everything here in Guyana soooo proper its intense. Its always Good morning - Good afternoon - Good night. Miss, Mister, Sir, Auntie and Uncle. - However the people don't actually have to be your aunt or uncle to call them Aunt or Uncle - Its kind of weird but I enjoy it because its less formal than Ms or Mr and shows more affection.
I titled this blog Yellow Mosquito Net because I really have had to learn to enjoy the small things in life. Mr. Lambert the man who bought our nets bought us colored nets!! I got a yellow one which made me really joyful. I also have an orange fan! This week has really taught me to enjoy the simple things. I spend a lot of our evenings reading and talking with my two housemates. One of my housemates is a nurse - and the other works with the boys at the Orphanage - So there is always plenty of stories to share. We have also taken turns cooking every night. We have been cooking mostly Guyanese food other than one night - when it was my turn to cook - I made spaghetti. :)
I started a new job at the Hospital this week. I teach MWTh&F so on Tuesdays I will be working at the hospital in the HIV program. I will be doing pre test and post test counseling. So basically talking with the patients and referring them to the social workers & informing them on the disease itself. I am looking forward to it. I love the girls at my work - but it will be good to do something different one day a week.
This week I had a free hour at work so I helped Miss Abigail in the computer class. Some of the boys were getting really frustrated because they didn't know how to do anything. It was a huge culture shock when I was working really intensely with one boy in particular because he didn't know how to use a mouse - and the paint program was a little too intense for him. We went over paint and Microsoft word. And Basically we went over opening - typing a sentence- and closing/saving. I know 6 year olds in the US far superior in their computer skills. One of the boys was getting really excited because he was finally getting it - but I had to go help another boy - so as I was helping he kept saying "Miss, Miss, Miss" and I kept saying "Just now" (Which means hold on a minute - if you say hold on a minute - they don't understand) and eventually he just poked my side because he wanted my attention sooo bad. I couldn't be mad but I had to pretend to be. He genuinely was really just wanting to learn more. It was very cute. One boy in particular is very nice - and yesterday he wore a Chicago White Sox hat (They don't know the teams they just wear them for the looks). I said good morning to him and then explained to him how much I didn't like his hat - and that I don't know if I could teach him while he has that hat. (in a joking way). But its good because I feel like I am getting to know more of the students - and one of them tried to explain cricket to me today - but I still don't really understand.
One of my girls - I think I talked about her in an earlier blog - she is the one who is coming to school because she wants to get a job to help her parents - yesterday I found her in the library during their free time. She was reading a very easy Dr. Seuss book and she explained to me that she is reading during her free time because the more she reads the smarter she will become. It broke my heart because this girl tries so hard to learn - and yet she is so low - but she doesn't give up. Its very inspiring to watch her. The english teacher said that she gave out spelling words to my whole class - and that she was the only one that actually studied them and got 100%. But don't get me wrong they all have really great stories - and if I had time - I would write them all - I guess this is just the one that is on my mind today.
Well I am sure I have many more things that I could share - but as always I only have so much time. But for now I wish you all the best. You have my prayers and love.
Ashley-Ann
Good Afternoon! Everything here in Guyana soooo proper its intense. Its always Good morning - Good afternoon - Good night. Miss, Mister, Sir, Auntie and Uncle. - However the people don't actually have to be your aunt or uncle to call them Aunt or Uncle - Its kind of weird but I enjoy it because its less formal than Ms or Mr and shows more affection.
I titled this blog Yellow Mosquito Net because I really have had to learn to enjoy the small things in life. Mr. Lambert the man who bought our nets bought us colored nets!! I got a yellow one which made me really joyful. I also have an orange fan! This week has really taught me to enjoy the simple things. I spend a lot of our evenings reading and talking with my two housemates. One of my housemates is a nurse - and the other works with the boys at the Orphanage - So there is always plenty of stories to share. We have also taken turns cooking every night. We have been cooking mostly Guyanese food other than one night - when it was my turn to cook - I made spaghetti. :)
I started a new job at the Hospital this week. I teach MWTh&F so on Tuesdays I will be working at the hospital in the HIV program. I will be doing pre test and post test counseling. So basically talking with the patients and referring them to the social workers & informing them on the disease itself. I am looking forward to it. I love the girls at my work - but it will be good to do something different one day a week.
This week I had a free hour at work so I helped Miss Abigail in the computer class. Some of the boys were getting really frustrated because they didn't know how to do anything. It was a huge culture shock when I was working really intensely with one boy in particular because he didn't know how to use a mouse - and the paint program was a little too intense for him. We went over paint and Microsoft word. And Basically we went over opening - typing a sentence- and closing/saving. I know 6 year olds in the US far superior in their computer skills. One of the boys was getting really excited because he was finally getting it - but I had to go help another boy - so as I was helping he kept saying "Miss, Miss, Miss" and I kept saying "Just now" (Which means hold on a minute - if you say hold on a minute - they don't understand) and eventually he just poked my side because he wanted my attention sooo bad. I couldn't be mad but I had to pretend to be. He genuinely was really just wanting to learn more. It was very cute. One boy in particular is very nice - and yesterday he wore a Chicago White Sox hat (They don't know the teams they just wear them for the looks). I said good morning to him and then explained to him how much I didn't like his hat - and that I don't know if I could teach him while he has that hat. (in a joking way). But its good because I feel like I am getting to know more of the students - and one of them tried to explain cricket to me today - but I still don't really understand.
One of my girls - I think I talked about her in an earlier blog - she is the one who is coming to school because she wants to get a job to help her parents - yesterday I found her in the library during their free time. She was reading a very easy Dr. Seuss book and she explained to me that she is reading during her free time because the more she reads the smarter she will become. It broke my heart because this girl tries so hard to learn - and yet she is so low - but she doesn't give up. Its very inspiring to watch her. The english teacher said that she gave out spelling words to my whole class - and that she was the only one that actually studied them and got 100%. But don't get me wrong they all have really great stories - and if I had time - I would write them all - I guess this is just the one that is on my mind today.
Well I am sure I have many more things that I could share - but as always I only have so much time. But for now I wish you all the best. You have my prayers and love.
Ashley-Ann
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Week One of WORK! :)
Dear Friends and Family,
Hello!! I finished my first week of work Praise God. I am teaching at Mercy Wings Vocational school in Sophia, Georgetown. (Sophia - Pronounced So fye a - not as we pronounce it). Anyway. I will be teaching MWThF Care for the Elderly - which is part of the Child Care program. The girls will get liscened for both Child Care and the Elderly imporving their ability to get a job. I enjoy teaching but at the same time its so different than an American school it is really hard to describe.
God has given me the grace of having some really well behaved girls this week - we will see how long they last. I know they are enthralled by the foreignness that I bring to class. They are all very sweet - some of them come from really rough homes. One of my girls told me that she came to the vocational school so that she could get a job - to help her parents pay for her sibilings "real" education. (We just teach trade). It was sooo heart breaking - if they go to public school they learn nothing. Most of my girls age 16-20 read at about a 3rd grade level. With one of them reading at a 1st grade. And my most successful girl at about a 6th. My heart is broken each day - when they try SO hard - but just really don't understand. Also there is quite a language barrier - they speak more creole than english. This makes it hard - but I am getting it. I feel like I have been picking things up pretty quickly. Also - sayings are different - If you are going somewhere with someone - they are carrying you. Its funny.
Anyway - Other than that the week has been good. The teachers have been very nice - and one of them took me to a few stores after work one day and bought me a popsicle. I did end up going to the hospital earlier this week as an outpatient because I had a fever from Friday to Monday - but don't worry - I just had the flu -and feel almost 100% now. Just a little bit of a runny nose still. The hospital was an adventure. Its not what I am used to. Mr. Lambert took me - and that was funny because there is no such thing as patient confidentiality here - which was hard for me to deal with - but oh well.
Other than that we have taken a few adventures - We went to Border market today which is one of the larger markets. It was nice. We spent about 13 american dollars and got 2 types of bannana's - A pineapple - Papaya (PaPa) - Spices - Carrots - Spinach (type stuff) - Pumpkin - Borra Borra - Celery - and a few other things which I can't quite recall. It was awesome. But for ever american dollar its 200 guyanese dollars. So we always carry around 1000 dollar bills which is about 5 dollars. It feels kind of weird.
Mini Buses are kind of Crazy. I always feel like I have another bruise from hitting something getting in and out. But they are fun - and always get us where we need to go. The drivers are already starting to remember us and we've only been here a week!!
I have met a few really awesome people just walking on the street. That has been fun - while walking home I met a really nice girl who talked with me about all sorts of things. She was very sweet.
I suppose I should have more to write - but I am having a hard time thinking - and will try and write more later.
Mail has been coming through - so please send a letter!!
50 Pere Street, Kitty
Georgetown, Guyana
South America
Love Sent!
Ashley
Hello!! I finished my first week of work Praise God. I am teaching at Mercy Wings Vocational school in Sophia, Georgetown. (Sophia - Pronounced So fye a - not as we pronounce it). Anyway. I will be teaching MWThF Care for the Elderly - which is part of the Child Care program. The girls will get liscened for both Child Care and the Elderly imporving their ability to get a job. I enjoy teaching but at the same time its so different than an American school it is really hard to describe.
God has given me the grace of having some really well behaved girls this week - we will see how long they last. I know they are enthralled by the foreignness that I bring to class. They are all very sweet - some of them come from really rough homes. One of my girls told me that she came to the vocational school so that she could get a job - to help her parents pay for her sibilings "real" education. (We just teach trade). It was sooo heart breaking - if they go to public school they learn nothing. Most of my girls age 16-20 read at about a 3rd grade level. With one of them reading at a 1st grade. And my most successful girl at about a 6th. My heart is broken each day - when they try SO hard - but just really don't understand. Also there is quite a language barrier - they speak more creole than english. This makes it hard - but I am getting it. I feel like I have been picking things up pretty quickly. Also - sayings are different - If you are going somewhere with someone - they are carrying you. Its funny.
Anyway - Other than that the week has been good. The teachers have been very nice - and one of them took me to a few stores after work one day and bought me a popsicle. I did end up going to the hospital earlier this week as an outpatient because I had a fever from Friday to Monday - but don't worry - I just had the flu -and feel almost 100% now. Just a little bit of a runny nose still. The hospital was an adventure. Its not what I am used to. Mr. Lambert took me - and that was funny because there is no such thing as patient confidentiality here - which was hard for me to deal with - but oh well.
Other than that we have taken a few adventures - We went to Border market today which is one of the larger markets. It was nice. We spent about 13 american dollars and got 2 types of bannana's - A pineapple - Papaya (PaPa) - Spices - Carrots - Spinach (type stuff) - Pumpkin - Borra Borra - Celery - and a few other things which I can't quite recall. It was awesome. But for ever american dollar its 200 guyanese dollars. So we always carry around 1000 dollar bills which is about 5 dollars. It feels kind of weird.
Mini Buses are kind of Crazy. I always feel like I have another bruise from hitting something getting in and out. But they are fun - and always get us where we need to go. The drivers are already starting to remember us and we've only been here a week!!
I have met a few really awesome people just walking on the street. That has been fun - while walking home I met a really nice girl who talked with me about all sorts of things. She was very sweet.
I suppose I should have more to write - but I am having a hard time thinking - and will try and write more later.
Mail has been coming through - so please send a letter!!
50 Pere Street, Kitty
Georgetown, Guyana
South America
Love Sent!
Ashley
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