February 25th 2011

So I have officially been in Guyana for over a week. I am living in West Coast Demarara, which is an area along Guyana's west coast right on the Atlantic ocean. I am living with a host family in a village called DeWilliam which, like all the villages in West Coast, is right along the one paved highway that runs all along the entire coast. It is one of the few main roads in the country.

My host family lives in a pretty typical Guyanese house, with the kitchen and eating area on the lower level and then stairs outside leading up to the bedrooms and the bathroom. Yes, there is a toilet and a shower. The shower is pretty much a small room with a pipe coming out of the wall that is attached to the rain tanks. The Water is always, always cold but you actually get used to it. And its pretty hot and humid most days so a cold shower actually feels good.....most of the time anyways :) The houses here are usually on gated lots and they have at least 2 or 3 hammocks out on the verandas. That is where I spend most of my free time, lounging in the hammock and reading. Another interesting thing about the houses here is that there is no ceiling, just a tin roof and the walls don't go all the way up. So there is a large gap between where the walls end and the ceiling is. Very little privacy :)

My host family is really really awesome. My host "dad" is really young, only 28 and he lived in NYC for 16 years growing up. He speaks very good English and even his Creolese is more understandable than other locals. My host "mom" is younger than me, shes only 22. They have 2 daughters, Susana who is 5 and AnnMarie who is 4. They are so adorable, I love them both. They talk so much and are always waiting for me when i get home from training. Too cute. My family is really cool and Angelie, my host mom is an awesome cook. She fixed me iguana curry for my first meal. I swear I actually liked it. It tasted kind of like chicken. I also helped my host dad kill it and butcher it so if I can find an iguana when i get home, you all better believe i am making you iguana curry :)

I am living right now in a pretty urban area, which means there are minibuses that I have to take to work and there is an internet cafe right near my host. It has really cheap international calls which I really like. I have been through my first week and training and I am really excited to get started. I will not get my actual assignment until another week or 2 but I will probably be working in a health centre. This would be really awesome because I would get to work directly with patients coming in and give health talks and health education sessions. Also, this means I can focus on stuff I am interested in like maternal and infant health. I will let you all know more about my assignment once I get it but for right now we are just doing training.

Even though i have only been in Guyana for a little over a week, I really love it. I am anxious to start working and getting more integrated in my community. I miss everyone back home and I think I may be back for a visit over thanksgiving or christmas this year. If I save enough money I may be able to fly back for the wedding in September, but no promises on that :) Now that i know i have semi-reliable internet I will try to update everyone more often. Love and miss you all.

Lindsay