Better news

Had a great experience yesterday - there was a session for parents at the unit for the blind where I was able to meet the local person who is the main trainer for teachers of the blind. I also met someone from Jamaica who is helping to make the University of Guyana more equipped to deal with learners with visual impairment. Also there were inspirational talks from various local people. So there is some will power for change. The local person has had some bad experiences with VSOs in the past. I think my approach of supporting at the grass roots level is appreciated. At least it gives the message that VSOs want to empower local people rather than pontificating.
I have got a week fixed up at the other unit for the blind which is in the interior in Linden. I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully I will be able to stay with a local family rather than a guest house, so it will help me get to know local people more.
The next couple of days will be a VSO forum - so everyone is coming in from the regions - they feel like old friends even after just 3 months in country. So it's a chance to catch up and reflect on what has been happening. Time to sit back and enjoy. I am hosting a bring and share supper tonight so the gossip will start then...

Mash dancers

Here are the dancers in the same parade.

Stilt walker Retry!

Try again with this picture - look at the last blog for details.

Stilt Walker + work + chat

Following on from the last picture, this is the stilt walker who led the Mash parade. He took one stilt off and whirled it round his head, strapped it back on his leg, then continued along the road.
I was a bit disappointed on Friday to find that I need to have two weeks down time with the demonstration sessions I have been doing with the pupils in the unit for the blind. The mainstream school does tests, so the support staff are busy supporting the kids to get them done. I was enjoying having the daily challenge of thinking up some practical activities for them, and it was very motivating to have the contact with real kids. Hopefully I can restart for the last week or so of term. Then next term my plan is to work to support the staff to do the sessions themselves, firstly trying out the materials and activities that I have prepared, then I hope to be able to motivate them to invent their own activities. In the meantime I am hoping to be able to start talking to the staff in the mainstream primary and secondary school who have the blind pupils included their sessions. I need to find out what the issues are, and then think how I can try to move things forward in a sustainable way.
Had a good weekend, yesterday I enjoyed a walk with a new volunteer who is a member of ramblers back in the UK. Thursday and Friday this week we have our Volunteer Forum where all the VSOs meet up and have two discussion days. I am really looking forward to that.

Drummers

These drummers were playing outside the Umana Yana, which is a traditional Amerindian hut which is right outside where I work. It is used for community meetings and so on. It was the first meeting of the Mash committee, which plans the Mash carnival in February. So they had drummers and a parade of dancers following a steel band on a lorry. The music and dancing was great, but the meeting was a bit boring!

Beautiful Guyana?

People I meet tend to ask, "How do you like our beautiful country?" Up to now that has been a pretty difficult question to answer, without seeming rude. It is hard to see the beauty when there are lots of stuff that is quite shocking and depressing. But this week I managed to say how much I like it - getting into the half full attitude instead of half empty - it's easy to get around, the birds flowers and butterflies are amazing, the people are incredibly helpful and kind, you have a hundred fruit and vegetables to choose from, and having a cool swimming pool does help. I feel like I live here rather than having landed off another planet. As for the down side, it is a question of being able to maintain the positive yourself, so you don't fall into the pit. That is the challenge every day. What we have to offer is to give an example of positive, respectful and efficient ways of working - get rid of the blame culture.

Had quite a relaxing weekend - on Saturday it rained and rained so I did a bit of baking - which is a hobby which is impossible on a hot day. They have a raisin and rum mush here called carambola which is used for rich fruit cake, so I tried it with plantain (banana) and it came out quite well.
On Saturday midday I had a choir practice - they are joining with the catherdral choir to sing for the consecration and enthronement of the new Bishop of Guyana. I really enjoy choir now, I have some pals among the altos - it is great to do somthing with ordinary people.
One fo the VSOs stayed over the weekend bnefore goin off on ajungle survivla expedition for ten days. The last three days they are let loose with only a machete, they have to cope with finding food, water and shelter. They get tracked by Amerindians who check they are not dying. I don't think I'd fancy it - a bit of a mosquito hell.
At work things are getting better, my local counterpart has started this week. VSO tell us that we must work alongside local people so the work will continue when we have left. Otherwise we are plugging gaps and making no long term difference.