PALANCE!!!!!

I know I haven't updated the blog in a while, but I just had to post this quickie!! While I was at home planning my trip to Guyana, my sister Michelle sent me this video about some new slang that's popped up in the Caribbean. We watched this video about 10 times and it had us cracking up every time. We debated whether people would be using it in Guyana:

As I walked past a secondary school in the streets of Georgetown today, guess what I heard? "Hey bwaye, come let we PALANCE" . I almost fell out! Hilarious!! Michelle, I wish you were here with me for that one!!

Wine tasting at Sidewalk Cafe

Jewel's friends, Warren and Tracy Douglas are the owners of Pandama Retreat, an amazing nature resort just south of Georgetown, headed towards Brazil. In addition to providing a spiritual haven for silence, rest and relaxation, Pandama offers a delicious selection of fruit wines, called Pandama Bush Wines-found in all of the major supermarkets and stores throughout Georgetown. Since I arrived, Jewel has been raving about Warren and Tracy's wines!! This Saturday, I finally had the chance to put their label to the test at the Pandama wine tasting held at Sidewalk Cafe and Jazz club in Georgetown:

Tracy and Warren and their amazing selection of fruit wines: pineapple, plum, jamoon, plum, Aunty Desma, gooseberry, cherry, tomato, mango and orange.
Jewel is REALLY enjoying her glass of cherry wine! Warren and Tracy are having a fish fry this holiday weekend, so needless to say I am way too excited that I get to enjoy the Pandama Retreat experience for myself!! Find out more about Pandama Retreat and Pandama Bush Wines here: http://www.pandamaretreat.com/index.html

Brazil vs. Korea...GOOOOOOO Brazil!!!

So, if you know me well, you know that I'm not much of a sports fan. My coordination on the field or on the court is pitiful, to say the least. However, my great uncles are avid football fans, especially Uncle Noel! Uncle Noel is DIE HARD! I was talking to him the night before the world cup began, and I told him that I would call him the next day, and his response was, "Well....you know the world cup starts tomorrow, right?" Clearly this man must not be disturbed when his games are on! So, I've been inducted into the family sport, and I'm really enjoying the games!! Yesterday, Jewel and I went to a Brazilian Churrascaria to watch the game and we had a BALL!! We met up with her friends Alicia and Gus, and their little girl, Yasmine. Yasmine was decked out in her yellow and green, representing for her mother's country!

Bring on the meat!

The food was delicious!! More meat please!!!

I love that my Sprite came in a glass bottle!

..and I love how a stray dog decided to come in and wander around!

Here's beautiful Yasmine, decked out in her yellow and green!

Brazilian peek-a-boo!!

Yasmine stole my heart, can you tell??

We were all pretty disappointed that Brazil didn't score in the first half...

...But love was still in the air (Alicia and Gus)!!!

Brazil won 2-1, so we were happy regardless! Can't wait to catch Sunday's game against Ivory Coast!!

Dee in the city!

Today, I went to Georgetown with Jewel-she dropped me off downtown while she went to the office. I did a bit of shopping at a Guyana stores, and then walked over to the National Library. Just like the hospital in Linden, I was stopped by a guard who told me that I couldn't enter the library with my arms bare ;0( I wish I could take a pic of the dress code sign, but as a single lady in the middle of downtown, I don't think it's a smart idea to whip out an expensive camera and start snapping pictures like a tourist. I'll try again when I have Jewel with me.

Anyway, I'm wearing a red sun dress and I'm beginning to believe that my style of dressing might be a little inappropriate for Guyana. Get this: I actually thought I was dressing conservatively! With the level of heat we're dealing with every day, I thought it would be natural for women to wear tank tops and spaghetti straps. Apparently, I was wrong. So, I guess I'll save my tank tops for the house and cover up mi sholders and ak like a propa sweet gyal!

Stabroek News: Monday, June 14, 2010

So today is another wonderful lazy day! Im really thankful to have the freedom to wake up at leisure and read a newspaper or watch a movie whenever the mood hits. This morning I was cracking up at the way quotes are written in the newspaper. It seems that the journalists here go to great lengths to preserve the quality of the quote-every word is written exactly as it is pronounced! I've gotta bring one of these papers home with me. Check this out:

The first story is about a man who was hit by a truck traveling on a road under construction. The story is a sad one, and the descriptive language of the witnesses is so colorful.

This second story is about a bus hijacking that occurred over 2 years ago...why they are reporting this today, I have no clue! Entertaining journalism, all the same!

Can anyone explain what it means to pee your skin?!?!? LOL!!!!

Secondary schools in Linden

My cousin Jewel works as a marketing consultant for UNICEF, and one of her projects is aimed at removing corporal punishment from the public school system. On Wednesday, we traveled to Linden, Guyana, about an hour drive south of Georgetown. We visited two schools, each with a classroom of students and teachers that participate in this pilot project. Upon arrival in Linden, we met Trudy, one of the research assistants on the project. Trudy was born and raised in Linden and also works as a counselor at a health clinic providing STI testing, HIV/AIDS education, safe sex and suicide counseling. She has a special connection with the youth of these communities and served as our tour guide for the day. She also introduced Jewel to the headmaster and teachers at each school to facilitate Jewel's interviews for the day.

(Above) School building on the left, open air auditorium on the left. This is the view from the head master's office

(Below) More of the school building. The area between where I'm standing and the school building is the play field.

The school is huge! Made up of a few two story building, virtually every class is filled with students. There is no air conditioning in the classroom, no fans, and no glass windows. The windows are made up of a beautiful lattice styled concrete, which allows air to flow though the classroom while keeping the classroom as cool as possible.

The kids were so precious! Each sat at their assigned seats, and when asked a question, their response was just too cute! Ex: Teacher: "Jonathan, what is the main export for Guyana?" "Miss, the main export for Guyana is sugar, Miss!" Every answer begins and ends with "Miss"! I love it!!

More pics of the school

The science lab:

The library and students studying at the library:

We also visited a second school in Linden called the Wisberg Secondary School Annex.

Here's the view from the entrance

View from the headmaster's office:

Jewel interviewing a group of students:

Behind the school is an elementary (nursery school). I found these little girls playing on the swings. Those pretty little yellow dresses they're wearing are their school uniforms. I want this school uniform!!

These kids are absolutely adorable, I just had to get a closeup!

Hararuni Creek Lime

This is one of the creek areas where folks go to lime on the weekends ("lime" = hang out). The water in the creek is black water, rich in minerals. We're planning on checking this out one weekend

Layover in Port of Spain, Trinidad

We're landing for our layover in Port of Spain, Trinidad. This is where my mother and her brothers were born and raised. Throughout my life, I've heard so many stories about Trinidad, and now I'm finally here to experience it for myself-even if it is only for a 1 hour layover!!

I LOVE love!!

Aunt Juliette and Uncle Neville have been married for 48 years. From the day I walked into this house, I've taken note of their interactions, and I am totally fascinated. As a kid, I never really understood the tradition of the woman tending to the needs of the family as Guyanese women do. Most times I rebelled against the idea, but it really seems to work for Aunt Juliette. Uncle Neville was a police chief in Georgetown, and then chief of security for the Bank of Guyana, and is now retired. He was also a rifle shooting champion in his heyday. His rifle shooting hobby left him with limited hearing and diabetes has claimed most of his vision, but he is as mischevious as a 12 year old kid!

Aunt Juliette prepares all the meals for the household. Everyone in the house knows that there will be breakfast prepared when you wake up, lunch after noon, and dinner will be ready to eat by 6pm. Aunt Juliette seems to be the queen of her household-she keeps everyone in order with a gentle, easygoing spirit. In the evenings, she laughs heartily at my cousin Tariq's stories from school, or his 12-year old opinions on current events. During the day she takes care of the house and maintains uncle Neville's insulin shots and medicines.

I witnessed the cutest scene this morning: I was downstairs with Aunt Juliette, and we were chatting while she was working in the laundry room. Uncle Neville called out for her a few times from upstairs, and soon decided to call her on the house line. On the phone, he asked her what she was up to, and she asked if he was ok, if he needed anything from downstairs. After all of that yelling and the phone call, it turns out that all he wanted was to tell Aunt Juliette the score from the world cup game he was watching. She hung up the phone cracking up at her husband, and went upstairs to share in his excitement for the game.

Cheddi Jagan International

I was really excited to get off the plane...the pen I was using to fill out my customs form on the plane exploded, so I got a good smudge of ink on my face. I was still deliriously happy!! Motherdear, this is for you. I'm here!!

Linden, Guyana

The Linden Museum is an amazing place. I was impressed to learn of the rich history of this town. I also discovered that my family played a significant role in he development of the town. In fact, one of the Mosely uncles (related by marriage) served as mayor of the town for some time. I was given a tour of the museum by an enthusiastic 18 year old Lindener. There was so much information about this amazing town, and I couldn't photograph or record anything!! So, I found this website to give you a view of what this town is all about!

http://www.guymine.com/photos.aspx
This is the view of the Demerara river from the village of Mackenzie in Linden. Wismar village is located on the opposite side of the river. This huge ship tranports bauxite from the mines in Linden up the river to Georgetown, where is is processed and sold. Bauxite mineral is rich in aluminum.

My cousin Jewel is on the left, and Trudy is on the right. Trudy works for a health center in Linden to provide counseling, HIV/AIDS education, STI testing and various other services to youth in Linden. She is also working on the corporal punishment study in the secondary schools with Jewel. She was born and raised in Linden and served as an excellent tour guide for my visit. Here she is describing this big ship on the Demerara river.

Trip from Linden to East Bank

This is a view of the fields on the trip from Linden in east Guyana to East Bank. These fields are absolutely beautiful.

Southern Hospitality

So, this is my apartment! It is the flyest place ever! I have my own washroom, kitchen, living room, and private entrances. So cute! Now THIS is what I call Southern hospitality!

First post!!

This blog is intended for my family and friends, particularly for my grandmother, Enid Edelgertha Benjamin (Motherdear). She left Georgetown, Guyana as a young teen to live with her mother in Trinidad, WI. There, she met and married my grandfather and had 4 kids, the oldest of which is my lovely mama, Joy. For the summer, I am staying with her younger brother, Neville, his wife Juliette, daughter Jewel, and Jewel's son Tariq. I'll be playing and visiting with the rest of my grandmother's brothers and their families, as well as my grandfather's family during my stay. I hope to use this blog as a way to document my journey to the land of my grandparents' birth and to give Motherdear and my mom a piece of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, the countries they love and miss so dearly. I am so grateful for the opportunity to make this journey. This is for you, Motherdear!!