Parents' Workday

I invited a whole set of parents to come and help me organize the LRC. And a whole set turned up! Always a good feeling, being supported by your community...

So, we organized books. Taped them with colored masking tape by category, marked them "Property of LRC", painted shelves, and then ate snacks.

It was a good day. Accomplishment feels so good. There have been a lot of moments feeling very idle and non-productive. But not these days.

Mobilizing volunteers

Taping and marking books

Chris painting shelving

Leslyn cleaning up

Moving shelving - that rain forest wood is HEAVY. It legitimately took 4 strong Amerindians to move it.

"My Favorite Book" from the kids.

Things are going so well. And with two months to go, I'm pretty sure that's just how it should be.

Giant River Otters!

The largest otters in the world reside right on the Rupununi River. They are incredibly playful. But, as most large animals these days, they are in danger. A wonderful lady, Diane McTurk, runs Karanambu Trust, and organization which assists the otters. Seeing her with the two orphan otters she was caring for was like seeing an eight year old boy with his puppy. She talks to them, plays with them, and feeds them piranha. Meet Bill:

Fish and Crane

I learned how to play a new children’s game. It is called ‘Fish and Crane’ here in Aishalton, and ‘Cat and Mouse’ in other villages. You hold hands in a circle. Two players are chosen – one Fish/Mouse and one Cat/Crane. The Cat/Crane chases the Fish/Mouse until tagged, then the roles switch. The players in the circle must assist the Fish/Mouse in ducking in and out of the circle, but NOT assist the Cat/Crane and even try to block them by raising/lowering hands. Highly recommended!

We visited another village in our region. It is a really lovely village sitting right on the Rupununi River. It is the home of the Rupununi Learners Foundation, an NGO running a beautiful library and providing surrounding villages with books. I wanted to visit so that I could get ideas for my own Learning Resource Centre (LRC). So, we went for a particularly fabulous New Years Eve party and then stayed for a few days, I did a little work in the library and schools. The schools are amazing! Check out this nursery school:

Look at the lovely playground that has been built for the children:
Beautiful nursery girls swinging:

It was such an inspiring visit! I can only wish I went earlier. Now, I only have three months left in Aishalton. I’ll be working on setting up the Learning Resource Centre and giving you updates on it’s remodel! Thanks again to all my donors. J All supplies have been purchased and are ready to be organized! Renovation pictures to come.

Design on a Dime: LRC

We are quite busy painting, moving furniture, tagging books, marking books, organizing shelves, it's all very exciting! Thank you, donors!

More to come!

Traditional Fishing

What better way to feed your family than free, FRESH fish?? All you need is:

1. Dugout canoe
2. Line
3. Hook
4. Bug (bait)

NO:

1. Pole
2. Motor
3. Fancy Tackle

You can see they’ve strung a rope across the river to keep from floating away! (It’s hard to paddle back upstream!)

COS Conference

Our final Peace Corps Conference is finished! We just got back from Georgetown for our final conference. We covered how to find jobs, cope with the transition back home, and make togas. It was two days of work and one day of fun.

Here's a photo of most all the volunteers from my group who have made it this far:

(For more photos, including Toga photos, see Chris' facebook album.)

Now I am writing my resume, applying for federal jobs, and planning my entry into the states after two years!

Now begins the awkward tug back and forth:

Remodel Learning Resource Centre

(Hot showers!)

Must make dinner tonight

(Ice cream!)

Finish final report for grant

(Write resume!)

Dance and exercise group at 5pm

(Gym memberships and yoga mats!)

Haul water from well

(Mexican food!)

Bicycle to work

(Paved roads!)

Fan yourself to sleep

(Fall! Winter!! Spring!!!)

Light the kerosene lamp

(Family and Friends!)

You can see how we’re a bit torn. Life must continue here, and with even more enthusiasm than before since it is the end. There is a rush to do everything on the “Bucket List”, to take pictures of everyone, to have long, meaningful conversations, and to do every possible activity. But then, visions of cheesecake and July 4^th and home décor keep popping into your head! What’s a girl to do???