Guyanese "Midsummer"

In Finland people have been celebrating Midsummer. Here I have kind of lost sense of time. In Finland the seasons make you aware of time, but now it’s as if I’ve traveled beyond time. I count my time in how much time I have left – 2 weeks.

I have done a lot of walking this week, so I’m pleased. One evening I got company of Anthony, we went all the way to the sea wall and back (4 km? x2). On Thursday I was out walking with Anil Azeez (the one who sings chutney) several hours. He sent greetings to the Finnish team who was here. I think I should do some walking with girls also – on Saturday when I was introduced to a woman she said “You’re Anils fiancé right” – uuups:/ Luckily I can report that Sherry took my out on Sunday.

On Saturday I gained independence. First I went by myself to Burda market and a shop nearby to buy greens, chicken and coconut milk … for my cook up!! So I have actually cooked Guyanese food! Carmen and Elsworth were away this weekend (only the young people and granny in the house…) so I thought it would be a good opportunity to cook. And I actually succeeded. According to Andre, Eworth, Karlene and Fiona I passed. They said it was good. I still have a few Guyanese judges who haven’t given their report. Miss Hazel who originally told me (through Gunilla) how to make cook up, received her portion on Sunday to carry home (I did it the Guyanese way; after parties people often take home food – this time it was my turn to give away food). And Carmen and Elsworth need to taste…

Saturday I was exposed to a lot of Guyanese culture, besides cooking I attended concerts. Not only one, but two. The youths at churched had arranged “Holy Hip Hop Jump Up” to collect money for a trip to Barbados. So there were a lot of excellent dance performances, nice dramas (one I didn’t, however, understand because of the language), some funny programs and staring guests. I did not need to show any example of Finnish dances nor did I sing any Swedish songs – I only enjoyed myself. Afterwards I went with Karlene and Eworth to this other concert, with familiar names as Anil and Solid Youth (Rondell). The main star was a Jamaican man called Stichie. I hadn’t heard him before but he was good. I would say he sings reggae with influences of for example jazz. He would have been even better if I had heard him before and knew his lyrics.

This was all for the weekly report of Guyanese culture. I wish all my readers a blessed and warm week!

Cook Up Cook Out

There were rice, chicken, beef, salt fish, pineapple, bananas, mangos, water melons, coconut milk, carnation milk and much more when three competing teams met for at cooking competition. Group A had the privilege (?) of having a Finnish girl on the team. Fortunately it had some good young Guyanese men as head chefs. The Finn gave her support mainly by peeling, chopping, washing up and running some errands upstairs. After three hours of cooking all the three teams were finally ready for the display and to let the judges do their final evaluation. The first prize went to the Caribbean Crusaders (left photo: Worrick) while group A settled with a second prize (can you find the white girl in the group photo below?). But several have been asking for the Finnish Cook up… let’s see if that could be fixed with a big party…hopefully not scaring the Guyanese from coming to Finland.

The walking has excelled. On Saturday I asked if it’s all right for me to take walks along Russel and Camp Street (daytime). It was. On Saturday I left a note on the table that said which time I left the house and when I should be back and what streets I were going to walk. Elsworth and Carmen never saw my note, but Eworth (who I ran into a few quarters from home) had informed them about my steps of independence. The spoken word was more effective than the written… The walk did well! It was nice to be exercising, working on my tan, exploring the streets of Georgetown, recognizing a few faces…

Project 'School' fin(n)ish

Today I said Goodbye and taught my students to say “Näkemiin”. I’ve been saying to people that I have 4-5 weeks left. Yesterday when checking I realized that I’ve only got three weeks and a weekend left! It’s a short time but I’m sure I will experience a lot. People seem to think that I’ve had a lot to do, but actually the pace has been quite good. I’ve finished school at 1 o’clock every day, went home for lunch. So my “working day” has been short. And when there hasn’t been anything at church I’ve mostly stayed at home (maybe good also to relax my foot). But now it is time to meet people!! Yesterday was a really good start for that. Alfred came to see me, but before that we took a (short) walk in the dark evening in Albouystown. He seemed surprised when I wanted to go for the walk and asked if it was ok for Elsworth. As long as I have a body guard there is no problem! And today I asked if I’m allowed to go alone to see them, during daytime, and that was also alright! So I have my plans for next week :) So you who are in Finland and don’t need to think twice before entering the door – remember you are lucky! It’s funny how small walks can become achievements :) But I’m not fed up or anything… it’s good to have goals for next week!

By the way – expect more Guyanese people in Finland. People are for real interested in coming! When talking to Alfred he said that he and Thomasine would start saving money. They are a wonderful couple, friendly and caring. So I guess I need to get a big, nice apartment in Vantaa to have room for all guests from Pohjanmaa and Guyana:) If anyone hears about some big house, just e-mail me…

Back to basics

One week has passed since last time I wrote. On Monday morning I headed for New Guyana School. I’ve been in two classes of Pre Form 1 called Excellence and Integrity. Since Wednesday I’ve been teaching English for them (11 year old children). I’m teaching about two lessons per day. It’s good to get a feeling for how it would be to teaching in Guyana… The rest of the day (until I think I’ve seen enough) I follow the education, like floral arrangements, health science and mathematics. Although they only played games on the math's lesson on Friday, so I guess I need to try to get to see some real teaching (which I think the children will like, they were really eager to present me to the white, male math’s teacher, gosh these children!). During the English lessons we’ve studied some poetry. I would have liked to do some (other) literature, but I need to follow the things they do, so another time :) The teacher warned me that they don’t really like poetry that much; that I could get some complaints, but I guess it’s exciting to have a Finnish teacher so the children have behaved well. I have had a lot of discussion in connection to the poetry, which they have liked… since they don’t need to write. Well, it’s been fun. I do my best to understand what they say (have managed pretty well), but it’s not easy because of the noise (thin walls, fans on). When trying to understand English, and Creole, I rather not have too much background noise. And guess how often that happens in Guyana. But still, I think I have improved a lot in my understanding-Creole-skills, at least I like to say that to myself (it’s always good to be encouraging and keep up the motivation). I’m also preparing Guyanese to come to Finland :) At school we have the word for the day in Swedish or Finnish. My aim is also to teach Elsworth, Eworth, Karlene and others some Swedish, but so far I’ve only had one lesson with Elsworth. And Eworth knows how to say “Tjena!” Next week I hope to be able to report some progress.

Finns returning home

Yesterday the last Finn left Guyana, except for me, but I like to count myself as a Guyanese, or at least Finnish-Guyanese:) To fit in among the rest of the Guyanese I had to get my hair done! The women here take good care of their beauty – almost every week they go to relax their hair or to do some other makeover.

There is a lot I could tell – but I think I save something until when I come home to Finland. (When Bewonne, my hairdresser asked me when I’m going home I answered when sister Carmen is going, but then I realized that she talked about home Finland and I changed my answer to the beginning of July) Well, last Friday we were to Tapacuma (another Indian village) and then came to Georgetown. I got my stitches taken off the same day, which was an experience! That evening I was so tired so I couldn’t do anything but cry. But the wound is healing (by the way it’s closer to 7 cm than 3 cm). It’s now quite dry. But it’s difficult to rest it when you want to do things like walking or dancing.

Last Saturday we got a small feeling for the interior of Guyana. I can tell you that many roads are better than “the road to Quakwani”. Let me just mention words like: sand, rain, empty spare tyre, no breaks, about 20 persons and a minibus (Toyota – they have a lot of Japanese cars here). Let’s leave the rest for your imagination :) But we were pretty relaxed, but we understood why Elsworth didn’t join us :) There was a concert we joined. The main artists were AA (don’t remember his full name), one of the most popular christen artists (singing in hindi style), and Rondell – a rap artist. Great!

This last week we’ve been in Georgetown – good to be able to take it easier. On Monday I’ll go and visit a school where I’ll be teaching (for a few weeks). It’s really good and relaxing to be here. It’s fun to hear what you are doing so don’t be shy to comment my blog or send some e-mail. Soon I’ll go back home (over the church yard) and see if Carmen is done cooking (I think she was making some cook up rice, which includes chicken and coconut). Take care all of you!