December 28
So, what do you do when there is a tarantula on the ceiling of your dining hall where you are staying in the savannah bush of Guyana? Good question. Well, #1, take a picture for your blog. #2, let it be.
Since this was in the dining area, we weren’t too concerned about it. Plus the local people there said they don’t harm you unless you bother them. Yea, kinda creepy, but just make sure you check your bed before you go to sleep and shake out your boots in the morning!
Georgetown, as a city, is quite interesting. Canals go all around the city and it actually is also below sea level, so has a seawall that runs for hundreds of miles to prevent the ocean from coming into the city during storms. Many of the older homes are built on stilts, since there is a history of flooding in the city. The Dutch were responsible for the construction of the canals, which also assisted in the event of flooding. The amount of water let in and out of the canals is controlled by “kochers” (I’m not sure of the spelling). There are pictures included. The French and the British also colonized the city in various points in its history, the evidence in the beautiful colonial wooden buildings. An unfortunate aspect is that many of these buildings have not been kept up (mostly for financial reasons, I believe), and are in quite a state of disrepair. Previously nicknamed nicknamed the 'Garden City of the Caribbean’, it has now become a bit rundown as a city. There is still a lot of greenery and is home to an amazing population of birds, as you can hear them bright and early waking you up in the morning. It does sound like you’re in the tropics (however, if your travels get you up at 4am to get on the road, you miss some of that! Haha). Here is some background on the city, if you want to read about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown,_Guyana
The Warrou people were the indigenous inhabitants of Guyana. The Dutch, English, and French established colonies in what is now known as Guyana, but by the early 17th century the majority of the settlements were Dutch. During the Napoleonic wars Britain took over the Dutch colonies of Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo, which became British Guiana in 1831. 40 years ago, Guyana gained its independence and changed its name to Guyana.
Here are the answers to a couple questions that might not have been answered yet:
Why is curry so prevalent there?
There is a large East Indian population in Guyana, descendents of indentured servants that were brought over by the British in the 1830s to work on the sugar plantations. Today, about half of the population is of East Indian descent and about 36% are of African descent. The African population is also descendents of the slave era.
What language do they speak?
English mostly. However, the English is infused with Creole and there are Amerindian languages, plus Urdu and Hindi
What does a Peace Corps Volunteer do?
The actual volunteers work for 2 years on various initiatives, based on what the host government (in this case, Guyana) requests. Some of the program areas are education, health, environmental education, small business development and more. They live in the host country and work to become a part of the community to have direct hands-on impact with what they are doing. They are not paid, but receive a monthly stipend to help them subsist at the level of the common person in the country they are living in.
If you have any questions about the Peace Corps, or perhaps want to ask a volunteer some specific questions, let me know and I can put you in touch with someone working/living in Guyana.
What is the number of bird species in Guyana and why are there so many?
There are 800 species of birds in Guyana, and there are so many because the biodiversity is so pristine and preserved that they easily thrive.
Here are some Guyanese Creole sayings and their meanings:
Dep on ya ites….. means ..... "look up/pay attention"
Please for a squeeze ....means ..... “move over please and make room for me” (for example, on a bus- which are minivans in Guyana)
Make yourself small....means ..... "move over please and make room for me”
Give me a shake down...means..... "move over please and make room for me”
We learn dem pikney....means..... “we taught the children”
Dep you meddis……….. "There upon your medication” or "chill out".
Don't waste a standup….means "if you are up already, please get me something too".
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