I made it. I am
officially a Peace Corps Volunteer. I
know that most people assumed I was already a volunteer the minute I stepped
off the plane in Guyana, but alas I had to make it through 12 weeks of training
before I could be granted the official honor of being a PCV. Swearing in as a Volunteer is something I have
been dreaming about since around 2010. I
had so many visions of that day and what my PC service would look like and all
of them are wrong. I do not and will not
be living in a mud hut, in Africa, nor will I be living in a wood structure
overlooking the ocean on an Asian island.
I did not have to learn a new language, or learn to poop in a hole. Instead I am in a country in South America, that
speaks English for the most part, we have electricity, flushing toilets,
running water, wifi, and even Popeyes Chicken.
I am not trying to diminish my service, in fact I think I am trying to
explain why Guyana was the perfect option for me. Lets face it, I am not a nature person, I
like my creature comforts. I can get
most of that here, while still roughing it in my opinion. The cherry on top is that this country needs
someone with my specialty. There is a
want, and a need to have trained persons to help train the educators on sexual
and reproductive health education. The
government just started implementing the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE)
curriculum, and many of the teachers are looking for guidance to teach this new
subject. So here I am, packing again,
this time to move to my new home in New Amsterdam and to start the hardest job
I will ever love. Please enjoy some of the photos from swearing in, and the two speeches given from my friends and fellow PCV's.
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| Being told I was going to swear in! |
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| Julie (training staff) thrilled for me |
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| Prom Picture with Rachel |
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| Lori, giving a great speech |
Here are the awesome speaches from 2 exceptional PCV's I trained with.
Lori's speech
All official titles for ministries, etc, etc, etc, etc....
...and GOOD MORNING, GUY 27!!!!
Thank you for joining us as we swear in to be full-fledged Peace Corps
Volunteers!!! I would like to start by starting the first Guyanese
proverb I first "heard" with you all: "Nah put all two yuh foot in d
rivah if yuh wan see how deep he deep." which I've learned means "... do
not jump into a venture before you're sure that it is worthy."
...Sooo, let's break it down. Jump? What's worthy? By starting a new
journey in Guyana - a country none of us have never been to and only few
of us have ever heard of - all for-two of us jumped feet first. How do
we know that this river is deep enough? And why do we believe the jump
will be worth it? Before we take a plunge into that, let's take a look
at each one of us. No, really. Stop right now and look at each other. We
all come from different walks of life - different cultures,
backgrounds, and abilities. We are the culmination of the many
different things that brought us together at this point. 77 days ago, we
jumped together into Guyana as trainees. Today, we venture out in
search of success as Volunteers.
The proverb I shared is a
metaphor for how we take steps, no matter how small or great they are,
towards our successes and where we want to be in our lives... Some of us
wade in, others jump off bridges without knowing how deep the water
is...
But here's the thing... Guyana is the land of many
waters... and most of it is black water... Underneath the surface of
black water, we really can't see our future or even how successful we
will be during our service until we make a splash to see how far ripples
can go and dive to see how deep water is... Why do we jump? Because we
know we can. Why are we Volunteers? We know we are meant to be and we
have the ability to make ripples in what we do, ripples that will be
felt by others in the water and even onto the shore of success... we
will impact our communities in ways we may not see or feel in time.
How do we know if jumping in is going to result in success? I believe
the definition of success is subjective and it is up to you to determine
what it is. To me, success epitomizes the core of what we believe in
and what we can do to achieve it. However you define success, I know we
each have the capacity and the dedication to make a difference in Guyana
and to grow as individuals in our time here.
Along the way, we
are going to encounter obstacles... the physical kinds: blisters,
chiggers, piranhas, sprained ankles, splinters, sunburns, and even
swallowed blackwater. Also the emotional kinds: loneliness, personal
struggles, questioning self-worth and why even we are here, missing
home, feeling discouraged or not included in communities at a time.
Eventually, we all feel like we are struggling to stay float, but if we
believe in ourselves, we will become better swimmers. Despite our
challenges, we keep swimming through - creating our way through and
overcoming the obstacles we face or we will sink. How else could we get
ahead if we don't swim?
Guyana is our home for next two years...
we have a tremendous amount of gratitude for our host families for
welcoming us home and make us a part of Guyana. In the next two years,
some creeks will be jumped over, some will be fallen into, there is a
bound of bellyflop (point at Kristen), and maybe a number of dives and
front-flips (point at Gabbi) too... But regardless how of we do it, we
will get our feet wet in our communities and make a splash in this land
of many waters... The size of our splashes are proportionate to the
empowerment of the people we work with.
GUY 27, y'all sure are a
bunch. Through it all, remember who you are. We aren't always going to
know when to jump, where we are, or even what to expect below the
surface. But we do know who we have for support to keep us float - you
all in here.... Sometimes you wil have to wade or jump by yourself jus'
now but don't worry... we will are cheering you on from the shore.
Finally, walk farther than you could yesterday, jump higher to make that
huge splash.. Tread water for a little longer than you think you can
and don't forget your PC issued life vest if you are goin' across the
water beyond your horizons in a canoe or a motorized boat... We will
venture thousands of miles through Guyana and its rivers during our
future here so make every mile worth it.
Thank you to everyone for all that you do. Truly.....
Gabriella's speech
Ode to GUY27
Remember Miami? The 42 others?
Realizing they’d be your new sisters and brothers?
The sleepless night, calls from the loved ones who’d miss you,
The panic. “Just what is this I’m getting into?”
The airport. The luggage. The flight. And arriving.
A surreal, humid night full of hugs and high-fiving.
Next, summer camp. Uh… Mainstay. Orientation? Whatever.
Where we started our training in how to be…better:
At speaking. Surviving. Washing clothes. Even dancing.
Learned the dangers of transit. Of local romancing.
Of not taking anti-malarial pills.
We prepared for lives free of American frills.
And the food! Oh, the food. The juices were endless!
The roti, rice, curry…and accompanying illness.
“It’s cool, I’ll adjust,” you said, hoping you would,
Later marveling at how you did, how you could!
But you knew as you conquered the sweat and the creatures,
That ten days was a preview of a much longer feature.
The real life of training had not yet begun.
(And now… can you believe it? We’re finally done!)
Your first view of your training site. Revisit that ride.
Were you shaking with nerves? Thought you’d pass out or die?
The room full of families – and one of them yours.
But which one? Would they like you? Would they make you do chores?
Would they be good cooks? Warm huggers? Easy to please?
Would you understand them and their thick Creolese?
While each of us had a unique host situation,
There’s a common thread running through this Guyanese nation.
When it come to da family, gyal an bai, they nah play!
And we were all family from the very first day.
How they welcomed us! Acting as hosts, parents, teachers,
Advising us when to cheer from cricket bleachers,
How to clap roti (while laughing at our tries),
Holding us close when we had homesick cries.
Warning us – if the broom hit our foot, we’d die single.
Telling us who to avoid and the places to mingle.
We’ve been asked many times: “Why leave home for so long?”
Wondered it ourselves too, when things seemed to go wrong.
When the schoolchildren stared at us, uncomprehending,
When huge dollar amounts made us scared of all spending,
When we laid awake, dripping with sweat, craving rest,
When the health centers showed us chaos at its best,
When our boyfriends and girlfriends broke down on the phone,
When, even in a crowd, we felt keenly alone.
But for all of the challenges faced, even now,
There are moments so perfect, you barely know how
To describe them. The baby you held in your arms.
How he giggled and cooed at your foreigner charms!
The child in class that finally spoke aloud;
The dawn, painting coral-pink pictures of clouds.
A cold LLB on a scorching-hot day;
The letters that came from the friends far away;
The night you judged a pageant by the seat of your pants;
When you realized bleach water solved the stings of the ants.
The football assist and the goal that you saved,
Learning that, all your life, it’s the Big Foot you craved!
When your minibus blared all your favorite tracks,
Finally mastering the cutlass’s coconut-cracking thwacks.
Catching fish in a trench to fry up for your dinner;
Learning that “Gyal, you fine,” just means you’re getting thinner;
The mirror-still black water, the bridge that you leapt,
Your promise, living life to the fullest, being kept.
Forming friendships with the strangers from that Miami room,
A lifelong bond growing, beginning to bloom.
And it’s been less than 3 months! How time seems to bend
So far from our “normal” lives, families, and friends.
Our new normal has lasted much longer, it seems.
We’re finally here, realizing our dreams.
Emerging from our carefully protective shells
To become the best possible versions of ourselves.
And it’s only beginning! By the end of this intrepid
Two years, we’ll have done things we never expected.
So we thank the staff, who so patiently led us through;
Our host families, who helped us when everything was new.
But now, we embark as brand-new volunteers.
So let’s vow to one another – in the coming two years,
Don’t forget, we are family – no matter how strange.
We can help one another through challenge and change
And remind one another – we’re here to do good.
So our future selves have fewer “Maybe I should have…”
Moments. Embrace it! There’s a difference in living
A comfortable life and one that is fulfilling.
So prepare for adventure. Hand in hand, let us shout:
“We’re GUY27, world! Better look out!”
Disclaimer: "The content, views, and opinions expressed in this website
are mine alone and does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S.
Government, the Peace Corps, or of the Government in Guyana."
