Unconventional things I miss

So I have been in the country for going on 8 months now and I have passed the point on fixating on the typical things I miss like friends, family and air conditioners.  Now I am starting to miss unconventional things, things that I didn't think I would miss. For example, I miss carpet.  I miss the way it feels on my bare feet, and that its soft, and nice to lay on sometimes.  I have not seen carpet here, it wouldnt be logical in this environment. I might get a rug as a substitute but for now I dream of carpet on my floors...
I also miss sandwich meat.  I don't even like sandwiches that much but they are so easy to make and take for lunch.  Or just have a sandwich for a quick lazy lunch on a Saturday.  There is only so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches one person can eat.  Along those same lines I miss pre-made and microwavable foods.  I thinks its more the convenience of popping the food right in the microwave and eating it, rather than the food itself.  Now if I want something I have to make it from scratch.  Sure I cook a big pot of something on Sunday's and have it for the rest of the week but it's not the same. 
I miss having a car.  Not because I like to drive, I don't. But for things like going to the grocery store.  You can just put all your stuff in the car and go.  Now I can only get what I can carry.  So that means at least two trips if I need things like shampoo or body wash.  I miss singing in my car as loud as I can, its not the same to sing in the house.  I want to roll the windows up and blare Hello by Adele on repeat while crying to myself. 
I miss seasonal changes.  Its 80's and sunny here all the time.  It still feels like April.  It's hard to believe that Christmas is this month.  Weird and really hard to judge the passage of time.  On that topic the sun is out for 12 hours everyday.  It doesn't change, I kind of miss when the sun would set at 7 or 8 at night.  Now its 6 pm on the dot, dark as midnight. 
Weirdly I miss commercials, not so much the TV shows, but the commercials to see whats going on in the world. What new products are out or new shows are coming on.  I don't miss political commercials and am glad I will be here for the election. 

Well I'm sure there are more things that I miss that I can't think of right now.  I'll add to the list as they pop up!

World AIDS day!!!

December 1st was World AIDS day and my town held an awesome parade. The parade started around my house and ended in the middle of New Amsterdam where there were speeches.  My favorite part of the parade was the call and answer chants we did.  Here they are...

DJ: A busy willy 

Crowd: Is a silly willy

DJ: A busy patta

Crowd: Is a battered patta

We were also given condoms to hand out and to blow up like balloons.  We had so much fun and so did the Guyanese folks.  It was a great turn out!

Thanksgiving!!

Whew what a holiday!  Most of the volunteer located around me and some from further away, came over to have a potluck style Thanksgiving feast!  Damaris and I hosted the festivities between our houses.  We managed to get turkey and wine in Georgetown, others brought stuffing, veggies, gravy, bread,cakes and pies!  We invited a few of our close Guyanese friends to celebrate with us and experience an American holiday.  After dinner and dessert we sat around, played cards, talked and enjoyed each others company. It was a lot of work but really fun.  The perfect way to spend a holiday away from home!

What have I been doing here?

Well... mostly I have been working in the school and developing lesson plans for the Health and Family Life class.  But I also have been developing some workshops and did my first one last week.  The work shop was called Your Vagina and You, and it focuses on vaginal health.  We provided goody bags that included tampons, mini handheld mirrors, tissues, and lotions and soap.  We had a great turn out and participants were very engaged in the topic and conversation.  They had great feedback, and great questions.  I have already been asked to do more workshops!  Below are some pictures! 

If you are interested in helping me out with the workshops I wouldn't say no to some tampons, or if you have some extra hotel soaps, shampoos or conditioners, or handheld mirrors!

Christmas Wish List

It is hard to believe that Christmas is coming, just two months away.  It still feels like July here, mostly because its still hot...  Anyway I would love to receive some Christmas cards and letters from you all!  If you would like to send me a small package I wold be open to that as well...
Below are some things I could use in my life;

• School supplies (markers, post its, sharpies, red pens, pens (any color), scissors, tape, a stapler and staples, colored chalk, stickers, glue, highlighters ect...)
• iTunes gift card
• Amazon gift card
• snacks (cheezits, gushers, fruit snacks, ect)
• cheap fun jewlery (the stuff from forever 21 or old navy)
• crystal light drink mix
• tampons
• kitchen gadgets
• world map
• South America map
• command strips to hang stuff
• hair ties and headbands  
• Tami tank tops from Old Navy (LG) 
• umbrellas

That's about it for now, unless someone wants to figure out how to send me wine...  Just Kidding!

 My address is
Missy Taylor
59 Stanleytown
New Amsterdam, Berbice
South America 

Cooking with...

Cooking with Darius and Sam

This edition of cooking with, is a traditional Guyanese dish called Boil and Fry.  This is super yummy and very filling.  My new friends Darius and Sam came over to help me make this dish!

Ingredients

·         1 Cassava

·         4 Ripe Plantain

·         1 Eddo

·         1 Sweet Potato

·         3 Wari Wari Peppers

·         1 Onion

·         2 bundles Green Onion

·         5 cloves Garlic

·         Handful celery leaves

·         Oil

·         Salt

Boil the cassava, eddo and sweet potato until soft.  Add ripe plantain and boil until soft.  Drain pot and add oil.  Sautee up the chopped onion, peppers, green onions, garlic, celery leaves, and salt for about 5 minutes.  Add the provisions and stir until evenly coated.  Eat and enjoy!  

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Guyana edition

In my house...

The last week has been exciting as far as animal sightings go.  It started with George the cat bringing in an eel to the house.  He was very proud and I was severely grossed out.  Then we noticed that we have a Caiman that lives in the trench that surrounds the house.  We have named her Carmen and check on her every night.  I'm not sure what we are going to do when she gets bigger...

I also woke up to a fun surprise yesterday morning... George found and killed a snake and brought it in the house.  Then proceeded to cuddle it and play with it. 

Hopefully the cats will refrain from bringing in more animals this week.  I guess I should be happy they kill the animals before bringing them in but yuck.