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. 

Halloween came early!

Today to continue our celebration of the 40th anniversary of my school the teachers and students dressed up in costumes!  Here are some of my favorite outfits!

Cooking with Lucie

Yesterday I had my first cooking lesson with my friend and counterpart Lucie.  We are going to cook every Sunday, switching from Guyanese to American cuisine.  Yesterday we made Metagee, a Guyanese soup/stew made from provisions.  Metagee is a staple in most Guyanese household and is relatively easy to cook and affordable to make.  And its supper filling and yummy!

Below is the recipe:

• Provisions: 
•  1 lb of ripe plantain 
•  1 lb of green plantain
• 1 lb of eddo
• 1 lb of sweet potato
• Eddo leaves
• 1 lb of cassava
• 1 onion
• 6 cloves of garlic

Spices

•  Pinch of salt
• Pinch of crushed pepper
• Pinch of time
• Pinch of rosemary

Liquid

• Milk from one coconut

Directions:

Cut up all provisions in to similar sizes, put aside ripe plantains, toss into pot.  Add spices.  Add water to pot make sure all provisions are covered. Boil for about 15 minutes until fork can pass smoothly through provisions.  Add coconut milk and ripe plantains and boil until contents thicken.  Adjust spices and enjoy!

Before cooking!!!

After!!