Last Post of the Year!!

I CAN SEE THE END, AND IT LOOKS SO SWEET!!
I am going to be happy to see the back of this Christmas term. It has been 15 long weeks of drama, academic dishonesty, bad grades, late assignments, psychotic chaos, and romance.
Quick breakdown of the term:
- nothing gets done at this school no matter how much you ask
- students cheat, cheat, and cheat some more. There is no moral code with some of these students
- students also fail to do assignments you set. Half my eighth graders failed science because they did not do the work. Although these grades can look bad on my part, I would be more than happy to show you my grade book... it has more holes than a sieve.
- if students do decide to do their homework, the majority turn it in after it's due. The number one excuse being: but Miss, I didn't understand. Well, you had a week to do this assignment so telling me now that you don't understand means you looked at it this morning and released you didn't have enough time to finish. Sorry, I don't accept comprehension excuses.
- I have a psychotic head of department... nuff said.
This rollercoaster of a term can only mean a better second term... fingers crossed.

My paper chain decorations!!

I wrote this post while in a classroom with around twenty 15 year olds... not the most exciting place I have been. The flipping through pages and last minute cramming makes me appreciate proctoring the exams rather than taking them myself. However, I am extremely envious that these students can forget all about these subjects once the bell rings... that's where our fun starts. Grading grading grading... should I say it again? GRADING! All those exams need to be marked; fortunately we have next week in finish all paperwork. I believe that the person that created the exam schedule is not a friend of mine. Instead of spreading science out over the week, it is bundled between Thursday, Friday and the following Monday. This means nothing to do tonight and tomorrow night, but an overload of work come Thursday. Don't expect to hear from me until after Christmas...

Our awesome Christmas Tree with Sir Isaac Newton at the top!

Speaking of Christmas, I am so excited that it is the holiday season, even though it feels like July still. I am reading all these statuses about the snow and the cold, and although this does make me miss Purdue, I am totally pucker with not being cold this Christmas.

My next post will be in the new year so I am going to give you Katie's Top 10 Guyana Experiences from 2011.
10. Sleeping in a net every single night
9. Eating from a lily pad
8. Being stared at by everyone (there must be something different about me)
7. Purposefully arriving to an event late and feeling on time
6. Being continually asked if I am married
5. Having the most freckles I have ever had
4. Cribbage nights
3. "just now"
2. Sarah Stevens
1. Knowing that I am a part of something a lot bigger than myself

-Peace out 2011

The World Keeps Turning

Wednesday night already, boy this week is going by fast. Monday was Ede (Islamic holiday) so there was no school, and yesterday was a half day. Today has been the only full day I have taught lessons and I only have lessons scheduled for the morning... I haven't taught a single afternoon this week =S.

Sarah and I threw a kickass Halloween party this weekend and we were not disappointed by the turnout. Not only did a lot of our Guyanese friends come but we had two very special visitors. Sir Jose came from New Amsterdam to see us, and Miss Rosie came from Port Kaituma. We loved that they were able to come and see where we live. Rosie didn't have a costume prepared so we decided she should be a psychedelic hippie, we found some brightly coloured clothes for her to wear, and a bandanna. I don't think she was too impressed looking like a rainbow has just been thrown into a blender... does this mean I should rethink my style? After all, everything that Rosie wore that night belonged to me and are things I would wear without even thinking I looked funky. Eh, I'm gunna carry on.

Rosie, me, Jose and Sarah

Our halloween house looked A-MA-ZING... Sarah and Jose hung these awesome, but expensive (ask Sarah) cobwebs. The looked really cool but my lion ears kept getting caught in them, another teacher also got into a bit of a tangle hehehe. We also had frankencups, and beakers filled with candy. It was a pretty epic halloween party.

I was dressed as a lion. We teased my hair to make a mane, but sadly I had no hair spray so my hair lost its volume throughout the night. My favourite part of my costume was definitely my tail.
The party went on until around midnight, and after being in the sun all day, cleaning and decorating the house, and then dancing the night away I was definitely out when my head touched that pillow.

Time for me to leave you for now.

-peace out.

Graduation

So last weekend was ARMs graduation; so that meant all the teachers had to dress like movie stars for this red carpet event. I was lucky enough to be lent a sexy red dress and some black accessories. Both Sarah and I looked pretty awesome. Graduation, however, wasn't as exciting as the getting ready part. It took about 4 hours to give out all diplomas and prizes... my butt was dead afterwards. We then went into the cafeteria for dinner and then we had a fun evening playing games and going to the sea wall. 

There aren't many pictures of me from graduation but these are my favourites: 

Sarah creepin on us

All glammed up!

I'm a great big slacker...

Alligator found outside the school compound

 I keep meaning to update this blog, but every time I remember something comes up or I am laid in bed with no internet access. I have a lot to talk about so let's get cracking... The first week was very chaotic, the timetable is basically this giant blackboard in the staff room, and if there are any clashes then the deputy head has to rework everything by hand.
When we got here, Sarah was told that she would be teaching science even though she majored in math and has not taken a science class since high school. She had to teach year 10 and 11 physics but one of the regional educators heard about the situation and decided it would be best if I taught the 11th grade physics as her daughter is in that class.hmmm

The next week flew by, which is funny because the previous week dragged so much. I had some good classes and some not so good classes. I have a few students in my base class that are now obsessed with me. Every time they see me in the hallway they yell my name and ask me a whole bunch of personal questions. One girl keeps bringing me mangos from her mango tree... I do not complain as they are delicious. I have had a lot of students ask me age, they are shocked when I say 22 because most think I'm around 30. LOL.

Sarah and I found a 2 week old kitten in the staff room this week. We have been feeding him with an eye dropper and keeping him in a box in our kitchen. His name is Basil and he is so cute! He is getting bigger, along with his mewing lol.

Sports a couple weeks ago, and all the teachers and students had been placed into houses, I was blue, which is cool as I was blue at John Mason (my UK school). Unfortunately there are teachers races, and all the teachers in my house seem to think I'm a good runner. I requested that I run a longer distance than a sprint, I have never been a good sprinter. We had field events on Thursday and we were supposed to have track events on Friday, but seeing as it down poured on Thursday night the field flooded. Instead we had a fun morning of playing heads up seven up with my base class. We went outside in the afternoon for some of the novelty events such as the three legged race, the balloon toss, and the lime and spoon race. All these events were for students and teachers. Sarah and I came joint last on the lime and spoon race, and then Nigel and I came second to last on the balloon toss. Nigel threw the balloon too hard and it burst right into my crotch lol. It was a shock but it felt good as it was so hot... also the students loved that I got completely soaked.

It was Essequibo night a couple of weekends ago. They basically have a big party with lots of music and dancing. We were going to go Friday night but the ground was still a little flooded so we stayed at home and watched movies.We went on Saturday night and drank a lot of beer and had a good time with a couple of the peace corps volunteers.

I will write more soon, but I gots some lessons to plan. Enjoy the pictures (stolen from Nigel)

Covered area of the school during an assembly

Anna Regina Multilateral School

-peace out

Anna Regina has some very Special Guests

WE’RE HERE!!

Our 3 hour trip from Georgetown was successful. Georgetown -> Parika -> Supernaam -> Anna Regina was the itinerary. We had to take a speed boat from Parika to Supernaam and that was super cool, I didn’t want the ride to end.

Parika

Ride on the Essequibo River

Supenaam

Our house in Anna Regina is massive. It is the old headmasters apartment on the school compound. It’s nice to be 2 feet away from the workplace. We have a large livingroom, dining room and kitchen. There are also 3 bedrooms; unfortunately the biggest has the least amount of breeze so we aren’t using it to sleep in… at least that meant that Sarah and I didn’t have to fight over it =). My room has a bed… that’s it. I am going to keep an eye out for a small desk or bedside table. I am using the third bedrooms closet as it is bigger than mine, and we are also using that room as our laundry room.

We have spent a little time in the town. We walked around the market on Friday, and then visiting Zorg on Saturday with our friend Antonio. We walked on the beach, drank Blanko and collected a mango and sugar cane from his backyard.

*insert house pictures*

We chillaxed on Sunday before the big day.

There’s an enormous dragonfly on the outside of my net

The first day of school is over, I made it through. I can easily reflect on this momentous day while hiding within my mosquito net, listening to Bon Jovi and watching a frog climb on my wall.

Sarah and I were so nervous this morning. We were up (a very loose term) around 630am this morning. I was awake at this time but hadn’t departed my bed. I showered, dressed and ate a banana. Sarah and I left our house around 755am and went to the canteen for breakfast. The ladies that works there are awesome; they are so fun and are so nice to us, nothing is too much trouble.  We then went to the office and met 2 other new teachers. At around 945am we were taken to the staff room for an orientation meeting, the official daily staff meeting started at 10am while the students were on break. It was then we were introduced to the rest of the staff. One of the teachers has taken to calling me “Katt-ee” without realizing that that isn’t how you pronounce my name. I think it might be a little late to start correcting her..  :L

I then was sent to a classroom where I was meant to be assisting a teacher. It turns out that for various reasons that this teacher didn’t come to class… seeing as I was told I wouldn’t be teaching until Tuesday I didn’t prepare a lesson. I walked into the classroom with all these bright eyed eighth graders looking at me… think think think. I introduced myself and gave a little background, and then we went around the room. I asked each student to tell me their name, where they are from, and what they want to be when they grow up. I could not hear half of the students; they talk so quietly that I have to tell them I’m old and deaf to encourage them to talk louder. Some of the career choices were: doctor, lawyer, nurse, teacher, mechanical engineer, and architect. We then did some nature talk; it was review for a lot of them, but I enjoyed it. I feel that being thrown into a classroom with nothing prepared has been a good start to my year here in Guyana… any structured lesson will be better than what I came up with today. Overall I handled it pretty well, but I wish I had had something super fun planned.

After lunch we met up with our head of department and got the syllabus (broad term) for our subjects. As of right now I am teaching 7,8 and 10^th grade integrated science, and 10^th grade chemistry. Unfortunately ARMS is overstaffed with maths teachers, so she is stuck teaching 9 and 10^th grade integrated science and 10 and 11^th grade physics (basically because no one else wants to teach it). I told Sarah that if she wanted I would take the 11^th grade physics off her hands, the deputy head said that we would rework the timetable if we had to.

I have been working on the 2 lessons I have to give tomorrow (two eighth grade science and tenth grade chemistry) and I am feeling pretty good.

$100 to ride the bus?!

I have been writing a lot of long emails to people, then I remembered that I have this blog and writing out all my info once to everyone is a lot easier.

So orientation is over, we spent the last 2.5 weeks getting adjusted to life in Guyana and especially the heat. Here is the journey so far: After 4 plane rides I was finally in Guyana. I tried to keep my eyes open through the bus ride from the airport but it was hard, and I think the heat made me more sleepy. We arrive at the education college around midnight and we were all exhausted. We found our rooms and figured out how to get into the mosquito net. Our days were filled with classes talking about safety, culture, language, and lesson plan making. We had a lot of free time, also, to take the bus into Georgetown and roam the markets. We had an endless struggle to find Guyanese SIM cards and phones, there seemed to be none left... but by some miracle a few of us were able to find SIM cards. It cost me $600 for a SIM card.
I bet you're thinking that $600 for a SIM card is a little steep... well there are 200 Guyanese dollars for every 1 US dollar, so infact my SIM card cost me $3 US. For you Brits, there are 320 Guyanese dollars for every 1 Pound Sterling. It means that I am walking around with $1000 dollar bills, makes me feel like a millionaire, until I remember that I am in Guyana.


I am slowly adjusting to the heat. I am continuously sweating, and constantly freckling. I have my first ever tan line, and compared to everyone else I am still unbelievable white, but for me this colour is amazing. The security guards at the college laugh at me for being so white and covered in mosquito bites
We have been to a few places, we have walked on the sea wall and seen the beautiful Atlantic Ocean... I just the word beautiful very loosely. The water is solid brown from the sediments from the Amazon River. We have been to a river resort called Splashmins; Fiza and I enjoyed sitted on the sandy bank with our drinks and the floating tide. It was pretty relaxing. We have also been to a lot of bars, playing cards, UNO, and jenga are great ways to pass the time... especially with our newly found drink "White Krishna". 

I have met a lot of interesting new people. I have also made a few non human friends too. I have had a few geckos hiding behind my door and under my suitcase, tree frogs in the shower, and stray dogs running around campus. Some of these dogs are cute, but some are really diseased; it's hard to see uncared for dogs and to just let nature take its course. These dogs are wild just like any other wild animal and need to be treated as such, even though I am so used to domestic dogs.
I have also seen a lot of birds... unfortunately I can't for the life of me find a decent bird guide. Georgetown does not have much in the way of (affordable) wildlife guides. I guess we are going to have to play it by ear and use the trusty internet to ID my birds.

I have made the executive decision to start eating meat while in Guyana. My vegetarian principle takes a stand against commercial farming and inhumane treatment of animals. The majority of animals farmed in Guyana are free range, therefore coinciding with my morals. I don't have any personal reasons not to eat meat in this country.  

Speaking of food, I am off to get something to eat. I am getting rather hungry.

-peace out!

Malaria tablets: check. Passport: check. All the clothes I need for one year: check?

Time: 11:40pm
Weather: very dark, slightly overcast, 57 degrees Fahrenheit/14 degrees Celsius  
Current mood: itchy
Time until departure of house: 6 hours and 20 minutes
Time until departure from Dublin: 10 hours and 20 minutes
Time of arrival in Chicago O'Hare: 12:10pm Central
Time of plane departing from Chicago to Miami: 4:10pm
Time of arrival in Miami: 8:20pm Eastern

That is Friday, ladies and gentlemen... it's going to be a rough one.

Next is Saturday:

Time of departure from Miami: 3pm Eastern
Time of arrival in Georgetown: 9:25pm (still Eastern but they probably have their own name for it)

TOTAL TIME UNTIL ARRIVAL IN GEORGETOWN: 50!!!
The countdown begins now.

Anna Regina is in for a shock!!

I FINALLY HAVE MY PLACEMENT!

I was clearing the bedroom of my old apartment Wednesday morning when I took a break to check my emails. I made the mistake of checking facebook at the same time and saw that two of my fellow volunteers had received their school placements. I instantly went back to my emails and continually clicked the refresh button, 30 minutes later I still hadn't received my placement. Frustration started setting in.... refresh, refresh, refresh ... still no placement. Lunch ... refresh, refresh, refresh ... no placement. I then got ready to meet my old advisor, Linda, for ice cream ... one more refresh... really, one more refresh... no placement. After some very satisfying strawberry-banana-mango sorbet from Coldstone ... refresh ... PLACEMENT!!

I have been placed as the science teacher at Anna Regina Multilateral School (ARMS). Anna Regina is a small town in Essequibo Coast region of Guyana, however it is the largest town in that region.

 

It takes about 3 hours to get from Anna Regina to Georgetown, the capital, using buses and boats.
The majority of people in the Essequibo region are Indo-Guyanese, but there are some other cultures such as Afro-Guyanese and Amerindians. I can't wait to get a taste (well it'll be more than a taste) of these cultures.

Map of Anna Regina

ARMS is one of the best schools in the country, but is large with an enrollment of 1100 students last year... wow... that's double the size of West Lafayette High School. eek. I guess I will describe the school more once I get there and see it for myself.

As far as communication goes, it looks like I will have access to cell phone reception, and the internet, so you all can stay tuned with my blog once it really starts to get going =).

As of right now I am a hodge-podge of emotions... sad because I just left Lafayette and all my friends, relaxed because I am at home doing nothing, and excited because I am leaving for this incredible place in just two weeks. Seems more real now =)))))))

So I had a real blond moment a few days ago, for some reason I thought I had read that I could only take one bag weighing 22lbs on the plane... ummmm.... that's not much room for clothes... at... all.... :S I thought I would have to go through the clothes I planned on taking and having to decide whether I needed to take it, or if I just wanted to take it. Well, after reexamination of the Caribbean Airlines website, it turns out I can take 2 bags weighing 50lbs each... PANIC OVER!!

Okay, time for me to go outside to read and relax for a little while.

-peace out for now

A New Twist

I have over 6 weeks left until I leave for Guyana. I still haven't received my placement yet, but I hoping to get that any day now. I will also (hopefully) have an address to post so you can all send me letters :).

I do, however, have some new news. I have decided to make one more trip home before I leave for Guyana. I have a lot of time in Lafayette with not a whole lot to do. I have had a few unfortunate and frustrating events that are making me hate being here. I didn't see the point in being stranded in Lafayette with no real home, no car or no bike when I could be stranded in Ireland with my parents and Chica.
I hate to leave everyone in the US so early, but I am going crazy here.

My next post will (hopefully) have details of my placement!!!

-peace out

This would happen...

As soon as I update everyone with basically no news of my departure I receive the news that same day. Turns out I will be leaving Saturday August 13th from Miami at 3pm!!!!!!!!

-peace out

Update so far...

I know it's been over a month since I have updated on here but things have been kinda crazy around here. First of all I spent a couple weeks across the pond. I was able to spend some time with my family before I leave for Guyana. It was hard to say goodbye, especially to my sister, but it's not goodbye forever.

 I still haven't heard when I'm leaving yet, but I am hoping that I hear this week. The tentative date is during the second week of August, but I will let everyone know once I do. I should also know where I'm being positioned in July, so I will know all about possible internet access and such. Again, I'll keep you all updated.

I actually do have some interesting information though, I have a 90 page booklet and a guide to Guyana so I have learnt so much already. I know what I need to take (clothes wise) in order to be socially respectable, and what I need to take in terms of toiletries. I am feeling pretty confident in the way I will dress, I just need to check if I need to cover my tattoo while in public.
I have also been looking at all the wildlife I could see and I am PRAYING that I see a jaguar (from a distance of course),  but any new wildlife sightings would be amazing. I'M GUNNA TAKE SO MANY PICTURES!!

I am getting so excited, I just want to leave right now!!

-peace out

The Awesome News!!!

So two days ago, while bumming around my apartment in Lafayette, IN, I received a fateful email. After reading only the first three words of the email: "Dear Katie, Congratulations..." I immediately started jumping on my couch, for I was accepted into the World Teach program.
For those of you unfamiliar with World Teach, it is a non-profit organization that sends volunteers abroad for a year to teach in a school. They offer programs in a variety of different locations such as China, Thailand, Africa, South America, and the Pacific Islands for periods ranging from a summer up to a full year. If you are interested finding out more go to www.worldteach.org.
I have been accepted to teach in Guyana, South America for one year. Guyana is a former British colony that is located in the northern part of the continent (check out wikipedia for more facts, they have some pretty badass pictures too). The Guyana, 2011 program was not my first selection as I originally applied for the Marshall Islands program. I was not accepted into that program due to budget cuts, and in their rejection email they suggested that I applied for a program in either Guyana or China. I researched both programs but knew that Guyana was perfect for me when I learned that their Republic Day is February 23rd... MY BIRTHDAY! I had visions of street parades, floats, masks, and a whole lot of glitter that would be the perfect way to celebrate my golden birthday. I immediately applied for this position.
I am currently in a state of disbelief; not only will I have graduated employed, but I will be spending a year in a beautiful country doing what I love. As of right now I don't know who, what, or where I will be teaching but I have a feeling it will be one of the three sciences (keeping my fingers crossed it's not physics).  I have a long checklist of things to complete before I leave including medical info, financial info, and a whole lot of paper work. Not to mention, I have to clear my apartment and prepare myself mentally to leave the U.S.A. So I will be a busy bee for the next 2 months.
So please keep reading, and over the next year I will try my hardest to keep adding to my South American Adventure.

Signing off, Katie