Good Bye Guyana

I find time passes much too quickly in someways and much too slowly in others. The too quickly involves how much time has passed since I last added to my blog. I have been back in the states since the end of December and have been fortunate of enough to see many of you. During this time once again time passed much too quickly. I would be visiting for what seemed like minutes and it would have been hours. Even though it was hours there had still not been enough time. I would like to tell every one that I saw how much more I appreciated seeing you this time. Unfortunately most of us take what we can do on a frequent basis and categorize it as unimportant and mundane. We tend to think of special as those parts of our lives that occur only occasionally. I have learned that most of what we take for granted is what is really most important in our lives and what forms us into who we are. Of course the best judge of importance is to lose what you have, then you really understand its importance. That, however, is a really hard way to learn. A kinder and gentler way is to try each day to appreciate all that we have, something I am striving to accomplish in my daily life. All of these deep thoughts come for a reason. While I have been home in the states I have had to make the decision about whether or not I would be returning to Guyana for my second year.

The people I have met both Peace Corps and Guyanese have helped to form the new me. Hopefully I have morphed in to a person whose values are now much more family focused and much less ME focused.

I have witnessed how hard the people of Guyana work to improve their lot in life, many without ever complaining. The students, who I taught at the University of Guyana are a prime example. Most of them have family, jobs and are attending classes

full time. You would never know that, when they are in the classroom. they are attentive and eager to learn. My times with my students were some of my favorite times in Guyana. The picture to the right is at their graduation.

Next there are the friends I have made in the Peace Corps. This group of people, and it spanned the decades, from age twenty-three all the way into the sixties, exceeded the norm in selflessness. They would spend many hours everyday with no other purpose than to make someone's life better; not by giving away fish but by patiently teaching how to fish. They included me into their activities with open arms and never any judgement. All this being said, it is easy to see how hard my decision would be. However after much thought my choice is not to

return for my final year. A good part

of my decision not to return is based upon family and some of my reasons will only be known in my own heart. But I do want you to know that if this were last year this time, knowing all that I know

right now I would still have gone to Guyana.

The effect it has had upon me and my, hopefully better understanding of relationships will remain with me the rest of my life.

Having filled you with deep thoughts I would now like to share an anecdote of my departure.

For the first time ever I was stopped at security and told I was carrying a dangerous weapon. the dangerous weapon was a cooking item known as a tawah. This is a small flat metal plate which is used to make roti (a type of Indian flat bread), and also Pizza and open face cheese melts if you are American. It is a really unique cooking tool and I really wanted it. When they took it from my carry on and said they were confiscating it, I knew I had to take action. Pleading with them to

see if I could possibly still get this into my checked baggage, they

finally relented and allow me to try. This involved myself and a very large gentleman, whose job was to carry the tawah, ( I was no longer allowed to touch the tawah, since it had been declared a dangerous weapon) leaving security and attempting to find someone to let us into the checked baggage area. That was the most difficult part, but I finally did talk myself into the checked baggage area and was directed to the area with the large gentleman continuing to follow behind me carrying the tawah. Now remembering that it was December, I had dressed as warm as possible for my trip to the U.S., not realizing that I would be taking a 1/2 mile journey outside in the 95 degree heat to get to the checked baggage. All of my efforts to look

good were immediately drenched in sweat, but the tawah was in my bag, proving that with a little perseverance and a lot of sweat you can accomplish most things.

Now that I have returned to the states I would like to thank all of you for following my blog. I hope that in some way my experiences have helped any one who shared in reading them. I would also like to thank those who sent care packages to me, they were much appreciated. I will be spending the first few months just readjusting to the American pace and also enjoying my little grand daughter, who gets cuter everyday.

This will be my last post. I would love to continue hearing from you, but if not, know that I have enjoyed sharing this journey with each of you and hope that your continued journey in life is filled with adventure and happiness.

My final salute is to my amazing 97 year young mother

who has always been there for me and continues to love her

family and life more than anyone could believe was possible.

Thank you mother for always being there.