The Santa Barbara City College campus - Last entry - BYE - see you again in the summer

Melanie Bowen and Journals - for cancer, arthritis, and other illnesses

Melanie Bowen read my blog and asked me to post the information below.  I agreed because I know and I have known friends and family who deal with cancer, diabetes, stress, anxiety, arthritis, and many other challenges. I will read the information and evaluate as I go you should too.

Melanie also asked me to include the link to the blog below.  I believe Melanie is a contributor to this blog.  Of course, blogs lead to other blogs.  I find this new technology interesting because in many ways people now have the ability to share information.
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog

Melanie sent me the piece below.

Health Benefits of Journals

Many people keep journals as a way to catalog their desires, joys, fears and hopes. Non-writers often find this to be a silly, perhaps even trite waste of time. However, several studies have found that keeping a journal can have real health benefits. Roger Himestra reports in issue 90 of "New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education" that studies have found that people who wrote about their problems often experienced improved physical health.

The same study also found that keeping a journal actually contributed to improved psychological health, healing and psychological growth. Some psychologists have often prescribed Journaling as an alternative to serious psychological treatments. It helped to greatly decrease their feelings of stress and anxiety.

People who suffer from a serious disease know all about stress and anxiety. People with arthritis, mesothelioma, AIDS, lung cancer, diabetes and others feel stress and anxiety every day of their lives as they struggle to get over their diseases. They can often lose hope due their prognosis. There is no reason to lose hope even in what seems to be your darkest hour. Start a journal to keep track of your hopes.

Keeping track of your hopes and dreams in this way serves as a tangible reminder on your progress in resolving these dreams. A constant reminder can help keep you focused on meeting them and can give you the drive you need to succeed.

Once your hope and drive has been increased, you may notice a positive change in your mood. You may feel less depression, anxiety and worry about your daily life and your disease. This step is vital to the journaling process. It helps to decrease the importance of your disease.

Journaling helps avoid you falling into the trap of defining yourself by your disease. Being defined by your disease turns you into a victim and narrows your appeal. Avoid this trap by focusing on other aspects in your life completely unrelated to your disease. Remember, you are more than your disease. You have wild goals and dreams that stretch beyond your condition.

Highlight these goals by creating a "bucket list" of activities you want to perform and things you want to achieve in your life. These goals should be wild and beyond your normal activity range. Activities like traveling, cooking and learning to fly can make your life exciting and hopeful.

The best thing about journaling is that it is simple. All you need is a pad of paper and a pencil to start a journal. However, if you want to share your journal a blog may be more your style. A blog shares your hopes and dreams with friends and family on the Internet. Never too late to start your inspiration outlet.

In honor of Black History month.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/93209/500-years-later

And here are sounds from Barbados

The last sounds of my trip to Guyana

Final moments at the Cave Hill Campus - sitting on a bench under a tree - what a breeze

I am always a little down as my last day approaches.  There are no words to describe a Caribbean breeze relieving a steady strong sunshine... trees swaying... I wonder how I live without this in my life daily; young girls walking pass and you wonder why are we so committed to Western style clothing; I watch them and my mind's eye sees them with clothing that reflects the vibrant croton plants in the background, the luscious hibiscus, the many greens ... deep dark and leaves with yellow specks; it makes me really "see" the results of the outside dominance of centuries.

As a youngster I was too... ensnared in this mindset of anything other was better than ours... done without any critical thought and no education to combat that this was always being fed to us and it lined the  air we had to breathe; now the idea of jeans, sweater, shirt and tie, stockings and closed shoes.... are filled with nightmare suffocatings.  I hear it now like magnified echoes... the fireplaces in our tropical homes; the concrete columns and the four and five story brick layered homes.

Why are we so wedded to these styles?  I've seen designers exhibit clothing much more comfortable and appropriate for the tropics.  Yet, time and time again, these styles are rejected by many of us only as we continue to sport clothing styles made out of material more suitable to colder climates.  For the life of me, I can't understand our reluctance to carve our own paths.

website for remigrants - things to do - a particular attitude

You can go to the website below and sign up.  There you can learn about the schemes for remigrants; you can learn about the different regions; you can also fill out the application.

www.chpa.gov.gy
for questions
info@chpa.gov.gy
(592)226-1332

It has to be the attitude.  My opinion, of course, is that if you plan to return to Guyana to live and participate you must be real about the situation and you must have a positive attitude about the future.

You must have patience.

Last year I spent two mornings getting a passport renewed.  Take a book; be ready to chat with lots of people. 

Georgetown -

Padre Glynn/Trinidadian, Bobby Vaughn and Tony Gleaton - interesting men

A few people of interest.  I met Bobby Vaughn and Padre Glynn (Trinidadian) in Mexico.  I saw Tony Gleaton's photography years ago.

As I traveled this time I thought of a man I met many years ago in Cuajiniquilapa; his name is Padre Glynn and he is Trinidadian.  If you[re interested you can read a bit about the area and his work.

http://www.fsa.ulaval.ca/personnel/vernag/eh/f/manif/lectures/black_mexicans.htm

Bobby Vaughn

http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1936-bobby-vaughn-s-homepage-afro-mexicans-of-costa-chica

Tony Gleaton - great photography

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/migrations/legacy/alm.html

My bye bye photos in Lethem

 

On the way to Georgetown - more to come

I have a 2:00 p.m. flight to Georgetown.  I have a few interviews there to share with you.  I think I'll focus the camera on the two markets while I'm there.  See you soon.

Regina's cuisine at the Takutu - Guyana fuh deh healthy body

is boura on a bed uh lettuce, Choka curry boulange wid potato, fresh tomato, and a bowl a wite rice wid green onions an' homemade ginger beer

boil egg wid steam an' fry ground provisions

baked chicken breast, mash potato, fresh salad cucumba, carrot, an' cabbage and stir fry boura

steam carrot, stir fry boura, fresh salad, wite rice, an' pumpkin stew wid chicken

again wid deh homemade ginger beer

an' don' forget deh tree lill mango pun deh side fuh sometin' sweet

This is a private residence; of course, it is different from the commercial area, but it fits into the environment in height as well as design to some degree.  On one side there is an area that is open yet a part of the residence.

As I walk I look around and think of Lethem as a gold mine for creative people;  I think that ideas driven by tropical views and local pride would create an even more beautiful town.

I can see new ideas of structures for hammocks that are artistic and functional.  Hammocks are old and new; they are pieces of art and places for rest and relaxation.

A Guyanese concern about inclusion and equality

For me it always comes back to educaation. Everything is connected. A concern of mine is attitudes that surfaced in conversations. Certain stereotypes continue about groups of people and these beliefs impact serious life chances like jobs and gender roles. 

Thoughtful morning shots - Buildings tell stories of culture, voice, power..... - past to present - and future outcomes

Some ideas of modern

Logical idea for climate and available resources

Above the use of palm leaves works in the climate and they are also cheap and readily available; you can grow your own.

Above you see an indoor sink; it is modern and holds the traditional section - the scrub board - for washing clothes. 

You can see the past and the present in these buildings

 

continued voice of young Wapishanna man

Sorry, I was walking and learning.  I just returned from a morning of breeze and soft sunshine.

 

The young student responded to the breakfast conversation; he thought that there was an understanding of Native Americans as people who did not have value for material wealth and success.

 

He was also responding to my question about the numbers of Native American businesses in the area.  I observed that there were few and those were tiny stalls selling food.  Most of the Native Americans I saw worked for others.  And there were various views to be heard.

 

I was given the opportunity to ask questions of this young man.

 

He explained to me that the younger generation are seeking change; he believed that the older generation had different cultural values.

 

In bullets:  He did say there was more hope because of the new government and the balance of power.

• substantial businesses are not owned by Native Americans
• The younger generation wants change
• very few teachers in villages
• young men attracted to the gold mines for money
• drugs seem to be another avenue for lots of money
• young girls tend to have value for marriage and motherhood over education
• equal opportunity is not always happening
• preferential treatment does happen
• Change is happening within the Native American community, but the outside change coming in is happening rapidly

Wapishana - Amerindian young university student's voice

I want to capture what he said quickly so that I don't lose the important points.

This conversation came about because after the breakfast encounter I sat down and it immediately crossed my mind that I could learn from him.  Why?  Here I am back in my country and very aware of my own ignorance.  I am not ignorant because I left Guyana, but ignorant because in Guyana as well as outside I learned nothing of my country.  So, I immediately knew that I could not let the opportunity pass; I had to find out if he was willing to teach me; I asked him and he was kind enough to sit with me for a while and educate me. 

My question had to do with ownership and employment.  I noticed that all the owners of any substantial business in Lethem were not Amerindians.  They were working for owners.  I asked him about this.

He told me that in his village there are very few teachers.  The young men leave education to enter the gold mining business because they can make money.  Consequently, they are not investing in the long term development.  The girls view marriage and motherhood as priorities; he has tried to have these conversations but he doesn't feel he's getting very far because of the deep traditional response to gender expectations.  He believes teaching can help but it will take time. (to be continued a little later)

Sunday morning photos

young woman on horseback; she did offer me a chance to ride... nah..  at dis age!

 I just liked the early morning sun.

Introduction to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson - one of the first pioneers to Lethem from Berbice

Introducing the beautiful couple - Mrs. and Mr. Johnson, owners of the Takutu Hotel, the gas station, and a ranch in Lethem.  They are both still active  in the business and they have sons, daughters, and grandchildren who are also a part of this success.

Sunday morning - walk photos and breakfast conversations

So, I had to challenge myself this morning.  I guess I have a kind of protective and emotional relationship with Guyana.  I find myself very suspicious of foreigners.  I always view men from the European community as after something that will not be beneficial to Guyanese in the long run.

This morning I swallowed and responded to the two men in the breakfast room when they spoke to me.  I was ignoring them because they gave me an experience that I've encountered often with these men.  The first experience is always being asked when the food will be served or something about their rooms.  Of course, those of you reading and know the experience know that it means that even if you're sitting in the lounge typing on your computer, they will ask you these questions.  I don't have on the staff uniform; I don't have on an apron; I'm not in the kitchen, but hell I must be there to serve somebody.  Okay, yes, that pissed me off; it always pisses me off.  It also means that it happens so often that when the well intentioned person does it the next time they will hear your snarl.

In any case, we chatted about travel; we chatted about the architecture; we chatted about rapid change; we chatted about what was happening to the indigenous people.  This conversation caught the ear of a young man who later approached me about the comment about the Amerindian people not caring about material wealth.  I was glad he approached me because he gave me a chance to learn from another Guyanese and he is Wapishana.  I will give our conversation a special post because I think his voice is important.  Morning photos will also be separate.

Wow - a breezy morning in Lethem - photos and ideas

I started here at 6:30 a.m.  I woke up at 4:30 with a mind filled with ideas.  As I walked I thought about what I would say to someone who planned to visit or return.  The entire area would benefit from the return of Guyanese.

My first thought though was that any person returning to Guyana would need to understand that material expectations are different.

I was a participant in one conversation that made me think of the various reasons for an education.  Moreover, I realized that the definition of a formal education differed for Guyanese.  The conversation also reaffirmed for me how important and necessary an "education" for change and an "education" for Guyanese is needed.

The conversation that stared me thinking was around the interior decoration of a new home in Lethem.  A part of the conversation focused on the "fireplace" in the home.  Some people took it for granted that this was "normal" for the tropics; and another person voiced the question - a fireplace in Lethem, a fire place in the tropics?

These outdoor tables and chairs are the perfect idea for the tropics.  They are stable and permanent.  I can see tables like this with many different tropical decorations and they can all match the garden.  I think these were bought in Brazil.

Architects with a sense of the tropics and with ideas that are other than colonial are needed in many parts of Guyana.  Here in Lethem there is a glorious breeze with the sunshine.  There must be a way to capture this breeze using ideas from people who were here long before the people who brought ideas best suited for cold climates and other cultural ideas.  I see walls filled with openings to allow the breeze.

deh leff leff photos...

A healthy Guyanese meal and jamoon drink.  Who could ask for more?

The funny and different stories

At theTakutu Hotel in Lethem, Guyana

Jessica's story as an adopted Guyanese or English woman who has adopted Guyana is interesting.  Jessica has traveled and worked in Guyana.  Her blog will take you on her trip.

http://yupukari.blogspot.com/

Jessica is a 24 year old graphic design artist who made a trip to the Rupununi with her grandparents.  They have a tradition of visiting an unusual place once a year.  One year it was Guyana and Jessica returned to London and found a way to volunteer.  She taught in various places and now she supervises at the Hotel Takutu and works as a graphic designer.  Jessica does this with a Guyanese accent so real that when I met her I was absolutely sure she was a GT girl working in Lethem. 

Roger, who prefers Regina, was an unexpected and additional delight to my stay at the Takutu Hotel.  Regina has an incredible singing voice and she also cooks.  And, I love cooks simply because I have no intimate relationship with kitchens, but I do have an ongoing love affair with food.  Regina also contributed to my incredible take on Jessica's accent.  I must tell you that story.

Jessica walked into the hotel and I swore she was Guyanese.  Surprisingly, Jessica told me that she was born in England and made her first visit to Guyana was two years ago.  She had visited other islands in the Caribbean, but only for a week or two.  It was immediately obvious to me that she was in love with the country and I suspected that she was also in love with a Guyanese.  Of course, I was right, but it was still incredible to me that she had adopted a Guyanese accent.  I was impressed.  Jessica is twenty four; she explained that she moved a lot as a child, but I still felt that her willingness to use the Guyanese accent told a special tale.  More often than not I've found that foreigners maintain their accents even if they've been in the country for decades.  In contrast, I had to tease Regina.

Regina arrived in Lethem and found freedom; it was in Lethem that she found the freedom to express herself as a talented singer, performer, and artist.  Regina hopes, or should I say she dreams daily of the future and sees herself as a successful singer and recognized in the global community.  While waiting for this opportunity she expresses her creativity in the kitchen.  

My first interaction with Regina was when she walked into the Takutu Hotel in Lethem and I heard what sounded like a cross between an American accent and a British accent and I naturally thought that she was from one of the two countries.  Regina has never visited either.  She simply loves the cultures.

MORE PHOTO STORIES

Takutu family in the morning.  Joyce, â Johnson daughter and Mrs. Johnson.

Joyce has been my guide and to the right is a new bride to a Guyanese husband.  She is Chinese and now in Guyana to live.  It has only been 6 months.

Joyce and Claire grew up in Lethem.

Incredible people, history - stories

Mrs.  Foo owns and runs a guest house in Lethem; her son works with her.

Mrs. Foo and son

Mrs. Foo.  I don't have the words to say how incredibly honored I am to be among such important and humble people.  Mrs. Foo is a true educator and truly dedicated to the positive future of Guyana and its people.  She fell in love with Lethem when she came many years ago to work teaching about food preservation to women and she never left.  Mrs. Foo is dedicated to contributing to the lives of women.  She is an oral historian, a pillar of the community, and she is Guyana women's history. 

Mrs. Foo lost her first husband after 3 children and fell in love and remarried Mr. Foo.  Today Mr. and Mrs. Foo are still together over 40+ years and they are still in love.

Mr. and Mrs.  Grimmons.  I am in total awe of this man and his wife.  Of course, it surprises how little I know of my Guyanese history and my roots.  Only a documentary can tell this couple's story.  Here I will share the strength, courage, and determination of two people; And their story is a Guyanese history story.

The beautiful and peaceful residence of Mr. and Mrs. Grimmonds

Around 1969, after the Rupununi Uprising, coastlanders were chosen to relocate to the Rupununi; they were promised a certain amount of land.  Mr. Grimmonds was farmer and a man who cut cane; he was one of 20 men chosen for the area; they arrived and were placed in a camp; they were given 3 months to clear the land.  Of the 20 men only 3 men stayed.  Mr. Grimmonds fell in love with the land and the quiet; he survived the hardship and the difference in terrain; he returned home and brought his wife and four children.  Together they made a home and a life. 

 Today Mr. and Mrs. Grimmonds still manage their land together - 45 years of marriage and they are still in love. 

Mr. Gimmonds and Mr. Johnson

Two handsome and determined friends and pioneers.  These two men entered the Rupununi in search of a future; they stayed and contributed to culture and the building of the country.  Mr. Grimmons was a farmer who developed land; planted food; raised animals and delivered them to markets that extended as far as Georgetown.  Mr. Johnson (to the right) left Berbice to drive cattle back and forth; these journeys lasted 2 weeks.  He survived the uprising; he bought land; he built a hotel; he bought a ranch; he started a gas station.  

Both men have children who continue the work.  Mr. Johnson has also been married for over 35 years

Joyce, Mr. Johnson's daughter, Mrs. and Mr. Gimmonds and Mr. Johnson the owner of The Takutu hotel, the Takutu gas station and a ranch

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photos photos while I can....

Helping Hand women's group - The making of peanut butter - I had no idea - women at work

The end product and I was told it "taste good too."

Members of Helping Hand and the VSO volunteer.  I felt the welcome

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I had no idea.  After the peanuts have been shelled then they go through a process to separate the nuts from the shells; the wind literally takes the shells as the woman raises the pan and then lets the shells fall.