VSOing, where?
on Raquel @ VSO (Guyana), 16/Jul/2009 20:39, 34 days ago
Ok, so now it's official. It has actually been official since June, 15th, when I got an email with this:That's a month and a day ago now. Unbelievable. Scary. Exciting.What did I do when I read the name of the place? Googled it, of course! This is what Wiki had to say about "my" place:"Mahdiais a small community in thePotaro-Siparuniregion ofGuyana, located at5°16′N59°9′W / 5.267°N 59.15°W /5.267; -59.15, at an altitude of 415 metres (1,360 ft). Commerce is centred around the area'sgoldanddiamondmining operations. As such it responds to and is affected by the economic booms and busts."So, Mahdia is in the Potaro-Siparuni region. The red bit below:"The population of Mahdia (c. 500) is made up of three groups. ThePatamonasare an indigenousAmerindiantribe. The Coastlanders are residents from elsewhere in Guyana who have moved to the Madhia area. The Islanders are the immigrants and their descendants from certain Caribbean Islands, particularly,St LuciaandDominica. Within recent times there has been an influx of a group that is referred to as“foreigners” by the other residents of the area.Madhia is a regional administrative center. The community has a police station, and schools that provide nursery and primary education. Madhia has a commercial sector which includes dry goods shops, boutiques, a fuel station, two hotels and a brothel. The area is also serviced by several trucks from the coast. These trucks travel to Madhia several times each week and sell vegetables, groceries and other supplies. There is a well in the area which is not functional. Residents consequently collect rainwater for domestic use.Mahdia is accessible by road fromBartica, the Konawaruk Road (linksLindentoMabura) and from the capital,Georgetown, via a pontoon crossing on theEssequibo Riverat Mango Landing. Mahdia has a landing strip (Airport Code MHA) for small planes."Info fromhere