Getting on with things
on Kate in Guyana (Guyana), 19/Feb/2010 12:11, 34 days ago
This week I've been able to concentrate with sorting out this training course. I've agreed what roles we VSOs will have in getting things done, so I am able to move it on now. I've talked to the head teachers of the 9 special schools and units about the course, and they seem fairly positive about it, but then they probably would not say otherwise. It is difficult to get a straight answer because as I'm working as part of the Ministry of Education, everyone feels they have to agree with me. Also Guyanese people don't like to refuse anything, they say "just now" which means "wait a bit, I'll do it soon", or possibly "no chance today - you'll need to ask me five times before I even give you an answer".We have five new VSO vols so there is a social tonight at the roof top bar, which has a good view over Georgetown - a good Friday night slow down experience. Free bar and good snack! There is a couple who have just finished in Ghana, with four weeks at home, then out here. They are enjoying the rest now they have got here! A few of the older volunteers get into this kind of globe trotting but I don't think I could cope with the strain.Everything is very dry here, the rainy season in Dec and Jan did not happen, so they are short of water for the rice fields. They are having to pump water into drainage/irrigation ditches. They are expecting rain in April to relieve the situation.The main TV channel here gives a good idea of what the government is concerned about, and covers the meetings they have with farmers, also quite a lot of stuff on climate change and the Low Carbon Development Strategy. There has been quite a bit of negotiation with miners who are concerned about having stricter rules about getting permits. The mines are open cast gold mines and make quite a mess of the environment, although they only cover small patches.