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My sleeping patterns have been disturbed here by the lack of darkness. The city is never really dark. I could shut the blinds, but everything outside is still such a novelty that I don’t want to. There are no stars in the sky, but my sleepy country eyes see the network of lights on the ground as constellations. My garbled thoughts right before I fall asleep tend toward the sentimental and maudlin, so forgive me, but in those half-wakeful moments this past week I found myself thinking that the endless city lights made it look like the sky and the earth had switched places.
Read more about Anne's experience on her personal blog
http://krukagoestobaltimore.blogspot.com/
-Anne Kruk- '10
Transfiguration Catholic Community
Baltimore, MD
So basically, my Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be awesome! I've also spent more time down in the Adult Day Center at the Georgia Infirmary and spent all day yesterday listening to a woman's life story. It was amazing. The things she has been through and the experiences she has had - I can't even imagine. It was struggle after struggle - heartbreak after heartbreak, and here she was the brightest shining smiling face in the room. It was truly amazing. I took notes as best I could and typed them up for her - she wants to put together a book to save for her grandchildren. I am so happy that I am able to get to know these people and even now I'm a little anxious about having to up and leave them in a year.
Read more about Mike's experience on his personal blog
http://mikesadventuresinthesouth.blogspot.com/
-Mike Grathwol- '10
St. Joseph's/ Candler SOURCE Program
Savannah, GA
2010 Guyana Volunteers (L to R-Ashley, Audrey, Sara)
I landed in Georgetown, Guyana early tuesday morning after a full day and night of traveling. Stepped off the plan and two things became apparent. One...It was hot, but tolerable. Two...We were in a tropical Caribbean flavored culture! We made it through immigration and customs without a problem and were met by Sister Julie(our in-country coordinator) and Miss Pat(a Mercy Associate who works at Mercy Wings Vocational School). We were tired, but the drive from the airport to Meadowbrook convent where we are staying was sensational. All of our senses were lit up! Sight...Bright equator sun, tropical greenery, interesting people, different architecture, etc. Sound...If you are driving in guyana you are honking your horn about every other block! Cows, goats, horses in the roads being loud. Parrots screeching! Smells...sewage in the culverts, fresh fruit stands, etc. Sense...hot, tired, hungry Taste...I needed to brush my teeth really bad! It was a lot to take in, but was an excellent first taste of Guyana! We came back to the Meadowbrook convent where we will be staying and learning a few things over the next few days! The sisters we are staying with are all very nice and have been helping us out a lot. The food here has not been a problem so far. The fresh fruits are great especially the bananas! Curry Chicken and rice for lunch today was FANTASTIC thanks to Maisy the convent's cook. There has been plenty of purified drinking water so no troubles there either. Sleeping hasn't been a problem yet either! Mosquito net and fan keep me quite comfortable!
Read more about Sarah's experience on her personal blog
http://sarahdgraves.livejournal.com/
-Sarah Graves- '10
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital
Guyana, South America |
