Selfish me and giving thanks

I read my last post and I can't help but feel selfish. At least I have the opportunity to leave. Many don't. This always happens, I feel negative and the next split second, I feel guilty. Because I know that I can leave and have something to look forward to. I can always go back to the States, get a good job, and have never been for want of food. 

Some people can't leave their situation and don't even know where to start to improve it. And I'm not even doing anything yet to help. Even if you can't help the country, you can help a few people. I will find a way, but it's a struggle. I can give you all of the excuses (baby keeps me busy blah blah blah), but I must find something to put my heart and soul into. For the sake of my son. He'll be happier if I'm happier, and I want him to learn that we should always, always look out for others. And give thanks for all that we have, every day, not just on Thanksgiving. 

Calgon take me away...nope, not gonna cut it. I need a plane.

Busy busy...that's what the Guyanese say when a toddler is running around and getting into everything.

"He's so busy."

I like it. It's quite accurate. Aidan is busy learning and making new associations on a daily basis. I'll get to that in another post...right now I need to be negative.

I've been busy too...amazing given that there is NOTHING to do here. I realize that I haven't posted since election night. What has happened to the time?

So I have a lot to say...and I must warn you, this is a busy post. I'm going to skip around all sorts of issues...and I just don't care, because it's My Blog. My Rant.

First off, I'm jealous of my husband. Right after the election, Richard left town for a week as the local coordinator for a US Navy medical mission in the town of Santa Rosa. Here's a link to a story. You can see his backside in the second photo (the guy with the yellow shirt and hat): 

http://www.stabroeknews.com/news/north-west-residents-grateful-for-us-medical/

Great opportunity for him to do something different and to get out of Georgetown. The guesthouse he stayed in was a bit dismal, but he was doing something to help others and he got out of Georgetown!!

I need that opportunity! Some expats told us when we first arrived that you need to leave Georgetown every 3 months to feel sane. I said, "no way"....I mean, we were in the Peace Corps, what can be so bad?

Well, my limit isn't 3 months: it's 5 months. There is just nothing to do here so you feel trapped. And when I say nothing to do, I mean you don't even really have a place to wander and window shop, no restaurants to really look forward to, and hardly anywhere to take Aidan to play beyond the national park and botanical gardens. I'm scared to go to the zoo because of conditions I've heard about. 

It's a feeling of being trapped, in a hot cage where the weather doesn't change. You can't just jump in your car and go somewhere. First off, the driving is scary, and second, the roads are piss-poor the farther you get from Georgetown and most places you might want to go you actually have to go by speedboat. You can't get to places over bridges by car very easily, and the potholes on those little roads will kill our Rav4. So you have to plan and you need money.

So you're trapped.....to make do in your house with what you have...and ants start taking over the kitchen, and your AC stops working, and your only escape, the internet, doesn't want to cooperate either, and then you just want to take a pleasant stroll without the worry of mosquitoes carrying Dengue fever biting your little one.

I'm sure my last supervisor is laughing right now if he's reading this. When I told him we were going to Guyana, he looked at me with wide, cynical eyes, "what is it with you Peace people wanting to go to third world countries!?!"

I really don't mean to be negative. I mean, I like to think that I'm open-minded about these things. It's an adventure. Each culture has a uniqueness that can become endearing. My time in Bulgaria taught me that you can't really understand your own culture until you live in another...and there's plenty to not like about the US (although the election of Obama has me feeling pretty proud about my country lately - but again, that's another post).

In the past couple of weeks I've found myself feeling more nostalgia for Bulgaria. Through all the corruption and lack of customer service, they still have some pride and culture. Bulgaria can go somewhere. 

But I don't want to compare my experience here to Bulgaria, because the experience is VERY different (just to lay out the most obvious...I was single and a volunteer in Bulgaria, now I'm married to a diplomat, given he is my Peace Corps sweetheart, with a 17-month old boy and no job of my own).

Culture here is a mish-mash that I was looking forward to exploring. It's interesting on the one-hand, because there are so many different religions (which you would think would make people more tolerant) with the interesting mesh of indian curry and chinese fried-rice that permeates the "caribbean" food culture. But they haven't really latched on to what they view as important and valued about their culture that they want to preserve. Everyone wants to immigrate and buy American products. They don't think about what they should produce here to keep this country going. Now I don't want to generalize, because some entrepreneurs are doing some great things (aquaculture, for example), but overall I find myself feeling very sad about this country. The poverty and lack of desire to make it better. Instead, here's the attitude: let's leave. 

Paul Collier put is succinctly in his book "The Bottom Billion" when discussing Cuba: 

To my mind, development is about giving hope to ordinary people that their children will live in a society that has caught up with the rest of the world. Take that hope away and the smart people will use their energies not to develop their society but to escape from it.

I haven't found one thing that I will treasure and it makes me sad.....neither a treasure that I've learned, an insight I've gained by being here, nor a material treasure...the unique ethno-plunder that you bring back from the places that you have lived and travelled.

And no matter how hard I try, I can not, CAN NOT get over the driving. Here is an example that seems to happen to me on a daily basis:

First, remember that we drive on the left-hand side of the road with the steering wheel on the right.

Second, most roads are quite narrow with no sidewalks to speak of.

I'm waiting at the stop light behind 4 or so cars to turn right (this would be your normal left-hand turn in the States).

Imagine seeing the number count down on the crosswalk before it gets to zero and your light turns green.

10, 9, 8..horns start beeping...7, 6, 5...more horns...the light is still red people!!....4, 3, 2...out of my rear view mirror I see a car coming in the right-hand lane beside me, on a two lane road, in the opposite direction of traffic, at top speed to go around all the cars in the left-lane, who have just started moving to go when the red light is still 2 seconds from turning green...this car speeds around all cars to go straight through the light. 

Think of this: if I didn't look in my rear-view mirror EVERY SINGLE TIME, I am bound to make that right turn and hit this car, which is going around my right and not turning right, but going straight through the intersection.

Can you imagine????

I mean, it' one thing to pass someone when everyone is just going straight. But passing cars who are planning to turn in your direction in the middle of an intersection??!?!?

wtf!?!

And that happens to me almost on a daily basis.

I guess everyone here has somewhere to be in a real hurry, I just can't seem to figure out where that would be.

I counted yesterday, and my heart stopped 5 times on the 10-minute ride home from a friend's. I think I'll have a heart-attack if I don't get into an accident before leaving Guyana.

I long for the days of sane driving, where people generally observe traffic laws. I really don't think I'll need to call people jerks in the States for driving too close, etc. It just doesn't in any way compare.

So, do I need to get out of town?  YES!!  Maybe if I had a chance to experience the interior and rainforest, I would see the beauty of Guyana..the beauty of it's people and nature. I hope. But from where I'm standing right now, I find little hope.

We're going away for four days for Christmas to Rockview Lodge in the savannah. It looks nice yes? Will my hope for Guyana be restored? Tourism, birding, craft?

Okay, you got me. What I'm really looking forward to is our trip home in late Feb. Cold weather, skiing, good food, orderly driving, friends and family...what more can you ask for?

Can anyone tell me whatever happened to Calgon anyway? Did the likes of the Body Shop take over? I can't even think about taking a hot bath..it's too damn hot! The first time I've had a jacuzzi bathtub and I don't even want to use it!!

When there's nothing to do and your feeling quite blue, call for Duck Ellington, he always comes through.

Sorry, jazz from a duck won't cut it either. Only a plane will suffice. Please.

p.s. to my husband. Don't say again "that's the differential" or I'll give you a differential parting gift on your ass as I jump on the first plane out of here. You see, the differential is the amount that he is paid above his salary for living in a place such as this. You wouldn't have a high differential if you lived in say, Ireland. Bulgaria would be a modest differential. Here, it's high. The differential is calculated based on a number of factors, not the least of which is the ease with which you can ESCAPE! Maybe I'll be a consultant with the following Lesson Plan: 

How to not spend entire differential on escape trips every 5 months so that you don't go completely insane.

a special p.s. to the 'rents...don't worry, we're fine...I just needed to vent.

YES WE CAN!!

imagine photo of Richard and me dancing, with tears streaming down my face...

(our camera seems to be out of commission)

Our little monkey

Did you expect another costume? I mean, what else would my son have possibly been for his first Halloween? He was only 4 months old last Halloween, so I do consider this the first "real" Halloween. 

We went trick or treating in the Embassy. At about the third office, he started to understand that he should grab candy and put it into the bag, but then he wanted to continually take it out of the bag and then grab way more than his fair share.... besides the fact that he won't even eat any of the candy. 

For all you folks without kids or whose kids are too old for you to be thinking about this stuff: hard candy is a no-no because he could choke and the other stuff might have trace amounts of peanuts which he can't have yet. Because of the increase in allergies in kids, they recommend waiting until at least 2 years old to try any type of nut. 

Anyway, I don't think he's suffering because he's not getting candy. It's all new to him anyway...he doesn't even know what candy is except that the wrappers look really shiny and look like they might be fun to monkey around with. 

And look, he's eating a yummy banana like a true monkey should. 

Aidan had a great time at the Embassy and the baby group party afterwards...so much so that he fell asleep in the car on the way home and went to bed early. That's a nice Halloween gift for mommy and daddy who went to an adult party afterwards. I won't divulge Richard's costume -- which he has been waiting 4 years to wear and for which he won the award "best male costume"-- until I have photos.

One thing I have to admit about my little monkey - he was the cutest one there! 

Hey baby, wanna take a ride in my love machine?

I'll take you for a wild ride!!

Mommy, may I have my finger bowl please?

I'm really starting to get worried. 

I really haven't worried much when it comes to developmental milestones. All babies develop on their own time and each next step will come when he is naturally ready.

But then I read, "When you should start to be concerned regarding language development. Your baby should say 4-6 words by 15 months, such as Mama and Dada" on the Baby Center website, I thought, should I be doing something different? 

He's over 15 months, and we've got almost nothing. "Ba" for ball and that's it. 

Don't get me wrong, he knows how to communicate in his own special way. Usually a point, with a "hmmm?".

Here's a good example when he does the "hmmm?" and I know exactly what he means:

Preface:

We can't drink directly out of the tap. It looks safe but likely has bacteria in it. We have a distiller to process all of the water that we drink and wash vegetables with. So, when you want to wash your baby's hands in water, when he is likely to immediately put that wet hand in his mouth, you realize that you can't use the tap water but must use the distilled.

So, to wipe his hands and face (and anywhere else that food happens to fall) after each meal, we put a little distilled water in a ramekin, then bring it to the table with a washcloth while he's still strapped into the highchair. 

Now little boys love to play with water. So for the last few weeks, after he's finished, he does the "hmmm" sound and points to the kitchen. Here's the routine after each meal:

"Hmmm?" 

"Do you want the finger bowl?"

Big smile, followed by another "Hmmm?" fingerpoint towards the kitchen.

I proceed to retrieve said "finger bowl" and put the half-filled with water ramekin in front of him in the palm of my hand.

He makes little motions with his fingers. Sometimes he is a bit tentative, looking up to make sure it's okay to put his fingers in there. He then puts fingers from one hand in the bowl and wiggles them around. 

"Put the other hand in the bowl. Wash both hands."

He looks up with an impish grin, tentative, then puts the other hand in so that both fingers from both hands are splashing around in the little bowl.

Then he gets excited, giggles, yelps, splashes those little fingers around in the water with all of his might until the water is all over him and me.

I take the bowl away and get the washcloth. 

He points down on his highchair to his legs and feet with a "hmmm?". 

"Yes sweetheart, you spilled the water from the finger bowl all over yourself, just like you do every night."

We finish dipping the washcloth into the rest of the water and wash off his hands and face.

What have we learned? I think my child is having a unique experience first of all. How many kids use a finger bowl these days after dinner? I decided to look up finger bowls to try to find some history. Wikipedia hardly has anything, so then I googled it. I found this:

Finger Bowls

The finger bowl has hovered on the brink of obsolescence for over a century without entirely disappearing. This is probably why it provides the critical obstacle in the story of the man, either a foreigner or a bumpkin (depending on the teller), who is a guest at a formal dinner party. When a servant offers him a bowl of water at the end of the meal, he drinks it. The hostess presiding at the event is so poised and utterly well-mannered that, without skipping a beat, she drinks her bowl down, too, thus saving him the embarrassment of realizing the extent of his faux pas. This tale has reached almost the status of urban legend, and it is told in many variations. The hostess may be a family matriarch or someone very well-known, say Eleanor Roosevelt or Queen Victoria, but the finger bowl seems to be a constant.

Fortunately, the main difficulty lies in recognizing the finger bowl when you see it, which, at formal events, will be either before or after the dessert course. Often there is a slice of lemon floating in the water. Once you are presented with one, all you need to know is that you should delicately dip your fingertips in the water (no scrubbing), dry them off with your napkin (equally delicately), and set the bowl to the side of your plate.

So, he's mastered the finger bowl, well, not the delicate part, but he'll get it sooner or later. I think some people might think his knowledge of a finger bowl at such an early age makes us a bit pretentious. But I tend to believe his knowledge only adds to his world view and will make him a good host (I'll be sure to tell him all about the urban legend at some point - maybe when he reads this blog!). After all, we use it for purely practical reasons, not because I'm trying to teach him how to host a formal dinner party.

And I have to admit that I have come to enjoy the finger bowl myself. Before he became so enthused with splashing his hands around in the bowl, I was able to put the finger bowl on the table at the beginning of the meal without him being distracted and refusing to eat with constant "hmmm?" points. I used it myself. A little dip, then dry on the napkin. Particularly when I was trying to get him to eat a little more by feeding him bites directly from my fingers. 

After all this talk about finger bowls, I think the real question for this post is the following:

What will be his first words, first phrase? Not, mama, dada, but:

"Mommy, may I have my finger bowl please?"

p.s. I started a draft of this post 10 days ago. Aidan is now consistently saying "bye", "hi", "da" for Daddy, "ba" for ball, "ma" for maggie, and the cutest little soft spoken "yes". 

What's next? I'm betting on "mama" (please?) and "no" (can we wait a little longer for "no"?).

Mommy, I have these holes in my nose!

Update: Aidan has discovered his nostrils. 

I imagine the thought process, "Hmmm, let's see, this finger fits in this nostril quite nicely. And then this finger fits in the other nostril. So now I have one finger in one nostril and one in the other. This is really cool! Maybe I can shove more fingers up there. Hey, wait, what else can I find to shove up there? Peas? Corn? Giggle giggle."

He hasn't put anything up his nose besides his fingers, but I have no doubt that it's coming.

And don't ask me for a photo demonstration. I'm not putting a photo of my little one up on the internet with his fingers in his nose.

Nicer, gentler photos will come soon!

Officially Obsessed

Can't stop, can't stop....reading political OpEds and blogs. I've spent the last 2 hours doing nothing else (baby's taking an extra long nap). A click here, a click there, ...read, ponder, laugh (very funny photo "Face of the Day" and YouTube from the debate last night on The Daily Dish). I think I'm officially obsessed. 

Shower? What's a shower?

The Huffington Post is updated with new blog posts from different writers every few seconds. It's making me crazy because I have to keep checking back to see what else has been posted. Click click.

And I'm not the only one who's obsessed. See: Election Consuming the Lives of Everyone I Know

I send Richard links, he sends different ones to me. Can we just get to the election already so I can stop this and get back to cooking and all of the other things on the increasingly long to-do list??? It's not like any of it is going to change my mind. I voted three weeks ago!

The question is: Will I be able to stop after the election or has this become a habit that won't go away as I track OpEds/blogs on the global financial crisis, corruption (sad, sad front page news about Bulgarian corruption), climate change, etc.??

And I wonder what I did before I had a wireless connection and could carry around my beautiful little Mac (yes, computer love) and click every few moments, even while chasing the child??

Must pull away, must attend to development of child, must close computer...

When in a foreign country, crave what you can't have

I'm starting to crave things. We put a lot in our consumables, meaning non-perishable bottled and dry goods such as wine, the all essential peanut butter, dressings, tahini, olives, mustard, artichokes, pasta, wheat flour, etc. A limited supply, so we try to conserve to some extent, although the stuff is there to be eaten I like to say. I would love some fresh mushrooms, but we do have a very small amount of dried mushrooms that we save for special occasions. This is something we could order too, which I just haven't done yet.

But I'm starting to crave the things I know I can't get anytime soon. Fresh things that just aren't here, that I'm used to having. 

1. Zucchini: Are you surprised that that is the first on my list? For some reason, every time I open a cookbook, zucchini screams from the pages, saying "cook me, cook me", seemingly in EVERY recipe that I happen to look at. Given what's available here, I can't think of a suitable substitute. I substituted okra in a layered vegetable recipe with eggplant, tomato, potato and many cheeses. It was okay, but not quite the same. Aidan was very curious about the little "beads" in the okra. It's a look up to Mommy, with a point at the "beads", and a "hmmm??"

2. Strawberries (or any type of berry): Who wouldn't want them? I can't even get frozen. We saw frozen blueberries in a couple of stores at $9.00 a pop! What would that be in the States? $3.00? I refuse. Maybe when I'm really desperate. But you have to be careful. A couple of the stores are known for turning off the freezers at night (all electricity) to save money. I know, you're thinking, the meat too? Yes, the meat too. Remember what you take for granted.

3. Ice cream: Aaah, good, creamy ice cream (not to mention good dairy products in general). If you remember, I wanted to add a sorbet/ice cream maker to my collection of culinary "stuff". After seeing my post, my sweet husband surprised me with a nice sorbet /ice cream maker for our anniversary that he ordered online (online ordering is my savior). And oh, I know, for everyone thinking about the sweet husband, let's all do say: aaahh! It makes great sorbet, but I tried ice cream with boxed french cream that we found. Well, if you've ever tried to make ice cream, you may know that the churning process actually intensifies the sweetness of the cream. So, it intensified the "boxed" cream taste. Not exactly what I was going for. But I'm not complaining. There is a "hamburger joint" that sells pretty good milkshakes. And that ice cream maker will be making some creamy goodies on other tours.

I think those are the highlights. Not a lot really. And nothing that I can't live without. We have cheap avocados weekly, as well as pineapple, papaya, mango....many yummies. But I am really starting to look forward to our trip home in February. I know, I know, please don't give me a reality check and say that zucchini and strawberries won't be in season when I come home. I'll be able to find something I'm sure. And asparagus? Can I have some of that too?

You never know what you might miss by living in different parts of the world. Or what you might be willing to pay for at exorbitant prices to satisfy your cravings. A pint of Haagen Dazs for $12? Haven't done that one yet. 24 ounces of President brand feta (Do you know that we are feta snobs after living in Bulgaria? Bulgaria has THE BEST feta, called sirene) for $12. Yes, that one had to happen. Feta has been a staple in my house for the last 7 years for gods sake.

I'm not quite a foodie, but I do enjoy good food...making good food...the pleasure of eating deliciousness that I made (thank god we brought all the spices). But I think that I may just be in a situation where I'm craving the things I can't have. Just because I can't have them. 

Ooops, it's debate time, meaning the presidential debate. Gotta go. Let's debate this food thing more later.

My blog

Well, it looks like this is my blog and my blog alone. Me, myself and I, except of course, for you, my few readers out there. So I've decided to change the photo and profile. Look for unannounced changes to the photo in the weeks ahead.

The name goes back to our time in Bulgaria, when Richard was more fond of calling me by the name of my town -- Montana -- than my given name. Of course, it rhymes with my given name, which was always fun and natural, and WAY before little miss Hannah Montana entered the scene. 

Richard still calls me Montana once in a while, making me smile. It makes me think about how we met, how much fun we had in Bulgaria...the carefree days of first dates, rendevous, with not a care in the world....

Enough reminiscing and on to more posts...if Richard is anxious to post, I might allow a guest post now and again...but I think it's up to me to be earnest :)

Kick-ass sistron

You thought I was going to blather on about politics again, right?

Sorry to disappoint, but I simply want to give a BIG shout out to my sister, Maura.

Not only is she a NYC rock-star working at Self magazine, but she is now a BLACK BELT!

How cool is that?! Can I be cool by association? Big sister inspired little sister to go out there and be all that she can be? Okay, you're right, our parents had more to do with that than I alone.

All I want to say is - you rock! You inspire me!

Put that baby to bed, doggonit!

We watched the debate, and Sarah did surpass expectations. Of course she did, given that expectations were so low to begin with. She was very scripted, she didn't answer the questions posed, and she kept using annoying "folksy" phrases. I bet half of those phrases she doesn't even use in her daily life, but she feels the need to connect to the "average" voter. I mean, who still uses the word "doggonit"? She is almost my age, just 5 years older than me. We're in the same generation, right? I don't know anyone who says doggonit. What is that? Do I want a VP who talks like this? No, as I said before, I want someone smarter than me, not someone who dumbs down.

I'm sure many people agree that she appeared confident overall and surpassed expectations, and that's all well and good, because Biden surpassed expectations as well. He was a bit wordy at times, but he is clearly competent and knows what he is talking about. His words about being offended that it was implied that he doesn't understand talk at the kitchen table because he is a man, even though he was a single father who survived the death of his wife and child, was an incredible way to connect with voters...and she didn't even acknowledge what he said, she just went back to script.

We can all blather on about the debate...but what's really bothering me is that Sarah Palin claims that she understands America because she is a "Mom" and has sat around that kitchen table struggling with issues every American has struggled with. She appeals to Moms just because she is a Mom. But as a Mom myself, should I judge her based on whether I think she is a "good" Mom or not?

I try not to judge Moms, or Dads, based on the choices they make regarding their children. I feel like people make choices based on what they think is best for their family, and although I might not agree with those choices, or take the same path myself, I respect those choices, because I am not in their situation. They know what is best.

However, I became angry last night and found myself judging Palin based on her representation as a "Mom", and the fact that I don't think she is doing such a good job of being a Mom. Not only was her 6-month old child on stage right after the debate at 10:30pm, but the baby was also on the stage at a rally she attended after the debate, well after 11pm. Why isn't this baby in bed? I just don't understand. As a mother, how can you think having your baby there at 11pm is in the best interest of your baby? Night after night? 

You have a choice. Use your baby as a prop, overstimulated by the crowds, noise and bright lights, or allow your baby the sleep that he needs. Hmmm...is this a hard choice to make? I was thinking back to Aidan's schedule at around 6 months. He went to bed around 7pm, woke up once or twice in the middle of the night to nurse, and then slept until 5-6am. 

This shows a lack of judgment on her part. 

And, I firmly believe, that I would think the same thing if I saw a "Dad" running for VP who consistently brought his infant on stage at 11pm. Why is the media not picking up on this? They are too scared to judge her based on her personal life. Well, lack of judgment in this case could mean lack of judgment in other areas. I hate to say it, but I'm judging. 

We voted today!!

Signed, sealed and ready to be delivered by one of Richard's colleagues who is traveling to the States this weekend. She will put our absentee ballots directly into a US post box.

It does seem a bit strange to have already voted and marked the boxes, when election day is over a month away. But we had to ensure our votes get counted, as we are voting in a swing state (Virginia). The ballots arrived via email - that's a first.

I feel a state of nervous anticipation....excitement (the likes of which I've never really felt before for an election).....and fear all wrapped-up into one in my knotted stomach and mind, running into a million different tangents about all of the likely and unlikely scenarios. 

I had fear the last time around, but I am "super" scared because it seems that McCain has picked someone so unknowledgeable about foreign affairs who could actually land in the White House. I want someone smarter than me, someone I can look up to, someone who understands the intricacies of global foreign policy, not to mention the global economy, much more than just someone who can balance her work and family life (and the media says she is doing a good job at this, but is she really? with an infant with special needs? I won't even venture into that debate). And don't tell me the criticism is sexist - don't we want to properly critique each individual, whether man or woman, who could be our president??? Please don't lead us into an idiocracy!

Okay, enough ranting. 

This year's election has prompted many small changes in our immediate life:  

1) Richard has donated to the Obama campaign for the 3rd time (and he says there are still 2 more donations waiting to happen - what will prompt them?); 

2) My parents are volunteering for the Obama campaign....I don't think they have ever volunteered for a campaign in their life and I love that they are doing this in their retirement!; 

3) I decided that we had to go ahead and get cable, because I really do not want to miss any of the debates, as well as the coverage on election night. I CANNOT wait until the Palin-Biden debate this Thursday; and

4) I'm reading political blogs and OpEds like never before. We put a few new links on our blog, and here's one in particular that Richard found and likes to read on a daily basis: www.fivethirtyeight.com

This year's election will be a turning point, with the hopes that we will see change. I imagine myself dancing around the room on election night for so many reasons. I just can't wait until November 4th...it will be a night filled with hope, dread, excitement, nervous nail-biting, no sleep need-the-Nanny-to-come-the-next-day kind of night!!

How do you feel?

Descriptive titles or clever musings?

Richard has "issue" with the title of the last post "Random thoughts." He gave his "approval" of my post, but thinks the title should be clever and more representative of the post as a whole. Look, I'm not trying to win any awards here with this blog. The main goal is to keep family and friends in the loop regarding what we're up to down here. I think the phrase "random thoughts" exemplifies exactly what all these ideas swimming around in my head, in between multiple interruptions chasing a little toddler, actually are. Random. 

So I'm putting the question out to you. If you have a better title for me, send me a note in the comments section of this blog. Let me know what YOU think.

Random thoughts

I realized that it's technically "fall" or "autumn". Fall...meaning indian summer nights, colorful leaves, crisp, clean air, time to pull out the sweaters, and all that encompasses fall. I don't feel it. 

What? This isn't just my summer vacation? You mean I live here? in Guyana? in South America? Oops.

We've been here for 4 months. Seemed like a normal summer. But I just keep thinking that all I wear are tank tops and shorts or capris, and how those tank tops are gonna get kind of worn out by next "summer". 

And Aidan...is he going to freeze when we go home? Guyanese put on a jacket sometimes if it's breezy, even if it's 75 degrees. They told me to put shoes on Aidan or his feet would get cold. No, I replied, not when it's 75 degrees. He'll be just fine. But I can't help thinking that being in this warm climate for 2 years will somehow change my perspective about what exactly feels "hot" and "cold".

............

Aidan is hosting baby group this Friday. Okay, I'm doing all the work and he'll have all the fun. We go to a different Mom's house each week and I volunteered for this Friday. I'm creating some yummy treats. The 4th event at our house already! 

...........

Aidan was crawling today and I thought it looked strange. That's when I realized, or remembered, how incredibly fast things change when you have a little one. After only a week of consistent walking everywhere, crawling just didn't look right. If you can walk, why crawl? I love that he's walking. It makes things easier...he wants to walk instead of me picking him up. Of course, it also makes things more difficult, as he gets into even more trouble! 

...........

Did I tell you about the water frog on the wall that Aidan spotted first? And then the little lizard in the kitchen? I don't mind. I have yet to see a roach inside (don't worry, I'm knocking). So I'm good.

...........

When did 8 hours of sleep become what used to feel like 10? I was asleep by 9pm last night, and heard a cry a bit after 5am. I felt refreshed, anew....like I used to feel when I got 10 hours of sleep. Granted, that was usually only on weekends, but now I get 8 hours so rarely, that 8 hours of solid sleep felt so good. 

I could get 8 hours; Aidan sleeps through the night...but I'm a "night person". It's in my DNA. I have trouble confronting the fact that I actually SHOULD go to sleep around 9pm every night. Should, because I know that a little boy will wake me up anywhere between 5 and 6am the next morning. But that's "my" time. I can get things done or just have a few uninterrupted hours of freedom. Richard's good about going to bed, but I find it difficult. Especially since we just got cable...a few channels, including some movie channels. That's the culprit...I find movies that I can't remember being released, yet when I start watching, I'm hooked and can't tear myself away to go to bed at that magic hour. 

Besides cable, there's also reading. Getting into a really good book that you want to keep reading and can't possibly put down, even though you know the words will be there in print the next day, just waiting for you. I used to love when I would get so into a book that it would keep me up until 2am reading...knowing full well that I could sleep in. Maybe I'll get that again, oh, 10 years from now? Hmmm....

.........

And last, we're starting to plan some trips both in Guyana and to come home. I'm getting excited. Something to look forward to, seeing more of this country than Georgetown, seeing friends and family, going to fabulous restaurants, skiing!!!! Yeah!

BBQ Photos

Photos from our housewarming/birthday party for Richard last weekend taken by our good friend Barry:

BBQ Photos

Milestones

Walking! Yes, 15 steps and more!

Dancing...he holds on to something...coffee table, chair, daddy, mommy...and bends his knees with an up and down shake, sometimes with a head shake like a "No" (that's a Bulgarian "Yes"), depending on the guitar in the song. He also really responds to the piano in songs, and has even "danced" to a cell phone ring. What a cutie!

Lounging...see two of the photos....okay, only for a few seconds, but he kind of gets the idea.

Learning....he often understands my directions, such as "put it in the box"...except for "No" of course. He knows his body parts, including the nose (which he sometimes confuses with toes), belly-button, ears, hair, head, mouth, tongue, eyes (this one gets confused with ears), fingers....and the list goes on. He waves bye bye to his toys every night. He knows when it's time to read a book before bed. He takes people to the door when they are leaving. You say "Where's Mama" and he touches me, then "Where's Aidan" and he touches his head. Something new everyday.

Growing...I look at photos from when we arrived, just three months ago...bigger, stronger, better balance, on the move....

We're just waiting for those words. We've got "Bye", but as all Mamas do, I'm just waiting for "Ma ma". 

Calzone Saturdays

Richard couldn't wait for me to post this one.

"Calzone Saturday" happens every few months. A huge batch of dough is made (usually 3-4 batches). 2-3 different fillings are concocted, and then dough is shaped and stuffed to make 18-24 calzones which mostly go into the freezer for nights when cooking just isn't going to happen. At least 12 are the spinach and cheese variety. The spinach here is not quite the same - a little more bitter and earthy, and tougher. I wouldn't eat it in a salad, but it's good enough when it's cooked down. And it's name: Ka La Loo

One of the local food distributors actually sends a list to the Embassy with cheese products that arrived that day, and we are able to buy a bunch before they go to the local stores. We bought 4 containers of ricotta and about 5 Kraft shredded mozzarella cheeses. Not your best, but good enough for calzones (or better than none!). At home we would put sirene (Bulgarian feta) in the mix, but none of that here! So the cheese shipment meant it was time for our first Calzone Saturday in Guyana.

Richard's getting more efficient each time, but it usually takes 5-6 hours for the whole process (including allowing time for the dough to rise).

Some people think we're crazy. But if you actually divide the amount of time by the number that are made, it works out that each one only takes about 15-20 minutes - not bad for home cookin'.

Yummy yummy, good good, they are! And Aidan can now eat them also, which he does very enthusiastically!

However, Aidan's not getting the ones that Richard slips anchovies into - no way, no how - none for me either!

The Chef ... threatening, er ... encouraging his savory pastries to be tasty!

Before going into the oven ... see the one with the anchovie on top? Yuck..we had to come up with a way to mark them so I wouldn't be surprised! (Give it a rest, Diana, anchovies are simply divine!)

..and out of the oven..yummy, glorious, calzones ... just sprouting with cheesey goodness!!!

Frog Legs

Aaahhh, there's a frog in Aidan's diapers!! 

I didn't mean to scare you...the frog was not in his diaper while he was wearing it!

Here's my cloth diaper cleaning routine: Soak diapers in cold washer in the washing machine overnight or for at least one hour. Then drain water and wash with a small amount of liquid soap on hot, with extra rinses.

Well, I guess the little froggy decided the cold soaking water was a nice location to hang out. I went out to the washing machine this morning, and opened the washer to drain...and I see these little beady eyes peering up at me, as he gets ready to launch, jumps up, and scares me out of my shoes. I called Richard to go get the frog. He couldn't find it, and thought I made up this crazy frog story to get him out of bed. Now why would I do a stupid thing like that?

So, then I see the little guy crawling up the inside of the washing machine and quickly out of sight. I left it open for a long time, but we never found him.

So, I decide to proceed with the wash, hoping that he found an escape route.

Later, taking out the diapers and their inserts one by one, a lone frog leg fell to the floor. Don't know where the frog ended up, but he's missing one of his important jumping legs :(

I might expect to find a mischievous little boy, a bit older, hiding a little froggy friend in his pocket....but finding a frog in the washing machine was more than I could have imagined. Did it have to be the diapers? Froggy hanging out on what goes against the precious baby's skin? 

Ribbit Ribbit...

Cassette Tape Glory

He made fun of my cassette tapes as soon as we moved in together. Every time we moved, he continued to mock the cassette tapes, cursing their existence as we moved the "bulky" tapes. 

I always said, "Buy me all the CDs or download all the music and I will gladly get rid of the cassettes." Of course, I would never get rid of the nostalgic mixed tapes from friends, live music recorded from radio programs, or my signed tape from 10,000 Maniacs...but the majority would be gone.

Now, we own a 1995 Toyota Rav-4 with a steering wheel on the right-hand side. And guess what? It has a cassette player and no CD player!!!!!

So, who's now glad that I have some cassettes??? 

Na na, na na, boo boo...

Little pleasures.

Obligations

I need to blog.

I know it.

I see Pittsburgh, PA and Woodstock, GA checking daily (these are the "rents" locations, so I know the grandparents want new info on the boy),

but...

there's been a resume and cover letter to submit,

roving toddler to say "No" to,

Olympics to watch,

free tickets to stand in line for for Carifesta, which starts tomorrow (more on this later!),

no internet,

shoddy internet that doesn't allow me to post photos that must accompany my planned posts,

not to mention cooking, laundry, organizing stuff...

excuses, excuses!!

I feel panic, anxiety...blogging shouldn't be an obligation.

I decided when I started this blog that I would try to write at least once a week. I'm already falling behind.

Now I see three BIG weekends with many events planned (Carifesta you see, and Richard's BD).  

When to blog??

Don't worry, my thoughts are here, and there.

They just might not get written down for all of you just yet.

Yeah - Our stuff is here! Do we need it?

Our household effects arrived yesterday! Now we're in the process of organizing and cleaning, while trying to keep Aidan's little sticky fingers at bay. It's very nice to have our own plates, food processor, cookbooks, wine, peanut butter, CDs, the rest of Aidan's stack of books, etc.  --after over two and a half months. We found out from the shipper that the crates were vacationing in the Bahamas for about a month (since June 23). So far, most things appear to be okay and undamaged, which is a relief.

However, Richard is now thoroughly convinced that we have too much "crap"...things that he didn't remember that we had and could have lived without. I suppose there's some of that, and this experience will help us to streamline more than we might if we were living in the same house for 10 years. And I won't mention (okay, I guess I'm mentioning) all the "toys" Richard bought before we left....and when I say toys, I do mean toys: basketball, boche ball set, whiffle balls and bat, tennis racket...luckily he received golf clubs from his sister and brother in-law....and he had to have a grill and grilling tools. And I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

Even with all this "stuff", there are still some things I would like to add -- like an ice cream/sorbet maker. You see, although they have cows and wonderful fruit, it doesn't seem that anyone has figured out how to process the milk to make all of the wonderful dairy products that I love, or make tasty nectars that I so enjoyed in Bulgaria. 

So, that's next on my list of "wants" from the "materialistic/need to consume" side of me. Do I need it?  Of course not, but mango sorbet sure sounds good right now...or nice creamy ice cream, even if it's made with boxed milk. 

I suppose we'll try to get rid of some of the stuff here, but more will ultimately be added....toys are a given I'm sure. 

Stuff, stuff, stuff everywhere....

Standing!!

The boy is getting into the standing position all by himself! He starts on all fours (the first photo) to a squat, and then to a stand, and he's even taken a few steps from the stand position!! Usually he gets too excited and falls down. In the last one he's laughing because he did it!

A Slice of Guyana beyond Georgetown

Hello, all.

I recently had my first chance to make it outside of Georgetown and see some more of this fascinating little country!  Here are a few random observations and photos ...

Driving east from Georgetown, you encounter the interminable village.  It just goes on and on -- sure, there are a few breaks here and there for a cane or rice field, but pretty much the entire distance between the capital city and the border with Suriname is populated.  The one caveat, drive more than a mile south of the main road (if you can find a passage) and you have just left civilization for a thin strip of cultivated land, and beyond that -- the green heart of Guyana! Largely untouched tropical wilds.  More on those later.

For most of the time since its independence from Great Britain - which is to say from 1966 until sometime after the end of the Cold War - Guyana was nominally socialist.  I guess somewhere along the way there was some warm and fuzzy cultural exchange between Guyana and North Korea ... and somehow a street in a town in Berbice province was named in honor of ... 

Maybe it's time for a re-christening!

As we may already have mentioned, there is a sizable Chinese presence here in Guyana.  You judge their presence not so much as by seeing them out and about on the streets (which you don't), but by the ubiquity of their restaurants.  I thought this might just be a capital city phenomenon.  But I was wrong - by a mile.  Just about every little village in the interminable string of them from Georgetown to the Suriname border has one Chinese restaurant.  OK - so you want some interesting juxapositioning of cultures - imagine you're in a mixed Guyanese village (and grossly oversimplifying for simplicity) ... there are the Indo-Guyanese with their colorful temples and mosques, the Afro-Guyanese with their tidy little churches of just about every Protestant denomination imaginable, and then you see a little restaurant with sign bearing Chinese characters!  As for the cuisine - yeah, it's predictable (actually, all the menus are identical) and not very memorable.  And I hear that a typical Chinese restaurant will remain virtually unchanged for decades in Guyana, but the proprietors and hired help will turn over, and over, and over, remaining just long enough to pay off their debts and save a little money for the next leg of their journey, wherever that might (hint - north!) be.

More tidbits later -- remember, small country - two years!  -Richard

 

my little boy

Aidan is 13 months old today...and looking very much like a big boy. I wanted to show some recent photos, but am having trouble uploading. Hopefully you'll see them soon.

I know the most frequent requests I get regarding what to write here is "Tell us what Aidan is doing"....So here are a few tidbits....He stands on his own, then gets so excited that he's doing it that he then falls back on his rump and laughs. He takes standing dives from the coffee table to the couch or to mommy. I think walking is in the very near future. 

He's starting to fall asleep on his own, which I love! 

Words are still alluding us. He says "bye", and "ba" for ball, but most of his utterances are "mmm" while pointing to each different object. I think he'll probably start talking like my brother...he'll start with full sentences! 

He loves to tickle me after I showed him how. He lifts my shirt and puts his little finger in my belly button, and I laugh and laugh, and he laughs. He's a very sweet and loving little boy. I left the house yesterday while he was asleep in the care of our Nanny, Michelle. We didn't get home until after his bedtime. Michelle told me that he kept pointing and looking for me to come down the stairs (when Michelle is here with him, I'm often in our bedroom on the computer and they are playing downstairs). She said he missed me. And my meeting involved talking to the USAID Director about some potential work opportunities. So, the fact that Michelle told me that he missed me for those few short hours...does that tell me to work or not? We could probably save the bulk of whatever salary I make for a nice down payment on a house, and I think I do need the outlet, but it's also fun hanging out with that little man. We will see what opportunities arise - there may be some that are too difficult to pass up. And I do feel very good about our nanny. She is very loving and always telling me what new thing Aidan does each day. She is also very open to reading about child development, so I'm pleased.

So my boy is growing up. I know Richard's excited to take him running or on hikes, and to roughhouse...but I just love the hugs and how he already understands so much. How he loves to read books and really pays attention now. How he gets so excited to go outside or chase after Maggie. 

And soon he'll realize what else we see from the car. Besides my daily reminders to myself to "drive on the left side"...I also have to navigate the many people walking on the side of the road on the small streets (sidewalks are almost nonexistent), the potholes, the crazy minibus drivers, all drivers who seem to beep at you just to tell you they are there, and the animals....Today we encountered horses just meandering along...they are not wild, as they have branded numbers on them, but they were just standing in the middle of the road. We've also had to wait for cows, and little herds of goats (with babies too). The farm animals are not on the farm...there is no farm. They just graze wherever there happens to be grass....in contrast to the nice little farmhouse that Aidan currently plays with on a daily basis (a gift from Grammie and Pops).

We also see the stray dogs that are on the side of the road every few feet it seems. This is why we can't take Maggie for a walk except for in the park or on the sea wall. Seeing the stray dogs as well as owned animals that are not healthy is difficult to see, but also a true indicator of a country without many resources. 

The boy is growing up and will learn about these things...and he'll always be my baby.

our stuff

We just found out that our Household Effects...yes, all of our "stuff", is sitting on a ship at the dock in the Bahamas....taking a vacation and probably getting moldy.  UGGH!!  They don't know when it might set sail, and when it does, it will stop first in Jamaica before coming here. And when will it set sail?....No one seems to know. They told us it would be here two weeks ago.

Most of it doesn't matter, but I would really like to use that next bag of dog food instead of buying a new, and those baby wipes, and my cookbooks and food processor, and all of my belts that I neglected to pack, and....

Alas, one of the "fun" things about life in the foreign service.

Little Man's 1st Visit to the Ocean

Views of the Atlantic from the sea wall...

Low carbon transport options...

Well, I don't think this will be Aidan's first swim in the Atlantic...but a good look may just motivate everyone to stop using plastic entirely. Bleh

You remind me of me

I just finished a great book by Dan Chaon: "You remind me of me". I haven't read a good one like this in a LONG time. It kept me up last night, and I finished it today, first chance. This passage, in particular, struck me...making me read it three times. Nora's in the midst of contractions, about to have a baby:

It's hard to believe this is how it's done. That this is how we get here into the world, by accident or design, the microscopic pieces of ourselves borne by fluids and blood and growing into a tiny kingdom of cells inside someone else's body. It seems so difficult to become alive. So improbable.

...How can it be possible? she wonders. How can you come to understand your life when even the beginning is so complicated: a single cell imprinted with the color of your eyes and the shape of your face, the pattern on your palm and the moods that will shadow you through your life. How can you be alive when every choice you make breaks the world into a thousand filaments, each careless step branching into long tributaries of alternate lives, shuddering outward and outward like sheet lightning.

Maybe it struck me because we've just started a new path in life,

maybe because having a baby myself makes me think more about how to learn from mistakes and lead a more meaningful life,

maybe because it's hard to understand your life as you live it.

Diana

Density

No, not destiny, as many of your cerebral cortexes may have led you to think you were seeing - I mean density, as in - according to Diana - the chief characteristic of the space between my left and right ears and just above my neck and below my scalp.  Why is Richard's first post entitled "density"?  That is a good question.  I suppose that after staring at a blank screen for about 5 minutes after being chided by Diana for the 7th time this week about not posting something on what is supposedly "our" blog, I am beginning to believe the slight.  At least, that is what came to mind.  Perhaps it's that, like my lovely wife Diana, I am a total neophyte at blogging -- but wait, I've just had an insight!  If blogging is the online, written equivalent of just spewing out of your mouth whatever is streaming through your consciousness without any filter whatsoever, then I stand a pretty good chance of being the world's greatest blogger in ... well, right about now.  Wouldn't you concur, Diana?

And now for something marginally different -->  

On Father's Day, Richard attempts to show off to Aidan how big and strong he is by swimming from one end of the Ambassador's pool to the other underwater.  The only monkeywrench in this brilliant plan is the, ahem, turbidity of the water -- let's put it at something between split-pea soup and a freshly pureed shooter of wheatgrass.  So I'm swimming underwater in what feels like a masterful performance when, as I begin to sense that my svelt, glistening, dolphin-like body must be only strokes away from my heroic destination, I - wait a minute, that was the wall!!!  Yes ... head, rather, face first.  Not feeling much pain, I gently check for any superficial damage, and sensing very little I exit the pool nonchalantly, hoping no one had noticed.  Well, that's when the blood started to flow.  Suffice to say that I was quickly introduced to the best Guyanese emergency medical services available ... which was a twenty-something doctor from Nigeria who really didn't feel like describing what in hell he was doing in Guyana and a nurse who, to put it charitably, was just going through the motions.  The tally - two stitches.  OK, let's dismount from this ridiculous vignette by saying that every foreign service officer has vivid memories of their first post; mine is a gash stamped indelibly right between my eyes!!!  What a debacle.

But it's been all uphill from there ...

Richard

Quality That's Simply Irresistible

I forgot the funniest morsel of all...one of the best selling local breads is Bakewell bread. So when someone asks me to spell the name, I just say, "like the bread", and then I get a very nice, knowing smile from the asker.

Diana 

... OK, I'm going to have to piggyback on this one.  So the bread is called Bakewell - yes, that is lovely.  Mom, Dad, Susan, Colleen, everybody else - we've finally made the big-time!  We're on a bread bag in Guyana!  Yeahhhhhhh!!!

Richard

More on Guyana

Some interesting morsels (and don't forget to click on the links to learn more):

• Eddy Grant is from Guyana. Sing with me: "We're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue, and then we'll take it higher..."

• to lime = to hang out

• They would like to forget about the Jonestown Massacre (leader Jim Jones); wouldn't you?

• ~42 Peace Corps Volunteers working in health and education/community development

• A common pastime in Georgetown is to lime on the sea wall in the evening. The sea wall spans almost the entire country on the Atlantic Coast. Guyana is below sea level, meaning that a sea wall is necessary to prevent flooding (although due to the poor infrastructure, floods are somewhat common, the last bad flood occurred in 2005). What's strange is that we live less than a mile from the sea, and I have yet to walk along the sea...and I'm a beach person!! My first 9 years were near the beach in Florida. I love everything about the beach: the sounds, the smells, the people watching, sand between my toes, laughter and sunshine. The problem: there is no beach. I feel the breeze from the ocean, but no sand..just murky water. There is beach farther up the coast where 4 different species of sea turtles lay their eggs, but not here. I want to take Aidan there.

• Guyana means the land of rivers (but Richard insists it's the land of many waters). What's here? the world's tallest single drop waterfall, Kaieteur Falls (yes, taller than Niagara), one of the few remaining pristine and biodiverse rainforests left (bordering the Amazon), with 100s of bird species. This can, and hopefully will, translate into ecotourism and bird watching tours, as long as they can keep it pristine and relatively untouched. We have to take a plane to get to the Falls.

• We'll be driving on the "wrong" side of the road...you know, being a former british colony and all

• Until last year, no traffic lights - I cannot imagine. The driving is scary here, and would be worse without traffic lights. The funny thing...the lights are solar powered...so as soon as they were installed last year, some crafty characters figured out how easy it was to take them down and sell them on the black market. They're getting better at locking them down now, but they consistently disappear...

I'm sure I'll be able to provide you with more morsels as I learn them!

Regarding the last post. I must add that it is a luxury to have a nanny even though I'm not working. We couldn't do it if we were in the States, financially speaking. However, it might just be the only thing that will keep me sane, as I just don't know that I'm stay-at-home full-time mommy material. I truly applaud all of those Moms out there. Especially single Moms. How do they all do it? My special monkey is well worth everything (I absolutely love the cuddly hugs he gives these days)...what Mom wouldn't say that? but it can be difficult, particularly if you are used to being rather independent for so many years. 

Enough on the Mommy front...maybe we'll have a Daddy post soon?!

Do I know how to blog?

Okay, so since I started this blogthing, I've been reading a lot of other blogs. I go to a few blogs that are written by friends, I read what they have written recently, and then I click on some of the blogs that they recommend. 

and I read, and read, and read...

and the first thing I think is, how do these individuals have so much time to blog (and most of them have kids)? as well as read other blogs and make comments about them?

I can barely get myself together enough to take a shower when that little toddler is asleep (right now!)...and btw, I haven't taken that shower yet!

so the next thing I think is, do I know HOW to blog? I read some posts that are so insightful, so funny...you feel as though you can almost get into the mind of someone else....of course, they are choosing what to write and post, and I believe you can never really know anyone completely, but you do understand a different part of someone by reading what they choose to write about. 

So, do you understand me any better? My insecurities then come to the surface...will you like me less? I don't want to sit here and write about the blah blah mundane...but I want it to be interesting...in the end, we all want to be liked...loved, right? is that too cliche? To those serious expert bloggers out there, is this the way to blog? 

btw, I think I've found a nanny for 3x a week. I'll still be here a lot of the time, but that will give me time to not only do some consulting work (I hope), but also write some meaningful blogs (maybe?!).  And get all those things done that I thought I might get done before leaving DC.  and we'll have the nanny on saturday, so maybe Richard and I can go out for Saturday brunch dates! Now that is exciting! 

Dr. Seuss

From there to here,

from here to there,

funny things

are everywhere.

-from "One fish two fish red fish blue fish"

One of the joys that I've rediscovered from having a child is Dr. Seuss. You grow up with a fond memory of his books, but only remember certain phrases...or maybe the most vivid memory has to be The Grinch. Here's a book that I know I read a thousand times as a child, yet didn't remember the very adult message that is always present in his books. You read the same books over and over again to your child, and Dr. Seuss is one of the few that you don't get bored with...at least I don't!

So what are the funny things here? Richard might be a better person to tell you than I, as I haven't been out too much. Without a car or nanny yet, it's a bit difficult. I think what strikes me the most is the interesting blend of cultures here. There is a small population of amerindians (native to the area), but most of the population is split between those with african heritage who were brought here by the British as slaves, and those with heritage from India who were brought here as indentured servants after slavery was abolished. So, my immediate thought is, what food does that give us? You can find good chicken curry and roti (in between naan and pyllo dough), as well as juicy tomatoes and lovely bananas/plaintains and mango. Butternut squash is also a staple, and one of the produce that they are promoting for export. While I have heard that there is tension between the two main groups, so far it seems that it is political in nature. Everyday folks seem to get along just fine, although I haven't lived here long enough to perceive any underlying tensions. Richard might be able to fill you in more, as he's been working the consular window on a daily basis. Here's a good site, to give you a flavor of the culture, and what looks like a very fun festival, some of which will be held very close to our house: www.carifesta.net/x/home.php

Although I haven't been out a whole lot on my own to explore, we have been fortunate to have been invited to quite a few get togethers and events. So far we've been to brunch, I've been to a playgroup with Aidan, walked in the National Park (very small with manatees in a little pond - more on that later), I went out one night without Richard with some of Richard's coworkers, Richard found a sitter to take me out with some coworkers for my birthday, we've been to a little girl's (Chaiya) 1st birthday party, and we hosted Aidan's 1st birthday party on Sunday. We also just got back from the 4th of July party at the Ambassador's house. So, meeting everyone and trying to remember names and affiliations!

I can't quite believe Aidan is one. I go back and forth between wanting him to start walking and talking, while not wanting to give up "the baby".  I presume that is the nature of being a parent, and will be for the rest of my life!  I think he's on the verge of talking...he ALWAYS wants to know where Maggie is and Maggie then has to hide to avoid the grabbings. He was waving goodbye and I think said "bye bye"...but haven't heard it again so I'm not quite sure. He gives the most delightful hugs to us and to his stuffed animals when I tell him to give one a hug. He is the most precious little being in the whole wide world :)

The 1st Post

Diana: This is it, the first post. I said I'd start a blog...the expectations are building..what should I write? I'm sure you are all wondering about our travels to Guyana, what we think so far, etc. Oops, baby, or should I say toddler, wants to climb up those stairs. The stairs look like an an exciting adventure...I know, this is only the beginning of the many adventures the little fire will have!

I've been hesitant to start a blog. Although I love the idea of sharing ideas and the openness of the internet, I'm conflicted about having "my" ideas out there, not to mention our photos. Plus, with an almost one year old, when to find the time??  ...but the idea is there, the intention, the earnestness. Everyone expressed their desire for us to start one now that we'll be living overseas again...yes, to be sure, once we start it, it is an easy way to keep our important friends and family up-to-date on our adventures...so my time to be earnest in writing a blog is NOW. 

Guyana: We arrived on June 6 at around 7:30 am from NYC. A pleasant flight, one of Delta's first to Guyana. Our sponsor and a car were waiting for us. Maggie, our beloved border collie, was fine and happy to see us after being in the cargo. We were tired, but excited to see our new home. It's quite nice, and much bigger than our little townhouse in Alexandria. We'll post photos soon.

First impressions: Caribbean... yes, we're in South America, but Guyana is considered Caribbean, and it definitely feels that way. The accent reminds me of being in Jamaica...more to come.