Toms first letter

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Here is Tom's first letter !!!

7/09/2007


Arrived in Wauna 1/09/2007. The journey took 2 hours - half over continuous jungle in a plane, half in a Toyota Hiace along the very off-road track between Mabaruma and Wauna !

The house is on stilts, brand new, bright green and made of concrete. It was infested with Marabunta, AKA 2inch wasps AKA killer bees. We got some local kids to help spray insecticide then hit down the nests - EXCITING ! We have a massive lounge/kitchen and 2 bedrooms with double beds ! Our toilet doesn’t flush and the shower doesn't work ! We have to collect rain water in a 5 litre bucket to drink - it rains every day at 12ish midday.

Rudy, the headmaster, lives in the school compound with his family. The compound is a 10 second walk away. We have made good friends with his sons, Alexa and Rudy Jr. On Sunday 2nd Sept we asked Rudy what we would be teaching and to who (bearing in mind we were teaching on the 3rd !). He said he didn't know and also he had no syllabus for us ! Didn't make for an organised Monday ! We spent it planning the timetable. The kids just sat at their desks the whole day !

Teaching is so much fun ! Planning can be really creative and exciting. It is so rewarding when the kids respect you as a teacher but are also able to recite back to you what you are teaching. I teach year 10/11 every morning then year 8 after break (10.45) teaching Maths and Science. You know when you have done a days teaching because you're covered in white chalk. The other staff are lovely as are the residents around Wauna. They say "Morning Sir" every time you see someone. They also stare at us all the time, but you get used to it.

On Thursday, Sir Andrew (teacher) and me went to Mabaruma to pick up some books and curriculum guides for school. We went on his motorbike and I was terrified ! There's a market called Kumaka near Mabaruma. We visited it and I bought a football.

The centre of Wauna is a football/cricket pitch so every day after school loads of people come down to play football with us. Down the road there's a creek (jungle river) so tomorrow (Saturday), I'm going to have a swim. It might make me feel cleaner because at the moment we are using a jam jar to pour water over us from a tap !

Food in Wauna isn't fresh, except coconut, mango (both 5p each) and sometimes crabs. I got taught how to make a crab curry, it was good !

I wish I could share this with you all because it really is amazing here and I'm loving every second. I feel sorry for you that you're not here ! Anyone want to come and trek to the Kaiteur Falls in Easter ?!

I love you all,

Tom xx

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Comments

[Leena]

How did you get so lucky!!
Hi Tom, I just happened to read your blog by accident. It is so refreshing to see outsiders write such good stuff about Guyana. I would love to do what you do. Take care Sir, and continue to have fun! Leena