World Cup in my Guyanese family's home. Volunteers and host family. Brazil vs Chile, 1-1, then 2 (15min overtimes) then 5 man shoot-off. Exciting!!!

I decided to tell you about Tocoma. It's a delicacy here in Guyana. You say "They look like worms!" Well you are absolutely right. It all happens in a coconut tree that has been felled. A square is cut out of the side of the trunk and immediately beetles hone in on the space and travel there quickly to lay their eggs, which turn into larva that grow into big juicy worms in about 5 or 6 weeks.
The Amerindians gather the worms, slit them down the side to release the fat, throw the wiggling critters in a pan and sauté them. Served over rice with the juice from the fry - I ate 2. Not bad!! But I ate 2 - so that tells you I wasn't stuffing myself. I grabbed the head - hard and maroon colored and bit off the chubby body. You can see how I feel from the picture.

Tocoma

Hmmm Yummy!

Our front porch where we hang out a lot. You can see the door to my room.

Mosquito bites after hanging out on the porch.

May/June Guyana Experience

Blog entry for May 18, 2014

Greetings from the Hinterland! Laluni is sand, coconut palms, passion fruit trees, papaya, hot sun but cooling breezes, bats, ants, sand fleas, and a warm welcoming community. Musical sounds swell from each of the two churches that flank my host family’s house, while across the street a cricket match is in progress. Laluni residents love cricket as well as volleyball. They love to eat and share snippets of their day around the dinner table. Their dinner tables remind me so much of Kodiak. They have a rich variety of foods most of it grown or raised right here in the immediate area. People are more than happy to offer you a plate of food and a little extra to take home.

Laluni Primary (Nursery to 6^th) is where I spend a few days a week. It’s a challenge to remember all the unfamiliar names and faces. The children talk very quietly but always have a huge smile on their faces especially for the PC volunteers.

This is a gentle safe community and I am 8 weeks Guyanese, just a baby.

June 15, 2014

Me, Dany, Jenny, Ester, Orlena, Michael(Laluni Host Family)

Laluni Tarantula

Laundry Day

Broom for sweeping out bat guano every morning in my room.

B