I wasn't planning on heading back
this year as I was going on a long-overdue vacation with my long-suffering wife
for her special birthday. And then, Anne decided that she would
rather use the money the vacation would have cost us and make a significant donation
to one of her favourite charities. (And no, it is not my "beer fund".) I will be back for her family
birthday celebration in mid-October; I will be in Guyana from August 16th until September 28th.
This reversal of plans required
lots of accommodating on everyone's part as everyone in Guyana thought that I wasn't going to be there.
And while there was no loud cheering that I could hear from Canada,
everyone in Guyana seemed thrilled that I would be with them.
First, the hospital had not planned on my stay, so there was no flat on the hospital compound
available. I did not think I could really work at the first-offered residence as it was out of time. ??? I started to
look around, but before I could secure one, the hospital staff [CEO
Gaskin, Deputy CEO Ramsay and Assistant Administrator Terry Mohamed] arranged
for me to stay at the presbytery.
Now,
for my less religious friends. the presbytery is where the priests for the
diocese live. No laughing, please. However, if you want in on the
pool, just send an email to Baptist Bookie with your guess at my actual length of stay... before I get thrown
out.
The residence is downtown and I am
able to walk about the city, especially St. Ann's Girls Home, Georgetown Public
Hospital... Mercy is a much longer walk. I may need to pray to get more
organized or just resort to taxis.
My workload will be intensive with
the psychiatry residents for the first two weeks and then I will start off the
Problem Based Course at the Mercy Nursing School. This will be a
challenge as some of the faculty may be different in September.
And ...
As usual, if you have a few extra
bucks lying around, I would use them to assist with the purchase of supplies
and tablets for the students. 100% of any donation to my work in
Guyana goes to just that ... I pay for
my own travel,
insurances, and yes my beer (well, there are a few people who
send me money for a few pints!).
You can find all the donation
information at: Donations.
I'll write more after I get there.
Thanks.
John
