Damn You, Covid – 19

 

Guyana will go on without me this September.

 In March when I started to learn about the pandemic and the new restrictions of social isolation, I figured that it would be over by June at the latest.   That confirmed that I have no -- that is, Zero Minus One, skills in prophecy.   (I was sure and certain when I left the Catholic Church in 1970 that there would be married clergy within ten years.   Has it been ten years yet?)

 I am sure wherever you are living that you know the pandemic is not over… and, scarily, scientists are predicting “a new normal” for many months to come. 

Airline travel has moved from inconvenient and troublesome to impossible in many cases.   Canada hasn’t decided on opening its airports to international flights while Guyana has published, in its latest revision, plans for August 31^st …  Stay tuned for a newer revision perhaps moving that date back to September 30^th.    Also to be considered: it does seem that airlines have ignored the social distancing guidelines.  And if I did go for around 60 days, I would need to self-isolate in Guyana for 14 of those days and on return to Canada they would require the same from me.   So almost half of my “Guyana time” I’d be in isolation – ugh.

 So, my decision was both easy, because right now I can’t get there from here, and hard as I have made being in Guyana an important part of my life.   I will not be going to volunteer with nursing and psychiatry in Guyana.   I have been exhibiting all the signs of anticipatory grief… but I have to do them secretly as I can’t really seem to be sad that I have to stay here with Anne and family 😊 – if I want to live!   At present, I am not hanging up my “pegs” as I hope I can return when this new “normal” actually will be something like normal.

 Not going but the life in Guyana that I am involved with goes on .....

Mercy Hospital School of Nursing is presently interviewing a new batch of students to begin later in the year, maybe even September.   The faculty (Elsie Asabere, Roberta Binda, Nathleen McNeil and a special volunteer tutor from across the pond, Candy Mohan) have continued to teach online with each of the three years of students.   They are planning on doing the same in September with the new first-year students.  However, the really bad part of such a decision is that they invited me to be an online faculty member for our usual Problem Based Learning Course.   I am trying to decide how to “fake an injury” that would allow me a good reason to be excused -- I do hate online teaching, even if I can do it with my clothes off.

 In the last blog, I celebrated the work of many to graduate three doctors with Masters Degrees in Medicine (Psychiatry).   This success has sparked more successes.   Previously we have had trouble recruiting residents; however, the graduation demonstrated that Psychiatry and Psychiatry Education in Guyana was capable and strong.  (There was much that the faculty learned – maybe even more than the students.)   There will be EIGHT residents at different stages in the three year programme.  Amazing!  This growth has only been possible through the dedication of local faculty and staff, the international cadre of volunteers (almost entirely Canadian) over the years.… and of course, our sacrificial lambs, the graduates:  Elizabeth, Stephon and Veneta.  In years to come they will tell tall tales of their time in the programme that will seem so exaggerated that no one will believe them.  Yet, they will probably all be true.

  

You will still be there .…. your Student Tablets are there

 I have purchased the usual computer tablets for each of the first-year students, as the PBL course requires online access for research and homeworks.  (This word proves my Guyanese expertise!)   Humbly, I must explain that the tablets have been bought through donations to Guyana Christian Charities by so many of you ..… especially a few repeat major donors who wish to remain anonymous.   

 I arranged the purchase online, and the tablets will travel to New York City, to the Import/Export Business with my friend, Taju, and then on to Georgetown.  He will hang on to them safely until the new students start their courses.  A few extra tablets are for the girls leaving St. Ann’s Girls Home and starting on their own.

 

Speaking of donations ..… and with thanks

 Most of the costs will be the same this year as always, as they are ongoing expenses, whether I am there or not, so please consider continuing (or starting) with your donations.    

 

In case you didn’t know or have forgotten, I do not use any money that is donated for myself.   (In the interests of full transparency:  I have a few friends who do send me money for my “Beer Fund” and they don’t claim it as a donation.)   I support individuals who may need small amounts of money to enable them to live or eat and I give them money directly.  Sometimes that money is mine and sometimes it has been given to me for those purposes.     The longer I have been going there, the more people I know who need a little to get by.  This has recently applied to people I know through social media and year-long.    

 Over the last two years, Mental Health Without Borders has supported the student nurses with grants that have covered travel, a meal and expenses for the school trip to the National Psychiatric Hospital and the little left over has been used for PPE for them when they go to witness the post mortems at Georgetown Public Hospital.  

 

What will I be doing?

 I really don’t know.   I’ll probably get talked into tutoring on line because I want to be supportive.    I am not sure whether a PBL course has ever been offered virtually or exactly how it will work ..…   We will see and I’ll write another blog when the start seems more certain.

 

And since I have no pictures in this blog.  I’ll add this one as it will be one of my favourite “Sometimes I sits and think; and, sometimes I just sits.”

 

Again, thanks for reading,

John