This Week's Star at Mercy
Juanita Khan
 |
Juanita hard at work...
It is tough to get an action shot of an Executive Secretary. |
Juanita was born in Santa Rosa, Moruka, Barima-Waini Region not too long ago. How did you get to Mercy? It was a long story, but part of it was her mother died when she was only two weeks. She was looked after by the priests and sisters there until they brought her to Georgetown and St Ann's Girls Home. She worked hard at schooling and mostly through private courses for secretarial and computers. She began work for Guyana Stores and eventually to Mercy Hospital in 1998. When I arrived my first day here it was Juanita who greeted me as she was Sister Sheila's Secretary;before that Margorie Park, then after she was the same for Helen Browman, David Jimenez and now CEO Dr. Bridgemohan. [Wow over 17 years and survive 5 bosses; she must be good.]
She is the proud mother of four children: Molly, Johanna, Shekeila and Vince. For all of them Juanita has put their education in the foreground and made many sacrifices for them to become the best they could be.
"Come to Guyana it is a beautiful country" though she has not been to many places herself. If you come, you could take her to see Bartica, Rosignol, New Amsterdam and Santa Rosa. She did get to Kaieteur Falls because of a close friend and volunteer Jane Greiling.
And the best part of working at Mercy Hospital? It is meeting new, various and different people - the good and the bad - everyday. It is interesting and challenging. Actually, I just get used to something and then...It changes.
What wisdom might you share with my readers? Always pray to God for guidance. Trust him; all things are possible. And if you love yourself, you will love others even better. When life gets dark, trust God and Listen. [I think her next job will be as a preacher.]
But in 10 years, she says she would like to be at home. Her daughters want her at home and not working. Such a loving set of daughters... Almost. They would like her at home to be there when they get home with food cooked and laundry done... So she may be still working as it would be easier. I will see what God has in store for me.
Miss Sylvie, Guest Blogger
 |
| Sylvia pondering her words... |
One of the first things I overlooked this past week,
being Canadian Thanksgiving, is the fact John and I share a portion of a large
house that is ALMOST free of cockroaches and ants. Thank goodness for the bug
spray John has on hand, but I seldom find any of these critters a nuisance. On
the other hand, I continue to sleep under netting for fear that mosquitos will
get the best of me and I would succumb to Chikungunya the current rage at St.
Joseph Mercy Hospital these past few weeks. That, and Dengue fever seem to be
filling the Emergency Dept. Both of these are spread by mosquitos, so in spite
of us having screened windows, they find their way into our apt. John feels the
gaps in our floorboards with standing water in the trench below us has
something to do with the critters attacking us.
 |
Some people get an ocean view..
This is the view from our flat:
Chikungunya Creek. |
Even the local people are complaining about the heat
that we have endured for the month of October. It means that we are wet most of
the time. Thank goodness for a “rainforest” type shower, but even that is not
cooling as the water heats up in the pipes that are exposed to the sun. Our
classroom is the breeziest, and in fact can be comfortable for us in spite of
the class time being the middle of the day. However, the house is another
story. The major breezes off the ocean are blocked by the large house adjacent
to our home. We use a large fan that is constantly in use, but it sounds like a
747 and we need to shout to be heard....but we could not do without it. Which
brings me up to the times we go without power.....and those “blackouts” happen
on a regular basis. Usually early evening, without warning everything goes
black and very still, except for the neighbours generator. It seems that in a
couple of hours, everything is back on, and life goes back to normal. Speaking
of normal, the students often remind us that they are unable to get their
homework sent in to be marked because they had “blackout” in their
neighbourhood the night before. Such is life here.
 |
| Blackout picture |
In an effort to ensure that our safety is of the utmost
importance, six large flood lights were installed a couple of weeks ago around
the house. Never mind that it feels like the moon is right outside the windows,
and we seldom need night lights, it was revealed that the lights were there to
protect all the materials that were moved into the apartment next door. So much
for the utmost concern for our safety. But really, I truly feel safe while on
the hospital compound. There are guards everywhere, including downstairs at our
a door. There is a gate onto a busy street at the back of the house, and the
guards job is to ensure no one jumps the gate and tries to break in to get
those precious materials, mainly paper....reams and reams of paper and if you
are old enough to remember, carbon paper. That is were all our old stock went,
not in the trash, but was shipped to Guyana to be used by all government
officials.
The problem at the back gate is that there is a two
foot gap between the gate and the fence next door. So that is the way I travel
to the swimming pool, I take the back gap shortcut. In fact that is the way
John and I avoid the front entrance when we have had a couple of beers at the
Everest Cricket Club. All these little perks get us through the day.
 |
| Helping the Everest Cricket Club Break even... |
The staff here are wonderful to us. This past week I ran
out of minutes on my cell phone. No problem. Just go to the ER, ask for Ryan
and pay one of the nurses the $2,000 ($10 CAD) to be “topped up” and by doing
it remotely, he doesn't need to leave his duties in surgery. Now that is
service. I also appreciate the women in the kitchen who work with those
restaurant sized ovens that usually bring the temperatures up over 100 degrees. I
don't know how they don't have sweat poring down their faces like John and
myself. My other favorites, are the women in the laundry. Every Monday I bring
my bag of laundry to them, and with smiles they greet me. I don't get that
reaction from any of you at home, especially bringing in my dirty clothes. They
return them clean to me the same day. Recently, their dryers broke down. So
they hang all the bed sheets on lines throughout the hospital. I have no idea
how they can work in the heat and humidity in such a cheerful mood.
This past week was mental health awareness week. John
attended the “fair” where he was to be available for counseling at a booth
called “counselor available for teens”. Well surprise, no one came, he crossed
out teens and said “for anybody”. That didn't fly as well. But I guess there
were a few that showed up, especially the runners who came in from the Breast Cancer
walk, as they shared the few posters advertising the day that were placed
around town. Guyana has a long way to go.
Our days are filled with unexpected events, and I look
forward to those daily surprises. The students teach me so much about their culture,
beliefs, fears for their future, and the awe of the prospect of becoming a
nurse in the not to distant future. Hopefully they are able to take a fraction
of the messages we have imparted on them these past few weeks. If not, they
certainly have enriched my life.
John
invited his friend Dennis to come down from Mass. for 3 weeks. They have been
friends for the past fifty years, and let me tell you, they have stories!
Dennis is helping with Problem Based Learning classes, and I so appreciate a
new perspective. I just hope the students appreciate him as well.
Look closely:
Dennis is 2nd Row, 3rd from Left
John is Last Row, 4th from Left.
Wednesday
night both Dennis and myself wandered down to the sea wall where we were able
to find a place to sit among the throngs of people. All of Georgetown comes to
watch the Diwali parade, or Festival of Lights, a Hindu holiday. All the floats
were well lit up with bright colours and loud Indian music. It was magical for
all to see. Now typical Guyanese style, there were vendors everywhere selling
food, toys, and my favorite, fire crackers. Now as we walked we needed to dodge
the “roman candles” that the 4 and 5 year olds were holding in their hands
while the firecrackers
were lit. You know, the kind that says you need to be 20 ft. away before lighting. I didn't pay attention to the papers the next day to
see how many were injured.
The
next day, Thursday was the actual stat holiday, no classes. So once again
Dennis and I left John behind, (he was working), and went off to St. John's
parish fair. This is their major fun raiser for the year, and did they do it up
big. I was helping Donna with the “clown booth”. For just fifty cents, you
could try to get the 3 tennis balls in the clowns mouth. And for the rare
person that actually made this happen, they won a prize. All the booths had
been hording all year for these coveted dollar store prizes. People walked away
with a plastic cup,and were happy. The boys from St. John Bosco Orphanage
helped us in our booth. These “eager beavers' dove for the balls, ensured no
one was cheating and collected the money. They were so excited to just be at
the fair, let alone help with the events of that day. I said to Dennis, that
both the children and adults could not be more entertained or excited if they
were at Disney World. We left at the end of the afternoon with our ears ringing
from the loud music......what else, we are in Guyana.
John met us at the Brazilian Churrascaria
where he treated us to “Brazilian Barbeque” what a treat.
Even though it was a holiday his girls at St Ann's were waiting for their Educational Class. So he dragged himself out before dinner.
We
look forward to the Canadian Mental Health team of 20 coming down on Monday.
Stay tuned...... Or better yet Tune In Now and hear Ram talk about the upcoming trip for the radio. It will become a rare collector's item as it may be the only time in recent history that Sujay has said the fewer words! In a published review Upe Mehan said, "Great job Sujay and excellent interview Ram--you spoke very well and it
must have been hard for you to share your family's experience but you did that
so eloquently."
 |
Thanks for reading.
Now I'll head back to the Seawall and
"Catch a Breeze." |
Miss Sylvie
